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SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS VoLLXXVm
No. 14
Omaha, NE
Jane Rips chairs Program Committee for UAHC Biennial Temple Israel sends 13 delegates More than 4500 delegates and their families, representing' more than 800, Reform congregations , across the United States, will gather in Orlando, FL, next week for the Biennial Convention of the union of American Hebrew Congregations. Among them will be Jane Rips, former President of Temple Israel and' President of the UAHC Midwest Council. She is co-chairing the' Jane Rips Program Committee, a two-year commitment which culminates with the Biennial from Dec. 15-19. While in Orlando, Rips will be elected to the UAHC Executive Board as one of 10 officers. Rips has been responsible for all programming aspects of the Biennial, including topics, speakers and facilitators, dozens of workshops which run the gamut of synagogue activities, Shabbat services and meals. , This year's theme is "Realizing God's Promise: Reform Judaism in the 21st Century." Highlights of the convention include: a major address by South African Archbishop and Nobel. Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu; a celebration for 20 years of Reform Jewish Outreach by Dr. Gary Tobin; a panel discussion moderated by Morley Safer on challenges faced by the Reform Movement in the 21st Century; and the presentation of the Maurice Eisendrath Award to Israeli educator Dr. Alice Shalvi. Other delegates include: Rabbi Aryeh and Elyce Azriel, Paul Epstein, Wendy Goldberg, Stephanie Grossman, Ducky Milder, Lori Miller, Lee Needelman, Iris Ricks, Mimi Rogers, Dorothy Spizman and Keri Workman.
1 Tevet, 5760
VJO sponsors new 'Joy of Giving' by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
Young Jewish Omaha (YJO) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Omaha are once again hosting the 'Joy of Giving,' but this year it has a new twist. Instead of Boys and Girls Club members choosing gifts for their family members, the children will meet at the JCC on Sunday, Dec. 19, from 13 p.m., to make holiday crafts and gifts for children who are in the hospital during the holidays. YJO members will help the Boys and Girls Club children make holiday crafts and gift bags, which will include a card to the recipients with the name of the child who made the craft. The gifts will then be delivered to area hospitals in time for the holidays. This will be an exceptionally rewarding experience for YJO members and their families. We also feel that the Boys and Girls Club kids will get a better understanding of the joy of giving to others," said Sharon Kirshenbaum, Federation Young Leadership Director. "Our children will benefit by interacting with the kids from the Boys and Girls Club. We can all learn something from each other," she added. YJO members and their families are invited to participate, either by coming to help make the gifts, or by making donations so that craft materials can be purchased. : • _, _ ;' • "It's important to show the Boy's and Girls Club and YJO members that they have the ability to help others who are in need. I think that's an important lesson," explained Kirshenbaum. "This event will help us to illustrate the concept of tikkun olam, that we can make a difference in our world. Part of being Jewish means helping everyone. This is especially meaningful during the holidays," she said. For more information, or to get involved in this worthwhile project, please contact Sharon Kirshenbaum at 334-6485.
December 10,1999
Albright tries to get talks moving; Barak vows no surprise settlements by Naomi Segal
JERUSALEM (JTA) - U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had hoped to use her Middle East trip to advance the final-status talks. But when she arrived Tuesday in Israel, she found herself confronted with a crisis in IsraeliPalestinian negotiations over Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. On the eve of Albright's visit, the chief Palestinian negotiator in the final-status talks, Yasser Abed Rabbo, said there would be no progress in the discussions unless Israel stops expanding these settlements. Israel accused the Palestinians of trying to create an artificial crisis in order to have more U.S. involvement in the negotiations. But just the same, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced Tuesday he is willing to freeze plans to add 1,800 more houses in Jewish settlements around Jerusalem. Albright began her four-day diplomatic mission Monday in Saudi Arabia. Prior to her arrival in Israel the following day, she met with Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus in an effort to restart Israeli-Syrian negotiations, suspended in 1996. Prior to Albright's arrival in the Syrian capital, officials there reiterated their interest in achieving peace with Israel. But at the same time, they held fast to their position that Israel would have to agree to withdraw from all of the Golan Heights before the negotiations resume. Israel has repeatedly refused to accept any preAlbright hoped "to get a better understanding of what will be necessary" from the Syrian side to get the talks to resume and "to see how quickly an agreement can be reached," State Department spokesman James Rubin said Tuesday. But there was no indication that any breakthroughs were achieved. Meanwhile, on the IsraeliPalestinian front, the two sides remain deadlocked over an Israeli withdrawal from an additional 5% of the West Bank, a move that was to take place last month. (Continued on page 2)
Beth El hosts scholar-in-residence
Professor discovers crypto-Jews in Southwest by Carol Katzman
While the Spanish Inquisition may seem like ancient history, to Dr. Stanley M. Hordes the results are all around him. Adjunct Research Professor at the Latin American and Iberian Institute of the University of New Mexico, his doctoral dissertation, "The Crypto-Jewish Community of New Spain, 1620-1649: A Collective Biography," was based on research conducted in the archives of' Mexico and Spain, supported by a Fulbright dissertation fellowship. His study on the secret Jews of Mexico revealed a considerable amount of information about the religious customs and career patterns of the descendants of those Spanish Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many of these conversos continued to practice their old ancestral.faith in secrecy, and moved to the Spanish colonies in the New World in order to avoid detection by the Inquisition. Hordes will talk about these crypto-Jews, as they are called, when he serves as a scholar-in-residence at Beth El Synagogue from Dec. 17-19. "My comments will deal with the history of the crypto-Jews of New, Mexico, from their origins in the forced conversions of Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries, down to the recent past," noted Dr. Hordes.
During his tenure as New Mexico New Spain, as well State Historian (1981-1985), he began as the sporadic cam-1 to encounter several individuals within paigns of the Holy the Hispanic community who displayed Office of the practices suggestive of vestigial Jewish Inquisition against; customs, such as lighting candles on this community in Friday night in observance of the the late 16th and Jewish Sabbath, following Jewish mid-17th centuries. dietary laws. Some attention will be deyoted to Further investigation revealed that the early colonizathis phenomenon could be found in sevtion .efforts northeral communities throughout the state. ward from central Conversations with colleagues in the Mexico into New fields of sociology and anthropology Mexico, and the poscorroborated these observations. sible cause (-and These conversations led to the estabeffect on the relalishment of a project, sponsored by the tionship between the Latin American and Iberian institute Dr. Stanley M. Hordes persecution of crypat the University of New'Mexico, to to-Jews and converso participation in the establishresearch the history of New Mexican crypto-Jews. Dr. Hordes' comments will touch on the origins of ment of the new colony., the conversos from their Jewish origins in Spain Dr. Hordes' remarks will also treat the evolution and Portugal, through the forced conversions of the of the crypto-Jewish community in New Mexico 14th and 16th centuries, to their migration to the through the succeeding three centuries, and will New World in the 16th and 17th centuries. . ' ' describe the customs and possible consciousness They will describe the demographic, occupation- that appears to have survived. al, social and religious life of the crypto-Jews in (Continued on page 8)
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 10,1999
