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Remembering Steve Pitlor ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor The Jewish community mourns the loss of Steve Pitlor, who passed away Jan. 13. A private graveside funeral was held Jan. 15. Steve was a graduate of Central High School, who returned to Omaha after college at the University of Arizona with his degree in mechanical engineering. He went on to become a professional engineer, held a master steamfitter license and served as president of the local Mechanical Contractors Association. For almost 40 years, he ran his 100-year-old family-owned mechanical contracting company, Pitlor Mechanical. Steve held many positions of leadership, including president of the Omaha Public School Board, president of Beth El Synagogue, president of the Jewish Community Center, and served on the board of Heartland Family Service. From 2001-2003, he was president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. In that role, he worked closely with then-Executive Director Jan Goldstein. “The first word that comes to mind when I think of the time we worked together,” Jan said, “would be ‘supportive.’ Every professional knows that when you work closely together with a lay leader who truly respects you and supports the work you are doing, magic happens. I’ve been extremely fortunate See Steve Pitlor page 11
The building project Page 3
A Jewish family story Page 4
Let freedom ring Page 12
Eye on Israel continues
REGULARS
Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
7 8 10 10 & 11
tion for each, “Does what happens in MARK KIRCHHOFF Israel affect Jews from all over the Community Engagement world, and if so, how?” Following is a and Education Eye on Israel is presented at noon brief descriptive list of the events inon the first Monday of every cluded in the discussion. The assassination of Qasemm month through the collaboration of Soleimani by a U.S. Beth Israel Synagogue drone strike on January and the Community En20, 2020. Soleimani was gagement and Education an Iranian major general arm of the Jewish Federin the Islamic Revolutionation of Omaha. Rabbi ary Guard Corps (IRGC) Yoni Dreyer of Beth Israel and, from 1998 until his leads these virtual sesdeath in 2020, comsions which are open to mander of its Quds Force, the entire Omaha coma division primarily remunity. The next session sponsible for extraterritowill be held on Feb. 1. rial military and In the January 2021 Rabbi Yoni Dreyer clandestine operations. In session of Eye on Israel Rabbi Dreyer reviewed major events his later years, he was considered by in Israel during 2020, posing the ques- some to be the second most powerful person in Iran behind Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his right-hand man. The Trump peace plan, officially titled Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People, was a proposal by the Trump administration to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Donald Trump formally unveiled the plan in a White House press conference See Eye on Israel page 2
Steve Pitlor
Death and Mourning in Judaism: Introduction
SAM KRICSFELD AND ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP During the 2021 calendar year, The Jewish Press will feature a monthly series about the Jewish traditions and rituals that surround death and mourning. We will explore topics ranging from the preparation of the body to mourning customs to what happens after death. What are the rules and what are the traditions? How do they affect us? How do we behave when a
loved one dies? What does Judaism require of us? How can our traditions comfort us? We will cover different topics about death and mourning every month. Of course, death is a difficult subject with more nuances than can be covered in our paper. We will treat the subject with utmost sensitivity. We aim to inform and educate, but we also know very well that we don’t know everything. See Death and Mourning page 3
2 | The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021
News
Eye on Israel
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Trivia Night
JAY KATELMAN JFO Community Development Leader and JFO Foundation LIFE & LEGACY/OJAA Coordinator Question #1: Name a restaurant, a bakery, a shoe store and a women’s clothing store that operated in Countryside Village. Question #2: AZA Was founded in Omaha. When was it founded? Question #3: Which Omaha movie theater featured a circular seating area and featured movies with intermissions? If you enjoy trivia and you enjoy socializing with friends old and new, far and near, you will really enjoy the Omaha Jewish Alumni Association (OJAA) trivia night! The OJAA FREE Trivia event is Feb. 11, 2021, at 7 p.m. CT. You can register as an individual or you can invite some friends and form a team. Those who register individually will be placed into teams randomly. The event will be run by a professional Trivia company and will last one hour with an extended 30 minutes at the end if you wish to stay and catch up with others afterwards. The event will be customized to focus on Omaha and the Omaha Jewish community’s past and will take many of you back in time while hopefully challenging you at the same time. Please let all your friends and family know who may be interested! Please visit the website to register at http://
www.jfofoundation.org/OJAA. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams!
Trivia Mafia, a Minneapolis based company, will moderate the trivia event! Trivia Mafia is committed to providing the best trivia - even in a world when we can rarely gather in person. Join us on Zoom for a fresh batch of enjoyably challenging questions about all kinds of topics, but most based in the Jewish community in Omaha. HOW DOES IT WORK? • Follow the Zoom link provided to start the game; you can download Zoom on your computer, use the app on your phone or tablet, or join on the web (there’s even an extension for Chrome). You can join up to 20 minutes early and
size up the competition! • Show your team spirit by changing your screen name to start with your team name once you join! (This will also help the host sort you into the correct room.) If you prefer to take your chances with a new group of friends, then put “Random” as your team name. • Your team will have its own Breakout Room to discuss the questions after each round! Plan to take notes while the questions are being read. • The host will go over the rules, read a round of five questions, then open the rooms (you’ll see a prompt to Join your room at that time). • You’ll have five minutes to confer about the answers, and one person from your team will submit answers via a Google Form (provided during the rules). • The game will be four rounds of questions and take about an hour, and you’ll see the team standings by the end. #braggingrights • We hope you enjoy a fun quiz where you learn something new about the world, or at least about your teams. Answer #1: Restaurant – Old English Inn or Market Basket, Shoe Store – Lloyd’s Shoes ( featured Buster Brown shoes), Bakery – Friedman’s Bakery, andClothing Store – Nora’s. Answer #2: May 3, 1924. Answer #3: Indian Hills theatre, 86th & Dodge.
Continued from page 1 alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Jan. 28, 2020, although no Palestinian authorities were invited for negotiations. The first case of COVID-19 in Israel was confirmed on Feb. 21, 2020, when a female citizen tested positive for the disease at the Sheba Medical Center after return from quarantine on the Diamond Princess ship in Japan. As a result, a 14-day home isolation rule was instituted for anyone who had visited South Korea or Japan, and a ban was placed on non-residents and non-citizens who were in South Korea for 14 days before their arrival. Legislative elections were held in Israel on March 2, 2020 to elect members of the 23rd Knesset. The election result showed a political stalemate, which was resolved when Likud and Blue & White reached a coalition agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the premiership would rotate between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, with Gantz given the new position of Alternate Prime Minister until November 2021. These elections followed continued political deadlock after the April and September 2019 Knesset elections. The world’s largest cargo plane, an Antonov AN-225 carrying US military Oshkosh trucks landed at Israel’s BenGurion Airport on Aug. 3, 2020. The cargo plane delivered trucks which were to be fitted in Israel with Iron Dome systems purchased by the US Army. They will be used to defend US troops against a range of ballistic and aerial threats. Israel established formal ties with two Arab states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, on Sept. 15, 2020. The parties proclaimed that these arrangements would “change the course of history.” Vaccinations for the corona virus began in Israel on Dec. 19, 2020. The short answer to the question posed, “Does what happens in Israel affect Jews from all over the world?” is “yes.” But the nuances of the answers and the richness of the discussion is missed if you did not attend. Mark your calendar now and join by visiting jewishomaha.org and navigate to the registration page by clicking on the corresponding top sliding banner. If you have previously registered, you may continue to use that link throughout the series. Direct your comments, questions and suggestions to Mark Kirchhoff, 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org.
