October 11, 2002

Vol. LXXXII

No. 6

Omaha, NE

5 Cheshvan, 5763

October 11,2002

SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 81 YEARS

Beth Israel Breaks Ground for New Building

by JEWISH PRESS News Service

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Breaking ground for the new Beth Israel Synagogue are: David Kohll, left, Beth Israel President; Joe Kirshenbaum, Fund Raising Chairman; City of Omaha Mayor

Mike Fahey, Rabbi Howard Kutner, Mike Feldman, Jeanette Nadoff. Nearly 200 people attended the ceremony on Sunday.

(More photos on page 12)

Hazzan's First Lessons Were Grandmother's Stories and Songs

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator*

At his grand' of Oct. 25- 27 as hazzan-in-resimother's knee, dence at Temple Ramon Tasat lis- •• Israel. He will tened to stories , also spend an in Spanish and evening hosted ballads and love ; ' . ,'".•' ,

by Beth Israel songs in Ladino. . ' " • , •••' Synagogue while "My grandmoth- ; -;•,/.. ; ., '- " . V"., he is here arid a er was born i n ' - " t • ' . " . - ' ~ . . ' • -.' morning enterIstanbul, '• " • ! ' . ' . .

1 taining Sunday Turkey," and \ "•• '• i' -•";,'*,.'• ..'

School children later moved to and their famiArgentina, Tasat »,,* lies at Beth El said. He was Synagogue. .-»>'..<»•' born in Buenos Vocalist, musiAires and was cian, and enter"very close to my tainer, Hazzan grandmother."

Tasat's tenor "She loved her voice and guitar Ladino heritage," Ramon Tasat arrangements Tasat explained, and she loved imparting it to any of have charmed audiences in Hebrew, 150 family members who would listen Ladino, Spanish, Italian, and English. to her. Tasat added that the Ladino He specializes in Sephardic music expressions his grandmother con- which harmonizes with Temple stantly quoted became part of his own Israel's year-long study of Sephardic history and culture. identity.

Tasat will be in Omaha the weekend (Continued on page 9)

UNO Hosts Bethsaida. Artifacts Exhibit and Biblical Archaeology Conference

by DR. RAMI ARAV, Director of Excavations and Research, UNO

formally open in ASH 343 and a The largest Bethsaida exhibition to reception in ASH 241 will follow the ever leave Israel will open at the opening. The events are open to the University of Nebraska-Omaha this public, and all are invited to attend. month. The exhibition will feature The current exhibit, sponsored by representative artifacts from the the Marguerite A. Scribante period of time the city was inhabitedFoundation, will include a number -from the time of King David to the of important pieces! More than 30 days of Rabbi Akiba and beyond. coins, ancient fishing implements, Is it possible that the vessels we and an exact replica of the Iron Age will display at UNO were used as stele (9th-8th centuries BCE) found serving vessels at King David's wedat the site will be on display. The ding to Ma'acah? King David visited stele, a marker that would have Bethsaida, been at the city gate in Bethsaida, signed a peace treaty with the king depicts a bull-like creature, that of the Geshurites, and married represents the moon god worshiped Ma'acah, the daughter of the king. in the city.

Their son was the famous Absalom.

The Batchelder Biblical Imagine being able to see pottery, Archaeology Conference, also held coins, implements, and ancient jewelon UNO's campus, will run Oct. 24ry made of gold, silver, and glass from this time period, as well as through Stele (an upstanding stone 26 and will feature scholars from the 17th-18th centuries CE! used for worship) the around the world who. will discuss The community will have the Hebrew word for it is a n ( i present their research. All opportunity to see all of these things Maztevah--a monument or events, with the exclusion of Seger's when Bethsaida Excavations: Life a t o m b stone. It was found presentation, will be held at the Revealed in the Layers opens a t t h e S a t e o f t h e cit yW.H. Thompson Alumni House on Thursday, Oct. 24, at UNO. The exhibit, 137 the UNO campus. Several events are open to the pieces in all, will serve as the "kick-off1 event for the public, but conference registration is recommended. fourth annual Batchelder Biblical Archaeology The conference is funded by Anne Batchelder, Conference. with additional support from International Conference activities will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Studies and Programs at UNO, the Bethsaida Arts & Sciences Hall (ASH), Room 101, with a pres- Excavations Project, the John and Carol Merrill entation by Prof. Joe Seger-well known to Cave of Letters and Qumran Projects, and the Omahans as one of the curators of the 1980 Biblical Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at Archaeology Exhibit at the Jewish Community the University of Hartford.

Center. Currently with the Cobb Museum of Bethsaida Excavations: Life Revealed in the Archaeology at Mississippi State University, Seger Layers will be on display in Arts & Sciences Hall, was a professor at UNO in the 1970s. He is respon- Room 343, through May of 2003. Viewing hours are sible for establishing and building the archaeology Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Guided tours and program at the university. His program is titled weekend or evening hours are available by appoint"From Abraham to Jesus: What Biblical ment. For more information about the exhibit or the Archaeology Today Can Tell Us About the Bible."

Conference, call Wendi Chiarbos at: 554-2902, or visit: www.unomaha.edu/~betsaida.

Following Seger's presentation, the exhibit will

Answers'Your Questions

by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications D i r e c t o r — — — — — DG you know how the Jewish Federation supports your synagogue? Have you ever wondered how your contribution to our Annual Campaign can dramatically improve the quality of life for an elderly Holocaust survivor in the former Soviet Union?

Now you can get fast and reliable answers to these questions and others by calling the new Centennial Campaign Hotline—334-6594—an innovative new community service sponsored by the Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign.

Callers will be asked to leave their question or comment on the Hotline voicemail. Designated Campaign leadership and staff will call back with the requested information within two business days. The identity of the callers and their questions will be held in strict confidence. The Centennial Campaign Hotline is the brainchild of 2003 General Campaign Co-chairs Joanie Kaiman and Jerry Kohll.

"I wanted to think of a way that people could get fast and accurate answers to any question they might have about our Annual Campaign, the services provided by *the Federation and programs throughout the Jewish community," explained Kaiman. "The Federation's been in existence here for 100 years, and our programs and services are in a constant state of growth and flux. The Hotline makes it easy for people to ask questions or verify information they heard from someone else,."

Kohll said the Hotline is a great educational tool for the community. "No question is too small or irrelevant. We want everyone to feel absolutely comfortable about asking questions concerning how their Campaign dollars are being spent."

Leave your question or comment on the Hotline at 334-6594, 24-hours-a-day during the 2003 Campaign.

Omahans Reminisce About Food

page 8

B'nai B'rith President Opens Exhibit.pagn I t Kite-flying, Grandparents Day.....

page i(>

Page 2

October 11, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, ME

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 Federation Executive Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.

Jr. NCSY Convention (Friday thru Sunday), 3 p.m.at Beth Israel OCTL Shabbat Dinner, 8 p.m. at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St.

L I SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 P Women's Shabbat Program, 10 a.m. at the Chabad House S SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 A NCJW Candidates' Forum: Jeff Simon & Lee Terry, V 10 a.m.

E Jewish Women International Mah Jong Tburnanient,

C L I P

S A V E

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 YES Program, 10 a.m.

Melton Mini School, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 Visions Loess Hills Day Trip, 8 a.m.

Women's Campaign House Party, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

JELS Luncheon with speaker Larry Raful, noon ADI7CRC Board of Directors Meeting, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. * Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel C WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16 L Newcomers Committee Meeting, 9:30a.m.

Hadassah Board Meeting, 10 a.m.

Pacesetter/Ben Gurion Society 2003 Campaign KickofF, 5 p.m. at Ironwood Country Club THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Hebrew Course, 7 p.m.

Jewish Senior Services Educational Series, 7 p.m.

All events held at the JCC unless otherwise Indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437.

FOR A COMPLETE LISTING, VISIT THE FEDERATION'S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

Kohll's PHARMACY & HOMECARE Citywide Delivery 7 Locations

(Editor's note: this column originally appeared on Oct. 15, 1993 in the Jewish Press J Parashat Noah The story of Noah and the flood introduces us at once to the Biblical (one might say prophetic) view of history.

Why do things happen as they do? The Noah story introduces the dimension of the moral and the ethical, the idea of morality, into human history.

Why did the great flood come? Because God was unhappy with the way man had turned out, and in His despair, He thought to wipe out humanity. Why was He unhappy with mankind? Because of widespread immorality, violence, corruption, From this flows the whole nexus of ideas about morality and man's role in the universe. Man is to be a moral being, a human being. If not~he has no right to be. If he exhibits a lust for power, and that lust is essential to his being, he has no right to be.

That is why God gave him life.

Why did the flood come? God brought it on as a means of controlling, in this case, ending human life. But He tried humanity again through Noah and his family; perhaps a second chance for mankind would produce better results.

This theme occurs again and again in the Hebrew Scriptures. Why were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed?

Some chance earthquake? No; it was the hand of God, and the cause was immorality of these cities.

Why was Israel in Canaan subjected to marauders and invaders? Because of religious infidelity.

When they repented and entreated God's mercy, a "Judge", that is, a military leader saved them.

Why was Israel destroyed by the military juggernaut of Assyria, and why Judah by the military steamroller of Babylonia? Because, despite their annoyingly correct worship in their shrines and in the Temple, respectively, their public and private life was corrupt and compassionless.

History, the Bible writers would have us believe, is a function of morality. Morality, or lack of morality, explains everything.

Is this a tenable interpretation of history? No! Does this view help us understand the facts of history? No! This idea is negated in the Bible itself, for example, in the Book of Job, and clearly in the rabbinic literature. The rabbis said that we cannot explain why the righteous sometimes suffer and the wicked sometimes prosper. Could the rabbis say otherwise under the cruel, exploiting power of immoral Rome?

Are we then to think that most of the Bible writers and the prophets were simpletons and religious infants? Quite the contrary.

The Bible introduced into mankind's intellectual and spiritual life the whole idea of morality.

Morality matters. Man is not without an ethical anchor, a spiritual mooring.

With this idea, profoundly felt and persistently advanced and defended, the Hebrew Scriptures saved mankind from bestiality and boorishness, and turned mankind to a quest for a high level of culture and nobility of spirit.

UNVEILING A monument in memory of Joel M. Gross will be unveiled on Sunday, Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. at the Beth L | p &

s A V E

Hamedrosh Hagadol-B'nai Abraham Cemetery (Fisher Farm). All relatives and friends are invited to attend.

NOTICE Photos used in the Sept. 6 New Year's issue of the Jewish Press may be picked up at the Press office, during regular business hours. Photos from the March 22 Passover issue also need to be picked up or they will be given to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.

Questions? Call 334-6448.

NOTICE The community mikvah ( r i t u a l . bath) will be closed temporarily for renovations, beginning T u e s d a y , O c t . 22, through approximately Friday, Nov. 22.

For information about alternative m i kv a h locations, please call Marlene Hert at the Federation office, 334-6437. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

SARAH LEWIS Former Omahan Sarah Lewis died in Cleveland on Oct. 2. Services were held Oct. 4 at Beth El Cemetery.

A longtime volunteer in Jewish communal life, Lewis served as an officer in AMIT Women, President of Hadassah and Beth El Sisterhood as well as Co-chairman of the Young Energetic Seniors.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lou Lewis.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Rabbi Dr. Justin and Ann Lewis of Cleveland and Dr. Barry and Anne Lewis of Chicago; five grandchildren, Moshe, Sarah and Eh Lewis and Jason and Jessica Lewis; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials to Hadassah, Beth El Synagogue or Kalah Franklin Chapter of AMIT.