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10 Russian Club, 10 a.m. Temple Israel "Shabbat Comes to You," 3:45 p.m., at Remington BESTT Shabbaton Grades 5&6,4:30 p.m., at Beth El SchoIar-in-Residence Dr. Ruth Langer, at Temple Israel SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11 Bagels & Bible, 9:30 a.m., at Temple Humash Class, 4:15 p.m., at Beth El "Pardes," 8 p.m., at the home of Dennis and Susan Paley, ' SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12 Men;s Club, 10 a.m., at Temple Israel • Boy Scouts Court of Honor, 4 p.m. Heartland Symphony Orchestra, 4 p.m. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13 YES Program, 9:30 a.m. "In the News," 7:30 p.m;, at the home of Paul and Susie Shyken TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14 Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Drazcn, Noon, at Beth El Sisterhood Luncheon, 12:30 p.m., Beth Israel Chumash Class with Rabbi Levin, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel Executive Meeting, 7:15 p.m., at Beth El WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 Beth Israel Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Kutner, Noon, at Noddle Development Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Beth El THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 S Walk-in Drop-in, 9:30 a.m. Adult Education,, 10 a.m.,,at Temple p Israel Library Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. E
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Shabbat Hanukkah II
GEORGE SHRAGO Services for George Shrago were held Dec. 7 at by Rabbi Howard Kutner, Mount Sinai Cemetery. He died Nov. 27 in Beth Israel Synagogue Oakland, CA, at the age of 80. He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence. Parashat Miketz Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, This Shabbos will be Shabbos Hanukkah II and Gary and Marcia Shrago,of, Oakland* CA, and is the final day of the holiday. The maftir and Stanley and Barbara Shrago of Oklahoma City, Haftorah readings are dedicated to Hanukkah. OK; Bister, Ann Belmont of Omaha; and five grand- < Before taking leave of this holiday, while basking children. • ; in the radiance of our fully lit menorah on the Memorials to the Alzheimer Foundation or to eighth night, some final reflection on the holiday is L.O.V.E., c/o Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. in order. The story of the miracle of the oil is recorded in the Talmud (Tractate /shabbat 21b): "The SyrianGreeks entered the sanctuary and defiled all of the flasks of oil. And when the Hasmoneans gained the upper hand and defeated them, they searched and found only one flask of oil with the seal of the High Priest." The rest of the story, shall we say, is history. The key words in those lines is "they searched." To find pure, undefiled oil was against all oddB. But the Jews who remained loyal to Torah had a desire, a will, to relight the menorah and rededicate the Temple. JCC kids perform in Hanukkah play It was then* unyielding effort that brought about the miracle. Many things that don't seem possible really are if we make a sincere effort , After the one jar of oil was discovered, it seemingly contained enough- oil for only one day. At • that moment, no-one knew that it had the potential to last for eight days. The Hanukkah flame tells us we need to live up to our full potential. "Be all that you can be" and don't be afraid to be a dreamer and aspire to greater heights. Joseph, in this week's parasha, was a dreamer. He was sold into slavery in a foreign land, falsely accused and thrown into prison. It certainly didn't seem at that moment that his earlier dreams of his brothers bowing down to him would be fulfilled. But God saw things differently. Inherently, within the slave-prisoner, was the potential of a world leader and ruler of the most powerful empire of his i.time. {Perhapgjhis.istheje^son.whyi,thj.s.;parasha and j is read during Hanukkah.) •./.- •'.:.-r , •} •-..-. "•'• r;Members of t h e JGG Dance- Department' ii Our human eyes can never see the end of a mat- Kidz Inn performed in t h e annual Tffln klr«1y ter at its beginning. Nevertheless, the Hanukkah play last Sunday. A concert of t h e Omaha story teaches us at least to recognize the growth Youth O r c h e s t r a is this S u n d a y a t 7 p.m. potential, the possibilities, beneath the surface of Tickets a r e still available. Call 334-6425 for more information. situations and of people. Every Jew, no matter how far removed from Judaism, has that "one flask of pure oil" within Albright in Israel their "sanctuary," within their heart. It's called the (Continued from page 1) ':'.-' pintele Yid, a small Jewish spark. With effort and The Palestinians have stated that they want a desire, we can fan that spark into a burning flame say in which lands will be turned over; Israeli offi: with love of God, Torah and Israel. cials just as steadfastly maintain that the decision Hanukkah means dedication. Before our is theirs alone to make. Hanukkah lights burn out, let us dedicate ourThe two sides failed to overcome their dispute in selves to the way of life the Maccabees went to bat- discussions this week with U.S. Middle East peace tle to preserve. And remember: dreams can come envoy Dennis Ross, who arrived in the region over the weekend to prepare for Albright's arrival. He has previously stated that the United States expects Israel and the Palestinians to resolve the matter between themselves. , Rabbo's complaints about Jewish settlement activity further complicated the negotiating picIt's donuts, ture. Bolstering his accusations, Peace Now has reported that since the Barak government took not latkes, in Israel! office, the Housing Ministry has sought more bids for settlement construction than the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu. true.
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Beth El Lunch and Learn looks "Toward the Year 2018"
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All'events held at the JCC unless othemise indicated. The Jewish E Press Is not responsible (or the accuracy of the events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 3344437.
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Bakers prepare sufganiyot, Israeli donuts, for the celebration of Hanukkah. Photo by IaraelSun
The Beth El Synagogue Lunch and Learn will meet Tuesday, Dec. 14, at noon, in the Conference Room of the Rose Blumkin Home. Rabbi Paul Drazen will lead the discussion based on a recent Moment Magazine article entitled "Back to the Future," written by Francine Klagsbrun.. In the article, Klagsbrun discusses her rediscovery of a 1968 book, Toward the Year 2018, and the questions i t raises about various issues to be addressed by Jews in the new century. These challenges include the search for Jewish spirituality, the inreach-outreach debate, the roles played by women in Jewish leadership, the need for Judaism to forge a centrist position, plus the way Israel and American Jews may, in the future, form a partnership of equals. For lunch reservations, call Beth El at 492-8550.
December 10,1999
SYNAGOGUES - *
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
CANDLELIGHTING: 4:36 p.m.
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TEMPLE ISRAEL Mi iiiht rof Oil! Uniim ofAin- rlcun Hi lirpw.
' \ 702.7 CabH Street, Omaha,1 NK 68182-2651 tf.MnplriHracl-111'tQrg
SCUOLAlt-lN-KliiSlDtNCE WEEKEND WITH DR. RUTH LANGER, December 10-12. . Dr. hanger's topic for the weekend is "To Worship God Properly." All events are open to the community at no charge. FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You, 3:45 p.m.-Rabbi Debbie Stiel will lead a Shabbat service at Remington Heights. Tot Shabbat, 7 p.m.-A short service of song and prayer, followed by cookies and juice, will be held for toddlers through children in primary grades and their families; Shabbat evening service, 8 p.m.-Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Debbie Stiel and Cantor Jennifer Bliim will officiate. Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Ruth Langer will speak on "From Temple to Synagogue: Connecting and Rededicat-ing Ourselves to Jewish Sacred Space." The Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by the Congregation of Temple Israel in celebration of the 50th birthday of Rabbi Aryeh Azriel. SATURDAY: Bagels and Bible in the Milder Center, Torah Study, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat morning service in the Sanctuary, "Celebrating Torah!" 10:30 a.m.; Havdalah-Fruit and Cheese Reception in the Milder Center, "Creating Sacred Time, in Judaism," 5 p.m. SITTER SERVICE Sitter Service is available each Friday evening, Saturday mornings for Bagels and Bible and the worship service. Cost is $2 per family. Please make a reservation through the Temple office. SUNDAY: Morning Chapel Prayer Service, 9:15 ajn.; Bagel Brunch and Men's Club, 10 aan, in the social hall—members will join the congregation to hear Drv Ruth Langer. speak.on fPray, For God's Sake." ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, Dec. 14: Chumash Bemidar, 1011:30 aan. Rabbi Shlomo Levin will use classic and modern commentaries to study central stories of the Book of Numbers from an original Midrashic perspective. THURSDAY, D e c . 16: Sisterhood Adult Education, 10-11:30 ajn. Rabbi Debbie Stiel will teach "The Sages of the Middle Ages-Learning
FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m. SUNDAY: Religious school at the JCC. TUESDAY: Religious School, 4 pan., at the JCC.
. BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Vcmbi r of tho Union of Orthodox ifowUh CoDgrtfeationu of Araunct
lSOaNor 632nd Street,' Omnha. NE 6H1O4-5V1U ' • ., ','. 55WJ288' " HethTbravl@novla.nl t Oliiu hum.. MvinJj> tliruujli Jhui.dj>,.3.J0 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat services, 4:40 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbos services, 8:45 ajn.; Kiddush sponsored by Maggie and Donald Gerber in honor of their daughter, Audrey's, birthday. "Insights into the Parsha," 3:45 p.m.; Mincha, 4:30 pan.; Havdalah, 5:41 pjn^ "PARDES," a national adult education initiative sponsored by the Orthodox Union, hosted by Susan and Dennis Paley, 13014 Leavenworth Rd., 8 pjn. Topic for discussion will be "violence: the gap between our mind and heart." SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; brunch, 11:30 ajn., preceding the 1999 congregational meeting at 12:30 p.m.; Mincha, 4:40 pjn. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 aan^ Mincha, 4:40 pan. MONDAY: "In the News," a review of a current article about the soon-to-be-released book Chosen by God, hosted by Susie and Paul Shyken, 601 Ridgewood Ave., 7:30 pjn. "In the News" is every other week and focuses on the Jewish perspective to current events. TUESDAY: Rabbi Shlomo Levin teaches a Chumash class on Sefer Bamidbar, the book of Numbers, 7 pjn. WEDNESDAY: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Kutner at Noddle Development, 13710 First National Bank Parkway, noon. The topic is "Business Ethics;" Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner on Tractate Bava Metzia, 7:30 pan.
•»V- -'•' ., PHABADHOUSE
, 492-H5R0 V/Elt-wwiv .brtbrl-oinafaa.orf! Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are conducted by Rabbi Paul Drazen and Cantors Emit Berkovits and G. Michael Horwitz. FRIDAY: Services, 6 pan. SATURDAY: Services, 930 aan. Kiddush following services; Sitter service and Torah Study Skills (TSS), 10 aan.; Ktantan (K-3rd grade), 10*15 aanu; Shabbat Story Time (pre-kindergarten and under), 11 aan.; Humash with Rashi study session, 4:10 pan.; MinhaMa'ariv and Havdalah services, 4:40 pan. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; Perek Yomi "Read a Chapter a Day" group, 10:15 aan. WEEKDAYS: Services, 6:55 aan. and 5:30 p.m. LUNCHandLEARN Tuesday, D e c 14, noon, with Rabbi Drazen at the Rose Blumkin conference room. Please call the synagogue for reservations. ADULT BTSTAIMITZVAH CLASS The adult classes continue on Wednesday, Dec. 15,7:30 p.m. KAHN SCHOLAR WEEKEND December 17-19-Dr. Stanley Hordes, Professor at the Latin American Institute of the University of New Mexico, will be the guest speaker. "YIDL IN THE MEDDLE" A screening of "Yidl in the Middle," a controversial documentary about growing up Jewish in small town Iowa, will be held Saturday, Deo. 25, following Family Havdalah services at 7 pan. Free kiddie videos will run during the show. Tickets are $3.50 for adults: $2 for students.
CONGREGATION.B'NAUESHUBAN
WEBSITE: w w . r h a b a d . Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:45 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 aan. MONDAY: Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul, 11:45 aan.-l pjn. TUESDAY: A Tale of Two Souls,ftSO-11aan. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m.
Services conducted by Rabbi Ira Flax. Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
jVlTIFERETH ISRAEL* 'inlrat of the United S^mfoguo
Services officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. FRDDAY: Sabbath Eve service, 7:45 pan. SATURDAY: Sabbath service, 9-.30 aan.; Torah study, 10:30 aan. . POTLUCK/GAME NIGHT Saturday, Dec. 18, 5-10 p.m.— Bring a dish and/or your favorite game, or just come to see what's going on. Questions? Call Deborah Swearingen at 476-7528. NEW YEAR'S EVE 2000 is also Shabbat EveThe Temple will be open for worship Friday, Dec. 31,7:45 p.m. Services will also be conducted on Saturday, Jan. 1,2000, followed by Torah study.
'Switch Day' at the Blumkin Home by Lois Wine, Volunteer Co-ordinator
uf Conservative JiulikliiiB
Shcriclun Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68002-5236 •12.-J-85U9 Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan on Monday and Thursday, 7:15 aan. FRIDAY: Services, 8 pan. SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 aan.; Junior congregation, 10:15 ajn. THURSDAY, Dec. 16: Board meeting, 7 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS: Jewish Thought & Philosophy/Rabbinics with Rabbi Rosenbaum, 10-10:55 a.m.; Tanach/Bible-Perek Yomi (A Daily Chapter), with Rabbi Ro8enbaum,llK)5 a.m.-noon.. WEDNESDAYS: Basic Judaism with Rabbi Rosenbaum, 7:15-9:15 pan. SHABBATSEDER Sundays, Dec. 12 and 19, from 11:05: aan. -noon, Learn how to "make Shabbos" through the meaning and practices of the Shabbat rituals. Designed for members who want to find a way to bring their families and friends together for a meaningful experience. Led by Nancy Coren.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of I'mtod Sjnaifogiuu of Conhervuliw Juduiwn 14006California
SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m, led by Andrew Greenberg. Members of the community are welcome. All services followed by Kiddush. A memorial service is held on the last Shabbat of each month, in memory of residents who have died.
FRDDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. Topic for discussion: "What is the real historical record of the Hanukkah celebration?" Oneg Shabbat, prepared by Peggy Deland and Sandra Kurland, follows. Child care - One of the most important decisions parents make. Check it out! NEBRASKA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
The fourth annual 'Switch Day* at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home will take place on Thursday, Dec. 23, and Friday, Dec. 24. We are unable to do Christmas Day this year as it falls on Shabbat. Several volunteers will begin preparing the Shabbat meals on Thursday afternoon. On Friday, the receptionist, all housekeeping staff, and most of the dietary department will be able to spend Christmas Eve Day with their families. Friday services will be held at 7 pjn. A limited number of volunteers is needed. If interested, please call me at 334-6530.
PERSONAL I want to thank all my relatives and friends and members of TOPS and KOPS for the cards, donations, visits and gifts while I was in the Rose Blumkin Home. Special thanks to Lila Jacoby for being there when I needed someone. Frieda Krizelman
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 10,1999
The scandal in Italy
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Right now in Italy, two young Jewish girls are being held captive by their father. The Duhlberg girls are Jewish; their mother, an Orthodox Jew in Israel, divorced their father but does have custodial rights, which the girls' father refuses to honor. He will not allow them to speak Hebrew,.nor does, he permit visitation with their mother, kosher food or observance of any Jewish holidays or Shabbat. Instead, he forces them to listen to readings from the New Testament and to take classes on Catholicism. He has threatened his oldest daughter, who is only a teenager, with commitment to a mental health facility if she continues to refuse to eat nonkosher food. Leaders of all major Jewish movements have written strong letters to the Italian government urging reinstatement of the Duhlberg girls' rights. Italian officials have yet to hear from the State of Israel. These Jewish girls have a right to speak their native language, study their religion and heritage, and see their mother. To ignore these rights is to allow them to be held captive by their father. While the parents may have had valid reasons for divorce and may even despise one another, their daughters should not have to suffer because of their parents' mistakes.
Slavery has no place in modern society. Italian officials need to hear from members of the Jewish community from all over the world, as well as from officials high in government and Jewish organizational life. If you truly, want to make an impact on the lives of others, here's your chance. Write, call or e-mail today to the officials listed below and demand they do something to stop the barbaric treatment of these young Jewish girls! His Excellency Amb. Francesco Paolo Fulci, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, Two United Nations Plaza, 24th Floor, New York, NY, 10017, Fox: 1212-456-1036, e-mail: italy@un.int. Yossi Beilin, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah A-din St. Jerusalem, Israel, 91010, Fax: 011-9722-628-5438, or e-mail: sar@justice.gov.il David Levy, Foreign Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, HaKirya, Romema, Jerusalem, Israel, 91950, Fax:011-9722-530-3367. His Excellency Yehuda Milo, Ambassador to Italy, Israel Embassy, Via Michle Mercati 14, 00197, Rome, Italy; e-mail: israel.roma@agora.stm.it Hanukkah is our festival of freedom; pity the Duhlberg sisters won't enjoy it.
