Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA November 16, 2012 2 Kislev 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 9
Historic BBYO Convention
This Week
by LEORA AZRIEL Wiseman, Teen/BBYO Director Senior and CoThe weekend of Coordinator of October 26-28 was a AIT/MIT, used momentous occaa simple idea sion in Omaha that and his sweet is worth celebrating. tooth to get We had a record teens talking. number of freshmen, Wiseman dividsophomores, and ed Skittles into upper classmen who bags and dividattended the New ed BBYO’ers Member Convention into groups. (AIT/MIT). A group Each teen-led of 102 enthusiastic group grabbed BBYO’ers from each color and Omaha, Kansas City, was asked to Minnesota, and St. answer quesLouis came together tions based on in Omaha to make a the color choweekend of memosen. For examries. ple, if you chose The theme of a red skittle, AIT/MIT was Dr. teens would Molly Paskar and Matthew Wiesman at the BBYO New Member Convention. Seuss and Judaism, answer the which was incorporated into differ- Dr. Seuss is ‘Today you are you, that question “What is your favorite part ent events, including Shabbat and is truer than true. There is no one about being in a Jewish youth several Judaic programs. Teen-led alive who is youer than you.’ I feel group?” Wiseman said: “Coming to Shabbat services were remarkable. that this statement is important to a new city and meeting new people Cheyenne Janickek, junior, wrote a share with teens to teach them that can sometimes be overwhelming. whimsical yet meaningful Saturday you shouldn’t try to be someone you Having entertaining events can morning service titled Getting are not. You think it will make some- result in making new friends that one else happier, but what you are is will last through one’s BBYO career.” Seussy with Shabbat. “I enjoyed incorporating Dr. Seuss what makes you exceptional, so stay On Saturday, afternoon, the JCC into the prayer service,” she said, true to yourself.” offered lots of activities for teens. Teens participated in Icebreakers AZA and BBG had a basketball “because there are so many significant sayings he has written that are and Mock Chapters. These two pro- tournament, an intense game of still relevant today. For example, one grams helped make it easy for new GaGa and teens competed in a of Janicek’s favorite quotations by members to meet others. Matthew Continued on page 2
Hanukkah shopping at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Page 8
A Pushke for the future Page 9
ADL to host free screening of Not In Our Town
Born after Rabin’s death Page 16
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
This Month Hanukkah Issue See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
12 14 15
by LIZZY GILBERT Corporate & Community Development, ADL, Plains States Region The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) will host a free, one-time screening of the documentary Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness on Thursday, Nov. 29 at Aksarben Cinema (2110 S. 67th Street), with a panel discussion to follow. Donations will be accepted at the door. Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness is a one-hour documentary about a town coming together to take action after anti-immigrant violence devastates the community. In 2008, attacks against Latino residents of Patchogue, New York, culminate with the murder of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorian immigrant who had lived in the Long Island village for 13 years. Over a two-year period, the story
follows Mayor Paul Pontieri, the victim’s brother, Joselo Lucero, and Patchogue residents as they openly address the underlying causes of the violence, work to heal divisions, and
how the community might respond if an incident of bias-motivated violence were to occur here. In other words, how might Omaha say Not in our town?
begin taking steps to ensure everyone in their village will be safe and respected. The film will begin at 6 p.m. ADL will facilitate a panel discussion with Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, City Councilman Chris Jerram, and Susan Mayberger, Coordinator of ESL, Migrant, and Refugee Education for OPS. The discussion will offer reactions to the film and consider how Omaha can prevent something like this, and
For this screening, ADL has partnered with Nebraska Appleseed and NET. Light in the Darkness is part of the Not in Our Town series. Not in Our Town produces films and broadcasts that highlight and celebrate people who have developed creative anti-bias programs and responses. In 2011, NET, the ADL and Nebraska Appleseed received a grant from the Not in Our Town Foundation to bring the film series Continued on page 2
Jewish Book Month begins soon by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Associate Executive Director, The Center of Jewish Life An emerging new author, a special event for children and a focus on Omaha’s very own Jewish authors will be highlights of this year’s celebration of
Janna Yeshanova Jewish Book Month by the Kripke Jewish Federation Library through the Center for Jewish Life. Now in its 39th year, the annual events are a highlight of the library’s yearly programming. This year’s happenings will begin with the Jewish Book Month Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 28, featuring Janna Yeshanova, author of Love is Never Past Tense. Next up, on Saturday evening, Dec. 8, the younger set will have an event tailored just for them, during the Jewish Book Month Children’s Event at the Omaha Children’s Museum. The final Jewish Book Month happening will be the Omaha Jewish Author Showcase on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 9. Jewish Book Month Luncheon, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 11:45 a.m., JCC Auditorium with Janna Yeshanova, author of Love is Never Past Tense. Generously sponsored by the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Endowment Fund: Originally from the former Soviet Union, Janna Yeshanova escaped to the United States when persecution became violent during the crumbling of the Soviet state. Arriving in the U.S. with her mother and daughter in tow, $126 in her pocket and knowing not a soul, Janna’s talent and experiences have helped her become a high end organizational training and development professional. Love is Never Past Tense, tells the story of her exodus, a classic Russian tale of love, loss, betrayal and the eventual reunion of star-crossed lovers set against the unfolding of the dramatic political intrigue. Thanks to the generosity of a sponsorship by the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Endowment Fund, the luncheon cost is just Continued on page 3