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Remembering Ted Seldin ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Theodore (Ted) M. Seldin passed away peacefully at his home in Omaha on Jan. 9. He was 89 years old. Ted was born and raised in Council Bluffs. He attended public school, followed by the University of Iowa, where he obtained his BA in economics. He followed that with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa Law School in June of 1955. After graduation, Ted joined the military and spent two years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a captain in the Judge Advocate General department. When his active time ended, he remained in the reserves for 16 years, until his honorable discharge in 1968. Together with his wife, Sarah, he moved to Omaha in 1959 and joined Seldin Company, which his father Ben started in Council Bluffs in 1923. A member of the Iowa Bar Association for over 60 years, he also obtained his real estate license for both Iowa and Nebraska early on. The Seldin firm, now headquartered in Omaha, eventually grew to manage more than 10,000 apartments and over 1,250,000 square feet of mixed-use retail and office space. Ted served on the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Housing Committee and its Board of Directors as well as on the board of the Omaha Community Foundation. See Theodore M. Seldin page 7
Honoring Dr. Ron Wolfson Page 2
Spotlight: Operation Grateful Goodies Page 4
Immigration and intermarriage make US Jewry more diverse Page 8
February is Jewish Disability Advocacy Month
REGULARS
Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
4 5 6 7
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor From diverse communities across North America, we are coming together to harness our collective power to break down barriers to op-
being offered throughout the month of February. Together, we can change lives. Hear from thought leaders and experts about the current state of disability rights, and what can be done to promote the best inclusion and
portunity and inclusion. Join us in helping advance policy that empowers individuals with disabilities to achieve maximum independence. Check out the programs that are
supportive care practices. Learn new advocacy strategies and take action to put the needs and rights of people with disabilities squarely on the policy agenda of the Biden administration and the 117th Congress. Week one covers empowerment, with workshops including networking and community building, as well as creating a culture of belonging. In week two, the theme is ‘breaking barriers.’ In week three, we’ll talk about how to create opportunities. We will conclude in week four by discussing how disability rights are civil rights. See Disability Advocacy page 3
Ted Seldin
Tu B’Shevat with a Beth Israel Flair
MARY SUE GROSSMAN for Beth Israel Synagogue Next week marks the annual celebration of Tu B’Shevat, the new year for trees. Trying to remember the meaning of Tu B’Shevat? Celebrated on the 15th of Shevat, it is the day that marks the beginning of the “new year” for trees. It marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel start to “wake up” from winter and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. In recent years, Tu B’Shevat has developed into an ecological holiday that re-
minds Jews of the critical role for everyone as caretakers of the environment. It is traditional to eat the fruits grown in Israel, particularly grapes, olives, dates, figs and pomegranates. Some people make a donation to plant trees in Israel. Celebrating Tu B’Shevat always seems a bit odd while deep in the cold, snow and dark of winter in Nebraska and it certainly isn’t a time to plant trees. However, Beth Israel has a way for a special at-home celebration with “Tu B’Shevat to Go.” See Tu B’Shevat page 2
2 | The Jewish Press | January 22, 2021
News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
Honoring Dr. Ron Wolfson Best Boy in the United States of America. He RABBI ROBIN FOONBERG has guided us spiritually with books such as JEA President The Jewish Educators Assembly ( JEA) is The 7 Questions You Are Asked in Heaven, sharproud and excited to honor Omaha native Dr. ing his wisdom to help people of all ages navRon Wolfson at our annual igate our complex world. conference on Sunday, This year, our annual conJan. 31, 2021. Ron is an ference will be a virtual educator of educators, symposium that brings towho has had a tremendous gether Jewish educators impact on Jewish educafrom around the world to tion and Jewish communilearn together about best ties throughout his career. practices in Jewish EducaI first met Ron 25 years tion, Torah L’shmah, and ago when I started my cacreating community in our reer as a Jewish educator. schools and classrooms. He greeted me at the door I hope you will join us in with his warm and welhonoring our friend and coming smile. To this day, teacher by placing an ad in I stand at the door of my our tribute book. It is easy school welcoming children to place an ad – the link is and their parents to my on our JEA website: Dr. Ron Wolfson school. All those years ago, https://www.jewished he was teaching “Relational Judaism” and ucators.org/reboot-21-sponsorship/. demonstrating how we begin to create lasting Your support of Ron will mean a great deal to relationships with our students, our families, him and we greatly appreciate your support and our entire congregations. of the JEA! Ron’s many books are standard classroom A link to view the online event will be availcurriculum. He has taught us all how to cre- able soon and you are invited to join us! ate meaningful Shabbat experiences, how to Thank you for being a part of our celebraenhance our holiday celebrations, and we tion of Dr. Ron Wolfson – a truly worthy honhave learned from his life experiences as The oree, a teacher, a friend, a mensch.
ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith is pleased to announce the resumption of its award-winning speaker program via ZOOM. Although the Home auditorium remains temporarily closed, we’ll continue presenting an outstanding lineup of thought-provoking keynoters. For specific speaker information and/or to be placed on the email list, please contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com or leave a message at the BB JCC office 402.334.6443.
Scholarship opportunity DIANE WALKER Fund & Scholarship Administrator, Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation The Financial Aid Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity for undergraduate study. This need-based scholarship was created specifically for children of single parent families who worked during high school to contribute economically and emotionally to their families. The donor, who chooses to remain anonymous, feels a kinship to these individuals and has chosen to impact their college experience in a meaningful way. The donor has said “I would like to create a new up to $10,000 scholarship award based on need rather than merit.” The up to $10,000 award
may be split in the event two candidates tie. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: • Applicant must be from a single parent family. Parent must have been single for at least 12 months. • Applicant must be a Jewish resident of the Omaha metropolitan area. • This scholarship is for undergraduate study only. • Applicant has had a job and has contributed to the family income. This Anonymous College Scholarship Fund will require a separate application and has an earlier application deadline of Feb. 1, 2021. The application is available on the JFO website. Direct any questions to Diane Walker at either 402.334.6551 or dwalker@ jewishomaha.org.
Tu B’Shevat Continued from page 1 Rabbi Yoni Dreyer has planned a Beth Israel Tu B’Shevat Zoom Seder on Wednesday evening, Jan. 27. Those registered will pick up a kit that will include goodies for the seder plus assignments to enable everyone to participate in the seder. “Tu B’Shevat in Israel is celebrated in a variety of ways,” explains Rabbi Yoni. “Schools and communitites have special events and a Tu B’Shevat seder is common.” He explains that the seder features the seven species of Israel and includes four cups of wine. Smiling, he adds that while called a seder, it is considerably shorter than a Passover seder and there are no special preparations needed. Registration for the “Tu B’Shevat” kits is available on-line at tinyurl.com/bizoom
or by calling 402.556.6288. Kits will be available for pickup Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 25 and 26, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Additionally, a special Tu B’Shevat teen program has been scheduled. Organized and led by Rabbi Yoni, the program will take part after Shabbat on Saturday evening, Jan. 30. The group will meet for a small Tu B’Shevat seder, a bit of learning, and then enjoy an evening of ice skating. To register, please contact Rabbi Yoni at ydreyer@orthodoxomaha.org or by calling 402.556.6288. Want to learn more about Tu B’Shevat? A quick Google search will provide a wealth of options from which one can choose or check with Rabbi Yoni or Rabbi Ari for recommendations. It may be winter in Omaha but this is a great time to focus on the upcoming beauty of spring and appreciate the earth.
2021 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND PARENTS We will be publishing our annual High School Graduation Class pages on May 21, 2021. To be included, send us an email with the student’s name, parents names, high school they are attending, the college they will be attending and photo to: jpress@jewishom aha.org by May 3, 2021.
The Jewish Press When to buy? When to sell? How do I prepare to buy or sell? Can I show or see a home during Covid? What is my home worth? What are the market trends? Is investing in real estate safe? How do I begin? During these uncertain times, there are many unanswered questions. Real Estate does not have to be among them. For answers to these questions and more, call me. I have the knowledge and experience to guide you, because home is now more important than ever.
Dana Wayne Gonzales 402-850-9007 dana.gonzales@bhhsamb.com
The Jewish Press | January 22, 2021 | 3
Racial Justice at Temple Israel
SARA COWAN “The United States is in the midst of a racial reckoning. As Jews, we must recognize that the work of antiracism is difficult, necessary, and ours to do.” This is how an August 2020 letter to congregants announced the formation of the Racial Justice Initiative and a deep dive into racial justice work at Temple Israel. Racial justice is not new to our consciousness, but events in the last year, including the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis and subsequent killing of James Scurlock here in Omaha, have reminded us of our imperative to learn, educate and act in the name of racial justice in every facet of our lives. Our faith compels us. This fall, the Racial Justice Initiative launched its first community learning program: Naming and Framing Racism. Congregants who signed up for the program chose one of the selected anti-racist media to study and discuss in groups: a book (Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad), a podcast (1619 by Nikole Hannah Jones), or a film (The Hate U Give). Members of the Racial Justice Initiative Team volunteered to facilitate the discussion groups after engaging in diversity, equity and inclusion training from Inclusive Communities as well as facilitator training from k + r strategies. Over 60 congregants participated in the discussion groups, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. One participant, who read Me and White Supremacy, wrote “It was a great opportunity to self-examine my own feelings and previous actions on the subject.” In addition to deepening our understanding of racial justice and racism, many indicated that they valued the discussions and relationships built while exploring uncomfortable topics in the Zoom discussions. A participant in the 1619 group reports, “I loved the composition of the group: diverse ages, diverse viewpoints... an added bonus for me was getting to know the people in my group. Intelligent, sincere, lifelong learners!” A participant who watched The Hate U Give shared that the best part of the experience was “feeling that I
am part of a vibrant and respectful learning community that is trying to be part of the solution, rather than the problem.” Learning is only the beginning, and we have barely begun to scratch the surface. Later this spring, Temple Israel’s racial justice sermon series, organized by Rabbi Berezin, will bring Jews of Color from around the country to speak at Friday night services. A speaker series program will focus on local issues, with experts in various fields engaging with racial justice from the Omaha metro. The Racial Justice Initiative also sends a monthly newsletter with links to articles and podcast episodes related to racial justice, especially connected to Judaism and Jewish identity, as well as highlighting local Black businesses and organizations to support. Still, there is far more work that we as a congregation must do. Many of the congregants who participated in the Naming and Framing Racism project came away feeling the urgency to do more. As our beloved Rabbi Brooks said in his sermon immediately following the 1965 March on Selma, “It is not enough to mourn the dead nor to parade the sidewalks. NOR to preach. Now is the time to live the demonstration... Our destruction or salvation lies within the context of our own moral behavior. It is time to act.”
