February 12, 2016

Endowed by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

Beth Israel hosts Scholarsin-Residence super stars

February 12, 2016 3 Adar 1 5776 Vol. 96 | No. 22

This Week

L.O.V.E. lives up to its name at Ice Cream Social Page 6

Rabbi Uri Regev comes to Temple Israel

by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Through the generosity of the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning, Temple Israel is pleased to announce our next scholar in residence, Rabbi Uri Regev, who will be visiting March 11 and March 12. Rabbi Uri Regev is an internationally renowned leader and advocate of religious liberty and the liberal movements of Judaism in his native Israel and around the world.

Rabbi Dembitzer (slightly left of the middle, front) with a group of Camp Simcha participants at the Kotel.

Kids Campaign Page 7

Jewish hotspots during Brazil’s blockbuster Carnival season Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

This Month The Men’s Issue See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

8 10 11

by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Publicity Chair, Beth Israel Synagogue The first weekend in March at Beth Israel Synagogue will feature a group of nine visitors who exemplify the adage that the true importance of a person is found on the inside, not the outside. These extraordinary young men are challenged physically, but these challenges do not stop their drive, determination and zest for life.

Rabbi Ari Dembitzer describes this special scholars-in-residence weekend as “a celebration of inner strength.”

The paths of these young men and Rabbi Dembitzer merged through the rabbi’s work with Camp Simcha, a program of Chai Lifeline. Camp Simcha is a camp for children with cancer and other chronic illnesses.

The camp provides a happy and magical environment for children so

they can confront their challenges with increased strength and willpower. Rabbi Dembitzer has worked with Camp Simcha helping to create this magic since 1997.

As the years went by, he had the opportunity to get to know each of these young men. He soon saw for himself the talent that each possesses.

“These are men who touch the lives of those around them,” he reports.

“Their talents and the possibilities for each person can easily be overlooked due to their physical challenges. The focus should instead be on the potential each of them possesses.”

Oshry Moyal will be one of the scholars-in-residence during the March 4-6 visit. Oshry has Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. During a powerful poetry presentation at Camp Simcha, Oshry described how, as a

young boy, he first experienced the changes to his body that was the beginning of his journey into a different physical reality. Today, Oshry’s motorized wheelchair provides him with mobility and he looks at each day as an opportunity. While in Omaha, he will talk about his journey and his plans for the future.

Oshry and the other visitors will be part of an extraordinary Shabbat of learning and celebration.

The weekend will begin with Shabbat dinner on Friday, March 4, beginning at 7 p.m. Sharon and Jeff Kirshenbaum are dinner chairs. Dinner is $18 for adults with special family pricing available. On Saturday morning, March 5, members of the group will help lead services and give the sermon. Saturday evening will Continued on page 2

Double the pleasure - twin Voices of Beth El

by SHERRIE SAAG for Beth El Synagogue Naomi and Aaron are the children of Sally and Jim Zipursky.

They are also twins who often share the same thoughts, opinions and feelings – about their Judaism and their synagogue, Beth El. Naomi and Aaron were contacted separately by this author; different emails on different days. In true “twin” fashion, although 1500 miles separated them, they used almost identical language, save for a single word, to describe their passion for being Jewish, “Judaism is and always will be a big part of my life.”

Naomi and Aaron Zipursky Both also acknowledged that Beth El was central to their upbringing and neither could recall many childhood memories that didn’t include the synagogue in some way. Beth El holds a special place in the hearts and minds of these college students, and this week Naomi and Aaron are the Voices of Beth El. Naomi is currently a junior at Emory University in Atlanta, majoring in linguistics with a minor in religion. A self-described people person, Naomi says she tries to learn

as much as she can about everyone she comes in contact with. “That’s part of why I chose to study linguistics and religion, because what better way to learn about people than by studying two of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience: language and religion?”

Aaron is studying computer science engineering at Northwestern University. “Starting around third grade we went to services every Saturday morning,” Aaron recalls, “I always liked class with Margo Riekes because she found a way to make learning fun and engaging when the material may have been otherwise.

Summers at Herzl Camp and USY were also a big part of my Jewish upbringing. I always liked interacting with Jews from other parts of the country and being surrounded by Jewish people my age.”