BELLS Looks at Judaism Through the Eyes of Islam

by OZZIE NOGG

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BELLS-Beth El Lunch & Learn on Shabbat will hold its first session of the season on Saturday, Oct. 26. This popular series of gastronomic and educational opportunities begins its third year with a presentation by guest speaker Dr. David Kraemer, a Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Dr. David Kraemer Seminary. Dr. Kraemer's topic is: Understanding Judaism Through the Eyes of Islam.

"Islam, like Judaism, is a monotheism constructed around a system of law and required practices," writes Dr. Kraemer. "In fact, because Islam incorporated much from the Judaism it knew, Islam preserves elements of traditional Judaism that we, in our Christian setting, have long forgotten."

In his presentation, Dr. Kraenier will examine some of the central tenets of Islamic practice and faith, which will help BELLS participants better understand traditional Judaism.

In addition to his Beth El appearance, Dr. Kraemer will also make a presentation at the Klutznick-Harris Symposium which, this year, focuses on Jewish food. Dr. Kraemer has long been interested in cooking and cuisine, and during the Symposium he'll present a talk that examines significant shifts in Jewish eating practices through the ages- specifically his findings on the development of one of the most significant signs of the observant Jewish kitchen~the separation of dishes.

The BELLS lunch and discussion begins immediately after Shabbat morning services and kiddush.

The program will finish no later than 2 p.m. Lunch costs $8 for adults, $5 for students under 12, and is available by advance reservation only. Free babysitting-from 12:45-1:45 p.m.-is also available by reservation. Please make your reservations by Thursday, Oct. 17.

Keiev is Hebrew for Dog

by JEWISH PRESS News Service——-—

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Guy Matalon, rear center, makes frequent visits to Friedel Jewish Academy where his wife, Elinor, teaches Hebrew. Visiting with his golden retriever, Shoko, Matalon took the opBurtunity to teach students Hebrew words-such as paw, coat, and leash. For Shoko, it was a chance to receive a "Hebrew hug" from Uriah Wertheim, left, and Alena Senik, and to share the company of Lilly Phillips, left, Cleo Bogers-Marcovitz, and Aaron Nissen.

October 11, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

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FRIDAY: Men's Club, 11:45 a.m. All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join us for some relaxation and great conversation.

Early Worship Service, 5:30 p.m., Rabbi Craig Marantz and Jeff Taxman will officiate using the Union Prayer Book; Family Service, 7:30 p.m., Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. The Oneg is sponsored by Sandy and Joel Bleicher in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Sarah.

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 Amidah. Morning service, 10:30 a.m., Sarah Elizabeth Bleicher, daughter of Sandy and Joel Bleicher, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.

ADULT EDUCATION Sunday, Oct. 13: The Four B's: Behaving, Belonging, Believing and Bagels, 10-11:30 a.m. An adult learning opportunity for parents, this week's topic is "What Do You Say When Your Kids Ask About God?" Tuesday, Oct. 15: Conversations with Rabbi Azriel, noon-1 p.m. Join Rabbi Azriel for an informal BYO brown bag lunch and discussion of current events and issues that affect the Jewish community in Omaha and around the world; The Prophets: Thundering Voices of Passion, Fire and Grace, 7-8:30 p.m. John Dacey will lead the group as it examines Heschel's The Prophets.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: The Jews of Spain: History and Culture, 6:45-8:15 p.m. with Prof. Guy Matalon.

Friday, Oct. 18: Adult Study with the Clergy, 1011:30 a.m. Temple Israel's Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Raymond Scheindlin, will join Rabbi Azriel.

For more information on Dr. Scheindlin's visit Oct. 18-20, see article on page 15.

Services officiated by Rabbi Michael Weisser.

FRIDAY: Evening Service, 7:45 p.m., followed by Oneg.

SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah. Study, 10:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Hebrew School, 9 aan.; Religious School, 10 aon.

Monday, Oct. 14: Adult Hebrew Study Group, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 17: B'nai Mitzvah class, 3 p.m.

Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman.

Monday-Friday, services at 7 a.m.

FRIDAY: Mincha-Ma'ariv, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Morning Service, 8:30 a.m.

MONDAY: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth (Women of Worth), 11:45 a.m.-l p.m. Lunch is served.

TUESDAY: Crown of Creation (W. of W.), 9:30-11 a.m.; Parshas HaShavuah (weekly Torah portion), 7-8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Jewish Mysticism (Adult Education), 78:30 p.m., at the JCC. Tb register for any of the classes, please call Jennifer at 330-1800, or e-mail chabadoffice@aol.com.

SPECIAL SHABBAT WOMEN'S PROGRAM SATURDAY, OCT. 12, 10:45 A.M.: For women who are interested in enriching their Shabbat experience, join us at the Chabad House this Shabbat. Hebrew reading is not a prerequisite; many of the prayers will be transliterated. A kiddush lunch will be served following the program. For more information please call Jennifer or Shani at 330-1800.

Friday Oct. n

y

Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:35 p.m.; The West Minyan is at the home of Dennis and Susan Paley. Jr. NCSY convention will be at Beth Israel this weekend.

SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m.; Free babysitting begins at 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m., Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood. A kiddush luncheon is sponsored by Vivian and Nathaniel Finkelstein in honor of the aufruf of Harris Finkelstein. Mincha, 6:25 p.m.; Ma'ariv, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. and 6:25 p.m WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. and 6:25 p.m TUESDAY: Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Kutner, noon, at the office of Joe Kirshenbaum, Noddle Development, 13710 First National Bank Parkway. "Ask the Rabbi"~come with questions on any subject. A Bagel Bin lunch is available for $5.

6:32 p.m.

Shabbat Services are conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Cantor Emil Berkovits and Ritual Director Gaston Bogomolni.

FRIDAY: Come join a joyous, musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m., Leah Chapman, daughter of Doug and Debbie Chapman, will become a Bat Mitzvah. Following services, a kiddush honoring Leah will be sponsored by her parents; Rabbi Levin's Humash class is 6:05 p.m.-everyone is welcome for informal discussion and snack; Evening services, 6:35 p.m.

A THOUGHT FOR SHABBAT To receive Rabbi Levin's weekly "Thought For Shabbat" e-mail message, please send your e-mail address to Exec@bethel-omaha.org.

SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m WEEKDAYS: Services, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m YOUTH CHORUS Sunday, Oct. 20, following Sunday School. The group welcomes all Beth El kids who enjoy singing.

For more information, call Cantor Emil Berkovits.

CONGREGATIONAL SHABBAT DINNER Oct. 25, following Kabbalat Shabbat services.

New Beth El members will be honored at this first dinner of the New Year. For reservations and Early Bird discount info, please call the office by Oct. 15.

Please contact Beyt Shalom for this week's schedule.

SATURDAY: 9 a.m., led by Andrew Greenberg.

Services are held in the Herbert Goldsten chapel; all services are open to the community.

FRIDAY: Evening Service, 7:30 p.m. Topic will be "Is the plethora of Jewish charitable organizations outstripping its source of revenue?" Oneg will follow.

iRil i Y s .

es, 7:30p.m.

Zachary Scott Kwiatek, son of Amy Kwiatek and Ronald Kwiatek, will become a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Kol Ami in Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 11.

A seventh-grade honor student at Birmingham Covington School in West Bloomfield, MI, Zachary enjoys taking classes at Second City Improvisation and University of Michigan Computer Camps, reading and playing video games.

His most meaningful mitzvah projects were volunteering at a ralljfcto support anti-terrorism in Israel and delivering food with his grandfather for Yad Ezra.

Grandparents are Norman and Barbara Gross of Huntington Woods, MI, and Bill and Doris Cohen of Omaha, and the late Sidney Kwiatek.

Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum.

Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 am.

FRIDAY: Mincha-Ma'ariv, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m., Junior Congregation, 11 a.m.

SUNDAY, Oct. 13,10 a.m., Pirkei Avot.

Men's Group meets every Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. at the Knolls.

For her Mitzvah Project Sara is making a donation to the Humane Society.

Sara has three brothers: Daniel, Andrew, and Jacob, and two sisters: Laura and Emma.

Grandparents are Phyllis Schwartz of Omaha and the late Dr. Maurice Schwartz, and Alice Klein of Hollis Hills, New York, and the late Bernard Klein.

Robert "Bobby" J u l e Newman, son of Patricia and Jeff Newman, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Temple Israel.

A seventh grade distinguished honor student at Westside Middle School, he enjoys swimming, playing Sara Klein, daughter of Janet and Harry Klein, baseball and running cross "> will become a Bat Mitzvah country.

He has won ' on Saturday, Oct. 19 at numerous awards playing Beth El. An eighth grade honor shortstop for the Omaha Gladiators, as well as the student at Beveridge mag- Lt. Governor Award for Young Leadership. net School, she enjoys For his Mitzvah Project, Bobby helped get the horseback riding, art class- family's dog, Bear, certified as a Pews for es and shopping. Sara also Friendship dog. Together, they visited hospitals plays the piano and enjoys and shelters, spending time with people. reading. Sara's art work Bobby has a sister, Emily, 10. was chosen to be displayed Grandparents are Bob and Phyllis Newman of in the mayor's Office last spring. She was selected Omaha, Joellen Bramsen of Gainesville, MO, Gene to take part in the Duke University Talent Groves of Alamagordo, NM, and Barbara Long of West Plam Beach, FL. Identification Program.

Jewish Press, Omaha, ME

Page 4

luctoiber 11,2002

EDITORIA

Back to the '60s?

Sunday drivers may have noticed a small group of anti-war protesters holding placards denouncing attacks on Iraq. Reports from college campuses, too, note a growing movement of students and faculty protesting any military incursions in that country.

Israel spokesmen have already announced they will not stand by idly this time if Iraq attacks and they said on Monday they have the capability to shoot down 90% of the scud missiles which come their way.

What exactly is the issue with Iraq and where do the rest of us stand?

One only has to read Laurie Mylroie's book, Study of Revenge: The First World Trade Center Attack & Saddam Hussein's War Against America. Mylroei, who regularly translates from the Iraqi press and is a contributing columnist for the Wall Street Journal, has argued for years that Iraq is the state financing and backing terrorism against the West.

She offers compelling evidence in

So

the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, and even links Iraq to the Oklahoma City bombing. She also cites Iraqi defectors who have provided eyewitness accounts of the development of biological and chemical weapons in secret laboratories, not likely to be opened for United Nations inspectors under any circumstances.

It appears that President George W. Bush is getting closer to receiving enough bipartisan support to pass a resolution enabling to go to war against Iraq. Does that make him a warmonger? Or his followers pro-war?

Or, does it make Americans-especially those who remember World War II and Neville Chamberlin's appeasement of the Nazis-a little nervous about a megalomaniac in a very rough neighborhood sitting on a pile of bombs?

Perhaps those of us who see Saddam Hussein for what he is shouldn't be labeled pro-war, but are, in fact, pro-peace~which will only come after Saddam is deposed.

IGNOR6 /IRAPAT'S AT CAMPAIGM OP

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After 500 Years5 Jews Leaving Spanish Enclaves Near Morocco byHILLELLANDES

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MADRID (JTA)--Growing antiSemitism and poor economic prospects are threatening to extinguish two Jewish communities on the North African coast.

After the expulsion from Spain in 1492, a small number of Jews escaped across the Strait of Gibraltar to two fortress cities that Spanish kings were establishing as beachheads in North Africa.

Despite the Inquisition on the Iberian mainland, the Jewish inhabitants of Ceuta and Melilla largely were left alone for the next five centuries. They were joined by other Sephardic Jews over the centuries.

Their descendants now are leaving the enclaves, which are surrounded by Moroccan territory, and returning to Spain.

"In 10 years, perhaps there will be no one here," said Mesod Bengio, a Jewish perfume merchant in Ceuta.

Ceuta and slightly smaller Melilla are unlike any other part of Spain, where no Jews lived—at least not openly-until religious freedom was reinstated in the 19th century.

