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November 17,2GQQ
What are the Next Steps in the Middle East? by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor before iaraveling to Chicago Dr. Ken Stein, Profesand an appearance before sor of History at Emory some 4000 Jews attending University in Atlanta the annual General Asand author of several sembly of United Jewish books about the Middle Communities. East, was in Nebraska last week. Stein assessed the current situation in Israel When his appearance and made several observawas scheduled by Jean tions about the future of Cahan of the Harris the Middle East, regardCenter for Judaic less of the outcome of the Studies at the University Presidential election. of Nebraska at Lincoln, she assumed he would "Though there is uncerspeak about the election tainty about the Executive results and the role of branch, it really will have the newly-elected Presivery little effect (on the dent of the United Middle East)," Dr. Stein States. And Carolyn Noexplained during his press vicoff, Executive Director conference. "Both Arafat of Omaha's Jewish Eduand Barak chose to come cational and Library to Washington, but it Services, looked forward doesn't change American to his "take" on the elecforeign policy objectives." tions and what it meant Stein noted that Presifor Middle East Peace. dent Clinton has "a lot of currency' with both the Stein did speak in Israeli and Palestinian Lincoln and in Omaha leaders. Arafat has been last week, btit without Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak with Clinton 12 times in knowing who the presidential players would be when President Bill eight years and "Barak has great faith hi Clinton's Clinton leaves office on Jan. 21. As of press time, ability to understand Israel and its final status . • ' the results of a recount in four Florida counties and issues," Stein added. the overseas ballots was not expected to be com- "We all know that in the period between the elecpleted until Friday. tion and inauguration, foreign policy doesn't stop," Stein spoke to reporters prior to his Nov. 9 Stein continued, recalling the 1988 election when appearance in Omaha, on the very day when George Bush (Sr.) opened a dialog with the PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian while he was still President Reagan's Vice-presiAuthority, was to arrive in Washington, D.C. dent. *It was a wise thing to do and Clinton can put Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak arrived hi the those same kind of building blocks in placeforthe nation's capitol on Sunday to meet with Clinton (Continued on page 6)
L.O.V.E. Hosts Hanukkah Bazaar by JEWISH PRESS News Service
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The creative and energetic L.O.V.E. team (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly), is sponsoring their first holiday Bazaar for the entire family. One-of-a-kind gifts, imported items and handmade specialties will be available in the Gallery of the Jewish Community Center on Dec. 3, 4 and 5. Proceeds will benefit residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Margo Parsow arid Judy Brookstein, co-chairmen, are excited that the community will have a new shopping opportunity at the bazaar. Members of L.O.V.E. have been gathering unique items, (Continued on page 6)
Margo Parsow, left, J u d y Brookstein and Patty Nogg prepare for the L.O.V.E. Bazaar,
Doyenne of Reform Movement to Speak at Temple Israel by IRIS RICKS, Program Director —————————
Dr. Eugene Borowitz, renowned American Jewish philosopher, will be Temple Israel's scholar-inresidence on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9. A prolific author, Dr. Borowitz's special place among American Jewish thinkers was confirmed with the 1991 publication of Renewing the Covenant: A Theology for the Postmodern Jew, the first systematic look at Jewish theology since Abraham Joshua Heschel's publication during the 1950s. Dr. Borowitz serves as the Sigmund L. Falk Distinguished Professor of Education and Jewish Religious Thought at Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion in New York City, where he has taught since 1962. An ordained rabbi of HUC-JIR, he is widely known in the Jewish (Continued on page 6)
Medical Bridge of Peace Saves a Palestinian Baby by JEWISH PRESS News Service
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Mixstapha Zaid from the Palestinian, town of Kalkillya xests in t h e arms of his mother, Azmah Zaid, with Dr. Ran Steinberg, left, senior surgeon at the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel. Photo by ISRANET, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel knows no barriers of race or religion when It comes to treating sick children in their care. Just three weeks ago, at the peak of the current wave of violence and recrimination between Israel and the Palestinians. Mustapha Zaid was born in the Palestinian town of Kalkiliya, just a few kilometers from the Israeli city of Kfar Saba. It was evident soon after Mustapha's birth that he had a serious respiratory problem. His parents were told his condition was very grave, indeed, and that he should be transferred as soon as possible from the hospital in Nablus to a children's hospital in Israel. Behind the scenes contact took place and it was arranged that Mustapha's father would take the baby out of the Nablus Hospital and transfer him in a Palestinian 'Red Crescent' ambulance to a Palestinian-Israeli border crossing. From there, with special permission of the Israeli security forces, an Israeli *Magen David Adorn' ambulance was waiting to transfer him to Schneider so that he could be hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the facility. The baby arrived in Petach Tikva in a relatively stable condition, but he was relying on a mechanical ventilator. A GT scan revealed cystic pressure on the trachea and esophagus originating from a esophageal duplication, a rare congenital defect that was affecting Ms breathing. On seeing the result, Dr. Ran Steinberg, senior surgeon at the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, decided that an emergency operation was necessary. The operation revealed a large cyst in the upper half of Mustapha's chest, and Dr. Steinberg removed the entire growth. Now Mustapha Zaid is breathing on his own and his condition has improved enough to enable him to be transferred to a regular surgical ward. He will be well enough to go home in a few days. Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel is the only tertiary medical center in the country dealing solely with the healthcare of children.
INSIDE: Review of Mimi Sheraton's The Bialy Nostalgia and Nachas by Mickey Greenberg.
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November 17,2000
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Mitzvah Munchkins, 9:15 a.m., at Chabad Temple Israel "Shabbat Comes to You," C 2 p.m., at the RBJH \ "Third Friday Night" Kickoff, 6 p.m., p Kabbalat Services & Dinner, at Beth El * SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 ® Outreach Program, 10 a.m., at Temple Israel v Kripke Jewish Federation Library Grand E Opening, 1:30 p.m.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20 YES Program, 9:30 a.m. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 BBYO Night, 6 p.m. "Soul Searching through the Kabbalistic Ocean," 7 p.m., at Temple Israel Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Torah Tots, 9:30 a.m., at the Chabad House Temple Israel Community Thanksgiving Service, at Dundee Presbyterian Church s A
LJLYAN GOLDMAN-WEISKOPF Graveside services for Ldlyan Weiskopf were held Nov. 9 at Beth El Cemetery. She died at the age of 89. She was preceded in death by husbands, Lester P a r a s h a Vayera Goldman and Walter Weiskopf. I wish I could explain the events in our Torah Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Bill portion this week. I wish I could tell you that and Cynthia Goldman and J e r r y and Cathy heroes acted heroically, that the actions all make Goldman; step-son and wife, Alan and Ellen sense. But our Parasha this week, Vayera, does Weiskopf; sister, Bess Stern of Omaha; and eight not allow me that luxury. Rather, all of us are forced to struggle with some of the most discom- grandchildren. Mrs. Weiskopf was a past president of NCJWforting words in all the Torah. Omaha Section. The story is one that we all know. Abraham, the Memorials to Temple Beth Shalom, 12202 N. 101 dutiful follower of God, takes his beloved son, Ave., Sun City, AZ 85351. Isaac, to the top of Mount Moriah in order to sacrifice the boy, as God has asked him to do. At the BETTY MINTZ last moment, an angel intercedes; the boy is saved Betty Mintz of Ft. Worth, Texas, formerly of and, instead, a ram is sacrificed. While the details Omaha, has died at the age of 77. are not generally disputed, the motivations, the She was preceded in death by a brother, Simon values and the willingness of those involved have Lesser. been questioned for eons. Survivors include her husband, Milton; sons and Abraham, the first Jew, the chief hero, the origidaughters-in-law, Joseph and Kit Mintz of Ft. nal patriarch, the one we hold up as the ultimate Worth, and Alan and Mary Lou Mintz of New York; role model, was willing to sacrifice his own flesh and daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Stephen blood! How can we possibly revere such a man? Brookstein of Northbrook, IL; six grandchildren, Some argue that Abraham's greatness derives Mark Brookstein, Pamela Burke, Jackie Mintz, from his willingness to follow orders. When God Stephanie Mintz, William Mintz and David Mintz; calls to Abraham, the answer is an unequivocal and one great-grandchild. "here I am" (ftmerai). Abraham's faith, they say, is Memorials to the Eose Blumkin Jewish Home. the key to understanding the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. Others argue that the miraculous work of the angel, who stops Abraham just in time, is the key. Abraham was righteous, and thus, even the angels were willing to intercede. Frankly, neithej answer works for me. The facts speak for themselves. Abraham waiwilling to do the unthinkable, Too many parentihave suffered too much by losing children for me to willingly accept a tale of a father who was willini; to sacrifice his own son. I fail to understand the motivations, the faith, as some call it, that drov< Abraham. What I do understand is the lesson we can learn about the value of human life. More than the story itself, our reaction to it Draren, U'ff, I.ynno Shkolnik, Krlnfy teaches us that human life is of infinite worth. It Leahy and Ellene Edelstein are among the m a t t e r s not if the life is Jewish, Christian, Beth El members organizing the synagogue's Muslim, American, Israeli, or Palestinian. All Art Auction through Park West scheduled for human life is valuable. Far too many parents have Saturday evening, Feb. 3, 2001. The event will endured, because of war, violence, accident, or just feature oils, watercolors, etchings and lithoplain dumb luck, the loss of a child. No parent graphs by various well-known Jewish artists. should undergo such pain. • The Beth El Art Auction, which also includes Abraham teaches that parents and children are a wine and dessert reception, is chaired by both vulnerable. Both need more than just faith. Marilyn Tipp, Others attending the initial Both also apparently need an angel watching, good planning committee meeting were Tom Kahn, fortune shining down from above. But, sometimes Helen Kay, Cheryl Lerner, Felicia Littky, luck is there, and sometimes it is not. Abraham Amy Reynolds, Lloyd Roitstein, Leslie Shrngo and Isaac teach us that life can be cruel, regard- and Steve Tipp. less of our own actions. No hero emerges from the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. Abraham is flawed. Isaac is flawed. The Allan Heeger wins Nobel Prize angel, even miraculous in the end, allows the situation to escalate. The redeeming value is the understanding of humanity we can gain. Our Torah portion teaches us to take nothing for granted, to value those around us, to revel in the mystery, and joys, of human existence. The hero of the tale is not a particular person, but rather, it is the human knowledge we can gain as listeners, readers, students of the text. May we use this knowledge for good, for lifeenhancement, for peace, and for love. Shabbat Shalom umevorach, a Shabbat of peace and blessings. by DANIEL J. FELLMAN, • HUC-JIR rabbinical student .
