Vol. LXXXIII No. 9 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 82 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
5 Cheshvan, 5764 October 31, 2003
Israeli Author Amos Oz to Speak at Temple Israel Next Month
Amb. Ross: “Go to Israel!”
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Communications Director Essayist and author Amos Oz, recognized as one of Israel’s preeminent living writers, will read from his work and share some stories when he makes a visit to Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., at Temple Israel. In the New York Times Book Review, Amos Oz was described as having “clearly established himself as one of Israel’s most gifted and original writers.” According to another Times Book Review, “Oz’s power as a writer is remarkable. One has the sense of a generous imagination at work. His language, for all its sensuous imagery, has a careful and wise simplicity.” “This year, as we focus our adult education studies at Temple on Israel’s politics, history, culture, and ethics, we are excited to bring someone of Amos Oz’s caliber and influence to Omaha,” said Rosie Zweiback, Program Director at Temple Israel.
“You want to help Israelis?” Ambassador Dennis Ross asked at Beth El Synagogue last week. “Then, go to Israel!” The Jewish Federation of Omaha sponsored Ross’ speech in Omaha, and more than 300 members of the Jewish community came to hear his opinions on foreign policy, the Middle East, the war in Iraq and more. Ambassador Ross, envoy to the Middle East under President Bill Clinton, spoke at length about his “seven options” for resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. According to Zoë Riekes, President-elect of the Jewish Federation, Ross stated that
“the best option would be if Ahmed Karia could get a deal with Sharon and Arafat.” Sharon wants to end terror; Arafat wants to have a round-trip passage in and out of Ramallah. In the end, there are really no options if there are no partners, said Ross. There’s no diplomacy, no security--and the fence is our only option. The problem with the fence, according to Ross, is that it is “built on tactics--not strategy. It needs to be built to protect Israel.” Irv Veitzer, left, discusses a point with General Campaign Co-chairman Jerry Kohll, center, and Ambassador Ross. More photos on page 5.
Europeans Hail Tehran’s Promise on Nukes, but Israel Says: Beware by GIL SEDAN JERUSALEM (JTA)--Israel is warning that Iran’s acquiescence to a European ultimatum to freeze development of nuclear power should not be trusted. Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the Cabinet this week that Iran does not really intend to suspend its nuclear project, and is “only trying to buy time.” “Iran’s agreement to put its nuclear project under supervision should be regarded as temporary and limited,” Mofaz said. Key members of the opposition Labor Party, such as the former defense minister, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, and the former deputy defense minister, Ephraim Sneh, share Mofaz’s view. “I have no doubt that the Iranians cheated the Europeans,” Ben-Eliezer told JTA on Monday. “The Europeans see mostly their economic interest, and they are shortsighted.” “The Iranians are pulling the legs of everyone,” Sneh said. “Their problem is to buy time. They have pushed back the immediate pressure and will now negotiate over implementing the agreement.” “The problem is that the Europeans want to be cheated,” he said, suggesting that the positive reaction in Europe to Tehran’s announcement of compliance is indication of how fervently Europe wants to avoid a serious rift with Iran over the issue. A special team from the International Atomic Energy Agency went to Iran at the beginning of this month and is still there. The U.N.-backed group has set an Oct. 31 deadline for Iran to come clean.
Inside
The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany last week claimed they had persuaded Iran’s ruling ayatollahs to suspend the country's suspected uranium enrichment program and allow international inspection of nuclear sites. The E.U. foreign ministers said that once Iran signed the protocol of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency approves the country’s revised nuclear program, Europe would provide Iran with technical know-how. No one in Israel denies that, whatever its ultimate goals, Iran is trying hard to be nice toward the West. This week, it claimed to have deported 225 Al-Qaida members to their home countries. The United States has said that none of the men appeared to be top members of the terrorist group, but the fact that Iran boasted about the deportations shows that Iran wants to move from confrontation to dialogue, observers said. “The Iranians have been facing a difficult situation,” Ephraim Kam, deputy head of Tel Aviv University’s Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, said. “They could have resisted the European ultimatum and proceeded with the uranium enrichment program. However, this would have meant facing a difficult battle in the Security Council and--worse yet--possible military action by the U.S.” By doing so, Kam said, Iran runs the risk that it will be forced to expose more to the West than it would like. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hamid-Reza Asefi, Continued on page 16
This Week: Monthly Calendar, Pages 8-9 Foundation Seminar Planned for November Page 3
Funding Hate Part II Pages 6-7
Amos Oz Born in Jerusalem in 1939, Oz comes from a family of scholars and teachers. Some were militant right-wing Zionists who emigrated to Israel in the early 1930’s from Russia and Poland. But in 1954, at the age of 15, Oz rebelled against his father’s world and left Jerusalem to live and work at Kibbutz Hulda. After completing his secondary education and his Army service in 1961, Oz returned to the kibbutz to work in the cotton fields. As a reservist in a tank unit, he was later called up to fight on the Sinai front during the 1967 Six Day War and on the Golan Heights in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Still in his early twenties, Oz’s first short stories were published in the leading literary quarterly Keshet. Recognizing his talent, the kibbutz assembly sent him back to Jerusalem to study philosophy and literature at Hebrew University. After earning his degree, he returned to Kibbutz Hulda for the next 25 years dividing his time between writing, farming, and teaching in the high school there. Continued on page 2
Coming Next Week: Salute to Education and Camping Minnesota Jews Prepare for UAHC Biennial Page 13
Sam Anderson “Makes a Difference” Page 16
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 31, 2003
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Scholar to Explore ‘Holocaust Remembrance’ by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue The ethical, political, and religious implications of Holocaust remembrance will emerge as compelling topics for study and discussion, Nov. 7-9, as Beth El Synagogue’s Dr. Benton and Harriet Kutler Scholar-inResidence Weekend presents a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld, appointed to the Memorial Council by President Bush in May, 2002, is a prolific writer and scholar in the areas of Holocaust literature and American Jewish literature and thought. He directs the Institute of Jewish Culture and the Arts at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. “On the weekend when Omaha joins the world in c o m m e m o r a t i n g Kristallnacht, we are honDr. Alvin Rosenfeld ored to offer the community four opportunities to hear an exciting speaker of Dr. Rosenfeld’s distinction,” said Rabbi Mordechai Levin of Beth El. “We are grateful to the Kutler family for making his visit possible.” Dr. Rosenfeld promises to share his thinking on layers of issues, such as “What precisely is it that we are asked to keep so steadfastly in mind?” He will set the tone for the weekend in a half-hour talk on “The Ethics of Remembrance” following a congregational Shabbat dinner, Nov. 7. In a D’var Torah the next morning he will consider “How Do Jews Remember?” and at a luncheon following services, he will lead a 45-minute discussion on “What Are We to Remember?” He will conclude his stay with a session on Sunday, 10 a.m.-noon, which will focus on poetry and prose recognizing Kristallnacht, “the Night of the Broken Glass.” Beth El invites the entire community to study and learn with Dr. Rosenfeld. Childcare will be available Friday night and Saturday to allow parents a chance to attend. To obtain more information, or to make a reservation for the dinner or the lunch, please call the synagogue office, at 492-8550.
Children Mark Beginning of Formal Jewish Education at Temple
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by BETH COHEN Executive Director, Beth Israel Photos from top: The wood deck ceiling in Beth Israel’s new sanctuary is complete. The curved windows on this view of the northeast wall will be six of the 12 tribes’ stained glass windows. This interior view of the new chapel shows the two walls of windows that will contribute to a warm, inviting space for worship and study. The masonry work is almost complete, as seen here at the front entrance to the building. In November, interior walls will be drywalled; the tile will be laid in the entry hall and bathrooms.The Weitz contractor’s trailer has been moved to allow for the pouring of the front entrance driveway. Completion of the building is scheduled for February of 2004.
Amos Oz at Temple
CAMP SABRA OPEN HOUSE & REUNION
Sunday, Nov. 9 12:30-2:30 p.m. OPEN HOUSE Jewish Community Center 333 So. 132nd St. Omaha Everyone is Invited REUNION & VIDEO WILL FOLLOW
New Beth Israel Building Progresses
At Simchat Torah services in October at Temple Israel, 19 children participated in the Consecration ceremony to mark the beginning of their formal religious school education. The children’s parents joined them on the bimah for a blessing, and the families’ commitment to Jewish education was recognized before the congregation. Pictured above are kindergartners Ali Brehmer, Elias Ginsberg, Alison Goldstein, Jack Goldstein, Abby Hack, Cole Horner, Brandon Idelman, Solomon Marburg, Michael Militzer, Phoebe Placzek, Abigail Reiss, Brett Robinson, Gavin Rogers, Monica Siegel, Sierra Simpson, Rachel Zetsman, Sophie Budwig, first grader McKenna Bates, and second grader Hannah Budwig joined Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz, Cantor Wendy Shermet, and Elementary School Coordinator Joan Cooper under the sukkah for their official Consecration photograph prior to worship services.
Continued from page 1 From 1969 to 1970, Oz was a visiting Fellow at St. Cross College at the University of Oxford in England. In 1975 and again in 1990, he was “author in residence” at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. With his wife and son, he spent a year at Colorado College in Colorado Springs from 1984 to 1985. After returning to the kibbutz, he and his wife made the difficult decision to leave and make their home in Arad where the dry desert climate is better for their son who has asthma. Back in the United States in 1997, Oz was a visiting professor at Princeton University in New Jersey followed by a year at Oxford University. Now a full professor and holder of the Agnon Chair of Hebrew Literature at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Oz continues to devote himself to writing, teaching, and campaigning for the Israeli peace movement. In 1991, Oz was elected a full member of the Academy of the Hebrew Language, and then, in 1998, he was honored by his country with its prestigious Israel Prize for Literature. In addition, France has awarded Oz its highest literary prize for the foreign novel of the year, and Germany has recognized him with a major international peace prize This event is co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Temple Israel’s Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. The community is invited to hear Oz and attend a reception following his talk.
October 31, 2003
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Charitable Gift Planning Seminar Scheduled for November by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Foundation Public Relations Coordinator Craig C. Wruck, a nationally recognized authority in planned giving, will be the speaker at this year’s Professional Advisors Seminar sponsored by the Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha in partnership with the Omaha Community Foundation and its sponsor, The SilverStone Group. The seminar is on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Scott Conference Center, 6450 Pine St. Major funding for the seminar is provided by the Yale Richards Professional Education Endowment Fund established with the Jewish Federation Foundation in 1998 by the Milton and Corinne Livingston Foundation in honor of Richards. Involved with cutting edge tax strategies dealing with charitable giving throughout the country, Wruck is a former president of the National Committee on Planned Giving and currently chairs its Government Relations Committee. In this capacity, he is involved with proposed legislation in Congress that would enable tax-free disbursements from IRAs for charitable purposes. For more than 25 years, Wruck has served both charitable and non-profit as well as for-profit organizations earning him recognition for distinguished service in the field including the Distinguished Service Award from the National
Craig C. Wruck Committee on Planned Giving and the David M. Donaldson Distinguished Service Award from the Planned Giving Group of New England. Presently, he is director of client development at Kaspick & Company, a financial services provider. Wruck will make a presentation at the seminar on “Charitable Gift Planning in the Best of Times and Worst of Times” from 8 a.m. to noon. Registration ($100) and breakfast are from 7:30-8 a.m. The program will cover topics on the climate for charitable giving, creative planning with charitable remainder trusts, and unique charitable gift planning.
