November 21, 2003

Vol. LXXXIII No. 12 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 82 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

Omahans “At Home” in Israel at Annual G.A.

With UJC Investing in Security, Assembly Delegates Confident

Members of the Omaha Jewish community joined 4000 solidarity marchers at the United Jewish Communities annual General Assembly, held in Jerusalem this past week for the first time since 1998 when the organization celebrated Israel’s 50th anniversary as a State. This year’s G.A. is the largest in its 72-year history, bringing together more than 4300 North Americans with some 2000 Israeli delegates. The G.A. was so oversubscribed that some participants had to be housed in hotels in Tel Aviv. Among those marching Monday afternoon, demonstrating the G.A. theme: “With Israel, In Israel,” are: Jan Goldstein, left, Federation Executive Director; Howard Goldstein; Julee Katzman, Assistant Federation Director; Guy Matalon, Jewish Educational and Library Services Director; Rabbi Mendel Katzman of Chabad of Nebraska; Dr. Wayne Lainof; Stephanie Grossman, Susie Shyken; Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director; Sue Schreiber of Lincoln; Dr. Pacey Shyken; Iris Ricks; Steve Riekes; Marty Ricks, Federation Foundation Director; and, kneeling in front:, Rabbi Craig Marantz of Temple Israel.

More photos on page 5.

“Children Should Be...Free, Like a Kite” Say Students About ADL’s Holocaust Education

by LARRY RAFUL ADL Board Member Janusz Korczak was a Polish educator and physician, who became famous--not only for his books and educational theories--but also as the director of an orphanage filled with nearly 200 children before and during World War II in the Warsaw Ghetto. Korczak and his children ultimately perished at the hands of the Nazis, but he left a legacy of learning which is being passed on to children around the world, including those at Friedel Jewish Academy.

During Sukkot, Friedel students flew their kites, celebrating Korczak’s life, and the kind and gentle manner in which he treated his students. It was the third year in row that the Institute for Holocaust Education sponsored the kite-flying program--a symbolic way of involving children in learning about the Holocaust.

The kite flying is one of many programs the Institute has spearheaded, according to Beth Seldin-Dotan, its Director. The Institute for Holocaust Education continues to reach out and make a difference in the community.

“This fall, we have held numerous activities, providing opportunities to many different interest groups to learn about the issues of the Holocaust,” she explained.

“The three main areas that the Institute focuses on include: education, programming and traveling exhibits located in the Pennie Z. Davis Gallery for Holocaust Education.” As the first in a series, this article will explain the educational endeavors of the Institute.

Continued on page 3

Inside

Lilly Phillips, a student a Friedel Jewish Academy, flew her kite during Sukkot, to remember Czech educator Janusz Korczak. It is the third year in which ADL has sponsored the kite flying at area Jewish schools.

This Week: Photos from Mission in Israel Jonanthan Adelman Returns to Omaha: Page 2

Funding Hate, last of a four-part series: Page 4

26 Cheshvan, 5764 November 21, 2003

by RACHEL POMERANCE NEW YORK (JTA)--Anyone wanting to attend the North American Federation system’s upcoming conference in Jerusalem had to sign a waiver releasing the United Jewish Communities from any security-related liabilities.

But after accepting “any and all risks to my safety and security”--and despite a recently updated U.S. government travel warning for the region--delegates seemed unfazed by the risks during the UJC’s annual General Assembly, held Nov. 16-19.

Asked if his community has shown signs of concern, Gary Weinstein, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas replied: “No, no and no-no issues, no concerns and no one’s talking about it.”

People “just get numb” to the ongoing Palestinian intifada, Weinstein said.

That insouciance may be due to the type of people who attended the event.

“People going to the G.A. anyway are your most committed folks,” Weinstein said. “The G.A. is primarily for leadership, and so we’re not finding really any ripples.”

In fact, fear about the security situation may be better measured by those who chose not to attend the conference. Probably due to the ongoing violence, the Alabama delegation shrunk to seven from 15 or 20 in 1998, the last time the General Assembly was held in Jerusalem, said Richard Friedman, Executive Vice-president of the Birmingham Jewish Federation.

But none of the seven Alabamians headed for Israel has “expressed any particular concerns about safety,” Friedman said.

Several events on the program required significant security measures. They included tours to more than 200 sites throughout Israel, from lunching with Israel Defense Forces soldiers in Tel Aviv to touring mixed Jewish-Arab cities to a solidarity march through the streets of Jerusalem.

Omaha’s delegation of 29 to this year’s is even larger that its delegation to the 1998 G.A., said Jan Goldstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation.

Then, too, Omahans spent time in its Partnership 2000 Region in the Western Galilee, but it was limited to just one day. This year, however, Federation’s leadership chose to develop a pre-mission to the Region which included other Partnership cities--San Antonio, TX, Des Moines, IA, Louisville, KY, and Dayton, OH. The group also spent a night in Safed, the ancient Israeli city known for its mystical tradition--and its devotion to the arts.

In all, 83 men and women from the five cities tour ed such Partnership sites as the Western Galilee College and the Ghetto Fighter’s Museum, as well as met with residents of several kibbutzim in the area.

Goldstein expressed her pride in the large group from Omaha. “This was an opportunity, not only to meet with the thousands of Federation leaders from across North America, but to develop a closer relationship with four of our Partnership 2000 cities in the Central Region Consortium,” she explained. “It’s much easier to make decisions on funding projects in the Western Galilee when volunteer leaders are there to see these projects for themselves.”

For the Philadelphia delegation, the difficult time in Israel created even more interest in attending this year’s assembly, officials said.

“I think people (were) glad to be going to make a stand for solidarity,” and (were) “very confident” about UJC security, said Susan Bodner, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

“When people go and times are tough, it’s even a deeper statement of commitment.”

Editor Carol Katzman contributed to this story.

More photos from Omaha’s G.A. mission on page 5

Coming Dec. 5: The Jewish Press Hanukkah Gift Guide From the Desk of the Federation President: Page 5

Candidates Vie for Jewish Votes in Iowa Page 12

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 21, 2003

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Expert on Middle East to Present Israel Teach-In Day at Temple Israel

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator This year, adult education classes, speakers, and music at Temple Israel have been highlighting the culture, people, literature, and history of Israel. On Sunday, Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m., Dr Jonathan Adelman, professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, will lead a day of study about Israel. The Israel Teach-In Day is open to the entire community.

“Whether you know a little or a lot about Israel,” said Rosie Zweiback, Temple Israel Program Director, “this will be an opportunity to learn from a noted scholar who is an expert on the Middle East. He will make several presentations throughout the day addressing modern Israeli history and the current crisis. At a time when the media images of Israel are overwhelmingly negative and critical, it is more important than ever for American Jews to be well informed,” she added.

Dr. Adleman, who received his doctorate from Columbia University in 1976, has been associated with the University of Denver since 1978. An honorary professor at Beijing University and People’s University in China since 1996, Dr. Adelman was a visiting scholar at Cambridge University in 1989 and at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, in 1999. In 1996, he taught a course at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow, and during the summer of 1976, he returned to Columbia University as an instructor.

In Israel, Dr. Adleman taught at Hebrew University and the University of Haifa. He is a member of the academic board of the Citizens’ Empowerment Center which is working on changing the electoral system in Israel and was executive director of the Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East.

A senior fellow of the Foundation for the Defense of

Men’s Campaign Victory Celebration

CLIP & SAVE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Temple Israel OTYG Shabbaton, 7 a.m.

Visions Luncheon, 12:30 p.m. at Venice Inn SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Temple Israel OTYG Shabbaton, 7 a.m.

C BBG LTI Overnight, 7 p.m.

L I P & S A V E

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Between Parents & Children with Rabbi Levin, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Bible Study: The Book of Samuel, 11 a.m. at Beth El OTYG Board Meeting, 2 p.m. at Temple Israel Sara Jones Performance, 5 p.m.

New Member Reception, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel

C L I P & S A V E

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 YES Program, 10 a.m.

“Soul of the Text” Adult Ed. Class, 11 a.m.

Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Temple Israel Adult Education, 6 p.m.

UNO Kabbalah Class, 6 p.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m.

Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

C L I P & S A V E

C WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 L B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon at the Park Inn I OTYG Dinner & Thanksgiving Service, 5 p.m.

Community Thanksgiving Service, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel P Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 7 p.m. at Beth El & S A V All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated.The Jewish Press is not E

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27 JCC CLOSED - THANKSGIVING

responsible for the accuracy of events.To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437.

FOR A COMPLETE LISTING,VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

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by SHARON KIRSHENBAUM Federation Men’s campaign Director The 2004 General Men’s Campaign held its Victory Celebration last week at the JCC. Rick Fox of Julio’s donated the food for the event. Pictured from top: the 2004 General Campaign chairmen, Howard Epstein and Fred Tichauer. Also in attendance were campaign workers: Gerald Meyer, Maury Meiches and Jerry Dann. Representing the Young Men’s Division were: Joe Meyers, Bob Goldberg and Michael Miller. The goal of the General Men’s Campaign was to close on Nov. 13. The campaign is currently 90 percent complete, considered to be a huge success.

Democracies since 2001, Dr. Adelman was also a senior scientist for the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) working on contracts for the Department of Defense in the 1980’s. He was chairman of National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice’s doctoral dissertation committee when she was a 23year-old student.

Dr. Jonathan Adelman Since 1988, Dr. Adelman has been on 14 international speaking tours for the U.S. State Department to countries including Germany, England, Hungary, Spain, China, Russia, Japan, India, Mongolia, and Serbia-Croatia-Macedonia. He has also taken more than a dozen tours for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to American cities from New York to San Francisco speaking about Israel, the Arab-Israeli crisis, and Israeli relations with former enemies such as China and Russia.

In addition, Dr. Adleman has visited more than a dozen university campuses including Stanford, UCLA, and the University of Virginia on behalf of AIPAC, the Anti-Defamation League, and Hillel.

Author of 12 books, Dr. Adelman said he is looking forward to returning to Omaha. He was a scholar-inresidence at Beth Israel Synagogue last spring.

After hearing Dr. Adelman at that time, Donald Gerber commented that the professor gave “us so much to think and talk about…(his) ability to present different types of information and history is quite remarkable. The more you hear from him, the more you want to hear!”