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Continued from page 1 Join for the JDAM Kickoff with Itzhak Perlman on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. ET and Closing Session with Leading Members of Congress on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET. You can find an introductory video and the full list of programming at www.jewishtogether.org. Attend one program or join for all of them. Closed captioning is available throughout. “Jewish Together,” an initiative of the Jewish Federations of North America, offers additional resources. For instance, the Marketplace offers a place to connect, learn and explore with your Jewish community – virtually! In addition, you can use our website at https://marketplace.jewishtogether.org/ to discover a variety of Jewish experiences for all ages and levels. For more information, contact Jamie Skog-Burke at jskogburke@jewishomaha.org.
Marty Cohen | 402-690-1591 FOR SALE $229,900 NEW LISTING Millard School District Light bright and open soaring ceilings 1495 sq. ft. 3 bed 2 bath fireplace 2 car garage. 10205 N. 29th Court $399,500 2542 sq. ft. Villa, 3 decks with spectacular panoramic views of the Missouri River. Tens of thousands spent on upgrades. COMING SOON Fabulous Deer Creek Walkout Ranch Villa SOLD 12018 Vane Circle $369,950 SOLD in 6 Days Ranch Villa/Deer Creek golf course 3317 S. 112 Street $236,500 SOLD in 10 Days District 66/Westside 2 Story 5711 S. 118 Plaza $499,000 Custom built in St Andrews Pointe 10014 Rockbrook Road $849,900 1.5 Story overlooking Happy Hollow Golf Course 15717 Parker Street
The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) requests help from the community in identifying photographs from the archives. Please contact Kathy Weiner at 402.334.6441 or kweiner@jewishomaha.org if you are able to assist in the effort to preserve Jewish Omaha history. Mystery solved! The photo in the Jan. 8 Jewish Press was of Dr. Steven Bennett. The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society thanks the JP readers for their help.
Omaha’s real estate market DANA WAYNE GONZALES Realtor, Jackson Group | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | Ambassador Real Estate As a realtor in the Omaha metro area, I am often asked about the current state of the real estate market. A question to which my answer is consistently, “It’s great!” Omaha and its surrounding areas are very fortunate to have a robust real estate market for buyers and sellers alike. You may be asking yourself, “How is this possible? How can the market be favorable for both?” Buyers and sellers tend to assume that they have opposing interests as volume of inventory has different effects with regard to one’s objective. However, the combination of low interest rates and home value for the dollar in our area in comparison to the rest of the country makes the Omaha market particularly successful and appealing to both buyers and sellers. The current low interest rates translate to buyers’ ability to afford higher prices given lower monthly payment rates. This enables sellers to maximize their home’s value as buy-
ers seek to buy quickly to take advantage of the low rates. Despite the appearance of relatively low inventory, it is important to note that the market is ever-growing with new listings becoming available daily. A Realtor.com report recently commented on the value of the local market, stating that, “Affordable housing and high-paying jobs... are attracting many ‘boomerang buyers’ back to the (Omaha) area after living in other more expensive parts of the country.” The combination of low interest rates, consistent competitive inventory and qualified buyers makes our housing market one of the strongest in the country. This is good news for not only those interested in entering the market but also our community. If you have more questions or would like a free market analysis, please call me at 402.850.9007. I have built my career around helping others. From previous experiences in banking, teaching and social services to award winning customer service, I am here to help. Be well and be safe always.