“I think the majority of my childhood memories have something to do with the synagogue,” Naomi wrote, “I can honestly say I was the kid who looked forward to Hebrew school. I loved seeing all my friends three-four times a week and learning Continued on page 2

Rabbi Uri Regev Credit: JTA Currently, Rabbi Regev serves as the President and CEO of a new educational and advocacy IsraelDiaspora partnership, “Freedom Of Religion for Israel” and of its Israeli counterpart, “Hiddush – For Freedom of Religion and Equality”.

For seven years he served as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, a global umbrella organization of the Progressive, Reform, Liberal and Reconstructionist movements, serving more than 1,200 congregations and communities in 42 countries on six continents.

As head of the World Union, Rabbi Regev worked to strengthen modern, pluralistic Jewish life and democracy in the Jewish state and throughout the world. He also guided the organization in its tikkun olam (repairing the world) initiatives through social advocacy programs on both the local level and in partnership with prominent international non-governmental organizations such as the United Nations.

Prior to assuming leadership of the World Union in 2002, Rabbi Regev served as founding chair, and later as executive director and legal counsel of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the advocacy group established by the Reform movement in Israel. In that capacity he led the IRAC’s legal team to historic victories in the Israeli Supreme Court in cases involving the “Who is a Jew?” issue, equitable funding for Reform and Conservative institutions and the fight for representation in the religious councils. He has also defended the rights of Sabbath-observant Continued on page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | February 12, 2016

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Beth El Synagogue Youth Engagement Director Start date: Summer 2016 Have you recently graduated from college (or about to) and trying to figure out what’s next? Would you like a meaningful work experience, while earning a quality salary while you decide? If you are a dynamic Jewish role model who loves to work with children and teens, and are recently out of college, then we need to talk! We are prepared to give you an opportunity to build up your resume in exchange for your willingness to help us engage our youth. Contact us to learn more about our inaugural Beth El Synagogue Youth Engagement Director.

The ideal Youth Engagement Director (YED) will be the face of our youth programming and engage and involve our youth in all aspects of synagogue life.

It doesn’t get better than this...

• Egalitarian, Conservative community with a solid commitment to Shabbat, Kashrut, and the Conservative Movement • Amazing, dedicated, and bright young people who love Judaism and their community • Staff and lay leadership who “get it,” with a strong background and commitment to informal Jewish education • Robust budget for programming • Generous compensation (with available benefits) • We are a special community and we need your help to make us even better!

The YED needs to be a regular presence at our synagogue and be prepared to inspire a new generation of Jewish youth Are you ready for the best job of your life? If so, please request a complete job description and send your resume to salzipursky@gmail.com.

Beth El Synagogue | Omaha, Nebraska

How is the 2016 Annual Campaign doing?

by STEVE LEVINGER to our efforts has many benefits. It serves as a momentum Chief Development Officer, Jewish Federation of Omaha builder. When other people sense the passion, they naturalDuring the beginning months of the 2016 Annual ly want to understand what it is that is compelling. This fosCampaign, the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Campaign ters deeper conversations and relationships which, ultimatestaff introduced a brand new concept: the Kehilla Cup. Led ly, builds our Community. Further, as a practical matter, we by their team captains, a number of enthusiastic and com- know that our lean professional staff of development people mitted lay leaders in our community signed on to take an can’t possibly reach the same number of donors, in a high active role in gathering quality manner, as an pledges. At stake was extended team of volthe Kehilla Cup, to be unteers can. We learned handed to the most suca lot from our first year cessful team. That, and of Kehilla Cup, and will bragging rights. implement several In a furious bid for tweaked improvements that highly coveted to next year’s Cup. Cup, Adam Kutler’s The theme of the 2016 Team OmaChallah held Annual Campaign is off the hard charging “For Every Generation, Kosher Cash Collectors Federation”. We had and Flock of Siegel’s many new, younger vol(led by Commissioner unteers working on the Brian Nogg and Campaign this year.

