June 19, 2020 by Jewish Press

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Linda Fischer

2020 Sokolof Outstanding Jewish Teacher Award LINDA POLLARD Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation hen it comes to defining this year’s 2020 Sokolof Outstanding Jewish Teacher Award, there is no shortage of praise. Words such as, “truly has a heart of gold,” “she is simply amazing,” and “her patience is incontrovertible,” have been used to describe this year’s recipient, Linda Fischer. One letter of recommendation stated, “I do not believe there is a more dedicated, loving, professional, selfless educator in our community.” This is a sentiment that is repeated throughout the letters of recommendation written in support of Linda. And Linda doesn’t even call it work, “I love what I do, therefore, most of the time I do not consider it work.” Linda has been a dedicated, creative and compassionate early childhood educator for 25 years, helping all her students to be the best that they can be. Linda began her teaching career in Dade County Florida, teaching first and second grades. She received the Elaine Weisburd Excellence in Education Award given by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the Teacher of the Year Award in the Miami Dade County Public Schools in 2004. Ten years ago, Linda and her family moved to

Teaching the Holocaust Page 2

Standing for Unity Page 4

Linda Fischer

Omaha. Once settled in, Linda substituted for Omaha Public Schools and Friedel Jewish Academy, and spent nearly two years teaching three year olds at the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center. Linda has been teaching at See Linda Fischer page 3

As ye sow Page 5

What’s next for Friedel?

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BETH COHEN Head of School, Friedel Jewish Academy In February and March, as we planned for what school would look like in an unprecedented learning environment, I was guided by our mission—to provide the educational foundation to develop inquisitive

learners who confidently engage with the world through Jewish values— and by the following two goals. First is my goal as an educator. Our educational priority for Friedel students was to provide practice of vital skills in the areas of math, reading, and writing, and to have students engage with Hebrew every day. My second goal,guiding every decision I’ve made in the last three months is my priority for children as people, that they come out of this experience with fond memories of the time they spent with their family. School work is important, but not more important than the well-being of children and families. My priority is that, at the end of all of this, children still love being with their parents See Friedel page 3

Summer is here

SAM KRICSFELD Intern, Jewish Press It’s very warm outside, and I am stir-crazy – I can only imagine what it’s like for children in our community. Coronavirus has led to a lot of people being cooped up. Kids just had to deal with school from home and no playdates. They deserve some fun. The JCC’s J Camp is a perfect place for getting children out of the house. J Camp, primarily held outside near the JCC pavilion, provides K-7th graders a well-rounded camp experience. It offers a bit of everything: arts and crafts, sports, nature, cooking, science, Israeli culture and team building. Campers are generally

grouped by grade to provide them with age-appropriate activities. In response to the coronavirus, the camp has new and enhanced policies which adhere to protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Camp Association and state and local officials. Some safety measures include small and consistent groupings of campers, social distancing, prepackaged food and temperature checks. The kindergarten and first grade camps embrace the natural enthusiasm and energy of campers that age. Programs are scheduled to provide a day full of excitement and learning. Campers engage in a wide See J-Camp page 2

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Continued from page 1 range of activities throughout the week, including art, nature activities, and song sessions. Second and third grade camps cater to kids’ creativity and emerging independence. Each Monday, campers will select one of two chugim (choice activities) that they will participate in for that week. The chugim are designed to let campers explore specific areas that they are most interested in. Fourth-through-seventh grade J Camp is designed to encourage independent thinking, decision-making and engagement. Each week the campers will engage in special activities. Campers will have time to meet with our Shlicha, Ron Lugasy, as well as plan all-camp events and spend time in the gym. This year’s J Camp theme centers around the Olympics. The first week of camp, held June 1-5, had an “Opening Ceremony” where campers “went for the gold.” The second week focused on the various nations that participate in the Summer Olympic, including the United States, Japan, France and Australia. Even with coronavirus-related guidelines, the campers are still eager to have fun. J Camp counselor Tom Searl said, “[The campers] are cooperative with social distancing; they stay within their group. They’re energetic – easy to work with.” When I went to interview two campers, I discovered that the journalistic techniques I learned from school about “asking open questions” and “letting the interviewee lead the conversation” doesn’t really work with kids. The following was the entire interview: Me – “How has your first two weeks been?” Ella Allebone, an eight-year-old entering third grade – “Great.” “What have you been doing?” Allebone – “A lot of activities.” “What’s your favorite thing about camp so far?”

Allebone – “Probably line tag inside the gym.” Aidan Maguire, a seven-year-old entering second grade – “Swimming. I can go anywhere because I’m a green!” Having once been a camper at J Camp, I too remember the excitement of “being a green.” Maguire is referring to the swim wristbands that determine where a camper can go in the pool. The wristbands are given based on a test of their swimming abilities. The pool, however, won’t be open until at least the fourth week of camp, so perhaps Maguire is anticipating a successful test result. The wristbands give one a sense of pride that they can swim well enough to not drown. Also, they are incredibly hard to take off. In addition to once being a camper, I was also a substitute counselor for a week. The counselors must be responsible, empathetic, helpful and lively in order to effectively lead. It was an extremely difficult job. I am glad to report that the counseling staff this year rise to the occasion and lead in a way that the campers will surely remember. I am also glad to report that I am not a camp counselor. J Camp will continue until Aug. 7. Each week’s registration closes the Friday before at 4 p.m. Sam Kricsfeld is the 2020 Jewish Press summer Intern. This position is made possible through the generosity of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation.