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4 | The Jewish Press | January 22, 2021
Above: Helen Kay tapes up gift boxes at Temple Israel.
Left: Liora Shapiro delivers a gift box to Omaha Fire Department Station #43. Below left: Firefighters receive an Operation Grateful Goodies gift box at Omaha Fire Station #77.
Below: An employee at Bickford of Omaha receives an Operation Grateful Goodies gift box. Above: Nurses on the 5th floor at Methodist Women’s Hospital show off their Operation Grateful Goodies gift box. Below: Linda Saltzman drops off a gift box to VCA Midwest Vets.
Below: Friedel staff and students are excited to be back after winter break.
SP O TLIGHT
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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.
Above and below: The Temple Israel faculty team goes above and beyond: Pre-K through 6th grade students received visits from their teachers, who brought their class supply boxes right to their doorsteps!
Above: Rabbi Yoni and Shiran Dreyer and family took advantage of winter break and headed to Florida to enjoy a few days without winter coats. During their travels in the Sunshine State, they spent time with Faige, Yaakov, and Lea Jeidel who are living in Boca Raton.
The Jewish Press | January 22, 2021 | 5
Voices
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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 Mary Bachteler 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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Untangling the noose
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Much has been written during the past weeks about that mess at the Capitol. In addition to coverage of what happened that day, there is a bigger spotlight on all the other instances where the wrong words are said in public. My favorite (ha!) headline? “A Staten Island politician yelled ‘Heil Hitler’ at a protest. She says she’s sorry.” I bet she is. “Leticia Remauro, a Republican consultant running for borough president, was protesting the closing of a bar last month for violating coronavirus restrictions, according to the NY Daily News,” Ben Sales wrote for the JTA. “Remauro told the Daily News that she meant to say “Mein Fuehrer,” which means “my leader.” The implication, she said, was supposed to be that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio were fascists. In her apology, she also defended the intent of her statement.” We know that ignorance, evident in Remauro’s original outcry as well as her apology, doesn’t live in a vacuum. All types of hate speech have been on display for years now and with technology, everyone can have a platform. Which is why it is not always a good idea to point only at the politicians. Granted, they have a public role, they have a wider reach and because of the office to which they were elected, we hold them to a higher standard. Seeing a random American wearing horns and a piece of fur break into the Capitol is shocking, but not as shocking as the politician who encourages him. And yet, if we take our lessons from history, those politicians would get nowhere if it weren’t for
everyday people. And much more than the political infighting, it was those everyday people that brought the riots, the violence, and the shock on Jan. 6. It’s ‘everyday people’ who live online, who buy the lies and purchase the guns. Who think it is okay to yell, “Hang Mike Pence,” and erect a noose. Who believe what they choose to believe, no matter the
street, every storefront defaced, every grave desecrated and every slur spoken out loud. This is a violent time, we cannot deny that any longer. What we do now will have repercussions for decades to come. We all have a choice to make: we can look at this and claim it has nothing to do with us, or we can admit that everyone shares the responsibility to clean house. We do that by examining our own behavior. How do we respond to others? How do we treat others? Do we make snarky comments on Facebook? I do. Do we yell at the television? I do. Do we read news stories and refuse to believe them, depending on the source? I do. Are we less likely to listen carefully when people speak from across the aisle? Do we jump to conclusions quickly and make up our minds too fast? I know I do. Protesters gather on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan 6, 2021. Pro- Small things, right? Miniscule transTrump protesters entered the building after mass demonstrations. gressions surely don’t lead directly Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images to insurrection? Except, we have facts. Bystanders who stop being bystanders and somehow created an atmosphere in which that bechoose to engage, who become a mob. came reality. Of all the images that have flown across my teleIt’s the hardest question to ask: did we all, in vision screen these past weeks, months, years, it is some small way, help build a world in which the that noose that sticks in my mind. It represents Jan. 6 uprising became not just a possibility, but a every angry email, every nasty tweet, every in- reality? It’s even harder to answer: yes. Yes, we did. stance of name-calling and every hateful chant. It Can we fix it? I hope so. But the only way we can is the culmination of the idea that we all draw our do that is if we examine our own behavior. red lines, all the time, and punish whoever doesn’t If we admit that we all had a role, however small, agree with us. It is a visual representation of every in knotting that noose, we can be on our way to unBlack American shot, every Jew attacked in the tangling it.
