December 12, 2003

Vol. LXXXIII No. 15 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 82 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

17 Kislev, 5764 December 12, 2003

Plight of Argentinean Jews to be Focus of Community Forum

Musical Ambassadors of Israel to Give Free Concert for Families at Temple Israel

by PAM MONSKY communities to find potenFederation Communications tial employers for specific Director individuals in the profesA community forum to sions. All applicants within discuss what the Omaha this program have a college Jewish community can do degree or higher. to help the Jews of HIAS has been helping Argentina will be held on Jews migrate throughout the Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7:30 world for more than 100 p.m., in the Kripke years. In October 2001, Federation Library. The HIAS responded to the ecocommunity forum is sponnomic meltdown in sored by the Jewish Argentina by reopening the Federation of Omaha and is HIAS Buenos Aires office. Javier Neiman open to the entire Jewish Several programs were community. established with different communities Since 2001, Argentinean Jews have around the world. been dramatically affected by the politiIn the United States, the HIAS Latin cal and economic crisis that grips the America Visa Program provides job country. Unemployment in Argentina is search, legal, and resettlement assistance 25% and close to 60% of the population to individuals from Argentina who are is under the poverty level. Thousands of unable to support themselves and their Argentinean Jews are trying to obtain families in Argentina and who seek to visas to emigrate to other countries and work in the U.S. Because Argentine Jews find work to support their families. are considered “economic migrants” and Javier Neiman, Coordinator of the Latin not political refugees, they are only able America Program at HIAS (The Hebrew to come to the U.S. on student, employImmigrant Aid Society) will facilitate the ment or religious visas. Community Forum to see if our commuFor more information about the nity is willing to pursue a plan to bring Argentinean Community Forum, please Argentinean Jewish families to Omaha. contact Janie Murow, Federation An Argentinean based in New York, Community Development Director, at Neiman is currently mobilizing all avail- 334-6566 or e-mail her at: jmurow@jewable resources in North American Jewish ishomaha.org.

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “In joyful celebration of the State of Israel, our Middle/High School will present a concert by the Seeds of Sun on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., at Temple Israel,” announced Elyce Azriel, director of the Middle/ High School.

entire community,” Azriel added. “Everyone is welcome!” Described as experiencing “the sound of Israel like you’ve never done before,” Seeds of Sun presents “a contemporary blend of the old and the new, the east and the west, the liturgical and the modern, brought to you by a fresh and innovative ensemble of Israeli jazz and world music.” Michal Cohen, Seeds of Sun vocalist, is the only female member of the group. Her family origins are Yemenite. After growing up in Rosh Ha’ayin, she was selected to be the soloist of the Central District Israel Defense Forces band. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and has performed on stages nationwide. Pianist Yoav Polachek grew up in Tel Aviv, served in the Bringing the music of Israel to Omaha on Dec. 17, are: Yoav Israeli Navy, and has been Polachek, left, Yuval Lion, Michal Cohen, Itamar Ziegler, and involved in major theater Mattan Klein of the group Seeds of Sun. productions such as Peter Seeds of Sun describe themselves as Pan and Les Miserables. Also a graduate of musical ambassadors of Israel. The five- Berklee College of Music, he returned to member group, based in New York, will Israel and worked with leading artists present an evening of musical entertain- there. He has been involved in composing ment for families with children of all music for the film industry and wrote ages for free. scores for numerous television features. “We’d like to share the fun with the Continued on page 10

The Project Dreidel Chronicles

The Empty Nest by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director (Editor’s Note: The story you are about to read is true, and used with permission.) Welcome to the second installment of The Project Dreidel Chronicles. The stories in this series will introduce you to a few of the Omaha area Jews who have been helped by Jewish Family Service. The people featured in these stories have graciously agreed to share intimate details of their lives with the community in order to increase awareness of the programs and services offered by JFS that have made such a tremendous difference in their quality of Jewish life. Your gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign supports JFS as well as the rest of our Centers of Excellence: the ADL/CRC, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services and Jewish Senior Services, as well as Federation programs such as Jewish experience scholarships, missions to Israel, birthright Israel, Children’s Needs Scholarships and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Camp Grants. When you contribute to the Federation Annual Campaign, you

Inside

make it possible for the Omaha Jewish community to take care of one another locally, in Israel and in 60 countries around the world. Despite our best efforts, our community needs continue to outpace contributions to the Federation Annual Campaign. Your increased Campaign gift ensures that every Omaha Jewish community member will have access to professional and compassionate help in a Jewish environment. Last year, JFS received 196 requests for assistance--up 39 percent from the year before. So far this year requests for assistance look like they will be the same or slightly higher than last year, but so far, the over all dollar amount per request is 8 percent higher than last year. Each month, Jewish Family Service

This Week: Introducing Jill Belmont, page 6 Rabbi Kutner to Leave Omaha: Page 2

gives out an average of $350 in grocery certificates to n e e d y Jewish families. An easy way for you to help is to purchase grocery certificates from Beth El Synagogue or Temple Israel and donate them to Jewish Family Service. It’s a double mitzvah because the congregations benefit from the certificate sales, too! As a recent empty nester, Dorothy Meyers was looking forward to having some time to do the things she never could when her three children were at home. For more than 30 years, Dorothy was a stay-at-home mom. She volunteered at her children’s school and was active in her synagogue, but taking care of her kids, husband and home was her main occupation. But finally, it was time to do something for herself.

Meyers was in her third year of school at UNO studying business administration when her husband of 32 years left her. As if that weren’t devastating enough, she soon discovered that over the years he had taken all of the equity out of their home. Unfortunately, she never paid much attention to their finances and since everything was in her husband’s name, Dorothy found herself bankrupt and homeless. The divorce lawyers could do nothing to help her. Since her classes for the semester were paid for, she continued going to school. She had a little more than a year left before she graduated with a degree. Her only possession was her car, and it soon became her home. Meyers washed up in the restrooms in the library and other public buildings. She looked for work, but found it impossible when she had nowhere to do her laundry. She’d also lost her toothbrush and toothpaste and hadn’t brushed her teeth for nearly a week. There was no way she could present Continued on page 6

Coming Next Month: Tax and Financial Planning Issue: Jan. 9

B’nai B’rith Sponsors Annual Hanukkah Run: Page 3

“Chanu-kids” Draws a Crowd: Page 4

NCSY Offers First-timers Free Trip to Conclave: Page 12

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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Beth El’s Rosh Hodesh Session to Add ‘Movement’ Dimension

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by DIANE AXLER BAUM ible collection of stories told for Beth El Synagogue by Jewish storytellers,” The Women’s Rosh Cotton said. Hodesh Group of Beth El Lerner will bring the sesSynagogue will add the sion to a lovely close by dimension of “movement” teaching two or three Israeli to its next meeting, on dances that she described as Sunday, Dec. 28, 7:30 “women’s dances, in terms p.m. Refreshments and of the sway and flow of socializing will begin at 7 their movements.” Lerner, p.m. who has taught dance in Marcy Cotton and Cheryl Omaha for many years, is a Lerner are hosting the seskey participant in Beth El’s sion at Beth El to provide Come & Dance group. Cheryl Lerner and Marcy Cotton sufficient space for Israeli Every Thursday evening, dancing. Cotton said the evening’s activities will con- she noted, “Come & Dance invites adults and teenagers nect in different ways to Hanukkah, “which tends to to join them in learning and doing a variety of dances, honor strong women because of its association with from traditional folkdances to Israeli dances of today.” Judith, of the apocryphal Book of Judith.” In preparation for the December Rosh Hodesh meetWomen who attend are invited to bring a menorah, ing, baking will be done at the synagogue on Sunday, candles, and matches for a lighting ceremony. In addi- Dec. 21, 9 a.m. To offer your help with baking, or to tion, Cotton asked them to come prepared to partici- RSVP for the meeting, please e-mail pate in a discussion of Jewish women who have played cldancer@aol.com or call Marcy at 397-9991. important roles throughout history. Beth El’s Rosh Hodesh Group was created for the Also featured will be a presentation by Anna Cotton women of Beth El to provide an open forum for disof Renee Brachfeld’s “A Light in the Wall.” This touch- cussion and to further the values of Conservative ing story about the endurance of Hanukkah Lights is Judaism. included in Peninna Schram’s Chosen Tales, an “incred-

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 Beth El School Shabbat Dinner, 7 p.m. Beth El BELLS Luncheon with Guy Matalon, 12:30 p.m. BBYO Ediar WRC Hype-Up, 7 p.m. Temple Israel JYG Event, 7:30 p.m. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 Men’s Club Meeting, 10 a.m., at Temple Israel WRJ Cradle Roll Event, 10:30 a.m., at Temple Israel C Bible Study, 11 a.m., at Beth El L Club 56, noon, at Temple Israel I 39 Forever Chanukkah Party, 6 p.m., P at Parkwood Terrace Clubhouse

