Vol. LXXXII
No, 13
Omaha, NE
24 Kislev, 5763
November 29,2002
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 81 YEARS
Scholar to Piece Together Sephardic History and Achievements by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator-
"I hope to instill pride in our histo- example, she explained that the Kol ry and achievements-from Herod to Nidre chant now used on Yom Kippur Herzl," said Andree Aelion Brooks, a Eve is frequently from the Ashkenazic former contributing columnist and tradition. "But one of the origins of news writer at The New York Times the idea of the Kol Nidre was to forfor 18 years. Also an author and lec- give the sins of the forced converses." turer, Brooks will be a scholar-in-resiOn Friday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., at dence, Dec. 13-15 at Temple Israel. Shabbat Worship Services, Brooks "Putting the Pieces Together: The will talk about "The Conversos: A Survival of Sephardic Jewry after Moral Dilemma." Jews had to decide 1492," is the theme of I ] whether to the Brooks' residency. , r^j, i convert or She is one of three leave Spain scholars this year who in 1492 when are focusing on !K i n g f Temple's year-long Ferdinand study of the history and ;and Queen culture of Sephardic; •Isabella Jews, who trace their \ expelled all ancestors to the Iberian ' ; Jews from Peninsula. \ ^rj.inish terBrooks pointed out > ritory. Was that today's desceni('ii version a dants of Sephardic j j betrayal of • Jews can be difficult to > ' Judaism or .i - _J distinguish from other' „. ,, , Dona Grama Nasi was an mterna- was it preT Jews. bmce the expul- ,. , , , , , , s er n cj • , ,,rtn it. i tional banker woo used her T . , i ..„sion m 1492, they ,.•. , . „ , Jewish life J have ,. , . , „ wealth, power, and influence to . .. lived m manv parts of ,, , „, „„ temporarily J T ,, ,, ", , , save thousands of her fellow Jews . . the world and shared „ ,, , „ ,, T .... in order Uto .. . ^ rroin t h e terrors ot the Inquisition. . , , their customs rior _T . . ,, ,. , „ _ , , „ return later Nasi is the subject of one of Andree . . n T generations. _ i ,i A I T , t o Judaism? Am ° <,, . • , , . , Brooks lectures at Temple Israel. „ ... shouldn't be partitioned. Jewish history It belies the Even rabbis history. You can't put Sephardic histo- recommended conversion. Many who ry in a little box," she added. For left died," Brooks explained. (Continued on page 9) ,!'•
Community Luncheon Presents Author with New Views on Shabbat by DIANE AXLERBAUM-
A fresh look at the nity one day a week to underlying philosophy shut down the phones of weekly Sabbath and and faxes and to reconits potential for levels nect, instead, with famof individual meaningily and friends-and fulness will keynote the ^.', oneself." annual community Following Klagsbrun's luncheon, Wednesday, I remarks, the beauty Dec '• and sanctity of Shabbat J C •will come to life as the Klagsbrun i speaker joins students The Fourth Command- \ &^i !.. I from Friedel Jewish merit: Remember the Academy in an enactFrancine Klagsbrun Sabbath Day, the ment of Shabbat cannewest of her more than a dozen dlelighting. "It's a truly lovely picture books on social and religious issues. each Friday when the girls of Friedel Among her earlier works are Jewish- light the candles to welcome Days, Voices of Wisdom and Married Shabbat," said Nadine Kutner, People: Staying Together in the Age of Library Committee chairman. "I look Divorce. forward to sharing a glimpse of this The new book examines complexi- scene with our Jewish community. ties of the sacred Sabbath and cere- Francine Klagsbrun's experience, monies, laws, and practices that have breadth and depth promise to make marked its celebration throughout the community luncheon richly history. But it goes far beyond that, rewarding. We urge men and women she said. For example, the book raises to come together for a delightful lunch questions about the traditional roles and to hear this important contempoof women on the Sabbath, approaches rary writerVKutner continued, pointkabbalistic ideas about the feminine ing out that Klagsbrun was enthusiand masculine aspects of the astically received when she spoke in Almighty, and reevaluates the oft- Omaha some 10 years ago. interpreted thinking of philosopher A columnist for The Jewish Week Abraham Joshua Heschel. and Moment magazine, Klagsbrun Moreover, it issues a challenge to contributes to such national publicamodern Americans, for the author tions as The New York Times, The sees in Shabbat "a balance to the Boston Globe, Ms and Newsweek. She bonds of boundless labor, an opportu(Continued on Page 2)
The Project Dreidel Chronicles
Pages from the JFS Notebook r
by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director
(Editor's note: The story you are about to read is true, and used with per-1 missioji. The names have \ been changed to respect f individuals' privacy.) i Welcome to the third \ installment of "The 2002 ' Project Dreidel Chronicles." Each person depicted in these stories has graciously agreed to share his or her story with the community to increase public awareness of Jewish Family Service's programs and services that have made such a tremendotis difference in their lives. . Through Project Dreidel, JFS provides Hanukkah gifts and Jewish holiday meals to families in our area who cannot afford them. But sometimes, families and individuals have unexpected emergencies that require immediate intervention. JFS is there to provide the financial and emotional support needed to get back to normal, and that support costs money year round. Your gift to the Jewish Federation's 2003 Centennial Campaign, along with donations to Jewish Family Service tzedakah • fund, is what
allows us to take care of each other. Despite our best efforts, our community's needs continue to outpace the increase in gifts to the Annual Campaign. Your increased campaign gift ensures that every Omaha Jewish community member will have access to professional and compassionate help in a Jewish environment. To find out how you can help make a difference in the lives of others, please contact JFS at 330-2024, or the Jewish Federation at 334-6431.
Tzedakah does not take a holiday at Jewish Family Service. All through the year, the JFS staff provides assistance to Omaha Jews who have nowhere else to turn. Sometimes people just need help one time during an emergency, sometimes they need help for a short period of time and sometimes they require long-term assistance. What is astounding, however, is how many people are helped by Jewish Family Service. What follows is a glimpse at the JFS notebook. You will be
amazed at the variety of people and problems that JFS has dealt with over the past year, and how much it costs to provide assistance. Leo is a young Jewish man with severe mental illness. He is on permanent disability and receives disability income and insurance from Social Security. Leo has to see a psychiatrist monthly to maintain the delicate balance of his medications. His medication allows him to live independently, but his out-of-pocket co-pay for the prescriptions is $66.50 a month. After paying for rent, utilities and food, there is very little left over for the co-pay. JFS has been providing Leo with financial assistance so he doesn't need to worry about how he will pay for his medication. Total cost for one year: $798. Mike and Hannah were looking forward to a better life for their family. After years of working in low-paying jobs, Mike was finally realizing his (Continued on Page 9)
INSIDE: Monthly calendar. Temple 'Adopts'Another School
pages 6-7 page 8
Federation, Synagogues and JCC announce 'Gateway9 Plan...: page 12