Temple to Celebrate Thanksgiving with Area Congregations

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Celebrating the spirit of Thanksgiving and community, members of six area congregations including Temple Israel, will join together for an annual interfaith service Wednesday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m., at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Temple Israel’s Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will participate in the service. Rabbi Marantz will deliver the benediction and read the Hoda’ah prayer from the Amidah. The Cantor will chant verses from the Torah. In addition, Joel Passer, 17, will blow a shofar.

Kol Rina, Temple Israel’s adult choir, will sing with choirs from First United Methodist Church and Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church. Selections include “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing” by Ralph Vaughn Williams, “Psalm of Brotherhood” by Heinrich Schalit, and “Hand in Hand” by Michael Issacson. Paul Koenig, who sings with Kol Rina during the High Holidays, is the music minister at Dundee Presbyterian and will direct the choirs.

Other churches participating in the interfaith service are First Christian Church and St. Margaret Mary’s Church.

Canned goods and other non-perishable foods can be brought to the church for donation. Contributions for Together Inc. of Metropolitan Omaha, an organization for people who are in financial need, will also be collected.

Rabbi Marantz will extend an invitation to next year’s Thanksiving interfaith service at Temple Israel.

A dessert reception will follow the service at the church.

Don’t Forget the Jewish Press Hanukkah Gift Guide Publishing Dec. 5 Deadline for articles, ads and photos: Monday, Nov. 24.

For ad space reservations, call Allan Handleman, 334-6451, or Ray Pred, 334-6559.

November 21, 2003

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

ADL’s Holocaust Education Continued from page 1 In its educational role, the Institute for Holocaust Education has been active these past few months creating an extensive educators data base, providing public and private school teachers throughout Omaha and the surrounding area with both e-mail and local mail notices of our events.

Last month, the Institute held its first teacher in-service of the year-“Remembering the Ally”--which integrated study on the rise of the Nazi regime, defining hate and alliance, and understanding how difficult it was for individuals to save Jews during World War II. Part of the in-service was held in the Pennie Z. Davis Gallery, where the exhibit “To Save One Life, The Story of Righteous Gentiles,” on loan from Queensborough College’s Holocaust Center, was on display. In response to the successful in-service, a number of school children have visited the exhibit, which is supported by the Esther K. Newman Memorial Fund.

A second in-service will be held for teachers on Feb. 5, 2004, and will focus on “Life and the Ghetto.” A traveling exhibit, “Triumph of Life,” dedicated to the sixtieth year commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising will be displayed in the Gallery during that time.

The Friedel Jewish Academy has requested that the Institute create a series of lessons dealing with issues of the Holocaust for the 2003-2004 school year. In order to reach every child at their age-level, the staff has designed two separate lessons that appeal to the younger grades and to older students.

As an example, when the Friedel students flew kites during Sukkot in mem-

ory of Janusz Korczak, the children plan for a series of teacher in-services to ny the award-winning documentary “Tak were asked to write about their experi- be held throughout the state.

For Alt--Suvival of the Human Spirit”. ences that day.

The Lincoln Public Schools Social The curriculum, based on the story of Sixth-grader Jesse Reno commented, Studies Department has volunteered to survivor Judith Meisel, includes four “It felt fun to fly a kite for the third time be the first venue for the Institute’s in- major sections dealing with: Holocaust to remember Janusz Korczak and how services. With the support of the history, the American Civil Rights kind he was to children. I think that it is Nebraska Humanities Council, and other Movement, the moral courage of Danish important to remember Mr. Korczak.” state-recognized donors, the in-service citizens to save their Jewish citizens, and Lilly Phillips, a fourth-grader, said, “I will be held in Lincoln on Jan. 29, 2004. personal ethics. One outcome of that enjoyed flying a kite because if you A group of 100 teachers will gather to curriculum has been the request by the think about it, kites are free and Nebraska Social Studies Standards that is how all children should beAssessment committee to use the -free like a kite. Flying a kite work as an example for Nebraska makes me have nothing on my standards and assessment. mind.”

In addition, the Lincoln Public Earlier this month, on Schools Social Studies text review Kristallnacht, the children met at board will teach and review the Beth El Synagogue to listen to materials in all six LPS High and learn from Holocaust survivor Schools. Almost every high school Sam Fried, and to view the memoin Omaha has purchased the currial light erected at area synariculum and teachers use it in their gogues by the Six Million Lights curriculum. A clinic on Tak for Alt Foundation. was held at the National Other programs being planned Conference for Social Studies in with the Friedel children dealing Chicago this month. with the Holocaust will be held The Institute for Holocaust prior to Hanukkah, including a visit Education continues to be a to the Warsaw exhibit where the resource to all people in Omaha focus will be on the phrase from and the surrounding community. the display, “I feel like as though I Requests for information regarding am in a box,” and in April, prepa- Shirley and Sophie Cemaj try to get their kite flying higher as the Holocaust are made daily to its ration for Yom HaShoah--Holocaust part of the annual kite-flying day when religious school stu- office. The staff and volunteers dents learn about the life of Janusz Korczak.

Memorial Day. strive to offer educational opportuOther educational outreach includes learn about curriculum and age-appro- nities to all who are interested, and conthe creation of a committee of educators priate Holocaust materials. Educators tinue to develop other programming that from around the state of Nebraska who from the Midwest Center for Holocaust brings light to these dark years of Jewish gathered last spring at the Nebraska State Education in Kansas City, in addition to history.

Educational Department. other speakers, will also attend.

More information about the Institute's The goal of the first meeting was to Beth Dotan, Director of the Institute, programming, exhibits, and educational discuss how to bring more viable and Dr. Kathleen McSharry, formally of endeavors will be published in upcomHolocaust education to Nebraska Dana College, completed another ing issues of the Press. For more inforschools. The result includes the develop- Institute project last year by writing a mation, call Institute’s Director, Beth ment of Holocaust material kits, and a complete curriculum guide to accompa- Dotan, 334-6575.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 21, 2003

FUNDING HATE

Audit of Palestinian Group Suggests Lax Funding Controls

by EDWIN BLACK Nearly 40 percent of the $9.6 million donated was arose from “fictitious financial reporting” to donors as a Last in a four-part series either ineligible, unsupported, misappropriated or result of “collusion” among LAW’s board, Khader WASHINGTON (JTA)--To find lax funding controls of never spent on programs, according to the investigative Shkirat and local accountants.

Palestinian charities, one only need take a look at one report. And more than $2.3 million was “retained,” turnIn June of this year, CBS News interviewed Shkirat as of the Ford Foundation’s beneficiaries, the Palestinian ing LAW into a sort of bank under the nominal control attorney for Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and the of its then-Executive Director, Khader Shkirat, and other being tried in Israel for terrorism.

Environment, also known as LAW. senior officials, the report asserted.

The Ford Foundation recently granted Shkirat a The group--whose acronym comes from the name of Indeed, three interest-free loans were made to a mon- $60,000 grant to conduct human rights research at its predecessor activist organization, Land and Water-- eychanger, Izz Shkirat, related to the executive director Harvard and complete English courses at Boston was a key organizer of the anti-Israel debacle at the at the time, according to the report. Two of the three University.

September 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism loans, $30,000 and $40,000, were repaid, the report Shkirat could not be located for comment, and Ford in Durban, South Africa. stated. officials refused all comment on the case.

LAW received $9,628,942 during the five years ending But a May 1999 loan for $130,000 has yet to be While spotlighting LAW’s abuses, Ernst & Young also Aug. 31, 2002, from a long list of philanthropic donors. repaid, according to the report. reported to donors that the foundations’ controls were Besides the Ford Foundation’s $1.1 million, LAW More than $160,000 in expenses was paid on behalf so sloppy that “it cannot be ruled out that LAW was received direct grants from more than 30 European and of an entity called the Centre for Democratic under the impression that it had the donor’s silent conAmerican public entities. sent to use the funds in any way it saw fit.”

These include $1.5 million from the Dutch A key American Ernst & Young source familcharity Cordaid; $853,000 from the Grand iar with the report denigrated the funding Duchy of Luxembourg; more than $93,974 arrangements as “goulash.” from the Swedish unit of Save the Children; “Everything goes into the pot, everything and $33,000 from the Canadian Embassy, goes out of the pot. No one knows what is according to audits obtained for this investigawhat--not Ford, not any of them,” he tion. explained.

No Arab sources were listed in LAW’s fiveA senior LAW executive added: “What do year donor record. you expect? I know of one grant for $200,000 Last fall, donors became concerned when made from the European Commission with LAW officials were unresponsive to spending nothing more than a phone call.” inquiries, according to a newly installed senior When reached, LAW’s new director, a LAW official. Soon it became clear to the Lebanese Canadian named Jihad Sarhan, apoldonors that vast monies--more than $2 millionogized for LAW’s former management and said -were unaccounted for, misappropriated or LAW would not engage in future agitation or being secreted in bank accounts instead of name-calling, simply human rights advocacy. being spent on programs.

Sarhan stated that he did not completely A consortium of worried benefactors formed agree with the Ernst & Young report and was an evolving committee, made up mainly of hoping to retain Price Waterhouse Coopers to Ford Foundation officials and Norwegian and conduct a follow-up audit. He added that the Swiss donors, according to a source with the group appointed a new board, and in early International Commission of Jurists in Sweden, August changed its name to Law Association An anti-Israel sign at a rally at the U.N. World Conference on Racism in Durban, one of the concerned donors. for Human Rights.

South Africa in 2001.

Credit: Simon Wiesenthal Center The consortium wanted a major accounting LAW correspondence and submissions over firm to launch an immediate investigation and asked Advancement, reportedly formed by Khader Shkirat, recent months to Ford and other donors, obtained the Swedish relief agency SIDA to quickly commission which then used the money to purchase a destroyed exclusively for this investigation, thanked international an audit. SIDA enjoyed an ongoing contract with Ernst radio station, according to the audit. donors for continuing their financing and promised & Young, which accepted the assignment immediately.

Asked about media reports that LAW funds were strict financial controls in the future.