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December reflections
Closing the gap by Harry Allen
Kibbutz Ein Tzorim is one of a handful (of 12) religious kibbutzim in Israel. The religious kibbutz movement set out to prove that the beliefs of traditional Judaism and modern socialist-Zionist philosophy were not only compatible, but also a necessary ingredient for the development of Israel. More's the pity that the religious ingredient as part of kibbutz living was rejected by the mainstream both in and out of the kibbutzim. But at Ein Tzorim, the Herzog Center for Judaic Studies, for the past ten years, has been a dynamic force for bringing together religious and secular, Orthodox and Conservative and Reform Jews, kibbutzniks and folks from North Tel Aviv, all to explore Jewish texts, both ancient and modern. Men with kippot and beard, women in long dresses with sheitels and women in mini-skirts sit together to study and freely discuss the issues which the text raise. • More than 10,000 different people a year participate in these classes which are held in a number of different cities and towns. Most of the budget comes from the religious kibbutz movement, but the driving force of the program is a dynamic, clear-eyed, grey-haired lady named Tova ilan, a member of Ein Tzorim since 1951. Even though she graduated with both bachelor's and master's degrees cum laude from Hebrew University, she is no ivory-tower intellectual. Intelligent she is, but her hallmark is her driving optimism, combined with almost a single-minded dedication to the goals of the center, which she cofounded 10 years ago and still heads. Before starting the Center, she served in so many
important capacities it is difficult to mention them all. Currently, she is an active consultant to the Ministry of Education and is participating in the writing of a new Judaic Studies curriculum to be introduced in all Israeli high schools in the near future. She is also active in the Van Leer Institute's framework for contemporary Jewish thought and Jewish identity. And she participates in the Partnership 2000 project (of United Jewish Communities). I asked her whether she was optimistic about the possibility of closing the gap between the Orthodox and secular worlds in Israel. She is both optimistic and pessimistic. She sees programs such, as her own and the many other groups working to achieve the same goals as very positive developments. There are now some 60 organizations in Israel whose objective is promoting religious tolerance and pluralism here. This is a relatively new and growing phenomena. The increasing numbers of people interested in renewing Jewish ties also encourages her. Interestingly, she noted this is occurring more among people over 30 than with younger adults. But she feels discouraged at times because official Orthodoxy, with the exception of the Meimad Party, -will have non of what she is about. While individuals participate, there is no joining by the rabbinate. What seems even more of a dilemma is the almost total absence of Sephardim in all these efforts. But Tova ilan is in the thick of the battle for the long haul and in the long haul, she and others must succeed if we as a people are to see the third millennium.
THE JEWISH PRESS (Founded in 1920) 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, Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. The Jewish Press (USPS 276620) is published weekly on Friday for $26 per calendar year U.S.; $30 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is Thursday, noon, eight days prior to publication. Telephone 402-334-6448; FAX 402-3346422; E-mail <y'9hpress@aol.com> Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Jewish Press, 333 So.. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198.
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With Hanukkah ending well before Dec. 25 this year, the differences between observances of Hanukkah and Christmas are all the more apparent. Ifs worth repeating the obvious at this point: Hanukkah is the December holiday celebrated inIsraeli culture, and Christmas (through the New Year) is the December holiday celebrated in American culture. Of course, the importance of the two holidays to their respective cultures is quite different from each other. 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 Sukkot). 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). Hanukkah in Israel is a much more subdued affair than is Christmas in the States. 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 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 pro(Continued on page 5) ,
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Fred Tichauer, Vice-Chairman; Joanie Jacobson, Secretary; Howard Silber, Treasurer; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Steve Danon; Jean Diritch; Penny Endelman; Kip Gordman; Gary Kudym; Steve Lovinger; Linda Saltzman; George Schapiro; Steve Simon. 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 letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashruth of any product or establishment. .
December 10,1999
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 5
December reflectionsDomestic issues confront Israel's policy agenda
(Continued from page 4) by Kenneth W. Stein an annual Hanukkah party are the in advertisements for household focus of many days of preparation. items; special Hanukkah events The party involves musical presenta- (often geared for children) at your Perhaps for the first score of the Arabs are separating more frequently tions of Hanukkah songs, plus some local zoo, botanical gardens, and art 21st century, but certainly for the as the latter have their loyalty to the games with a Hanukkah theme. museum; and the omnipresent jelly next decade (barring an unanticipat- Jewish state questioned as a .; An interesting gage in the relative donut. i K JJI ed confrontation betwe'e'n"a" ' '' '"*' Palestinian state is closer to reality. impact of Hanukkah on a child might Indeed, Israel's jelly donut (sufEastern neighbor and Israel), there is When there was common, well- be seen in the number of Hanukkah ganiya) and America's potato panno reason to believe that Israel will defined, and clear'external Arab songs that the child knows. The cake (latke), the treats most associatnot remain the most militarily power- threat to Israeli existence and the Jewish education that I received in ed with the holiday in each country, ful and economically dominant non- nation's existential reality hung in America was excellent, yet I learned may be seen as symbolic of the place oil power in the Middle East. the balance, there was never a short- only a fraction of the Hanukkah of Jewish culture in Israel and out-: Israel's military and economic supe- age of national cement which tightly • songs that the average Israeli child side of Israel. riority in the region will continue to bound diverse groups together. Israeli learns. Hanukkah gets more attenFor several weeks before and all transform the Arab-Israeli conflict patriotism has not diminished, but tion here in d u r i n g into a series of disconnected and identifying the value of an earlier school than it Hanukkah, inconsistent Arab-Israeli relation- Zionist ethos is under intense scruti- does in Jewish jelly donuts ships. ny: new Israeli history and new ele- schools in the can be found at " Polling data throughout 1999 mentary school text books. States. every bakery, reveals that Israeli national priorities israelis are a post-emancipation Our son, Elie, supermarket have undergone' a transformation; people living in the most powerful who is in kinand grocery in social and economic issues have taken Middle Eastern country. However, dergarten, has a Israel, and one the place of the diplomatic-security they are still a people shackled to ear- book entitled can often see complex. In return for enhanced secu- lier geographic origins, limited by Ready for First people eating rity or treaty relationships, a majori- ethnic divisions, and bound to a dias- Grade. At the them in the ty of Israelis have internalized an poricpast. back ' of the street. accommodation with the Palestinians Israelis are defining themselves by book, two other The potato that includes, if necessary, the estab- who they are or who they want to be, books in the latke is prelishment of a Palestinian state. Fifty- and not because someone tells them series are adpared in the four, percent believe that the Golan who they are not. As Israel goes vertised: Ready for Math, and Ready- home and is a much more private Heights would be returned to Syria through internal debate and intro- -Pages for Hanukkah. I can't imagine eating experience, just as Judaism within ten years. spection, Israelis Seem to be striving Hanukkah being so emphasized in an and Jewish culture is a private, The irony for Israel is that as it to make their immigrant melange American Jewish day-school curricu- minority affair for Jews outside of steadily achieves a measure of accep- into a workable mosaic. They are able lmu. Israel. tance in the Middle East from its to focus on internal issues because no Then there are those public referA short note concerning the end of neighbors, enormous pressures are economic or military peer lives in ences to Hanukkah that pleasantly the 20th century: Israeli culture is building within Israel to resolve a their neighborhood to deflect the spot- remind you that you are now in a not making an ex-ception for this spemyriad of domestic problems. Israel's light from the domestic agenda. country where your personal holiday cial Christmas/New Year's period. strength, however, has not and will Solving some of the domestic issues practices are reflected in the culture Jan. 1 will be a day off for Israelis not inoculate it against extraordinari- can generate a sense of purpose and at large: the Hanukkah songs that only because it falls on a Saturday. ly rocky domestic times ahead. perhaps remotely fabricate an overar- come over the radio during candleIt will be business as usual in Israel's national domestic agenda is ching national identity, rather than lighting time; the Hanukkah theme Israel come Sunday, Jan. 2. overflowing. one articulated by nasty partisan polUnfortunately, some of these itics or defined by bitter ethnic splits. 1( hgti6fi£tl"issues are capable of shred-' From afar, it appears ;that Israelis ding the social fabric. possess the intellectual capacity and Already, there are deep fault lines; competence to manage or resolve they include glaring economic dispari- these issues; what they are lacking ties, political correctness, secular-reli- and seeking are the political will and gious contentiousness, and ethnic courage from their elected leaders. cleavages (of the six million Israelis, Therefore, an Rx to Prime Minister twenty percent are Israeli Arabs, Barak as he looks toward reelection •twenty percent are from the former in 2003 or earlier: in addition to stewSoviet Union, and three of seven arding Arab-Israeli relations and proIsraelis have a Sephardi ancestry). tecting Israel's security interests, Policy debates rage about writing a focus on ameliorating those issues constitution, revising the political that benefit all elements of society: system again, the changing nature of! transportation relief from a choking the Histadrut, the army, the Jewish highway system (inaugurate a multiNational Fund, other institutions year inter-urban transit network), that were the bed-rock of Israel's allocate millions of shekels for enviestablishment, and what to do about ronmental clean-up and ecological water scarcity, increasing unemploy- protection, and build one or more ment, and environmental degrada- desalination plants to assure future water supplies. tion. If you count the number of opinion As in resolving Arab-Israeli differpieces in Israeli national newspapers ences, solve the comparatively less today, you find constant discussion of complicated domestic problems first; these domestic issues. Curing and the more difficult ones will inevitably facing them share the national debate take longer, and others will never be with the pace and nature of the Arab- resolved, only managed diligently and Israeli peace process. And while delicately. Prime Minister Barak has not been attacked or vilified with the intensity At Emory University in Atlanta, that the Israeli media attacked his Professor Kenneth W. Stein is the predecessor for his ineptitude as William E. Schatten Professor of "One of the most important things that prime minister. Barak, now six Contemporary Middle Eastern I learned on the mission was that in ormonths in office, is being accused of History and Israeli Studies. His der for me, to understand where our spending too much time abroad and most recent book, Heroic too little time focused on demanding Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, money goes, I had to go to the former and varied domestic issues. Carter, Begin, and the Question Soviet Union. I've been to Israel many Divisiveness in Israeli society is for Arab-Israeli Peace, was pubtimes, but I've never seen the immedi(1999). profound and deep; the left-right divi- lished by Routledge ate result of where our money goes unwere sion vis-a-vis compromise with the . Portions of this article Arab is not dissipating; the Ashkenzi- abridged from a recently complettil this trip." •'•••.• Sephardi chasm is yawning; ultra- ed essay for the U.S. National entitled, orthodox secular friction is almost Defense University unbridgeable; Israeli Jews and Israeli "Israel in the 21st Century."
