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April 19, 2002

Page 1

Vol. LXXXI

No. 32

Omaha, NE

7lyar,5762

April 19,2002

SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 81 YEARS

Tribute to Rabbi Drazen and Family Planned for May by OZZIE NOGG by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director.

As the crisis in Israel grows deeper by the minute, the desire to do something grows in the hearts of Jewish Omaha. The Jewish Federation of Omaha has established the Israel Terror • Relief Fund, as part of the We Stand With Israel campaign led by Shirley Shirley Goldstein Goldstein and Tom Fellman, to relieve the suffering of Israelis at the hands of terrorists. In addition to the Israel Terror Relief Fund, a Solidarity Walk and Rally is being organized for Sunday, April 28, 3 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center. Everyone is encouraged to attend and to bring their entire family. After the brief rally, featuring local elected officials, clergy and Israel advocates, the Solidarity Walk will proceed to the West Dodge frontage road, headed east to 120th St. We Stand With Israel signs and Israeli flags will be distributed. Solidarity Walk participants will also have the opportunity to contribute to the Israel Terror Relief Fund. Goldstein is Omaha's most vocal champion of

human rights. Her work to help free the Soviet Jews is well known throughout the world. She feels that the crisis in Israel is just as great, if not greater, than the plight of Soviet Jewry. "Now more than ever Israel needs us. Israel is Tom Fellman facing some of its darkest days since it's fight for Independence 54 years ago. This isn't a crisis; it's an emergency," she implored. Fellman, a past president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, led Operation Exodus in 1992, which rescued thousands of Soviet Jews and brought them to freedom in Israel, Omaha and many other places in the United States. He believes that the crisis in Israel is more urgent than anything else in the Jewish world. "Social services are strained to the limit. The government has transferred more than $2 billion from social welfare services to defense. The cost to Israel's economy, due to the relentless terror, is about $4 billion," he explained. "There are only two (Continued on page 2)

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An "Evening to Remember" tribute to Rabbi Paul Drazen and his family is being planned for Sunday, May 19,7:30 p.m., at Beth El Synagogue. "The Beth El family has been fortunate to have had only four spiritual leaders, since, pur congregation was founded some 80 years ago," said Margie Gutnik, one of the co-chairmen for the evening. "This summer, we come to the end of a chapter in the Beth El history book when, after nearly two decades, we say goodbye to Rabbi Paul Drazen, Susie, Gila and Yoni. "This 'Evening to Remember' will let us-as individuals and as a congregation—show the Drazens what a lasting impact their presence has had on our lives, on the lives of our congregation and on the larger Omaha Jewish community, as well," she added. "We invite everyone to help us celebrate their years at Beth El and wish them well as they begin a new chapter in their lives." Rabbi Drazen will step down as spiritual leader of Beth El at the end of June, to assume the position of Executive Director of the newly-formed MidContinent Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Additional co-chairmen are Bruce Gutnik and Mike and Sheri Abramson.

A Woman's Journey in Her New Found Jewishness

by LEO ADAM BIGA, Special to the Jewish Press — Christina Micek's world was rocked in 1999. That's when this young Omaha educator, reared in a traditional Polish-German-American Catholic family, discovered a hidden Jewish legacy on her mother's side, a revelation that's meant far-reaching implications for her life and her work. Today, Micek, a third-grade teacher at Spring Lake Academy in Omaha, is pursuing a graduate certification in Holocaust studies from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago, is the author of a school-age Holocaust curriculum being piloted at Westside High School, and is actively immersing herself and her three-year-old son, Evan, in aspects of Jewish culture and faith. While no one else in her family has embraced the discovery of their long-withheld Jewish heritage as enthusiastically as she has--in fact, she said, some would rather forget or deny the whole thing- Micek considers the experience a transforming one that has enriched her and her family. "I'm not the same person at all. The whole experience has changed my life completely," the 24-yearold single mother said in an interview from the Southwest Omaha home she shares with her son. "Here I had grown up in a Catholic family-a very strongly Catholic family-and to find out I'm Jewish came as a shock. I felt kind of like my identity shifted. I felt a great personal loss, because here was this whole dimension to my family I didn't know anything about. My family was kind of cheated out of their culture and their religion. "It's really made a difference in my family because I have made an effort to educate us in the Jewish tradition," she added. "Now we celebrate the Sabbath, Passover, Hanukkah and Yom Kippur, and we're kind of trying, I know it sounds crazy, to be Catholic and Jewish at the same time. I had read about people who felt their family history had been stolen from them and then to experience that myself, it just made me want to learn more

"At the time I thought, 'Oh, that's kind of interesting,' but I didn't think a whole lot more about it." She told her family about it but they politely dismissed the implied Jewish connection as mere coincidence. It just so happened that a few weeks later a relative embarking on a genealogical search overseas was informed by Micek's mother of their name's possible Jewish link and was asked to "check this out...never thinking it would amount to anything," Micek said. "But when my mother's cousin, Bill Daley, came 1 back he said, 'Guess what?' It turned out he found birth records of my great-great-greatgrandfather, Josef Feldman (spelled Feldmann History teacher Bill Hayes, right, field-tested then), at a synagogue. We were floored." Micek's Holocaust curriculum in his classroom at When Daley's 1999 search for birth records came up empty in Catholic churches in and Westside High School last Friday. around the Feldman ancestral home near and to involve my child more in knowing what his Frankfurt, a priest directed him to a local synafamily history is. I want to incorporate thole things gogue, noting it was not uncommon for certain genfor Evan now because I don't want that sense of erations of Europeans who, for all intents and purloss to continue. I want him to know and be proud poses, appeared Christian to, in reality, be Jews. of his Jewish heritage." In some cases, the priest explained, Jews conIntriguingly, before Micek found out about her Jewish past and began writing lesson plans on the cealed their true identity and posed, for example, Shoah, she already "felt drawn to the Jewish faith" as Catholics as protection against anti-Semitic discrimination and persecution-ranging from bigotry and had "an interest in the Holocaust." She explained, "I think it started in high school to outright" pogroms. For reasons that may never be when we studied European history and saw clear, ihe last known Feldman patriarch, Josef, Schindler's List. Then, when I attended the College concealed his Jewish roots at some point and of St. Mary (after beginning her college studies at assumed the life of a Catholic. (Continued on page 8) the University of Nebraska-Lincoln) they started offering more courses in the Holocaust and I took . advantage of the opportunity and decided to make INSBDE: my minor in history." The then education major was first introduced to Korczak Exhibit. , page 6 the possibility her mother's maiden name— Feldman-might be of Jewish origin when one of Photos from Yom HaShoah page 9 her St. Mary instructors mentioned Feldman was among the most common German-Jewish names. Maccabi Delegation Surpasses ]0G.,..page 11


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An Eschatological Reflection by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE •

Parashiyyot Ahare Mot-Qedoshim We should not pass up the opportunity to note the traditional reflection brought to us by the fact that often these two Sidrot are read on the same Sabbath. This happy fact enables us to say that we do not speak of the dead excepting in laudatory 1 terms. That is to say, that after death we are all considered "holy ones." The gnawing pressure on our brains to deal with the problem of what we are after death cannot be dismissed. The whole problem of the meaning of life is emphasized by the fact of death. What meaning can life have if everything is canceled by death? We must note here that the Bible, in sharp contrast to the rabbinic literature later, has no contemplation of a life after death. Again and again the Bible records the death of the patriarchs _and others in matter-of-fact terms. A common phrase is, "He lay down with his ancestors." There are passages which remind us that the ancients had formal mourning for the dead. But the tone, in general, is that death is expected and accepted. The Hallel Psalm has it, "The dead praise not the Lord, those that go down to silence. It is we the living, who praise the Lord from now and to eternity(l)." Shall we understand that "eternity" means nothing more than the time we are alive? I have suggested above that rabbinic literature accepts a time of resurrection of the dead (which differs, of course, from a doctrine of immortality). So take your choice! Biblical literature does not promise life after death, and rabbinic literature does. Over the centuries Jewish tradition has sided with the rabbis over the Bible. And then there is this peculiarity: If you chose the rabbis and were right, one day you will know about it. But, if you chose the Bible and were right, you will never know!

