October 19, 2012

Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA October 19, 2012 3 Cheshvan 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 5

25th Klutznick-Harris Symposium

This Week

by DR. LEONARD GREENSPOON third paper in the first session is by Jewishness from Portugal’s Urban holder of the Klutznick Chair and the Creighton University, Klutznick Chair Naomi Leite of the University of Marranos. organizer of the first Klutznick It’s an unprecedented opportunity. Nebraska – Lincoln. She will be Directly after Dr. Leite’s presenta- Symposia. This luncheon, from 11:30 Sixteen speakers over two days, with plenty of time for audience interaction, on the topic of Who is a Jew? That’s the promise and the premise of this year’s Klutznick-Harris Symposium, the 25th in the annual series, which takes place on Sunday, Oct. 28, and Monday, Oct. 29.

The Symposium kicks off at 9:15 on Sunday morning at the Omaha Jewish CommuMatthew Boxer Shaye J. D. Cohen Netanel Fisher Mark Goldfeder nity Center. The first three speakers explore a variety of topics relating to Jewish identity in a number of different environments. First is Aaron J. Hahn Tapper, from the University of San Francisco, whose presentation is titled Will the ‘Real’ Jew Please Stand Up! Karaites, Israelites, Kabbalists, Messianists, and the Politics of Identity. He is followed by Leonard Levin, who is a pulpit rabbi and has Joseph R. Hodes Sarah Imhoff Mara W. Cohen Ioannides Steven Leonard Jacobs also taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary. His presenta- speaking on Ancestral Souls and tion there will be a special luncheon – 12:15, is free and open to the public. tion is It’s All in the Memes. The Jewish Genes: Alternative Models of in honor of Menachem Mor, the first Continued on page 3

Temple Israel fifth graders volunteer at Food Bank Page 6

Beth El kids gain sense of community at Jewish summer camps Page 8

Long-lost Italian Jews returning to the fold Page 16

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

Next Month The Election Issue See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

8 10 11

Dr. Berk to headline It’s a camp thing Sokolof Lecture Series

by MOSHE GERSHOVICH gested to Stephanie Mueller at Prolific author and lecturer, Dr. slmueller@unomaha.edu.

“I am excited to hear Dr. Berk Stephen Berk will return to Omaha as the featured speaker at the speak again. I heard him several years ago at an Schwalb Center for Omaha event and Israel and Jewish was very impressed Studies at the with his knowledge University of of his subject and the Ne br a s k a - O m a h a . way he presented it: His presentation is He was both articutitled Our People Are Your People: late and eloquent! I American Jewry and learned quite a bit,” the Struggle for Civil said Gary Javitch, a Rights 1954-1965. It Schwalb Advisory will provide an interBoard member. esting discussion of “My wife, Fran and Dr. Stephen Berk an extremely imporI did two European tant chapter in the history of the Jewish History tours with Professor civil rights movement and will Berk. He is, frankly, the finest attempt to dispel the myths and speaker we have ever heard,” added misunderstandings that surround Rich Juro, a member of the Omaha the relationship between African- Jewish community. That opinion is Americans and Jews in this country. seconded by Natan and Hannah The lecture will take place at the Schwalb, co-founders of the Thompson Alumni Center (west Schwalb Center. “Nate and I travend of the UNO campus) on elled with Professor Berk this sumThursday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m. It is free mer to Eastern Europe,” says and open to the public. Due to lim- Hannah. “I was blown away with his ited seating, RSVP by Oct. 25 is sug- knowledge and analysis of world events as they affected Jewish history before and during World War II. Professor Berk is a most engaging and animated lecturer, always challenging your way of thinking as he blends his sense of humor into his lecture. It was a very rewarding and unforgettable learning experience.”

Berk is the Henry and Sally Schaffer Professor of Holocaust and Jewish Studies at Union College, Continued on page 2

Michael Schop, left, admires his daughter Sarah’s big catch.

by OZZIE NOGG Monticello, New York. Michael Schop spends his summers at day camp in the Catskills. “Name of the camp was Slatkins,” he says.

“Got there on a school bus.

Boating, swimming, hikes in the woods, ceramics classes. Lots of hot dogs, grilled cheese, P & J sandwiches. Typical camp fare.

Perfect.” Schop, in college, camps out with friends in Alaska’s Denali

National Park. “We’re the only people around for fifty square miles, just us and the grizzlies, wolves and caribou. Promised myself I’d come back some day.”

Meanwhile, half way across the country in Omaha, NE, there’s this young girl. Melissa Epstein.

Spends her summers at over-night camp in Bemidji, Minnesota.

“Name of the camp was Continued on page 2

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It’s a camp thing Continued from page 1 with my sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Stuart in their Thunderbird,” Melissa says. “Got there on Delta. Kayaking, New York City apartment while Noah did his thing, so it was horseback riding, wilderness trips, sitting around the camp- a rewarding summer for all of us.” fire watching the sun set over the lake. Lots of burritos, mac Schop family camping trips are very popular with the and cheese, apple crisp. Typical camp food. Perfect.” Melissa foursome. “We started taking the kids pretty early,” Michael goes to Thunderbird for six summers. “I always tell my par- says, “and try to go every year. So far we’ve been to Mahoney, ents it was the best parenting decision they ever made. Camp Ponca, Indian Cave, and floated down the Niobrara. We tent taught me to be independent, make friends, work out prob- camp, use air mattresses, and cook our coffee, meals, and lems on my own. I promised myself that if I ever had children, S’mores over an open fire. Outhouses are okay, but Melissa I’d send them to camp so they could reap the same benefits.” and I are getting too old to hand-pump water, so running Chicago, some years later. Michael and water is now a requirement.” Camping Melissa, now both footloose and fancy affords the Schops front row seats at free adults, wind up at a Steppin’ Out once-in-a-lifetime spectacles. “At a Singles Group bike trip. Michael says, “I KOA campground in Onowa, IA, we met Melissa without any of her makeup, were on a boat on the lake at sunset, dresses or perfume. She looked great.” and were lucky enough to watch the Melissa says, “I immediately noticed space station with the shuttle docked to Michael and said to my friend, ‘That guy it streak across the night sky. All that has a really nice smile.’ I still think that, dark sky with no trees in the way was by the way. The funniest thing about that the perfect place to watch such an trip and meeting Michael was that my amazing sight. The kids loved it.” friends and I used to go to those Jewish On the other hand, some trips can be Federation singles parties in Chicago. scary. “We once got caught in a storm at We’d get all gussied up with makeup and the Niobrara,” Melissa says. “There was our best clothes, hoping to meet somelightning, and if there’s one place you one, and I never did. Then I biked fifty don’t want to be in a lightning storm it’s miles, hadn’t showered in two days, hair in a tent with metal poles. So we had to in a ponytail, no makeup and Michael move into the car in the middle of the Melissa and Noah Schop chill out. asks for my number. Go figure.” night until the storm passed. Everyone Michael Schop and Melissa Epstein marry. And they keep was fine, and when the storm was over we went back in the those two promises they made as young campers. tent.” Another memory brings smiles all around, especially Michael goes back to Denali, this time with Melissa, to to Noah who -- according to Melissa -- has the same smile celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. “She’d heard my as his dad. “One night when we were staying at the Lied stories and seen pictures of that college trip, and she wanted Lodge in Nebraska City, Noah caught fireflies in a jar and to see the place for herself,” Michael says. “We didn’t camp brought them into our room,” Melissa says. “They somehow out, but we sure enjoyed the Alaska Railroad and being on escaped from the jar, so we had quite a light show. At the the water with the scenery, the wildlife. Stunning, all of it.” time I was less than thrilled because no one could go to Michael and Melissa have two children -- twelve-year-old sleep, but one of Noah’s favorite ‘camping’ memories is of Sarah and seven-year-old Noah -- and the promise to send watching those fireflies aglow in our room.” Michael Schop’s them to camp is also kept. “Sarah goes to Thunderbird and assessment? “We brought the outdoors inside.” Future Schop I already see how she’s gained independence,” Melissa says. family trips include renting an RV to trek across the “Through her camp experience she’s learning how to man- Badlands, camping in the Grand Canyon, and going back to age social situations on her own, solve problems and recog- Alaska, this time with Sarah and Noah. nize the benefit of working hard to achieve goals. For Michael Schop is the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s instance, I was so proud when she set the goal this summer Assistant Administrator. Melissa Epstein Schop, an attorney to pass her Trippers in canoeing. She worked at it all sum- at Union Pacific. Their work often requires that they put out mer and finally passed at the end of camp.” indoor fires. “What I enjoy most about nature and the outNoah’s camp experiences were equally valuable. “Noah is doors is the quiet and simplicity,” Melissa says. “There’s very on the Autism Spectrum,” Melissa explains, “and we wanted little quiet in our lives these days. I love not having a phone him to be able to experience camp with other kids, to just ringing or e-mail to answer. It’s an opportunity to be togethhave fun and learn to make friends. The JCC wasn’t er, the four of us, to talk, play games and reconnect without equipped to handle some of Noah’s behaviors -- in fact, there any interruptions or distractions like iPods or TV. I also love are no special needs camps in Omaha for high functioning the beauty of nature. There’s nothing more beautiful than kids -- so I started searching for special needs camps. That’s watching the sunset and hearing the wind in the trees.” when I found Camp Tova, at the 92 Street Y. I liked Tova Michael agrees. “There’s something about camping that because its philosophy is to provide traditional camp activi- grounds you. We like the kids to get back to basics. No electies like arts and crafts, swimming and other sports in an tronics other than music.” environment able to handle special needs kids. A lot of speMelissa Schop admits she never was a girly girl. cial needs camps have a therapy component or academic “Roughing it never bothered me. I love that Sarah is also that component to help them with school, but Noah gets all that way and will get dirty and dig for worms. My parents often during the year so we wanted him to just have fun at camp ask where I came from because I love vacationing in nature. like other boys. We also wanted Noah to learn those social As I’m sure you can imagine, the Epsteins didn’t do a lot of skills that you only get at camp -- taking turns, sharing -- family camping.” To which Michael adds, “We’ve invited which are of particular importance for kids on the spectrum Bob and Bobbie to join us, but so far they’ve declined. At who lag behind in social skills. Camp Tova is also Jewish, best, they’ll consider joining us for dinner at Mahoney, after which was a bonus. Noah spent 3 1/2 weeks at Tova and which they’ll return home. We tell them there’s plenty of loved it. He had a great time, which was the goal. I stayed space in the tent if they change their minds.”

Sokolof Lecture Series Continued from page 1 Schenectady, New York. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985).

Professor Berk has been a consultant to the Wiesenthal Holocaust Center in Los Angeles, and in 1992 made a set of six hour-long audio taped lectures on the Holocaust that have been sold across the country. His book on the pogroms of 1881-1882 deals with anti-Semitism in Russia and Eastern Europe and is an important contribution to the prehistory of the Holocaust in the Jewish heartland. Professor Berk has written articles on Russian and Jewish history, anti-Semitism, and the Middle East. He has lectured throughout the United States and Canada including such distinguished colleges and universities as Princeton, Vanderbilt, The University of Texas at Austin and Williams College.

Professor Berk is frequently consulted by newspaper reporters and by television and radio stations, including the BBC. He is considered a superb lecturer and teacher. He has spoken in countless cities and towns in the United States

and Canada and is frequently invited to return. Berk is equally adept in scholarly, popular and fundraising talks.

