Vol. LXXXIII No. 16 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 82 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
24 Kislev, 5764 December 19, 2003
Reform Movement’s Education Director Chabad Presents Hanukkah on Wheels to Serve as Educator-in-Residence at Temple Israel by DEVRA BRAM for Chabad of Nebraska You have probably seen all kinds of menorahs--they come in all shapes and sizes these days. But, have you ever seen a giant ice sculpted menorah? Come this Sunday, the third night of Hanukkah, to the Chabad House’s annual Hanukkah on Wheels roller skating party, and you’ll see Muzzy’s Ice carve an ice sculpted menorah. After the ice carving is complete, the ice sculpted menorah will be used to light the candles for the third night. The annual Hanukkah roller skating party has been a big hit for children and adults. Chabad rents out the entire Skateland Family Fun Center at the I-680 and Irvington Exit and turns it into a Hanukkah party Candles will be lit in an ice sculpture worth seeing. The created just for Chabad. rink is decorated for Hanukkah, everyone skates to Hanukkah music and the skating is accompanied by games, snacks, and a delicious Hanukkah dinner. This event is open to the community and a lot of fun even if you don’t skate. To make a reservation for the party, this Sunday, Dec. 21, 5-8 p.m., call Tico at the Chabad House at 330-1800 or visit www.nebraskajudiasm.com. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children. Dinner, skate rental and all other activities included.
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Rabbi Jan Katzew, director of the Department of Jewish Education at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) in New York, is making a return trip to Omaha, Jan. 9-11, as an Educator-in-Residence. He was here in August meeting with Temple Israel’s religious school teachers. “I loved my visit to the congregation,” he said. “The leadership is enthusiastic and passionate. The faculty is smart and open to innovation.” Since his appointment with URJ, Rabbi Katzew has used his abilities as a teacher, scholar, and administrator to develop new educational resources for congregations across North America. His decentralized model for Reform Jewish education has strengthened the quality and accessibility of Reform education. “The decentralized model took people out of the New York office and placed regional educators throughout North America, in much closer proximity to the congregations, to serve them more directly and to report on the issues in the field to the leadership of URJ. New York can be cloistered and we needed people closer to the ground in order to learn from experience in educational practice,” the rabbi explained. Overseeing the appointment of regional educators to URJ’s 14 regions, Rabbi Katzew created a network of specialized Jewish teachers stretching from coast to coast. The educator network serves family, camp, Hebrew and early childhood education as well as educational technology, special education, day school education, adolescent and adult education. Rabbi Katzew has encouraged family-led discussion of Jewish issues by overseeing the creation of Family Shabbat Table Talk, an internet-based series of home
study materials on the weekly Torah portion. He has focused on the philosophical, psychological, and educational aspects of Jewish learning with URJ’s ethics curriculum, a lifelong educational guide for youth and adults. He has also directed the creation of a number of new URJ publications designed to help Reform educators, parents, and volunteer leaders. Rabbi Jan Katzew A distinguished teacher, Rabbi Katzew leads a class on Jewish and moral education at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), the Reform Movement’s seminary. He often gives lectures on the topic and has presented keynote addresses at URJ North American and Regional Biennial Conventions and at conferences of the National Association of Temple Educators, Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools, and the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education among others. Prior to joining URJ, Rabbi Katzew was a congregational rabbi and educator who served the Community Synagogue of Port Washington, New York, for more than eight years. From 1991 to 1995, he was the director of the Department of Secondary Education at the Community Foundation for Jewish Education of Metropolitan Chicago. In the mid-1990s, he served as principal of a Solomon Schechter Jewish middle school in Northbrook, Illinois. After graduating magna cum laude from Wesleyan Continued on page 3
The Project Dreidel Chronicles
Stories from the Project Dreidel Notebook 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.
This Week: Interview with Rep. Terry: Page 2 Miracles Occur Daily at Hadassah Hospital: Pages 4-5
Each m o n t h , J e w i s h F a m i l y S e r v i c e 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! Hundreds of people in the Omaha Jewish community have been affected by the recent economic downturn. The tighter job market impacts their job security and sends health insurance costs soaring. Jewish Family Service has seen the fallout from unemployment and no health insurance as the requests for assis-
tance skyrocketed during the past year. We’d like you to meet just a few of the families and individuals who are struggling with this growing problem and who have found support through Jewish Family Service. Leslie Steinberg had missed so many days from her clerical job with a trucking company because of her neck problems that she was forced to resign. Now, not only was she out of work, but she had recently scheduled surgery to try and relieve the chronic pain caused by her neck condition. Since she was no longer on the company health care plan, Leslie signed up for the COBRA insurance program through the state. However, it turned out that the COBRA payments were more than she could afford since she was living on unemployment. Without the neck surgery, she wouldn’t be able to go back to work, but she couldn’t afford the surgery without insurance. She made the call to Jewish Family Service for help. Continued on page 12
Coming Next Month: Tax and Financial Planning Issue: Jan. 9
People of the Byte-Hanukkah Humor: Page 6
Read It & Eat: Page 6
Community Connection: Page 12
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 19, 2003
Congressman Hopes for Peace
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 Friedel Jewish Academy Latke Sales, 11:30 a.m. Hanukkah Family Dinner & Service, 6 p.m., at Temple Israel C L I P
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 BBYO Winter Regional Convention in St. Louis 21 thru 24, 7 a.m. Kids Snack and Learn, 11:30 a.m., at Beth El & OTYG Board Meeting, noon, Temple Israel S Congregational Hanukkah Dinner, 6 p.m., A at Beth El V E
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22 BBYO Winter Regional Convention in St. Louis, 7 a.m. YES Program, 10 a.m. “Soul of the Text” Adult Ed. Class, 11 a.m. Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel
C L I P & S A V E
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 JELS/ADL Lunch & Learn, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 BBYO Winter Regional Convention in St. Louis, 7 a.m. B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon, at Park Inn Regency Lodge & Crash Course in Hebrew Reading, noon C L I P
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 JCC OFFICES CLOSED - H & FITNESS OPEN 9-5 Israeli Dancing, 7:30 p.m., 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 JOAN K. MARCUS allowed to have any relationship, provide any facilities, Second district congressional representative Lee Terry funding and encouragement to the terrorist organizaannounced that congress passed a bill that recognizes tions. It provides for severe economic penalties on the 350th anniversary of the Jewish community. It Syria if they do not keep their part of the agreement. encourages all Americans to celebrate September 2004 It is also stated in the bill that the United States has as “American Jewish History Month”. Terry was one of to sanction Syria. The sanctions include everything the bill’s co-sponsors. except food and medicine. Rep. Terry came to the Says Terry, “It’s the same House of Representatives in level of economic sanctions 1998. As a lifetime Omahan, that we had on Iraq. he grew up in a family that “Syria has recently made believes that service is a some overtures that they way of life. In his eight want to be involved in this years on the Omaha City peace process. I can’t stand Council, he consistently here with ultimate confiadvocated for lower taxes dence that the Syrian Bill has and community enterprise forced them to the table but through public and private it has certainly set a tone. partnerships. “If we can reach peace in He currently serves on the the Middle East during my House Committee on tenure in Congress, I could Energy and Commerce walk away thinking that which oversees telecommuwe’ve achieved something nications, energy, finance, incredible. Not only for the trade, consumer protection national security of and business related legislaAmerica--but for the world. tive issues. I encourage our president to The congressman also make it his priority!” serves on the Energy and Terry is often asked for his Commerce Subcommittee views on Iraq, noting that on telecommunications, the “even though we are still subcommittee on the envithere and I hate losing any ronment and the subcomof our personnel, I think mittee on commerce, trade we’ve gone there for the and consumer protection. right