Joy and Unity in the Sukkah by ESTIE KATZMAN The Talmud declares: “One who did not see the joy of the water-drawing celebrations [in the Holy Temple], has not seen joy in his life.” This year, young and old from all over the Omaha area joined in reliving that glee and enjoyment at the Simchas Beis Hashoeva celebration at the Chabad House. “The party was so lively; I haven’t been to such a party for a long time,” said Audrey Gerber, daughter of Maggie and Donald Gerber. “There were so many different kinds of people, and so many things to do. That’s why it was so much fun.” Hosted by Chabad, and co-sponsored by Beth Israel Synagogue, the event was packed with fun, food and the fire of Judaism. The barbecue dinner, which was planned and prepared by Allison Latenser, Marsha Kleinberg, Devra Bram and Janet Kohll, fueled us with the kosher energy needed to ignite the holiday spirit. Despite the weather, many Jews braved the cold and gusty wind, and went to eat in the Sukkah. “The feeling of community was very palpable in the unity portrayed in our sukkah,” said Rabbi M. Katzman, founder and Director of Chabad of Nebraska. “So many faces, from all over Nebraska and Iowa, all gathered together to share the message of elation and harmony.” Horse rides were made available to all, generously provided and operated by Justin Kohll. “It’s fun and cool to be Jewish,” said Rabbi Gideon Menachem, new to Chabad House staff. “We make every effort to incorporate contemporary activities with traditional observances. Teens and youth are really attracted to this kind of celebration.” There was a special program for the children, run by Devra Bram, Nancy Wolf and Shevi Katzman. The program featured fun holiday games, educational art projects and prizes. The kids also got
to build edible sukkahs. In spirit of Sukkot, there was lively singing, vigorous dancing and great music. “I am so moved by the warmth, openness and welcoming Jewish spirit,” said a woman who emigrated from Russia eight years ago. “It was so emotional for me to be celebrating a Jewish holiday with a big splash out on the street," she continued with tears in her eyes. In Russia we could never do that. We had to hide everything. Being Jewish was a big, terrible secret.” Alla went on to tell us how she was invited. “I was shopping in a local mall, when a young woman stopped me and asked me if I was Jewish. I was taken aback, but immediately answered in the affirmative. She told me about a Sukkot party at Chabad, and that every Jew is invited to join and celebrate!” A grand raffle was held, and the winner received a beautiful silver Kiddush cup. Prizes and gadgets were also distributed to all the children. This was the first community wide event held in the newly renovated lower level in the Chabad House. The renovation was made possible by the Tom and Darlynn Fellman family, under the handiwork and effort of Charlie and Louri Sullivan. “The volunteers had such a wonderful time preparing for this party,” said Shani Katzman. “We had everything on site, beautiful countertops and a great cooking and baking system. Nothing had to be made elsewhere, and it was so nice and easy.” The new design also includes a warm and cozy area for kids, where they can spend quality time, playing and learning at the same time. “Special thanks to Sol Kaiman of Sol’s Jewelry and Loan, Helene and Dani Shrago of Bag ’n Save Supermarkets, and Bobbi Liebowitz of Omaha Houses for making this program possible,” Katzman added.
“Estate planning professionals are encouraged to attend the morning program,“ said Marty Ricks, Executive Director of the Foundation of the Jewish Federation. Attorneys, accountants, financial planners, life insurance agents, trust officers, non-profit development officers, and investment advisors are among those who will benefit from the information that will be discussed. In the afternoon sessions, which are free of charge, Wruck will speak to the general public. He will present “Tax-Free Distributions from your IRA?” on charitable giving legislation and strategies that affect how people give to non-profit organizations. According to Ricks, “This topic is extremely important due to the potential tax of 70 percent on the transfer after
death of IRAs to family members.” Following Wruck’s 3:30 p.m. briefing, Connie Spellman, director of Lively Omaha, an initiative of the Omaha Community Foundation, will talk at 4:15 p.m. about partnerships that will change the look of the community. Lively Omaha plays several roles in developing Omaha’s public spaces into useful, engaging, attractive, and fun areas. Spellman will present some new projects that Lively Omaha is promoting that are intended to change the landscape of the community. Anyone interested in attending the seminars is asked to RSVP by Monday, Nov. 10, to Laurie Peatrowsky, Jewish Federation Foundation Assistant, at 402334-6439 or at lpeatrowsky@jewishomaha.org via e-mail.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 31, 2003
We’re Invested in Jewish Omaha! The following people have invested in Omaha’s Jewish community by making a gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s 2004 Annual Campaign. Donors who increase their gift are listed in bold. Donors who have maintained their gift are listed in regular print.
MEN’S MAJOR GIFTS Joel Alperson Harvey Aronson Tom Baker ◆ Harold Bernstein Steve Bloch Barry Broder Gary Epstein Harold Epstein Paul Epstein Joe Erman Michael Erman David Friedland Ted Friedland ◆ Sandy Friedman ■ Willard Friedman Larry Gilinsky Mort Glass Dick Glazer David Goldstein Don Goldstein Leonard Goldstein Nelson Gordman Don Greenberg Paul Grossman Gary Javitch Arnold Joffe Howard Kaslow Kevee Kirshenbaum Jerry Kohll Howard Kooper Forrest Krutter Marshall Kushner John Lehr Marty Lehr Jay Lerner Leonard Lewis Ed Malashock Trenton Magid ◆ Bernie Meyers Murray Newman Jay Noddle Noddle Development Harlan Noddle Joe Kirshenbaum Steven Nogg Omaha Bedding Co. Omaha Steaks Ann and Alan Simon Eve and Fred Simon Kathryn and Steve Simon Stacy and Bruce Simon Todd Simon Alan Parsow Sol Parsow Michael Platt Andrew Robinson Larry Roffman Harley Schrager Bruce Shackman Norman Sheldon Steve Silver Stuart Simon Mark Singer Slosburg Family Charitable Trust Jerry Slusky Isidore Tretiak Maurice Udes Arnie Weitz Speedy Zweiback
WOMEN’S MAJOR GIFTS Phyllis Aronson Judy Baker Sandra Belgrade Carol Bloch Bess Brodkey Esther Canar Anne Cohen Marcia Cohen Babe (Sylvia) Cohn Susie Cohn Cheryl Cooper Eunice Denenberg Sandy Epstein Ruth Erman Judy Feldman Darlynn Fellman Frances Fried ● Nancy Friedland Roz Friedman Thama Friedman Maggie Gerber Deanna Gilinsky Janet Glass Phyllis Glazer Ann Goldstein Linda Gordman Caryl Greenberg Nancy Greenberg Deborah Greene Karen Javitch Joanie Jacobson Joan Kaiman Suzanne Kaplan Gloria Kaslow Renee Kasner Andi Kavich Maxine Kirshenbaum Sharon Kirshenbaum Gail Kohll Sharon Kooper ♥ Shirley Kulakofsky Barbara Kushner Joanie Lehr Bobbi Leibowitz Karin Levine Bert Lewis Deana Liddy Thelma Lustgarten Linda Mann Ducky (Lois) Milder Fran Milder Lori Miller Jeannie Neff Sharee Newman Kim Noddle Nancy Noddle Patty Nogg Carol Parsow Ramona Pepper Marcia Pitlor Barb Platt Arlene Richman Dorothy Riekes Zoë Riekes Barbara Rips Kimberly Robinson ● Stacey Rockman Mimi Rogers Beth Schrager Beverly Seldin Sarah Seldin Anne Shackman Esther Simon Harriet Singer Ellen Slosburg Audrey Sophir Louri Sullivan ✦ Selma Tretiak Gail Veitzer Joodi Veitzer Mimi Waldbaum
MEN’S CAMPAIGN Tony Adelson Jeffrey Aizenberg Leon Alexander Bernie Altsuler Thomas Baker Donald Baum Jim Belgrade Mark Belmont Gerald Berman Thomas Bernstein Marvin Bittner Mike Blatt Howard Borden Morris Bresel Pete Brodkey Ron Brodkey Larry Budwig Leroy Canfield Fritz Cassman Jay Chasen Irving Chudacoff Marc Cohen Marty Cohen Ronald Cooper Meyer Coren Jacque Dolgoff David Dvorkin Bob Endelman Randy Endelman Arnold Epstein Irv Epstein Gary Epstein Howard Epstein Sam Epstein Scott Farkas Cantor Leo Fettman Joel Finkel Hersz Flatowicz Jim Folsom Irving J. Forbes Alan Fredricks Marshall Fried Stuart Fried Morris Friedman Scott Friedman Robert Fromkin Larry Gendler Paul Gerber Moshe Gershovich David Gilinsky Bennett Ginsberg Lawrence Ginsburg Sherman Golbitz Bob Goldberg Frank Goldberg Richard Goldberg Howard Goldstein Brad Goldstrom Larry Goldstrom Mark Goldstrom Rabbi Allan Gonsher Alan Goodman Robert Goodman Tom Goodman Jay Gordman Steve Gorelick Kip Gordman Peter Gordon Steve Gottlieb Saul Graetz Lonnie Graul Andrew Greenberg Barton Greenberg Henry Greenberg Dan Greenfield Bill Greenhill Bud Greenspan Joe Guss Vic Gutman Bruce Gutnik Michael Halsted Sheldon Harris Mace Hack Larry Herman Richard Heyman Philip Itkin Adam Jacobs Art Jacobson Richard Jacobson Howard Kaiman Jerome Kaiman Lazar Kaplan Myron Kaplan Robert Kaplan Jerry Katskee Michael Katzman Tom Kirshenbaum Donald Klein Harry Klein
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WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Helen Abrahamson Doris Abramson Sheri Abramson Arlene Adelson Charlotte Adler Susan Aizenberg Paula Albert Eleanor Alexander Mildred Altman Beatrice Appel Joyce Ashley Barbara Ault Amber Baker Diane Axler Baum Robyn Belgrade Jill Belmont Mary Berman Mary Bernstein Phyllis Bittner Juni Bloch Chris Blumkin Cindy Bogdanoff Paula Boggust Marian Bookey Midge Bowers Beth Brodkey Stacie Brodkey Florence Brody Michelle Bucher Molline Cassman Arlene Cohen Beth Cohen Elberta Cohen Elizabeth Cohen Joyce Cohen Marla Cohen Linda Cohn Naomi Cohn Soralee Cohn Fran Coren Janey Dann Jeanne Dvorkin Harriet Einziger Aileen Eisenstatt Renee Engel Edith Epstein Ellie Epstein Etta Epstein Helen Epstein Jean Epstein Lisa Epstein Rosaline Epstein Sharon Epstein Jill Erman Estelle Faier Judith Feigin Beverly Fellman Mary Fellman Kay Ferer Annette Fettman Rose Fine Paulette Flatowicz Jill Folsom Rose Frankel Tiffany Franklin Robyn Freeman Norma Fried Jamie Friedland Pam Friedlander Amy Friedman Lois Friedman Barbara Frohman Anne Gerber Bernice Gerber Patty Gilinsky Julie Ginsberg Cindy Goldberg Wendy Goldberg Barbara Goldstein Jill Goldstein Judi Goldstein Dora Goldstrom Rini Gonsher Andie Gordman Bridget Gordman Danielle Gordman Hilde Gottlieb Carole Greenberg Rosalie Greenspan Pearl Gross Joy Grossman Debbie Hale Wendy Hahn Mendy Halsted Saralee Harding Janice Harris Carol Hahn Kathy Hirshman Cookie Hoberman Pauline Hoberman
WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Adele Hornstein Nancy Hornstein Denise Ipock Marsha Itkin Sylvia Jess Sheryn Joffe Ilse Kahn Roxanne Kahn Sylvia Kaiman Charlotte Kaplan Dorothy Kaplan Nancy Kavich Beatrice Karp Frankie Kasin Leona Kasin Lucille Katelman Myllee Katelman Eve Katskee Rose Katzman Shani Katzman Betty Kelberg Myrna Kirshenbaum Janet Klein Marsha Kleinberg Sandra Kohll Gertrude Korney Shane Kotok Bette Kozlen Peggy Krasne Cheryl Kricsfeld Robbi Kudym Traci Kugler Harriet Kutler Carole Lainof Sandra Lehr Cheryl Lerner Rocky Lewis Vera Lewis Marjorie Lincoln Marcia Lipsman Diane Malashock Jody Malashock Harriet Miller Paula Mandell Deb Marburg Judy Marburg Sally Masnek Kathy McGauvran Tina Meyers Deenie Meyerson Jenny Meyerson Roberta Michalski Sue Millward Lynda Mirvish Evelyn Mitchell Ethel Mogil Ann Moshman Betty Muskin Linda Muskin Elaine Nachman Laura Lee Needelman Patricia Newman Marion Nogg Rita Novak Reva Oruch Bede Ostrow Jean Paley Sylvia Parilman Margo Parsow Fefe Passer Magda Peck Vicki Perlmeter Julie Phillips Shelly Pichik Gilda Pieck Ellen Platt Suzanne Pocras Jeannie Raznick Debbie Recht Lola Reinglas Juliana Reno Floraine Rice Iris Ricks Paula Robinson Silvia Roffman Toni Rosen Marti Rosen-Atherton Shirley Rosenberg Dottie Rosenblum Julie Rosenquist Willis Ann Ross Susan Rothholz Faye Ruback Betty Rubin Natalie Rubin Mary Saferstein Linda Saltzman Lynne Saltzman Betty Sanford Vicki Sanford
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More Than 300 Attend Community Campaign Event Featuring Ambassador Dennis Ross
by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director Photos, top row, from left: Event Co-chairmen Scott and Jennifer Meyerson, left, and Carol and Steven Bloch greet Ambassador Dennis Ross at Beth El Synagogue for the Jewish Federation’s Community Campaign Event. Men’s Campaign Co-chairman Howard Epstein, left, Ambassador Ross, Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Men’s Campaign Co-Chairman Fred Tichauer. Ambassador Ross, Lion of Judah Chairman Anne Shackman and Pacesetter Chairman Bruce Shackman. Second row, from left: Women’s Campaign Co-chairmen Bobbi Leibowitz and Ruth Erman with Ambassador Ross. Jewish Federation President Steve
Pitlor and Ambassador Ross. Ambassador Ross with Sharee and Murray Newman. Third row, from left: Ambassador Ross with Anne and Arnie Weitz. Ambassador Ross addresses the crowd at Beth El. Carl and Zoë Riekes, Federation President-elect, visit with Ambassador Ross, as do Allan Murow and Federation Budget and Allocations Chairman Norm Sheldon. Bottom row at left: Federation Presdent Steve Pitlor introduces the Ambassador at the Community Campaign Event. Above: The Goldstein family with the Ambassador. David and Ann Goldstein, left, Ambassador Dennis Ross, Shirley Goldstein, Howard Goldstein, Buddy Goldstein and Jan Goldstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Photos by Rick Katzman.