Michael Miller, respecSome of our volunteers tively) to capture the were multi-generationSteve Levinger, left, Abby and Adam Kutler First Annual Kehilla al families…this refers Cup Championship! Congratulations to Captain Kutler and to Kehilla Cup as well as Campaign Cabaret and Kid’s the members of OmaChallah: Abby Kutler, Andy Ruback, Campaign. Bottom line, we are cognizant of the need to Jeff Zacharia, Margie Gutnik, Bruce Kutler, and Sharon educate our Jewish Community with real life examples and Kirshenbaum, Paul Epstein, and Scott Simon. We will be in anecdotes of how our Campaign dollars positively impact so discussions with Captain Kutler to determine details of their many fellow Jews…both in Omaha and throughout the Team prize…stay tuned for that announcement. world. Our Community grows and improves when we have Thank You, one and all, for a successful first year event. Ambassadors helping us meet our mission.

We’ve identified a number of items that we will tweak to By the way, we have raised about $2.9M so far, and feel we improve next year’s Cup, but it’s clear that when we make are on pace to reach our $3.3M goal. We’ve seen over a 3% contact with our community donors…good things happen: increase from those donors gifts that we have received versus A total of 493 donors were assigned to Kehilla their gifts from last year. Importantly, we have 62 new donors Ambassadors; 273 donor cards were completed with to our Campaign this year. As far as opportunities…there are pledges. still a little under 500 donors from last year with whom we In addition, we saw a 7.8 % card-for-card increase vs. last have not yet connected. We are actively recruiting volunteers year (compared to 3.5% for our overall Campaign) and there to help with our Kehilla-thon which will be held in the RBJH were 17 new or re-engaged donors.

Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

This also means there are 220 cards remaining. We will be Dinner will be served and we will have an opportunity to holding a “Kehilla-thon” on Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 5:30- connect with donors via phone calls, texts, and emails…all in 7:30 p.m. to make phone calls, text, emails to these donors a concentrated group effort. Anyone interested in helping who we haven’t connected with yet. Please call Steve should RSVP through me at 402.334.6433 or slevinger@jew Levinger at 402.334.6433 or Tammy Johnson at ishomaha.org, Tammy Johnson at 402.334.6430 or tjohn 402.334.6430 to RSVP! son@jewishomaha.org or Louri Sullivan at 402.334.6485 or I believe that involving a number of committed volunteers lsullivan@jewishomaha.org.

Double the pleasure Continued from page 1 about being Jewish and sharing that with a community around the world.

“There are so many teachers who brought this to life: Riekes’ class and the 4th grade wedding and Mark Kelln’s Darth Vader lesson every Yom Kippur. Two teachers who really stick out in my mind are Eadie Tsabari and Susan Paley. Eadie pushes you to be the best you can be and makes you feel like a star whenever you make her proud. But Mrs. Paley has to be my favorite Hebrew school teacher. I remember being ‘shushed’ by her on the first day of class because I wouldn’t stop talking about how my grandma had sung at her wedding!

“Mrs. Paley spoiled me by teaching a class on the women of the Bible at my urging, because I couldn’t imagine graduating without her teaching me one last time.” Naomi says she emulates Mrs. Paley when she teaches (Naomi is teaching Sunday school at a local Atlanta Synagogue this year).

Outside of Hebrew school, Naomi did as much as she could, attending USY events and conventions, going to Israel on a USY Pilgrimage and just hanging out in the youth lounge with friends. “It’s hard to pick just one experience to talk about, because whether it was at BESTT, USY, or really anytime I found myself in the building, I can almost guarantee I was loving every minute of it.”

Aaron agrees with his sister by adding, “Most of my Jewish experiences before college were somehow associated with Beth El, whether it was holidays, youth group, camp, or anything else. I’m grateful that Beth El was my entry into such a strong Jewish community.

“I anticipate always having a strong Jewish identity by making Jewish culture and Israel an important part of my life,” he said.

Naomi’s enthusiasm for her upbringing at Beth El extends into her collegiate life. She attends as many Hillel events as possible and is usually in attendance on Friday night for services and the free home-cooked Shabbos meals. She went on a Birthright trip last May followed by an internship for both her and Aaron with Young Judea in Beit Am, a suburb of Tel Aviv where, according to Naomi she, “basically ate as much hummus as possible, spent a lot of time on the beach,

went on crazy adventures like skydiving, and tried as hard as possible to become Israeli.”

