November 27, 2009

Vol. LXXXIX No. 11 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

Schrager Supporting Foundation appoints two new board members -- and a new president

by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation John Lehr and Jeffrey Schrager have been appointed as trustees to the Phillip and Terri Schrager Supporting Foundation Board. David Gilinsky, a long-time member of the board, is the new president.

Their duties began at the November board meeting.

Established by Phillip and David Gilinsky Terri Schrager in 1984 through the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, the Schrager Supporting Foundation generously gives grants, scholarships and other financial support to causes and people in Omaha’s Jewish community. The Schrager Supporting Foundation is the largest supporting foundation contributor to the Jewish community; it has donated more than $900,000 since it was established in 1984.

“My wife, Terri, and I have always given a priority to our philanthropy for the Jewish community,” said Phil Schrager. “We’ve given generously through the years to any number of organizations throughout Omaha. We’re proud and happy to do that.”

“The Supporting Foundation was started with the purpose of investing in and repairing the most vulnerable areas in our Jewish community,” stated Terri Schrager. “Phil and I are happy knowing our support is particularly meaningful, especially in these economic

John Lehr Jeffrey Schrager times. We hope to inspire goodwill in all.”

She added, “Marty Ricks, at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, has been a wonderful resource to our Supporting Foundation. I praise him for his diligence and professionalism.”

According to Ricks, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, “The Schrager Supporting Foundation fills important gaps in our Jewish community, particularly during these challenging economic times. The Schragers and their outstanding Board of Trustees set an example of what can be accomplished through a supporting foundation. We’re so appreciative of their generosity.”

The Schrager Supporting Foundation supports educational programs that fight bigotry, hatred, prejudice and violence. For example, in the past, grants have been awarded to organizations such as the Institute for Continued on page 2

Rubashkin plans appeal, but another trial looms Rubashkin attorney Guy

by ERIC FINGERHUT Cook told the Waterloo WASHINGTON (JTA) -Cedar Falls Courier that the Facing a prison sentence of appeal would center around up to 1,250 years following the judge’s decision to his conviction last week on admit evidence having to do 86 of 91 fraud charges, Sholom Rubashkin is hoping with Rubashkin’s alleged his exoneration will come on employment of illegal immiappeal. grants. The judge had split But U.S. prosecutors are the immigration and fraud looking forward to the next charges into two separate trial for Rubashkin, the fortrials. mer vice president of “It has the effect of allowAgriprocessors when it was ing the jury to convict on the nation’s largest kosher one crime based on the evimeat plant. dence of another,” Cook The trial, for 72 immigratold the Courier. “Dirty him tion violations, is scheduled up and it’s easier to find to begin Dec. 2. criminal intent.”

Rubashkin’s immediate Shalom Rubashkin, right, faced the press with one of his The charges against concern is whether he will lawyers, F. Montgomery Brown, outside an Iowa courthouse Rubashkin stem from a May Credit: Guy Cook 2008 immigration raid on be released on bail pending earlier this year. the trial. Prosecutors say he is a flight risk, but defense Agriprocessors’ plant in Postville, Iowa, which found lawyers filed papers contending he is not. hundreds of immigration violations and forced the plant Their client, the lawyers say, “remains steadfastly com- into bankruptcy. mitted to his community both in Postville, Ia., and the During the trial, which was moved to South Dakota larger religious Jewish community.” out of concern that media coverage had tainted the jury After a three-week trial in Sioux Falls, SD, Rubashkin, pool in Iowa, the former chief financial officer of the 50, was convicted of bank, wire and mail fraud, money company, Mitch Meltzer, testified that he and four other laundering and ignoring an order to pay livestock employees were sometimes paid their salaries in cash to providers in the time provided by law. A sentencing date avoid taxes. has not yet been scheduled.

Continued on page 3

Inside Opinion Page see page 8

This Week: Monthly Calendar for December: Pages 4 & 5 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’

Temple members participate, learn, pray at URJ Biennial: Page 5

10 Kislev 5770

November 27 2009

Award-winning rabbi/author to discuss spirituality and parenting at Temple Israel

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “Children open windows for us or can crawl through windows that we can't crawl through, and they open part of our life that maybe has been dormant for a long time,” explains Rabbi Sandy Sasso, senior rabbi of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis, IN. Rabbi Sasso will be at Temple Israel on Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m., to speak to parents about “Spirituality and Parenting.”

Parents begin to introduce their children to spirituality “from the very beginning,” said Rabbi Sasso. “From the first time you hold that baby in your arms, it’s about what we say and what we do to create a trusting and loving environment,” she added.

Parents teach their Rabbi Sandy Sasso children “to become good citizens and to be people of good character by nurturing their spiritual imaginations,” she believes. She indicated that “spirituality is a journey” that changes with “age, environment, and history.” The journey travels to “different places during the life cycle.”

Although her discussion will focus on young children, “there are implications for children as they grow,” she explained. She encouraged parents with children of all ages as well as grandparents, “who play a strong role in their grandchildren’s lives,” to attend her presentation which begins at 10:30 a.m. following the 10 a.m. prayer assembly which she will also address.

In 1974, Rabbi Sasso, who has served her congregation since 1977, was the first woman to be ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She and her husband, Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso, are the first practicing rabbinical couple in world Jewish history. She received her Doctor of Divinity after 25 years in the rabbinate and is also the recipient of a Doctorate of Ministry from Christian Theological Seminary as well as honorary doctorates from four colleges.

Continued on page 3

Mumbai terror: a year later

A year after the terror attack in Mumbai, when Islamic terrorists killed six inside the Chabad House, including Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, 2000 people came to remember the victims of the massacre. The Holtzberg’s son Moshe escaped due to the quick thinking of his Indian nanny. At the event in Kfar Chabad, nanny Sandra Samuel, right, celebrates Moshe’s third birthday and first haircut. Moshe is being raised by his grandparents, parents of Rabbi Holztberg.

Credit: ISRANET

Coming Next Week: Business Guide BBYOers hip hop into the new members’ convention: Page 7

Beth El introduces the ‘Open Arms Initiative’: Page 12

Page 2

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November 27, 2009

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Schrager Supporting Foundation Continued from page 1 Holocaust Education, the Anti-Defamation League and the Center for Jewish Education. The Supporting Foundation has also made donations to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s building campaign and the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s annual campaign.

Additionally, the Schrager Supporting Foundation provides college scholarships that are administered by the Center for Jewish Education. The Supporting Foundation has also supported Jewish children by providing assistance to Jewish Family Service and scholarships to attend pre-school, childcare and/or summer camp programs at the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center.

The Schrager Supporting Foundation also funds the Phil and Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation awards, honoring men and women ages 45 and older who have shown commitment, dedication and leadership in Omaha’s Jewish Federation.

Four members of the Schrager Supporting Foundation Board are appointed by the Federation . These members include President David Gilinsky, Treasurer Todd Simon and Secretary Rosie Zweiback.

John Lehr will be the fourth Federation-appointed Board member. The Schrager family appoints three more members to the Board, including Terri Schrager, Rick Schrager and newly-appointed Jeffrey Schrager, who serves as Vice-President. Phil Schrager is a non-voting member of the Board.

“I’m very thrilled with the members of our Board,” noted Phil Schrager. “We have six outstanding young people -- Todd, John, Rosie, David and my two sons -who will be around much longer than I, and will be able to carry on the tradition of our Supporting Foundation.

Each one of the members of our Board are intellectually brilliant. But aside from that, they are very communityminded individuals. They believe in giving back to those in need. That is the reason we’re happy to have them as our trustees.”

Board member Rosie Zweiback enjoys participating in the granting process. “It is an incredible honor to serve on the Board,” said Zweiback. “I learn a lot at our meetings from the wisdom of Terri and Phil and the others.

The process is very open and interesting. There is a high degree of accountability for those of us making the decisions, as well as for those receiving grants. It’s done in a respectful way. It has been a very positive experience all the way around. What could be better than giving away money to the community?”

One of the new Schrager Supporting Foundation Board members is John Lehr. According to Lehr, “What an honor and privilege to be asked to help further Phil and Terri’s amazing legacy of philanthropy.” Lehr’s father, Martin Lehr, was one of the original members of the Schrager Supporting Foundation Board.

“I have been lifelong friends with Jeff and the entire Schrager family, and have witnessed and directly benefited from their commitment, loyalty, business savvy, zeal and humor,” continued Lehr. “It will be my great pleasure to join Phil, Terri, Rick and Jeff Schrager, along with my friends and dedicated community leaders David Gilinsky, Rosie Zweiback, and Todd Simon in working together to fulfill the Supporting Foundation’s worthy mission.”

With an BA degree in economics from Duke University and a MBA in finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Lehr brings education, as well as expertise, to the Schrager Supporting Foundation Board. He is the President of Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Inc. Lehr’s list of volunteer activities is extensive. He volunteers for Leadership Omaha and JOLT. Lehr currently serves on the Jewish Social Services Board. He is a long-time member of Temple Israel’s Board and Executive Board and is their current President-elect.

Lehr is a former long-time Jewish Community Center (JCC) Board member and former member of Jewish Senior Services Executive Board. He served on the Federation Campaign for Young Men and the Ben Gurion Society. Lehr also was Pacesetter Division Chairman and Macabbi Games Tennis Co-Chairman.

