November 16, 2007

Vol. LXXXVII No. 10 Omaha, NE

Leaving a legacy through art

Celebrating 86 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

6 Kislev, 5768 November 16, 2007

As Olmert talks peace, IDF prepares to invade Gaza

by ANDREA BARTMAN for JSS/RBJH Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home recently completed their work on an artist-in-residence program called “Quilting Your Legacy: Life Story Project.”

About 30 quilts were produced by residents and staff during the three month project. Activity staff members of the RBJH and residents worked together to create a lasting work of art for the enjoyment of both themselves and their families.

The project provided more than just “busy work” for residents. Each participant was involved in the process of self-reflection and planning for their piece.

A questionnaire was the first step in the process: From simple questions like -- What is your favorite color? to more involved ones like: What are your most rewarding accomplishments? -- residents first took the time to examine just what message they wanted their piece to convey. With a lifetime of memories and moments to choose from, the task of narrowing their theme down to a few items was quite an undertaking.

Continued on page 11

Artist-in-residence, Janie York, right, worked closely with resident Tina Becker on using the sewing machine to quilt the center section of her piece.

by ROI EITAN TEL AVIV -- Even as Israel’s government prepares to talk peace with the Palestinians, Israel’s army is girding for war in the Gaza Strip.

With small-scale Israeli military operations having had only a limited effect on curbing Palestinian rocket attacks across the border, Israeli officials are speaking more bluntly than ever of the need to invade the Hamas-controlled territory with full force.

“Each day that passes brings us closer to a broad operation in Gaza,” Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last week. “We are not looking forward to it and we would be happy if circumFollowing the barrage of mortar shells last month on the western Negev community of Netiv stances prevented it.”

Information from senior Ha’asara, located close to the northern border of the Gaza Strip, the IDF responded with air sources in the Israel Defense strikes that hit two terrorist targets and killed four Hamas militants. A woman and her grandForces indicates that Israeli daughter escaped to a reinforced room when shells began hitting their house. One shell Credit: ISRANET troops have been training exploded in the living room where they had just been sitting. and stockpiling equipment at a pace that would suggest the Islamist Hamas, and peace negotiations likely would fall apart. a major Gaza action is weeks away, at most.

Israeli media have been rife with speculation about the Should such an operation get the green light, its exact plans for Gaza. timing would be of critical importance for Israel.

“The army is prepared to enter the Gaza Strip. The The U.S.-led peace conference between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President orders exist,” wrote Alex Fishman and Ronni Shaked in Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to take place at the end of the daily Yediot Achronot. “But a massive military incurthis month, and Olmert may find it hard to make his case sion and seizure of parts of the Gaza Strip prior to the in Annapolis, Md., if CNN is broadcasting images of Israeli Annapolis conference are contrary to Israel’s interests.”

The problem is that Israel appears to have exhausted tanks barreling through Gaza refugee camps.

Abbas would be forced to condemn Israel in a show of all its other options.

Palestinian solidarity, despite his own hostility toward Continued on page 3

Former Palestinian worries about threats to Christians in Middle East

by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press Charles Mikhail is no stranger to conflict. Maybe that’s because he’s a Christian Palestinian living in Mississippi, a trial lawyer who handled class action suits against the tobacco companies, or because he lived through Hurricane Katrina.

After leaving Ramallah at age 17 to study in the United States, Mikhail has become a successful attorney and an advisor to some of the Palestinian Authority’s top echelon. He also happens to be a friend of Dr. Moshe Gershovich, an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of NebraskaOmaha.

The two met at Harvard University in the mid-1980s. Already a member of the bar in both Mississippi and Wisconsin, Mikhail returned to school to earn a graduate degree in Middle East Studies.

There he met Gershovich, who was a second-year Ph.D. student. “The rest is history,” Mikhail said. Their friendship has lasted more than two decades.

The Jewish Press met with Mikhail when he was in Omaha last week to speak to

Inside

decades. It’s not just young students in Gershmen like Mikhail who left ovich’s classes at and are leaving for better UNO and the educational opportunities, Jewish Community but merchants, academics Center and to and professionals. attendees of the While some West Bank Center for Jewish cities such as Bethlehem, the Education’s Eye on birthplace of Jesus, once had Israel’s Tuesday a population that was 80% lunch group.

Christian, that’s down to “Hamas definitely less than 15%. Overall, a wants an Islamic recent survey numbers republic,” Mikhail Christians, which once comsaid, “That’s where prised nearly 35% of the Christians are most West Bank and Gaza, now as at risk.” low as two percent.

But Mikhail doesAccording to the Toronto n’t think the West Star, increasingly radical will let that happen.

Muslims are imposing “pro“The Christian tection taxes,” a euphemisim world, including the Vatican, will not let Dr. Guy Matalon, center, executive director of the Center for Jewish Education, intro- for bribes, on those who Nazareth, Beth- duces Charles Mikhail, left, a Mississippi attorney originally from Ramallah, who refuse to leave neighborlehem or East spoke at Eye on Israel last week as the guest of Dr. Moshe Gershovich, a longtime hoods. Olivia Ward noted in Jerusalem become friend from their student days at Harvard. her June 10 article that part of an Islamic republic under Shari’a regime, “moderate Muslims would be at “Throughout the Middle East, Christians law,” he explained. “There’s too much at risk as well.” complain that they are in the worst of all stake ... the land is of great interest to the The Christian population of both Gaza worlds -- viewed as outsiders by Islamists West.” He noted that under such a and the West Bank has been declining for Continued on page 2

This Week: Author relates history of U.S. and Middle East: Page 4

See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 16

NJHS endowment created to honor Bob Belgrade: Page 2

Coming Next Week: Hanukkah issue

Two Israeli films duke it out for Oscar nod: Page 6

Blumkin Home construction right on target: Page 20

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

NJHS Endowment established in honor of Bob Belgrade

Jewelry from Israel

by LAURIE PEATROWSKY cies or affiliates, as he has done for years, Bob and I Endowment Associate often have discussions about the endowment funds When Bob Belgrade recently received the Phil and housed for the benefit of those organizations in our Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation award, his mother, Foundation office. He is continually focused on how Sandra Belgrade, wanted to do somehe can improve upon the current state thing special in his honor. So she of affairs. He always comes prepared established the Bob Belgrade Nebraska and asks probing questions. Simply Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) put, Bob is terrific to work with and is Endowment Fund at the Jewish very deserving of the Phil and Terri Federation of Omaha Foundation.

Schrager Spirit of Federation Award.”

“The apple doesn’t fall from the The endowment fund will provide tree,” said Sandra. “Bob is just like his NJHS with yearly unrestricted funds which they will be able to use for father. Eddie was so instrumental in exhibits, their oral history project, many ways at the JCC.” newsletters, and more.

Bob Belgrade is an active member of Renee Corcoran, NJHS Director, the Jewish community. A past presiwas elated when she learned of the dent of the NJHS board, he currently new endowment. “We (at NJHS) are serves as vice president for the Jewish very grateful that the Belgrades chose Community Center and is president of Bob Belgrade us. Bob is very valuable and important, Jewish Senior Services.

Marty Ricks, executive director of the Foundation not only as a board member but also as an advisor. We commented that “Bob has been involved in many areas are so grateful to Bob and his mother (Sandra) for that require some interaction with me. Heading agen- helping us.”

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Parent/Toddler Class, 9:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Visions Luncheon, 12:30 p.m.

Scholar-in-Residence Dinner, 5 p.m. at Beth El Scholar-in-Residence, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Scholar-in-Residence, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel C Scholar in Residence, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El “Parents Only” Night Out, 6 p.m. at Chabad House

L I SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 P Maamar class, 9 a.m. at Chabad Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El

& Scholar-in-Residence, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel S A V E

Mishpach Morning, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad CJE Teacher Training with Barry Holtz, 12:30 p.m.

Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing , 1 p.m.

Let’s Talk About It, 2 p.m.

Beth El’s Hazak tours NJHS, 4 p.m.

Temple Israel Thanksgiving Interfaith Service, 7 p.m. at First Christian Church

C L I P & S A V E

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 ADL Educator Training, 7 a.m.

JSS Senior Luncheon, 10 a.m.

Kripke Library Story Time, 10:30 a.m.

Jewish Book Club, 11 a.m.

Campaign Leadership Program, 7 p.m.

Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 WOW Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. at Chabad Beth El visits Remington Heights, 10 a.m.

Eye on Israel, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

C JFS Yachad Social Skills Class, 6 p.m.

L Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m.at Chabad I Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel BESTT Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El

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C L I P

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21

& Mishpacha University’s Playgroup, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad

&

Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m. at Chabad

S THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22 A JCC Closed for Thanksgiving V Beth El USY Kinnus, 3 p.m. through Nov. 25 E All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437.

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Continued from page 1 but held in suspicion as Arabs by the West.”

Born in East Jerusalem, Mikhail grew up in Ramallah in the West Bank in the 1950s and ’60s. He left in 1973 to attend college in the United States, earning both masters and law degrees at Mississippi College and an LL.M. at Tulane University. Though his educational training was in environmental and energy law Mikhail wound up with a successful career as a trial lawyer, having been involved in the 29-state lawsuit against the tobacco companies.

He still has close ties to family and friends in Ramallah and visits there several times a year. On recent visits, he spent time with Salam Fayed, Finance Minister of the Palestinian Authority.

According to Susan Rosenbluth,, who wrote in the April, 2007 issue of the New Jersey-based, Jewish Voice and Opinion, “PA supporters who hoped the formation of a new government would prompt the donor countries to allow the aid to flow again, had another setback when the PA’s incoming Finance Minister, Salam Fayed, admitted that hundreds of millions of dollars transferred to the PA have ‘disappeared.’”

It was hoped that Fayed, a member of Fatah who once worked for the World Bank and the United States Federal Reserve, would be able to put finances in control. But according to Rosenbluth, Fayed “told the British Daily Telegraph that he has no idea where more than $700 million granted to the PA since the Hamas terror group rose to power, has gone.”

“PA spending is out of control, salaries are being paid to workers who never turn up, and nobody can track where the money is going,” he said, pleading with the reporter to tell readers, “No one can give donors assurance that their money is not going to finance Hamas terrorism. Why? Because the system is in a state of total disrepair.”

Many of the Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim, who left the Palestinian territories when Mikhail did, returned for a short period after the Oslo agreement was signed in 1993. Fourteen years later, with Hamas now in power in Gaza, and Islamic extremism on the rise, most of them have left.

And according to Ronny Shaked of YNET, even Palestinians living in East Jerusalem are lining up appointments to apply for Israeli citizenship.

“Some 250,000 Palestinians currently reside in Jerusalem. Only 12,000 of them have sought to obtain Israeli citizenship since 1967, an average of about 300 new citizens a year. But over the past four months the Interior Ministry has registered an unprecedented 3,000 applications, primarily residents of the Arab neighborhoods unlikely to remain under Israeli sovereignty according to the political initiative currently on the agenda.” Apparently, many feel life under Israeli government control is better than under the PA, which someday could be ruled by Hamas.

Danny Rubenstein, writing in Ha’aretz on Nov. 6, said, “It would not be a great exaggeration to conclude that the Palestinian national movement has ceased to exist in recent years ... One of the clearest signs of the decline ... is the departure of many of its key figures.

Nabil Shaath, a PLO veteran who was a minister in the Palestinian government after returning with Arafat and settling in Gaza, has returned to his home in Cairo where he runs a thriving business. Muhammad Dahlan and Hasan Asfor, who not long ago were ministers and powerful advisors in Gaza, now spend most of their time in Cairo with their families.

“In Ramallah, it is estimated that 50,000 residents have left the West Bank in recent years, most to return to their homes and property in Amman. They had come to Ramallah and Nablus to work in PA offices there.”

The one positive development, however, seems to be a re-emergence of Jordanian interest in the West Bank.

Viewed as a moderate Arab state, King Abdullah’s involvement in future peace agreements could strengthen the ties of those Israelis and Palestinians who long for peace.

So what does Mikhail think about the upcoming talks in Annapolis? Will anything change or is it an exercise in futility?

“I don’t expect much to happen,” he said, “unless there is some out-of-the-box thinking.”

He holds out little hope, however. “Despite Abbas’ and Olmert’s weaknesses, I believe there’s no hope for any resolution unless there’s a big push,” he added.

Bold measures -- like economic institutions that would create a massive jobs program, for example, are the kind of “out-of-the-box” thinking Mikhail proposes.

And can that happen with Hamas in charge?

“Palestinians blamed (Yasser) Arafat and (his political party) Fatah for the corruption,” Mikhail explained.

“Theirs was a protest vote.”

Hamas has held power now for two years. They’ve continued shelling Israeli towns like Sderot and Netiv Ha’asara, the Israeli army base at Zikkim.

Unemployment is up and Palestinians who can are leaving.

Yet Mikhail retains a small glimmer of hope. “I saw Fayed’s wife, Salaam, on my last visit,” he said.

“There’s some thinking that Bush may unilaterally declare Palestine a state and let the devil be in the details.”