Coming Next Week | November 7
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FUNDING HATE How Aware Is Ford Foundation of Way its Funds Are Being Used? Part II of a four-part series by EDWIN BLACK WASHINGTON (JTA)--The Ford Foundation disburses approximately $500 million annually through 13 offices worldwide, to grantees of all descriptions, in dozens of countries. Each year, the foundation, with an estimated $10 billion in assets, makes some 2,500 awards spanning the realms of art, education, development and social justice. In the process, Ford practices globalization just as a multinational commercial corporation would, deftly weaving monies in and out of its offices and recipients, in a complex web of funding. But the Ford Foundation's product is not commercial --it is philanthropic. A large portion of that annual philanthropic expenditure is devoted to what it terms “human rights and social justice”--that is, not to traditional relief and aid programs, but to advocacy, activism and agitation. Ford carefully monitors all programs and materials enabled by its funds, maintains Alex Wilde, the foundation’s Vice-president for communications. Various grantees also confirmed that Ford requires detailed submissions of printed items and Web site development plans, sometimes two or three times per year. Hence foundation officials remain keenly aware of the fruits of their philanthropy. There is no easy way to identify how much money the scores of anti-Israel and Palestinian advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, actually receive from Ford. This is because significant funds or program benefits are also channeled through other not-for-profit organizations and even overseas government agencies. For example, the 2002 annual report of the Washington-based Advocacy Institute lists the Palestinian NGO Network, or PNGO, as a “partner.” In February 2003, the Advocacy Institute brought a group of PNGO fellows to Washington in a Ford-funded program “to strengthen PNGO’s advocacy capacity.” The program involved “message development, coalition building, media,” as well as “access and persuasion of decision makers,” according to a statement that appeared in mid-August on the institute’s main Web page. Ford records indicate that the foundation in 2000 granted the Advocacy Institute $180,000 “to strengthen the role of a network of Palestinian NGOs.” The money for PNGO is tallied among the foundation’s U.S. grants, not those of the Cairo office. Just a year later, in August 2001, PNGO was one of the main groups pushing for anti-Israel resolutions at the U.N. World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. To be sure, Ford has also granted several million dollars to American Jewish and Israeli peace groups. For example, Ford in the past has granted $500,000 to the American Reform Judaism movement’s Mideast peace program, known as “Seeking Peace, Pursuing Justice,” which seeks to mobilize North American Jewry for social justice in Israel. Ford also funds several Israeli-based dissident and human rights groups that campaign for Palestinian jus-
Sun, Sun, Sun, Here We Come Snowbirds Please let the Jewish Press know in advance when you are leaving and when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to your “old” address before we are notified by the Post Office. Every time they return a paper to us, you miss the Jewish Press and we are charged 70¢! Use the form on page 15 or email us at ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.
tice. The list includes such Israeli Palestinian rights advocates as B’Tselem, Rabbis for Human Rights and Hamoked. B’Tselem currently receives $250,000 for what Ford databases and reports describe as “monitoring human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, documenting violations, and advocating for policy changes.” Rabbis for Human Rights has been granted more than $250,000 for what Ford databases and reports describe as “rabbinically-based educational and organizing activities promoting human rights policies by Israel in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.” Rabbi Arik Ascherman, the group’s Executive
There is no easy way to identify how much money the scores of anti-Israel and Palestinian advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, actually receive from Ford. This is because significant funds or program benefits are also channeled through other not-for-profit organizations and even overseas government agencies. Director, said the Ford money has been used to develop a Web site, place newspaper advertising and bring other rabbis to Israel to learn about human rights. Last year, Hamoked was granted $300,000 for what Ford’s databases and reports describe, in one summary, as “advocacy and legal action to promote human rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories facing human rights violations by Israeli authorities.” B’Tselem and Rabbis for Human Rights, while staunchly advocating for Palestinian human rights, have also vocally and publicly condemned the campaign of Palestinian suicide bombings and other terrorism aimed at Israeli civilians. Ascherman spoke favorably of Ford, commenting, “Our experience with Ford has been very positive.” He also said that, while “it would be wrong for a funder organization to have a heavy-handed thumb editing,” in general, grant makers should “ensure the funds are spent for the goals they support, and I would like to think the goals of the Ford Foundation do not include anti-Semitism.” “We at Rabbis for Human Rights obviously abhor antiZionist organizations and anti-Semitism,” said Rabbi Brian Walt of the group’s North American branch. The Ford Foundation also funds the Washingtonbased New Israel Fund for its activities supporting and promoting social change in Israel. Since 1988, the Ford Foundation has provided more than $5 million to the New Israel Fund, a coalition of Israelis, North Americans and Europeans seeking to promote human rights and justice issues in Israel. Ford has just
announced it would increase its funding to “peace and social justice groups” in Israel through the New Israel Fund with a $20 million five-year grant to be administered by a joint Ford-NIF enterprise. Aaron Back, Ford’s former program officer for Israel, will oversee the new funding. The money is designed to “increase our funding in Israel and help build the capacity of civic organizations vital to strengthening its democracy,” according to Ford’s President, Susan Berresford. The move will shift future grant-making from Ford offices in New York to the New Israel Fund. It is not yet clear which groups will receive money from the donor-advised fund. The overwhelming majority of Ford's monies for the Middle East are granted to pro-Palestinian and Islamic rights groups. The list extends for pages. For example, last year, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza received $100,000 for what Ford databases and reports describe as “community-based advocacy work on economic, social and cultural rights in Gaza.” The Al Mezan Center works closely with the International Solidarity Movement, which stages civil disobedience actions to obstruct Israeli security forces operating in the territories. The center also operates a Web site, at www.mezan.org, that seeks to document alleged Israeli atrocities and violations of international law, and that also denounces Israel’s war against the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas. A recent typical Al Mezan Center news release began, “The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have blatantly escalated their aggression against Palestinian civilians in the OPT during the last week.” Al Mezan is one of the many Palestinian NGOs that refer to the Israeli Defense Forces as Israeli Occupation Forces. OPT is its abbreviation for “occupied Palestinian territories.” Augmenting its Ford funding, Al Mezan also receives funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the International Commission of Jurists in Sweden, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and several other U.N. and European Community sources. A second Palestinian agency, operating under the name Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute, received one $60,000 Ford grant under “Media Arts and Culture,” plus a second award for $75,000 under “Sexuality and Reproductive Health.” The institute operates an incitement Web site, www.palestinemonitor.org, dedicated to mobilizing world action against Israel and Zionism. Its main page offers recommended activism. For example, a page on the site, as of mid-August, sub-headlined “How can you take action for the Palestinian cause?” offered two Palestinian links, one of which is: “Boycott Israeli Goods.” Clicking on that link leads to another site, www.boycottisrael.org, which includes a list of American companies to be boycotted for doing business in Israel, including Johnson & Johnson, Disney and Starbucks. In mid-August, Palestine Monitor’s own “Activism” page offered enthusiastic coverage of a September 2002 attempt by pro-Palestinian protesters to enter Continued on page 7
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FUNDING HATE Continued from page 6 Caterpillar's Washington premises for the purpose of serving a so-called citizensarrest warrant for “war crimes” related to selling bulldozers to Israel. A third entity, the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre, recently received three grants totaling $365,000 to create what Ford databases and reports describe as “media services for the foreign press and a weekly electronic magazine,” as well as “enhancement of media activities related to the crisis situation.” The center publishes The Palestine Report, which can be found at www.palestinereport.org. This Web site employs dramatic imagery and testimony to portray Israel as an apartheid state guilty of war crimes, violations of international law and repeated massacres. As of early October, one of the center’s main Web site features was a clickable section entitled “From Revolution to Revolution,” which “focuses on internal Palestinian politics, political strengths and cracks in the armor of unity.” A prominent “Resources” list links to the Web sites of six Palestinian factions. Several of them are listed by the State Department as terrorist groups, including the People’s Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement. When the Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre was asked whether other organizations could be listed as well, an official explained, “We only link to the biggest and best organizations.” A State Department spokesman for the Near East Affairs bureau who viewed The Palestine Report and its link pages to terrorist sites declared, “I am uncomfortable with the funding of this site and especially these links--very uncomfortable.” Yehudit Barsky, director of the American Jewish Committee’s division on Middle East and international terrorism, added, “I think this demonstrates
that we in the United States have not paid attention--foundations can be used in a way no one can imagine. Here we see a Web site promoting terrorist organizations. The Ford Foundation just did not care.” During this investigation, Wilde, the Ford Foundation communications Vicepresident, refused to answer any questions regarding PNGO, the Policy Institute, the Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre or any other aspect of the foundation’s involvement with Palestinian NGOs. Nor would Thea Lurie, the foundation’s deputy media director, or media associate Joe Voeller. But in a six-page written response to questions that the foundation released only after this investigation was completed, Wilde said: “We are a grant making organization. We support grantees for agreed-upon activities and do not dictate what they should say.” The statement also said: “Our human rights work reflects a commitment to principles that go beyond partisanship and politics, to basic rights and protections that human beings possess by virtue simply of being born.” During a visit to Ford’s headquarters in New York, foundation officials brushed off questions about anti-Israel agitation. Quipped one senior Ford official: “AntiZionism is in the eye of the beholder.” Edwin Black is the author of the newly released War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign to Create a Master Race (Four Walls Eight Windows), which investigates corporate philanthropic involvement in American and Nazi eugenics. In May 2003, he won the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ award for best book of the year for his previous book, IBM and the Holocaust (Crown Publishing, 2001). The entire JTA investigative series on Ford Foundation funding can be read at www.jta.org/ford.asp.