In 1996, Professor Berk received the prestigious Holocaust Memorial Award from the Holocaust Survivors and Friends Education Center. The citation accompanying the award stated: “On the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Nuremberg trials, the Holocaust Memorial Award honors Dr. Berk’s years of dedication to understanding and education as a world-wide lecturer and spellbinding speaker on the lessons of the Holocaust and its meaning for today.” In 2010 Professor Berk was designated an Israel Hero for his defense and advocacy of the State of Israel by JERNY, the Jewish Educational Resources of New York.

The Sokolof Lecture is sponsored by the UNO Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies, the UNO College of Arts and Sciences, Rich and Fran Juro, The Jewish Federation of Omaha and the University of Nebraska Foundation. For further information about the 2012 Sokolof Lecture, contact Dr. Moshe Gershovich, Director, Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies at UNO, mgershovich@unomaha.edu, or call 402.554.3175.

October 19, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 3

Klutznick-Harris Symposium Continued from page 1 University. Cohen’s talk, which will begin at Directly after lunch, Mor, who is current- 7:30 p.m., is titled Who is a Jew? Who ly at the University of Haifa, will lead off the decides? Who cares? After his presentation, second session of the Symposium with his Cohen will be available for questions and presentation on Who Is a Samaritan? comments from members of the audience.

Following Mor is Matthew Boxer from Brandeis University. He will be speaking about The Birthright Israel Generation: Being a Jewish Young Adult in Contemporary America. The final presentation of session II will begin at 1:50. It will be presented by Mark Goldfeder of the Emory University School of Law. His topic is Timeless Principles and Timely Applications: ReMisha Klein Naomi Leite examining the Definition of A Jew in the Modern World.

After a break, session III will begin at 2:50. All of the papers in this session are directly related to Israel. The first is by Naftali Rothenberg of the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. His presentation is titled Conversion in Transition: Conceptual and Halakhic Changes in Israel.

The second presentation in this session is by Joseph R. Katarzyna Person Naftali Rothenberg Hodes of Tulane University, who will be speaking about The Bene Israel Monday morning’s activities start at 8:30 and the ‘Who is a Jew?’ Controversy in Israel. a.m. in the Ballroom of Creighton Netanel Fisher from Hebrew University is University’s Skutt Student Center. Visitor the final speaker in session III. The title of parking for this event is available at the Lied his presentation is Who is a Jew in Israel? Center parking lot, 24th and Cass Streets.

Did Israel Succeed in Untying the Knot?

Session IV consists of two presentations.

Sunday’s exploration of Who Is a Jew? con- The first is by Mara W. Cohen Ioannides of tinues with the keynote presentation by Missouri State University and is titled Shaye J. D. Cohen, Littauer Professor of Creating a Community: Who can belong?

Hebrew and Philosophy at Harvard Wesley K. Sutton, of Lehman College/

CUNY, will then speak on The Fallacy of Biological Judaism.

After a short break, session V begins at 10:05. The first presenter in this session is Katarzyna Person, who is at the Center for

nity for informal interaction, is followed at 12:15 by the final presentations of the Symposium.

First in session VI is Steven Leonard Jacobs of the University of Alabama. His presentation is on German-Jewish Identity: Problematic Then; Problematic Now. Sarah Imhoff of Indiana University follows. The title of her presentation is Traces of Race: Defining Jewishness in America. The end of her talk, at 1:45 p.m., will also mark the conclusion of the 25th Annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium.

In addition to the presentations described above, those Leonard Levin Menachem Mor who attend the Symposium will also have the opportunity to learn about and participate in RavelUnravel, an activity devised by Project Interfaith.

Details about this activity can be viewed at RavelUnravel .com.

The co-hosts of the annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium are the Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University and the Norman & Wesley K. Sutton Aaron J. Hahn Tapper Bernice Harris Center for Jewish History in New York City. Her talk is Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraskatitled We didn’t even know they were Jewish. Lincoln. Along with them are Creighton Assimilated, Acculturated, and Baptized Jews University’s Kripke Center for the Study of in the Warsaw Ghetto, 1940-1943. Next is Religion and Society and the Jewish Misha Klein of the University of Oklahoma, Federation of Omaha. From within the who will speak on Kosher Feijoada, or Jewish community, the Ike and Roz Blending Contradictions into Identities.

Friedman Foundation, the Riekes Family, Immediately after this session ends, at the Center for Jewish Life, the Henry 11:30 a.m., everyone is invited to a deli Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith, and the Dr. luncheon. The luncheon, another opportu- Continued on page 4

4 | The Jewish Press | October 19, 2012

Beth El Sisterhood offers social and spiritual connections

by JILL BELMONT “They are just as enthusiastic about the Beth El Publicity Coordinator future success of Sisterhood as I am. As an Since the establishment of Beth El, the example of their commitment, they have all synagogue has boasted of a strong volunteered to serve in their positions for Sisterhood organization which has served the congregation’s women in a variety of capacities: as an educational, spiritual and social outlet; and as a place to volunteer and support Beth El through a number of fundraisers.

With the arrival of a new year, the auxiliary is welcoming a new line-up of leadership, an enthusiastic group of women, including Heather Kelln, president; Melissa Among those leading Beth El’s Sisterhood this year are Schop, membership; Debbie Andrea Grossman, left, Heather Kelln, Shira Abraham, Roitstein, treasurer; Shira Nancy Skid, and Sara Kohen.

Abraham, education/religious; Sara Kohen and Becca Finkelstein, two years, in order to build and expand on recording and communications; Andrea our successes.”

Grossman, fundraising; and Marcie Spivack, Kelln, who grew up at Beth El and is now past president. raising her own family at the synagogue, has “I could not be more excited to be working a long-held and unwavering dedication to with this wonderful group of interested, the congregation. committed, and capable women,” Kelln said.

“I want this congregation to be successful

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in every way, and it is important to me that the women of Beth El have an organization to call their own -- a group committed to the same interests and goals,” she said. “I was honored when this group of women asked me to serve as president.”

As president, Kelln noted that her goals include finding out what appeals to the women of Beth El and then offering related programming to expand membership and involve members of all ages.

Along with the new leadership, Sisterhood is also re-defining its role with the synagogue.

For example, the Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group and the Women’s Book Group are now under the auspices of the organization, as is the recently-established “Dames & Drinks” social program. Bringing together all of the women’s programming under the Sisterhood umbrella “allows us to showcase all of the wonderful opportunities available to the women of our congregation,” Kelln said.

She also lauded former Sisterhood president Marcie Spivack for revamping the group’s annual honey sale for Rosh Hashanah, by outsourcing the orders and packaging to

Klutznick-Harris Symposium Continued from page 3 Bruce S. Bloom Memorial Endowment also provide generous support.

The papers presented at each year’s Symposium are published, in edited form, in the Studies in Jewish Civilization Series from Purdue University Press. Copies of the just published Jews in the Gym: Judaism, Sports, and Athletics volume, from the 2010 Symposium, will be available for viewing and purchase at this year’s Symposium.

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The full program for the Symposium will be printed as an insert for The Jewish Press issue of Oct. 26. For further information, please contact Pam Yenko at the Klutznick Chair office: 402.280.2303; pyenko@creig hton.edu. Additional features, including summaries of each paper, can be viewed at the Klutznick Chair website: http:// www.creighton.edu/ccas/ klutznick/

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Women’s American ORT. Through this change, Kelln said, “We were able to deliver the same quality product to fill the needs of our congregation, while partnering with another Jewish women’s International organization. The partnership has resulted in a more efficient and effective fundraiser.

“We have a few more new ideas on the drawing board, including a new fundraiser or two,” she added. “It will be an exciting year all around.”

Looking forward to the new year and Sisterhood’s new look, Kelln is enthusiastic about meeting the organization’s objective of ensuring that the women of Beth El are offered quality programming and experiences that meet their needs socially, educationally and spiritually.”

All Beth El women are invited to join Sisterhood; annual dues are $36, and may be paid online at www.bethel-omaha.org, or by sending a check – made payable to Beth El Sisterhood -- to Nancy Skid, 14964 Farnam Cir., Omaha NE 68154. For more information about the organization, contact Kelln, at heatherkelln@yahoo.com.

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October 19, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 5

Adult Education underway at Temple Israel

by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer Education has always been an important tenet of Judaism, whether that means attending Religious School, studying for your B’nai Mitzvah or simply paying attention to world events; and Temple Israel’s We d n e s d a y night Adult Education programming is designed as a reminder that learning should never stop.

“The Adult Dr. Moshe Gershovich Education committee worked with [Program Director] Wendy [Goldberg] and the clergy to come up with a program that covered topics from different viewpoints--religious, historical or cultural,” said Jeremy Wright, Chair of the Adult Education Committee. “We chose speakers who could take a complicated subject and relate it to a general audience.”

Wednesday Nights at Temple Israel, sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning, are a series of lecture and discussion classes about all manner of Jewish life, from the history of the Middle East through the present day to popular Israeli music to films with religious themes.

Classes are taught by guest lecturers or by Temple Israel clergy and are free and open for anyone to attend. Each session goes from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

One class, titled The Modern Middle East, taught by Dr. Moshe Gershovich, a professor of Israel and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, attempts to put into context the rampant volatility throughout the region by examining its past and connecting that to its present.

“I want to enhance our awareness beyond the headlines from the Middle East, give some background,” Dr. Gershovich said.

He points to the recent anti-American violent outbursts that occurred because of the anti-Islamic film “Innocence of Muslims,” as well as the Arab Spring as examples of the frustrations felt throughout the Middle East.

“There is a lack of hope,” Dr. Gershovich said, “particularly economic hope, and it becomes channeled into violent responses.”

Learning about the causes of violent unrest throughout the Middle East is one way to combat it, Dr. Gershovich urges. It doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There are forces, both internal and external, that give rise to such extremism, and it’s important, as Jewish Americans, to understand those forces.

“It’s a part of the world that Americans have been very much interested in, and American Jews particularly, given their interest in Israel.

There’s no indication that it’s going away anytime soon, this interest in Israel.”

Another Wednesday night class, “Religion & Film,” taught by UNO professor Dr. William Blizek, will look at the historical relationship between religion and film by examining various movies that are related to particular religious traditions and themes.

“I want to talk about two different kinds of movies in which we find religion--secular and religious,” Dr. Blizek said.

Examples of secular movies Dr. Blizek will be discussing include Slumdog Millionaire, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Matrix, while some of the films he considers religious include Priest, Water, Kadosh and The Art of Farewell.

“My colleague, Ron Burke, and I went to hear the priest/sociologist/novelist, Father Andrew Greeley, talk about the face of God in the movies,” Dr. Blizek said. “We went right out and rented the movies he discussed to see if we could find those faces of God. We did, and then taught a course on the wider topic of religion, rather than just God, in the movies.”

Dr. Blizek, who in 1997 founded the Journal of Religion & Film with Burke, believes there are many reasons to discuss the intersection of religion and film.

“One, it’s just fun finding things in movies that others don’t yet see,” he said. “We want to be sure that our own religion is portrayed correctly. And we can learn about other religions through film. We also can learn about our own religion through film.”

Religion & Film will be taught on Nov. 7.

Future Wednesday night classes include Prayer, Justice, Outreach as a Reform Jew, a discussion of Reform Judaism and what it tells us about Social Justice, led by Rabbi Josh Brown, a three-week class beginning Nov 28, and Transforming Moments In the Reform Movement, on Dec 19, in which Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will examine the history of the Reform Movement and how it has changed over the years in response to the changing needs of modern-day Jewish people.