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The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021 | 3
The building project One quiet afternoon not too long ago my phone rang. I was alone. The man who was calling was a friend, though not close, and I admired and liked him. “Dick,” he began, “I want to talk to you about Beth El.” I knew what was coming, and I thought to myself “He’s going to ask me for money for the building project the synagogue is now undertaking.” But he never got around RICHARD FELLMAN to asking me for anything even though we spoke for over an hour. Instead he began by describing what the plans were for Beth El. He began at the front door, as it is to be remodeled, and went through the entire building. I asked questions, and he carefully listened and addressed each one. • The mechanical parts are old and many need replacement. • The building lacks essential security. • The chapel is too small. • The sanctuary is too big. • Etc., etc., etc. And the list goes on. All the way through our hour-long conversation I was wondering, ‘How much is he going to ask me to give?’ He never got there, he never asked, but at the end I told him, “I want to participate. Give me a couple of weeks, and I’ll call you.” I did, and I feel good. I’ll tell you why. I’m getting old. In a few months I’ll be 86. That’s approaching a long life. The cornerstone of the Beth El we know tells us that the first Beth El, the building on 49th and Farnam, was built in 1940. Three years after that I began Hebrew School in that building. My entire life since then has been in Beth El, first in that old building and starting in 1990, fifty years later, in the “new” building that is now 30 years old. I have no idea how many more years I’ll live, but my life sort of bookends my synagogue. My story goes back much further, for I remember as a child going with my father to the old “Rushishe Shul” on 18th and Chicago and sitting in the seat in the second row, center section, that he sat in next to his father when he was a boy. Ten years ago when Bev and I spent six months living in Ukraine I sat in a little old shul with Bev looking down from a worn out balcony in a building hidden off an alley that for some reason both the Nazis and the Soviets never bothered to destroy. As I sat there I could picture my grandfather sitting there with
his father in the shtetl where they lived and that goes back to the middle 1800s. Jewish life has been centered on the Beit Midrash, the House of Study and Prayer, since the days of the destruction of the Temple 2000 years ago. All over the world there are synagogues, large and small. They all look different. But they all serve the same purposes. Other community buildings, like the outstanding community center Omaha has, date only to the late 19th century and the genius of Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan. Synagogues are something more. As a board member and then president of Beth El, I recall thinking of that long history. It made me feel good, even better than I did when I served in leadership positions in local Jewish organizations. But a synagogue is different. Every one, regardless of size or beauty or age, contains the same basic provisions... a Torah,
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often more than one, in an ark, and an Eternal Light. There is always some sort of table upon which the Torah is read. There are candlesticks and menorahs, and that’s about all. The rest varies. When Beth El was built 30 years ago, the palette of colors in the Sanctuary were the soft colors of the Mediterranean, pale blue and green and beige. Since then the colors have changed. The new Chapel is to have the colors of the Mishkan, as explained in the Book of Exodus, deep but vivid red and purple. As I write, I recall the lesson of Rabbi Yochanan in the Babylonian Talmud who was seen planting a tree and was asked, “Why are you planting? You are too old to ever use the fruits this tree will bear.” But, the man said, “My grandchild will.” I called my friend who told me all about the plans of the Beth El building project and asked him where to send my check.
Death and Mourning Continued from page 1 The printed sources we will use are traditional; individual practice differs greatly and while we will talk to different clergy from different denominations, please don’t take what we write as the final word. Contact your clergy for specific questions. We simply aim to start the discussion. Sometimes we may quote from specific texts and we will include any references where appropriate. You might ask why we are doing this. As a rule, we don’t like discussing death. The Kaddish doesn’t even mention it. But when a loved one dies, we are rarely ready to confront all the practical stuff - the arrangements, the notifications. More so, many don’t even know what comes next for those left behind. Who do we call? Where do we go? Questions about what happens to the body can be difficult to voice. It’s uncomfortable all around, but it doesn’t need to be. Judaism has a strong blueprint for what we do when we lose someone, both from a practical standpoint and for how we comfort ourselves and others. Some of the topics we’ll address include the vocabulary of death (What is Tahara? What is the Chevra Kadisha? Why do we say, ‘May their memory be for a blessing?’), a step-by-step
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explanation of what happens to the body after death and the make-up of the first year of mourning. We’ll address why we don’t as a rule put flowers on our loved ones’ graves and why we give Tzedakah when death occurs. We’ll talk about ‘Yahrzeit,’ what it is and why we mark it. In addition to the variations in practice, there are ever more interfaith families. Sometimes spouses convert, sometimes they do not. Either way, our community is changing and there are many among us who may not have grown up in the Jewish tradition. For them in particular, it can be very difficult to know what to expect and what questions to ask. Talking about death and everything that comes with it just isn’t easy. This is difficult to talk about, difficult to write about and we don’t doubt it will be difficult to read. But even in the best of circumstances, death hits hard. We think it might help to know the basics. There was quite a bit that we didn’t know before researching that we are glad we know now. We aim to run these articles the last week of every month. If you have questions, or are hoping there is something specific we will cover, please feel free to reach out. The writers can be reached at skricsfeld553@gmail.com and avande kamp@jewishomaha.org.