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Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday in the auditorium of the JCC. Exercise with Michelle Streif at 10:15 a.m. in the auditorium. Try your luck at bingo with Eileen Remer at 10:30 a.m. in room 10. Bring articles to share for "YES Talk", led by Art Grossman, at 11. Following lunch at noon, Marc Nichols from OPPD will talk on Y2K preparedness. For transportation, call 330-4272. Deadline is Dec. 23 for Bluffs Run Casino on Dec. 30.
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NCJW's Career Closet has drop-off at "It's a Wrap"
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Lehman of Eden Prairie, MN, announce the Nov. 17 birth of their son, Austin Sidney. Austin has a brother, Alex Issac. Grandparents are Mr; and Mrs. Jerry Lehman of Omaha and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Levine of Highland Park, IL.
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The National Council of Jewish Women, Omaha Section, and Clarkson College will.once again cosponsor "The Career Closet," a community service project that provides appropriate clothing and vocational guidance to Omaha-area women-in-need entering or re-entering the workplace/Pictured above a r e co-chairmen Stacie Brodkey and • Elizabeth Cohen. All clothing donations should be dropped off during the month of December at the "It's a Wrap" location, the former Pretzel Time location on the first level at Crossroads Mall. Plus sizes are a priority," Brodkey emphasized. "We've learned through experience that a significant number of women fall into this category. Guidelines for donations are: clothing must be in style and in good condition (no stains, no mending needed). It must be cleaned, pressed, sized, on hangers and labeled with donor's name, address and phone. Accessories should be placed in grocery or plastic bags and also labeled. "We welcome business/casual attire, such as dress slacks, sweaters, blouses, blazers and skirts, as well as corporate suits and dresses," Brodkey added. "Our goal is to provide at least one complete outfit to each participant, so accessories, especially seasonal accessories, are a must (boots, shoes, belts, scarves, purses, costume jewelry, coats, hats and gloves). No lingerie, please." Organizations participating in the program include Lydia House, Nebraska Job Service (NJS), Vocational Rehabilitation, YWCA, Goodwill Industries, Job Training of Omaha and the Salvation Army. For more information, contact Elizabeth Cohen at 691-2930, or Stacie Brodkey at 697-7852.
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How many organizations can honor its members' birthdays whose ages range from one year to those in then- 70's, 80's and even 90's? Only the OT/Y.E.S., and that occurred last month. The Septuagenarians, octogenarians and nonagenarians who were recognized were mostly long-time members. The one-year-old was John Anthony Conti, son of our Jewish Senior Services "house mother" Maggie. She brought the adorable doll to our meeting and I had the high honor of presenting him this historic document, which read: Official Young Energetic Seniors Honorary Membership for John Anthony Conti. "By the powers vested in me, I declare Conti an Honorary Member until the year 2065, at which time he will enter the portals of full membership in our distinguished organization, signed Art Grossman, El Presidente." At the Early Bird discussion, we again tackled, the millennium fervor and the missionary activity taking place in Israel. Some individuals and groups may translate that emotion into violence. Our guest speaker, ADL Executive Director Bob Wolfson, expounded on his observations of those who will seek to capitalize on the millennium frenzy in a negative way. We paused in reverent respect in memorium for Emma Herman Briggs and Sady Levin. Shalom.
NANFITO-KATELMAN The Best Western Regency West Hotel was the setting for the Nov. 21 wedding of Joseph E. Nanfito and Randi Turkel Katelman. i Cantor Michael Weisser performed the 3 p.m. ceremony, which was followed by a reception. Honor attendants were [the children of the bride, Stacie Katelman of lOmaha and Bret Katelman of Hollywood, FL, and the children of the bridegroom, Andrea McConnell of Howell, MI, and Omahans Joshua Nanfito and Michael Nanfito. The bride, daughter of Sylvia Turkel Greenberg of Omaha and the late Dr. Sam L. Turkel, is a special education work experience instructor for Omaha Public Schools. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of . Nebraska at Omaha where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Delta Kappa Honoraries. The bridegroom, son of Viola Nanfito of Omaha and the late Joseph A. Nanfito, is an area administrator for Health and Human Services ofNebraska. He graduated from Creighton University, where he was a member of Iota Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He received his master's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
December 10,1999
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE I •
Page 7
Beth El invites community to Shabbat of the Centuries; Rabbi Kripke's 86th birthday to be celebrated
Former Omahan edits The Gentle Weapon
by Ozzie Nogg
by Carol Katzman
According to Moshe Edelxnan, Director of Congregational Programming for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the final Shabbat of the 20th century "provides a unique chance for Jews to come together in their synagogues to pray, study, sing and celebrate." With this in mind, Beth El has created special services and programs and invites the community to join them. A committee, chaired by Mary Fellman, has announced that Beth El's observance of this "Shabbat of the Centuries" will begin Friday, Dec. SI, at 4 p.m., with live music, champagne and hors d'oeuvres in the Community Court. This "Most Happy Hour" will be followed by a Kabbalat Shabbat Family Friday night service at 5 p.m. in the main sanctuary. A Gala New Year's Eve Shabbat Dinner in the synagogue social hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. The celebration will continue on Jan. 1, 2000, with services beginning at 10 a.m. "We'll break at 10:45 for a Mimosa Brunch," said Fellman, "and then continue with the Torah Service.