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Mitzvah Munchkins, 9:15 a.m., at Chabad
V E All events held 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 Marlene Hert at 334-6437.
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This photo of Allan Heeger arrived after the publication of the article written by Claudia Sherman. The former Omahan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last month.
November 17, 2000
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Gandlellgtitlng BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
TEMPLE ISRAEL :'
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Member of Unioii of Orthodox "Jewish Synagogues of America 1502 No. 52 St., Omaha, NE. 68104 -5013
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FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You, 2 p,m. Rabbi Debbie Stiel will lead a Shabbat service at the Blumkin Home. Early Worship Service, 5:30 p.m. Rabbi Stiel and Jeffrey Taxman will officiate. This service is especially planned so that at its conclusion, you may go home early to enjoy a Shabbat meal and evening. Family Sevrice, 7:15 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Jennifer Blum will officiate. Guest speaker Jerry Kaye will speak on "Where Have All the Men Gone: Is Judaism Becoming Too Feminist?" The Oneg will be sponsored by Marian and Irving Nogg and Nancy, Neal and Arie Rauhauser in honor of the naming of Madeleine Grace Rauhauser. SATURDAY: Bagels and Bible, 9:30-10:15 a.m. Join us for the continued study of Ecclesiastes, Services, 10:80 a.m, Chelsea Rose Taxman, daughter of Sherry and Jeff Taxman, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. SITTER SERVICE Sitter service is available for Shabbat services each Friday evening and Saturday morning, as well as Sunday moi*nings when there is Religious School. Coat is $2 per family. Please make a reservation. Sorry, there are no facilities for infants. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, NOV. 21: "Soul Searching Through the Kabbalistic Ocean," 7-8:30 p.m.: Professor Guy Matalon will explore the realm of Jewish mysticism, from Biblical to modern times. COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING INTERPAITH SERVICE WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22: hosted by Dundee Presbyterian Church-, Underwood Ave. and Huppy Hollow Blvd., 7:30 p.m. Temple's clergy will join neighborhood congregations in an hour singing and messages of Thanksgiving designed for both adults and children. To celebrate the themes of sharing and abundance, donations of cash and non-perishable food will be collected for Together, Inc. Sitter service is available for children five and under; please call 558-2330 to make a reservation. Baked goods are needed for the shared dessert reception. To bake or for questions, call 558-6536.
BEYT SHALOM A n AfTiliaU' i»l'the •i i ' U i s l l [ i d < M ! - . I i u t l i o l l i s l I c d i ' l . i l i n n
301,2 S. 1,1.9th St., P.O. Box 241130, Omaha, NE 081.24.5130 plume: 758-9233 htl'p://vv«Icoin<!.to/lH,>yt'shulani/
FRD3AY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:80 p.m. SUNDAY: Religious School at the JCC. TUESDAY: Religious School at the JCC, 4 p.n*. FRIDAY, Nov* 24: Shabbat in the Home. ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Services, 7 p.m., led by Nancy Rips and Tom Follman. SATURDAY; Services, 9 a.m., led by Harold Gottlieb. Members of the community are welcome. Services are held in the Herbert Goldsten Chapel, followed by Kiddush.
BJN^IISRA|L SYNAGOGUE 'l8';My.hsiei1'S^^
FRIDAY: Services, 7:80 p.m. Oneg and Kiddish will follow.
FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
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BETH EL SYNAGOGUE .Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism ' 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 ,
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Office hours: Monday through Thursday, Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. Services are conducted by Rabbi Paul Drazen FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 4:45 p.m. The and Cantors Emil Berkovits and G. Michael West Minyan is at the home of Jim and Susan Horwitz. Polack, 12705 Morrison Drive, 4:45 p.m, FRDDAY: Services, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbos services, 8:45 a.m., SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m. Kiddush folKiddush sponsored by Sisterhood; Mincha, lowing services; Sitter service, 10 a.m.; K'tantan 4:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:47 p.m. (K-3 grade), 10:45 a.m.; Shabbat Story Time (pre-K SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. and 4:45 p,m. and younger), 11 a.m.; Humash with Rashi study WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. and 4:45 pan. session, 4:20 p.m.; Minha-Ma'ariv and Havdalah, THURSDAY(Thanksgiving Day)? Services, 4:50 p.m. 9 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Office will be closed for SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; Perek Yomi "Read a Thanksgiving, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 26.
GHABAD HOUSE An Alliliaic oj'llii' WYirUtu kl«< (!haluul-I ,uiiii\ i u l i ''
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Chapter a Day" group, 10:15 a.m, WEEKDAYS: Services at 6;55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. USY SIIABBAT Members of USY will participate in services Saturday morning, Nov. 18, with luuch following. MEN'S CLUB BREAKFAST Sunday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m., David Kotok of the Omaha World-Herald is guest speaker.