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve really seen the Adult Education program grow,” Wright said. “We love to see people from the community join us--even if they’ve never come to a speaker before.”

For more information and a complete list of Wednesday night classes, visit templeisraelomaha.com.

In addition to teaching history at UNO, Dr. Moshe Gershovich is also Director of the Middle East Project Fund and Director of the Natan and Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies.

Camp Ramah

by ANN LESLIE ROSEN the Ramah experience with additional staffing Camp Ramah in Wisconsin is a magical place and support for campers with learning and where fun and friendship build Jewish lives. A social difficulties, including Asperger’s synfull range of fun-filled activities integrates Jewish drome. Through individualized programming, values and observances into the daily camp supported by highly skilled staff, teens in the experience for campers entering grades 4 to 11. Tikvah program develop friendships, have fun Ramah offers two 2-week sessions for entering and learn in formal and informal Jewish settings.

4th graders (June 18-30 and July 2-14), a 4Tikvah offers a full eight-week session for week session for entering 5th graders (June teenage campers, a four-week “Taste of 18-July 14), a 4-week session for entering 6th Tikvah” option for first-time younger campers, graders (July 17-Aug. 12), and an 8-week ses- as well as the Tikvah Vocational Program for sion for entering 7th-11th graders (June 18- qualified high school graduates.

Aug. 12). Activities include sports, swimming, For more information please email Ann high and low ropes courses, climbing wall, sail- Lesley Rosen at registrar@ramahwisconing, kayaking, music, dance, nature, archery, sin.com or visit www.ramahwisconsin. photography, radio, arts and drama. Meals are com. Our Winter Address is 65 E. Wacker kosher and Shabbat is observed. The camp is Place, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60601, Phone: located 15 miles north of Eagle River, 312.606.9316, ext. 221, Fax: 312.606.7136, Wisconsin, on beautiful Lake Buckatabon. and our Summer Address is 6150 E. Tikvah is a division of Camp Ramah in Buckatabon Rd., Conover, WI 54519, Phone: Wisconsin, developed for children with special 715.479.4400, Fax: 715.479.9258, Camp needs. Tikvah provides all of the opportunities of Director: Jacob Cytryn.

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6 | The Jewish Press | October 19, 2012

Camping with Yachad

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by OZZIE NOGG BBYO and YJO, and we work with The Friedel Jewish Yachad, a national organization with chapters around the Academy on a community garden. We had so much fun country, is made up of individuals with physical, intellectual competing in the RBJH Pesach Art program and lighting a or emotional disabilities. Yachad, which means ‘togetherness’ menorah candle at the Home during Hanukkah. You have in Hebrew, addresses the needs of its members to ensure embraced our art shows and acknowledged us as regular their participation in the full spectrum of life -- Jewish and vendors at the Beth El Boutique. The financial support from secular. To that end, Omaha’s this community enables us to Yachad group packed their participate in our personal duffle bags and camped out training program at the JCC this past August 9th and 10th gym, a self defense course at a at Mahoney State Park, where local Martial Arts Academy, participants gained selfand our yearly camping trip esteem and independence, to Mahoney, which was made strengthened friendships, and a reality this year through the enjoyed large doses of fun. generosity of the Carl Frohm “Individuals who live with a Foundation. Yachad is truly disability also live a life of blessed to be valued members structure and routine,” said of this community.”

Jan McCarthy, Omaha Yachad Mahoney State Park proved Coordinator. “A predictable to be a perfect setting for the life is a comfort to all of us, but Yachad camping weekend. even more so to individuals “The grounds are beautiful Yachad member, Lisa Salomon, tests her bunk at Mahoney with a disability. Yet for two and frequently reveal amazState Park. days our Yachad members raling sights,” McCarthy said. lied their courage, ventured beyond their comfort zone, and “This year, Josh Parsow was up early and ventured out on experienced life at Mahoney, far from their usual surround- the porch of the cabin. From the porch Josh spotted a stateings. To sleep in a different bed, help prepare meals and clean ly deer looking back at him. Josh was very quiet and manup, to linger over the breakfast table choosing the activities aged to signal a few of us to come and look. What a wonthey wanted to participate in that day. To take these risks derful beginning to a new day.” In addition to Josh Parsow, brought greater self awareness. Our two days at Mahoney other Yachad camping participants were Shari Binder, Alan were unique, filled with enjoyment and teachable moments.” Friedman, Ben Friedman, Grace Isler, Nancy Isler, Jillian Activity choices included arts and crafts, hiking, fishing, Salomon, Lisa Salomon, Jeff Steinberg, Avi Wolfson and horseback riding and watching the Olympics on TV. “Some Marilyn Zevitz. Professional staff included McCarthy, Mark chose to go to bed early, a couple of the guys slept late, and Kazor, Tyrie Cook and Karen Lepp. many of us discovered who snored the loudest,” McCarthy said.

“The warm spirit of this community has opened for “Several Yachad campers helped build a fire, and almost every- Yachad a world of opportunities, acceptance and inclusion,” one relished the gooey goodness of a freshly toasted S’more. McCarthy said. “We want to take this opportunity to express The choices were individual, but all of us shared the laughter our sincere appreciation to the community for being a part and we all worked together to make our trip an adventure.” of us -- and accepting us as part of you. We feel secure in The Omaha Yachad group meets every month for social pursuing new and creative ideas and events because we have programming, and often attends community events, includ- your support and encouragement.” ing the Federation’s recent Beatlemania Campaign Kickoff.

For information on how you can help Omaha Yachad “We love to attend holiday and special programs that the members reach their personal goals and live the fullest life synagogues offer,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been invited to possible, please visit the Jewish Federation website -participate in the dance program at the JCC, activities with www.jfsomaha.com -- and click on the Yachad page.

Fifth grade field trip illuminates the necessity of giving

by DAVID GOLBITZ students what each of the labels meant before unleashing Temple Israel Staff Writer them to begin sorting.

As part of the curriculum, Temple Israel Religious School Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, who accompanied the class, led them students are introduced to many concepts, from Jewish hol- in a short blessing about mitzvot and then they were off. idays and blessings to the vast The children quickly loaded history of the Jewish people. up small push carts with variIncluded in their studies are ous items, such as canned fruit the ideas of Social Justice and and dry pasta, and began scurtikkun olam (repairing the rying around the room, eager world), about which they to unload their items so they learn from hands-on expericould go back to the front of ences, such as volunteer work the room, reload, and begin at various Omaha-area chariagain. table organizations.

For about an hour and a On Sunday, Oct. 7, Temple half, the students sorted food Israel 5th graders visited the and placed, dropped, threw Food Bank for the Heartland and dumped various cans, to learn about its mission and bottles, boxes and bags into to help sort food for those the appropriate bins. Some who need it. students even climbed into “Being Jewish is about more the main sorting bin to help Fifth graders from Temple Israel sorting food items at Food than studying Torah and sayhand items up to the waiting Bank for the Heartland on Sunday, Oct. 7. ing blessings,” Religious hands of their classmates.

School Principal Ariella Lowensohn said. “We hope that by “I felt like I was making a difference for people who didn’t introducing our children to the concept of tikkun olam, of have the food I have,” 5th grader Tommy Sullivan said. helping those who may be less fortunate than ourselves, they The field trip ended around noon, with tired, but happy will grow up instilled with the idea that they can and should students, glad to have been able to help those who are less make a difference.” fortunate than themselves.

As part of its High Holiday observance, Temple Israel “We helped put away so much food, my hands started accepted food donations from its congregation to give to the hurting and I got blisters,” Joey Kirshenbaum said.

Food Bank. This year’s donation totaled nearly 3,100 Emma Miller added, “I felt good knowing that I helped pounds of food, enough to make approximately 2,500 meals people get food if they couldn’t afford it.” for families in need. And when they arrived at the Food Baye Fletcher so enjoyed volunteering at the Food Bank, Bank for their field trip, the 5th graders brought an addi- she hopes to return to help out again. tional 30 pounds of food.

“I loved it, it was a good Mitzvah and a great experience...

The 5th graders were met in the Food Bank lobby by I think it would be a good Bat Mitzvah project,” she said.

Director of Talent Sarah Grobbelaar and Crystal Wieczorek, Harper Gordman perhaps best summed up the morning’s who explained to the students the Food Bank’s mission and work, and the spirit of tikkun olam, when she noticed a gave them a brief tour of the facilities which culminated in the poster on the wall: sorting room, where they would be working that morning. “[The poster] said, ‘Oh, good. Now we won’t have to take The sorting room comprised about 30 large blue bins, turns having dinner.’ The really sad part was that a kid said each labeled with a different type of food, such as “Mixed that. I am really glad that I helped families get the food they Vegetables,” “Snacks” and “Water.” Crystal explained to the need to survive.”

October 19, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 7

Hanoch Piven to visit Friedel

by PAM COHN Friedel Jewish Academy is excited to welcome internationally renowned author and Illustrator Hanoch Piven.

His colorful and witty illustrations have appeared throughout the last 20 years on both sides of the Atlantic: in most major American magazines and newspapers such as Time, Newsweek, and Rolling Stone.

Piven’s work is in the permanent collection of the Prints and Photographs Division of The Library of Congress in Washington DC, where he presented his award-winning book: What Presidents are Made of in 2004. Time named that publication as one of the 10 Best Children’s Books of 2004. Piven has published six other children’s books in the USA, his most recent being: My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil in 2010.

Thanks to the generosity of Carol Gendler and a partnership with UNO, Piven will be working with students at Friedel Jewish Academy on Monday, Nov. 12. He will facilitate students creating their own illustrations and collages out of everyday items such as random puzzle pieces, legos, hardware, pipe cleaners, just about anything imaginable.

Friedel is accepting donations of any random items that you may want to throw away to help students create their “special art” under the tutelage of Piven.

Since 2003, Piven has been conducting workshops across the globe. These workshops apply the principles of Pivens’ collage technique, prompting children and adults to experiment with common everyday objects to create their own works of art. Apart from being an easy and fun way to create art, the workshops have been embraced by educators, art therapists and management consultants as an efficient tool for raising psychological issues to the surface through play and creativity.

To get an idea of what Piven does, please visit Friedel Jewish Academy’s Facebook page to see a short video showcasing his work. Donations of items can be brought to Friedel anytime prior to Nov. 12.

Herzl Camp

by ANNA SIMON Community Relations and event manager, Herzl Camp Foundation On the shores of crystal-clear Devil’s Lake in Webster, Wisconsin, surrounded by 120- acres of pristine woods, and just two hours from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport, you’ll find Herzl Camp. For 66 years, Herzl Camp has been the place for kids from all over the Midwest to go for summers full of ruach (spirit), singing, sports, Shabbat and friendship.

Herzl Camp is a trans-denominational camp, rooted in Zionism. We are an independent non-profit. Herzl Camp receives no financial support from a Federation, synagogue or agency.

We rely on donations from community members to keep our camp’s tuition the lowest of all Jewish camps in the Midwest.

Our campers live in spacious, airy, comfortable cabins. Some are nestled in the woods, others overlook the lake. Our expanded facilities provide beautiful places to learn, laugh, play and pray. Whether your camper loves water sports, Ultimate Frisbee,

art or drama, we provide programs that will stretch their imagination, expand their skills and challenge their abilities.

To meet the needs of busy families, we provide programs varying from one to six weeks in length for campers entering third through 11th grade. Because of the generosity of our friends and alumni, we are able to provide scholarships for families in need.

Our counselors and specialists are selected for their talents, skill, maturity, knowledge and natural connection with children.