Teaching the Holocaust: Ruth Kros

JENNIFER GOODMAN When I started teaching at Skutt 14 years ago, I taught a freshman course called Character Skills. One of the class projects involved students learning about Skutt’s definition of a leader. Students were randomly assigned a leader from a list of approximately 200 names, which included Golda Meir, Raoul Wallenberg, Oskar Schindler and Elie Wiesel. As I helped my students with this project, I realized that I needed to learn Ruth Kros more about the Holocaust. My journey began so that I could inspire my students to care more about history and how they could impact the future. My first formal training was the Bearing Witness program through the ADL. The program brought together Catholic school teachers to learn more about the relationship between the Jewish faith and the Catholic Church. I have also had the privilege of attending the Advanced Bearing Witness program in Israel, where I had the opportunity to meet many local experts. During the summer of 2019, I was fortunate to be selected for the TOLI (The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights) summer institute in NYC. There, we had the opportunity to meet several survivors, including Irving Roth and William Bernheim. I also met Alexandra Zupruder, the editor of the Salvaged Pages: Young Writer’s Diaries of the Holocaust and was able, through a grant approved through TOLI, to purchase 32 copies of the book for my classroom.

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History of Nathan’s Lake ROBBY ERLICH Beth El Engagement Coordinator On June 23 at 2:30 p.m. join Beth El Synagogue for The History of Nathan’s Lake, presented by Ira Nathan. In 1909 Samuel Nathan brought his wife Lea to raise their family at Nathan's Lake in Southeast Washington County between Florence and Ft. Calhoun. The lake became a popular resort area for people looking to fish, picnic, swim, attend summer camps and hold company parties. The lake was the center of social life for Omaha Jews who wanted to experience the rural life, and was the home of the first JCC summer camp, Camp Morris Levy. Ira Nathan, has compiled stories and pictures from the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, Omaha World Herald and Omaha Jewish Press about this popular and memorable part of early Omaha Jewish history. Hear about the first JCC camp, a film featuring 100 children made at the lake and other stories. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/2129204230.

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Linda Fischer Continued from page 1 Picotte Elementary School for five years. In her first year at Picotte, Linda was an ELL (English Language Learning) teacher, and has been teaching kindergarten for the last four years. She also teaches first grade summer school at Standing Bear Elementary School. Linda remembers when she was a child that learning was a challenge for her. She was a quiet and well-behaved student, so she was not identified as needing extra help to learn. It became her goal to be the teacher that could help inspire students, to reach out to each and every student to make learning fun and engaging. She said that she “intuitively knew” that working with the younger students would be the right fit for her. Linda said: “I knew that it would be my mission as a teacher to empower, motivate and inspire my students to be the best they could be regardless of situations.” Linda loves being a positive influence on the lives of her students. She loves seeing their growth and changes from the beginning of the school year to the end. Linda said, “My most favorite part is knowing that I have given them the skills they need to succeed when they leave my class and that later on when they reflect on their life, they will remember me for that.” Linda takes the time to know each student well and provides instruction designed to help them learn to their individual ability. She tailors lessons for her students to challenge and engage them based on their interests, adapting her goals to better serve each student. She has been called, “an energetic, compassionate, and engaging teacher who consistently exhibits high expectations for all students.” She gently guides her students so that they learn vital social skills and confidence. Not only does she build great relationships with her students, but also keeps their parents advised on the student’s progress. Linda helps to build the foundation for each student to feel safe, grow and thrive, leading the child to academic and social success. She does not keep traditional “office hours,” but is available to her students and their parents after

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school and even in the evenings when she is at home. One person who sent a recommendation wrote: “Linda embodies what it means to be an educator at the core of her being. She cares not just about her students when they are in her classroom, but when they walk out in the world as well.” Linda’s family includes husband, Joe, sons Joseph, 14, and Jacob, 11, and a German Short-haired Pointer, named Smalls. The family enjoys participating in outdoor activities together. Linda has a full pallet of interests and hobbies. She enjoys traveling, baking and reading as well as dance and exercise. She has run half marathons and triathlons and enjoys watching Joseph and Jacob participate in sports. Somehow, with her busy schedule, Linda finds time to volunteer. Linda served as president of Beth El Synagogue Sisterhood. She serves on the board of Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah School (BESTT), the Hebrew School and Sunday school, helped in the planning of the Miriam Initiative, and is a member of the National Council of Jewish Women. She cooks and serves at Sunday School breakfasts, helps with the Shabbatons, and various other synagogue activities. Throughout her teaching career, Linda has always left her mark on the minds and hearts of her students. Many return to visit her as they progress through the grades, going forward on the foundation that Linda helped lay for their future successes. Linda’s goal has always been to inspire and help students of all abilities to succeed, and her goal has been achieved with each confident student who leaves her kindergarten class at the end of the school year. “Linda’s true strength lies in her quiet commitment to her everyday calling. She is gifted with a tremendous amount of patience and diligence. She is positive, determined, organized, structured, consistent and fun,” wrote one of Linda’s associates. And that is why she is beloved by her students and their parents and a well-deserving recipient of the 2020 Sokolof Outstanding Teacher Award.

Friedel Continued from page 1 and parents still love being with their children. This spring, Friedel made the switch to distance learning to protect the health of our school community. As I spend hours each week working with a cohort of Heads of School from around the country, it is clear that Friedel launched our eLearning in the best possible way, given the overwhelming uncertainty and strain on families during this crisis. In this unprecedented learning environment, Friedel consistently provided quality, daily learning activities for students in both general studies and Jewish studies. We issued a school-owned iPad to all students, and we successfully transitioned to eLearning without missing a single day of instruction. We did so in a flexible format so children could complete school work on the schedule that works best for their family, and we avoided “Zoom fatigue” that has caused many students to check out of their learning and many schools to overhaul their distance learning plans after only a few weeks of implementation. What’s next? It is clear that, at minimum, adjustments will have to be made to accommodate social distancing if we have students present in the school building. That will impact what our classrooms look like, how we manage recess and lunch periods, drop-off and pick-up—really, it will impact every aspect of the school day. Depending on how circumstances unfold, it is possible that we may not be able to convene with

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students in the school building either on our scheduled first day of school or at some point during the school year. Because we are an independent school, we have the flexibility to be able to decide what is best for our school community and we are nimble enough to make it happen while assuring that we are following best practices for the health of all involved. While no one knows yet exactly how the new school year will be structured, we know that Friedel is uniquely positioned to help students through this emergency. We are creating individualized recovery plans for each child to ensure they are ready to progress in the coming grades. We are offering free tutoring this summer to Friedel students, taught by Friedel teachers, in the areas of math, reading and Hebrew. We’re committed to our calendar for next year. The consistency that schools offer to help families through this is very important. As Omaha’s only Jewish day school, we are working with our students, their families, and our community partners so that we all can emerge from these challenging times stronger and more resilient than ever. Friedel has a limited number of spots still available for kindergarten and transfer students in the fall. If you are interested, please contact Director of Advancement Sara Kohen as soon as possible at skohen@fjaomaha.com or 402.301.1662.