Somewhat surprised by this turn of events, Mikhail asked her why. “It seems that (Condaleeza) Rice’s approach has changed. There’s a sense in the meetings (taking place prior to the Annapolis conference) that Bush wants results,” he added with his Southern accent coming through, “and that ya’ll can work out the rest.”

If something that bold could be accomplished, in Mikhail’s opinion, a political solution could help diffuse the growing threat from Iran. They’re “playing a very dangerous game,” he said of the Iranian mullahs and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But an economic solution, like compensation, for example, in exchange for the Palestinian ‘right of return’ could take away the fertile ground of Iran’s incitement, he argued. After all, “Hamas (supported by Iran) is not good for anyone.”

Could Bush be that reckless? Wouldn’t that make Annapolis a set-up for disaster?

“He is from Texas,” Mikhail smiled and shook his head. “And he is a cowboy.”

November 16, 2007

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

IDF prepares to invade Gaza Continued from page 1 demonstrated in Lebanon during the escape routes.” capabilities are beginning to be felt. It is Israel’s current modus operandi -- summer war in 2006. IDF officials say Amos Harel of the Ha’aretz daily said not only better weaponry, but also careairstrikes and commando raids -- make they cannot wait until Hamas has built Israel feels its natural tactical superiority ful study of the lessons of the Second but a small dent in Palestinian terrorist up defenses along the Gaza frontier that being eroded by the asymmetrical fight- Lebanon War.” capabilities. would make an invasion unbearably cost- ing with Hamas.

Military analysts agree that if Israeli Barak spearheaded an forces go into Gaza, their Israeli initiative to cut power main objective will be to and fuel supplies to Gaza in clear areas used by order to pressure Hamas Palestinian rocket crews, into stopping the rocket fire, killing and capturing as but the sanctions ran into many militants as possible. censure abroad and at home But that would raise due to the perception that two problems: How to they constituted collective avoid a reoccupation of a punishment for Gaza’s 1.5 territory Israel quit in 2005, million Palestinian residents. and what to do with the Despite the potential Hamas leadership once its diplomatic price of a major members are in Israel’s gunGaza operation, the sights.

Palestinian threat from Gaza Privately, some Israeli may be too pressing a priorofficials have suggested a ity for Israel to ignore.

Gaza invasion would be an There is broad consensus in opportunity to topple Israel on the need to crack Hamas on behalf of Abbas, down on Hamas before the whose Fatah-led security group builds up a military forces are not up to the task. presence in Gaza that could It would hardly be an pose an even greater menace unfamiliar gambit: Many to Israel. The commando Israelis remember the 1982 raids and pinpoint airstrikes invasion of Lebanon, which have not been enough to aimed to crush the PLO and cripple Hamas capabilities. U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, speaks with Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during their meeting in install a friendly government According to Israeli offi- Jerusalem on Nov. 4. Rice launched a new round of efforts to bring Palestinian and Israeli negotiators closer to forging an in Beirut. That failed specCredit: Matty Stern/BPH IMAGES tacularly. cials, Hamas has smuggled outline for a final peace deal, ahead of a critical, U.S.-sponsored conference.

“Until recently, it was obvious who was 70 tons of high explosives into Gaza ly in terms of Israeli casualties.

One senior Israeli official said Gaza’s since it violently wrested control of the “Hamas is trying to entrench itself winning this confrontation. The Israel fate is as much a matter of chance as of territory from Abbas’ Fatah faction in along the Gaza Strip border fence,” Brig. Defense Force has an enormous advan- strategy.

June. Hamas also has at least 15,000 full- Gen. Moshe Tamir, a senior commander tage in terms of firepower, observation, Should a Palestinian rocket from Gaza time guerrillas, many of them trained in of Israel’s forces outside Gaza, told jour- control of the air, armored vehicles and “score a ‘lucky strike’ -- say, a kinderIran and Syria. nalists recently. “They’re digging tunnels troop training,” Harel said. “But in garten or a clinic,” he said, “then it Israel’s army does not want Hamas to beneath, building bunkers, establishing recent months, the efforts by Iran and would probably force us to go in, whatacquire the capabilities Hezbollah mortar nests, observation posts, and Hezbollah to improve Hamas’ military ever the diplomatic fallout.”

Thank You The people listed below each played a part,big or small, in bringing awareness to Omaha about the genocide in Darfur.

Each of these people raised their voice to the Chinese government to ask them to use their power and influence to help bring an end to the genocide of the Darfurian people.

Together these individuals made up a team from all different faiths, colors and creeds. Mimi Silverman from Temple Israel and Anna Sully Sparwasser from Save Darfur Omaha would like to say Thank you.

Thank you for holding the torch for the people of Darfur.

Weprayfor a swift end to this atrocity.

Runners Mike Abramson Tracy Astorino Lauren Barry Sarah Bleicher Peter Bristol Kitcki Carrol Erin Carroll Mikki Chullino Desiree Denning Erika Dey Hannah Ferer Susan Freeman Janna French Kristine Howard Jeff Kirshenbaum Jennifer Larson and family Conor Mannix Deb Marburg Alier J Mayola Danae Mercer Abdelhamid Mohomed Maddie Moore Tracy Mott Monica Moynihan Samantha Mueting Michael Murphy Kim Noddle Sam Noddle Patty Owens Lisa Peacock Dr.Sheryl Pitner Lauren Price Maria Ramos Seamus Reagen Emanuel Sansilous Shelby Seier

Runners Maria Selde Divine Shelton Sully families Frances and Jim Swanson Jeff Vandenberg Chris Wilczewski Wilderman Family Adam Yale

Volunteers Joe Hack Nancy Jacobson Patrick Jensen Madison Jensen Sheila Karlson Frances Kermeen Matt Kirshenbaum Nikki Kirshenbaum Klayton Kopecki Volunteers Rabbi Eric Linder Rabbi Aryeh Azriel Karen McPartland Masuma Basheer Joe Meyers Susan Basheer Jon Meyers Abby Borgman Rebecca Noddle Ken Reed-Bouley Leslie Norman Lindsey Brigman Maggie O’Brian Gretchen Carroll Dominique O’Connor City of Omaha Police Bonnie Pfrenger City of Omaha Public Works Alan Potash Department Brandy Pruitt Amy Cotton from Senator Keri Rheinfrank-Perkins Nelson’s Office State Senator Don Priester Lori Courtney Cassie Rhoads Hal and Mary Daub Mimi Rogers Susie Dixon Bakheit Shata Amy Durmaskin Adam Silverman Debbie Finnicum Jeremy Silverman Hillary Fletcher Michael Silverman Rick Fox Jerrell Smith Shelly Fox Paul Sparwasser Jim Glazer Gracie Sparwasser John Glazer Dorothy Spizman Jill Goldstein Audra Stephens Ken Griffin from Mary Sully Representative Omaha City Councilman Fortenberry’s Office Jim Suttle

Volunteers Kat Synan Billie Walters Sarah Yale Dr.W.Wayne Young Amy Zweiback Rosie Zweiback Bicyclists Joshua Wilderman Mike Wilderman Organizations Anti Defamation League Students from Bellevue West High School Beth El Synagogue Beth Israel Synagogue Creighton University Darfur Community Dream for Darfur Duchene Academy First Unitarian Church Lutheran Family Services Metropolitan Community College National Council of Jewish Women Save Darfur STAND Temple Israel University of Nebraska Medical Center Students from Westside High School

Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

Author relates the little known history of America and the Middle East

by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press What do Mark Twain, Herman Melville and John Steinbeck’s grandfather have in common?

According to Michael Oren, author of Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present, they all traveled to Israel -- what was then known as Palestine -- and became ardent supporters of the Jews.

In fact Twain winds up lunching with Theodore Herzl, the founder of Zionism, in Vienna and offers to translate his plays into English for the Broadway stage!

His enlightening speech at the Jewish Federation’s community event earlier this month left many of the 300-plus attendees hungering for more. “I wish I had someone like him as a history professor in college,” said Mike Levine, a comment echoed by countless others.

With a little self depracating humor, Oren related the earliest contact of the new American country with the North African pirates of the Barbary Coast, who terrorized the merchant fleet of the young country. The fledgling United States was forced to pay “tribute” (translate that as bribes) to the pirates until Thomas Jefferson finally called for the creation of a navy.

But Oren said that even America’s first settlers had a strong affinity for the Jewish people. “Go back 400 years to the Puritans,” he noted, who likened themselves to the freed Hebrew slaves who came to the Promised Land, just not the one in the Middle East! The prevailing religious doctrine of the time was “restoration theory,” that is, that “restoring” the Jewish people to the Land of Israel would hearald the second coming of Jesus.

That theory was popular even through the first half of the 20th century, according to Oren, and held sway with many an American politican, including some noteworthy presidents: John Adams, Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman, to name a few. Truman, of course, was President when Israel declared its statehood in May, 1948. Just 11 minutes after that proclamation was made, Truman authorized recognition of the new state.

Oren asked a rhetorical ‘why’ of the rapt audience.

“He is the only president on record to have asked for the advice of his top officials, from the State and Defense Departments and other advisors, nearly all of whom opposed recognizing Israel. Truman thanks them, sends them on their way, and then spends the next few minutes alone,” Oren said. “Though Truman was an avid diarist, there is no record of his thoughts that day. We can only guess at his reasons.”

No doubt a visit by Truman’s longtime Kansas City friend and business partner Eddie Jacobs had something to do with Truman’s response, but Oren insists it has more to do with Truman’s strong Christian beliefs.

“Faith is prominent in America,” Oren added. “America

is more faithful that any other industrialized state in the world.”

That may be why, he explained, that the ruminations of professors Steven Walt and John Mearsheimer sound more like conspiracy theories than hard fact. Oren quoted Walt and Mearsheimer as proposing that “Since 1948, U.S. foreign policy has been in support of Israel ... and has led U.S. boys to die in Iraq, all because of the sinister work of the ‘Israel Lobby.’” Oren added that that “lobby” seems to consist of a disparate group, ranging from left to right, from AIPAC and the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal, and the Brookings and Enterprise Institutes.

In fact, Oren added, both Walt and Mearsheimer accuse every Evangelical Christian and every

America and Israel.”

On a lighter note, Oren “translated” the “Omaha tshirt” he was given upon his arrival here. The letters spelling out Omaha in Hebrew also contain the word for ‘nation’ and the two Hebrew letters at the end, ‘hay’ is a shortened version of one of G-d’s names, according to Oren. “So that means Omaha stands for ‘the nation of G-d’; the t-shirt explains it all!”

Oren admonished the crowd: “It’s important to sup-

Photos from top left: Deanna Liddy waits as Michael Oren signs books during the reception; friends and relatives, including Bob Belgrade’s mother Sandra, seated, Bobbie Epstein, left, Bob, brother Jim and Maxine Kirshenbaum, congratulate him for the Spirit of Federation award; Oren explains the significance of the Hebrew “Omaha” t-shirt as “Nation of G-d”.

Below: among the young people attending the major gifts dinner prior to the event were John and Sandy Lehr and Nancy Schlessinger; Margo, Ari and Steve Riekes celebrate Margo’s honor as a Spirit of Federation award recipient.

Jew, especially those who have worked for the U.S. Department of State, as being members of the ‘Israel Lobby.’ “So that includes all of us.”

In reality, he noted, U.S. foreign policy is based on oil.

When support of Israel comes up against the needs of the United States for oil, “Israel invariably loses,” Oren said even though “all Gallup polls show that 70% of Americans support a strong and robust alliance between

porters of Israel to recall the words of Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln and Truman ... as virtually inseparable from the idea of America.”

Steve and Marcia Pitlor, who are the co-chairman of the 2008 Federation Annual Campaign, summed up their feelings: “It was important to us to have a community event,” Steve said. “They’ve always been successful and have left people with a good feeling.”

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November 16, 2007

Beth El mini course to tackle critical thinking with a Jewish twist

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator In an age where information overload is rampant, the ability to clearly assess issues has become increasingly important. Honing that ability to engage in critical thinking is the basis for a new Beth El mini-course, entitled “Critical Thinking Through Jewish Eyes.” Led

by Toby Schonfeld, Ph.D., the class will be held on Wednesdays, Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 7 p.m., and is open to all adults in the Jewish community.

During the course, critical thinking will be defined, and sessions will revolve around Toby Schonfeld topics such as the roles that vague or ambiguous language play in the dissemination of information, problems with reasoning and common ways arguments go wrong, plus ways to evaluate different sources of information.

“Critical thinking is a process of evaluating what you see, read, and hear,” explained Schonfeld, Associate Professor of Medical Ethics in the College of Public

Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“It is this analysis of an issue, a case, or a statement that enables you to make decisions about what to do or what to believe.

“In a world constantly bombarded by mixed messages, where various media outlets are continuously trying to influence your perspectives on issues, it is vitally important that we each have the skills necessary to evaluate various claims and to determine how they coincide with our values, goals, and priorities,” she added.