Young Jewish Leaders to ‘Make a Difference’ at UJC Washington Conference by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director Thousands of young Jewish leaders from across North America will convene in the nation’s capital March 21-23 for the United Jewish Communities (UJC) Washington 14 Conference, sponsored by the UJC Young Leadership Department. The conference theme, “We Can Make a Difference”, underscores the power that the next generation of Jewish leaders has, collectively and individually, to create positive social and political change, and to practice tikkun olam, repair of the world. Sharon Kirshenbaum, Young Leadership Director for the Federation, said, “This is the premier conference for Jewish adults, ages 25-45. The speakers are excellent, we get the opportunity to lobby our elected officials on Capitol Hill and have a lot of fun!” The Federation has received grant money to subsidize the registration fee. Participants will only be responsible for airfare and hotels. Participants, representing Jewish communities across the continent, will hear from top American, Israeli and Jewish political, media and community figures, meet other socially involved Jews, and
discuss critical issues affecting the Jewish community with their representatives on Capitol Hill. Conference programming will include major plenary sessions, workshops, and interactive breakout sessions designed to inspire and empower attendees to make a difference locally, nationally and internationally. Unique to Washington 14 is a community action initiative to engage participants before and after the conference, making activism a priority in their lives. Programs before and after the conference will create hands-on experiences for conference attendees, capture their energies and passions, and provide them with connections and on-going opportunities for involvement in their communities. At past conferences, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Vice-president Al Gore, and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel have been featured speakers. For more information, please contact Sharon Kirshenbaum at 334-6485 or skirshenbaum@jewishomaha.org. Washington 14 program information is also posted at www.ujc.org.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
NCJW Distributes Dictionaries to the Delight of Fourth Graders in OPS Schools by SALLY ZIPURSKY NCJW Public Relations Co-Vicepresident Fourth graders in 23 Omaha Public School elementary schools received their hardbound dictionaries from volunteers--members of National council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section. This project, now in its seventh year, has become a tradition in the participating schools; principals, teachers, and students, alike, eagerly awaited the deliveries. “You get such great satisfaction delivering these dictionaries to the kids,” stated enthusiastic volunFourth graders at Castelar Elementary show their appreciation teer Susie Norton. “We (NCJW, Omaha Section) to NCJW and Susie Norton for their new dictionaries. do so much good so Noddle, Kim Noddle, Susie Norton, Pam quickly with this project. It doesn’t get Gross, Diane Graul, Karin Levine, Arielle old from year to year.” Levine, Susan Rothholz, Sharee Dictionary Day 2003 was made possi- Newman, Lisa Epstein, Susan Lehr, Eadie ble through the generosity of sponsors Tsabari, Sharon Joffe, Rosie Zweiback, like Greater Omaha Packing Company, Sally Zipursky, Gayle Spooner, Bucky Inc. and Sullivan Homes. Greater Greenberg, Denise Meyers, Robbi Omaha Packing, headed by Henry Kudym, Gary Kudym, Caryl Greenberg, Davis, participated as our community Andie Gordman, and Karla Cohen. partner again this year. The Bookworm Mike Collier and his staff at the Jewish in Countryside Village provided the dic- Community Center provided additional tionaries at a greatly discounted price to assistance, not only with storage of the aid in the project. 1400 books since their arrival in early “Dictionary Day is such a wonderful September, but by carting them all up project. I am proud to continue work- from the basement under the Friedel ing on this project,” declared Chairman Academy to the front entrance of the JCC Sandy Epstein. “As long as there is the for easy pick up by volunteers. need, NCJW, Omaha Section will be here For some children, this is the first book doing our part to meet that need.” they’ve ever owned, according to Volunteers included: Ann Goldstein, Epstein. For more information about the Linda Mann, Alice Kosowsky, Tuffy project, please call her at 397-2528. Epstein, Suzanne Singer, Rebecca
EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Jewish Press office will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28. The deadline for issues is noon as follows: Issue Deadline Nov. 28 Tuesday, Nov. 18 Dec. 5 Monday, Nov. 24
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group Meeting, 1 p.m. Ethics of Cloning, 7 p.m. Come And Dance, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 BBYO New Members Convention, 3 p.m. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 BBYO New Members Convention, 8 a.m. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 BBYO New Member Convention, 8 a.m. Between Parents & Children with Rabbi Levin, 10 a.m. at Beth El Social Justice Forum, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Sisterhood Holiday Bazaar, 10 a.m. at Beth El Bible Study: The Book of Samuel, 11 a.m. at Beth El
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 JSS Opera Omaha Concert, noon Temple Israel Adult Education, noon UNO Kabbalah Class, 6 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Temple Israel Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Hadassah Board Meeting, 10 a.m. B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon at the Park Inn Social Justice Club (Gr. 7-12), 5:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Adult Education, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Amos Oz Reads from His Works, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Adult B'nai Mitzvah Class, 7 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Walk-in Drop-in Activity, 10 a.m. Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group Meeting, 1 p.m. Kripke Library Monthly Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Family Night Dinner, 5:30 p.m. Ethics of Cloning, 7 p.m. JOLT II, 7 p.m. Come And Dance, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Temple Israel OTYG Shabbaton, 7 a.m. Visions Luncheon, 12:30 p.m. at Venice Inn
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All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 31, 2003
Beth Israel Sisterhood’s “Finale on 52nd Street” Donor to Feature Local Actress/Singer by LESLI SHRAGO for Beth Israel Sisterhood With Beth Israel slated to move into its new building on Pacific in early February, the upcoming Sisterhood Annual Donor Luncheon is being billed as “The Finale on 52nd Street.” Historically the biggest Sisterhood event of the year, this year’s luncheon will be Tuesday, Nov. 11 at Beth Israel. Appetizers will be served at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served at noon followed by a musical program featuring Dawn Buller-Kirke who has performed in numerous productions at the Omaha Community Playhouse as well as other local theatres. She will sing a medley from hit musicals and will be accompanied by musical director Jim Boggess. An award-winning local actress, Buller-Kirke most recently played Betty Blake in The Will Rogers Follies, Missy in The Marvelous Wonderettes, a role for which she received the Mary Peckham Performance Award, several characters in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story for which she received the Clarence Teal Cameo Award, Nettie Fowler in Carousel, the Prima Donna in Sugar Babies, Mrs. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol and Old Lady in Violet, which had also earned her a Mary Peckham Performance Award. She studied music and opera performance at UNL and works as a vocal music teacher for Omaha Public Schools, where she is also director of the Mini Singers. Donor categories are $25, $36, $50 and $100, which include lunch. Sisterhood members may bring any number of guests for $12 per person, in addition to the preferred donation amount. The community is invited and men are welcome to attend as guests or as donors. Proceeds will help furnish the kitchen at the new building. Free babysitting will be available. When reserving, please indicate how many people are attending, their names and/or with whom you would like to be seated and, if applicable, the number of children requiring sitter service. Checks, made payable to Beth Israel Sisterhood, should be mailed to Harriet Klopper, 5809 Hamilton, Omaha, NE, 68132 by Nov. 4. For more information or to make a phone reservation, call Bernice Cohen, 558-3423.
ENGAGEMENT FLEISCHER/KATZMAN Levana Kovo of San Antonio, TX, and Carol and Michael Katzman announce the engagement of their children, Shanny Fleischer and Jeffrey Katzman. The bride-to-be attended Michlelet Esther and Neve Yerushalayim in Jerusalem, Israel, before graduating with honors from Teacher’s Institute of the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, IL, where she earned degrees in Judaic Studies, English and Business. She currently works in Brooklyn, NY. Her fiancé graduated from the Tannenbaum College of Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem, Israel, with a degree in Judaic Studies. He is currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in math from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and learning in the smicha program at Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD. His grandparents are Maury and Madeline Katzman, and Janie Levin of Miami, FL, and the late Marvin Levin. A Jan. 19, 2004, wedding is planned in San Antonio.
LETTER FROM Y.E.S. by ILENE PACHMAN All my friends and relatives will be shocked to hear I’m replacing Robert Goulet--we met another Robert-Robert Valenta. Not only can he sing--but his smile-and the twinkle in his eyes! Esther Wax--we can never say enough about her--is always ready to play for us. What a lovely lady. You remember how my Zayde always had something to say? He had a problem if his head told him to go, but his feet wouldn’t. So, go for a drive or a walk and see the trees this time of year. Who needs to go to the East Coast; the air is so crisp here. Enjoy the scenery and the weather--it will change! Bye for now.