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Emergency Financial Assistance Available KAREN M. GUSTAFSON, MS, NCC, LIMHP Executive Director, Jewish Family Service While the JFO and the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation took the lead in designing a Fundraising Campaign to meet the expected needs of the community, Jewish Family Service ( JFS), was behind the scenes developing a strategic, shortened version of our Assistance Program. Our goal is to quickly and easily offer some financial relief to those families who have lost their job during this crisis and for those who need groceries or help paying a portion of a bill, such as rent or utilities in order to remain stable. If you are in need of assistance, you can make your request contacting us by phone. We created a process whereby a community member who has a request can call the JFS Main Office at 402.330.2024, between the hours of 9 a.m.-noon, Monday– Thursday. During this time, we have staff and volunteers dedicated to taking calls. The reason for these times is to allow JFS to process calls each day and to ‘ideally’ finalize each day’s requests by the end of that day, with Friday designed as a catchup day to finalize anything that was pending for the week.

Our counseling services continue to be offered through our new “Virtual Counseling” program. Sessions are held via Zoom Video-communications, and are recognized by most insurance carriers. You can attend your sessions using your smartphone or computer from home. Please call our office at 402.330.2024 to make an appointment. Our therapists have conducted over 150 virtual sessions since the campus closed in mid-March. We continue to offer Adoption Home Study services though secure video-conferencing. Call our office at 402.330.2024 to learn how. Through May 27, Jewish Family Service has provided $11,026 in Emergency Financial Assistance to 62 families. We realize that we cannot pay every bill for every person, but we want to offer as much assistance as we can to families in our community. We care about YOU and we worry about YOU. The entire collection of agencies under the umbrella of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is behind this effort and wants YOU to know that we are here to help YOU. We are just a phone call away!

Standing for Unity

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WENDY GOLDBERG Exective Director, Tri-Faith Editor’s note: On Sunday, June 7, the three Tri-Faith congregations joined in Temple Israel’s parking lot to participate in the Stand for Unity event, organized by Voices United of Greater Omaha. This is the speech given by Wendy Goldberg to participants. I have a lot on my mind-- just like you do-- lots to digest: America is highly polarized and highly segregated. COVID-19 uncovered systematic inequity. Americans, particularly Black Americans, are in mourning. That mourning reflects a tragedy that has unfolded since the beginning of our country and has been forced before our eyes by video after video. I want to stand for justice for George, James, Breona, Ahmaud... and others. My consciousness has been stirred. As a white person, I can’t know the hardship of antiblack racism firsthand. I know race has been black cultures’ burden and racism is deeply woven into the fabric of our society. I see the identities of people sitting at the table of power are largely white, male, middleupper class, and able-bodied. I showed up today because I want to actively disrupt racism. I have so many questions… Does this event help? Is it meaningful to come together in Temple’s parking lot with our fully-funded building and fancy cars and jobs? Is this about us? Can we reframe the expectation-- and stop making this about how white people feel? I know I must deepen my understanding of systematic racism -- we all need continuous education without forcing our already burdened black friends to educate us. I know it is my duty to learn about the history of racism in America and what steps I can take to combat racism in all forms. I hope you will join me. I know it is not enough to not be racist; I must be anti-racist to overturn centuries of injustice. Black communities have lived the experience of inequality for generations. The past three months have taught me, and I imagine you as well, we can change our behaviors in ways we never imagined. Let’s talk about the white supremacy in our current institutions -- According the the book White Fragility “Congress is 90 percent white, governors are 96 percent white, military advisors are 100 percent white, people who decide what TV shows we see are 93 percent white, what books we read are

90 percent white, teachers are 82 percent white, music producers 95 percent white”--- complacency with this reality is in our hands. Institutional racism is deeply ingrained in our society. Dismantling it requires a long-term commitment to structural, social, and cultural change. It also requires repentance, recognizing that all people are created in the image and likeness of G-d and must be treated this way. Further, it requires accountability for the leadership of our cities, counties, states, and nation. We have a chance in 2020 to vote with our feet. Let’s open our hearts and minds -- let’s add our resources and our voices

to make systematic changes to end decades of injustice in our city, in our schools, in our expectations of police and our government leaders-- we need change in every corner of our society. This is an election year-- YOU need to vote AND to help get out the vote -- so we have leaders who are able to help us navigate this storm instead of ignoring and push it away again. As a white person, I need to talk less and listen more. It is my turn to be QUIET and TRY MY VERY BEST TO HEAR what BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TELL US they need. My heart, and experts, suggest this may be the best way to become an ally who helps to achieve SYSTEMATIC JUSTICE. Thank you for standing with the Tri-faith community as we say what should not have to be repeated so many times: Black Lives Matter.

The Jewish Press | June 19, 2020 | 5

In loving memory of Jennifer Beth Kay

On June 22, Beth El Synagogue invites you to join us for a special program in memory of Jennifer Beth Kay. People are welcome to join us for Evening Minyan at 5:30 p.m. The program will begin at 6 p.m. with Guest Speaker Congressman Don Bacon. This program is sponsored by Les & Helen Kay. Donations are encouraged to support the JFO Jennifer Beth Kay Memorial Fund, which was established to provide mental health services, ongoing programming, counseling Jennifer Beth Kay and education for depression and suicide prevention. Zoom Link for Minyan: https://zoom.us/j/ 835844247, Zoom Link for Program: https://zoom.us/j/ 96595173774.