Lehr was born and raised in Omaha. He and his wife, Sandy, have two children; their daughter, Avery, is a freshman at the University of Miami and their son, Jacob, is a sophomore at Westside High School.

Jeffrey Schrager’s business experience and education, as well as his commitment to philanthropy, will serve him well during his tenure on the Schrager Supporting Foundation Board. He first attended the University of California at Berkeley, and then earned a BS from the University of Arizona. Like Lehr, Schrager graduated with an MBA from The Wharton School at the

University of Pennsylvania. He is Managing Director of Schrager Capital Management, a company he founded in 1990. Prior to that, he was an investment analyst at Gotham Capital.

Schrager currently serves on the Phillip and Terri Schrager Foundation, the family private foundation, which serves the greater Omaha community and operates independently from the Schrager Supporting Foundation. “I have been on the Board of the Schrager Family Foundation for a number of years and take charitable giving very seriously,” he stated.

He added, “The Schrager Supporting Foundation seeks to make a difference in the Jewish community and tries to provide people, especially children, with avenues to better lives. Giving time and resources, no matter how large or small, to our community is vital to making the world a better place. We encourage all citizens to get involved in any and every way they can.”

In addition to his philanthropic work, Schrager has coached youth football for KWAA, basketball for the JCC and YMCA, Suburban Baseball, and YMCA soccer.

“I moved away from Omaha in 1979 and returned 18 years later, deciding that it would be a good place to raise my family,” noted Schrager. Schrager’s wife, Dr. Anne York, is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Creighton University. They have four children; Matt, age 23, Cole, age 17, Sonia, age 15 and Luke, age 12.

David Gilinsky is the new president. “Terri and I are especially happy that David Gilinsky will serve as the President of our Supporting Foundation,” said Phil Schrager. “He is a very gifted young man, whose heart is totally committed to the Jewish community. As a consequence, I know he’s going to do an outstanding job in leading our Supporting Foundation.”

“I could not be more honored than I am to serve as President of the Schrager Supporting Foundation,” stated Gilinsky. “Having known the Schrager family nearly my entire life, I’m thrilled to be following their lead and building upon the strong foundation they have created, both literally and figuratively. “Phil and Terri Schrager are exemplary stewards of the Omaha Jewish community and I have already learned a great deal from their approach to philanthropy. It’s a very rewarding experience and I look forward to years of helping the Foundation make a difference in Omaha’s Jewish community.”

Gilinsky is the President of Bergman Incentives, a fifth generation family-owned business focused in the areas of marketing and promotion. He has a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

As an active volunteer in the Jewish community, Gilinsky has been a member of the Anti-Defamation League Plains States Board of Trustees for 15 years and is the immediate past Chair. He currently serves as Vice President on the Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Trustees. He is also a member, and past Chair, of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Nebraska Council. Gilinsky is a veteran volunteer for the Federation’s Annual Campaign and was recently the featured speaker at the Campaign’s Pacesetter Division kickoff. He was the first recipient of the Bruce Fellman Memorial Young Leadership Award.

In the general community, Gilinsky currently serves as Board Chair for Community Health Charities of Nebraska. Previously, he was Board Chair of the Nebraska Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Gilinsky and his wife, Katherine Finnegan, have three children; Molly, age 16, Laura, age 15, and Jack, age 13.

In addition to the Supporting Foundation, in 1978 Phil Schrager established the Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund in memory of his first wife, Lois Schrager. The fund is associated with the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and has awarded nearly $180,000 in scholarships through the years. The Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund also funds the annual Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Young Leadership Award, given to a young woman who demonstrates commitment, involvement and leadership.

As previously noted, the Schrager family also has a private foundation that supports the general community.

Through this organization, the Schragers support a wide variety of organizations in the Omaha area, including Jewish organizations. Founded in 1972, the Schrager Foundation has contributed over two million dollars to the Jewish community.

The Schrager’s philanthropic activity is something they strongly believe in. “It is all about understanding that if we want our grandchildren to live in a safe and secure Continued on page 3

November 27, 2009

Rubashkin plans appeal

Spirituality and parenting

Continued from page 1 Meltzer also said he created false invoices called “tootsies� to demonstrate to the bank, which had extended Agriprocessors a revolving $35 million line of credit, that money was still coming into the company.

Officials of companies that dealt with Agriprocessors testified that their records did not match Agriprocessors’ billing invoices. Witnesses also said that Rubashkin had directed customer payments into the wrong bank accounts and used the money to pay for personal expenses.

On the stand, Rubashkin admitted he made mistakes but said he never intentionally violated the law. “I’m a human being,� he said, according to media reports. “I took the information people gave me and sort of went with it without really drilling down to see if it was real or not.�

Rubashkin also testified that he never read the $35 million line of credit agreement before signing it.

He compared himself to a “pioneer of the West,� helping build a strong Chabad-Lubavitch community in Postville. “In the beginning it was quite a task to get one or two people to come there, and someone to teach,� he said.

Rubashkin was offered a plea deal before the trial, but the Des Moines Register reported that Rubashkin told friends he rejected it because he is innocent and had committed no crime.

The Conservative movement’s Hekhsher Tzedek Commission, which has been working to create an ethical kashrut seal, said the verdict “delivers both justice and a heavy heart,� noting that the trial on charges of worker mistreatment has not even begun.

The commission’s director, Rabbi Morris Allen, said in a statement that two years before the raid the commission had attempted to “steer the Rubashkin family towards taking responsibility and correcting their mistakes,� but the Rubashkin family turned a “deaf ear� toward such calls and showed a “flagrant disregard for the law and ethical behavior. “There is neither joy nor a sense of schadenfraude in yesterday's conviction,� the commission said in a statement a day after the convictions. “Those of us who toil in the field of tikkun olam are downright demoralized by this highly preventable outcome.�

One revelation at the trial that could have implications for next month’s immigration trial was that the Agriprocessors plant twice rejected the employment application of a federal informant because of fraudulent work documents. He was hired the third time he applied after he brought legitimate papers.

Continued from page 1 Internationally known as a children’s author, Rabbi Sasso has published 11 children’s books and one book for adults. Among several honors she has received, two of her books were selected by Publisher’s Weekly as Best Books of the Year.

After her first book, God’s Paintbrush, which has sold more than 100,000 copies, Rabbi Sasso wrote In God’s Name, But God Remembered: Stories of Women from Creation to the Promised Land, and A Prayer for the Earth (now titled Noah’s Wife, the Story of Naamah), God In Between, For Heaven’s Sake, God Said Amen, Cain and Abel: Finding the Fruits of Peace, and Adam and Eve's First Sunset.

Her latest children’s book, Butterflies Under Our Hats, was published in 2006. God’s Echo: Exploring Scripture with Midrash, for adults, was published in 2007. She also writes a monthly column for The Indianapolis Star on religious and spirituality issues.

She has written numerous articles and chapters on the spirituality of children and spoken across the United States and in England on the subject. Active in the arts, civic, and interfaith communities, she has also written and lectured on women and spirituality.

In addition, Rabbi Sasso is a theological advisor for the Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence and is a lecturer in Religion and Judaism at Butler University and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. She co-chairs the Indianapolis Interfaith Clergy Group and served on the Planned Parenthood Board and a Black/Jewish women’s dialogue group.

Rabbi Sasso’s visit here is sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. The community is welcome to attend.

Schrager Supporting Foundation Continued from page 2 world, then it’s important for us to do whatever we can to repair some of the most vulnerable areas of our society,� said Phil Schrager. “Frankly, Terri and I deem it an honor and a privilege to be able to do our share. It is not a burden to give our resources -- we want to use our resources to help those in need.�

For information about establishing a supporting foundation or to learn about other philanthropic options, please call the Federation Foundation office at 334.6440.

HOLIDAY CLOSING & EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1. The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is Wednesday, Dec. 30 for the Jan. 8 issue.

There will be no Jewish Press on Jan. 1 due to staff vacations and a need to upgrade computer equipment.

Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

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HHEF-sponsored display coincides with “Band of Brothers� visit

by MARY BORT Heartland Holocaust Educational Fund A new exhibit at the Strategic Air and Space Museum (SASM), a gift from the Heartland Holocaust Educational Fund (HHEF), will open to coincide with an upcoming visit by World War II veterans featured in the book, “Band of Brothers.�

Sam Fried, a survivor of Auschwitz and HHEF founder, will present plaques to each of the veterans and speak about the new exhibit during a dinner honoring the veterans at the Museum on Friday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m. “The HHEF is proud to help honor these brave veterans and I look forward to meeting them,� said Fried. “We are so pleased that the new exhibit will open during their visit. The exhibit will provide all future visitors to the Museum the opportunity to remember those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as the brave soldiers who fought to end the war in Europe and ultimately liberated the camps.�

The HHEF-sponsored exhibit at the SASM will feature a plaque listing the military divisions that liberated concentration camps during World War II, a list of liberators who made their homes in the states of Nebraska and Iowa, and panels from the Nebraska Holocaust Memorial.

