Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Major donor event
January 30, 2015 10 Shevat 5775 Vol. 95 | No. 20
This Week
February JCC Gallery: Omaha Artists, Inc. Page 3
Mainstreeters February activities Page 6
by SHERRIE SAAG Communications, Jewish Federation of Omaha 2015 Annual Campaign cochairs Norm and Suzy Sheldon and host Zoë Riekes welcomed our community’s major donors Tuesday evening, Jan. 13 for a special briefing with counter terrorism expert Dr. Howard Stoffer. The following morning, he participated in the Federation campus leadership meeting, discussing current events and providing his national security perspective to the professional staff. Currently a professor at the University of New Haven, Stoffer was an administrative director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council and spent 25 years with the State Department’s Senior Foreign Service at posts around the world. The Sheldons began the evening remarking, “The events of the past week (Paris terror attacks) illustrate, perhaps better than anything else, our need to come together in solidar-
Dr. Howard Stoffer ity and support of one another, Jewish Omaha and our global Jewish community.” Stoffer discussed global hot zones ranging from Egypt and Syria to Indonesia, Russia and, of course, Paris. As a staunch supporter of Israel,
Stoffer described the current “allies” Israel has in the Middle East. “Egyptian President elSisi and his military dictatorship is clearing out Sinai neighborhoods filled with tunnels and sharing military and intelligence information with Israel. So, for now, Israel has a friend to the west and, I would say, a stable neighbor to the East in Jordan. King Abdullah and his wife, Queen Rania are pragmatic, peace-seeking and have established good stable relations with Israel.” As with any explanation of current events, historical context is necessary. Attendees listened to a very brief overview of recent Syrian social and political conflict, after which Stoffer noted that the Shia/Sunni Muslim divide dates back to Mohammed. “The call for a third caliphate refers to their desire for a ‘state in the medieval sense’,” he said, and “those currently fighting have no sense of justifiable engagements or rules of war. Basically, anything goes.” Continued on page 3
Klutznick Learning Series by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Program Coordinator, The Center for Jewish Life Last year, the Center for Jewish Life introduced a new program, the Klutznick Learning Series. That first series focused on the Ten Commandments, and nearly 200 people attended over a six week period. Of unique interest – and great success - was the session format. Each commandment was first examined by a clergy member, from the religious view. That was followed by a presentation by a community member, focusing “real life” experiences and expertise regarding that commandment.
Diane Zipursky Quale Open Pulpit: Love your neighbor, love yourself Page 16
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
12 14 15
Next Week Simchas & Celebrations See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
by OZZIE NOGG “My life changed forever in 2000 when my husband, John Quale, was diagnosed with aggressive bladder cancer,” Omaha native Diane Zipursky Quale said. “We had never heard of bladder cancer, didn’t know anyone with the disease. We were frustrated by the difficulty in finding information about bladder cancer, but more frustrated to learn about the limited treatment options available. We discovered there had been advances in surgery, but no new drugs or medical treatment for twenty years.” Diane and John understood that when survivors of other types of cancer banded together and demanded better treatments, they got results. “Betty Ford opened everyone’s eyes to breast cancer. Katie Couric became an advocate for colon cancer screening after her husband died of the disease. But no one was speaking about bladder cancer despite its prevalence and its tremendous impact on lives,” Diane explained. So, in 2005, Diane and John invited their friends and family to help launch BCAN -- the Bladder Cancer Advo-
Dr. Leonard Greenspoon
John and Diane Quale at the Bladder Cancer Patient Advocacy Network Patient Forum, March 2007, in Boca Raton, FL cacy Network -- as the first patient advocacy organization for bladder cancer. John Quale died of bladder cancer in 2008. Diane continues her work with BCAN as co-founder and President of the organization. “Our objective seemed simple,” Diane said. “We wanted to bring bladder cancer out of the shadows. Shine a light -- a beacon -- on it so people would pay more attention. We wanted to change the landscape for this disease by funding research to discover new treatments that would save lives. We didn’t have a ‘grand plan’ nor did we really understand what we were getting ourselves into.” What John and Diane Quale “got into” was, in Diane’s words, “an organization built on love. A partnership between patients, their families and the medical community.” The first person the Quales con-
tacted about their intention to start an advocacy group for bladder cancer was John’s physician, Mark Schoenberg, M.D., then Professor of Urology and Director of Urologic Oncology at Johns Hopkins. (Dr. Schoenberg is currently Chair of the Department of Urology at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.) Schoenberg put BCAN on the fast track. “Just two weeks after our initial conversation with Dr. Schoenberg, John and I were part of a medical conference in San Antonio. We decided that if six people showed up to hear our pitch for BCAN, it would be a success. It was standing room only, and by the end of the day we had eighteen members on our Scientific Advisory Board, all urologists with a focus on bladder cancer.” Continued on page 2
Based on the positive response to last year’s program, the Center for Jewish Life is delighted to announce the dates for the 2015 Klutznick Learning Series. Sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings, Feb. 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall at the JCC. It was decided that with 603 additional commandments on the books, continuing the investigation of more of the rules would be a good option. Based on this, the 2015 theme is Beyond the Big Ten – And We’re Not Talking Football. The five sessions will follow the same format, taking a dual look at ten commandments not found in the traditional “Big Ten” lineup. Each unique commandment will be examined from a religious side followed by a focus of the topic in today’s world. The series is available free of charge due to the generous financial support from the fund of the Klutznick Chair of Jewish Civilization at Creighton University. The Klutznick Governance Council includes Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, the Klutznick Chair, along with Bonnie Bloch, Steve Riekes and Marty Shukert. “We were very pleased with the success of last year’s Klutznick Learning Series,” commented Dr. Greenspoon. “We had a great cross section of presenters and participants who provided a unique Continued on page 2
2 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
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Tracing Jewish roots in Spain and Morocco by KASEY DAVIS Staff Assistance, Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies The Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies is currently in the final stages of planning the study tour of Southern Spain and Morocco. We have only a few remaining spots for those interested in joining the trip. Originally reported in the Nov. 7, 2014 issue of the Jewish Press, the trip will take place May 11-25, 2015, with the theme of “Tracing Jewish Roots from Andalusia to Marrakech”. This will be the second study abroad trip organized by the Schwalb Center. In May of 2014 a group of 12 community members and six UNO students toured Israel. Participants in last year’s trip to Israel unanimously agreed that, in addition to being educational and informative, it was
full of many cultural experiences, unique opportunities, and the chance to create life-long memories of an exciting adventure. The projected tour of Southern Spain and Morocco promises to be as rich and exciting. Led by the Schwalb Center Director Dr. Moshe Gershovich, it is sure to provide more opportunities to expand your knowledge of Jewish history and heritage. This year’s trip will involve three cities in Spain (Granada, Cordoba, Seville) as well as numerous Moroccan sites, including Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and much more. For further information about the itinerary, the cost and the schedule, please contact Dr. Moshe Gershovich at mgershovich@unomaha.edu or Kasey Davis at kaseydavis@un omaha.edu, or by phone at 402.554.3175.
Diane Zipursky Quale Continued from page 1 Today, the BCAN Scientific Advisory Board is composed of more than fifty urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, researchers and social scientists from across the United States and Canada. “I’m extremely proud that BCAN is now the leading voice for bladder cancer, cultivating a community of hope and support for the tens of thousands of people impacted by the disease,” Diane said. BCAN helps raise awareness of bladder cancer through its nationwide network of volunteers who join together on the first weekend in May for the Walks for Bladder Cancer. In 2014, there were walks in more than 60 communities across the U.S., raising awareness in their communities, as well as money to support BCAN’s programs. “I’m thrilled that there will be a Walk for Bladder Cancer in Omaha this year,” Diane said. “Jeffrey Henrichsen is leading the Walk on Sunday, May 3, at the Chalco Hills Recreation Area. Dr. Luke Nordquist and his wonderful staff at the Urology Cancer Center have been very supportive.” Since its founding, BCAN has provided thousands of patients and caregivers with the educational resources and support services they need to navigate their bladder cancer journey. A visit to the BCAN website at www.bcan.org. shows the scope of the organization’s work and success. Examples include: BCAN’s handbook, Bladder Cancer Basics for the Newly Diagnosed, helping patients make the most informed choices about their care; the Patient Insight Webinars, providing patients and caregivers up-to-date information on key bladder cancer topics from specialists in the field; Tips from Patients, For Patients includes information about what it’s like to experience bladder cancer from the perspective of other patients and survivors. In addition, BCAN’s Online Support Community is available 24/7 and there are in-person support groups around the country. These resources empower the patient community by allowing them to share experiences with others, and to become more proactive in their treatment and care. BCAN’s partnership with the medical community, which began at that first meeting of its Scientific Advisory Board in 2005, has enabled the organization to build a strong and impressive research program in a short time. “BCAN has invested $1 million to directly fund research to improve our understanding of this devastating disease and discover new treatments that will save lives,” Diane explained. “With our Young Investigator Awards ($100,000 each) and our Research Innovation Award ($300,000 each) we are attracting the best and the brightest to apply their expertise to bladder cancer.” Diane Quale, daughter of Charlotte and Morley Zipursky, holds a BA from Stanford University and a JD from the National Law Center, George Washington University. She has no formal background in scientific disciplines, but her work with BCAN makes Diane uniquely qualified to add her voice to cancer research discussions. In 2014, she was named to a five year term on the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute. With this appointment, Diane joins a distinguished group of 35 researchers and professors, including Deans, Directors and Chairs of university departments of hematology, oncology, chemistry, genetics, therapeutic radiology, pathology, urology, and stem cell biology. Diane was also recently invited to be a member of the External Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute. “The mission of the Institute -- the first of its kind in the world -- is to develop new clinical strategies for combating bladder cancer through intensive, collaborative, and innovative research,” Diane explained. “BCAN anticipates close collaboration with the Johns
Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute, including supporting awareness campaigns and providing educational programs for patients and families. I’m honored to serve as a member of the Institute’s External Advisory Board.” BCAN, which began in Diane and John Quale’s Bethesda home in 2005, continues to grow. The organization now has an office in downtown Bethesda and a full-time staff of five. “John had a great love of life,” Diane said. “He was a man who drove with the top down and music loud. I wasn’t certain what would happen after he died. I wasn’t sure I could continue the work and have compassion for others. I needed to take care of myself and our kids. While it was difficult for me, BCAN was something John and I started together and it needed to continue. Fortunately, my family and friends, the staff of BCAN, our generous donors, our very engaged board of directors and wonderful volunteers helped me get through and find balance after this terrible loss. That’s what John would have wanted.” After John’s death, Diane received notes from physicians who had worked with the Quales and BCAN. “They wrote of his dignity and resolve, of his extraordinary courage and the legacy he left to others struggling against this disease. Those words give us all a reason to push even harder.” Today, Diane spends time developing long-term relationships between BCAN, medical investigators, and the philanthropic communities. “BCAN has raised one million dollars for research, but we’re not stopping now,” she said. “This effort is all about love and dedication. The doctors, the community, friends and family, we’re all determined to improve the outcome for bladder cancer patients. We’re just regular people trying to make a difference in the lives of thousands of others. I’ve been focused on that goal for almost ten years. Call it a form of Tikkun Olam. Simply put, this is the best work I’ve ever done.”
Klutznick Learning Series Continued from page 1 way of examining the commandments.” This year is presenters were given a list of 20 commandments, prepared by Greenspoon, from which to choose. “It was a bit daunting to make the list,” said Dr. Greenspoon. “My goal was to find commandments that would create interest and lively discussions.” Bonnie Bloch, who serves on both the Klutznick Governing Council and is president of the Center for Jewish Life board, is looking forward to the series. “It was great to have involvement by so many in the community last year,” she stated. “I feel the format of the series provides a fresh and distinctive style of learning and I encourage everyone to attend.” She noted that the standalone nature of each week does not require one to attend all five sessions to participate. Sessions will be held Tuesday evenings, Feb. 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall at the JCC. Each presenter will have a 15-minute time slot, and a short break will be included during the session. Future publicity will provide complete details on presenters and weekly topics. While there is no cost, registrations are appreciated for planning purposes. Make reservations by calling 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org. The series is presented by the Center for Jewish Life whose mission it is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences. Watch for more information coming soon.