Virtual Programming is going strong at Beth El Beth El continues to offer a wide array of vitual programming to keep us connected while our doors are closed. Adult Education: On Mondays, join Rabbi Abraham at 8 p.m. for his Jewish Law Class. On Tuesdays, Rabbi Abraham leads a Jewish Values Class at 11:30 a.m. On Wednesdays, enjoy Coffee and Conversation with Rabbi Abraham at 2 p.m. And for our newest Adult Education Class, join Hazzan Krausman on Thursdays at 7 p.m. for his Shul Music class. Youth: Teens can join Director of Youth Engagement Amy Dworin for the USY Film Club on Sundays at 7 p.m. and the Teen Book Club on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. And our youngest congregants just spent an amazing week at Virtual Kamp KEF with Eadie and Amy.

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As ye sow

The summer of 1957 brought drought to Nebraska and the Great Plains which hadn’t been seen since the summers of the 1930s - the years of the Great Depression. Farmers in Nebraska sought someone to blame. The corn crop was fried, each stalk a light tan, with ears a fraction of their normal size. Beans and alfalfa crops suffered comparable loss. Even veg- RICHARD FELLMAN etable gardens failed – tomatoes seemed to rot on the vine, cucumbers were stunted, and people were worried that they would not only fail to serve fresh vegetables to their families, but they would not have produce to can for use in the coming winter. Agricultural experts had no solutions. There was too little rain, too much sun and way too much wind blowing hot air across the once rich farmland of Nebraska. President Eisenhower was in the White House, and Nebraskans voted for him in huge numbers. They did not blame him. The world was at peace, although the Cold War and the threat of nuclear bombs gave a scare to both old and young. One far-out solution offered by some “experts” was to “seed the sky” with dry ice above low hanging clouds with planes flying at dangerously low altitudes. They hoped that the process would stimulate rain. Once in a while it worked. But there was one man who could be blamed. That was the Secretary of Agriculture in the President’s Cabinet, Ezra Taft Benson, who scheduled a tour of Nebraska. The Lincoln Star assigned me, a young journalist, to cover Benson. I met his entourage in Steinert Park on the edge of Nebraska City where he was to begin his trip across rural Nebraska. Reporters gathered around six in the morning. Benson was to arrive a half hour later, and we would follow him. I was among the press, carrying my reporter’s narrow note-

book and a camera, and I turned to another reporter to introduce myself. “Hi, I’m Dick Fellman, Farm Editor of the Lincoln Star,” I proudly said to a man a few years older than I was and dressed in what was then called the “Brooks Brother’s” look. “Hi,” he said, with a warm smile and handshake, “I’m Seth Taylor, Farm Editor of the New York Times.” My heart sank. But I immediately decided that I would quietly follow the New York Times Farm Editor. When he began to write in his notebook, I would do the same. We’d end up with the same story that way. Oddly enough, it worked. The tour began going from farm to farm, into fields, into barns and stopping to visit with farmers. Near the middle of the afternoon, we ended up in the home place of a highly successful and respected agricultural leader. Under great green shade trees was a crowd of farm wives waiting patiently to listen to the Secretary. The women formed a big circle around the Secretary. Each woman carried a small market basket on her arm, just as she would carry a purse. I looked inside one and saw that it was filled with tomatoes. Benson began. He was tall and broad shouldered. He was dressed in a short jacket and matching trousers, both a light taupe color. He wore a modified Stetson hat which he took off when he began to speak. He had short boots on which were well shined. Ezra Taft Benson was to become a few years later the titular head of the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City. During the time that he was in Nebraska, he was a member of the senior board of that denomination. He was widely respected in both American politics and in his religious faith. Benson began. He described what he had seen earlier that day. He tried to See As ye sow page 7

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B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Due to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home temporarily being closed to the public, B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers will not meet until further notice. For specific speaker information, please email Gary.Javitch@Gmail.com, Breadbreakers chairman. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

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Pop star Noa Kirel signs multimilliondollar deal with Atlantic Records

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behind a desk. Kirel joined the MARCY OSTER orchestra corps, which performs JERUSALEM | JTA Pop star Noa Kirel signed a in parades, official military and multimillion-dollar recording state ceremonies, graduation deal on Wednesday that the Iscourses and other shows to enraeli media is calling the largest tertain troops. To accommodate ever for an Israeli artist. the high-powered star, the Israeli A representative for the 19-yearmilitary provided Kirel with her old Kirel told Israel’s Channel 12 own band, complete with that the deal — which includes backup singers and dancers. management, public relations, Controversy has followed Kirel marketing and production — is since she first put on her army the “broadest, largest and most fatigues. After a May performcomprehensive agreement ever ance for troops on an IDF base signed [by] an Israeli artist.” The in honor of Israel’s Independagreement has reportedly been ence Day, Kirel’s backup dancers in the works for two years. were relieved of their posts, and A day before signing, she re- Israeli pop star Noa Kirel at the MTV EMAs in Seville, Spain, the entire army program for leased a new song called Million Nov. 3, 2019. Credit: Europa Press Entertainment/Europa dancers was canceled. Israeli Press via Getty Images Dollar, which already has over media reported that senior army two million YouTube views. Since releasing her first song at officers thought the performance, which included two men the age of 14, Kirel has become Israel’s most iconic young pop dancing behind her, “disgraced the military.” singer. She has had multiple chart-topping hits in her native Later in the same month, Kirel raised the eyebrows of milicountry and has won the MTV European Music Award for tary brass again, when she appeared in a commercial for the Best Israeli Artist three years in a row (2017-2019). Israeli TV and movie streaming service Yes+ wearing a U.S. In performances, her wardrobe ranges from Middle East- army uniform and singing a parody of Let the Sunshine In — ern-chic to the way out (like her fellow Israeli star Netta). the song from the anti-war musical Hair. Known for her dancing, she frequently performs in platform “We saw something we did not like on screen,” a military high top boots. spokesman was reported as saying. In February, Kirel made headlines after being drafted into Still, under the terms of her service, she is allowed to conthe Israel Defense Forces, but she isn’t carrying a gun or sitting tinue to work and promote her career.