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KMDHBffiHMHH SATURDAY, APRIL 20 Four. Cantors' Concert, 8 p.m., at Temple Israel Maccabi Sports Extravaganza, 8 p.m. SUNDAY, APRIL 21 Teacher Appreciation Breakfast, 9 a.m., C at Temple Israel c L Adult Education, 10,a.m., at Temple Israel L ' Mitzvah Day, noon, at Temple Israel I P Chabad House Inward Bound Seminar, 1 p.m. & Maccabi Decoration Committee, 1 p.m. Pushkin Club, 4:30 p.m. S A Maccabi Coaches Meeting, 6 p.m. A V Maccabi Parent/Athlete/Coaches Meeting, 7 p.m. V E MONDAY, APRIL 22 E YES Program, 10 a.m. Boj Scouts, 7 p.m. BBYO Information Night, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, APRIL 23 WRJ Donor Event, 1 p.m. Federation Executive Committee, 6 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 Youth Group Dinner, 6 p.m., at Temple Israel J-ROK Tai-Bo Class, 6:30 p.m. THURSDAY, APRIL 25 C L L Beth El USY Spring Kallah, 7 a.m. 1 I Adult Education, 9 a.m., at Temple Israel P p Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. . Young Leadership Gold Medal Event, 6 p.m., & (location tba) S S LOVE Monthly Meeting, 7 p.m., RBJH A

FAIANA PUTERMAN Paiana Putennan died April 11. Services were held April 12 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Clara Paskar; grandchildren, Yuri and Molly; and her daughter-in-law's father, Alex Gutis.

Israel Emergency Campaign page I) ways American Jews can help-either by going to v^ Israel to volunteer time, or giv- j ing money. This is i why we've taken * an extraordinary, step and started | the We Stand Former Israeli Prime Minister with Israel Terror Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at Relief Fund," the rally in Washington Fellman added. Monday. Photo by Ron Sachs. Contributions to the fund will be designated for the victims of terror in Israel. The campaign will kick off April 22 at an event for major contributors to the Federation, hosted by Fellman and Goldstein. Special guests include: Shlomo Ben Hamoo, an Israeli peace activist, and Joel Tauber, a long-time leader of United Jewish Communities (UJC) and its predecessor, United Jewish Appeal (UJA), where he served as Chairman. In addition, other related activities and speakers are being planned to reach every donor in our community. Jan Perelman, Federation Executive Director, described the Israel Terror Relief Campaign as Omaha's response to an alarming situation. "This is an intensive effort by the entire community. The goal of this emergency campaign is $1 million, and we expect to raise it in six weeks or less. While these are ambitious goals, our ultimate goal is to get every Omahan to participate in the emergency campaign and to feel good about giving," she noted, "showing the world thaTOmaha Stands With Israel." This campaign will contact donors via mail, email and telephone. In addition, special pledge cards will be available at the rally on April 28. Jerry Kohll, co-chairman of the 2003 Federation Annual Campaign, along with Joanie Kaiman, said, "These are special circumstances. Giving to the Terror Relief Campaign is critical, but it doesn't relieve us from our on-going responsibility to the Jewish community." Kaiman agreed, adding, "These are extraordinary times for Jews all over the world. I hope everyone gives whatever he or she can to the relief fund. But, we cannot forget that the Federation supports local and international Jewish life through its annual campaign." For information about the Israel Terror Relief Fund, the We Stand with Israeli Solidarity Walk and Rally, or to be added to the Israel Info e-mail list, please contact me at 334-6431, or e-mail: pmonsky@jewishomaha.org.

Vandals Hit Beth Israel Vandals spray painted anti-Semitic graffiti and inaccurate swastikas on the east wall of Beth Israel Synagogue last Friday night. According to Patrick McNamara, Director of Omaha's Hate Crimes Project, the neighborhood around Beth Israel condemned the act and offered to help eliminate the hateful words and symbols. Cantor Emeritus Leo Fettman was upset that "60 years after surviving the Holocaust, he had to see this."

w All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish V Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep cal- £ E endar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437.

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April 19, 2002 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

SYNAGOGUES

Page 3

Candieiighting Friday, April 19

7:50p.m,

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FRIDAY: Israeli Solidarity Service, 8 pan. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Debbie Stiel and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. Through conversations with several members of our Jewish community who have had recent experiences in Israel, we will have a frank talk about where we stand and what we can do together. The Oneg Shabbat is sponsored by Karen and Bob Lepp in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Kelsey, and by the Women of Reform Judaism. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30 a.m. in the Milder Center. Please join us as we continue our study of Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries: The S'hma and Its Blessings. Services in the Sanctuary, 10:30 a.m. Kelsey Lepp, daughter of Karen and Bob Lepp, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 6:45-8 P.M. All Middle/High School classes will join together for a current affairs dialogue in the Chapel (no regular classroom instruction): Middle East AwarenessBringing It Home panel discussion with Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Larry Raful, Bob Wolfson, Patrick McNamara, Stephanie DePorte and David Kotok. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, April 21, Seminars on Sunday, "I'm Dead, Now What?" 10-11:30 a.m., Professor Guy Matalon will discuss immortality in the Jewish tradition using a variety of texts to discover what happens after death. THURSDAY, April 25, Beyond Basic Hebrew, 9:15-10 a.m., Elyce Azriel is the instructor; Adult Study with Rabbi Azriel, 10-11:30 a.m. The focus is on the writings of the Scholars-in-Residence who will join us this year. FOUR CANTORS CONCERT SATURDAY, April 20, 8 p.m. Join Cantor Wendy Shermet and former Temple Israel cantors Jen-nifer Blum, Erik Contzius and Karen WebberGilat for a night of sacred and secular music. Julie Sandene will accompany the cantors on the piano. Tickets can be ordered by calling the Temple office. SHABBAT COMES TO YOU FRIDAY, April 26, 3:45 p.m. Rabbi Azriel and OTYG will lead a Shabbat Service at Livingston Plaza,

Office hours (make note of the change): Monday

through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kaballat Shabbat, 7 p.m. The West Minyan is at the home of Leon and Dani Shrago, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.; free babysitting begins at 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10ÂŁ0 a.m., Kiddush sponsored in memory of Jack Cohen by Jane Cohen, Michael, Karen and Lillian Cohen, and Toba Cohen-Dunning, Eric and Eleanor Dunning; Mincha, 7:45 p.m., followed by Shalosh Suedot and Ma'ariv; Havdallah, 8:54 p.m. SUNDAY: Morning services, 9 a.m.; evening services, 7:55 pan. WEEKDAYS: Morning services, 7 a.m.; evening services, 7:55 p.m. TUESDAY, April 23: Talmud class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. BETH ISRAEL ANNUAL ELECTION SUNDAY, April 28, 10 a.m. All Beth Israel members are encouraged to attend to vote for next year's Board of Commissioners. Bagels, juice and coffee will be served.

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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 Cantor Emil Berkovits. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat /Arvit I'shabbat, 6 pan. SATURDAY: P'sukei D'Zimrah, followed by Shabbat Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Bradley Frank, son of Marsha and Ronald Frank, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah, TSS (grades 3-7), 10 aan.; ICTantan (K-3), 10:45 a.m.; Shabbat Story Time (pre-K & under),- 11 aan.; Kiddush sponsored by Marsha and Ronald Frank in honor of their son, Bradley; Humash Class with Rabbi Drazen; 7:30 p.m.; Minha-Ma'ariv and Havdalah services, 8 p.m., in the Chapel. . SUNDAY: Shaharit, 9 a.m.; Minha-Ma'ariv, 5:30 p.m. Perek Yomi meets following morning services, discussion leader is Rabbi Drazen. . ADULT EDUCATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24: Adult B'nai Mitzvah Class, 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Drazen teaches Jewish Thought; Cantor Berkovits teaches Hebrew.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m., led by Steve ' Riekes, assisted by Don Novicoff, in the RBJH Herbert Goldsten Chapel.

SUNDAY: Religious School, 9:45 a.m. at the JCC.

Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan on Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: First Friday of the Month Family Shabbat Service, 8 p.m., followed by Oneg Shabbat. ^ SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. Lunch and Learn following services. ^ THURSDAY, April 25, Roy E. Crewz, M.P.H, M.S., will speak on "How Safe are We?— Services officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. Responding to Bioterrorism", 8-9:30 p.m. Light FRIDAY: Sabbath Eve service, 7:45 p.m. refreshments will follow. SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 aan.-noon; Game night, 6-9 pan. SUNDAY: Hebrew Class, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Confirmation Class, 3 p.m. THURSDAY: Rabbi Milder's Hebrew Class, 7FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. 8:30 pan.

FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. 1.1 I.--.a J-7

Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Unless otherwise noted, Monday-Friday, services at 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 a.m. NEW WOMEN OF WORTH SERIES STARTING MONDAY: Discussions based on the new best selling book "Around Sarah's Table", 11:45-1 pan. TUESDAY: Studying the Sefirat Through the Eyes of Mysticism--A Guide to Character Enrichment, 9:30-11 a.m. LAGB'OMERBBQ Tuesday, April 30, 5:30 p.m. Lag B'Omer BBQ and Mini Carnival at Chabad House. $3.50/child, $6/adult. Open to the entire community. Reservations required, RSVP to Jennifer, 330-1800. GAN ISRAEL DAY CAMP June 23-July 5 at the Chabad House, for children ages 4-11; many activities and field trips planned. For more information, call 330-1800.

Julie Gross, daughter of David and Pamela Gross, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Apnl 27, at Beth El A seventh-grade honor student at Westside Middle School, she enjoys tennis and piano Julie has two sisters, ] Greta and Stephanie Grandparents.are Rose j Gross and Mr. and Mrs. Allen Kahn.