January 30, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 3
Major donor event: Counter terrorism expert brings perspective
Omaha Artists, Inc.
Acrylic painting by Sharon Clawson Attending the event were Sally Malashock, left, Shirley Goldstein and Dr. Edward Malashock Continued from page 1 “Syria is extraordinarily unstable and extraordinarily complex.” “What Israel is most concerned with now is the question, ‘What happens if we succeed in defeating ISIS – what comes next?’ What is happening in Syria is of utmost concern to the entire world.” He continued, “Without a doubt, Iran is the greatest threat to Israel. It is the only country to get away with standing in front of the United Nations and calling for the total destruction of a member nation.” It remains an unprecedented act of verbal aggression within the confines of this governing body. Turning to Paris and the recent terror attacks at Charlie Hebdo and the Hyper Cacher market, Stoffer pointed out that the planning, precision and execution exhibited were what made the events so worrisome. Most of the inquiries during the question and answer session had to do with the recent Paris attacks. “Paris opened up the minds of Europeans. There is no going back. They once thought we were crazy for altering our security methods and privacy laws but, as a whole,
America has been safer because of it,” said Stoffer. “Just this week, Prime Minister Cameron in the UK is considering revoking the passports of British citizens on their watch list and re-entering the country from Jihadist hot spots. This is unprecedented and will no doubt shape the events of the near future.” Dr. Stoffer’s visit was well received and the Federation’s Campaign Department received great feedback for his briefing. The 2015 Annual Campaign currently stands at just under $2.7 million with a respectful 4% gift-for-gift increase. Take a moment to review our ad in this edition of the Jewish Press. We are grateful to everyone who became a donor to the 2015 Annual campaign. It’s not too late to join the list! To make your gift and support the programs and services that sustain Jewish life in Omaha and around the world, contact Steve Levinger, Senior Development Director at 402.334.6433, slevinger@jewishomaha.org or Sharon Kirshenbaum, Campaign Director at 334-6485, skirshen baum@jewishomaha.org. The Federation will print a second list at the conclusion of the 2015 Annual Campaign.
DON’T MISS THIS BREATHTAKING COLLECTION OF EMBROIDERED TAPESTRIES, BRINGING ONE SURVIVOR’S MEMORIES OF THE HOLOCAUST TO LIFE.
by LYNN BATTEN JCC Publicity and Gallery Manager Omaha Artists, Inc. is a local art group that was organized in 1946 with about 30 members, and has grown to more than 140 members at the present time. We are made up of all types of artists, from beginners to those who are considered professional. We have art shows three times per year around the Omaha Metro area. Luncheons with art programs as well as “Fun Shops” with art instruction are held monthly. A new “After Hours” group was started this year for those who find it difficult to get to daytime meetings and workshops. Omaha Artists, Inc. volunteers provide “hands-on” art instruction to many ESL persons on a monthly basis. We also gather art materials to donate as needed to children and families at women’s and children’s shelters and to programs such as Child Life Services. Our show at the Jewish Community Center will be held from Feb. 2 to Feb. 28. Our artists work in various media such as oil, acrylic, pastel, pencil, mixed media, fabric, sculpture and jewelry; and most of the art is for sale. A reception will be held Feb. 8 from 2 - 4 p.m., where the awards will be given to the winning entries, and food and beverages will be provided.
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4 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
Carol Bloch: Fierce reproductive rights activist by JOEY HOFFMAN What would you do if your mother endured 18 pregnancies in 22 years? Margaret Sanger, the iconic birth control activist, sex educator and nurse, fueled by this grim fact about her own matriarch, opened the Brownsville clinic in a Brooklyn storefront in 1912, the first birth control clinic in the United States, which would morph into the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Like Sanger, Carol Bloch, Honorary Chair of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (and ironically born and raised in Brooklyn) is an effusive advocate for women’s reproductive rights. “I got involved with Planned Parenthood because I believed then, and I still do, that all people who want vital accurate sexuality education, reproductive health services and birth control information should be able to obtain it regardless of their ability to pay,” says Bloch. In 1980, a friend asked Bloch to help start a “Friends of Planned Parenthood” group as an informational and fundraising arm of Planned Parenthood of Omaha-Council Bluffs, a grassroots venture reminiscent of yet another Margaret’s creed. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland’s roots go back to the mid-1930s, when the first clinic in Iowa opened and has expanded to now offer reproductive health care services to women and men in Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Eastern Oklahoma. Highlights of their victories include: • 1962 Planned Parenthood of Omaha begins dispensing birth control pills. • 1974 Des Moines center offers abortion services. • 1988 Sex education is mandated in Iowa public schools. • 1995 Surgical abortion services are made available in Lincoln. • 2008 Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa begins Telemedicine providing health services via sophisticated video technology at their remote clinics. Despite these triumphs, however, access to quality and affordable contraception and abortion services has become a political rather than a medical issue. “We are fighting some of the same battles of providing reproductive services that we battled 30 years ago,” Bloch says. “It can be very discouraging, but we cannot give up. The mission is too critical. I believe that every person has the right to decide when or whether to have a child and every child has the right to grow wanted and loved.” One of the latest barriers that threaten women’s right to choose is a new bill in the Missouri state legislature which proposes women must get a man’s permission before getting an abortion. “Our elected officials need to be continually reminded that family planning and abortion decisions are personal. Abortion must remain safe, legal and available, and the decision whether or not to have one must be private,
religious and medical.” She continues: “If a woman does not believe in abortion, she should not have one. That is her ‘choice.’ But, politicians or religious extremists do not have the right to make decisions about my reproductive health for me. Why can’t politicians understand that family planning services, along with factual information, do more to prevent the need for abortion than anything else we know?” At their annual Choice Affair fundraiser (a.k.a. “Friendraiser”), Friends of Planned Parenthood honored Bloch. It was a record-breaking event that drew more members and volunteers than ever and helped the organization exceed their goal, raising over $11,000, clearly reflecting the effect of Bloch’s foresight and leadership on the community. “Carol is a hero,” says says Maggie Wood, Regional Development Director for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. “A fierce, talented, creative force who is not afraid to say out loud how things can be better. She points
out issues and solutions and helps me understand the history of the organization. She’s my favorite kind of person.” Bloch has also garnered praise and respect for her efforts in Jewish community causes. She has served on boards of the National and local NCJW (1996-2002), Jewish Social Services (2004-13) and ADL Regional Board Member (2004-present). Awards include, but are not limited to, NCJW, Omaha Section Distinguished Service Award (1990), Jewish Federation of Omaha Community Service Award (2000) and the NCJW Hannah G. Solomon Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service (2000). Two Brooklyn girls, one mission. Sanger and Bloch’s legacy reverberates throughout the community, reflecting a steely resolve. “There will always be people who need Planned Parenthood’s services,” Bloch said. Statistics show that one in five American women has chosen Planned Parenthood for her health care needs at least once in her lifetime.” Women supporting women, a dauntless sorority indeed.
Special screening: Of Many by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Film Streams in collaboration with the Tri-Faith Initiative of Omaha, Nebraska, will present a special screening of – Of Many 2014, on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. The movie will be followed by a panel discussion. Set against the dramatic backdrop of violence in the Middle East and the tension between Jewish and Muslim students on college campuses, Of Many focuses on the surprising and transformative relationship between an orthodox rabbi and an imam who serve as university chaplains in New York City. Through a series of voyages to communities struck by catastrophe, we witness young religious Jews and Muslims working together and overcoming long-standing divides. Timely and humorous, this short documentary offers an inspiring and hopeful narrative in the face of a seemingly irreconcilable conflict. Born out of a series of conversations stretching back to early 2010, The Of Many Institute for Multifaith Leadership (OM) was officially launched in January of 2012 by cofounders Chelsea Clinton, Khalid Latif, Linda Mills, and
Passover2015
Yehuda Sarna. It was created in support of the remarkably large and diverse religious community of students at New York University (NYU) and in recognition of the growing commitment from students, faculty, and alumni seeking to build a world in which multifaith dialogue and work are fostered, respected, and supported. Working closely with students, the Of Many Institute concentrates on developing cross-cultural leadership experiences, by developing a multifaith space that creates harmonious relationships. The central focus of the project is not simply talking through the differences but building common experiences. Following this onetime showing at the Ruth Sokolof Theater at Film Streams will be a panel discussion with leaders from the Tri-Faith Initiative and area students. Tickets are now available for this one-time showing at the Ruth Sokolof Theater for $9 general, $7 for seniors, students, teachers, military, and those arriving by bicycle, and $4.50 for Film Streams Members. Advance tickets can be purchased at or through the Film Streams Box Office in person or at 402.933.0259 x15. The film trailer can be viewed at http://www.film streams.org/filmstreams_cal endar. aspx?ID=1481.
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Israeli Shmita Israeli Shmita. At the beginning of this Jewish year there were several volunteer fairs Ramban where non-profit organizations spoke to congregants about volunteering opportunities, and each congregant was asked to make a serious, ongoing volunteering commitment. After speaking with my friend, who is extremely conscientious but whose actual volunteering efforts during the year’s first four months consisted of one morning’s volunteer work for a non-profit organization, I understand the great challenges faced by Israeli Shmita. You can get people to come to an occasional seminar or workshop, but if you want to institute serious social change, that takes an awful lot of organization and administration. Absent someone working full-time at the synagogue to make sure that each member was living up to their commitment, my friend’s sense is that those in the community who were volunteering regularly before this Shmita year continued to do so and those who did not did not. Where does that leave us? I think we can say that without some kind of professionalization in the social sphere, change proceeds at a glacial pace and is best accomplished through long-term education, preferably beginning in primary school. With professionalization, change can happen quicker. For example, Israeli Shmita lists as one of its activities: “Helping Israelis relate to food in a new way, with an emphasis on recovering surplus food and making healthy and nutritious food accessible to all populations.” Now this is a cause that is extremely dear to my heart, and I would gladly volunteer my time to make sure that leftover food from restaurants and catering halls is saved and given to people in need. However, like most people I am not an activist -- I am a follower in this volunteering sphere and followers need clear and specific directions as well as monitoring. I’m sure that pretty soon there will be an app to bug the daylights out of us to make sure that we take the time to volunteer according to what our better hearts and minds feel and think we should do. Until then, let’s do what we can. Happy Tu B’Shvat! Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest four, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie and Ezra are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross @netvision.net.il.
Serving Generations…
Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER In the Seventh year the land shall have a Sabbath of complete rest, a Sabbath of the Lord: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. Leviticus 25.4 With Tu B’shvat (Arbor Day) coming up (on Feb. 4), now seems an excellent time to discuss a new initiative for the Shmita that is currently underway. This Jewish year of 5775 is a Sabbatical year (Shmita). In previous sabbatical years, the public discussion largely consisted of whether or not the ultraOrthodox would agree to eat the produce of Israeli Jewish farmers under the “heter mehira” legal fiction (in which Jewish fields are sold to a non-Jew--a fiction similar to that used to sell one’s leavened products before Passover). Though nothing has changed in the ultra-Orthodox’s general refusal to accept “heter mehira” (and so their way of keeping the Shmita year is to buy produce that is farmed exclusively by non-Jews), a group calling itself Israeli Shmita is trying to make Shmita relevant for today’s modern Israeli society. What follows is a portion of the vision statement of Israeli Shmita (for more, see: http://ishmita.org.il/en/): “Shmita is a year of social involvement, spiritual and ethical renewal, and deep environmental reflection. It is a year of brotherhood and sisterhood, culture, spirit, family and community. It is a gateway in time -- once in seven years, a renewal of the covenant between humans and the earth. It is a year that leaves a distinct impression on the subsequent six years. Recognizing that the values of Shmita are fundamental to education in Israel, and with an understanding that with the return of the Jewish people to Zion, the Shmita year can now be actualized, we seek to revitalize the Shmita year and establish it as a year of individual, social, communal, and national significance.” Israeli Shmita runs seminars, workshops, and other programs in an effort to put its vision into practice. Though things have been pretty quiet on the Shmita front in the public sphere where I live in Givat Ze’ev (that is, one doesn’t sense that this year is a different kind of year), I knew that my childhood friend attends Ramban synagogue in Jerusalem that was very much influenced by
European Jewish community leaders slam rabbi’s call to carry guns by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Leaders of 11 Jewish communities in Europe lambasted the director of a Brussels-based lobby group who, after the Paris attacks, called for some Jews to carry guns. A recent statement by European Jewish leaders was directed against Rabbi Menachem Margolin who heads the European Jewish Association and the Rabbinical Centre of Europe. Among the statement’s co-signatories are Vivian Wineman, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and Ruben Vis, director of the Jewish Communities of the Netherlands. “Mr. Margolin lacks any expertise or authority to speak on these critical issues on behalf of the Jews of Europe, and therefore lacks all the basic components for Jewish community responsibility,” the statement said. Joint statements from Jewish leaders criticizing other Jewish groups are rare
within European Jewry. Margolin in a Jan. 13 letter to interior ministers of European Union member states asked that gun licensing laws be “reviewed with immediate effect to allow designated people in the Jewish communities and institutions to own weapons for the essential protection of their communities.” On Jan. 19, the CCOJB umbrella group of French-speaking Belgian Jews distanced itself from his call, saying in a statement that it “can only be explained by ignorance and panic.” The two organizations directed by Margolin have a tense relationship with some European Jewish lobbies and umbrella groups. In their statement, the community leaders called Margolin’s EJA “an association of irrelevant and unrepresentative self-created groups [that] does not in any way convey upon him a role as a spokesman or representative of our communities.”