Ernst & Young’s offices in Stockholm and the West embezzled, an American employee of Ernst & Young As of this writing, Ford was still scheduled to continBank city of Ramallah then undertook the investigation, familiar with the audit replied, “It depends what dic- ue its funding of LAW through 2005, according to LAW according to a SIDA spokeswoman. tionary you use. They were certainly misappropriated.” and Ford sources.

Approximately 80 percent of the estimated $100,000 Moreover, $490,000 from LAW became part of a series audit cost was to be reimbursed by Ford, in concert of transactions among other LAW board members and Edwin Black is the author of the newly released with several European charitable groups, she said. used to acquire a 56 percent ownership in Arab Phone War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America's SIDA’s spokeswoman explained her agency was not Inc., according to the audit.

Campaign to Create a Master Race (Four Walls actually a LAW donor, but merely facilitated the audit as In addition, more than $75,000 was spent on first- Eight Windows), which investigates corporate a convenience to Ford and other funders. class or business-class international airline tickets, and philanthropic involvement in American and Nazi Ernst & Young headquarters in London refused to dis- lavish hospitality, which added $109,000 to the imper- eugenics. In May 2003, he won the American cuss any aspect of its audit or provide a copy of the missible expenses, according to the report.

Society of Journalists and Authors ’award for best investigative report, which was submitted to the donor Seven cars and trucks were purchased for personal book of the year for his previous book, IBM and consortium on March 25 of this year. use of several former board members, and several of the Holocaust (Crown Publishing, 2001).

But a copy of the 60-page investigation, obtained the vehicles have remained with those former trustees, The entire JTA investigative series on Ford from overseas sources, catalogs a stunning list of finan- according to the report.

Foundation funding can be read at cial improprieties.

Ernst & Young also concluded that the unused money www.jta.org/ford.asp.

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November 21, 2003

A Look at Israel Through the Eyes of Omaha’s Mission Participants

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

Omaha’s Really Cookin’

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

by STEVE PITLOR, President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha

Clockwise from above left, National leader in United Jewish Communities Joel Alperson marched with more than 4000 UJC delegates to the annual General Assembly in solidarity with the Israeli people. A past-president of UJC Young Leadership Division, Alperson is a member of UJC’s Executive Committee. Rabbi Baruch HaLevi, spiritual leader of Des Moines’ Tifereth Israel Synagogue--and son of Omaha’s Federation Director Jan Goldstein--lead the Mission participants in Havdalah Saturday evening on the penthouse balcony of the Dan Panorama Hotel overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. In addition to Omaha and Des Moines, participants from Louisville, KY, San Antonio, TX, and Dayton, OH, made up the 83-members of the group. Guy Matalon, left, Executive Director of Jewish Educational and Library Services, and Rabbi Mendel Katzman, Director of Chabad of Nebraska, are immersed in deep conversation about Jewish education--a frequent topic, not only among the Omahans on this Mission, but as the subject of a number of workshops at the G.A. On Tuesday, G.A. participants spread out across Israel on 50 different tracks to make site visits. Former Omahan David Spizman--participating in Kansas City’s Young Leadership Mission--took the Health Care track and visited Hadassah Hospital’s Mother and Child Center, which houses pediatric outpatient, intensive care, maternity and other units serving women and children.

Rachel Katzman carried more than 100 books brought to Israel by Omaha mission participants back to the high school for at-risk teens where she volunteers for the Young Judaea Shalem program.

Community leaders from Canada and the United States marched alongside Israelis through the Machane Yehuda market, hit several times by suicide bombers--but on Monday night--the site of thousands of G.A. participants welcomed by stall owners like the baker pictured at right. It was estimated that the G.A. injected about $15 million into the Israel economy.

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Although the responsibilities of the President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha encompass many facets of our Jewish community, generally the tasks of planning, implementing and administering our annual campaign are left to others. Specifically this would include a group of very dedicated community volunteers as well as the tireless work of our professional staff.

The efforts and results of our campaign are of prime importance and stand near the top in priorities for our Federation. The wonderful services, programs and outreach that our Federation make possible would not occur without successful campaigns and the people who are so committed to making them successful.

As long as I mentioned the campaign let me ask you to do a couple things. First, turn to page 6 in our Jewish Press headlined “We’re Invested in Jewish Omaha”.

Look down the list of names and hopefully find yours. When you find it, take your right hand and pat it on your back and say, “Way to Go!” It is because of your commitment that Omaha maintains the unique reputation amongst cities throughout all of America. It is because of your commitment that Omaha consistently ranks near the top nationally amongst all communities in per capita giving. It is because of your commitment that Omaha is a shining example known to so many people throughout the world. Once regarded as the best kept secret continues to impress people who hear about us.

Bravo Omaha, feel good and take a bow.

Now, if your name is not on the list do something about it. Yes, the amount you give is important but the commitment you make and the spirit in which you deliver it with are equally important. If you know someone whose name does not appear, call them and encourage them to be a part of the commitment that has sustained our community for past generations and hopefully will for many to come.

A few kudos for some resoundingly successful events that were held recently: • Thanks to all of you (more than 300) who attended the Community Campaign event featuring Dennis Ross and also the impressive turnout for the presentation by Rabbi Bradley Artson. Both events were held at Beth El Synagogue to whom we extend our gratitude for warmly hosting.

• Our newcomers’ brunch, sponsored by our Community Development department, was a big hit.

This is just another reason to be optimistic about the future of our vibrant community.

• The wonderful presentation of the “Live from New York’s 92nd street Y” through satellite transmission in our JCC theater, which recently featured Elie Wiesel, continues to be very popular. Close to 150 people attended!

I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

As you prepare your Thanksgiving feasts keep in mind that Omaha’s Federation continues to cook. We invite all of you to come into our kitchen and sample our goods.

Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 21, 2003

We’re Invested in Jewish Omaha!

The following people have invested in Omaha’s Jewish community by making a gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s 2004 Annual Campaign.

Donors who increase their gift are listed in bold. Donors who have maintained their gift are listed in regular print.

MEN’S MAJOR GIFTS

WOMEN’S MAJOR GIFTS

Joel Alperson Harvey Aronson Baker Family Tom Baker ◆ Harold Bernstein Steve Bloch Irv Blumkin Ronald & Chris Blumkin Barry Broder Marc Brodkey Sherman Brodkey Gary Epstein Harold Epstein Paul Epstein Joe Erman Michael Erman Tom Fellman David Friedland Ted Friedland ◆ Sandy Friedman ■ Willard Friedman Larry Gilinsky Mort Glass Dick Glazer Jim Glazer John Glazer David Goldstein Don Goldstein Leonard Goldstein Herbert Goldsten Trust Nelson Gordman Don Greenberg Paul Grossman Gary Javitch Arnold Joffe Howard Kaslow Jeff Kirshenbaum Kevee Kirshenbaum Jerry Kohll Howard Kooper Forrest Krutter Marshall Kushner John Lehr Marty Lehr Jay Lerner Leonard Lewis Ed Malashock Trenton Magid ◆ Bernie Meyers Murray Newman Jay Noddle Noddle Development Harlan Noddle Joe Kirshenbaum Steven Nogg Omaha Bedding Co. Omaha Steaks Ann and Alan Simon Eve and Fred Simon Kathryn and Steve Simon Stacy and Bruce Simon Todd Simon Alan Parsow Sol Parsow Michael Platt Carl Riekes Henry Riekes Lynn Roberts International Andrew Robinson Jonathan Rockman Larry Roffman Harley Schrager Bruce Shackman Norman Sheldon Steve Silver Stuart Simon Gerald Simons Mark Singer Slosburg Family Charitable Trust Jerry Slusky Phil Sokolof Swartzbaugh Farber-Associates, Inc Isidore Tretiak Maurice Udes John Waldbaum Arnie Weitz Speedy Zweiback

Phyllis Aronson Judy Baker Sandra Belgrade Carol Bloch Susie Blumkin Bess Brodkey Esther Canar Anne Cohen Marcia Cohen Toba Cohen Babe (Sylvia) Cohn Susie Cohn Cheryl Cooper Eunice Denenberg Sandy Epstein Ruth Erman Judy Feldman Darlynn Fellman Frances Fried ● Nancy Friedland Roz Friedman Thama Friedman Maggie Gerber Deanna Gilinsky Janet Glass Phyllis Glazer Ann Goldstein Shirley Goldstein Linda Gordman Linda K. Gordman Caryl Greenberg Nancy Greenberg Deborah Greene Karen Javitch Joanie Jacobson Joan Kaiman Suzanne Kaplan Gloria Kaslow Renee Kasner Andi Kavich Maxine Kirshenbaum Sharon Kirshenbaum Gail Kohll Sharon Kooper ♥ Shirley Kulakofsky Barbara Kushner Sandy Kutler Joanie Lehr Bobbi Leibowitz Karin Levine Bert Lewis Deana Liddy Thelma Lustgarten Linda Mann Ducky (Lois) Milder Fran Milder Lori Miller Jeannie Neff Sharee Newman Kim Noddle Nancy Noddle Patty Nogg Carol Parsow Ramona Pepper Marcia Pitlor Barb Platt Arlene Richman Dorothy Riekes Zoë Riekes Barbara Rips Jane Rips Kimberly Robinson ● Stacey Rockman Mimi Rogers Beth Schrager Terri Schrager Beverly Seldin Sarah Seldin Anne Shackman Esther Simon Eve Simon Harriet Singer Suzanne Singer Ellen Slosburg Martha Slosburg Audrey Sophir Louri Sullivan ✦ Selma Tretiak Gail Veitzer Joodi Veitzer Mimi Waldbaum

