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SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS - TEENAGE VoLLXXK
No. 35
Omaha, NE
au rsissan, 57bO
Who will remember? by Carol Katzman After the candlelighting, the readings, the prayers, the musical elegies, more than 300 members of Omaha's Jewish community listened attentively as educator Gloria Kaslow asked the question, "Who will remember the Holocaust after the survivors are gone?" Gathering at Beth El Synagogue for the annual YomHaShoah remembrance, the crowd nodded silently as participants of the March of the Living spoke about each survivor who lit one of the yellow candles memorializing the six million who died during the Holocaust. "When I walked down the streets of Krakow, past the house where my grandma lived some 78 years ago, I was amazed at her strength," said Ryan Tichauer about his grandmother, Helena. Others (Continued on page 12)
Survivors who participated in the candlelighting ceremony were: Helena Tichauer, Jack Diamond, Helen Manheimer, Fred Kader, Hilda Gottlieb and Tom Jaeger.
May 12, 2000
Sandy and Paul Epstein to chair Federation Annual Meeting by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
Longtime volunteers growth," added his wife, Sandy and Paul Epstein Sandy. "We are so very will chair the 96th Annual pleased to be a part of this Meeting of the Jewish evening." Federation of Omaha on Both Paul and Sandy June 26, 7:30 pan., at the have a long and distinJewish Community Center. guished volunteer career in the Jewish community. This meeting is the time Sandy has been involved the community will gather with the Federation, first to honor volunteers with as a worker and captain, awards for outstanding then as a division leader services and programs. and, finally, as Women's Among the awards to be Campaign Co-chairman in presented are: Human1997. That same year, itarian of the Year, ComPaul co-chaired the Genmunity Service Award, eral Campaign; he curCenters of Excellence rently serves as President Volunteers of the Year, of Temple Israel. He has Justin Greenberg and Lois also served on the FederJ. Schrager Young Leaderation Board as Treasurer ship Awards, and the and as a member of the Teen Leadership Award. Executive Committee. In addition, outgoing board members and presiSandy has also been a dents from the Centers of longtime volunteer for the Sandy and Paul Epstein Excellence will be honored National Council of as the incoming members are installed. A special Jewish Women, Omaha Section, as a Vice-presivideo highlighting the accomplishments and spe- dent, member of the board of directors and as chairwoman of Dictionary Day. cial moments of the year will also be featured. "It's so important for people in Omaha to see the . .The entire-community is invited to attend the great things that are happening in our Jewish com- Annual Meeting. Upcoming articles will announce the winners of the awards and profile volunteers. munity," Paul Epstein said. "This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate For more information, call Kathy McGauvran in those who made the past year one of incredible the Federation office, 334-6427.
In its 53rd year, Israel continues to ask, 'Who am I?' by Avi Machlis
JERUSALEM (JTA) - As Israelis prepare to fire up their grills for thenIndependence Day barbecue ritual on Israel's 52nd birthday this week, the existential debates that dominate the public agenda are almost sure to get lost in the clouds of smoke. But amid the smog that will descend upon the country, there is also a feeling that in Israel's 53rd year, an • intense debate about the nature of the Jewish state and the future of Zionism will heat up. "The attempt to find a middle road between a Jewish and democratic state will be the essence of the ongoing public debate over Jewish and Israeli identity," said Moshe Lissak, professor emeritus of sociology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. . "But I don't think that Israeli society is ripe for these discussions because as long as diplomatic arrangements with her neighbors have not been secured, it will be difficult to address these issues in a rational way." .Experts say that after the barbecues are doused, the debate about the nature of the Jewish state will proceed along two main paths. First, the very fundamental definition of Israel as a Jewish state is likely to face sharper challenges than ever before from Israeli ArabB, who make
up 20 percent of Israel's population of 6 million. Second, the struggle between religious and secular segments of society toward defining what it means to be a Jewish state will be played out in new ways. , The impetus for the Arab challenge was provided nearly two months ago, when the Qadan family from the Galilee won the right from Israel's High Court of Justice to build a home in Katzir, a Jewish community established by the Jewish Agency for Israel. With that landmark decision, the Supreme Court shattered one of the fundamental tenets of modern Zionism, which sought to secure land exclusively for Jews. While ruling that it was illegal to discriminate against Arabs in land allocation, the court insisted this did not clash with the Jewish nature of the state. In fact, Justice Aharon Barak argued that the "Jewish character of the state did not permit Israel to discriminate between its citizens. In Israel, Jews and non-Jews are citizens with equal rights and responsibilities." . The ruling injected a new sense of self-confidence into Israel's Arab community, which says it suffers from widespread discrimination in areas such as employment and government funding. (Continued on page 10)
Omaha celebrated Israeli. Inde- the Maxwell Street Klszawsr Photos by SteoeBeumr. pendence Day, Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Band. with inflatables in the JCC gym. Hundreds turned out to listen to (More photos on pages 10 anAlL$
Page 2'
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, MAY 12 Russian Club, 10 a.m. SATURDAY, MAY 13 Bagels & Bible, 9:30 a.m., at Temple Grades 8-12,9:30 a.m., at Beth El C Humash Class, 8 p.m., at Beth El I Singles Night, 8 p.m., at Temple Israel P SUNDAY, MAY 14 New Americans Victory Day Celebration, 10 a.m. .*. Israel Experience Prep Class, 1:30 p.m. s" Mothers Day Concert, at Temple Israel A MONDAY, MAY 15 V YES Program, 9:30 a.m. E TUESDAY, MAY 16 Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m., at Temple Israel Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Temple BESTT Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Beth El Bamidbar with Rabbi Levin, 7:30 p.m., at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
Beth Israel Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Kutner, Noon, at Noddle Development OTYG Dinner, 6 p.m., at Temple Israel Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Beth El Talmud with Rabbi Kutner, 7:30 p.m., at Beth Israel THURSDAY, MAY 18 Walk-in Drop-in, 9:30 a.m. Adult Education, 10 a.m., at Temple Library Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. Religious School Committee Meeting, 6 p.m., at Temple Israel Kadimah Nite Summer Party, 6 p.m., at Beth El Young Leadership Award Meeting, 7 p.m. All events hold at the JCC unless otherwise Indicated. The Jewish Press Is not responsible for the accuracy of the events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Martene Hert at 334*437.
CENTRALPARK PHARMACY #5 307 North 114th St. PHONE 333-5100
by Rabbi Shlomo Levin, Director, Omaha Center for Torah Learning
Parasha Emor Contained within the summary of the laws of the holidays found in this week's parsha, we find the commandment "Count for yourselves from the day after the (Passover) festival . . .seven complete weeks (23:15)." At the conclusion of this seven week period of counting we are then commanded to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot. What, we may wonder, is so unique about Shavuot that we are commanded to literally count the days until it arrives? Furthermore, why does the Torah tells us the date of Shavuot only in relation to Passover, unlike all of the other holidays which have calendar dates of their own? In order to understand this special relationship between Passover and Shavuot we must examine briefly the theme of each holiday. Passover commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery. The essential theme of the Passover holiday is celebration of our freedom. Shavuot is called by our rabbis "the holiday of the giving of our Torah," since according to tradition the day on which Shavuot falls is the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. The theme of Shavuot is acceptance of the law and the religious rebirth of our nation. So what is the message of counting the days between Passover and Shavuot? We have to realize that the freedom of the exodus was only valuable if used properly to accept the Torah. By accepting the Torah, the Jewish people justified God's faith in granting them redemption from Egypt. We count the days from Passover to Shavuot since the story of the Passover finds its fulfillment in the giving of the Torah marked by Shavuot. As we count the freedoms which we ourselves enjoy, we must consider this message. Freedom gives us the opportunity to make choices, and the opportunity to willingly accept the commandments oftneTOrdh."1 " , : We must make the most of our opportunity, just as the newly set free Jewish people marched directly from Egypt to Mount Sinai long ago.
Rabbi Kripke to receive honorary doctorate At commencment ceremonies tomorrow for Creighton University students, Rabbi Myer S. Kripke will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Human Letters. It will be the last commencment officiated by Fr. Michael G. Morrison, S.J., presi. dent of Creighton, who is leaving office at the end of June. Rabbi Emeritus of Beth El Synagogue, Rabbi Kripke has served on the Nebraska Conference on Religion and Race and the Mayor's Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Equality. He is a columnist for the Jewish Press and has taught several courses in Judaism at Creighton during the past 24 years to more than 1000 students. Some of his students now practice as ministers or teachers in Catholic and Protestant religious schools.