The class will utilize a variety of current issues in Jewish life, as well as classic sources, to demonstrate good critical thinking, she added, noting that “we will use media products of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, contemporary issues in world Jewry, and historical texts to learn how to apply the skills that will help individuals to be better consumers of the information super-highway.

“At the end of the class, students can expect to read, hear, and see with a new perspective, one that enables them to evaluate new information in order to decide what to do or believe.”

Cost to attend is $18. To register or for more information, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or programming@bethel-omaha.org.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

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Beth Israel’s scholar-in-residence to highlight NCSY

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Rabbi Steve Burg will be Beth Israel’s Scholar-inResidence, Nov. 16-17. Burg is the International Director of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) and National Director of Program Development for the Orthodox Union (OU).

“He has chosen to come to Beth Israel because our NCSY group has had such growth in membership,” said Rabbi Jonathan Gross. “Rabbi Burg has taken notice of the great success of Omaha’s NCSY chapter and wants to meet our community. He wants to be available to parents in this organization.”

During his career, Burg has impacted the lives of thousands of Jewish teens, making Judaism relevant to their lives. Working with NCSY for the past 16 years, he was appointed the International Director in 2005. During his short tenure, Burg has been working to place NCSY at the forefront of the Jewish youth movement. In July, he took on the additional responsibility of National Director of Program Development for the OU. In this role, Burg oversees the Departments of Synagogue Services, Community Services, Jewish Learning on Campus and the Young Leadership Cabinet.

Scholar-in-Residence events begin on Friday, Nov. 16, 4:45 p.m., with Kabbalat Shabbat, followed by

It’s party time at “Chanu-Kids”

by GARY KATZ Library Administrator Enjoy Hanukkah and eat lots of yummy latkes and jelly donuts at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library’s Fourth Annual “Chanu-Kids” party on Sunday Dec. 2, 3:30-5:30 p.m., in the Kripke Library. The first 50 children will receive a free Hanukkah gift bag just for coming. Kids of all ages will be entertained by a renowned magician, face painters, balloons and more.

Parents and grandparents (aunts, uncles and friends, too) will have the opportunity to see the incredible selection of children’s books that will be for sale.

While the party is for younger children, books for older children and adults will also be available for purchase. Books make great Hanukkah presents for all children. Enrich their own personal Jewish library collection while they have a fun afternoon in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library.

This program is free, fun, and everyone is invited -and, remember, the first 50 children receive an incredible free Hanukkah gift!

This program has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Ruth Frisch and Oscar S. Belzer Endowment Fund. The Kripke Jewish Federation Library is part of the Center for Jewish Education. For more information contact the Kripke Library at 334.6462 or gkatz@jewishomaha.org.

Shabbat dinner. Rabbi Burg will speak after dinner at 7:30 p.m. on “NCSY - What’s in it for me? A Child’s Perspective.” Dessert will be served after Rabbi Burg’s talk.

The Shabbat dinner is $12 for adults, $6 for children ages four to 12 and is free for children ages three and younger. There is no cost ito attend Rabbi Burg’s talk during dessert.

There will be a full slate of activities on Saturday, Nov. 17. Following Shabbat morning services there will be a luncheon: $8 for adults, $4 for children ages four to 12 and free for children ages three and younger.

Following lunch, Rabbi Burg will speak at 1 p.m. on “NCSY -- What’s in it for me? A Parent’s Perspective.”

After Burg’s presentation, the shul will remain open for socializing and games during the afternoon.

At 3 p.m. there will be concurrent classes held - Rabbi Burg will hold a class for NCSYers and Rabbi Gross will hold a class for adults. The classes will be followed by Minchah, Seuda Shlishit, Ma’ariv and Havdalah.

Gross looks forward to Rabbi Burg’s visit. “NCSY is really one of the most successful Jewish youth groups in the world,” he said. “It’s terrific that the head of NCSY is coming to Omaha to get to know us and share his perspective with us.”

For more information, call the office at 556.6288.

MARRIAGE KRIEGER/FEINSTEIN Jessica Krieger and Jamie Feinstein were married Oct. 13 at Temple Israel. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Angela and Stanley Krieger. She graduated from the University of Colorado and the University of Nebraska School of Law. She is an attorney with the firm of Krieger and Krieger in Omaha.

Her attendants included her three sisters: Stephanie McCammon, Rachel Bakst, and Sarah Krieger.

The groom is the son of Leslie Feinstein of Denver and Eric Feinstein of Columbus, OH. He graduated from Metropolitan State College of Denver with a Fine Arts degree in jewelry design and works at Borsheims in Omaha.

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed for Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 22. The deadline for the Nov. 30 issue is at 9 a.m. for all ads, articles and photos as follows: Issue Deadline November 30 Tuesday, Nov. 20 Questions? Call 402.334.6448

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Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

With a possible Oscar on the line, two Israeli films are duking it out

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by TOM TUGEND LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- With all the confusion, co-founder of the New York-based Sony Pictures backbiting and alleged skullduggery involved in repre- Classics distributing The Band’s Visit, said that “from the senting Israel in the Oscar race, the two films vying for beginning there was aggressive behavior looking to disthe nod have created an intriguing story themselves. qualify” the film. In his 26 years in the film industry, At the center of the controversy are movies quite Barker added, “I have seen sour grapes, but this goes opposite in mood and tone. The Band’s Visit, a bitter- way above normal.” sweet comedy directed by Eran Kolirin, is about an He termed the disqualification “a tragedy,” vowed to Egyptian police orchestra that gets stranded in a tiny enter The Band’s Visit in other Oscar categories and predevelopment town in the Negev Desert. dicted it would be a success when released in theaters in Beaufort is a searing drama about the last Israeli unit the middle of February. Asked to specify his allegations, to leave Lebanon in 2000 directed by American-born Barker referred all such questions to Ehud Bleiberg, Joseph Cedar, whose Time of Favor and Campfire were head of Los Angeles-based Bleiberg Entertainment and two of Israel’s previous Oscar entries. The brouhaha producer of The Band’s Visit. Bleiberg did not respond comes at a time when the Israeli film industry is gaining to repeated requests for comment.

Until now, the team behind Beaufort has remained increasing international recognition and awards.

In fact, for the first time in 23 years, a film from the publicly silent on the controversy. But at JTA’s request, Jewish state seems to have a legitimate shot at being producers David Zilber and David Mandil e-mailed a statement from Tel nominated for and Aviv in which they even winning an categorically denied American Academy that anyone connectAward. So tension ed with Beaufort had was high last month ever approached the when the Israel American academy Film Academy regarding The Band’s passed out the Visit.

Ophir Awards, with Zilber and Mandil the best picture wrote that “the false winner automaticalaccusations leveled at ly becoming the ‘Beaufort’ by the proIsraeli entry for Best ducers and distribuForeign Language tors of ‘The Band’s Film honors at the Visit’ are merely an Academy Awards. attempt to escape liaWhen the votes had bility for their own been counted, The Band’s Visit was Beaufort, a Joseph Cedar film about an Israeli unit stationed in Lebanon, is misleading of the named best film and one of two movies at the center of an ugly fight to represent Israel at the American and Israeli academies and to find Kolirin best direc- Oscars. tor. a scapegoat.” Further, they said, “The producers of ‘The The Band’s Visit had already been picked up by presti- Band’s Visit’ and its distributors (Sony and others) will gious Sony Pictures Classics for distribution in North do well to take responsibility for their failure in this matAmerica and much of the rest of the world. Life was ter and cease making accusations against ‘Beaufort.’ Any good. Then the plot thickened. Although the Oscar cat- such accusations will meet a suitable response and they egory defined by the American Academy of Motion will be obliged to take responsibility for their declaraPicture Arts and Sciences is often called “Best Foreign tions.”

Film,” the actual title is “Best Foreign Language Film.”

Ending on a sarcastic note, Zilber and Mandil wrote, The rules clearly spell out that an entry’s dialogue must “We applaud the producers and distributors of ‘The be “predominantly,” or more than 50 percent, in the Band’s Visit’ on the media spin that no doubt will bring language of the submitting country. publicity viewers to their film. We are only sorry that Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel, such spin is at our expense.” but since the Israeli and Egyptian characters in “The Although potential box office receipts and egos may Band’s Visit” converse in English, albeit broken, the have fueled the faceoff between the films, they also illusAmerican academy disqualified the Israeli entry and left trate contrasting takes on how to garner the national the next move up to the Israel Film Academy. prestige attendant to an Oscar nomination or victory.

The decision was hardly unprecedented. In the past No Israeli film has ever won an Oscar. The last to be two years, the American academy has rejected nine for- among the five finalists was Beyond the Walls in 1984. eign films on the same grounds. One recent example was So what can be done to brighten the picture?

In many recent years, Israel academy voters have the Italian entry “Private,” which was ruled out because none of the characters spoke Italian. The producers favored films highly critical of Israeli society and practiclaimed the film was turned down because of its pro- cally devoid of sympathetic characters. Examples are last Palestinian slant. How the Israel Film Academy slipped year’s Sweet Mud, a downbeat picture of kibbutz life, up on reading the rules is another question, which is and the previous year’s even more depressing What a now being debated in the Israeli press. Recent reports Wonderful Place, which featured an array of Israeli had Israel appealing the disqualification decision. On pimps, lowlifes and corrupt cops.

It has been argued that Hollywood Jews, who are Tuesday, however, the president of the Israel Film Academy, Marek Rosenbaum, told JTA by phone from heavily represented on the foreign pictures selection Poland that “‘The Band’s Visit’ had been withdrawn committee, are turned off by such negative portrayals. and Beaufort was now the official entry.” But the story So the light-hearted The Band’s Visit might have been a welcome antidote to the previous gloomy films. On the doesn’t end here.

Once the qualification of The Band’s Visit was called other hand, Israeli film critic Hannah Brown speculates into question, blogs and some print columns started that Oscar voters may more easily relate to Israelis porreporting of a sabotage plot: The producers of Beaufort trayed in a military drama than the apolitical The Band’s were accused of stealthily lobbying the American acade- Visit. my to disqualify The Band’s Visit, knowing that their Stay tuned for the Jan. 22 Oscar nomination film would move in as Israel’s Oscar contender. announcements.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Omaha Performing Arts welcomes Cirque-Works Birdhouse Factory to the Orpheum Theater on Sunday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m.

Hailed by Guardian Magazine’s Michael Leaverton as “…death-defying tricks make for the kind of spectacular eye candy that could earn millions in Vegas,” CirqueWorks Birdhouse Factory creatively demonstrates factory life by blending mechanics with art and acrobatics.

The show, set in the early 20th century, tells the story

of assembly line workers at the H. Rosebud Factory, who produce uninspired widgets until a hapless bird flies into one of their machines, creating mayhem and forever altering their lives and the factory’s future.

Tickets, priced from $15-$30, may be purchased through Ticket Omaha online at www.ticketomaha. org, by phone at 402.345.0606 or in person at the Ticket Omaha box office at the Holland Center, 13th and Douglas.

November 16, 2007

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

What could be better than deli and a movie?

With new book, author tells story behind story of Schindler’s List

by CHERYL LERNER Center for Jewish Education Administrative Assistant Hungry for a good movie? Need a good deli fix?

Satisfy both urges on Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Sixth Annual Jewish Omaha Film Festival with the popular, “Dinner and A Movie”, featuring the 2007 award winning Israeli film, Beaufort. A deli dinner will be served in the Jewish Commnity Center Auditorium beginning at 6 p.m. The film begins at 7 p.m. No one under 17 will be admitted.

The other award winning films in the film festival include: Sunday, Nov. 25, Steel Toes; Wednesday, Nov. 28, Sweet Mud; Thursday, Nov. 29, The Rape of Europa. All films begin at 7 p.m.

Beaufort, Israel’s 2007 Academy Award Entry, is based on Ron Leshem’s book, Im Yesh Gan Eden, (If Heaven Exists). The film tells the story of Liraz Liberti, the 22 year-old outpost commander, and his troops in the months before Israel pulled out of Lebanon.

This is not a story of war, but of retreat. This is a story with no enemy, only an amorphous entity that drops bombs from the skies while terrified young soldiers must find a way to carry out their mission until their very last minutes on that mountaintop. As Liraz lays the explosives which would destroy that very same structure that his friends had died defending, he witnesses the collapse of all he’s been taught as an officer, and his soldier’s mental and physical disintegration.

The movie’s director, Joseph Cedar, was himself an IDF veteran who was stationed in Lebanon. He uses the stone walls of Beaufort castle as a symbol of the futility and endlessness of war. The film was shot in northern Israel in the spring of 2006. Ironically, filming was completed in June, just a month before the second war in Lebanon broke out.

The casting had raised serious public criticism in Israel, especially from families of slain soldiers and war veterans, given the fact that three of the leading roles were played by actors who avoided the Israeli draft.

Beaufort was an award winner at the 2007 Israeli Film Academy, the Israeli equivalent of the Academy Awards, and Joseph Cedar won the award for best director at the Berlin International Film Festival. It is also one of the highest grossing films in Israeli history.