reasons. We haven’t Terry addressed the B’nai found a warehouse full of B’rith Breadbreakers at their Rep. Lee Terry represents Nebraska’s Second District. weapons of mass destrucweekly meeting earlier this month. Also present was tion. But, we never went there expecting to find that. Melanie Pearlman, area director of American Israel According to the Cox Report, what we’re looking for Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). would fill a garage. There’s no doubt in my mind that Terry commented on his relationship with AIPAC by we have dismantled the significant weapon. Now, with noting, “In Washington, there are a lot of Saddam still alive, there has been an organizations that work with members of If we have countries insurgence of terrorists who have come congress. However, AIPAC is the most into Iraq to fight us.” respected organization. They have a like Syria continuing to Terry added, “Think of it now. In a basic philosophy of educating us. war on terrorism, now we’re defined undermine the “Even though I’ve been a longtime process, inflame geographically and we weren’t before. I friend, it’s different when AIPAC takes think that, strategically, this works to our you over to Israel and explains policy,” terrorist organizations advantage. I won’t back off in my suphe explained. “It’s an educational experi- like Hamas and port of the efforts in Iraq.” ence that’s phenomenal. Your support of Terry would like to see a stable selfHezbollah, we’re never government AIPAC results in such things as the passin Iraq as soon as possible. going to have peace... And, he would like to see us leave as ing of The Syrian Act.” Added Terry, “The Syrian Bill, passed soon as possible. He is under no illuby both the House and the Senate, is important as we sions that all our troops would be home by now. talk about the peace process in Israel. It is more than However, he is disappointed at the current level of just a symbolic gesture as we try and bring more fighting, adding, “It’s still a cause worth fighting for.” Middle Eastern countries and entities into the peace Another piece of legislation that Terry discussed was process. I feel that we can (hopefully) work with the the Energy Bill that has not yet passed. Palestinians. Perhaps, sticking to the roadmap, we can “We passed a version in the House and the Senate reach an agreement.” passed another version. There was a bloody and If we have countries like Syria continuing to under- lengthy conference that stalled out several times,” he mine the process, inflame terrorist organizations like commented. “This nation needs a comprehensive enerHamas and Hezbollah, then we’re never going to have gy policy. Right now, we have no vision about our peace, according to the congressman. future in regards to energy.” Nothing can operate without electricity. “We need access to affordable power and we need a national policy that states how we are going to develop our power grid. How are we going to generate power? Terry asked the group. “If we depend on one source to generate electricity, doesn’t it create national security issues?” His opinion is that we have put all of our energy stock into natural gas at the exclusion of all other sources of energy--coal, nuclear. Every power plant built in the last decade has been natural gas and we need to diversify. The Energy Bill encourages the use of all sources. Also, today we're 58% dependent on foreign oil and it is projected to go to 70%, according to the congressman. In speaking of the Medicare Bill, Terry insisted, “It is Among the guests to hear Rep. Lee Terry, left, speak at a good bill! Breadbreakers, are: AIPAC Regional Director Melanie “It has a desired goal of providing catastrophic covPearlman and Henry Monsky Lodge President Gary Javitch. erage for prescription drugs. It is an option for those Terry insisted, “So, I believe that as we focus on the who want to purchase the policy. Unlike the 1980s bill peace accords, we are going to have to force Syria to that was mandated on every senior, this is optional. make the same level of commitment that we will obtain “When you hit $4800 in out of pocket costs, 90% is from the Palestinians.” covered. You have 80% of the first $1800 covered. The Syrian Bill specifies that Syria has to dismantle Medicare statistics say that the average senior spends its relationship with all terrorist organizations within about $1700 on prescription drugs. their country. They must also physically remove “It isn’t a perfect bill--but it’s affordable.” Hezbollah from Lebanon. Syrians will no longer be
December 19, 2003
Teach-In Speaker Emphasizes Israel Needs America and American Jews Need Israel by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Holocaust Generation Launched the Jewish State,” was Temple Israel Communications Coordinator shown, Dr. Adelman concluded with a discussion on Israel is not only the heritage of the Jewish people the current crisis in Israel. Americans support Israel by but also the hope, said Dr. Jonathan Adelman, keynote a ratio of four to one, he noted. This country “underspeaker at an Israel Teach-In Day in December at stands that Israel represents democracy, high technoloTemple Israel. Dr. Adelman is a professor at the gy, a global economy, and fighting terrorism. If not for Graduate School of International Studies at the the United States, Israel would really be alone.” University of Denver and led an entire day devoted to However, “Israel is even more important to American Israel. During the course of the day, close to 100 peo- Jews.” Israel “has to do with our identity and how we ple from various congregations in the area attended. see ourselves, who we are, and what we want to “I have heard Dr. Adelman twice before and always become,” he said. learn something,” commented Marsha Kleinberg. “He’s In the end, though, the tragedy for Israel is it’s not up such a wonderful speaker.” to us, Dr. Adelman explained. Quoting Henry Kissinger, Ed Cohn “One side is in the agreed. “I 21st century and thought it was the other side is in very worththe 17th” and is while,” he plagued by massive remarked. “I corruption on the liked the intense part of Arab leadformat.” He ers, a weak middle described Dr. class, authoritarianAdelman as ism, and the lack of “charming, articudemocracy. late, and knowlBut Dr. Adelman edgeable.” believes that “the “There’s a lot of world is moving good news” toward democraabout Israel, Dr. cy. That’s our Adelman specihope…that somefied in his mornday these changes ing session, will reach the “How Did We Middle East. We Get Here? Israeli must support History 1881Israel’s survival 2003.” In 1948, until then.” when Israel was Dr. Adelman spoke thoughtfully at the Israel Teach-In at Temple declared a state, the Jewish population was 650,000. Now there are more than five million Jews there. The economy has grown from one billion dollars to one hundred billion Continued from Page 1 dollars. University in Middletown, Connecticut, with a B.A. Good news, however, is not “news” to the news in religion in 1978, Rabbi Katzew was ordained by media, according to Dr. Adelman. During lunch, severHUC-JIR in 1983. He received his Ph.D. in education al participants from the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s and Jewish thought from Hebrew University in recent mission to Israel shared their experiences. Jan Jerusalem in 1997. Goldstein, Federation executive director who has been Born and raised in Massachusetts, Rabbi Katzew to Israel 40 times, and Stephanie Grossman, Temple and his wife, Cantor Alane Katzew, now live in New Israel director of youth and informal education who Rochelle, NY, with their two children. just returned from her first time there, were among For more information, call the Temple office, 556those who talked briefly about their trip. 6536. After the film, “The Long Way Home: How the
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Hazak Cookbook Goes on Sale To Enthusiastic Early Reviews by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue A comprehensive new cookbook, published by the "seasoned ‘n spicy citizens" of Beth El’s Hazak group, combines recipes from far and wide with valuable start-up suggestions, substitution information, and specific cooking tips. Selma Sadofsky, who chaired the production committee, described the book as a “must have resource” for every kitchen and “a great gift for a shower, engagement, anniversary or any other occasion.” From Beth El’s kitchen, Lucy White approved it as “a very nice little book,” and Jean Duitch, one of the first to purchase a copy, called it “a bargain” at only $12. Kosher Temptations features 336 recipes divided for easy access into eight categories: Appetizers & Beverages, Soups & Salads, Meat, Poultry & Fish, Casseroles & Kugels, Vegetables & Side Dishes, Breads, Rolls, Etc., Desserts, and Passover. Some of the recipes are family treasures shared publicly for the first time. Proceeds from sales will enable Hazak, Beth El’s group for members 55 and above, to continue supporting spiritual and educational activities at the synagogue, said chairperson Jim Wax. Dr. Wax expressed gratitude on behalf of the congregation to Sadofsky and her committee: Helen (Rifkin) Chorney, Lisa Reeves, Kelli Sadofsky, Carol Ann Schneider, Gloria Goodman, Ann Belmont, Caryn Rifkin, Dottie Rosenblum, Natalie Rubin, Judy Tully, Blanche Wise, Sheila Rosen and Esther Wax. Copies of the cookbook are on sale in the synagogue office, the Beth El Judaica Shop and the Kripke Federation Library. For more information, please call the office, at 492-8550, or Selma Sadofsky, 551 6054.
EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1. Deadlines for ads, articles and photos are at noon: Issue Deadline Jan. 2 Wednesday, Dec. 24 Jan. 9 Wednesday, Dec. 31
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 19, 2003
At Hadassah Hospital, Miracles Are a Daily Occurrence by CAROL KATZMAN Jewish Press Editor There’s an old joke about a busload of Hadassah ladies killed in an accident. They arrive--in of all places, hell, where the devil himself greets them warmly (of course!). God finds out and is furious. “These are charitable women,” He rages at the devil. They’re tzadekesses. Send them up to heaven immediately!” He insists. The devil laughs and replies, “Are You kidding? They’ve already air-conditioned the place! I’m not giving up my Hadassah ladies; we’re working on a fundraiser now to landscape the grounds!” When you see what the women of Hadassah have achieved in Israel, it’s easy to see why this joke contains a kernel of truth. From the first dusty caravans of nurses who arrived with founder Henrietta Szold in 1918 to form the Nursing School and a few years later, when in 1925 the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem was established, the women of Hadassah have helped Israel make huge strides in the delivery of health care services. Two years after Mount Scopus was captured by the Arabs in the War of Independence and then held by the Jordanians, Hadassah decided to embark on a fundraising campaign to built a medical complex in 1951 at Ein Karem, in what was a small village west of Jerusalem. Today, that original hillside hospital at Ein Karem has grown geometrically into one of the world’s most sophisticated health centers. In addition to the “normal” delivery of services, Hadassah Hospital is in the process of finishing an Emergency Medicine Trauma Center-and announced the multi-million dollar expansion of its Mother and Child Center. I had the opportunity to visit Ein Karem last month while attending the General Assembly of United Jewish Communities. Thanks to Barbara Sofer, Hadassah’s Publicity Director in Israel, several private tours enabled me to meet personally with staff in several departments and view first hand the miracles in which the Hadassah women have assisted. Unfortunately, the morning of my private tour, two young Israeli soldiers were wounded at the entrance to the tunnel near Efrat. They were rushed to the new
Left: nurse Ruthie Radiano consults with pediatric orthopedist Dr. Shlomo Porat outside the daycare unit in the Mother and Child Center of Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem. Below: Prof. Dorit Nitzan accompanied her talk about the history of the Hadassah Medical Organization and her current work with a slide show. Her father was instrumental in the building of the Ein Karem campus.
trauma center at Ein Karem, where they later died of mortal wounds. The center was closed to outside visitors--so Anat Magnus spoke about the recent building changes--and what goes on inside--from the front entrance to the main hospital. “The big worry in emergency medicine,” she explains, “is the fear of mass casualties.” That really came home during the first Gulf War with Iraq in 1991 and the concern that the scud missiles falling around Tel Aviv might be tipped with biological or chemical agents. “We have one ‘golden hour’ to stabilize everything,” she added. The Gulf War and subsequent second intifada, which began in september, 2001, forced some serious changes at the Ein Karem campus. A new center for emergency medicine is being built to accommodate the realities of the 21st century--with thick bomb-proof doors that could also withstand biological and chemical attacks. The whole center can be self-contained within minutes and has its own air and water supply as well as foodstuffs for a month. Metal plates in the entrance driveway open for hoses to wash down patients after a chemical attack; masked, suited and gloved doctors and nurses will work in triage centers outside before admit-
ting anyone. Th new center will triple the area devoted to emergency medicine and the hospital can even double that in case of a mass casualty event. Down below the entrance is a heli-pad. As soon as the staff gets the call, sterile packs are opened and ready to use before each patient arrives. Lest the reader think that Israel’s health care services treat mostly victims of terror, be assured that “normal” services--from the ordinary delivery of babies with no complications for mother or child to a continuous problem for Israelis--trauma from traffic accidents--is a daily part of life at all hospitals here. In fact, one little known factoid startles most Americans: more Israelis have been killed in car accidents than in all the wars and all the terrorists attacks since the State of Israel was founded in 1948! It has become a national crisis. In fact, the center has only had to be used once-when the Versailles wedding hall in Jerusalem collapsed and the 130 injured were brought to the Ein Karem complex, all arriving within a few hours. “The cost per patient (in the emergency center) is very high,” Magnus explained. “Each sterile pack costs $20,000; and whether it’s used or not, once it’s opened, the money’s spent.” So how does Hadassah pay for everything? The majority of the hospital budget--about $350 millioncomes from Kupat Holim, the health insurance program. But the balance--about $40-$45 million a year-comes directly from fundraising by Hadassah women. According to Miki Schulman, co-chairman of HMO under Hadassah President Bonnie Lipton and who was in Jerusalem to attend the G.A., that’s what the women of Hadassah send nearly every year--just to fund programs and operations. That doesn’t include Hadassah’s other programs in Israel--like Youth Aliyah villages, where new immigrant teens live--or the Young Judaea Year-Course programs for post-high school graduates from North America and England--or Hadassah college and career counseling programs. And it doesn’t include special building campaigns-like the $46 million raised specifically for the new emergency center. And the recent matching major gift came from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in honor of his 95-year-old mother, Charlotte. The renamed facility will add three more floors and expand its services in pediatric oncology and more beds for high-risk pregnant women. At the Mother and Child Center, Ruthie Radiano, head nurse of the outpatient clinic, talked about her 10 years at the hospital, five of which were spent in the PICU-the Pediatric Intensive Care unit. “Our kids are mostly here for chemotherapy treatments,” she explains. They come with a parent or caregiver, receive their intravenous chemo, play games. While we spoke, one Arab woman helped her son put a puzzle together, while another watched her child color. There’s no politics here--only medicine. Radiano is also involved in the creation of a Pediatric Aids Unit. Started five years ago, the care includes multi-disciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, social workers and dieticians. Continued on next page
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Miracles Continued from previous page Krumer admitted that the continuing rebuilding shattered faces and dreams. said. “And (then Israeli President) Ezer “Many of our patients are children attacks cost the hospital more than One of her patients was shot through the Wiezmann told him he would.” from Ethiopia, where the disease may money, though the one million dollars jaw by a Palestinian gunman. His teeth And he did. With a rebuilt face--and have been picked up by the mother and they spend yearly in security is a big bite and lower jaw were crushed to the point renewed hope, this young man did transferred to the child,” Radiano as well. The staff grapples with issues that Prof. Nitzan and her team had to become a pilot in the Israeli Air Force, explained, “or they are children of IV like what to do when a young Arab create a “basket” to hold the bits of bro- because of the attitude of doctors at drug users--many from Ukraine or patient draws a picture of himself shoot- ken bone they pulled from his face. Hadassah Hospital like Dr. Nitzan. Russia--referred to us from Rambam ing nurses. Do they let him hang it next “He wanted to be a pilot,” Dr. Nitzan “This is a holy job,” she insisted. Hospital in Haifa.” “(Patients like this young man) are a She’s organized groups of volunteers, good enough reason to get up in the many of whom are studying to be health morning and do the work we do. care professionals themselves, to visit “We feel responsible,” she added, “for these young patients and their families at the generation we follow. home. “Because of the ‘secret’ of AIDS, “We are the future.” their lives are very complicated,” As its mission states, “Hadassah, The Radiano added. “The parents are often Women’s Zionist Organization of sick, too--so there’s lots of medication America, is the largest women’s and and different schedules of medication to largest Zionist organization in the United worry about.” States, and supports the Hadassah Just like in North America, there’s a Medical Organization in Israel. HMO is nursing shortage in Israel, too. Radiano the most advanced medical and research puts in far more hours than her paycenter in the Middle East: Nearly one check reflects. The phone rings conmillion patients from all over the world stantly while we talk--not just in the unit, are treated each year at two hospitals, a but Radiano’s cell phone, too. community health center, and more than Unlike American hospitals, where staff 100 outpatient clinics.” asks visitors to “Please turn off your cell Despite the ongoing intifada, everyphone in the hospital so as not to interone--regardless of religion or ethnicity-fere with sensitive equipment,” Israelis receives the best of care. One trip to the seem to have cell phones permanently sprawling complex at Ein Karem only attached to their ears. After all, Israel has An Arab mother helps her child put together a puzzle while he waits for his weekly confirmed what most of us know--the the second highest ratio of cell phones chemotherapy treatment. Many of the young patients here have cancer, juvenile diabetes or women of Hadassah, indeed, help perto people in the world (Finland--home other chronic diseases. There are no politics at Hadassah Hospital, only medicine. form miracles. of Nokia--is first). “I have to run,” Radiano says hurriedly, and hands me back to my escort. On to the PICU, for a few minutes with its director, Dr. Ido Yatsiv. After establishing that he has a connection to Omaha (his wife taught Hebrew at the Washington JCC, from whom Dr. Sidney and Linda Mirvish’s daughter took classes), Dr. Yatsiv explains the inner workings of the New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Israel last month unit. Nearly two-thirds of for a short visit to attend the dedication of the Charlotte R. the tiny patients in the PICU Bloomberg Mother and Child Center at Jerusalem’s on any given day are recovHadassah University Medical Center. The center is named in ering from open-heart surhonor