PERSONAL The family of Wally Elkon wishes to thank all our relatives and friends for their thoughtfulness during our recent loss. We also want to extend a special thanks to Rabbi and Susie Drazen, and Cantor Berkovits for their support. Jean Elkon and family

Aaron David Parsow, son of Margo and the late Dr Jay Paisow, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 27, at Temple Israel A seventh-grade honor student at BrownellTalbot, he enjoys basketball, tenms and art, and has won awards for his art. For his mitzvah project, Aaron has donated money from working to the American Heart Association. Aaron has a brother, Charles, 10. Grandparents are Barbara Frohman and the late Warner Frohman and Sol Parsow and the late Lee Jane Parsow. DEDICATION A memorial for Herman Manheimer will be dedicated on Sunday, April 2 1 , 1 p.m., at Beth Israel Cemetery.


Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 19, 2002

The Cat's Out of the Bag Most cynical observers of Arafat's politically correct regime in the Palestinian held territories were not surprised when Israeli soldiers uncovered a cache of documents proving Arafat himself has ordered homicide bombings and other terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. Nor were we surprised by the weapons seized by the IDF during the capture and arrest of more than 1600 suspected terrorists. Here's a sampling, courtesy of IMRA (Independent Media Review and Analysis): 1949 Kalishnikov rifles, 32 M-16 rifles, 2175 long rifles, 388 sniper rifles, 779 pistols, nine rocket launchers and 49 rockets, six mortars, 93 50caliber machine guns, 13 mortar bombs, 40 crates of ammunition, 81 rifles equipped with telescopic lenses, 23 laboratories, 430 explosive charges and 30 kilograms of explosives. Naturally, the Arab world and Europe have already decided the documents are forgeries and the weapons are legitimate (with the exception of the pistols, none of the weapons seized are allowed to be held by the P.A., according to the Oslo Accords, signed by Arafat). In addition, has anyone seen, in any

newspaper or on television, how the 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in Nablus when they were ambushed in the casbah? Apparently, the Palestinian terrorists buckled a belt filled with explosives around the waist of a seven-yearold boy and sent him into the casbah, where he detonated them himself. Two questions: did any of the terrorists explain to this child what would happen to him after the explosives blew up? And, more importantly, what kind of sick society sends a child to his death like this? Also, contrary to the lies put out by the P.A., the IDF has been delivering food and medical supplies to the terrorists at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem...because the Red Cross won't do it! How's that for chutzpah? Powell's so-called peace talks are doomed to failure. Nothing will change until the Palestinian people wake up and change the direction of their society and its leadership. This is going to be a long, hard battle, folks, and as Jews, we should be prepared for the kind of anti-Semitic backlash seen at Beth Israel Synagogue last weekend. But we've been around for thousands of years; we're not giving up, not now, not ever!

STOPK

"We Knew We Had to Come" by MICHAEL J. JORDAN

WASHINGTON (JTA) - It was 90 minutes into the community's largest public mobilization in 15 years, and Jews from around the country continued to stream toward the U.S. Capitol, clamoring to get into the pro-Israel rally. In the shade of a nearby acacia tree, just to the left of the Capitol rotunda, Mikaella Kagan and Marina Fox-Rabinovitz found refuge from the sweltering heat. They looked out onto the sea of faces and took a moment to reminisce back to Dec. 6, 1987, when they joined more than 200,000 Jews who had thronged the nation's capital on behalf of the refuseniks- Jews of the former Soviet Union who demanded the right to emigrate to freedom. Mikaella and Marina, friends for a quarter-century, were themselves refuseniks from Moscow, who had made their way to America only months before. "I remember i t like it was yesterday," said Mikaella, now 66, of Bethesda, MD. "Imagine Israel, when it seems the whole world is against them. We know from our experience that it's important not to feel alone, that someone is thinking of me, that someone remembers that I am here. For refuseniks, it would have been easier for the government to destroy us if someone outside hadn't known about us. Now that we are free, we want to do the same for Israel." Added Marina, 57, "If not Jews, who else will support Israel? Jews feel themselves to be like a family. We want Israelis to feel they are loved and supported—and will be always." Within the Jewish family out on the Capitol lawn -organizers put the number at more than 100,000— emotions ran high. Criticized by both Israeli officials and the Jewish grass-roots for a perceived lack of visibility, the Jewish communal leadership received an overwhelming response to a rally orga-

nized only a week earlier. It drew Jews of all ages, seemingly from all political and religious stripes, with impressive delegations arriving from the East Coast, Midwest and South. (Editor's note: David and Brooke Shrago, son and daughter-in-law of Omahans Leon and Dani Shrago, rode the bus overnight from Chicago, but arrived after the 1 p.m. starting time. They said they and nearly 100,000 others were denied entrance to the rally site.) Some 150 Jews from Toronto even made the sojourn south. "When I grow up and have kids and tell them about the intifada," said Daniella English, 19, of Toronto, "I can tell them I did everything I could to support Israel. I went to Washington." There had been talk beforehand about what sort of unified message the rally should send Washington and Jerusalem: support for Israel itself, or support for the government of Israel. But even without the relentless heat-which several demonstrators succumbed to—temperatures were elevated. Indeed, after 19 months of the intifada, a spate of suicide bombings, an Israeli military incursion into the West Bank and at least 450 Jews killed, the gathering in Washington seemed almost cathartic for some. "When I read about the rally, I told my wife, 'I gotta go; it'll be good for my soul,'" said Alan Geller of Elmwood Park, NJ. "And she said, 'Al, you're 71. You're too old.' But 10 minutes later-she always does this - she says, 'Al, you're right. Go.'" The sentiment was echoed across the Capitol lawn. "We've felt frustrated and helpless in trying to show our support for Israel," said Debby Weinstein of Memphis, TN. "We knew we had to come here to take a stand, and to say we're so proud of the sup-

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port President Bush and his administration are showing for Israel, and for standing up to the rest of the world." The thousands of placards on display ran the gamut. They expressed solidarity with Israel— "Wherever we are, we stand with Israel" and "Selfdefense is Not Murder"—to denunciations of Yasser Arafat-"Terrorist Bastard" and "Arafat: How Much More Blood Do You Hunger For?" and of suicide bombers--"Murderers Not Martyrs" and "Palestinians Danced on 9-11." Some equated the Israeli and American wars on terrorism and urged Washington to support Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "Finish the Job" and "Destroy Arab Terrorism," the posters read. Many rally participants were in no mood for talk of a "cease-fire" or a "return to negotiations." Many in the crowd roared their approval when Christian radio commentator J a n e t Parshall boomed, "We will never give up the Golan; we will never divide Jerusalem. And we will call Yasser Arafat what Yasser Arafat is-a terrorist!" "This is one of the only issues in my life that I feel passionately enough about to make the drive," said Rachel Heilbronner, 22. "I just wanted to experience this feeling of standing with all these Jews, who might not feel the same way about the conflict, but who can agree that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state." And like Mikaella and Marina, an Israeli at the rally said he was sure that message and others of solidarity would be well-received back in the Holy Land. "I'm pretty sure the citizens of Israel will appreciate this; it's coming from the heart," said Jacob, who lives in New York. "With the terrorism that Israel is facing every day, the least Jews can do over here is to give up one day to show their support," he said.

Fred Tichauer Chairman Carol Katzrnan Editor-in-Chief Maureen LaPour Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Ray Pred Account Executive Timothy J. Ketelsen Bookkeeper Jen Gates Production Assistant George Schapiro Volunteer

JEWISH PRESS COMMITTEE Joanie Jacobson, Vice-Chairman; Penny Endelman, Secretary; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Lloyd Roitstein, Immediate Past-chairman; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Jean Duitch; Kip Gordman; Gary Kudym; Bobbi Leibowitz; Howard K. Marcus; Linda Saltzman; Howard Silber; 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 Jewish Community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.