Jews in Ceuta and Melilla, which measure about eight and five square miles, respectively, have lived cheek by jowl, but largely in peace, with Christians, Muslims and a small minority of Hindus.

Historical evidence shows Jews living in Ceuta as far back as the 12th century. The Jewish presence in Melilla is said to have started several years after the expulsion with a Spanish aristocrat who had Jewish ancestors.

Ceuta's total population is around

70,000; Melilla is slightly smaller.

Though their Jewish communities today are small-some 300 in Ceuta and around 800 in Melilla-they still have functioning Sephardic synagogues, schools and butcher shops.

That's down from their peak in the late 1960s, when there were about 600 Jews in Ceuta and 1,000 in Melilla.

However, the communities' future has grown uncertain since the Sept.

11 attacks and Moroccan King Mohamed's renewed claims of sovereignty over the cities fired up young Muslim inhabitants.

In the past year, eggs, rocks and bottles have been thrown at Ceuta's Sephardic synagogue while Jews were at prayer, Palestinian flags and graffiti glorifying Osama bin Laden have been painted on synagogues and churches, and graves in Melilla's Jewish cemetery have been desecrated.

Meanwhile, Moroccan claims over the enclaves have become more vociferous since last summer's crisis with Spain over Perejil Island, an uninhabited island a mile and a half from Ceuta. Moroccan troops occupied the island, but were swiftly kicked off by Spanish soldiers.

Morocco argues that if Spain wants Gibraltar back from Britain-which has held it since the early 18th century-then, by the same logic, it should be prepared to give Ceuta and Melilla to Morocco.

"Now they're Spanish," said another Ceuti Jew, Jose Benchimol. "Who knows what could happen in 10 years?"

Some commentators sketch worst-

Fred Tichauer Chairman Carol Katzman Editor The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish com- Richard Busse munal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Creative Director Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Allan Handleman Services, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Senior Services.

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case scenarios.

"If anyone doesn't think that within a year or two we'll be at war over Ceuta and Melilla--be it terrorism or open war"-then he "doesn't want to see the obvious," one columnist wrote in Spain's El Mundo newspaper.

What might Moroccan rule be like for Jews in the enclaves?

"Morocco has always accepted Jews," said Benchimol, who spent 12 years as vice president of Ceuta's Jewish community. He noted that there are still Jews in Rabat, Morocco's capital, who "live peacefully and have endured the intifada without repercussions."

However, many Jews who today live in Ceuta and Melilla fled there from Morocco after the 1967 Six-Day War, when Morocco was swept up in the Arab world's outrage over Israel's victory.

Benchimol echoed Spanish leaders' frequent assertions that Ceuta and Melilla are paragons of interfaith harmony. The leaders of the different faith communities "always wish each other happy holidays," he noted.

Still, he conceded that interethnic harmony doesn't always filter down to the population at large-particularly to Muslim youths who have become radicalized since Sept. 11.

Madrid's chief rabbi, Moshe Ben Dahan, is a former Ceuta resident. He moved there from Morocco with his family after the 1967 Six-Day War, when he was 12 years old, and later moved to Madrid after yeshiva studies in Israel.

Ben Dahan downplayed the impact of anti-Semitism in Ceuta and Melilla.

Yet he acknowledged that the commu-

(Founded in 1920)

nities are dwindling-primarily, he said, because there's little future for young Jews in the enclaves, whose economies are dependent on tourism, trade and government subsidies.

"The Jews are going to big cities like Madrid, Malaga and Barcelona where there are more possibilities for educated people to work," the rabbi said.

"The young people are leaving and the old are dying."

To the Editor: The reprinted, revalued, Hanukkah stamp will be available at your local post office today, Oct. 11. If your local post office does not have the Hanukkah stamp, tell the postmaster to order them immediately.

Hanukkah is early this year (the night of Nov. 29) and you will need the stamps as soon as possible.

Also, important. Hanukkah menorahs (without a Star of David on it) are a permitted holiday display. Tell your local postmaster you would like to see a Hanukkah menorah on display in your post office. If he tells you it is not permitted, tell him to look in the Post Operations Manual (POM) issue 9, dated July 2002, Section 124.57c.

Although Christmas decorations may not be up at the time—if he intends to have a Christmas display then he should also display a Hanukkah menorah.

Ronald Scheiman

JEWISH PRESS COMMITTEE Joanie Jacobson, Vice-Chair man; Penny Endelman, Secretary; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Jean Duitch; Kip Gordman; Bobbi Leibowitz; Howard K. Marcus; Scott Meyerson; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Melanie Weinstein; 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.

October 11, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

Whose Abraham?

Saddam's Diversion

by RABBI AVI SHAFRAN-

During the past two years, Israel has faced a systematic campaign of Palestinian terror and violence, as well as Hezbollah attacks and deployments of thousands of long-range rockets aimed at Israeli civilians. It has been well documented for some time that Iran and Syria have backed both Hezbollah and the radical Islamic Palestinian terrorist organizations, that Iran supplied weapons and explosives to the Palestinian Authority (PA) aboard the Karine A and that Iraq is offering huge financial rewards to families of suicide bombers.

Baghdad's role has been far more sinister than previously known. Iraq has worked with Palestinian terrorists and fomented violence to divert attention from itself, thus attempting to impede an American military campaign. Baghdad also has used the PA to sell Iraqi oil illegally in return for large kickbacks used to buy arms. Iraqi officials, furthermore, have maintained contacts with al-Qaeda.

These startling revelations, which are based on Palestinian documents discovered by Israeli forces in the West Bank and on interrogations of captured Palestinian terrorists, were exposed in a landmark segment of CBS News' 60 Minutes, broadcast Sept. 29.

Senior Israeli intelligence officer Ido Hecht told Leslie Stahl that Israelis have caught and interrogated members of a Palestinian terrorist cell who admit they were trained in the use of firearms and explosives by Iraqi intelligence officers at a base near Tikrit, Saddam's hometown. The group was recruited

by Abu Abbas, the notorious hijacker of the Acbille Lauro and murderer of American Leon Klinghoffer in 1985, whom Saddam has reactivated in Baghdad.

Israelis captured a document signed by Arafat providing money to 50 members of Abbas' organization.

Finally, in meetings with the Bush administration, senior Israeli intelligence officials shared evidence about contacts between al-Qaeda and top members of Saddam's Ba'ath Party.

These revelations point to Saddam's deep involvement in Palestinian terrorism and alliance with Arafat to aborting U.S. military action against Iraq while boosting Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israel.

With the Biblical Abraham's life about to be collectively recounted in corning weekly Torah readings at synagogues around the world, Avraham Avinu ("our father Abraham," as traditional Jews refer to him) has become the subject of a major newsweekly's cover story and two books.

Time Magazine's spin on the first forefather of the Jewish people, in its Sept. 30 issue, was that he "is beloved by Jews, Christians and Muslims."

"Can this bond," the article's subhead asks, "stop them from hating one another?"

Jews, of course, ddon't 't _ .ÂŤ .. hate either Christians or Muslims (though many of us do have rather understandable antagonism toward murderers and terrorists, whatever their religion). But what Time wishes to raise is the possibility that an investigation of Abraham might illuminate, perhaps even help resolve, the ongoing strife in the Middle East.

In that vein, David Van Biema, the main author of the article, "The Legacy of Abraham," begins on a hopeful note-literally: an Arabic song, heard on a New York cabbie's radio, ostensibly pleading with Israel, "We have the same father. Why do you treat us this way?"

Though a much more popular song in Arab lands is "I Hate Israel," and though the treatment of Israelis by some of their Arab neighbors and citizens has been considerably less than familial, any sentiment of brotherly love, however presented, is certainly worth celebrating.

And so Abraham, the writer continues, should by all logic be "an interfaith superstar," a figure whose importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam might be expected to unite all those who profess those faiths.

Instead, though, as Van Biema concedes, the reality is that Abraham's name has been invoked primarily to stake and promote particularistic claims-claims to ethnic authenticity, to land, to truth itself.

While Judaism regards Abraham as the ancestor of the Jewish people and the recipient on their behalf of divine deed to the Holy Land, Roman Catholicism includes his name in its Mass, and Islam considers him the first Muslim (who was commanded to sacrifice not Isaac but rather Ishmael, in whom Arabs see their progenitor).

An Islamic religious leader is quoted in Time as characterizing Jewish Biblical claims to the Holy Land as "pure lies."

Bruce Feiler, the best-selling author of Walking the Bible, has weighed in on the topic as well, with Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths.

(David Klinghoffer's The Discovery of God: Abraham and the Birth of Monotheism is due out in several months.)

Following Time's politically correct lead, Feiler equates the claims of various faiths to Abraham, and asserts that each faith "performed reconstructive surgery" on its traditions in order to bolster its particular narrative of the forefather.

Now, we Jews are enjoined by our religious heritage not to missionize, and to avoid disputation with members of other faiths. At the same time, though, it is important that we reiterate elements of our convictions to ourselves.

Like a fact that should be evident to any careful reader of either the Time article or Feiler's book, but whose import is somehow glossed over by both.

Abraham lived approximately 3800 years ago. In other words, about 1500 years before the advent of Christianity, and more than 2000 before Mohammed was born.

Thus, the Jewish "version" of Abraham--in which he is told by G-d that, through his son Isaac, he

by HOWARD KOHR

would father a people who will be chosen to receive His law and inherit the Holy Land-was the only one existent for many tens of hundreds of years, during which time, it was carefully and lovingly transmitted from Jewish generation to Jewish generation, unchanged and uncontested, before different versions of his life and mission eventually came to be offered by others.

And so, in the midst of all the Abraliamania, we might do well to dwell a bit more than usual on that fact-and on our forefather, by paying particularly close attention to the weekly Torah portions of - , Lech Lecha, Vayeira and Chayei Sara, which teach us about Avraham Avinu, and by studying traditional Jewish commentaries (like those translated into English and lucidly explicated in the ArtScroll/Mesorah Chumash) on those portions.

We don't know if, when the Christian and Islamic versions of Abraham appeared, our ancestors were flattered or disturbed by the developments.

What we do know, though, is that they simply continued, with determination if without fanfare, to entrust their children with the tradition that their own ancestors had received and transmitted, received and transmitted, for thousands of years.

We Jews today should politely acknowledge with a smile all the contemporary discussion of Avraham Avinu, and proudly do precisely the same.

An Islamic religious leader is quoted in Time as characterizing Jewish Biblical claims to the Holy Land as pure lies.

Rabbi Avi Shafran is director of public affairs for Agudath Israel of America. This article comes from Am Echad Resources.

Kohr is executive director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

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"

' Jewish* Press, Omaha, NE

October 11, 2002

•HHHH

ORGANIZATIONS PUTTER/LAZAR Y.E.S. Rachel Laura Putter, daughter of Howard and Members will meet Monday at the JCC. Play bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Eileen Putter, and Stacey Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share Thomas Lazar, for "YES Talk" at 11 a.m. Following lunch at noon, son of Anthony Bernice Ann Benholf will talk on the famous Nebraska and author, Mari Sandoz. She will briefly talk about the Lazar, were marwriter's life and first book, Old Jules, which depicts ried Sept. 1 in the life of her father. For transportation to the JCC, Whistler, British call 330-4272. Call Maggie Conti at 334-6521 for all Columbia.

The bride's reservations. a t t e ndants All deadlines are one week prior to the event: included her sisBluffs Run Casino on Oct. 24; African Dancing with ter, Abigail Charles Ahavissi on Oct. 21 and the "To Life Party" Putter, and on Oct.28.

Anna friends WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on the day trip to the James, Rebecca Wildlife Safari and Mahoney State Park on Redding, Briana Wollenweber and Laura Hill. The Thursday, please meet at the JCC by 9:45 a.m For groom was attended by his brother, Dan Lazar; the bride's brother, Adam Putter and friends Matt transportation call Maggie Conti at 334-6521.