of his mother, Charlotte, who will turn 95 in January. gery. CREDIT: ISRANET “But, we have treated a number children in the last three years to his bed? The issue went all the way to from the ‘Matsav’ (the Situation as most the Director General of the hospital--and Israelis refer to the ongoing intifada),” in the end, the decision was “no.” Dr. Katsiv said. “About one-third of the So why do these professionals keep Dr. Yatsiv, above examines an x-ray from one of his young patients. Head of the PICU--the pediatric casualties come here.” coming back to work each day? And Pediatric Intensive Care Unit--Dr. Yatsiv sees more heart surgery patients in his recovery Though the interview occurs just days why do the women of Hadassah keep unity than victims of terror or car accidents. Now, with a major gift from Mayor Michael before the announcement of Mayor sending the millions of dollars they raise Bloomberg, Dr. Yatsiv will get his wish--more beds in the PICU--and expanded space. Bloomberg’s matching gift, Dr. Yatziv is annually? already anticipating his wish: more beds The answer may be found in what was and expanded space. probably the most moving presentation Back downstairs, Ron Krumer, Director of the day--a speech and slide show by of External Relations, explains about the Prof. Dorit Nitzan. research side of the hospital--the recent Her father, Prof. Ernst Wertheimer-breakthrough in treatment of cystic was a professor of medicine in fibrosis (published in the New England Germany--her mother, his student. They Journal of Medicine) and the delicacy of married in 1928, but even though he “balance” for Hadassah Hospital “as a worked with the great scientist Pavlov, teaching hospital, and educational and Prof. Wertheimer was fired in 1933-research center, and a military hospital.” because he was a Jew. Krumer adds, “We have a second balHe became one of the lucky ones, ance, here, too, terror has affected our however, because he moved his family lives, yet we have different populations to what was then known as Palestine. He to serve--and can be a bridge to peace.” continued his research and escaped the The administrative staff began to real- Mount Scopus campus in one of the last ize shortly into the second intifada that convoys out of Jerusalem in 1948. (Years the stress of treating victims of terror-- later, after the Israel Defense Forces and their families--as well as the perpe- recaptured the city of Jerusalem, Prof. trators--extended all the way down to Wertheimer returned to his lab and the cleaning staff. found everything intact--down to the “Our cleaners found themselves mop- notes in his files and the centrifuge on ping up blood from the emergency room his desk!) from horrific attacks,” Anat Magnus Prof. Wertheimer was a biochemist and explains. “We’ve started to provide coun- dean of the medical faculty. In 1970, he seling to them, as well as to the rest of received an honorary doctorate from our staff, and even provided a two-day Golda Meir, then Prime Minister of Israel. break at a hotel, including meals, masToday, Prof. Wertheimer’s daughter is sages, and time with counselors.” a maxiofacial surgeon, specializing in
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 19, 2003
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Hanukkah Humor
PEOPLE OF THE
BYTE
by MARK MIETKIEWICZ
Hanukkah Humor? Is this some kind of joke? Actually, yes. Hanukkah may certainly be a very enjoyable holiday but we don’t usually associate it with humor. Purim, of course. But Hanukkah? Well, if you look hard enough, you can find a lot that’s funny about Festival of Lights. Especially if you know where to look on the World Wide Web. Stop me if you’ve heard this one: “A woman went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her Hanukkah cards. ‘What denomination?’ asked the clerk. ‘Oh, good heavens! Have we come to this?’ replied the woman. ‘Well, give me 50 Conservative, 2 Orthodox, 37 Reform and 11 Reconstructionist.’” [www.haruth.com/Jhumor55.html#Stamps] I nearly choked on my chocolate dreidel when I came across “Latke vs. Hamantash: A MaterialistFeminist Analysis.” Penned by the erudite Robin Leidner of University of Pennsylvania’s sociology department, she tries to settle once and for all, the ageold question: which food is more liberating for women --latkes or hamantashen. Let’s just say that things don’t come out too well for our favorite pancake. “After peeling, grating, frying batch after batch in spitting oil, the cook is exhausted and sweaty, her hair hangs in greasy clumps, her knuckles are scraped raw, her arms sting from the continual splatters of oil. When at last a heaping plate of latkes is ready, she brings it to the table, where every one is snatched up immediately. Stoically, she heads back to the stove to begin frying the next batch.” Leidner concludes that “for women, it is clear that hamantashen offer far more scope for self-realization, egalitarian relations, and social progress than do latkes.” [www3.bc.sympatico.ca/myssiwyg/latkes. html] Are you a bit hazy about what the Maccabees really did two thousand years ago? Then check out The Absolutely True Story of Hanukka by the late Sam Orbaum, columnist with the Jerusalem Post. [http://makeashorterlink.com/?I5E7241C6] Once you know the history, you shouldn’t find the Unorthodox Hanukkah Quiz too daunting. A sample question: In order to purify the Holy Temple, the Jews had to…
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a. Get a good cleaning person who would do floors; b. Get a good cleaning person who would do walls and windows too (now that's a miracle!); c. Get some lamp oil. [www.jr.co.il/humor/chanuka.htm] Finding funny Top Ten Lists on the Internet can be a hit-and-miss venture. But I must admit cracking a smile when presented with some reasons why Hanukkah is unlike that other holiday that happens this time of year: • Latkes are cheaper to mail than fruitcakes. • No barking dog version of “I Have a Little Dreidel”. • There’s no latke-nog. [www.humormatters.com/holidays/Hanukkah/] It just wouldn’t be Hanukkah without Adam Sandler’s modern classic “The Hanukkah Song” in which he reminds the world about prominent Jews in movies, music and sports. In the process, he finds some interesting rhymes for the word Hanukkah: [www.chanuka.com/songs.shtml] Put on that yarmulke It’s time for Hanukkah Two-time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffmanica Celebrates Hanukkah You can find all three versions of Sandler’s song online along with a video excerpt from “Saturday Night Live.” [http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y3EA211C6] In it, he appears with the Drei-Dels, the beaming kids’ choir from the Sid Jacobson JCC on Long Island. [www.sjjcc.org/newstories/jccsnl.htm]Please remember that Sandler pushes boundaries and his lyrics aren’t always as gentle as “I Have a Little Dreidel.” A while back, Lou Bega came out with the tune Mambo No. 5. “A little bit of Monica in my life/ A little bit of Erica in my life...” Catchy? Perhaps. But I prefer listening to another version by “Louis Bagel” that popped up on the Internet. This one is called Matzah No. 5. [www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/ 4550/matzah51.wav] I really love that Hanukkah--it lasts eight nights. A little bit of Passover is all right. A really big bar mitzvah is what I had. I’m moving to Miami just like my dad. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. I really like a bagel with some shmeer. My mother’s name is Esther; my dad is Stan. I like to go and see Barbra Streisand! Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Web site producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be contacted at: highway@rogers.com.
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December 19, 2003
ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Bob Wolfson will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Dec. 24, noon, at the Park Inn Regency, according to Steve Riekes. Wolfson is the ADL/CRC Regional Director. Cost is $9 for lunch and $2 for beverage service only. Breadbreakers is open to the community. OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Rabbi Aryeh Blum will deliver the weekly parasha shiur on Shabbos afternoon, Saturday, Dec 20, 4:30 p.m. Time for Torah will continue Monday, Dec 22, 7 p.m., at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. “Hidden Dimensions of Psalms,” organized by Shirley Goodman, is Tuesday, Dec 23, 4:30 p.m., at the home of Carol Katzman, 9151 Harney. Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman will explore the meaning of Psalms. Join Rabbi Blum for Lunch ’n Learn at the Kripke Library, Wednesday, Dec 24, noon. Rabbi Hoffman teaches a Crash Course in Hebrew, which also meets at noon at the JCC Federation Conference Room, while an Advanced Course in Hebrew Comprehension meets at 7 p.m. at the OCTL Beis Midrash; call Rabbi Hoffman at 981-0569 for more information. Brooke’s Teen Girls’ is Thursday, Dec. 25, 7:30 p.m., at her home, 805 So. 120 Ave. The OCTL will be offering a new class in crocheting kippas after New Years, call 630-3112 or 320-8055 for info and reservations. Date change: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, 7:30 p.m., the OCTL is having Jigsaw Puzzle night at the home of Jeff and Sherry Taxman. Prizes will be awarded for the quickest puzzle solvers! VISIONS Travel around the world without leaving your seat at the IMAX at the Henry Doorly Zoo to see India: Kingdom of the Tiger on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 11 a.m. (meet in the IMAX lobby at 10:40 a.m.) Cost is $5.75 per person. Following the show, join us at Julio’s on 132nd and Arbor St. for lunch. Send in reservation form with payment to Sandy and Fred Bromley, 13419 Marinda St., Omaha, NE 68144. Make check payable to Visions. Deadline for reservations is Jan. 6. Luncheon Meeting is Jan. 16, 12:30 p.m., at Caniglia’s Venice lnn. Join us for the lnstallation of Officers with special musical guest Robert Valenta as he performs “Songs of Broadway” with accompanist Esther Wax. Send reservations form to Tootie and Mickey Simon, 8725 Izard, Omaha, NE 68114. For questions call Harry Alloy at 697-8709. Make check payable Visions. Deadline is Jan. 9. Membership dues to Visions for January-December 2004 are now due. Please mail your check payable to Visions in the amount of $5 per person to Visions, c/o Gilda Pieck, 6955 Cuming, Omaha, NE 68132. 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 the “YES Talk” discussion group at 11 a.m. Join us for the Annual Hanukkah Party at noon with musical guest, The Feeling Good Duo. Hanukkah gifts will be distributed following lunch. For transportation, call Dee Dee at 330-4272. There will be no Walk-In, Drop-In on Thursday. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH There will be no meeting on Thursday. JELS The Tuesday lunch and learns with Guy and Bob are back in full swing. Join us on Tuesdays, Dec. 23 and Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27 as we discuss current events. All Guy & Bob lunch and learns are at noon in the Kripke Federation Library.