The “Band of Brothers� veterans who will be at the event were all members of Army Airborne unit Easy Company. Their stories were chronicled in the non-fiction book by Stephen E. Ambrose and in an HBO miniseries, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.

The event will be held at the museum, located just off of I-80 in Ashland. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m.

During this time, guests will be given photo opportunities with the veterans. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and the program will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this exclusive event are $100. For tickets, call 402.944.3100 or visit www.SASMuseum.com.

On Dec. 5, 9 a.m., the veterans will be at a book signing at the SASM and presentation at 10 a.m.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

The HHEF finances Holocaust and genocide education courses at Heartland colleges and universities.

Additionally, the HHEF supports the Nebraska Holocaust Memorial located in Lincoln.

For more information, please call 402-334-6459, email mbort@holocausteducationfund.org or visit www.holocausteducationfund.org.

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November 27, 2009

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Children of Eden Rehearsals, 6:30 p.m. at Beth El Grandparents Circle, 7p.m. at Temple Israel B’nai B’rith “A World Without Ice,” 7 p.m.

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Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 NCJW California Pizza Kitchen Fund Raiser JFS Hanukkah Project Tzedakah, 8 a.m.

Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad Eye on Israel with Dr. Guy Matalon, noon ADL/CRC Board Meeting, noon Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

Bible Quiz Dinner, 5:30 p.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Children of Eden Rehearsals, 6:30 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Grandparents Circle, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Edward Zorinsky B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 Rabbis & Presidents Meeting, noon OTYG Lounge Night, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel USY Board Meeting, 6p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Jewish Book Month Event with Jeffrey Zaslow, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 Women of the Torah, 9:30 at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Levin’s Weekly Class, noon at Beth El Center for Jewish Education Board Meeting, noon Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

JCC/CDC Hanukkah Extravaganza, 5:45 p.m.

FJA Hanukkah Program, 7 p.m. with reception following Rabbi Gross’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 FJA Latke Lunch Sale Partnership Hanukkah Workshops for Kids, 8:30 a.m.

Temple Shabbat Comes to You at Remington, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 80th Anniversary Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Shabbat School/lunch, 10 a.m. at Beth El Hanukkah Lunch, noon at Beth Israel Third Annual Chanukah Carnival, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel Cantor’s Concert (Children of Eden), 7 p.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 Adult Education classes begin at 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Temple Israel to worship at Trinity Church, 9:30 a.m.

Adult Education Classes, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El No BESTT classes - Beth El Camp Sabra Reunion & Information Day, 12:30 p.m.

Cantor’s Concert (Children of Eden), 1p.m. at Beth El Omaha’s Menorah Parade, 3:30 p.m.

Beth El Kadima Program, 5 p.m. at Family Fun Center OTYG Hanukkah Party/Service, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel MONDAY, DECEMBER 14 BESTT Hanukkah Activities, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Minchah/Ma’ariv & Mishnah, 5:15 p.m.

Chabad Bowling and Beignetes, 7:30 p.m. at Western Bowl Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad Foundation Board Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

Mah Jongg, 12:30 p.m.

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

JCC/CDC Hanukkah Extravaganza (Rain/Snow Date), 5:45 p.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Grandparents Circle, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel FJA Hanukkah Program (Rain/Snow Date), 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 OTYG Lounge Night, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17 Women of the Torah, 9:30 at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Levin’s Weekly Class, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Dorothy Kaplan Book Group, 1 p.m. at Kripke Library Israeli Movie Club, 7 p.m.

Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, 7 p.m. at Beth El LOVE Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Gross’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 PJ Havdalah, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 Adult Education classes begin at 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education Classes, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El AZA #1 Blood Drive, 11 a.m.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 YES Luncheon, 10 a.m.

Jewish Book Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m.

Minchah/Ma’ariv & Mishnah, 5:15 p.m.

Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad JSS/RBJH Board Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23 Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 Beth El USY Pre-International Convention, Long Grove, IL Women of the Torah, 9:30 at Beth Israel Beth El Jewish Omaha College Student Reunion, noon at Bagel Bin Rabbi Levin’s Weekly Class, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

USY and Kadima Chinese and a Movie, 6 p.m. at Beth El Annual Chinese Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel JCC Closes at 7p.m.

Rabbi Gross’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel 20’s and 30’s Annual Gimlets and Gelt, 9 p.m. at Beth El FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25 JCC Health & Fitness Open 9-5 Movie, Nosh & Family Shabbat, 4 p.m. at Beth El Family Shabbat Dinner, 6 p.m. at Chabad SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 Asara B’Tevet - Fast of the 10th of Teveth Adult Education classes begin at 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education Classes, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 Minchah/Ma’ariv & Mishnah, 5:15 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30 Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 Women of the Torah, 9:30 at Beth Israel Rabbi Levin’s Weekly Class, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

JCC Closes at 7p.m.

New Year’s Eve Game Night, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Rabbi Gross’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

Advertise For advertising opportunities in the Jewish Press, call Allan Handleman at 402.334.6451 or email: ahandleman@jewishomaha.org

All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.

November 27, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

Temple Israel members participate, learn and pray at the URJ Biennial in Canada

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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator At North America’s largest gathering of Jews, 3500 people studied, worshipped, learned, and laughed at the 70th Biennial of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), earlier this month in Toronto, Canada. Among them were 14 members of Temple Israel.

Union President Rabbi Eric Yoffie declared that the Reform movement’s synagogue arm is entering a “third era” in its 120-year history. From a small organization that mainly supported the Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Eric Yoffie the Union, by the mid-20th Credit: www.urj.org century, had built a large infrastructure including camps, the Religious Action Center, and 14 regional offices to serve its rapidly growing synagogue membership. Yoffie added that the Union is now consolidating to deliver targeted services including “high level, specialized expertise, better use of technology, and more ways to interact and learn from each other.”

John Lehr, president-elect of Temple Israel’s Board of Trustees, “came away with a much better understanding of the Union and its relationship to Temple.” Toronto was his first Biennial, and he attended sessions on Jewish identity; singles, divorced, and the challenge of keeping them involved and cared for; Reform Judaism’s look at hot topics in the political arena; and strengthening teacher effectiveness among others.

Also speaking at the conference, Israel’s ambassadors to the United States and Canada both issued strong warnings about Iran’s nuclear potential. Their addresses counterbalanced the Biennial’s focus on the need for greater interfaith dialogue and the recognition of the rights of Israel’s Arab minority. Speakers, workshops, and entertainment highlighted the importance of fostering respect and cooperation between religious communities.

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Marlen Frost, and her daughter Marcy Frost of Minneapolis, made history by becoming the first mother and daughter serving on the WRJ International Board at the same time.

Marlen Frost, a first timer, attended as a vice president of Omaha’s Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) as well as a board member and area director for the Midwest District of WRJ and a member of the WRJ International Board. “It was great,” she said. “I learned that women united can do miraculous things and that WRJ is a strong voice when dealing with social issues.” To Marlen’s surprise, her daughter, Marcy Frost of Minneapolis, presented her Lifeline pin to her mother, “making me the first recipient of a legacy pin.” They made history by becoming the first mother and daughter serving on the WRJ International Board at the same time.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, one of the featured speakers, emphasized the positive role that faith communities can play in the Mideast peace process if they “remain open” to each other’s beliefs. He said that peace between Israelis and Palestinians is important first for those two nations “but also as a powerful example of peace between peoples of different faiths” elsewhere in the world.

King Abdullah II spoke to the Biennial General Assembly from Amman, Jordan. He pointed out that a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel is possible and necessary, because the Middle East conflict is a flashpoint of international tensions. Second, at their core, Judaism and Islam have much in common, and one of the paths to peace is robust interfaith dialogue. He praised Rabbi Yoffie’s leadership in this endeavor.

Both Jon Meyers and Jeff Schweid, attending their fifth and fourth Biennials respectively, participated in the 100 plus member Biennial choir which sang on Shabbat morning and at the Saturday evening program. Schweid

enjoyed lectures that raised “thought provoking questions about personal prayer.”

Also on Shabbat, Rabbi Yoffie gave his much anticipated sermon emphasizing that “Jewish history begins with a Jew -- a new Jew, the first Jew -- saying to others: come, eat with me. And ever since this first Jewish meal, Jews have believed that eating matters.” He pointed out that “Jews have seen eating as more than a mechanical act. We are heirs of a tradition that makes a distinction between food and nourishment.” He added, “not all cultures believe that this is desirable or even possible. In fact, the North American way of eating has become gobble, gulp, and go. But we Jews have a response to this animal-like eating. We invite God in,” said Rabbi Yoffie.

“For us, eating can be a gateway to holiness. “.... meals are profoundly important in creating and sustaining purposeful community. When we open our minds and our hearts to the concerns of others...we draw God in, as a partner, to our sacred community.” He proposed that Reform congregations share more communal meals together -- occasions “to unite our congregations, rise above our self-absorption, and turn our members in the direction of mitzvah-doing and God...to eat Jewishly and ethically as proud Reform Jews,” he added, “is healthy, economical, and good for God’s earth.”

Switching from the touch, taste and feel of community, Rabbi Yoffie asked if the internet, on the other hand, would undermine “in-the-flesh contact.” To the contrary, he believes, “In this world, we need the benefits that online community brings. In any case, let’s not kid ourselves, our members are spending more and more of their time online, and we need to be there with them.”