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A Jewish family story
Years passed by, WWII ended, and the soldiers came back RAMI ARAV “Jews are such a special case in history that if it had not hap- home. Among them was Roi Zwickel, the son of Fabian, who pened we would not believe it could.” came back with his wife, Rene, he married in England. In 1952 Isaac Bashevis Singer General Dwight D. Eisenhower won the presidential election It is not widely known the town in the Austro-Hungarian and became the first republican president since 1932. At that Empire, called Pressburg is Bratislava today, the capital city of time, it was said, “Three generals run the USA, General MoSlovakia. It is an old town, situated on the base of the majestic tors, General Electric and General Eisenhower”. palace of the rulers. The Jewish population of the town lived While in Germany, Eisenhower was deeply impressed by the along Slossstrasse, the Fortress network of Autobahns Hitler Street, running from the palace had built and wished to adopt to the Danube river. The Ausit to the USA. The system was tro-Hungarian empire occuproposed by the Bureau of pied a vast stretch of land in Public Roads to the Congress central Europe and contained in 1939, authorized in 1944, a cosmopolitan amalgamation and started in 1947. It was the of people from different namassive support of President tions. They were Croatians, Eisenhower making it possible Serbs, Bosnian, Slovenians, to be fully funded. On June 29, Slovakians and Czechs. The 1956, the Federal-Aid Highway Great War, World War I, disAct of 1956 provided the fundmantled the Empire and naing necessary for the interstate tional statehoods emerged road system. The main reason from its ruins. The Jews were for this national highway sysperhaps the last cosmopolitem, as stated by the president, tans, long after the cosmopoliwas security. In case of nuclear tan empire collapsed. attack on the USA, people Pressburg in 1912 was a would have a fast escape. No peaceful city, a kind of benign one could argue on security iscontinuum. No one could have sues with a general who deimagined in two years the Great feated the Germans. War would begin and drastically The first 40,000 miles were change the face of Europe, in completed in 1955 and people particular its Jewish population. took their cars and cruised My great-grandparents’ famover the breadth of the new ily, Leopold and Katherine network. Among the travelers Zwickel resided on this famous was a businessman who would street and conducted their Grandmother Rose Zwickel Glueck and me in Israel 1949. become famous due to this lives like the rest of the thriving Jewish community. network. His name was Howard Deering Johnson. The legend One evening, the entire Zwickel family, including Rose, my tells that Howard took his wife to explore the new roads. grandmother, ten years old at that time, were seated around Whenever she needed to visit a bathroom, he marked an “X” dinner table. Fabian, Leopold’s brother, surprised the family: on the map. “I am planning to emigrate to America,” he said and turned to Whether this is true or a myth, at the end of his trips, he Leopold, “Would you lend me money for the ticket?” came to Roi with an offer: “if you build restaurants on all the “Sure, I will,” said Leopold, “Don’t forget to write us about X marks on the map, I will rent it from you”. Many years later, the New World.” I asked Roi if the legend was true or not. Roi laughed and said, A few days later Fabian announced, “Hurray! I got a ticket! “I have heard about it, but I never asked him.” It is on board of a brand-new ship. It is going to be its maiden “Anyway,” he said, “except for one location he never lost on voyage. The name of the ship is the TITANIC. Aren’t you any place. And I must say he was very honest; he paid the rent happy? I am excited! I have to be in Southampton England on even for the location that was losing money”. April 10th Hurray!” When Roi reached his seventies, he wondered about the oriHe did not make it onto the Titanic. A few days later he lost gin of his family. His father died when he was six years old and his ticket while gambling. except for stories about the origin of the family in When I saw this scene on the movie, Titanic, I thought, this Pressburg/Bratislave, and about the Titanic he did not know is the story of my great-great uncle, Fabian Zwickel. But the much more. So, Roi took his wife Rene, to Bratislava to explore movie became the story of the guy who won the ticket and his roots. Roi and Rene were not alone on this kind of family lost his life. I do not know if Fabian dared to come back and exploration. Many did the same. They went to Europe searchask for more money, but he managed to get his ticket for the ing for their roots. Places most visited are the remaining passage. When he arrived in New York City, he settled in cemeteries, and a handful of surviving synagogues. Lower East Side. The Jewish cemetery of Bratislava extends over the slope of In the summers he went to work at the hotels of the Catskill the hill descending from the palace. It served the Jewish commountains. A few years later he purchased a small hotel, mar- munity for many centuries. The lower part of the cemetery ried and had two sons. Letters to his brother Leopold became was dismantled and occupied by the city authorities for the fewer and fewer. In 1926 Fabian passed away, survived by his construction of a local train. One tomb is kept and is still acwife and two children. The children grew up in the hotel busi- cessible. It is the tomb of Rabbi Schreiber, known by his penness, helped their mother operate the hotel and when she re- name Hatam Sopher. He was a steadfast opponent to the tired they took her place. See A Jewish family story page 6
The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021 | 5
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Israel’s COVID-19 vaccination spree
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.
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.
JTA Israel is making headlines for its response to COVID-19 — again. Early on in the pandemic, Israel was lauded for its tough lockdown measures and low coronavirus rates, only to become a cautionary tale over the summer, when case numbers skyrocketed. Now Israel is getting praised again, this time for its vaccination campaign. On Jan. 1, Israel announced that it had vaccinated more than 1 million citizens — over 10% of its population of nearly 9 million, and far and away the highest vaccination rate worldwide. The country is vaccinating 150,000 people every day and hopes to vaccinate half of its population by March. But the country is also experiencing a renewed spike in COVID-19 cases, and the pandemic’s steepest toll could yet be ahead. So far, the disease has killed nearly 3,500 Israelis. Here’s what you need to know about Israel’s vaccine drive, from what’s making it work to how it relates to the looming elections to why the country isn’t anywhere close to ending its outbreak. Israel’s universal health care system is vaccinating people around the clock. Like most developed countries, Israel provides health care to all of its citizens free of charge, and the coronavirus vaccine is no exception. The country is pri-
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oritizing elderly citizens and those with immunosuppression or other health risks, but everyone is eligible for the vaccine, or will be in the future. The country has been relatively liberal about who can get the vaccine. Like most countries, Israel is prioritizing frontline healthcare workers and the elderly, especially those in nursing homes, in its first batch of vaccines. But it has been handing out vaccines relatively freely. For starters, Israel included everyone over 60 in the first tier. Other countries have higher age limits or, in the case of the U.S., are treating the elderly in congregate living settings differently from those who live in their own homes. A lot is riding on this for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu knew that his support was tenuous when he committed early to vaccine contracts, at high cost, and now that it’s election season in Israel (again), perhaps nothing could do more to shore up his sagging support than a successful vaccination drive allowing the country to safely get back to normal. Israel is facing criticism for not vaccinating Palestinians — even as Palestinian leaders say they don’t want the help. Headlines from NPR, the Associated Press and other news organizations have implied that Israel is not delivering
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vaccines to Palestinians, and that narrative has gained traction, particularly among longstanding critics of Israel. In Canada, Jewish leaders are raising the alarm about members of Parliament who have cited the vaccine situation in criticism of Israel as an apartheid state. In fact, the Palestinian Authority is responsible for delivering medical care in its territories, according to the Oslo Accords signed in 1993. And the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank, has said it does not want Israel’s help and is working to purchase vaccines of its own. Many people, including allies of Israel, say Israel should help vaccinate Palestinians anyway, for both moral and practical reasons. Whether the pace of vaccinations can be sustained is unclear — and cases are mounting. In just one 24-hour span this week, one in every 1,000 Israelis was diagnosed with COVID-19, and a third lockdown is being tightened. The number of “serious cases” — people who are hospitalized and in poor condition — is nearing its fall peak, and infections are widespread across all sectors of society. According to the government, more than half of older Israelis have received one dose already. But even with the high vaccination rate, Israel is far from ending its onslaught of cases and deaths through vaccination.
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Andy Ruback joins NE Chamber Board of Directors Flood Communications, one of the largest and are voted in by the NE Chamber memnews operations in Nebraska, is pleased to bership. In addition to working to expand economic opportu-nities announce CEO, Andy across the state, the NE Ruback, has been invited to Chamber Board of Direcserve on the Board of Directors establishes the associtors for the NE Chamber. ation’s poli-cies with input Founded in 1912, the NE from members, as well as Chamber is the only the Chamber’s ten policy statewide, broad-based councils. business and industry asso“I am honored to be seciation focused on expandlected to serve on the Board ing economic opportunities of Directors for the NE for all Nebraskans. Chamber,” said Andy “The NE Chamber works Ruback, CEO of Flood Comto ensure Nebraska busimunications. “I look forward nesses of all sizes across the state stay competitive and to working with business continue to grow. We rely leaders from across Neon our Directors, business braska as we face economic leaders with expertise in all challenges and plan for a Andy Ruback aspects of business, to help successful future. Nebraska define our mission and guide our work,” said is a great state, and I am humbled to be a part NE Chamber President Bryan Slone. of the ongoing success here in Nebraska.” Ruback’s term as a District Director for the Directors serve a term of three years. They are nominated by existing board members NE Chamber began Jan. 1, 2021.