LETTER FROM Y.E.S. by ILENE PACHMAN Check into the Hilton in Paris or the MGM Grand-no--yours truly checks into Methodist for five days. Please seniors, be careful; this is winter. Take care of yourselves. The Omaha Dancing Grannies were terrific last month. We really should take lessons from these dancers--but the New York Rockettes can’t hold a leg to these ladies. This month, the programs sound just great. Don’t miss the next few Mondays. Bye for now.
MARRIAGE EPSTEIN/SHERMAN San Francisco residents Danielle Epstein and Andrew Sherman were united in marriage on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel in Palo Alto, CA. Rabbi Robert Kaiser officiated at the 6 p.m. ceremony which was followed by a dinner and dance at the hotel. Honor attendants were Lisa Loeb, Marti Epstein, and Sharon Lewis for the bride, Beth Sherman, and Debra Sherman for the groom. Huppah holders were Joe and Neela Paykel of Alameda, CA, and Rob and Cindy Lamb, of Bellevue, WA. The bride’s parents are Helen and Tuffy Epstein. The groom’s parents are George and Nancy Sherman of Frisco, CO. The couple plan a New Zealand wedding trip this summer.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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ENGAGEMENT ROSENSTOCK/NOGG Patty and Steve Nogg announce the engagement of their son, Jeffrey, to Kelly Rosenstock, the daughter of Sharon Bannon Rosenstock and James Arthur Rosenstock, Jr., of Richmond, VA. The bride-to-be graduated from Virginia Tech University with a BA in public relations and marketing. She is currently employed with Clear Channel Radio Sales as an account executive in Atlanta, GA. She is the granddaughter of Martin Joseph Bannon, Jr., of Richmond, VA, and the late Doris Herr Bannon, James Rosenstock and Mary Powell Rosenstock of Petersburg, VA, and the late Anne Kemp Rosenstock. Her fiancé is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a degree in business management. He is an account executive for MRI, a health care recruiting firm in Atlanta. His grandparents are the late Adalyn and Ernie Nogg, Harlan Studna and the late Betty Studna, Jean Parelman of Kansas City, MO, and the late Seymour Lee. And August, 2004, wedding is planned in Atlanta.
BIRTH Ruth & Paul Lesser of Deerfield, IL, announce the Dec. 4 birth of their son, Ethan Mitchell. Ethan has an older sister, Hannah Rachel. Grandparents are Evie and Stan Mitchell and Hedy and Mike Lesser, Northbrook, IL. Great-grandmothers are Lee Greenbaum of Haverhill, MA, and Ruth Jaconson of Skokie, IL.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Cabaret Productions presents two shows of the broadway hit--Smokey Joe’s Cafe--at the Jewish Community Center Theater on Saturday night, Dec. 27, 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The Rock ’n Roll musical features the works of songwriters Lieber & Stoller, favorites like “Stand By Me”, “Charlie Brown”, “YaketyYak” and many written for Elvis Pesley, like “Jailhouse Rock”. Tickets are $30 and may be obtained by calling 556-7726.
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CORRECTIONS A photo of some of the Omaha Mission participants at dinner in Jerusalem in the Nov. 28 issue was misidentified: it was Line and Dan Bleicher, not Mr. and Mrs. Joel Bleicher. And in last week’s issue, the names of Cheryl Lerner and Marcy Cotton were inadvertantly switched: it should read: Marcy Cotton and Cheryl Lerner. The Press regrets the errors.
Pasta Amore
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 19, 2003
Opinion An End to Tyranny? While many Iraqis danced for joy Sunday upon learning that their cruel dictator had finally been captured, the bewildered Palestinians continued to march in the streets of Gaza, praising Saddam Hussein. What do these Palestinians not understand about the words, “dictator”, “bully”, or “ruthless”? Is it only money that drives them to worship at Saddam’s feet--the $25,000 the family of each suicide bomber receives and the $10,000 a family receives for each one of their children who die as “martyrs”? Or should we say “received”? The money’s not coming anymore, folks! They just don’t get it, do they. Oh, sure, some Palestinians (though none to whom Arafat will listen) will meet in Geneva with failed politicians such as Yossi Beilin (who received so few votes in the last election, he couldn’t even get re-elected!) and talk peace. But so far, not one of them has turned out to be an Anwar Sadat, a man who didn’t just talk, he walked the walk. Though it’s been a cold peace with Egypt, nonetheless, Israel and Egypt have not had a single violation of their signed peace treaty since the Camp David Accords were signed in 1978. It’s time the Palestinians (and the Europeans) recognize what the rest of the 60-nation coalition already know: Saddam Hussein was a bully. And bullies, when cornered, turn out to be cowards. There he was, buried in a seven-foot hole, looking more like the Unibomber or a homeless vagrant, that the once-powerful leader of an Arab state. He surrendered meekly and not a single American was injured or killed. What are the Europeans saying now? Well, some of them are whining because they won’t get to participate in Iraq’s recovery and the lucrative contracts that will follow. But 60 other countries, who supplied military troops, financial assistance or other materiel requested by the United States in the war against Iraq, will benefit--and rightly so. It’s American tax dollars being used to finance Iraq’s reconstruction and it should go to American allies. There’s still time for France, Germany and Russia to become our allies once again--forgive Iraq’s debt, send troops for peacekeeping, or funds to support the reconstruction. Or keep quiet and sulk. The only thing bullies understand is force, so yes, it was a good decision to face Iraq’s brutal
(Founded in 1920)
leadership with an American-led army of might. France, Germany and Russia should remember that before they complain. The aim of terrorism is terror. Have you heard one word form Al Qaeda, the Taliban or the failed Iraqi leadership about the kind of country their “people” would have if only the American occupiers left? No, these dictators only talked of destruction--”Destroy the Jewish infidels!” or “Death to the American imperialists!” Not once did we hear of talk about what kind of lives their people would lead--except that it would be governed according to their interpretation of Islamic law. There was no talk of freedom of the press or education for girls and women or the right to vote or even the right to leave the country! So--here we are, nine months into the war with Iraq and the Palestinians haven’t learned a thing. There’s no one in the Arab world who’s coming to their rescue; they’ve been used as pawns by their Arab brothers and the United OMAHA Nations--which has kept them in refuge camps for more than 55 years. There’s not another people on this planet who have been kept from citizenship in neighboring Arab countries. Only the Jordanians have allowed Palestinians citizenship, while Syria and Saudi Arabia keep them languishing in camps (Kuwait kicked out the Palestinians during the first Gulf War). So, where will this latest development lead. We hope that
Saddam is tried for war crimes against his people--by his people, in a courtroom in Iraq. We hope that the trial is thorough and civilized and that the world sees it as a moral victory for the Iraqi people, not as a kangaroo court. We hope that the Iraqi government becomes a democratic one, offering full rights to its people, and that its influence if felt throughout the Arab world. And finally, we hope that this is a wake-up call to the Palestinian people, who will realize they, too, can lead peaceful productive lives, but only if they give up the ludicrous dreams (nightmares?) of their ruthless dictators. All those would be wonderful gifts at this time of year--Happy Hanukkah!