The price for Dinner and a Movie is $16. Tickets for the film alone are $6. Reservations for dinner are due by Thursday, Nov. 29 by calling the Kripke Library at 334.6462. The festival is sponsored by the Center for Jewish Education, and funded in part by the Special Donoradvised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. This showing of Beaufort is made possible with the support of the Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai Brith.

save 1,200 Jews at the close of World War II. Keneally, who spent six years in a seminary studying to become a Catholic priest before deciding to become a writer, says

by DAN GOLDBERG two elements drew him to Poldek’s story.

SYDNEY, Australia (JTA) -- The name Leopold “With someone larger than life such as Poldek, I Pfefferberg was too much of a tongue twister for U.S. offi- looked at his big honest face and thought, ‘What is it cials, so at Ellis Island in 1947 they changed it to Leopold about him that made the metropolitan Europeans believe Page. The Nazis, however, had no such quandary. They had he was a virus on European civilization and that he had reduced him to a number: 69006. To his family and friends, to be obliterated?’ ” writes Keneally, who was born to Pfefferberg was known simply as Poldek.

Irish immigrants. Keneally was equally fascinatWithout this Holocaust survivor’s perseed by Schindler, whose heroic act of decency verance, author Thomas Keneally probably had its roots in the businessman’s avarice and would not have won the Booker Prize in venality. “Oskar was a scoundrel savior,” the 1982 for Schindler’s List, and film director author wrote. “Writers love paradoxes -- the Steven Spielberg would not have collected fact you couldn’t tell where his altruistic intenhis first Academy Award in 1994 for the tions ended and his opportunism began.” book’s movie version.

It took two years for Keneally to interview More importantly, if not for Poldek’s neverdozens of Schindler survivors -- in the United say-die spirit, Spielberg might never have States, Israel, Australia and Europe -- and established the Survivors of the Shoah review thousands of documents before he Foundation, an archive of more than 52,000 could complete the book. Another decade testimonies in 32 languages from 56 countries. The cover of Searching passed before Spielberg made the movie Now, 25 years after writing Schindler’s for Schindler, the book despite the overbearing efforts of Poldek, who List, Keneally has written a semi-autobio- behind Tom Keneally’s frequently lobbied Spielberg’s mother in her graphical sequel, Searching for Schindler, Booker Prize-winning kosher restaurant and never gave up repeating which tells the story of how a chance 1980 book that became his mantra, “An Oscar for Oskar!” History Spielberg’s proved Plodek right -- seven times. encounter with Poldek in his shop, the Steven Schindler’s List.

Handbag Studio in Beverly Hills, Calif., Schindler’s List scooped the ‘94 Academy Credit: Courtesy of Awards, and the two quirky characters who spawned this incredible chain of events that Steven Spielberg and helped make that moment a reality were on touched millions around the globe.

Misia Page hand: the unpretentious Australian author “Poldek was the spark plug and I was just one piston in the machine,” Keneally, 70, says modestly, with the pirate-like guffaw and salt-and-pepper, mousspeaking with JTA at his home in Sydney’s northern tache-less beard, and the Jewish kvetch from Krakow. beaches. “I see myself as a mere catalyst. I was not the Poldek died in 2001. For Keneally, the 25 years since great heroic instigator.”

Schindler’s List was published have been life changing.

Poldek was an irrepressible shopkeeper who for decades The author won international acclaim, met U.S. had been trying to foist his story of survival on any writer President Bill Clinton and was introduced to Nazi who entered his shop. When he encountered Keneally, hunter Simon Wiesenthal on the night the movie prewhose book review he had just read in Newsweek maga- miered in Vienna. Police were so fearful of neo-Nazi viozine, Poldek became effusive. “I know a wonderful lence that evening, they surrounded Spielberg’s story,” Poldek told Keneally. “It is not a story for Jews entourage with security personnel. but for everyone. It’s the greatest story of humanity, man Keneally now posts a mezuzah at the entrance to his to man.” The Australian author was incredulous. office. “Part of being Jewish is trying to honor the people “I had never heard the words come from the lips of a that are gone,” he says. “I feel that I should stand in for soul so vivid, so picturesquely Eastern European, so the people who are gone, too, even though I’m a gentile.” endowed with baritone and basso subtleties of voice and Keneally also has sympathy for the Palestinians, saying inflection, so engorged with life, as Leopold Pfefferberg/ they “were the ones chosen to pay the price for the great Page,” he writes in the opening chapter of his new book. European crimes against Judaism.” The author’s new book Poldek, No. 173 on Schindler’s famous list, told Keneally posthumously fulfills one of Keneally’s promises to Poldek. how he and his wife, Misia, were saved by the “all-drink- “There always has been a story behind the story,” Keneally ing, all-black-marketeering, all-screwing” Oskar says. “When Poldek was alive I used to say, ‘I’ll write about Schindler, the German industrialist who risked his life to you one day.’” Searching for Schindler is the result.

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Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

Sleepyheads love bedtime stories

by ESTIE KATZMAN pers, just like all of the children in the for Chabad House room.

Can you think of a better way to preRips held her young audience spellpare for bed than kicking back with a bound and their parents enthralled as she good story while munching on some carried them through the modern tales healthy, yummy snack? based on ancient values. “I loved both Combine that with some great friends and a captivating storyteller, and you’ve got Bedtime Storytime at the Chabad House.

Upon arrival at the Bedtime Story evening event, kids and their parents loaded up on fresh fruits and other healthy snacks to create fun-to-eat fruit salads. “I love pomegranate seeds!� said Ilana McNamara, daughter of Aveva Segal and Some sleepy children: Hannah and Danny Stein, left, Patrick McNamara, as she Lauren, Jacob, and Emily Kirk, Isabella and Mendel Wright, added some to her salad. Leah Gurock, Zalman and Feigy Katzman, Destiny Wiseman, When the snacks were done, Ilana and Leora McNamara, and Lily Goldberg. the kids cuddled up with blankets and pil- stories!� said Lily Goldberg, daughter of lows on the floor.

Kim and Bob Goldberg.

After a brief introduction, storytelling Hot on the Trail and Messes of Dresses are star Nancy Rips outfitted herself in fleece published by Hachai Publishing in New pajamas and warm, fuzzy Dr. Suess slip- York. The publishing house is dedicated

to promoting traditional Jewish values in a lighthearted and playful way which

Attentively listening to the story are Leah Gurock, left, Leora McNamara, Lily Goldberg, Ilana McNamara, and Isabella Wright.

Leora and Ilana McNamara and Emily Kirk taste their fruit salads.

make the message both easily understood and absorbed by young and old minds alike. Hachai books are used by educators worldwide to convey Torah messages. “‘Hot on the Trail’ was always my favorite story,� said Shevi Katzman.�I particularly like the ice cream part!�

Following the stories, all in attendance recited the bedtime Shema to thank Hashem for everything He did for them that day and they pledged to make tomorrow even better. “The program was a perfect wind down from a busy day,� said Annette van de Kamp-Wright, mom of Mendel and Isabella Wright. “The refreshments were healthful and kid-friendly and the stories where wholesome and entertaining.�

Bedtime Storytime is a project of Mishpacha University, a program dedicated to providing young parents with learning and teaching opportunities for their children. This month’s event was made possible by the Gurock and Kirk families.

For more information, visit www. ochabad.com/MishpachaU, e-mail mishpachau@ochabad.com or call Shevi at 330.1800.

Hanukkah Boutique to benefit NCJW projects

ORGANIZATIONS YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Enjoy the musical group Plain Labels on Monday at the JCC Auditorium at 12:30 p.m. as they perform favorite classics. Lunch is served at noon for $7 per person. Join us for bingo with Eileen or Miles Remer at 10 a.m.

Call Dee Dee at 330.4272 for transportation. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Mayor Mike Fahey will speak at

Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Nov. 21, noon, at Regency Lodge, according to Gary Javitch, chairman. Fahey will speak about the College World Series and more. All men and women in the community are invited to attend. Cost is $12 for a complete lunch and $3 for beverage service only.

VISIONS Reminder: Visions Luncheon Meeting is Friday, Nov. 16, 12:30 p.m., at Caniglia’s Venice Inn.

by TINA MEYERS Co-President of NCJW With Hanukah just a few weeks away, the National Council of Jewish Women’s Hanukkah Boutique offers unique gift items for everyone on your list. The Boutique is Sunday, Nov. 18,2:30 to 5 p.m., at the home of Steve and Patty Nogg (1425 No. 135 St).

Featured vendors include: 1154 Lill Studio -- design your own handbag; Freckles and Maya children’s books, purses, backpacks and stationery; Jean Beckman -- unique jewelry and hair accessories; Kind Designs --fused glass

jewelry, plates and platters; Lindy Freed Designs -- handcrafted jewelry; Mac & Cheese children and women’s whimsical t-shirts; Tastefully Simple gourmet food.

The NCJW Hanukkah Boutique is open to the community. Patrons who donate a minimum of $18 are invited to attend a Patron Party at 1 p.m., where they can shop early for the best selection; appetizers and desserts will be served.

Proceeds will benefit Dictionary Day, R.A.F.T., Totes for Tots, Mini Grants for teachers, Reading Pups, Promote the Vote, and Day of Respite. For information, call Jill Goldstein at 614.6090.

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IN THE NEWS Last month, Chris Wilczewski completed a full length Ironman triathalon at the Great Floridian Tri-athalon.

The event encompassed a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 run.

He finished in the top half.

What do Dian Matlock in Ramer, TN and Barbara Silverman in Jerusalem have in common? They love Israel and want to support Israeli soldiers. Silverman made aliyah and founded Packages from Home, a massive volunteer effort to provide “lone” soldiers with provisions ranging from underwear to health bars.

Matlock and her husband own Beulah Land Alpaca Farm in rural McNairy County. Although she has an assortment of animals, all with biblical names, Matlock was so interested in the alpacas she began selling fleece products at markets and fairs. The high-quality socks, softer than cashmere, are four times warmer than wool and feet don’t sweat in them. They normally retail for $18 per pair.

Matlock purchases the socks through Lanart, a member of the International Fair Trade Federation, for far less and had already sent some to American soldiers in Iraq when she decided she wanted to include Israeli soldiers. Her commitment is to start with 1,000 pair and go from there.

Matlock, who is Christian, is a donor to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. She mentioned her idea to an IFCJ staffer who knew of Silverman and her project. A match was made. The socks, which must be personally carried by people traveling to Israel, will begin delivery in late fall when IFCJ takes 100 tourists to Israel.

Matlock is looking for donors to help underwrite the cost and also to carry the socks to Israel where Silverman will pick them up and deliver them to the soldiers. For information or donations, contact Dian Matlock at 731.645.3370.

Binyomin Greene, Captain of the Seattle Hebrew Academy Cross Country Team finished second in the League Championships in Seattle, WA, last month.

Binny is an eighth grader at SHA and will be graduating in May 2008. He plans on attending Northwest Yeshiva High School in the fall of 2008. He is the son of Joey and Julie Greene of Seattle, WA, and the grandson of Dik and Ina Weiner.

Buffalo News publisher Stan Lipsey, a former Michigan Daily and Michiganensian photographer, gave $3 million to overhaul the Student Publications Building on Maynard Street. The building hadn’t undergone major renovations since it was completed in 1932.

More than 300 Michigan Daily, Gargoyle and Michiganensian alumni from the past 80 years gathered last month to dedicate the renovated and renamed Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building.

At the center of the ceremonies was Lipsey himself, a former photographer in the 1940s. Lipsey, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973, shared his experiences from a lifelong career in journalism with the audience. “(Journalists) have to ask the questions,” said Lipsey.

“They have to have the tenacity and knowledge, and we see that spirit right here.”

Lipsey also said he would endow six $5,000 annual scholarships for staff members at the three student publications. He said that if the United States is to move in the right direction, today’s young journalists must reach out to their fellow young people to create a knowledgeable public.

“It’s the journalists who can inform, clarify and verify,” Lipsey said. “And who could be better on figuring out how to reach their peer group than the thinking and committed journalists from the Michigan Student Publications Building?”

Lipsey, who owned Sun Publications in Omaha and published the weekly Sun Newspaper, also presided over the Jewish Press from 1974-78.

In a keynote speech at a banquet after the building dedication, Ann Marie Lipinski, Daily co-editor in chief from 1977-78 and now editor of the Chicago Tribune, said her first memory of the Daily was then-editor and future Pulitzer Prize-winner Daniel Biddle instructing reporters while standing atop the long composing counters that were a centerpiece of the Daily’s old newsroom.

Lipinski, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988, said working at the Daily taught her the value of learning by doing.

Lipinski, Biddle and Lipsey are among the five Pulitzer Prize winners who got their start in journalism at the University of Michigan.

Former Omahan Scott Muskin was chosen as the inaugral winner of the Parthenon Prize for Fiction. The new national prize was awarded in Nashville, TN, last month to Muskin, author of The Annunciations of Hank Meyerson, Momma’s Boy and Scholar. In addition to receiving an $8000 prize, Muskin also got a publishing contract with Magellan Press, a division of Cold Tree Press. Muskin was a featured speaker at the Southern Festival of Books, as well.