MEN’S CAMPAIGN

MEN’S CAMPAIGN

Harold Abrahamson Lonnie Graul Alvin Abramson Gary Green Tony Adelson Andrew Greenberg Jeffrey Aizenberg Barton Greenberg Leon Alexander Henry Greenberg Bernie Altsuler Dan Greenfield James Anderson Bill Greenhill Thomas Baker Bud Greenspan Donald Baum Alex Grossman Jim Belgrade Joe Guss Ben Belmont Vic Gutman Mark Belmont Bruce Gutnik Gerald Berman Michael Halsted Thomas Bernstein Sheldon Harris Marvin Bittner Mace Hack Mike Blatt Larry Herman Howard Borden Richard Heyman Morris Bresel David Hoffman Pete Brodkey Philip Itkin Ron Brodkey Jon Jabenis Larry Budwig Adam Jacobs David Bucksner Art Jacobson Leroy Canfield David Jacobson Fritz Cassman Richard Jacobson Jay Chasen Marcel Kahn Dave Chorney Howard Kaiman Irving Chudacoff Jerome Kaiman Alan Cohen Gary Kaplan Bob Cohen Lazar Kaplan Carl Cohen Myron Kaplan Marc Cohen Robert Kaplan Marty Cohen Sandy Kasin Sheldon Cohen Jerry Katskee Stephen Cohn Michael Katzman David Cooper Leslie Kay Jeff Cooper *Larry Kelberg Ronald Cooper Tom Kirshenbaum Meyer Coren Donald Klein Jacque Dolgoff Harry Klein David Dvorkin Milton Kleinberg George Eisenberg Alan Kohll Bob Endelman Harold Kosowsky Randy Endelman David Kotok Robert Engel Jack Kozlen Arnold Epstein Mark Kraft Irv Epstein Howard Krantz Gary Epstein Leonard Krasne Howard Epstein Manfred Kreitstein Richard Epstein Stanley Krieger Sam Epstein Gary Kudym Abraham Faier Abram Kukawka Scott Farkas Alan Kulakofsky Ronald Feldman David Kutler Cantor Leo Fettman Howard Kutler Paul Fine Alan Langnas Joel Finkel Morey Landman Hersz Flatowicz Ben Lebowich Jim Folsom Michael Leibowitz Irving J. Forbes Gary Lerner Melvin Freeman Ben Levin Robert Freeman Hugh Levin Alan Fredricks Rabbi Mordechai Levin Marshall Fried Mike Levine Stuart Fried Steve Levinger Morris Friedman Jason Levy Scott Friedman Roland Lewis Bruce Friedlander Michael Liddy Walter Friedlander Trenton Magid Thomas Friedman Neal Malashock Robert Fromkin Robert Malashock Julius Froom Nate Mandell Larry Gendler Harold Mann Paul Gerber Dan Marburg Moshe Gershovich Irv Marcus David Gilinsky Myron Marko Ron Giller Howard Martin Stu Giller Sheldon C. Masnek Bennett Ginsberg Harold Maurer Lawrence Ginsburg John McGauvran Sherman Golbitz Gerald Meyer Bob Goldberg Bruce Meyers David Goldberg Joe Meyers Frank Goldberg Jon Meyers Richard Goldberg Marty Meyers Howard Goldstein Larry Meyerson Brad Goldstrom Scott Meyerson Larry Goldstrom Carl Milder Mark Goldstrom Ben Miller Rabbi Allan Gonsher Sidney Mirvish Alan Goodman Stanley Mitchell Robert Goodman Henry Monsky Tom Goodman Gordon Moshman Jay Gordman Allan Murow Eddie Gorelick Stuart Muskin Steve Gorelick Ira Nathan Kip Gordman Paul Nathan Peter Gordon Howard Needelman Steve Gottlieb Jeff Newman Saul Graetz Alan Nogg Richard Grant Harold Novak ■ New Pacesetter ● New Lion of Judah ◆ New Ben Gurion Society ✦ New Pomegranate ♥ New Ruby Lion

MEN’S CAMPAIGN

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN

Bob Olesh Philip Paley Marvin Parilman Steve Parsow Jeffrey Passer Harvey Pickel Max Platt Hap Pocras Merle Potash Ira Priluck Dave Radler Phil Ratner Jerry Raznick Steven Redler Miles Remer Tom Rice Jonathan Rich Phil Rich Marty Ricks Gary Rifkin Andy Robinson Dick Rochman Paul Roffman Lloyd Roitstein Thor Rosenquist Martin Rosenstein Alvin Ross Lee Ross Steven Rothenberg Mike Sadofsky Rodney Sadofsky Ernest Saltzman Errol Saltzman Kevin Saltzman Mark Sanford Joel Schlessinger Edward Schneider Jeff Schrier Dan Schuller Harry Schulman Mark Schwartz Michael Schwartz Sidney Schwartz Jeff Schweid Anthony Scioli George Shafer Howard Shandell Leonard Shefren Michael Sherman Dave Shkolnick Rodney Shkolnick Michael Shrier Martin Shukert Alan Shulewitz Howard Silber Jim Silverman Michael Silverman Harold Siporin Larry Siref Michael Skolkin Stephen Skulsky Harold Slosburg Norman Smeerin Jeff Smedlund Stuart Smoler Ramon Somberg Richard Spiegal Jim Spooner Steve Stiel Alan Stoler Eli Stone Bud Studna Mark Sweet Melvin Tatelman Fred Tichauer Allen Tully Lazar Turetsky Scott Veitzer Jerald Venger Bennett Wagner Keith Wagner Jerome Wasserman Jim Wax Aaron Weiner Kenneth Weiner Phil Wolf Harry Wolfson Robert Wolfson Irv Yaffe Harold Zabin Laurence Zacharia Richard Zacharia Steven Zalkin Ted Zetzman Norman Zevitz Jim Zipursky Barry Zoob Seymour Zoob Mort Zuber Steve Zuber

Helen Abrahamson Doris Abramson Sheri Abramson Arlene Adelson Charlotte Adler Susan Aizenberg Paula Albert Eleanor Alexander Mildred Altman Beatrice Appel Joyce Ashley Barbara Ault Elyce Azriel Amber Baker Jill Baron Diane Axler Baum Arlene Beber Robyn Belgrade Jill Belmont Mary Berman Mary Bernstein Phyllis Bittner Juni Bloch Margaret Block Chris Blumkin Cindy Bogdanoff Paula Boggust Marian Bookey Midge Bowers Kelly Broder Beth Brodkey Carol Brodkey Stacie Brodkey Florence Brody Michelle Bucher Molline Cassman Edith Chesen Arlene Cohen Beth Cohen Elberta Cohen Elizabeth Cohen Joyce Cohen Marla Cohen Linda Cohn Naomi Cohn Soralee Cohn Fran Coren Minnie Cutler Janey Dann Rose Davis Jeanne Dvorkin Harriet Einziger Aileen Eisenstatt Renee Engel Edith Epstein Ellie Epstein Etta Epstein Helen Epstein Jean Epstein Lisa Epstein Rosaline Epstein Sharon Epstein Jill Erman Estelle Faier Judith Feigin Beverly Fellman Mary Fellman Kay Ferer Annette Fettman Rose Fine Paulette Flatowicz Jill Folsom Sonia Forbes Rose Frankel Tiffany Franklin Robyn Freeman Norma Fried Jamie Friedland Pam Friedlander Amy Friedman Lois Friedman Barbara Frohman Susana Frydman-Levin Anne Gerber Bernice Gerber Joell Gerber Patty Gilinsky Julie Ginsberg Cindy Goldberg Wendy Goldberg Barbara Goldstein Jill Goldstein Judi Goldstein Dora Goldstrom Rini Gonsher Andie Gordman Bridget Gordman Danielle Gordman Hilde Gottlieb Diane Graul

Carole Greenberg Rosalie Greenspan Pearl Gross Joy Grossman Margie Gutnik Debbie Hale Wendy Hahn Mendy Halsted Saralee Harding Janice Harris Carol Hahn Kathy Helm Kathy Hirshman Cookie Hoberman Pauline Hoberman Adele Hornstein Nancy Hornstein Denise Ipock Marsha Itkin Linda Jess Sylvia Jess Sheryn Joffe Ilse Kahn Roxanne Kahn Sylvia Kaiman Charlotte Kaplan Dorothy Kaplan Nancy Kavich Beatrice Karp Frankie Kasin Leona Kasin Lucille Katelman Myllee Katelman Eve Katskee Rose Katzman Shani Katzman Betty Kelberg Jenn Kirshenbaum Myrna Kirshenbaum Janet Klein Marsha Kleinberg Sandra Kohll Gertrude Korney Dorothy Kotok Shane Kotok Bette Kozlen Peggy Krasne Cheryl Kricsfeld Angie Krieger Robbi Kudym Traci Kugler Harriet Kutler Carole Lainof Grace Lebowich Sandra Lehr Susan Lehr Cheryl Lerner Barbara Levitan Rocky Lewis Vera Lewis Marjorie Lincoln Louise Lippett Marcia Lipsman Ellen Long Diane Malashock Jody Malashock Beverly Mauer Jamie Meyerson Harriet Miller Paula Mandell Deb Marburg Judy Marburg Sally Masnek Kathy McGauvran Tina Meyers Deenie Meyerson Jenny Meyerson Roberta Michalski Bernice Milder Sue Millward Lynda Mirvish Evelyn Mitchell Ethel Mogil Ann Moshman Jane Murow Betty Muskin Linda Muskin Elaine Nachman Laura Lee Needelman Patricia Newman Marion Nogg Rita Novak Reva Oruch Bede Ostrow Jean Paley Sylvia Parilman Margo Parsow Fefe Passer Magda Peck Betty Perelman

Vicki Perlmeter Julie Phillips Shelly Pichik Gilda Pieck Ellen Platt Suzanne Pocras Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schueller Jeannie Raznick Debbie Recht Delores Redler Lola Reinglas Juliana Reno Floraine Rice Iris Ricks Paula Robinson Judith Roffman Silvia Roffman Sheila Rosen Toni Rosen Marti Rosen-Atherton Shirley Rosenberg Dottie Rosenblum Julie Rosenquist Willis Ann Ross Susan Rothholz Faye Ruback Betty Rubin Natalie Rubin Mary Saferstein Linda Saltzman Lynne Saltzman Rosalie Saltzman Betty Sanford Vicki Sanford Julia Schapiro Nancy Schlessinger Margy Schneider Heidi Schneiderman Melissa Schop Lillian Schrager Sophie Katz Schulman Kim Schwartz Lori Schwarz Phyllis Schwartz Diane Shandell Audrey Shapiro Cantor Wendy Shermet Suzy Sheldon Claudia Sherman Patty Sherman Phoebe Shkolnick Cindy Shulewitz Lisa Shkolnick Lois Shkolnick Doris Shukert Leah Siegel Sissy Silber Esther Silver Susan Silver Lorraine Silverman Mimi Silverman Susan Silverman Esther Simon Josephine Simon Judy Simons Marion Slosburg Charlotte Slutsky Koom Susan Somberg Helen Soiref Dorothy Spizman Gail Spooner Melissa Steiner Rocky Stern Debbie Stiel Marion Strauss Jill Swanberg Margaret Turetsky Sally Venger Mary Walker Joye Wees Shirley Weinstein Anne Weitz Allyson Wilczewski Andi Willensky Janet Wintroub Phyllis Zabin Barbara Zacharia Terri Zacharia Rosalyn Zeffren Amee Zetzman Sally Zipursky Bev Zuber Debbi Zweiback Rosie Zweiback

The dividends from your investment in the Campaign impact the entire Jewish world. Locally, your one gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign funds a wide variety of community services provided by the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Educational and Library Services, the ADL/CRC and Jewish Senior Services. In Israel and overseas, your gift helps feed the hungry, rescue the oppressed and fight anti-Semitism. Your annual gift to the Federation Campaign empowers you to make a visible and measurable difference in Jewish life.