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It’s not just what they know. It’s who they become.
A Jewish family story Continued from page 4 Reform movement in the 19th century ( full disclosure, he is one of my ancestors). In order to visit his tomb, a Jewish community employee, leads visitors through a stairway descending from a train station to an underground chamber where the tomb is kept. Roi and Rene arrived at the cemetery. At the gatehouse, there was a woman in charge of guiding visitors. Roi asked her to lead him to the Zwickel’s family plots. “Sure, I know,” she replied. She is not Jewish, does not know Hebrew, but she knows how to read Hebrew letters on the tombstones. After a little walk through the rows of tombs, they arrived at a group of tombstones bearing the name Zwickel. Roi and Rene, looked at the tomb and it did not take too long to figure out that the Zwickel Family tombstones are nicely kept, while weed grew wildly all around the cemetery. “How come these tombs are so nicely kept?” he asked “Why? The Zwickel family were here last week and paid me to take care of the tombs” “THE ZWICKEL FAMILY!?” he exclaimed. “Two world wars, a holocaust and still I have family?”
He was overwhelmed, never thought any of his family is still around. He thought he and his brother were the only survivors. “They live in Israel” she said “I have their card, you may take it”. Back in the USA Roi Zwickel wrote a letter to his Zwickel family in Israel. “I would like to visit you guys. I wish to see my lost family”. The reunion took place in my parents’ home in Tiberias. All the Zwickels, their children and grandchildren arrived. It was a large gathering. Rose, my grandmother was then in her 90s and a little senile. When Roi Zwickel entered the house, my grandmother did not stop gazing at him. He looked so much like the Zwickels. He was tall and blond with blue eyes. Even his voice was familiar. Suddenly, memories of the AustroHungarian Empire, old Pressburg, Slossstrasse, her parents’ house, the dinner table, Leopold and Katherine, her uncle Fabian took over. She was stunned. After a while she turned to my mother and said, “Do you know that he still owes money to my father for the ticket on the Titanic?” My mother replied, “This was his father who owed money to your father. It’s not him.”
The Omaha Community Playhouse presents The Last Five Years The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) production of The Last Five Years opens Friday, Feb. 26. A captivating, intimate musical that retraces the rise and fall of a five-year romantic relationship. The story is presented in chronological order by Jamie, the man, and in reverse by Cathy, the woman, with the two versions of
the story meeting only once—at their wedding in the middle. Profoundly emotional with comedic moments sprinkled throughout, The Last Five Years is beautifully heartbreaking. Tickets are on sale now may be purchased at the OCP Box Office, located at 6915 Cass Street, by phone at 402.553.0800 or online at OmahaPlay house.com.
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The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021 | 7
Above: Friedel Jewish Academy students celebrated Rosh Chodesh Shevat, the beginning of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Below: A photo from before the pandemic: Rabbi Mendel Katzman (who turns 60 this month) celebrates Purim with granddaughter Mushka, in 2019. Happy birthday, Rabbi!
What do you do in a blizzard at RBJH? Top, above, below and bottom: Play Blizzard Bingo! Above right: You also take a spin on the cycle and right: laugh real belly laughs at the video students from the Friedel Jewish Academy made for their senior friends, called “Kids Telling Jokes to Older Folks.”
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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.
Below: The Midlands Business Journal came by to get an update about our building. Pictured are Alan Potash, Margie Utesh, Mark Martin and Steve Levinger.
8 | The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021
Voices
The Jewish Press (Founded in 1920)
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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One more
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor The evening news has been so worrisome lately, it’s hard to find the motivation to write about it. And when I say ‘evening news,’ I mean the 24-hour, non-stop barrage of stories about riots, extremist threats, divisiveness and disease—with economic turmoil thrown in for good measure. But here I sit: a roof over my head, a loving family and a steady job. Plenty of food in the pantry-so much, in fact, that I’m starting to get a little anxious about Passover cleaning. (Exactly how many packets of noodles do we have to go through? Maybe it’s time to ask my husband and kids to cease their visits to the Asian Market—lest we again end up eating only noodles for weeks on end). Seeing how many people are suffering (jobless, not knowing how to pay the rent, not enough money for basic needs) while not experiencing that suffering first-hand will handicap us if we let it. It’s oh-so easy to tell ourselves that ‘we’re just trying to make it through this pandemic, this political stress, as best we can.’ Why make it worse by worrying about others? We have enough on our plate. But that is not how things work. Need does not depend on whether we feel like reaching out, it doesn’t question whether our days are already tough enough, it doesn’t wonder where our limits lie. Need is constant; if you wonder if that is true, just take a drive around Omaha and count the homeless. Call the shelters, the food pantries, check the unemployment figures. Things are not going well, and we all have to share that responsibility. So, where is the good news? Is there any? And
why do I feel so guilty every time I walk into the kitchen, open my front door, swipe my debit card? “Jewish tradition emphasizes that the duty to heal is an obligation of each person,” Rabbi Nancy Epstein wrote for the Jewish Journal. “It must be balanced with the duties to provide other essential services, such as food, shelter and clothing. As op-
posed to the Declaration of Independence, which begins with inalienable rights, Judaism begins with duties, indeed God’s commandments. Healing is considered ‘a duty one has to oneself and to others.’ The Torah’s injunction to pursue justice is captured in the imperative in Deuteronomy, ‘Justice, justice thou shall pursue,’ and is tied to communal healing
and personal wellbeing. “Throughout Jewish history, the rabbis took this injunction seriously. Jewish tradition strongly focused on the importance of providing food, shelter, clothing and medical care to those in need, and to use a community’s resources wisely to balance their allocation and make sure the social safety net comprised all these primary needs.” (JewishJournal.com, 2018) The key line here seems to be “a duty to one’s self and others.” When others hurt, we hurt. When it feels like the entire world is like Job, we are obliged to step up. We can’t just watch the suffering, we have to share it, own it. The guilt that creeps up every time I see a homeless person on the street? It’s a reminder that there is always more to do. We will never reach a point where we can congratulate ourselves on a job well done. It will never be enough. Frankly, that’s a bit of a depressing thought and not what I was going for when I started typing this op-ed. I like optimistic messages—I gravitate to solving problems, finding an effective answer. This time, that may not be so easy. What I do believe is that we can still make this better by helping others. We can’t solve all our problems, and maybe the things we do compare to the proverbial drop in the bucket, but we still must do them. Maybe the voice in our head that drives us on and reminds us ‘it’s never enough’ is there for a reason: it doesn’t want us to give up. We can write one more check. We can drop off one more bag of food. We can make one more phone call to a loved one. We can light one more candle and say one more prayer. Because ‘one more’ is –if not the most satisfying answer—still so much better than not at all.