"And, since Jan. 1 corresponds to the Jewish date of the 86th birthday of Rabbi Emeritus Myer S. Kripke, we plan to honor Rabbi and his wife, Dorothy, as our very special guests at both the brunch and at services," Fellman continued. "We know the Kripke's friends in the community will want to be on hand to give their best wishes and share in the simcha. It's going to be a relaxed, warm and informal Shabbat morning and we invite everyone to be part of the fun-part of the tradition."' When speaking about the final Shabbat of the 20th century and the first Shabbat of the 21st century, Rabbi Paul Drazen of Beth El said, "This weekend offers us a rare opportunity. Like others within the Conservative Movement, we recognize that a secular event of such magnitude cannot be ignored and that the synagogue—which is so important in the lives of its members—must provide a way for congregants to take note of this event in a traditional, communal setting." Working with Mary Fellman on the Beth El arrangements are committee members Ruth Potash, Helen Epstein, Selma Sadofsky, Lola Reinglas and Rhonda Saferstein.
Bad Jews and Other Stories by Gerald Shapiro, $24.95 by Oliver B. Pollak
Several months ago, I reviewed American Jewish Fiction, Gerald Shapiro's astute selection of the best in Jewish literature. Reading Shapiro's anthology, I mused with expectation, what kind of a book would Shapiro write. Muse no longer. Enter the tales of Kenneth Rosenthal; Ed Shifmah, Leo Spivak and' Elliot Suskind, an unlikely assortment ofschlemiels, nebishes, apostates and adulterers. They weave and bob between nine stand-alone short stories, like boxers past their prime and consciously on the edge of oblivion. Sometimes, they get lucky, or divine assistance, and avoid the knockout punch; sometimes the fist lands smack dab on the nose and in the eye. Shapiro's characters spoof, scam and slime advertising, art and public relations. They recall their nerdish high school years, lust for Gentile women, face bouts with cancer, see their elderly parents dying, and tussle with their rabbis Fink, Futterman, Millstein and YafFe.
The sadness of these tales is not without humor as Shapiro dips into a wide trough of male Jewish neurosis, not so much anti-Semitism, as a Jewish adolescent awkwardness never shaken off in adulthood. These are Jews on the edge of their faith, on the edge of the map, and on the edge of their livelihood.'Some of the stories end imperfectly, but so can life. The book has a mid-western flavor. Kansas City, Omaha, and a fictional Pinkney, NE, the location of a frenzied matzo-ball flinging Seder food fight. Shapiro, a Professor of English at the University of Nebraska, has opened a new chapter in Jewish Midwestern storytelling. • .. In a book without heroes, Shapiro is the hero, exhuming the foibles of memory. If you like Malamud, Roth, Bellow and Sondheim, get this book for someone to read over a weekend, on an airplane, on vacation. Sit nearby and wait for chortling laughter or. alternating ashen and rosy cheeks. This book is available at local bookstores and the Jewish Federation Library.
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Sharon Nadoff Mizrahi hasn't lived in Omaha since she was 12 years old. Now a resident of Jerusalem, this editor/writer and mother, of 10 was here last month to visit her mother, Jeanette Nadoff, and promote her latest project, The Gentle Weapon. A small book of only 116 pages, the pocketsized compilation of prayers is based on the teachings of the hasidic master, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Mizrahi and her co-editor, Moshe Mykoff, were approached by the head of the Breslover Research Institute, Chaim Kramer, to put this "timeless wisdom" into words that didn't have to be spoken "only during services" but anytime one wanted to speak to God in "their own words." "We're not used to opening up to God," Mizrahi said in an interview with the Jewish Press. "We're trained to think that every prayer comes from a book, instead of kvetching our own words out to God. Rebbe Nachman taught people how to break away from that mold." Taking the spiritual lessons from Rebbe Nachman, Mizrahi and Mykoff wrote everyday prayers parallel to those teachings, from Shalom Bayit (peace in the home) to holidays. "Many of the original translations are stiff and formal by today's standards," Mizrahi explained. "Chaim told us to adapt them for today, so between the two of us, many rewrites and a year of work, we completed the project. In the end, we were finishing one another's sentences!" Mizrahi and her husband made aliyah in 1992 from Cleveland, OH, with nine children; one more was born in the Jerusalem suburb where they.now live, Neve Yaakov. " .'". Mizrahi and Kramer are currently coordinating other editing projects, including a series of children's picture books. The Gentle Weapon, published by Jewish Lights Publishing of Woodstock, VT, is available in the Jewish Federation Library.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 10,1999
EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE
Professor speaks on crypto-Jews at Beth El
Due to the upcoming winter holidays, the deadline (Continued from page 1) for the Dec. 24 issue of the Jewish Press is The presentation will be accompanied by slides ed through the town. I hadn't been on the job for Wednesday, Dec. 15, and the deadline for the Dec. 31 issue is Wednesday, Dec. 22, at noon for all showing the consciousness of this crypto-Jewish more than a few weeks before I started to receive heritage on' cemetery headstones and other aspects some unusual Hispanic visitors. They told me, in a ads, copy and photos. of material culture. very secretive manner, that friends, neighbors or Questions? Call Maureen at 334-6449. • Dr. Hordes is currently engaged in a research colleagues were practicing customs suggestive of a project, "The Sephardic Legacy in New Mexico: A Jewish past. History of the Crypto-Jews," sponsored by the . "One thing led to another and I decided to follow University of New Mexico's Latin American and up on my earlier research and expand the scope to ASK FOR... Iberian Institute, through a generous grant from include a history of crypto-Judaism in New Mexico, the estate of Eva Feld. He received his B.A. in as well as the phenomenon further south." History from the University of Maryland in 1971, What influence will the discovery of crypto-Jews MULTIMILUON DOLLAR CAREER SALES his M.A. in Latin American History from the have on the Jewish communities, especially of the University of New Mexico in 1973, and his Ph.D. Southwest U.S.? To Buy -or Build from Tulane University in 1980. "I can try to analyze the past as an historian, but Your Dream Home The Jewish Press recently interviewed Dr. I have no skills to predict the future. I suppose that Hordes. What follows are the questions and his we, as a Jewish community, can learn that the fabC B S H O M E Res: 334-7257 answers. ric of Jewish history and culture is much richer' REAL ESTATE Bus: 498-8300 A MOAMf MUH HfMCEf U IH.IATI Was there something in your background-family and more diverse than we'd thought. history, travels, the influence of a professor...that "For some Jews, seeing how certain people have led you to research into this area of Jewish history? clung to their faith despite difficult circumstances, iSchollman's "No, there is nothing I am aware of in my family might help them appreciate their faith today." Beautiful Decorative history that led me to this investigation. My interAre there some personal stories of crypto-Jews Cabinet, Door & est is purely academic. you can relate which would give our readers some Bath Hardware "However, when I was an undergraduate student sense of their history? Are these people practicing Supplies at the University of Maryland in the early 1970's Jews today? How was this knowledge discovered... and fishing for a topic for my senior honors thesis, and how was it received by their families once it HOVR& Mon-Fri 8-5; Sat. 8-noon Schollman's, your personal hardware consultant my advisor suggested writing about the history of was revealed? the relationship between the Mexican inquisition "There a r e too many stories to choose from; 593-9210 and the crypto-Jewish community of Mexico in the everyone has his or her own tale to relate, some 8425 T " St. (across from Acura) Colonial Period. more difficult than others. Most are content to re-established, 1998 "That should be easy,' I told myself, but the more remain Catholic or Protestant and their search is more cultural than religious." I read, the more frustrated I became. "Almost all the historical literature was written And finally, are there other locations in the world from the perspective of either the virulent anti-' where crypto-Jews, either from this SpanishSpanish attitudes of Protestant England and Portuguese culture or others, are being discovered? Northwestern Europe (echoed, I might add, by Is there any link to 'your Jews' or if there are any, Jewish authors in the late 19th and mid-20th cen- are they from other diasporas through the ages? turies) or by virulently pro-church authors earlier "There are, indeed, stories of other descendants this century. Both schools either attacked or of crypto-Jews "coming out" and exploring their defended the Inquisition without ever taking the heritage in Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, time to analyze from an objective perspective how Mexico and other parts of the Spanish/Portuguese the system worked or how, it reflected the society; of world... . ' . • • ' " ••••-- r ^ its time "About 10 years ago, some of these folks formed a "At that time, I decided I was going to 'do it group called the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies. right,' which resulted in my doctoral dissertation. We meet once a year to discuss our research into "Then, in 1981, after I'd moved to New Mexico various parts of the crypto-Jewish experience. It from New Orleans, I took the position of state his- started with a bunch of scholars, but quickly incortorian there, a position with some degree of visibili- porated people from the community itself, yearning ty in a very small town. to learn more from us, and more importantly, from , • . .;,•-. ."Some of the people in Santa Fe represented fam- eachother." ilies whose roots went back 400 years. They wonHordes will speak Friday, Dec. 17, 8:15 pan., at dered.'Who.isthis outsider and what qualifies him Beth El Synagogue, as well as on Saturday,. Dec; to be historian of our state?" 18, during lunch following morning services, and "I suppose that word of my earlier work circulat- Sunday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m.
