November 20, 2015

Endowed by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

Diana Bletter initiates This Week Jewish Book Month November 20, 2015 8 Kislev 5776 Vol. 96 | No. 10

Rabbi L. A. Hoffman, PhD.

by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Beginning on Friday evening, Dec. 4 and continuing on Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6, Temple Israel is pleased to announce the visit of nationally known educator and writer, Dr. Lawrence A. Hoffman. Dr. Hoff-

Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Page 5

Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman

This week at the J Page 6

Diana Bletter at the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group luncheon.

by MARK KIRCHHOFF can women in their coastal village in wonders of life, and the ultimate acCenter for Jewish Life Northern Israel who become part of ceptance of death.

The 42nd Annual Jewish Book the Chevrah Kadisha, the Jewish burThe following day Diana joined the Month began with a moving presen- ial society, in their kibbutz. Bletter members of the Dorothy Kaplan tation by Israeli author Diana Bletter, described the spirituality of the ritual Book Discussion Group for a “box about her latest book, A Remarkable and how through this common bond lunch luncheon” in the Kripke Jewish Kindness, at The Bookworm on her characters came to share their Federation Library. The group had Wednesday evening, Nov. 4. Her own lives with one another – friend- chosen A Remarkable Kindness as its novel traces the lives of four Ameri- ships, marriages, the sorrows and Continued on page 2

Crazy for You coming to the JCC

Saying goodbye to Mike Page 8

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

Next Week Hanukkah See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

9 10 11

The cast of Crazy for You, Young Performers’ Edition, during a recent rehearsal at the JCC

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Mark your calendars: next month, the JCC Musical Theater Commu-

nity Acting Group will perform Crazy for You, YPE at the Jewish Community Center. Two performances are scheduled for Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday Nov. 23 at 9 a.m. Cost of tickets is $5 for kids and students, and $10 for adults.

“Our performers are incredibly dedicated to this show,” says Esther Katz, Cultural Arts Director. “It never ceases to amaze me how they give so freely of their time, coming to rehearsal week after week. Many of the performers have been doing this for years, and have been able to build wonderful relationships.”

Crazy for You is a romantic musical written by Ken Ludwig, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by George Gershwin. It has been billed as the “Gershwin Musical” and is largely based on the 1930 musical Girl Crazy, but it also incorporates songs from other Gershwin productions. It won a Tony Award in 1992.

“We selected this show because it has been a real crowd pleaser in other venues. Many of the songs are recognizable to the audience, and I think it’s great for our younger cast members to get to know songs by the Gershwin brothers up close and perContinued on page 4

man’s visit to Omaha is a very timely one for the membership of Temple Israel as we go through a time of transition with the retirement at the end of May 2016 of Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and begin to imagine the next generation of our Temple. One of the major areas of Dr. Hoffman’s research and teaching is in the study of the future of the synagogue. His visit to Temple Israel is provided for by the generosity of the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. A full schedule and topics for Dr. Hoffman’s visit can be found below.

Dr. Hoffman was ordained as a rabbi in 1969, received his Ph.D. in 1973, and has taught since then at the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. From 1984 to 1987, he directed its School of Sacred Music as well. In 2003, he was named the first Barbara and Stephen Friedman Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. He teaches classes in liturgy, ritual, spirituality, theology and synagogue leadership. For almost 40 years he has combined research, teaching, and a passion for the spiritual renewal of North American Judaism.

Rabbi Hoffman has written or edited over 40 books, including My People’s Prayer Book (Jewish Lights Publishing), a ten-volume edition of the Siddur with modern commentaries, which was named a National Jewish Book Award winner for 2007. His Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights Publishing) and his Art of Public Prayer (Skylight Paths) are widely used by churches and synagogues as guides to organizational visioning and liturgical renewal. In 2011, he Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | November 20, 2015

Jewish Book Month

Rabbi Hoffman Continued from page 1 received a second National Jewish Book Award for coauthoring Sacred Strategies: Transforming Synagogues from Functional to Visionary (Alban Institute).

Schedule of Talks by Dr. Lawrence A. Hoffman Friday Evening Services - Friday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m.

Religion, Ethnicity, and More: Judaism as a Conversation Torah Study - Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m.

Spirituality in Public: Looking for God in Omaha, Nebraska Afternoon Session - Dec. 5, 12:30 p.m.

Spirituality in Private: Even for Those Who Think There Isn’t Any Bagels & Coffee - Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:15 a.m.

Judaism for the Next Generation: Limits, Truth and Meaning All events will be located at Temple Israel 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive, Omaha, NE, 68144

Diana Bletter gave a presentation of her latest book, A Remarkable Kindness, Nov. 4 at The Bookworm.

Continued from page 1 November book selection and was interested in hearing Diana discuss her work. Bletter shared with the group that when she began writing, she did not know her characters very well. As she continued to write, she came to know and understand each one of them more intimately. She shared that by the time she had reached the end of the book, she felt sadness in having to leave them. The book group members encouraged Diana to “keep the characters alive” by continuing to write about them.

During her time with the group, Diana shared that she had made a personal commitment to make aliyah when she was on a teen tour to Israel at the age of sixteen. She had heard stories of Israel through her father and other relatives and felt deep inside that Israel was her home. In 1991 she made aliyah. She shared that there were some “cultural shock” items when she first arrived, including an incident with a shoe box her son had left on a park bench that generated fears of it being a terroristic explosive device. Diana commented that one cannot dwell on the fear. “Life is as it is, and we must make the most of all we have,” she said.

y pp a H h a k k Hanu Academy from

sh i w e J l e Fried

On Friday morning Diana conducted a Writer’s Workshop with the Fifth and Sixth grade students at Friedel Jewish Academy. She remarked about what a great school Friedel is, as well as how enthusiastic and skilled the students are. It proved to be an uplifting way for her to conclude her visit to the Jewish Community Center of Omaha.

Thursday Nov. 12, the Center for Jewish Life welcomed author and current law school instructor at Rutgers University, Pam Jenoff, who shared her book, The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach, at a luncheon at the Jewish Community Center. Following the luncheon she held a book signing.

Jewish Book Month is funded in part by the Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and is promoted by the Jewish Book Council.

Omaha’s celebration is coordinated by the Center for Jewish Life whose mission it is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences. For additional information, please call 402.334.6463.

Join us for our Annual Friedel Latke Lunch Wednesday Dec. 9 11:30 a.m.

JCC Auditorium Lunch $7 To Go $12 Donuts $1 each 3 Latkes 10 Latkes $12 per dozen Pickle Spear Apple Sauce Sour Cream Drink

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Friedel LATKE LUNCH PRE-ORDER FORM Due to Friedel by MONDAY, DEC. 7 NAME _______________________________________________ PICK UP TIME on 12/9 (Between 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.): _____________ _____ TO GO ORDERS ($12 Each) _____ LUNCH ($ 7 Each) DONUTS ($1 Each/$12 per Dozen) Specify type & quantity: _____ Raspberry _____ Lemon _____ Glazed TOTAL $________________ I am unable to attend, but would like to make a tax deductible donation to the FJAPTO in the amount of ___________. My check is enclosed!