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Lewis Art Gallery is coming into our 50th year of business, making it Omaha’s most established art gallery. The gallery has been proudly family owned since 1971, and 12 1/2 years in our “new” location. Constantly growing and changing, you will find thousands of pieces of beautiful and unique artwork by local, regional and international artists and a large variety of home décor. Our local artists have been busy and art reps are starting to make their rounds bringing in a wonderful blend of traditional, transitional, abstract and contemporary art. The gallery also offers custom framing with over 700 moldings to choose from in stock with one-week service. In addition to the art and framing services, the gallery showcases hundreds of lamps, tables, and exceptional accessories that are beautifully curated on two spacious levels, providing options for all budgets and styles. Above all, attention to excellence in quality and workmanship are foremost. Whether in the products they carry, or the archival framing done in house by highly experienced framers, Lewis Art Gallery is committed to providing you the best. Ranked in Omaha Magazine as the Best of Omaha for the past several years as well as one of the 101 things to Love About the Metro, it is a must visit. The gallery is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our priority at Lewis Art Gallery has always been to ensure the health and safety of our staff and customers. During these difficult times, the gallery remains open to the public. We will continue to provide all the services you have come to expect from the gallery. By wearing face masks, social distancing and constant cleaning and sanitization, we are working harder than ever to provide a safe, clean and enjoyable shopping experience. PAID ADVERTISEMENT

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The Jewish Press | June 19, 2020 | 7

As ye sow Continued from page 5 explain that the lack of rain could not be blamed on Eisenhower or the government. And he added that there was really nothing he could do to bring moisture. Then it began. The farm wives, as if on a signal, reached into their individual market baskets and began to throw rotten tomatoes at Benson. Within in moments his light grey jacket was covered with bright red splashes from the soft vegetables, and they kept coming. Benson stood. He didn’t move. He said nothing.

Then he acted. He raised each of his arms and formed a large “v” above his shoulders. His palms faced the women. He began to speak. “As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.” This is all he said, but he repeated it three times. And there was silence. The throwing stopped. The ladies put their market baskets on the ground. Benson said no more. The Secretary’s farm trip through Nebraska ended.

The Primrose experience: Building the right foundation for learning and life Choosing the right care for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. At the end of the day, it comes down to entrusting the care of your child to a provider that will give you peace of mind and give your child the best possible experience. Primrose School of La Vista is an accredited early childhood education preschool that offers a premier educational child care experience for families. The Primrose Experience starts with a strong partnership with parents to help build the right foundation for future learning and success in school and in life. “Teachers in our community have expressed the need for children to be better prepared upon entering kindergarten,” said Theresa. “Primrose stands out for its wellrounded learning experience for students in a safe and nurturing environment.” WHAT MAKES THE PRIMROSE EXPERIENCE UNIQUE? Our People and Culture. One reason parents choose Primrose is because they know they are leaving their children with qualified,

caring people. Our management team members and teachers exceed expectations by creating and maintaining trusted relationships with every family we serve. Our Balanced Learning® System. The Primrose Balanced Learning System provides high-quality educational experiences that support children’s development as wellrounded individuals. The Balanced Learning curriculum addresses children’s social-emotional, cognitive, creative and physical development as we determine what experiences children need at different age levels. Our Standards of Excellence. Primrose Schools holds schools to high standards of excellence with the implementation of quality assurance and continuous improvement through an internal Service Excellence Assurance program and an external AdvancED accreditation. To find out more about the Primrose Experience, please visit www.primroselavista.com or call 402.517.1153 to arrange a tour of the Primrose School of La Vista campus.

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SUSAN BERNARD | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org

8 | The Jewish Press | June 19, 2020

Above and below: In spite of the heat, J-Camp had a successful second week. Camp counselors came up with a myriad of ways to keep campers entertained.

Above: In preparation for the #standinsolidarity rally June 7, Temple Israel’s kids came early to decorate the parking lot.

Above: Congregants of the three Tri-Faith partners joined at the recent #standinsolidarity rally in the Temple Israel Parking lot. Below: Somehow, Temple’s new Executive Director, Nate Shapiro, got his hands on a megaphone.

SP O TLIGHT

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

Below: Wacky Wednesdays continued at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home with staff dressing up for Vacation Day! Employees enjoyed a Potato Bar with all the ﬁxings that lifted staff spirits. A hearty thank you goes out to Richard and Joanie Jacobson for sponsoring the luncheon.

Top, above and below: A retirement parade for Dennis DePorte, who retired from his position as Executive Director of Temple Israel.

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Abby Kutler President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Michael Ivey Accounting Jewish Press Board Abby Kutler, President; Eric Dunning, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen, David Finkelstein, Candice Friedman, Bracha Goldsweig, Margie Gutnik, Natasha Kraft, Chuck Lucoff, Eric Shapiro, Andy Shefsky, Shoshy Susman and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha. org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, 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. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha. org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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The Jewish Press | June 19, 2020 | 9

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.

Leaning into discomfort ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Only weeks ago, we all wished for a distraction; something else to talk about besides that obnoxious virus. Be careful what you wish for. Understanding the world we live in is not easy right now. We are told it is not discourse that will help us understand, it is listening. But who do we listen to? When do we listen? What should we hear, when half the time we are unsure what questions to ask? Talking about race is uncomfortable. It always has been—and even those who are committed to improving dialogue are not immune to saying the wrong thing, or worse, hearing the wrong thing. You know what’s easy? Talking about the weather. Talking about how we’re coping with social distance, talking about how the garden is doing and how too many people at the grocery store don’t wear a mask. Anything, as long as it is not race. There is an entire herd of elephants in the room. It makes us feel shifty and anxious. So much has happened in the past, so much water under the bridge, and there’s nothing we can do about it now. Why is this our fault, why is this our responsibility? And so we spout some empathy on social media, maybe we even change our profile picture and attend a protest, waving our handmade signs. After all, we want to be on the right side of history. We want to let our black brothers and sisters know we are with them. We want to shout it from the rooftops: We. Are. Not. Racist. Please believe us.