BBYO Teens Help Decorate Blumkin and CDC Sukkahs
by LOIS EPSTEIN for B’nai B’rith Aliya Katskee, left, Becky Kahn, Robert Mosenkis, Nathan Fineman, Abby Ginsburg, and Josh Sweet (in front) helped decorate the sukkah for residents of the Blumkin Home and students at the JCC’s Child Development Center prior to the start of the Sukkot holiday. The annual project is sponsored by B’nai B’rith.
Women of Reform Judaism Honor Past Presidents
Past presidents of the Women of Reform Judaism-Omaha (formerly Temple Sisterhood) were honored at a luncheon in October. Each received a Tree of Life bookmark in appreciation of her leadership, example, inspiration, support, and commitment to Jewish women, Temple Israel, and the Women of Reform Judaism. Among the past presidents recognized were Diane Graul, standing left, Noni Selner, Sandy Passer, Jane Brooks, seated, who was a District 20 president, Dora Goldstrom, and Joie Simon. Others honored were Janet Perlmeter, Arlene Beber, Joan Lehr, Shirley Greenberg, Marilyn Warren, Hermene Zweiback, Sandy Nogg, Debbi Josephson, Debbie Friedman, Sally Zipursky, Jeanne Angalet, Wendy Goldberg, Sare Aresty, and current President Stacey Rockman.
ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Lee White will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Nov. 5, noon, at the Park Inn Regency, according to Gary Javitch, November Chairman. White, a former Omahan, who now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, will discuss “My role as an attorney on John F. Kennedy’s White House Staff.” Cost is $9 for lunch and $2 for beverage service only. Breadbreakers is open to the community. Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday at the JCC. Play bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Stacey Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share for “YES Talk” at 11 a.m. Lunch will begin at noon. Join us for an Intergenerational program with the Friedel and CDC students at a Wildlife Show, produced by Wild Experiences, at 12:45 p.m. in the auditorium. For transportation call Dee Dee at 330-4272. Make your reservations with Maggie by calling at 334-6521 for the Bluffs Run and the Thanksgiving Day Party with entertainment by Miles and Eileen Remer and Esther Wax. VISIONS Reminders: For those members going on the Miracle of Life Tour at the Lied Transplant Center (UNMC) on Tuesday, Nov. 4, please meet at in the lobby of the Transplant Center on 42nd and Emile at 10:45 a.m. The Visions Board Meeting is Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m., in the conference room of the Blumkin Home. A Luncheon Meeting is Friday, Nov. 21, 12:30 p.m., at Venice Inn. Cost is $9 per person. Join us for Music with Earl Bates (alias Will Rogers). Send reservations to: Tootie and Mickey Simon, 8725 Izard, Omaha, NE 68114. For information call Harry Alloy at 697-8709. Make check out to Visions. Deadline is Nov. 14. Jewish Family Service will use donations from Visions members for Jewish families in need. Please bring your donation to the luncheon or send a check to: Doris Parker, 120 So. 70 St., Omaha, NE 68132. Make check payable to Jewish Family Service. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH On Thursday, Nov. 13, Lomir Redn Yiddish will celebrate its second birthday with a potluck lunch at noon in the Social Hall. Anna Mosenkis and Lev Shekhtman will perform Eastern European music following lunch. The Yiddish Conversation Group follows at 1 p.m., in the Social Hall at the JCC. Call Anne Skolkin for information at 343- 1638.
WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on Thursday to the Bunch to Lunch day trip to Gretna, please meet at the JCC at 11 a.m. Exercise will begin at 10 a.m. in the Social Hall. Call Maggie Conti for transportation at 334-6521. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES A Veteran’s Day Celebration with the Avi8Ors is Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m., at the JCC. There is no admission fee. Refreshments will be served. For reservations call Maggie Conti at 334-6521. Seating is limited. Preview the Opera Omaha season on Tuesday, Nov. 18, noon, in the JCC Theater. Join voice students from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Hal France, Opera Omaha’s Artistic Director, who will emcee highlights from La Boheme, Lucia D’ Lammermoor and Cold Sassy Tree. Lunch will follow. Cost for lunch is $6 per person. For lunch reservations, call Maggie Conti at 334-6521 or send checks by Nov. 7 to her at 323 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 58154. Make check payable to Jewish Senior Services. There is no charge for the performance. JEWISH FEDERATION NEWCOMERS’ COMMITTEE A brunch for newcomers to the Jewish community will be held on Sunday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the JCC’s Community Room. To RSVP, call Janie Murow, Federation Community Development Director, at jmurow@jewishomaha.org or 334-6566. OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman will give the weekly parasha shiur on Shabbos afternoon, Saturday, Nov. 1, 4:45 p.m. Time for Talmud is cancelled as Rabbi Blum will be out of town; the Beis Midrash is open for chavrusastyle learning on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m., at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. “Hidden Dimensions of Psalms,” organized by Shirley Goodman is on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 4:30 p.m., at her home, 732 Sunset Trail. Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman will explore the meaning of psalms. Join Rabbi Blum for Lunch ’n Learn at the Kripke Library, Wednesday, Nov. 5, noon. Brooke’s Teen Girls’ is Thursday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., at her home, 805 So. 120 Ave. Mark your calendar now for Fun Night II on Saturday, Nov 8, 7 p.m. Enjoy an evening of “Catskills” entertainment, a kosher gourmet dinner and a Chinese auction. Call Nancy Wolf for reservations, 330-6736.
October 31, 2003
Personal L’Shana Tovas
Is That the Good Humor Man?
BERT’S EYE VIEW
IN THE NEWS Mitzi Delman, French teacher and Foreign Language Department Chair at Omaha’s Westside High School, was recently elected Vice-president of the Nebraska International Language Association. NILA is the professional organization that represents and supports foreign language teachers and foreign language education across Nebraska. Delman’s past honors include Nebraska Outstanding Foreign Language Teacher, NEH Grant to study Russian, and a S.T.A.R.S. Award. Now in her 27th year of teaching, Delman will serve a three-year term as Vice-president, President-elect and President of the organization. Filet mignon from Omaha Steaks has been added to the online ordering department at the online bookseller Amazon.com website, reported the Wall Street Journal last week.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Flintstone’s Betty Rubble brings stand-up Opera to Omaha. Opera Omaha presents a one-night only performance by opera comedienne B.J. Ward in Stand Up Opera on Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. at the Witherspoon Concert Hall at Joslyn Art Museum. Tickets are $25 general admission or $100, which includes primary seating and a pre-show reception. To purchase tickets or for more information, call Opera Omaha, 34-OPERA or go online at: www.operaomaha.org.
by BERT LEWIS
We took a brief trip the other week--I think of it as one of those “mitten drinum” trips a person takes on the spur of the moment. We made two stops, the first to see family and friends in Scottsdale and the second to see family in L.A. Both were very satisfying from the standpoint of that old philosophy, which says the quality of time is more important than quantity. It hadn’t been so very long since we’d been in Arizona, but it was way too long since we’d been in California. Of course, traveling these days seems more a chore than a pleasure, but I have to say it was all worth it. My only sibling is in Arizona and we’ve come to appreciate the time we spend together more than we used to. And, the more birthdays we have, the more we appreciate those times when we can just yammer away about nothing terribly important. We tend to remember things from when we were kids more then ever, and certain pictures or old objects evoke long forgotten memories. I had found a photograph of the house my Zada built when he came to this country--the house my Mom’s family lived in until very recent times. I knew my brother would love it, so I took it to him on our recent visit. He took one look, identified it instantly, and grinned from ear to ear. Such a simple thing, but it soon had us talking about the swing on the front porch when we were kids and every detail of the rooms we could remember. Thank you, Mr. Kodak. Our few days in California were equally satisfying. My dad’s only sister and her husband are our L.A. connection, and it’s been too long since we had a good visit. If you knew them, you’d understand that any visit, even a short one, is a special gift for us. They are the kind of people who are interested in everything, ready for any new experience, but able to completely enjoy recalling old times and in general, just a pleasure to be with. We talked and talked and laughed a lot, and swallowed more than one lump in the throat, but we always do when we're together. When we left them three days after we arrived, we felt we’d had a marvelously satisfying experience. Maybe not quite as long as we’d have liked, but long enough to tide us over until next time. And, even though, on the way home, our seats in the completely full plane were in the very last row, it was still a very worthwhile trip. (I don’t mind riding practically in the lavatory all the way, but those last row seats don’t recline, and that’s not funny!) So that trip is, I suppose, an example of something a person can do immediately following the High Holidays. And in retrospect, it seems appropriate to do such a visit during this season when we’re thinking a lot about the past and the future. Whether or not you agree it’s appropriate, I highly recommend seeing and enjoying the company of those you hold dear. Think of it as a wonderful way to start the new year --after all, wouldn’t it be nice to say “l’shana tova” in person instead of sending a card? It is, and it was. Bert Lewis can be reached at: BertLewis39@aol.com.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Lilly’s Plastic Purse opens tomorrow at the Rose Blumkin Theater for Performing Arts and runs through Dec. 7. Tickets are $12-$16 and may be obtained from the Omaha Theater Company for Young People by calling 345-4849. by PHYLLIS GENTRY for the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home No, not really--but the residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home now enjoy a traveling ice cream cart twice daily. Staff in-costume push a refrigerated cart through the Home ringing a bell to let everyone know that ice cream is available. The best part is that every resident can take advantage of this new service as the ice cream is delivered right to their door at no charge. Staff and visitors pay a nominal charge.
BIRTH Danielle and Jeff Gordman announce the Sept. 29 birth of their son, Zev Dan. He has a 15-month-old sister, Harper. Grandparents are Linda Stark of St. Louis and the late Walter Stark and Linda and Jerry Gordman of Omaha. Great-grandparents are Esther and Stanley Lewin of Tucson.
JFS Asks You to Take a “Personal” Day by JENNY MEYERSON for Jewish Family Service Most of us don’t think (too much) about the money we spend to get ready for the day. Take a moment and think about what you needed to use this morning--toothpaste, deodorant, soap, toilet paper, I hope so! Maybe you also used shampoo, makeup, contact solution or body lotion? Did the baby need diapers? Personal hygiene is and should be important to all of us. But for some Jewish individuals in our community, extra money for these items isn’t always there. Jewish Family Service has seen an increased number of requests for these types of needs, so we are inviting the community to take a “personal” day and help make mornings just a little easier and less stressful for our fellow Jewish
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neighbors. During the week of Nov. 10-14, personal care items may be brought to the JCC. These items may include: shampoo, toothbrushes, toilet paper, tissue, soap, body lotion, diapers, etc. Bubble bath and cosmetics might be nice too! JFS will distribute these products this winter to families who need them. Collection boxes will be located at the member services desk, JFS office, Friedel Academy and Kidz Inn. For more information please call me at JFS at 330-2024. Thank you, in advance, for your support!