We have to hold them accountable ROBERTA KAPLAN, KAREN DUNN AND AMY SPITALNICK JTA Last week’s terror attack on the U.S. Capitol followed a playbook we’ve seen before. We know because we’re bringing the federal lawsuit against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and hate groups responsible for the Charlottesville violence. With each new bit of information, the parallels between Unite the Right and Stop the Steal become more alarming. A straight line can be drawn from Charlottesville to the Capitol — and it is imperative, for our safety and for our democracy, that we all understand how to connect the dots. In August 2017, white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists descended on Charlottesville. As the evidence in our case details, the violence that ensued was no accident. It was meticulously planned for months in advance in private chat rooms: a racist, violent conspiracy that will finally be held accountable in court later this year. Don’t be fooled: Much like with the Charlottesville attack, what happened at the Capitol was no accident. No one should have been surprised by the violence on Jan. 6. These were not lone wolves who spontaneously decided to storm the U.S. Capitol building. Rather, for weeks in advance, on both mainstream and fringe social media sites, these extremists organized, making clear that there would be violence if lawmakers, media, law enforcement and others did not reject the results of the 2020 election. One person on the far-right TheDonald forum asked, “What if Congress ignores the evidence?” “Storm the Capitol,” was the response, with hundreds of users liking the post. There were countless similar posts across various sites. These posts eerily echo the Discord chats in which the Charlottesville violence was planned, where there was explicit discussion of hitting protesters with cars nearly a month before the attack that took Heather Heyer’s life and grievously injured our plaintiffs. Much like in Charlottesville, the Capitol insurrectionists showed up with weapons and in tactical gear, prepared for a violence. And violence is, of course, what followed.
When these extremists say they’re going to do recently complained that he has been “financially something, we must believe them. crippled” by the case, while other defendants have Of course the parallels with the Charlottesville had to halt plans for new buildings or events. violence don’t end with the fact that both were viBut beyond our case and a handful of individual olent conspiracies planned online. prosecutions, there has generally been little acAt the core of both Unite the Right and Stop the countability for violent extremism. Steal is a vile, pervasive white supremacy that inThere is now an opportunity to make clear the secludes palpable anti-Semitism. From Camp vere consequences for this terror. The federal governAuschwitz shirts to Confederate flags and other white ment has started to bring charges against individual supremacist imagery, to the noose hung outside the insurrectionists. The Department of Justice can also Capitol, the motivation for these extremists’ violence is their bigotry. Much of this hate is predicated on the idea of the country being “stolen” from white people. “Jews will not replace us” was a direct callout to the vile Great Replacement theory, which argues that the white race is being replaced by people of color, with Jews as the puppet masters. In fact, some of the same white supremacists who terrorized Charlottesville showed up at the Capitol, Left: Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on such as “Baked Alaska” and Nick Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Credit: Jon Cherry/Getty Images Fuentes who were photographed Right: Peter Cvjetanovic (R) along with Neo Nazis, Alt-Right, and ransacking Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s of- White Supremacists encircle and chant at counter protestors at the fice. One of the chief cheerleaders of base of a statue of Thomas Jefferson after marching through the Unithe Capitol attack was neo-Nazi An- versity of Virginia campus with torches in Charlottesville, Va., USA on Aug. 11, 2017. Credit: Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images drew Anglin, a central player in the Charlottesville violence and a defendant in our suit. take on the full conspiracy that orchestrated the vioAnd just like in Charlottesville, within hours of lence, just as we’re doing with our Charlottesville suit. the violence, perpetrators defaulted to the same exAs a new administration takes office, it has an cuse for the Capitol attack as they used in 2017: opportunity to bring the full weight of the federal blame Antifa, even though there is zero doubt that government to bear against these extremists — and this was a premeditated far-right extremist attack. ensure that the playbook seen in Charlottesville Now, these same extremists are back online, using and at the Capitol can never be used again. last week’s attack to recruit and planning a new wave Roberta Kaplan is the Founding Partner at of violence. So where do we go from here? The only Kaplan Hecker Fink LLP. path forward is one of accountability and justice. Karen Dunn is a Partner at Paul Weiss and a We know that it matters. Our Charlottesville case former federal prosecutor in Virginia. heads to trial this year — and even before trial, there Amy Spitalnick is the Executive Director of Inhas been true accountability for the leaders of the vi- tegrity First for America, the civil rights nonolence, from large financial penalties to an extraor- profit backing the Charlottesville lawsuit. dinary evidentiary sanctions decision and even jail The views and opinions expressed in this article are time. It has deterred many of these extremists from those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the participating in subsequent actions. Richard Spencer views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
Synagogues
6 | The Jewish Press | January 22, 2021
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BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
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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
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN
South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org
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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
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL
Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