& S A V E

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 YES Program, 10 p.m. “Soul of the Text” Adult Ed. Class, 11 a.m. JELS Advisory Board Meeting, noon Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 Adult Education, noon, at Temple Israel JELS/ADL Lunch & Learn, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 Hadassah Board Meeting, 10 a.m. B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon, at Park Inn Regency Lodge Crash Course in Hebrew Reading, noon Federation Planning & Evaluation Meeting, 5 p.m. Social Justice Club (Gr. 7-12), 5:30 p.m., at Temple Israel CDC and Youth Hanukkah Extravaganza, 5:30 p.m. Adult Education, 6:30 p.m., at Temple Israel Grade 7-12 Religious School/AIPAC Speaker, 6:30 p.m., at Temple Israel C Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Beth El

L THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 I Adult Education, 10 a.m., at Temple Israel P Walk-in Drop-in Activity, 10 a.m. & “Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century” with Rabbi Levin, noon, S A V E

at Beth El Yiddish Group Meeting, 1 p.m. Kripke Library Monthly Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. Friedel Hanukkah Program, 7 p.m. JOLT II Meeting, 7 p.m. LOVE Auxiliary Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Israeli Dancing, 7:30 p.m., at Beth El All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated.The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events.To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING,VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN er’s ability to transfer an Foundation Public Relations immense amount of Coordinator information in a clear Close to 60 people and concise way. He was attended the Professional easy to listen to and Advisors Seminar in reminded me of my November sponsored by favorite college profesthe Foundation of the sors.” Jewish Federation of Nelson, noting that he Omaha in partnership has attended many prewith the Omaha sentations over the past Community Foundation 30 years, said Wruck and its sponsor, The “delivered a lot of fundaSilverStone Group. Craig mental information that is C. Wruck, former presipriceless and then dent of the national applied it to very Committee on Planned advanced planning situaGiving and currently tions. And that’s hard to chair of its Government do.” Craig C. Wruck Relations Committee, Randy Endelman, spoke about “Charitable Gift Planning in the Best of Senior Vice-president and regional trust manager with Times and Worst of Times” in the morning session. Great Western Bank, was also “very pleased” with the He was “very knowledgeable,” commented Frank seminar. “I thought the speaker did a very good job.” Goldberg, a CPA with Goldberg & Shrier. Wruck “had Endelman thought the length of the four-hour morning more than an academic use of the information. He was session “was perfect. The information was very helpright on point.” ful.” Bob Nelson, vice president of the estate planning Major funding for the seminar was provided by the division of Grace-Mayer Insurance, agreed. “The most Yale Richards Professional Education Endowment Fund impressive thing about the conference was the speak- of the Jewish Federation Foundation.

Rabbi Kutner to Leave Beth Israel Synagogue by BETH COHEN Executive Director After eight years of service to Beth Israel Synagogue, Rabbi Howard Kutner has announced that he will be leaving his post as rabbi effective the end of his current contract, Aug. 1, 2004. In a letter to the congregation, Rabbi Kutner wrote, “We have had a most rewarding and fulfilling tenure in Omaha. However, our children are now at the age where Nadine and I feel it is vital to provide a yeshiva education for them. Therefore, we have reached this decision with a heavy heart after much consideration. The decision has been a difficult one as we have established many meaningful relationships and friendships with congregants and community members which we hope will continue even after we leave.” Beth Israel President David Kohll voices the feel-

ings of many congregants, “Rabbi Kutner has been an asset to our congregation and our community in so many areas. He has helped us to expand our youth and education programs, brought nationally acclaimed speakers in as scholars, worked hard to accomplish our goal of moving into a new synaRabbi Howard Kutner gogue building, built bridges with Beth Israel and community organizations, and touched so many of us spiritually.” Dr. Kohll added, “We understand the needs of his family, and wish him well in all of his future endeavors.”

! NEWS G N I K BREA

OMAHA’S FIRST ICE SCULPTED MENORAH See it when you come to Chanaukah on Wheels at Skateland Family Fun Center I-680 and Irvington Exit on Sunday, December 21 starting at 5 p.m. Don’t miss it! To reserve call Tico at the Chabad House 330-1800 or reserve online at www.nebraskajudaism.com. Look for a full story on the Ice Sculpted Menorah in next week’s Jewish Press.

December 15, 2003

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Defying E.U. Ban, Jewish Groups Post Report on Anti-Semitic Attacks

In Light of War, Annual Hanukkah Run Takes On New Theme

by TOBY AXELROD BERLIN (JTA)--In an act of defiance against the European Union, the main Jewish body in Europe has released an unpublished report that found rising antiSemitism among Muslims in Europe. Critics who want the study made public said the Vienna-based E.U. Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia was not prepared to deal with the sensitive subject of anti-Semitism among Muslims, who constitute Europe’s largest minority. The E.U. department that commissioned the report said the data was too flawed to publish. “We cannot accept that a study be confiscated on the grounds that it could create tensions,” Serge Cwajgenbaum, Secretary General of the European Jewish Congress, told JTA in a telephone interview, explaining the decision by EJC President Coby Benatoff to release the report without E.U. permission. The furor that emerged last week around the E.U. decision to withhold the report reflects increasing concern among European Jewish groups for their safety. It also raises questions about the transparency of an organization that is meant to fight discrimination against all minorities in Europe. The report was prepared last year for the Monitoring Center, but it was not released after its completion in February, and the Monitoring Center disclosed recently that it was preparing a new report to replace the first one. Those who released the report into the public arena insist they are not trying to spread fear. “Most of the Muslims in Europe, and particularly in France, are not anti-Semitic,” said Francois Zimeray, a French member of the E.U. Parliament. “They are looking for integration for themselves and they are looking for peace in the Middle East.” But, he said, “this study shows how deep the link is in Europe between criticism of Israel and anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. It also shows how the IsraeliPalestinian conflict fuels anti-Semitism and how this conflict is used by some to organize the revival of old European Christian anti-Semitic myths.” Cwajgenbaum said other attempts to address the problem of growing anti-Semitism had failed. The report, “Manifestations of Anti-Semitism in the European Union,” prepared by Berlin’s Center for Research on Anti-Semitism for the Monitoring Center, has been withheld for the past 10 months. The Monitoring Center insists it withheld the report on the basis of quality. It is preparing a fuller report to be released in early 2004.

by LOIS EPSTEIN for Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith The secular world frequently believes two myths about Hanukkah. One is that Hanukkah is the “Jewish Christmas.” The other is that Hanukkah is a major Jewish holiday. Yet, if these dual ideas are false, what, then, is Hanukkah and why is it important? The answer is quite simple: Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday, rejoicing the miracle that enabled the Jewish people to survive. It is a celebration of freedom over oppression and light over darkness. To commemorate that victory for religious freedom and the defeat of tyranny, the Henry Monsky Lodge #3306 and BBYO will sponsor its annual Hanukkah run/walk or ride. This year the theme will be “The Run for Freedom against Terrorism,” according to event organizer, Steve Riekes. In contrast to previous runs, Riekes added, this event will also be a fundraiser. Since 9/11, our world has changed dramatically. Jews in Europe and South America, in particular, have felt the effects of antiSemitism. In addition, the president has sent our military forces around the world to fight against those who want to destroy our way of life. The B’nai B’rith lodge will split the proceeds of the fundraiser. Half of the money raised will go to aid victims of terrorism in Israel and Turkey. The other half will benefit American soldiers in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. The worldwide Chabad offices will take responsibility for distributing the money to the terror victims and the Jewish War Veterans will disperse the funds to our troops. “We chose those two groups,” Lodge President Gary Javitch stated, “because we wanted to continually focus on those most affected by terrorism: the victims and our defenders.”

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“The themes of Hanukkah, the fight for religious freedom and the conquering of tyranny, fittingly apply to the groups we selected to benefit from the run,” Riekes stated. You do not have to be a runner to participate in the fundraising effort. Checks (and cash) are needed to fund two worthy groups. They are needed to make a statement: Jews will stand up to help their own. Moreover, the Freedom from Terrorism “Run” is not a race. This unique event is a group activity to draw attention to this year’s theme. Together, runners will follow a prescribed five-mile route that begins and ends at the Jewish Community Center. The run starts on Sunday, Dec. 21, 9 a.m., at the JCC Fitness Center entrance on the east side of the building. A van supplied by Nova Health Equipment Company will follow behind the group. Any participant who feels tired may elect to ride in the van for any or all portions of the route. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the run. Registrations for the run will be accepted all the way through race day. If you wish to enter, please send a check for $18 (Students: $10) or more, payable to B’nai B’rith Henry Monsky Lodge, JCC, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. A “Freedom From Terrorism” t-shirt and refreshments are included in the entry fee cost. Donations at any level can be sent to the above address, also. Those contributing $18 or more will also receive the custom-designed t-shirt. (Deadline for tshirts is Dec. 15). General donations can be sent in all through December.