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 31, 2003
Opinion A Dangerous World In front of 57 heads of state, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said, “The Europeans killed six million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule the world by proxy: They get others to fight and die for them.” He also accused the Jews of inventing “socialism, communism, human rights and democracy” to help them gain “control of the most powerful countries and they, this tiny community, have become a world power.” So what’s new? Mahathir Mohamad is just one of many who insist that “The Jews control the world.” If only! If we did control the banks, we wouldn’t need Jewish Family Service to assist poor Jews by helping them pay their rent and utilities bills. We wouldn’t need a Federation Campaign to provide one hot meal a day to elderly Jews in Russia. And we wouldn’t need scholarships to send Jewish kids to camp and summer programs in Israel. But, guess what! There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world today and only 15 million Jews. They have oil; we don’t. But we do have one thing that the Malaysian Prime Minister stated in his speech: we have brains. “We are up against a people who think. They survived 2,000 years of pogroms not by hitting back, but by thinking,” he insisted. So what new thinking can we do to survive? • One thing we can do is follow Ambassador Dennis Ross’ advice: “You want to help Israelis? Go to Israel!” We can show the rest of the world we’re not afraid--not of their bullying, not of their terrorism, not of their anti-Semitism.
(Founded in 1920)
• We can stay informed: by subscribing to periodicals like the Jerusalem Post and the Jerusalem Report and to services which report bias in the general media like HonestReporting.com. We can monitor news broadcasts on television and radio and report inaccuracies to the folks at HonestReporting, who will, in turn, alert their subscribers to write letters of protest. • Have more children--really. Jews are not even replacing themselves. Our birthrate is less than 1.9%, while Muslims are reproducing at a rate as high as 4.8% in some countries--including Israel and the neighboring West Bank and Gaza Strip. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what that will mean in a generation or two--forget “thinking”--we’ll be overwhelmed and overtaken in sheer population growth. • Prepare for the worst. Today it’s suicide bombings and kidnappings. Tomorrow it might be an outbreak of smallpox. Though the last natural case of this highly contagious disease was in 1978, one tiny droplet-the size of the “bullets” in this editorial--released in a jet carrying 400 internnational passen-
gers could create thousands of deaths in just weeks. Don’t think it could happen? We didn’t think those terrorists could bring down the World Trade Center either.
Another Holocaust? BEHIND THE H EADLINES by DANIEL PIPES The prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, informed the world, among other things, that “Jews rule this world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them.” In reaction, Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. national security adviser, described Mahathir’s comments as “hateful, they are outrageous.” She then added, “I don’t think they are emblematic of the Muslim world.” If only she were right about that. In fact, Mahathir’s views are precisely emblematic of Muslim discourse about Jews--symbolized by the standing ovation his speech received from an all-Muslim audience of leaders representing 57 states. Then, a Saudi newspaper reports, when Western leaders criticized Mahathir, “Muslim leaders closed ranks” around him with words of praise (“very correct,” “a very, very wise assessment”). Although anti-Jewish sentiments among Muslims go back centuries, today’s hostility results from two main developments: Jewish success in modern times and the establishment of Israel. Until about 1970, however, Muslim resentment and fear of Jewish power, remained relatively quiet. This changed in the 1970s, when a further political radicalization combined with an oil boom gave states like Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Libya the will and the means to sponsor anti-Jewish ideas worldwide. With barely a Muslim voice to counter ever-more outlandish theories, these multiplied and deepened. For the first time, the Muslim world became the main locus of anti-Jewish theories. By now, notes Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America, “Hatred of Jews is widespread throughout the Muslim world. It is taught in the schools and preached in the mosques. Cartoons in Muslim newspapers routinely portray Jews in blatantly anti-Semitic terms.” Indeed, Mahathir is hardly the only Muslim ruler to make anti-Jewish statements. President Bashar al-Assad of Syria said in 2001 that Israelis try “to kill the principles of all religions with the same mentality in which they betrayed Jesus Christ.” The Iranian ayatollahs and Saudi princes have a rich history of anti-Jewish venom, as of course do Egyptian television programs and Palestinian textbooks. Of the many examples, one stands out for me: a June 2002 interview with a 3-year-old girl named Basmallah on Saudi television,
made available by the Middle East Media and Research Institute: Anchor: Basmallah, are you familiar with the Jews? Basmallah: Yes. Anchor: Do you like them? Basmallah: No. Anchor: Why don’t you like them? Basmallah: Because... Anchor: Because they are what? Basmallah: They’re apes and pigs. Anchor: Because they are apes and pigs. Who said they are so? Basmallah: Our God. Anchor: Where did he say this? Basmallah: In the Koran. The little girl is wrong, but her words show that, contrary to Condoleezza Rice’s analysis. Muslim anti-semitism extends even to the youngest children. That Mahathir himself is no Islamist but (in the words of New York Times columnist Paul Krugman) “about as forwardlooking a Muslim leader as we’re likely to find” also points to the pervasiveness of anti-Jewish bias. In its attitudes toward Jews, the Muslim world today resembles Germany of the 1930s – a time when insults, caricatures, conspiracy theories, and sporadic violence prepared Germans for the mass murder that followed. The same might be happening today. Wild accusatory comments like Mahathir’s have become banal. Against Israelis, violence has already reached a rate approaching one death per day over the past three years. Outside Israel, violence against Jews is also persistent: a Jewish building blown up in Argentina, Daniel Pearl’s murder in Pakistan, stabbings in France, the Brooklyn Bridge and LAX killings in the United States. These episodes, plus calling Jews “apes and pigs” could serve as the psychological preparation that one day leads to assaulting Israel with weapons of mass destruction. Armaments chemical, biological, and nuclear would be the successors of Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau. Millions of Jews would perish in another Holocaust. As in the 1930s, the world at large--including the U.S. government --again seems not to note the deadliness of processes now underway. Anti-Jewish rhetoric and violence are decried, to be sure, but with little sense of urgency and even less of their cumulative impact. Condoleezza Rice and other top-ranking officials need to recognize the power and reach of the anti-Jewish ideology among Muslims, then develop active ways to combat it. This evil has already taken innocent lives; unless combated it could take many more. Daniel Pipes is Director of the Middle East Forum and author of Militant Islam Reaches America (W.W. Norton). He can be reached at: www.DanielPipes.org.
Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Ray Pred Account Executive Timothy J. Ketelsen Bookkeeper Jon Gates Production Assistant Jewish Press Committee Howard K. Marcus, Vice-Chairman; Bobbi Leibowitz, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Finance Chairman; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Fred Tichauer, Immediate Past-chairman; Jean Duitch; Penny Endelman; Kip Gordman; Stanley Mitchell; George Quittner; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Nancy Skid; and Melanie Weinstein. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press and the Foundation are constitional committees of the Jewish Federation. Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, noon, eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1-402-334-5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be singlespaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $31 per calendar year U.S.; $35 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or to ckatzman@jewishomaha. org.
Nebraska Press Association
October 31, 2003
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by MATTHEW E. BERGER WASHINGTON (JTA)--Three leaders of the Palestinian Fatah movement came last week to Washington to show they were reformers, but their message didn’t win many followers among Washington’s foreign policy community. Ahmed Ghneim, a Fatah leader from eastern Jerusalem, said that he believed dismantling terrorist organizations was a “completely empty concept.” “Do you think, with our weak security services, we have the ability to dismantle any group?” Ghneim said to audience members at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which hosted the visit of the Fatah members. Ghneim and two members of the Palestinian legislative council, Qadura Fares and Hatim Abdel Qada, met in Washington with congressional leaders and David Satterfield, deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs. But while they spoke of the need to reform the Palestinian Authority and discussed the prospects of new elections,
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by MORDECAI SPECKTOR The American Jewish World MINNEAPOLIS, MN--There are some large Jewish congregations in Minnesota, but on Erev Shabbat, Nov. 7, some 5,000 Jews will pray together at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Minnesota is hosting the 67th UAHC (Union of American Hebrew Congregations) Biennial, which runs Nov. 5-9 and is billed as the largest gathering of Jews in North America. The UAHC, the umbrella organization of Reform-affiliated congregations in the U.S. and Canada, represents some 1.5 million Jews. The Biennial, which took place last in Boston, will highlight the cutting-edge issues concerning the Reform movement. The theme of the event is “Lech L’cha--Go forth,” which connotes a journey of spiritual discovery. “Everyone will tell you, Friday night blows them away,” says Diane Kaplan of Golden Valley. “How often do you ever get to pray with 5,000 Jews? It’s an amazing experience.” Kaplan, a member of Temple Israel in Minneapolis, is a cochair of the local host committee for the Women of Reform Judaism’s 44th Assembly, which runs concurrently with the UAHC Biennial. Omaha participants include Temple Israel’s Elyce and Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Cindy Goldberg, Wendy and David Goldberg, Andie Gordman, Lynne Jensen, Sally and Gary Kaplan, Colleen Kennealy, Jon Meyers, Ducky Milder, Karli Newman, Nancy Nogg, Magda Peck, Jane Rips, Stacey Rockman, Jeff Schweid, Cantor Wendy Shermet, Michelle Shkolnick, Dorothy Spizman, Michael Walts, Andi Willensky, and Rosie Zweiback. The mass gathering of Reform congregational leaders will be “like a reunion with family,” adds Howard Kaplan, Diane’s husband and a co-chair of the local host committee for the UAHC Biennial. Members of Reform congregations in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Duluth have been enlisted to help with convention logistics and ensure that the gathering runs smoothly. The Kaplans have been attending the Reform movement conventions since the early 1980s. Howard Kaplan mentions
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 13
Fatah Leaders Go to Washington, but their Arguments Fall on Deaf Ears their push for a cease-fire between Palestinian terrorist groups and Israel-instead of dismantling terrorist groups, as the Palestinians agreed to do under the “road map” peace plan--didn’t win over many in the audience or elsewhere in Washington. Indeed, Ghneim acknowledged that the group, from P.A. President Yasser Arafat’s political movement, did not accomplish its goals while in Washington. It received no support from either the United States or Israel for a cease-fire. “We believe now we have no partner, not in the United States, not in Israel,” Ghneim said. “Until now, there are no signals that we have partners for this purpose.” Ghneim suggested “serious actions” would be taken against those who opposed or violated the cease-fire. He mentioned the prevention of protests and demonstrations in the streets, arrests and confiscation of weapons. Through a translator, Fares said that Fatah officials receive signals from
Hamas leaders that Hamas would agree to a “politically fair solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but he gave no indication of what an acceptable solution might look like. The Fatah members’ trip came on the heels of other progress by Palestinian reformers in Geneva who, in collaboration with Israeli doves, crafted a proposed peace agreement that would create a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and 98 percent of the West Bank, with transfers of Israeli territory to Palestinians making up the rest. But that peace plan--called the Geneva accord--has no official political backing and was crafted by former politicians and negotiators who are no longer in government. Analysts say the luke-warm welcome the Fatah leaders received in Washington is a sign of how relatively innovative the “reformers” actually are. While the trio deviated somewhat from the party line of Arafat loyalists, it echoed Arafat’s positions when it came to curbing violence and dismantling ter-
rorist groups. That was unacceptable in Washington. “I think they fell short of what the Washington-based Middle East community was willing to accept,” one Jewish official said. “The day the Palestinians understand this is a war against terrorism, there will be a sense that the guys are ready.” One State Department official suggested that Satterfield’s meeting with the Fatah leaders spoke more of the influence of the trip’s coordinator--Dennis Ross, a former U.S. special envoy to the Middle East who now directs the Washington Institute--than it does of the potential of the visitors in Washington. The Fatah leaders expressed the belief that increased U.S. engagement, which has been lacking since P.A. Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas resigned earlier this fall, was necessary to end violence. “We believe America can still play an active role and must play an active role,” Ghneim said. “If America cannot succeed to solve this issue, then who will?”