Muskin earned an MFA from the University of Minnesota and was a finalist for the 2006 Flannery O’Connor Award. His stories have appeared in Beloit Fiction Journal, North Dakota Quarterly, and Minnesota Monthly. The son of Alan and Linda Muskin and grandson of Stuart and Bettie Muskin, he lives in Minneapolis with his wife and dog. He’s a freelance advertising copywriter who also teaches creative writing classes for individuals struggling with mental illness.

Petach Tikva, Israel and Steckborn, Switzerland -Bernina International, the world’s largest privately held sewing machine company, is providing its customers with the user friendly tools they need to become home-based professional fashion designers, thanks to the cutting-edge technologies provided by OptiTex Ltd., a Petach Tivka, Israel-based company.

Bernina International has selected OptiTex to serve as OEM for its MyLabel software in what is shaping out to be the world’s first and largest advanced 3D product offering for the home based professional designers.

OptiTex, the leading software manufacturer for the fashion and textile industries, has developed a custom version of its fashion design software for Bernina to market under the MyLabel name. MyLabel allows Bernina’s customers to use some of the same tools that are being used by professional design houses all over the world in a simple and user friendly environment.

Bernina is offering MyLabel not only as a complement to its sewing machines but also to reinforce its customer relationships. The program advises the sewer throughout the design process by recommending specific style, fabric and embroideries for each type of garment, based on a customer’s actual body type. For example, the software can advise on a specific skirt length to compliment the customer’s height (based on input of the customer's measurements).

The system allows the final pattern to be printed either on a home printer and pieced together or downloaded to a disk on key, allowing printing on a commercial large-format printer.

The MyLabel product will be sold exclusively through Bernina's worldwide distribution channel. Available in 20 languages, OptiTex products are sold and supported around the world through certified distributors and OEMs. The Bernina brand celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2007. Bernina is one of the Top 50 Swiss brands with the highest profile at home and abroad.

To give back to the community during their 90th anniversary, All Makes Office Equipment Co. is awarding a $25,000 office remodel to an Omaha Metro Area nonprofit organization. Online votes for the five finalists will be accepted through Dec. 12 at www.allmakes.com. Sponsored by Allsteel and HON, the contests’s non-profit finalists are: Angels Among Us; Child Saving Institute; Make-A-Wish; Omaha Food Bank; and Outlook Nebraska.

The community is encouraged to submit multiple votes for the same finalist online. The winner, to be announced in December, will be selected through a combination of online public voting and an assessment by a panel of five local judges. The winner will receive a remodeled workspace that supports individual work style, improves productivity and communicates their organizational mission.

“As we celebrate All Makes’ 90th Anniversary, it’s a great time to give back to the community. Since nonprofits must focus their resources on fulfilling their mission, they can sometimes miss an opportunity to utilize their work environment as a tool for attracting and soliciting funds for their cause. This is our opportunity to reward a deserving nonprofit organization,” said Jeff Kavich, President/CEO, All Makes Office Equipment Co.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Harry Wolfson Happy 89th Birthday Love always

Paula, Rod Kessler, Linda Cordel

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Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

Klutznick-Harris Symposium inspires crowd

The 20th annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium drew more than 300 people to the Sunday evening community lecture last night, and an equal number to the presentations at the Jewish Community Center and Creighton university. Photos

from left: A number of participants in the Klutznick-Harris Symnposium last month put together a Shabbat bike ride to go with this year’s theme on “Jews and the Environment.”

Nigel Savage, Executive Director of Hazon, addresses sym-

posium audience at Creighton University on Monday afternoon. Famed Israeli environmentalist, Alon Tal, center, symposium keynoter, chats with Barbara Lerman-Golomb and Leonard J. Greenspoon, Klutznick Chairman.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Leaving their legacy through art Activities and Outreach Programs, to the Continued from page 1 Through the help of the activities staff, project. “This has really been the most each participant answered about a dozen interesting program we’ve done in my 17 questions before meeting with the artist-in- years of working here,� she says. residence, Janie York. After planning out Conti describes how the project was their artwork on paper and choosing their funded by the Nebraska Arts Council and materials, residents were given the oppor- how committed her activities staff memtunity to assist York in the actual quilting of bers were throughout the process, which their piece, if they so chose. York and the began back in August. The staff put in activity staff tailored their involvement to extra time on weekends and in the each participant's individual interests and evenings to see that each resident’s quilt special needs.

No sewing was required.

Most of the work included painting or gluing pieces onto the project. Those residents unable to paint or glue on their own were still able to produce a beautiful quilt piece with the assistance of caring and younger hands to help perform the work.

York’s past classroom experience prepared her well for her career of today. She The “Hall of Fame� at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is curworks with all ages and abil- rently displaying all of the completed quilt projects. ity levels to encourage artistic expression was completed in time for the finale tea and personal growth. where each participant was given the According to the Nebraska Art’s opportunity to show their quilt to the Council, “Janie’s community workshop crowd and describe their work and their participants have included children and motivation. adults with disabilities, victims of family At a tea time in October, Sarah violence and teens who are at risk. Janie’s Lohrman was one such participant. “My lifetime passion for fiber arts and interest quilt shows all of the things I used to in each person's story is undeniable in do,� she commented to the crowd. She every workshop she facilitates. The inno- pointed out representations in her work vative programs Janie creates are always of golf, tennis, cooking and other hobtailored to the interest and abilities of bies. She also chose to highlight the each group. Creative, enthusiastic and importance of her family with pictures of easy to work with have all been used to her husband, children and grandchildren. describe Janie’s programs.�

Resident Frieda Krizelman, took a difThis glowing recommendation is what ferent approach with her quilt. “I based first drew Maggie Conti, Director of my quilt on volunteer service,� she says.

give people another artistic outlet for representing their life and their story. “I just really enjoy helping people capture what is important in their life and sharing that legacy with each other and their families,� she says. “I really do have the best job in the world.�

Some residents were pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed this process. Selma Shamberg, who has only recently moved into the Home, wasn’t so sure she had the creativity to complete the task. “At first I didn’t have a lot of ideas,� she says. “Then I thought about making memories.� She centered her design around her most cherished memories of her lifetime including travel to Israel and Ireland, her work background as a dietician Blumkin resident Frieda Krizelman shows her choice of fab- and her love of knitting. ric border for her quilting project. “She’s (York) absolutely sharing your time, your stories and your- wonderful and very encouraging. I’m selves. I think when we get together and amazed at what some of the people have tell our stories we become closer as a created,� she comments. community and as people.�

All of the pieces are currently displayed York described for the crowd where her in the middle hallway at the Blumkin inspiration for this line of work came Home, along with pictures the activity from: She once worked for the Program staff took throughout the process. Conti for Women and Successful Aging, spon- encourages members of the community sored by the University of Nebraska- to come and see what these residents have Omaha. On of PWSA’s programs -- been hard at work on since August.

Leaving Your Legacy -- talked people And she speaks enthusiastically of possithrough how to go about writing their ble future projects. She’d like to see life story, but York discovered that not something created by residents on pereveryone was interested in writing and manent display at the Home. For now, some were unable to complete such a these residents can enjoy their artistic lengthy project. She developed a plan, accomplishment and future generations using her sewing and quilting abilities, to of their families will be able to as well.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

Israeli and Palestinian youth navigate their way through Peace Labyrinth to a better future

by WENDY ELLIMAN (IPS) -- If many find the Middle East labyrinthine, an actual labyrinth may soon play a persuasive role in helping young Israelis and Palestinians find their way through their maze to a better future.

The Labyrinth, that has been constructed in Jerusalem, opened its winding passages to fifth- and sixth-graders last month. “We call it a Peace Labyrinth, says Alan Freeman, Jerusalem Foundation vice president for overseas coordination. “It has been adapted from a model created by the Dutch Peace Education Projects, and is designed to challenge the prejudices that children hold and help them resolve conflict peacefully.�

It was Freeman who encountered the prototype of the remarkable peace project at a March 2005 conference and encouraged the Jerusalem Foundation (in partnership with the Bloomfield Science Museum, the European-based Evens Foundation and the Olive Stone Trust) to bring it from its Netherlands birthplace to Israel.

Last June, prior to the Labyrinth’s October 2007 launch, pilot groups of Jewish and Arab 11- and 12-year-olds, workbooks in hand, tested it out at Jerusalem’s Bloomfield Science Museum.

In twos and threes, each group beginning in a different place, the youngsters wound their way through the maze, stop-

ping to negotiate its 40 interactive gent, Arab and Jew, its sponsors brought exhibits. With photographic images, on board Jewish Israeli psychologist and sound, mirrors and games, each exhibit conflict resolution specialist Danny raises dilemmas or asks questions that Fridberg, and Palestinian Israeli art youngsters confront daily, guiding them expert and art historian Reula Khoury. in an exploration of the limits to toler“Certain adaptations we made were ance, rules of freedom and different ways obvious,� says Fridberg. “In some of the of resolving conflict within the Israeli context.

Their overall verdict: “Cool!�

This Israeli version of the Peace Labyrinth differs somewhat from the original Peace Factory creat- A Jewish boy and a Palestinian boy figure out messages of tolerance as they ed by the wind their way through the maze of the newly launched, interactive Peace Credit: IPS photo Dutch non- Labyrinth. profit organization Peace Education existing exhibits, for example, teaching Projects (PEP) – as do the versions taken tolerance of immigrants is emphasized as to Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, in Israel this is a particularly prevalent Italy, Russia and Northern Ireland, as problem. Our focus is more on the intereach is adapted to address local cultures personal.� and social conflicts.

Fridberg and Khoury demarcated four To adapt the exhibit to Israel and main themes for Israel’s variation of the specifically to Jerusalem, with its high lev- Peace Labyrinth: the equality and els of intolerance and mistrust between uniqueness of each child; the different religious and secular, wealthy and indi- ways in which individuals view the same events; conflict management in schools; and the rights of the child.

Involving principals from religious and secular Jewish and Arab schools in Jerusalem, pedagogues, Jerusalem Foundation and museum representatives and the Dutch creators of the original exhibit, they brainstormed about how to bring together these themes, transmit the key messages and make the end result coherent, consistent, appropriate and accessible. “We had to tailor what we created to the different levels and backgrounds of the 300 or so classes [10,000 11- and 12year-olds] booked to visit the exhibit during its October 2007 to October 2009 run,� says Khoury. “In some instances,

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Arab schools, for example, with their school uniforms and strict discipline, stress similarity, whereas the Jewish schools focus on individuality. Our solution has been to present both in a neutral way.�

How are topics such as similarity versus individuality, tolerance and acceptance, freedom and its restrictions presented? “The aim is to make youngsters think for themselves, to ‘research’ each issue rather than have the information transferred,â€? says Fridberg. “They wind their way through the labyrinth as they do in life, observing, perceiving situations, formulating opinions and reaching conclusions. We try to show that every situation presents the possibility for multiple approaches, and that the way they choose to perceive situations has consequences for what follows.â€? “Our aim is to stimulate discussion and develop children’s thinking about fairness, democracy, tolerance and the possibility of peace,â€? says Khoury. “We want them to learn, for example, that tolerance is a valuable asset, but has its limits‌ that freedom cannot be unrestricted, because the freedom of one individual can restrict that of others ... and that there is more than one way to resolve conflicts. An ongoing emphasis is on how individuals, through their own values and attitudes, behavior and actions, directly influence their society.â€?

An accompanying booklet, along with preparation and follow-up in the classroom, are designed to increase the impact of the Labyrinth long after the youngsters have had their morning’s fun at the museum, as well as turn their teachers into mediators and partners in learning. “Thinking more seriously about tolerance and acceptance of others, examining one’s own actions and beliefs, are first steps in making peace,� says Freeman. “These are tools that the Peace Labyrinth will help youngsters acquire and which we expect will be important to them for the rest of their lives.�

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

PRINTING, COPYING and DIGITAL NETWORK

Jewish studies at iTunes U PEOPLE BYTE

by MARK MIETKIEWICZ OF THE

When you walk down the street, it doesn’t take long to see people with white earbuds tucked into their ears tethered by a white wire to an audio player. You might assume they’re listening to a hit song or a golden oldie. But there is a chance they’re auditing a university course on Biblical Hebrew, listening to a college lecture on Jewish-Islamic relations or taking in to a talk on scientific advances in Israel. Maybe they’re attending iTunes U. iTunes is the free Apple software best known as the program used to download music onto iPods. But recently, a number of universities have begun to take advantage of this technology to distribute recordings of university courses and lectures. Some limit access to the university body; other institutions like MIT, Queen’s and Yale like to share this knowledge with anyone who’d like to listen in.

And much of that content is of particular interest to Jewish students of all ages.