Spice of Life at the CDC and FJA The Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center and Freidel Jewish Academy “joined together for the Spice of Life.” Two original “spice boxes” were created by Carole Greenberg of the CDC and Julie Phillips of Freidel. The children utilized self-expression to create their own unique objects using an assortment of materials. The joint venture was made possible by a grant from the Esther K. Newman/Carolyn Kully Fund. Left, CDC student, Rebecca, daughter of Larry and Kim Novak, and FJA student Chaim, son of Ross and Rhonda Hayward work on their spice boxes.

S! G NEW N I K BREA

OMAHA’S FIRST ICE SCULPTED MENORAH See it when you come to Chanaukah on Wheels at Skateland Family Fun Center I-680 and Irvington Exit on Sunday, December 21 starting at 5 p.m. Don’t miss it! To reserve call Tico at the Chabad House 330-1800 or reserve online at www.nebraskajudaism.com. Look for a full story on the Ice Sculpted Menorah in next week’s Jewish Press.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 12, 2003

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More than 150 children and their parents (and even some grandparents) crowded the entrance to the Kripke Jewish Federation Library Sunday. Eager to buy books and receive Hanukkah treats, the children were entertained by a magician while they waited patiently in line for a clown to make balloon sculptures. Above, Rita Paskowitz asked sisters Hannah and Leah Miller (standing), daughters of Lori and

Michael Miller, to help her animate a story for younger children. Right: Dr. Harry Klein reads a Hanukkah tale to two of his six children: Jacob and Andrew. According to Library Cochairmen Susan Rothholz and Suzanne Singer, “plenty of good books are still available for purchase. The Library not only has Hanukkah books, videos and CDs, but others suitable for both adult and children.”

IN THE NEWS Sally A. Feidman, Esq., has joined the CPA firm of Bland & Associates, P.C., as Director of Multi-State Tax Services, providing the firm expertise in multi-state tax, sales/use tax, and unclaimed property. She has more than 15 years of experience in the field of state and local taxation, and was formerly the West Sector Practice Leader for Unclaimed Property Services of a nationally recognized “Big Four” accounting firm. “Ms. Feidman is a great addition to our entrepreneurial professional team, and will allow us to build the niche market of multi-state tax and unclaimed property,” said Jerry Bland, Managing Shareholder of Bland & Associates, P.C. “Bringing Sally on board expands (our) professional tax service capabilities.” Feidman returns to Omaha from Los Angeles with her husband, Lee Jesser. She is the daughter of Mildred Feidman and the late Walter Feidman.

An original score for piano, composed by Marti Epstein, will be performed in New York City tonight by pianist Kathleen Supove. Epstein, the daughter of Omahans Tuffy and Helen Epstein, is a member of the faculty of the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston. This concert marks the first New York event devoted entirely to Epstein’s music. Supove recently recorded Epstein’s “She Fell Into a Well of Sorrows” for Koch International Classics on a CD to be released in March. Supove will also perform Epstein’s “Aqua Marine”, “Voices in Empty Rooms” and “Marie’s Waltz”.

LINCOLN CENTER

Cleo and Isaac Rogers-Marcovitz, daughter and youngest son of Mimi Rogers of Fremont and Michael Marcovitz of Monsey, NY, performed in the Nutcracker last week. Cleo danced in the role of “Ginger” and Isaac was a bee. The Bronfman Youth Fellowships are accepting applications for its fully-paid summer program in Israel. Omahan Alana Kinarsky was the first Omahan to be selected for this prestigious program. For more information, call 518.475.7121 or : www.bronfman.org for a brochure and application. The deadline is Jan. 30. Applications are also being accepted for Genesis-the summer program at Brandeis University. Genesis is an academic program with tracks in World Religions, Theater Arts, The Courts, Judaism and the Environment, Media & Ethics and Israel. For more information, visit the Genesis website: www.brandeis.edu/genesis or call 781.736.8416. Former participants include Leora Azriel, Rachel Katzman, Molly Needelman and Becky Smedlund.

The Jewish Federation of Lincoln hosted its annual meeting Sunday. Sue Schreiber, who traveled to Israel last month to attend the General Assembly of United Jewish Communities, was the featured speaker. Above, Marcia Kushner presents Mike Eppel with a certificate honoring him for his dedication and service to the Federation as Campaign Chair for the past six years.

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December 15, 2003

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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

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

Michael Liddy Ruben Lippett Boris Litvin Trenton Magid Robert Malashock Nate Mandell Harold Mann Justin Manvitz Dan Marburg Irv Marcus Myron Marko Howard Martin Sheldon C. Masnek Guy Matalon Harold Maurer John McGauvran Gerald Meyer *Bruce Meyers Joe Meyers Jon Meyers Marty Meyers Larry Meyerson Scott Meyerson Troy Meyerson Carl Milder Ben Miller Michael Miller Sidney Mirvish Stanley Mitchell Henry Monsky Gordon Moshman Stuart Muskin Ira Nathan Paul Nathan Howard Needelman Jeff Newman Alan Nogg Alvin Nogg Harold Novak Bob Olesh Phil Paley Marvin Parilman Steve Parsow Jeffrey Passer Harvey Pickel Max Platt Hap Pocras Merle Potash Ira Priluck Dave Radler Phil Ratner Jerry Raznick Miles Remer Tom Rice Jonathan Rich Phil Rich Marty Ricks Gary Rifkin Andy Robinson Dick Rochman Paul Roffman Lloyd Roitstein Thor Rosenquist Martin Rosenstein Alvin Ross Lee Ross Steven Rothenberg Mike Sadofsky Rodney Sadofsky Ernest Saltzman Errol Saltzman Kevin Saltzman Mark Sanford Joel Schlessinger Abe Schloff Dan Schuller Harry Schulman Mark Schwartz Michael Schwartz Sidney Schwartz Jeff Schweid Anthony Scioli Barry Segell George Shafer Howard Shandell Leonard Shefren Dan Sherman Dave Shkolnick Rodney Shkolnick Howard Shrier Michael Shrier Martin Shukert Alan Shulewitz Joe Shyken Paul Shyken Howard Silber James Silverman Michael Silverman

Harold Siporin Larry Siref Michael Skolkin Stephen Skulsky Harold Slosburg Norman Smeerin Jeff Smedlund Stuart Smoler Nicholas Spellman Richard Spiegal Jim Spooner Steve Stiel Alan Stoler Eli Stone Bud Studna Mark Sweet Melvin Tatelman Scott Tatelman Fred Tichauer Allen Tully Lazar Turetsky Jerald Venger Bennett Wagner Keith Wagner Jerome Wasserman Jim Wax Aaron Weiner Kenneth Weiner Marvin Weiner Phil Wolf Harry Wolfson Robert Wolfson Irvin Yaffe Laurence Zacharia Richard Zacharia Steven Zalkin Jerome Zeffren Ted Zetzman Norman Zevitz James Zipursky Barry Zoob Seymour Zoob Mort Zuber Steve Zuber

Janey Dann *Rose Davis Minde Diamond *Jean Duitch Jeanne Dvorkin *Harriet Einziger *Aileen Eisenstatt *Renee Engel *Edith Epstein *Ellie Epstein Etta Epstein Helen Epstein Jean Epstein Lisa Epstein Rosaline Epstein Sharon Epstein Jill Erman Estelle Faier Judith Feigin Beverly Fellman Mary Fellman Kay Ferer Annette Fettman Rose Fine Paulette Flatowicz Jill Folsom Rose Frankel Tiffany Franklin Robyn Freeman Norma Fried Jamie Friedland Pam Friedlander Amy Friedman Lois Friedman Barbara Frohman Susana Frydman-Levin Anne Gerber Bernice Gerber Joell Gerber Patty Gilinsky Julie Ginsberg Cindy Goldberg Wendy Goldberg Barbara Goldstein Jill Goldstein Judi Goldstein Dora Goldstrom Rini Gonsher Andie Gordman Bridget Gordman Danielle Gordman Hilde Gottlieb Diane Graul Carole Greenberg Rosalie Greenspan Pearl Gross Joy Grossman Stephanie Grossman Margie Gutnik Debbie Hale Wendy Hahn Mendy Halsted Saralee Harding Janice Harris Kathy Helm Kathy Hirshman Cookie Hoberman Pauline Hoberman Adele Hornstein Nancy Hornstein Denise Ipock Marsha Itkin Linda Jess Sylvia Jess Sheryn Joffe Ilse Kahn Roxanne Kahn Sylvia Kaiman Bernice Kaplan Charlotte Kaplan Dorothy Kaplan Nancy Kavich Beatrice Karp Frankie Kasin Leona Kasin Lucille Katelman Myllee Katelman Eve Katskee Julee Katzman Rose Katzman Shani Katzman Betty Kelberg Jenn Kirshenbaum Myrna Kirshenbaum Janet Klein Marsha Kleinberg T. Klotz Sandra Kohll