Here is the thing, though. We still kind of are, as evidenced by the fact that we are doing such a poor job of talking about race. It’s as if, in our shared anxiety to solve this once and for all, we simply cannot find the vocabulary. We want to do the right thing, we just don’t know how. Maybe that is because the problems this country encounters with race run so deep and are so multifaceted, it cannot be treated as one issue to be

one limb gets hurt, the entire body suffers. So talk we must. Ask questions, listen, read as much as possible as often as possible. We must educate ourselves and each other, not shy away from arguments, not keep the peace, not stay silent in the hope we don’t insult anyone. The time to play it safe is long past: we must lean into the discomfort, not shy away from it. “(...) our Black-Jewish dialogue is but an instance of the human struggle for freedom and democracy.,” Cornell West wrote in 1995. “And any such struggle is predicated on the democratic faith that we everyday people can critically examine our individual and collective pasts, honestly confront our difficult present and imaginatively project an all-embracing moral vision for the future. Our courageous foremothers and forefathers as well as out innocent children A Black Lives Matter sign outside the White House during a protest and grandchildren deserve nothing in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing, June 7, 2020. Credit: less.” Aurora Samperio/NurPhoto via Getty Images To be fair, West is talking specifically solved. There is no one law that will “fix” things, about dialogue between Blacks and Jews- but his there is no magic button. Attitudes and prejudices words have meaning for society as a whole. We can that have festered for centuries cannot be cleaned all see this “difficult present” if we look close up in one fell swoop. It is going to take a lot longer enough; we just are not all affected by it equally— than that. Racism is not like an infection that can yet. be cleared up with antibiotics. Systemic racism is It is time to stop turning our heads and start a lifelong disease, a condition we have to ack- healing together. We do that by admitting we are owledge and treat. Denying how serious it is means all, every single one of us, responsible for keeping leaving it untreated and we will get sicker. When this body healthy.

Stop using Israel as an excuse not to support Black Lives Matter MAAYAN BELDING-ZIDON This story originally appeared on Alma. Take a moment and remember where you were when you first heard about the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. I was in Tel Aviv getting ready to go to the movies after Havdalah. I didn’t end up going — I spent the whole night glued to the news, like so many of us did. I replayed the events over and over in my mind, but when I did, it wasn’t Tree of Life that I was picturing — it was my synagogue. Scrolling through my newsfeed the next day, every Jew I knew was changing their profile picture, posting news and prayers and stories about how the deceased reminded them of their uncle, their bubbe. Next to all that, as if in a parallel universe where Jews were not shot for being Jews, the rest of my friends were posting pictures as if it were any other Sunday: mimosas at brunch, walking the dog, the last glimpses of fall foliage. The worst part, though, were the non-Jews who did acknowledge the shooting — but who rushed to condemn the Zionist occupation of Palestine in the same breath. As if the dead daveners in Pennsylvania were in some way guilty for Israeli security actions halfway around the world. How dare they, I thought. How dare they rush to qualify their solidarity when our dead aren’t even in the ground? If we expect people to show up for our pain, we have to show up for theirs. And for Black people in America, the pain of police brutality is not only counted in the death toll: Its shadow hangs heavy over all people of color in every interaction with the police, in every city and town across America, every day. In 2016, Jewish voices from across the U.S. political spectrum came out in opposition to the platform of the Movement for Black Lives, which claimed that U.S. military aid to Israel makes the U.S. complicit in “the genocide taking place against the Palestinian people.” Many progressive Jewish organizations denounced only this section and endorsed the rest of the platform, calling for an end to mass incarceration, demilitarization of the police, etc. Other, mostly small conservative Jews seized on this as an opportunity to distance themselves from Black Lives Matter as a whole. The platform’s antagonism toward Israel was the ultimate proof that the movement was, in fact, a threat to everything “we”

stand for — in essence, a threat to the assimilation of Jews into undifferentiated American whiteness. Far more common than those who denounced Black Lives Matter outright, though, were those who silently took a few steps back from the movement. You know who you are. You know that there’s racism in America; you’re against it, obviously, but you really, really don’t want to get into an internet fight about Israel.

A Black Lives Matter protester raises his ﬁst during a march to honor George Floyd in New York City, May 31, 2020. Credit: John Moore /Getty Images

Maybe you’re a college student who feels alienated by the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) activism on your campus. Maybe you’re a proud Zionist who deleted Dua Lipa’s new album from your Spotify library after she reposted an antiIsrael screen. Maybe you haven’t thoroughly thought out your position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and you’re just sick of people expecting you to take sides just because you’re Jewish. Whatever the reason, you’re one of those people who just wouldn’t be comfortable rolling up to a Black Lives Matter protest with your Star of David necklace out, knowing that you might run into someone holding a Palestinian flag. I see where you’re coming from, I really do. And I’m here to tell you that you need to show up anyway. I am an Israeli citizen and a proud Zionist. I oppose BDS because I believe full civil rights and security for Palestinians will only be achieved through Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and trust building. By the same token, I cannot refuse to engage with Black Lives Matter. The history of racism and white