Most of our staff are Herzl alumni themselves and they carefully maintain and teach camp’s rich traditions. Our one to three staff to camper ratio ensures the highest quality of care and safety for your child.

Herzl Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association, which confirms that we maintain the highest standards for the health and well-being of our campers. For more information call 952.927.4002, email us at info@herzlcamp.org or visit www.herzlcamp.org.

New Beth El class to explore lessons from Pirkei Avot

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Pirkei Avot and its wisdom and insights into human behavior will be the focus of Ethical and Spiritual Lessons from Pirkei Avot, a new monthly adult-education class at Beth El led by Rabbi Mordechai Levin, beginning Thursday, Nov. 1, at noon.

Pirkei Avot (Chapters of the Fathers) is a compilation of the ethical and spiritual teachings of the Rabbis of the Mishnaic period. It is included in the Siddur, and is probably the most widely studied tractate of the Rabbi Mordechai Levin Mishnah.

Some of Pirkei Avot’s most familiar teachings include: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I?”; “Don’t judge your fellow man until you are in his place”; and “Who is rich? He who is happy with what he has.”

“We will study these wonderful short sayings, and discuss how they can enhance our daily lives,” Rabbi Levin said. “We will be inspired by the wisdom and common sense of the Sages of that time, and we will discuss how what they taught can be applied to our daily lives today.”

Each session will offer a brand-new lesson, he said, adding that all adults in the Jewish community are invited to join the class. Future sessions are scheduled for Dec. 6, Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, and May 2.

There is no charge to attend. To register, visit www.bethel-omaha.org, or contact Program Director Margie Gutnik in the synagogue office, 402.492.8550, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org.

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8 | The Jewish Press | October 19, 2012

Beth El kids gain sense of community at Jewish summer camps

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Of the many influences which connect Jewish children with their religion, one of the most powerful is the Jewish summer camp experience. These sleep-away summer camps, usually a child’s first extended time away from home, offer new adventures, lifelong friends, plus daily immersion into Judaism and spirituality -- all in all, meaningful, unforgettable experiences.

For years, many children from Beth El Synagogue have been counted among avid Jewish camp attendees, and several of them recently shared some thoughts about their special summer getaways.

Fourth grader Spencer Gordman enjoyed a twoweek session at Camp Ramah, located in Clockwise from above: FirstConover, Wisconsin. time Ramah camper Spencer Ramah, the camping Gordman says he plans to branch of the United return next summer; Ari Synagogue of Conserva- Saltzman, front row, second tive Judaism, offers a vari- from left, and his fellow ety of activities including campers don their whites for sports, theater and music Herzl’s special Shabbat celefestivals, an arts center for bration; Gabby Witkowski, far ceramics, photography, right, and friends enjoy a dip in sculpture and drawing, the lake at Herzl Camp and and a radio station where enjoying summer camp at campers participate in Camp Ramah are Sarah Aoki, second from right, along with broadcasting. her twin sister, Rachel, and a “My favorite activities at some new friends. camp were the team activities like dodge ball and capture the flag,” he said. “I also enjoyed Shabbat -- especially walks on the garbage trail [a walking trail that runs the perimeter of the camp; it is also used by the camp’s service trucks -- hence the name].”

Saying he plans to return to Ramah next summer, Spencer noted that his camp experience offered him a special connection with his Jewishness.

“It made me feel proud that I was Jewish,” he said. “I liked being in a place where all of the kids were Jewish. It made me very comfortable being at Camp Ramah. My first Shabbat was very special. We were down by the lake and there was singing and tons of dragonflies and it made me feel real good and that God was with us.”

Sarah Aoki was also a first-time Ramah camper, along with her twin sister, Rachel. Going away for an entire

month took some getting used to for the fifth grader, who shared that, “I was so scared at first to leave my mom and house for a whole month. Because I was new, everywhere, everyone and everything was just so unfamiliar.”

In the end, though, Sarah sang Ramah’s praises, saying, “I loved so many things at camp!” Swimming in the lake was a favorite: “I could stay at the lake all day. I love the water,”

Havdalah at Herzl, we got to yell the last prayer together. It was fun.”

The sixth grader, who will return for a month-long session next summer, also shared her favorite camp activities: art, swimming in the lake, and “Israeli Scouts are always fun,” she said.

Ari Saltzman, who experienced Herzl Camp for the first

she said. She and two best friends “had the best of time together.”

Camp also proved to be an enriching Jewish learning experience for Sarah, and she said that upon returning home, “all I said was, ‘Mommy, did you know this; Mommy, did you know that?’ I asked my mom trivia questions on Jewish-based things.”

For the past three summers, Gabby Witkowski has trekked to Webster, Wisconsin, to attend Herzl Camp.

Herzl is an independent, trans-denominational, Zionist overnight camp with a large camper base from the Midwest, including a sizable group of Beth El youths.

For Gabby, being at a Jewish camp “added to the connection I already have, which is already pretty deep from going to school at Friedel. Every Saturday night at the end of

time this past summer, also plans to return next year. A fan of the chuggim (activities) featuring competitive sports, Ari enjoyed Shabbat celebrations, as well as mealtime, “because they had good food, and it was really fun because there was lots of stuff going on.”

Other Beth El kids who enjoyed Jewish summer camps included Herzl campers Kylie Kirshenbaum, Lauren Kirshenbaum, Emily Kutler, Sarah Kutler, Ethan Potash, Julia Raffel, Michael Raffel, Melanie Schwarz, Brooke Shulewitz, Chaeli Spivack, Ethan Spivack, Jacob Spivack, Amanda Simon, and Emma Hochfelder; Beth El teens working as staff at Herzl were Yonatan Dotan, Brad Kutler, Ezra Potash, Adeev Potash and Dayna Cohen; additional Ramah campers included: Lev Denenberg and Becca Denenberg; and Tomer Palmon attended Lake of the Ozarks’ Camp Sabra.

Beth El encourages its young congregants to participate in Jewish summer experiences, which enrich Jewish home life and classroom experiences. The synagogue offers a variety of service grants to help offset the cost to attend. Last year, Beth El awarded over $20,000 in service grants for summer camps and Israel trips, an achievement noted by Herzl Camp Director of Operations Gary Kibort.

“Each year I stand in awe at the amount of support Beth El, and the Omaha Jewish community in general, provide to their kids and our campers -- and other camps. I am sure they appreciate the help -- and so do we,” Kibort said.

All Beth El youths who plan to attend a Jewish summer camp or trips endorsed by the synagogue, may contact Eadie Tsabari, Director of Congregational Learning, at 402.498.0904, or etsabari@bethel-omaha.org.

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Jewish campers help memorial

by JOHN MOSOW year, the Jewish Federation of Lincoln Chair of the Camp Scholarship Committee, worked with Hill to have the campers do Jewish Federation of Lincoln their tzedakah project at the Memorial.

On Aug. 26, a group of nine youths from The volunteers have been very helpful in the Lincoln and Western Nebraska Jewish maintaining the Memorial, and this projCommunity helped curator Gary Hill clean and maintain the Nebraska Holocaust Memorial at the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.

They also installed thirty-eight bricks with the names of individuals who were murdered in the Holocaust. Josh Gordon, Lily Hamicksburg, Dahlia Hamicksburg, Darry Krout, Ben Schreiber, Brady Shkolnick, Karsyn Shkolnick, and Ben Williss of Lincoln, and Zoë Watch of Wood River, all received grants and scholarships from the Jewish Federation of Lincoln to attend Jewish summer camps Karsyn Shkolnick helps clean the Nebraska Holocaust Memorial at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln. this year.

Recipients of the Lincoln Federation’s ect has also allowed them to learn more Youth Scholarships are asked to do a about the Holocaust while serving the tzedakah project that gives back to the Jewish community and all of the local Jewish community. For the second Memorial’s visitors.

Teens praised for giving back

by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha On Sept. 23, we celebrated our community when we all Came Together at the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Beatlemania: Long Live the Beatles dinner and show. Seventeen Omaha teens attended and were recognized for their involvement in the B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy program.

2013 Annual Campaign co-chairs, Carl and Zoe Riekes and Stacey and Brett Atlas praised the B’nai Tzedek teens for their interest in Jewish philanthropy. The evening’s program book included a list of Omaha teenagers involved in the B’nai Tzedek program.

Carl spoke on behalf of his family and said, “This is a great and very important initiative. These fifty-one teens have decided, on their own or with the help of their parents, that learning about tzedakah and giving back are important parts of their identity as a Jewish person.

The Riekes family went a step further, thanking the teens’ parents. “We know that most people who give regularly are modeling behavior they learned from their parents. So, we say thank you to the parents for being great role models,” Carl added.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation began the B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program just a couple of years ago. An incredible 35 Bar and Bat Mitzvah age students signed up immediately, and today the list of young philanthropists stands at 51.

These kids make a pledge to donate $125 of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah gifts by establishing an individual fund and their dollars are matched with $375 from the Foundation. Last year’s group distributed a total of $1,682 to charity.

The B’nai Tzedek program was founded to introduce and educate our Jewish youth about charitable Jewish giving and to deepen their commitment to social action. Janie Murow was the program’s first director and at the time of its launch said, “By introducing the B’nai Tzedek program to our B’nai Mitzvah teens, we look forward to setting a

course of Jewish philanthropy, tikkun olam, and tzedakah.”

Its goal is to provide teen fund holders programming that gives them knowledge in financial literacy and modern philanthropy while developing a full understanding of how non-profits meet needs and provide necessary services.

As part of the program, teens research charitable institutions of interest, visit nonprofit organizations and moderate group conversation about causes and issues important to them. At the end of every school year the teens will grant up to 10% of their fund, or $50, whichever is greater, to charity, selecting Jewish and/or secular programs or institutions that are meaningful to them.

Further contributions will build their individual funds and many teens have experienced the thrill of watching their charitable contributions grow.

Since its inception, programming has included a non-profit Fair held at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, volunteering at Together Inc., and round table discussions with invited guests, such as Jan Fischer of the National Council of Jewish Women – Omaha Section.

Some past beneficiaries include: The Abraham Project, Anti-Defamation League, B’nai Brith Youth Organization, The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Campaign, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund and Project Harmony.

The B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program is now administered by Leora Azriel, BBYO/Teen Director at the Jewish Community Center. According to Azriel, the program models youth leadership for teens. “It can empower teens to change the world through tikkun olam, educate them about non-profit organizations and network with other Jewish teens to share their philanthropic vision.”

For more information, please contact Leora at 402.334.6404, lazriel@jccomaha. org or on the web at www.jewishomaha. org.

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Your Connection to the World!

They’re back! Fourth-Sixth grade programming explodes at the JCC

by CHRIS PERSIGEHL Each Pre-teen night will have a theme and at least two difJCC Assistant Youth Director ferent planned activities, while leaving a lot of major deciOutdoor Game Night. Saturday Night Cornhusker sions to the kids. They would also spend roughly ten to 15 Tailgate. Over 40 kids participated in these first two events minutes of committee work planning for future events and of the new fourth-sixth grade delegating some very imporprogramming at the JCC. tant jobs such as co-screenUpcoming Fourth-Sixth grade, Thankfully, we had the writer for little people with Pre-Teen events chance to work with this age big hearts, bathroom Thursday, Oct. 25, 6-8 p.m. group over the summer at the reminder lieutenant, superviBaby Pool War Ball, Outdoor Squash Court Gaga, JCC camp (Voted Best in sor for the very very nervous, Pizza Dinner included Omaha by Omaha Magazine) and, the most important, Thursday, Nov. 15, 6-8 p.m. and noticed how incredible chief of children’s decisions.