COLLEGE STUDENTS Your Jewish Press subscription will stop with the May 26 issue. If you will be away over the summer and want to continue to receive the paper, please fill out the form below and sent it to: The Jewish Press 333 S. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154 Name Address
JEFFREY S. SPIEGAL Services for Jeffrey Spiegal were held May 9 at Mt. Sinai Cemetery. He died at the age of 47. Survivors include his wife, Debra " sons, Justin, Joseph and Andrew; mother, Merrian, all of Omaha; and sister, Susan Weinstein of Plymouth, MN. Memorials to the American Cancer Society.
Chabad to host presentation on Second Passover by Shani Katzman
It's first mentioned in the Bible, but was all but forgotten. Now the message will be heard again, loud and clear. The name is Pesach Sheni, Hebrew for Second Passover, and it's the subject of a special presentation at Chabad House on Thursday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. Pesach Sheni first appears in the account of the biblical book of Numbers. The Torah there relates of a spontaneous movement of people who appealed to Moses for a second chance to offer the Passover sacrifice which they had been barred from offering. G-d granted them their plea, and a holiday was established for all time carrying the profound message that it's never too late to do that which is good and right and brings us closer to G-d. Rabbi Mendel Katzman of Chabad House will share inspiration and insight in depth from a variety of ancient and modern sources. Rabbi Katzman stated, "All are welcome to come and learn about this little known, fascinating holiday. Join us with your questions and comments as we explore how we can reclaim Pesach Sheni as our very own." For further information, please call Chabad House at 330-1800 or e-mail us at chabad@aol.com.
Beth Israel to host 'World Perfect' Seminar byBethCohen
Beth Israel Synagogue will host Aish HaTorah's Discovery "World Perfect" Seminar in the JCC auditorium on Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. The seminars have been presented to more than 70,000 participants in hundreds of communities around the world, and draws on science, history, psychology and technology to demonstrate the relevance and importance of Judaism for the contemporary Jew. The Discovery Seminar is a series of dynamic programs exploring the basis for belief in Judaism. It debunks popular misconceptions about Judaism, turns leaps of faith into walks of reason, sicks the computer onto the Torah to see what bytes and contrasts the improbable survival of the Jewish nation with the fates of the world's mightiest empires. "World Perfect" takes participants on a trip through time, from ancient civilization to the current era, offering a view of the contributions of the Jewish nation to society. The seminar provokes historical background of the world prior to monotheism and examines the views of individual civilizations on basic values, including peace, justice, equality and social responsibility to the poor. Discovery Seminar Administrator Sara Wenick explained, "This is not a Jewish issue, but a world issue, as touched upon by by Irish author Thomas Cahill in his best-selling book The Gift of the Jews. People are familiar with the works of individual Jews like Albert Einstein, but even many Jews themselves do not know the contribution of their religion to society as a whole. The seminar is free and open to the community. JCC members can enter the building with their membership card at the south entrance or at the Fitness Center entrance. ; Non-JCC members must enter at the Sokolof Fitness Center entrance at the back of the JCC building.
May 12,2000
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
PageS
>*i CANDLELIGHT1NG: 8:15 p.m. *
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; TEMRLEJSRAEL
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Member ot the yplonv«f Aiperiottn Hebrew Cong^gaticrag
.7023 Cass Stree^OmahaVKE 68132-2651 'temple! srael-ne,6rg FRIDAY: Early worship service, 5:30 p.m. Rabbi Debbie Stiel and Jeffrey Taxman will officiate* using the Union Prayer Book. This service is especially planned so members may be home early to enjoy a Shabbat meal and evening; family service, 7:15 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Jennifer Blum will officiate/Members of Family School will conduct the service. The Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by Helen and Jon Bleicher in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jacob. SATURDAY: Bagels and Bible, 9:30-10:15 aan.; Shabbat morning service, 10:30 a.m. J a c o b William Bleicher will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. SITTER SERVICE is available each Friday evening, Saturday mornings for Bagels and Bible and the worship service, as well as Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Cost is $2 per family. Make a reservation at the Temple office. REMINDER: S u n d a y , May 14: Celebrate Mother's Day-Join Cantor Jennifer Blum, Cantor Barry Abelson and pianist Julie Sandene for a special concert at 3 pan. in the sanctuary. ADULT EDUCATION WEDNESDAY, May 17:Midrashah, 10 a.m.noon. THURSDAY, May 18 Sisterhood Adult Education, 10-11:30 aan. Rabbi Ira Flax will teach about the interconnection between Jewish history and our religion and culture. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION Friday, May 19: Seniors will participate in a special milestone in their continuing religious education. They are: Nichole Cohn, Jay Kulakofsky, Joshua Needelman and Whitney Taxman. Join the graduates and their families and friends. The Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by Sally Fox and Michael Sirotkin, Marsha Fox, and Wendy and Todd Manvitz in honor of their niece, Naomi Alloy Fox, and by Temple's High School families.
Services officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. SHABBAT RETREAT: Friday through Sunday at Camp Comeca in Cozad, NE. FRIDAY: Sabbath Eve service, 7:45 p.m. SATURDAY: Temple auction/dinner, 6 p.m. SUNDAY: Hebrew classes, 9 a.m.; Religious School, 10 ajn. MONDAY: Adult Hebrew crash course, 7 pan. TUESDAY: Adult Education-Pirke Avot, 7 pan. WEDNESDAY: Temple board meeting, 7:30 p.m.; AA meeting in the library, 7:30 p.m.
' SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m, led by Alan Shulewitz. Members of the community are welcome. Services are held in the Herbert Goldsten Chapel, followed by Kiddush. A memorial service is held on the last Shabbat of each month, in memory of residents who have died.
OFFUTT AIR
FORCE BASE
;25th and Capehart, Omaha; NE 68113-5000 " 'V,, '.';'< " 294-6051 ' . , 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.
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BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Member of the Union of '" Orthodox Jo wish Congregations of America
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492-8550 WEB~www.betheI-omaha.org
' 1502 No. 52nd Street, Omaha, NE 68104-5013 ; .. . 856-6388 Bethlsrael@novia,net Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.noon. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRD3AY: Services, 7 p.m.. West Minyan at the home of Dennis and Susan Paley, 13014 Leavenworth, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbos services, 8:45 a.m. Kiddush is sponsored by Jane, 'Michael and Toba Cohen in memory of Jack Cohen. Pirkei Avos class with Rabbi Kutner, 7:40 p.m.; Mincha, 8:10 pan.; Shalosh Seudot sponsored by Georgia Ann and Seymour Steinberg in memory of Ida and Milton Steinberg and Martin Berman; Havdalah, 9:22 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. and 8:20 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. and 8:20 p.m. TUESDAY: Class with Rabbi Shlomo Levin, 6:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Business Ethics Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Kutner, noon, at the office of Noddle Development, 13710 First National Bank Parkway. Bagel Bin lunch available; Rabbi's Talmud Class, 7 p.m. SUNDAY, May 21: Annual meeting, 10 a.m., at the synagogue; Beth Israel will host the Aish HaTorah's Discovery Seminar at the JCC, 2-4 p.m.
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' TJFERETH ISRAEL,
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j»* Member of the United Synagogue ' >-ofConaeryatlvejJudalsm v>\ < ,* 3219 Sheridan^Btvd., Lincoln; NE 68502-5236 .,',;,• ' - 4 2 3 - 8 8 6 9 ^ ,", Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday and Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m.; Anniversary acknowledgements. SATURDAY: Parashat Emor. Services, 9:30 a.m.; Jr. Congregation, 10:15 a.m.
FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. Dr. Eugene Freund will talk and conduct a round table discussion. Topic: I s the Abyss between Jews and Gentiles narrowing?" An Oneg Shabbat will follow.
WEBSITE: www.ch'abad.centers.com/dmaha Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30,a.m. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul, 11:45 a.m.-l p.m. TUESDAY: A Tale of Two Souls, 9^0-11 a m .