Lombardi, Anthony Chavez and Rich Childers.

YIDDISH GROUP The bride graduated Santa Clara University with Lomir Redn Yiddish: Let Us Speak Yiddish Conversation Group will meet on Thursday, 1-3 a degree in psychology and works for Amazon.com. p.m. at the JCC. Call Anne Skolkin for information She is the granddaughter of Leelo Sommerhauser of Lincoln, NE, and Bea and Milt Putter of East at 343-1638.

Meadow, NY VISIONS The groom is also a graduate of Santa Clara Relax with Visions at Freedom Park Landing for a cruise on the Missouri. Autumn Foliage Cruise on University, where he received a BS in political scithe River City Star is Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1-3 p.m. ence. He earned a joint JD/MBA from Seattle Cost is $16 per person and includes both the cruise University and is employed by Microsoft. He is the and a box lunch. Send reservations to: Sandy and grandson of Betty Lazar.

After a honeymoon to London and Paris, the couFred Bromley, 13419 Marinda St., Omaha, NE, 68144. Make check payable to Jewish Senior ple will live in Seattle.

Services.

OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING OCTL hosts a community-wide Shabbat dinner tonight at 1313 No. 58 St., 7:45 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Blum will give a Parasha Shiur on Shabbat afternoon, Oct. 12, 5:05 p.m. at the OCTL house. Torah Tots continues with Shari Blum on Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at the OCTL House; Gemorra class continues with Rabbi Blum, Monday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m.; learn at the Beis Midrash, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m., both at the OCTL House.

Participate in a discussion of the weekly parasha at Lunch 'n Learn, Wednesday, Oct. 17, noon at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library.

Join us for "A Touch of Mystery" on Saturday evening, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. at Culinary Services in Ralston. Solve a mystery presented by the Mystery Theatre Players, followed by an elegant kosher dinner and silent auction. Tickets are $36 per person.

Call Nancy Wolf, 330-6736, for reservations.

For more information about OCTL programs or to reserve time for one-on-one learning or group study at the location of your choosing, call Rabbi Blum, at 320-8055.

Strategic Calling

by JEWISH PRESS News Service — — - — _

Mark TVain Tonight!

TONIGHT! ORPHEUM THEATRE OCTOBER 11 Tickets available at and outlets, the Omaha Auditorium box. office, or call

422-1212.

The Kiwanis Clubs of Omaha present "Music Can Move the World" featuring 12-year-old Russian violinist Eugene Ugorski, Tuesday, Nov. 19,7 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center, 20th and Farnam. Proceeds will benefit the Hope Center, a place of refuge for inner-city youth. Tickets are $21.50 and may be obtained by calling 345-4849.

Yoga has become a mainstream remedy for stress, physical injury and chronic pain. Yoga Day, sponsored by Yoga Alliance, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27, 1-4 pan. at the Absolute Serenity Spa, located at 1000 No. 72 St. Yoga professional Jennifer Schaecher will lead sessions on yoga and pilates. Tickets are $20 per person and may be obtained by calling 612-4665.

RBJH Sponsors Educational Series

by CATHY CARROLL, Activities Director Rose Blumkin Jewish Home • • • • "————

Twenty-eight Visionaires recently toured the U.S. Strategic Command Center at Offutt AFB. Members wore their hiking shows as a Public Affairs Officers guided us through the

round-the-clock mission support for our national security. Following the tour, members enjoyed a meal at the Offutt Club: Sylvia Davis, left, Marcy Gallner, Betty Sanford, B'NAI B'RITH BREADBREAKERS Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, the Phillip Klutznick Sandy Bromley, Maxine Simons, Doris Parker, Professor of Jewish Civilization will speak Tootie Simon; second row: Sally Fine, Marvin Wednesday, Oct. 16, noon, at the Park Inn and Dorothy Suvalsky, Paul Fine, Harry and Regency Lodge, according to Steve Riekes, Doris Alloy, Marvin Gerber, Rosalie and Breadbreakers Chairman. Cost full lunch $9; bev- Maurice Meiches, Fred Bromley, Elaine Feldman, Jim Wax and Milt Parker. erage service only, $2. Bring your friends!

Hal HolbrooL

J a y Noddle was among a group inducted into the Westside Hall of Fame last week. The annual dinner for Westside Community Schools also inducted Dr. Robert Henderson; David Scott and Kim and Fred Hawkins, Jr., were named Lighthouse Leaders; and Bill Carver and Warren Whitted, Jr., were honored as Co-chairmen for the Citizens of Excellence Committee.

Noddle is a 1976 graduate of WHS and founder and chairman of Pacific Realty Group. In 1990, he began Pacific Pals, a non-profit organization which provides enrichment programs for 6000+ children annually. The program recently partnered with the City of Omaha to help save the summer Sun Dawgs program.

He and his wife, Kim, are the parents of three children.

Residential Mortgage

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Often growing old or caring for an aging loved one brings up questions and concerns about finances, living arrangements, healthcare decisions, and ultimately loss. If these issues have been of concern to you, Jewish Senior Services Community Outreach invites you to a series of educational/informational sessions. The dates and topics are as follows: Thursday, Oct. 17: Attorney Mary Wilson will speak on Advanced Directives, Power of Attorney, and Spousal Impoverishment/Medicaid; Thursday, Oct. 24: Susan Murray, MSW, Medical Social Worker Geriatrics/Gerontology UNMC, Amy Birkel, Marketing Director for Remington Heights, and Bert Benson, CSW, Social Worker at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, will discuss living options for older adults as well as what issues need to be taken into consideration when making this decision.

Thursday, Nov. 7: "The Many Faces of Grief with Anne Marie Aita, chaplain for VNA Hospice, who will discuss the many ways people grieve.

All sessions will take place at 7 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center Social Hall. Call Shane Kotok 334-6529 with questions.

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Women's Campaign Kicks Off Centennial Jewish Press Sponsors Third Annual Campaign by Preserving Memories Hanukkah Coloring Contest

by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director-

The Women's 2003 Campaign Cabinet, including chairmen and division leaders, met recently to officially begin the annual Federation Campaign and share some personal Jewish stories at the Riekes Museum.

Co-chairmen Joanie Jacobson and Patty Nogg asked each woman to bring something that held special Jewish memories for them.

"The 100th anniversary of the Jewish Federation is not only something to celebrate, it's a time for us to reflect on our collective responsibility to preserve the incredible quality of Jewish life we enjoy in our community. If we remember how we got here, we can better understand and appreciate what we have to do to secure the next 100 years," Jacobson said.

by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor———— Once again, children and teens, ages 3-13, will have an opportunity to enter the Annual Hanukkah Coloring Contest, sponsored by this newspaper.

The winner will have his or her drawing reproduced in four-color on the front page of the Hanukkah Gift Guide, which will be published in the Nov. 15 issue of the Jewish Press. The first three entries received by the Press will also receive gift certificates to

more information, call the Press office, 334-6448.

The drawing below was submitted last year by Lee Lohman, son of Helene and Mike Lohman. He was seven-years-old at the time.

The deadline for this year's Hanukkah Coloring Contest is Friday, Nov. 1.

Countryside Village.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, Nov. 1.

Drawings must be on white paper, no larger than 8 l/2xll"-please use marker, not crayon. For

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Top left: Surrounded by artifacts Co-chairman for Heritage and from the Kapulir Shul in the Riekes Novak is Co-chairman for the Life Museum, Midge Bowers tells the Savers. Bottom left: Una Meyers story of a prayer book handed and Jill Baron, two of the Co-chairdown for generations through, her men for Young Women's Division, family. Bowers is a co-chairman for begin organizing volunteers for the the Heritage Division. Top right: Women's Campaign. Bottom right: Sue Millward catches tip with Rita 2003 Women's Division Co-chairNovak in t h e Friedel Jewish. men Joanie Jacobson and Patty Academy commons. Millward is Nogg.

ChabacJ House Hosts "Chodesh Series35

by DEVRA BRAM-———-—

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The Chabad House "Women of Chairmen for the program are Worth" classes have been expanded to Phyllis Aron and Eve Rabinovitzinclude meetings on the second Randone. For more information or to Thursday of each month. Beginning reserve you can either call Phyllis at Oct. 10, participants in the exciting 334-1059 or Eve at 345-1777, The new Chodesh Series will meet from cost, including lunch and materials is 11:45 a.m.-l:30 p.m., have lunch, par- $15 for a single class or $36 for the ticipate in a discussion of the day's three meetings in the series. topic, produce a memento to take The Thursday, Oct. 10 program is home, and plan activities for the next "Rosh Chodesh: The Woman's month's program.

Holiday." It includes a discussion of The initiative for this new program women's unique qualities and spiritucame from women throughout the ality as participants explore meancommunity who requested opportuni- ingful and practical ways of expressties to gain more Jewish knowledge in ing their Jewish female identity.

There will be a jewelry making an informal, fun forum.

"The name, Chodesh, was chosen demonstration and participants will because of the inherent connection make and take home a piece. that women have with the cycle of the The theme for the Nov. 14 program moon," explained Shani Katzman. "In is "Hanukkah" with a discussion of many instances women are compared the women's role and the miracle of to the moon. Rosh Chodesh, the first Hanukkah. Participants will have a day of the new Jewish month is the choice of several gifts or decorations. first day of the cycle of the moon.

The Dec. 12 program is centered "This has been a special holiday for around Shabbat and participants will women almost since the time we make beautiful velvet or silk challah became a nation," she added. "It was covers. Ideas and suggestions for a gift given to women for their expres- making Shabbat more special in our sion of faith and allegiance to G-d homes will be shared. when their male counterparts sinned Phyllis Aron is excited about the by creating the golden calf. Rosh possibilities of exploring many topics Chodesh is a celebration of the unique near and dear to women's hearts in qualities of Jewish women and G-d's this series. She said, "You and your appreciation of them. friends are invited to strengthen the "Traditionally, women refrained ties to our Jewish heritage. Join us from certain tasks, such as sewing, as we eat a little, learn a little, create mending, and laundry on Rosh a little, and take home more than can Chodesh to demonstrate their obser- be imagined both in our hands and in vance of this holiday," Katzman said. our heart."

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

October 11, 2002

Omaha Community Reflects on "Food andJudaism"

by ADRIAN GIBBONS KOESTERS, Creighton University

The topic of the 15 annual me what to do," she said. "At first, I KTutznick-Harris Symposium, "Food thought I'd never learn, but now and Judaism," to be held Sunday there's not much I can't cook if the and Monday, Oct. 27-28, prompted people want it," she added.

"The people I work with are nice, some questions to members of the local community regarding their own and I get along with just about everyexperiences of food and community. body," she said. "Of course, like in (For more information on the August when I had five bar or bat Klutznick Symposium, call 280-2303, mitzvahs, I could get frustrated, but it or visit our website at:: http^/puf- all works out," she added. "The fin.creighton. edu/klutznick/Klutz- Drazens were so kind and helpful, and nick2002.htm.)

Often it was the memories of food that were sparked when several local people were asked about their history and relationship with food.

"Of course, we celebrated the holidays, but what I remember most was Sunday night dinners at my grandmother's house," said Caryl Greenberg. "We gathered there nearly every week. My father _T . T _ „ ,. . , _ T ,, , Vera Lewis, left, Ben Magzamm and Reva would go grocery shopping „ , ' , ,, . .. , ., , , ,, J r +1. 4.

Ruderman prepare latkes in the kitchen at at the many delis that were ., > * n , .

1 J < T m j nc.n on 24th Street at the time. the old ' J ' for a JWV dinner .m ,,the, 1950s.

"My mother was a terrific cook," she now that the new rabbi has come in, added. "We always waited for her to I'm getting to know him, too."