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Drop off form at: Friedel | 335 S. 132 St | Call: 402-334-0517 Email: FriedelAcademy@fjaomaha.com CASH or CHECK ONLY | Make Checks payable to FJA-PTO

His articles, both popular and scholarly, have appeared in eight languages and four continents, and include contributions to The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion, The Encyclopedia of Judaism, The Encyclopedia of Religion in America and The Oxford Dictionary of Religion. He syndicates a regular column which appears, among other places, in The Jewish Week and The Jewish Times, and writes a blog entitled Life and a Little Liturgy.

For many years, Rabbi Hoffman served as visiting professor of the University of Notre Dame, and has lectured at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the University of Southern California, and the Yale Divinity School.

In 1990, Dr. Hoffman was selected by the United States Navy as a member of a three-person design team, charged with developing a continuing education course on worship for chaplains. He is a past-president of the North American Academy of Liturgy, the professional and academic organization for liturgists, and in January 2004, received that organization’s annual Berakhah Award for outstanding lifetime contributions to his field.

In 1994, he co-founded “Synagogue 2000,” a transdenominational project to envision the ideal synagogue “as the moral and spiritual center” for the 21st century (Temple Israel was proud to be one of the synagogues chosen to participate in “Synagogue 2000”). Synagogue 3000 has launched Next Dor, a national initiative to engage the next generation through a relational approach featuring strong communities with transformed synagogues at their center.

All of our programs with Dr. Hoffman are open to the community. If more information is needed, please contact, Program Director, Scott Littky at 402.556.6536.

A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER

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November 20, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 3

The Orthodox punk rock-loving guitarist behind the sounds of ‘Jewish Afrobeat’

by GABE FRIEDMAN NEW YORK (JTA) -- “Jewish Afrobeat” almost sounds like an oxymoron. In some ways, it is -- Afrobeat, the groovy fusion of upbeat jazz and funk pioneered by Fela Kuti, was inspired in part by the Black Power movement and African politics.

This fact only adds to the allure of the sonic triumph that is Zion80, an 11-piece band headed by New York-based guitarist Jon Madof that combines the rhythms and instrumentation of Afrobeat with the Hebrew melodies of Jewish folk singer Shlomo Carlebach.

The band, which Madof formed in 2012, has released two

ment and the Westernization of African culture. In the 1980s, he toured the U.S. and Europe with his next band, Egypt ‘80 (which Zion80’s name is stylized after).

Shlomo Carlebach grew up Europe in a family descended from old Germanic rabbinical dynasties. He moved to New York in 1939 and became an Orthodox rabbi, eventually serving as one of the first emissaries of Chabad Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in the early 1950s. His folk songs, usually sung in Hebrew, brought him into contact with the Greenwich Village folk scene in New York (pioneered by Bob Dylan) and helped him establish a following in San Francisco in the 1960s.

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Jon Madof, center, with his band, Zion80, in 2012. albums and is beginning work on a third. The first directly transposed songs written by Carlebach -- a popular Orthodox rabbi who sang religious lyrics with acoustic guitar -- into Afrobeat form, complete with horns, electric guitars and plenty of percussion. The second consisted of previously unrecorded music written by John Zorn, the legendary downtown New York avant-garde composer, who was impressed by the band’s first effort.

A third album to come next year will consist of more of Zorn’s unreleased compositions, which the group adapts to its Afrobeat sound.

The idea for the band came “instantly” to Madof while he was putting on his socks one Shabbat morning in 2011. He had listened to Fela Kuti’s music for hours the previous day, and when he began humming a Jewish song, the Afrobeat drum rhythms were still in his head. He did some research later that evening and found that no one had ever mixed any kind of Jewish music with the Afrobeat sound.

“To me, the Fela thing is not in the melody of the song, it’s in the rhythm,” Madof says. “It’s a structure, and the Carlebach melody lives within that structure.”

“And a lot of times with the Carlebach melody, there’s not much happening rhythmically,” he adds. “So they don’t bump up against each other.”

Fela Kuti grew up in Nigeria and studied music in London in the late 1950s. On a tour in Los Angeles in 1969, he became inspired by the political leanings of the Black Panther movement. In the 1970s, Kuti made waves with his band, The Afrika ‘70, through a string of high-energy albums that doubled as criticisms of the Nigerian govern-

Credit: Justin Bias As for Madof, 41, he grew up in a Philadelphia suburb where he listened to classic rock guitar heroes such as Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. In high school, he gravitated to the DIY ethos of punk bands like Fugazi.

After attending Oberlin College (where he did not major in music, despite the reputation of the school’s highlyregarded music conservatory), Madof worked as a musician and guitar teacher in Philadelphia before moving to New York. He started a family -- he has three children, ages six, eight and 10 -- and picked up graphic design and marketing skills (which he puts to good use as the director of design at JTA’s parent company, 70 Faces Media).

Along the way, he became interested in avant-garde Jewish and world music through the work of modern artists who mined traditional Jewish styles, like Zorn, Klezmatics clarinetist David Krakauer and the saxophone-led band Satlah, which released music on Zorn’s label. The more Madof discovered, the more his interest in Judaism grew.

“I started it with the new stuff and went backwards, because when I just started listening to old [turn of the century] klezmer recordings, I wouldn’t care,” Madof said. “I mean, I want to listen to punk rock. That’s my heart.”

Madof now identifies as Modern Orthodox and sees his religion as a big inspiration in his songwriting process.

However, he is adamant that fans should focus on his band’s final product -- the music -- and not get too caught up in the narrative behind it.

“If someone doesn’t know the music is Jewish, it shouldn’t matter at all,” Madof said. “If it speaks to you, it speaks to you. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Contact Howard Epstein, Executive Director 402-334-6466 | hepstein@jewishomaha.org | www.jfofoundation.org

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Israel protests EU labeling policy by quitting some talks

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Israel’s Foreign Ministry suspended dialogue with the European Union to protest the EU’s decision to label products from West Bank settlements separately from goods made within Israel’s pre-1967 borders.

The ministry froze the dialogue on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict recently, saying in a statement that it was pulling out of several EU forums, the Times of Israel reported.

“We have suspended the subcommittee on diplomacy, the subcommittee on human rights and international organizations,” the statement said. “The remaining dialogues [with the EU] are continuing as planned. Clearly, we won’t damage Israeli interests.”

The ministry’s political director, Alon Ushpiz, told EU Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Anderson that it was regrettable the EU’s move coincides with a wave of Palestinian terror attacks.

Faaborg-Andersen said the new guidelines concerning

separate labeling were “a small technical addition to something that has existed for a very long time: the trade facilitation between products coming from Israel proper, within its 1967 lines, and products coming from beyond the Green Line.”

He added that “this is not a boycott.”

The separate labeling will be applied not just to products from Jewish settlements in the West Bank, but also to goods produced in eastern Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

The move is “hypocritical and applies double standards, targeting Israel when there are over 200 other conflicts around the world,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

“The Israeli economy is strong and will withstand this; those who will be hurt will be those Palestinians who work in Israeli factories. The EU should be ashamed.”

Some leftist politicians in Israel, notably opposition leader Isaac Herzog, joined right-wingers in denouncing the plan.