April 19, 2002

Two Jewss One Opinion by GARY JAVITCH •

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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"When you get two Jews in a room together to and requisitions for secret, illegal arms and sup- Our Right to-Exist talk, you will get three opinions." plies when they took control of portions of Arafat's That archaic, self-deprecating thought has Ramallah compound. v™™*-^™-^*^^ always had an element of truth in it. Now, with the Moreover, Palestinian children are being taught by HARRY ALLEN •—» ~ future of Israel at stake, it is time for all Jews to to hate, in school. It's part of their lesson plans, as In 1947, in his appearance before the United speak with one voice. are the Arab textbooks printed without the name of Nations Special Committee on Palestine, Chaim Israel has "a right to secure and defensible bor- Israel on maps. Weizmann observed that a Jew "is a man who has ders" (UN Resolution 242, 1967). While we take Our hope to offer a long explanation for his existence, and that idea for granted, note that the Saudis have We are not without hope. The recent Israeli any person who has to offer an explanation as to just offered a peace plan, the first that recognizes incursion into the territories has been successful. what he is, is always suspect." Israel's right to exist—54 years after Israel declared Suicide bombing has halted, temporarily, at least. In a sense, this is the situation in which Israel its independence. President Bush denounced Arafat, but, politically, and, to a large extent, Jews the world over, are in. Double Speak was forced to demand an immediate Israeli withThere is no phrase more galling to me than the George Orwell's book, 1984, projected a time drawal. His advisors, however, on national talk one used by our friends that guarantee Israel's when the meaning of words was turned around. shows on Sunday did seem to give Sharon a brief "right to exist" as part of any peace deal. Does anyThat time arrived long ago. Suicide bombers are window to finish his task of capturing terrorists one ever raise the question of France's right to now called "martyrs". Arafat is pictured as a "vic- confiscating weapons supplies and caches. The win- exist, or Pakistan's (even though it was torn away tim". Finally, the US bombs the Taliban and dow is a one-week gift from India by the British as they granted indepensearches for AlQaida cells in the name of selfAt the same time, Israel has received a great deal dence to India?). defense. Our European allies call our actions of welcome support from Republicans and other conOnly we Jews and Israelis are happy when some"right". Yet, these same types of actions taken by servative groups that Jewish Americans have only one says we "have the right to exist." Of course, the Israel are condemned. minimally supported in many decades of elections. Palestinians and much of the Muslim world think What we need to do The Survival of Israel differently. But any peace agreement that is based Can Israel Survive? That is not an out-of-the-blue Short term, we must quit bickering among our- on our grateful acceptance of the right to exist is question. It is a question being raised more fre- selves and side with Israel on the issue of "Security not a formula for lasting peace. quently by pundits and magazines. First". Forget your disagreements over the role of What the Muslim world, through the so-called Consider the following: The suicide bombers, sup- religion in Israeli life and government. Put aside Saudi peace initiative, is saying is that they will ported overwhelmingly by the Arab world, are your differences over the settlements issue. condescend to granting Israel some kind of recogniOverlook the questions of two states, final borders, tion, while under the right of refugee return, they destroying Israel's Jewish and economic life. In addition, Israel is losing the public relations or Jerusalem. will turn Israel into a Muslim, rather than a battle and potential future support. Anti-semitism We must peruse these issues fully. But not now. Jewish state. is rising again in Europe, especially in France. There has to be a cessation of the suicide bombing Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, one of the four major Even in America, one can see a shift in reporting, first. Israel must be safe and secure and must be leaders of Hamas, recently had this to say in an even among the main stream American press. They able to take the necessary steps to ensure her secu- interview in the New York Times: "Hamas wants show the devastation of life and property done by rity. At home, Jews must educate not only them- Israeli withdrawal from all of the West Bank and suicide bombers. Palestinians do not condemn this selves but also their friends on these issues. It is Gaza, and the full right of return for the four milterrorism. To them, it is justified. also important to write our elected representatives. lion Palestinians who live in other states. After Nevertheless, to provide "balance," the media fol- Their support has been very strong. that, the Jews could continue living in an Islamic low-up reports seem to forget all that preceded it. During the 1930s and early 1940s, the Jewish state with Islamic law." Gut-of-context reporting features Palestinians people neither fully recognized nor understood For Ismail Abu Shanab, another Hamas leader, decrying the Israeli occupation. They forget that exactly what was happening to Jews in Europe. "Passover week was the Palestinians' greatest the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and the Gaza It is different now. Now is the time for all Jews to achievement, with 40 people killed and 200 strip were recently occupied after they were used to "Stand up for Israel" with one voice and one opin- injured, with just 200 suicide bombers giving their launch bombing attacks or invasions into Israel. ion. Or there will be no Israel. lives." So TV cameras today report on the Israeli incurGary Javitch is President of the Henry This is the organization in league with Yasser sion, then focus on dead Palestinians in the West Monsky Lodge ofB'nai B'rith. Arafat! This is the reality, and no saccharin pledge Bank, and finish up with Israeli tanks rolling over of agreeing that Israel has a right to exist will cars. That passes for "balance". But it is not. When alter that reality. comparing suicide bombers and shooting terrorists, What Israel is now doing to root out the terrorist there is no moral equivalence. infrastructure is what guarantees Israel's exisComplicating all this is the failure of Arab leadertence as a Jewish state. It is not the public relaship to truly work for the improvement of the con- To the Editor: tions ploy of a Saudi prince or the Arab League, ditions of their people or the cessation of terror. The Jewish community can be proud of the effort which is not even a thinly disguised contradiction Arafat calls for peace in English and in Arabic, he and success of the JCC's seventh-grade select bas- of the phrase "right to exist". urges a jihad against Israel. He is not alone in ketball team, the JCC Hoops, for its remarkable For the Saudi plan contains the same message as these breaches of faith. Iraqis and other Arab season in winning the following tournaments: that of Abdel Rantisi of Hamas, a wealthy physinations are offering $25,000 payments to destitute Montclair Early Bird League, Westside, Bellevue cian in Gaza, who has a large luxurious house from Palestinian parents to encourage them to let their Shoot-out, PAL League and Tournament, St. which he helps direct the suicide bombers, with children kill themselves for "peace". Unimaginably, Bernadette's tournament; and second place in the the agreement and connivance of Arafat. the families agree. Bellevue Jam and Montclair Winter League.. No, we do not have to be overjoyed at some However, these so-called martyrs are not mar- Mazel tov to the team: Ben Bertonie, Matt agreement that we have the right to exist. Of tyrs. They are murderers! Conahan, Kyle Deremer, Alex Epstein, Brad course we do, and a peace agreement cannot be a The discovery and exposure of "invoices for ter- Frank, Austin Gilinsky, Justin Jacobson, Danny price for a gratuitous recognition of that by the ror" further demonstrates lack of leadership by Raznick, Adam Vrana and Coach Victor Ebong. Muslim world—who, at their very root, do not realArab leaders. Israeli soldiers found paid invoices Ronald E. Frank. ly believe it anyway.

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Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 19,2002

Korczak Exhibit Showcases Life in Warsaw Before WWII

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The inter-war period The Warsaw Jewish comwas a time of extensive munity was one of the most vibrant in the world—the breakdown of the tradicenter of Jewish political life tional religious order. in Poland, as well as the During the 20 years of center of Jewish cultural life Poland's independence, and educational activities of the Jewish district was the arts, scholarship and lita bustling, noisy neigherature, and the Jewish borhood, a city within a national press. To showcase city. There were thethis, the Institute for aters, libraries, cafes, Holocaust Education anmusical groups and nounces the opening of the periodicals, all in historical photography exhiYiddish and Hebrew. bition "Janucz Korczak's Jews lived throughout Warsaw." Warsaw, but it was in The exhibit can be viewed t the densely populated, through May 15 in the poor section, later Pennie Z. Davis Gallery for Students from Elkhorn Middle School visit- known as the Warsaw Holocaust Education, locat- e d t h e e x h * b i * *°* o a Holocaust workshop, Ghetto, under the Nazis, ed in the Jewish Community conducted by Beth Seldin-Dotan, left where the Jews of that Center Gallery; hours are Sunday through Friday, city and surrounding areas were eventually forced 9 am to 5 pm; closed on Saturday. to live. Curator for "Janusz Korczak's Warsaw", Dr. Korczak originally set up an orphanage at the William L. Shulman is the Director of the upper end of the impoverished district a t 92 Holocaust Resource Center and Archives of Krochmalna, and rescued children from crime and Queensborough Community College, New York. poverty. He was later forced to move his orphanage The exhibit depicts Warsaw and its Jewish commu- into the ghetto where he lived with his children nity during the lifetime of the well-known Jewish- until the summer of 1942, when most of the Jews of Polish physician, educator and orphanage director, Warsaw were taken to the Treblinka death camp. Dr. Korczak. The photography exhibition shares glimpses of Between the two World Wars, Jews were heavily the vibrant Jewish life in Warsaw in the early 20th involved in commerce and industry, with signifi- century, while weaving in the story of Korczak and cant numbers in communication, transportation, his great contributions to the community. and public service in Warsaw. There were Jews in For more information, please call me at 333-1303. the arts and the professions.

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This fund, locally managed and yielding annual contributions to support ADL and its presence in Omaha, is a major step forward for ADL, building a base for financial stability. Matching funds contributed by others, Jim and his family have left a lasting mark on the Plains States Regional ADL by their leadership and financial commitment that will help our office well into the future. Jim and the Wolf family inspire others to join this leadership. May we see, appreciate and learn his dance. What a good life Jim Wolf lived. May we find strength and guidance through his example. May we engage in life and dance. And in our dancing, we will pay tribute to this extraordinary man!

Israel Recruits Volunteers JERUSALEM (JTA)-The Jewish Agency for Israel is hoping to bring 1,0.00 volunteers to Israel to help with social services strained by the intifada. Service for Israel is seeking people, ages 18-65 for 2-4 week stints. Among those needed are: physicians, people to assist emergency medical technicians, kibbutz volunteers, and people to work with special needs children. For information, e-mail ipc3gjazo.org.il or call (212) 339-6063.