Minnesota’s Reform Jews Prepare for 67th UAHC Biennial that the UAHC gathering is unique in that “cantors, administrators, presidents, members of congregations, all on an equal basis, debate social issues, religious issues, work together, study and pray together.” The Biennial is next best thing to visiting Israel, according to Howard Kaplan, a lawyer specializing in mediation and arbitration. “You are immersed in Judaism for five days. You eat, live, sleep Judaism,” he says about the varied Biennial program, which runs daily from 7 a.m. to midnight. The UAHC Biennial will convene major evening sessions, which will be devoted to presentations and guest speakers, such as Israeli novelist Amos Oz (who will be in Lincoln on Nov. 18 and in Omaha Nov. 19) and Joseph Paritzky, the Israeli government minister of infrastructures from the Shinui Party. Major political leaders from the two major parties are also expected to address the participants, but no specific names have been announced. The UAHC General Assembly will debate policy issues and vote on resolutions, including a proposed name change for the organization. Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, UAHC president, discussed the proposal tto change the group’s name--to the Union for Reform Judaism--and other topics, during a telephone interview with the Jewish World. The UAHC, back in 1930s and 1940s, worked out of a couple offices in Cincinnati and employed “five or six people,” explained Yoffie. From its humble past, the UAHC today is “really the leading force in the Reform world,” with some 900 member congregations, 12 summer camps, 13 regional offices, a large youth program and a major center in Washington, D.C. “Our mission has changed and the character of Reform Judaism has changed,” Yoffie noted, “so we need a
name that reflects those new religious realities. I’m optimistic that this time the Biennial will make the change that has been proposed by our board; but we need a two-thirds vote, so nothing is assured.” Yoffie declined to provide a preview of the “presidential sermon” that he will deliver on Saturday morning at the UAHC Biennial, but he noted that the gatherings reflect the state of the evolving Reform movement. “There’s a much more serious study program that we have now,” Yoffie commented. “We have three scholars from HUC [Hebrew Union College], and Torah study is a central part of what we do, and more prominent than in the past. Worship is a far more significant part of our Biennial experience; first of all, simply in the sense that we have daily w o r s h i p now.” In the discussions covering a range of social and political issues, Israel will figure prominently, added Yoffie. In addition to Paritzky, Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center in Jerusalem, who has been involved in the Women of Wall group seeking the right of women to pray at the Western Wall, will be speaking at both the Biennial and the Women of Reform Judaism convention. Discussions about Israel will concern the situation of the liberal religious streams, but Rabbi Yoffie said that “at this moment, our broader concern is for the security of the people of Israel and our desire for peace, inevitably that takes precedence, as it should--those are issues of life and death.” People don’t die from the lack of religious freedom, Yoffie pointed out. However, “the well-being of Israel is very much tied up to the strength of its religious commitment and the ability of its culture to offer a Judaism that speaks to the modern world and speaks to people who want to embrace Jewish tradition, but also want to embrace an egalitarian
“Our mission has changed and the character of Reform Judaism has changed,” Yoffie noted, “so we need a name that reflects those new religious realities.”
approach to that tradition, and want a tradition that develops and grows.” Yoffie said that “for many Israelis, if any Judaism is going to appeal to them, that is the Judaism that will appeal to them, and it needs therefore to come from us,” and from others, such as the Conservative movement. The Reform movement has no argument with Orthodox Judaism, according to Yoffie. “We’re opposed to a politicized, monopolistic Judaism,” he stated. “We know throughout Jewish history, Judaism that is politicized and monopolistic and coercive ultimately fails. We have confidence in Israelis. Just as they are moving towards an economic system based on freedom and choice, they need to move to a religious system that’s also based on freedom and choice.” He added that the UAHC Biennial will feature a large Israeli delegation, as well as representatives of British Jewry and Jews from Eastern Europe. Participants in the Biennial will also have an opportunity to learn about the Minnesota Jewish community’s work on issues of social and economic justice. A Jewish Community Action-sponsored event, HaKriah (“The Call”), takes place Nov. 9, and is open to the community. The Jewish Community Action Call to Justice Award, an annual honor for those “who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to social and economic justice,” will be renamed in memory of and awarded to Paul and Sheila Wellstone, who perished with their daughter, Marcia, and five others in an airplane crash on Oct. 25, 2002. Sen. Wellstone served in the U.S. Senate for two terms. In the Scandinavian-influenced Minnesota idiom, the UAHC Biennial will be a virtual smorgasbord of things Jewish, from the spiritual experiences to the chotchkes on sale. “You can probably sense the excitement in our voices when we talk about it,” says Howard Kaplan, about what will be a big event for Minnesota's Jewish community. “How often can you say, ‘It is something that we’ve never had and we’ll never have again’?” he asks. Information about the 67th UAHC Biennial can be found on the organization’s website: www.uahc.org.
Page 14
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Synagogue Listings
October 31, 2003
Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322-4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492-8550 www.bethel-omaha.org
Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 1502 N. 52 St. Omaha, NE. 68104 -5013 556-6288 BethIsrael@novia.net
Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660-2395 http://welcome.to/beytshalom/
Chabad House An Affiliate of the Worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch Movement 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330-1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com
Congregation B’nai Jeshrun South Street Temple Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435-8004 jewishnebraska.org
Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294-6244
Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154
Temple Israel Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556-6536 templeisrael-ne.org
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423-8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
If you’re looking at this space, so are others! YOUR AD CAN GO HERE...to reserve space, call Allan Handleman, 334-6451, or Ray Pred, 334-6559.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat morning services, 9:30 a.m. Beth El will sponsor the Kiddush. Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m. K’tantan, 10:45 a.m. Evening services, 5:05 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Services Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION Sunday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.Adult Bible Study Group resumes in the library. Rabbi Mordechai Levin continues his weekly class for adults on "Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century." Thursday, Nov. 6, noon, in the library. For information, or to make a reservation for optional lunch, at 1 p.m., please call the Synagogue, 492-8550. ADULT BAR/BAT MITZVAH The Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah class will meet with Cantor Gaston Bogomolni, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m. A THOUGHT FOR SHABBAT To receive Rabbi Levin’s weekly “Thought For Shabbat” e-mail message, please send your e-mail address to exec@bethelomaha.org. This is free and open to the entire community.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.;
Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Services, 5:05 p.m. West Minyan at the home of Rabbi B.P. and Rocheyl Simon, 5:05 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Sisterhood; Mincha, 4:55 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:03 p.m. SUNDAY: Morning Services, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 5 p.m. followed by “Let’s Go Out to Eat!” a Hungarian kosher dinner. Weekday Morning Services, 7 a.m.; Weekday Mincha and Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shabbat service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Jerry Kaye, Director of OSRUI, and Zim Zimmerman, Director of Shwayder Camp, will make presentations to religious school students at Camp Exploration Day, 10 a.m. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, Nov. 4 : Prof. Gerald Shapiro of the Harris Center for Judaic Studies at UNO, will lead a discussion of Amos Oz’s book, Panther in the Basement.
BEYT SHALOM
SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; led by congregants of Beyt Shalom Reconstructionalist.
FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home. SATURDAY: Members of the congregation will lead services at the Chapel of the Blumkin Home, 9 a.m. SUNDAY: Religious school, 3 p.m. at the JCC.
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. MondayFriday, morning services, 7 a.m.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Rabbi Debbie Stiel will be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, all day. You may reach her 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 416-2321 (local for Lincoln), or at rabstiel@aol.com. FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 7:45 p.m.; led by Sarah Kelen
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join us for some relaxation and great conversation, 11:45 a.m.; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:30 p.m.; Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. Rabbi Uri Regev, Executive Director of the Jerusalem-based World Union of Progressive Judaism, will speak; an oneg will follow, sponsored by the Women of Reform Judaism. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Dylan Jack Saferstein.
Friday, October 31, 5:03 p.m.
SITTER SERVICE Sitter Service is available at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar or bat mitzvah, as well as Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Please make a reservation through the Temple office. Cost is $2 per family. Sorry, no facilities for infants. SUNDAY: Brunch and discussion, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Regev on “Judaism, Power and Moral Restraint--Conflict Resolution in Jewish Tradition.” Best in Show, 2 p.m. at Pipal Park. MONDAY, 1-7 p.m. The Bloodmobile will be at Temple. It is not too late to make an appointment to donate blood-call the Temple office, 556-6536. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, 7-8:30 p.m.: John Dacey will lead a discussion of Herzl’s The Jewish State. WEDNESDAY, 6:45-8:30 p.m.: “History of Israel, Part I: Biblical and Pre-Modern Foundations” with Dr. Moshe Gershovich. THURSDAY, 10-11:30 a.m.: “Adult Study With The Clergy” with Cantor Wendy Shermet.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat Services, 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:20 p.m. SUNDAY, 12:30 p.m.: Federation Meeting. WEDNESDAY: The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m.
Holiday Bazaar to Unfold at Beth El
BAR MITZVAH Dylan Jack Saferstein, son of Mark and Lynda Saferstein and Stephanie and M i c h a e l Siedschlag, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Temple Israel. Dylan is a seventh grader at Lewis and Clark Middle School, where he is a student ambassador. He was also a student ambassador at
Candlelighting
Harrison Elementary School. He enjoys playing basketball, football, baseball, soccer, PS2 and playing with his friends. For his mitzvah project, Dylan collected used sporting goods for the Girls and Boys Club. Dylan has a younger sister, Rachel, and three stepsisters, Melinda, Melanie and Emily. Grandparents are Mary Saferstein and the late Jack Saferstein, James and Ruth Cullen of Annandale, VA, Ray and Laura Beth Barr and Jean and Duane Siedschlag of Omaha.
Noted Conservative Rabbi Stops in Omaha to Push for Torah Education by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director Rabbi Mordechai Levin, left, greets Rabbi Bradley Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and Vice President at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. More than 125 people attended Rabbi Artson’s talk about the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish community. Rabbi Artson’s visit was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Omaha and hosted by Beth El Synagogue.
by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue Co-chairs Patti Adler, left, and Caryn Rifkin go over the list of vendors who have signed up, to date, to sell in Beth El Sisterhood’s Holiday Bazaar, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Among the items for sale at the Bazaar are Limited Edition Lithographs by Russian artist Abram Rabkin-courtesy of Leah Kosinovsky; Karen Javitch selling her own CDs; Eadie Tsabari of Omaha e-Gifts; the L.O.V.E. group; Meghann Lustgarten’s handknitted purses; Sheri Dietrich with Original Sheri paintings; and many more. “We’ll offer a fantastic array of gift items, from antique jewelry to candles, sculpture to scarves,” said Adler. For additional information, please call Adler, at 333-4047; or Rifkin, at 334-7216.
UNVEILING SUNDAY, November 2: A monument will be unveiled in memory of the late Dave Richtman, 1 p.m., at Golden Hill Cemetery.
October 31, 2003
Did You Get Too Wet?