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4 | The Jewish Press | November 20, 2015

Being thankful in Israel for arya’ing, maysik’ing and gedid’ing

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just 20 minutes from our home and “aryah’ed” about 10 kilos (22 pounds) of figs (which I cooked up into some excellent jelly). In midOctober, Ezra went with a friend to the same park and to a nearby neighborhood in Jerusalem and “maysik’ed” several hundred pounds of olives (which he took to a small commercial olive press and turned into 50 liters of olive oil), and in late October, Ezra worked “gedid’ing” for a week-and-a-half on a date farm in a small Jewish settlement near the Dead Sea. I volunteered and joined Ezra for several days of gedid. In return, date farmers Meirav and Doron gave me two jars of date honey (known as silan), several bottles of date beer, One kilo of Grade B dates (which I turned into excellent date cake), and four kilo of premium Medjool dates (these are in great demand in Europe; sometimes when a date fell to the ground we would jokingly say, with good reason: “pick up that Euro”).

Though Ezra grumbled a bit at the low hourly rate (which was minimum wage, a bit under $7 per hour), I loved the experience.

You and your fellow workers stand on a special gedid machine that lifts you up to the dates, you shake each cluster of dates and they drop into the surrounding netting, then you release the opening of the netting, shake the dates into a pail, and pour them into crates. Cumulatively, it’s hard work, but it’s also pretty peaceful 10 feet above the ground up there among the dates. And if you get hungry, you just pop a gorgeous Medjool into your mouth.

I’ll be thinking about this year’s aryah, maysik and gedid on Thursday Nov. 26; this won’t be hard because I will still be enjoying the fruits of these harvests. It might not be Thanksgiving here, but I will be feeling thankful for the bounty of this land. The fact that I and my family in a small way are able to be part of the harvest makes me even more thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER Many Americans have lost touch with the origins of Thanksgiving. When you ask someone to explain the reason for the holiday, more often than not the holiday will be linked to American ideals like democracy, pluralism, and freedom of religion. Since most Americans live their lives far removed from agriculture, few remember that Thanksgiving grew out of the same impetus that people worldwide for millennia have felt in the Fall: a feeling of thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Though we do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Israel, our move here brought us in touch with the reason for which Americans were originally thankful.

In immigrating to Israel, my wife and I did not realize that we would be bringing our family closer to nature. After all, we were not moving to a kibbutz or a similar type of agricultural community -- we moved to what is essentially a suburb of the city of Jerusalem. And yet the following trees are in my backyard: lemon, apple, pear, grapefruit, olive, shesek (loquat), and kumquat. For those so inclined, and my sons Ezra and Elie are so inclined, the Fall brings opportunities to participate in the harvest of many different kinds of fruit. This year, in the span of a few weeks, Ezra took part in the harvesting of three of the seven biblical “species.”

The bible speaks of the following as being special products of Israel: “a land of wheat and barley, of [grape] vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and [date] honey” (Deut. 8.8). The Hebrew language lovingly marks the specialness of these fruits by assigning unique verbs for their harvest.

Whereas in English, you go out to “pick” figs, olives, and dates, in Hebrew you do aryah, maysik, and gedid, respectively.

In late August, Ezra and I drove to a park

Crazy for You Continued from page 1 sonal. Ira and George Gershwin areso iconic; the chance to perform from their songbook is exciting.”

The musical made its debut on Broadway in February of 1992, and ran for 1,622 performances. At its opening, New York Times reviewer Frank Rich wrote: “When future historians try to find the exact moment at which Broadway finally rose up to grab the musical back from the British, they just may conclude that the revolution began last night. The shot was fired at the Shubert Theater, where a riotously entertaining show called Crazy for You uncorked the American musical’s classic blend of music, laughter, dancing, sentiment and showmanship with a fresh-

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ness and confidence rarely seen during the Cats decade. Crazy for You scraped away decades of cabaret and jazz and variety show interpretations to reclaim the Gershwin standards, in all their glorious youth, for the dynamism of the stage.”

And this time, its performers are your friends and family, making this a not-tobe-missed event for Jewish Omaha.

Directed by Fran Sillau, choreographed by Nicole Korpela with Bernadette Smitch directing the music, it’s sure to bring the house down.

For more information about the JCC Musical Theater Community Acting Group, future auditions and performances, please contact Esther Katz at ekatz@jcc omaha.com or call 402.334. 6406

Stabbing in Italy

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Following the stabbing of a Hasidic Jewish man in Milan, security at Jewish and Israeli sites throughout Italy is being bolstered. Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano met with the head of Italy’s Jewish communities to discuss what the ministry said was “the commitment of law enforcement agencies to guarantee security for Jewish institutions and the potential sites that those who foment hatred might want to target,” The Associated Press reported.

According to the AP, Milan police said there was no evidence so far to indicate a

hate crime and sought to play down the attack on Thursday. However, Milan’s provincial security committee decided to intensify security around Jewish and Israeli targets to the highest levels.

The victim, Natan Graf, is the son-in-law of Chabad emissary Rabbi Levi Hezkia and is an Israeli citizen. Graf, 40, sustained serious injuries, including to his face, in the attack, but none is life-threatening.

Graff was wearing a yarmulke at the time of the attack, which occurred outside a kosher pizzeria in the heart of Milan’s Jewish neighborhood.

November 20, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 5

The “Voices of Beth El” part 2: Caryn Scheer

by BETH EL SYNAGOGUE PUBLICITY ily. Most importantly, this is OUR synagogue! If you have an Storytelling may not be the only way to engage people idea, or want to make a change, there are people who will liswith your ideas, but it’s certainly a critical component. ten and help you along the way. It is so refreshing to know Stories connect us to our listeners, and when we share our that you can make a difference.” own life stories with others our audience feels that they get When asked for an interesting experience at Beth El, to know us as authentic people. This is the broad concept Scheer brought up hosting the Abraham family in their behind “Voices from Beth El”, a storytelling series from Beth home when they came to Omaha to interview. “I like to El Synagogue. think our hospitality had The synagogue will something to do with share their message and Rabbi Abraham choosing support the community Beth El. I suppose I can conversation for synatake partial credit for his gogue life and involvement choosing Omaha,” Scheer through storytelling. joked.

Today, Caryn Scheer As a member of the shares her Beth El story.

Board of Directors, Scheer Scheer moved to Omaha oversees membership six years ago for her husengagement and also band Marc’s fellowship at assists marketing engageUNMC. At that time, the ment, the group who made couple had a one-year-old, “The Voices of Beth El” Cadee, and Caryn was series a reality. pregnant with twins.

She founded the Young Understandably, she was Adult Committee (YAC) apprehensive at the time to as a way for that age demomove to a city where she graphic to socialize and and Marc knew hardly enjoy synagogue programanyone. ming together. And Scheer “To my utter amazespearheaded “Our Shabbat ment, the community at Tables,” a program where Beth El Synagogue became synagogue families share a our family,” she said, “I Shabbat meal with each Clockwise from left: Alex, Marc, Caryn, Cadee and Matt Scheer. appreciate that Beverly other. She recently joined Fellman took a chance on me and appointed me to the syn- forces with Holly Weill and Liz Feldstern to plan, fundraise agogue’s board after living here for only one year. I have and build the Beth El playground. been involved ever since!”

The latter is probably the best example of Scheer’s con“We first joined the JCC and Beth El as Gateway mem- tention that every good idea is welcomed at the Synagogue. bers. Marc’s stepfather, Bob Yaffe, had grown up in Omaha “I appreciate the people at Beth El. The staff, board and clerand always talked about how Beth El was the best synagogue gy are all wonderful. I enjoy working with Margie Gutnik to he had ever been a part of. It had been over 20 years since he develop meaningful programs for our congregants. Hazzan lived in Omaha!”