Naomi’s story includes a shout-out to Rabbi Steven Abraham. She says that whenever she learns something new or exciting or if she disagrees with a professor, “the first thing I do is pull out my phone and text Rabbi Steven. I know I can count on him to help me if I’m confused or to correct a professor’s mistake. (Now it’s on the record, Rabbi Abraham has corrected Emory University professors). And I love that when I come back home, we can grab coffee and discuss everything I have been learning.”

Their admiration and gratitude for Beth El truly knows no bounds. Naomi says, “Beth El is a part of every one of my Jewish experiences because it is the reason that I have any Jewish experiences to talk about.”

It is where they both found their passion for “all things Jewish” and where they both feel most at home. Whenever they return, they are greeted with open arms and it’s as if they never left. Praise for a synagogue doesn’t get any better than that.

Share your enthusiasm and affection for Beth El Synagogue alongside all the Voices of Beth El. Participate in the speaker series by contacting Margie Gutnik, Beth El Program Director at 402.492.8550 or programming@beth el-omaha.org.

Beth Israel Scholars-in-Residence Continued from page 1 feature a musical Havdalah and special seudah shlishit.

Reservations for Shabbat dinner are needed by Feb. 29 and can be made on the synagogue website at www.orthodoxomaha.org, by calling the office at 402.556.6288 or emailing jnickels@orthodoxomaha.org.

“I cannot stress enough the impact this extraordinary group will have on everyone who meets them,” states Rabbi Dembitzer. “This is an experience not to be missed.”

February 12, 2016 | The Jewish Press | 3

Percussion unites generations

by OZZIE NOGG is a perfect example of that goal.”

As part of an intergenerational activFitzsimmons is an award winning ity scheduled for Feb. 22 through 26, composer and international performresidents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish ance and recording artist with Dancing Home and students from the Friedel Man Music. Skilled in diverse percusJewish Academy will take part in a Percussion Workshop with international performing artist Michael Fitzsimmons.

The five day artists-in-residency program will conclude with a concert on Friday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center Theater.

This performance by RBJH residents and Friedel students is open to the community at no charge.

“The theme of the workshop is Percussion Conversations,” explained Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach Programs at International performing artist Michael the Blumkin Home. “Fifteen Fitzsimmons offers his five day Percussion students from Friedel’s fifth Workshop at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. The and sixth grades will be artist-in-residency program will conclude with an paired with ten Residents of intergenerational concert by RBJH Residents and the Home as they learn to Friedel students on Friday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. express themselves through in the Jewish Community Center Theater. creative music. They will not only be partners, but friends and men- sion instruments including drums, tors to one another. The workshop will African thumb pianos and Plains help unify the diverse Jewish intergen- Indian and Brazilian flutes, Michael erational groups that share the Jewish masterfully incorporates novelty with Federation of Omaha campus. The his percussion instruments from culgoal of Jewish Social Services has tures around the globe. His workshops always been the same: to provide a encourage improvisation and team variety of programming for the building, bring people together Residents in order to improve and through the common bond of music, maintain their mental and emotional and foster the true value and meaning well being through an ongoing connec- of being part of the group. During the tion with the Jewish community. The Percussion Conversations week, parweek spent with Michael Fitzsimmons ticipants will use a variety of tech-

niques including call and response and multi-part rhythm. Each workshop member will make both a rain stick and a drum to use during the classes and in the final performance on Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. in the JCC Theater.

The residency will kick-off on Monday, Feb. 22 when Fitzsimmons presents Drums of the World at an all campus assembly scheduled for 10 a.m. in the JCC Auditorium. “Everyone involved will benefit from this intergenerational exposure,” Conti said.

“Blumkin Home Residents, students from Friedel Jewish Academy and older students from the Child Development Center will be in the audience to hear Michael play rare instruments from various cultures and explain the history of the instruments and where they come from. He is a master at bringing out the best in all of us, creating a community through rhythm while spotlighting the uniqueness of the individual. This workshop will be a gateway for more programs in the future that will allow the Jewish youth and elderly in our community to interact.”

Staff from the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and Friedel Jewish Academy, together with Rose Blumkin Jewish Home volunteers, have contributed their time to arranging this event. The Michael Fitzsimmons Percussion Workshop and performances are supported in part by a grant from the Esther K. Newman and the J.S.O. Budget Subvention Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. The musical presentations on Feb. 22 and Feb. 26 are free and open to the entire community.