Gertrude Korney Dorothy Kotok Shane Kotok Bette Kozlen Peggy Krasne Cheryl Kricsfeld Angie Krieger Frieda Krizelman Robbi Kudym Traci Kugler Harriet Kutler Carole Lainof Barbara Lashinsky Grace Lebowich Susan Lehr Cheryl Lerner Bonnie Levinger Barbara Levitan Rocky Lewis Vera Lewis Marjorie Lincoln Louise Lippett Marcia Lipsman Anna Litvin Ellen Long Diane Malashock Jody Malashock Beverly Mauer Jamie Meyerson Harriet Miller Paula Mandell Deb Marburg Judy Marburg Sally Masnek Elinor Matalon Kathy McGauvran Tina Meyers Deenie Meyerson Jenny Meyerson Roberta Michalski Bernice Milder Sue Millward Lynda Mirvish Evelyn Mitchell Ethel Mogil Ann Moshman Jane Murow Betty Muskin Linda Muskin Elaine Nachman Laura Lee Needelman Patricia Newman Marion Nogg Sandra Nogg Rita Novak Reva Oruch Bede Ostrow Jean Paley Sylvia Parilman Margo Parsow Fefe Passer Magda Peck Betty Perelman Vicki Perlmeter Julie Phillips Shelly Pichik Gilda Pieck Ellen Platt Kimberly Placzek Suzanne Pocras Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schueller Ruth Potash Jeannie Raznick Debbie Recht Delores Redler Lola Reinglas Juliana Reno Floraine Rice Iris Ricks Paula Robinson Judith Roffman Silvia Roffman Rita Rosen Rose Rosen Sheila Rosen Toni Rosen Marti Rosen-Atherton Shirley Rosenberg Dottie Rosenblum Julie Rosenquist Willis Ann Ross Susan Rothholz Faye Ruback Betty Rubin Natalie Rubin Mary Saferstein Linda Saltzman Lynne Saltzman

Rosalie Saltzman Betty Sanford Vicki Sanford Rosalie Saylan Julia Schapiro Nancy Schlessinger Margy Schneider Heidi Schneiderman Melissa Schop Lillian Schrager Sophie Katz Schulman Kim Schwartz Lori Schwarz Phyllis Schwartz Andrea Scioli Diane Shandell Audrey Shapiro Cantor Wendy Shermet Suzy Sheldon Claudia Sherman Patty Sherman Phoebe Shkolnick Cindy Shulewitz Lisa Shkolnick Lois Shkolnick Doris Shukert Susann Shyken Leah Siegel Sissy Silber Esther Silver Susan Silver Lorraine Silverman Mimi Silverman Susan Silverman Esther Simon Josephine Simon Judy Simons Maxine Simons Marion Slosburg Charlotte Slutsky Koom Susan Somberg Helen Soiref Dorothy Spizman Gail Spooner Rocky Stern Edith Stein Debbie Stiel Marion Strauss Jill Swanberg Lynn Sweet Margaret Turetsky Sally Venger Mary Walker Phyllis Wasserman Joye Wees Shirley Weinstein Anne Weitz Allyson Wilczewski Andi Willensky Janet Wintroub Sibby Wolfson Phyllis Zabin Barbara Zacharia Terri Zacharia Rosalyn Zeffren Amee Zetzman Sally Zipursky Bev Zuber Debbi Zweiback Rosie Zweiback

Suzanne Singer Ellen Slosburg Martha Slosburg Audrey Sophir Melissa Steiner ◆ Louri Sullivan ✦ Selma Tretiak Gail Veitzer Joodi Veitzer Mimi Waldbaum

MEN’S CAMPAIGN Harold Abrahamson Alvin Abramson Tony Adelson Jeffrey Aizenberg Leon Alexander Bernie Altsuler James Anderson Rabbi Aryeh Azriel Thomas Baker Donald Baum Jim Belgrade Ben Belmont Mark Belmont Gerald Berman Harry Berman Thomas Bernstein Marvin Bittner Mike Blatt Howard Borden Bob Bournstein Morris Bresel Pete Brodkey Ron Brodkey Jack Brody Larry Budwig David Bucksner Leroy Canfield Fritz Cassman Jay Chasen Dave Chorney Irving Chudacoff Alan Cohen Bob Cohen Carl Cohen Marc Cohen Marty Cohen Sheldon Cohen Stephen Cohn David Cooper Justin Cooper Ronald Cooper Meyer Coren Sheldon Coren Jack Diamond Jacque Dolgoff David Dvorkin George Eisenberg Bob Endelman Randy Endelman Arnold Epstein Irv Epstein Gary Epstein Howard Epstein Richard Epstein Sam Epstein Abraham Faier Scott Farkas Ronald Feldman Dick Fellman Cantor Leo Fettman Paul Fine Joel Finkel Glen Fineman Hersz Flatowicz Jim Folsom Irving J. Forbes Thomas Frank Melvin Freeman Robert Freeman Alan Fredricks Marshall Fried Stuart Fried Lloyd Friedman Morris Friedman Scott Friedman Thomas Friedman Walter Friedlander Robert Fromkin Julius Froom Larry Gendler David Gerber Donald Gerber Paul Gerber Robert Gerelick Moshe Gershovich

David Gilinsky Ron Giller Stu Giller Bennett Ginsberg Lawrence Ginsburg Sherman Golbitz Bob Goldberg David Goldberg Frank Goldberg Richard Goldberg Howard Goldstein Brad Goldstrom Larry Goldstrom Mark Goldstrom Rabbi Allan Gonsher Alan Goodman Robert Goodman Tom Goodman Jay Gordman Eddie Gorelick Steve Gorelick Kip Gordman Peter Gordon Steve Gottlieb Saul Graetz Richard Grant Lonnie Graul Brad Green Gary Green Andrew Greenberg Barton Greenberg Henry Greenberg Dan Greenfield Bill Greenhill Bud Greenspan Alex Grossman Barry Grossman Joe Guss Vic Gutman Bruce Gutnik Michael Halsted Sheldon Harris Mace Hack Larry Herman Richard Heyman Donald Hoberman Jerry Hoberman Kenneth Hoberman David Hoffman Philip Itkin Adam Jacobs Art Jacobson Richard Jacobson Marcel Kahn Howard Kaiman Jerome Kaiman Lazar Kaplan Myron Kaplan Robert Kaplan Sandy Kasin Jerry Katskee Michael Katzman Leslie Kay Larry Kelberg Corey Kirshenbaum Tom Kirshenbaum Donald Klein Harry Klein Milton Kleinberg Alan Kohll Harold Kosowsky David Kotok Jack Kozlen Mark Kraft Howard Krantz Leonard Krasne Manfred Kreitstein Stanley Krieger Gary Kudym Abram Kukawka Alan Kulakofsky David Kutler Howard Kutler Stuart Kutler Wayne Lainof Alan Langnas Morey Landman Ben Lebowich Michael Leibowitz Robert Lepp Gary Lerner Ben Levin Hugh Levin Rabbi Mordechai Levin Mike Levine Steve Levinger Jason Levy Roland Lewis

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Helen Abrahamson Doris Abramson Sheri Abramson Arlene Adelson Charlotte Adler Susan Aizenberg Paula Albert Eleanor Alexander Mildred Altman Beatrice Appel Joyce Ashley Barbara Ault Elyce Azriel Amber Baker Jill Baron Diane Axler Baum Arlene Beber *Robyn Belgrade *Jill Belmont *Marilyn Berman *Mary Berman Mary Bernstein Phyllis Bittner *Juni Bloch *Margaret Block *Rachel Bloom *Chris Blumkin *Cindy Bogdanoff *Marian Bookey *Midge Bowers *Kelly Broder Beth Brodkey Carol Brodkey *Stacie Brodkey *Florence Brody Michelle Bucher *Molline Cassman *Edith Chesen *Arlene Cohen *Beth Cohen Elberta Cohen Elizabeth Cohen Joyce Cohen *Marla Cohen *Linda Cohn *Naomi Cohn *Soralee Cohn Lisa Coren *Fran Coren Rae Coren *Minnie Cutler

■ New Pacesetter ● New Lion of Judah ◆ New Ben Gurion Society ✦ New Pomegranate ♥ New Ruby Lion