EYTSHALOlU^^ AnAffulateofthe | ; i i Jewish Roconstructionlst Federation 43012 S.' 119th SU, P.O. Box 241130, ' i I \ -> Omaha, NE 68124-6130 phone: 758-9233 httpV/welrame.to/toiytehalom/
FRDDAY: Tot Shabbat, 7 p.m. Religious School: Sunday is the last day of school for this semester. FRDDAY, May 19: Special end-of-school Shabbat to honor all students, staff and parents, 7:30 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Services are conducted by Rabbi Paul Drazen and Cantors Emil Berkovits and G. Michael Horwitz. FRIDAY: Family Shabbat services featuring the Youth Choir, 6 p.m. A traditional Shabbat dinner will follow. SATURDAY: Services, 9-.30 a.m. Graduation ceremony for BESTT students in eighth grade and high school; Kiddush following services; Sitter service, 10 aan.; TSS (Torah Siddur Skills), 10 a.m.; ICtantan, 10:45 a.m.; Shabbat Story time, 11 ajn,; Humash with Rashi study session, 7:55 p.m.; Minha-Ma'ariv and Havdalah services, 8:25 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; Perek Yomi "Read a Chapter a Day" group, 10:15 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Naomi Fox, daughter of Rick and Shelly Fox, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah | on Saturday, May 20, at[ Temple Israel. A seventh grade honorroll student at Westside j Middle School, she plays I saxophone in the Jazz I Band. She also plays piano I and Softball and enjoys I spending time with | friends. For her Mitzvah Project,"sn money and is collecting donated supplies for the Nebraska .Humane Society. Grandparents are Doris and Harry Alloy and Dee Fox and the late Philip Fox. Great-grandparents are the late Lillian and Harry Noodell, the late Yetta and Wolf Alloy, the late Julia and Leo Fox and the late Naomi and Arthur Cohn. Alex J a c o b Raksin, son of Leonid and Irina Raksin, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 20, at Beth El - i Synagogue. ) A seventh-grade superi! or honor roll student at Kiewit Middle School, he was selected to partipate in the Duke Talent Identification Program. _ _ Jf y He received state recognition at the ceremony at UNL for his high ACT score. He enjoys basketball, track and playing the guitar. Alex has a sister, Lena, 21. Grandparents are Michael Raksin of New York, NY, and the late Sarah Raksin, and Yakov and Maria Rozin. Jacob William Bleicher, son of Jon and Helen Bleicher, will become a, Bar Mitzvah on Satur-, day, May 13, at Temple I Israel. A seventh grade honorroll student at Brownell Talbot, he enjoys Tae Kwon Do and guitar. He is a member of the Competitive Math Team and was selected to participate in the Duke University Talent Search. For his Mitzvah Project, he volunteered at Temple with babysitting and in the office, and helped with mailings for Wings of Hope Cancer support group. Jacob has a brother, Josh. . Grandparents are Jerome and Freda Bleicher, Brian Jackson, and the late Kate Greenwood.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
M
May 12,2000
It's almost New Year's!
Well, not really, but the Jewish Press is already planning for its New Year's issue, Sept. 29, 2000. For readers, it may still be four . months away, but for us, it's right around the corner. It wasn't difficult to choose a theme for this issue; the Jewish Press, published continuously since Dec. 16,1920, will celebrate its 80th anniversary. Our theme, naturally, will cover the last 80 years of the Jewish community of Omaha and surrounding areas. We'll reproduce highlights from the Jewish Press throughout the years, including the Great Depression, the war years, the creation of the State of Israel, the founding of our Jewish institutions in Omaha, the move of the synagogues,the Jewish Community Center, and the Dr. Sher (now Rose Blumkin) Jewish Home. Here's how you can help: submit your photos, names of professionals and volunteers involved in Jewish agencies and organizations, and ' copies of articles which have appeared over the years that you think are important enough to highlight again.
4purnal entry 4p from I ro Israel
Speaking of a new year, the Jewish Press will unveil a new look, too. We've been hard at work researching other newspapers to find what we hope is a new design and layout to showcase our upgraded content. That, too, will be part of our New Year's edition. We also hope (and pray!) that the construction on this campus will be complete and we'll be able to show our readers (locally and out of town) a new look for the agencies which are housed here. While the Press and the Library have already moved into their quarters, work is still continuing on the offices of Jewish Family Service, the ADLCRC, and the JCC front entrance and gallery. In addition, the Federation will consolidate its offices as soon as JFS can move into theirs, and Jewish Educational and Library Services will occupy the Nebraska Historical Society space when NJHS moves into new headquarters adjacent to the Kripke Library (now located in front of the JCC). Confused? Don't be! The construction is temporary and the end results will be fantastic!
Land of civic opportunity by Teddy Weinberger
I was not much of a volunteer in America. My synagogue, my kids' schools, and my JCC all seemed to function pretty smoothly without my help. Mind you, I was not always happy with what went on at each of these institutions, but my dissatisfaction never reached a level where I felt impelled to volunteer my time in order to try to change things. Here in Israel, I find myself a member of the P.T.A in my children's school, a member of the cultural committee of the Matnas (equivalent to the JCC), and a member of the activities' committee at my synagogue. It seems like anywhere I turn, if there is an organization, it is run so poorly that I cannot put up with the status quo and volunteering becomes a necessity. Take one more example: my wind ensemble in Jerusalem, where I play the tenor saxophone. I played in wind ensembles in New York City, Atlanta and Miami over the course of 18 years. Not every conductor I had was to my liking, and I did not agree with every policy of each group. In fact, I ended up quitting my wind ensemble in Miami and switched to a smaller "big band" ensemble (the wind ensemble had two mutually irreconcilable problems: the conductor had a penchant for screaming at the weaker musicians, and these same musicians were incapable of playing any better than they were playing). But even that Miami wind ensemble functioned well administratively. It had a board, we gave monthly concerts, rehearsals started on time, musical scores were distributed efficiently, and the break during the two-hour rehearsal was limited to 10 minutes. Here in Israel, my wind ensemble's rehearsals start 20 minutes late, the music is rarely distributed beforehand, rehearsal breaks can last up to
20 minutes, and we did not give one serious concert all of last year. The solution, once again, is for me to get involved and to volunteer to help better organize the group. It's easier ,to identify a problem than to understand what gave rise to that problem-especially if one is a relative newcomer to a society. So I'm not going to hazard a guess as to why many groups, institutions and agencies are so poorly organized in Israel. I do know that Americans are disproportionately represented in the leadership of voluntary organizations. This brings me to a related point: With a few hundred thousand American Jews, we could really get this country in shape. The reality, however, is that aliyah from the United States is at a record low (there were less than 1500 immigrants from all of North America last year). It saddens me that Americans are not a recognized group in Israel. Israelis know of the Yemenites, the Moroccans, the Russians and the Ethiopians, but Americans are not a significant feature in this societal puzzle. How jealous I am of the Russian Jews with their Russian media, their Russian political parties and their Russian Knesset and cabinet members. While individual American immigrants have made wonderful contributions here, there has never been an American political sector to impact Israeli society. True, American Jews are not a homogeneous lot, yet there's room here for everyone. There could be several different Israeli American political parties, filled with people who speak that (flat "r") accented Hebrew that Israelis find so funny. And in good Israeli fashion, these American Israeli political parties would often be at each other's throats-but at least they all would be really organized.
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 275620) 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 402-3345422; E-mail <gshpress@aol.com> • Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198.
Lloyd Roltsleln Chairman Carol Katzman Edilor-ln-Chiof Maureen LaPour Managing Editor Larry Axelrod Advertising Manager Barbara Frankel Rocky Stem Sales representatives Jenlna (Sado(sky) Stewart
Bookkeeper Jen Gates Production Assistant George Schaplro Volunteer
Two Holocaust survivors who, in 1946, tried to poison thousands of Nazi officials in an Allied prison camp, can no longer be prosecuted for attempted murder, a German court ruled. The two survivors, now living in Israel, confessed recently to putting arsenic in bread supplies for the Nuremberg-Langwasser camp in southern Germany, where some 12,000 Nazis were held. Some 200 inmates were hospitalized, but not enough poison was used to kill anybody. Although attempted murder is not covered by a statute of limitations in Germany, the court made an exception "because of persecution experienced" by the two during the Holocaust. There is no hope of reviving Israeli-Syrian negotiations anytime soon, according to a British author who is a confidant of Syrian President Hafez Assad. "The Syrian track of the peace process has died, although no one wants to admit it officially. Only a miracle can bring it to life," Patrick Seale wrote in the London-based Arab daily Al-Hayat. Jewish leaders praised a plan by British banks to enable Holocaust victims to claim funds that were frozen during World War II. Earlier this week, the British Bankers' Association published the names of 10,800 dormant bank accounts holding a total of some $3.5 million. The chairman of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Lord Greville Janner, said he hoped "this honorable and worthy" act would "set an example to banks all over the world." Jewish leaders expressed sorrow at the death of New York's longtime archbishop. Cardinal John O'Connor, who died May 3 at 80 after battling brain cancer, "forged a close bond with the Jewish community," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. JEWISH PRESS COMMITTEE Fred Tichauer, Vice-Chairman; Joanie Jacobson, Secretary; Howard Silber, Treasurer; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Jean Duitch; Penny Endelman; Kip Gordman; Gary Kudym; Steve Levinger; Howard K, Marcus; 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.