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Noah My name is Noah. They have assigned a whole Sidra to me. So I guess it’s okay for me to speak my piece. In Hebrew my name has only two letters. Since Jews began to speak Yiddish, they also began to write my two-letter name with seven mistakes. Now look, I had three kids. Maybe there were some daughters, too; I can’t really remember. I’m 500 years older than they; that’s why I’m so much more sophisticated. I don’t really know why they didn’t like each other. But that seems to be one of the attributes of this whole race. Maybe animal races are more sensible than the human race. I don’t know why it is, but humanity is less humane than many of the lower animals. Lower? Maybe higher. Anyhow, they say it’s not the humanity; it’s the humidity. Humankind doesn’t seem to have much humility. And someone said, it’s the humididy, when he was trying to say humidity. I know you’re eager to hear about the flood. Now understand this to begin with, the flood was not my fault. All I know is that Somebody told me to build an ark. An ark! It was to be as big as a football field and three stories high and lots and lots of rooms. Now I was never trained as a hotel clerk so I may have made bad room assignments. I found out later that I had assigned two mice to the master suite and two hippos to a room as big as a closet. Sooner or later, by trading around, maybe everyone would be happy with his assignment. Now the flood itself lasted a long time. We all got tired of each other in that ark. The same faces, day after day, and the same complaints about the food, the temperature and the stuffiness. But what would have been the alternative? Anyone who didn’t get on to the ark in time and had the door slammed in his face had to be an exceptionally good swimmer, or else.
One thing I don’t understand is why Someone didn’t bring me back and open the ark in the same place where we embarked. Why were we thrown out in a place half a world away? And the only answer I get, is “That’s the way it is.” Now these three kids of mine. I’ve said that they didn’t particularly like each other. One of them is the forefather of the Jews. You guess which one. And the Jews are a special kind of people with all kinds of talents and all kinds of ways to improve humanity. Can you imagine this? Among all the centuries in all the billions of centuries that we have in this universe with no boundaries whatever, in time or in space, that in one century alone, we had Marx and Freud and Einstein. All Jews, you know. So far as I know, they didn’t know each other or care about each other’s work. And yet, their influence still hangs on centuries after their deaths. Marx told us about money and its uses; Freud told us what goes on in this frighteningly fertile human mind. And Einstein told us about what happens in this frighteningly boundless universe we live in. And this universe, this planetary system is only a toothpick among the galaxies that whirl about. If we could live a few centuries each, we might be able to learn something about the galaxy in which we live. Alas, we can only learn a little in each generation and pass it on to the next. And now back to Noah. To me. Did you notice that the text says I was such-and-such a simpleton in my generations. Generations, get it? I was to have generations, not one generation. And over a period of generations, think of the knowledge or the mischief I could acquire. No doubt that is why the rabbis differed from each other in considering my character. Some said I was a good guy even among the bad people; and some said that I was a good guy only in comparison with the bad guys of my time. At any rate, there were enough brigands in my time to cause Someone to bring on the flood. Listen: I’m your grandfather, whoever you are. I hope you didn’t get too wet!
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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DEATHS SALLY RICKS Sally Ricks died Oct. 27 at the age of 93. Services were held on Oct. 29 at Golden Hill Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Morris. She was a member of a number of Jewish women’s organizations and a longtime volunteer at Children’s Hospital. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Les Schneiderman; son and daughter-in-law, Marty and Iris Ricks; grandchildren, Robin and Ken Baer of Dix Hills, NY; Debbie and Steve Trenton of Shawnee Mission, KS, Scott and Heidi Schneiderman, Jennifer and Ken Zeidman of Portland, OR, Marc Ricks of New York City; Paul Waitz of Chicago, IL, and Andrew Waitz of Moorpark, CA; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Beth Israel Synagogue, National Council of Jewish Women or Temple Israel.
REVA RUDERMAN Reva Mann Ruderman died Oct. 22 at the age of 82. Services were held Oct. 24 at Golden Hill Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Morris. Ruderman was, for many years, a secretary at Beth Israel Synagogue, starting as an assistant in its Talmud Torah in 1959. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sheila and Ray Tomps; daughters, Gail Shaw of Prairie Village, KS, and Genine Hanna; grandchildren, David, Laura, Michael, Bradley, Steven, Melissa and Tasha; brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Lois Mann of Council Bluffs, IA. Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or to a charity of your choice.
November Programs at Temple to Dispel Myths and Provide Information on Aging by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “We can empower ourselves with knowledge about issues that everyone will face as they age,” advised Shane Kotok, Director of Community Outreach for Jewish Senior Services (JSS). A two-part series exploring concerns of aging will be offered at Temple Israel on Thursdays, Nov. 13 and 20, 2 p.m. The first session, “Jewish Senior Services: We’re More than Just the Blumkin Home,” will present Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Executive Director Michael Silverman, Kotok, and Social Services Associate Shelly Fox. They will explain many of the services available here to help seniors have full and meaningful lives. “One constant I find in my work at JSS is that most people want to be involved in decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their loved ones,” Kotok mentioned. “Possibly the worst time to process this information is during a crisis when we aren’t given enough time.” She said information about resources available at JSS, the Home, and in the general community will be discussed at Temple “so you will be better prepared to help make informed choices for yourself.” The second session is “The Rhetoric vs. Reality: Issues
Relating to Aging.” Planning for good luck and for bad is a serious concern as we hit the fifth, sixth, and seventh decades of life. Kotok will facilitate a panel discussion on Medicare, Medicaid, long-term health care insurance, risk management, and more. Four experts in this field: Jim Farber, Gary Katelman, Bob Nelson, and Margo Rosen, will be available to talk about the options and answer questions. Farber, an insurance professional with Swartzbaugh Farber and Associates, Inc., pointed out that “long-term care planning involves quite a bit of planning prior to implementing insurance coverage. It requires a plan to prepare for contingencies just as if you were planning for retirement or hospitalization,” he added. “We want to bring vital information to our congregants about what the Jewish community offers us as we age,” explained Rosie Zweiback, Temple’s Program Director. “We invited experts to help dispel myths and provide solid information so families can plan for the future.” She said the two programs are open to the community. “Anyone can attend but the information is particularly relevant for baby boomers and their parents.” There is no charge; refreshments will be served.
Meat and a large selection of kosher food products are available at the following stores: Bag ’N Save (75th & Dodge) (114th & Miracle Hills Drive) (90th & Blondo) No Frills (80th & Blondo) Albertsons (120th & W. Center Road) Baker’s (132nd & W. Center Road) (156th & Dodge) Hy-Vee (132nd & Dodge) (78th & Cass)
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 31, 2003
Sam Anderson Learns to Make a Difference by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Sam Anderson, 15, has been to Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI) four times. But last summer he had a different experience at the Wisconsin camp founded by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. For the first time, OSRUI offered a Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) session. Instead of outdoor and indoor sports; learning Hebrew; dramatic, musical, and visual arts; horseback riding; and an abundance of other activities, Sam participated in Hineni which is designed for youngsters who have a special interest in making a difference in the lives of people confronting hunger and homeSam Anderson lessness. Spending their first week at OSRUI, the 30 Hineni campers created a presentation on the issue of hunger to inspire others to work towards eliminating it. Sam said speakers came from Mazon (a Jewish Response to Hunger), the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, the Religious Action Center, and other organizations. During the second, third and fourth weeks, the group took to the highways on a bus staying at other camps, synagogues, and camping along the way. The Hineni teens shared their presentation with other Jewish campers from Oconomowoc, WI, to Atlanta, GA. They visited Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, and celebrated Shabbat in the Smokey Mountains. As they taught others about hunger and homelessness, “we all came together as a group,” recalled Sam who is a sophomore at Omaha North High School and a member of Temple Israel. “The biggest thing we did was stay at a night shelter that is affiliated with a Temple in Atlanta,” explained Sam. During the four-night stay, “we painted the inside of the shelter.”
From Atlanta, the busload from OSRUI went on to other cities including Nashville, TN and St. Louis, MO, where the teens performed their presentation or provided direct service such as sorting cans of food. On their way back to OSRUI, they visited the Department of Health and Human Services in Springfield, Illinois, and talked about WIC, a federal food voucher program for low income women who are raising young children. At the end of the Hineni experience, the group returned to OSRUI where they shared their experiences with the entire camp on Shabbat. He likened growing up in Omaha to being raised in a “sheltered” environment. Hineni “opened my eyes” and helped him realize “how good we have it here.” As a member of Temple Israel’s Middle/High School Social Justice Club, Sam became informed on local political issues and met with teens from the Islamic Center of Omaha. In addition, the Social Justice Club collected cell phones to donate to the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council to give to women in danger for them to use to call for help. The teens also collected used eyeglasses for people in developing countries, and collected money and emergency supplies for youth who survive on the street. Earlier this year, the Social Justice Club was recognized by the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism with an Irving J. Fain Social Action Award. As the youth branch of Temple’s Social Justice Committee, the Club offers students opportunities to learn more about inclusion, general mitzvot, legislative issues, tzedakah, and helping others who are in need in our community. Among the activities planned this year, the teens will serve dinner at The Stephen Center in December and May. The Club meets on Wednesdays before Religious School. For more information, call Director of Middle/High School Elyce Azriel at Temple Israel at 556-6536. In addition to learning more about social justice, Sam said Hineni “was my favorite year at camp.” For more information about Hineni, call Rabbi Aryeh Azriel or Stephanie Grossman, director of youth and informal education at Temple, 556-6536.
Promises on Nukes, but Israel Says Beware Continued from page 1 announced Sunday that Iran had stopped the uranium enrichment process. Someone in the regime apparently thought the spokesman was going too far, however, and his statement later was corrected to say that the country was “negotiating” to stop the uranium enrichment process. “This is an indication of the internal debate in Iran,” said Menashe Amir, head of the Persian program on Voice of Israel radio. Amir, considered a top expert on internal Iranian politics, said in an interview that the clerics who run the country are following a two-faced policy. On the one hand, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has guided Hassan Rohani, secretary-general of Iran’s national security council, to reach an agreement with the European foreign ministers, Amir said. On the other, the ayatollahs that run the country instigated massive demonstrations protesting Iran's intention to cooperate with the Europeans. The newspaper Jumhuri Islami, owned by Khamenei, Iran’s “Supreme Guide,” lashed out against “those who pull Iran by the nose and want to bow before the U.S.” “If Khamenei wants to avoid confrontation, why those acts of protest?” Amir asked. His explanation: “Iran feels forced to please Europe. It feels that such an understanding would serve as a safeguard against American intervention against Iran.” Iran has regarded itself as a regional power since the days of the shah. As such, it has aspired to arm itself with both conventional and non-conventional weapons, including ballistic missiles and, more recently, nuclear arms. Both Israel and the United States doubt Iran's declarations. Maj. Gen. Aharon Ze’evi-Farkash, head of Israel's military intelligence, recently told the Knesset Security and Foreign Affairs Committee that both Iran and Saudi Arabia are trying to obtain tactical nuclear arms “in the immediate future.” If Iran is not stopped, it could complete its uranium enrichment project by the summer of 2004, which would allow it to produce its own nuclear bombs by 2006.
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