Vol. LXXXVI No. 9 Omaha, NE
Jewish Democrats Win Big, Lieberman Returns to Senate by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA)--Jewish Democrats increased their numbers in the U.S. Congress, joining their party in winning the House of Representatives on a wave of public dissatisfaction with the Iraq war and th economy. At least five Jews were among the new Democrats sweeping into the House. In the Senate, which is still up for grabs, Jewish senators increased their numbers from 11 to 13--a record high. U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who votes with Democrats, and U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin, a Democrat running in Maryland, added to the incumbent minyan plus one. Sen. Joseph Lieberman retained his seat after a bruising battle that followed his loss in the Democratic primary and his run as an independent. The pro-Israel community played a key role in his victory. Pro-Israel donors were not so successful in Pennsylvania, where Republican Sen. Rick Santorum lost his re-election bid--and most of the Pennsylvania Jewish vote--to his Democratic opponent, Bob Casey. Indeed, the traditional Jewish affinity for Democrats appeared reinforced by a CNN exit poll showing support from 87 percent of Jewish voters nationwide. Only 10 percent favored Republicans. The poll canvassed 200 Jewish voters, a sample usually considered too small to be determinative.
Celebrating 85 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
19 Cheshvan, 5767 November 10, 2006
Storyteller to Tell His Tales as Temple Israel Scholar-in-Residence by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember,” said Joel Ben Izzy, a professional storyteller, “to my brother, to my friends, and especially to my mother to whom I used to tell stories when she put me to bed.” Ben Izzy will be in Omaha as a scholar-in-residence telling “Our Stories, Ourselves,” Friday-Sunday, Dec. 1-3, at Temple Israel. “I had the pleasure of seeing Joel Ben Izzy perform in 1992, and his book is on my list of ‘top ten favorites’ of all time. I’m excited that we can bring this very talented artist to our community,” said Temple Israel Program Director Rosie Zweiback.
Joel Ben Izzy
Fourth Annual “Chanu-Kids”Features Joel Ben Izzy
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT.) celebrates his victory in Hartford, CT, on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Credit: Ben Harris/JTA Continued on page 2
Expert in Group Homes Shares Ideas for Families with Special Needs by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press Becca Hornstein’s son lives in a group home in Phoenix. Once an art teacher, Hornstein not only made herself an expert in the field of children and adults with special needs, she and Joyce Berk created a new organization--Council For Jews With Special Needs in Becca Hornstein Scottsdale, AZ. The nonprofit human services agency provides assistance to children and adults who have developmental, cognitive and physical disabilities, attention and learning disabilities, sensory and mobility impairments, and emotional and behavioral disorders. Hornstein will be in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 15, to give the community an overview on how to establish a group home. Two sessions are scheduled at the Jewish Community Center: 9:30 a.m.-noon and 1-3:30 p.m. Continued on page 2
Inside Opinion Page see page 12
by GARY KATZ Library Administrator Enjoy Hanukkah and eat lots of latkes at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library’s Fourth Annual “Chanu-Kids” party on Sunday Dec. 3, 3:30-5:30 p.m., in the Kripke Library. Kids of all ages will be entertained by renowned storyteller Joel Ben Izzy, a magician, face painting, and more. Parents and grandparents (aunts, uncles and friends, too) will have the opportunity to see the wide selection of children’s books for sale. “Every year this program gets bigger and better. This year we are pleased to have Joel Ben Izzy come. I’m looking forward to hearing his incredible Hanukkah stories,” said Lena Bogomolni, Kripke Library Chairman. While the party is for younger children, books for older children and adults will also be available for purchase. Enrich a child’s personal Jewish library collection, while the kids have a fun afternoon in the Library. This program is free, fun, and everyone is invited. “Chanu-Kids” has been partially funded by a grant from the Ruth Frisch and Oscar S. Belzer Endowment Fund. For more information, contact me at 334-6462 or gkatz@jewishomaha.org.
“I made stories up for quite a long time,” Ben Izzy, recalled. “Then I discovered the stories of the fools of Chelm, and these became favorites of mine.” Chelm is the mythical Jewish town of fools located on the road from Warsaw to Chotznplotz, Ben Izzy explained. “It is the place where people are so foolish, they consider themselves the wisest of the wise. They spend their days pondering great philosophical questions such as ‘Why is the ocean so salty?’ After weeks of arguing, the matter may be solved by the very wisest of the Chelmites who will point out that the ocean is full of herring. Herring are salty, and thus the ocean is salty,” related the storyteller. “My love of stories comes, in part, from my Grandpa Izzy, of Cleveland, Ohio, from whom I take my name. Life in the suburbs of L.A., which seemed to be a land lacking in stories, left me hungry for more,” Ben Izzy said. In 1983, after graduating from Stanford University with a degree in English, creative writing, and storytelling, Ben Izzy began his professional career. He performed in and around San Francisco and then set off to travel the world, gathering and telling stories. Continued on page 2
Jerusalem Post Reporter to Provide Israel Update by GARY JAVITCH and CINDY SHER Special to the Jewish Press Born and raised in Chicago, Gil Hoffman is living his dream. Since graduating magna cum laude from Northwestern University’s School of Journalism sevenyears ago, he has combined his two loves in life--Israel and journalism--in his work as the chief political correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem Post in Israel’s capital city. The reporter will come to Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 15, under the auspices of the B’nai B’rith Monsky Lodge and will speak at their Breadbreakers lunch program at noon at Regency Lodge. If you eat lunch, the cost is $11. Hoffman will also give a presentation that same evening at the JCC at 7 p.m. Both presentations are free and open to the public. They are co-sponsored by the ADL, the Center for Jewish Education, and the National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section. Well-connected to Israeli and Palestinian political leaders, Hoffman has interviewed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, former prime ministers Sharon, Peres, Barak and Netanyahu and every major figure across the Israeli political spectrum. He, in turn, has been interviewed by top media outlets on six continents and is a regular analyst on CNN, BBC and other foreign news outlets.
This Week: Literary Supplement: Second Section See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Native Son Tells How to Do God’s Work: Page 3
“I have the best job in the world,” he said. “I am paid to sit in the cafeteria of the Knesset for hours on end and talk to politicians over lunch and other politicians over more lunch and more lunch until I’ve had my fill of good food, gossip, and a healthy diet of political spin.” Although Jewish, Hoffman said he remains Gil Hoffman an impartial journalist. “When you get onto the battlefield of reporting, you report the facts,” he said. “Suddenly you’re not telling your buddies back home what happened. You’re reporting the news as an objective observer, knowing that ‘The Jerusalem Post’ is read by many more non-Jews than Jews.” Hoffman also wrote for the Miami Herald and the Arizona Republic before moving to Israel. A corporal in the IDF’s Spokesman’s Unit (Dover Tzahal), he has given lectures in 18 American states, Washington, D.C., Canada, England and Australia on five successful international speaking tours. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and new baby daughter.
Coming Next Month: Hanukkah Issue on Dec. 8 “Call Me Ima” An Adoption Story: Page 6
JFS, Temple Israel Join Refuge Resettlement: Page 16