Rabbi Uri Regev comes to Temple Israel Continued from page 1 Jews and argued cases involving many other central issues of religious pluralism and human equality for all Israeli citizens.

Rabbi Regev has also served on the boards of many other major Jewish organizations, including the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency, Rabbis for Human Rights, the Overseers of the Jerusalem School of the Hebrew Union College, the Institute for Progressive Halacha, the Center for the Research of Democracy at the University of Haifa, the Re’ut School and Institute for Pluralistic Training, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Israel Amuta of the San Francisco Jewish Federation and B’Tselem, the organization monitoring human rights in the occupied territories, of which he is a founding member.

A cum laude graduate of Tel Aviv University Law School and the Hebrew Union College-Institute of Religion in Jerusalem, where he was ordained in 1986, Rabbi Regev served in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) as an assistant legal advisor in the Gaza Strip and Sinai and as military prosecutor for the Israeli Navy. He retired from military service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The theme for Rabbi Regev’s visit will be Religious Freedom and Rights in Israel – Why American Jewry Should Care. In light of recent events in Israel with regard to the Kotel, Rabbi Regev’s visit to Temple Israel is particularly relevant. He will speak during services on Friday evening at 6 p.m. Next he will lead our weekly Torah study at 9 a.m. on Shabbat morning and will then speak at Shabbat Morning services that begin at 10:30 a.m.

All of Rabbi Regev’s programs are open to the community; for more information, please contact Program Director Scott Littky at 402.556.6566.

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For more information and applications, visit the Center for Jewish Life page at www.jewishomaha.org, call (402) 334-6445, or email mgrossman@jewishomaha.org

4 | The Jewish Press | February 12, 2016

Comedy night with Beth El’s Young Adults

by SHERRIE SAAG website, Omaha.funnybone.com. Abby for Beth El Synagogue recommends purchasing tickets in advance Back by popular demand - Beth El’s to reserve your spot.

Young Adult Committee has scheduled its Alingon Mitra performed on last year’s popular comedy night for popular NBC prime time Saturday, Feb. 27, beginshow Last Comic ning at 7:30 p.m. It is Standing and went on to open to the entire Jewish win the show’s Comic community, so consider Comeback contest. He joining the Beth El young has since appeared on adults for a night of Conan, The Late Late laughter and friendship.

Show with Craig The evening begins Ferguson, and Adam with wine and spirits at Devine’s House Party on Brix Village Pointe.

Comedy Central. Mitra “Then, we will all head was a writer for the up the block to enjoy the humor magazine The 9:30 p.m. show at the Harvard Lampoon.

Funny Bone Comedy Beth El’s Young Adult Club featuring Alingon Committee is hard at Mitra,” said Abby Kutler, work filling their calendar Young Adult Committee with activities for all 20s (YAC) Chair. and 30s in the Jewish Beth El’s YAC has community (single and made this an annual married). Want to get event as it is very popuinvolved? There is always YAC’s Night at Funny Bone in lar! “It’s always fun to room for more volun2015. Top picture: Sophie have a night out with teers. If you have an idea Ambrose and Jimmy Friedlander; friends and you can’t go for a fun event to add to bottom picture: Abby and Adam wrong with wine and this list, contact YAC Kutler, Beth El Young Adult comedy,” Abby added. chairmen, Adam Kutler at Committee Chairs.

“I’m very excited this akutler1@gmail.com or year, because Linda Fischer was able to Abby at the aforementioned email address. help us get a limited number of free tickets Beth El Synagogue is a welcoming and to the Funny Bone.” To inquire about the vibrant conservative Synagogue that free tickets, contact Abby at aerpeld- empowers, engages and inspires its congreing@gmail.com gants through God, Torah and Acts of Tickets can also be purchased in person Living Kindness. To find out more check at Funny Bone in Village Point or on their out www.bethel-omaha.org

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Publishing Date | 02.26.16 Space Reservation | 01.17.16 Camera Ready Deadline | 01.19.16 Promote your business in this special issue with an ad and a short article. Contact us at 402.334.6448 to advertise in this very special edition.