Secondly, the Web “opens up the vast treasury of Jewish knowledge to everyone”...providing “access to Jewish learning on a scale that was unthinkable a decade ago.” The Web also has the potential to empower our members and democratize our synagogues by giving us “an instrument to involve and include Jews as never before.” He went on to suggest that through the internet, we “invite in the opinions of our members” and ask them to share their personal stories and Jewish memories, to encourage hotly debated, multi-voiced civil discussions on synagogue and local issues, on Israel and national issues. The idea is to see the Web “as an act of communal collaboration.”

Lastly, he addressed the State of Israel. “Our task,” he said, is “unconditional support for the State of Israel, abiding solidarity with the citizens of Israel, unbending resolve in the battle against Israel’s enemies, unshakeable determination in the face of all those who wish Israel ill.

At the same time, we hold firm to our own vision of what the Jewish state must be, and we proclaim our commitment to a two-state solution as essential to Israel’s well being and security. And willingly, lovingly, joyfully, we engage in the struggle to realize Israel’s most cherished ideals.”

He added that the “UN Human Rights Council endorsement of the Goldstone Report does not further the cause of peace or give reason for Israel to believe the international community takes seriously the significant security issues with which it contends.”

Jan Schneiderman, president of Temple’s Board, commented, “The worship services both on Friday evening and Saturday morning were so special and very spiritual.

There is nothing like worshipping with 3500 to 4000 fellow Jews.”

Mimi Silverman, chair of Temple’s Social Justice Committee, agreed. “The highlight was Rabbi Yoffie’s sermon. Silverman attended several sessions about the future of social justice in Reform Judaism. “It was a wonderful experience, and I’m glad that I was there. I look forward to working on the new initiatives that were put forth by Rabbi Yoffie.

Others from Temple who attended were Gary and Sally Kaplan, Jane Rips, Rabbi Eric Linder, Wendy Goldberg, and Dennis DePorte. Sophie and Molly Goldberg attended the simultaneous NFTY Leaders Assembly.

Meyers, immediate past president of Temple, wishes that “every congregant could attend” the Biennial.

“While I understand that is not practical, the Biennial illustrates and highlights what is truly important, meaningful, and special about being a Reform Jew.” For Meyers, the Biennial provides a look past “the meaningless things we spend time on and brings the picture back into focus. ...the things we do (at Temple Israel) and the programming we offer is in line with our movement’s mission. In fact, Temple Israel Omaha is at the forefront of many of these issues. We are among the leaders in URJ.”

Out

Dining

Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 27, 2009

IN THE NEWS

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Strata-G, a full service marketing communications firm based in downtown Cincinnati, has hired Danny Cohn as Director of Public Relations. Cohn will lead 360degree public relations and social media campaigns for clients across Strata-G’s consumer and businessto-business practice areas.

Prior to joining Strata-G, Cohn worked as Vice President, Planning Director for Chicagobased public relations firm Edelman. While there, he developed and implemented 360degree strategic marketing plans for national consumer brands like KFC, Burger King, Walmart, Unilever, and MTD Products. He also worked with the Illinois Board for Tourism and the National Military Family Association, among others. Additionally, Cohn has experience as a freelance PR and strategy practitioner for a variety of consumer and B2B brands.

A native of Omaha, Cohn graduated from the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas where he majored in Journalism with an emphasis in Business Communications, and a minor in Marketing.

The Greater Omaha Chamber’s Education and Workforce Council is hosting an information session about opportunities to serve on a school board. The event is on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7:30-9 a.m. at the Greater Omaha Chamber downtown office, 1301 Harney St. Current board members from various school districts will discuss the roles, responsibilities, qualifications and rewards of being a school board member.

“Ensuring the children in our community receive a quality education is of utmost importance to all of us. It is also the key to creating a high quality of life for individuals and it strengthens the community,” said Wendy Boyer, vice president of workforce and community development for the Greater Omaha Chamber. “The Chamber's Education and Workforce Council encourages citizens to take an active role in shaping the direction of education. Plan to attend and carefully consider this opportunity to serve and lead.”

Reservations are due by Monday, Nov. 30, through OmahaChamber.org/Events http://omahachamber. org/chamber/EventDetail.aspx?EventDateID=1606.

ORGANIZATIONS

Vandals wreck Hanukkah display

by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press Cynthia Follick woke up Sunday morning to find an expensive light display of Hanukkah dreidels smashed on her front lawn. The couple lives in the Deer Ridge neighborhood, walking distance to Beth Israel Synagogue, where vandals burned outdoor playground equipment earlier this year.

She and her husband, Joshua, had contracted with Bright Ideas to construct the Hanukkah lights.

“Ours was the only Jewish one in the neighborhood,” Josh Follick told the Press. The Follicks have filed a police report, but as of press time there were no leads.

The Anti-Defamation League offered its services to help with the investigation, said Alan Potash, ADL regional director. “The ADL is very much on the ball,” Follick added, noting that he and his wife planned to put the display up again.

ENGAGEMENT

NOGG/JASON Patty and Steve Nogg announce the engagement of their daughter, Annie, to Todd Jason, son of Fay and Buddy Jason of Memphis.

The bride-to-be graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a BA in human development and family studies. She is the nursing program coordinator at Jewish Vocational Service in San Francisco.

She is the granddaughter of Harlan (Bud) Studna, the late Betty Studna, Jean Lee Parelman of Kansas City, MO, and the late Seymour Lee. Her fiancé is a earned a BA in Business Administration from the University of Memphis. He is an account manager at Apex Systems, Inc., in San Francisco.

He is the grandson of Renee and William Jason and the late Reva and Jack Oks. A Sept. 5 wedding is planned at Lauritzen Gardens.

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VISIONS The Visions Board will meet Friday, Dec. 4, 9:30 a.m., in the social hall of the JCC. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS B’nai B’rith joins with AIPAC to get an up-to-theminute briefing about Israel, J Street and other Jewish organizations from the Director of the Southwest Region, Todd Polikoff, on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Ironwood Country Club.

He’ll be flying in from Houston for an informative, mini-press conference. The program is free; Lunch is $25 and an RSVP is required to gjavitch@cox.net or Jenny at B’nai B’rith, 334.6443 before Nov. 30, 5:30 p.m.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN NCJW-Omaha Section will host a fundraiser at California Pizza Kitchen in One Pacific Place on Tuesday, Dec. 8 -- all day.

Eat lunch or dinner -- either dine in or take out on Dec. 8 -- and a portion of your money will come back to NCJW and benefit its community service projects. To request a flier, contact Vicki at vks4psu@hotmail.com.

Elisa and Marc Ricks on New York City announce the Nov. 17 birth of their daughter, Sophie Pearl, named for her great grandmothers, Sally Ricks and Pearl Gustin.

Grandparents are Dr. Elton and Karen Strauss of Roslyn, NY, Sandi and Marc Scholnick of Portland, OR, and Iris and Marty Ricks.

Great-grandparents are Dr. Carl and Shirley Strauss of Brooklyn, NY, and Pauline Lecker of Portland OR.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Omaha Community Playhouse Presents Yesterday And Today: A Concert Celebration of Beatles Music on Friday, Dec. 4. through Dec. 31 in the Howard Drew Theatre at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

Rock to the music of The Beatles; a high-energy, interactive concert featuring Billy McGuigan (The Buddy Holly Story; Rave on!) plus Matthew McGuigan, and Ryan McGuigan. Every performance of Yesterday And Today will be unique as audience members will request their favorite Beatles songs and share stories about those songs and the memories they inspire.

Performances run Wednesdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 for all seats; these are reserved seats; call the OCP ticket line at 402.553.0800 or online at www.OmahaPlayhouse.org.

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November 27, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Harlows to receive honor BBYOers “Hip Hop� into new member convention learning about the week’s parsha, while the teens volunMUSKIN next month in New York byBBYOANNE Director teered for aliyot.

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Rabbi Jules Harlow and his wife, Navah, will be honored by the World Council of Conservative Synagogues/Masorti Olami, during at a special tribute dinner next month in New York City.

The Harlows will receive the Rabbi Mordecai Waxman Rabbinic and Community Leadership Award, and are being recognized for their lifetime contribution to both Judaism and Jewish communities around the world. The tribute dinner will be held on Dec. 10 at the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City.

A Sioux City, Iowa native, Jules Harlow is the Founding Editor of the Rabbinical Assembly; he specializes in translating and editing Jewish prayer, with the goal of Jules and Navah Harlow making the poetic beauty of the liturgy available to the non-Hebrew reader. He has composed and adapted prayers which respond to modern events in Jewish history. His prayer books include Mahzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and Siddur Sim Shalom. In addition, he is Literary Editor of the Torah Commentary Etz Hayim.

For years, Rabbi Harlow has enriched High Holidays’ services at Beth El in Omaha, by leading alternative services, presenting thought-provoking divrei Torah, and facilitating informative, interesting study sessions.

Navah Harlow is the founding director of the Center for Ethics in Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Among the many contributions she has made to her field is her ground-breaking work with endof-life care and medical advance directives; she was also instrumental in establishing the first hospice under Jewish auspices in Manhattan.