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

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

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 12, 2003

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Home, Sweet Home

METAPHORICALLY Sby PEAKING JILL BELMONT It’s hard to leave home. It doesn’t matter if it’s for the best of reasons, like going to college, getting married, a much-sought-after job transfer, a larger or smaller house...even the most exciting life change can carry an unsettling flip-side that makes you question the decision to uproot yourself. So, despite a bit of uncertainty, I am indeed leaving home...(I’m taking my family with me, of course!), and after almost 18 years in the same place, we’re heading to a new home. So what’s the big deal? Okay--we’re not moving across the world, across the country, or even across the city-but we’ll be bunking at a new place that won’t have that homey, comfortable feel that I crave, not until walls are painted, boxes are unpacked and we remember which stuff is in what drawer. And that’s what’s keeping me up at night: leaving the comfort of what I know for the strange and unfamiliar. So why are we doing this? For several years, my partner in crime and I had dreamed of moving to a different house. We looked and looked, but either the homes or the timing wasn’t right. Still, the thrill of the chase was fun, always wondering but never knowing if the perfect house was right around the corner. Finally, two months ago we fell in love with a house and bought it the first day we saw it--which still stuns me, as both Mark and I are fairly cautious-thinking people, not at all impulsive types. But after house-hunting for so long, this just felt right and we knew it right away. This was not a time to ponder and analyze; if we didn’t act immediately, someone else would. So we just closed our eyes and jumped--and then the sleepless nights began. Suddenly I felt as if somebody had called my bluff. I had gotten what I wished for--and you know what they say about that. I began to vacillate between feelings of great euphoric excitement and a type of anxiety that took up residence in my brain, screaming things like, “What are we, nuts?” “What did we just do?” or, “I’ve only been in the basement once...what does it look like again?” “Is the water pressure decent?” “I don’t even know where the phone jacks are!” “There’s no broom closet?” “Are we out of our minds?” (Imagine something akin to

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a nuclear-sized neurotic overload, and you’ll have a clear picture of my 3 a.m. tirades.) So now we’re leaving the home that has embraced our family for so long. Don’t get me wrong, this house is not perfect, it has its battle scars and quirky nuances: the hole in the wall made by the errant baseball, the door that tends to stick shut in warm weather; the floorboards that creak, but I'm familiar with these idiosyncrasies and they don’t bother me. I’ve lived with them for a long time. What surprises will this new house hold? And the most ironic thing is that now that our house is perpetually white-glove clean and always ready for a last-minute showing to prospective buyers, it has gained our newly-dusted appreciation. Why are we moving again? My home is a life-sized scrapbook. It is heavy with the accumulated weight of 17 years of my family’s memories and milestones: my children’s bedrooms, where years ago, I rocked hungry, fussy infants back to sleep in the middle of the night; the corner of the kitchen which for so long housed the blue playpen with its festive, patchwork quilt that fascinated our babies; the kitchen itself, where each child took his and her first steps and dropped food from their high chairs to the waiting dog below; the “hideout” under the basement stairs, which befuddled many a searcher during giggling games of hide-and-seek; the hearth in the great room, which doubled as a stage for small performers singing songs from The Sound of Music and favorite Disney movies; the staircase, dripping with cascading birthday balloons, which greeted and delighted the kids on the mornings of their special day. This home speaks volumes. And while I will always carry these memories in my mind and in my heart wherever I go, it’s still sad to leave this place where they were made. Yes, I know that home is wherever our family is, and I know that this move is a good thing, an exciting change, something we’ve looked forward to for years. I’m no longer fretting about what the new basement looks like or where the phone jacks are. Soon we’ll have that comfortable, dug-in feeling, and with much love and care we will make this new house our home, and with it, new memories. So when I close the door of my home behind me for the last time and roll out the welcome mat at the new place, it will be with the hope and confidence that wherever we are, there's truly no place like home. Jill Belmont is a longtime freelancer for the Press and can be reached at Bean2k@aol.com.

The Project Dreidel Chronicles

The Jewish Press will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1. Deadlines for ads, articles and photos for upcoming issues are at noon, as follows: Issue Deadline Dec. 26 Wednesday, Dec. 17 Jan. 2 Wednesday, Dec. 24

Continued from page 1 herself as a candidate for any kind of job. Even with all her determination to succeed, the humiliation of her situation was taking its toll. One day, when Meyers was washing up in the UNO library restroom, she was befriended by a woman who offered to take her into her home. The woman was an acquaintance from one of Dorothy’s classes, and having no other viable options, Dorothy gratefully accepted. The arrangement quickly became uncomfortable, though as the woman began pressing her fundamentalist beliefs on Dorothy, noting that the Jewish community wasn’t doing anything to help her. Meyers realized then that she hadn’t really asked for help from the Jewish community and contacted Jewish Family Service the next day. The staff was able to get Dorothy the necessities like hygiene products and clean clothes. They also found her an apartment with a roommate to share expenses. In May, Dorothy plans to graduate with a business degree. She’s confident her degree will lead to a satisfying job with decent wages so that she can remain selfsufficient. For now, she’s grateful to the Omaha Jewish community and to JFS for their generous support.

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Children to Make Menorahs, Dreidels and Latkes This Sunday

OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Rabbi Aryeh Blum will deliver a parasha shiur on Shabbos afternoon, Dec. 13, 4:30 p.m. Time for Torah will continue Monday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m., at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. “Hidden Dimensions of Psalms,” organized by Shirley Goodman is on Tuesday, Dec 16, 4:30 p.m., at the home of Annette Fettman. Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman will explore the meaning of psalms. Join Rabbi Blum for Lunch ’n Learn at the Kripke Library, Wednesday, Dec 17, noon. Crash Course in Hebrew Reading meets at noon as well at the JCC; the Advanced Hebrew Comprehension Class meets at 7 p.m. at the OCTL House. Call 981-0569 for more information. OCTL will be offering a new class in knitting kippas in January; call 320-8055 for information. Save the date: Saturday night, Dec. 27; we are having a Social Hanukkah Jigsaw Puzzle night for couples!

Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday at the JCC. Play bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Stacey Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share for “YES Talk” at 11 a.m. Following lunch at noon, join us for Queen Eleanor of Aquataine (married to Henry II). Ina Weiner -will dress in character of this feisty Queen. For transportation call Dee Dee at 330-4272. Call Maggie Conti at 334-6521 for all reservations: Bluffs Run Casino on Dec. 18 and the Annual Hanukkah Party on Dec. 22. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Want a place to brush up on your Yiddish? Join us every Thursday, 1-3 p.m., at the JCC. Call Anne Skolkin for information at 343-1638. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Pat Persaud will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, noon, at Park Inn Regency according to Gary Javitch, December Chairman. Persaud, co-anchor for WOWT Channel 6 news, will discuss current events. Cost is $9 for lunch and $2 for beverage service only. Breadbreakers is open to the community.

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Page 7

ORGANIZATIONS

by RABBI TUVIA HOFFMAN for Etz Chayim Preschool This Sunday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m., Etz Chayim Preschool will host a pre-Hanukkah party. Not only will children have the opportunity to make holiday crafts, they will be able to have a swing at making their own latkes. Babysitting will be provided to give parents a chance to enjoy a little time for something just for them. Come to our new school, Etz Chayim, and enjoy the upcoming holiday festivities. Everyone is welcome, whether your child is preschool age or pre-preschool age. Let your child make their very own dreidel to spin and menorah to light. You will be able to see for yourself why the children love the warmth and attention they receive Lead teacher Shari Blum shares recess fun with from their teachers. While the children are being some of her students. entertained and occupied with seize the moment to pull up a chair and menorah and dreidel making, I will be be inspired by the same inspiration that offering a class for adults titled “Lights sparked the holiday of Hanukkah. amongst the Darkness”. Hectic schedFor more information, call me at 981ules and parenting keep us very busy, so 0569.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 12, 2003