B’NAI ISRAEL Join us via Zoom on Friday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m. for evening services. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! 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, Mary-Beth 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: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:05 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; BESTT (Grades 37), 10 a.m.; Getting the Lay of the Land, 7:30 p.m. MONDAY: Ken Munzesheimer Book Talk — “We Stand Devided,” 7 p.m.; Jewish Law with Rabbi Abraham, 8 p.m. TUESDAY: Biblical Literacy with Rabbi Abraham, 11:30 a.m.; Virtual Office Hours with Eadie and Amy, 2 p.m.; Rabbi & Reverend Talk About Death, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Coffee & Conversation with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; Virtual Tai Chi with Beth Staenberg, 3:30 p.m.; BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4:30 p.m.; Dead Sea Scrolls, 6 p.m. with Dr. Rami Arav; Beit Midrash — Judaism & The Glass Ceiling, 7 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Virtual Office Hours with Eadie and Amy, 2 p.m.; Movie Day — “The Bucket List,” 2 p.m.; Tu B’Shvat Origami Workshop, 6 p.m.; Pearls of Jewish Prayer with Hazzan Krausman, 7 p.m. FRIDAY-Jan. 29: Shabbat Shira, 6 p.m. SATURDAY-Jan. 30: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:15 p.m. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. Classes, Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah on Zoom, Whatsapp or Facebook Live. On site services held outside in Sukkah, weather permitting. Physical distancing and masks required. FRIDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Candlelighting, 5:10 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 5:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:14 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Jewish Law in Depth, 9:45 a.m. with Rabbi Moshe; Monthly Kids Craft & Class, 12:15 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m. MONDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m. TUESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m.; Board of Directors Meeting, 6:30 p.m. (Zoom); Tu B’Shevat To Go, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Tu B’Shevat — Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Character Development, 9:30 am. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m. FRIDAY-Jan. 29: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Candlelighting, 5:19 p.m.
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SATURDAY-Jan. 30: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 5:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:22 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: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Lechayim, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi Blotner; Candlelighting, 5:10 p.m. SATURDAY: Minyan, 10 a.m.; Shabbat Ends, 6:13 p.m. SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m. MONDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani Katzman; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Professor David Cohen. TUESDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Mystical Thinking, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Professor David Cohen; Introduction to Hebrew Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Professor David Cohen. THURSDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Advanced Hebrew Class, 11 a.m. with Professor David Cohen; Talmud Study, noon with Rabbi Katzman; Fun with Yiddish, 1 p.m. with Shani Katzman. FRIDAY-Jan. 29: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Lechayim, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi Blotner; Candlelighting, 5:19 p.m. SATURDAY-Jan. 30: Minyan, 10 a.m.; Shabbat Ends, 6:21 p.m.
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL Virtual services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. FRIDAY: Candlelighting, 5:12 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service from SST, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex, Nathaniel & Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex via Zoom; Torah Study on Parashat Bo, 11:30 a.m. via Zoom; Havdalah (72 minutes), 6:15 p.m. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan-Gesher, 10 a.m. via Zoom; Adult Ed: Intro to Judaism Class, 11:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex via Zoom; LJCS Committee Meeting, 1:30 p.m. MONDAY: Makers of Jewish Things, 7 p.m. via Zoom. TUESDAY: Synagogue Staff Meeting, 10 a.m.; Tea & Coffee with Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. WEDNESDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 4:30 p.m. via Zoom.
FRIDAY-Jan. 29: Candlelighting, 5:20 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service from SST, service leaders/ music: Rabbi Alex & Elaine Monnier, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. SATURDAY-Jan. 30: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex via Zoom; Torah Study on Parashat Beshalach, 11:30 a.m. via Zoom; Havdalah (72 minutes), 6:23 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, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander. DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. Join us via Zoom. FRIDAY: Shabbat Service: Social Justice at Temple — Past, Present and Future, 6 p.m. Join us via Zoom. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Join us via Zoom. SUNDAY: Youth Learning Programs, 10 a.m. MONDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, 11 a.m. Join us via Zoom WEDNESDAY: Mindful Meditation with Margot, 9 a.m. Join us via Zoom; Youth Learning Programs: Grades 3-6, 4-6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6-8 p.m.; Community Beit Midrash, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Discussion, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Berezin. Join us via Zoom; Challah at Home, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Berezin. FRIDAY-Jan. 29: Shabbat Shira Service: Musical Retrospective, 6 p.m. Join us via Zoom. SATURDAYJan. 30: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Join us via Zoom. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
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Florida Jewish couple turns 100 years old together GABE FRIEDMAN JTA Now for some happy news. A Jewish couple in Florida is celebrating two hefty milestones together this year: 100 years of life, and 80 years of marriage. Lou and Edith Bluefeld, of Boca Raton, have known each other since they were 16. They ran a kosher catering business that served visiting U.S. presidents and helped to kosher the White House Edith and Lou Bluefeld seen in a local news report. Credit: Screen shot from kitchen. They also cooked for WPTV former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin experience watching last Wednesday’s mob atwhen he was in Washington, D.C., for the 1978 tack on the Capitol building. “It shook me,” Lou said. “It was such an embarEgypt peace accord announcement, according to rassment. ” a South Florida Sun-Sentinel report. “What are the history books going to say?” Lou turned 100 on Saturday January 9, and Edith said. Edith hits the number on Aug. 4, NBC’s WPTV reLou said that he hopes the country can unify the ported. Their 80th wedding anniversary is Feb. 23. way it did in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack. Their plan is to celebrate with their children “There’s Republicans and there’s Democrats, and grandchildren later in the year if the family but really, we’re Americans, and that’s what we has all received the COVID-19 vaccine. have to get back to,” he said. The Bluefelds also spoke to WPTV about their
Life cycles BIRTH
ELEANOR MAE ROTH Jen and Rob Roth of Deerfield, IL, announce the Dec. 1, 2020, birth of their daughter, Eleanor Mae. She has a sister, Leah Bea. Grandparents are Debbie and Scott Friedman of Omaha, Rosalie Roth of Skokie, IL, and Sid and Alexandra Roth of Glencoe, IL. Great-grandmother is Julie Anon of Omaha.
LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that Birch and Brick LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 14217 Pine Street, Omaha, NE 68144. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Registered Agents Inc., 530 S. 13th Street, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE, 68508. The Company is member-managed. Nature of the Company is retail.
IN MEMORIAM THEODORE (TED) M. SELDIN
Continued from page 1 His influence on the Omaha landscape through both his real estate development and his volunteer work cannot be overstated. When the University of Iowa Alumni Association in 2013 presented him with the Distinguished Alumni Award, they called him “an entrepreneur with a social conscience.” In 2017, the University of Nebraska Omaha College of Business dedicated the ‘Ted M. Seldin Commons’ in recognition of Ted’s support of the university’s Real Estate and Asset Management program. It’s an area frequently used by students to gather and study. Ted Seldin’s career was always focused on much more than the work itself; community engagement was his main priority. Maybe the most important real estate work he was involved with was the development and management of low-income senior housing, including Livingston Plaza. Early on, he saw the need for “decent places where seniors can live in dignity and security.” “Ted went to Washington,” Bert Lewis wrote in 2010, “and talked, cajoled, argued and educated the people who had the power to help. When he was finished pleading his case, an FHA program was in place, which would provide assistance to seniors, assuring safe, clean and comfortable housing. It promised rent at no more than 30% of income, after deduction for medication. ‘If I have a legacy to leave, this is it,’ Ted said.” Ted Seldin was a community builder, in the commercial sense, but even more so in his support for the Jewish community in both Nebraska and Iowa. In 1975, he was asked to join the Temple Israel Board of Directors. Together with Syd Osten, he took on co-chairmanship of the building and grounds committee. Immediately after he agreed to do so, Temple Israel was hit by that famous tornado and Ted and many others ended up overseeing the reconstruction of the building. He served as president of Temple and as president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. In addition, he was a great supporter of the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies, including the AntiDefamation League and the Institute for Holocaust Education. “He was a great mentor to me,” JFO CEO Alan Potash said, “and I was thrilled that we were able to honor him as humanitarian of the year several years ago.” Ted did it all humbly, and with warmth. Having a conversation with Ted meant feeling you were the only one in the room; his attention was absolute. When, in 2015, he and his family were named as JFO Humanitarian of the Year, he insisted on pointing the spotlight away from himself: “It’s an honor to share this award with the whole family,” he said at the time. Ted is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sarah; daughters and sons-in-law Stephanie and Rodger Howard and Beth and Amnon Dotan; grandchildren: Liatte Dotan, Yonatan Dotan, Alexander Howard and Adam Howard; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A private graveside service was held at Oak Hills/Bikhor Olim cemetery in Council Bluffs. The family will plan a memorial gathering for Ted at a future date. Memorials may be made to The Omaha Jewish Federation Foundation, the Omaha Community Foundation, Omaha VNA Hospice or the organization of your choice.
Administrative Assistant Beth Israel Synagogue is seeking a skilled, confident individual for the position of Administrative Assistant. The position provides administrative support to the synagogue staff, handling information requests, performing a variety of clerical functions, receiving visitors, creating weekly emails and publications, assisting with program arrangements, working with volunteers, handling a variety of special projects, and data-base management. Required Skills: • Strong oral and written communication skills • Strong organizational and decision-making skills • Attention to detail and accuracy • Competency in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, • Publisher, and Outlook This is a part-time position, 20-26 hours per week with the potential for hours to increase. Competitive compensation offered based on experience. Please send resumes to lherskovitz@orthodoxomaha.org.