Since 2005, the Harlows have been teaching a group of b’nei anousim in Lisbon, helping these descendants of Jews forcibly baptized by the Inquisition return to Jewish tradition through halachic conversion. In addition, the couple teaches Masorti kehillot in Madrid and Valencia, Spain.

Steve Pitlor, president of Beth El’s Board of Trustees congratulated the Harlows, saying, “Rabbi Harlow and Navah have become a part of Beth El’s family particularly during the High Holidays for so many years. The sermons that Rabbi delivers, his extensive knowledge of Judaism and the wisdom he displays have been a constant source of inspiration to our congregation. We heartily congratulate the Harlows on this well-deserved honor.�

Anyone wishing to make a donation to WCCS in honor of the Harlows is encouraged to visit http:// www.masortiworld.org/molami/tribute2009donations.

The stage was set. Invitations had gone out. The money had been paid, and the events all planned. Two months of publicizing, three-hour power meetings, dinners, Skype chats, and conference calls had finally concluded.

It was the weekend Omaha teens been waiting for.

Scott Goldberg and Molly Kudym were done planning and it was time to coordinate. “Hip Hop into BBYO� brought 58 freshman and sophomores from Kansas City, and St Louis, and 36 Omahans for leadership, Shabbat, friendship, and ice skating!

The weekend was packed with original programming.

Led by the Regional Coordinating Committee, the Council Presidents from each of the three cities, (ours are Anna Grossman and Colin Belmont), teens broke into boys and girls for dynamic self-worth programming.

In line with the weekend’s theme of “Hip Hop�, one of the highlights was a break dancing class led by a professional. Teens Gabe Levin and Brad Kutler really showed off their moves and learned loads of new ones, too!

Teens went from serious and moving programming to some good quality time with their host families. Some teens enjoyed homemade dinners, while others spent

Left photo: The regional coordinating commitee for the recent BBYO New Members’ Convention included: Ethan Heller, left, and Erica Diamond of St. Louis, Avi Sonnenschein Friday night started with icebreakers led by Shir Palmon, Chloe Ginsburg, Goldberg and Kudym, a beautiful Shabbat meal catered by the Blumkin Home’s Star Catering, followed by a musical service led by Brenna Robinson with Yonatan Dotan on guitar.

Then everyone moved to the gym for a raucous game of “Junk Yard Wars.� Led by Lindsey Thomas, Mark Zinkov, and Megan Bucher, this game teaches teamwork, creativity, and leadership. St. Louis friends were introduced to popcorn balls and the BBYOers went home to Omaha’s host families.

Saturday started with morning services, followed by several creative Shabbat rotation options. Teens chose from: a text study of current pop lyrics with Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan and Miriam Gross, blanket making and presentation with Debra Anderson, Director of Training and Education at Project Harmony, and Chloe Ginsburg Omaha Council Shlicha.

There also was an activity based on “The Lost Generation� clip that helps educate on the importance of positive social change and making a difference led by sophomore Megan Bucher, and, led by Elya Wilson, Omaha’s shlicha, and Matan Rotblat, Kansas City community shaliach, a program on finding your Jewish Identity through games and powerful discussion.

From that, teens learned about BBYO as an organization. Led by Colin Belmont and Brittany Baines, the group also learned about public speaking and running for offices, how to construct the perfect speech and ways to feel more comfortable in front of an audience.

After lunch, Rabbi Gross used a Torah trivia game to bring the teens into the spirit of reading Torah and

and Becca Berger of Kansas City, and Colin Belmont and Anna Grossman of Omaha; Right photo: Abbey Giller, center, makes new friends at convention. time in different hot spots around town.

Meeting back at the JCC, BBYOers got the evening going with one of the oldest and most moving traditions -- installations. With lit candles and blue and red books in hand, new members were officially inducted into the order by the Regional Coordinating Committee. “It was an experience I will never forget. After hearing all about what BBYO can offer, I’m very excited to see

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The BBYOers gather for a last friendship circle on Sunday morning before boarding buses back to Kansas City and St. Louis. it for my own eyes and be able to tell others about it later,� said Hannah Perry.

From there, buses left for Tranquility Ice Rink for an evening of skating and Husker football. With colored lights zooming across the ice and a DJ playing top 20 requests, the teens had a blast.

BBYOers left Sunday morning with new friends, memories, and thank you’s to the Omaha community for hospitality. BBYO’s next Regional Convention is in Kansas City, Dec. 27-30. For more information on how to get involved in BBYO, call me at 402.334.6404 or email amuskin@jccomaha.org.

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Page 8 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 27, 2009

Since when did terrorists become victims?

A year ago yesterday, terrorists struck in the heart of Mumbai, killing 173 people, including six inside the Chabad House.

It was obvious (at least to those who pay attention to the War on Terror -- whoops, the “Overseas Contingency Operation”) that operatives were specifically looking at soft targets. A Jewish institution was one of those, cased in advance by Islamic jihadists posing as Jews. Other targets were hotels, restaurants and the train station, a place that could hardly be classified as a military target, unless you’d describe it other than the daily transportation used by ordinary Hindu and Muslim citizens.

They were the victims of India’s 9/11, but in today’s upside-down world, it seems like victim status is being accorded terrorists -- a la Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his pals.

So this is for Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States.

By now, there have been so many op-eds written about his decision to try KSM and his cohorts in a federal court in New York City, that one more seems like too much.

Thousands of words have already been written raising the issue of putting KSM on trial in a civilian court, rather than face a military tribunal. But we still have questions.

Holder tried to make a case for the difference, saying that nearly 3000 civilians were killed on 9/11, but did he just forget about the attack on the Pentagon? If that’s not a military installation, we don’t know what is!

Shouldn’t this group then, at least be tried in a military tribunal for that piece of 9/11?

And, since Holder referred to KSM’s exclamation of guilt, why exactly is he being tried in the first place. Under normal circumstances (what’s normal any more?), a common criminal who pleads guilty bypasses a trial and is automatically sentenced. So, we’re not sure why this trial is even necessary -- unless of course, he changes his plea to what: innocent?

Having said that, what if the unthinkable happens? What if a New York jury acquits KSM and the other four terrorists (or should we call them “alleged” terrorists?)?

Then what? Do they just walk out of a courtroom with apologies from the judge?

We can’t even imagine the reaction from the families of the 9/11 victims, from the New

York police and firefighters who lost so many of their co-workers, from the citizens of New York who lived through that dark day.

And what signal does it send to terrorists across the world?

Simple: aim your dirty bombs, your IEDs, your fuel-filled jets, your bullets, your mass murdering anger -- against civilians! Then you’ll get three squares a day in some American jail, segregated from the rest of the prison population, the right to a free attorney, and years awaiting trial, sentencing, and appeals. (Remember: it took more than five years to try and then sentence Zacarias Moussaoui, the 20th 9/11 terrorist.)

And, if you commit your terrorist act in a state that has abolished the death penalty and for some reason, you’re actually found guilty, you’ll get to spend the rest of your life on American soil, room and board included, along with cable and an imam to boot!

We want desperately to believe that this scenario will not happen. But even the esteemed jurist Alan Dershowitz writes in Toronto’s Globe and Mail, “In the end, I believe the Obama administration has done the right thing by placing our trust in the American criminal justice system -- only civilian courts can assure ‘the most exacting demands of justice.’”

Really? Do YOU want to be on that jury? These guys have friends -- with weapons, bombs and evil intentions -and they don’t like us and our American freedoms and liberties.

Despite reassurances from Holder, et al, that the security will be tight, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) said in the New York Post: “While I have the utmost respect for and confidence in the NYPD and U.S. Marshals Service, these terrorists’ new home and the courthouse in which they’ll be tried will immediately move to the top of al Qaeda’s target list -- requiring significant local resources to protect the city that is already a top target.”

There’s a saying in Hebrew: y’makh sh’mo -- may their names be blotted out. It’s used for enemies of the Jewish

people like Haman and Hitler. It certainly could apply to Mahmoud Ahmadinijad, the president of Iran, who has not only denied the Holocaust, but wished aloud for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.

So we’d like to add these names to the list: Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Walid Bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi -- y’makh sh’mo.

The names of terrorists we seem to remember, but victims? A year later, does anyone outside the Holztberg family recall the Mumbai terrorist act? Can you recite any of the names of the 173 murdered or the 300+ injured?

Outside of Chabad, can anyone name the rabbi and his wife who were brutally slaughtered? (In case you’d like to know -- it’s Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg.)

Regardless of what happens at trial (if one occurs), these evil men belong in the category of y’makh sh’mo -- and will face their own judgment day by the One Who judges us all.

FOCUS ON ISSUES

by BOB FRANKEN

“Fraud”.

One dictionary describes it as “Dishonesty calculated for advantage”. Only when its stringent burdens of proof are met does it fall to the standard of a criminal act that can result in fines and imprisonment. But manipulating those stringent requirements is what keeps many of those on the top rungs of our financial ladder above the law. They have safe havens for people who could semantically, if not legally, be called “Frauds”.

There’s nothing we can’t do...

How else do we describe the bankers who conceal business practices that sneak large sums of money from unwitting customers who are left with no choice but to use their services?