Krausman is a delight to listen to at services with his contaScheer has lived in other cities and attended many differ- gious energy and enthusiasm. I have a tremendous amount ent synagogues, yet still marvels at some of Beth El’s of respect for Rabbi Abraham. He is just the right leader for strongest traditions. No tickets on the high holidays came to Beth El. He is not afraid to take chances or find new ways to mind immediately, as well as Beth El’s commitment to main- stay current with an ever-changing world.” taining strong relations with all the Omaha religious instituIncredibly, there’s more. Scheer volunteers at the tions.

Children’s Hospital and Medical Center once a week and “When people ask why we chose to stay in Omaha after when this interview was arranged, she had just finished perMarc’s program ended, our first response is that the people forming in last month’s Campaign Cabaret on behalf of the here are exceptionally kind. We love that our children are Federation’s Annual Campaign, which she described as a growing up in this atmosphere,” Scheer said. “rush”! She has received the Emerging Leader Award at Beth She is happy to share her enthusiasm. “Beth El is a place El, and two years ago, the community’s Lois Jeanne Schrager where you can feel comfortable. As soon as you walk in the Memorial Young Leadership Award from the Jewish building you feel as though you are with your extended fam- Federation of Omaha.

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Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Temple Israel is pleased to announce their participation in the Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service to be held on Sunday, Nov. 22, 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass Street. Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Brown, Cantor Shermet and the Kol Rina Choir will represent Temple Israel and participate in the service along with First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church, Hanscom Park United Methodist Church and members of the Muslim community.

Following the service, there will be a reception with baked goods provided by each congregation. For more information, please contact, Program Director, Scott Littky at 402.556.6536.

Birth Megan Adams and Jeffrey Bennett of South Orange NJ announce the Nov. 7 birth of their daughter, Maya Rose Adeline.

She has a brother, Aaron Gabriel Jacob Grandparents are Bettie and John Adams of Omaha, and Sheree and Fred Bennett of Verona, NJ. Great-grandmother is Rose Adams of Reno, NV

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS There will not be a session on Wednesday, Nov. 25 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnai brith@jewishomaha.org.

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6 | The Jewish Press | November 20, 2015

JFO Foundation update

This week at the J

From the Foundation Director HOWARD EPSTEIN, Executive Director, JFO Foundation “We wish to thank you sincerely for the scholarship that you furnished from the David E. Beber Scholarship Fund to our daughter in order to attend the recent BBYO Fall Regional Convention in Carlinville, IL. She is now a senior and has benefitted significantly from the scholarships you have provided throughout her high school years. These grants have allowed her to increase her participation in Jewish youth activities, enabling her to strengthen her ties to Judaism and the greater Jewish community. We are genuinely appreciative for all the support you have given us during this time.”

The scholarship from the Beber Fund enabled this high school senior to freely participate in her Jewish youth group and to strengthen her ties to Judaism. This is exactly what those who established the Beber Fund had envisioned. They funded this endowment because they knew that many Omaha Jewish families lived on tight budgets and needed financial help to keep their kids engaged in Jewish activities.

Thirty nine years ago, the Jewish Federation of Omaha created the David E. Beber Scholarship Fund after receiving a donation from the Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation. It was an everlasting memorial and tribute to the late David E. Beber, a former trustee of the Livingston Foundation and an Omaha Jewish community leader.

Hundreds of children and their families from the Omaha Jewish community have attended Jewish summer camps and youth conventions, traveled to Israel, studied to become rabbis and Jewish communal workers, and attended college because of this very generous donation, made over 40 years ago.

You, too, can make a difference for the families in Omaha’s Jewish community. You, too, can establish an endowment fund because there are many families who need extra financial help to fully participate in all that Omaha’s Jewish community has to offer.

As we approach year-end, we are seeing stock prices increase rapidly with the resurgence of the stock market.

What a great time to donate appreciated securities to the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation to create your endowment! Not only will you help our Jewish community, you could also avoid capital gains taxes. And, as an added bonus, if you establish a new endowment fund or add to an existing endowment before Dec. 31, in an amount of $10,000 or more, an anonymous donor has agreed to add $1,000 to your endowment, no strings attached. For more information, please contact us at hepstein@jewishomaha. org or call 402.334.6466.

Clockwise from above: The Dorothy Kaplan book club spent some quality time with visiting author Pam Jenoof, who was in town for CJL’s Jewish Book Month and was the featured speaker at the Annual Book Month Luncheon; Jenoff signed her books after her speech; Charles Pullman visited with Steve Levinger before his talk on Nov. 11; Artist Richard Evnen with filmmaker Kalyanee Mam at the JCC Gallery opening, also on Nov 11.

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November 20, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 7

Beth El Family Shabbaton

by BETH EL SYNAGOGUE PUBLICITY Beth El congregants gathered Nov. 6-8 in Nebraska City at Lied Lodge for a favorite synagogue tradition, the Family Shabbaton.

For years, Beth El youth have had a ball at overnights and Shabbatonim, and the Family Shabbaton lets parents in on the fun, too! This year, registration had filled weeks in advance for families with children seventh grade and younger.

welcoming the Lincoln families, as we know this kind of Jewish engagement is, unfortunately, not available in the small Lincoln community.” Each family has expressed interest in taking part in more of Beth El’s family programming.

Heather feels strongly that Shabbatons do a great job of building community – and building it within the younger generation in particular. Watching the younger kids,

Please let the Jewish Press know in advance when you are leaving and when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to your “old” address before we are notified by the Post Office. Every time they return a paper to us, you miss the Jewish Press and we are charged! Please call us at 402.334.6448 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org.

Back row: Sophia Mavropolous, left, Julia Weill, Peyton Kelln, Mo Blair, John Harris; front row: Zach Krausman, Jemma Kushner, Joseph Fischer and Jemma Coren.

Eadie Tsabari playing the guitar with Na’ama.

“It was a really fun weekend,” said CoChair Heather Kelln.

Kelln worked alongside fellow co-chair Holly Weill to make the weekend a success for the eighteen families who attended. The theme chosen, Mission Impossible, reflected the broad idea of, “Is it possible to find the good all around you?” And, according to the Chairs, the mission was indeed a success!

“It was a great weekend to make new friends,” said Holly. “We want to thank our husbands, and Caryn Scheer, Laurel Krausman and Shira Abraham for leading some of the weekend’s programming.”

To illustrate the inclusivity for which Beth El is known, three Jewish families from Lincoln, unaffiliated with Beth El Synagogue, joined the congregation for the Shabbaton weekend. According to Holly, “The kids all got along great and we enjoyed

including her own two children, engage and absorb everything going on around them “was phenomenal”.

“We brought five USY’ers with us for that express purpose. These teens were indispensable and just incredible. They served as role models for the younger kids and were true leaders the whole weekend. I can’t say enough about them,” Heather explained.

“A heartfelt thank you to Zach Stein, Zach Krausman, Zev Krausman, Tomer Palmon and Elissa Weiner (who joined the Shabbaton from her studies at the University of Minnesota). They all did a great job,” Heather said.

The Shabbaton featured arts and crafts, music, games, special family Shabbat services, and much, much more. Everyone joined in on the fun – either planning an activity, leading blessings at meals or baking challah to share with those in attendance. Everyone returned refreshed, rejuvenated and having made new friends!