I didn’t realize I was Jewish until adulthood. Family recipes helped me discover my hidden Sephardic history. ORGE CASTELLANO This post originally appeared on The Nosher. Imagine for a second a group of Jews making a slightly different version of challah for Shabbat, matzah for Passover and doughnuts for Hanukkah. A group of people whose ancestors were forced to convert to Catholicism against their will, yet continued to practice Jewish customs underground, even at the risk of being ostracized and tortured for doing so. Meet the Silent Jews. Sometimes referred to as Crypto-Jews, anusim (Hebrew for coerced ones), or conversos, Silent Jews are descendants of Spanish Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492. Most left medieval Iberian territories for the Ottoman Empire or North Africa. Others fled persecution and settled in new frontiers in the New World, where many found refuge. I come from one of those persecuted families who came to South America around 1532 and discreetly practiced Jewish rituals, living in fear of being hunted down by the Inquisition. I only found out that my family was actually Jewish as a teenager, that all our colorful, fragrant, crunchy dishes were deeply rooted in Judaic culinary traditions from 16th-century Spain. That the ingredients and aromas of my mom’s kitchen resembled dishes from the Sephardic gastronomy repertoire. When the pandemic struck, the combination of lockdown, curiosity and melancholy led me to knead, mix and eat plates from my mom’s Jewish inheritance passed on through several generations of women in our family. The kitchen was the right place to honor their sacrifices, bravery and perseverance to maintain tradition, despite centuries of fear and persecution. My lockdown days soon began to be filled with ingredients such as eggplants, spinach, leeks and turnips, which mingled with the scents of cinnamon, anise, cardamom and nutmeg, coming together with dried fruits and legumes. Arroz con garbanzos (chickpea rice) was one of
those dishes. With its characteristic aroma of bay balls of fried dough with a sweet or salty filling — leaf, caramelized onions and raisins, the dish is mine are usually made with raw cane sugar syrup, cooked with turmeric to provide its signature yel- cloves and nutmeg. There was always cake — planlow color. As a kid, it was often mixed with a fried tain cake with cinnamon and smoked cheese, or egg, with parsley sprinkled on top. traditional bizcochuelo, a sponge cake that was In my search for Sephardic recipes, I became ever-present in my school lunchbox. Similar to pan aware that this dish is very similar to pilaf with saf- d’Espana, which Sephardim took with them to the fron, a Mediterranean spice my ancestors did not Diaspora, my mother put her own spin on this soft, have access to since it didn’t grow in their new home. Another delicious dish that also appears in the kitchens of Sephardic Jews from Turkey, Greece and Morocco is estofado de berenjenas (eggplant stew). Made by sauteing eggplants in olive oil with garlic, onion and cumin, this quick stew is served with smoked cheese or feta and an abundance of cilantro. My family pairs it with homemade bread or corn arepas, an example of incorporating local Bunuelos are small balls of fried dough with a sweet or salty filling. Credit: The Nosher ingredients. On the most stressful days of the past year, com- light cake, using cornmeal instead of ground alfort food became a necessity. A hearty dish of monds, substituting orange blossom water with a huevos con tomate (eggs with tomato) afforded me few drops of rum, and swapping grated orange peel a sense of tranquility and a break from the chaos for the peel of a lemon. and uncertainty that surrounded me. This dish, Reconnecting with my roots through food during which closely resembles shakshuka, was cooked at these difficult times has helped me to cope with my house with ají dulce — the Caribbean’s colorful stress, anxiety and loneliness. There’s still so much semi-spicy pepper — chili flakes and smoked pa- to cook, eat and share. I’ll continue paying homage prika. It’s so piquant and fragrant, I usually pair it to each and every one of the dishes that my family with plain white rice or bread. However, my mother preserved with such dedication and courage. This served it as a second course to complement her is the only way I can celebrate — and always carry traditional pescado mermao, a hake fish stew with me — their everlasting legacy. cooked over a slow fire in an iron skillet with a mixTo read more about Orge’s family history, check ture of garlic, peas and eggplant smothered in a out this essay on our sister site, Alma: sauce of chilis and tomatoes. The last touch in- heyalma.com/my-family-were-hidden-jewscluded a bunch of fresh cilantro leaves and a hint for-over-500-years-not-anymore/. of sour lime juice. It filled our entire house with a The views and opinions expressed in this article are thick, citrusy aroma. those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the And the desserts! There were bunuelos, small views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021 | 9
As a Mexican Jew, I was terrified to be in DC during the riots — but I won’t let those bigots win by leaving this country
Trump’s own words was one. Seeing upward of 50 men in There is a large constituency in this country under the delusion NICHOLAS CASTILLO This story originally appeared on Alma. The author is a mem- Party City-level military garb, some with Confederate flags, that they are some kind of supermajority incapable of losing a ber of Alma’s college writing fellows, a diverse cohort of Jewish marching down the sidewalk outside my building was cer- national election. And while it may be tempting to intellectually students from around the world. Learn more here. tainly another. But I didn’t take things quite seriously until or emotionally opt out of American belonging, to do so would Not only was I in D.C. on Jan. 6, I was across the street from walking back to our building, when I saw a group of about 10 play into the hands of these fanatics hell bent on transforming a hotel filled, nearly entirely from what I could tell, with protesters. One asked another for directions to the Capitol. the definition of Americanness into one along racial, religious Trump supporters who had come to our nation’s capital for “We’re going to storm it,” he proclaimed, as if that wasn’t and ideological lines. They have weaponized the national title, this week’s rally turned riot. treason. perverting it to the point where mobs can carry an American Three days earlier I had moved to a new apartment in flag in one hand, a Confederate flag in the other, storm a Washington. I unpacked my clothes, electronics, posters federal building and continue to think of themselves as paand my finishing touches: Judaica (what else?). A menorah triots. I was enraged not only at Trump but at his supporton the windowsill, a small flag of Israel above my bed, a ers, who buy into a selfish, twisted notion of national larger Ashkenazi flag on my wall and finally a gorgeous belonging. mezuzah on my door frame. My roommate, also Jewish, It was in part the anger at those who assume themselves took no issue with my choices in decorations. It all proto be the majority that led to my conclusion that there will claimed, not unintentionally, “Here lives a Jew.” be “no more running.” While this view is certainly informed Over the days leading up to riot at the Capitol, I watched by years of extremist mobilization in this country — Chara steady trickle of Trump supporters come into the city. lottesville, Pittsburgh, D.C. — it is really the outcrop of a Cars around my neighborhood were covered in flags, larger Jewish history. We have been driven from nearly bumper stickers and icons declaring the visitors’ loyalties. every country we have ever resided in. The once multipolar Already addicted to people watching, I saw folks in MAGA Jewish world is now bipolar, mainly existing in the U.S. and hats coming and going from the hotel across the street from Israel. But aliyah, moving to Israel, has never really been on my building. Their windows were covered in Trump flags. the table for anyone in my family. For us, the Atlantic and I live near the National Mall, and when I visited the VietPacific coasts are the shores of no return. We have not nam War Memorial on Tuesday, I found myself surrounded Rioting at the Capitol in Washington, Jan 6, 2021. Credit: Spencer found unparalleled freedom in this often bizarre experiPlatt/Getty Images by maskless men and women in MAGA hats with Trump ment only to abandon it in its hour of need. flags in hand. A rally of some sort had just let out, and