Opinion The Perfect Hanukkah Gift David Letterman isn’t the only one to have a Top Ten list--so does the Jewish Press. So here’s our list of Top Ten Hanukkah gifts for 2003. Feel free to take any of these at face value and make them yours--or come up with your own list! 10. Books in the home. Would that every Jewish family boasted their own library of Judaica and started their children on their own collections, too. (You can get a head start by purchasing books at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library!) 9. Good health. Walking 30 minutes a day is said to be a key to a long life. If you’re already a member of the JCC, visit the Sokolof Fitness Center and start walking on the beautiful indoor track (for now). If you’re not a member, call 334-6425 and JCC Assistant Director Lisa Shkolnick will be happy to assist you. And, if you think the price of membership might be beyond your ability to pay, you can be assured that your conversation with her will remain private and confidential. 8. Long-term health insurance. So you’re already exercising--great! If you’re under 60, talk to your insurance agent today about adding long-term health insurance coverage to your portfolio. The younger you sign on the dotted line, the lower your annual premium. Having coverage will protect your spouse and children from having to pay the full ride. You’ll might be disqualified if you’re already ill--consider purchasing it now when you’re healthy! Besides--it’s a good reimbursement rate for the Blumkin Home. 7. Genetic testing for young people. A simple blood test can now be used to discover whether someone is a carrier for seven dif-

ferent diseases most commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews--from Tay Sachs and Canavans to Cystic Fibrosis. Omaha has not run community-wide testing since the early 1980s and that was only for Tay Sachs. Luckily a committee has been formed and is working with local health agencies and medical schools; we anticipate publishing more information soon. 6. Quality Jewish education for our young people. Whether it’s “importing” professionally trained Jewish educators from Argentina or Israel--or beefing up the teacher in-service days for our part-time religious school educators, the community must work together to raise the quality of Jewish education our young people deserve. Jewish summer camping and Israel experiences are helpful--and powerful--and, thanks to the Federation, there are grants (and scholarships, too) for both. But if we expect future leadership to understand the question “Why be Jewish” it’s up to us to provide top notch educational experiences for them now. And that means top notch teachers. 5. LOJE and PACE. Here’s another wish that would strengthen the financial future of this community: endowments that will throw off enough income to cover a donor’s gift-even after death. A Lion of Judah or Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment would do just that. Call Marty Ricks, Foundation Director, at 334.6440, to see how you can assign a paidup insurance policy or use appreciated stocks to create an endowment for your campaign gift. Now’s the right time of year! 4. More advertisers in the Jewish Press. Now that’s something we can get behind! The

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more advertisers, the more pages--so if you’ve got any leads, call us at 334.6448! 3. Winning Powerball. This one you can figure out on your own (and what fun it would be to write six-figure checks to your favorite charitable organizations!). 2. Celebrate Shabbat. It’s said that the Moshiach will arrive when all Jews in the world celebrate two Shabbats in a row, which brings us to our Top Ten wish for Hanukkah: 1. Peace. Give tzedakah; be nice; take care of yourself; and celebrate Shabbat. And maybe, just maybe, there will be peace in Israel, peace in our hearts and peace in Israel.

LETTER FROM ISRAEL by HARRY ALLEN With hardly any notice of “kof-tet b’November”, the 29th of November has passed. It was just 56 years ago that the United Nations passed its heroic resolution creating the State of Israel. Hanging on our Jerusalem wall is a telegram from Harry Shapiro, the Director of the American Zionist Emergency Council, instructing those of us who headed local councils to plan community celebrations. The telegram ended with prophetic words: “There may be very trying times ahead, but for now, let us celebrate our achievement.” Trying times indeed, but none so trying as those which Israel and the Jewish people now face. The Palestinian Intifada has killed more than 900 Israelis (and Americans) and wounded more than 6000, many of whom will live out their lives with debilitating handicaps. But of all the trials we face, the mounting self-destructive defeatism may well be the most difficult. The worst manifestation is the so-called Geneva Initiative launched by Yossi Beilin and blessed by Jimmy Carter, arguably one of the least effective presidents in American history. The Geneva Initiative is not a program for Neville Chamberlain’s “Peace in our time”, but rather a Munich-like prelude to a more violent and perhaps fatal attack on Israel. This column is too short to permit a full and detailed analysis of the proposals (see David Bedein’s op-ed on the opposite page), so we will concentrate on just a few of its salient and disastrous articles. The proposal to divide Jerusalem is not only morally indefensible, but it is impossible to implement and administer. To draw boundaries around the hodgepodge of

Jewish Press Committee Howard K. Marcus, Vice-Chairman; Bobbi Leibowitz, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Finance Chairman; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Fred Tichauer, Immediate Past-chairman; Jean Duitch; Penny Endelman; Kip Gordman; Stanley Mitchell; George Quittner; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Nancy Skid; and Melanie Weinstein. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press and the Foundation are constitional committees of the Jewish Federation. Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

A Prelude to More Attacks? Jerusalem geography--this street for the Palestinians, that one for the Israelis--is the ultimate exercise in futility. Perhaps the silliness can best be illustrated by the plan’s proposal of giving Israel absolute rights on the Mount of Olives Cemetery (which had been desecrated by the Jordanians between 1948 and 1967) in exchange for giving Palestinians control of the Templar Cemetery in Baka--a neighborhood long part of Jerusalem and Israel’s answer to the Upper West Side of New York. The Templar Cemetery was established by the German Knights of Templar in the 19th century as a burial place for Christians (not Muslims). Why the Palestinians need to have any say in its use is beyond me! But of more concern is the bargaining away of the rights of Israel and the Jewish people to the Old City and the Temple Mount. As Daniel Gordis (a Conservative rabbi and a former administrator of the University of Judaism in Los Angeles) noted in a seminal analysis of the Beilin plan, bargaining away Jewish rights to the Temple Mount destroys 2000 years of Jewish hopes and traditions. One just does not do this to the Jewish people--even if one is post-Zionist secular Jew. Nowhere in the plan is it explicitly stated that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The “New” Palestine is correctly labeled as a “state of the Palestinian people.” Israel is allowed to exist as a “state for its inhabitants”--a far different kind of nomenclature. And, the so-called “right of return” for refugees is addressed only obliquely and not directly. What Beilin is asking Israel to do is sacrifice the tangible for the amorphous concept of peace with the Palestinians. That’s what Oslo tried to do--and Oslo unleashed the horrendous intifada with which we now live. Those who have read this column over the years know that I have never been in favor of the settlement policy. But to cavalierly

Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Ray Pred Account Executive Timothy J. Ketelsen Bookkeeper

assume that one can take the 200,000+ Jews from their homes to satisfy the Palestinians is simply to ignore the terrible social and political consequences of such a policy within Israel. Israelis left, right, and center will not go quietly into the long night should any government try to implement such a policy without a very, very long timeline. Munich and “peace in our time” with Chamberlain triumphantly waiving a piece of paper ushered in the worst blood letting of World War II. We must not let Geneva become the progenitor of a similar disaster for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

LETTER

TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor: I am happy for my friend, Michael Linn, who is embarking on a new aspect of his career and am sorry it is not here in Omaha. He tried for a couple of years to find a position locally, but to no avail. What bothers me is the almost non-existent help from the Jewish community and the Federation to assist Michael and other Jews who are unemployed and underemployed. The concern seems to try and attract Jews to Omaha, but not to retain those already here and contributing to the community. I am for attracting new Jews to the community, but we must try not lose those already here. We have lost a very active person and family (who) are hard to replace. I wish my friend the best of luck and hope the next community finds in him the gem that Omaha lost. The Omaha Jewish community should learn a lesson from this and establish a program to help those that were in Michael’s position and try to retain those Jews and not lose them to other communities. Les Kay

Editorial The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, noon, eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1-402-334-5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be singlespaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $31 per calendar year U.S.; $35 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or to ckatzman@jewishomaha. org.

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BEHIND THE HEADLINES The Geneva Discord by YITZHAK SOKOLOFF and DAVID BEDEIN Although polls taken over the past decade do confirm that most Israelis are indeed willing to accept a significant territorial compromise with the Palestinian Arab people to achieve a lasting peace, a poll conducted by The Peace Index Project of the Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research at Tel Aviv University showed only 18% of the Israeli public expressed support for Yossi Beilin’s Geneva Initiative. Why is this the case? Because the Israeli public, including people who are passionately committed to the idea of such a peace process, have become skeptical of those who speak peace in one language and at the same time encourage their children to engage in mass murder. At the “launching” of the “Geneva Public Initiative” there were no signs of such skepticism. Yossi Beilin stood beside Yased Abed Rabo, until recently the head of the Palestinian Ministry of Information and declared, “Now we have a partner”, not withstanding the fact that it was Rabo’s own colleagues who produced and broadcast the sermons and musical film clips that deny Israel’s right to exist and blatantly incite Palestinian teenagers to become suicide bombers. In addition, it had been Rabo who led the international lynch mob falsely accusing Israel in Jenin in 2002. Neither Rabo nor Beilin, nor any other official spokesman from either side, saw fit to condemn the use of terror by Palestinians against Israeli civilians. Neither did they call upon Palestinian organizations to cease the use of terror even before the conclusion of a political agreement. On the contrary, the Geneva Initiative actually encourages such terror by requiring a total amnesty for all Palestinian terrorists, including those members of the Islamic Jihad who even last week attempted to infiltrate a suicide bomber into an Israeli high school in order to massacre hundreds of Israeli children. At the launching event of the Geneva Initiative, 10 Palestinian speakers spoke of Israel as an “apartheid”, “criminal” or “racist” state, glorifying Palestinian martyrs and lamenting the fate of the prisoners, regardless of the heinousness of their crime. Ten Israeli speakers responded in a language of desperation, despair and blind hope in the ultimate good will of their partners from the PLO. There was little opportunity for questions last week. The five-hour Geneva Initiative was a photo-op, not a media event for inquiry, even though more than 280 news agencies showed up •Why is Israel required to start withdrawals immediately [Article 5, Paragraph 7(b)], there is no time element associated with disbanding the PLO terrorist infrastructure “irregular forces or armed bands” [Article 5, Paragraph 1(b)iv]? • Since the Geneva Initiative provides for a non-militarized Palestinian state, why is there no provision for clearing out such weapons-smuggled in defiance of Oslo Accord stipulations-weapons that currently exist in large numbers in areas under control of the PA? • While the Initiative would detail the weapons the “non-militarized” PLO state’s Security Force could possess [to be spelled out in Appendix X, which has not been agreed upon yet], this list can be changed at any time without Israel’s consent. • Palestine would be able to enter into defense pacts with even the most radical Muslim state as long as the