supremacy in the United States is violent and painful, like that of Israel and Palestine. No American of good conscience can simply opt out of racism in America — no more than Israelis can simply ignore the existence of Palestinians or vice versa. I am Jewish, I am Israeli, but I am also a white American. My history and identity is inextricably tied to the history of slavery and the ongoing oppression of Black people and all people of color. A more just America will never be possible without a deep reckoning with what divides us, and that conversation cannot even begin while white police officers have their guns aimed at Black people’s heads. Black and Jewish Americans have a common enemy on the rise: white supremacy. At present, more Black people are immediately threatened by white supremacy than white Jews. In the long haul, though — and Jewish history teaches us to always keep an eye on the long haul — dismantling white supremacy is essential for the safety and security of American Jewish communities as well. Solidarity across racial and ethnic lines is never easy. If it were, we’d already be doing it. Fortunately for the American Jewish community, we are blessed with an abundance of Jews of Color, and specifically Black Jews, who are already leading the conversation on race and the Jewish community: MaNishtana, Rabbi Sandra Lawson, Michael Twitty, Amadi Lovelace, Tema Smith, Rebecca Pierce and so, so many more. White Jews, our job during this historic moment is to show up not only for our Black fellow Jews but all Black Americans in their hour of need — and to lift them up as treasured leaders and members of our communities at all times. White supremacy is a much bigger threat to American Jews than BDS is to the State of Israel, but even if it weren’t — even it were not in our selfinterest as Jews to stand in solidarity with Black America against hate and bigotry — I would join the protests anyway, because as an observant Jew, I am obligated to do so by the Torah. Because Black people were made in the image of God. Because my Black brother’s blood is calling out from the ground. Because I cannot stand idly by while my Black neighbor’s life is threatened. Because it matters. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | June 19, 2020

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

CHABAD HOUSE

An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL B’nai Israel will not have in-person services until July 10. For information on our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Carole and Wayne Lainof, MaryBeth Muskin and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. VIRTUAL MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9 a.m. and Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat To-Go; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdallah, 9:53 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; USY Film Club, 7 p.m. MONDAY: Jennifer Kay Memorial Program, 6 p.m.; Jewish Law Class with Rabbi Abraham, 8 p.m. TUESDAY: Jewish Values Class with Rabbi Abraham, 11:30 a.m.; The History of Nathan’s Lake, 2:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Coffee & Conversation with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; USY Check-In, 5:15 p.m. THURSDAY: Bagel Making with Andrea Erlich, 2 p.m.; Teen Book Club, 4:30 p.m.; Shul Music, with Hazzan Krausman, 7 p.m. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdallah, 9:53 p.m. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights to the Weeky Torah Portion, 7:35 p.m.; Micha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:25 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:53 p.m. SUNDAY: Rambam: Rabbi Moshe, 9:45 a.m. MONDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; Tasty Torah with Rabbi Yoni, noon; JYE BI Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m. TUESDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Mishnayot with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.; Board of Commissioners Meeting, 6:30 p.m. TURSDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; Character Development with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.; Parsha Inspiration, 4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; Musical Kabbalat Shabbat with DJ JJ, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Due to Coronavirus, all services and classes have moved online. For schedules and more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.org or call the office at 402.330.1800 FRIDAY: Candlelighting, 8:42 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Ends, 9:52 p.m. MONDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani; Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Mystical Thinking, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introduction to Reading Hebrew, 10:30 a.m. THURSDAY: Intermediate Hebrew Reading and Prayer, 11 a.m.; Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Katzman.

B’NAI JESHURUN The Temple office is on reduced hours until further notice and all services and activities are being offered via livestream or teleconferencing. Please call 402.435.8004 or email office@southstreettemple.org for further information or to make an appointment for a visit, if necessary. You may also email Board president Nicholette Seigfreid at president@southstreettemple.org. South Street Temple’s events can be found at https://south streettemple.org/calendar/. FRIDAY: Erev Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. service leaders/music: Nathaniel and Steve Kaup; Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m. on Parashat Sh’lach; Havdalah (72 minutes), 10:13 p.m. SUNDAY: Jewish Book Club Meeting, 1:30 p.m. via zoom and will discuss All Who Go Do Not Return by Shulem Deen. TUESDAY: Jewish Women’s Lunch, noon. location:

TBD THURSDAY: Ritual Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Erev Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Elaine Monnier, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:44 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m. on Parashat Korach; Havdalah (72 minutes), 10:14 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE All services canceled until further notice.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller. DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, Across Abraham’s Bridge: Celebrating the Gifts of Our Tri-Faith Traditions: sermon by Cantor Alexander, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, noon. THURSDAY: The Israel Forum, 10 a.m. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Virtual services conducted by Nancy Coren. FRIDAY: Zoom Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m. Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m. SATURDAY: Zoom Shabbat morning Service with Daniel Neiden and Nancy Coren, 10 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 9:43 p.m MONDAY: Zoom chair yoga class with Becca Coren in Maui, 7 p.m. Please visit tiferethisraellincoln.org for additional information and Zoom service links. The Lincoln Jewish Community School is looking for a Lead Teacher for our Preschool/Kindergarten classroom. The LJCS is seeking a candidate who is dependable, energetic, creative and nurturing. Early Childhood education experience is preferred. If you or someone you know is interested in interviewing for this position, please contact Andrea Halpern at ahalpern1386@gmail.com.

Jewish takeaways as unrest from pandemic and George Floyd killing strikes America RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON | JTA It’s five months to Election Day and America is in the midst of at least two national crises. The unrest reverberating throughout the land from the coronavirus pandemic and George Floyd killing is plunging Donald Trump’s polling numbers. The president trails the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, by 14 points, according to a CNN poll that lawyers for the Trump campaign have tried to repress. What are the repercussions for the Jewish community? Let’s examine three already happening, with the qualification that things can change quickly. THE DEMOCRATIC SHIFT ON ISRAEL HAS ACCELERATED The moment may boost the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Biden, the flagbearer of the party’s center, has yet to roll out a detailed plan to deal with the systemic racism underlying police treatment of minorities (although he’s beginning to talk about it). The progressives are offering concrete proposals concerning the police, including defunding departments, limiting the powers of their unions and establishing tougher oversight. In centrist pro-Israel circles, the progressives’ rise is equated with further erosion of support for Israel. Pro-Israel America, a political action committee run by two former top staffers for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, released a voter’s guide on Thursday for four New York congressional primaries on June 23 that says pro-Israel incumbents are at risk.