If you’d like to “attend” iTunes U, first you’ll need to download iTunes. It’s available for both Macs and PCs -- and it’s free. [apple.com/itunes/download] Then you can visit the iTunes U section and start browsing through the hundreds of lectures. [tinyurl.com/2ha9ae] Or you can save some time by checking out my recommendations.

A couple of notes before we hit the classroom.

In today’s column, you’ll see the familiar computer addresses mentioned. As always, type those addresses into a browser like Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari.

After you hit enter, your iTunes program should automatically open to the correct page.

And one more thing. You can listen -- and sometimes view -- all of these lectures right on your computer and do not need to own an iPod. However, an iPod is handy if you’d like to listen on the go.

When I learned Hebrew back in day school, it was nothing like the way they do it at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Andrew Bartelt’s course Elementary Hebrew is geared toward seminary students who want to be able to read the Bible in the original language. The course was taped and is now presented in 149 parts ranging up to 30 minutes each.

If, like me, you enjoy arcane Hebrew grammar, you’ll

love this online review with sections on topics like “Segolate nouns”, “Cohortatives” and “Geminate Qal Perfect.” If you prefer to wing it in Hebrew, then stay far away from Dr. Bartelt’s classroom. [tinyurl.com/28yjlb] Much of the content at iTunes U consists of recordings of lectures by guest speakers like Judea Pearl. Prof.

Pearl is the father of the Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl who was murdered by Islamic militants in Karachi, Pakistan.

Following an invitation by the American Jewish Committee, Prof. Pearl toured university campuses along with Prof. Akbar Ahmed in a series of talks titled the Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding. Theirs is a fascinating dialogue -- passionate and heartfelt yet always respectful. [tinyurl.com/32jkwz] (Runs: 1 hour 44 minutes) You may want to follow that with addresses by two other outspoken individuals. Irshad Manji is author of the best seller, The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith. You can hear her speech at UC Berkeley titled, “Confessions of a Muslim Dissident: Why I fight for Women, Jews, Gays and Allah.” [tinyurl.com/2p4vwx] (Runs: 1 hour 19 minutes) After that, you can spend an Evening with Alan Dershowitz (or at least 1 hour and 34 minutes.)

That’s what a roomful of students did earlier this year at Stanford University. His talk touched on everything from the Palestinian (and Jewish) right of return, the Photo Credit: Apple legacy of Jimmy Carter to the irony of a Mickey Mouse-like character being used for anti-Semitic purposes. [tinyurl.com/35uvst] Then for a change of pace, hop over to Seattle Pacific University where they have dipped into their archives and retrieved a lovely address by the late writer Chaim Potok from October 1997. In his talk, “Cultural Confrontations: Wrestling with Rebellious Stories,” Potok explains why it is so important for writers to explain their own personal worlds to people from other traditions. Of particular interest: Potok tells of his awakening when he, “a Jewish kid in New York from a Jewish parochial school” visited the public library and read his first secular novel (Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.) Nothing was ever the same again. [tinyurl.com/2km8cu] (Runs 49 minutes) Later in the school year, we’ll continue to audit the best of iPod U. Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Internet producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be reached at highway@rogers.com.

Page 13

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

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by JACOB BERKMAN NEW YORK (JTA) -- After listening to a presentation premiered in Los Angeles and New York on Nov. 9 and about genocidal killing in the Darfur region of Sudan, will hit another 13 cities this week, playing mostly in Dean Schramm and other members of the Los Angeles smaller, art-house theaters as opposed to mega-plexes. chapter of the American Jewish Committee decided that Those behind the film hope that it will inspire those who see it to get involved in any way they can. Realizing that they had to do something.

A few of the group’s initial suggestions were old hat -- most do not have the means or resources to turn a good contact legislators, participate in a march on Washington, intention into a Hollywood film, they have started a form interreligious groups. But Schramm, a Hollywood Web site, (participate.net) which has suggestions for agent who represents mostly writers and directors, had a how anyone can get involved.

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The result was Darfur Now, a $2 million film that pre- action and to stand up and say, 'I have to be able to do miered Friday, starring Oscar-nominated actor Don something,’” said Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, who was Cheadle. It was produced by Academy Award-winner director of the Los Angeles chapter of the AJC when the Cathy Schulman and backed in part by Steven Spielberg. film was set in motion.

The idea for making a docAn estimated 200,000 to umentary was inspired by a 400,000 people have been presentation from Ruth killed in Darfur since 2003, Messinger, the executive by militias enlisted by the director of the American Sudanese government to Jewish World Service, which rout out rebel groups. The has been at the forefront of situation has turned into a the Save Darfur movement. tribal war between Arab and Schramm quickly signed up African Muslims in which one of his clients, award-winsome 2.5 million people ning documentary filmmakhave been driven from their er, Theodore Braun, who in homes.

Yet the film eschews exten- From Darfur Now, a documentary inspired by an American turn enlisted another criticalsive footage of violence and Jewish Committee-sponsored briefing on genocidal killing in ly acclaimed documentarian, Mark Jonathan Harris. horrifying shots of what Sudan. Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. The group tapped Greenebaum, who has since genocide looks like, instead focusing on the efforts of six become the AJC's national director of interreligious activists attempting to help stop the killings.

“We decided to focus on hope versus atrocities,” affairs, to explain the situation to potential financial Schulman, who won the best picture Oscar for Crash, backers. He first approached Spielberg’s Righteous told JTA. “And I think people are becoming increasing- Persons Foundation, which gave the producers a ly desensitized by images of a tragic consequence. We $100,000 grant for seed money.

At about the same time, Schramm and company can watch news all day and see dead bodies, and yet cook dinner at the same time. I also wanted people to be approached Schulman, who was just coming off her Academy Award win for Crash. As it turned out, able to bear to sit in a movie theater for 90 minutes.”

The film chronicles the efforts of student activist Schulman had been turned on to the Save Darfur moveAdam Sterling, who started the Sudan Divestment Task ment by Cheadle, one of the stars of the ensemble drama.

Force; Cheadle -- the star of the film Hotel Rwanda In turn, she brought Cheadle into the AJC project. about the 1994 genocide in that African nation, who “This was a little unusual because all of the pieces that later wrote a book, Not On Our Watch, about Darfur; were necessary to bring this film to fruition really fell the International Criminal Court attorney who will into place relatively quickly by Hollywood standards,” eventually prosecute war criminals in Darfur; a truck Schramm said. “It took about three months, when a difdriver who convoys food for the World Food Program, ficult project like this could take several years to get off and a Darfurian mother who became a rebel after she the ground.” saw her three-month-old son beaten to death as she was He added, “That is the point. To get something done, driven from her village by Janjaweed. you have to first look at yourself and ask, ‘What can I do?’”

Nebraska rabbi meets Chief Rabbi of Israel

Chabad blood drive draws donors from all over

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Last month, Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Gross had the opportunity to meet the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar. Rabbi Amar, known as “The Rishon L’tzion,” was in New York to meet with representatives of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA). He has been Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi since 2003.

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Rabbi Amar with Rabbi Gross The purpose of Rabbi Amar’s visit was to build a stronger relationship with the American rabbinate. The meeting was held at the Edmond J. Saphra Synagogue on Manhattan’s East Side. Forty rabbis from across the country were there to represent a cross section of members for the RCA. “I was invited to come, to be the representative of smaller communities in the Midwest,” said Gross.

Gross indicated that Rabbi Amar was surprised to find that there were Jews in Omaha. “Rabbi Amar was a very dynamic speaker and certainly had a personal charisma that made you feel that his message was meant for you, as an individual,” he said. “He gave words of encouragement specifically to me and in general to the American Jewish communities. It was an honor to meet him.”

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT for Chabad of Nebraska The Red Cross blood drive at Chabad last Sunday brought some interesting visitors: one of them was Donald Martin. This is the second time he has come to the Chabad House to donate blood. Since 1959, Martin has given blood a total of 97 times. “Last year was the most interesting,” Martin said, “because when I, as a Christian, came to the synagogue to give blood, I was assisted by a Muslim nurse from Pakistan!” The reason Martin started giving blood was personal: “When I was 21 years old, a friend of my father became very ill. I donated blood for him, and never stopped” donating to the Red Cross.

November 16, 2007

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 15

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Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

Quitcher complaining!

Ever notice the carriages in New York City near Central Park? The horses all wear blinders. It’s easier to control them as the blinders block out the mad rush of cabs and cars on either side, the pedestrians who cross in the middle of the street, the bicycle couriers, the ConEd repairmen, and, of course, the neverending stream of trucks, vans, semis and other delivery vehicles.

Blinders are good for horses when they’re surrounded by a lot of loud sounds and frantic tumult. But humans shouldn’t wear them. Yet those who label themselves Liberals and Conservatives continue to do so.

Liberals rant and rave about talk radio and the successful (read ratings and ad revenue) venture into cable television. Air America, which was supposed to be a counterbalance to the Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingraham conservative voices, never made it.

Even in the liberal bastion of New York City, Air America didn’t draw enough of a base to keep it viable.

There’s even talk of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine (created in 1949 in the fiercely anti-Communism era), which required broadcast licensees “to present controversial issues of public importance in a manner deemed by the FCC to be honest, equitable and balanced.”

On the conservative side, listeners and viewers selectively choose which set of facts to espouse. Whether it’s immigration, health care reform, the war in Iraq, religion or reproductive rights, it appears that only those facts which bolster the conservative case are aired.

Guests attempting to present another point of

view are often shouted down, interrupted or belittled.

The vast majority of Americans, however, often find themselves in the middle. Check out polls, even balanced ones by Pew and Gallup, and the breakdown carries the descriptor “very” at each end of the liberal-to-conservative spectrum. Take that off, and you’ve got, in most cases, more than 50% of the American voting public in the moderate middle.

Listening to only one side of the story only bolsters an already-existing opinion. It doesn’t offer other viewpoints -- or strategies -- for dealing with this nation’s most pressing problems.

At the Jewish Press, we try to offer different voices: from last month’s call to look at Israel -- flaws and all -- by former Israeli Knesset member Naomi Chazan, to criticism of the American (and Israeli) left by Jonathan Tobin, executive editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent.

Even Daniel Pipes (below) who many readers assume is “right wing” has been critical of President Bush and his handling of the war in Iraq.

Readers should not assume a “position” of the

Jewish Press because an op-ed to which they do not agree is published in these pages. In fact, the Press often publishes op-eds with which we don’t agree. No matter -- we think it’s important that readers see more than one side -- and then make up their own minds.

Reading the New York Times editorial pages if you’re a conservative might be painful, but it’s healthy. And it could be an eye-opener to read what the Wall Street Journal has to say if you call yourself a liberal.

If you don’t like what the Press offers, send us a letter; we’ll print it (if you sign your name and follow our guidelines at right; we have libel insurance, but we really don’t want to test it out!). And take those blinders off -- you’re missing all the noise and commotion!

Saddam’s Damn Dam

BEHIND THE H EADLINES

by DANIEL PIPES The surge of U.S. troops in Baghdad is succeeding but deeper structural problems continue to plague the American presence in Iraq. The country’s largest dam, 40 kilometers northwest of Mosul, near the Turkish border, spectacularly symbolizes this predicament.

Just after occupying Iraq in April 2003, a report found that Mosul Dam’s foundation was “leaking like a sieve and ready to collapse.” A more recent, still-classified report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concludes that “The dam is judged to have an unacceptable annual failure probability.” More explicitly, the corps finds the current probability of failure to be “exceptionally high.” A senior aid worker calls the dam “a time bomb waiting to go off.”

Mosul Dam, formerly known as Saddam Dam (Arabic: Sadd Saddam) is in danger of collapse.That’s because the dam was built on unstable bedrock of gypsum that requires a constant infusion of grout to prevent the foundation from eroding and the giant earthen wall from collapsing.

Over the years, engineers have pumped into the foundation more than 50,000 tons of a bentonite, cement, water, and air mixture. As the Washington Post explains, “Twenty-four clanging machines churn 24 hours a day to pump grout deep into the dam’s base. And sinkholes form periodically as the gypsum dissolves beneath the structure.”

Despite these efforts, the dam’s condition continues to deteriorate, raising the prospect of its complete collapse. Were this to happen with a reservoir full of water, predicts Engineering News-Record, “as much as 12.5

billion cubic meters of water pooled behind the 3.2-km-long earth-filled impoundment [would go] thundering down the Tigris River Valley toward Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq.

The wave behind the 110-meter-high crest would take about two hours to reach the city of 1.7 million.” In addition, parts of Baghdad (population seven million) would come under five meters of water.

The Army Corps estimates the flood would kill a half-million people immediately, while the aftershocks, such as power outage and drought, would kill many more. (Not coincidentally, Iraq was the site of Noah’s Ark.) It would likely be the largest human-induced single loss of life in history.

Saudi and other Arab aid ... funded what was originally called the “Saddam Dam.” The dam had nothing to do with the U.S. -not in funding, construction, or purpose.

(But) misbegotten American policy has made it an American headache.