bombarded by the theme of a holiday in which one takes no part. If we compare Hanukkah in Israel with Hanukkah (rather than Christmas) in America, however, Israel’s Hanukkah rises in stature. The process begins in pre-school, where Hanukkah projects and an annual Hanukkah party are the focus of many days of preparation. The party involves musical presentations of Hanukkah songs, plus some games with a Hanukkah theme. An interesting gage in the relative impact of Hanukkah on a child might be seen in the number of Hanukkah songs that the child knows. The Jewish education that I received in America was excellent, yet I learned only a fraction of the Hanukkah songs that the average Israeli child learns. Hanukkah gets more attention in Israeli schools than it does in Jewish schools in the States. A popular book for Israeli kindergartners is entitled Ready for First Grade. At the back of the book, two other books in the series are advertised: Ready for Math, and Ready--Pages for Hanukkah. It would be very unusual for Hanukkah to be so emphasized in an American Jewish day-school curriculum. Then there are those public references to Hanukkah that pleasantly remind you that you are now in a country where your per-
sonal holiday practices are reflected in the culture at large: the Hanukkah songs that come over the radio during candle-lighting time; the Hanukkah theme in advertisements for household items; special Hanukkah events (often geared for children) at your local zoo, botanical gardens, and art museum; and the omnipresent jelly donut. Israel’s jelly donut (sufganiya) and America's potato pancake (latke), the treats most associated with the holiday in each country, may be seen as symbolic of the place of Jewish culture in Israel and outside of Israel. Beginning in early November and on through all of Hanukkah, jelly donuts can be found at every bakery, supermarket, and grocery in Israel, and one can often see people eating them in the street. The potato latke is prepared in the home and is a much more private eating experience, just as Judaism and Jewish culture is a private, minority affair for Jews outside of Israel. Precisely because I felt 100% American in America, this state of affairs always bothered me. That is, it was only because I believed that I had a full and equal share in what is America that I was so troubled by the fact that I as a Jew could not celebrate America's most favored holiday. This “culture gap” was solved once I moved to Israel, a place where the majority culture and I celebrate together.
by TEDDY WEINBERGER
Hanukkah in Israel is a much more subdued affair than is Christmas in the States. Christmas is the single most important holiday in American culture, whereas Hanukkah places a distant fourth in Israeli culture (behind Passover, Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur, and Succot). In fact, unless you have kids in school (who get off for the week of Hanukkah--while the rest of the country is officially at work), this holiday of Hanukkah might not be such a holiday at all: you might prefer to take a winter vacation at a time when all those screaming little kids will be back in school (plus your employer will be happy that you took up the slack while those with kids took a few days off during the holiday). And so, what is most striking for an American Jew in Israel during December is not so much the experience of Hanukkah as a national holiday, but the absence of Christmas as a national holiday. It is quite a relief to live in a country where one is not
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. 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.
December Holidays
JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL
Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Ray Pred Account Executive Timothy J. Ketelsen Bookkeeper Lori Kooper-Schwarz Production Assistant
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December 19, 2003
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Hanukkah: The Gift of Hope
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by RABBI JEROME M. EPSTEIN Hanukkah teaches us important lessons about heroism, about the right to be different, about faith, and about miracles. It has also become a popular time to exchange gifts. In fact, the tradition of gift giving has taken hold to such an extent that it would be both foolish and unrealistic to ignore it. Yet, we should keep in mind that the most valuable gifts are not those that can be purchased. What can we possibly give one another this year that will be meaningful in times such as these? No one person can bestow peace, although it may well top most of our wish lists. Likewise, no one person can redress the economic disparities in our own communities and throughout the world. So just what gift would make a real difference in someone’s life? After 9/11 we all began to feel significantly less secure, less trusting. We now look twice at fellow passengers on buses and trains, and we say a silent prayer when driving our cars over bridges and through tunnels. Many have watched their investment accounts shrink and have stopped imagining blissful times in which their retirement funds, together with social security, will carry them com-
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
fortably through their golden years. The world political situation seems to worsen on a daily basis, from continuing violence in Iraq, to bombings in Turkey, to increasing anti-Semitism in Europe. In addition, while the informal Geneva agreement crafted recently by Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abed Rabbo demonstrate that dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians is still possible, the “official” situation in Israel continues to be grim. So what can someone give me–what can I give others?–that will make a difference? One of the commodities in shortest supply this year is optimism. We read in Psalm 30: “Ba’erev Yalin Bekhi V’la’boker Rinah-Tears may linger for a night, but joy comes with the dawn.” This is this message we must spread–the gift of hope. Jews who survived the Holocaust somehow internalized this message, against great odds, marrying, having children, enjoying grandchildren and building new communities. Similarly, those who triumphed during the struggles that led to Purim and Hanukkah
refused to surrender hope and emerged victorious from situations that carried the seeds of our national destruction. The Talmud (Baba Batra 60b) tells us that after the Second Temple was destroyed, there were many people who refrained from eating meat and from drinking wine since they were part of the Temple ritual. Rabbi Joshua pointed out that, if so, they would also have to give up bread, fruit, and even water, as they were all part of the rituals as well. The Talmud records Rabbi Joshua’s conclusion: “Not to mourn at all is impossible … Yet, to mourn excessively is also impossible.” The Talmud relates, for example, that when a house is built–and we must go on building for the future–we should leave a small section unfinished as a memorial to the destruction of the Temple. In other words, while we must always remember the tragedies in our life, we must continue to go on living as normally as possible. Every year, Jews are reminded that things can change for the better. During the High Holy Days, we immerse ourselves in the Mahzor (High Holiday
prayerbook) and repeat over and over again our belief that God is rooting for us to improve ourselves, our lives, and our relationship with others. The ability to do teshuvah, to make amends, is a Divine gift. We cannot claim to understand why things happen as they do, nor can we accept without question the reality that bad things happen to good people. We can, however, find some solace in our tradition and--if we cannot quite echo the sage Nachum who, when faced with life’s difficulties and challenges, would proclaim “Gam zu l’tovah, This is also for the good”--we can nevertheless continue to hope that the dawn of goodness will soon arise. The Maccabees persevered when the situation of the Jewish people seemed most bleak. Showing our children and grandchildren, our friends, relatives, and neighbors that we will not despair, that we will maintain faith and hope, that we are optimists, is a gift worthy of Hanukkah. The author is the Executive VicePresident of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the association of Conservative congregations in North America.
times of emergency and tranquillity alike. • Fassouta, a Christian village in the Galilee with 3,000 inhabitants, received computer equipment, access to the Internet and vocational training, thanks to a generous gift from the Chicago Jewish Federation and the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. • Special assistance provided by Israeli officials in Judea and Samaria facilitated the flight to Europe of seven young Palestinian children who required lifesaving medical treatment. Costs were covered by the European Union. • About 20 young people in Israel, ages 13 to 19, Arabs and Jews, have formed an orchestra which practices regularly and plays at special events at Arab and Jewish schools. The project is under the auspices of UNESCO. • When an 11-year-old Palestinian boy, Walid Odeh, died as the result of a fall from a roof, his parents had no objection to having his vital body organs transplanted into the bodies of three Israeli children, thereby saving their lives. • Meetings of heads of municipalities in Israel and the Palestine Authority to encourage tourism were inaugurated in
2000 by the European Union, but were halted with the outbreak of the Intifada. Such meetings have now been resumed, setting forth itineraries of particular interest to Christian pilgrims. Six cities, three from each side, are participating. • Surgeon Khalid Abu Ajamia saved the life of a badly injured Jewish settler when the latter was brought to the Palestinian Alia Hospital in Hebron in 1997. Abu Ajamia was enabled to enroll for advanced training in plastic surgery at Hadassah in Jerusalem, and today is one of 10 Palestinian surgeons in various Hadassah departments. Time Magazine reported that last year he found himself treating two victims of a Palestine suicide bombing in Jerusalem, and at the same time a nine-year-old Arab boy from Hebron who was terribly burned when an Israeli rocket exploded beside him. For Abu Ajamia, there are no enemies, only patients. • Dr. Vadim Aharonovitz had been called up for reserve duty and was manning a vital check post outside Kalkilya one night when an ambulance rushed up from the Palestinian side. He was aware that ambulances had been detected transporting armaments, but when he inspected he discovered an Arab women in the final stages of delivery. He took
over control and assisted in the safe delivery of an infant girl. • Despite differences on many issues, Israel and the Palestine Authority have signed an accord on a matter of vital concern to the two neighbors. They have agreed to share electrical networks, set up a joint regulatory authority on energy and study the possibility of setting up a central power station. It is the first major act of cooperation between Israel and the PA since the start of the intifada three years ago. • This spring, a group of 300 Israelis, half of them Arab dignitaries and half of them Jews, spent four days in Poland visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps and other sites associated with the Holocaust. The project was initiated by a Nazareth priest, Father Emil Shofani. The Arabs heard detailed accounts of the Holocaust and stood in silence as kaddish was recited at Auschwitz. • For the past 10 years experts from the Water Research Institute at the Technion, in Haifa, have been meeting with water authorities from Palestine, Egypt and Jordan to develop a joint program for their use of the limited water supply of the area. A specialized three year program for joint treatment and reuse of waste water for irrigation and other purposes has just been completed.