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6 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
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February Mainstreeters activities benefit body and mind by OZZIE NOGG Feeding both our minds and bodies is important for optimal mental a n d physical health. So take part in one or all of these February Mainstreeters offerings. They’re like booster shots for the entire you! Over the Counter Pain Relievers & What You Should Know About Them: Monday, Feb. 9, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Board Room. No admission charge. Jewish Social Services and the Visiting Nurse Association realize the importance of being proactive about your health. Our guest speaker, Kelly Patton, is a graduate of Creighton University School of Pharmacy. She started her career working in a retail pharmacy and later worked in the hospital setting. Kelly has been associated with the Visiting Nurse Association for the past year. This important educational workshop is designed specifically for seniors’ well-being by JSS and the VNA. Call Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521 or email mconti@rbjh.com to RSVP. Invite a friend. The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha: Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. in the JCC Auditorium. Free Admission. The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha performs a lively repertoire of well-known movie and television themes, along with popular hits that span the generations. In addition, the group performs original compositions written for the orchestra by its conductor Chuck Penington who creates music to complement the unique blend of musicians who comprise the ensemble. The orchestra was featured on a segment of Good Morning America in 1990, in which Mr. Penington discussed the challenges that come with an orchestra of musicians with such a large age span. This “challenge” is overcome by the arranging talents of Maestro Penington, who combines the talents of diverse generations of musicians for the purpose of creating beautiful music and then sharing that music. The concert is generously sponsored by the Ruth Riekes Richards Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Mainstreeters Luncheon: A Year of Movie Reviews plus 2015 Oscar Predictions with Bob Fischbach, Omaha World-Herald Movie/Theater Critic: Monday, Feb. 16, at 12:30 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium. Ever since the Oscar nominations were announced, handicappers have been placing odds on the races. Will the coveted statue go to American Sniper, Boyhood, Birdman or the Grand Budapest Hotel? To Bradley Cooper,
Benedict Cumberbatch, Julianne Moore or Reese Witherspoon? Come hear OWH film reviewer Bob Fischbach offer his take on who will win, who could win, who should win and who “shoulda” been nominated but wasn’t. For your luncheon entree select Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwich or Tuna Salad Sandwich, both served with cole slaw, chips and challah roll with a brownie for dessert, plus beverage of your choice. Cost is $10 a plate. Reservations are appreciated by Monday, Feb. 9. Make your check payable to Jewish Social Services, and send
reservation with full payment to: Mainstreeters, c/o Maggie Conti, 323 South 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154. For transportation call Maggie at 402.334.6521. Join us at the Movies: Jersey Boys: Friday, Feb. 27, 1 p.m. in the JCC Theater. No charge, No reservations needed and (as always) free popcorn, warm and delicious, is available. Clint Eastwood’s big screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic `60s rock group, The Four Seasons. Their trials and triumphs are accompanied by the hit songs that influenced a generation and are now being embraced by a new generation of fans. Rated R for language throughout. If you’d like to enjoy a Star Deli lunch at the Blumkin Home before the show, call Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521 to reserve a table. Lunch is on your own. The Star Deli opens for business at 11:30 a.m. Mainstreeters welcomes all Jewish residents of the Omaha area age 60 plus. “The group continues to offer a mixed-bag of social events, learning opportunities and health seminars that give participants the chance to meet new people, exercise their brains, stay well and enjoy life to the fullest,” said Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach Programs at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. “No dues are required to be part of Mainstreeters, but a $5 per person communication fee is needed to keep your name on the mailing list. Jim Wax, 402.393.4442, is the guy to call.” Mainstreeters programs are supported in part by grants from the United Way of the Midlands and the Jewish Federation of Omaha.
Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Former NCJW National President Omahan Jan Schneiderman will talk about the Council’s project to improve the lives of battered women and abused children on
Wednesday, Feb. 4, noon. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha. org.
January 30, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 7
Bat Mitzvah brings Israeli scholar to Beth El by OZZIE NOGG Jewish parents will attest that technology plays a big role in the lives of their children. Rebecca Denenberg, who becomes a Bat Mitzvah at Beth El Synagogue on Saturday, Feb. 14, used her screen time this year to Skype with Torah scholar Yaffa Epstein of Jerusalem. Yaffa Epstein is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. “I’m excited that I got to learn with Yaffa, and I’m glad she’s coming to Omaha for my Bat Mitzvah,” Becca said. Bringing Yaffa Epstein to Omaha was the idea of Becca’s mother, Debbie Denenberg. “I attended Pardes in 1979 for my Junior year abroad in Israel,” Deb explained. “Pardes is an amazing yeshiva, highly regarded from every wing of Judaism because of its warm outreach and inspirational teachers. For one year, we grappled with traTorah scholar Yaffa Epstein, ditional Jewish texts. Director of Strategic PartnerHumash, Talmud, Jewish ships at the Pardes Institute of history. The depth of Jewish Studies, will be guest knowledge offered to me speaker at Beth El Synagogue was intoxicating, and I’m on Feb. 13 and 14. delighted to offer the Omaha Jewish community a taste of that experience in honor of Becca’s Bat Mitzvah.” “There are many learned Jewish women,” Yaffa Epstein said, “and I found it beautiful -- though still rare -- that Debbie wanted the focus of Becca’s Bat Mitzvah to be on lifelong learning for women. During our Skype sessions, we studied ancient Jewish ritual and mitzvot as they apply to women. It became clear that family is of critical value to the Denenbergs, so we spent time discussing what it means to come of age as a Jewish woman and to take one’s place in the legacy of your family. The texts we studied helped Becca feel more empowered, more dedicated and committed to Jewish tradition. This was an amazing opportunity for me, and I’m honored to be part of it.” A member of the Israeli Bar, Ms. Epstein is currently pursuing Rabbinical studies in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat, a relatively new path training modern Orthodox women to become clergy. The title maharat is a Hebrew acronym for female leader of Jewish law, spirituality and Torah. Becca was raised attending Friedel Jewish Academy, davening at each Omaha synagogue and spending summers at Chabad Camp and Camp Ramah. “Becca’s Bat Mitzvah process was a collaborative effort between our family and
Beth El clergy,” Deb Denenberg continued. “Becca meets with Hazzan Michael Krausman weekly to study her Torah portion and haftarah. Rabbi Abraham is creative and available to each child, so that every Bar or Bat Mitzvah can be meaningful and personal.” According to Rabbi Abraham, “Becca and Debbie wanted to further their learning together. They took the initiative to be present at the synagogue to study, but also to Skype with Yaffa Epstein. It’s our pleasure to have Ms. Epstein, a Modern Orthodox scholar, share her insights with our con-
gregation during Becca’s Bat Mitzvah.” “And who can resist a little Jewish geography?” Debbie said. “Yaffa’s father Edwin Epstein was once a cantor in Omaha and her brother Avi was born here.” While in Omaha, Yaffa Epstein will teach during Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, Feb. 13, as well as from the bimah on Saturday morning, Feb. 14. “Our family wants the focus of Becca’s Bat Mitzvah to be on lifelong Jewish learning -- for Becca and for the community. We invite all of Omaha to join us for services, learning, and of course, food!”
Jewish Omaha helps mobilize resources by SHERRIE SAAG He continued, “Sometimes we make the error of thinkCommunications, Jewish Federation of Omaha ing that the historic shifts in Jewish life took place between A gift to our Jewish Federation of Omaha 2015 Annual the Holocaust and the Six Day War, or in connection with Campaign provides funding to dozens of agencies and the fall of the Iron Curtain. But dramatic changes continue organizations at home and abroad that help perpetuate to shape the destiny of the Jewish people and North Jewish life. One of American Federations those agencies is the in their partnership Israel-based Jewish with JAFI.” Agency for Israel, or “In large measure, the JAFI. work of French Aliyah In the wake of has taken place withincreasingly violent out special campaigns anti-Semitism in Paris and fanfare. But we and the international have dramatically media coverage of increased our staff in those events, JAFI France to accommoquickly mobilized its date the rise in Aliyah resources to support applications and have French Jews by adapted our absorpincreasing security at tion programs in Israel synagogues and day to meet the needs of schools and ramping the rising numbers of up facilities for Aliyah French Jews who wish to Israel. to make Israel their Misha Galperin, new home.” president of InterGalperin expressed A young Jewish family makes aliyah from France. national Development his appreciation for for JAFI and previous CEO of the Jewish Federation of our moral and spiritual support of all Jewish communities Greater Washington describes the importance of the fund- in the diaspora. But, he said, even more important, is the ing we provide JAFI from our Annual Campaign. ongoing financial commitments Federations provide every “North American news outlets have done a thorough job year through their allocations process. of reporting on the remarkable rise in Aliyah to Israel from Community leaders and professional staff are often France in recent years (as reported in the January 16 issue asked whether our Annual Campaigns have important and of our Campaign Update) and the ongoing support we immeasurable impact. Questions are posed about our level receive from U.S. Jewish communities is crucial for our of adaptability with regard to changing demographics in work,” Galperin said. the Jewish world. To hear reports “on the ground”, by those The doubling of Aliyah from France over the last 24 directly changing the lives of those we want to help, promonths is a phenomenon that is changing the face of vides the right answer. As Galperin wrote, “You are making Jewish life in Europe and Israel. an enormous difference. Thank you.”
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8 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
January 30, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 9
Our community THANKS YOU for your generous gift to the 2015 Annual Campaign. It's not too late, please join us.
TOGETHER 2015 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
WE ARE FAMILY
Your gifts are funding scholarships, educating our community, investing in Israel, fighting Anti-Semitism and prejudice, caring for our seniors and those in great need, and securing the future of Jewish Omaha.
Donor list as of January 26, 2015. A final acknowledgment ad will follow at the close of the 2015 Annual Campaign. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy. We apologize if your name was incorrectly printed or inadvertently omitted.