treaties do not specifically mention “launching aggression or other acts of hostility” against Israel [Article 4, Paragraph 1(b)iii.] In other words, the Palestinians will be allowed to sign defense pacts with Iran, which has been fighting a proxy war against Israel from Lebanese territory for the last 15 years, and which has publically declared that its national strategic objected is the destruction of the Jewish state. •Why are Security Provisions so shortlived? Monitoring of international entry points into a Palestinian State will be by a Implementation and Verification Group composed of the US, Russian Federation, EU, UN and regional representatives (i.e. Arab states) that can be terminated after five years. [Article 5, Paragraph 11 (d)]. In light of 10 years of PA non-compliance with the Oslo Accords, how can Israel be asked to trust that security provisions would be required only for a few years? • What will happen if the Palestinian State will prove itself no more inclined to prevent murderous attacks on Israel by the Hamas, the Islamic Jihad or Arafat’s own force, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, than did the Palestinian Authority did under the Oslo Accords? What if the Palestinian State were more successful at smuggling in weapons and missiles than its predecessor? None of the Geneva Initiative spokespeople were prepared to address that issue. The Initiative deigns to solve the Palestinian refugee problem by making it the responsibility of the international community, including Israel. It requires Israel to assume the responsibility to indemnify Arabs who have lived their lives as refugees. At the same time, there is no mention of the responsibility of the Arab oil states for having launched an invasion of Israel within minutes of its birth to bear expenses resulting from their actions. One of the most striking lessons of the successful aftermath of World War II was the creation of stable democracies in Japan and Germany, which has resulted in 60 years of peace and stability. Yet the Geneva Initiative denies the Palestinian people the rights granted the Germans and the Japanese. At this writing, over 200 Palestinians currently await execution for a variety of real and imagined offenses against the Palestinian Authority. The Geneva Initiative recognizes Palestinian territorial claims to the entirety of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Gaza. Jewish communities will be dismantled, unpopulated regions of Israel will be transferred to Palestine, and over a million Arabs who define themselves as being Palestinian will continue to live in Israel. Both Jews and Moslems have deep religious and historical ties to the Temple Mount. The Initiative rules out the concept of joint sovereignty, or no sovereignty, and reinforces an extreme Islamic argument, which is not even held by all Moslems--that the Jewish presence in the historical land of Israel and especially on the Temple Mount has no historical basis. And the Palestinian response? “...We will start a Popular Campaign in Palestine and in Exile: ‘Return First, and Peace for Two Nations in One State’,” stated a FATAH press release. David Bedein is the Bureau Chief of the Israel Resource News Agency in Jerusalem. Yitzhak Sokoloff is a fellow of the Rennert Center for Jerusalem Studies--Bar Ilan University and Senior Fellow of the Jerusalem Public Policy Center.

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December 15, 2003

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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 1502 N. 52 St. Omaha, NE. 68104 -5013 556-6288 BethIsrael@novia.net

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you’re looking at this space, so are others! YOUR AD CAN GO HERE... to reserve space, call Allan Handleman, 334-6451, or Ray Pred, 334-6559.

December 12, 2003

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Hanukkah celebration, 7:30 p.m. Please bring your menorah and candles to participate in the annual community menorah lighting. a Potluck oneg will follow services. Call Sandra Kurland, at 232.8885.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: We welcome Shabbat with a musical Kabbalat Service, 6 p.m. BESTT will sponsor a festive Hanukkah-Shabbat Dinner complete with a program of songs and surprises, starring Cantor Bogomolni. Free babysitting available. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. Prof, Guy Matalon, Director of Jewish Educational and Library Services, will deliver the D’Var Torah. Junior Congregation, meets in the Chapel, 10:30 a.m. K’tantan, for Kindergarten through Grade Three, starts 10:45 a.m. Evening Services, 4:40 p.m. Prof. Matalon will explore interfaith tensions with “Maimonides on Them and Us,” at the BELLS luncheon after morning services. Cost is $7.50. For reservations, please call the synagogue office, 492-8550. SITTER SERVICE In addition to our longstanding Saturday morning Sitter Service, we now offer Friday Night Sitter Service on a drop-in basis at no charge. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY: Rabbi Levin invites BESTT parents to a lively, informative session on “Everything You Want to Know about Celebrating Hanukkah,” 10-11 a.m., in the Library. Bible Study Group meets at 11 a.m. in the Library, under the guidance of Dr. Leonard Greenspoon. The group continues exploration of The Book of

Samuel. New adult students are welcome. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. Adult B’nai Mitzvah class meets again with Cantor Bogomolni; Thursday, Dec. 18, noon: “Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century”--Rabbi Levin’s popular Thursday class will meet Optional lunch available at 1 p.m. For more information, call the synagogue, 492-8550. COME & DANCE! Israeli Dance group invites adults and teens, Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. For information, please contact Cheryl Lerner, 3348430 or cldancer@aol.com.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Services, 4:40 p.m. The West Minyan is at the home of Rabbi B.P. and Rocheyl Simon at 4:40 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Sisterhood; Shabbos House, 3 p.m., at the Simon home; Mincha, 4:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:41p.m. NCSYers, fifth-12th grades) are invited to make sufganiyot (Hanukkah donuts) at the synagogue, 7 p.m. SUNDAY: Morning Services, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 4:35 p.m. PreHanukkah dinner, 5:30 p.m. Weekday Morning Services, 7 a.m.; Weekday Mincha and Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m. MONDAY: Talmud Class, with Rabbi Kutner following evening minyan. Class with Rabbi Simon: “Hanukkah History, Halacha and Hashkafa”, 8:30 p.m. at the home of Fishel and Jean Paley. WEDNESDAY, noon: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Kutner at the new office of Joe Kirshenbaum, 1125 So. 103 St., Suite #580 (in One Pacific Place). A Bagel Bin lunch is avail-

Friday, December 12, 4:39 p.m.

able for $5. Call the synagogue office to order.

BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Kaballat Shabbat Services, 7:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Religious school at the JCC, 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: Judy Radloff will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah at Morning Services, 9:30 a.m.

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

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Rabbi Debbie Stiel will be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, all day. You may reach her 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 416-2321 (local for Lincoln), or at rabstiel@aol.com. FRIDAY:Shabbat Services, 7:45 p.m. Oneg to follow. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m. ADULT EDUCATION THURSDAY: Midrash Writing Workshop, 7:30 p.m. CHILDREN’S TRIP TO OMAHA Monday, Dec. 29: Lincoln kids can make a trip to Omaha’s Jewish Community Center, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., If you’re interested, please e-mail or phone Lori Merliss right away at: lorimerliss@msn.com or call her at: 328-0414.

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

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

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

Seeds of Sun to Perform Next Week Continued from page 1 Originally from Ramat Gan, Itamar Ziegler, bass player for Seeds of Sun, played with a blues band in Israel. He was invited to play with blues guitarist Oz Noi and with others including Sting guitarist Hiram Bullock, Miles Davis, and Billy Joel. In New York. He also played with the Hip Hop group, Sideffect, with Reggae singer Tomer Yosef and is a member of the groups Pinknoise and The Blam. Drummer Yuval Lion is from Tel Aviv and played with the Israel Air Force Orchestra when he was serving in the military. He has performed with many artists in Israel and in New York. Lion’s original drumming style has kept him busy on the Rock-Funk scene including with Lizzy Wes, a Warner Brothers recording artist, and with Superlux. Mattan Klein, who plays the flute, is from Jerusalem and is a Berklee College of Music graduate. He has performed with Berklee faculty members and per-

Candlelighting

formed on tours in Europe, Brazil, and across America with his original jazzfusion group. With a trio he co-founded and leads, he has performed in numerous venues across North America. Klein said Seeds of Sun is “very excited about coming to Omaha for the first time” emphasizing that the concert is “for all ages.” Azriel explained that the concert is being presented as part of Temple Israel Middle/High School’s unit on Chagigat Yisrael, “a Celebration of Israel.” “Chagigat Yisrael is an opportunity for our seventh through 11th graders to joyfully celebrate the State of Israel,” she said. While participating in interest forums ranging from art, current events, dance, drama, film, conversational Hebrew, choral reading, photography, and planning a spring chavurah on Israel, students will be exposed to Jewish life there, gain a sense of closeness and identification with Israel, and develop a desire to travel there.