The 2004 Jewish Federation of Omaha Campaign 2004 General Campaign Co-Chairs: Maxine & Joe Kirshenbaum

333 South 132nd Street

Omaha, NE 68154

402/334-8200

www.jewishomaha.org

November 21, 2003

Good News--for a Change

BERT’S EYE VIEW

by BERT LEWIS

I guess if you aren’t easily discouraged, and you don’t tend to be negative, you can count on two good things happening: first, every once in a while you read something good in the newspaper, and secondly, you might win the lottery!

Let’s face it kids, most of what we’re reading in the daily gazette is about awful things everywhere from right here in O! to Baghdad. They tell us about who’s killing whom, about dreadful accidents, about horrendous abuse of children and heaven only knows what else. I wouldn’t have believed there are so many infants born with unspeakably tragic defects, but the newspaper keeps me up to date on those statistics.

Imagine my surprise and pleasure to just learn that 15 women (and one man) in Minnesota won half of a Powerball prize worth more than $95 million. The part I like best is the fact that these people clearly are not presently on “easy street”. Hardly. The women are all cooks for a tiny school district in central Minnesota, while the man is a janitor. Sound like the kind of folks who can put those bucks to good use? You betcha.

And let me tell you, they deserved to win--because every paycheck since 1990, they’ve been putting a quarter toward four Powerball tickets. That means for some 13 years they’ve been thinking positively, and faithfully making an effort to hit paydirt. How nice for them to luck out and hit the jackpot. Or I should say half the jackpot, since there were two winning tickets for a total of $190.9 million. The second ticket hasn’t been claimed yet, but these Minnesotans look as though they don’t begrudge the other winner his half.

When I see a group of hard working people who don't appear to have too many luxuries, win a huge amount of money, I’m thrilled for them. True, I’ve read about big winners in the past who’ve taken a fortune and foolishly turned it into bubkes, but I look at these ladies who cook school lunches and believe they’ll be more sensible.

Some immediately said they had no intention of giving up their jobs and expressed concern for the people who depended on them. How can you not be glad for folks like this?

And do you wonder, like I do, what they’ll do with their new found wealth? My impression is they live simply in that small town and, while I have no idea about the economy there, I suspect they aren’t paying huge rents or mortgage payments. And I also suspect from where they are on the pay scale, none of them drive big fancy expensive cars or trucks. If I was a car dealer near Holdingford, Minnesota, I’d be expecting a few new customers before long.

So what’s my point? I suppose it was just my pleasure in reading about people who could really use a windfall actually getting one! I don’t know if Warren Buffet buys lottery tickets, but often he’s the kind of guy who wins, instead of some poor shnook whose life would be greatly improved with some unexpected wealth coming his way.

Maybe I just like stories with happy endings. I know one thing--I sure like that kind of story better than the other kind. And no, I don’t believe in the tooth fairy, or magic or miracles, but just the same, I get a big kick out of this kind of a story...a bunch of ladies who cook school lunches and a man whose job description says “janitorial responsibilities” coming into a bundle!

Come on, admit it. Doesn’t it warm your heart a little?

I hope to read more in the coming days about these people and their actions. I’ll share any more “feel good” stories about them. For now, I’ll just hope that janitor doesn’t rush out and buy himself a Hummer or something else weird. If he does, well, it’s his business, but I hate being disillusioned.

Bert Lewis can be reached at: Bertlewis39@aol. com.

Early Deadline Notice Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Jewish Press office will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28.

The deadline for issues is noon as follows: Issue Deadline Dec. 5 Monday, Nov. 24

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook (Wiley, $17.95)

R EAD IT AND EAT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN Our old friend, Betty Crocker, comes to the rescue with “all you need to cook a foolproof dinner” with this complete hands-on guide.

All of the 130 recipes, tested and approved by the Betty Crocker Kitchens, classics that are popular and time-tested and new and innovative alternatives, are listed at the beginning of each chapter and in the alphabetical index.

Easy how-to guides for tricky techniques (like how to avoid lumpfree gravy!), a variety of menus including for special diet needs, cooking for two or for a crowd, a timetable countdown, and Betty’s Helpful Tips, Special Touches, Do-Ahead, Simple Substitutions and Thank Goodness Advice are almost on every page. Prep and Cooking Times, yields or servings, nutritional information and clear easy-to-follow numerical instructions are included with each recipe.

The seven chapters are Turkey Tribute and Encores, Gravy-Stuffing & Sauces, Sensational Sides, More Great Main Dishes, Breads & Rolls, Soups & Salads and

ORGANIZATIONS OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Rabbi Aryeh Blum will deliver the weekly parasha shiur on Shabbos afternoon, Saturday, Nov. 22, 3:30 p.m. Time for Talmud will continue Monday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m.; the Beis Midrash is open for chavrusa-style learning on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m., at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. “Hidden Dimensions of Psalms,” organized by Shirley Goodman is on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 4:30 p.m., at her home, 732 Sunset Trail. Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman will explore the meaning of psalms.

Join Rabbi Blum for Lunch ’n Learn at the Kripke Library, Wednesday, Nov. 26, noon. Brooke’s Teen Girls’ is cancelled Thursday due to Thanksgiving.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS John Atherton will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Nov. 26, noon, at the Park Inn Regency, according to Gary Javitch, November Chairman.

Atherton, a clinical social worker, will discuss “Depression, Holidays and You.” Cost is $9 for lunch; $2 for beverage service only.

Delicious Desserts. Everything you associate with Thanksgiving dinner--stuff like stuffing recipes and stuffing know-how...one of the stuffing recipes has eight variations, turkey talk, pastry “Rx” and more to add to your dinner.

This cranberry sauce recipe offers an easy substitution. Happy Turkey Day! CRANBERRY APPLESAUCE Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min 2 1/4 cups applesauce 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 2 medium peeled or unpeeled apples (Braeburn, Golden Delicious or McIntosh), sliced 3/4 cup water 1 cup sugar Place cranberries in a strainer, rinse with cool water, remove any stems or blemished berries.

Heat cranberries, apples and water to boiling in 2-quart saucepan over mediumhigh heat; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered about 10 minutes or until cranberries and apples are soft. Stir in sugar.

Cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved.

For chunky applesauce, serve as is. For smooth applesauce, process mixture in food processor 15 to 30 seconds.

Betty’s Simple Substitution: For an incredibly easy nocook sauce, stir together a 16-ounce can of whole berry cranberry sauce and 1 cup of applesauce. Voila!

Lois Friedman can be reached at: readitandeat@ yahoo.com.

Dining

Out

When you patronize these fine establishments, tell them you saw their ad in the Jewish Press.

Trovato’s Steaks and Italian Cuisine Finest Homemade Italian Cooking Open 7 days a week

5013 Underwood (6 Blocks North of 50th & Dodge)

556-9505

Y.E.S. Play bingo Monday at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Stacy Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share for “YES Talk” at 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Day Party Lunch follows at noon with a program of “Broadway Hits” with pianist Esther Wax and vocalists Miles and Eileen Remer. For transportation call Dee Dee at 330-4272.

WALK-IN, DROP-IN LOMIR REDN YIDDISH There are no meetings Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

LETTER FROM Y.E.S.

by ILENE PACHMAN In my Carol Channing voice, “One of my kin folks from Ioway brought her friends all the way from Council Bluffs to entertain us.” Remember Julie singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music”? No, not Julie Schapiro--Julie Andrews! Sorry that Edith Krasne didn’t have a solo--maybe next time!

We took our usual visit to the casino and wandered around looking for that one machine that might be good to us.

I must end today’s letter on a sad note; this month we lost too many of our members--first Mickey, then Reva and now Dan. ’Bye for now.

SM

SM

PIZZERIA 13463 W. Center Rd.•330-1444 7924 W. Dodge Rd.•391-1881 1213 Howard St.•344-2222

Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 21, 2003

Opinion Be Thankful

(Founded in 1920)

Optimists live longer. That’s the conclusion of a recent study about centenarians--those who live to be 100 years or more.

It makes sense; people with an optimistic outlook tend to worry less--and be grateful for what they have--even if it’s very little.

So, as we sit down to our turkey dinners on Thursday, let’s make a list of the good stuff: • Despite images in the news media, more than 4300 North americans travelled to Israel for the annual General Assembly of United Jewish Communities (UJC). The G.A. was extraordinarily well-run this year, with everything from transportation to computer access made accessible and easy to use. Even the weather cooperated--with temperatures in the 50s at night and low 70s during the day.

Delegates were welcomed with open arms by merchants, hoteliers, taxi drivers and restaurateurs. The 4300 delegates will be spreading this message upon their return to the States: “Go to Israel!”

• Despite Hadassah Hospital’s growing expertise in trauma medicine, treating victims of terrorist attacks, the majority of their emergency medicine is still devoted to victims of car accidents. A little known fact: more Israelis have been killed or injured on the road than in all the wars and terrorism since the State was founded in 1948!