MAJOR DONORS Corporate Sponsor ($100,000+) Omaha Steaks International Prime Minister ($100,000+) Murray and Sharee Newman King Solomon Circle ($25,000-$99,999 Ind, $50,000-$99,999 Corp. & Family) Joel Alperson Baker Family Ronald Blumkin Joseph Erman Michael Erman Thomas Fellman Joseph Kirshenbaum Howard Kooper Jay Lerner Robert Newman Jay Noddle Phillip Schrager Of Blessed Memory Carl Riekes Harley Schrager Theodore Seldin Estate of Phil Sokolof Special Donor Advised Fund of The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Chai Circle ($18,000-$24,999 Ind, $25,000-$49,999 Corp. & Family) Epstein Family Gary Epstein Harold Epstein Paul Epstein Ike and Roz Friedman Family Foundation Herbert Goldsten Trust Howard Kaslow Omaha Bedding Co. Andrew Robinson Milton Simons Gerald Simons John Waldbaum Joshua Circle ($10,000-$17,999 Ind, $18,000-$24,999 Corp. & Family) Steven Bloch Irvin Blumkin Leo Eisenstatt PACE Fund Richard Glazer Donald Goldstein Jeff Gordman Nelson Gordman Michael Liddy Livingston Foundation Edward Malashock Steven Nogg Natan Schwalb Bruce Shackman Norman Sheldon Stanley Silverman Mark Singer Philip Wolf Eugene Zweiback Pacestters ($6,000-$9,999 Ind, $6,000-$17,999 Corp. & Family) Anonymous (3) Harold Bernstein Jack Cohen Ted Friedland Bruce Friedlander Sanford Friedman David Gilinsky The Leonard & Shirley Goldstein Supporting Foundation Kip Gordman Richard Jacobson Gary Javitch Arnold Joffe Keith Josephson Larry Josephson Marcel and Ilse Kahn PACE Fund Joseph Kirshenbaum Jeff Kirshenbaum Kevee Kirshenbaum
John Lehr Robert Lepp Jon and Denise Meyers Allan Noddle Alan Parsow Stanley Perlmeter Eric Phillips Martin Ricks Henry Riekes PACE Fund Jonathan Rockman Blaine Roffman Les Schneiderman Jeffrey Schrager Jerry Slusky The Platt Family Maurice and Joan Udes PACE Fund Major Donors Couples ($11,000+) Rich & Fran Juro Lion of Judah Platinum Lion ($100,000+) Susan Cohn Emerald Lion ($25,000-$35,999) Nancy Friedland Rosalie Friedman LOJE Fund Sapphire Lion ($18,000-$24,999) Frances Blumkin Sharon Kooper Ruby Lion ($10,000-$17,999) Anonymous Judy Baker Ellie Batt Aileen Eisenstatt LOJE Fund Ruth Erman Carol Gendler Linda Gordman Maxine Kirshenbaum Joan Lehr Nancy Noddle Zoë Riekes Terri Schrager Anne Shackman Phyllis Sherman Gail Veitzer Lion of Judah ($5,000-$9,999) Phyllis Aronson Sandra Belgrade Carol Bloch Margaret Block Chris Blumkin Susan Blumkin Paula Boggust Marcia Cohen Eunice Denenberg Lisa Epstein Sandy Epstein Darlynn Fellman Pearl Richman Giventer LOJE Fund Ann Goldstein LOJE Fund Shirley Goldstein Karen Javitch Gloria Kaslow Andrea Kavich Sharon Kirshenbaum Sandra Lehr Bobbi Leibowitz Deana Liddy Jody Malashock Sue Meyers Jean Neff Phyllis Newman Patty Nogg Carol Parsow Julie Phillips Iris Ricks Dorothy Riekes LOJE FUND Kimberly Robinson Stacey Rockman Rosalie Saylan Susan Scherl Jan Schneiderman Beth Schrager
Hannah Schwalb Sarah Seldin Suzy Sheldon Norma Silverman Eve Simon Suzanne Singer Melissa Steiner Joodi Veitzer Nancy Wolf Zahal ($3,600-$5,999) Norman B & Frances P Batt PACE Fund Mark Goldstrom Don Greenberg Mark Javitch Myron Kaplan Larry Kelberg Robert Malashock Steven Riekes Michael Sherman Paul Shyken Michael Siegel Marty Shukert Tom Vann Arnie and Anne Weitz Double Chai ($3,600-$4,999) Lois Friedman Barbara Platt
BUILDERS Sabra ($1,800-$3,599+) Anonymous (2) Rabbi Aryeh Azriel Robert Belgrade Marvin Bittner Albert Bloch Peter Brodkey Howard Epstein Richard Fellman Robert Freeman Donald Gerber Larry Gilinsky Bennett Ginsberg Bruce Goldberg David Goldstein Michael Goldstein Steve Goodman Jerome Gordman Gary Gotsdiner Barton Greenberg Michael Halsted Jerome Kaiman Gary Kaplan Donald Klein Milton Kleinberg David Kohll Justin Kohll Marvin Kohll Michael Leibowitz Neal Malashock Harold Mann Mark Martin Bruce Meyers Joseph Meyers Larry Meyerson Michael Norton Alan Potash Swartzbaugh-Farber & Associates, Inc. Benjamin and Anna Wiesman Wolf Brothers Morley Zipursky Mort Zuber Pomegranate ($1,800-$3,599) Anonymous Bonnie Bloch Sylvia Cohn Debbie Denenberg Laurie Epstein Beverly Fellman Frances Fried Thama Friedman PACE Jordana Glazer Phyllis Glazer Kathy Goldstein-Helm Toni Goodman
Danielle Gordman Nancy Greenberg Andrea Hamburg Joanie Jacobson Sheryn Joffe Beatrice Karp Dana Kaufman Barbara Lashinsky Susan Lehr Bert Lewis Thelma Lustgarten Tina Meyers Susan Norton Fefe Passer Margo Riekes Silvia Roffman Judy Simons Muriel Steinberg Debbi Zweiback Leadership ($1,000-$1,799) Anonymous Mike Abramson Bruce Baron Bruce Belgrade Marilyn Berman Bruce Brodkey Frederick Cassman Alan Cohen Bob Cohen Karen Cohen Michael Cohen Toba Cohen-Dunning Janey Dann Richard Engel Etta Epstein Pamela Friedlander Amy Friedman Lawrence Gendler Jim Glazer Cindy Goldberg David Goldberg Gary Goldstein Jan Goldstein Judi Goldstein Caryl Greenberg Mendy Halsted Gerald Hoberman Jon Jabenis Sylvia Jess Dick Kirshenbaum Harvey Konigsberg Howard Kutler Forrest and Lisa Krutter PACE Fund Jeffrey Laudin Lisa Lieb Todd Manvitz Scott Meyerson Bettie Muskin Stuart Muskin Jim Polack David Radler Steven Redler Phyllis Schwartz Patty Sherman Aveva Shukert Sissy Silber Maxine Simons Ramon Somberg Mark Sweet Richard Zacharia Steven Zalkin Rosie Zweiback Ben Gurion Society ($1,000+ less than 45 years old) Rabbi Steven Abraham Brett Atlas Stacey Atlas Jason Epstein Jamie Friedland Michael Kaufman Adam Kutler Trenton Magid Brian Nogg Jeffrey Nogg Andrew Ruback Anthony Scioli Justin Spooner
Adam Yale Sarah Yale
GENERAL CAMPAIGN ($1-$999) Anonymous (15) Benjamin Abbott Shira Abraham Gaylene Abrahamson Linda Abrahamson Mark Abrahamson Alvin Abramson Sheri Abramson Patti Adler Robert Adler Lawrence Albert Vicki Allely Doris Alloy Harry Alloy Mildred Altman Rami Arav Marcia Arch Barton Arnold Brenda Arnold Phyllis Aron Joyce Ashley John Atherton Arnold Ban Shelly Ban Ida Banner Shirly Banner Jill Baron Deborah Baum Diane Baum Donald Baum Ron Beach Robert Beber Virginia Becker Ann Belmont Eliad Ben-Shushan David Berman Harry Berman Mary Berman Ida Berman-Cohoon Joan Bernstein Mary Bernstein Millie Bernstein Rose Bernstein Stuart Bernstein Terrance Bernstein Thomas Bernstein Philip Bierman Morris Birenbaum Phyllis Bittner Claire Blass Larry Blass Joann Blatt Michael Blatt Bob Bleicher Brian Bogdanoff Esther Bogdanoff Janet Boguchwal Howard Borden James Bresel Marge Bresel Beth Brodkey Gloria Brodkey Ronald Brodkey Florence Brody Miriam Brooks Carrie Brown Elliot Brown Josh Brown Phyllis Brown Amanda Bucher Michelle Bucher Elaine Bukenholts Sam Bukenholts Scott Burger Helen Burns John Burns Maralyn Burr Steve Caplan Molline Cassman Samuel Cemaj Shriley Cemaj Matthew Chadek Peggy Chasen Cathy Christensen Joyce Clark Kevin Clark
Kimara Clark Edwin Clignett Eileen Clignett Anne Cohen Beth Cohen Gilbert Cohen Howard Cohen Joyce Cohen Karla Cohen Marc Cohen Marla Cohen Paul Cohen Rose Cohen Sheldon Cohen William Cohen Frances Cohen-Peterson Doris Cohn Edward Cohn Pam Cohn Larry Cohoon Sandra Cole Sharon Comisar-Langdon Cheryl Cooper David Cooper Harvey Cooper Jeffrey Cooper Justin Cooper Ronald Cooper Rose Cooper Sarita Cooper Susan Cooper Fran Coren Meyer Coren Juanita Davidson Rose Davis Hanna DeBruin Larry DeBruin Karen Delgadillo Manuel Delgadillo Tiffany Denenberg Dennis DePorte Esta Dubov Gregory Dubov Jean Duitch Eleanor Dunning Eric Dunning Teddy Dunning Janice Egermayer Eugene Elkin Julia Elkin Michelle Elkin Penny Endelman Adrian Epstein Alex Epstein Arnold Epstein Crystal Epstein Helen Epstein Irving Epstein Ronald Epstein Sharon Epstein Esther Erlich Richard Erlich Mikhail Etus Judy Farber Lillian Feldman Marla Feldman Ronald Feldman Elizabeth Feldstern Edith Fellman Hannah Ferer Mary Ferer Nicholas Ferer Whitney Ferer Annette Fettman Leo Fettman Ellie Fields Paul Fine Glen Fineman Hollie Fineman Carrie Fingold Joel Finkel Lois Finkel David Finkelstein Katherine Finnegan Deborah Finnicum Doug Finnicum Janis Fischer Joe Fischer Linda Fischer Stephen Fischer
Hersz Flatowicz Paulette Flatowicz Pierre Flatowicz Sherry Fletcher Richard Fox Shelly Fox Beverly Frank Joseph Frank Alan Fredricks Arlene Fredricks David Fredricks Joanne Freeman John Freeman Melvin Freeman Robyn Freeman Jim Fried Marshall Fried Norma Fried Sam Fried Cindy Friedman Deborah Friedman Dustin Friedman Jeremy Friedman Morris Friedman Scott Friedman Sheryl Friedman Suzanne Friedman Thomas Friedman Marlen Frost Mandy Frost-Becker Wendy Furst Harry Gates Linda Gates Howard Gendelman Hymie Gendler David Gerber Paul Gerber Barb Giller Ron Giller Stu Giller Elizabeth Ginsburg Arkadiy Ginzburg Larisa Ginzburg Jennifer Gittelman Larry Gittelman Jennifer Glazer John Glazer Richard Goedeken Darlene Golbitz Benton Goldberg Frank Goldberg Leanne Goldberg Sandra Goldberg Wendy Goldberg Zina Goldberg Irwin Goldenberg John Goldner Howard Goldstein Dora Goldstrom Barbara Goodman Robert Goodman Shirley Goodman Allison Gordman Jay Gordman Peter Gordon Gary Green Nita Green Andy Greenberg Carole Greenberg Rosalie Greenspan Ellie Greenspoon Leonard Greenspoon Alex Grossman Barry Grossman Mary Sue Grossman Sarah Grossman-Lopez Myrna Grumer Karen Gustafson Victor Gutman Bruce Gutnik Margie Gutnik Howard Halperin Nanciana Hamicksburg Allan Handleman Janice Harris Ken Hoberman Leslie Hoberman Nancy Hornstein Bonnie Horwich Sarah Howard
Marilyn Ivers Lewis Izenstat Elaine Jabenis Linda Jess Susan Jodis Tamara Johnson Anne Joseph Ed Joseph Leslie Joseph Debbi Josephson Judy Josephson Fred Kader Sarah Kader Roxanne Kahn Howard Kaiman Joan Kaiman Sylvia Kaiman Of Blessed Memory Marilyn Kaplan Robert Kaplan Rose Kaplan Marcia Kapustin Frankie Kasin Sander Kasin Renee Kasner Jeanne Katelman John Katelman Richard Katelman Cookie Katskee Kari Katskee Nan Katz Julee Katzman Helen Kay Leslie Kay Jay Kenik Susan Kenik Gail Kenkel Mark Kirchhoff Kelly Kirk Adam Kirshenbaum Jenn Kirshenbaum Nikki Kirshenbaum Rosemary Kirshenbaum Harry Klein Janet Klein Marsha Kleinberg Karen Klingberg Ari Kohen Sara Kohen Diane Kohler Sandra Kohll Mark Kohn Sherry Kohn Robbi Kolnick Beau Konigsberg Marilyn Konigsberg Sarah Konigsberg Georgine Koom Larry Koom Joseph Kosinovsky Leah Kosinovsky Alice Kosowsky Harold Kosowsky David Kotok Shane Kotok Bette Kozlen Jack Kozlen Marc Kraft Natasha Kraft Hazzan Michael Krausman Laurel Krausman Barry Kricsfeld Angie Krieger Stanley Krieger Deborah Kronick Larry Kronick Gary Kuklin Jane Kulakofsky Leslie Kully Allen Kurland Sandra Kurland Barbara Kushner Marshall Kushner Abigail Kutler David Kutler Nancy Kutler Wayne Lainof Pauline Landman Randy Langdon Allison Latenser Cheryl Lerner
Martha Lerner Richard Lerner Hugh Levin Mordechai Levin Alan Levine Michael Levine Mike Levine Bonnie Levinger Steve Levinger Lina Levit Barbara Levitan Clifford Levitan Lisa Lewis Rochelle Lewis Harvey Lipsman Boris Litvin Robert Lohrman Doris Lubman Stephen Lubman Fritzi Luefshuetz Bernard Magid Carolyn Magid Diane Malashock Larry Malashock Norma Malashock Linda Mann Wendy Manvitz Harriet Marko Myron Marko Marni Morris Propp Family Foundation Joan Martin Leon Martin Rachel Martin Jose Martinez Patrick McNamara Dan Meiches Marybeth Meiches Gerald Meyer Jennifer Meyerson
Renee Micklin Gayle Milder Lindsey Miller-Lerman David Millward Sue Millward Evelyn Mitchell Stanley Mitchell Ethel Mogil Of Blessed Memory Michael Mogil Patricia Mogil Susan Mogil Anna Mosenkis Ann Moshman Gordon Moshman Alan Muskin Linda Muskin Amy Nachman Gary Nachman Randi Nanfito Naava Naslavsky Howard Needelman Laura-Lee Needelman Patricia Newman Alan Nogg Anthony Nogg Babe Nogg Jaime Nogg Kelly Nogg Ozzie Nogg Ann Noodell Dave Noodell Maxine Noodell Steven Noodell Helen Novak Linda Novak Mark Ocheretyanskiy Donna Olesh Robert Olesh
Maggie Ortmeyer Ann Osborne Louis Pachman Doris Parker Margo Parsow Joel Patton Elinore Penner Vicki Perlmeter Cheryl Phillips Gerri Phillips Ann Pickel Harvey Pickel Gilda Pieck Roman Pisetsky William Pisetsky Kimberly Placzek Matthew Placzek Deborah Platt Marvin Polikov Sheila Polikov Karen Pollak Oliver Pollak Lynne Popp Steven Popp Julie Potash Merle Potash Ruth Potash Debbie Powers Gwendolyn Pred Ramon Pred Sheila Priluck Paul Rabinovitz Irina Raksin Leonid Raksin Nancy Rampey Emily Ray Gerald Raznick Rob Reiss Wendy Reiss