One of the commodities in shortest supply this year is optimism.
The Cup is Half Full
OUR MAN IN ISRAEL by CARL ALPERT Haifa--Arab suicide bomber kills 20 Jews in a restaurant. Israel’s anti-terror fence separates thousands of Arab farmers from their fields. Jewish women and children killed in Arab attack on a bus. Hunger and unemployment are rampant in Palestine authority areas as a result of Israeli curfews. Arab children victims of Israeli rockets.... One would get the impression, from reading news reports, that all contacts between the two peoples are marked by enmity and mutual hostility. Little attention is given to instances of friendship and good will, many of which never get reported. Some recent examples: • The St. Gabriel Hotel in Nazareth was recently the scene of a three-day seminar attended by Jews and Muslims, devoted to discussion of the many elements which the two peoples have in common. • Two nurses in the Hadassah hospital emergency room, Ayad Abu-S’ara and Doris Livni, were jointly honored for their devoted service to patients during
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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
December 19, 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 323.8885.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Join us for a musical Kabbalat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. Joseph Kahn, son of Roxanne and Robert Kahn, will become a Bar Mitzvah. Grandparents Ilse and Marcel Kahn and Mary Lou and Arthur Walker will sponsor the Kiddush in Joseph’s honor. K’tantan, for Kindergarten through Grade 3, starts 10:45 a.m. Junior Congregation will not meet Dec. 20 or Dec. 27. Evening Services, 4:45 p.m. 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, 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. A THOUGHT FOR SHABBAT To receive Rabbi Levin’s weekly "Thought for Shabbat" message by e-mail, please send your email address to exec@bethelomaha.org. This is free and open to the entire community.
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, 4:45 p.m. The West Minyan is at the home of Fishel and Jean Paley at 4:45 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; Mincha, 4:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:43p.m. SUNDAY: Morning Services, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 4:40 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 (about 7pm). TUESDAY: Junior NCSY (5-7 graders) Hanukkah Game Night, 5:30 p.m. at the Simon’s. Hanukkah Get-Together for Young Adults, 9 p.m. at the Simon’s. THURSDAY: Morning Services, 9 a.m.; The synagogue will be closed. Mincha, 4:40 p.m. Make plans to attend the Hanukkah lunch on Saturday, Dec. 27 following Shabbat services. Reservations should be made with the synagogue office by Dec. 23.
BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY, Dec 19: Hanukkah Celebration. Bring your menorah and candles, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY, Dec. 20: Judy
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.
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 & Hanukkah Family Services, 6:15 p.m. 6 p.m. Nosh prior to services. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. Annual Hanukkah Party Social Hall, 6 p.m. Cost: $12.00 per adult/$6 per child, ages 6-12; Children 5 and under are free. RSVP to Kristi Kling at 435-8004 or stemple@neb.rr.com. 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. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, Jan. 4, 12:30 p.m.: Elections of new board members, adoption of 2004 budget and end-of-year reports will take place at B’nai Jeshurun’s annual congregational meeting. A babysitter will be available. And a bagel lunch will be provided.
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Friday, December 19, 4:42 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; led by Steve Riekes.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join us for some relaxation and great conversation, 11:45 a.m.; Hanukkah Family Service, 7:30 p.m.: Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. The Kol Rina choir will participate. The Oneg Shabbat is sponsored by the Women of Reform Judaism-Omaha. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. SITTER SERVICE Sitter Service is available at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar or bat mitzvah, as well as Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Please make a reservation accordingly. Cost is $2 per family. Sorry, there are no facilites for infants. CALLING THE COLLEGE CROWD! Join Rabbi Azriel and Stephanie Grossman for a cup of coffee and conversation at Espresso Mary’s, 5111 Leavenworth St., Tuesday, Dec. 23, 5-7 p.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. HANUKKAH LATKE FEST SUNDAY, Noon: Join the congregation after religious school for this annual event. Dec 22, 2003 - Jan 4, 2004: No Religious School
FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
Light the first candle of Hanukkah tonight, Dec. 19.
Happy Hanukkah!
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423-8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
Radloff will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah at Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: No Religious school on Dec. 21 and 28. School will resume Jan 4. SATURDAY, Dec. 27: Beyt Shalom will lead Shabbat morning services at the Blumkin Home, 9:00 a.m.
Candlelighting
LINCOLN CENTER
BAR MITZVAH
Hanukkah Workshop This Sunday at Tifereth Israel by SARAH BAUMAN for Tifereth Israel Tifereth Israel Synagogue Sunday school will offer a Hanukkah workshop to inspire increased participation in and enjoyment of the Festival of Lights. The program will take place this Sunday, Dec. 21, 10:45 a.m., to be followed by the annual all congregation Hanukkah party and latke feast. This is a newly designed interactive program
from the National Jewish Outreach Program. The NJOP was established in 1987 by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, and has become one of the world’s largest and most successful Jewish outreach organizations. NJOP offers free programs at 3,620 locations across North American and 30 countries worldwide. Nancy Coren will facilitate the program.
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 science club and the JCC’s Boy Scout Troop #218 and also 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 Ilse and Marcel Kahn.
December 19, 2003
The Festival of the Lights
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by SUSI FRYDMAN LEVIN Hanukkah Candles play different roles in our lives. We light them on birthday cakes and use them for romantic dinners, we light them to observe loved ones’ Yarzheits, and every week, we kindle Shabbat candles. This evening, many of us will light Hanukkah candles in our homes to mark the beginning of the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is the celebration of the Maccabees’ victory about 2200 years ago, and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in the land of Israel. A small group of Jews, led by Judah Maccabee and his family, rebelled when the Greek king Antiochus Epiphanes sought to impose the Greek culture and religion upon the Syrian empire. They successfully drove the Syrians out of Israel, and after reclaiming the Temple in Jerusalem, removed all Greek symbols and statues which had been placed there. On the 25th of the month of Kislev, the Temple was rededicated. Hanukkah also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when it was supposed to last only for one. When the Maccabees finished cleaning the Temple, they wanted to light the eternal light, the Ner Tamid. Only a small jug was found with enough oil for a single day. The oil lamp was filled and lit. The legend says that a miracle occurred and that the oil that was supposed to last for only one day lasted for eight days. N-G-H-SH--Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, A great miracle happened there. Four letters that remind us every year, with every spin of the dreidel, what happened there. For me, Hanukkah also represents the best of what human beings can do for others and for their own lives. The story of the Maccabees is a story of human courage, integrity, and hope. The success of the revolution was rooted in the human desire for independence and freedom, and the internal need to direct their own future. (To behave as a grown up people, with mature beliefs, and proper deeds.) The Maccabees’ feat was not achieved with tears and pleas. They knew what they wanted, and they accomplished it by using
decisive action, planning and the courage that comes from the internal conviction of doing the right thing. What inspired the Maccabees’ action? How did others, throughout Jewish history, fight against the fear that many times dissuades us from doing what we must do? Fire, light, passion. The passion and the internal light of the Maccabees is as important today as it was in the ancient times. Names of the last century such as Theodore Hertzl, Mordechai Anilevich, Hannah Senesh, Ben Gurion, and Golda Meir come to my mind. “Blessed is the flame that burns in the secret fastness of the heart,” wrote Hannah Senesh. She, like many great leaders of out people found the “match” to light her own life and the life of others. There are stars whose radiance is visible on earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living. These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for mankind. Hannah Senesh (Born July 17, 1921, in Budapest, Hungary, Hannah Senesh died Nov. 7, 1944 after she was captured by the Nazis behind enemy lines. Senesh was a diarist, poet, playwright, and parachutist in the Jewish resistance under the British Armed Forces during World War II.) This year, as every year, we will eat the traditional potato latkes, we will play dreidel with our kids, and we will give or receive presents. This year while we will light the Hanukkah candles, let us remember the Maccabees’ feat, their courage, their passion and their belief in freedom as an important value for the Jewish people. The internal light that inspired them to fight for Judaism, for the Jewish people and Jewish independence in the land of Israel, is the most powerful message that Hanukkah can bring to our homes. Susi Frydman Levin worked as an Educational Psychologist in a hospital and Hebrew teacher in a Jewish day school in Argentina. She arrived to Omaha in August, 2002, with her husband, Rabbi Mordechai Levin of Beth El Synagogue, and their three children.