a few That declaration was disquieting enough, but what really As disgusted as so many of us felt going to sleep on the night hundred protesters remained scattered across the mall. made me nervous was seeing a sheathed knife on his belt — of Jan. 6, it must be remembered that in the long term, a lot of Coming from New York and living in D.C., I understand that the kind of knife that’s probably not good for much other than good happened on that day. It was the day the Democrats took I’m not often exposed to realities that exist outside of liberal stabbing people. That brought home for me that something the Senate for the first time in a decade. It was the day that cosmopolitan areas, but the experience was nevertheless much worse than a protest was happening. My roommate and Georgia — a state that generations of Black and Jewish people dizzying. I had never been surrounded by people decked out I rushed inside, where NPR already was reporting that the have been taught to fear — sent Jon Ossoff and Raphael in what basically are far-right political uniforms. As I told my Capitol building was under siege. Warnock to the Senate. It was the day that finally brought grandfather later over the phone, that short trip brought out Fury followed. That turned to nervousness, especially when some kind of cosmic punishment to the Republican Party for my inner “Mexican Jew,” and I felt the need to leave the area I realized that many of those storming the halls of democracy its years of facilitating Trumpism. Better still, it may be the as soon as possible. (That, plus it was cold.) were likely staying across the street from me. I received a day that the GOP finally recognized the monster they had Walking back from my trip to the mall, I thought about my handful of frantic phone calls from my mother commanding been feeding the past four years. Judaica at home. Living on the first floor, I realized that my me not to sit near the windows facing the hotel for the rest of Good things can happen in the next few years. I woke up on Ashkenazi and Israeli flags would be plainly visible through the evening. I dropped the blinds, blocking any Judaica from Thursday realizing that we can get this country back on track, the windows. I wondered about the reactions of my new view. There was no room left in my mind for quandaries on and to ignore or deny that would be to forget the hard work that neighbors across the street. Far-right politics is riddled with philo-Semitism. I was no longer interested in publicly pro- went into making a Democratic majority in the Senate possible. philo-Semitism and anti-Semitism. Despite the fact that I had- claiming a “Jew lives here.” Viewing the fascist and neo-Nazi The day that right-wing militants stormed the U.S. Capitol n’t seen threats of anything intentionally intimidating, I still imagery sported by some rioters that has surfaced since the left me bewildered and angry, even frightened. But it also left wondered about any possible risks. attack on the Capitol, I think it was a wise decision. me defiant and optimistic. The last four years, through their Nevertheless, I didn’t let it occupy my mind too much. It was As the news came in, my roommate joked that now would ups and downs, have not convinced me that there is no Jewish certainly troubling to overhear conversations about how be an opportune time to fill out a Canadian asylum applica- future in America. They have likewise not convinced me that “China definitely sent the virus on purpose,” but I had no idea tion. It wasn’t more than a typical left-wing musing, but it there is no future for democracy in America. I won’t let them that mass lawlessness would soon follow. I assumed the protest elicited in me a strange knee-jerk reaction not befitting a take that away from us. would fizzle for a weekend, as previous demonstrations had. throwaway comment. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of On the day that the Capitol building was overrun, there “No,” I said, “no more running.” the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its were certainly a few signs that real trouble was brewing. It was a deeply Jewish response and one I felt thoroughly. parent company, 70 Faces Media.
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Synagogues
10 | The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021
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
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
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
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 Shira, 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:15 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Mediterranean Lunch To-Go, 10 a.m.; BESTT (Grades 3-7), 10:30 a.m.; Lazer Lloyd Concert, 1 p.m. MONDAY: 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.; BESTT Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Coffee & Conversation with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4:30 p.m.; Dead Sea Scrolls, 6 p.m. with Dr. Rami Arav; Beit Midrash — JOne People, Many Voices, 7 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Virtual Office Hours with Eadie and Amy, 2 p.m.; Pearls of Jewish Prayer with Hazzan Krausman, 7 p.m. FRIDAY-Feb. 5: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY-Feb. 6: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:25 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, 5:19 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 5:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:22 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Jewish Law in Depth, 9:45 a.m. with Rabbi Moshe; 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.
THURSDAY: 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-Feb. 5: 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, 5:28 p.m. SATURDAY-Feb. 6: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 5:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:30 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 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Candlelighting, 5:19 p.m. SATURDAY: Minyan, 10 a.m.; Shabbat Ends, 6:21 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-Feb. 5: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Lechayim, 4 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Candlelighting, 5:28 p.m. SATURDAY-Feb. 6: Minyan, 10 a.m.; Shabbat Ends, 6:30 p.m.
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL Virtual services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. FRIDAY: Candlelighting, 5:20 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service from SST, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex and Elaine Monnier, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. SATURDAY: 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. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan-Gesher, 10 a.m. via Zoom; Adult Ed: Intro to Judaism Class, 11:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex via Zoom. 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-Feb. 5: Candlelighting, 5:28 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service from SST, service leaders/ music: Rabbi Alex, Steve and Nathaniel Kaup, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. SATURDAY-Feb. 6: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex via Zoom; Torah Study on
Ossoff ’s American Jewish heritage PHILISSA CRAMER JTA New Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff already had one artifact from American Jewish history on display when he was sworn into the Senate: the book of scripture on which he took his oath of office. But the 33-year-old said on Twitter that he had been carrying another item that reflected his American Jewish heritage — copies of the manifests from the ships that brought his great-grandparents to the United States from Eastern Europe. Ossoff wrote that his great-grandfather Israel arrived in 1911 and his great-grandmother Annie came in 1913. On one side of the pages he posted to Twitter can be seen a name that looks like Israel
Osshowsky, reflecting the fact that many immigrants who came to the country changed their names to easier-to-pronounce versions over time. (Not, genealogists have persuasively shown, by officials at Ellis Island, as family lore often holds.) Ossoff leaned into his American Jewish story — one of being descended of immigrants who fled persecution as Jews in Eastern Europe — during his campaign. His arrival to the Senate, along with his fellow newly elected Georgia Democratic senator, Raphael Warnock, gives Democrats a majority there at a time when new President Joe Biden is seeking to transform the United States’ immigration policies to be more welcoming.