Tippi Denenberg has attended Shabbatonim in the past and was one of the first families to register this year. She attended with her children Michael (12), Sima (6) and Solomon (3). Beth El received gracious thanks from Tippi just a few days after the Shabbaton. “Please extend our thanks to everyone involved in making the Shabbaton happen. We most appreciate all the work that went into it, and we enjoyed it immensely.”

Rabbi Abraham said, “Thanks to our awesome Family Shabbaton co-chairs Holly Weill and Heather Kelln for planning an amazing weekend in Nebraska City.

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Hillel students join Amherst protest

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Student members of the Amherst College chapter of Hillel joined over 50 campus groups in a coalition demanding changes to create a more “inclusive environment” on campus.

“Amherst Uprising” is one of a spate of collectives on campuses across the country seeking to address what members see as campus environments hostile to minorities.

The manifesto posted last week demands an apology from the elite college in Amherst, Massachusetts, and from its president, Carolyn “Biddy” Martin, for an “institutional legacy” of a number of bigotries, among them anti-Semitism.

The statement also seeks the disciplining

and “extensive training for racial and cultural competency” of students behind posters on campus declaring “All Lives Matter” and “in memoriam of the true victim of the Missouri Protests: Free Speech.”

“All Lives Matter” is a slogan that has emerged as a retort to the “Black Lives Matter” movement that started as a response to the killing of blacks by law enforcement.

The University of Missouri has been the scene in recent weeks of tensions arising from racist online harassment of blacks and racist graffiti, as well as a counter-movement that has sought to silence some media coverage of its protests. The school's president and chancellor have resigned.

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8 | The Jewish Press | November 20, 2015

Saying goodbye to Mike

Letter TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor, I have felt a sense of great loss since learning of Mike Silverman’s decision to leave the Rose Blumin Jewish Home for a position in California. Earlier this year, I was dismayed when Josh Gurock accepted a post in Albany, N.Y. They each possess the compassionate qualities that are essential in this field. Each of these men have been compassionate leaders, and have shown concern about the lives, emotions and rights of the tenants.

Mike and Josh supported the physical, emotional and religious aspects of the people who live and work here. It is as if they read the quote and translation that is placed at the nurses’ stations: “Rise up and show respect for the aged.”

They not only rose and showed respect, they brought it far beyond that. A quality which I have always admired in both Mike and Josh has been their ability to sit down with tenants to plan and compromise. It’s a key skill for community officials and national leaders, and a trait they had mastered. Neither of them focused on only the bottom line of the business.

It’s because of Mike and Josh that we, at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, have something to be proud of.

Our Medicare five star overall rating has earned us bragging rights, and we can say we are more than “just” a home. I have seen this in the reactions of those visiting the facility, I have seen it when other residents were showing off the home to their friends and family. I am closing this letter by saying this home was built with compassion. It is the mortar that binds it.

This environment was not built overnight. Mike and Josh spent a combined 21 years creating the home we know.

Sincerely, Ricky J. Eirenberg Room 418B

November 20, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 9

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

After Paris

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor I had it all planned out, what I was going to write about this week. Then Paris happened, on the heels of Beirut, and Baghdad, and suddenly anything I could put in words seemed trivial. The truth is, as much as I wish I could say something profound about these latest events, I can’t. I don’t know how. I imagine many (too many) feel the same way.

I read Graeme Wood’s article “What ISIS really wants” in The Atlantic, and it confused me even more. Actually, it depressed me.

In his article, Wood refers to several interviews he’s done with ISIS members and sympathizers; one of them is Anjem Choudary, “London’s most notorious defender of the Islamic State,” according to the author. I’ll quote a small sample (you can read the entire article on www.theatlantic.com, and I highly recommend it, since this is not a summary).

“Choudary took pains to present the laws of war under which the Islamic State operates as policies of mercy rather than of brutality. He told me the state has an obligation to terrorize its enemies -- a holy order to scare the shit out of them with beheadings and crucifixions and enslavement of women and children, because doing so hastens victory and avoids prolonged conflict.

“Choudary’s colleague Abu Baraa explained that Islamic law permits only temporary peace treaties, lasting no longer than a decade. Similarly, accepting any border is anathema, as stated by the Prophet and echoed in the Islamic State’s propaganda videos. If the caliph consents to a longer-term peace or permanent border, he will be in error. Temporary peace treaties are renewable, but may not be applied to all enemies at once: the caliph must wage jihad at least once a year. He may not rest, or he will fall into a state of sin.”

The rules, if we can call them that, as explained by Choudary and Baraa, challenge everything we think we know about war and peace. It also perfectly illustrates why

these latest attacks are not about Paris, or Beirut, or Baghdad. This is much bigger than one city.

Those of us who (maybe somewhat obsessively) read the news, do so in an attempt to know why and how things happen. When a suicide bomber straps on a vest full of explosives and walks into a crowded space and kills many innocents, we want to know who he or she was. How this person came to

People placing flowers and candles on the pavement near the scene of the Bataclan theater terrorist attack in Paris, Nov. 14, 2015, a day after the attack.

Credit: Jeff Mitchell/Getty Images this point, what happened before, who urged him or her to do this, and most of all, what do the terrorists want?

And if we give them what they want (not that we would), would the attacks stop? We spend the days following attacks plucking apart the evidence, collecting data, trying to come to some knowledge about how to prevent this in the future.

Unfortunately, we don’t travel beyond those data. We may identify the problem, but the solution eludes us, again and again.

We assume, when the other party wages war, they do so with the ultimate goal of peace. Maybe a different peace than what

we ourselves envision, but peace nonetheless. The notion that war itself is the ultimate goal is as alien to us as the idea of dying for our personal beliefs. Because, with the exception of service men and women who are all too familiar with sacrifice, the rest of us don’t consider that a valid option. Not in our day to day lives. And even our military is taught to fight for something, not for the sake of fighting itself. And so we view the members of ISIS through western glasses, and what we see is distorted and incomplete. In the western world, we don’t know what Holy War really means; we haven’t since the Middle Ages. To truly understand the objectives of the Islamist State, we need a phenomenal mind shift, a re-programming almost. Does ISIS understand how lost we are? I am afraid the answer is yes. Do we, ourselves, know it? I think it’s starting to dawn on us.

Graeme Wood writes: “Properly contained, the Islamic State is likely to be its own undoing. No country is its ally, and its ideology ensures that this will remain the case. The land it controls, while expansive, is mostly uninhabited and poor. As it stagnates or slowly shrinks, its claim that it is the engine of God’s will and the agent of apocalypse will weaken, and fewer believers will arrive. And as more reports of misery within it leak out, radical Islamist movements elsewhere will be discredited: No one has tried harder to implement strict Sharia by violence. This is what it looks like.”

Maybe Wood is right; I sure hope so. But I worry that, even if he is, it is going to take much time and bloodshed before it comes to pass. And passively waiting for ISIS to burn itself out, well, that’s just not in our nature. We want to act, do something, anything, and feel as if we have some semblance of control. However, were the US government to put troops on the gound to fight ISIS, it would give ISIS exactly what it wants.

You know what else ISIS wants? For us to look at every single Muslim in the world with hatred and paranoia, and to close all borders permanently. It seems ISIS understands the West much better than vice versa.