May 12,2000
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Israel's 52nd Anniversary by Harry Allen
To the Editor: Greetings from Silicon Valley. I enjoy my subscription to the Jewish Press; what a comfort it is to be able to:receive hews from the'thriving and vibrant Omaha Jewish community. I felt compelled . to write you after reading two articles in the Omaha World-Herald, so that I may share a grave concern in my life with the place and people that I still call my community and home. The headlines read "Group Closer to Petition on Same-Sex Union Ban," and "Same-Sex Marriages Targeted." I now live in California where, during the last election, the Knight Initiative was passed denying same-sex couples the civil union of marriage. The measure read much like a true and false question stating: A marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Consequently, it passed. I have never before felt so ill, and I figured out that if every Jew in California would have voted against it, the measure would have failed. There is a proposal floating around the Nebraska legislature that would have the same effect, and I am asking the Jews of Omaha not to sign any petition in favor of banning same-sex unions. The value instilled upon me by the Omaha Jewish community was that every person, regardless of gender, color, religion or sexual orientation, was a human and deserved the same treatment. In my mind, this includes civil rights. I'm not asking anyone to come support gay rights or become a gay rights activist. What I am asking is to allow me to live my life as a human being, with the same privileges that you enjoy as human beings: the right to have a life, be in love, and not have to sacrifice my civil liberties. The Jewish community of Omaha offers a lot; it would be a shame to let the State of Nebraska deny people of it. I've already watched one politician in Nebraska try to limit my rights, and now I am asking the community to help me save them. . During World War II, the Jews of Europe lost their civil rights because they were Jewish; I am losing mine because I am gay. Please help-don't sign or endorse anything that promotes the ban of same-sex marriages. Danny Cohn •'••: Prguyca@hotmail.com
Anniversaries, whether personal or collective, are. always moments for reflection. In our personal ones, we always tend to reminisce, to recollect, to reflect on our successes and failures. And we very often, in moments of introspection, tend to make more of our failures and less of pur achievements than we should for both. As with individuals, so, too, it is with nations. On this, the 52nd anniversary of the State of Israel, it is well that we replay at least part of the record. There are many pessimists abroad in this land~those who see the peace process as the unraveling of this Jewish State. Fear is the Leif motif that guides their thinking. Fear of the Palestinians, fear of the Haredim or, in the case of the Haredim, fear of the secular, fear of the influence of the United States. These and many more jeremiads are part of many reflections on this 52nd Yom Ha'Atzmaut. I do not share them. I choose to remember the victories, small and large, triumphs both deserved and accidental, achievements in the face of adversity. I do not ignore the litany of problems we face, but these problems seem small when viewed through the prism of what we Jewish people have achieved this past half-century and more. Fear the Palestinians and a Palestinian state. Not I. Compared to 1948, to 1967, and even to 1973, the security position of Israel is unarguably better. There is no existential threat to the Jewish State. Of course, there are defense concerns; of course, we must continue to be on guard; of course, we must be careful in our negotiation (and we are),
but 52 years of nation building has seen our strength grow enormously in relationship to our adversaries. The rag tag Army of 1948, with a few WW II planes of questionable value, has grown to an Army and Air Force without peer in this region. Problems of absorption. They are nothing compared to what this tiny state of 600,000 people had to deal with in the 1950's. We are doing a better job now, not a perfect one, some of the Olim will not successfully be integrated. Yet, I prefer to look at the 70% of the Russian olim who own an apartment in Israel, not the 30% who do not. Have we, in 52 years, created Israel as a "light unto the nations"? Hardly. Yet, as a Jewish people in our entirety, we are still not yet an orl'goyom. But we do react instantly to human tragedy in places like Turkey and Ethiopia and Kosovo. Fifty-two years ago, this place was poverty-stricken, isolated country. Not so now. The premier of China visits us to buy a radar system that we developed, and the United States is arguing with us about the deal. Little Israel dealing with two of the worlds super powers on this level is no mean achievement. Intel is now negotiating to build a second plant in Israel at a cost of over $3 billion and our high-tech development is astounding the world business community. To be sure, we have problems of diviness among sectors of our population but, looking back over 52 years, these are not new. They must be solved and we will solve them, of that I have no doubt. So be of good cheer this Yom Ha'Azmaut and look forward to the next 52 years with optimism.
Temple Israel presents JHothcr's "Day Concert Sunday, May 14 3:00p.m. • .; featuring Cantor Jennifer Blum & Cantor Barry Abelson with Julie Sandene, piano This concert is free & open to the community
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
May 12,2000
Organizations Omaha Steaks will pay $20 per week per child for full-day camp this summer, or $10 per week per OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Saturday, May 13, 6:30 p.m., a class on the child for half-da r summer camp for any. current weekly Torah portion, hosted by Rabbi Shlomo employee of On aha Steaks International. The company will alio pay up to $50 for registration Levin at his home, 2001 N. 56th St. Women and Prayer resumes on Mondays, start- fees. For more in: brmation, contact Tricia or Jill in ing May 15,5 p.m., at the home of Carol Katzman, Human Resource i, 597-8100. 9151HarneySt. Neil Silberstein will receive a Master's in Tuesday, May 16, 7 p.m., Mishnah class, hosted Architecture and Urban by Beth Israel. Design from the UniverWednesday, May 17, noon, Lunch 'n Learn sity of California at Los resumes with "Ethical Teachings of the Torah: Do Angeles on June 17. A not take revenge nor bear a grudge." Meet in the graduate of the UniverJCC conference room; bring your.own lunch; a class sity of Nebraska-Lincoln in modern, spoken Hebrew, hosted by Al Ross, 676 with a B.S. in ArchitecN. 56th St., 6:30 p.m., ture and Business, Thursday, May 18, 7 p.m., Talmud class on Silberstein works for tractate Sukka, at Beth El. Hodgetts and Fung For more information, call Rabbi Levin, 551-1564. Design Associates in L.A His current projects Birth include the renovation of Debbie and Pat Hale announce the April 7 the Hollywood ^iovtl and a new student lounge birth of their son, Noah James Hale. facility for the Pt sadena Art Center. Noah has a brother, Benjamin, 6. He is the son ^f Mark and Phyllis Silberstein of Grandparents are Joan Kaiman and the late Ben Omaha. Kaiman, and Kaye and Stan Hale, all of Omaha. Former Omahan Mark Levy will receive a DHL (Doctor of Hebrew Literature) from the Jewish The JCC's fittest zayde Theological Sfminary's William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. A ventrilo- " quist and corned: an, Levy is one of only a handful, of educators to u se ventriloquism to teach children about religious tolerance, the messages of the Jewish holidays belief in God and interpersonal relationships. He lives in Al >any, NY, with his wife, Gloriann Levy, and their two college-age children.
Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday in the auditorium of the JCC. Exercise at 10:15 ajn. in the auditorium. Try your luck at bingo with Eileen Remer, also at 10:15. Bring articles to share for "YES Talk" discussion group at 11. Following lunch at noon, play Singalong Bingo. For transportation, call 330-4272. Nebraska Humanities Council Speaker Dr. Dan Holtz will speak on "Nebraska Through Song and Story" on Monday, May 22. Lunch will be served at noon. Join students from the Friedel Jewish Academy and Child Development Center for this one-of-a-kind show. Special thanks to the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Schrager Foundation for their support. Deadline is May 15. Make reservations with Maggie Conti at 334-6521. Deadline for Bluffs Run Casino on May 25 is May ;
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VISIONS Reminder: Membership Luncheon Meeting is Friday, May 19, 12:30 p.m. , at Caniglia's Venice Inn. Don't miss the exhibit of Dale Chihuly: Inside & Out at the Joslyn Art Museum on Wednesday, May 24. Cost is $3.50; free for Joslyn members. At 1130 w n , dine at the Joslyn Le Cafe Durham (an a la carte lunch buffet will be on your own). At 1 pan., tour the glass exhibit with docent. For reservations, mail form by May 17 to Maggie Conti, 323 S. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154. WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on the day trip to the Joslyn Art Museum this Thursday, please meet at the Blumkin Home front entrance at 10:15 a.m. There will be no exercise. For transportation, call Maggie Conti at 334-6521. B'NAI B'RITH Harris Finkelstein, Director of the Myer S. and Dorothy Kripke Federation Library, will speak Tuesday at the B'nai B'rith Luncheon at noon at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home; He will discuss the new library. The luncheon is held once a month at the Blumkin Home; cost is $6.