Parashat Yitro, 11:30 a.m. via Zoom; Havdalah (72 minutes), 6:30 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: Celebrating Temple Israel’s 150th Anniversary: Shabbat Shira — Musical Retrospective, 6 p.m. Join us via Zoom. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Join us via Zoom. SUNDAY: 5th Sunday Breakfast Service at The Stephen Center, 8:30 a.m.; Blood Drive, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; 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 Moshe Nachman. Join us via Zoom. FRIDAY-Feb. 5: Shabbat Service: Celebrating Temple Israel’s 150th Anniversary: 150 Years with Rabbi Azriel, 6 p.m. Join us via Zoom. SATURDAY-Feb. 6: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Join us via Zoom; Shabbat Service/Bar Mitzvah of Asher Tipp, 10:30 a.m. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
B’NAI MITZVAH
ASHER SAMUEL TIPP Asher Samuel Tipp, son of Sonia and Alan Tipp, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 at Temple Israel via Zoom. He is excited to have his Bar Mitzvah on his 13th birthday! Asher is a seventh-grade honors student at Westside Middle School. Asher enjoys playing the drums for his middle school Jazz band and show choir. He loves spending his summers at Herzl Camp and is beyond excited to be returning this summer. His favorite hobbies include all water sports (jet-skiing, water skiing, sailing, etc), basketball, and playing video games with friends. For his mitzvah project, Asher volunteered at Food Bank of the Heartland sorting donations and packaging food to be distributed through the backpack program and other area community food pantries. He has a sister, Adria, 15, and a dog named Benson. Grandparents are Marilyn and Steven Tipp of Omaha and Sara and Michael Baum of Columbia, Maryland.
FIONA SKY EIDE Fiona Sky Eide, daughter of Adrianna and Jay Benton, celebrated her Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 at Temple Israel. Fiona is a seventh-grade honors student at Andersen Middle School. Fiona is interested in soccer, basketball and cello. For her mitzvah project, Fiona volunteered at the Women’s Center of Advancement. She has a sister, Ayala Rose, two brothers, Benyamin (Benny) Jay and Levi Leb, and in loving memory of her sister, Amina Je’Taime. Grandparents are William Pelmer and Michelle Rivera of Chicago, and Bonnie Hines of Omaha. Great-grandparents are the late Ramona Rivera of Chicago, and the late William Pelmer Sr. of Birmingham, AL.
Life cycles IN MEMORIAM DR. PAUL M. FINE Dr. Paul M. Fine passed away on Jan. 15, 2021, at age 87. He was preceded in death by parents, Barney and Anna Fine; sister, Joan Bloch; and brother Leon Fine. He is survived by wife Sally; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Steven and Dr. Gail Herrine of Merion, PA; daughter and son-inlaw, Kathryn and Will Huebner of Deerfield, NH; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; step-son, Stephen Lidie, and step-son and step-daughter-in-law, Michael and Lynn Lidie, and stepdaughter, Elisabeth Lidie, one step-grandchild, and two-stepgreat-grandchildren. He was born in New York City in 1933. Although he grew up in the Bronx and had plenty of his own boyhood ‘Bronx Tales’ to share, Omaha has been his true home for the past 50 years. Dr. Fine was a graduate of Bronx High School of Science, Alfred University NY, State University of New York School, and Michael Reese Hospital Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Research Training. Among his accomplishments and professional positions he was a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Professor Emeritus at Creighton University and UNMC, Emeritus Member of Society of Professors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Trustee and Member of the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, and co-chair of the International Congress of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions. Over the ensuing years Dr. Fine taught and worked with devotion to the interests of children and their families. He has been recognized nationally and internationally for his pioneering research and sensitive application of this to meet the developmental needs of children in foster care, as well as those whose lives have been disrupted by displacements. Dr. Fine’s deep commitment to community care motivated 20 years of weekly trips to the Omaha Nation to work with children in need. He was a tireless and caring mentor to generations of child psychiatry trainees at Creighton University and UNMC, as well as to community mental health and child welfare professionals. His devotion to children and their care and the residents who see them has been a central theme in his long career. In his personal life Paul enjoyed long walks, traveling to new places, exploring Nebraska, gardening, family visits, reading and talking about history and science, the Omaha Symphony and jazz, and being an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy. Those who know and love Paul experienced him as warm, bright, gentle, intuitive, compassionate, with a subtle sense of humor. Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy (Nebraska office) Pauline Tindall Endowed Scholarship Fund toward funding of a Creighton University medical student for a Native American applicant, contact University Relations at 402.280.2740. Child and family charitable organization of your choice. STANLEY LEWIN Stanley Lewin of Tucson, Arizona, passed away on Jan. 10, 2021, at age 95. A private family graveside service officiated by Rabbi Mark Miller was held on Jan. 17, 2021. He was predeced in death by his wife of 62 years, Esther Berger Lewin; son-in-law, Walter Stark; son, David Alexander Lewin; and daughter-in-law, Barbara Wolfe; brother, David Levine/Lewin and parents, Solomon and Gertrude Lewin. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Lewin Stark of Scottsdale, AZ, and Sherry Lewin Sinclair of Tucson, AZ.; grandchildren: Leonard and Beth Stark of Wilmington, DE, Danielle and Jeff Gordman of Omaha, Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair and Sterre of Groningen, The Netherlands, and Andrew Pawlicki-Sinclair of Tucson; great-children: Brennan, Lucy and Jamie Stark, Harper and Zev Gordman, and Elliot Pawlicki-Sinclair; many nieces and nephews; cousins and relatives all around the world, including Argentina, Israel, and France. He was a proud WWII Veteran, Navy Supply Corps officer on the USS Euryale Submarine Tender, Pacific Theater. Memorials may be made to ACLU Foundation, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004, www.aclu.org/action/, or University of Delaware Development Office, Lewis Lewin Stark Scholarship Fund, 83 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716, ud.alumniq.com/giving/to/makeagift, or JWV Friedman-Paul Post 201, Murray Baker - Commander, 1306 S Avenida Polar, Apt. 11, Tucson, AZ 85710, jwvsw.org/post-201/. EDWARD “EDDIE” MANHEIMER Edward "Eddie" Manheimer passed away on Jan. 19, 2021, at age 75. A private graveside service was held on Jan. 21, 2021, at Beth Israel Synagogue. He was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Helen Manheimer. He is survived by his siblings: sister, Linda Gouin; sister and brother-in-law, Harriet and John Messing; brother and sister-inlaw, Jerry and Debbie Manheimer; and brother, Lory Manheimer, and six nieces and nephews. Eddie was born on June 24, 1945. Memorials may be made to Beth Israel Synagogue.