SHIRLEY FOX WEINSTEIN Shirley Fox Weinstein peacefully passed away on Jan. 7, 2021 at age of 98 at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. The service was held on Jan. 10. She is survived by her son, Robert, and sons and daughtersin-law, Dale and Kay and James and Fran; five grandchildren, Lee, Ben, Jeffrey and Jordan, Lisa and Guy; two great-grandchildren, Blake and Georgia as well as several nieces and nephews. Shirley was a loving wife to Herman, who after nearly 50 years of marriage, passed away in 2000, and the devoted daughter of Leo and Julia Fox (blessed memory), who immigrated from Poland over a century ago as well as her two brothers, Phil and Al Fox (blessed memory). She dedicated her time and energy to helping others, working with the League of Women Voters and as a hospital volunteer for most of her adult life, while also pursuing her varied interests in current events, card playing, movies and golf. Shirley had a remarkable ability to put others at ease, turning strangers to friends wherever she went. From 20-somethings to her contemporaries, She was a friend to all, and will be treasured by each and every one. Most of all, Shirley loved her family, and cherished every moment she spent with them. Memorials may be made in her memory to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, 323 S 132nd St., Omaha, NE, 68154.
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The Jewish Press | January 22, 2021 | 7
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8 | The Jewish Press | January 22, 2021
News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
Immigration and intermarriage make US Jewry more diverse STEWART AIN Since the publication more than half a century ago of a landmark article that referenced the “vanishing American Jew,” it’s been hard to shake that idea as the dominant narrative of American Jewish life. Yet the U.S. Jewish community is the largest in the world, with an estimated 7 million Jews — slightly more than Israel’s 6.8 million. And despite a low birthrate, American Jews actually are growing in number, primarily due to three factors: immigration, intermarriage and education. Over the past three decades, Jewish immigrants have come in large numbers from the former Soviet Union, Latin America and Israel. Intermarriage, rather than acting as a net negative for Jewish population, has resulted in more Jews, as the children of intermarried parents increasingly identify as Jewish and some spouses convert. “The narrative of the Jewish community that we are a disappearing people — Look magazine famously referred to us [in 1964] as the Vanishing American Jew – is not true,” said Leonard Saxe, a demographer at Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies. “What we know is that the American Jewish population is growing substantially, and we know where they are living, how old they are and their political attitudes. We also know that American Jews are increasingly diverse, both in their demographic characteristics and how they enact their Jewish
identities.” The increasing diversity of American Jewry is apparent in myriad elements, including national origin, race and ethnicity.
others – may constitute 12-15% of American Jews, according to researchers at Stanford and the University of San Francisco. “The Jewish community has consistently been inconsistent with respect to how it attempts to account for Jews of color within the American Jewish community,” Ari Kelman, an associate professor of education and Jewish studies at Stanford, said The United States also has an increasingly vocal, visible and vibrant Israeli population. A landmark study of the nation’s Jewry in 2013 by the Pew Research Center estimated that 100,000 Israeli-born Jews are Dancers perform at a celebration at the Ohr Natan congrega- living in the U.S., tion of Bukharian Jews in the Rego Park section of Queens, But according to an analysis New York. Credit: Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images of American Community Sur“We are not just descendants of European vey data conducted by Ira Sheskin, director of Jews,” said Arnold Dashefsky, director of the the University of Miami’s Jewish Demography University of Connecticut’s Center for Judaic Project, there actually are some 350,000 Jews Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life. with Israeli roots in America. “Therefore, planners need to reflect on how America has other sizable Jewish commutheir policies can accommodate the diverse nities where the native tongue is not English. nature of American Jewry.” Russian-speaking Jews live in large concentraDashefsky estimates that 10% of American tions in New York City. Spanish-speaking Jews Jewry is Sephardic and another 5% is com- reside in large numbers in South Florida, inprised of “nonwhite Jews” from Poland, Russia cluding immigrants from Argentina and and Ukraine, such as Bukharian Jews. Jews of Venezuela who have arrived during the past color – a broad term that encompasses two decades. Los Angeles has a large PersianAfrican-American Jews, Ethiopian Jews and speaking community, the result of an exodus
y m e d a c A h s i Friedel Jew
of Iranian Jews following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The increase in America’s Jewish population comes despite the low fertility rate among American Jews, which has been in decline since the 1970s and generally is lower than Americans. One major factor contributing to American Jewish growth is changes in attitudes toward intermarriage. “Intermarried families are, for the most part, accepted in the community,” Saxe observed. “I like to say that intermarriage no longer requires that they have to give up their Jewish passport.” As for Americans generally, 2020 was a year of great change for the country’s Jews. American Jews are estimated to have suffered disproportionate numbers of fatalities during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. The full scope of the pandemic’s impact on American Jews, as on Americans generally, has yet be determined. This article was edited for length. Read the full story at www.omahajewishpress.com This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with the Z3 Project and the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, California, as part of Z3’s 2020 virtual conference, Visions for a Shared Future: Reimagining DiasporaIsrael Relations. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team.
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