us for some relaxation and great conversation, 11:45 a.m.; Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and members of the Temple Youth Group will lead a Shabbat Service, at Remington Heights; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:30 p.m.: Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. Rabbi Marantz will give the sermon. The Oneg Shabbat is sponsored by the Women of Reform JudaismOmaha. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. OMAHA CENSUS FORUM SUNDAY, 10-11:30 a.m. Temple will host OTOC (Omaha Together One Community) leaders in a presentation and open discussion about what can be learned from the results of Omaha’s 2000 Census. OTOC is an interfaith, interracial grassroots organization of which Temple Israel is a member. ADULT EDUCATION WEDNESDAY, noon-1 p.m.: Conversations with Rabbi Marantz. Bring your own lunch to this informal disucssion. THURSDAY, 10-11:30 a.m.: “Adult Study With The Clergy” with Rabbi Azriel leading this week’s discussion.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m. SATURDAY: USY SHABBAT-members of USY will lead most of the service, read from the Torah and give the D’var Torah at the Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:15 a.m. A kiddush lunch, prepared by USYers, will follow services. WEDNESDAY: The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. HANUKKAH LATKE FEST Sunday, Dec. 21, noon: Join the congregation after religious school for this annual event.

BAR MITZVAH Joseph “Joey” F. Kahn, son of Roxanne and Robert Kahn, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Beth El Synagogue. A seventh-grade honor roll student at Beveridge Magnet School, Joey was selected to participate in the Duke University Talent Search. He is active in the school’s scient club and the JCC’s Boy Scoout Troop #218 and enjoys playing sports. For his mitzvah project, Joey collected personal care items for Jewish Family Service. He has an older sister, Becky. Grandparents are Mary Lou and Arthur Walker and Isle and Marcel Kahn.

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December 12, 2003

The War That Never Was

SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Vayishlah Our Sidra describes the fear that Jacob had when he knew he had to confront his brother, Esau. Jacob had been in Mesopotamia for 20 years. Nonetheless, he feared an encounter with his brother lest the anger that Esau (rightfully!) had cherished for Jacob was still operative. Jacob prepares for the worst. He sends groups of flocks and herds on ahead with the instruction to his hired hands to tell Esau that these are gifts from Jacob. And then he arranges for his family to come with his most beloved ones at the rear, hoping that if Esau attacked that Rachel and her children could somehow escape. Esau indeed was coming to meet Jacob and his retinue with his own private army of 400 men. And yet no angry confrontation occurred. They met and departed from each other peacefully. I could not help thinking of the present situation in Iraq--here two world views are meeting--West and East. It is not a pleasant meeting. The “coalition” has lost many soldiers, who have been shot and killed from

ambush with no enemy really to be seen. It is a situation that cries for solution, but none has offered itself. The apprehension, in my mind, is a possible explosion of this unhappy situation into a major war of the East and the West. If such a dire situation occurs, it will not be long before nuclear weapons are involved. Should that happen, we face nothing less than the extinction of mankind. If the cockroaches have newspapers, their headlines will say: “The Cockroaches Inherit the Earth!”. Jacob sent gifts ahead. What kind of gifts to the East should we send, we in the West who have hopes for mankind, indeed, a better mankind than we now have. It was certainly not our fault that the progressive West has left the lazy-minded East unprepared to compete in technology, culture, and the normal use of and enjoyment of the gifts of life available to us. Why has the Arab-Muslim world not moved ahead as fast as the West? What restraints, religious or cultural, prevented them from exploiting the expanded possibilities of life in our 21st Century? Do we have any right to hold for ourselves in the West the goodies that science and technology have produced, reserved for the nations of the West? Ought there not to be an unselfish, joyous, generous sharing of all that we have with those who have not yet arrived? Call it socialism if you will--but is there any other solution?

• Fewer French people agree with the views of JeanMarie Le Pen’s National Front, according to a poll. Agreement with Le Pen's views were down to 22 percent of French from 28 percent last year; 75 percent of respondents said they're hostile toward the far-right party. The opinion poll, conducted annually by the Sofres Institute, was published Tuesday in Le Monde. The survey found that even among those who support Le Pen’s xenophobic policies, many hold negative personal views of Le Pen himself. Le Pen received almost 18 percent of the votes in the second-round runoff against incumbent Jacques Chirac in the May 2002 presidential elections. • A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives embraces unofficial Israeli-Palestinian peace proposals. The resolution, introduced Tuesday by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA.), calls on Israeli, Palestinian and U.S. leaders to work with advocates of alternative peace plans to end violence in the region and seek lasting peace. “We must support the pursuit of peace in the Middle East through all serious and credible means,” Capps said. “When prominent Israelis and Palestinians make significant progress toward compromise on the issues that have divided them for decades, the United States should offer our strong support and encouragement.”An identical resolution was introduced last month in the Senate by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA.). • Israel will not support an Irish-sponsored U.N. resolution condemning religious intolerance. In a slap at Ireland for withdrawing a proposed resolution on antiSemitism because the bill could not win unanimous

DEATH JUDSON LEE ROCHMAN Judson Rochman died Dec. 5 in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 72. Services were held at Beth El Cemetery on Dec. 7. He is survived by his brother, Stuart (Dick) Rochman; nephews, Michael Rochman of Sacrament, CA, and Dan Rochman of Washington, D.C.; and niece Julie Rochman, also of Washington, D.C. Memorials to Beth El Synagogue or the Nebraska Veterans Home of Grand Island.

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JTA BRIEFS • The U.S. House of Representatives cut the annual allocation to Israel slightly. The bill, passed Monday, reduced the foreign aid allocation to Israel by 0.59 percent, or $15 million. Israel is slated to receive $2.16 billion in military aid and $480 million in economic aid next year. However, it's unclear whether the Senate will do the same when it takes up the spending bills, as expected in January. This would be the second straight year that foreign spending is cut across the board as part of an omnibus spending bill. Aid to Israel was cut 0.65 percent last February.

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support at the U.N. General Assembly, Israel announced Tuesday that it would abstain on Ireland’s annual resolution on religious intolerance. The move effectively will kill the resolution, since the bill will not attain the unanimous support the Irish require for their resolutions, according to Dan Gillerman, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. The Irish Mission to the United Nations did not return a call seeking comment.

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• Swastikas were painted on a Brooklyn school, the second such incident in a week. The swastika painted Monday on the school in a mixed-ethnic neighborhood followed a previous incident Dec. 1. New York police recently increased patrols in Jewish neighborhoods as a result of anti-Semitic incidents late last month.

Before someone offers you alcohol or other drugs, decide what you are going to say.

Are You College Bound? by KATHY HIRSHMAN Assistant Executive Director Jewish Educational & Library Services Whether you will be a returning college student, or a high school senior looking forward to college in 2004, it’s not too early to begin filing for scholarships. For high school seniors only, you may apply for the David Keiser & Lillian Keiser Stoms Foundation Education Endowment Fund for Academic Excellence. This is the only solely merit based award available through Jewish Educational & Library Services (JELS). If you require financial assistance to attend college or university at any level, applications for scholarship are now available in the JELS office. You can download an application from the Jewish Omaha website-www.jewishomaha.org--by following the links to education, or you can call the JELS office at 334.6445. The application deadline for all college scholarships is March 15, 2004. Don’t be left behind.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 12, 2003

Extended Weekend for Teens at Wisconsin Resort--for Free? by RABBI B.P. and ROCHEYL SIMON Omaha NCSY Chapter Advisors Are you a Jewish teen? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a weekend at a Midwest NCSY Regional Convention? Well, we are so certain that you will have a great time with hundreds of your fellow Jewish teens from throughout the Midwest (including Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Kansas City, and St. Louis) that we are offering an unprecedented opportunity-a free extended weekend at Midwest NCSYs Winter “Conclave” Weekend. Anyone who joins Midwest NCSY as a new member* can join us at the Abbey Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin free of charge.

That’s right--no cost to you at all! This includes transportation, sleeping accomodations, spirited Shabbat and week-

and returning on Monday, Dec. 22. For more information, please e-mail us at: OmahaNCSY@hotmail.com or call either one of us at 402.301.1625. *Annual membership to NCSY--the National Conference of Synagogue Youth--for the 2003-2004 academic year is only $18.

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE day meals, lively discussions and use of an unbelievable facility for five exciting days filled with awesome activities. We will be leaving after school on Thursday, Dec. 18

The Jewish Press will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1. Deadlines for ads, articles and photos for upcoming issues are at noon, as follows: Issue Deadline Dec. 26 Wednesday, Dec. 17 Jan. 2 Wednesday, Dec. 24