lB(i(> So. 120th St., Omaha, NE (>ai44-Hi4(> Flume: 330-1800 E-MAIL-.ehabad@uol.ooin WEBSITE: vvvvvv.ehabadeentc'is.coni/oinaha Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Monday-Friday, services, 7 a.m. TIFERETH ISRAEL MONDAY; Hebrew Reading for Adults, 9:8011 a.m.; Genesis Lunch Series, 11:45 a.m.-l pan.; of Coiijiorvaliv*! Judaism Advanced Talmud Study, 6-7 p.m. i2lt) Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE (»8502-r>23<> TUESDAY: 613 Mitzvahs, 8-8:45 a.m.; The •• 4-2: : i-85<»!> '• Mystical Wisdom of the Hebrew Alphabet and it's application to our lives, th80-ll;30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Toruh Tota, 9:30-11 a.m.; The Office, hours: Mcmuluy, Wtuinotulriy, Thurrtday imd Friday, 2-4 p.m. fci«rvic«K couducLod by Rabbi , Joy of Yiddish, 7-8 p.m. Stanley M. JRosonbaum. Minyan on Monday & ' THURSDAY: PnrshaClub, 10-Ua.m. Thursday, 7:15«,nr«. FRIDAY: Early Family Services, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 0 ^ 0 a.m. CONGREGATION B'NAIJESHURAN.JEWISH PRESCHOOL Preschool is twice a month. For more information, call Elyza Richmon Halev at 435-5230, 2001 S. 20th St., Lincoln, NE 08502-270'"1:55-8004 jknvishnelnaska.c
Grief Support Group to Form
Services officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. FRIDAY: Sabbath Eve service, 7:45 p . m . Andrew G&nz, son of Pam and Doug Ganss, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. JEWISH PRESS NEWS SERVICE SATURDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.-noon; Game Jewish Senior Services is offering a grief support Night, 0 p.m. group for individuals who are dealing with the loss NOTE: On the second Sabbath of each month, of a spouse. there will be services at 9:30 a.m. On these occaShane Kotok, Director of Community Outreach sions, Torah Study will start half an hour later Services, will facilitate the group.They will meet in (10:30 aan.) the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home's conference room. SUNDAY: Hebrew School, 9 a.m.; Religious Please join us on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m. School, 10 a.m.; Pre-school, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m, Call Shane at 334-6529, if you are interested. (learn more about Jewish symbols). For information, call Elyza Richmon Halev at 436-6230. MONDAY! Adult Hebrew Study/Movies, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, Adult Education, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAYS AA Meeting in the library, 7:30 p.m. THXTBSDAY: New Beginnings, 7s30 p.mu
REMINDER: Make your reservation now for the Community Luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 11:30 a.m., at the JCC. Cost is $12. The catered lunch will include fresh bialys shipped in from New York. Mirai Sheraton will apeak about her latest book, The Bialy Eaters. For reservations, call 334-6461.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
November 17, 2000
Thanksgiving? No, Passover While many of our readers a r e baking pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving and preparing lists for Hanukkah gift-giving, the staff of the Press is already thinking about Passover. Well, we're not cleaning our offices yet, but we have sent out letters to a very special group of people, In the Passover issue of 1989, the Jewish P r e s s featured nearly 40 babies, ranging from a few months to a year old. When they were born, their parents (who recalled the movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey) exclaimed, "Wow, my daughter (or son) will become a Bat (or Bar) Mitzvah in 2001." The year 2001 is only six weeks away. The parents of that original group have received a letter asking them to ensure that their children will participate in this next project. Some of the babies in that original group have already become B'nai Mitzvah, but other "babies" were not in Omaha at the time of that original publication. So. . .if your pre-teen was born any time from the fall of 1987 through the fall of 1989 and celebrate their B'nai Mitzvah from August, 2000, through December, 2001, we want to hear from you for the Class of 2001 Passover issue, published on April 6, 2001. This is want we're looking for—an article (typewritten, single-spaced, between 350 and
750 words) written by your B'nai Mitzvah age child and featuring any of the following: •• Highlights of Jewish camping experiences, day school or trips to Israel. • The d'var Torah or speech from your child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah. • Recollections of an important Jewish figure in your child's life~a teacher in religious school, a rabbi or cantor or youth group adviser, a grandparent or parent. • The description of your child's B'nai Mitzvah Project, including what your child did and why and the people who benefitted. • Any other activity or event which had an influence on your child's Jewish development. Obviously, we want photos, too: from your child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah, school, camp, Israel, summer experiences, family portraits or snapshots, awards ceremonies and the like. Photos will be returned after publication of the Passover issue. All articles and photos are due in this office bv Feb. 16. 2001. With Thanksgiving break coming up next week and the winter holiday vacation, you may want to think about working with your child and completing this project by early January. We cannot guarantee publication of articles and photos received after the deadline of Feb. 16. Callus at 334-6448 with any questions.
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JERUSALEM (JTA)-How lame is a lame-duck president? In their separate meetings with President Clinton at the White House last week and this, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat are about to find out. The hope on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is that a new chapter can. be written in America's political science textbooks—a chapter suggesting that the widely believed weakness of an outgoing president is, in fact, a source of strength. Weakness, of course, is a characteristic that all three leaders currently share. Clinton is on his way out and the attention of the world is fixed on his successor. In terms of the Middle East, moreover, Clinton's weakness stems from the ongoing crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which has come close to undoing all the effort he put into the peace process during the past seven years. Barak is also weak-because his minority government is living on borrowed time. The fervently Orthodox Shas Party recently gave his government a one-month "safety net," during which Shas legislators would not support any motions to topple him. Likud and the other parties of the opposition are pressing Shas officials to reduce that time frame, or at least not to extend it. Arafat is no less feeble, but for different reasons. His fragmented Palestinian Authority is infinitely weaker, militarily and economically, than Israel. The uprising in the territories is causing widespread suffering to his people while he, as leader, has yet to show a tangible political achievement that makes the suffering all worthwhile. Topping the agenda of the Washington meetings is the need to end the violence and shore up the still-largely unimplemented agreements made last month at the Sharm el-Sheik summit. Those agreements included ending the violence and finding a path back to peace talks. Beyond this, however, the two sides appear to have very different goals/ for their talks with Clinton.
Reportedly included on Barak's agenda is a desire to revise, in light of the ongoing violence, some of the security arrangements discussed at the Camp David summit in July—particularly the repeated incidents in which Palestinian gunmen have opened fire on Israeli troops. Barak, who met with the president on Sunday, is also said to have reconsidered his previous willingness to consider granting the Palestinians control over Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem. Arafat, who arrived in Washington last week, is continuing to press for an "internationalization" of the peace process so that the United States will no longer have the sole role of mediator in the talks. As part of this drive, Arafat is also urging that a U.N. peacekeeping force be deployed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel adamantly rejects the idea. For his part, Clinton told a Chicago radio station before the Nov. 7 election that Israel's opposition to such a force means "it can't happen." • Despite the differing positions of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Israel's foreign minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, remained optimistic that a way could be found back to the negotiating table, "If Arafat wants to return to the negotiations, and the calm in the territories continues to take hold, it is certainly possibly to renew negotiations," Ben-Ami told Israel Army Radio. His comments came as Israeli officials noted a drop in the number of clashes in the territories. Still, the death toll among Palestinians from these clashes continued to mount daily. On the eve of Arafat's visit to the White House, Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli woman who worked as a customs agent when they opened fire on a car at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Two Palestinian teenagers were also killed. Despite the violence, Barak issued a letter to world leaders in which he made an explicit offer to help create a "viable" Palestinian state. But, Barak added, the state would be created as a result of negotiations, not through violence or a unilateral declaration.
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National Naw.pupw AtMdaUon ' '
CAW6RAS ROU4NGJ
Can a Lame-duck President Bring Mideast Back from Abyss?
NEWS ANALYSIS by DAVID LANDAU
Dry Bones
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Given such continued violence, can the three leaders overcome their individual weaknesses and pull the tortured region back from the abyss? Only diehard optimists were prepared to subscribe to this prospect. T,bey argue that Clinton, freed from all considerations linked to the elections, will be able to be more creative, and if need be, tougher toward both sides, They assume that America's president-elect would be only too pleased to give Clinton his Ml moral support to finish the job of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking—rather than face the prospect of inheriting a potentially explosive situation in one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints. Where Barak is concerned, the optimists believe that his sole chance of political survival is to go to the electorate with a peace treaty, and that this will drive him tp cut a deal with Arafat. But is Arafat atill interested in a peaceful resolution of the conflict? The optimists say that this may be the only way for him to remain as the leader of his people. The intifada has unleashed new and potent forces within the Palestinian community, including within Arafat's own Fatah movement. If the violence continues, there can be no guarantee that the old generation can continue riding the tiger without falling off. Without doubt, however, there are numerous pessimists out there who do not expect much of anything from the Washington meetings. Among them is Samuel Lewis, who was the U.S. ambassador to Israel in 1979, when the Jewish state forged its first peace treaty with an Arab neighbor, Egypt. "If there was a chance for a comprehensive deal, it has fled, And we may not see it again anytime soon," said Lewis, who was the U.S. envoy to Israel from 1977 to 1985. Citing Clinton's long-standing commitment to the peace process, Lewis was far from certain that Clinton's successor would be any more successful at resolving one of the world's most intractable disputes. (JTA correspondents Naomi Segal in Jerusalem and Matthew K Berger in Washington contributed to this report.)