Barbara Rennard Stephen Rennard Amy Reynolds Don Rice Diane Rich Joel Rich Mary Rich Philip Rich Caryn Rifkin Helen Rifkin Jane Rips Nancy Rips Judith Roffman Betty Roitstein Debbie Roitstein Lawrence Roitstein Lloyd Roitstein David Rosen Kenneth Rosen Margo Rosen Toni Rosen Marti Rosen-Atherton Stephen Rosenberg Gerald Rosenblatt Richard Rosenblatt Sidney Rosenblatt Sue Rosenblatt Dorothy Rosenblum Martin Rosenstein Charney Rosinsky Jerry Rosinsky Peggy Ross Bunny Rothenberg Steven Rothenberg Susan Rothholz Faye Ruback Marcia Ruback Teresa Ruback Betty Rubin
Rebecca Ruetsch-Finkelstein Elizabeth Rupp David Saag Sherrie Saag Kelli Sadofsky Marina Sadofsky Michael Sadofsky Paul Sadofsky Rodney Sadofsky Michael Salkin Ernest Saltzman Errol Saltzman Kevin Saltzman Linda Saltzman Lynne Saltzman Rosalie Saltzman Mark Sanford Bernard Schlessinger June Schlessinger Carol Schneider Edward Schneider Lillian Schrager Debra Schwartz Jeffrey Schweid Aviva Segall Betty Segell Dalma Seitelbach Nathan Seitelbach Diane Shandell Howard Shandell Barb Shapiro Ben Shapiro Jeffrey Shapiro Larry Shapiro Sherry Shapiro Jeanne Shechet Maximo Shechet Leonard Shefren Claudia Sherman
Marc Sherman Mark Sherman Usha Sherman Wendy Shermet Lisa Shkolnick Andreea Shnayder Michael Shnayder Jason Shoemaker Moree Shoemaker Danita Shrago Leon Shrago Michael Shrier Alan Shulewitz Cindy Shulewitz Gary Shyken Liat Shyken Rachel Shyken Susann Shyken Andrea Siegel Michele Silberstein Peter Silberstein Denise Silverman James Silverman Susan Silverman Lorraine Silverman PACE Fund Chuck Simon James Simon Jill Simon Michael Simon Scott Simon Tootie Simon Harold Siporin Steve Siref Andrea Skolkin Anne Skolkin Michael Skolkin Beth Slovut Mitch Slovut Debi Smedlund
Jeffrey Smedlund Aaron Smith James Sophir Penny Sophir Steven Speer Brent Spivack Marcie Spivack Dorothy Spizman Oliver Spooner Carolyn Stern David Stern John Stern Judith Stern Alan Stoler Jill Strite Becca Sudbeck Rory Sudbeck Charles Sullivan Louri Sullivan Lynn Sweet Barbara Taxman Alain Taylon Linda Tederman Roger Tederman Fred Tichauer Gerald Tieger Alan Tipp Amy Tipp Marilyn Tipp Steven Tipp Ellina Tomchin Max Tomchin Sheila Tomps Eitan Tsabari Judy Tully Stewart Tully Tevee Turkel Margie Utesch Annette van de Kamp-Wright
Bennett Wagner Patsy Wallace Phyllis Wasserman Marty and Marilyn Warren Esther Wax James Wax Jan Wayne Phil Wayne Helen Weber Joye Wees Steven Wees Aaron Weiner Ruth Weiner Alice Weiss Ilana Weiss Yaakov Weiss Julie Westman Cynthia Wiesman Ellen Willer Lois Wine Norman Wine Blanche Wise June Wolf Paul Wolf Leona Wolfson Candice Wong Isabella Wright Jeremy Wright Mendel Wright Laurence Zacharia Terryl Zacharia James Zipursky Sally Zipursky Barry Zoob Nora Zoob Beverly Zuber Robert Zuber Steve Zuber
TOGETHER…WE ARE FAMILY don’t regularly speak publicly or write op-ed articles for publication in the Jewish Press. But as Chairs for the 2015 Annual Campaign, doing so has become a priority. When we chose to make Omaha our home many years ago, not only were we new to Jewish Omaha, we were new to the world of communal Jewish philanthropy.
We
with schools to address bullying, keep open lines of communication with local government and law enforcement, provide Holocaust education and monitor legislation of concern to us all. We support Israel with generous funding for our Partnership2Gether region in the Western Galilee, Birthright Israel, emergency campaigns, and designated campaigns like last summer’s Operation Protective Edge and the support for the Jewish Agency for Israel, which last year saw the largest number of immigrations to Israel in its history.
We had no knowledge about the incredible things the Jewish Federation of Omaha does, but it didn’t take long for that to change. As we immersed ourselves and soon after, our We are so fortunate to young daughters, in the programs and services on our Federation campus, it was clear we had found our home. live in Omaha where we The Federation’s mission was important then and it have the opportunity to remains just as relevant today; as now we relish watching our grandchildren enjoy and thrive in campus activities. live meaningful Jewish The Jewish Federation of Omaha, including its agencies – Jewish Social Services, the Center for Jewish Life, The Jewish Press, the Jewish Community Center, ADL/CRC and the community institutions we support – strive to meet the needs of the entire Omaha Jewish community.
lives through programs and services that our Federation, synagogues and agencies offer.
The support the Federation provides to JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) enables us to fulfill our commitment to Jews at risk around the world, because we are our brother’s keeper. We could go on and on, because we believe so much in the work our Jewish Federation of Omaha does every day. But know that none of this is possible without the Annual Campaign.
The JFO, in conjunction with lay leaders and professional staff, seeks to collaborate with congregations, agencies and volunteers to distribute financial resources in an equitable and efficient manner.
We are so fortunate to live in Omaha where we have the opportunity to live meaningful Jewish lives through programs and services that our Federation, synagogues and agencies offer. We should never take this for granted. Now is the time to make a real difference in our lives and the life of our community.
So where do our financial resources go? Our resources ensure there is a place for individuals to explore and strengthen their Jewish identities by offering Jewish education and learning opportunities, social programming, scholarships and connections to Eretz Yisrael.
Please join us in supporting our community and all that we do. We want everyone to be proud and supportive donors to the Annual Campaign.
Jewish Social Services makes a real difference in the lives of our senior adults through the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and its complement of offerings for every level of activity and ability. Jewish Family Service provides support to those in our community in need of specific assistance. Securing daily necessities, offering counseling services on a sliding scale, administering Meals-on-Wheels, managing Yachad, offering holiday food baskets and Chanukah gifts to those in need are but some of the examples.
Norm and Suzy Sheldon, 2015 Annual Campaign Chairs 2015 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN Help Us Reach h Our Goall
$3.25M
$2,818,112 (as of 1/26/15)
Our Jewish Community Center provides individuals and families with a full menu designed to promote our health and well-being. Physical recreation, early childhood education, summer camps, teen youth groups, theater, dance and cultural arts; activities for everyone at every stage of life. We are fortunate to have an ADL/CRC office on our campus that ensures our community’s interests are addressed in the greater community. They work
Make Your Gift Today! 402-334-6433
| www.jewishomaha.org
NUMBER OF GIFTS
GIFT FOR GIFT % INCREASE
NEW OR RE-ENGAGED GIFTS
987
4%
32
Thank you for supporting our mission.
10 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
January Community Calendar FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 Friday Learning Series New Voices in the World of Israeli Cultural Arts, 11 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Sisterhood Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Men’s Club World Wide Wrap, 8:45 am at Beth El BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Beginning Prayer Study with Elyce Azriel, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Sunday Scholar Series, 11 a.m. at Beth El Boys vs Girls/Minute2winit, 12:30 p.m. at Beth El
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Hebrew 101 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m. Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Rabbi Abraham’s Bi-Monthly Class, 10 a.m. at Beth El ADL/CRC Board Meeting, noon Eye on Israel with Eliad, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 UNO Class with Assaf Gavron, 4 p.m. BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel BESTT Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Center for Jewish Life Board Meeting, noon
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Hebrew 101 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m. Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m. Jewish Press Board Meeting, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Adult Ed Class The Wonderful World of Jewish Music, 11 a.m. at Beth El BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Friday Learning Series Sunni vs. Shiite with Dr. Moshe Gershovich, 11 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Shabbat Speaker Program A History of Sarpy County with Ben Justman, 7:30 p.m. at B’nai Israel SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Have a Cup of Coffee with God Learner’s Service, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 UNO Class with Assaf Gavron, 4 p.m. BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Fabric of Survival Artists’ Preview Reception, 7 p.m. at KANEKO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Friday Learning Series Sunni vs. Shiite with Dr. Moshe Gershovich, 11 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Hamantaschen Bake-a-Palooza, 9 a.m. at Beth El Babies, Bigger Kids, and Bagels Parent/Child Playgroup, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m. at Beth El MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Hebrew 101 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m. Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel USY Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Cholent Cookoff, noon at Beth El SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Torah Tots, 10:15 a.m. at Beth El Beginning Prayer Study with Elyce Azriel, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Sunday Scholar Series, 11 a.m. at Beth El Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m. at Beth El
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 UNO Class with Assaf Gavron, 4 p.m. BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Shanghai Group, 1 p.m. at Beth El Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. Women’s Rosh Hodesh Meeting: A Kosher Wine Tasting for Passover Wines, 7 p.m. at Beth El
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Friday Learning Series Sunni vs. Shiite with Dr. Moshe Gershovich, 11 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Chef ’s Demo with Beth El, 1:30 p.m. at RBJH Beth El Our Shabbat Tables, 7 p.m. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Shabbat’s Cool, 10 a.m. at Beth El Jewish Community visit to Fabric of Survival Exhibit, 7:30 p.m. at KANEKO SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Torah Tots, 10:15 a.m. at Beth El Beginning Prayer Study with Elyce Azriel, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Sunday Scholar Series, 11 a.m. at Beth El Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m. at Beth El Into the Woods Jr. Show, 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23 JFO Board of Directors Meeting, 11:30 a.m. Hebrew 101 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m. Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Rabbi Abraham’s Bi-Monthly Class, 10 a.m. at Beth El JSS Board of Directors Meeting, 11:30 a.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. JCC Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Klutznick Learning Series, 7 p.m. Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 UNO Class with Assaf Gavron, 4 p.m. BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Beth El NE AIDS Coalition lunch, 11:30 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Scholar-in-Residence Judge Daniel Butler, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Scholar-in-Residence Judge Daniel Butler, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel YAC Game Night, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El
All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Pat Anson at 402.334.8200. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.