What else do we call the pharmaceutical executives who peddle their concoctions at huge profit, fully aware they are neither safe nor effective? We’re talking about the ones who coddle the doctors and obstruct the regulators to make sure they turn a blind eye toward the sometimes toxic dangers of their products.

... after the larcenous behavior has caused an economic collapse, the villains are able to deflect attention from what they do and prey on this country’s inbred fear of government.

There’s that word again.

For that matter, the “F word” probably works to characterize those who have wormed their way into the administration who are really there to make sure no meaningful change takes place.

It certainly describes the executive who nearly destroys the lives of thousands by laying

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The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press .

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

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Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., 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.

America: At the mercy of frauds How else do you describe the big business lobbying behemoths who dole out some of their limitless wealth to finance bogus studies for use in distorting public policy debate?

We can probably agree on a word that fits those few who get caught at it, like the poor guy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose emails soliciting money for a phony economic analysis that would then be used to sabotage health care reform came into the possession of the Washington Post. But he doesn’t really need an insult to add to the injury he’ll suffer when his bosses get their hands on him for exposing their legalized fraud.

(Founded in 1920) Bobbi Leibowitz President Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper

them off so he can be lauded for maximizing profits and his own salary? Or is “predator” a better choice? It doesn’t matter.

What’s really sad is not only that they get away with it, but that it doesn’t really surprise any of us. It’s so pervasive, we’ve come to expect that we will be robbed blind and that there is nothing anyone can do about it.

When it comes time to try, like say, after the larcenous behavior has caused an economic collapse, the villains are able to deflect attention from what they do and prey on this country’s inbred fear of government.

They scream “socialism” at the first sign of sensible regulation that might make them legally accountable. They piously celebrate the sacred virtues of a free market that leaves them free to go right on marketing their snake oil. It helps that they’re shameless.

They’re also wealthy. We want something to trust and there are a whole lot of operators out there who have the resources to exploit our fervent desire to believe in something.

So we allow them to make sure the law doesn’t punish their deceptions. We continue to be willing victims of this fraud.

That is the biggest crime of all.

Franken is an Emmy-winning journalist.

He often appears on MSNBC; this op-ed is reprinted with permission from North Star National.

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November 27, 2009

The value of life

Page 9

Concerted effort needed to meet demand for educators

dents pursuing education degrees or certification in programs that prepare them to work with Jewish youth and young adults, and to assist each institution in planning new and enhanced programs that will attract more educators to the field.

by JEHUDA REINHARZ For the next five academic years, the foundation will give $700,000 per year to each of the seminaries. The WALTHAM, MA. (JTA) -- The rest of the grant money will be divided among the instiTalmud teaches that if a king of Israel dies, all Jews are tutions to be used in the 2009-10 academic year for eligible to succeed him. But if a scholar dies, we are told, planning and innovative programs. Uniquely, the grant he cannot be replaced. encourages JTS, HUC and The Jewish community must move quickly to YU to collaborate on projI hope this is not so.

Like the Talmudic sages, prepare more, better teachers for both day ects to provoke creative new today’s Jewish educators have directions in Jewish educaschool and religious school classrooms. We made it their life’s work to tion and a renewed commitensure safe passage of our must place a greater emphasis on encouraging ment to educating future age-old tradition from one our bright and talented young people to Jewish educators. generation to the next. But This is a welcome developconsider the field of Jewish education as a they have become increasingment. Even as the difficult ly scarce. The growth we have serious career opportunity. We must recruit and economic climate forces seen in Jewish day school train them. And then we must work hard to institutions from coast to enrollments over the past two compensate them fairly and to retain them. coast to cut back, rein in and decades is truly a blessing. shut down, this grant allows With it, however, comes an increased demand for qual- these three major institutions of Jewish learning to ified Judaic studies and Hebrew teachers -- a demand expand and to innovate. Further, according to Arnold that, sadly, we have not yet met. There simply are not Eisen, the JTS chancellor, the collaborative nature of the enough of them to meet current needs. Indeed it is pos- grant has led the heads of the three schools to engage in sible that there never were. more conversations over the past year-and-a-half than This shortage includes administrators and heads of their predecessors did during the prior decade or more. school, to be sure, but there is also growing competition Our tradition teaches us that kol Yisrael areivin zeh la among day schools for engaging and knowledgeable zeh -- “all of Israel are responsible for one another.� This teachers who can educate and excite young minds on grant has inspired a meaningful realization of this beautopics from Alef-Bet to the Zohar. Such teachers are tiful ideal. increasingly hard to come by.

Generous individuals and foundations are funding day Synagogue religious schools have also long suffered schools at very impressive levels today; this is very, very from just such a shortage. In A Serious Man, the new good. The non-Orthodox Jewish movements are trying film by Joel and Ethan Coen, an elderly man whose to freshen their religious school curricula. This, too, is accent makes clear he hails from somewhere in good. Indeed, things are going very well in several difMitteleuropa stands before a synagogue classroom ferent realms of Jewish education -- so well, in fact, that mechanically conjugating Hebrew verbs for bored stu- we simply cannot meet the demand for high-quality dents. The scenario is so ingrained in our culture that it Jewish educators. Doing so will take smart marketing has now found its way to the big screen. and more money.

This is where we find ourselves: on the flip side of a The Jim Joseph Foundation is placing a large bet on gold coin, struggling to meet wonderful new demands the future of U.S. Jewry, and this grant truly offers a whose emergence would have seemed altogether unlike- bright ray of hope. But it cannot stand alone atop the hill ly just a few short years ago. as a light unto the nation.

What now?

Other funders concerned for the Jewish future must The Jewish community must move quickly to prepare follow its lead and step up with similarly targeted grants. more, better teachers for both day school and religious It is going to take a concerted effort on the part of school classrooms. We must place a greater emphasis on Jewish leaders across the spectrum -- from funders to encouraging our bright and talented young people to first-grade teachers, from the presidents of our schools consider the field of Jewish education as a serious career to their principals, from YU to JTS to HUC -- to reach opportunity. We must recruit and train them. And then the promised land. we must work hard to compensate them fairly and to It is not enough if we successfully replace the scholars retain them. we lose. We need more and better, still.

A number of positive signs have emerged recently indiJehuda Reinharz is president of Brandeis University cating a move in the right direction. and the Richard Koret professor of modern Jewish history.

In September, the Jim Joseph Foundation announced $12 million in grants to three leading academic instituHOLIDAY CLOSING tions that train Jewish educators. The Jewish & EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE Theological Seminary, Hebrew Union College-Jewish The Jewish Press office will be closed Friday, Dec. 25, and Institute of Religion and Yeshiva University will receive Friday, Jan. 1. The deadline for all ads, articles and photos the funds in an effort to increase the number of future is Wednesday, Dec. 30 for the Jan. 8 issue. educators, and to improve the quality of professional There will be no Jewish Press on Jan. 1 due to staff vacapreparation and Jewish education they receive. tions and a need to upgrade computer equipment.

The initial grants will be used as financial aid for stu-

FOCUS ON ISSUES

JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL

by NATHAN WEINBERGER

How does one harness three years of military service, three years of a life changing, character building experience into a single newspaper column?

Is it best to tame the flood of emotions or perhaps let loose a series of colorful if potentially meaningless descriptions? Whatever. Here goes.

In high school, I was a troublemaker of a student.

Indeed my Harvard Law alumnus grandfather is quick to point out that since I didn’t actually spend much time in school, calling myself a student at all is highly questionable.

It is safe to say that my lack of enthusiasm for school was a sore spot for my parents and many of my relatives.

Luckily it took me just four years to realize my mistake, and about a week after graduation I began to have my regrets.

Over the next three years I was to learn what could not be taught in any classroom. I distinctly remember my first lesson, which stands out from the others simply because it was the first.

At four a.m. we get a call to evacuate an injured soldier from the outskirts of Gaza (the ground war had started a few days before, on January 3 of this year). As the helicopter crew-chief on duty at the time, I gear up and head for the aircraft.

They say seconds can seem like hours in these situations, and they’re right.

We pick up a soldier, a boy about nineteen years old, in serious condition. I quickly secure the stretcher to the aircraft, slam the door, notify the cockpit that we’re ready for liftoff, and help apply pressure to the bullet entry point as the doctors begin their work.

I’m 20 years old. Guys my age in the States are preparing for junior-year college classes. It dawned upon me afterwards that I had just become part of a select group, a group to which we all aspire to belong. I, a high school failure, had done something meaningful in my life.

And if the rest of my time amongst the living is a complete failure, nothing will change the fact that I had the opportunity and the honor to do something for my country, for my people, for my fellow human being, for myself.

On Nov. 10, my regular military service came to an end (I still have about 20 years of military reserve duty ahead of me). As I contemplate my future, I cannot help but compare myself to the 18-year-old of three years ago.

It is immediately apparent to me that, through the many lessons the army has taught me, I have acquired one crucial value: I have learned the value of life, and it is priceless.

Priceless, I realized, when struggling to perform my job because I knew the wounded demanded that I understand the importance of their lives. Priceless, when I realized how fast life passes by, how fleeting a chance we get before we return, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

And I wonder, Grandpa, which Harvard course teaches this lesson.