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That's how the cookie crumbles! Cookbook review by Lois Friedman
The holidays and cookies, the joys'of baking and filling the cookie jar, cookie exchanges...everyone has their favorite cookie and favorite memory. Create your own holiday treats from this array of Beth El Synagogue-West Court cookie books. 14506 N.California St. The Cookie Jar from Leisure Arts, $19.95 Come for lunch, informational meeting and reunion contains almost 150 well-written recipes with easyOPEN TO THE ENTIRE JEWISH COMMUNITY to-follow instructions, tips, patterns and even Camp Sabra, located on 960 acres and 31/2 miles something for Fido! Winter warmers, spring sensaof private shoreline on the magnificant Lake of tions, summer delights, autumn harvest, oldies but the Ozarks, MO, is the resident co-ed summer goodies, kid pleasers, special occasions, around the camping facility of the St. Louis JCC, serving world and more are some of the chapters listed. children and teens entering grades 3-10 in Cookies, Cakes and Pies from Robert Rose, 4-week sessions, with 2-week options available $7.95, features sweet-tooth treats in more than 50 for those entering grades 3-6. recipes from kid-pleasers to sophisticated desserts. Sidebars feature tips and make-ahead ideas. • Climbing Ibwer • Mountain Biking A Year of Cookies by Lorraine Bodger ( S t • Theatre • Blobbing Martins, $9.95), is a month-by-month collection of • Sailing , • Horseback Riding 52 cookies recipes for bakers of every experience • Tennis • Waterskiing level. Pull out all the stops and fill the house with cookie magic. ACAAcredited • 30th Season Classic Cookies by Suzanne Gooding (Klutz, RSVP to Hollie and Glen Fineman $4.95), is a laminated cookbook published with (Area Representatives) kids in mind. This durable fold-out format features 496-4301 "13 recipes that will change your life." Mega Ultra Payment plan and second child discounts available Cookies is fun on a cookie sheet:
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December 10,1999
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 9
The "other" holiday season by Pam Monsky
Here are just a few thoughts and musings about ~ Hanukkah and that other holiday. First, there aren't any good Hanukkah songs. The only relatively new one I know of is that one by Adam Sandier of 'Saturday Night Lave' fame. Fve thought about it a lot, and have tried to come up with some innovative rhymes for Hanukkah, and Sandler's right. . .after yarmulke and gin-andtonica there isn't much left. I tried rhyming harmonica, but then what? As long as we're on the subject of holiday music, I don't think I've ever seen anything more depressing than our nine-year-old daughter, Raphael, reporting to me that the token Hanukkah song in music class this time of year is "Dreidel, Dreidel," again! This just feeds into my case for new Hanukkah songs. When our son was in preschool at the J, they did a great song called "Judah Maccabee." It was sung to the tune of "Fere Jacques" and went something like this: I am Judah Maccabee I am Judah Maccabee, Strong and bold Strong and bold! . : Then there were more verses that I forget, but the reason that verse is memorable is the way Sam interpreted it. I was watching Sam and his CDC class perform this song a couple of years ago, and instead of singing "strong and bold," Sam was singing "strong and BALD!" I am sure of this because he held his hand to his forehead and pushed his hair back! That kid cracks me up! The other thing we Jews need help with is decorations. You must admit that those Xmas lights are pretty spectacular. The admirable thing about people who put up Xmas lights on their house is that they put them up on their house! I mean, how many Jewish guys that you know would climb a ladder to the roof to string up lights? .' • Now, I have never tried this, but it looks like a
$
big pain in the tush. Which leads to my next point. There should be a time limit on when those lights need to come down. I think January 15 is long enough, but there could be reasons to extend it to the 30th. But we've all seen lights not only up, but lit, well into March and April. At that point, these guys have.got to be thinking that they might as well leave them tip until next Xmas (which starts
around Halloween). . My family's Hanukkah decorations are OK, but they pale in contrast to those Xmas lights. It takes me half a day to string up one set of dreidel lights in my window! I also have somehow come into possession of a Hanukkah stocking. I don't know how I obtained it, but it must be a very important heirloom. I tried to hang it from the mantel one year, and it got a little singed. It has the requisite blue and white Star of David and a dreidel, plus a few festive silver beads on it. I don't think I'm going to hang it up this year. Has everyone noticed the menorah at the Hy-Vee on 132nd and Dodge? I think that it's great and I look forward to seeing it every year. The first time they put it up a couple of years ago, it had six branches instead of eight. I reported this grievous
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error to the manager, and they had it fixed within days. I also noticed that Hy-Vee has an array of Hanukkah gifts and wrap which fits conveniently in a 4-foot by 5-foot aisle display. This doesn't sound like much, but I was damn glad to see it (my kids, however, were not overly impressed). My son keeps telling us how the only thing he likes about Xmas are the lights. He hates everything else, including Santa Claus, because Santa's not real. He keeps telling me this over and over, and always ends this tirade by asking, "He's not real, is he mom?" just to make sure. I always think to myself, "No, Sam, Santa won't be coming down your or any other little Jewish kid's chimney this year!" . The other thing that concerns me is the Hanukkah candles. Now, I'm not going to gripe about how drippy they are or how they are a fire hazard (although one year our cat's tail got scorched from them.. .we're working on Hanukkah etiquette with the cat this year), What always worries me is the fact that I never have the right amount of candles in the box. I usually start with a fresh box, which if I'm not mistaken, have 44 candles in them. If I've done my math correctly, this should work out to just enough candles for the eight days. But I shouldn't have to do my math correctly; the candle company should do their math correctly. Be that as it may, I always have candles leftover, or I run out of candles. Then I have to open a new box, which for sure messes me up for the next Hanukkah. Sheesh! Talk about your December dilemma! With all that out of my system, I feel ready to face this "other" holiday season. We'll eat lots of latkes (try saying that four times fast. . .lots of latkes. . .lots of latkes. . .lots of latkes. . .lots of latkes), which, incidentally, I used to make from actually shredding the potatoes myself until someone wised me up to the Manachevitz mix! Have a Happy Hanukkah!
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Are you sick of hearing about all the possible mishaps which could occur on January 1, 2000? Who wouldn't) be tired of the crazy, predictions which threaten everything from mistakes messing up your bank account to problems with electricity—problems which make some people say they wouldn't dream of being on an airplane at that time. I guess they're afraid the plane will fall out of the sky or something. Personally, I have the distinct feeling that absolutely nothing that horrible will happen. Oh, I'm sure certain computers and other electronic gizmos might get into trouble, but if a person listens to the warnings, even that doesn't need to happen. There are ways to make these machines compatible to the year 2000, to avoid losing all stored information. Ways any responsible person can take to make certain all will be well, so why worry? I'm just feeling odd about getting accustomed to using the number 2000 in everything from writing the date, as many of us do many times in a day, to answering a person who says "what model car do you drive?" It's easy enough to say something like "I drive a '97 Acura, but have you thought how it will feel to say "my car is a 2000 Chevy?" I think that?s weird, don't you? ; It's been strange enough to look at an appointment card from the desk of the person who schedules annual meetings with me, and see I'm due there on Feb. 18, 2000. Or even to note that I will need to renew my driver's license in August of 2002. I'm sure I can't be the only one who thinks that looks strange. Trouble is, I don't know anyone who was old enough to be paying attention to such things in the 1890's, so I can't ask how long it takes before the new century seems natural. That brings up another thought, however.