Many Iraqi officials, unfortunately, exhibit a cavalier attitude toward these dangers, further exacerbating the problem. They reject as unnecessary, for example, the Army Corps recommendation to build a second dam downstream as a back-up.

Yet, were a catastrophic failure to take place, who would be blamed for the unprecedented loss of life? Americans, of course. And understandably so, for the Bush administration took upon itself the overhauling of Iraqi life, including the Mosul Dam. Specifically, the U.S. taxpayer funded attempts to shore it up with improved grouting, at a cost of $27 million.

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction has, however, judged these efforts mismanaged and ineffective.

Massive Iraqi deaths would surely spawn

conspiracy theories about American malevolence, inspiring epic rage against the U.S. government and creating a deep sense of guilt among Americans themselves. Yet, this blame and remorse would be entirely misplaced.

Saudi and other Arab aid -- not U.S. monies -- funded what was originally called the “Saddam Dam.” A German-Italian consortium headed by Hochtief Aktiengesellschaft built the $1.5 billion structure in 1981-84. It had a primarily political goal, to bolster Saddam Hussein’s regime during the Iran-Iraq war. The dam, in other words, had nothing to do with the United States -- not in funding, construction, or purpose. Nonetheless, misbegotten American policy has made it an American headache.

Mosul’s dam replicates a myriad of lesser problems in Iraqi life that have landed in the lap of Americans (and, to a much lesser extent, their coalition partners), such as provisioning fuel and electricity, working schools and hospitals, a fair political and legal system, and an environment secure from terrorism.

Since April 2003, I have argued that this shouldering of responsibility for Iraq’s domestic life has harmed both Americans and Iraqis.

It yokes Americans with unwanted and unnecessary loss of life, financial obligations, and political burdens. For Iraqis, as the dam example suggests, it encourages an irresponsibility with potentially ruinous consequences.

A change of course is needed, and quickly.

The Bush administration needs to hand back responsibility for Iraq’s ills, including and especially the Mosul Dam. More broadly, it should abandon the deeply flawed and upsidedown approach of “war as social work,” whereby U.S. military efforts are judged primarily by the benefits they bring to the defeated enemy, rather than to Americans.

Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum.

Read more of his work at: www.DanielPipes.org. He also can be reached at: Pipes@MEForum.org.

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November 16, 2007

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 17

Jewish federations matter, but are they working well?

BEHIND THE H EADLINES

by GARY TOBIN SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) -- North American federations could and should be doing much better than they are. They matter. They are important.

They embody the ideas of community, common cause and the ability to respond to collective concerns. They are vital institutions and we want them to succeed.

Federations have been the hub of a vast system that involves community centers, family services, bureaus of Jewish education and so many more organizations. But this system is becoming unglued and changes need to be made.

This call for action comes from someone who has worked for three decades with more than 70 federations, including New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Baltimore. I have worked as a consultant with the Council of Jewish Federations, the United Jewish Appeal, and scores of constituent and beneficiary agencies. I believe that federations are essential. I don’t have all the right answers. But I think I have some of the right questions.

Telling the truth about endowments Endowments are a big federation success story, but trouble is bubbling both on and below the surface.

Many federations proudly promote the size of their endowments, noting how much money is under federation management. Is it real? Touting an amazing growth of funds under the federation roof paints a not-quite-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: I had the privilege of working for Congressman Peter Hoagland when he represented the people of the second district of Nebraska. He was steadfast in his support of Israel; proud to work with members of NCJW on the issue of a woman's right to choose; honored to join Omaha leaders in their resettlement efforts of Soviet Jews; and to work with the ADL on a number of issues including hate crime legislation. He loved policy and debate and the fine art of crafting legislation.

Peter Hoagland stayed true to his principles even when taking another path would have been politically easier and certainly more popular in this district. One such battle was his opposition to a constutuional amendment baning flag burning. He was a tireless campaigner who worked for the privilege of representing his constituents.

Many members of the Omaha Jewish community were Peter’s political allies and friends. In 1990, after meeting the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Moshe Arad, in Washington, D.C., Peter invited him to Omaha and came out for several meetings with our Jewish community, including attending a retirement dinner for Rabbi Isaac Nadoff.

Not only will be missed by his wife Barbrara and their five children, he will be missed by those of us who long for courageous national leadership.

Gail Handleman Lobin Evanston, IL To the Editor: On Shabbat Chaya Sarah, Nov. 3, the Beth El community celebrated a special Shabbat. Shirley and Buddy Goldstein were called up to the Torah in honor of their 65th wedding anniversary.

That was only one part of the special day. The second part was watching the streams of individuals and families entering into the sanctuary to honor the Goldsteins. Of course, there was the normal stream of regular Shabbat attendees, but another group of people were there because of Shirley and Buddy, and by there, I don’t just mean the synagogue, but Omaha.

Shirley and Buddy are responsible not only for bringing families from the former Soviet Union to Omaha; they are also responsible for inspiring a community to support Soviet Jewry and many other causes.

For me personally, I remember writing letters to congress and presidents to “Free Soviet Jewry” and “Free Natan Sharansky.” These community efforts and campaigns do make a difference -- and if you were at Beth El you would have seen it.

Buddy and Shirley: Mazal Tov and thank you for making a difference.

Alan Potash

honest picture. Here are some of the key issues that need to be addressed: • Part of or apart from the federation? More and more federations are losing control of their endowment funds as they evolve into quasiindependent entities or completely separate organizations. Should endowments be part of the federation?

Separation may not be good for federations. But is it good for Jewish philanthropy and the community?

• Are endowments Jewish philanthropies or not? A close examination of federation endowment funds shows many, if not most, of the grants and dollars from donoradvised funds and supporting foundations go to nonJewish causes. Is this good, bad or unimportant for federations? How much do these funds actually help the Jewish community?

• How should endowments report their holdings?

Endowment funds are really a mixed bag of unrestricted and restricted funds under federation oversight.

Philanthropic funds and supporting foundations are donor-controlled, not federation-controlled. How can these funds be described more honestly and accurately?

How can endowments more truthfully report their giving?

• How do endowments measure success? Are endowments doing well if they manage more and more money, give money to secular causes or give more to Jewish causes? How do we assess what the outcomes should be for endowments?

• Should endowments spend down? Endowment advocates will tell you that the money they hold on to is for an emergency or a “rainy day.” Exactly how hard does it have to rain to loosen up dollars? And where does it need to rain -- and upon whom?

• Endowment directors and federation executives -who’s in charge? Any healthy business has to have a clearly functioning chain of command. What happens when the endowment director has more perceived power and authority than the federation executive, as is the case in a number of communities? How can federations align their professional leadership to avoid dysfunctional management?

Retooling the broken federation-agency system The federation-agency relationship, the core of the federation allocation system, is outmoded. It does not work anymore, especially in the context of a single umbrella campaign.

Most of the money that federations give away through the allocations process are entitlements, with the largest amounts going to the same agencies year after year. How can federations develop new, more flexible ways of allocating funds?

There has been an explosive growth in the number of innovative programs and organizations, only some of which now get small, leftover grants. What should the federations' relationship be to these new and growing networks of Jewish organizations at the local, national and international level? Who should be in and who should be out? Does the constituent/beneficiary agency structure make sense any more?

One example of a regular recipient is the Jewish Agency for Israel, which is one of the major beneficiaries of overseas funds from the federation system. Many donors have no idea what the Jewish Agency is or what it does, and others are openly hostile to it.

What should the federations’ relationship be to the Jewish Agency? Are there other organizations in Israel that should be supported as well, or even substituted?

Coming to terms with the annual campaign The annual campaign is what built the federation and generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually. But in real dollars it has declined precipitously since 1967 when adjusted for inflation. The donor base is aging, especially for the largest gifts. Among the real questions facing the annual campaign: • Does an umbrella campaign still make sense?

Federations provide a small percentage of the annual operating budgets of many agencies. Should federations raise and distribute money to local agencies, or would it be better to simply help them raise it themselves?

Should federations once again consider running one campaign for local needs, and a separate one for Israel as they used to? Donors increasingly want to control where their money goes. Would federations increase the number of donors and how much they give by once again splitting up the campaign?

And what about the American Jewish Joint

Distribution Committee? The JDC is well-respected by its donors and serves a particular role in helping needy Jews around the world. Is it time for JDC to go its separate way and run its own national campaign?

• How can federations turn around their shrinking donor base?

The number of donors to the annual campaign is down over the past 20 years.

Individual federations may see small blips upward from time to time, especially after a crisis in Israel. Federations invest very little in developing, acquiring and managing donor lists. How can local federations and the United Jewish Communities invest in a national database system?

One potential source of new donations are non-Jews.

The vast majority of Americans are supportive of Israel, and many use Jewish community centers, Jewish vocational services and other Jewish organizations. How can federations expand their donor base and annual campaign by reaching out to tens of millions of Americans, especially those who support Israel?

Part of the problem is name recognition. The United Jewish Appeal, UJA, once was the most recognized name or acronym in Jewish life. Should the federation system reclaim the UJA name as part of its effort to revitalize its national campaign?

The annual campaign is built on a pyramid, with the largest gifts setting the scale for all gifts. Major gifts have been stagnant at the top, and the pyramid is not high enough anymore. Donors capable of giving $5 million or $10 million to the annual campaign do not do so.

How can UJC create national and international peer groups of the wealthiest donors to radically change the standards of giving?

Administration and function Federations are shooting themselves in the foot on some basic administrative issues that seriously harm their image. Some internal housekeeping measures will help them better relate to donors, other Jewish organizations and the Jewish public in a healthier way.

• Overhead issues: Federations perform many services, including community relations, Jewish education and others, as programs within the federation that are viewed as administrative overhead and make the bottom-line fund-raising costs look much higher than they really are. How can federations structure themselves so that programs and services are delivered by separate agencies or sub-agencies?

• Consensus or paralysis? Federations rely on a consensus model to get things done, trying to get the most people representing the most points of view to reach some common ground. The result is often the least common denominator, with the fewest people terribly unhappy, but nobody really happy either. Is this still a good model? Is it efficient? Getting everyone to “buy in” may bring community harmony but also paralysis.

• Finding the right executive: Federations often seek the impossible -- someone who knows the federation business as an insider, and someone with fresh new perspectives, who is unsaddled by the old way of doing business -- i.e., an outsider. What is the mix of skills and experience necessary to run a federation? What do federations really want in their executives besides miracle workers who will solve every issue discussed in this article?

• Establishing better relationships with private foundations: In a number of communities, private Jewish foundations give away more money than the federation, and in a growing number of places, a single Jewish foundation does so. Many foundations often complain that federations are too slow to respond to changing needs and are too bureaucratic.

Federations complain that foundations start projects that they do not finish and leave the mess for federations to clean up. How can federations work closer and more effectively with private foundations?

The bottom line is that federations need to change.

We will make a better system by tackling the real issues, not hiding from them. If not, federations will remain part of the Jewish philanthropic landscape, but nowhere near as important as they ought to be.

While federations have evolved significantly in recent years, the change is not happening comprehensively or quickly enough for them to be the powerhouses in Jewish philanthropy they would like to be or have been in the past.

Gary Tobin is the president of the Institute for Jewish & Community Research and writes frequently about American and Jewish philanthropy.

Read why this Jewish community is different in next week’s Jewish Press when the Jan Goldstein and Marty Ricks, executive directors of Omaha’s Jewish Federation and Foundation, respond.

Page 18

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

Candlelighting Friday, Nov. 16, 4:45 p.m.

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

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

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

Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.org

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

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

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

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

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

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

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

Tree of Life Center 2925 Prairie Road Offsite classes: First Plymouth Church, 20th and ‘D’ Streets Lincoln, NE 68506 613.7443 email: treeoflife.rabbimichael @yahoo.com

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Allan Handleman, 334.6451, or Terri Greenwood, 334.6559.

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

FRIDAY, Nov. 23: No Services

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Gastón Bogomolni.

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Beth El; Minha/ Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m.

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE Friday/Saturday: Professor Barry Holtz, follows services and Shabbat dinner: ”Why Read the Great Jewish Books? How Jewish Classics Can Speak to Our Lives”; on Saturday, he will deliver the D’var Torah, and during a Kiddush lunch, he will discuss “Friendship and Conflict: How the Rabbis of the Talmud Thought about Community and Disagreement. Luncheon is free.

Friday dinner is $12.50 for adults, $8.50 for children 6-12, free for children five and younger; reservations are required. To RSVP, contact Margie Gutnik in the office.

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

ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Bible Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.

THURSDAYS, noon: Rabbi Levin leads Insights and Values from the Torah. Cost is $36. To register, contact Margie Gutnik in the office, or e-mail programming@bethel-omaha.org.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB: Thursday, 1:15 p.m., led by Susan Paley.

CANTOR’S RECITAL: Sunday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m., featuring Cantor Bogomolni performing Jewish-themed songs by Jewish and secular composers. No charge.

USY PRE-KINNUS SLEEPOVER: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 8:30 p.m. All USYers, not just those attending Kinnus, are invited. Contact Robert Mosenkis at 492.8550 or youthdir@bethelomaha.org for details.