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April 19, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

BBYQ Becomes Self-Governing Organization by BRIANE GREENE, International Director———— Washington, DC--The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) announced today it has embarked on a new future as a self-governing organization. After 77 years as an agency of B'nai B'rith International (BBI), BBYO, the world's oldest and largest Jewish youth movement, will chart a new course as an independent organization. "This is a very exciting time for everyone who shares our concern for BBYO and for Jewish teens in general," said Lynn Schusterman, President of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and the newly-elected Chairperson of BBYO. "I am humbled by the confidence others have placed in my ability to lead BBYO during this pivotal time." Schusterman is one of the four Jewish philan-

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thropists who 'stepped forward last summer and collectively pledged $1,000,000 to help BBYO make the transition to independence. The other three major funders are Newton Becker, Edgar M. Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt. All four have agreed to serve on the BBYO Board of Directors, a body that will be comprised initially of 19 people, including five representatives of BBI and two student leaders. Stephen Hoffman, President and CEO of the United Jewish Communities, has also agreed to serve on the new BBYO board. BBYO receives local and national support from Jewish federations across North America. The $1 million pledged by the funders matched the $1 million BBI also committed to BBYO for the current fiscal year.

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Jews in the Land of the Free to be Temple Scholar's Topic by CLAUDIA SHERMAN, Temple Israel Communications Coordinator.

"Probably the single greatest challenge confronting contemporary American Jewry is the challenge of being Jewish, fully, deeply, actively and rewardingly Jewish in the Gentile world in which we live," writes Dr. Ronald Brauner in his book, Being Jewish in a Gentile World: A Survival Guide, published in 1995 by Markov Publications, Inc. Dr. Brauner, who will be a scholar-in-residence during the weekend of May 3-5 at Temple Israel, notes t h a t ". . .we Jews have always lived in a non-Jewish world, even from our earliest history. Abraham and Sarah themselves. . . were faced with the difficult task of maintaining their identity and integrity. . .among the native population of what was to become the Land of Israel." Sponsored by t h e I d a and Samuel Kaiman Memorial Fund, Dr. Brauner points out in his book that there is something about "being a Jew in America, that we have never before had to contend with. In all our long and glorious history, we have never had the sustained experience of living in an open, pluralistic democracy." Howard Kaiman and Dr. Spencer and Donna Kaiman Gilbert welcome the entire community to hear Dr. Brauner. Donna Gilbert describes him as "one of the most dynamic, informative, and knowledgeable speakers in the Jewish educational world. It is very unusual that one individual can put it all together—content, incisiveness, and a magnificent delivery with humor and eloquence." Dr. Brauner said he chose the topic, "Four Thousand Years and Still Going Strong: Jews and Judaism in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave," because "there is a set of special interests and challenges for American Jews, because we live in an environment that is basically free of antiSemitism and our Jewishness is a matter of our own choice making." On Friday night, May 3, 8 pan., at the Shabbat service, Dr. Brauner will discuss the question, "Why Be Jewish?" Part of the answer lies in his book. "To speak the truth and be abhorred for doing so. To keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. To find in even the lowliest of us a universe of possibility. To be pushed and shoved through the pages of history and still believe in yourself," he writes. He also answers the question by describing Jewishness as being able "to have experienced some of the most bestial in our fellow creatures and still affirm life. To take a good, hard look at where you've been and how far you've come and what remains to be done and say 'Thank you, God!'" Growing up in a non-practicing Jewish family, Dr. Brauner describes how he "lived through the wearisome irrelevance of Hebrew school and, on a hot Saturday in August, 1952, recited my 'stuff to an admiring audience" a t his Bar Mitzvah. He looked at that day as his "liberation." However, one of his "best friends," the Irish

Alison Lindhjem Catholic custodian of his synagogue, asked OWNER Brauner, who was 14 at the time, to help him from Wastridge Shopping Center • 132nd & W. Dodge Rd. 4 9 3 - 3 8 9 3 time to time with the promise of "a dollar an hour," which was an exciting offer to the teen. Gradually, he became interested in the men who came to the synagogue on Saturday afternoons to sing, eat challah, gefilte fish and salad and then argue with one • CARPET CLEANING "• JTY' another over obscure points •€• "which made absolutely no sense" • DRAPERY CLEANING ;:' to young Brauner. He began to • FURNITURE CLEANING ^ join the men regularly and was struck by the group's enthusiasm Residential • Commercial B Industrial ?' and "discovered a Judaism that DISASTER REPAIR & ~. was not infantile. It appealed to my mind, not just my heart." CLEAN-UP :;! After convincing his parents to * Fire • Smoke • Wafer Damage * let him attend Akiba Hebrew • Furnace & Air Duct Cleaning fp Academy, he grew up to devote his life to Jewish education. He is now Certified Member NADCA President of The Foundation for Jewish Studies, Inc., and Professor of Judaic Studies a t t h e , , STEAMATIC, Cleveland College of Jewish MlCrOSCOplC mites ihelutalrk-aningscrvKc Studies. He is also a member of "^^^M^^^^ the faculty of the Wexner Her- icling to dust particles | in your home & office itage Foundation, and lectures for 402-331-1116 E A United Jewish Communities and Israel Bonds. *_ 8834 Washington Circle X On Saturday, May 4, 5 p.m., Dr. Brauner will resume his scholar-in-residence discussions when he speaks in the Milder Center at Temple about "Making Love at Sinai." Havdalah will follow a cheese and fruit reception. "The greatness of the moment at Sinai is that God made His love for us manifest through Torah, that we might return that love by doing His will," Dr. Brauner explains. On Sunday, May 5, 10 a.m., Dr. Brauner will LAKESIDE APARTMENTS conclude with the topic, "English is a Christian Language" at a bagel brunch in the Friedman Social Hall. "Language is the tool of a culture in which it is used," he said. "The English-speaking world is a non-Jewish world, and English simply cannot convey particular words and concepts from Hebrew and Yiddish. The preservation aMudaism and Jewish values is threatened by our speaking a 'foreign language.' For example, ". . .under the long influence of Christian thought upon Western civilization, 'charity' is widely understood. . .to be an act of love or care.' In Jewish culture, the matter is quite different. Assisting another person in need, • Rent Starting @ $615 with benevolence or generosity, is. called tzedakah, • Elevator Buildings a term which translates as 'justice' or 'equity.' The • Maintenance Free Living Jewish concept is that such behavior is done as a •'• Heated Indoor Parking Paid matter of legal obligation-it is commanded by the • Trash Pick-Up at Your Door Torah, it is God's will. • One Mile Garden Walk Around "In America, religion is a frequently used categothe Lake ry for identifying people," Dr. Brauner said, "and yet Judaism is not a religion. It is a culture, a peo• Close to Shopping, Restaurants, plehood of which the Jewish religion is a part." & Professionals All the Jewish people-even those who joined the family later-were at Sinai, he declares in his book. "We suffered plenty," he writes, but "we built a 105th §• Pacific nation, we built a Temple and we built a society. . . all Jews have a history~we belonged even before we got here and we will belong even after we're gone." • • «

EE.GENCV

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 19,2002

A Woman's Journey ( C o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 1 ) <^««^^^mmmm»m«mm.mmmmmmmmmm

Until Daley went to Germany and uncovered the family secret, not even the oldest living relatives on the maternal branch of the Micek family tree had any inkling they possessed a Jewish heritage. This was a revelation to my whole extended family," Micek said. They had absolutely no idea. Nothing." She said her family thought it must be a mistake or a fluke until an unlikely series of events transpired some six months later that brought some scientific confirmation of the family's Jewish origins. It began when Micek's son, Evan, began expressing characteristics of a genetic blood disorder, Hemoglobin E Trait. Genetic t e s t i n g a t the University of Nebraska Medical Center confirmed Evan inherited the condition from his father, who is not Jewish, in combination with a blood factor Micek carries, Thalcemia B, which is present in Ashkenazi Jews, among other ethnic groups. That was proof" for most disbelievers in the family, Micek said. "Even though we have found extensive records and we no longer have any doubt of it, it's taken a long time for some of my relatives to come to terms with this discovery. My 80-year-old grandmother is still very much struggling with that." Micek added that her mother has come to support her exploration of Jewish ways. "I think my mother understands what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. Still, she and my other older family members would never want to find out more themselves. I think it's been easier for me to embrace because I had an interest in it anyway." Little else is known about Josef Feldman and his life in Germany other than the fact he was a farmer. In 1890, the unmarried Josef emigrated alone to America. Micek and her family can only speculate why, whether it was to seek greater opportunity or to escape hatred. It is not known whether his life as a Catholic began in the old country or in America, which could also be an unfriendly place to Jews. It is believed he met his wife, the