Indoor Water Polo/Outdoor Campus Scavenger Hunt they were. They had tons of Like I said, serious stuff.

Pizza Dinner Included spirit about everything! The The JCC is a great place and Wednesday, Nov. 21, 6 p.m.-9 a.m. summer was filled with lots of Corey (Kirshenbaum) and I Sleepover in Youth Department Teen lounge laughs, enthusiasm, inside couldn’t be more excited to be Thursday, Dec. 13, 6-8 p.m. jokes, and a wonderful spirit working with this wonderful Kids vs. Parents Competition night, of camaraderie. It was a great group.

Pizza Dinner included summer.

If you are one of the 40, Thursday, Dec. 27 The JCC Youth Departfourth-sixth grade kids, who Field Trip: Defy Gravity ment has taken this summer’s have joined us for our success and encapsulated it Outdoor Game Night or Thursday, Jan. 3 into exciting monthly PreHusker Tailgate, you know Field Trip: Mystery Bus Ride teen get-togethers for fourthhow fun these programs are.

Thursday, Jan. 24 sixth graders. It is changing If you have yet to experience Field Trip: Movie the face of the JCC Youth the excitement, join our Saturday, Feb. 16, 6 p.m.-9 a.m.

Department! quickly growing group.

Second Annual Sleep Over There is already a buzz with The schedule of events is this new program. Older kids want to know what it is, cur- available at the JCC Youth Depart-ment’s Facebook page, rent fourth-sixth graders want to know what it is, and future through Twitter updates, email and in hardcopy flyers. For fourth-sixth graders can’t wait to be a part of it. any questions, email me at Cpersigehl@jccomaha.org or The goal of these programs is to create an entire fourth- call 402.334.6408. sixth grade universe; their own over-nights, theme days, and Parents, please RSVP for your 4th-6th graders with Laura programming; all of them larger than life.

Wine at lwine@jccomaha.org or at 402.334.6419.

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by PATRICIA NEWMAN for Beth Israel Sisterhood What’s fabulous about this year’s fall fashions? Beth Israel Sisterhood will answer this question during “Fall...

Fashions... Fabulous,” its annual luncheon and style show on Sunday, Nov. 11. Women from throughout the community will come together for a delightful afternoon of socializing, delicious food and silent auction culminating with a style show featuring fashions from Chico’s.

“It is so exciting to be a part of this year’s event,” states Sarah Grossman Lopez. “Seeing such a diverse group of women attending the luncheon and supporting Sisterhood is a tribute to how our community comes together.” She continues saying, “I remember attending a luncheon when I was in elementary school and having the chance to model with my beloved bubba, Miriam Grossman. That is a very special memory for me.” Sarah and her mother, Mary Sue Grossman, are co-chairs for this year’s event. They, along with committee members Bette Kozlen and Helene Shrago plus numerous volunteers, are working to ensure it will be a fabulous happening for everyone to enjoy.

The event will be held at Beth Israel Synagogue, 12604 Pacific Street, with happenings beginning at 11:30 a.m. with time for attendees to socialize and enjoy appetizers, while checking out the many items in the Silent Auction plus shopping the Sisterhood Gift Shop. “Shop for your friends, shop for

Celebrating together

your family and don’t forget to shop for yourself,” comments Bette Kozlen, Gift Shop chair. “All Gift Shop items, including great new items for Hanukkah, will be available for purchase.”

The committee is also hard at work finalizing items for the Silent Auction, an always popular attraction. Giftware, jewelry, housewares and gift certificates are just a few of the many selections that will be available, and there are always several items that attract some high spirited bidding.

Lunch will be served at noon with Nancy Mattly of Culinary Services providing the delicious buffet lunch, which will of course include yummy desserts.

The style show will begin immediately after lunch with Beth Israel Sisterhood members modeling the latest fashions.

Having Chico’s provide the style show fashions will put a true sparkle to the afternoon. For the past 25 years, Chico’s has helped millions of women look as great as they feel. Their motto of “It’s all about you” is found in its 600 boutiques found nationwide. The One Pacific Street location is enthusiastic about being a part of the event and having an opportunity to preview some of their favorite fashions with the group.

“This is such a great way to share a relaxed afternoon with friends, treat yourself to a wonderful lunch, ‘shop til’ you drop’ and simply enjoy,” comments Tobye Swichkow, Sisterhood president. “We invite women from throughout the community to treat themselves to this lovely event.”

The luncheon and style show is the annual fundraiser for Beth Israel Sisterhood, providing the financial support for Sisterhood’s many projects for the synagogue. Attendees are encouraged to be “donors” at categories from $36 to $108.

Each donor category includes one lunch. One may also enjoy just lunch for $18. Reservations are needed by Nov. 1.

Babysitting is available by reservation with a requested donation of $5 per child. For reservations or for more information, please call the synagogue office at 402.556.6288.

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Andy Greenberg, left, helps students from the Pennie Z. Davis Childhood Development Center celebrate Simchat Torah at the Rose Blumkin Home. Residents, including Cantor Leo and his wife Annette Fettman, joined in.

Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewish omaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.

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October 19, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 11

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Congressman Lee Terry, candidate for Congress, will speak on Wednesday, Oct. 24, noon at the Blumkin Home.

An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha. org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH It has been said that Yiddish doesn’t only have words, it also has an attitude. Leo Rosten wrote: “Yiddish never takes its tongue out of its cheeks!” Come join us at the Rose Bumkin Home’s Boardroom, at 1-3 p.m., every Thursday.

Silenced Voices resonated with composer

by STEPHANIE LUDWIG The silenced voices of musicians and composers that perished in the Terezin concentration camp struck a chord for composer Clint Needham.

“The word ‘voices’ continually entered my mind while working on this composition,” said Needham, composer of Voices, a new work commissioned by the Terezin Music Foundation, the Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE) and the Holland Foundation. “The term carries with it a variety of personal meanings, not the least of which is that music by the composers interned at the Terezin concentration camp became new voices for me as a listener. These voices, silenced by the horrific events of the Holocaust, resonated with me directly, since most of the composers were about my age when they perished.”

Needham’s Voices will debut Sunday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m., at the Omaha Symphony’s first Symphony Joslyn concert, Remembrance, Creativity, Transformation. The concert is the culmination of IHE’s week-long concert and artist-in-residency program.

Voices was written specifically for, and will be performed by, the Hawthorne String Quartet and the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra.

Much of the concert repertoire will focus on the sorrow of the Holocaust. Many Jewish artists and intellectuals were interned at Terezin, producing a lively cultural life that included concerts, art exhibitions and theatrical productions.

But while the camp was used as a “show camp” to Red Cross officials, at least 20 percent of the population died of malnutrition and disease, while most others were shipped to death camps such as Auschwitz. Needham’s work will commemorate the musicians lost at the Terezin.

Needham said the artistic perseverance in the face of persecution inspired him while writing Voices, which he tried to evoke in the music.

“The term ‘voices’ applies to the quartet itself. Members of the group act as both four separate voices and as a singular voice throughout,” Needham said.

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The IHE turns 13 with a special benefit concert

by HILLARY FLETCHER IHE Marketing Coordinator The Institute for Holocaust Education will celebrate its 13th year of serving Nebraska and surrounding communities with a concert featuring a creative fusion of art and music and, of course, a bit of reflection.

On Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. at the JCC, the Institute for Holocaust Education and the Terezín Music Foundation will host a benefit concert for the IHE. Silenced Voices of Terezín is just one of the concerts in Remembrance, Creativity and Transformation, a weeklong artist in residency and music series that features music of artists murdered in concentration camps and music inspired by these artists.

This project, more than two years in the making, opened months ago with workshops for area after-school program students who were introduced to the work of children and artists interned at the Terezín concentration camp.

This project is a wonderful example of the work of the IHE whose mission is to provide educational resources, workshops, survivor testimony, and integrated arts programming to students, educators and the public as well as providing support to Holocaust survivors in our community.

The Institute for Holocaust Education has a long history of outstanding educational and arts programming. For the past 12 years, Executive Director of the IHE, Beth Dotan and the IHE staff, have thoughtfully incorporated many forms of art into Holocaust education for students and the community at large. Brundibár and Hana’s Suitcase, produced for the stage, reached thousands of area students and community members. Gallery showings of artwork from Elá Weisberger, an artist interned at Terezín, and the uncovered archives of Emanuel Ringleblum, who was interned at the Warsaw ghetto, provided invaluable detail to the many who toured these exhibits. Dotan curated the exhibits Diaries of Humanity, The Wartime Escape: Margaret and H.A. Rey’s Journey From France, and Searching for Humanity: Veterans, Victims and Survivors of World War II as well as Portraits of Survival, a moving book of photographs of Holocaust survivors. The IHE’s Holocaust Film series’ has provided an additional artistic look at the Holocaust, survivors and genocides across the globe. The Tribute to the Rescuers High School Essay

Contest allows students to show their insight into the lessons of the Holocaust and offers them a chance to express themselves in writing. The contest has had a thousand submissions in the last ten years. This is the short list.

In 12 years, Dotan and the IHE have covered Nebraska and reached tens of thousands through arts programming, but also through educator training (Bearing Witness - an ADL Catholic Educators’ Conference, Echoes and Reflections: Multimedia Curriculum), survivor testimony, Holocaust commemorations, the Nebraska Holocaust Education Consortium and partnerships with Creighton University (Hitler’s Courts video and curriculum and a visit with Justice Gabriel Bach), Omaha Public Schools (A Week of Understanding), Strategic Air and Space Museum (Searching for Humanity), Center for Faith Studies (Gerda Weisman Klein and more), the Durham Museum and the AntiDefamation League -to name just a few. And now, in its 13th year, the IHE offers an extraordinary new program for the public.

The IHE looks forward to continuing its mission for many more years and is excited about the upcoming benefit concert. Silenced Voices of Terezín, produced by the Terezín Music Foundation, includes the Hawthorne String Quartet performing works composed in Terezín, as well as Hans Krása’s String Quartet (1923). As the Quartet performs the Krása composition, noted landscape painter Jim Schantz will paint a new work of art inspired by the music.

This is a very unique opportunity for Omaha. Schantz and the Hawthorne String Quartet do not perform together very often so that each experience reveals an unparalleled collaboration. The IHE challenges the community to fill the theater for this unusual experience. As Dotan says, “Our mission is to teach and to reach as many people as possible with each event. We are always looking for ways to include more people, more groups -- to inspire and educate anyone within reach and to honor the history and lessons of the Holocaust.”

For more information on Remembrance, Creativity and Transformation or to purchase tickets for the Silenced Voices of Terezín or any of the performances, please visit www.ihevents.org. Patron tickets are also available at this site.

To read more about the work of the Institute for Holocaust Education, please visit www.ihene.org.

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12 | The Jewish Press | October 19, 2012

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Ordinary people

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Against the backdrop of a potentially nuclear Iran, we’ve been focusing quite a bit on what to do about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his nefarious plans. Most of the discourse, however, centers on what is said (and what remains unsaid) among a very small number of world leaders. And that poses a problem. It especially does so during an election year.

Both the US presidential candidate and the incumbent have large egos, as, I imagine does Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. You sort of have to, in order to seek political office, and to survive all the noise that accompanies it.

And as far as Mahmoud is concerned, well. His is the biggest ego of all. But we, as the public, can mistakenly believe the politicians’ opinions are the only ones that matter. And that is not necessarily the case. Or, at least, it doesn’t have to be.