Nathan Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his parents, Teddy Weinberger and former Omahan Sarah Ross and his two sisters and two brothers.

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Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 27, 2009

Candlelighting Friday, November 27, 4:39 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

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

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

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

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Allan Handleman, 402.334.6451

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: No Services this week.

FRIDAY, Dec. 11: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Mitch Sherman, Sports Reporter for Omaha World Herald on covering Nebraska Football and Sports. The community is invited.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

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

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored

by Beth El; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:40 p.m.

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

BETH EL BRINGS SHABBAT TO THE BLUMKIN HOME: Join Rabbi Levin on Friday, 2:15 p.m., as he joins residents in a joyous and musical early welcome to Shabbat.

HANNUKAH AT REMINGTON: Join Rabbi Levin and Cantor Schlossberg on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2:15 p.m., as they lead the residents in an early celebration of Hanukkah.

BIBLE QUIZ REVIEW: Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m., for all teens interested in participating in the annual B'nai B'rith Bible Quiz on Dec. 8.

TOT SHABBAT & SAY SHALOM! TO SHABBAT: Friday Dec. 4, 6 p.m. services and 6:30 p.m. dinner. Open to all families in the Jewish community.

For reservations made by Dec. 2, cost is $5 for members; $7.50, non-members. After that date, cost is $10 for members; $15 for non-members. No charge for children six and younger. To RSVP, call the office or email programming@bethel-omaha.org.

CHILDREN OF EDEN: 2009 Cantor’s Scholarship Concert presents a local production of this Broadway musical, on Saturday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. For ticket information, call the office.

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

The synagogue office will be closed through Sunday for Thanksgiving weekend.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 4:39 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; “Guard Your Tongue”, “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up) one hour prior to every Shabbat; Mincha, 4:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 5:42 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels & Beit Midrash begins with breakfast, 9:40 a.m.; Sacred Text Messages (for teens) with Rabbi Gross, and Living in Season with Miriam Gross are canceled for Thanksgiving break.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha, 5:15 p.m.

MONDAY: Mincha & Mishna, 5:15 p.m., Mishna study with the rabbis along with Mincha/ Ma’ariv services.

TUESDAY: Scholar’s Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi’s Weiss’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.

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

FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.; The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, noon.

Please contact Shevi@ochabad. com.

SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded; Kiddush lunch follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.

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

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Soul Quest: The Journey through Life, Death and Beyond, 7 p.m. To enroll, visit www.myJLI.com/SoulQuest or call the office. Contact Shevi@ ochabad.com with any questions.

TUESDAY: W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 9:15 a.m.

BAR MITZVAH Danny Glazer, son of Jennifer and John Glazer, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Temple Israel.

Danny is a seventh-grade student at Westside M i d d l e School.

His interests include technology, playing piano, golf and teaching.

For his mitzvah project, Danny

volunteers as a teachers assistant at the Boys Town Preschool and the Omaha Hearing School Preschool. Both these programs educate children who are deaf or hard of hearing. He is a graduate of these schools and enjoys giving back to organizations that were instrumental in his early childhood education.

He has a brother, Grant, and a sister, Jane.

Grandparents are Phyllis and Richard Glazer, Jane Diesen and Don Heck.

THURSDAY: The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:50 p.m. Please contact Shevi@ochabad.com.

All events and programs are open to the entire community.

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

FRIDAY: Temple office closed; Peaceful Shabbat Service, 7:45 p.m. led by David Williss, with oneg following.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Elaine Monnier; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Rick Kohn.

SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes.

WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.

The Ethics of Consumerism, led by Rabbi Emanuel and Nancy Coren.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:15 p.m. led by Beth El Members.

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by and Cantor Wendy Shermet.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: No Religious School; OTYG Board Meeting, 12:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: Sleep Well, Be Well, noon with Cheri Connell, a respiratory therapist at Heartland Health Therapy. Please bring your lunch; Grandparents Circle, 7 p.m. Rabbi Eric Linder and Director Wendy Program Goldberg will facilitate the course.

Contact Temple or wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com, to register for these classes.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 46 p.m.; OTYG Lounge Night, 5 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6-8 p.m.; Grades 712, 6 p.m.; Bible Quiz Practice, 6 p.m.; Adult Beginning Hebrew,

6:30 p.m. with Mor Sheinbein; Nurturing the Nurturer: Stress Management, Judaism and the Arts, 6:30 p.m. Cost is $18 for members; $25 for non-members; no charge for Family School parents.

Rabbi Sandy Sasso: Spirituality and Parenting, Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. Join Rabbi Sasso. (See full article on page 1.)

Club 56 Adventure at Western Heritage Museum, Sunday, Dec. 6, noon. Eat lunch at Temple immediately following Religious School and than carpool to the Western Heritage Museum. Pickup at Temple at 2 p.m. Cost is $5.

Please RSVP to Club 56 Advisor Leora Azriel, leoraann@aol.com.

Children’s Choir Chanukah Concert, Friday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m.

Family Shabbat Worship Service and Hanukkah dinner immediately following. Emily Meyer will be honored for her work with the Temple Children’s Choir. A traditional holiday meal will follow services. Temple’s Social Justice Committee asks that you bring new underwear and socks (all sizes) to donate to the Stephen Center. Sponsored by the Women of Reform Judaism-Omaha. RSVP with the office by Friday, Dec. 4.

NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP FRIDAY: Minyan, 4:39 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Friday, 8-11 a.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study.

SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes.

WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m.

FREEDOM BREAKFAST Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, 7:30 a.m. at Embassy Suites (1040 “P” St.); reservations are due by Nov. 30. Tickets are $15 per person and the form for ordering tickets is available at the synagogue or by calling Nancy Knapp at 472.1663.

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.

The Ethics of Consumerism, led by Rabbi Emanuel and Nancy Coren.

PERSONAL We would like to extend our most profound and sincere expression of appreciation for the incredible care and attention extended to Marian Bookey. The entire staff at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home could not have been more kind, caring, and attentive to our beloved Marian. The 18 months she spent at RBJH was filled with love and care from everyone. We will be forever grateful.

The Kavich and Zetzman families

Large print living will available Jewish Heritage for the Blind announced the availability of the large print “Jewish Halachic Living Will”, produced by the Agudath Israel and the Orthodox Union. Forward your request on your formal stationery by fax to: 718.338.0653 or send an e-mail to jewishheritage@gmail.com. Requests must include a phone number to confirm delivery.

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November 27, 2009

Grants and scholarships help families say ‘yes’ to Jewish summer camps

by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Director of Operations & Programming The Center for Jewish Education Rare is the Jewish family who does not want to send their children to Jewish summer camp. The fun, the friendships, the memories -- all have a vital role in strengthening a child's Jewish identity.

Unfortunately due to the cost for camp, many families wonder how they can manage to find a way to say “yes”.

Fortunately, the generosity of the Omaha and Lincoln Jewish communities provide options to help families make summer camp a reality.

The first program, provided by the Jewish Federation of Omaha, is a Jewish Experience Grant, available for Omaha-area children in grades three through 12. The total grant amount is $1,000 per child which can be used in one summer or divided into two-$500 grants to be used over two summers.

All that is required is that the child attends a residential Jewish summer camp with a minimum two week session, is enrolled in religious school the year before and the year following the camp experience, and that the family is a contributor to the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign.

The Jewish Federation of Lincoln also continues its Jewish Camp Incentive Program for next year and has sent out reminders to member families across the capital city and greater Nebraska. Drawing from its Youth Scholarship Fund, families that are Federation members will receive a direct grant of $300 per child to cover camp deposits and related expenses, such as travel.

Applications for incentive grants are due by Dec. 14.

The grants will be awarded after Jan. 15, 2010.

Additionally, the Financial Aid Committee of the Center for Jewish Education awards scholarships based on financial need for both summer residential camps and JCC summer camps. With funding provided through several endowment funds and through the Federation’s Annual Campaign, over $123,000 has been awarded in the past three years. In addition to serving the Omaha Jewish community, a limited amount of funding is also available to Lincoln families.

Application forms are available at both of Lincoln’s synagogues: Congregation B’nai Jeshurun and Congregation Tiferth Israel -- and through the Lincoln Jewish Community School.

The 2009 Guide to Scholarship and Grant Opportunities will be distributed as an insert in the Dec. 18 issue of the Jewish Press.

The Guide will provide detailed information on application deadlines, program requirements, the securing of applications and contact information. Applications will be available by Dec. 31 on the Scholarships and Grants page of the CJE section at www.jewishomaha.org.

For more information for Omaha campers, please call the Center for Jewish Education at 334.6445 or email mgrossman@jewishomaha.org. In Lincoln, please contact David Feingold at 402.488.7711 or dfeingold@neb.rr.com.

David Feingold, Youth Scholarship Chairman for the Jewish Federation of Lincoln, contributed to this article.

The 12 tribes of Israel

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Vayeitze The Torah, in our Sidra this week, relates to us in very brief paragraphs how Jacob quickly acquired 12 sons and a daughter.

He had two wives who bore him children. The wives each had a handmaid and gave them to Jacob under the assumption that if they bore children as well with Jacob, those children also would belong to the wives.