• Despite a downturn in the economy during the past two years, UJC raised nearly two billion dollars in 2002! Approximately $365 million was donated specifically to the UJC’s Israel Terror Relief Campaign; nearly $900 million came from the annual campaigns of federations across the country, and the remaining $700+ million was added to Federation Foundations across North

America. The UJC has been repeatedly listed as a top charity in a survey of charitable organizations--and for good reason: it spends a high percentage of its charitable dollars actually providing services to its recipients.

• Despite predictions that the recent economic downturn would also affect women’s giving--a look at the following statistics suggests otherwise: Women’s Campaign raises $185 million in federation campaigns across North America; more than 2000 women endowed their gifts through LOJE (Lion of Judah Endowment) creating an additional $300 million for Federation Foundations. An added note: women now own 57.3% of the wealth in this country--women’s giving, once thought to be “an extra” in the Campaign, cannot be ignored--it’s vital to providing all the services allocated by Federation.

• Despite predictions of a fearsome winter, here it is mid-November with barely a snowflake in sight! Of course, the old saying still holds true in Nebraska: if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute--so don’t plan on sunbathing all

the way through February--we hear snow’s on its way next week.

We join with the optimists in thanking God next Thursday (and every day) for the bountiful blessings we enjoy in this country and the opportunity to make contributions to the lives of others less fortunate.

Happy Turkey Day!

The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press and the Foundation are constitional committees of the Jewish Federation.

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.

The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

Editorial The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, noon, eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org.

A Successful Aliyah

OUR MAN IN ISRAEL

by CARL ALPERT HAIFA--There is much talk these days about aliyah from North America, the potential and the reality. The figures are not too encouraging, but the other day we came across an interesting case, worth telling about.

A case? It’s an epic, and we tell you the saga of the Erickson family who came to Israel in 1973, mother, father and seven children. After several attempts at integration in various parts of the country the family finally made its home in Rosh Pina, in the Galilee.

Quinten and Patricia Erickson are not Jewish, but both have stepped out of the Christian denominations into which they were born and have become what they call Gospel Zionists. They gave heed to the Almighty’s eternal promises to the Chosen, Israel.

Their hearts were in the Holy Land, and so they sold everything they owned in the U.S. to buy one-way tickets to Israel.

“If you are crazy enough to believe that you hear from the Almighty,” they wrote, “then you are crazy enough to do what he says.” In other words, “We put our hands and minds where our hearts were.”

When the family arrived here,

they recorded that they were “at home”.

Though they have not converted, they observe most Jewish practices.

Missionaries?

Perish the thought.

No immigrants have ever come with as naive an approach as they.

They knew no Hebrew, and thought the language of the country was English. Coming from Arizona to the Middle East, they expected the climate to be little different from what they were accustomed to, and brought clothing for the seven children accordingly.

That winter Jerusalem, where they made their first home, suffered snow storms and freezing spells.

Within the first two months of their arrival Israel underwent the Yom Kippur War, with all its hardships on the population.

Fortunately, their neighbors helped them through the days of blackouts and air raid alarms and gas masks.

Back in the States, Erickson senior had engaged in farming.

With the outbreak of war, he tried

to volunteer for the army, but was turned down because he was a non-Jewish American. He then volunteered at the Rehavia Gymnasia school as a fill-in for their maintenance man, who was at the front. After the war ended, they told me, “We finally convinced the Ministry of the Interior that we were just what we

But the Ericksons do more than just live here. For years they have been carrying on a pro-Israel information campaign among Christians around the world seemed, nuts but nice, and not missionaries.”

Thereafter he held miscellaneous jobs and the family moved to various locations, with adventures and unusual experiences.

They then founded a successful company to build wooden houses. It took time, but they gradually became acclimated. The children all went to local schools. In the meantime the family continued to grow, and today the kids number 15, four boys and 11 girls, By now, 11 are married and one is engaged. There are 27 grandchildren--and all, except the parents, speak a natural, fluent Hebrew.

Among the many occupations in which the family has been engaged, they also operate a

Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Ray Pred Account Executive Timothy J. Ketelsen Bookkeeper Jon Gates Production Assistant Jewish Press Committee Howard K. Marcus, Vice-Chairman; Bobbi Leibowitz, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Finance Chairman; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Fred Tichauer, Immediate Past-chairman; Jean Duitch; Penny Endelman; Kip Gordman; Stanley Mitchell; George Quittner; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Nancy Skid; and Melanie Weinstein.

child care center for very young children. Patricia certainly has the experience.

One son and one daughter are at the moment in the armed forces, and one older son was wounded in Jenin.

But the Ericksons do more than just live here. For years they have been carrying on a pro-Israel information campaign among Christians around the world.

Their circular newsletters enjoy widespread distribution.

One number, which we picked up, discusses the subject of the settlements. They point out that hundreds of thousands of Arabs have at various times come to Israel and the West Bank from surrounding countries. Since 1967, the Arabs have built 261 settlements in the West Bank, but no one points a finger at them as “settlers”. There is more along these lines.

The Ericksons have been in Israel for 30 years. Most of the children have spread out to various parts of the country, except for three who live overseas but consider this country their home and return frequently for family reunions.

Quinten is now 71, and is retired. The big house in Rosh Pina is no longer required, and the couple plan to move to Katzrin in the Golan Heights in the near future. As they look back, they consider that theirs has been a successful aliyah.

Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1-402-334-5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org..

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The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing.

All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request.

No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf.

Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Editor, 402.334.6450.

Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $31 per calendar year U.S.; $35 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422.

Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or to ckatzman@jewishomaha. org.

Nebraska Press Association

November 21, 2003

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

The Haredi Anti-Zionists

JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL

by TEDDY WEINBERGER As a child attending the Yeshivah of Flatbush, a religious, Zionist dayschool in Brooklyn, I was taught that the majority of ultra-Orthodox Jews (a.k.a. “the haredim”) were Zionist and that only a very small minority of one or two hassidic sects were non-Zionist. For these non-Zionists the land of Israel is certainly sacred, but the establishment of a Third Jewish Commonwealth must wait until the Messiah.

According to this position, the founding of the State of Israel is theologically irrelevant, and these non-Zionists, therefore, firmly rejected the religious Zionist belief (enshrined in the prayer for the Jewish State) that modern Israel is “the beginning of our redemption.”

Times have changed.

Today, the majority of ultra-Orthodox Jews are non-Zionist (and it is the Zionists among them who are in the minority). More than this, the very term “non-Zionist” has become a euphemism.

Current relations between the secular and the ultra-Orthodox are so hostile that one needs to speak of most ultraOrthodox as being anti-Zionist.

The term “anti-Zionist” is perhaps eschewed because it has in the past (and present) been appropriated by people who have also been anti-semites. Yet it is no exaggeration to say that the term “non-Zionist” does not do justice to the antipathy of the ultra-Orthodox for the Zionists.

What does it mean to be an ultraOrthodox anti-Zionist?

The guiding principle for this position is that Zionism has just one vision for the

Jewish religion: the graveyard. The standard Zionist dream of the Jewish people coming to Israel, establishing a state, and becoming a nation like all other nations includes the negation of Judaism according to the ultra-Orthodox (and, truthfully, for some secular extremists as well).

Whenever there is any kind of conflict or confrontation in Israeli society over a “religious” issue, the ultra-Orthodox take it as axiomatic that the Israeli government representative (the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Knesset, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, etc.) will do everything they can to harm Judaism.

The Zionists, according to the haredi anti-Zionists, will only be happy when the Jewish religion disappears.

The ultra-Orthodox, who see themselves as the great defenders of Judaism, work under very scrupulous definitions of the Jewish religion and of what constitutes a “religious” issue. At least this is what they tell themselves.

In truth, like all Jews, they make their own selective use of biblical and rabbinic teachings. Having government employees move a giant electric turbine on Shabbat is viewed as a serious affront to Judaism, having a factory dump pollutants into the Kishon River is not.

Assuring that Jews have safe and easy access to holy sites such as the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron is crucial to Judaism, pursuing peace is not a religious issue.

The irony of it all is that it is only because Israel is a democracy (many of whose principles are rejected by the haredim) that it can tolerate its antiZionists. And paradoxically, the flourishing of the ultra-Orthodox in Israel suggests that Zionist intentions concerning religion are in fact not all that sinister.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: My wife Lenore (who grew up in Omaha) and I get the Jewish Press, and read Oliver Pollak’s article, “Books and the Big Apple” (in his column, “The Historian’s Footprint”).

We live in Manhattan. (This is to offer) thanks for Pollak spending his dollars here in New York City. The economy is

really hurting in this town, so we appreciate pushing the tide a bit the other way.

And as enjoyers of books (and myself, the son of a librarian), Pollak’s patronage of bookstores is the icing on the cake.

Glenn Richter New York City

To view photos from the United Jewish Communities General Assembly Mission to Israel, visit the Jewish Federation website at: www.jewishomaha.org and click on “Israel photos.”

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FOCUS ON ISSUES Genetic Mutations Lead to High Risk of Cancer, but Early Exercise Helps

by PETER EPHROSS In any event, said Jessica Mandell, a NEW YORK (JTA)--More information genetic counselor affiliated with Sarah about health can only help even if the Lawrence College in New York and a information isn’t so positive. researcher coordinator for the study, That seems to be the lesson of a new “carrying a mutation is not a guarantee study confirming that Ashkenazi Jewish that you will develop cancer.” women with particular genetic mutations The study isolated 104 women who have a high risk of contracting breast had one of the BRCA mutations and concancer. tracted cancer within a five-year period.

But the effects can be mitigated if girls Half of them had no strong family histowith a family history of the mutation ry of cancer. exercise when they enter puberty and That points to a need for increased live a healthy lifestyle as adults. genetic testing, since some doctors and Some Ashkenazi Jewish women have other health professionals often identify mutations in the BRCA gene that makes cancer risk by scrutinizing family history the bearer susceptible to breast cancer. --and some women who had one of the Other women also have these mutations, BRCA mutations but no family history of but their mutations have not been isolat- breast cancer mistakenly had been told ed because they have not been tested as that they were not at a higher risk for often. cancer.

Mary-Claire King of the University of That’s not true, Mandell said.