They include Eliot Engel, whose race against Jamaal Bowman is listed as “highly competitive.” Carolyn Maloney and Gregory Meeks are named in contests rated as “competitive,” and Grace Meng’s primary is deemed “potentially competitive.” Engel’s risk is due in no small part to missteps related to the killing of Floyd, as my colleague Gabe Friedman notes. The 16-term lawmaker’s ouster would be a body blow to pro-Israel Democrats: As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, he has been a leader on pro-Israel legislation. Those in line to succeed him — led by Brad Sherman of California, whose center-right posture on Israel is well known — are similarly pro-Israel but lack Engel’s influence and ability to work out compromises that satisfy a fractious caucus. JEWS AND COPS — IT’S COMPLICATED A year ago, I attended the first all-day FBI session on securing multi-faith communities against an attack. The idea was that Jewish, Muslim and Christian officials in charge of securing their faith spaces should exchange ideas on what works best. There was a lot of good-natured schmoozing and advice on how best to identify possibly hostile strangers and preparing congregants on best practices during a shooting. But there was a striking moment of tension toward the end of the day. Michael Masters, who heads the Secure Community Network, the Jewish community’s security advisory group, repeated a mantra I’ve heard from him repeatedly: Get to know your local police and establish a relationship, so they know where the synagogue is and how its security works.

Salam Al-Marayati, the president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said that was not viable in his community: Muslims did not feel comfortable liaising with a community that profiles them. There are whole books on how Jews in America simultaneously occupy — in ways perhaps no other community does — spaces of risk and privilege, and it is especially stark in the way we relate to police. Jewish communities, without ambivalence, seek the protection of an agency that other communities see as a threat. RISING STARS DIMMED For a while, Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, and Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, were rising young Jewish Democrats. Garcetti for a time considered a presidential run. They have diverged: Frey was booed at a rally this week when he would not commit to abolishing his city’s police department. The municipal council said it would dismantle the force as it is currently constituted, and by a veto-proof majority. Garcetti, a member of Biden’s vice president selection team, has been buffeted by Black Lives Matter activists who want to drastically reduce the police budget and police unions who want no reductions. He has proposed shifting $150 million from the police department to services for minority communities. One lesser-known Jewish mayor who could gain traction in the crisis? Steve Adler of Austin, Texas, who released a letter this week with concrete proposals on how to reduce police violence. This article was edited for length. To read the dull story, please visit www.omahajewishpress.com.

Life cycles IN MEMORIAM DANITA “DANI” SHRAGO Danita “Dani” Shrago passed away on June 6 at age 68. A private interment was held at Fisher Farm Cemetery on June 7. She is survived by husband Leon; daughters and sons-in-law, Shifra and Mordechai Gitt and Shoshy and Scott Susman, son, David; grandchildren: Moshe, Meira, Ahuva, Ezra, and Naftali Gitt, Taliah Shrago, Adam and Molly Susman. Memorials may be made to Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, Beth Israel Synagogue, 12504 Pacific St, 68154 or an organization of your choice.

Who am I?

JCC Trainers in the kitchen

Good nutrition doesn’t have to be boring! JCC trainers Josh, Maggie, and Heather have taken to the kitchen to share some of their favorite healthy recipes and tips.

GREEK GODDESS PASTA SALAD “Perfect for picnics, work lunches, or potlucks. This healthy salad doesn’t sacrifice flavor!” – Maggie Ingredients: 12 oz. ziti pasta, cooked 3 green onions, ﬁne dice 1 small carrot (about 1/2 cup) 1 orange bell pepper, ﬁne dice 1/2 medium cucumber, diced 16 cherry tomatoes, halved 2 Tbsp. Green Goddess dressing (sold at any grocery store) Directions: Cook pasta according to instructions on package. Rinse with cold water, shake dry and place in a large bowl. Add prepared veggies (green onions, carrots, pepper, cu- Credit: Vastateparkstaff cumber, tomatoes) to the pasta bowl. Add salad dressing. A little goes a long way, start with 1-2 Tbsp. and add as needed.

CORRECTION

The Jewish Press | June 19, 2020 | 11

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In our June 12 edition, the Jewish Press posted a story (front page, no less) about the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. We added a photo from a few months ago, because the editor thought it would be nice to see some faces for a change. That was a mistake, because it created the perception that staff at the Home is not wearing masks. Please be assured that all staff wear masks at the Home at all times. The Jewish Press regrets the error.

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Come to Omaha, Mike! We’ll Show You a Good Time #042 in this Sponsored Series

Hey, Mike! “Seeing is believing,” or thus the saying goes. So as the country begins to reopen and recover from the pandemic, we’d like to invite you to come to Omaha and see for yourself how we’ve developed gardening innovations that improve people’s lives. And we’re not just talking about the Benson Plant Rescue. We have a world-class arboretum, Lauritzen Gardens, plus a host of other unique nonprofits: Gifford Park, Big Muddy Urban Farm, City Sprouts, Omaha Permaculture, and a large network of community gardens. We’re proud of the way in which our common sense, strong work ethic, and midwestern values have produced such positive results in feeding hungry people, beautifying neighborhoods, and building community over the past two decades. And we’d like your help in spreading these innovations nationwide. So how about it, Mike? Come to Omaha later this year so you can see for yourself. And please let us know if you’re up for a match in our capital campaign. We’d like to settle this building matter ASAP so we can concentrate on promoting Victory Gardens that bring together people of diverse ages, races, genders, education, wealth, or whatever. Gardening feeds our spirits as well as our bodies. “Dirty Green Thumbs” working the earth grow community, not just plants. Our country longs for such healing in this time of national need. Please be in touch! READ MORE at BensonPlantRescue.Org

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