In March of this year, Israeli graphic designers Ronny Edry and Michal Tamir launched an initiative on Facebook titled “Israel loves Iran.” It was meant to reach regular people with a sincere wish for peace. Followers were urged to upload their own images, and send messages to their Iranian counterparts. “Not ready to die in your war,” one read, and “We will never bomb your country. Israel loves Iran.” Videos were uploaded to Youtube, and when Iranian people responded, the movement started gaining momentum. “When I uploaded the first picture to my personal page,” says Edry, “it got so many hits from people -- Iranians and Israelis -- that it just crashed. The goal of the campaign is to reach out to our governments and show them the faces of real people. In the formal media, most of what we hear is talk about war, and we want to show the people themselves that we are different from the government, and war is not what we want.” (Haaretz.com)

Soon, it was no longer only Israelis and Iranians; additional countries added their voice. America joined, as did Syria, Morocco, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, France, and many more, all with their own following. And earlier this month, 70 buses in Tel Aviv drove around with advertisements showing the faces of Iranians and Israelis, declaring the same message. And that original small Facebook page, which had exactly 1,000 fans when I first saw it in March of this year, had grown an audience almost 100,000 strong.

We can choose to be cynical. Who could blame us for losing faith in humankind, when we look at the way things are?

The atrocities in Syria continue, the results of the Arab Spring remain questionable, and human rights are violated in many places, and Israel’s safety is forever in question. One peaceful Facebook initiative, no matter how well intended, isn’t going to stop conflicts or slow down rockets.

But what if, just for one second, we allow ourselves to believe? What if, for once, we choose to sit back, and listen, really listen, to all these other voices? Because there is a mes-

sage here that may be worth hearing, especially for those of us who do not live in the Middle East.

It’s one thing to talk about war as an inevitable end to the current tensions. We know Iran’s potential development of nuclear weapons needs to be stopped, but who knows how to do that? If diplomatic talks won’t help, other options need to be considered, at least. However, there is a difference between discussing war at home, and discussing war that will take place elsewhere. Watching rockets hit your own backyard is a very different experience than seeing the destruction on Television. Not to mention the fact that in any military conflict, innocents die on both sides. But then, the alternative could be much, much worse.

War is not a reality show, to be fought out on a faraway place, in some overproduced jungle. There are no random challenges where prizes can be won; no one will be voted off the island. What those Facebook messages are trying to remind us of is that war involves real people.

Everyday, regular, ordinary people, who will watch their lives disintegrate because the politicians decided it should be so. And maybe, when those politicians make their decision, they do so because they have no other option, because they tried to resolve this peacefully, and failed. Maybe they cannot be blamed for ultimately choosing the path that will result in the least amount of damage. Politicians are different than ordinary people; they have to be. Their discourse, just like their actions, cannot be the same as those of ordinary people. The very nature of their jobs forbids thinking along the same lines as the social media activist.

But even under those circumstances, we should remember the human lives at stake. And perhaps that is the ultimate purpose of Edry’s initiative: that in the face of certain facts, we do not forget our humanity.

Steps Israel should take to control its destiny

Focus on issues GILEAD SHER TEL AVIV (JTA) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told European diplomats that he will resume negotiations with Israel on a two-state solution after the United Nations votes in November on a Palestinian request for “non-member state” status. What’s most interesting about the widespread report this week is that Abbas made no mention of his longstanding demand for Israel to halt West Bank settlement construction, which Israel has refused, before peace talks resume.

But attempts at negotiation have failed for more than three years while the Iranian nuclear threat has pushed the IsraeliPalestinian conflict off the international agenda.

That’s why a new approach for tackling this conflict is needed -- one that would give the parties a sense of progress and hope, and facilitate a return to negotiations. It would aim at attaining transitional arrangements, such as a partial, phased or interim agreement, rather than a permanent-status agreement.

One new approach, developed by Blue White Future, a nonpartisan Israeli organization, entails constructive unilateral measures by Israel and/or the Palestinians, mutually coordinated in certain cases. This would diminish the conflict by gradually creating a reality of two states.

A unilateral measure is constructive if it does not contradict the vision of two states for two peoples -- even more so if it promotes this vision -- and if it does not obstruct a return to negotiations. It is not contingent on a renewal of negotiations or on progress in talks. Instead, these steps would proceed in tandem with efforts to negotiate a settlement, with

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borders based on the June 1967 lines with territorial swaps.

For Israel, it is important to implement these measures precisely when it is not subject to pressure from violence and terrorism, as it currently is not.

For example, Israel should implement a voluntary evacuation-compensation plan -- and pass laws -- for settlers living east of the security fence so that those who wish can begin relocating to within Israel proper or to the settlement blocs that will become part of Israel in any land-swap agreement, even before an agreement is reached. According to recent polls, nearly 30 percent of these 100,000 settlers would accept compensation and quickly relocate into Israel proper.

Israel also should put into place a construction freeze east of the security fence and in the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Construction in the main settlement blocs and the Jewish neighborhoods in the Jerusalem region may continue.

This plan does not include the mandatory removal of settlers. The Israeli Defense Forces will remain in the areas where Jewish communities are located and that have been voluntarily evacuated. Only after a long and monitored period of quiet will Israel withdraw its forces and consider the presence of an international force in the evacuated territories. The IDF will maintain its freedom of action in these areas. This will prevent the creation of a security vacuum and avoid the serious mistake made in 2005, when Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, which then became a launching pad for rockets and missiles targeting Israel.

Through this constructive unilateral approach, which does not depend on a Palestinian partner or on progress in the political process, Israel will affirm that its policy is driven by choice and for the sake of its national interests.

What’s more, by promoting a reality of two states, Israel will deliver a message to the Palestinians that it does not see its

future in territories east of the security fence and does not oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state. But Israel’s continued construction in the settlement blocs also will deliver a message: Return to the negotiating table. Otherwise, a reality of two states whose common border is the route of the security fence or any similar route decided by Israel will take hold.

The Palestinian Authority’s seeking U.N. recognition and constructively building institutions of statehood in the West Bank are unilateral steps. Neither contradicts the two-state vision. Though Israel and the Obama administration object to the bid for statehood, it provides opportunities they should explore.

If negotiations resume, they should be based on a “what has been agreed will be implemented” principle. This will replace the “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” formula and smooth the path toward transitional arrangements and partial, gradual agreements. This will enable progress to be made on core territorial and security issues without discussions of Jerusalem and the Palestinian refugees holding up progress.

Given the slide toward a binational state, Israel must take control of its destiny by taking constructive unilateral measures to ensure its future as a democratic Jewish state secure in its borders.

The U.S. president should support this approach, as it is also in America’s interest. It would encourage steps aimed at facilitating an Israeli-Palestinian agreement and reducing tensions in the Middle East, thereby improving the environment for dealing with Iran’s nuclear threat.

Gilead Sher, co-founder of Blue White Future in Israel, was Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s chief of staff and Israel’s co-chief negotiator with the Palestinians in 2000 and 2001. He is a senior research associate at the Tel Aviv Institute for National Security Studies.

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October 19, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 13

Solving hunger means sharing the wealth

Behind the headlines ARI WEISS NEW YORK (JTA) -- To eat: a cup of black beans, a few ounces of pasta and a bit of tuna. To drink: water. This was my dinner menu one Friday night last November as my fellow dinner guests dined on standard Shabbat fare: homemade challah, two types of salad, chicken prepared three ways, three bottles of wine, four side dishes, cake and fruit for desert, tea. I generally look forward to Shabbat dinner, but I had decided that week to join rabbis and faith leaders across the country to participate in a food stamp challenge.

Some background about the challenge, which this year is being held Nov. 11-17: The average recipient of aid in the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP -- commonly known as food stamps -- receives $31.50 in benefits per week. That works out to $4.50 a day or $1.50 a meal, assuming three meals a day. In participating in the food stamp challenge, I had committed to spending only $31.50 on food and drink for a week, including Shabbat. I did so for two reasons: to deeply understand the day-to-day reality of the 45.7 million Americans who receive federal aid each week necessary for their survival, and to have this knowledge lead me to act to ensure that this essential strand of the social safety net would not be cut in proposed deficient reduction legislation.

Growing up, my family never required government assistance. The day after that Friday night dinner, while at shul, I realized how lucky I was: A friend had heard about my participation in the food stamp challenge and confided to me that her family had received food stamps throughout her childhood. Without this form of government assistance, there were times when she would have gone hungry. She wanted to remind me that hunger is not just an issue for gentiles, that there are many in the American Jewish community who struggle with food insecurity as well.

This conversation, as well as many others I had during the week I participated in the challenge, left me with a deep awareness of the fragility of my own circumstances. My family had the resources to nurture me as I grew, and I realized that the wealth and privilege I enjoyed was a matter of mere chance and therefore not a predicate of fairness. My life would have been much different were I born to parents who were food insecure or did not provide an environment that would nurture me and allow my talents to flourish.

But if the circumstances of life are based on luck, in what sense can I claim, with integrity and as a matter of justice, that my resources belong solely to me?

A variation of this line of reasoning is forcibly argued by John Rawls in A Theory of Justice, perhaps the most influential social justice work of the 20th century. But all great philosophical works have a pre-history, and the idea that wealth is not our own is a core teaching of the Torah.

Time and again, the Torah reminds us that the land, the generator of wealth in the agrarian economy of the Bible, is God’s: “For mine is the land, for you are sojourning settlers with me” (Leviticus 25:23).

The Jewish people are graced with our wealth and property by God; we cannot claim it as our own. As the Torah tells us in Deuteronomy 9:4, “Do not say in your heart... through my merit did the Lord bring me to take this land.”

Rather it is through God’s goodness that we enjoy the land’s bounty.

This leads to the great concern of the Torah’s teaching about wealth, to a delusional narcissism that prioritizes our efforts and forgets that our capacity to create wealth transcends individual effort: “Lest you eat and be sated,” the Torah warns, “and build goodly houses and dwell in them.

And your cattle and sheep multiply for you, and all that you have will multiply for you... And you will say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand made me this wealth.’”

(Deut. 8:12-13:17).

The fantasy of the wealthy, who believe that wealth is gen-

erated solely through individual effort, could not have been stated better by Ayn Rand. Yet the Torah straight on counters the myth of the self-made person: “And you will remember the Lord, your God,” the Torah informs us, that it is God and God alone “gives you power to make wealth” (Deut. 8:18).

If all this is correct and the core biblical teachings about wealth are that it originates with God who gifted it to us, then what are the conditions of its use? Here, too, the Torah provides the answer: If we receive wealth as a gift from God, it is essential that we in turn gift it to those in need.

Throughout the Torah there are various avenues through which this is accomplished, from tithing to leaving a corner of a field for the poor, and so on. All these commandments stem from the same motivation: our wealth is not completely ours, therefore we do not have complete control in its use. The 16th century commentator Rabbi Moshe Alshech could not have said it clearer: “do not think that you are giving to the poor from your own possession, or that I despised the poor person by not giving him as I gave you. For he is my son, as you are, and his share is in your grain; it is to your benefit to give him his share from your property.”

All this brings me back to my participation in the food stamp challenge. Based on my experience and my understanding of the Jewish tradition, I deeply believe that my station in life is accidental, unlike billions around the world and millions in America who lack this basic security.

If so, then I have an obligation to share the wealth that God has given me to ensure that those born without it have the same privileges and opportunities that I enjoy. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a necessary part of this social safety net. To make sure it remains there, I ask that you join me take the food stamp challenge on Nov. 11-17.