Romi Palmon grew up in Israel. "I make duck-I know that's not what you think of as a traditional Jewish food, guess what I would say I miss the but her duck was fantastic." Along with most about Israeli food is the diversiwonderful potato dishes, Greenberg ty and the variety," she said. "Because remembers, "My mother also made a there were Jews from all over, I was Romanian corn meal mush dish exposed to so many kinds of cooking, (mamaliga) that doesn't sound like although my family was Czech and we prepared many of the traditional much, but was just delirious."

The theme of family, community, and Eastern European foods, like cholent reaching out to share a meal was and gefilte fish. repeated again and again.

"When I was a little girl, I would For example, Miriam Ben-Yaakov sleep over at an Egyptian friend's grew up in South Africa. Although she house, and have fill (fava beans) for has been in the U.S. for more than 20 breakfast," she said. "Then we might years, she still misses the strong go to a Greek friend's house for sense of sharing food with her extend- Shabbat and have a completely differed family. ent experience.

"We had many of the traditional "Everybody, every restaurant, had a Eastern European foods: kreplach, slightly different take on their humbahka, Hamantaschen, and it was all mus recipe," she continued. "And my made from scratch," she said. mother lives right next to a restauir Yet it was the sense of being togeth- rant where you can get the best er that was the best part," she added. cholent I've ever eaten," she added. "I "Though relationships with extended guess in Omaha it's not so much that families are complicated and some- you can't find products or ingredients, times painful, they are worth it." but that the quality of ready-made When asked if there is anything she'd foods is lacking." like that she can't get in Omaha, she Mary Fellman said that Pesach is replied with a laugh, "My mother's probably her favorite holiday. "Yet cooking. since my husband passed away and "The feelings of love, sharing, and my children all live out of town, I caring with other family members- made the decision that I would always there is nothing like it," she said. have company for Shabbat dinner," One integral person at Beth El who she said. "I light the candles and say isn't Jewish has had a profound the traditional prayers, and we have impact on the food consumption of challah. Then I start out with a delicountless people at the synagogue. cious chicken matza ball soup, followed Miss Lucy White said when she first by a roasted chicken in sweet and sour started out, "I didn't know anything! sauce. I serve that with cabbage rolls But there were many ladies, lots of and meatballs in a tomato sauce. them have passed now, who showed "It's all delicious," she added. "But

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the most important thing is to share it with others."

She continued, "I can't say that there is any one particular tradition that I would like to see handed down.

My grandchildren were all well educated in Hebrew schools, and the oldest is in college now," she said.

"But if our children listen to us, if they are observant, and most of all, if they stay well, those are the important things," she said. "What more could we ask for?"

What more, indeed?

BOB. OBEBMAN'S MEAT BALLS 2 lbs. ground beef 2 cans Manischewitz tomatomushroom sauce 1/2 cup chopped onions (optional) 1 tbsp brown sugar 2 eggs 2 cups Rotella's bread crumbs or inatzo meal In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, onion, eggs, brown sugar and bread crumbs. Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil; spray with Pam. Shape mixture into small to medium size meat balls. Place meat balls on cookie sheet. Bake at 350" for about 10 minutes until just barely brown.

Remove meatballs from cookie sheet and place them in a large pot. Cover meatballs with tomato mushroom sauce. Simmer slowly until fully cooked, about 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy with mashed potatoes!.

CAROL KATZMAN'S KOSHER TUNA AND SALMON SUSHI Sushi is a nice change from gefilte fish as a starter for a Shabbat meal or makes a nice meal in itself with the addition ofmiso soup or a salad, with sliced fruit for dessert.

1 pkg. Eden nori (O-U dried seaweed, available at Wild Oats) 2 cups cooked sushi rice (Star-K sushi rice available at SuperTarget) 1/4 lb. tuna steak 1/4 salmon fillet, skinned 1 avocado, peeled and sliced and marinated in lemon juice 3 stalks of spring onion (scallion) dried dill weed and black pepper to taste 1 tbsp. reconstituted O-U Eden wasabi (green Japanese horseradish powder, available at Wild Oats) Cook sushi rice according to directions (don't use any other kind of rice as sushi rice is sticky and won't fall out of the sushi rolls when cut).

In the meantime, cut the tuna and salmon into long strips, about 1/2 inch wide, and marinate in a little lemon juice. Sprinkle with black pepper and dill weed to taste.

Reconstitute the wasabi powder according to directions and set aside.

To roll the sushi, remove one sheet of the nori and place on a clean dry cutting board. Place a handful (literally) of the sticky sushi rice on the nori and, with wet hands, spread to cover the nori within an inch of the four edges. Place 2 strips of salmon lengthwise on the rice close to the edge nearest you. Place 2-3 pieces of avocado on top of the salmon.

Spread no more than 1/4 tsp of the wasabi lengthwise across the middle.

With wet hands, carefully roll up the sushi roll and set aside. Continue this process until all the salmon is used.

For the tuna, follow the same process, using the spring onion instead of the avocado. (Peeled, seeded cucumber slices may be substituted.)

When the sushi rolls are finished.

Clean the cutting board and with a sharp knife, cut the slices into pieces about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.

Serve with a small mound of reconstituted wasabi and pickled ginger (I haven't found any kosher pickled ginger in Omaha and purchased a jar in Miami at a kosher butcher.)

This serves four people as a main meal; serve with salad and miso soup (see recipe below), or serves 8-10 as an appetizer.

MISO SOUP 1 package of frozen spinach, defrosted 1/2 onion sauteed in 1 tbsp. of olive oil, drained 3 cups of chicken stock (real or pareve-depending whether it's a meat or dairy meal) 2 tbsp. miso (also available from Wild Oats--in the dairy section) 1 package firm tofu, diced (available at all local supermarkets) Heat the chicken stock in a mediumsize pan. When it comes to a boil, add the spinach and onion. Turn down the heat to low and'add the miso; stir to dissolve. Add the tofu and heat for an additional minute. Serves 4-6.

RINI GONSHER'S MAPLE SYRUP TURKEY 1 8-10 lb .frozen turkey, thawed in refrigerator for 2-3 days 1 bottle maple syrup 2 onions sliced This is the easiest recipe on the planet! Clean the turkey; put 1/2 of the sliced onions inside the bird and place it breast side down on the rest of the onions in a foil lined pan, sprayed with Pam. Drizzle the maple syrup on top and cover loosely with foil.

Baste every 1/2 hour; when skin starts to brown, remove foil cover and finish cooking, approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes to 3.5 hours or until juices run clear.

Let cool for 15 minutes to reabsorb juices, then slice. Pour juices from pan over the sliced turkey and serve. Can be made ahead of time and reheated or frozen. Serves 10-12.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

More Musical Mentshen

Hazzan's First Lessons

by R. Bernard Mann, Legacy Crosswords, © 2002 •

(Continued from page 1) '""—"——"" As he transforms his listeners into participants, Hazzan Tasat blends his understanding of music and culture with his love of rhythm and melody. His appeal to audiences of diverse backgrounds and ages has taken him from the Kennedy Center Concert Hall; the Israeli Embassy; the Italian Consulate in New York City; Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island; Harvard University; France; and Finland.

Trained in five countries, Tasat studied at the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, the only rabbinical seminary in Latin America. He received his "musical foundation" at the Manuel de Falla Conservatory of Music.

In 1986, Tasat came to Austin, Texas, to visit a friend. Curious, Tasat visited the music department of the University of Texas and asked to talk to a voice instructor who, Tasat learned later, was a professor. He asked Tasat to sing and was so impressed that he invited others associated with the music department to listen to Tasat. He was offered a scholarship which he accepted. In 1993, Tasat was awarded a doctoral degree in musical arts from the University of Texas.

He said he didn't plan to become a hazzan although he had been singing in the choir at his synagogue since the age of ten. At 14, the synagogue, which had several hazzanim, asked Tasat. to fill in for one during the High Holy Days. "I always listened to the hazzanim practice," Tasat said. His Hebrew was "good enough" thanks to his Jewish Day School education.

From those beginnings, Tasat

ACROSS 1. ski 6. Basic koi 10. Leander's love 14. BLOCH'S SUITE HEBRAIQUE FOR 15. Author of A Death in the Family 16. Texas Rangers shortstop,' for short 17. Admiral Bobby Ray 18. Industrial river basin 19. Dies 20. Caught in a police scheme 21. BEVERLY/JEROME 23. Early computer action film 25. Anne of Green Gables author Montgomery's middle name (pi.)

26. YEHUDI 30. Nation of Tor. and Queb.

31. Assented in prayer 32. AMERICAN JEWISH (has a few musicians, surely!)

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61. BILLY (JOEL)'S 'FACE TO FACE' TOURING PARTNER 62. Scale base weight 63. Legendary political cartoonist 64. British university or city

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4. Distinctive flair 5. DAVID DID IT, WITH HIS LEVITE CHOIRS 6. British architect 7. Once more 8. "Oh, get 9. YITZCHAK 10. VERSE FORM RECENTLY RECAST IN JEWISH HUMOR 11. Made a booboo 12. Some crowd sounds 13. Town near Burt Lake, Michigan 22. WHAT DAVID DID, IN THE LARGER SENSE 24.

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How Huey, Dewey, and Louey 29. address Donald 30. Camp bed 32. One used to hang from Bogart's lip Structural Integration founder 33.

34. Warhol film star Sedgwick 35. S. Carol, river 36. As in drink-slurred speech, "Sho he to me ..."

38.

Response to quest.

41. GREAT VIOLINIST, including abbrev. first name 42. Gvarim, in English 44. Abe was " Print or electronic 45.

Heat 46.

47. Vapid 48. Sound or love one outta here!", 49. " bleacher cry 50. Comic character Kett 52. , Can-do condition 53. Speck

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Page 9

became a hazzan serving five congregations in Argentina and the United States. Now he is associated with Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He has been on television and radio and offers a spectrum of lectures, workshops, and programs ranging from "A Concert for Peace" to "Lullabies in Jewish Tradition," and "Echoes of Sepharad" to "The Music of Modern Israel." Describing his performance, a listener said, "Ramon Tasat's professionalism, teaching, warmth, and voice filled our sanctuary and our hearts with ruach (spirit) and joy."

Having appeared in numerous opera productions including "Le Nozze di Figaro," "II Impressario," and "La Traviata," Hazzan Tasat has drawn worldwide acclaim. He has won numerous awards including first place at the Montpelier Cultural Arts Center's Recital Competition and a National Endowment of the Arts grant.

Hazzan Tasat has written a book, Sephardic Songs for All, and made several recordings. His first recording of Sephardic music was released when his grandmother was 86. "I gave her a copy," only to be told the lyrics were wrong, he recalled. "Sephardic songs were all transmitted by oral tradition," Tasat said. "Nothing was written down" which lead him to realize that his lyrics weren't wrong. "They were just a different version" than what my grandmother sang.

Temple's Music Fund is sponsoring Ramon Tasat as the hazzan-in-residence.

2002 Jewish Film Festival Omaha

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•Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

October 11, 2002

First of Women's Campaign House Parties Begins with Religion/State Issues

Klezmer Music & the internet

by JILL BELMONT — —

by MARK M1ETK1EWICZ——

..——»—

Do you wonder what the big deal is about observing a moment of silence in our public schools? Are you ho-hum about the use of school vouchers and their effect on public education? Do you shrug your shoulders when you hear that the Easter Bunny made an appearance in your child's classroom? Do you think it's okay to teach "intelligent design" (also known as "creationism") alongside evolution in science classes?