Washington was the main “A woman could have author of the study, a high risk for cancer The finding that carriers which was published last even if she doesn’t have who exercise, particularly month in the journal a strong family history,” during the teenage years, Mandell said.

Science.

The study, which studHadassah, which long are less likely to develop ied subjects at a dozen cancer early in life points has worked to push leghospitals in New York, islation through Congress to other actions that those that would prevent New Jersey and at risk can take.

Connecticut, found that genetic discrimination in women with one of the both health insurance BRCA gene mutations have an 82 per- and employment, doesn’t take a stand cent chance of developing breast cancer on whether women should undergo by age 80. The average woman’s risk at genetic testing. age 80 is 13 percent.

The genetic discrimination bill unaniThe risk factor was on the high end of mously passed the Senate recently and previous estimates, but wasn’t surpris- currently is in the House of ing, said Dale Mintz, Director of Representatives. President Bush has said women’s health at Hadassah-The he will sign the legislation if both legisWomen’s Zionist Organization of latures pass it.

America.

Women with the BRCA mutations are “It’s what we all would have expect- advised to have frequent mammograms. ed,” she said.

Some medical experts recommend that Some two percent of Ashkenazi Jews they take the drug tamoxifen to reduce carry the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations, their breast cancer risk. Some women according to the Human Genome Project avoid the disease entirely by having prein Washington. The incidence of cancer emptive mastectomies. among Ashkenazi Jews is not higher Meanwhile, experts continue to advise than among the general population, but those who may be at risk to monitor more of their cancer risk stems from their own health. genetic factors.

The finding that carriers who exercise, While reports on genetic mutation particularly during the teenage years, are have frightened many Ashkenazi Jewish less likely to develop cancer early in life women during the past few years, scien- points to other actions that those at risk tific inquiry is part of the solution, Mintz can take. said. Jews “all want more information “This gives the family something and are always looking to be educated proactive to help their female descenbetter,” she said. dants,” Mandell said.

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Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Synagogue Listings

November 21, 2003

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322-4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

class,“Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century”, will resume on Thursday, Dec. 4, noon.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435-8004 jewishnebraska.org

Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. Members of USY will participate in services to mark the culmination of International USY Week. Beth El will sponsor the Kiddush. Junior Congregation, A learning service especially for students in Grades 4-7, 10:30 a.m. K’tantan, A Shabbat enrichment program for K-3, 10:45 a.m. Evening Services, 4:45 p.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

EXPANDED SITTER SERVICE In addition to our longstanding Saturday morning Sitter Service (which is free of charge and “drop in”), Friday Night Sitter Service is available during November on a trial basis. To reserve for Friday night at $2 per family, call the office at 492-8550.

ADULT EDUCATION Between Parents and Children: Rabbi Levin will present the second in a two-part series especially for parents, Sunday, 10 a.m.

The Bible Study Group, led by Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, will meet Sunday, 11 a.m., in the Library, (see article below). New adult students are welcome any time.

After a break for Thanksgiving, Rabbi Levin’s popular

Offutt Air Force Base

Can You Identify This Photo?

Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492-8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 1502 N. 52 St. Omaha, NE. 68104 -5013 556-6288 BethIsrael@novia.net

Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660-2395 http://welcome.to/beytshalom/

Chabad House An Affiliate of the Worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch Movement 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330-1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshrun

SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294-6244

Office Hours: MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Services, 4:45 p.m. West Minyan at the home of Howard Gendelman and Bonnie Bloch.

SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored

by Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Kessler and Linda Cordel in honor of Harry Wolfson’s Birthday; Mincha, 4:35 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: Morning Services, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 4:40 p.m.

Weekday Morning Services, 7 a.m.; Weekday Mincha and Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY: Talmud Class, with Rabbi Kutner resumes, following evening minyan.

PROGRESS TOUR Sunday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m.: this is your last chance to tour the new Beth Israel building before its official opening, Feb. 13-14, 2004.

Interior framing and drywalling are complete, painting and carpetentry work has begun.

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. MondayFriday, Morning services, 7 a.m.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Rabbi Debbie Stiel will be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, all day. You may reach her 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 416-2321 (local for Lincoln), or at rabstiel@aol.com.

FRIDAY:Organ Donor Shabbat Service, 7:45 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m.; Game Night, 6 p.m.

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY: Hebrew Refresher, 7 p.m.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; led by Andrew Greenberg.

TEMPLE ISRAEL BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m. Oneg following service sponsored by Deana Liddy.

FRIDAY: All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join

Temple Israel Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556-6536 templeisrael-ne.org

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by RENEE CORCORAN NJHS Executive Director This photo originally appeared in a local paper in 1939--but volunteers and staff at the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society are unable to identify those pictured. Keep in

mind that Beth El had not yet built their original building on 49th and Farnam, so knowledge of where the photo was taken would be helpful as well as identification of those in the photo. Please call the NJHS office at 334-6442.

Beth El’s Adult Bible Group Continues on ‘Book of Samuel’

by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue Beth El Synagogue’s Adult Bible Study Group will continue studying The Book of Samuel in depth this Sunday, Nov. 23, 11 a.m. in the library.

Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, holder of the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University, gets the ball rolling at the lively sessions. He invited all Beth El adults to attend when possible, regardless of whether they are able to come regularly.

The plan of study breaks down as follows for this Sunday and the coming weeks:

• 1 Samuel 8-12 • 1 Samuel 13-17 • 1 Samuel 18-24 • 1 Samuel 25-31 • 2 Samuel 1-4 • 2 Samuel 5-10 • 2 Samuel 11-14 • 2 Samuel 15-20 • 2 Samuel 21-24

us for some relaxation and great conversation, 11:45 a.m.; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. Rabbi Azriel will give the sermon. The Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by Robyn and Bob Freeman in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Susan Freeman.

SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Susan Freeman.

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, Noon-1 p.m., Conversations with Rabbi Azriel.

7-8:30 p.m., The Jewish State with John Dacey.

THURSDAY, 10-11:30 a.m.: “Adult Study With The Clergy” with Cantor Shermet.

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE WEDNESDAY, 7 p.m. Temple’s clergy will join neighborhood clergy and their congregations in an hour of choral singing and messages of Thanksgiving (see article on page 2).

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:15 a.m.

SUNDAY, 10 a.m., Pirke Avot.

WEDNESDAY: The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m.

BAR MITZVAH

333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423-8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

Friday, November 21, 4:42 p.m.

SATURDAY: Havdalah, 6 p.m. hosted by Weiss/Muzesheimer Family, at 2017 So. 135 Ave. Join us for a fun filled evening of conversation. For more information, call the synagogue.

SUNDAY: Religious school, 3 p.m. at the JCC.

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home

Tifereth Israel

Candlelighting

From Judges to Kings Saul rejected, David chosen; Saul and David; David and Saul Family of David and Saul David consolidates power David and his family Revolts against David David’s reign winds down

Ygal Schuller, son of Dan Schuller, MD, and Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schuller Ph.D., will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Beth El Synagogue.

Ygal is a seventh grader at Brownell Talbott School where he is on the Principal’s List, Math Team, and qualified for the Duke University Talent Identification Project.

He enjoys sports, Kadima, and reading.

For his mitzvah project, Ygal initiated a mitzvah team with three friends from Hebrew school. They support Yachad by participating with members in regular programing and doing a tzedakah project on their behalf. Yachad is a group of Jewish teens and young adults with special needs.

Ygal has two younger sisters, Eliana and Yael.

Grandparents are Shmuel and Esther Schuller, Jacobo Podbilewicz, and Deborah Tenenbaum. Great-grandparents are Eva Grimberg Warshavska and Sara Tenenbaum Rosenfeld, all of Mexico City, Mexico.

PERSONALS I would like to thank all my friends and relatives for their calls, cards and donations and for the rabbi’s visits during my recent hospitalization.

Sarah Lohrman

“Chanu-kids” Party

at the Kripke Library Sunday, Dec. 7 • 2-4 p.m.

Pre-schoolers through Third graders Great fun for the kids!

Great books for parents and grandparents to buy!

November 21, 2003

Love and Marriage

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by BETSY MARANTZ Parashat Chaya Sarah What is love? How do we discover “the one”, our bashert with whom we will share our life, create a family? It seems these days that the task of finding a mate has become increasingly challenging. With so many reality shows on TV dedicated to this premise, including those that not only look for love but balance the love of money in the process, the rise of internet dating and the like, the question has become more prominent.

Looking at our Torah portion this week, Chaya Sarah, adds insight to this process, from a Jewish perspective.

In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his senior servant to the land of his birth to find a mate for his son, Isaac. He knows that he is searching for a woman of great virtue, to complement the qualities of the bridegroom. He finds Rebecca, who displays modesty, hospitality, and kindness to animals in their interaction and is respectful of her family. She returns to the land of Israel with the servant and becomes the wife of Isaac.

So what does this teach us? First, the union of man and woman must be grounded in the finest qualities, between people of compatible backgrounds. They are from the same place, have a common lineage, and complementary personalities. But what does that say about love? Do these two people love each other?

In Genesis 24:67, the order of the recounting of the meeting of Isaac and Rebecca is important. According to the text, first he took her, then she became his wife and finally he loved her. Love comes last, only after their marriage. This is seen as the Jewish ideal, first marriage and then love. In our modern society many of us would declare the opposite, as does the childs nursery rhyme, “first comes love and then comes marriage.”

Here it is seen as more important for love to develop after the marriage, emphasizing the lifelong devo-

Beth El’s Rosh Hodesh Group To Mark ‘Everyday Miracles’

tion and affection of the couple rather than the courting process.

We see a similar idea in the classic story Fiddler on the Roof. As his daughter challenges his choice of mate for her, because she, a more modern woman, loves another man, he returns home to ask his wife, Golda, “Do you love me?” A wonderful musical number in the film, Golda finally declares, “For 25 years. I’ve cooked for him, cleaned for him, starved with him. Twenty-five years my bed is his. If that’s not love what is?” A declaration that creates a definition of love deriving from shared experience, mutual respect, and, as the result of a shared bed, children.