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January 30, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 11
New Jersey NCSY in Omaha by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Publicity Chair, Beth Israel Synagogue A group of 11th and 12th grade young women from New Jersey NCSY and Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls will travel to Omaha, Feb. 12-16. The young women will be volunteering as part of a Leadership Chesed Mission. “The purpose of this Leadership Mission is to teach our teens the value of Chesed, Achdut and Tikkun Olam while exposing them to the beauty of smaller Jewish communities around the country” explains Regional Director, Rabbi Ethan Katz. “While in Omaha, the group will be volunteering with the Jewish preschool and day school plus the senior center to better connect and bond with the Jewish community as a whole.” The teens will also be given the opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity, working to construct and repair homes as well as the lives of their inhabitants. Gavi Lankin, Director of Operations, New Jersey NCSY, added “Our goal is to create a sense of unity among the greater community and the beautiful bond that exists between all Jewish communities around the world.” NCSY is a world-recognized organization that has played a pivotal role in the lives of Jewish teens across the globe. The organization’s mission is to connect, inspire and empower Jewish teens and encourage passionate Judaism through Torah and tradition. NCSY connects with Jewish teens through innovative, cutting-edge social and recreational programs to develop a positive Jewish identity. Programming inspires Jewish teens through informal Jewish education, retreats and summer programs and develops leaders to become passionately committed leaders of the Jewish community and instruments for positive change and renewal. The teens will have a full schedule while in Omaha after their arrival the evening of the 11th. Their volunteer activities at Habitat for Humanity will take place on the 12th. Friday events will include programs at Friedel Jewish
Academy, the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. The group will be hosted by Beth Israel for Shabbat and enjoy a special family Shabbat dinner as the kickoff for their Shabbaton at Beth Israel. Shabbat dinner is $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 4-18 and free for those 3 and under. An alternative family rate of $30 is also an option. The dinner will consist of challah, chicken soup, roasted chicken, sides and dessert. The dinner is open to all members of the community. Rabbi Yaakov Weiss explained, “Having a group of teenagers join us for Shabbat gives everyone a unique opportunity to unite. It’s especially important for our teens to understand that they are part of the greater Jewish family that expands well beyond the confines of Omaha, Nebraska.” Following the dinner, the NCSY group will be leading a special Shabbat Oneg. On Shabbat morning, February 14th, the group will lead classes for Beth Israel youth. In the late afternoon, classes will be available for children, teens and adults. Saturday night will feature a scavenger hunt at Westroads Mall in which Omaha’s Jewish teens are invited to participate. The young women will participate in more volunteering on Sunday with Omaha’s chapter of YACHAD, Beth Israel, the Humane Society, and RESPECT before returning to New Jersey on Monday. For more information on any of the events, please contact Rabbi Weiss at 402.556.6288 or rabbiweiss@orthodoxomaha.org. The mission of Beth Israel Synagogue is to perpetuate the legacy of Torah Judaism in the modern world and provide a home for those who wish to learn about and observe halacha, Jewish law. Beth Israel Synagogue welcomes all persons of the Jewish faith to join, and accepts the diversity of practice and thought among its members. Beth Israel offers a variety of religious, cultural and social programs throughout the year.
Bagels and finance by RUSS KAPLAN Russ Kaplan Investments The Stock Market can be a ponderous mystery to most of us. Yet, it does not have to be that way. Would you like to find out what is happening in the financial world, without having to pay for the advice? Do you enjoy discussing the happenings in the world of investing? This can be done when you stop by Russ Kaplan Investments, Inc. Bagels and Finance, held monthly on Monday, at Crane Coffee off 119th & Pacific, at 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy your kibitzing, enjoying a delicious coffee, being with likeminded individuals, and keep up-to-date on the Stock Market. I am an independent financial adviser with thirty years of experience in the field. We always have current and interesting topics to discuss. We are happy to answer any of your financial questions. Bagels and Finance is an open discussion group to the public. Be sure to check the dates on the Russ Kaplan Investments Facebook Page or call Russ at 402.614.1321. We hope to see you there.
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Power: U.N. meeting shows international consensus on antiSemitism by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (Washington Jewish Week via JTA) -The first-ever United Nations General Assembly meeting on anti-semitism showed “a consensus in the international community” on the seriousness of the issue, according to Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. While this month’s terrorist attacks in Paris were a focus of the U.N. meeting, the gathering was planned before those events, Power said. As part of the American fight against anti-Semitism, President Barack Obama will host a meeting in February at the White House, she said. In a separate statement about the U.N. meeting, Obama cited the deadly Paris attack earlier this month on a kosher supermarket as underscoring the gathering’s importance. “Anti-Semitic attacks like the recent terrorist attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris pose a threat that extends beyond the Jewish community,” he said. “They also threaten the values we hold dear -- pluralism, diversity, and the freedoms of religion and expression. Power said she was “pleased” with Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abdallah Al-Moualimi’s statement that Islamic countries condemn all words and acts that lead “to hatred, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia.” Al-Moualimi spoke to the gathering on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Power rejected Al-Moualimi’s calling Israel’s occupation of the West Bank “an anti-Semitic act” that “threatens humankind” and is linked to hate crimes and antiSemitism, among other outcomes. Despite the contretemps, Powers called the meeting “an important step” in enlisting the world community in combating anti-Semitism. Ira Forman, the administration’s special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, said that the United States is in “an ongoing conversation” with its allies about security for Jewish communities. “You can’t put Europe in one box. Each has a different security situation,” he said,
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12 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
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The neverending story of the AMIA terror attack by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor When I was about four years old, I hid underneath the dining room table in my grandparents’ house. The adults were talking about a man named ‘Hitler,’ who had, from the sound of it, done very bad things. My grandmother, never having personally laid eyes on his corpse, offered the idea that he could still be alive somewhere. Maybe, she said, he had fled to Argentina and was living the high life. I did not know where Argentina was, but learned during the following years all about the many Nazis who had, indeed, fled to Buenos Aires. Nowadays, the players may be different, but we are still talking about a major threat to Argentina’s Jewish community. It’s not a simple story. In fact, it may be one of the most convoluted tales in modern politics. Please, bear with me. The AMIA bombing It started on July 18, 1994, when a Renault, carrying a bomb made with about 600 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, drove up to the Jewish Community Center in one of the busiest sections of Buenos Aires. When the bomb detonated, the entire building collapsed; 85 people died and more than 300 were wounded. The JCC, locally known as the Asociacion Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) was not the first to be targeted in such a manner, but it was the deadliest terror attack in Argentina to date. Two years earlier, the bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires cost 29 lives. Responsibility for that attack was claimed by the Islamist Jihad Organization, which is linked to Iran and operates under Hezbollah. Because of that, many assumed these were the culprits responsible for the AMIA bombing as well. However, neither Iran nor Hezbollah accepted the blame. They even adamantly denied it and no one else stepped up, which was odd. It is unusual when an attack of that magnitude is not claimed. Terrorists get off on bragging rights. The investigation The investigation, if we can call it that, became famous for an unprecedented level of incompetence on the part of Argentina. Several members of the local police made it onto the suspect list. Federal Judge Juan Galleano arrested about 20 officers, but then was caught on camera buying “evidence,” and he was impeached. By 2004, all were acquitted. Warrants were issued for 12 Iranians, among whom was Iran’s ambassador to Argentina in 1994, Hade Soleimanpour. He was arrested in the UK in 2003, but released for total lack of evidence. Then there was Abolgasem Mesbahi, who was an alleged former Iranian intelligence officer. He claimed former Argentinean president Carlos Menem was paid $10 million by Tehran to block the investigation. Menem of course denied it, but did cop to a secret Swiss bank account. Mesbahi himself accused Iran of ordering the attack because they thought the AMIA was actually a base for the Israeli secret service. You know, a pool, a day school, adult education and spies; what JCC wouldn’t combine all those things under one roof? Even more fun: everybody got involved, and I mean everybody. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mossad, a team of Israeli forensic scientists, Interpol, even the Iranian government. A Swiss judge who was in charge of an investigation into a dead Iranian dissident put it his two
(Founded in 1920) Andrew Ruback President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Jessie Wees Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Thierry Ndjike Bookkeeper
Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, President-Elect; Scott Farkas, Sandy Friedman, Paul Gerber, Debbie Kricsfeld, David Kotok, Paul Rabinovitz, and Nancy Wolf. 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: www jewishoma ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’
cents when he discovered that secret bank account. The main suspect In Southern Lebanon, there is a plaque for a man named Ibrahim Hussein Berro. On the plaque, Berro is honored for his “martyrdom” on July 18, 1994, the exact date of the AMIA bombing. Two of his brothers testified Berro had joined Hezbollah; both the FBI and Argentinean intelligence concluded Berro was the suicide bomber. One problem: in the immediate aftermath no autopsies were done, no DNA tests were completed. The local police did find a head among the rubble that appeared to be that of the bomber; they dumped it in a trash bucket. Finally, something is happening… In 2006, the prosecution in Argentina, headed by Alberto
Nisman, formally charged Iran as well as Hezbollah. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hoseyni called it a ‘Zionist plot,’ designed to draw attention away from ‘Zionist crimes against Palestinian women and children.’ In 2008, Carlos Menem was called to testify; in March of 2012, he was ordered to stand trial for obstruction of justice. He allegedly covered up the tracks of local accomplices of the attackers. Yitzhak Aviran, who was Israel’s ambassador to Argentina in 1994, claimed in a 2014 interview that most of the perpetrators had been tracked down and killed by Mossad. Argentina took the claims somewhat seriously, and asked for an explanation. The Israeli government called it “complete nonsense.” What is the deal with that memorandum? On Jan. 27, 2013, Argentina announced the signing of a “Memorandum of Understanding” with Iran. Iran and Argentina would form a “truth commission” and investigate the bombing together. This of course, came 19 years after the attack; it was greeted by disbelief around the world. David Harris from the American Jewish Committee said: “the idea of establishing a ‘truth’ commission on the AMIA tragedy that involves the Iranian regime would be like asking nazi Germany to help establish the facts of Kristallnacht.” Both the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and the Israeli government expressed disappointment. Prosecutor Alberto Nisman’s unhappy end In May of 2013, Prosecutor Alberto Nisman published a 502-page indictment. In it, he accused Iran of having established terrorist cells throughout South America, including, 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
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but not limited to, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Suriname, Colombia and Chile. He pointed at Mohsen Rabbani, the former Iranian cultural attaché in Argentina, as the mastermind. Then, in January of this year, Nisman filed a 300-page complaint accusing Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and foreign minister Hector Timerman of covering for Iranians involved in the attack. According to Nisman, “Argentina’s political leadership agreed to block efforts to indict high-ranking Iranian officials in exchange for an agreement to sign a multi-billion dollar trade deal in which Iranian oil would be swapped for Argentinean grain. The deal was never finalized, but the accusation, if proven true, could ruin Kirchner, Timerman and others.” (Jerusalem Post) Nisman, who was Jewish himself, was scheduled to present his findings in court on Monday Jan. 19. But on Sunday, Jan. 18, Nisman was found in his apartment, dead from a gunshot wound. His gun and spent shell casings were found next to the body; President de Kirchner was quick to call it a suicide. Her relief was palpable. Of course it wasn’t, and it took very little time for the medical examiner to verify there was no gun shot residue on Nisman’s hands. Nobody believed it anyway; within hours, tens of thousands of Argentineans took to the streets in protest. What happens next? Headlines like the one featured by Forbes.com, Death, spies and terror: Argentine Prosecutor found dead after accusing President of secret pact with Iran draw attention, but they have an expiration date. Soon, the world will forget; whether the investigation into Nisman’s death will produce any results is anyone’s guess. When I told this story to my 13-year-old daughter over dinner, she said: “It sounds like a movie script.” She’s right, and that is another tragedy. Because this is not Hollywood; this is real life, with real victims. And when a cover up lasts more than 20 years, the chance of ever finding justice for not only Alberto Nisman, but for the 85 souls lost in the bombing has become very small. So what will happen next? The world will move on to new headlines. Terror victims are only interesting if they are recent. Those who perished in the AMIA bombing are anything but. What does that say about us? One more thing... I received this press release on Sunday, Jan. 25: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) -- The Argentine-Israeli journalist who first reported the death of Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman has fled to Israel following threats to his safety. Damian Pachter, who works for BuenosAiresHerald.com and tweeted the news of Nisman’s Jan. 18 death, left Argentina on Saturday after the threats and being followed by people he did not know, according to Fopea, the Argentine Journalism Forum. Pachter was en route to Israel, where he holds dual citizenship, on Sunday. “I will return when my sources tell me that the conditions changed,” Pachter told an Argentine publication. “I don’t think that I will be there during this government.” In a statement, the forum said it had notified the “relevant authorities” and urged the public to “pay attention to the safety of journalists in our country these days.” This latest bit of news only proves: justice for the AMIA victims and their families has never seemed farther out of reach. 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, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. 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 per-
sonal 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.