On the streets of Paris, ADL chief spots yarmulkes, senses fear

by JONATHAN GREENBLATT NEW YORK (JTA) -- I have visited Europe many times, but last week I looked at it through a new lens in my first trip as CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.

I undertook the trip after an invitation to address the annual meeting of the CRIF, the representative body for the French Jewish community and a valued ADL partner. It was an intense learning experience, with reason for hope and cause for concern.

The hope came from hearing Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve speak forcefully at the CRIF meeting about the government's intention to provide physical security and moral support to enable Jews to live openly and confidently in France. Also from visiting upscale neighborhoods of Paris with significant Jewish communities, where the moderate security at kosher restaurants did not seem to impose a burden on daily routines. Yarmulkes were a common sight.

Walking these streets, it felt as cosmopolitan and safe as the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

And yet there was a general sense of foreboding. Many conversations turned to stories of people immigrating to Israel, America or elsewhere. Schools are protected by high walls and patrolled by elite military forces bearing heavy weapons. The same soldiers are stationed in front of synagogues.

One evening in Paris, our hosts received a frightening text message during dinner: There was a developing incident near a kosher sushi shop involving hooded assailants allegedly chasing Jews down the street. We rushed to the scene. When we arrived, we learned from police that the event had been misreported. Nonetheless, the very fact that our hosts believed that such a thing was possible reflected

(Founded in 1920) Eric Dunning President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Jessie Wees Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Thierry Ndjike Bookkeeper

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, President; Andy Ruback, Past-President; Andrew Boehm, Scott Farkas, Sandy Friedman, Paul Gerber, Alex Grossman, David Kotok, Debbie Kricsfeld, Abby Kutler, Pam Monsky, Paul Rabinovitz, Nancy Wolf and Barry Zoob.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world.

Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press.

Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page sto-

the pervasive sense of anxiety.

At the Alliance Israelite Universelle, a Jewish school in the downtrodden Paris suburb of Pavillons-sous-Bois, I listened as parents related stories of bullying and anti-Semitism that have caused Jewish students to leave the community's public schools for AIU. Students talked openly about leaving the country of their birth after graduation. Authorities

A general view outside the Jewish supermarket Hyper Cacher in Paris as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pays his respects to the victims of recent terrorist attacks, Jan. 12, 2015.

Credit: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images described an almost lawless atmosphere that intimidated police, let alone members of the public.

We saw a more complicated picture in Sarcelles, a working-class town outside Paris with large Jewish and Muslim communities. Last summer, anti-Israel riots plagued the town. Our tour included Jewish shops that had been fireries and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishoma ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

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bombed, the synagogue that had been threatened by a mob and the downtown area where young Muslims and Jews had faced off with riot police separating them.

Local Jews described their relations with the majority of their Muslim neighbors as “proper, but not friendly.” Despite the unease, the most uplifting moment of my visit occurred in Sarcelles.

We ate lunch at a kosher Tunisian restaurant with Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, a rare Muslim leader who has been an active advocate for coexistence with the Jewish community.

During our lunch, several Jews – customers and kitchen staff – came over to the imam. They took selfies and gave him hugs, expressing their appreciation for his leadership against anti-Semitism in the Muslim community. They reminisced in Arabic about Tunisia and showed a model of camaraderie, of what could be -- and should be -- in Sarcelles.

There were also two moments that underscored the vulnerability of the community. I paid respects at the Hyper Cacher kosher market where four Jews were murdered earlier this year because of their faith. And I sat with Ruth Halimi, the mother of young Ilan Halimi who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in a horrifying anti-Semitic crime in 2006. Her strength was quite impressive.

At the CRIF meeting, Gilles Clavreul, the French government’s point person for the fight against anti-Semitism, asserted that it is time to consider new strategies and programs to counter anti-Jewish hatred. The challenges this entails are complex. But in cooperation with CRIF and the French government, ADL is prepared to be part of that fight.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt is the CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League.

News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.”

The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf.

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10 | The Jewish Press | November 20, 2015

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

CHABAD HOUSE

618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 |712.322.4705 email: BnaiIsraelCouncilBluffs@gmail.com Join us for our Monthly Shabbat Speakers Series on Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Jerry Slusky. He will share memories of Playland Park, a family operation which was a favorite destination in Council Bluffs from the 1940’s into the 1970’s. Oneg to follow service. Please join us!

Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

Larry Blass will officiate the Speaker Series Service.

For information on our historic synagogue, or to arrange a visit, please contact any of our board members: Mark Eveloff, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf and Phil Wolf. Tribute cards for any occasion are available. Contact Sissy at 311 Oak Ridge Ct., Bellevue, NE 68005 or 402.292.8062.

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

FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. RSVP by calling the office.

WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak.

THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu.

All programs are open to the entire community.

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

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Ruben Furst; Junior Congregation, 10 a.m.; Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:45 p.m.; Men’s Club goes to Lancer’s Hockey Game, 7:05 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: BESTT Classes, 9:45 a.m.; Babies, Bigger Kids & Bagels, 9:45 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: No BESTT Classes; USY/Kadima Lounge Night Hang Time -- Kinnus Hype Up, 5:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Synagogue Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday; USY Kinnus in Saint Louis, MO through Nov. 29; Morning Services, 9 a.m.

The Synagogue Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday on Friday, Nov. 27.

Lunch at NE AIDS Coalition, Friday, Nov. 27, 11:30 a.m.

Social Action Committe: Cooking/Serving Dinner at Stephen Center, Sunday, Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m.

Scholar-in-Residence, Dan Ephron, Monday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m.

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.orthodoxomaha.org Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv, 4:44 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Torah Parade and Shabbat Classes, 9:45 a.m.; 15 mins after Kiddush -- Mishna L’Neshamah and Teen Class; Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion, 3:55 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 4:25 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:46 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Our Prayers, 9:45 a.m.; Shavua Tov Israel, 1 p.m. for children K-6 and their families; Caffe Ivrit, 2:30 p.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Office Closed THURSDAY: Office Closed; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Annual Thanksgiving Football & Learning, 10 a.m.

The Office will be closed on Friday, Nov. 27.

Bat Mitzvah Leora Bethany McNamara, daughter of Aviva Segall and Patrick McNamara, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Beth Israel.

Leora is a seventh-grade Honors student at Beveridge Magnet Middle School.

Her interests include JCC dance: Ballet, Modern, Lyrical, and Jazz.

She has a sister, Ilana Grandparents are Joan and Frank McNamara, Doris and Hervey Segall, and Special “Omaha Grandparents”, Helen and Tuffy Epstein.

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

FRIDAY: Sha-ba-ba-bat Family Dinner & Service, 6 p.m. hosted by the Weisser Family; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Lori Raphael.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Vayetze; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m. Questions? Contact Deborah Swearingen.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, 3 p.m. with reception following coordinated by Sara Friedman.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS classes.

THURSDAY: Temple Office Closed for Thanksgiving Day. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY: Intro to Judaism, Session #5, 6:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Lewis.

The Temple office will be closed on Friday, Nov. 27.

Hanukkah Dinner and Party!, Friday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m.

Volunteers are needed! Contact Jennifer Williss at 402.540.2697 or the Temple office at 402.435.8004 or office @southstreettemple.org.