STEVE PITLOR Continued from page 1 to have worked with many great JFO presidents, and Steve built on that legacy.” Jan knew him before they began to work together and she remembers being excited when he agreed to serve as president. “When he took on that role, I came to value and understand who he was as a leader and as an individual in a much deeper way. It’s apparent how involved he was in Omaha and how much he contributed both his time and resources to our Jewish community. He always stood up for me. I don’t think the value of that type of support can be overstated. He just had this massive respect for people and internalized that; it drove his every interaction. When truly good personality traits and excellent leadership skills overlap and interact, you end up with what his son David called ‘a lion in the community.’ He certainly was that, and so much more.” “There are people who are quiet, modest and yet as full of kindness and love for their fellow men that they need not clamor to call attention to themselves,” Rabbi Steven Abraham said. “Steve was such a person. While not always quiet, Steve was always a kind person, a modest person, a person of character, who lived a fruitful life, whose deeds spoke louder than his words ever needed to. Steve also exemplified what it meant to treat people with dignity and respect. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a devoted son both to Rose and Norman.” Friend Steve Levinger added: “When I think of Steve Pitlor, the word ‘mensch’ immediately comes to mind. Here’s a guy that gave so much of his time, talent and treasure to a community he loved, both to Jewish Omaha as well as the broad Omaha community. His volunteer service, however, never diminished the love and pride he had for his family as an adoring son, husband, and father. I got to know Steve several years ago during heated matches on the tennis court. He was a sharp-minded businessman with a competitive demeanor who would always share what was on his mind. I valued his input and guidance as it was always fair and insightful.” “I’ve always subscribed to the theory,” Steve wrote in 2003, “that challenges and problems are a key ingredient to something being successful and our Federation is a true model of how success is bred from the way our volunteers and professionals address those challenges.” That lesson applied to his personal life as well, when in 2001, his wife Marcia donated a kidney to her brother. Out of that experience grew the Pitlor Family Transplant Support Endowment Fund at the JFO Foundation, which provided dollars to assist in transportation, temporary living costs and other costs related to transplant operations. Later, this became the Steve and Marcia Pitlor Family Fund. “We have strong feelings about our roots in the Jewish community,” Steve said at the time. “Likewise, we have strong feelings about continuing to build the Foundation for the continued strength of the Jewish community of Omaha.” Steve’s grandfather Nathan Pitlor immigrated from Russia and started his first plumbing business in 1908 at 24th and Lake. When Norman Pitlor, his son, returned from his service in WW II, he joined the business and it became ‘N. Pitlor & Son,’ located at 49th and Dodge and today at 109th and I. Steve in turn earned his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona, worked for a while in Texas and came back to Omaha in 1978. The business grew exponentially over the years: now named ‘Pitlor Mechanical,’ it did the mechanical work for the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium as well as major hospital work, commercial buildings, schools, hotels and industrial projects throughout the city. Steve took great pride in running a four-generation business when his son David joined the business for ten years. In his role as president of the Omaha Public School Board, he visited Israel in 1993 on an educators’ trip. It is telling that, when an article appeared in the paper, the first thing he mentioned was ‘I can’t wait to bring my family here.’ He did, in June of that same year, when the Pitlors led a UJA family mission to Israel. Of the many roles in Steve's life, the ones that he cherished the most were devoted and beloved husband, Dad, and Saba, as he was affectionately and lovingly known by his grandchildren, according to the Omaha World Herald. In 2017, retirement beckoned and he sold the business to Helm’s Mechanical. He did not retire completely, until the time of his death he retained his office and continued to work part-time for the new owners in a consulting role. “Steve was simply a mensch,” Rabbi Steven Abraham said. “He took care of his family, his friends, his community, his employees... in the end we were all his family and we have to thank Marcia, Lisa, Kym and David for sharing him with us.” He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Rose Pitlor. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Pitlor; daughters and sonsin-law, Lisa and Ian Abramson and Kym and Jay O'Meara, and son and daughter-in-law, David and Mindy Pitlor; and grandchildren: Zoey, Benny, and Eli, Derek and Oscar, and Bobby. Memorials may be made to American Friends of NATAL (afnatal.org), the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (bcrf.org), and Beth El Synagogue.
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12 | The Jewish Press | January 29, 2021
News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
Let freedom ring Born in Budapest, Hungary, on July 24, 1933, Agnes Schwartz grew up during the Second World War. She lived in a “well-to-do” family as an only child and though her family was Jewish, Agnes attended an allgirls’ Catholic school. When the Germans invaded Hungary in March 1944, deportations began in the rural
changed her last name, learned the Rosary and passed herself off as a Christian. During months of Allied bombings, Agnes had to hide in an underground bunker. In January 1947, reunited, Agnes and her father left for Chicago. However, within a year her father returned to
“The question became, ‘what would kill us first— the bombs or the Nazis?’ ” Agnes Schwartz areas. Agnes’ grandparents lived in a rural area and sought safety with relatives in Budapest. Soon Agnes Schwartz after, Agnes and her family were forced to wear the Yellow Star. They were moved from their apartment into a Jewish Designated Building (ghetto) and crammed into a dirty apartment. Agnes's father lost his business and she could no longer attend school. In November of 1944, a group of Nazi officers came to their building and ordered all men between the ages of 18 and 45 to line up outside. Her father was taken away, and she had no idea if she would ever see him again. Later in the month, the Nazis repeated the act and seized all women within that same age group. The family's former maid, Julia Balazs, took 11-year-old Agnes in as her "niece". Agnes
Hungary, leaving Agnes in the care of an aunt. Agnes still lives in the Chicago area, where she is an active volunteer with the Illinois Holocaust Museum. Her memoir, A Roll of the Dice, was published in 2011. 1. A short video introduction to Agnes Schwartz (2:18 run time) — https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=NygTX7oTSIc 2. A short article on Agnes Schwartz courtesy of the Catholic Herald — https://catholicherald. org/news/local/holocaust-survivor-sharesheart-wrenching-story/ 3. Full presentation featuring both Agnes and Magda Brown during Week of Understanding at Countryside Church in March, 2016 (1:36:25 run time) — https://www. youtube.com/watch?v= MrdGFUpMIFw
LET FREEDOM RING After Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, President Roosevelt said it was a date that will live in infamy. Now we can add January 6, 2021as another date that will live in infamy. Last week, our democracy was attacked by a group of anti-Semitic, United States Nationalist thugs. They carried swastikas and other anti- democratic symbols while they invaded our nation’s capital. Our president incited them and egged them on to commit this travesty to our precious democracy. As a result of this invasion, five people are dead besides the monetary damages. Like a spoiled child, President Trump cannot accept the loss of a fair and square election. He has made every attempt to overturn the will of the people. After he exhausted all legal means, he tried to strong arm members of our government to turn his loss into victory. It has not worked. So far, democracy is still alive and well. Democracy is very fragile and can survive only if people are willing to support it and fight for it if neces-
sary. I am very proud of Congress that after a brief recess, they went ahead and finished the people’s business of certifying the election results, naming Joe Biden as our next president. I am a Holocaust survivor who has lived in the US since 1947. I have taken great pride in becoming an American citizen. Knowing that my children were born in the land of the free has made me very happy. Since I am the only survivor from my family, I’ve taken great satisfaction in knowing my family will live on through my children and their descendants. By living and reproducing, I have thwarted Hitler’s plan to eradicate all the Jews. I have been very lucky to have had three children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. I don’t want any of them to live under tyranny. After my children were grown, I became a member of the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s Speakers Bureau and had the opportunity to teach thousands to revere democracy and fight for it if necessary. Next to food and drink, it is the most important commodity for survival. If you have not experienced persecution and tyranny, you cannot fully appreciate it. Wake up America! Don’t allow history to repeat itself. Now is the time to make your voice heard. My country tis of thee sweet land of liberty…………let freedom ring. AGNES SCHWARTZ, Jan. 7, 2021