January 30, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 13
Strengthening Jewish early childhood education by LISA FARBER MILLER DENVER (JTA) -- Jewish tradition teaches that “with each child the world begins anew.” If we believe this statement from the midrash is true and that Jewish life and learning offer something special, even inspiring, then we have an obligation to promote Judaism and make it accessible to young families from the moment their first child is born. Pregnancy and the birth of a first child are windows of opportunity for engaging families in Jewish life, a special time when parents seek parenting support. Jewish early childhood education (ECE) centers, also known as preschools, can play a critical role in welcoming the whole family into Jewish life, yet many young parents do not have them on their radar screens. A new initiative in the Denver-Boulder area known as BUILDing Jewish ECE aims to address this disconnect. Led by the Denver-based Rose Community Foundation -- with the Union for Reform Judaism and JCC Association -BUILDing Jewish ECE helps synagogue and JCC early childhood centers increase enrollment, market to and better engage Jewish families, and build stronger connections to the wider Jewish community. For children, preschool years are a critical time in the development of cognition, personality and identity -including religious identity. In addition, when children enjoy Jewish learning and rituals at school, they bring them home, often introducing them to the entire family. While educational quality must be high, studies indicate that Jewish millennials and Gen-Xers who choose Jewish preschools do so primarily because they seek a network of other Jewish parents with whom they can build community. And parents who form Jewish peer groups through their child’s school are more likely to be actively engaged in Jewish life in the future.
Consider the case of Paul Gillis, one of the lay leaders involved in the project. When Paul moved to Denver eight years ago, he wanted to connect quickly with the local Jewish community, so he enrolled his children in the local JCC preschool. It helped him find additional ways to participate in Jewish life. Today, Paul is not just a member of his JCC’s BUILDing Jewish ECE leadership team, but he also serves on the JCC Association’s Continental Board. Yet little has been done to make Paul’s story more common. In too many cases families remain unreached, unengaged or one-stop shoppers who exit Jewish communal life once their children “graduate” from Jewish early childhood education centers. When we fail to attract families to such centers in the first place -- or when we attract them but fail to integrate them into the JCC or synagogue of which the preschool is a part -- our community often loses them and they don’t return. BUILDing Jewish ECE is premised on certain needs to help change the status quo. First, let’s break down barriers within institutions. When families enroll in Jewish early childhood education centers, our JCCs and synagogues must embrace them and show that they are valued members not just of the early childhood program but also of the broader institution and Jewish community. This means that JCCs and synagogues need programs, campaigns and marketing materials that are better tailored to the needs of their preschool families and that communicate all that synagogues or JCCs offer. Second, Jewish early childhood education centers should be equipped with the best marketing and recruiting strategies and tools to reach all kinds of families, to respond effectively to inquiries and to inspire those who inquire to enroll their child. Parent ambassadors should also be engaged to help recruit their peers.
Third, Jewish communities and institutions must be supported in this change. For more than a decade, Rose Community Foundation and other Colorado-based Jewish education organizations have been researching early childhood education, running professional development initiatives and offering scholarships for Jewish ECE centers. Now all nine Denver-Boulder synagogues and JCCs with early childhood education centers are invited to receive expert coaching and training. BUILDing Jewish ECE’s first cohort -- two local Reform temples and two JCCs - receive coaching and training from the Union for Reform Judaism and JCC Association, respectively. This summer, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism will join the initiative, offering coaching and training to Conservative congregations in Cohort II. In addition to the coaching and training, each participating synagogue or JCC will be given a “toolbox of resources” that includes proven marketing strategies and tactics from the secular world; tech support to improve inquiry tracking and enrollment; website, social media and SEO consulting; and feedback on a center’s effectiveness when a parent inquires about or visits the school. Our hope is that by showing how to build and maintain institutions with high-caliber marketing and retention that engage parents and create strong connections among families, the Colorado institutions in BUILDing Jewish ECE will serve as learning labs for the North American Jewish community. Each child and each family is an opportunity. Together, let’s embrace them. Lisa Farber Miller is senior program officer at the Denver-based Rose Community Foundation. BUILDing Jewish ECE is supported by grants from Rose Community Foundation and the Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Colorado.
wearing a kipah. Indeed, a cross-section of my Parisian friends agreed that American talk of France having become anti-Semitic was grossly exaggerated. So in polite conversations back in the States, my wife (a French teacher in Manhattan) and I had already noted what we felt were overstatements, given our own experiences and observations during frequent visits in various parts of France. We chalked up some of the feverish American talk to the persistent Francophobia that too often marks political commentary about France in the United States. The French, after all, have long been targeted for American criticism. We tried to curb this talk of French anti-Semitism, the supposed droves who were leaving for Israel -- some 7,000 French Jews in a population of approximately 500,000 made the move last year, though some have since returned for economic and other reasons -- and what we knew were exaggerated American images of French Jews living in constant fear. We did this, recognizing that Europe is perennially at some risk of returning to its traditional anti-Semitism -- a risk I consider more fundamental even than Muslim extremism fueled by events in the Middle East. My attitude about France has not changed even since the latest spate of deadly violence. There is nowhere in the world that is safe. But in many ways it is as safe for Jews in Paris as it is in Tel Aviv or Brooklyn, or Budapest. Of course the prudent increase in security, as long as it does not turn France into a police state, will be necessary for a while, as it has been periodically for the past few decades.
French schoolchildren need to be protected (and, truthfully, the same could be said for American kids). The kosher butcher shop we patronized now is on high alert. This makes sense. But we should not forget what France, the first European country to bestow full legal rights on Jews, still offers them: vibrant Jewish institutions and a government that sees their presence as integral to the French future. The French president and prime minister, along with the mayor of Paris, have been steadfast in their support of Jews on French soil. Attitudes toward Jews are changing for the better in France. There will be tragic eruptions to the contrary. But France is not an anti-Semitic country. It remains, as it finally comes to grips with its Vichy past, a bastion of equality and hope for its Jewish population. Richard H. Weisberg is Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law at the Cardozo Law School of Yeshiva University. For his work in righting some of Vichy’s wrongs, he won the Legion of Honor in 2009. His recent book, In Praise of Intransigence, and his Vichy Law and the Holocaust in France both discuss French anti-Semitism. He tweets at @RHWeisberg and discusses recent events as part of his book’s website, richardhweisberg.com.
Betting on France by RICHARD H. WEISBERG (JTA) -- Four weeks ago, my wife and I were shopping in a Parisian kosher butcher store several miles west of the supermarket where four Jews were murdered on Jan. 9. The shop in our neighborhood was well patronized, with lines stretching out to the sidewalk before Shabbat. We were staying in an apartment in Paris’ 12th district while I promoted a new book about the treatment of Jews in France during World War II. During our stay, we spoke with dozens of our Parisian friends, including some who are Jewish, about whether the year 2015 evokes for them at least some of that dark anti-Semitic history. It was a time when a French government that became known as Vichy promulgated 200 anti-Semitic laws -- with little German pressure -- that eventually sent some 75,000 Jews “to the East” and almost certain death in the concentration camps. In those weeks of what we now know was the “calm before the storm,” our friends confessed to some fears about a combined resurgence of both old and new forms of antiSemitism in France. The far-right National Front party under Marine Le Pen barely hid its old-style anti-Semitism under the ugly mask of anti-Arab xenophobia. And the party was gaining strength in the polls. Meanwhile, individual Jews were sporadically attacked, frequently by disaffected French Muslims. In some areas of Paris, one friend said, it might be unwise to wear a yarmulke outdoors. But in their own neighborhood, in the 15th district, they said they would have no such fears and did not counsel their nephew, an observant Jew in his 20s, against
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14 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 |712.322.4705 email: BnaiIsraelCouncilBluffs@gmail.com Join us for our monthly Shabbat Speakers Series on Feb. 13, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Ben Justman, Executive Director of the Sarpy County Museum on A History of Sarpy County. Larry Blass will lead the service. Oneg to follow service. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! For information on our historic synagogue, please contact any of our board members: Mark Eveloff, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf and Phil Wolf.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. A celebration of Shabbat Shira in song. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services/Sisterhood Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. followed by a Kiddush Luncheon; Junior Congregation, 10 a.m.; Mini Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m.; YAC Adult Committee Event, 7 p.m. at Brix and FunnyBone. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Men’s Club World Wide Wrap, 8:45 a.m.; Minyan, 9 a.m. Breakfast following Minyan and “It’s a Wrap” for BESTT Students; Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m.; Sunday Scholar Series, 11 a.m., with Eliad Eliyahu, Omaha Community Shaliach on Who said what and what was true? How international media covered Operation Protective Edge; USY Minute2WinIt, 12:302:30 p.m. TUESDAY: The Wonderful World of Jewish music, 11 a.m. led by Hazzan Krausman. WEDNESDAY: BESTT Classes, 4:15 p.m.; Hebrew High Dinner, 6 p.m.; Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. THURSDAY: Cholent Prep Night, 7 p.m. USY Shabbat, Saturday, Feb. 7, 9:30 a.m., followed by a Kiddush Lunch. Sunday Scholar Series, Sunday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m. with Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor on How to tell a story. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.orthodoxomaha.org Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:20 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 5:05 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:23 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Midrash: Understanding our Prayers, 9:45 a.m.
Bar Mitzvah Eitan Daniel Rosenquist, son of Julie Rosenquist and Thor Rosenquist, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Temple Israel. Eitan is a seventh-grade student at Westside Middle School. His interests include playing guitar, cooking and doing art projects. For his mitzvah project, Eitan is volunteering at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. He has a brother, Asher. Grandparents are Silvia and the late Dr. Larry E. Roffman, and Pat and Jim Rosenquist.
To Submit B’nai Mitzvah Announcements Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewish omaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, by e-mailing the editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org or online at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press.’
WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Scholar’s Club with Boys, 3:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Wrestling with Rashi Class, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Weiss. THURSDAY: Med Center Chaburah, 1 p.m.; Scholar’s Club for girls, 3:30 p.m.; Avot U Banim, 7 p.m.
CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 8:30 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. RSVP by calling the office. WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak. THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu. All programs are open to the entire community.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Cindy and Rick Kohn. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Beshallach; Shabbat Shira Concert: Jazz, Blues and American Jews and Havdalah Service, 6:30 p.m. featuring Cantor Wendy Shermet and accompanist Julie Sandene at Tifereth Israel. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite, 9:45 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Confirmation Class, 10:15 a.m.; Anniversary Special Event: Torah Yoga class with Barbara Barron, 3 p.m. WEDNESDAY: LJCS grades 3-7, 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY: Intro to Judaism, 6:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Lewis. Bakers Needed as part of the Temple’s celebration of its 130th anniversary as a congregation and the 90th anniversary of our beautiful building, we are having monthly events culminating in the anniversary gala in May. For many of these events, we would like to serve cookies or other easy to handle dessert items. We are looking to volunteers to supply home-baked goodies. If you are willing to contribute in this way, please let Alan Frank know at afrank2@unl.edu. We’ll have you bring your treats to the Temple and store them in the freezer.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road | Offutt AFB, NE 68123 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.
TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Brown and Cantor Shermet. SATURDAY: Tot Shabbat, 9 a.m. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536, to let us know you are coming; Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Torah Readers: Scott and Hannah Goodman and Haftarah Reader: Miles Remer; JYG Ice Skating & Hot Chocolate, 1 p.m. at Moylan (Tranquility) Iceplex, 12550 W. Maple Road. Cost is $10 and includes admission, skate rental, hot chocolate and snacks. Drop off and pick up at
Candlelighting Friday, January 30, 5:20 p.m. Moylan (Tranquility) Iceplex. Remember to wear layers! RSVP to Director of Youth Engagement Nikki Flatowicz by Thursday, Jan. 28. SUNDAY: Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; Beginning Prayer Study, 10 a.m. with Elyce Azriel; Torah Chanting, 10 a.m. with Cantor Shermet; Non-Jews Raising Jewish Children, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel; Spaghetti Dinner Planning/Decoration Making, 2 p.m. Open to all 7th-12th graders; Annual Super Bowl Party, 4:30 p.m. Suggested donation $5/person or $10/family. Money will be taken at the door. Please RSVP to Temple Israel, 402.556.6536 or RSVP@templeisraeloma ha.com. Sponsored by the Men of Reform Judaism.. TUESDAY: Spaghetti Dinner Planning/Decoration Making, 5:30 p.m. Open to all 7th-12th graders. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; Family Night, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Outside the Bible: Ancient Jewish Writings Related to Scripture, 6:30 p.m. with Rabbi Azriel. THURSDAY: Dilemmas of Faith: God and Spirituality in the Modern World, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel; OTYG Lounge Night and Dinner/work on Spaghetti dinner stuff, 5:30 p.m. Open to all 7th-12th graders February First Friday, Friday, Feb. 6. Community Court, 5:30 p.m., Service, 6 p.m., followed by dinner. Cost is $5/person, max of $20 per family. Please RSVP to Temple Israel, 402.556.6536 or templeisrael@templeisraelomaha. com, by Wednesday, Feb. 4. Thank you to our First Friday Sponsors: Anonymous (3), Scott Burger, Ed Cohn & Shelley Smith, Elly & Bob Gordman, Andie Gordman & Dan Fitzgerald, Jackie & Justin Grau, Mendy & Mike Halsted, Sally & Gary Kaplan, Jennifer & Brandon Koom, Corinne & Hugh Levin, Ellen & Jeff Platt, Eileen & Miles Remer, Susan Rothholz, Betty Rubin, Lordes Secola and Lindsey Thomas.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon; Shabbat Shira Concert: Jazz, Blues and American Jews and Havdalah Service, 6:30 p.m. featuring Cantor Wendy Shermet and accompanist Julie Sandene at Tifereth Israel. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite, 9:45 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Confirmation Class, 10:15 a.m.; Haftorah Reading class begins, 11-11:50 a.m. WEDNESDAY: LJCS grades 3-7, 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. The Jewish Book Club, Sunday, Feb. 8, 1 p.m. at Marcia Kushner’s home and will discuss My Mother’s Shoes by Shirley Wachtel. Please contact Stephanie Dohner with any questions.
Argentine Jewish groups to boycott government Holocaust ceremony by JTA NEWS STAFF BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) -- Argentina’s major Jewish institutions will boycott the country’s official Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony to protest the death of AMIA prosecutor Alberto Nisman. Leaders of AMIA, DAIA, the Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires, the Argentine Zionist Organization and the Simon Wiesenthal Center said that they will not participate in the government-organized event on Tuesday. Several officials who asked not to be identified cited Nisman’s suspicious death on Jan. 18 and the information in his 300-page criminal complaint as reasons for boycotting the ceremony. The organizations will hold their own Holocaust memorial ceremony at the rebuilt AMIA headquarters on the morning of Jan. 27. The Latin American representative of the Wiesenthal Center, Sergio Widder told JTA, “We join the decision of the other Jewish NGOs. We want to send a message to the government, a message that there is a bad mood these days, that we are farther than ever from the possibility of finding truth and justice in the AMIA case.”
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January 30, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 15
In memoriam MURIEL GREENBERG Muriel (Mickey) Greenberg passed away peacefully on Jan. 20 at age 89 at her home in Scottsdale, AZ surrounded by her loved ones. Services were held on Jan. 22 and performed by Rabbi Mari Chernow at Mt. Sinai Cemetery. She was preceded in death by husband, Mort. She is survived by her son, Howard Gerelick, son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Larraine Gerelick, daughter and son-in-law, Marcia and Steve Pitlor, grandchildren: Dan, Amy and Jason, Lisa and Ian, David and Mindy, Kimberly and James; and great-grandchildren: Derek, Max, Zoey, Oscar and Benjamin. Editor’s note: There will be a full length article about Mickey Greenberg in the Feb. 6 edition of The Jewish Press.
JEFFREY LEE MELLEN Jeffrey Lee Mellen passed away on Jan. 8 at age 61. Services were held on Jan. 11 at Temple Israel Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his parents, Morton and Marilyn Mellen. He is survived by daughter, Erinn Mellen; son and daughter-in-law, David and Katie Mellen; grandchildren: Aidan and Leo Mellen; brother, Douglas Mellen. He was a former member of Tifereth Israel in Lincoln. He was actively involved in Chabad House of Nebraka. Memorials may be made to the Chabad House of Nebraska, 1866 So. 120 St., Omaha, NE 68144, or Temple Israel, 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive, Omaha, NE 68144, or Tifereth Israel, 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502.
MILDRED “MILLIE� NEEDELMAN Mildred “Millie� Needelman passed away on Jan. 25 at age 94. Services were held Jan. 27 at at the Westlawn Cemetery in Norridge, IL. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph and sister, Gladys Raffkind. She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Jerald and Margaret Needelman, Howard and Laura-Lee Needelman, and daughter and son-in-law, Hope and Andrew Klassman; grandchildren: John and Katrina, William and Elana, Sarah, Tim, Lake, Joshua, Laura and Molly Needelman, Julia and Michael Marioni, Jacqueline and Travis LeBlanc; greatgrandchildren: Lily, Ezra, Brandon, Jenna, Samantha, Jacob, Anna and Henry. Memorials may be made to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or the organization of your choice.
Abdullah, Saudi king and peace proposal author, dies
Before someone offers you alcohol or other drugs, decide what you are going to say.
by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Saudi Arabian King Abdullah, the architect of a proposal that U.S. governments have suggested is the basis for a comprehensive IsraeliArab peace, has died. Saudi media reported that Abdullah, 90, died late Jan. 22. He is succeeded by the crown prince, Salman, his brother, who is 79. In 2002, when he was Saudi crownprince, Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Abdullah proposed a plan that would grant Israel comprehensive peace in the Middle East in exchange for its withdrawal to 1967 lines, including from eastern Jerusalem. It was soon adopted by the Arab League, and became known as the Arab peace initiative, although Abdullah’s imprimatur, as the crown prince and then from 2005 the king of a leading Sunni Arab state, lent it much of its heft. It’s not yet clear what Salman’s position is on the peace plan, although in general his views hew close to those of Abdullah. Under Abdullah, Israel also expanded its unofficial intelligence sharing with Saudi Arabia, particularly as Iran -seen as a threat both by Israel and Saudi Arabia -- in recent years appeared to be getting closer to obtaining nuclear weapons capability. Israeli governments at first rejected Abdullah’s peace plan, in part because it did not explicitly count out a right of return for Palestinian refugees, but in 2007 then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, at the behest of then-President George W. Bush, agreed that it would be a basis for peace talks. Those talks collapsed in late 2008. The Obama administration has also cited the plan as a basis for peace talks and in recent years extracted an agreement from the Arab League to include land swaps as part of the predicate for comprehensive peace, a formula that would allow Israel to retain some of its West Bank settlements. President Barack Obama in a statement called Abdullah “a leader among Arab and Islamic nations.� “He took bold steps in advancing the Arab Peace Initiative, an endeavor that will outlive him as an enduring contribution to the search for peace in the region,� Obama said.
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Davidson, the director of endovascular cardiac surgery at the hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, had treated Pasceri’s mother last summer. Pasceri’s siblings said that Pasceri came to blame Davidson for their mother’s subsequent death, according to The Associated Press. Davidson, a father of three, was an active member of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA. His wife, Dr. Terri Halperin, a plastic surgeon, is seven months pregnant with their fourth child.
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Boston doctor killed by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Dr. Michael Davidson, a cardiovascular surgeon at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was shot and killed by a former patient’s son. Davidson, 44, was shot twice on Jan. 20 in an exam room at the hospital, according to the Boston Globe, and died after undergoing emergency surgery. The shooter, Stephen Pasceri, 55, was subsequently found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
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16 | The Jewish Press | January 30, 2015
Love your neighbor, love yourself to our own fears and selfimposed limitations. Love your neighbor, love your children and love your parents – with all your heart. But strive for a healthy balanced love for yourself first! And pursue justice... before you can establish justice in the world, you must firmly establish it first in your own life. And when all is said and done, the old familiar words of our great teacher Hillel, have said it best for 2000 years: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” Shabbat Shalom.
Open pulpit RABBI ARYEH AZRIEL, Temple Israel he Talmud teaches us that every individual should say, “The world was created for my sake” – and from this sense of self-worth and respect can emerge an authentic sense of responsibility to serve others. We have a right to enjoy life for our own sake! There is another saying in our tradition, that many will be held accountable before the throne of Divine Judgment for all the legitimate pleasures of life which he/she declined to enjoy. Indeed, to deny yourself, to deny life’s blessings, is to deny the very God in whose image we were created! Now it goes without saying that an excess on either side of the balance of one’s self image is dangerous. Just as too little regard for one’s self is a serious problem – so too, of course, is the other extreme – a self-centered egomania that ruthlessly puts one’s own advantage above anyone or anything else. We see quite a bit of this kind of self-indulgence in the “Me First” self-help philosophies that made the best-seller list during the past decade and, indeed, a whole group of spoiled, over-indulgent America youth has been called the “Me Generation.” Remember that the healthy, balanced sense of self that our faith strives for is once again primarily a solid foundation for loving and serving others. A sense of self-worth cannot be an end in itself – it is the most solid, authentic basis for our reaching out to others. When we are confident of what we are and what we have to offer, we can go on to give ourselves more fully and completely. And so, when we are called upon to search our souls, and to dedicate ourselves in the service of God and our fellow
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Editor’s note: For many years, the Jewish Press was home to “Sparks of the Word,” a weekly column written by the late Rabbi Myer Kripke. The Jewish Press Board and staff are aware that Rabbi Kripke can never be replaced and, therefore, worked hard to find a different avenue for clergy human beings, let us remember that our service to others, our love of others, even our sacrifice for others when necessary, will be a more real and more genuine extension of ourselves. When Judaism calls upon us to pursue justice for our fellow human beings, it implies that we must also seek justice for ourselves... an objective sense of self-justice which balances our valid, legitimate personal needs with our sacred responsibilities toward others. And such a sense of justice demands that we exercise our right to enjoy life’s blessings – to reap the fruits of our labors. And self-justice also demands that the enjoyment of these blessings and rewards may not be denied or sacrificed – never to other people, nor
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involvement in our paper. We are proud and pleased to bring you “Open Pulpit,” a monthly column that features writing by a member of our clergy. Each month will bring a different voice, and we want to thank the Omaha and Lincoln clergy for agreeing to be a part of it. You will find “Open Pulpit” on the back page in the last issue of each month, and we encourage you to become part of the conversation by letting us know your thoughts. Email us at avandekamp@jewishomaha.org to join in. We hope you will enjoy this column for a long time, and we want to thank Rabbi Azriel for being the first to share his words.
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