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; Howard K. Marcus; Linda Saltzman; Steve Simon; Amee Zetzman; George Schapiro (Honorary Committee Member). 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 Jowish 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 K&shmth of ) b l i h
November 17,2000
Against Jewish Unity by JOSEPH AARON, Chicago Jewish News •
I've spent a good portion of my life, and my words, the last several years calling for Jewish unity. And now that there's more Jewish unity than there has been in a long time, I find myself on the outside looking in. I think it's fair to say that at this moment, the Jewish people are very unified. We are unified, of course, because of what's been happening the last several weeks in Israel. Which seems to be how it always goes. We only come together when we see ourselves as being attacked from the outside. We only put aside our differences when we believe all are out to get us all, don't care which of us are Orthodox or Conservative or Reform, left-wing or right wing. How very aad that we need to wait for that to be unified. How sad, for starters, because thankfully we are threatened much less than, any Jews ever before. While we are feeling very threatened these days, the fact is that we are not. Talk to almost any Jew and s/he'll tell you the same thing - that the media is unfair to us, the United Nations is out to get us, that the Arabs want to destroy us, that Israel is under siege if not at war, that antiSemitism is rampant everywhere, That, in short, everyone hates us and wants to hurt us. Same old story. It is amazing to me what a bleak picture we have all painted, when the reality simply isn't so. Israel has never been stronger, the Jewish people have never been stronger. Israel has never been less threatened, the Jewish people have never been less threatened. We have never had it better. That does not moan there are not those who hate us and wish to harm us. But it does mean that nothing is as it was for us, which, considering our history, is very good for us. This time, we have the power, we have the instruments of a government working for us, protecting us. This time, American Jews, all of the world's Jews can speak out, stand up, without fear, with conviction. As symbolized most clearly by Joseph Lieberman. If all the other evidence of our incredibly secure place in this society hasn't convinced you how much of a new day it is for Jews, the nomination of an Orthodox Jew for Vice-president should have clinched it. Ironically, sadly, it seems to have done just the opposite. Which is why, to a great extent, I blame Lieberman for how pathetically American Jews are behaving. What's going on in Israel is not the Six Day War or the Yom Kippur War. Of course, what is going on is unpleasant and difficult. But it in no way calls for the kind of reaction we've seen from Jews. Namely; unity, born of feeling threatened. For that is an unhealthy unity, based not on reality or love but on fantasy and fear. Which is why it is a unity that will be over as soon as the crisis is. The only unity that counts, the unity I've been calling for for years but do not see now, is a unity 'just because.' Just because we are Jews. Just because by coming together we can accomplish so much. Just because we want to bo a whole, healthy people, embracing life, not dreading it. Problem ia wo don't know how to make the most of good times because we aren't used to that. And
the best of what we think are bad times because we are very used to that. It is my opinion that we've been so freaked by the events in Israel because Joe Lieberman's nomination spooked us. By making it almost impossible for us not to see how good things are for us, it scared us. Being under attack, we are used to and know how to handle. AntiSemitism we are used to and know how to handle. The world and the media being out to get us we are used to and know how to handle. Having Joseph and Hadassah Lieberman in the White House we don't know how to handle. And so the mess in the Middle East came by at just the right time. It was enough like old times that we could make more of it than there is, in order not to have to deal with the new times in which we live. For that calls on us to see that Jewish life is unlike it has ever been ever and that calls us on us to do things differently than any other Jews have ever done ever. And thaf s hard and that's scary. And so we've made so much, too much, BO overreacted to what's going on in Israel precisely as a way to escape dealing with the new Jewish world that Lieberman so exemplifies. Yep, it's the same old world out there, everybody hates us, we're under fire from all sides. Okay, places everyone. After all, when we're under attack from all sides, we can't very well be attacking each other. We simply don't, won't or don't know how to get along when tilings are going well. But gives us a crisis and boy, we come together, The only way we can give ourselves permission not to nit-pick each other, not to focus on our differences, not to call each other names, is when we face a common crisis, fear a common enemy. As Newsweek put it, "this i s the year 2000, not 1978 or 1967. The Middle East is a very different place than it was a generation ago. Ten years after the Gulf War, Saddam's military is still weak; the Arabs' old friend, the Soviet Union, is long gone; Syria and Egypt are impoverished nations yearning to be part of the globalized economy, not preparing to invade Israel; the United States and Israel are both vastly more powerful, militarily and economically. As a senior Israeli army official put it, "we have maps detailing every nook and cranny of the Palestinian Authority... throughout Gaza and the West Bank. If we want, we will hit PA military targets so precisely, so acutely, they won't know where, it's coming from," And, as Ehud Barak said, Israel so far has used "one millionth of the military power at our disposal." We have nothing to fear. This time is unlike any other time for us ever. Still, sadly, seeing ourselves as being threatened is for us like putting on a pair of old slippers. Well, the fact is that this time we are not threatened. And it's time we came together because of that, not despite that. We benefit from our diversity, feel how much better we will all be if we come together for reasons that have to do with what's inside us rather than because of those outside us. To do that, we must recognize we have more reason these days for joys, rathor than oya, for kuelling rather than kvetching. And that it's about time wo learn to come together in genuine unity out of love, instead of waiting to be forced a false unity out offear.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 5
Judaism and Thanksgiving by HAZZAN G. MICHAEL HORWITZ, Associate Cantor-Beth El Synagogue •»»
It sure has been a busy time of year to be Jewish! Many of us must be exhausted from all of the praying,' cooking, singing, entertaining of guests, socializing with our fellow congregants in synagogue or studying the liturgical texts and majestic words in the Mahzorim and Siddurim. Well, you may not want to take that well-deserved vacation yet. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. While not a Jewish holiday, for many it is an American tradition. We spend it with family and friends stuffing our faces with food and perhaps even watching NFL football. My memories of this holiday are from Kinnus, the annual United Synagogue Youth Midwest Regional Convention, held over Thanksgiving weekend. Being from St. Louis, I, too, was an Emtza USYer, My four Thanksgivings in high school were spent at hotels with other USYers in Des Moines, Winnipeg, Minneapolis and St. Louis (at least the miahpachah got to see me in my hometown during my senior year). Omaha and Beth El Synagogue will
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556-3708
551-9541
Page 6 Jewish Press, Omaha, JNE
November 17,2000
Next Steps in the Middle East (Continued from page 1) * • — * — ' — — • — " ' next Secretary of State, National Security Advisor and Middle East negotiator, whomever they might be." Stein noted that both Arafat and Barak are "weak" domestically with radical groups on both sides working to undermine the efforts toward peace. But he also said that much has changed in the Middle East over the years, including the attitudes of our Arab leaders. In prior Arab summits, the language of condemnation of Israel was not only harsh, but vitriolic. This time, explained Stein, the United States was able to help soften the rhetoric. "Clinton spoke to both Barak and Arafat days before the last Arab summit," Stein said. "He was able to persuade Arab leaders not to be 'anti-everything.' Even though the summit lambasted Israel and fried the United States, Arab leaders still insisted that Israel and the Palestinian Authority return to the negotiating table." . . So how does the next administration move that forward? One positive outcome of the current "electoral conundrum" is that it has pushed the violence in the Middle East off the front pages of the newspapers and into minor slots on the all-news television broadcasts. Without the TV crews present and filming, the rock-throwing and bottle-throwing Palestinian youths seem to have retreated somewhat. That decrease in coverage, Stein said, allows diplomacy to take place the way it should, quietly and behind closed doors. "I have to hand it to the Palestinians," Stein commented. "They know how to get the attention of the international community. . .and, while we may not like it, they've done a good job in the public relations department." While Chairman Arafat did not get the agreement of the White House to "internationalize" the