President’s Office Hours, Sunday Mornings, 10 a.m.–noon at SST. If you have any Temple business you would like to bring before the Board of Trustees, potential programs, or new ideas, please let us know! Call for an appointment at the Temple or just to chat any time at 402.513.7697. Or if you prefer, just email David Weisser at president@southstreettemple.org.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road | Offutt AFB, NE 68123 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Chef ’s Demo, 1:30 p.m. with Temple Israel.

SATURDAY: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz.

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Brown and Cantor Shermet.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Laura Kirshenbaum, daughter of Jennifer Tompkins Kirshenbaum and Matthew Kirshenbaum, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah; Adult Game Night, 7 p.m. at Speilbound, 3229 Harney St. Come enjoy a night of board games and good company. Cost is $5. Adults of all ages are invited. RSVP to Program Director Scott Littky, 402.556.6536.

SUNDAY: Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; 6th Grade Parent and Student B’nai Mitzvah Season Kick Off Brunch, 10 a.m.; Kibitz with Ari Brodkey: My Life in Israel -- What’s Next?, 11 a.m.; Temple TED Talk, 11 a.m.; OTYG Board Meeting, 12:30 p.m.; Kol Rina Rehearsal, 3 p.m. at First United

Candlelighting Friday, November 20, 4:44 p.m.

Methodist Church; Thanksgiving Interfaith Service, 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St. Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Brown, Cantor Shermet and the Kol Rina Choir will represent Temple Israel and participate in the service along with First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church, Hanscom Park United Methodist Church and members of the Muslim community. Following the service, there will be a reception with baked goods provided by each congregation.

TUESDAY: Mah Jongg Classes, 7 p.m. Come learn how to play Mah Jongg! Cost is $45 and will include a Mah Jongg card. To RSVP, please contact Program Director Scott Littky, 402.556.6536.

WEDNESDAY: No Grades 3-6; No Grades 7-12; or Family Night.

THURSDAY: No Adult Education Class.

Shabbat Comes to You at Rose Blumkin Home, Friday, Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m.

Tot Shabbat, Saturday, Nov. 28, 9 a.m.

Stephen Center 5th Sunday Brunch, Sunday, Nov. 29, 8:30 a.m.-noon at Stephen Center, 2723 Q Street Temple Israel Blood Drive, Sunday, Dec. 6, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org – search sponsor code 009113 and log into your donor profile OR reserve a spot with Dennis DePorte 402.556.6536 or ddeporte@templeisrael omaha.com.

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

FRIDAY: WORLD With No Hate Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker will be Dr. Marilyn Johnson-Farr, Doane College Dwight E. Porter Professor of Education.

Bring a guest...a neighbor, friend, or co-worker to share this unique service followed by a special oneg Shabbat.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon; Havdalah Havurah, 6 p.m.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, 3 p.m. at South Street Temple followed by a reception. Any questions, please contact Rabbi Lewis at 402.4.5.8004.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS classes.

THURSDAY: Tifereth Office Closed for Thanksgiving Day. Tifereth Israel Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday on Friday, Nov. 27.

Join the LJCS as we collect hats and mittens for the children of the Friendship Home. Donations will be collected through Sunday Dec. 13 and can be dropped at either building.

Martin Indyk: Why not freeze the settlements?

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Freezing construction in Israeli settlements would make Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a partner for peace “tomorrow,” former U.S. special envoy Martin Indyk said.

Indyk, who acted as broker in several peace initiatives between Israel and the Palestinians, most recently in 2014, spoke Nov. 12 in Tel Aviv at a conference sponsored by the Haaretz daily on the prospect of reaching a peace agreement.

Abbas “could become a partner tomorrow for the deal you’d like to make if there was a settlement freeze,” he said, adding, “Why not freeze the settlements? Does it affect your security?”

Indyk added that he believed settlements were one of the major issues preventing peace, contrary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that the main obstacles were Palestinian incitement and Arab refusal to countenance a Jewish state.

Netanyahu also routinely notes that Arab rejectionism predates settlement, and that Palestinians have turned down deals that would have involved uprooting some settlements.

“I can tell you, from personal experience, they [the settlements] are the problem,” Indyk said.

Indyk said he believes US involvement in the peace process, which allows it to be “Israel’s second line of defense,” is essential. “When you put your arm around someone, it gives reassurance,” he said, but it also allows you “to give a little nudge.”

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

November 20, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 11

In memoriam DENNIS P. “DENNY” LEWIS Dennis P. “Denny” Lewis passed away on Oct. 31. Services were held Nov. 2 at the Schrager Chapel of Temple Israel Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa Lewis; son, Dr. Travis Lewis of Philadelphia, PA; brother and sister-in-law, Gary Lewis and Cherry Witham; brother-in-law, David Shapiro; a niece, two nephews; and many relatives and friends.

Denny Lewis was the former owner of Spirit World for over 35 years, and participated and served on the boards of numerous charitable and civic organizations in Omaha and elsewhere. He served on the boards of Chabad, the Newman Foundation, the Omaha Symphony, the Nebraska Historical Society and Stray Rescue of St. Louis, among others. He and his wife Lisa established the Travis Lewis Scholars program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to assist high school student and teacher researchers in neuroscience through the Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Memorials may be made to Temple Israel, Chabad House, Stray Rescue of St. Louis (2320 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103) or the organization of your choice.

200 gather at Paris synagogue, under tight security, to pray for terror victims

by JTA NEWS STAFF PARIS (JTA) -- Some 200 people gathered under heavy guard at a Paris synagogue to remember the victims of the terrorist attacks in the French capital on Friday night.

Led by the chief rabbi of France, Haim Korsia, leaders of French Jewry and Israel’s ambassador to France were among those who assembled at the Synagogue de la Victoire on Nov. 15 in the evening.

“Our people, which has been tested more than others, knows the healing power of solidarity and unity in the face of the pain of torn families, broken couples and orphaned children,” said Michel Gugenheim, the chief rabbi of Paris, of the 132 fatalities and more than 350 wounded in multiple attacks.

Forensic officers working at the Bataclan theater the day after terrorist attacks in Paris, Nov. 14, 2015.

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images The event included a prayer for the souls of the dead and a separate prayer, led by Rabbi Moche Lewin, director of the Conference of European Rabbis, for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

Korsia said that French Jews “feel with all intensity the pain of the families touched by the tragedy and the pain of the nation in general.” He added that “the act of gathering here is perhaps more significant than the speeches.”

French society, he said, “will rise up from its grief like American society rose up from the tragedy of 9/11 and like Israeli society, which never lay down for attacks.”

Streets around the synagogue were cordoned off by police and army for the duration of the ceremony, where congregants underwent pat-downs and bag inspections.

The ceremony was held as many other activities of Jewish institutions in France were suspended for security reasons and out of respect for the victims of the attacks that rocked Paris in what French President Francois Hollande said was an “act of war” by the Islamic State terror group.

“Now ordinary French people are beginning to understand how us Jews have been living in recent years, and the reality in Israel.” Samuel Sandler, the father of Jonathan Sandler, who was killed in 2012 with two of his sons and another child during an Islamist attack at a Jewish school in Toulouse, told JTA at the gathering.

On hand for the ceremony were the president of the CRIF umbrella group, Roger Cukierman, and Sacha Reingewirtz, head of the Union of Jewish Students of France, as well as the ambassador, Aliza Bin-Nun.