MARILYN WEINBERG Marilyn A. Weinberg died Dec. 13. Services were held Dec. 15 at Beth El Cemetery. She is survived by her brother, Howard L. Weinberg
of New York City; and cousins, Margo N. Rosen and Stephen A. Neesman of Omaha. Memorials to favorite charity.
Alert Reader Identifies Bridal Photo in Press by RENEE CORCORAN NJHS Director The bride pictured in the Dec.5 issue of the Jewish Press has been identified as Dina Rabinovitz Leener of Chevy Chase, MD. Dina was married to Jerald Leener at Beth El Jacob Synagogue in Des Moines, IA, on June 21, 1970. Both she and her husband grew up in Des Moines. Dina is the daughter of Ronald and Rosita Rabinovitz, who still reside in Des Moines.
Gearing Up for the 2004 JCC Maccabi Games by RACHEL BLUM JCC Program Director For an entire week next August, 6000 young Jewish athletes will share in the fun of competing, the joy of meeting their peers from North America and five other countries, and the pride of being part of a worldfamous Olympic-style event filled with Jewish content and values. It is a life- and personality-shaping experience that the JCC Maccabi Games have been offering to Jewish teenagers since 1982. At this Jewish mini-Olympiad, each participant has the chance to participate in one of 13 sporting events, creating memories that will last a lifetime. The JCC Maccabi Games can be called the Olympics for Jewish teens, but they serve a larger purpose than athletic competition. The Games also promote community involvement, teamwork, and pride in being Jewish. For example, athletes visiting host communities stay with local Jewish families. This “home hospitality” is vital to the experience, representing the extended Jewish family
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DEATHS CHARLES GORELICK Charles Gorelick died Dec. 9 at the age of 79. Services were held Dec. 12 at Fisher Farm Cemetery. He served in Europe during World War II and retired from Bell Telephone. He is survived by sisters, Ida Herzoff and Reva Rubenstein, both of Omaha, Lorraine Passman of Overland Park, KS; and a brother, Harry Gorelick of North Hollywood, CA. Memorials to the Lymphoma Leukemia Society or a charity of your choice.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
and the value of welcoming the stranger. Also, every set of Games has a volunteer day called Day of Caring/Day of Sharing, when athletes join with local community organizations to work on social-action projects. Past Days of Caring/Days of Sharing activities have included building homes for the poor, holding carnivals for handicapped children, cleaning empty parks and packaging food to be given to the hungry. The purpose is to teach tikkun olam (repairing the world) by example, so that these young people incorporate these values into their daily lives once they return home. Next summer, Omaha is hoping to send 50 teenagers from our JCC to compete in the JCC Maccabi Games in Columbus, Ohio, from Aug. 8-13, 2004. The cost of the Games, which includes everything from registration fees, transportation, meals, and uniforms, is $750, and registration forms will be arriving in the mail soon. To encourage early registration, we are offering a 20% discount to those who register before Dec. 31! For more information, contact me at 334-6404.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 19, 2003
Project Dreidel Chronicles
Introducing the Kronicks
Continued from page 1 JFS was able to make up the difference so that Leslie could make the COBRA payments. Leslie’s surgery was successful and she’s now able to work. She says she doesn’t expect to need help from JFS again, but it’s sure nice to know they’re there for her. Her experience has made her more aware of how much the Omaha Jewish community needs JFS and all of the community programs and services offered through the other Centers of Excellence and the Jewish Federation. *** Paul’s and Sheryl’s life started out the way most young couple’s lives do. Besides the fact that Sheryl is an insulin dependent diabetic and has been since she was 12, the early years of their marriage were filled with the usual milestones. Paul made a good living working as a general contractor and the couple soon had a child. As a diabetic, Sheryl’s pregnancy and delivery were closely monitored, and their son Jake was born healthy and without complications. The couple took to parenthood like ducks to water. But when Jake was about a year old, Paul was injured on the job. His injury was so severe that he was forced to go on disability. Six months later, Sheryl took a part-time job at a local discount store to help make ends meet. With no insurance coverage for prescriptions, Sheryl began cutting back on the amount she needed to take each day so the family could use the money for other necessities. When the toll on Sheryl’s health could no longer be ignored, they called JFS. JFS is helping pay for Sheryl’s insulin until they can get back on their feet. Sheryl and Paul are grateful for the
This month, we introduce Larry and Deborah Kronick. Originally from Sioux City, IA, where the couple met at a USY dance! For 26 years, by JANIE MUROW they lived in Cedar Rapids, where Larry was in information technology. Deborah The response to the Newcomers brunch was amazing! Nearly everyone was a para-educator in an elementary (about 100 people) who said they would magnet school, taught at their synagogue’s join us did. Most came early and stayed religious school and chaired its youth late. It was a wonderful opportunity for group program. The Kronicks have three children: our newcomers to meet each other and Jewish community staff and lay leaders. Amanda, 26, Richard, 24, and Shira, 17. Special interest groups are being formed to Amanda and Richard are both working and attending the University of Iowa. meet the needs of those new to Omaha. Shira is a junior at Burke Parents of young chiland a member of BBYO, dren asked that we faciliUSY and NFTY. She has tate playgroups for those adjusted to her new home under three years old. by getting involved in With a few calls to many Jewish youth Omahans with children groups. of similar ages, we got a Larry made a career group of 25+ moms and Amanda, Shira change and entered the kids together forming six and Richard Kronick nursing home administragroups of varying ages. The idea is to put kids together who tion business. He is currently the direcwill ultimately be in pre-school at the tor of On With Life in Glenwood, IA, a Child Development Center. It was excit- residence for young adults with physical ing to see how eager both newcomers disabilities. Deborah has picked up and longtime Omahans were to connect. where she left off in Cedar Rapids and If you have not been contacted, please joined the teaching staff at Beth El. The Kronicks feel fortunate to be in a call me to join one of the playgroups. This week Javier Neiman, Coordinator larger Jewish community where everyone of the Latin American Project for the has been friendly and welcoming. They Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), enjoy the JCC and are participating in a was in Omaha to discuss the crisis affect- variety of programs. Deborah said, “There ing the Jews of Argentina and what we seem to be many activities and speakers can do to help. Neiman met with sever- and we try to attend as many as we can.” Deborah’s passion is to be involved with al Federation committees, the rabbis and presidents of synagogues, and other com- anything that promotes the continuation munity staff and lay leaders. The biggest of Judaism. We welcome the Kronicks and challenge we face is finding jobs for our look forward to them becoming active fellow Jews who want to leave Argentina. members of our community!
help from JFS and said, “We’ve always supported the community through our Federation Campaign gift, never thinking we’d be on the receiving end. It’s important that the Jewish community know their gift to the Campaign really does help people when they’re in need. We’re looking forward to being contributors again and we’re thankful that the community is there for us in our time of need.” *** Norman, an elderly gentleman with numerous health and related financial problems has been a client of Jewish Family Service for several years. With no family in Omaha, and despite his many problems, Norman is always cheerful and genuinely grateful for the community’s assistance over the years. Recently, the JFS staff noticed Norman wasn’t walking as well as he had been and asked him if anything was wrong with his legs or feet. At first, Norman told them it was just a part of growing older and told them not to worry. But the staff, aware of his medical problems which included diabetes, took note of his shabby shoes and the ill effects of diabetes on the extremities. When they asked Norman, they were shocked to discover he had been wearing poor fitting second hand shoes from Goodwill. In addition, years of neglect had caused his feet to deform. Even new shoes wouldn’t help Norman’s feet. JFS was able to provide Norman with a pair of custom-made orthopedic shoes. He said it was the first new pair of shoes he can ever remember owning. “I can walk without pain for the first time in more than five years!” Norman asked that his appreciation be passed on to the entire Jewish community.
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