Rabbi Ari Weiss is the executive director of Uri L’Tzedek, a social justice organization of the Orthodox movement.

Democratic values should be Israel’s red line

Focus on issues DANIEL SOKATCH SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) -- Politicians sometimes save the most important truths for a foreign audience.

Sometimes those truths really need to be said at home.

On Meet the Press earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a particular point about the liberal values shared by the United States and his country. In characterizing those rioting in the Middle East against the United States, Netanyahu said, “There is a tinderbox of hatred here from a virulent strain of Islam that takes moderate Muslims and Arabs and attacks them first, but seeks to deprive all of us of the basic values that we have.

They’re against human rights, they’re against the rights of women, they’re against freedom of religion, they’re against freedom of speech and freedom of expression. They’re against all the things that we value. They’re against tolerance. They’re against pluralism and they’re against freedom.”

As the New Israel Fund has fought for 34 years for civil rights, tolerance, pluralism, and women’s and minority rights in Israel, this statement of Israel’s values was quite welcome -- particularly when Israel’s own democracy often seems to be increasingly at risk.

Members of the prime minister’s Likud Party and govern-

Did you know?

ing coalition have introduced more than 40 bills in the Knesset that would defund or penalize Israel’s human rights groups, constrict minority rights or weaken the independence of Israel’s media and judiciary. Despite High Court rulings, women continue to be excluded from everything from the airwaves (on the government-funded Orthodox radio station) to the front seats of public bus lines to ordinary commercial advertisements in Jerusalem.

Even more worrisome is the upsurge in racist incitement and violence. Knesset members from Likud and other parties in the governing coalition have characterized asylum seekers from Africa in the most prejudicial terms, leading a summer rally against them that turned into a violent riot.

The attempted “lynching” of an Arab youth in Jerusalem last month and the firebombing in the territories of a car with a Palestinian family are only the most visible incidents in which minorities are threatened or attacked, or their property expropriated. No one has yet been convicted of any of the vigilante “price tag” attacks on mosques in Israel or the territories.

The Likud Party was founded in a historic tradition of steadfast commitment to the values of Western, liberal democracies. From Ze’ev Jabotinsky to Benny Begin, there have been leaders of the Israeli right whose dedication to democratic values cannot be questioned. And we are sure that Netanyahu’s experience living in the United States

taught him that American Jews are ferociously dedicated to those values. Indeed, we are influential far beyond our numbers in supporting civil rights and pluralism organizations such as the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center and People for the American Way. Israel’s still-functioning democracy can be an example to its neighbors, now struggling toward a better and more democratic future. It can guarantee and deliver on the promises of “full social and political equality for all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex” and “full freedom of conscience, worship, education and culture” enshrined in the Proclamation of the State of Israel. It can equalize opportunity for those Israelis left out and do much to remedy the situation of the shrinking middle class -- the people who filled the streets during last year’s social protest.

Most of all, Israel can preserve its relationship with the United States and with American Jews in particular by defending the shared values described by the prime minister. We believe in an Israel that fulfills the promise of its founders, both as a Jewish homeland and as a state that treats all of its citizens and residents decently, equally and with justice. We want to be proud of Israel’s commitment to human and civil rights and to freedom.

Daniel Sokatch is the president and CEO of the New Israel Fund. This article was edited for length. The full text can be found on www.jta.com/opinion.

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14 | The Jewish Press | October 19, 2012

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; MinchaMa’ariv, 6:25 p.m.; Dinner and Drash, 7 p.m., following Shabbat services. Rabbi Levin will discuss “The Agreeing to Disagree of Hillel and Shammai: What We Can Learn from It.” Cost: $12.50. RSVP online at www.bethel-omaha.org, or contact the synagogue office.

SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; Mincha-Ma’ariv, 6:25 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; BESTT Synagogue Mystery Tour for grades 1 and 2. For more information, contact Eadie Tsabari at 402.498.0904, or etsabari@bethelomaha.org; Hebrew Crash Course, 11 a.m. adult-education class for adults who want to learn to read Hebrew, led by Susi Frydman-Levin and continues on Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and 11, Dec. 9 and 16; A Jewish view of the new testament adult-education class on 11 a.m. led by Rabbi Levin. Class will explore a variety of aspects of the text. No charge to attend; Registration is required. To register, contact Margie in the office, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org; Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, all 20- and 30-somethings (single and married) and families in the Jewish community are invited to a Fall Fun Day at the pumpkin patch. At 4 p.m., meet at the hayrack ride; then at 6 p.m., a bonfire and picnic will be held at campsite #11. Admission, $13.29. No charge for children two and younger. Register and pay online at www.bethelomaha.org. For more information, contact Sonia Tipp at stipp0811@yahoo.com or 402.968.5519; or Laurie Epstein, at laurieepstein@hotmail.com or 702.884.4153.

MONDAY: Wrestling with Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham; Tai Chi Class class 6 p.m., taught by certified Tai Chi instructor Beth Staenberg and run the following five weeks. Cost is $18 for Beth El members, $25 for non-members. Register online at www.bethel-omaha.org.

For more information, contact Margie in the office.

THURSDAY: Drinks and Dames, 7 p.m. at the synagogue.

The Highly Controversial Laws of the Torah, Sunday, Oct. 28, 11a.m., led by Andy Greenberg.

Kibbutz Chaverim, Oct. 28, 12:15–3:30 p.m., for children in grades 3-7. We’ll enjoy lunch and bowling; parent volunteers welcome. Pick-up and drop-off at Beth El. Cost, $10.

RSVP to etsabari@bethel-omaha.org.

All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org 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, 6:19 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting service begins at 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah

Bar Mitzvah Seth Harry Norton, son of Susie and Mike Norton, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Temple Israel.

Seth is an eighth-grade student at Westside Middle School. He is a Duke TIP participant.

His interests include playing football and wrestling, and reading.

For his mitzvah project, Seth helped with meal preparation, delivery and distribution as part of Westside Community Schools’ EATS nutrition program (Eat all through summer).

He has three brothers, Justin, Aaron and Leo. Grandparents are Silvia and Larry Roffman, and Pat and Phil Flaherty of Weymouth, MA.

Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Michael, Lesli, Noah, Jack & Helene Shrago in honor of Ethan's Bar Mitzvah; The Laws of Shabbat, 4 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Boys (ages 10 and up), 5 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Twitter Topic class, 5 p.m.; Mincha, 6 p.m., followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 7:17 p.m.

SUNDAY: Gemara class, 8 a.m., learning tractate Kiddushin; Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast; LEAP Limmud for Teens, 10 a.m.; PLearVie (Pizza, Learning & Movie) for sixth, seventh and eighth graders, 6 p.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Teens 4 Israel Latte and Learning, 7:30 p.m. at Starbucks, 114th & Dodge.

TUESDAY: Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross; Weekly Med Center Class, 1 p.m.; Scholars Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:30 p.m. with Rabbi Mizrahi.

CHABAD CENTER An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service.

SUNDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 8:30 a.m. followed by Breakfast Bonanza.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. Please reserve by calling 402.330.1800.

All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis.

FRIDAY: Friday Night Live Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Jayne Drapper and Julie Moore.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Noach; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; LJCS Board, 2 p.m. at South Street Temple.

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

ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Bagels ‘n Brew, 9:30 a.m. and Sex in the text

Candlelighting Friday, October 19, 6:19 p.m.

class, 10-11 a.m. led by Dan Clanton at Tifereth Israel.

TUESDAY, 6:30 p.m. Intro to Judaism, Session #1

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway | Offutt AFB, NE 68113 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Marty Shukert.

Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Brown and Cantor Shermet.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Samantha Sullivan, daughter of Louri and Charlie Sullivan, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Teachers Meeting, 9:30 a.m.; Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; Grades 1 & 2 Synagogue Mystery Tour, 10 a.m.; OTYG Conclave planning meeting, noon; Religious School Steering Committee Meeting, 12:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4-6 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6-8 p.m.; Grades 7-8, 6-8 p.m.; Temple Teen Night, 6 p.m.; Movie: For My Father, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: The History of Judaism in Greece with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. with special guest Rabbi Steven Abraham of Beth El Synagogue.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. with the d’var torah given by Rabbi Abraham. Services will be followed by a lunch and learn by Rabbi Abraham and a special Kiddush lunch.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; LJCS Board, 2 p.m. at South Street Temple.

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

ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Bagels ‘n Brew, 9:30 a.m. and Sex in the text class, 10-11 a.m. led by Dan Clanton at Tifereth Israel.

Going far, far away

by LEON SHRAGO quick to point out that the Torah reading that week is Lech Step into the welcoming office of Rabbi Yitzchak Lecha, in which the patriarch Abraham is instructed to Mizrahi and be greeted by a shelf filled with varied and leave his homeland and begin his travels for the benefit of colorful hand puppets. Next is a black and white line draw- mankind. There can be no doubt that the people of New ing of a little boy, chin on his hands, with the caption, “I Zealand will benefit from the sincerity, dedication and know I’m somebody, ‘cause G-d don’t make no junk.” efforts of this modest, unassuming man and his active and Inches away is a hand carved “Chai” started by the rabbi’s supportive wife and partner, Talia.

The congregation was grandfather, Rabbi Isaac introduced to Rabbi Mizrahi Nadoff, and completed by when he visited his grandRabbi Mizrahi. Can this mother, Jeanette Nadoff in space be occupied by a 2005, and also in 2006 and Torah Scholar? The answer 2007, when he served as is an unequivocal yes! These Rabbinic intern and also as items represent a rainbow of the guard on the Beth Israel talent, intellect and caring, mission to Israel led by as does the scholarly text Rabbi Gross. He joined the open before him.

Beth Israel family as Rabbi Mizrahi, his wife Associate Rabbi in 2008.

Talia, and their daughter Yael and son Moshe will Talia, an infant developsoon leave their home and The Mizrahi Family: Yael, left, Talia with son Moshe sitting mental therapy specialist, friends in Omaha for on her lap, and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi has worked in programs for Wellington, New Zealand, where he will become the rabbi at risk kids in the Omaha area. of the Wellington Jewish Community Center, which is the During his tenure, Rabbi Mizrahi and Talia served the focus of Jewish communal and religious life in the com- congregation and community in many capacities. Talia munity of about 1500 Jews. Beth Israel will say tseitchem welcomed guests from all sectors of the community into l’shalom (farewell and much success) to the Mizrahis at a their home and made a special effort to reach out to the congregational Kiddush lunch on Saturday, Oct. 27, fol- elderly at synagogue and community events. The lowing Shabbat morning services. Rabbi Mizrahi was Continued on page 15

Pulverent e

October 19, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 15

Three human structures

In memoriam MINETTE L. KATZ

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Noach Some readers of the Bible, literalists, have actually attempted to find remnants of Noah’s Ark in various places in the Middle East. In the view of most of us, such slavish reading of the holy text makes us miss any real meaning in the ancient story.

Let us note this, at least: Noah’s Ark, whether there was such a vessel or not, was not meant for permanent dwelling.

It was not even a houseboat. It was a way of waiting out the storm. It brought survival. But that was all. It did not contribute to the values of life.

The Tower of Babel, near the end of our Parsha, is pictured as a great structure, reaching into the heavens. We may well assume the Tower is reminiscent of the temple towers of Babylonia and Assyria, the ziggurats.