These questions, along with others concerning the potential erosion of the separation of religion and state in our country, will be discussed at the first "90-Minute House Party" on Oct. 15, sponsored by the Jewish Federation Women's Campaign. With the theme "Up for Discussion: What's the Big Deal?", the party will be facilitated by longtime political activist Carol Bloch, and hosted by Jody Malashock, Toba Cohn and Keri Workman. The get-together will be held at 10 a.na. and 7 p.m. (to accommodate everyone's schedules), at the Malashock home, 13019 Charles St. "The purpose of this discussion group is to help Jewish women become more aware of the religionand-state issues we face locally and nationally, discuss how they affect our lives, and give participants some tools to help them become advocates for issues that are important to them," said Bloch, whose community service has included a 10-year stint as National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section's State Public Affairs Chairwoman, six years on NCJW's national board, and 13 years on the board of Planned Parenthood of Omaha-Council Bluffs. In addition, her volunteer involvement has included the Jewish Federation Board, Jewish Family Service and Voices for Children.

"My biggest concern is that so many people are apathetic about issues such as prayer in school and faith-based initiatives, or think that someone else will speak out for them. We need to be better informed and more willing to play a small part. If we don't make our voices heard, someone else with opposing views certainly will."

For example, she said, by working through the public schools to spread their agenda—which includes the eradication of sexuality education, censorship of library and text books, and the introduc-

—

;

—

This is an article about "Tzimmes" and "Kugel".

"About Hot Latkes" and "Schnapps". And of course, about "Raisins and Almonds".

No, it's not about Jewish cooking. But how Klezmer music is cooking around the world thanks to groups like Tzimmes-www.tzimmes.net/, Kugel—http://members.aol.com/shawnktigel/ kugel.html,Schnapps—http://goanna.cs.rmit. edu.au/~isaac/schnapps/ and many, many others.

There is no better place to start your hunt for just about anything Klezmer than at Ari Davidow's Klezmer Shack~www.klezmershack.com/. This massive site is dedicated to all aspects of contemporary Klezmer music with sections devoted to KlezNews, KlezCalendar and KlezLinks. Davidow also provides a concise and readable history of the rebirth of Klezmer music and defines what Klezmer music is (and isn't)-www.klezmershack.com/articles/aboutklez.html.

"It's balkans and blues, ancient Jewish culture and prayer and history, spirit and jazz all mixed together. Good klezmer, and the music inspired by it, demands that one dance... Some of it lies with an approach to playing that I still don't know how to describe, but includes a lot of Central~and Eastern European riffs and that mysterious "krechts"... that soulful burst of intensity that the lead musician, often a clarinet, will play, almost like an instrumental complaint."

The late Leo Rosten explained in the Joys of Yiddish: "The word Klezmer comes from two Hebrew words, clay and zimmer, meaning vessel of music or song. The idea is that the instrument i.e. the violin, clarinet, takes on human characteristics like laughing and crying. With a joyous exuberance or a soulful wailing"--www.users.drew.edu/jbazewic/hst/klesmer.html.

Back at Klezmer Shack, there are dozens of articles on such topics as Klezmer Drumming, Klezmer Music Theory and an piece from the San Francisco Chronicle on a city where the music is surprisingly popular: "In Today's Berlin, It's Hip to be Klezmer.

The playful Jewish music is the rage in Germany's biggest city, and a community once wiped out is getting back on its feet."--www.klezmershack.com/ contacts/klezwords.html.

Klezmer's popularity is an international phenomenon. Klezmer music has been celebrated at KlezFest in St. Petersburg, Mazltov! In Holland and the Israeli Fest in Tzfat. One of the largest parWriter — - - . . ~ . ~ * m » ^ - ^ ^ ties was held over the Labor Day weekend with the Shemesh, said Levitas, 42.

Ashkenaz Festival-www.ashkenazfestival.org/.

Not only does Levitas live in that community with Do you want to track down a great Klezmer clarhis wife and four children, but Solomon lives there, inetist you heard on a CD or maybe assemble your the printer of the cards and activity books is located own Klezmer band? KlezContacts has e-mail there and the man who is making the wooden puzzles addresses for everybody whols anybody in Klezmer for the boxes—a former chief financial officer at an m u s i c w w w . k l e z m e rshack.com/klezconIsraeli high-tech company-'also hails from tacts.html.

And you can find almost 150 Klezmer Washington's sister city. (The maker of the box itself links at the Klezmer Ring-httpt//s.webring.org/ is elsewhere in Israel.) webring?ring=klezmer;list.

Susan Levin, executive director of Hadassah's So is it time for you to try you hand at some Greater Washington chapter, said Levitas' project Klezmer?

The Klezmaniancs say "Yes, you too can appealed to her immediately because of the Beit learn how to become a klezmer musician. You too.

Shemesh connection. While Hadassah does not have can enjoy all of the fame, wealth, and groupies a formal connection itself to the town, "we're part of which are the natural right of this status (though the Washington community," and that includes "suphow much this amounts to is a question you shouldporting our local sister city." n't ask.)"

Levin said the gift-box project allows families an Here are their three tips: opportunity to help out Israel in a "hands-on, very positive" way. A portion of the proceeds from the box •9 Be born Jewish. Helpful but not essential.

Listen to LOTS of Klezmer music. will go toward Hadassah's projects in Israel.

9 And pick up an instrument. If you're going to be To order a Hanukkah gift box, call 301-585-7772, a klezmer, you shouldn't be shy. . fax 301-585-7775 or e-mail: bigchapter.washingMark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based television tondc@hadassah.org and include a contact number. producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the The deadline for ordering is Nov. 10; the boxes will be Jewish Internet. He can be contacted at highdelivered on Nov. 14. way@rogers.com. tion of prayers and religious teachings—religious-right extremists are attempting to impose their views on the rest of society.

"The constitution was written to protect the minority relinot the ( gions, j majority," Bloch i said.

"If we believe that the Carol Bloch separation of religion and state is essential to preserving religious freedom, then we need to become more vigilant in our effort to maintain that freedom. As Jewish women, we must learn to protect our right and that of our families, to practice freedom of religion without also having to practice other religions in our schools or in other public places."

Jewish Federation Women's Campaign Co-chairman Joanie Jacobson said she expects the upcoming party will be thought-provoking and enlightening.

"We're very excited to have Carol serving as facilitator of this house party. She is bright, informed, focused and respected, and we owe it to ourselves, our community and our children to be there on Oct. 15!"

The house party is free to all women in the Jewish community, and there will be no solicitation of funds. Reservations are required immediately, and may be made by mail, to: Marcy Noodell at 16018 Wakely St., Omaha NE 68118, by calling her at 697-1262, or via e-mail, at: fanofthejayhawks@hotmail.com.

Upcoming house parties include "The Art of Tzedakah" on Oct. 29, at the Friedel Jewish Academy; "A Jewish Book Swap," on Nov. 12, at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library; and "Kindred Spirits" on Dec. 10, at the home of Andi Willensky, 16299 California St.

Project to Benefit Businesses in Israel

by ERIC FINGERHLJT, Washington Jewish Week, Staff

WASHINGTON-The Jewish holidays may have just finished, but Rich Levitas already wants people to start thinking about Hanukkali.

Levitas is spearheading a project that will give local Jews an opportunity to support Israeli businesses and assist residents in Beit Shemesh, the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington's sister community in Israel.

When the former high-tech professional in Northern Virginia moved to Beit Shemesh two years ago, he started his own tech company. But with the worldwide collapse of the tech industry, as well as the political situation in the Middle East, his business has not taken off as he had hoped, So Levitas, a former Baltimore resident, is looking for a new venture—and to boost other Israeli businesses as well. He hopes he's found it in a Hanukkah gift box for children ages 6-10.

Priced at $36, the gift box will include Songs From the Holy Land, a CD by Shlock Rock's Lenny Solomon; a card game featuring Israeli people and places; a 40-page activity book filled with crossword puzzles, word-finds and other Israel-related games; and a wooden-crafted Hanukkah puzzle/game.

A "nice percentage" of the money will go to Beit

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B'nai B'rith Internationa! President Opens Klutznick Exhibit

by JOAN K. MARCUS

—

Joel S. Kaplan, International B'nai B'rith President, said it is not okay to be Jewish today. In an address to Breadbreakers last week, Kaplan noted that people who grew up after World War II had it easy in terms of Jewish life. "It was really tup' to be Jewish. We were socially 'cool and acceptable' and everybody said nice things about us. It was publicly unacceptable, particularly in America, to be anti-Semitic."

Kaplan, a graduate of New York University Law School and a practicing attorney in Garden City, New York, was recently elected to head B'nai B'rith International, an organization with members in 58 countries. B'nai B'rith is the world's best-known Jewish organization, advocating for human rights, community action and humanitarian issues.

Kaplan's grandchildren will not grow up in an environment that is accepting of Jewish people. "It's now socially okay in many parts of western Europe to have drawing room conversations that are clearly anti-Semitic. And then, we have an enormous growth of the Muslim population-outside Muslim countries. (This behavior) is all over the world and particularly in France."

Muslims are gaining. •—•—5 ——-—~more and more influence | because their numbers are growing. "This is only proper," Kaplan admitted.

"But, in terms of giving them this political influ-' ence, certain political issues that should be treated fairly by western I European unions are not.

The bias is so great, as it • is in the United Nations, j we hear comment after • comment that disregards the truth and doesn't weigh the facts.

"If you combine the growing Muslim population and the antiSemitism that arises from political power and add into the pot a mix of people who tolerate us reluctantly, that makes for a potent force!" Kaplan added. "When you add to that the number of Jews at the center of the Jewish population who don't really identify with being Jewish and pretend they

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B'nai B'rith Sponsors Essay Contest

by JEWISH PRESS News Service

In conjunction with the Philip Klutznick traveling museum exhibit, the Henry Monsky Lodge of B'nai B'rith is sponsoring a community-wide essay contest on leadership. Cash prizes will be awarded at three levels: Middle School, $100; High School, $200; College-Adult, $250.

The topic, "Making a Difference: Jewish Leadership in the Last 100 Years" was selected to promote the concept of leadership and encourage exploration of our Omaha Jewish community.

Although any aspect of the topic can be written about in the 500-750 word essay, the judges will give greater weight to essays that use references from the Klutznick exhibit or the Kripke Jewish Federation Library.

Deadline is Oct. 23 at the Kripke Library. More details can be obtained from the library, synagogue schools, or by calling B'nai B'rith at 3346443.

'I.*

• > . " " -

friends of the non-Jewish, community and we have to hope that, in spite of the growing influence, there will be fair-minded people all over the world." , When it comes to the Middle East, members of B'nai B'rith feel that Arafat has "worn out his ," welcome." He cannot make peace-even if he wanted.

President Bush should be supported in terms of his move to suppress Iraq and 1 B'nai B'rith has sent a letter stating their position.

Other goals that Kaplan has for his administration include a "hands-on" senior program that will include social security i advocacy and reaching out | to serve seniors who are alone.

Since there are many elderly people who find themselves far away from their families, Kaplan wants to start programs to "reach out and touch these people."

Assistance to BBYO, the

B>rith Youth Left: Joel S. Kaplan spoke about the mission B ' n a i of B'nai B'rith and reminisced about the late Organizations needs to be Philip Klutznick, a former Omahan who also continued because chilserved as P r e s i d e n t of B'nai B'rith d r e n a r e o u r f u t u r e - lt 1S International. Above: Joel Kaplan, left, meets imperative that we meet "Mr. B'nai B'rith", Eddie Rosen, at o u r P l e d 2 e t o t h e m > b o t h Breadbreakers. Prof. Leonard Greenspoon, emotionally and fmancialwho holds the Klutznick Chair in Jewish l?>"he i n s i s t e d : Civilization at Creighton University, por- In addition to continuing man trayed Klutznick at the exhibit's opening. y e x i t m g f n£f B n t h programs. Kaplan hopes to do not notice that this anti-Semitism is happening, "galvanize" the entire Jewish community. "The terthose of us that do identify, face very hard times." rible truth is that it makes no difference to an, antiB'nai B'rith supports a Center for Public Policy Semite that you are Reform, Orthodox, that continuously seeks out and speaks to members Conservative or Reconstructionist.