USY/EMTZA REGION KINNUS CONVENTION Beth El’s USY will host over 250 teens from around the Midwest from Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 22-25, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center.

COLLEGE STUDENTS’ SHABBAT RECEPTION Prior to Shabbat services on Friday, Nov. 23, reception for all college students home for Thanksgiving, 5:45 p.m.; services, 6:15 p.m.

MEN'S CLUB FLAG FOOTBALL: Sunday, Nov. 25, 2 p.m. at the JCC fields. Everyone is welcome to play. For more information, contact Scott Simon at 934.2076 or ssimon@ssgi. com.

ED MINIADULT COURSE: “Critical Thinking from a Jewish Perspective,” Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. on Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12, and 19, led by Dr. Toby Schonfeld. Cost is $18.

For more information, contact the office.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 4:45 p.m.; Following Kabbalat Shabbat, there will be a Shabbat Dinner, 6 p.m. Rabbi Steve Burg, International Director of NCSY, will speak on “NCSY: What’s in it for me? A Child’s Perspective.”

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; A Shabbat lunch follows kiddush. Rabbi Steve Burg will speak following lunch on “NCSY: What’s in it for me? A Parent’s Perspective.” The synagogue will be open for games and socializing; 3 p.m., concurrent classes for NCSYers and parents led by Rabbi Burg and Rabbi Gross; Mincha, 4:15 p.m. followed by a Sueda Shlishit sponsored by Amy Gross, Nina Gross, Laura, Avi, Joe, Atara, Ike, Jake, Judah and Sam Greenbaum; Havdalah, 5:48 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; “Reading the Rambam” with Rabbi Oxman, 9:45 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s teen class, 10 a.m.; Let’s Do a Mitzvah, 11 a.m., a children’s program with Miss Andreea and Rabbi Gross.

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

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast; Fourth Annual Touch Football Game follows breakfast.

The office is closed Thanksgiving weekend Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 2125.

FRIDAY: Shabbat in the home.

SUNDAY: Religious School, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the JCC.

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

FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Maamar Kabbalistic Insights for Women, 12:15 p.m.

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

Mishpacha WEDNESDAY: University TGI Playgroup, 10:15 a.m.; Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.

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

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel with oneg provided by Anne and Robert Rickover.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gam Simcha through Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel.

TUESDAY: Women’s lunch group, noon at The Parthenon.

Contact Stephanie Dohner if you have questions.

WEDNESDAY: No classes.

THURSDAY: Office closed for Thanksgiving.

ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel.

MONDAYS, Nov. 19, and 26, 7-8:30 p.m. Read Hebrew America! Hebrew Reading Crash Course, co-taught by Jaine Merliss and Jennifer Rosenblatt at TIl. See www.NJOP.org for information.

Monday, Nov. 19-Monday, Nov. 26, Rabbi Emanuel is on vacation.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

BAR MITZVAH Aaron Gage Eckles, son of Daina and Daniel Eckles, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 24, at Beth El. A seventhgrade Distinguished Honor Roll student at Beadle Middle School, he has the rank of First

BEYT SHALOM

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

Class in the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of his school’s chess club.

His interests include rock and gem collecting, reading and chess.

Aaron has a brother, Noah.

Grandparents are Gayle and Sidney Robbins, and Claire and Harry Eckles.

Great-grandmother is Colleen Hagman.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Parent/Toddler class, 9:30 a.m.; Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights; Shabbat service, 7:30 p.m. Rabbi

Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet will lead the service; D’var Torah: Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Reuven Firestone, will speak about “Whose Jerusalem: The Holy City in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9 a.m. Scholar-in Residence Dr. Firestone; Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Libby Slosburg will become a Bat Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Teacher Learning Coffee, 9 a.m.; Pancake Man, 9 a.m. Cost is $5; no charge for children three and under; Religious School (K-6), 10 a.m.; Grade 5, 10 a.m. at the Food Bank; Morning Discussion with Dr. Reuven Firestone, 10 a.m.

“The Problem of ‘Chosenness’ in Judaism, Christianity and Islam”; Thanksgiving Interfaith Service, 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church, 6630 Dodge St. TUESDAY: Executive Board meeting, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustees meeting, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: No Religious, Family or Middle/High School.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

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

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

FRIDAY: Snacks, 6:15 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by kiddush lunch.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at TI; Gam Simcha through Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at TI. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Call Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; no Hebrew classes.

TREE OF LIFE CENTER Services and activities led by Rabbi Michael Weisser; call for location of classes.

SATURDAY: Morning Minyan and Torah study, 10 a.m.; drumming meditation and Jewish mystical chanting, followed by a meal and Havdalah, 6:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Jewish roots of Christianity, 8 and 9 a.m.

MONDAY, 6:30 P.M.: Insight Meditation.

TUESDAY: Torah, prophets and writings: 9:30-11 a.m. and 7-8:30 p.m.; Comparative Religion, noon, offsite location.

WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m.: Adv. Mindfulness Meditation.

THURSDAY, 7 p.m.: Int. Mindfulness Meditation.

PERSONAL To celebrate the 100th birthday of our mother Sally Venger, there will be an Open House, Saturday, Nov. 17, 1:30 until 3:30 at Remington Heights. You are welcome to join us. Nancy Hornstein and Enid and Steve Wenner

November 16, 2007

From Jacob to Joseph

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Vayetze Without explanation, the Text tells us that Jacob left Beer Sheva and set out for Haran. I say “without explanation,” because in all his journeys we are never told that Jacob came to Beer Sheva.

At any rate, the Sidra opens with this famous vision that Jacob had of a ladder or stairway reaching from earth to heaven, and angels were going up and down on it. And in the vision that Jacob has, he is promised by the Holy One that he will be the father of a great people that will spread abroad all through the land. When Jacob awakens, he realizes he has been in a holy place; he promises that if he comes back in peace to his father’s house then he will make this place where he had this vision of G-d a sacred place, a shrine.

And now Jacob turns east and there he becomes the husband of four wives, the most beloved of whom is Rachel. Jacob has 12 sons, but he favors Joseph, who is Rachel’s son, and Benjamin, who is born later, also to Rachel.

Meanwhile, Jacob has been working for his father-inlaw Laban. Afraid that Laban will not permit him to leave with his family, he leaves deceptively, without announcing his departure. Laban pursues him and overtakes him. He then upbraids Jacob for leaving in such a

way. Jacob defends himself that he could not trust Laban to permit him to leave peacefully.

The two reach agreement, however. They erect a mound of stones and partake of a meal together. They agreed then, that neither would pass this mound in anger. On the morrow, they parted; Laban proceeding homeward and Jacob towards what was to be the Land of Israel.

We are on our way and the Text is on its way to bring us to the life of Jacob’s 12 sons, the 11th of whom is Joseph.

I have noted before that these stories of Genesis are almost to be considered role models for the writing of narrative story. We are in the presence of contact between Man and God, with all the implications that this has for the development of a religious viewpoint of the world. It is to be noted, however, that the Bible is much less interested in Nature, than it is in Man. But here, it is even less interested in Jacob’s older sons, all 10 of them, and focuses its interests on Joseph, son of Rachel, whom I have already called “The HERO of Genesis.”

Jacob is an interesting character in himself. But he is pictured in the Text as a wily and when “necessary” a deceptive person. But Joseph is nothing of this kind. He is only honest, frank, open, and forthright.

We are to have further details of the encounter between Joseph and his brothers. These keep the narrative at high interest for the reader, as Joseph escapes dangers and degradation, before he becomes the great Joseph, Hero of Genesis.

Omaha Jewish and Catholic lay leaders return from historic conference at the Vatican

by HANNA WANZENRIED “It was an honor to Intern, Project Interfaith-ADL be part of such a groundThree Omaha Catholic breaking and inspiring and Jewish lay leaders conference,” said Katz. recently returned to “The other Omaha parOmaha after having participants and I look forticipated with Jewish and ward to using the inforCatholic representatives mation and insights that from 25 U.S. communiwe gained through this ties in an historic conferconference to continue ence on Jewish-Catholic fostering understanding relations. and respect between the The First Lay Jewish and Catholic comLeadership Conference on munities in Omaha and Catholic-Jewish Relations the surrounding area. was held last month in The conference was Rome and provided an organized by the opportunity for particiInterreligious Informapants to meet with Vatican Beth Katz, left, and Catholic lay leader Kathy O’Keefe met with tion Center in cooperaofficials. Jewish leaders Walter Cardinal Kasper, President of the Pontifical Commission tion with the U.S. were able to discuss cur- for Religious Relations with the Jews and the Pontifical Conference of Catholic rent issues in Jewish- Commission Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Bishops, the Religious Catholic relations, develop a greater understanding of Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism, the each others faiths, and work more closely together on National Council of Synagogues and the Pontifical common concerns and problems.

Council for Religious Relations with the Jews, Cardinal Beth Katz, director of Project Interfaith, served as the Walter Kasper and Father Norbert Hoffman. William Jewish lay leader, and Kathy O’Keefe, educator at Cardinal Keeler serves as honorary chairman.

Creighton Prep High School, and Brother William Woeger, FSC, Director of Worship for the Archdiocese of Omaha, served as the Catholic representatives.

The Jewish Press will be closed for Thanksgiving, Conference participants also attended a papal audience Thursday, Nov. 22. The deadline for all ads, articles and phowhere conference organizers presented Pope Benedict tos for the Nov. 30 issue is Tuesday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. with a menorah commemorating the Holocaust. Pope Questions? Call 402.334.6448 Benedict urged Jewish leaders to expand their dialogue in America and thus encourage other communities PASSOVER ISSUE REMINDER throughout the world to be engaged in building relations between members of the two faiths.

The Jewish Press will publish “Israel@60: a salute to Israel’s The presenters told the Pope that the enthusiasm for 60th birthday” on April 18. If you’ve lived, learned or visited the conference by the 75 Catholic and Jewish particiIsrael -- on a teen trip, a mission, or on your own -- see your pants prompted plans for another conference and the story and photos in this special issue! development of educational programs on this topic.

Send story in the body of your e-mail with attached .jpg or .tif After the Papal Audience, the group met with Cardinal files to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org or send hard copy Walter Kasper, President, of the Office of Pontifical with photographs to: The Jewish Press Passover issue, 333 So. Relations with the Jews, who told the participants that 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 by Feb. 29. his commission was ready to help with their activities.

“The key to our future is education,” he said. “The To Send Announcements to the Press: more people can understand the historic Nostra Aetate Articles, photos and public relations announcements document and the other statements that have been should be sent to the Jewish Press via e-mail, preferably in issued by the Vatican, they will be sufficiently informed the body of the letter--not as an attachment, by Thursday to discuss any issue that arises.”

9 a.m., for the following week’s issue. Photos mornings, The conference concluded with plans for a major be sent as attached .jpg or .tif files (of at least 100K), may effort in the United States to accelerate educational, along with accompanying logos or graphics. For more inforcommunity and humanitarian projects by activating local mation about content or transmission, upcoming deadlines synagogues, diocese, and interfaith and community or special issues, call the office e at 402.334.6448. organizations.

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Page 20

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 16, 2007

Saying kaddish for a Jew’s last home

by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press Dr. Ruth Behar, a cultural anthropologist and author of An Island Called Home, related her family history as Jews in Cuba and her travels there since 1991, opened Jewish Book Month organized by the Kripke Jewish Federation Library last week at the Jewish Community Center. Nearly 80 people,

including many of Omaha’s Latino Jews, were entranced by her stories of those Jews who left and those who stayed, those who have gotten out in recent years by making aliyah to Israel, and those -- like Behar’s late grandmother, who ask “What did you lose in Cuba that you need to keep going back?”

Photos from top left: Dr. Behar is greeted by a fellow “Juban” -- Cuban Jew Rabbi Maximo

On target at the Blumkin Home Progress on the new Special Care Unit at the Blumkin Home continues to move ahead.

The installation of electrical conduits has been approved and now, “We’re rockin’ and rollin’ with the sheet rock,” said Mike Silverman, RBJH Executive Director.

Workman are currently taping dry wall, applying prime coat and installing ceiling grids. Resident bathrooms will soon be outfitted with sinks, toilets, cabinets and floor tile. In addition, the Interior Design committee has ordered furniture and signage for resident rooms and common areas. “Despite delays caused by this fall’s heavy rains, a mid-January completion date for the SCU is still our goal,” Silverman said.

Shechet; another Latina -- Mexican-born Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schuller who also lived in Israel -- has Behar sign her book in Spanish; Shane (Zeffren) Kotok introduced Behar, who also showed slides of present-day Cuba and its Jewish places of interest, as well as old photos and documents; the luncheon was in honor of Rosalyn Zeffren (pictured with Dr. Behar) and her late husband, Jerry. Book

Month continues on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m., when illustrator Allan Drummond and author Louise Borden talk about their new book, The Journey That Saved Curious George: the Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, co-sponsored by the Institute of Holocaust Education. Authors Nathan Englander and Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum round out Jewish Book Month in December.