The following students were inducted into the National Honor Society at Central High School recently: Shayia Denny, Allyson Freeman, Jennifer Friedman, David Gutman, Mara Olesh and Noah Priluck. Rabbi Ira Flax will be the commencement speaker at the Friedel Jewish Academy sixthAbe Kukawka, center, known as "Super Zayde" to grade graduation on Thursday, June 1, his friends and the staff of the JCC's Sokolof 7:80 p jn., in the theater of the Jewish Community Fitness Center, recently celebrated his 90th birth- Center. Graduates include: Zev Eisenberg Kohll; day. His daughter and son-in-law, former Kseniya Kilishek and Ilya Poulektov. A reception Omahan's Susie and Ron Wolfson, flew in from Los will follow. Angeles, hosted a party for him at (where else?) the JCC! According to JCC fitness trainer Michelle Dr. Eugene "Speedy" Zweiback of Omaha Strief, Kukawka recently purchased a new car but and Dr. Robert F. Shapiro of Lincoln were insisted on a 10-year guarantee. recently installed as members of the board of directors of the Nebraska Medical Association.
B'NAI B'RITH BREADBREAKERS Angie Nelson of Westside Community Schools will speak Wednesday, May 17, at noon, at Pastime's Restaurant, 129th & Maple. Her topic is "An Innovative Approach to Help Children Read. The program is open to the community; cost is $8.50.
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May 12,2000
Friedel students plant trees in Israel
Friedel Jewish Academy students, standing near a sapling on the grounds adjacent to the school, display the certificates they received when Friedel planted trees in Israel in their honor. The class of third-sixth graders are, front row: Seth Rich, left, Ilya Poulektov and Brent Saltzman; middle row: Rachel Reno, Audrey Gerber, Debra Flax, Elina Yurikov and Arielle Levine; back row: Judaic Studies teacher Judah Goldscheider and Kseniya Kilishek.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe now at The Rose by Elizabeth H. Tape
The Omaha Theater Company for Young People • is now presenting the closing production of its 50th Anniversary season, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Written in 1950, it is the first of C.S. Lewis' seven-volume work, The Chronicles of Narnia. The story takes place when four siblings (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) are sent to live with a kindly professor during World War II. While exploring the house, the children happen upon a large wardrobe, or closet, that leads them to the land of Narnia, which, they learn, has been taken over by the evil White Witch. The true ruler of Narnia, Asian the Lion, returns and, throughout a complicated and nobles series of actions, rescues the land. The production, from an adaptation by Don Quinn, is directed by Everett Quinton, renowned actor, writer, director, costume designer and artistic director of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company in New York City. Kenny Glenn plays Asian; Heidi Wilhelm, Brian Guehring, Megan McGuire and Christen Hounton play Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter. The production also features 40 local children playing animals, dwarfs, giants and other residents of Narnia. Among these children are two members of the Jewish community, Benjamin Tape and Max Rbgers-Markovitz. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will be presented on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 28, with performances at 7 p.m. on Fridays, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, at the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center, 2001 FarnamSt. Friday's performance will be followed by a reception open to the public, sponsored by the Omaha Theater Company for Young People's Guild. The performances on May 13 and May 19 will be interpreted for the hearing impaired. The performance on the 28th will be interpreted for the visually impaired. More information is available by calling the Omaha Theater Company for Young People, 3454852, or through their website: www.otcyp.org
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Bert's Eye View
by Bert Lewis
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
CONDO FOR
I was in one of my favorite places the other dayRENT a bookstore. What place could possibly be more SWANSON TOWERS interesting, or more fun for that matter, to spend • 2 bedrooms • 2 baths some time? For my part, no other store comes even • . «Lots of Light close. • Secure Building Naturally, I love bookstores because I love books. Will carpet and paint to suit I love looking at displays of new, hardcover books, as well as paperbacks. I try to behave with a mod- Call Kennie Hughes icum of restraint when checking out the newest, 551-9541 since they tend to be on the extravagant side. • 18 Yrs. Experience That's not always easy, however, since it's not • Installation unusual for me to find a volume that I just know FURNISHED Parts & Repairs I'll really enjoy, perhaps because I've heard or read CONDO for rent • Custom Work a review that makes it familiar. Naples, FL • Sandblast Designs I admit I give in to my urges and more often than • Luxury 2+ bedrooms not, buy the hardcover. Visit Our Showroom • beach • pools • tennis I also buy many paperbacks, and every time I • gated community Craft cough up anywhere from six to 12 bucks for a "soft" • built in 1999 Shower Doors cover, I remember when those first paperbacks RENT BY WEEK OR MONTH came to the attention of the reading public. Seems Ask about 778-9596 to me it was immediately following the war (II, of off-season rates 13237 B SI, • Omaha, NE course), and I know the first ones cost 25#! If you 402-689-4648 remember them, you'll also remember I'm right about the price. I have a more difficult time finding titles I want HOME APPLIANCE in those cheaper versions of books. The reason for SERVICE that is because I read so many when they first appear, and by the time they're available in paper"Serving Omaha Since 1946° back, I've already read them. Of course, at certain SERVICE PARTS times when I feel I "need" to, I read a certain PROMPT AND DEPENDABLE amount of what I term "trash". ONE COMPANY REPAIRS ALL YOUR You know the kind. . .books written by somebody MAJOR APPLIANCES you never heard of, about a foolish set of characters involved in a stupid plot which seems to go on forev8827 Maple 3914287 er. These kinds of books are called for when the readTHANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS er has a real need to take a vacation (so to speak) from worrisome thoughts. When I want to clear my mind of everything bugging me, I look for such a book. It usually works, too, if only temporarily. Having said all that, let me now tell you why I brought up the subject of books. During my recent visit, I came across a display that had my immediate attention, and had me nearly talking to myself. In fact, it had me talking to total strangers after a few minutes. Why? From sheer pleasure at seeing title after title of books printed (originally) anywhere from 15 Sterling Silver Jewelry to 50 years ago! Wonderful books of every descrip- accented with gemstones and pearls, tion, representing the best the publishers have inspired by nature. given us over the past half century. Books I first read as a kid in school, or as a young adult, books I remember reading late at night when my little kids were sleeping and the house was blessedly quiet! Books that dear friends had recommended, or lent (or both), books I read and enjoyed all over again when talking about them. And there, on a lovely display under a sign proclaiming "New Titles in Paperback," I found some of my old favorites. I can only tell you it was with pure joy that I carefully noted each one, although I did wonder for a minute if there was a shortage of new materiel from new authors. I didn't wonder long however. Mostly I just kvelled, and hoped that readers who missed them the first time around would now get acquainted with some of these gems. Whatever the reasons for re-printing this category of books, I applaud the publishers for doing it. At a time when people are yammering about the way the Internet is taking the place of libraries and the way little kids aren't reading as they should anymore, well, what better time to bring back some of the best? Next time you're near a bookstore, go have a look. You'll be glad you did.
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Page 8
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
May 12,2000
Local teens travel to Washington, D.C.