He just cares of the United States Congress and parliamentary that you're Jewish. and legislative members from countries all over the "We need to be united in order to stand up to these world. people!"

Says Kaplan, "We try to do things for Jews and At the opening of the Klutznick exhibit that other countries that will make friends for the evening, Kaplan called for Jewish Americans to get Jewish community." involved, according to Henry Monsky Lodge In Latin America, for example, B'nai B'rith pro- President Gary Javitch. moted the North American Trade Agreement for The exhibit, in the Gallery of the Jewish those nations that wanted it. They sent medicines to Community center for the rest of this-month, highArgentina and Uruguay. In Eastern European coun- lights the life and times of the legendary leader, Phil tries such as Lithuania, Holocaust Information Klutznick. Not only did Klutznick serve as a B'nai Programs have opened to acknowledge what hap- B'rith International President and a founder of pened and help to educate.

AZA, he was also Secretary of Commerce under Kaplan says, "We are doing everything that we President Jimmy Carter and a United Nations can but we can't do it alone. We've got to make Ambassador under President Kennedy.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

October 11, 2002

Beth Israel Breaks Ground for New Synagogue (Continued from page 1)

'5

Photos clockwise from top left: Last Sunday, Donald Gerber, Immediate Past-president of Beth Israel, shared his thoughts on this historic event before digging; Jan Goldstein, Jewish Federation Executive Director, said to the crowd, "Chazak!

Chazak!

Venischazeik!

Be strong, be strong! And may we be strengthened." Ground breakers prepare to take up their shovels in front of

the sign showing the new Beth Israel Synagogue Building: Paul Shyken, left, Beth Cohen, Donald Gerber, Harold Cooperman and his assistants on either side of him. (Others given the honor of breaking ground included: Maury Katzman, Ann Moskovits, Irv Epstein, Jan Goldstein, Rick Katzman, Dean Frankel, representing the Carl Frohm Foundation, and Deborah Platt,

^

for the Dan Gordman Fund.)

Rabbi Howard Kutner addresses the crowd. Synagogue President David Kohll reads a letter from the Executive Vice-president of the Orthodox Union which sent congratulations to the congregation and the Omaha Jewish community. Madeline Aufseeser, left, Susie Shyken, and Jerry Gordman chat before the ceremony begins. Joe Kirshenbaum

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Moving Beyond Grief and Loss

PEOPLE W H O READ NEWSPAPERS ARE

by STEVEN STIEL, Director, Jewish Family Service —

Page 13

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

In my work as a mental health professional, I have seen many clients dealing with the loss of a loved one. Even though each person's experience of loss is unique, there are some predictable stages that most people experience.

In her groundbreaking work, On Death and Dying, psychiatrist Elisabeth Ktibler-Ross outlined five stages of grieving: • Shock a n d Denial: The first reaction to loss is often the inability to feel anything. This may include feeling numb, weak, overwhelmed, anxious, not yourself, or withdrawn.

• Anger: Blaming yourself or others for the loss.

Bargaining: "If you'll just let him live, 111 promise to go to synagogue on Shabbat for the rest of my life."

• Depression: Feeling deep sadness, disturbed sleep and eating patterns, thoughts of suicide, excessive crying.

• Acceptance: Beginning to look for the lessons of the experience.

Kxibler-Ross said that the grieving process involves experiencing all five stages, although not always in this order. She also said that people often cycle back and forth through a number of the stages before coming to the stage of acceptance.

Recovering from loss—some key points: 8 You are responsible for your own grief process.

No one can tell you how to grieve, and no one will do your grieving for you. It is hard work and you must manage the process by yourself.

• The grief process has a purpose. It is to help you learn to accept the reality of the loss and to learn from the experience. s Remind yourself that your grief will end. You will not feel like this forever. You will heal.

9 Take care of your health. Grief is extremely stressful, and it requires energy to manage the stress.

8 Be careful with food and drink. While it may be tempting to numb the pain with food and drink, this can lead to the additional problems of alcohol dependence and overweight. Also, numbing the pain means you are prolonging denial. This will make your grieving process longer.

0 Talk about the person who is no longer in your life. People sometimes avoid talking about the loss as a denial mechanism. However, this prolongs denial and the grieving process.

8 Take time to be alone. In the days and weeks following the loss of a loved one, there is often a flurry of activity with many visitors and phone calls. Added to the stress of your loss, this can be completely exhausting. People will understand if

you don't answer the phone for an afternoon or go to Frank L Ciciulla Jr. your room and close the door for a while.

8 Maintain a normal routine if you can. You have 60 Years Experience enough changes in your life right now. Try to get up With Jewish in the morning, go to bed at night, and take your Lettering and Memorials meals at the same times you usually do.

1439 So. 13th • Ask for help. You will need it. If you don't want to be alone, or if you want someone to take you 341-2452 It all starts with Newspaper somewhere,- it is okay to ask. People don't expect you to be self-sufficient right now.

8 Let people help you. People want to help PRINTING, because it gives them a way to express their feelCOPYING and DIGITAL NETWORK ings. Staying connected with people is especially important now, and accepting help is a way of staying connected.

• Keep a journal of your feelings and experiences Letterhead • Brochures a Newsletters during the grief process. Writing about your feelBusiness Cards • Mailers • Postcards ings helps you express them, rather than keeping them inside. It also gives you something to remember and review in the future, which you will appreciate.

8 Avoid making extreme life changes after a major loss. Don't make any important decisions until your life feels more balanced. It can be tempting to make some important changes right after a Residential • Commercial • Insured major loss as an effort to feel more in control. If you ALSO help with dinner parties {serve & clean-up) can, put off such changes and decisions until later.

9 Don't hurry your grief process. People some- I Story Lewis 402/321-3995 Cell "702/3254102 J times want to put their feelings and memories behind them because they are painful.

Nevertheless, grieving takes time, and there are no shortcuts.

Mike Colin • Remind yourself that although grief hurts, it.

New Car Sales will not harm you. Grief is painful, but you will survive and even grow from the experience.

808 North 102nd Street • Expect to regress in your recovery process from Westroads Omaha, NE 68114 time to time. This is normal. It may happen unexPorsche 402/397-8200 pectedly, but it probably won't last long.

Lincoln * Mercury 8 800/634-3768 Acknowledge the anniversary of your loss by Volkswagen cell: 402/305-6133 taking the day off or doing something special. Have Mazda ° Audi www.sfanolsenauto.com supportive people ready to be with you. It could be a difficult day and it's better not to be alone.

To provide support for those grieving the death of a loved one, Jewish Family Service and Jewish.

Senior Service is conducting a five-session grief support group. Shane Kotok and I will facilitate the group. If you have experienced a loss within the last three years, you are invited to join us on ity Crafted Jew Sunday, Oct.13, 10:15-11:45 a.m. in the JFS conference room. (If you are unsure if this group is right for you, I suggest that you attend the first session to make that determination.) There is no cost www.shirtal.com for the group.

Oakview Mat! - Lower Level Younker's Wing

Hadassah Plans HMO Donor Luncheon

New Beth El Members to Be Honored

by NANCY WOLF

____

.

The Omaha Chapter of Hadassah, the Zionist Women's Organization, is planning a luncheon for Wednesday, Oct. 30,11:45 a.m., to raise funds and awareness for the Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel. With that in mind, the theme of the program is physical health and fitness. A variety of salads will be served and speakers will discuss ways to improve our physical and emotional well-being.

Joel Schlessinger, M.D. will provide information on ways to rejuvenate our looks. Improved and healthy skin can and does make us feel better. The latest news on the use of botox will be shared, along with its benefits and advantages. He will be available to answer questions you may have about ways you can look and feel younger.

Michelle Streif, Certified Personal Trainer, will explain exercises designed to increase bone density.

We are all aware that exercise is healthy, and increased bone density will decrease the risk of osteoporosis. Streif will share ideas for" some exercises we all can benefit from-all we need to do is set the priority and to fit into our schedules!

Jewish Community Center Fitness Trainer, Sharon Lindstrom, will bring along some "toys", to show us how to improve our balance. Balls and such are used in various ways during exercise to strengthen muscles and improve balance.

Do yourself a favor and join us on Oct. 30. Your donation to the Hadassah Medical Organization will provide much needed funds for the ever increasing demands for medical care in Israel. The lunch is $10 per person. Send your reservations to me at: 16620 Vinton Circle, Omaha, NE 68130.

isiiiiis BETTER GRADES

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——

——»

Beth El Synagogue's first Friday Night Shabbat Dinner of the Jewish year, 5763, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25, 6 p.m. New members of the congregation will be guests.

The evening will begin with a joyous, spirited Kabbalat Shabbat service led by Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Cantor Emil Berkovits and Gaston Bogomolni, Beth El's Ritual Director, and will be followed by a traditional Shabbat dinner.

"This relaxed and warm welcome to Shabbat is designed for the entire Beth El family as well as our friends in the community," said Kathy Schmitt, Beth El's Program Director. "No reservations are needed for services, of course, but table assignments will be made for dinner so please call the Beth El office--492-8550~

by Oct. 15 to save a place at the Shabbos table for you and your group."

New Beth El members being honored at the Oct. 25 dinner include: David and Patricia Adler and their children, Laura and Kevin; Josif and Klara Elkin; Jarold and Gail Kohll; Alan and Deborah Kricsfeld, and their son, Samuel; Boris and Khaya May; Allan Noddle; Sidney and Maureen Rosenblatt; Abe Schloff; Mark and Susan Stein, and their children, Matthew and Emilie.

The Beth El's Friday Night Shabbat Dinners are sponsored by the synagogue's Family Programming Committee chaired by Rhonda Saferstein.

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Page 14

October 11, 2002

by BERT LEWIS

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So tell me kids, how good are you when it comes to keeping a secret? I mean, can you really keep your mouth shut when somebody tells you something and makes you promise you won't repeat it?

That sounds very simple, but I have found, it's not necessarily an easy promise to keep. At the very least, when the news is finally no longer the private property of the informant, the temptation to say, "Oh, I've known that for weeks, but I promised not to tell," is great.

That's called "bragging rights." You don't know that, phrase? It means you accomplished something successfully and now you can brag about it. Of course bragging is never considered a very nice trait, but on the other hand, a well kept secret deserves some credit. In a case like this, while I dislike bragging in any form, I can allow the bragger a little leeway.

Let's get back to the part where we are told, or learn in some other way, a real secret-such as a piece of information that really would cause hurt or damage to somebody if made public. That's where giving your word not to tell, really counts.

Sometimes a secret gets "out" by accident, in a perfectly innocent way.

It happened to me not long ago, when I was in the office of a man I know. We had concluded our business and as I was leaving, he picked up a piece of mail, opening it as he told me goodbye. Suddenly, he said, "Oh look, this is from So-and-So, the youngest of the Chiam-Yankel family. Remember him?" Of course I did, and while I was saying so, the man behind the desk suddenly blurted out, "Wow, he just bought out the Whatchacallit franchise! I didn't know about that, did you?"

Then, before I could answer him, he said, "Oh-oh, wait a minute. This is supposed to be a secret!" He squirmed for a minute, until I assured him the news was safe with me, and it is.

Actually, I always could keep a secret, but these days, my memory makes it a lot easier. Yes, I admit, I hear pieces of information and often as not, dismiss them from my important-to-remember mental file. Well, I digress, as usual. The point of the little anecdote is that sometimes we hear what we shouldn't and in that way, learn something that's none of our business.