Visit us at jewishomaha.org

Hanukkah light and joy at Beth El Synagogue

by BETH EL PUBLICITY Beth El invites everyone to join them in lighting the Hanukkiah candles on the fourth night of the holiday, Wednesday, Dec. 9 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Stay for dinner and an evening of Hanukkah observance and fun!

Balloon creations featuring the comedy magic of Popping Penelope begins at 5:30 p.m. and is for kids in 2nd grade and younger.

Immediately following is candle lighting and dinner at 6 p.m.

More balloon creations and a show for the entire family (all ages) follows dinner.

Dinner includes salad, chicken, veggies, latkes with applesauce and sufganiyot! Adults, $12.50, children 7-12, $5.00, Hebrew High Students and Children 6 and under eat free with a family maximum of $36 (members). Family pricing is available for two adults with minor children 18 and under.

Registration due by Friday, Dec. 4 at www.bethel-omaha. org.

The mission of Beth El synagogue is to be a welcoming and vibrant conservative synagogue that empowers, engages and inspires its congregants through God, Torah and acts of loving kindness.

Israeli intelligence helping Paris investigation

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israeli intelligence services reportedly are helping France investigate the Paris attacks. In a statement issued Saturday night about the Paris terrorism of the previous day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had “instructed Israel’s security and intelligence forces to assist their French counterparts and their counterparts from other European countries in any way possible.”

Israel’s minister of intelligence, Yisrael Katz, later clarified Netanyahu’s statement, telling reporters that intelligence cooperation among Israel, France and other European countries is “ongoing,” but that “intelligence material relevant to what happened has been relayed, and we will also deepen the cooperation.”

Katz added that the information would help the French and other countries deal with the aftermath of the attack and future attacks, Reuters reported. Israel’s Army Radio reported Nov. 15 that some intelligence may have come from Israel’s surveillance of Syria and Iraq, two strongholds of the Islamic State terrorist group that claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.

“In Israel, as in France, terrorism is terrorism, and standing behind it is radical Islam and its desire to destroy its victims,” Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

The prime minister was referencing the West Bank attack on Friday that killed a father and son, and injured five other family members, as they drove to the Shabbat pre-wedding celebration of the man’s daughter, and the attacks in Paris several hours later that left 129 people dead and injured hundreds.

“The time has come for the world to wake up and unite in order to defeat terrorism. The time has come for countries to condemn terrorism against us to the same degree that they condemn terrorism everywhere else in the world,” Netanyahu said, adding that it would be “proper” for Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to condemn the attack in Israel in the same way he condemned the attack in France.

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THE KIMBALL County Board of Commissioners is seeking sealed bids to purchase a new, used or demo ambulance unit. The deadline to submit a bid is 5:00 p.m. November 25, 2015. For more information and a copy of the specifications, please contact the Kimball County Clerk at 308-235-2241.

12 | The Jewish Press | November 20, 2015

Isaac Herzog wants ‘NATO-like’ alliance of Israel and moderate Arab states

by URIEL HEILMAN Rabin 20 years ago, and Israel’s demographic trends bode ill the prime minister made a bid for a “historic change” in the NEW YORK (JTA) -- In the mind of Israel’s opposition for the left wing. The right-leaning haredi Orthodox repre- region. leader, Labor Party chief Isaac Herzog, the array of threats in sent the fastest-growing segment of the population, most of Herzog left open the question of the likelihood of the Middle East these days present Israel with a historic the one million Russian-speaking immigrants who came to Netanyahu taking such a step. For all his experience dealing opportunity.

Israel in the 1990s are hawkish, and the liberal Israelis of with, running against and responding to Netanyahu, Herzog Yes, Palestinians are stabbing Israelis daily. Yes, Israel metropolitan Tel Aviv increasingly have been splitting their still doesn’t seem to have the prime minister figured out. arguably has its most right-wing government since Herzog didn’t give Palestinian Authority Benjamin Netanyahu’s first term as prime minister, President Mahmoud Abbas a free pass, calling in the late 1990s. Yes, Obama administration offihim a “complicated and difficult person.” But cials conceded last week that they have given up on Herzog insisted that Abbas nonetheless “stands up achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal during against terror.” the remainder of the president’s term, which ends in As for how Herzog would jump-start the peace January 2017. process, he said he would freeze settlement buildBut in Herzog’s view, the rise of the Islamic State ing outside the large settlement blocs that Israel and the threat of a nuclear Iran offer an extraordiexpects to keep as part of a final-status agreement, nary opportunity for a “NATO-like” alliance of Israel go speak at the Palestinian parliament in Ramallah and moderate Arab states. and demonstrate that the two sides “understand Given their common enemies and interests, each other’s pain.”

Herzog says, the Jewish State can work with Egypt, In any final-status accord, Herzog said, there Jordan, the Gulf states and others to curb the expanshould be mutual recognition of each other’s sion of Iranian power, contain the Islamic State, nation-states and ironclad security arrangements facilitate intelligence sharing, and propel Israelis and for both sides. That includes, he noted, Israel keepPalestinians back to the negotiating table. ing the Jordan River Valley as a security corridor.

“Despite the fact that we’re in a terror wave of stabHerzog came to the United States to speak at the bings and throwings of stones and casualties and General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of another painful moment between Jew and Arab in North America in Washington, D.C., and for a the Holy Land, despite all of that we must look United Nations event here marking the 40th beyond that and take steps that can change the anniversary of the infamous “Zionism equals course of history in the region,” Herzog told a group racism” resolution. Herzog’s late father, Chaim of reporters Wednesday in a meeting in Manhattan Herzog, who was Israel’s U.N. ambassador at the Zionist Union party leader Isaac Herzog speaking at the party’s convention In Tel time, famously tore up a copy of the resolution in organized by the Israel Policy Forum.

Credit: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90 his speech that day to the U.N. General Assembly.

“There is a unique opportunity in this region, Aviv, Nov. 8, 2015. which stands from a convergence of interests between mod- vote between Labor and parties that focus on socioeconomThough Herzog’s U.S. visit this week received far less erate Arab states that surround us -- some of them our imme- ic issues like Yesh Atid. attention than Netanyahu’s, the opposition leader refuses to diate neighbors, such as Egypt and Jordan, together with Asked by JTA about his strategy for future electoral suc- stop talking about his alternative vision for Israel. nations such as Morocco, or Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and cess given these trends, Herzog argued that Israelis would “I, as leader of the opposition, keep on saying time and others -- who have common interests by the fact that they are eventually wake up to the fact that Netanyahu’s approach of again I’m not willing to give up,” Herzog said. “I am not willseeing ISIL as a major threat, and they see Iran as a major “living by the sword” alone is not sustainable. But he offered ing to say that there is no hope. We must move on, try again. threat and they share a common interest with Israel,” he said. little by way of a road map for how he would translate that “Despite the fact that now it looks gloomy, sad and horrifThe question for Herzog is: What’s his game plan for get- recognition into votes for Labor. ic, despite the fact that 12-year-old stabs 12-year-old, despite ting from here to there?

And paradoxically, though he described Netanyahu on the fact that there is endless brainwashing and hate and the Netanyahu has a firm grip on power, Labor has won the Wednesday as totally lacking a vision of hope for Israel, relationship between Jew and Arab is at one of its lowest premiership only once since the assassination of Yitzhak Herzog said he wouldn’t rule out supporting Netanyahu if points, nonetheless one has to create hope.”

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Jessie Wees | 402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org