peace process, he did get a committee, headed by former Senate Majority leader George Mitchell, to lead an international committee to investigate the causes of the current crisis in Israel. Meanwhile, Nava Barak, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, opened the General Assembly of United Jewish Communities in Chicago Sunday night. "I was awakened with a phone call that Leah Rabin had died," Mrs. Barak said. "Even in a weakened state, her strong voice (for peace) was heard. "So close to the fifth anniversary of her husband's death, Yitzhak and Leah are together again," she said in tribute to the late Israeli Prime Minister and his wife, who died Sunday and was buried Wednesday. . A day later, Prime Minister Ehud Barak received an even more rousing reception from more than 6500 delegates bussed to the University of Illinois Circle Campus arena, while 1200 more watched on close-circuit TV at the Hyatt Hotel. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois got the crowd on their feet when he stated, "The U.S. must always stand by its friend, Israel. This is the moment; this is the time to put an end to violence. "The choice is not between Israelis and Palestinians; it is between honest compromise and conflict." Among the speakers, from political figures to UJC leaders, was Chaim Avraham, father of one of the three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah at the Lebanese border. Binyamin, just 20 years old, was named for his uncle, who died in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. "This is not just my personal tale," said the soldier's father. "This is the tale of all Israel. "This is the story of children celebrating their high school graduation, who wake up the next morning with Uie weight of all Israel on their
LO.V.E. Hosts Hanukkah Bazaar (Continued from page 1) while others are collecting such daily raffle prizes as a Russian lacquer box, pieces of jewelry, a large menorah, and an electronic item from Nebraska Furniture Mart. It would hardly be a holiday bazaar without the chance to taste holiday 'goodies.' Dinah Raful is supervising the tempting baked goods that will be available daily. Some of the community's best bakers have been spending long hours in the kitchen at Beth El Synagogue, coming up with a variety of treats that will tantalize everyone's palate. JoAnn Blatt is gathering volunteers and working closely with Barbara
Doyenneof Reform Movement to Speak
(Continued from page 1)' • '•»• > . < « , > >• ' - "«<«» " . n •>»•'• •••-•. • Frohman, who will set up the inviting community as the former Editor of • Friday, Dec. 8: Shabbat Service, display areas. Patty Nogg, in one of Sh'ma: a Journal of Jewish 8 p.m., "The Last 100 Years: What her many community roles, is han- Responsibility, a magazine of social has Happened to Reform Judaism dling all the public relations for the concern he founded in 1970. He also and American Jewry?" first-time event. wrote the featured, comprehensive > • Saturday, Dec, 9: Bagels and Lois Wine, Director of Volunteer article on Judaism in the 16-volume Bible, "Assimilation and Transition: Services for Jewish Senior Services, is Encyclopedia of Religion. Comparing and Contrasting Maccabstaffing the event. All of the women The only Jew to serve as President ean and Modern Times," 9:30 a.m.; involved have the flair for ensuring of the American Theological Society, "The Daily Texture of Living our the L.O.V.E. Bazaar will be the place Dr. Borowitz was recently awarded a Reform Judaism," 10:80 a.m., to shop for holiday gifts. medal for Jewish cultural achieveDr. Borowitz's visit is sponsored by Hours of operation are: ment by the National Foundation of the Hermene Zweiback Center for • Sunday, Dec. 3, 9 q.m.-2 p.m.; Jewish Culture. He holds doctorates Lifelong Jewish Learning and is open • Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 4-5, from both HUC-JIR and Teacher's to the community. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. College of Columbia University. For more information, call the For more information about the The schedule for the Dec. 8-9 week- Temple Israel office at 556-6536. Bazaar, call Lois Wine at 330-4272, end is as follows:
WHY NOT DO IT THE EASY WAY?
"Continuing a Tradition"
shoulders." He pleaded with the crowd to do everything from contacting their congressional representative to writing letters to the United Nations and their local newspapers, to bring their sons home. As of today, the fate of the three young soldiers, two of whom are Jewish and one a Bedouin, is unknown. Hugging his long-time friend, Chaim Avraham, Barak outlined Israel's resolve to achieve a peace settlement which also guarantees Israel's security. "I have seen too many Israelis lose their lives in the battle to give up the struggle. Now it is our task to complete the circle of Israel's acceptance in the region, so that we may flower as a secure Jewish state." But both Ariel Sharon, leader of the Likud Party, and Natan Sharansky, who resigned from Barak's cabinet, stated there is an alternative to the Peace Process. "We convinced ourselves that Arafat was a real leader," Sharon said, "but if (he) is in the Old City, the Palestinians will be shooting at the King David, instead of in Gilo." The current Middle East negotiator, Dennis Ross, is resigning after 12 years of working in this area. Will the next president appoint someone to take his place or will it be the responsibility of the next secretary of State? Stein's advice to both Vice-president Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush, "This is an issue that will smack you in the face. You can cut and run or be involved. "A number one priority has to be the coordination of foreign policy in the Middle East between the State Department and the White House, otherwise the Arabs and Israelis will use any discord to play one off against the other. The relationship has to be unified," Stein concluded, "or it won't bo effective,"
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November 17, 2000
Asynchrony Solutions, of St. Louis, MO, has announced that David K. Blatt, a 1989 graduate of Harry A. Burke, has joined the company as Vice-president. The company is a leading IT consulting firm. David K Blatt The Hastings College Forensics Team took first place honors at the "Jackrabbit Joust" tournament Nov. 4-5 in Brookings, SD, Shayna Flatowicz of Omaha received fifth in prose interpretation and dramatic interpretation. Scholarships are now available for the 2001-2002 academic year for those planning to spend the year studying in Israel. The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the family of the late Alisa Flatow who was killed in a terrorist attack while studying in Israel. Applications are available online only: www.alisafund.org, completed applications due Feb. 12, 2001. The next production in the Schoolhouse Performance Series will be a concert by Greenblatt & Seay in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 2:30 p.m. The show will feature original songs specifically composed for preschool children and their families, , Avoca is in southern Gass County, Nebraska, on the 13 C Spur, one mile south of Highway 84, Admission is $4 for adults, and $1 for children and students. For more information, call 402-276-3221, or e-mail them at gs@aJUtel.net. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nebraska Chapter, is seeking community input to initiate a free ongoing family support group to assist families of patients with Leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, Lymphoma, and Multiple Myeloma in the Omaha Community. Onll ,3442242 by Dec. 1 for details.
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Alon and Bikki Mor of Haifa, Israel, announce the Sept. 24 birth of twin daughters, Yarden Epstein and Maya Epstein. Grandparents are Mel and Lois Epstein of Omaha and Menachem and Devora Mor, Haifa. Great-grandparents are Dave and Jeanne Dvorkin, Omaha, the late Harry and Sophie Epstein, Hinda Holshpiger of Haifa and the late Nachum Holshpiger, and the late Yosef and Leah Mosler.
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Debra and Mike Pelech of Chicago announce the Sept. 25 birth of twin daughters, Zoe Isabella and Lia Helena. The twins have a brother, Max Edward, 4. Grandparents are Marilyn Ginsberg of Omaha and the late Edward Ginsberg, and Stanley Pelech of Blue Island, IL, and the late Elaine Pelech,
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Nancy and Neal Bauhauser announce the Sept. 28 birth of their daughter, Madeleine Grace. Madeleine has a brother, Ari, 31/2. She is named in memory of her maternal greataunt, Minnie Kaplan Olson, Her Hebrew name is in honor of her grandfather, Irving Nogg. Grandparents are Marian and Irving Nogg of Omaha and Ruth and Robert Raxihauser of Graettinger, Iowa.
ORGANIZATIONS Y.E,S. Members will meet Monday at the JCO. Exercise starts at IOSSO a.m. Or try your luck at Bingo with Eileen Reiner at 10sl5, Bring articles to share for the ."YES Talk" discussion group at U.. Join us for the annual Thanksgiving Day Party with special musical guest Hazzan G. Michael Horwitz. For transportation, call 330-4272. Bluffs Run Casino on Nov. 30; deadline is Nov. 28, Call Eileen Remor at 834-6521 for reservations. OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING SATURDAY, NOV. IS, 3.'30 p.m., a class on the weekly Torah portion meets at the home of Rabbi Shlomo Levin, 2001 N. 56th St. MONDAY, NOV. 20, 7 p.m. and TUESDAY, NOV. 21,10 a.m., Hebrew reading and vocabulary, co-sponsored with JELS. Level One and Level Two are taught both in the evening and morning sessions. Cost is $25 for five weekly sessions running through December. TUESDAY,NOV. 21, 7p,m,, Beit Midrash with Chabad, Lunch 'n Learn and Talmud class will not take place this week because of Thanksgiving, For more information, call Rabbi Levin, 551-1564. B'NAI B'BITH BREADBREAKERS Guy Matalon, Professor of Religion at UNO, will speak at B'nai B'rith Breadbreakers on Wednesday, His topic will be "The Importance of Science in Maimonades Thought." B'nai B'rith Breadbreakers meets every Wednesday at noon. The program is open to the community. Cost for lunch is $9; for beverage service only, $2.