Whatever the reason, it's good for the character to keep silent when you've promised. My late Mom, who was a no-nonsense kind of gal, would say of somebody who told everything they knew, "He can't keep a thing on his stomach!" I guess that says it all.

The last word on the subject? Shhhhh.

BIRTHS Larry and Julie Widman of Minot, ND proudly announce the Sept. 27 birth of their daughter, Sophie Blair.

Sophie has a big brother, Bennett, age 4.

Grandparents are Dee Caniglia and the late Harold "Skee" Fisher of Omaha, the late Bruce Horwich of Omaha, Stan and Barb Widman of Omaha, and Carole and Phil Wizer of Redlands, CA. Rabbi Baruch and Ariela HaLevi of Des Moines announce the Sept. 8 birth of their son, Yehuda Samuel.

Grandparents are Jan and Howard Goldstein of Omaha, Shelly and Paula Perelman of Detroit, MI, Jim and Gail Kelch and Linda and Rob Kaufman of Los Angeles, CA. Great-grandparents are Florence and Jack Brody, Harold and Rose Perelman of Omalia, the late Ruth Perelman, Ann Dach of Los Angeles, CA, and the late Steven Dach.

by JENNIFER MEYERSON

-

It's hard to believe that Hanukkah is only seven weeks away! Jewish Family Service is once again preparing, along with community volunteers, to purchase, pack and deliver holiday gifts and food to Jewish families in need.

Project Dreidel helps local children, ages birth through high school, receive new gifts for Hanukkah. We will be wrapping and sorting gifts on Sunday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and packing food and gifts into boxes on Monday, Nov. 26. All gifts and food will be delivered the next morning, Nov. 27. This Hanukkah we expect to help approximately 60 individuals and families enjoy a Happy Hanukkah season.

To donate to Project Dreidel, you may bring an unwrapped, new item to the JFS office until Nov. 22. Suggestions for gifts include: books, family board games, clothing, gift certificates, puzzles and toys. You may also sponsor an anonymous individual or family. Cash donations are also greatly appreciated.

If you, your family, or your organization is looking to help others, this is a wonderful way to reach out to individuals in our community, as well as teach our children, grandchildren and remind ourselves about the mitzvah of tzedakah. Many B'nai Mitzvah, as well as high school students needing community service hours, have found Project Dreidel to be a unique opportunity to make a difference in someone's life.

Please call me at JFS for more information on sponsoring a child, volunteering, or receiving food/gifts for Project Dreidel; 330-2024. We thank you for your continued support and generosity with this important mitzvah project.

lEKHBHMHi 8

The governor of New Jersey is seeking the power to fire the state's poet laureate, who read a poem insinuating that Israel knew in advance about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Legislation giving the governor the authority to end Amiri Baraka's two-year term could be introduced as early as Monday, Gov. James McGreevey said Sunday. Last month, McGreevey demanded Baraka's resignation after the poet read "Somebody Blew Up America" at a recent festival, but Baraka refused to resign. McGreevey then tried to fire him, but the attorney general ruled he did not have the authority. The poem asked, "Who knew the World Trade Center was gonna get bombed/Who told 4,000 Israeli workers at the Twin Towers/To stay home that day/Why did Sharon stay away?"

• The U.S. Jewish population has declined by 5 percent during the past 10 years. The total Jewish population in the United States now stands at 5.2million, according to the just-released National Jewish Population Survey 2000-2001. The decline in the number of Jews, from 5.5 million in 1990, is a trend likely to continue, given the aging Jewish population and low birth rates. Jewish women who are approaching the end of their childbearing years, ages 40-44, have had approximately 1.8 children, which is below the replacement level of2.1, according to the new survey.

• Yeshiva University plans to begin awarding scholarships from a multimillion dollar bequest to the school. The scholarship/loan fund was created after Anne Scheiber, a retired New York civil servant, left $22 million to the school when she died in 1995. The. bequest was invested during extended probate hearings and is now worth $36 million.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 15

's

Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN — — — - ~ ^ ~ w ^ ^ - - .

In case you would like to try the food of Spain before joining the Temple Israel's February trip or if you would like to take an armchair trip to this beautiful country, here are two wonderful new cookbooks for you..fasten your seatbelts for a delicious journey.

My Kitchen in Spain is from Janet Mendel (HarperCollins, $34.95). A dozen chapters from Tapas, Gazpacho, and Paella to Desserts and Sweets include 225 traditional and contemporary recipes collected while this award winning author lived in Spain.

Mendel has adjusted the recipes for the American home kitchen. Each chapter includes Mendel's personal notes and stories and details of typical dishes, foods and drinks. Ingredients are mostly easy to find at the grocery store or an ethnic market.

Instructions are clear and well written. The format is one recipe to a page.

Discover the many influences of Spanish cooking.

Maybe sip a glass of sherry and munch on these delicious nuts from the Tapas chapter.

SPICED FRIED ALMONDS (Almendras Fritas) Almond trees grow on the hillside near my home, so I have plenty of the delicious nuts to gather.

Cracked, shelled, and toasted in olive oil with just a touch of spice, they are perfect served with drinks.

2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups unskinned almonds 1 teaspoon salt Pinch of ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon pimenton (Spanish paprika) Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the almonds. Fry them, stirring constantly, until they are toasted and very lightly browned, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and

immediately sprinkle with salt, cumin and pimenton. Cool before serving. Makes 2 cups, Spanish Home Cooking is by Miriam Kelen (Cocina Casera, $34.95). With Internet beginnings, Kelen began actually crisscrossing Spain to search out recipes and so begins the cookbook with "See the Country and Meet the Cooks."

Three years and 180 recipes later, she shares an adventure with highlights, anecdotes and color photographs of the cooks, the dishes and Spanish sights. Choose to follow a recipe word for word or take off on flights of imagination for old-fashioned good home cooking...the tradition of grandmothers and mothers.

The recipes are one to a page and list the fresh, easy to find ingredients, numerical instructions, and a comment from either the taster or the cook and are first listed in the eight provinces of Spain then in sixteen chapters...from Tapas through desserts.

And here's a recipe that combines both. (5% of the net proceeds of the sale of this book will go to an emergency food shelf network.)

PAN Y CHOCOLATE (Bread and Chocolate Tapa) 10 (3/8-inch: thick) slices baguette Extra virgin olive oil Coarse salt 1 (3-oz.) b a r Swiss bittersweet chocolate Heat broiler. Place bread slices on cookie sheet. Broil until toasted.

Heat oven to 350° R On cookie sheet, drizzle each baguette slice with oil.

Sprinkle with salt. Place 2 small rectangular sections of chocolate on top of each slice.

Bake five minutes or until chocolate is melted.

Serve warm. Makes 10 tapas.

Flower Power

Temple 'Hops' on Sukkot

by JEWISH PRESS News S e r v i c e - — — — -

by JEWISH PRESS News Service _

_

—

on Encoy nter of Hebrew and Arabic Cultures

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator — — —

In his research on the encounter of Hebrew and Arabic cultures in Spain, especially as embodied in the poetry of the two traditions, Dr. Raymond Scheindlin has found "a special musicality (in Arabic) that is hard to describe. Dominated by a classical, learned tradition of formal dignity," Arabic poetry also "has a sense of humor which sometimes stretches to earthiness, even bawdiness," according to Dr. Scheindlin, professor of Medieval Hebrew Literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Dr. Scheindlin will reveal his insights on Jewish life, philosophy,•'literature, and culture in Islamic Spain as Temple Israel's scholar-in-residence on the theme, "Lessons from the Past: Jews and Moslems in the Golden Age of Spain," Oct. 18-20. The community is welcome to attend.

On Friday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m., Dr. Scheindlin will discuss "Wine, Women and Death: Hebrew Poetry from the Golden Age" in the Milder Center at Temple Israel. That evening at Shabbat worship services at 7:30 p.m., he will deliver the sermon, "The Jews Under Islam."

On Saturday morning, Oct. 19, 9 a.m,, at Bagels and Sacred Books in the Milder Center, Dr. Scheindlin will continue with the topic, "The Bible and the Quran" followed by worship services in the sanctuary.

At a Saturday afternoon, Oct. 19, 5 p.m. reception and havdalah at the home of Suzanne Singer, 11223 Woolworth Plaza (Brookhollow Condos east of 114th and Pine), Dr. Scheindlin will share travel experiences at "Travel Lore to Entertain...Before You Go to Spain" for everyone who is interested in or even just thinking of going on Temple's Journey to Jewish Spain in February, 2003.

Dr. Scheindlin will conclude the weekend, sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning, at a bagel brunch Sunday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. in the Friedman Social Hall at Temple with "Maimonides: Jewish Leader in an Arab Land."

'Solution to Crossword Puzzle on Page 9 — — — — — A R P||H G E EmK A A RBI 1 L N M|A|U

•

For well over half of the 239 residents of the Shikma home in Ra'anana, the annual parade is one of the highlights of their community activities. All over the 10-acre village are a profusion of cut flowers which are arranged on small floats. The Shikma home is a government run small village for mentally-challenged adults between the ages of 20-70. The professional staff of 180 include doctors, nurses, social workers, teachers, speech and music therapists plus administrative personnel. The parade is a project of the Israeli Association of Flower Arrangers.

Photo by ISRANET.

It was a beautiful day for Temple Israel's first Sukkah Hop as 45 adults and children made the short trip between homes in the Dundee/Country Club neighborhoods.

Gretchen Radler, above, and her daughter Hannah, seven, made decorations as the aroma of rugelach floated through their Sephardic-style sukkah.. In addition to Gretchen and David Radlef*s home, others were those of Kim and Mark Schwartz, Stephanie and Barry Grossman, Allison Latenser and Lou Pachman, and Allan and Rini Gonsher. Lynne Jensen was chairman.

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Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

October 11, 2002

Seialor Sei CeniiiiiiiilT Oiitreacli

by JEWISH PRESS News Service

Invites You to a Series of Educational/Informational Sessions Often growing old or caiing for an aging lo\:ecl one brings up questions and concerns atout finances, living arrangements, healthcare decisions, and ultimately loss. IF these issues are of concern to you, please join us for this program. Tlie program is free.

Thursday, October 17

"Advanced Directives, Power of Attorney & Spousal Smpovetitehment/IVtediea!"

WSaty Wilson, Attorney All sessions will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Social Hall at the Jewish Community Center. For questions, contact the Director of Outreach Services, Shane Kotok at 334-6529 at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

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Hanufckah Gift Guide

As part of Grandparents Day Sunday, the ADL's Institute of Holocaust Studies assisted religious schools with a a kite-flying program in memory of the educator Janusz Eorczak.

Photos from top left: Kites also flew in Israel, where the program was initiated. Gila Shmulevitch, a child survivor of t h e Holocaust is one of the founders of Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot in the Western Galilee Region of Israel, Omaha's Partnership 2000 region. Last week, she ilew kites with her granddaughters who live in the kibbutz, Danielle, left, and Maya. Residents of the

Blumkin Home enjoyed entertainment on Sunday, including the Dancin' Grannies (top), Issue Information' Judy Brookstein, left, volunteered at the Publishing Date: November 15,2002 Sunday afternoon event which featured Ann Space Reservation: October 14,2002 Rourke as Gumdrop the clown and her husCamera Ready Deadline: October 23,2002 band, Denny, a magician. A Blumkin Home aide steers Fannie Chunovic over to see Gumdrop, while Patti Nogg enjoys a moment To place an.ad," with Edith Cohen. At the Friedel Jewish cell your advertising Academy, students Samantha Iruesdall, left, and Alena Senik flew kites; while teacher representative George Aufseeser, right, assisted Alyssa or 334-6448 Gerber and Dylan Wertheim.