In both these instances, the difference between infatuation and mature love is crystallized. Many of these TV shows, while purporting to be searching for love, are in fact grounded in the quest for instant gratification, or infatuation. The differences between the two are seen in the test of time, the emphasis of the two individuals on getting versus giving in the relationship and the interactions of the couple as physical or physical and spiritual; infatuation being made up of the former and mature love the later.

Infatuation can be an impactful component of any relationship, but it does not have the ability to sustain long-term commitment, as, like a fire burning too hot, it consumes itself and dies. Love is different; love must be nourished and negotiated each day so that it remains strong and committed.

So our television bachelors and bachelorettes would do well to learn from our tradition. As they spend weeks agonizing over the process of finding their true partner, they should remember that Jewish wisdom teaches that “the wedding is not the summit, but only the seed of future love”. A marriage relationship is a sacred partnership that begins with the ceremony, as opposed to all these shows that end with a ring--or a million dollars.

Betsy Marantz, the wife of Rabbi Craig Marantz, is a Jewish educator who has taught in the Melton Mini-School for Jewish Educational and Library Services.

Page 11

IN THE NEWS Frank Goldberg, CPA, has been nominated as a Director of Rotary International. He will be elected at the group’s convention is Osaka, Japan in May, 2004.

At the National Philanthropy Day luncheon and awards ceremony last week, Elaine Wolf and her husband, the late Jim Wolf, were honored as Philanthropists of the Year. The couple was chosen for their lifelong contributions and support of non-profit organizations in the state.

For more than 50 years, the generosity of the Wolfs has transformed the central Nebraska town of Albion, as well as other communities around the state. Some of the organizations they’ve supported include: the AntiDefamation League, the National Conference of Community and Justice, Nebraska Public Television, Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska.

Omaha attorney Barry S. Grossman has been named Regional Program chairman of Paralegal Studies for Hamilton College, a division of Kaplan Higher Learning.

Grossman, who is in a downtown Omaha private practice with his father, Jerome P. Grossman, will be heading the legal assistant program for four business colleges in Nebraska and Iowa. He has been Department Head of Paralegal Studies for Nebraska College of Business for 17 years. Grossman received his law degree from the University of Nebraska in 1986.

Visions Returns to Brownville

BIRTHS

by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue A celebration of “Miracles in Our Everyday Lives” will provide the theme at the next meeting of Beth El Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m. Socializing and dessert will start at 7.

Mother-daughter members Leslie Eades and Darlene Golbitz are hosting at That Pottery Place, 14450 Eagle Run Dr. (one block south of Maple on 144th). In addition to discussion, the meeting will feature painting of pottery items, including Star of David boxes, plates and magnets; mugs and salad plates; and Menorahs.

The Rosh Hodesh Group was created by and for the women of Beth El to provide an open forum for spiritual discovery and discussion and to further the values of Conservative Judaism. All Beth El women are invited. Please RSVP to Leslie Eades, 330-8208.

Lisa and Kenny Chaiken of Greenwood Village, CO. announce the Oct. 15 birth of their twin sons, Adam Nathan and Brian Louis.

Adam and Brian have an older sister, Jana.

Grandparents are Vicki and Jerry Chesen and Greta and Al Chaiken of FL. Great-grandparents are the late Nettie and Sol Brooks, late Maurice Lasensky, and Edith Chesen and the late Louis Chesen.

Beth El Teens Take Part In International USY Week

Michelle and John Fellman of the San Francisco Bay area announce the Oct. 24 birth of their daughter, Samantha Leah.

Samantha has an older sister, Anna Trudi.

Grandparents are Bev and Dick Fellman, Mike and Greta Wirth of Los Angeles and the late Trudi Greenberg.

Great-grandparents are Harold and Dina Bloom and Lillian Wirth and June Heinrich, both of Los Angeles.

by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue During International USY Week, Beth El teens have opportunities to show the congregation and community the importance of USY in their lives. This year, Nov. 16 to 22, their activities ranged from staging a talent show to sponsoring evening programs dedicated to social action and the needs of Israel. Tomorrow, the BILU chapter will culminate International USY Week with participation in the Shabbat morning service Without missing a beat the teens already are looking ahead to next month, with three Thursday evening events, all scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

• Dec. 4, Musical Lounge Night. Cantor Gastón Bogomolni will bring his guitar and members are invited to bring flutes, guitars, saxophones, bongos, and other instruments.

• Dec. 11, Casino Night with Hanukkah Gelt, chaired by Josh Sweet.

• Dec. 18, USY Pound Auction, chaired by Daniel Murow. To take part in this traditional USY fundraiser, members are asked to bring a wrapped item weighing approximately one pound.

For more information, contact Youth Advisor Rachel Katskee, 740-6005, or youthdir@bethel-omaha.org

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Adam and Nikki Kirshenbaum announce the Oct. 20 birth of their daughter, Jordyn Ashley.

Jordyn has an older brother, Joseph.

Grandparents are Tom and Kate Kirshenbaum and Roger and Vicki Sorenson.

Great-grandparents are Joe Kirshenbaum, Betty Femmer and Joann Circo.

Richard and Brenda Rosenblatt announce the Oct. 27 birth of their twins, Joshua Zippori and Elena Isabel.

Grandparents are former Omahans Steve and Ann Rosenblatt of Scottsdale, AZ, and Bob and Sharon Forrester of Arnold, NE.

Your Past is a Family Treasure SAVE YOUR MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD, COURTSHIP, PARENTS, THE FAMILY BUSINESS. LET’S TURN YOUR WORDS AND PHOTOS INTO AN ELEGANT HEIRLOOM BOOK.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 21, 2003

Candidates Vie for Iowa Jewish Votes Candidates invoke Clinton model for U.S. role in Mideast peace efforts

by RON KAMPEAS and shouting “Am Yisrael Chai,” “The people of Israel Sharon government. For example, the Bush administraDES MOINES, Iowa (JTA)--Israeli-Palestinian peace live.” tion supported Israeli air strikes last month against susefforts need the level of U.S. engagement employed by More substantively, the candidates said that the out- pected terrorist bases inside Syria. former President Clinton, Democratic candidates for the lines of a Middle East peace would closely adhere to Democrats have sought to compensate for the weakpresident told an audience of Iowa Jews this week. the Camp David-Taba talks that Clinton helped negoti- ness by underscoring the role of Saudis in financing terFormer Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Massachusetts ate, envisioning two states along pre-1967 lines and a ror--and blasting what they say is the Bush administraSen. John Kerry and Ohio Congressman Dennis shared Jerusalem. tion’s coddling of the Saudi regime. “The Saudi relaKucinich each said President Bush shares the blame tionship with the United States is one of the most disfor the collapse of the peace talks, charging him with graceful, unexplained, overreaching relationships that neglect in the first months of his administration.

I have seen in public life,” Kerry said.

“If the United States had real leadership and was preIn remarks that drew strong applause, Dean said pared to engage, it could have in fact advanced the Saudi money was funding the teaching of “hatred of cause of the peace,” Kerry said. Instead, he said, “we Christians and Jews.” Bud Hockenberg, a veteran left it in a vacuum, spiraling downwards, and we are Republican strategist who attended the event, said that where we are.” drawing attention to past business relationships Dean was applauded when he said that his first act between the Saudis and Bush’s father and other senior as president would be to appoint Clinton envoy to the Republicans was an effective strategy.

Middle East to pick up where he had left off in 2001. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, left, poses in front of “That’s the Achilles’ heel of my team,” he said.

“There will not be peace between the Palestinians and Congregation Tifereth Israel in Des Moines, on Nov. 16. Former Kerry and Dean both said they would continue the Israel until there is heavy intervention every day by the Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, right, arrives that day as well--at isolation of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Tifereth Israel synagogue--to address the Jewish community.

American president,” Dean said.

Arafat, saying he had undermined his leadership CREDITS: Eric J. Salmon through his support of terrorism and his recalcitrance The candidates’ appearance Sunday at Tifereth Israel Synagogue here came a day after six of the Democratic “Most thoughtful people who follow this for a long at the Camp David talks. candidates for president addressed the Jefferson- time know what the framework for that peace looks Kucinich recalled meeting Arafat during the Oslo Jackson dinner, a showpiece in the lead up to the first like. That framework was very nearly arrived at in full peace process in the 1990s, and asking him whether he test of the presidential election season, the Jan. 19 Iowa in Taba in January of 2001,” Kerry said. Some Bush had truly given up his dream of destroying Israel. caucuses. (Rabbi Baruch HaLevi was in Israel with the administration officials have recently suggested they Arafat insisted he did, but Kucinich said he did not Des Moines delegation to the G.A.) might embrace some aspects of the Camp David-Taba believe him because he saw “fear in his eyes.” It was Rabbi Ari Sytner delivered the invocation at the din- outlines.

America’s role, Kucinich said, to create the context that ner. The invocation and the appearance of three of the The Democratic candidates intimated that advancing would give leaders like Arafat the courage to take gencandidates at the synagogue talk was a testament to the Middle East peace would involve using U.S. influence uine steps to peace. influence of Iowa’s small Jewish community. It also to prod Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s hawkish governKerry, who spoke after Dean had left, attacked the demonstrated the need for Democrats to draw support ment forward. The U.S. role means at times “nudging Vermont governor for his reported comments this sumaway from a president seen as very friendly to Israel. our friend, leveraging when we need to,” Kerry said. mer that America should not take sides in the IsraeliAbout 250 people out of Des Moines 3,500-strong Dean said the United States has “to be seen as an hon- Palestinian conflict. community attended the synagogue talk. The candi- est broker at the bargaining table.” Kucinich said he That and Dean’s use of the word “soldiers” to dates peppered their speeches with Yiddish and would ask Israel “to stop the building of walls, to stop describe Hamas terrorists underscored the need for Hebrew expressions. Dean said Bush had promised the building of new settlements.” political experience, Kerry said. much, but delivered “bupkes,” or nothing. Kucinich said That willingness to pressure Israel presents a weak“I think those are the kinds of mistakes that I’m talkhe embraced “tikkun olam,” the Talmudic injunction to ness for Democrats in appeals to the Jewish communi- ing about, that if you don’t have experience, that if you heal the world. Kerry recalled standing atop Masada ty, where Bush is seen as exceptionally close to the don’t understand it, that you make,” Kerry said.

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