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Do you and your family want to be part of the largest gathering of Jewish teens in Omaha's hisThe Story of Bialy and a Lost World, tory? If you do, then jump on the bandwagon for by Mimi Sheraton (Broadway Books, $19.95) the 2002 Jewish Community Center Maccabi by LOIS FRIEDMAN ' Games! Prom August 4-9, 2002, over 750 Jewish email: readitandeat@yahoo.com athletes from around the U.S, Canada, Mexico, Hurry, hurry, hear all about it! These squashy, Great Britain and Israel will meet in Omaha for Crusty bread rolls with toasted onion center and five days of excitement and fun. showering of poppyseeds, eaten as an alternative For this extraordinary event to be a success, we to bagels, aroused a passion in Mimi Sheraton, will need hundreds of Jewish homes to house these well-known New York restaurant reviewer, award visitors. If you meet the following criteria, you can winning cookbook author (14 cookbooks) and food help us by becoming a host family. critic/writer, which led to a "bialy odyssey" all over • Ability to open your home to a minimum of two the world, touched by dozens of people who "shared athletes for five nights (August 4-9, 2002). their memories of bialys and Bialystok" (an east• Provide a bed for each athlete you are hosting ern Polish town). (double beds count as two beds). The introduction begins with an adolesent's • Provide breakfast and snacks for your athletes Auschwitz memories lying on the hard shelf that throughout the week, was his bed, hallucinating from, hunger and trying • Be available to drop the athletes off at the JCC to recall the shape and savory aroma of this in the morning by 7:30 a.m. and pick them up in kuchen from his home in Bialystok. the evening no later than 10:30 p.m. And so begins Sheraton's far-flung journey, full • If possible, come to the competition to cheer on of "silent voices and ghostly wings and the minor- your athletes. key melodies of fiddlers on rooftops." • Provide two dinners for your guests~one on Her interest in authenticity and finding a bench- Sunday night prior to the opening ceremony and mark for the bialy led to articles, responses and a one on Host Family Night. If you are able to say worldwide "underground network of bialy con- 'yes' to the above criteria, we need you! We can tacts", those who left their homeland because of guarantee that as a host family, you will come to prejudice and pogroms, survivors of the Holocaust. feel that these young people are part of your famiThey were nicknamed "Bialystocker kuchen ly, and that you will miss the fun and excitement fressers, prodigious eaters (fressers) of those once your guests have gone home. oniony bread buns." If you are interested in becoming part of the For seven years, Sheraton researched this slice of Maccabi Games and housing two or more young bread, slice of life and the tragic and joyful memo- people, contact one of the Housing Committee cories. chairs, Eadie Tsabara, Sheri Abramson, Maggie Today, there are no bialys in Bialystok and only Gerber, Kimberly Robinson, or call Corey five of the thousands of Jews live there. . .but you Kirshenbaum at the JCC at 334-6418, or via ecan travel with Sheraton as she beautifully writes mail at ckirshenbaum@jewishomaha.org. a bittersweet blend of Jews and food, especially of bread, the staff and stuff of life. She shares her travels, talks, experiences, and you can savor and Ceremonial Objects Sought! recall a lost world, poignant stories and memories. LOUISE ABRAHAMSON And you can bake your own from the only recipe by The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is asking in the book (too long tp.be included here) or order for your help! We hope to expand our collection of some from Kossar's, the New York consummate Jewish ceremonial and art objects. and only bakery in the U.S. that passed the muster So, pass it on! for bialys (www.kossaFsbialys.Gom) or attend The next time yam light the Sabbath candles in the Kripke Library event on Tuesday, Nov. 28, your grandmother's/great-gf andmother's/mother's 11:30 a.m. to taste the Kossar's bialys and candlesticks, the next time you polish the beautiful "hearitandeat" with Mimi Sheraton, silver kiddush cup that's a. family heirloom, admire the lovely spice box in the china cabinet or enjoy looking at the handsome menorah you received as a bar mitzvah gift, and so many more objects. . . OLDTIMERS/Y.E.S REVIEW pass it on! by ART GROSSMAN
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By the time this OT/Y.E.S. review appears in print, the results of the general election, held on Nov. 7, will have been recorded as history. The day started as one in which our group didn't know whether the weather would permit a meeting. However, augmented by a sizable number of Blumkin Home residents, it became a nice turnout. Their interest in attending was mainly based on viewing a cassette picturing a Nebraska Jewish Historical Society series of interviews conducted with seniors recalling early days of Jewish life in Omaha. But technology is not perfect. Two TV sets failed to function, so the tape sat silently to be presented at a later date. Meanwhile, to fill the void, valiant Historical volunteers Joanie Bernstein and Dr. Ben Nachman stepped in. As Dr. Nachman circulated from table to table lining up fuLure interviews, Joanie regaled us with a series of well-known proverbs compiled by a first grade teacher. She gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. Here are some examples: "Don't bite the hand that looks dirty" "Where there's smoke there's pollution" "Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow your nose". The Early Bird discussion centered on the issues, the candidates seeking office and the enormous amounts of money spent by them demeaning each other. We stood in memorium for Philip Stine, Eva Lebowitz and Edward Sellz.
We will document and photograph objects loaned to us and also preserve items that you donate. Here are other items you might share so they will not be forgotten: matzo covers, mezuzahs, jewelry, yarmulkes, wedding memorabilia, wine glasses, tzedakah boxes, etc. Items may be old or new, antique or modern, brass, silver, pewter, glass, crockery, parchment or fabric. We have only a few items in this category and would like to add to the collection for a future memorable and beautiful exhibit. . Remember.. .Pass it on! Call us at 334-6442 or 334-6441, and arrange to bring your items to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, located at the Jewish Community Center. ChUd care - One of the most Important decisions parents make. Check it out! NEBRASKA HEALTH AND H U M A N SERVICES SYSTEM
November 17,2000
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Pag© 9
Nostalgia and Nachas by MICKEY GREENBERG
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Former Omahans Margie and Marlon Somberg brought Omahan Ozzie Nogg to Phoenix to "do her things for Temple Chai members (including a number of notable former Omahans). Ozzie's "thing" was a D'var Torah presented during Friday night services, a social event at the synagogue on Saturday evening which featured her storytelling, and finally, some special stories told to children during Sunday School. I am not a theatrical or storytelling critic, so this is not meant to be a review. This is not an objective report of the weekend events, since I can't be objective about the many talents of Ozzie Nogg. I've enjoyed her acting, her singing and her writing for many years, but this was my first exposure to "Ozzie Nogg, the Storyteller." It was a wonderful experience—an evening of nostalgia and nachas. First the nostalgia-Ozzie told warm, funny, fuzzy stories relating to her memories about her bubbe, her parents, her siblings and the way things were as she was growing up. Everyone in the audience could relate to her stories. No matter where they came from: New York, Chicago, Minnesota, Cleveland, Ozzie's tales stirred nostalgic memories of their own childhood experiences. Everyone had a "bubbe" and everyone had a atory to tell-but no one could tell the story like Ozzie. As I listened to her stories about her mother, I could almost amell the ehoient aad taste the kasha which came out of her kitchen, a much different memory that many children will have of their dinners of fast food or pizza. Ozzie told stories about her father and his tales from the talmud, which he brought to the dinner table. Other kids will probably have memories about baseball scores and stock market numbers (on those rare occasions today when the family actually does sit together at dinner). Some of the audience were stunned by the fact that Ozzie came from Omaha-and that she spent her early childhood in Fargo, ND, where her father, Alox Katz, was an Orthodox rabbi and the only rabbi in that state at the time. "Jews in Fargo?" quipped one Now Yorkor. "How can that be?" With the exception of the former Omahans in the audience, most had• never heard of Ozzie, but they