People of the Byte
Jewish youth websites
by Rabbi Debbie Stiel, Temple Israel
by Mark Mietklewlcz
It's one of the largest Jewish youth movements in the world and it's as close as your keyboard. There's a wealth of information, camaraderie and fun, tooj for young people on the Web. Let's look at some great sites that are geared at Jewish teenagers. (Next time, Jewish sites for younger kids.) A good place to start is JVibe: wwwjvibe.com. JVibe has an amazing range in its content: • There's an interview with Jerusalem-born, Long Island-raised actress Natalie Portman on playing roles ranging from Anne Frank to Star Wars' Queen Amidala; • poetry about Yom HaShoah titled "Death of the Innocent"; • an advice columnist named "Tell Aviv"; • and a Jewish Sports IQ Quiz. Sample question: Which Jewish basketball player appeared in the first 12 NBA all-star games, and was recently chosen by the NBA as one of the 50 greatest players of all time? (Dolph Schayes) Two other on-line magazines are Virtual Jerusalem's Teens: www.virtualjerusaleni.com/ VJTeens/index.htm, which has an article on interdating and intermarriage, along with its own advice column and a brain teasers section. The best articles in Teen-to-Teen are by young people telling the stories of lives www.ttt.org.il/index.shtml. There's Yehuda who is finishing his combat engineering course in the Israel Defense Force, Mike who writes about living on a West Bank settlement and Chava who explains what it's like to live a Jewish life in northern Montana where the nearest Jewish community is 300 miles away. There's also a photo studio section, tips on creative writing and a joke page: Question: "What do you call an 18 story condo in Tel Aviv?" Answer: "A Chai rise." If you are a teen or in your 20*s and are considering spending some time in Israel, then you should definitely check out the Birthright Israel Website: www.israelexperience.org/. This is a clearinghouse for information about hundreds of Israeli programs
Seven students from the Omaha Jewish Federation traveled to the nation's capital recently to participate in Panim ej Panim: High School in Washington, a four-day intensive learning program for Jewish teens. The seminar was designed to provide teens with knowledge and skills needed for involvement and leadership in the community. "Poverty in America," "Social Justice and Equal Opportunity," "The Environment," and "Refugees and Immigration'' were the topics of the sessions. The keynote address was "Jews in the Political Process." The students themselves engaged in an
geared toward young people. Search for the perfect program by using the site's database and compare notes with other travelers who have been there, done that. There is also information about the subsidies available to participants in these programs. Although www.JewishYoutb.com isn't strictly a site just for teenagers, it will be handy for anyone, from teens to adults, who creates programming for Jewish kids. This sites is a great resource center for anyone who works with Jewish youth such as volunteers on Shabbat, camp staff, teachers or Jewish youth organizations. There are tips for organizing programs, sparking discussions about ethical issues' and ideas for holiday-related activities. There's even a link to a job-board for people working with Jewish youth. If you are still looking for more Jewish Youth sites, take a look at Mishmash's Jewish Youth Directory.http^/mishmash.virtualave.net/kids.ht ml. You'll find links to dozens of Jewish summer camps, university campus organizations and billboard areas for alumni of Jewish youth organizations. I want to conclude by returning to JVibe.com and what I found to be a witty way to introduce a Jewish tradition to young people by using an icon of popular culture: "The Homer Calendar'': wwwjvibe.com/homer/ We are currently in the period of Sefirat Ha'Omer when we count the forty nine days between Passover and Shavuot. Keeping track of the daily count can confusing but if H'Omer Simpson can do it, so can you. There are articles about the reasons for counting the Omer, appropriate charts and illustrations of Homer next to the blessing and that day's recitation - all halachically correct. Where else could you find a cartoon of Bart Simpson writing lines on the chalkboard "I will remember to count the Omer!" Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based television producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be contacted at: bighway@home.com.
Students in attendance from Omaha were Nichole Cohn, Michael Fineman, Jay Kulakofsky, Mendel Kurland, Annelise Ocanto, Aaron Rich and Whitney Taxman. exercise where they debated the application of Jewish values to difficult public policy dilemmas. While in D.C, students also explored the Capitol and visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. At the end of the program, they met with their Representatives or Senators to speak about their views on the issues of the day. Panim el Panim is a unique educational program designed to stimulate a serious commitment to Jewish values in the context of wrestling with vital political questions.
CREATING COMMUNITY ON CAMPUS. "A sense of community Is such an Important component In a person's life. Crelghton has provided a rich micro-community for me. It Is unique how each individual's personal faith and culture intertwines with one another to create the diverse community of Crelghton University. Creighton's Campus Ministry has been extremely supportive and has helped me foster and promote my beliefs on campus."
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Beth Katz, CU, 2000 Education/Social Work Major
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May 12,2000
. b y Michelle Malashock After traveling for lhree days on a camel in the Negev desert, I felt like a train wreck. If a genie would have come to grant me.three wishes, I would have asked for a cold shower, a soft bed, and a Juicy hamburger. Unfortunately, none of those were even close to coming true, as long as I was on a bus headed for the Timna Valley I National Park I instead of a [ four-star hotel. When t h e )
bus stopped, [ our guide an-1 nounced we I had the option I to take a difficult hike or I catch up on I some much-1 needed sleep.' I took one look Michelle out the window and saw two massive rock formations. I knew the trail to the top of the pillars would be one tremendous hike and that my body felt it couldn't endure any more physical activity. I also knew a trip to Israel may come only once In my lifetime, and I should take advantage of every opportunity. So I hopped off the bus, stretched out my legs and start, ed up the path. At first the hike was easy. The land for the most part was flat with a few bunny hills. Soon, however, the slope began to greatly incline, and with every step, a hot fire burned in my legs. When the trail would take a dip, I was relieved by the easy trip down, but I learned every effortless descent only led to a vigorous ascent. The climb became more and more of a challenge with every foot forward, but when I reached the top and looked out over the beautiful Red Sea and the awesome desert surrounding it, I felt no pain. I felt no exhaustion. I felt victory. I felt fulfillment. At that point, I knew what George Mallory must have meant when
he stated the reason he wanted to climb Mount Everest was because "it is there." Every day in my life I am faced with a mountain to climb. Some days the climb is easy, like when the yearbook staff meets their deadlines. I can sit back, relax, and creatively brainstorm ideas for the next set of stories and layouts. Other days the climb Is tough, like when the yearbook staff falls behind. I have to run every which way and help my staff as much as I can. Some days, my climb isn't a climb, but a stumble downhill, a fall that turns the next day into a giant leap uphill. For example, I have lost elections in my BBG chapter but I never let myself be defeated. Afterward, I let the winner know I am willing to help in any way, and I begin to prepare for another try next term. This attitude has helped me rise to the esteemed position of the executive board vice president. No matter how tough, I always strive to reach the top, because "it is there." Personal achievement outweighs self-defeat.
JD Qxw
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Dustln Is a senior at central, a member of AZA 01 and Beth El Synagogue.
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by Rebecca Murow
"The people Israel shall observe Shabbat, to maintain it as an everlasting covenant through all generations. It is a sign between Me and the people Israel for all time..." This passage, recited every Shabbos, comes directly from today's parasha, Ki Tissa. G-d commands the Jewish people to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest. A day of rest. Should we take it literally? Should we actually take a day off to sleep? A day to relax and do nothing? I think G-d gave the Jews this day of rest to take time out of our busy lives and do something. But with so many restrictions (no working, writing, or spending money) what could we possibly do? Rabbi Sydney Greenberg writes: "A great pianist was asked by an ardent admirer: 'How do you handle the notes so well?' The artist answered: The notes I handle no better than many pianists, but the pauses between the notes-ahl That is where the art resides.' In great living, as in great music, the art All my personal achievements could may be in the pauses. Surely one of the not have come without this struggle. The enduring contributions Judaism made to battle, however, only makes the accom- the art of living was the Shabbat, 'the plishment more glorious. How triumphant pause between the notes.' It is to the would it be to take an elevator to the top Shabbat we must look if we are to of a mountain? restore a sense of serenity and sanctity, I know I still have many mountains yet which it offers in joyous abundance." to climb. Some I have already begun, "The pause between the notes." That is some I am in preparation for, and some I what Shabbat i s . . .a pause.. .a recess have yet to encounter. between two weeks to gather ourselves I may not always have the option to and our thoughts-to think about our climb as I had in Israel. Option or no lives, about the future.. .not only our peroption, however, I plan to climb every sonal future, but the future of the Jewish mountain in my path with a strong heart people and Israel as well. and positive attitude. Boulders, avalanchThe first step to contemplating this es and crevices may be in my way, but intellectual topic Is to recall events which as long as I try my hardest to get around occurred the week before and to look forthem, they can make me a stronger per- ward to what the coming week will bring. son. 1 plan to make it to .the top of every In fact, the next time you gather for a mountain I can, because "it is there." Sabbath meal with your family and friends, go around the table and ask Michelle Is a senior at Burke, a member everyone about their week. of Edlar BBG and Beth El Synagogue. You will most likely hear "I got an A on my math test." Or "I scored the winning point in my basketball game." But go further. What G-d has Intended for us Is much more profound than simI calmly limp to first base, it is always fun ply to recall the events of the past week. to fantasize charging the mound with a G-d has set aside this day for us to ponfury that empties the dugouts and ends der the idea of living as good Jewish up a highlight on the local news. I believe people. Ask yourself about specific all people harbor secret fantasies, but events that have occurred that will shape the key is to your life as a good person. Maybe before your next math test, you control one's Impulses in can tutor a student who is not underorder to do the standing the material. Before the next right thing. In basketball game, practice shooting basthis case, the kets with your teammates so they can be right thing is better prepared. Convert the good that happened to you last week into ways you simply to can help others for next week. advance to first There are so many Ideas to ponder. As base, to do Jew, you have G-d's commandments to W ' "f5$"^ -' V everything pos- afollow. One of those extremely Important • ' X ' 1 9 t rsible to coni b u t e t0the mitzvot is the act of giving tzedakah. Most * • * " success of the people do not realize this Is an obligation. It is not an option. Give tzedakah each Dustln team. week. The amount or where you give is, Like all good traditions, this one has of course, up to you; but as long as you served to unify the team. It Is surprising how a few "knocks on the noggin" can bring about esprit de corps. Under the laughter lies respect for my resolve to take one for the team. They follow my lead to contribute more than is expected. If I apply the same intensity to other endeavors, I will be successful. I strive to give my best effort, whether for athletics or academics. This inner drive motivatesme to be the first one awake in my house In the morning and the last one to go to sleep at night. Hard work and hard play make me feel like I am living my life to the fullest. When I first started playing baseball at a very young age, I was afraid to get hit by the ball. Over the years, I have developed the inner strength and self-confidence to stand my ground. I now face the hard ball coming at me and know the same courage will help me endure whatever life may throw at me in the future.
TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM by Dustln Friedman '. As I grind my cleats deep Into the batter's box, my aggressive stance shows the pitcher I'm determined to make contact wherever he throws the ball. He releases the pitch, and I realize this one Is coming not at the bat, but right at me! I pull away but hear the thud of the ball against my back, followed by a sting. Much to the amazement of the other team, a roar of laughter and cheers comes up from my teammates and the crowd. Throughout my baseball career, I've been hit by the ball about as many times as Mark McGwire hit home runs last year. Just as people cheer for McGwire, the Central High fans root for me to continue my hit-by-pitches streak. This strange talent for being a 'ball magnet' amuses them. While I am happy to entertain the crowd, I certainly don't enjoy being hit by the baseball. However, I do crowd the plate to take advantage of inside pitches, so I must accept the inevitable consequence of fast-balls thudding off my body at 80 miles an hour. Through this painful experiencewhich in baseball lingo is called "taking one for the team"-l have learned many valuable lessons. I've played against a variety of pitchers: ones who have hit me In my head, hit me on the back, even pitchers who have hit me three times in the same game! Some think it's funny, some apologize, and some have a flat-out mean look on their face. Their reaction tells me something about the person inside. Even in the competitiveness of a game, some pitchers have compassion towards a fellow player while others are apathetic or even antipathetic. Such attitudes mirror the reality of life. Just as pitchers have different reactions, so do players. Sometimes when players are hit, they, charge the mound like a crazed bull. I never hold pitchers responsible for wild throws. However, as
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
are helping others, you are demonstrating responsibilities and morals a Jewish person must establish. In USY, money we collect from fundraising is sent to our international tzedakah fund. Giving tzedakah is also stressed in Talmud Torah classes. Whether students bring part of their well-earned savings or donate canned food, they are underRebecca standing the concept of giving at an early age so they can continue to help those in need as they grow older. On Shabbat, when you think about Israel's future, read through the newspaper and discuss current events in the Mideast. For instance, find other peoples' views on the giving up of the Golan Heights. There is an ancient legend in which G-d speaks to the Children of Israel. He says, "My children, if you are willing to accept the Torah and observe its mitzvot, I will grant you a most precious gift." "And what is this precious gift to be?" ask the Children of Israel. "The world to come," G-d replies. Tell us what the world to come is like," the Children of Israel wonder. And G-d responds, "I have already given you the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a taste of the world to come." G-d is tells the Children of Israel their future will be wonderful if they follow His laws and mitzvot. G-d tells them the Sabbath is a preview of what their future will be if they choose to follow His commandments. This story gives me an image of how beautiful Shabbat is meant to be. Cherish the Sabbath. Don't consider it a day of restrictions. Instead, think of Shabbat as a "pause between the notes." Do something special that will distinguish the day from all others in the week. Nothing compares to the festive Friday night meal I share with my family weekly. It is the night I look forward to more than any other. (Not just because I excitedly await the food my grandparents bring). It Is my true "pause between the notes." I enjoy discussing my future, the future of the Jewish people, and the future of the state of Israel with my relatives. Shabbat allows me to realize what a wonderful life I live and how lucky I am to be surrounded by my amazing family and friends. Ahad HaAm said, "More than the Jew has kept the Shabbat, the Shabbat has kept the Jew." Rebecca la a sophomore at Central, a member of USY, Ediar BBG and Beth El Synagogue.
Page 10
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
May 12,2000
As Israel celebrates
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Evidence of the Israeli flag was everywhere 1 on «•» the * h « Mcampus. »™111
Boy Scout Troop #218 opened Y o m Mohammed Baraka, a Knesset member and leader of the predominantly Arab Hadash Party, said Israeli Arabs will now step up their struggle for equal rights and press ahead with a campaign to remove the Jewish symbols of the state: from the Star of David flag to the national anthem Hatikvah to the Jewish Agency itself. Though Baraka said he understands this strikes at a raw nerve of most Jewish Israelis, he added, T h e state can express Jewish national aspirations, but it cannot be a Jewish state if one of every five citizens is an Arab," he said. "Healthy logical reasoning says that when the Jewish and democratic nature of the state clash, the democratic way should win out." Such a campaign, said sociologist Lissak, is likely to reignite dormant Zionist feelings among many Israelis. "I fear a backlash from a large portion of Jewish society," he said. But at the Jewish Agency—an organization Baraka wants dismantled-Sallai Meridor, the Jewish Agency chairman who opposed the Supreme Court ruling, believes Israelis are up to the challenge, even in the face of post-Zionist trends and history books that are rewriting what once were sacred beliefs about the heroism of Israel's founders. "After having built the state physically, we are now moving on to the phase, of adding the spiritual content of what it means to be a Jewish and democratic state," he said. "I think this is a very exciting challenge." While Meridor believes the Jewish state must be particularly sensitive to its non-Jewish population - even using affirmative action at times - he also foresees a growing Arab trend to "de-Zionize and de-Judaize" Israel. In addition, there will be groups of Israelis who join in and want Israel to relinquish all identity as a Jewish state. Such a threat, he said, could indeed galvanize mainstream support for a more Jewish state. . "But the true challenge is to choose to be Jewish or to stay Jewish without anti-Semites, and to be
Ha'Atzmaut with the flag-raising ceremony. united without enemies," he added. Yet at the same time, Israeli Jews are likely to experience a contradictory trend. More and more Israeli Jews see different cultural, religious or political sectors within Israel as enemies, and this will make cohesion a difficult task. Many believe the same court that gave its nod to the land challenge by the Arab family will also present a different set of challenges for religious and secular Jews. Secular Jews feel increasingly threatened by the rising political power of haredi, or fervently Orthodox, parties. Many see the Supreme Court as a last line of defense against religious politics. The haredim meanwhile, feel defenseless against an increasingly activist judicial system. On all sides, the rhetoric is ugly. Ironically, the haredim, who largely do not attach theological significance to Israel as a Jewish state, are battling harder than ever to maintain the state's clutch on Judaism. V Jonathan Rosenblum, Director of the Israel office for the fervently Orthodox Am Echad group and a commentator for the Jerusalem Post newspaper, explains the paradox. On the one hand, he said, an increasingly materialistic, secular society with a shrinking connection with Judaism, vindicates the classical haredi rejection of secular Zionism as a replacement for Judaism. "At the same time, we are fearful that to the extent that people lose any awareness of themselves as Jews as a distinctive entity, it will make it much more difficult to reconstitute the Jewish people around its natural center, which is the Torah," he added. Rosenblum rejected accusations that haredim want to create a Jewish theocracy. He sees the group's attitude toward religion and state as performing the role of a teacher. It is this, he explained, that drove the haredi struggle against the shipment of a large turbine on Shabbat last year, in one of the odder religious-secular battles of the year and a signal of what is to come. (Continued on page 11)
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TAKE TWO.