Thus, this is the fastest way I can relate to you, the reader, how Jacob acquired his children. If you can’t do it yourself, let your servant do it for you, and the issue would then belong to you, according to the legality of the times.

It is certainly not meant to be amusing, but many readers, including me, would find it odd that the famous 12 tribes of the House of Israel were the issue of Jacob and two wives and two concubines.

DEATH MARIAN SHARF BOOKEY Marian Scharf Bookey died at the age of 98. Private services were held on Nov. 16.

One of the first women admitted to Creighton university, she graduated in 1932. She was an active volunteer in Des Moines with the National Braille Association which honored her with a Merit Award for distinguished service. In Omaha for the last 20 years, she volunteers with Jewish Senior Services/Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and the United Way. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Bookey.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Andi and Larry Kavich; grandchildren, Amee and Ted Zetzman, and Jeff Kavich; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials to the Blumkin Home.

WOMAN’S RAINCOAT FOUND LAST SPRING Mine is still missing. Do you have it? Call Judy at 498.6491.

By the way, the text points out that Joseph and Benjamin were the sons of Rachel, the most beloved of the four women who were Jacob’s partners.

And now, with a family large enough to satisfy him, Jacob leaves his father-in-law Laban and strikes out on his own. he did not neglect, however, to make sure that he would be compensated for the years of service he gave to Laban. Jacob acquired flocks and herds so that he would be a comparatively well-to-do man when he becomes independent.

In our sense of ethical conduct, we may have some reservations about Jacob’s management of his affairs.

But in the context of the story, in the ancient Near East, what Jacob did was neither unethical nor over-crafty, but simply good management and self-protection.

I find it fascinating that the Torah, knowing it would be read century after century, does not hesitate to give us -- and anti-Semites -- the story of the 12 sons.

Read these chapters again and be sure to notice who were your ancient ancestors -- one of the 12 sons of Jacob. The tradition in my family is that we are descendents of Levi. And I am proud to announce that I am, indeed, a Levi!

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

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EDITOR/BUSINESS MANAGER For the Omaha Jewish Press

Jewish Federation of Omaha has an immediate opening for Editor/Business Manager of the Jewish Press, a weekly Jewish community newspaper and web edition in Omaha. This is not an entry-level position. This position requires a hands-on leader with newspaper or related experience. Additional qualifications include but are not limited to; writing, editing, budget and content management, and knowledge of the Jewish communal organizations and religion.

The Editor/Business Manager is a full-time position with full-time benefits. Please send resume with cover letter and non-returnable work samples in PDF or text format to: Tina Story, Human Resources Specialist at tstory@jewishomaha.org. Please no phone calls.

Statewide Classified ADOPT: A truly loving married couple will provide a warm, secure, loving home for your newborn. Expenses paid. Call Lisa and Chris, 1-877-211-9199. Visit www.lisachrisadopt.com.

ADOPTION: LOVING parents and their 9-year-old adopted daughter would love a baby brother or sister. Stay at home mom, professional dad. Expenses paid. Please call Becky/Mike, 800-472-1835.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING works! Place your 25 word ad into thousands of Nebraska homes for $210. Contact the Jewish Press at 334-6448 or call 1-800-3692850.

HOLIDAY CLOSING & EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1. The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is Wednesday, Dec. 30 for the Jan. 8 issue.

There will be no Jewish Press on Jan. 1 due to staff vacations and a need to upgrade computer equipment.

Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

LOOKING FOR the classic car, truck or motorcycle of your dreams? Go to www.midwestclassiccars.com. It’s your Midwest connection to classic vehicles for sale. Need to sell a classic vehicle? For only $25, your ad with photos will run until sold! Call this newspaper today for more information or call 800-369-2850.

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Statewide filing. No office appointment necessary. Call Steffens Law Office, 308-8728327. www.steffenslaw.com. We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

FOUNDATION/BASEMENT repair. Bulging walls, broken footings, water proofing.

Statewide service. Call Landmark Construction, Terry Loos, 402-432-4517. Free estimates. Affordable. Insured. References. Member BBB. www.lincolnlandmark.com.

WALK-IN BATHTUBS $2,995, hot tubs $995 to $4,995, saunas $1,995 to $2,795.

Call 1-800-869-0406 for price list and pictures. Town Center Showcase, Lincoln, NE, goodlifespa.com.

To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return).

Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.

Readers can also submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines prior to secular and Jewish holidays.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY Memorial Hospital, Franklin, NE, recruiting Family Practice Physician or Internal Medicine Physician. Employment vacancy, Call 1:4. Critical Access Hospital. Designated Basic Trauma Center. Provider based Rural Health Clinics. New $4.1 million Outpatient Expansion. Call Jerrell Gerdes, Administrator, 308-425-6221 or send Confidential Resume to PO Box 315, Franklin, NE 68939.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

November 27, 2009

Beth El embraces new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open Arms Initiativeâ&#x20AC;?

by JILL BELMONT ples/families and their extended family Beth El Publicity Coordinator members.

With the hopes of growing the role of The components contained in the interfaith couples and families in the Initiative include opportunities for particJewish way of life, Beth El Synagogue has ipation, which relate to Jewish life-cycle announced the creation of its Open Arms events, Jewish holidays and social and Initiative. educational programs; an ongoing diaâ&#x20AC;&#x153;The doors of Beth El have always been logue with the rabbi and cantor; a group open and welcoming to interfaith cou- that will program for the specific needs of ples,â&#x20AC;? said Rabbi Mordechai Levin. its members; and a discussion group, led â&#x20AC;&#x153;They play an active role in our auxiliary by Marti Rosen-Atherton, MS, LMHP, groups and volunteer in a variety of and Rabbi Levin, offered to the extended capacities; they participate in Shabbat, family members of interfaith couples. weekday and holiday services; their chilâ&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Open Armsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; means our arms are open dren attend our religious school, cele- to anyone in the community living this brate their Bar or Bat Mitzvot, and belong to our youth groups. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Interfaith couples and Jews by choice are part of the makeup of our congregation, comprising 13 percent of our membership. Some have been members for more than 30 years. Now we are planning to do more.â&#x20AC;?

The Open Arms Initiative is a grassroots effort led by members of the congregation, according to Joanie Taking a break from a recent Open Arms Initiative meeting Jacobson, who explained the are committee members (seated), Joanie Jacobson, Rabbi evolution of the program. Mordechai Levin, and Margo Riekes; (standing), Jerry â&#x20AC;&#x153;About a year ago, I asked Katskee and Gary Rifkin. Not pictured: Ron Cooper, Joye Margo Riekes if sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be Wees and Sindie Katskee. interested in working to grow the role of story,â&#x20AC;? said Riekes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited about interfaith families at Beth El. Fortunately, this innovative and invigorated effort to she agreed. Not knowing where it would reach out to interfaith couples and share lead, we worked for the next six months, the joy of being Jewish. We want the nonalong with Joye Wees, Gary Rifkin, Ron Jewish spouse to feel comfortable in his Cooper and Jerry Katskee,â&#x20AC;? Jacobson or her Jewish home and offer support to explained. the Jewish spouse so he or she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x153;We held several meetings with Rabbi have to do all the teaching and explaining Levin and Board of Trustees President themselves.â&#x20AC;?

Steve Pitlor, and drafted what we called Jacobson noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in this for the the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Open Arms Initiative,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; a joint effort long run. The Conservative Movement between the professional staff and Beth El nationwide is broadening its horizons and congregants to be proactive - to reach out sending a new message.â&#x20AC;? to interfaith couples who have chosen to She added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a wonderful opporhave a Jewish home, as well as individuals tunity to grow our congregation, as well, considering or in an interfaith relation- and learn from each other. The ultimate ship -- and program for their particular goal for all of us? Jewish homes full of needs.â&#x20AC;? warmth and joy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very exciting time Jacobson explained that the initiative for Beth El.â&#x20AC;? includes the following goals: To create For Rabbi Levin, the Open Arms familiarity and a sense of belonging to the Initiative â&#x20AC;&#x153;adds to the many good things Jewish community; to engage interfaith we are doing at Beth El. Through this couples/families in the Jewish way of life; new project, more intermarried nonto educate interfaith couples/families members -- who may not be familiar with about Jewish traditions, customs and cer- our synagogue- will know that we welemonies; to facilitate the observance of come all who wish to become involved in Jewish holidays in the home; and to offer Jewish life, and that there is a warm place communal support to interfaith cou- for them within our doors.â&#x20AC;?

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Temple donates concert proceeds to breast cancer research

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Among the crowd who attended the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women of Valor Concertâ&#x20AC;? at Temple Israel last month was Sandy Nogg who said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was an honor and pleasure to attend the premier performance of such a

beautiful commissioned piece of music honoring a woman whose life revolved around family and music. Thanks to the Eisenberg family who should be so pleased and proud for presenting this piece to the world of music. The ensemble singing was heavenly as well.â&#x20AC;?

Jonathan Leshnoff, center, associate professor of music at Towson University in Maryland, composed the music, A Righteous Soul, for the concert which honored the life of the late Florence Eisenberg, wife of George Eisenberg, left. William Nerenberg, right, Florenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother, is Leshnoffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manager.

Funds raised by the performance were donated to breast cancer research.

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