had heard stories about the dynamics of the Omaha Jewish community. By the end of the evening, I think they understood that Ozzie and Don Nogg personified what the Omaha Jewish community is really about—it's about family, community, commitment and continuity. That's where the nachas comes in. The Omaha Jewish community has made headlines for many years for their extraordinary philanthropic record. A large number of national Jewish leaders have come from Omaha, and the Phoenix Jewish community has been blessed with the retirement migration of many Omaha Jewish leaders. Among those attending the "Ozzie* events were: Kenny Sacks, another past president of Beth El Synagogue (joining both Noggs in that capacity); Saranne Gitnick, past president of both the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the JCC; Mort Greenberg, former Executive Director of the JFO; Marlon and Margie Somberg, past Campaign leaders; Chuck Monasee, pnst president of the Omaha JCO; and Phyllis Friedel, whose endowment, along with her husband, Leonard, named the Friedel Jewish Academy. This prestigious group of former Omahana was once again reminded of the many things which make Omaha unique, and Ozzie Nogg was one of them. They schepped nachas from Ozzie'f) performance. Ozzie and her family moved to Omaha in 1945, when her father became affiliated with the conservative Both El Synagogue. Sho married Donald Nogg at Beth jdl 46 yatxra ago and recalls lh<ib "because of Poppa's position at Beth El, the entire congregation was invited to the roception -it was a very long wedding day!" The Noggs have four children, who, like their parents, attended Beth El religious school and cele-
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brated their B'nai Mitzvah there. Now the Nogg grandchildren are about to become the fourth generation to embark on their Jewish education at Beth EL I don't believe there is a synagogue in the large Phoenix Jewish community with a record of four generations affiliated with the same congregation. The Nogg family has been very active at Beth El for more than 50 years. Ozzie served as president during the difficult period of fundraising for the new building. It was a challenge, but the job got done. (I'm betting Ozzie can develop a whole new series of stories based on that experience!) She explains her stories reflect the rich Jewish tradition in which she was raised. "My father's words echo in my stories," she said. "Through them, I try to honor my father's memory and sustain our tradition." If I wore to ask some of my grandchildren if they knew any Talmud tales, they would ask for the website (which isn't so bad, since I'm pretty sure they could find one or two). I'm all for .,, change and advancement, but it was /""" sure a nice feeling to know some things don't change—things liko the very unique Omaha Jewish life, like Ozzie Nogg giving meaning to her father's old stories by her warm, poignant style of interpretation. I predict that when the Nogg grandchildren aro grown, they will probably remember nothing of the baseball scores heard at the dinner table, but their grandmother's stories will stick. Makes me think about our next family dinner. Omaha can be very proud of Ozzie Nogg. I may chock out the recipes for cholont on the Internet-and while I'm at it, 1 may look for a Talmud Tales website! Mickey Greenberg was Editor of the Jewish Press from, 1964-74 and resides in Scottsdale, AZ. CORRECTIONS In last week's issue, under AMIT Women, Jeff Spiegal was DeDe Salkin Spiegal's husband, not her son. Also, under deaths, James (Jimmy) Kahn was incorrectly spelled.
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Page 10-. Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
November 17,2000
New History Center Touted as Jewish "Library of Congress9 by JULIE WIENER
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NEW YORK( JTA)--Last month's opening of what as well as assisting people with family history prois being touted as "the Library of Congress of the jects. A gleaming new building on a block of brownJewish People" brings together what is believed to be the largest repository of Jewish archival materi- stones in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, the center is physically impressive, with state-of-theal outside Israel. Under one roof, at the Center for Jewish History, art computers, a custom-designed stone floor in the one can now find an extensive book, archive and art lobby with intricate biblical-themed designs, extensive gallery and display space and jade and teal collection. Included among the items are: the original hand- detail trimming the wood-paneled, skylit reading written draft of Emma Lazarus' 1883 "Give me room. your tired, your poor" poem that went on to be The center is earning mostly praise, both from inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty; the scholars and the partner organizations. oldest American Jewish cookbook; Sandy Koufax's Michael Fedberg, executive director of the Brooklyn Dodgers jersey and the eyeglasses of American Jewish Historical Society,- said the center Jewish Enlightenment thinker Moses will "provide a meeting ground on which scholars Mendelssohn. from different institutions can interact and enrich The New York institution is a consortium of five thinking" about Jewish history. Carl Rheins, executive director of YIVO, said the Jewish organizations brought together into a $50 million facility designed specifically for the pur- new facility dramatically improves his organizapose. By joining together, the partner organizations tion's ability to properly store materials, offer pubbring together under one roof several areas of lic programs and serve researchers. Jewish history—the American Jewish Historical "Our previous mansion was not air-conditioned, Society, which focuses on the U.S. Jewish experi- not properly humidified for documents and had no ence; the American Sephardi Federation; the Leo adequate space for researchers to work," he said. Baeck Institute, whose holdings are on Jews in "We're here now in a modern center with a magnifiGerman-speaking countries; the Yeshiva Univer- cent temperature-controlled storage area, and sity Museum and the YIV0 Institute for Jewish state-of-the art computers, phone systems and Research, which addresses Eastern European faxes." Jewish history. Jonathan Sarna, Braun Professor of modern The organizations will maintain separate boards Jewish history at Brandeis University, said he is and budgets, but share resources and jointly spon- concerned that "so much money is going into bricks and mortar that there won't be money available for sor various events. The center's primary mission is to serve scholars the scholarly programs of the center." The majority of the center's operating budget of Jewish history, but the center and its individual partners will also offer services of general interest, goes toward maintaining the building, but that hosting art exhibits, concerts and public lectures, does not include the services covered in the partner
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November 17, 2000
The.Torah Finds Its Cuban Voice
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE Page 11
«Birthdays \ * Holidays • Other Sweet nemos
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by BERT LEWIS—— — Havana, Guba-When Alberto Behar, Cuba's first THE COOKIE There's kind of a joke among many of my contem- native Baal Kore in nearly 40 years, reads aloud 25 Yaars Experience from the Torah this Rosh Hashanah, members of poraries and friends. Actually, it isn't a joke, Steve Snail 558-8617 the congregation will listen carefully. For the first because it's the truth, but what I keep hearing is time in two generations, each word and every note women saying "I don't cook anymore." Or perhaps, "my kitchen is closed after morning coffee." The will give the Torah a Cuban voice. For Alberto, reading the Torah is less a matter of point is, many women have somehow decided that making 391-6334 local history they've cooked for enough years, they're tired of it than of ensuring www.giftblvd.cam Countryside Village and besides, what are restaurants for anyway? Jewish continuity. 8713 Shamrock Rd. I was at a lovely luncheon recently, seated at a "While following the table with seven other ladies. I don't remember text with my eyes, I how the topic arose, but within minutes, I heard can see in the scrolls, the comment "I don't cook anymore" going around. the reflection of my It's certainly no secret that our restaurants are father's and grandfanearly always crowded, whether in the middle of ther's faces. They are the week or on the week-end, when folks formerly happy that I am chose to eat out. There's just one thing that puzzles maintaining the Jewish tradition." me about all of this. First, the luncheon mentioned above was an The introduction of affair sponsored by the Women's Campaign of our a native Baal Kore is 721 N. 132nd St. Jewish Federation of Omaha. It was beautiful; the only the latest stop in a breathtakingfood was delicious; the speaker was wonderful and 963-9595 those present obviously enjoyed the chance to see revival of Cuban and visit with so many friends and acquaintances Jewish life. After years of ensuring brtsic needs and in our Jewish community. Of course, we all dutiful- supporting the survival of Cuba's Jews, the ly signed our pledge cards, because that's what we American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has spent the last several years supporting were there for, when all was said and done. Jewish renewal on a community level. I haven't explained what puzzled me, have I? At the Tikun 01am Sunday school, JDC-trained OK, each woman was presented with a small gift teachers help students mako good use of Spanish GOURMET GROCERY & BISTRO bag, containing three items. Let me tell you about and Hebrew books on Jewish topics, a video library French, Italian & Mediterranean Cuisine one, a paper bound cookbook. The idea of this book and Internet-capable computers, Cuba is now also had to do with the theme stressed this ye&r-L'dor host to two international summer camps, whorw •Serving Tantalisingtench.