Given the number of citizens over the age of 100, look how many folks will be able to say they've lived in three centuries! Mind boggling, isn't it? Such people undoubtedly will have lived to see the changes from very early, simple mechanisms to the amazing space vehicles which have taken man to the moon. To try to name all the inventions which have altered the lifestyles of people would take pages and pages. Yes, the people who are reaching birthdays of 103 and 105 have seen the world change greatly. So here we are, getting closer to the magic date and number. In some places, such as many Post Offices in this country, there are digital clocks prominently displayed which tick off the seconds and minutes until the millennium. I read the other day that some people find those clocks very disturbing. They claim seeing the minutes tick away is depressing and only serves to remind them of things they don't want to think about....such as their own mortality? Well, I don't know about any of that. I just know this all started when I suddenly thought how odd it would be to identify a car as a 2000 Mustang, for example. Wait a minute-let's explore that a bit more. How about the cars to be manufactured in a few years? Will they be known as 2003 models, or maybe just '03's? I can't begin to imagine beyond that, can you? I guess well have to wait and see. So take good care of yourselves, because there's a lot of new stuff we have to deal with in the future. You'll have to decide what kind of a car you'll want to be driving, and then you can decide what you'll say when asked. I mean, gee whiz, we've got to get all this decided...we're almost out of this century!
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BBYO announces fall 1999 chapter officers
Teaching teachers about pluralism and democracy by Debbi Brown, Assistant Director, ADL/CRC
The Ghetto Fighters' House is an echo of the past which speaks in a distinct, clear voice of resistance and survival to those who are fortunate enough to visit Beit Lohamei Haghetaot. Since my return from Israel this summer, having participated in the Pluralism and Democracy teachers' seminar, I have become a devoted supporter of this educational center, in the Western Galilee which is all too unknown among educators and the general public. I value education and I believe that as educators we have the ability to influence students in the most positive way. To experience The Ghetto Fighters House and Yad Layeled is, at the least, an obligation to those who perished in the Holocaust and, at the most, an opportunity to understand the true meaning of strength, through the stories of those who survived. In a perfect world, there would be no need for a place like GFH. We do not live in a perfect world. We must learn and we must teach about the Holocaust Only through education will we be able to combat prejudice, bigotry, and intolerance.' The Pluralism and Democracy program is designed to view the Holocaust through a humanistic lens. The design and implementation of the program - a joint effort by the Director of the Center for Humanistic Education at GFH Raya Kalisman, and the Director of the Pedagogic Center of GFH, Dr. Moshe Shner - is brilliant. As a student I was able to "fit myself into the equation of the many questions that one has experiencing the curriculum. As an educator, I was able to see how the lessons would resonate with learners of all ages. I was one in a group of seven teachers from four cities in the U.S. who participated this summer in this unique, two-week program. We took classes both at the GFH and off site as we learned the history of the Jewish people and the history of The Ghetto Fighters' House, the story of ;the Holocaust. We traveled throughout the country and we had the opportunity to stay over at Sakhnin, an Arab village, .for ajweekend. Perhaps that was the highlight for me. I am constantly teaching that until we get to know one another as individuals, we will not be able to overcome these stereotypes and myths that we hold about each other. We must strive to learn about each other. We do ourselves the greatest injustice when we do not take the time to experience others' cultures, rituals, and traditions. The experiences we had are difficult to articulate in a few paragraphs. The word "awesome" doesn't quite cover it to describe this most extraordinary experience. Raya, Moshe, Beth, Annemiek and all of the educators at GFH saw to our well being, both educationally and spiritually. They enhanced the experience with their gentle, kind and wise ways. They were open to our questions and suggestions. They . encouraged us to share our knowledge and our teaching successes and even our teaching failures. The environment was healthy and positive. I am thankful for having had the opportunity to visit and learn with such marvelous teachers and am now committed to the task of teaching students of all ages the lessons of the Holocaust. For more information on the Pluralism and Democracy summer educators' seminar at The Ghetto Fighters' House, please contact Dr. Moshe ' Shner at: mshner@gfh.org.il or yia fax: 011-9724995-8007.
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Hadassah holds Hanukkah program by Sandra Kohll
lunch m-f 11-2 dinner m-sat 4:30-on
The Omaha Chapter of Hadassah held their Hanukkah Al Galgalim (training wheels) program on Nov. 17 at my home. The program is for two to five year olds.
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Ariel Kohll shows off her Hnnnfrinh. Upon arriving, the children were greeted by special music from Debbie Friedman. Storytelling time by Moreh Noa was next. Then a playtime activity with all the children spinning like dreide'ls to the tune "I made a little Dreidel." The creative activity was making Hanukiah using different animals as flames and stickers below each one. Attending were Benjamin and Connors and their mom, Sherri Dietrich; Cleo and Isaac and their mom, Muni Rogers-Marcovitz; Ariel, Jordon and Noah; and Talia and Yaachov and mom, Noa Levin. The next session will be on Tu B'Shevat, Jan. 12, 2000, at my home, 1617 S. 107th St. (enter by garages). Snacks will be served.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
December 10,1999
Hunger Relief Notebook
Stories of the elderly Jews in the former Soviet Inion as told by photojournalist Sharon Faulkner
Editor's note: The photos and accompanying "The Jews of the former Soviet Union are an captions are by Sharon Faulkner, who was in amazing people. They have been harmed physicalOmaha in November to present her stories and ly, repeatedly, and many of them live with memoslides to the Omaha Jewish community. ries of their parents, children and siblings being slaughtered right in front of their eyes. They live on next to nothing, they are desperately in need of medical care, but they have dignity and spirit that is unlike anything I have ever seen. "I am bound to the UJC through a shared vision of salvation for the Jews our world has left behind. Many people in the U.S. do not realize the terrible conditions under which people in Ukraine are living. I know Jews in the FSU (Former Soviet Union) who have survived both the Holocaust and Chernobyl. They exist on pensions as minuscule as a few dollars a month for all their needs. "They have cancer, heart disease, diabetes and radiation poisoning. They can't grow nearly enough Ziama food, and all the soil is poisoned by radiation. Only Nenzhin, Ukraine a few of them live with a sibling or a spouse; most "Ziama is an elderly man who lives in a village of them are completely alone. called Nenzhin. The population there is 600, 184 of . "In the villages, they have no running water and whom are Jews. It's a three-hour drive from Kiev, no bathrooms. Only if they are living in a city dp not far from Chernobyl. The town has a soup they have electricity, but it is primitive and unrelikitchen created by the JDC, which provides Ziama able. They are elderly and cannot get up and leave with his two hot meals a week. Ziama was bom in their homes, as horrible as the conditions are. How 1926 to a mother who could not afford to keep him do you uproot and transplant an 80-year-old tree? and had no choice but to put him in an orphanage. The reality is, you cannot. It is the same with peo"After the war, he went to find her and learned ple; they could never survive. It is difficult for that she had been murdered, along with all the many of us to understand their situation because it other Jews in her town. is so much worse than anything we have ever seen. "Ziama lives alone and has to use the outdoors as While ours is a society of options, these people Sharon Faulkner his toilet because there is no outhouse. He collects have no options." water from a polluted stream that runs through To contribute to the special Hunger Relief Nenzhin, and scavenges fruits and vegetables when Campaign, contact Pam Monsky at the Jewish he can find them in the neighboring fields. Federation office, 334-6431. All contributions are Everything is contaminated with radiation poison- tax deductible. Omaha's share of the $10 million ing. national HRI Campaign is $110,000; 100% of the "Ziama lives on $8 for every 12 weeks. He is monies collected will go to assisting elderly and unable to live a dignified life." low-income Jews in the former Soviet Union.
Creighton students light Hanukkah candles
The Omaha Center for Toruh Learning, in conjunction with the Creighton University J e w i s h S t u d e n t s ' Group, s p o n s o r e d Hanukkah candle lighting. Students and faculty gathered for the event. Rabbi Shlomo Levin, OCTL director, exp ained the significance of the Hanukkah ctndles before the lighting. Photo by Jay Langhunt
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