former Maria Catharina Kamp, over here. Family lore has it that Maria, also of German descent, was a Catholic from birth. The fact Josef married a Catholic suggests either his conversion to Catholicism was genuine and not a matter of expediency, or he chose a non-Jewish bride in order to better assimilate in the majority culture. Whatever prompted his actions, Josef, with Maria at his side, raised a family and worked a farm they owned near Plattsmouth, NE, where the Feldmans remained based the next half-century. In all the records and stories that have proceeded the Feldmans since their arrival here in the late 19th century, everything indicates they were, as Micek said, "very strict Catholics" without even a hint of a Jewish past. All of which makes Micek wonder how Josef so thoroughly disguised his Jewishness and so successfully steeped himself in a new religion and culture. "How do you do that? How do you take on another identity? It just seems strange that it was hidden for so long," she said. "I'd really like to know how he passed himself off as Catholic because I know how hard it is for me, not having a background in anything Jewish until very recently, to know Jewish religious traditions." She is also left pondering why the family's Jewish identity became a secret that no one other than Josef, with the possible exception of Maria, knew anything about and, apparently, never revealed to anyone else. "As someone who considers family history very important, I don't understand how something like this could just be masked over, unless it was something he (Josef) was not proud of, because during those times people were very prejudiced. He may have wanted to start fresh in the new country. But it's hard for me to imagine no one ever spoke anything about it." She said her grandmother, whose grandfather was Josef, tells her she never heard or suspected a thing. Because the family secret was kept for gen-

erations, Micek is regrettably left with more questions than answers. She only wishes the man who started it all had left a journal or diary behind that might offer an explanation. "He (Josef) set an entirely different course for all these generations of people just because of his decision. It's such a huge life change he set in motion. If older family members don't say anything, then when they're gone, the story's gone with them. Now, it's lost. Our family can't be the only one that this has happened to." Soon after uncovering her Jewish lineage, Micek began seeking out resources in an effort to more fully inculcate herself in Jewish history and tradition. Those links have led her on a voyage of personal and professional growth that was unimaginable only a few years before. Phone calls and Web searches put her in touch with leading members of the Jewish community in Omaha, including Cantor Leo Fettman and historian Ben Nachman, both of whom helped further along her Jewish education. She formed a close relationship with Nachman, a retired dentist with a long list of Holocaust-related work to his credit. Nachman recently founded the Hidden Heroes of the Holocaust Foundation, a vehicle for researching, developing and distributing historically-based educational materials that reveal heroic or inspirational stories of rescue and resistance from the Shoah. Hidden Heroes commissioned Micek to write the curriculum now being field tested at Westside. "We started a dialogue," Micek said of Nachman and herself. "He's sort of been my mentor in Holocaust studies. He's given me books to read; he's led me to other sources. He's the one who told me about the Spertus Institute in Chicago; he wrote a letter of recommendation for me. When he formed the foundation, he told me they needed someone to write lesson plans, and I have loved the opportunity." (Continued on page 0)

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April 19, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

A Woman's Journey (Continued from page 8) •«——— Her graduate studies and curriculum writing on the Holocaust began even before she found out she was Jewish. Then, when she discovered she was, it was like it was all meant to be. "I guess it was kind of like fate. I really felt like someone was moving me along the whole time. I had this intense interest in Jewish history already and it just helped to make it so much more personal and meaningful to then find I had a Jewish family history of my own. It's very strange." She describes her graduate work with the Spertus Institute, which she completes on-line via its distance learning program, as "pretty intensive," adding, "It's been difficult since I don't have a day-to-day Jewish background." Her course work in-cludes studies of the Hebrew language, the Talmud, Jewish education and the Holocaust. She said she may consider applying for one of the Institute's internships at the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., at Yad Vashem in Israel, or at concentration camp sites in Europe. In the meantime, she continues working on Holocaust curriculum programs that the Hidden Heroes is making available to schools. Her first completed curriculum focuses on the rescue efforts of the late Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz, who is credited with saving 62,000 Jews in Hungary while posted to Budapest as vice consul during the Second World War. Operating at the center of an elaborate conspiracy of hearts, Lutz defied all the odds in devising, implementing and maintaining a mammoth rescue operation in cooperation with members of the Jewish underground, the Chalutzim, and select Swiss and Hungarian officials. He established protective papers and safe houses that helped thousands avoid deportation and almost certain death in the camps. It is a story of how one seemingly insignificant statesman acted with uncommon courage in the face of enormous evil and personal risk, and to do all this despite extreme pressure from Hungarian-German authorities and even his own superiors in Berne to stop. The Hidden Heroes curriculum, entitled "Carl Lutz: Dangerous Diplomacy", includes a teacher's guide, grade appropriate lesson plans, reading assignments, discussion activities and classroom resources, including extensive links to selected Holocaust web sites. Micek based the materials on the definitive book about Lutz and his heroic work in Hungary, Dangerous Diplomacy: The Story of Carl Lutz, Rescuer of 62,000 Hungarian Jews (2000, Eerdmans Publishing Co.) by noted Swiss historian Theo Tschuy, a consultant with the foundation. Micek developed the curriculum with the input of Tschuy, who made a foundation-sponsored speaking tour across Nebraska last winter. The Lutz curriculum is designed for three levels—sixth grade, eighth grade and high school. Sixth grade students will research the kindertransport, hidden children and Lutz. Eighth grade students will design a mock museum exhibit recreating a Day in the Life of Carl Lutz. High school students will develop a rescue plan as if they were in Lutz's predica-

ment. Micek said she wants students using the materials "to get a personal connection to history" and has, therefore, created lesson plans allowing for discussion and inquiry. She said when dealing with the Holocaust, students should be encouraged to ask questions, search out answers and apply the lessons of the past to their own lives. "I don't see teaching history and

She field tested a revised version of the curriculum with her third grade class at Spring Lake and found the compelling subject matter had a profound effect on her students. "My classroom is 80 percent English-As-A-Second-Language children. Most are new immigrants from Mexico, and so they have a first-hand experience of what it is like to be discriminated against. They could relate to the prejudice Jews endured. It pro-

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social studies as something where a teacher is lecturing and the kids are writing down dates," she said. "I design projects where students are active learners. I really want students to feel they're historians and to feel like they know Carl Lutz by the end of it. I want them to take a personal interest in the subject and to analyze the events and to be able to identify some of the moral issues of the Holocaust and to discuss them in an educated manner."

vided my class with a wonderful discussion forum to get into the issues raised by the Holocaust. "I thought the kinds of questions my kids came up with were very adult: Why do people hate? How can we keep people from hating other people? It turned out to be really indepth. And my kids have kind of become activists around the school, based on this lesson. They're more caring and they try to help other students when they hear negative mes-

sages in the hall. It's gone a lot further than I ever thought it would." She anticipates older students using the lesson plan will also be spurred to look beyond the story of Lutz to examine what they can do when confronted with hate. "I hope that, like my third graders did, they take it beyond the classroom and incorporate it into their own lives to understand what prejudice and hate can do and, maybe in their own little corner of the world, try and make sure that doesn't happen again." According to Tom Carman, head of the department of social studies in the Westside Community Schools, the Lutz curriculum is, for many reasons, an attractive addition to the district's standard Holocaust studies. "The material allows us to look beyond Oscar Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg, whose rescue efforts some people view as an aberration, in showing there were a number of people, granted not enough, who did some positive things at that time. "It prods us to ask whether the pat answers given by perpetrators and witnesses—'I was only following orders' or 'I didn't know'-are acceptable answers, because in figures like Carl Lutz we find there were people who behaved differently. Lutz and others said, 'This is wrong' and did something about it, unlike most people who took a much safer route and either feigned ignorance or looked the other way. It gives examples of people who acted correctly, and that teaches there are options out there." Bill Hayes, a Westside social studies instructor applying the curriculum in his class, said, "I think it gives a message to kids that you don't have to just stand by—there is something you can do. There may be some risk, but there is something you can do." Carman said the lesson plans prepared by Micek, who collaborated with Westside educators in refining the materials for the district, are "done very well" and are "really complete." District 66 Superintendent Ken Bird said it's rare for a non-profit to offer "a value-added" educational program that "so nicely augments our curriculum as this one does." The foundation eventually wants to make the Lutz curriculum available, at no cost, to schools in Nebraska, across the nation and around the world. In addition to the current curriculum package, plans call for making an interactive CD-ROM, as well as Tschuy's book, available to schools. Hidden Heroes has contracted Redstone Communications in Omaha to develop the materials. Micek's next curriculum projects for the foundation will focus on two more rescue stories from the Shoah: the late Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes who, while stationed in France during WW II, signed thousands of visas that spared the lives of recipients; and the extensive humanitarian network in Belgium that successfully hid more than 4,000 children. Beyond the research she does for each project, Micek views her newfound Jewish life and work as opening up exciting worlds for her. "I would definitely classify the experience as a journey of personal and professional growth. It's fascinating. It's one I hope to continue throughout my life. Hopefully, it will be a journey for. the rest of my family, too."


Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 19,2002

Chi*'s

6455 Center Cantonese and American dishes are both featured. Complete Chinese food carry-out service is available. Mon.-Safcll to 9 Sunday: Noon to 9 Closed Tuesday

B'NAI BTOTH BREADBREAKERS Judge Laurie Smith Camp will speak a t Breadbreakers on Wednesday, April 24, noon, this week only at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home conference room, according to chairman Gary Javitch. Smith Camp is a newly appointed U.S. 553-6454 District Court judge and worked in the Attorney General's office before moving to Omaha. Cost for lunch is $9; beverage service only $2. WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those going on the day trip to the Bluffs Run Casino on Thursday, please meet at the JCC by 8:45 a.m. For transportation, call Maggie Conti at 334-6521. YIDDISH GROUP Lomir Redn Yiddish: Let Us Speak Yiddish Pacific Place Mail » 10317 Pacific St. Group will meet on Thursday, 1-E p.m., in the Social Hall of the JCC. Call Anne Skolkin for inforPhone: 399-8204 • Fax: 399-0540 mation at 343-1638. VISIONS Discover the Desert Dome at the Henry Doorly Zoo on Wednesday, May 1,10 a.m. Cost is $7 per person; free for zoo members. Join us at the Treetop Restaurant following the tour (on your GREEK GYROS • STEAKS own). Send reservations to Maggie Conti, 323 So. PHILLIES • BURGERS 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154. Deadline is April 20. OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING .. Join OCTL for Lunch'n Learn on Wednesday, April 24, noon, at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. Bob Oberman will lead a discussion on the #1 Food in the Midwest weekly Torah portion. For information on OCTL Open 7 Days a Week programs, call Allan Gonsher at 558-2767. 4409 Dodge St. • 553-3326 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF .JEWISH WOMEN Save your 'gently used' clothes, home furnishings, toys, sports equipment and household appliances for NCJWs spring garage sale. Call Kim Noddle at 391-7022, or leave a message at the NCJW office, 334-6565, to arrange for pickup. NCJW, Omaha Section, will hold its annual elecPRIME STEAK » SEAFOOD • BEEF NOODLE SOUP tion meeting Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m., in the Catering Available - Beer & wine Served Community Room at the JCC. (This is a date change from the regularly scheduled Board meetOpen 7 days Tower Plaza ing.) This meeting is open to the general member11:OOAm-10:QOPm 78th St. and Dodge Rd. ship. We will vote on the 2002-2003 slate of officers Tel.: (402) 926-2700 Next to Old Chicago and Board members. Nominations from the floor may be made at this meeting.

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The following juniors at Westside High School were inducted recently into the National Honor Society: Benjamin Delman, Keith Grant, Adam Halperin, Alex Katz, Rachel Katzman, Shaina Meyers, Alexis R o t h e n b e r g , Benjamin S h e r m a n and Susan Vann. They join NHS seniors: Amy Cotton, Igor Ginzburg, Rachel Javitch, Daniel Moshman and Aaron Wolfson. Greenblatt and Seay announce the publication of The Tango String Quartet Collection, according to fiddler D e b o r a h G r e e n b l a t t . A free catalog is also available at the duo's website: www.mastercall.com/g-s. The Meyers Invitational Golf Tournament is scheduled for May 17, 1:15 p.m. , at the Tregaron Golf Course, 13909 Glengarry Circle in Bellevue, according to Howard K. Marcus, President of the C. Louis Meyere Rehabilitation Foundation. Proceeds from the annual golf outing will benefit the Munroe-Meyer Institute, which provides a range of interdisciplinary services for individuals with special health care needs and their families. Participants can register online at: www.mareusofomaha.com/meyer.htm. A conference addressing the future of children, entitled "Bridging the Gap Between Home and School" is scheduled for F r i d a y , A p r i l 26, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Thompson Alumni Center on the Campus of the University of NebraskaOmaha. The event, sponsored by Kids, Inc., offers 5.75 CEUs approved for mental health professionals and social workers. For more information, call Alice Spence at 3461480; or to register, send $50 ($25 for students), to Kids, Inc., 121 W. Center Rd., Suite B, Omaha, NE 68144.

by ART GROSSMAN.

Yours truly has been composing this column for 25 years. So, when it fails to appear for a month, readers begin to wonder what's going on. Well, kinderlach, the March scribbling was absent because, for two weeks, I had checked into the hospital, where my marvel medical mechanics Riverdance, the original international phenome- worked on my gimpy hip. Then on two Mondays, non, is at the Lied Center for Performing Arts there were no meetings to report because of the in Lincoln, tonight and tomorrow, April 19-20, observance of Pesach. 7:30 p.m., matinee on April 20, 1 p.m., and The ink is flowing again as our group reconSunday, April 21, 1 a n d 5 p.m. The show fea- vened, April 8. It was Happy Birthday Recognition tures the evolution of Irish dance, music and song. Day. And one birthday honoree, Jewish Senior For tickets, call the Lied box office, 1-402-471- Services volunteer Eileen Remer, was presented 4747 or 1-800-432-3231 or purchase online at: with a lovely floral plant in appreciation for all she www.liedcenter.org. accomplishes for us. Pianist Eve Handleman entertained on the clavinova. Hear the Omaha Symphony CD, before it's The Discussion Group allotted of its time trying recorded, at a free concert this Sunday, April 21, to analyze the war in the Mideast. Our Islamic 3 p.m.. at the Orpheum Theater. The concert will cousins better learn from Israel, because some day feature works by Tchaikovsky, Debussey, Berlioz, the benevolent earth will stop spewing oil. Bernstein and Williams, and will be conducted by We paused in reverent respecifin memory of both Victor Yampolsky and Ernest Richardson. For Pennie Z. Davis, Rona Smith, Anne Cohn, Goldie more information, call 342-3836. Aron and Jacob Mirviss.

LUNCH SPECIALS

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A letter-writing campaign is being launched to boost the morale of Israeli soldiers. The campaign, coordinated by the Jewish Agency for Israel, the I s r a e l i Defense M i n i s t r y and the I s r a e l Defense Force, is encouraging young Jews to write, e-mail or fax letters to soldiers involved in the current operation against Palestinian terror. Letters can be sent to: Letter to Soldier, POB 92, Jerusalem 91000, Israel. They can be faxed to 0119722-621-6133/6214; or e-mailed as an attachment to: lettertosoldier@jazo.org.ii.

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Omaha Delegation Passes 100 Athletes by GARY KATZ, JCC Program Associate — — — —

The Omaha Delegation is continuing to recruit athletes for the 2002 JCC Maccabi Games in Omaha. As of April 8, the number of athletes registered is up to 102. "Our goal in the beginning was to have 100 of our Omaha teens register for the Games, and we're thrilled that we've exceeded that goal!" stated Rachel Blum, Omaha Delegation Head. "It's great to see so many kids want to get involved with the Games. We guarantee an incredible experience for everyone!" Part of the recruiting effort of the Omaha Delegation has included Maccabi programs for teens on a monthly basis. The goal of these programs has been to create a strong bond and a sense of team unity within the Omaha Maccabi Delegation, no matter what sport the athlete plans to participate in. The next Maccabi program is the Maccabi Sports Spectacular on Saturday, April 20, 8-10 p.m., at the Indoor Soccer Center. All Jewish teens who will be 12-16 years old by Aug. 1 are invited to participate. The evening will start with a soccer game, and continue with ultimate frisbee and flag football. These games will be coupled with contests and prizes for all participants. For more information about the JCC Maccabi Games programs, or to register, contact Blum at 334-6403. Baseball: Brian Altaian, Michael Crabb, Ben Goldstrom, Max Katz, Dustin Lepp, Jason Rich, Ben Salzinger, Justin Slutsky, Josh Sweet and Brandon Thomas. Basketball (13-14): Alex Epstein, Brad Frank, Spencer Gallner, Austin Gilinsky, Justin Jacobson, Dan Murow, Jacob Phillips, David Sukiennik and Danny Raznik. Basketball (15-16): Ben Epstein, Jacob Finnicum, Adam Gendelman, Ben Gerber, Matt Kelberg, Zach Muskin, David Phillips and Pavel Tsyrlin. Basketball (Girls): Emily Gordon, Leanne Harris, Allison Levinger, Lyndsey Lovette, Stephanie Lovette, Emily Muskin, Sasha Skulsky and Hannah Wolf. Bowling (Boys): Nathan Fineman, Jon Lerner, Aaron Passer, Brent Saltzman and Eugene Turetsy. Golf (Boys): Dan Canfield, Joe Goldberg, Adam Linsky, David Manvitz, David Martin, Steven Mey-

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE Page 11

CORRECTION The following Host Families for the JCC Maccabi Games were misspelled in the April 5 Maccabi Housing Ad: Claudia Boehm, Dennis and Pain Deporte, Larry and Retha Herman, Gary and Lorrie Katelman, Jim and Gayle Spooner, Eitan and Eadie Tsabari, Lorin Temple, Dale and- Kay Weinstein, and Marty and Edie Wolf. The JCC Maccabi Housing Committee apologizes for the misprint.