* IHnnma,,. PLUS FHESFt v'tibr, which means from generation to generation. Jewish children from throughout Latin America The dedicated volunteers who made it all happen come to spend the summer having fun, forming Eagle Run Square spent weeks and weeks gathering recipes from friendships and deepening their ties to Judaism. X 129th & Maple ladies in our community, then compiled them all Alberto's journey to becoming a Baal Kore began 496-0202 Mon-Sat, 1<M0; Sun, 11-5 into one spiral-bound book of 150 pages, one recipe with an idea by Diego Mandelbaum, JDC's repreper page. All ore properly divided according to cat- sentative in Cuba. "In so many ways, Cuba has egory, such as salads, baked goods, appetizers, etc., become its own Jewish resource. This seemed like a and all are labeled with the name of the person logical step. It helps that Alberto is a true scholar)", who submitted it. In other words, each originated says Mandolbaxim. "When we ttlurbad, he could ucarcely read in somebody's kitchen and, I assume, had been Hebrew. But he had the desire. He studied commade often for that person's family. GREEK GYROS 'STEAKS PHILLIES • BURGERS So nu, if nobody cooks anymore, what's with all mentaries nn<) reflections on the Torah, lie movod these delightful recipes so many women sent for beyond the technique of reading the Torah and Home o!' Omaha's O r i " 1 " " 1 ':••••" publication in the special book? Come on girls, investigated the spiritual and emotional meaning in each portion. When you hear him Our Daily fjnich & Dinner Specials are #1 somebody out there must still be cooking, at least contained read, you can sense his fulfillment," once in a while, Or else, it was a matter of wanting #X Food in the Midwest Alberto's elation is multiplied in the responses of to participate in that generation to generation those who como to hear him read. "When he reads Open 7 Days a Week thing, because I notice many of these recipes were the Torah in a Cuban voice, I know that this is our 4409 Dodge St. • 553-3326 credited to somebody's grandma or other relative. Torah, too-not something from the outside," smiled (Of course, I can relate to that, having many such an older woman in the congregation. "Here in Cuba," notations in my own file. Making a dish just like she continues, "We have a strong community. Now Bubie did always brings back warm memories.) we are enjoying some fruit from our strength, If But, as usual, I digress. My point was, originally Menorah, (Cuba's national Jewish newspaper) is tine that is, if nobody cooks anymore, how come 160 eyes of our people, Alberto is our voice." "There are many ways for Jews to connect to recipes came in for publication in this particular their Judaism," Alberto reflects. "I cannot think of book? any more important or historic way than by conWell, I'm not going to try to answer that quesnecting through Torah. Today, a Cuban Jew can tion, but I hope you were at that luncheon and read the Torah just as his ancestors did thousands received a copy. It's a nice collection of really of years ago. worthwhile dishes and, besides, I think it's fun to course, the Cuban Baal Kore doesn't have to prepare something for dinner and announce, "This go"Of back too far to connect with his Jewish roots. He is Eochel Fefferstein's recipe, and you know what a recalls his childhood, when each Saturday morning good cook she is." he saw his elegantly dressed grandfather leave for Lunchand " S T A U « A " s t e a k s - Seafood So, if nobody cooks anymore, I guess we're lucky the synagogue with his talit and prayer book, Dinner chicken OM H U H Sfeffiag Carter WHUPrij* W6-2090 nobody got rid of all the family favorite recipes. "When he came home from services, he would Who knows? Maybe the next decade will see a lead us in singing Jewish songs in Ladino (a resurgence of interest in that seldom-used kitchen. Spanish/Jewish dialect). I never imagined that one The bottom line? Keep your cookbooks. You never day, I would be like him. Fa Baker Heating ' know when you'll need them. joined together in song." and Cooling, Inc.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
November 17,2000
Best Sellers: Jewish Books by J E W I S H P R E S S N e w s S e n / i c e ,,,
NEW YORK-Larry Mark, Editor of Transform the American Synagogue MyJewishBooks.com online announced its "Jewish Best Sellers list" based on sales over the past four weeks. MyJewishBooks.com is North America's largest online discount Jewish bookstore. All net proceeds are donated to tzedakah. Three politically-inspired books have fallen off the Top 20 list. They are Sen. Joseph Lieberman's In Praise of Public Service, Philip Roth's The Human Stain, and Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate by Barbara MikuIsM, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. And.two books on life in Israel fell off the list; Wendy Orange's Coming
by Sidney Schwarz. 18. The Jewish State: The Struggle for Israel's Soul by Yoram Hazony. 19. How to Be a Jewish Parent: A Practical Handbook for Family Life by Anita Diamant, Karen Kushner. 20. God at the Edge: Searching for the Divine in Uncomfortable and Unexpected Places by Rabbi Niles Elliot Goldstein. FIVE HOT TIPS FOR FALL 2000 The Jewish Threat: Anti-Semitic Politics of the U.S. Army by Joseph W. Bendersky: A comprehensive look at the attitudes of the U.S. Army's commanders during the first part of the 20th Century towards Jews and
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Cheryl L e r n e r , center, shows Jessica Danon, Rachael Monsky, Rachel Gordon, Beeea Gordon, Josh Danon and Bradley Kutler some of the children's craft projects to be made during the grand opening of t h e K r i p k e J e w i s h Federation Library this Sunday, Home To Jerusalem, and David Horovitz's A Little Too Close To God. These books were replaced by Jew vs. Jew by Samuel Freedman and Postville by Stephen Bloom. The top 20 Jewish Titles are: I. The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant (paperback). 2. Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. 3. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback. 4. Jew Vs. Jew by Samuel G. Freedman. 5. The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey between Worlds by Jonathan Rosen. 6. The Avengers: A Jewish War Story by Rich Cohen. 7. Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America by Stephen G. Bloom. 8. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay: A Novel by Michael Chabon. 9. Gershon's Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year by Eric A. Kimmel. 10. The Bialy Eaters: The Story of a Bread and a Lost World by Mimi Sheraton. II. Being Jewish: The Spiritual and Cultural Practice of Judaism Today by Ari L. Goldman. 12. Quarrel & Quandary: Essays by Cynthia Ozick. 13. The Book of Jewish Values: A Day-By-Day Guide to Ethical Living by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.. 14. To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times by Rabbi Naomi Levy. 15. A Guide to Jewish Prayer by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. 16. The New Jewish Wedding by
1:30 p.nu, at the JCC. Lermer serves on the grand opening committee, along with Fran Juro, Nancy Rips, Joyce Cohen, Felicia Littky and J i l l Belmont. Sunday will also mark the kick-off of the library's Kids R e a d i n g Club, which will offer incentives and rewards. the international Jewish conspiracy. Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America by Stephen G. Bloom, a journalism professor at the University of Iowa, who tells the story of what happened when 150 Lubaviteher'Hassidim moved to a town of less than 1,500 mostly evangelical Lutherans in Northeast Iowa to operate a kosher slaughterhouse, and the referendum the town prepared against their presence. Speak You Also: A Holocaust Memoir by Paul Steinberg, who tells his side of what he did at Auschwitz in order to survive (he died last year after publishing the book in French). Paul is the real life character of Henri, the French boy, in the late Primo Levi's book, If This is a Man, about his years hi Auschwitz. The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey Between Worlds by Jonathan Rosen, a meditation on the pulls of culture, history and technology. Today I am a Boy by David Hays, a story of self-discovery by the author, a famed Broadway (a shtetl in its own way) arid Met Opera set and lighting designer, New YorkTimes best selling author, and founder of the National Theater of the Deaf. After retiring at 66, he joins a synagogue school of 12year-olds to study for his Bar Mitzvah.
Anita Diamant.
Sheraton on Nov. 28 at 11:30 aum.
Many of these books can be found in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library, which celebrates its Grand Reopening this Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1:30 pjoa. Author Daniel Asa Rose, newly named Cultural Editor of The Forward, will speak at 2:30 p.m. Also part of Jewish Book Month is the appearance of food critic Mimi
17. Finding a Spiritual Home: How For more information about these a New Generation of Jews Can events, call 334-6461.
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