The ziggurat was meant to provide a shrine, a place to worship the gods as close to them as one could get—in the very heavens. Our ancient Scripture writer cannot be blamed for not appreciating this, or for looking upon them as offensive. Indeed, the Tower of Babel was somehow considered to be an offense against God. But the Tower, like Noah’s Ark, could not identify and protect the values of life.

There is a third structure mentioned briefly in our Sidrah.

It is the altar that Noah built when he left the Ark. It didn’t last forever, but its idea did. Noah offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to God when he left his temporary shelter. He had survived, and life was to continue.

But Noah had an overwhelming religious experience. It was not enough for life to continue; it had to be meaningful as well. He had to attach his puny life to ideas, even if unarticulated, that would last for his lifetime and the lifetimes of his children for all time. He built an altar “unto the Lord.”

Life could have meaning only if it was somehow attached to the Lord, somehow informed, somehow driven by Him and dedicated to Him. Noah is mankind. He is 10 generations before Abraham, the first Jew. The Hebrew Scriptures see life as the privilege and responsibility of all mankind, for we are all children of Noah. Life and its purposes beckon to us all.

Rabbi Kripke is enjoying a family visit. Thus, we offer you a reprint from his book, Insight and Interpretation.

Going far, far away Continued from page 14 hospitalized and homebound looked forward to the rabbi’s warm visits. He quietly and effectively addressed the personalneeds of adults, teens, and pre-teens with keen insight, and always with discretion.

Rabbi Mizrahi put great energy into the educational needs of the community. Classes he offered for adults included introduction to the structure and meaning of prayer, insights into the lessons of the Torah, and a weekly Talmud class. The Thursday class at the Nebraska Medical Center shed light on the meaning of the commandments, based on Midrashic sources. Having studied Talmud one-on-one with him, I can attest to his communication, teaching skills as well as his intellectual acuity.

In addition to individual instruction as part of Beth Israel’s youth education program, Rabbi Mizrahi offered illustrated Biblical history through the scholars’ club for kids which met at the Blumkin Home. At Beth Israel, on selected Saturday afternoons, he provided timely educational experiences for children and parents in a special activity, called Veshinantam, named for the Torah commandment to teach our children. In both of these venues, he cleverly elicited the participation of all the children who worked on and presented puppet shows on a variety of subjects of substance in a memorable and fun manner. The puppets were acquired with the aid of a grant from the Carolyn Kully Newman Memorial Fund. The rabbi’s efforts in education included participation in the Beth Israel education committee. It was especially helpful to have him sit in on youth classes, giving teachers pointers and moral support.

In addition to the Mizrahis’ legacy of spirituality and friendship, there is a physical one as well. Murals painted by the rabbi depicting scenes of Jerusalem grace the Beth Israel Sukkah and Jewish Funeral home.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s energy, initiative and set toward action will serve his new community well. When asked what he was looking forward to in Wellington, the first thing he said was, “establishing relationships and making friends and to continue to learn.”

We will all miss them.

Minette L. Katz passed away on Oct. 11. Services were held on Oct. 14 at Beth El Cemetery and were performed by Rabbi Levin and Cantor Krausman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Katz, and daughter, Judi Katz.

She is survived by her daughters, Betsy Katz and Nancy Neinchel, and sons, Dr. David Katz and Dr. Steven Katz.

She was active in community affairs, and was a former docent at Joslyn Art Museum. She was an extremely kind and generous woman who loved life.

Memorials may be made to Project Interfaith, P.O. Box 6037, Omaha, NE 68106.

MILTON M. SAYLAN Milton M. Saylan passed away on Oct. 14 at age 94.

Services were held on Oct. 16 in the Chapel at Temple Israel Cemetery, 42nd and Redick Street.

He was preceded in death by his son, Craig; parents, Jack and Yetta Saylan; siblings, Libby Sherman, Harriet Brown, Maynard Saylan.

He is survived by his wife, Rosalie Saylan; daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Bob Shapiro of Lincoln, son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Jacki Saylan; daughter-in-law, Ellen Saylan; grandchildren: Stephanie McCarthy, Jackie Barron, Scott, Kevin, David and Amy Saylan; and nine great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Red Cross, 3838 Dewey Ave. Omaha, 68105; Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, 323 South 132 St. Omaha, 68154 or Temple Israel, 7023 Cass St. Omaha, 68132.

HELENA TICHAUER Helena Tichauer passed away on Oct. 6 at age 89. Services were held on Oct. 7 at Beth El Cemetery and were performed by Rabbi Levin and Cantor Krausman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Tichauer.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Gayle Tichauer, and son, Fred Tichauer; five grandchildren: Dr. Cory Tichauer and Kolleen Feldman of Medford, OR, Jayme Tichauer of Minneapolis, MN, Kelly and Thomas Kirk, Randi and Matt Wisecarver, and Dr. Ryan and Marianna Tichauer of Queens NY; great-grandchildren: Lauren, Emily and Jacob Kirk, Aralia and Zaiden Tichauer of Medford, OR, Tshuva Baila and Avigayil Rivka Tichauer of Queens, NY. Helena was born in Krakow, Poland on Dec. 9, 1922. She was a Holocaust survivor from the Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen concentration camps. After liberation, Helena made her way to Sweden before emigrating to Montevideo, Uruguay, where she met and married Walter Tichauer, who fled Germany after Kristallnacht. Their two sons were born there. In 1963, the Tichauer family made their way to Omaha to reconnect with Helena’s sister Lola Reinglas.

While in the United States, Helena and Walter worked hard to live the American Dream. Helena was a woman of many talents and varied accomplishments. She was a savvy business woman, fabulous cook, gracious hostess, artist and hospital volunteer. Helena was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her greatest joy in life was her family and friends. She was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Memorials may be made to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum or the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

To submit announcements: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.

Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai b’rith mitzvahs, 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.

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16 | The Jewish Press | October 19, 2012

In southern Italy, long-lost Jews returning to the fold

by RUTH ELLEN GRUBER SAN NICANDRO GARGANICO, Italy (JTA) – In the Christian cemetery of this sleepy farming town on the spur of Italy’s boot, Lucia Leone looks up at a row of tombs marked incongruously by Stars of David.

“That’s my mother,” she said. “And that’s my grandmother and great-grandmother. And that’s Donato Manduzio, who started everything.”

Manduzio, who died in 1948, was a self-taught local peasant, a disabled World War I veteran who in 1930 embraced Judaism on his own after having a visionary dream. A charismatic figure with a reputation as a faith healer, Manduzio attracted dozens of followers among his povertystricken neighbors.

The San Nicandro Jews observed their own brand of homemade Judaism for years, even during fascist rule and World War II. But eventually they were recognized by Italian Jewish authorities and, in a remarkable episode, they formally converted en masse in the 1940s.

Manduzio died two months before Israel was born. But almost all the others in the group -- about 70 people -- made aliyah by 1949.

Leone, her family and a handful of other families are descendants of the four or five women who chose to stay behind. Against all odds, they kept Judaism alive in their homes -- and in their hearts -- for more than half a century.

Until a decade ago, they maintained a low profile.

Today they form a congregation of about 35 people that has won the embrace of Italy’s Orthodox Jewish mainstream community as part of a concerted new effort by the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, or UCEI, aimed at reaching out to so-called Returning Jews in the south.

“We don’t feel so alone anymore,” Leone said. “Every month a rabbi or teacher comes to us, and we meet up at the holidays and other times with Jews from Calabria, Sicily, Naples and elsewhere in Apulia.”

Last year, seven San Nicandro Jews underwent formal, Orthodox conversions. Leone, her husband and their two grown children were among them.

“Finally!” Leone said. “Baruch Hashem! It took five years of study, but it was a beautiful experience.”

The San Nicandro Jews are a special case. But they are

Dancers outside the 13th century Scolanova Synagogue in Trani, during the Lech Lecha Jewish culture festival, Credit: Ruth Ellen Gruber September 2012. among dozens of other Italians in the southern part of the country who are embracing Jewish identity. Spread out around several towns and cities, most are descendants of anusim -- Jews forced to convert to Christianity or face expulsion 500 years ago. Many describe mysterious family traditions rooted in Jewish practice: covering mirrors after a death or burning a bit of dough when baking bread.

“These are people who maintained their Jewishness for dozens of generations,” said Rabbi Scialom Bahbout, chief rabbi for Naples and Southern Italy. “They had very strong roots at the beginning, and these left their mark.”

Since 2010, Bahbout has been the UCEI’s religious reference point for the region. Others are reaching out, too. For the past decade, American Rabbi Barbara Aiello, whose own ancestors were anusim, has led Ner Tamid del Sud, an independent Jewish prayer and study center in Calabria. Aiello’s

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center operates outside the Orthodox Jewish establishment and is not recognized by the UCEI. But interest is so great, she said, that her group plans to open a new synagogue next summer when the building is completed.

“Ner Tamid del Sud is not affiliated with any Jewish movement,” said Aiello, who divides her time between Calabria and the United States. “We are pluralistic in that we are open and welcoming to Jews of all backgrounds, including interfaith families and Jewish families where the father is the Jewish parent.”

In early September, dozens of Jews from all over the south converged on Trani, an ancient port town on Italy’s heel, for a special Shabbat celebration that concluded Lech Lecha, a weeklong Jewish cultural festival held in Trani and nine other Apulian towns. No Jews live in Trani, but the town has been a focal point for Jewish revival since 2004, when a medieval synagogue there, that for centuries had been used as a church, was deconsecrated and restored as a house of Jewish worship.

Davide Scibilia, from Catania, Sicily, recounted how he had always known he was Jewish but only became affiliated with organized Jewry two or three years ago.

“Our Judaism was lived in the home,” he said. “We celebrated Shabbat, I didn’t go to school on Saturday, and my mother cooked dinner on Friday before sunset. My father circumcised me himself when I was eight days old.

Back in San Nicandro, Leone showed a visitor the community’s one-room meeting hall, where a picture of Manduzio held pride of place, and the tiny nearby synagogue where they meet to pray. On most Shabbats there is no minyan; most community members are women.

Keeping the mitzvahs is not always easy, Leone said. For one thing, buying kosher meat means a four-hour drive to Rome. A proud Jewish mother, Leone kvelled over how her children were both immersed in Jewish life: Her daughter studies in Rome to be a Jewish teacher, and her son serves as a kosher supervisor, or mashgiach, at Shabbatons and other events.

She did confess to one concern, however: Her daughter is still single.

“Let’s hope for a good marriage -- above all to a Jewish man,” she said. “She’s 27. It’s time.”

Remembrance, Creativity, Transformation

SYMPHONY

Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 2 p.m.

Presented in partnership with

Joslyn Art Museum Witherspoon Hall Thomas Wilkins, conductor Hawthorne String Quartet RAWSTHORNE Divertimento for Chamber Orchestra

Spend Sunday afternoons immersed in music and art with the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra at the Joslyn Art Museum. This exciting new series explores the connection between the musical pieces and specific works of art from the Joslyn Art Museum.

ADLER Elegy for String Orchestra

Pre-concert conversations begin at 1:00 and 1:25 p.m. in the pavilion gallery.

NEEDHAM Voices

SCHULHOFF Concerto for String Quartet and Wind Orchestra

This first concert in the Symphony Joslyn Series is the culmination of a week-long concert and artistin-residency program featuring the Terezin Music Foundation’s Hawthorne String Quartet and painter Jim Schantz, with music and painting bringing to life the music of European composers murdered in the Holocaust.

HAYDN Symphony No. 44 in E Minor, “Trauer”

Tickets $30

General Admission Seating

402.345.0606

omahasymphony.org

Witherspoon Concert Hall