Life doesn't always give us a second chance. But Judaism does. A grassroots movement of Jews appealed to Moses when disqualified from joining the national Passover observance. G-d granted them an extension and the Second Passover was born, embodying a poignant message...
it's never too late! Join us as we take an indepth look at this ancient story and explore its timeless relevance. THURSDAY, MAY 18,7:30 p.m. Chabad House, 1866 S. 120th St. Another project of Chabad House For more information, call (402) 330-1800
May 12,2000
As Israel celebrates(Continued from page 10) "The point about the turbine was that both the government and the Supreme Court basically took the position that Shabbas is an irrational consideration, and only financial consideration matters," Rosenblum said. "On that we had to go to war." Meanwhile, beyond the ideological wars between Jew and Arab and Jew and Jew, there is yet a new type of Israeli emerging. They are high-tech capitalists, a breed apart from the socialist-Zionists who were dominant among the founders of the state. The new entrepreneurs see themselves as redefining Zionism for the new millennium. Sociologist Lissak says Israel's high-tech boom and prosperity has not had a mitigating influence on the ideological conflicts, as might be expected, because only a small number of Israelis actually have a direct stake in the profits. However, Neil Cohen, a partner at Israel Seed Partners, a venture capital fund that raised $180 million last month from top U.S. investors and leading Internet figures, said he believes the high-
r
tech boom is impacting the country in bigger ways - and creating new challenges. "We have created hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs," said Cohen, who immigrated from London 11 years ago. "It gives us a degree of satisfaction and a feeling of pride that we wouldn't feel if we were in theU.K.ortheU.S." Cohen sees the building of Israel's new economy to be as important a Zionist task as the work of the pioneers was decades ago. Yet as the money to create jobs flows in, sweeping Israel with it into the trends of globalization, Cohen knows that the ideals of those founding pioneers will be lost on the new Israeli generation. The first challenge is to bridge the gap between the haves of the new economy and the have note of the old economy. "The second is maintaining Jewish identity," he said. "We have been so good at what we've done that all the things that have differentiated us from just any other nation have broken down and we run a risk of becoming just like any other nation."
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
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JNF to fund new water projects in Israel New York, New York—In anticipation of a third severe drought year, • Jewish National Fund kicks off its 30Days in May campaign aimed at raising $1 million nationally to fund vital water resource management projects in Israel. The fundraising campaign is timed with the roll-out of JNF's first major, national print advertising campaign. The advertising was designed to raise awareness of the water shortage in Israel and also provide the, reader with any opportunity to support JNFB solutions. To confront Israel's water crisis, Ronald S. Lauder, JNF's president, announced that JNF is investing $120 million in water related projects over the next 10 years. •• • The money will go' toward the building of 100 new reservoirs and flood dams throughout Israel to provide water for agriculture, thereby freeing up fresh water for urban consumption. JNF will also continue to invest
in research and development programs to determine new uses for saline water, such as growing fish and vegetables in the desert. In addition, JNF will help to recycle more wastewater, which will clean-up Israel's polluted rivers and streams and irrigate non-food commercial crops. Robert B. Levine, JNF's National Campaign Chairman, will lead a national volunteer campaign and telethon for JNF's 30-Days in May campaign to explain the urgency of the water crisis. "Meetings will be conducted in synagogues, community centers and in homes," Levine declared, "so that American Jewry can help JNF meet its budget goal for these projects that are vital to Israel's future existence." For the 30-Days in May Campaign, JNF setup a hotline, 1-888-JNF-0099, so that people may call to make donations or volunteer to work in the emergency campaign.
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Page 12 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Mayl2,2000
Who will remember? (Continued from page 1) who participated in the candlelighting ceremony included participants in the March of the Living: Lynn Saltzman, Aaron Rich, Courtney Rabb, Sarah Hasslinger and Michael Rneman. "The important lesson! of the Holocaust, Kaslowl continued, " is not of the! six million, but of o n e | and one and one,—of Helena and Joseph. "If we spoke eachL name in succession, itf would take us 11 years* and five months to com-l plete the list," s h e ! added. "We must learnl the value of their s t o - | ries, and of memory." Lily B e r k o v i t s , left, Kaslow, who now h u g s h e r friend, speaks in schools about Gloria Kaslow, after the Holocaust, urged the her speech. continuance of visits to such institutions as the United States Holocaust Museum in the nation's capital and participation on trips such as March of the Living. She noted the proliferation of books, videos arid documentary films and spoke of "educating the educators" through Yad Layeled, the children's museum founded by the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz in the Western Galilee, in Omaha's Partnership 2000 region.
Regional Middle School, located north ot Beit Lohamei Hageta'ot, earlier this year exchanged its first-class letter with its partner, American public school, t h e Beveridge Junior High School in Omaha, NE. Then there were rocket attacks from Lebanon and the children were sent into the shelters for a week. "All in the same letter, the questions were: *What was it like to sit in the shelter? Did the bombs stop falling on you? Do you still like the music of so-and-so? "Those were the questions frrim Omaha because the kids in Sulam Tzor were writing about the music they loved and the movies they like to see and the kinds of clothes they wear," Dotan said. "And then, the (Israeli) kids wrote, 'Well, we are sitting in the bomb shelters, but don't worry, we'll be out in a week." In Lincoln, a state-wide YomHaShoah ceremony was held, featuring government dignitaries, a candlelighting ceremony, and speaker Shelly Shapiro, Director of Holocaust Survivors and Friends Education Center in Latham, NY. According to Marcia Kushner, chairman of the event, the more than 300 who gathered at the rotunda, "loved the speaker," who, like Kaslow, also raised the issue of continuing education about the Holocaust after the survivors are gone. Additional programs took place in area schools when Dutch rescuer Diet Eman spoke about Nazi resistance in the Netherlands. She was brought to "Connect American and Israeli teens through this Omaha by Bonnie Rietberger, who played "old teaching museum," Kaslow urged, noting the pro- Diet" last spring at Trinity Church, in a play based gram, started by former Omahan Beth Dotan, an on Eman's book, Things We Couldn't Say. educator at the Children's Holocaust Museum, was During the war, Eman and her friends not only recently featured in t h e May 5 issue of the hid Jews and their families, but stole arms, muniJerusalem Post. tions, ration books and cards from the German milAccording to the article, "The Sulam Tzor itary. All were considered capital offenses. She was arrested May 8, 1944, and sent to a work camp in the Netherlands. Her District 66—9511 Oak Circle fiancee, Heiri Sietsma,
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didn't survive, but Eman emigrated to Venezuela after the war, married, had two children and later moved to Michigan. About 10 years ago, her children urged her to tell her story. The book followed in 1994, and then the speaking engagements. Eman said she was "grateful to God to still have a task to perform at her age."
Top photo: an overflow crowd gathered at the Capitol rotunda in Lincoln for the statewide ceremony remembering the Holocaust. Bottom photo: Chairman Marcia Kushner, right, assists Lola Reinglas in lighting one of six candies in memory of the six million who perished in the Holocaust.
ELECTION 2000 INFORMATION for the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its Centers of Excellence
JOINT ANNUAL MEETING Monday, June 26,2000 - 7:00 p.m. Jewish Community Center, 333 South 132nd Street NOTE: Nominations of additional candidates for officers and board positions for die Federation must be handled by written pelilion signed by at least 15 Federation members and filed with d » Federation Secretary no later Ilian June 19,2000. Tjie candidates must.endorse Uie petition. Nominees m presented by the Ftderatiin and Center of ExcrDenre Nominating Committee)!
JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA OFFICERS & CHAIRMEN: President ;..., Forrest Knitter Vice President/Secretory .......;.....;..... Robert Lepp Vice President: ......:..................., Jane Rips Vice President .„ ;> .........; Suzanne Singer Treasurer ..;... .,.....».„..:.....Bob Eisenbcrg Past President , ....,.................:...„..;..;... Howard Koopcr Foundation Chairman Michael Erman Budget and Allocations Chairman ...........,.........;.................. ....Arnold Weitz Building and Grounds Chairman SorinJuster Marketing Committee Chairman. ....:........ Margo Riekcs Young Jewish Omaha Chairman.................................................. StacieBrodkey Overseas/Israel Chairman Zoli Riekes Planning & Evaluation Chairman Steve Pitlor Director.. ..........I...., .„;....................... Paul Shyken Jewish Press Chairman ......J.;.....;..:..;................;;. Lloyd Roitstcin JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OFFICERS: '<; . : . President .....:....V....;.. Richard Jacobson Vice President ....................»..:.......,..... Bob Belgrade Vice President ...,..................i;.;..;.^............... Gory Epstein Vice President... .....;..........;......;;,...., Roxunno Knhn Vice President..... ; ......;..... ........;....„............Jeff Kirshenhuum Immediate Past President ..........;... Mark Sanford ADL/CRC OFFICERS: President.. Ann Goldstein Vice President ; .Sara Justcf Vice President.........; ..........Mimi Waldbaum Past President ,....;. Larry Raful Member at Large Irv Yaffc JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OFFICERS: . President Frank Flotowicz Secretary ;.. Stan Mitchell Treasurer Stacie Spics-Matz Immediate Past President ..Gloria Kaslow JEWISH EDUCATIONAL AND LIBRARY SERVICES OFFICERS: President... , JcffSmedlund Vice President-Library Services Nadine Kutner Vice President-Educational Services. Past President Mitzi Delinun JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES OFFICERS: President Silvia Roffman First Vice President Joan Bernstein Second Vice President Yale Richards Secretary... ; Mort Glass Treasurer John Lchr Past President Jorold KohU