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Michael Friedman signed up for t h e 2002 Maccabi Games and will play tennis. Swimming (Boys): Marc Cohen, Bobby Newman, David Paige, Joel Passer and Max RogersMarcovitz. Table Tennis (Boys): Eugene Ayol, Austin Davidson, Scott Egermeyer, Max Schwartz and Michael Vann. Tennis (Boys): Michael Friedman, Michael Katelman, Max McCann, Daniel Rahmani, Alex Wolf, Ryan Blumkin and Aaron Parsow. Dance: Jessica Danon, Abby Ginsburg, Becky Kahn, Arielle Levine, Jodi Levine, Taylor Sanford, Sara Schweid, Sarah Spooner, Shiri Tene and Anna Turetsky. Bowling (Girls): Liatte Dotan and Gal Tsabari. Golf (Girls): Deena Rennard and Naomi Rennard. Swimming (Girls): Sydney Goodman, Rachel Reno, Jamie Tully and Taylor Workman. Tennis (Girls): Eliza Cowan, Talia Eisenberg, Olga Elkin, Lauren Freeman, Kim Pitlor and Kate Josephson. Volleyball (Girls): Alyson Friedman and Meagan Katelman. Soccer (Boys 13-14):: Trevor Tully. Soccer (Boys 15-16):; Corey Green and Steve Lercher. Soccer (Girls): Erin Abramson, Sarah Leventhal, Alyssa Morris and Olga Patkovsky. Undecided: Joshua er, Aaron Murow, Adam Liatte Dotan, front, Sara Schweid and Rachael F j n n i c u m a n ( j Rachael Skog and Zach Spooner. Monsky enjoyed Glow in the Dark basketball.

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Jewish Community Center Join those who have already made a commitment to support the ISRAEL TERROR RELIEF FUND Sheri and Mike Abramson Susan and Jeffrey Aizenberg Joel Alperson Margie Alperson Mary Anderson Vickey S. Anderson Phyllis Aron Elyce and Rabbi Aryeh Azriel Judy and Jack Baker Amber and Tom Baker Robert Batt Sandra Belgrade Millie and Harold Bernstein Mary and Tom Bernstein Freda and Jerome Bleicher Carol and Steven Bloch Rachel and Mike Blum Frances and Louie Btumkin Judi Brand Barry Broder Carol and Pete Brodkey Sandy and Sherman Brodkey Stacie and Marc Brodkey Florence and Jack Brody Michelle and Bon Bucher Anne and Alan Cohen Margaret and Gilberto Conti Cheryl and Ron Cooper Harold Cooperman Marlene and Don Dandy Mary Kay and Henry Davis Eunice and Norman Denenberg Tippi and Steve Denenberg Susie and Rabbi Paul Drazen Teresa Drelicharz Lisa and Gary Epstein Etta and Harold Epstein Sharon and Howard Epstein Geri and Irving Epstein Lois and Mel Epstein Sandy and Paul Epstein Bobbie and Bob Epstein Ruth and Joe Erman Jill and Mike Erman Judy and Jim Farber Mary FelJraan Beverly and Dick Fellman Darlynn and Tom Fellman Kate Rose and Harris Finkelstein

Sherry and Dick Fletcher Barbara and Dean Frankel Frances and Sam Fried Jamie and Ted Friedland Amy and Sandy Friedman Thama and Willard Friedman Ike and Roz Friedman Family Foundation: Susie and Marvin Cohn Carl L. Frohm Foundation Jennie Gates Maggie and Donald Gerber {Catherine Finnegan and David Gilinsky Deanna and Larry Gilinsky Marilyn Ginsberg Pearl Richman Giventer Janet and Mort Glass Jordana and Jim Glazer Jennifer and John Glazer Phyllis and Dick Glazer Cindy and Bruce Goldberg Carol and Manny Goldberg Judi and David Goldstein Ann and Donald Goldstein Barbara and Gary Goldstein Jan Perelman and Howard Goldstein Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Herbert Goldsten. Trust June Goodbinder Danielle and Jeff Gordman Linda and Nelson Gordman. Carole and Andrew Greenberg Nancy and Don Greenberg EUie and Leonard Greenspoon Rose Gross Pam and David Gross Rosie Zweiback and Mace Hack Alan Handleman Anne Henggeler Kathy and Stan Hirshman Cookie and Jerry Hoberman Phyllis and David Hoffman Joanie and Richard Jacobson Gary Javitcb Karen Javitch Sylvia Jess Sheryn and Arnold Joffe Debbi and Larry Josephson

Judy and Keith Josephson Sara and Sorin Juster Howard Kaiman Joan Kaiman Dorothy Kaplan Myron Kaplan Gloria and Howard Kaslow Madeline and Maury Katzman Shani and Rabbi Mendel Katzman Carol and Michael Katzman Julee and Rick Katzman Kavich Family: Andi and Larry Kavich Jeff Kavich Amee and Ted Zetzman Nanci Kavich Marcy Noodell and Corey Kirshenbaum Sharon and Jeff Kirshenbaum Maxine and Joe Kirshenbaum Myrna and Kevee Kirshenbaum Janet and David Kohll Gail and Jerry Kohll Justin Kohll Ivy and Louis Kohll Sandy and Marvin Kohll Sharon and Howard Kooper Robyn Kooper Rabbi MyerKripke Forrest Knitter Shirley B. Kulakofsky Connie and Bob Kully Barbara and Marshall Kushner Nadine and Rabbi Howard Kutner Sandy and John Lehr Joan and Marty Lehr Bobbi and Michael Leibowitz Karen and Bob Lepp Cheryl and Gary Lerner Bobette and Jay Lerner Karin and Michael Levine Barb and Cliff Levitan Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation, Inc. Sally and Edward Malashock Jody and Neal Malashock Linda and Harold Mann Eleanor and Guy Matalon Kathy and John McGauvran

Roie and Bernie Meyers Denise and Jon Meyers Deenie and Larry Meyerson Jennifer and Scott Meyerson Frances and Jerry Milder Lori and Michael Miller Pam and Henry Monsky Ann and Gordon Moshman Janie and Allan Murow Jeanette Nadoff Laura-Lee and Howard Needelman Sharee and Murray Newman Betsy and Mike Noble Nancy and Harlan Noddle Kim and Jay Noddle Ozzie and Don Nogg Patty and Steve Nogg Rita and Harold Novak Carolyn and Don Novicoff Susan and Dennis Paley SolParsow Fefe Passer Vicki Perimeter Julie and Eric Phillips GildaPieck Marcia and Steve Pitlor Barbara and Mike Platt Ruth and Merle Potash Sharon and George Quittner Dinah and Larry Ratal Ida and Yale Richards Arlene and Harry Richman Iris and Marty Ricks Zoe and Carl Riekes Dorothy and Henry Riekes Margo and Steve Riekes Jane and Harlan Rips Nancy Rips Kimberly and Andrew Robinson Stacey and Jonathan Rockmon Judy and Blaine Roffman Silvia and Larry Roffman Dorothy Rosenblum Susan and Philip Rothholz Vicki and Mark Sanford Nancy and Joel Schlessinger Jan and Les Schneiderman Beth and Harley Schrager Lillian and Jack Schrager

Terri and Phillip Schrager Rose Schupack Hannah and Nate Schwalb Kim and Mark Schwartz Sarah and Ted Seldin Anne and Bruce Shackman Rabbi Maximo Shechet Suzy and Norman Sheldon Lisa Shkolnick Helene and Jack Shrago Susie and Paul Shyken Andrea and Mike Siegel Eve and Fred Simon Kim and Jim Simon Kathryn and Stephen Simon Esther and Stuart Simon Todd Simon Judy and Jerry Simons Maxine and Milton Simons Heidi and Mark Singer Suzanne Singer Slosburg Family Martha and David Slosburg Jacob Slosburg Ellen and Richard Slosburg Eleanor and Stanley Slosburg Jerry Slusky Debi and Jeffrey Smedlund Phil Sokolof Rabbi Debbie and Steve Stiel Louri and Charlie Sullivan Jill and BiU Swanberg Sherry and Jeff Taxman Selma and Isidore Tretiak Gail and Irving Veitzer MimiWaldbaum Beth and Michael Walts Kathy and Ron Watkins Kathy and Harry Weiner Wiesman Family: Anna E. and Benjamin Wiesman Cynthia and David Wiesman Brenda and Mark Wiesman Laura and Bryan Wine Nancy and Phil Wolf Sibby and Bob Wolfson Judi and Larry Yampolsky Debbi Brown and Speedy Zweiback Amy and Tim Zweiback

To make a donation to the Israeli Terror Relief Fund, call Pam Monsky at 334-6451. Names will be added each week in the Jewish Press.

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