Part 2 of Klutznick Learning Series

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Center for Jewish Life Pirkei Avot: Ancient Wisdom in the Modern World is the theme of the 2016 Klutznick Learning Series that began on Feb. 8. The series is sponsored by the fund of the Klutznick Chair of Jewish Civilization at Creighton University. The second evening on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in the JCC Social Hall will feature Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel, and Dr. Joan Latchaw, Associate Professor of English at UNO, leading a discussion of Pirkei Avot 1.3 – which advises, “Do not be like servants who serve the master on condition of receiving a reward, but [be] like servants who serve the master not on condition of receiving a reward. And let the fear of Heaven be upon you.” Rabbi Azriel will focus upon the spiritual and religious aspects of this advice.

Dr. Latchaw will draw upon her experience with UNO colleagues in Nicaragua in providing workshops and seminars for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) faculty in the country.

Rabbi Steven Abraham of Beth El Synagogue, and Dan Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer for Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance, will share the stage for the second half of the evening. They will discuss Pirkei Avot 1.2 – “Simeon the Righteous was one of the last survivors of the great assembly. He

would say: On three things does the world stand: On the Torah, And on the Temple Service, And on deeds of loving kindness.”

The format is for each person to present for 15 minutes followed by a Q & A session.

The final evening of the Klutznick Learning Series, Feb. 22, will feature Rabbi Yaakov Weiss, Assistant Rabbi at Beth Israel Synagogue and Jeremy Wright, licensed mental health practitioner, discussing the perplexing questions from Pirkei Avot 1:14 – “If I am not for myself, who is for me?

And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” The final discussion of the series will feature Dr. Leonard Greenspoon and his co-discussant, attorney Richard Fellman, who will each take the microphone for a discussion regarding the directive to love work and to be wary of government.

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. Please call 402.334.6463 or email mkirchhoff@ jewishomaha.org with any questions. The Klutznick Learning Series is a program of the Center for Jewish Life whose mission is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences.

February 12, 2016 | The Jewish Press | 5

Sephardic dining for RBJH residents

by OZZIE NOGG A Night of Sephardic Culture theme dinner held on Jan. 26 found Rose Blumkin Jewish Home residents and guests enjoying an evening of exotic food and entertainment. Mary Heiman, RBJH Activities Director, organized the event which was generously sponsored by the Julius Froom and Phil and Minnie Freeman of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.

Mike Aparo, Director of Food Services at the Blumkin Home, together with Jennifer Addison, Food Services Supervisor, created an authentic Sephardic menu of tangy lemon chicken and zucchini Hamud soup, grilled Kifta Kabobs, Tabouli salad, Israeli couscous, fresh baked pita and Baklava for dessert.

“The Star Catering crew served such a delicious feast,” Heiman said, “and the Blumkin Home staff turned the Silverman Auditorium into a scene right out of Arabian Nights. The room was decorated with a huge tent made from red and gold tulle and glittery lanterns were hanging everywhere. There were colorful Middle-Eastern tapestries on the

walls and the tables looked so lovely with tea lights sparkling on little jewels and sequins. The evening was truly special, and I want to thank the RBJH Activities staff, the C.N.A.s, and everyone in housekeeping and maintenance who pitched in to make the evening such a success.”

After dinner, guests were treated to a special performance by Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan, Community Shaliach. “Eliad wore a flowing robe and sat under a palm tree in the middle of the tent and sang traditional Sephardic songs while accompanying himself on the drum and guitar,” Heiman said. “He also blew the shofar and showed unique videos of Sephardic communities. The residents love Eliad and, as usual, he charmed all of us during the theme dinner.”

“The evening was so lovely,” said Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach Programs at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. “These theme dinners transport residents to magical places, all thanks to our hardworking, dedicated and creative activities professionals. Our community is blessed to have them.”

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Mitzvah Fair engages Omaha’s 3rd and 4th grade students

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Center for Jewish Life With a focus on learning new mitzvot, Jewish 3rd and 4th graders from Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue,

Seth Norton, Maddie Rauhauser and Zach Stein helping students learn at the five mitzvot stations.

The Mitzvah Fair, which was hosted by Beth El Synagogue, was a collaborative effort of Beth El, Beth Israel

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Friedel Jewish Academy and Temple Israel plus Beth El’s 5th graders enjoyed a special Sunday morning program on Jan. 24 during the Mitzvah Fair. From learning to tie knots in a tallit, to writing letters in the style used on a Torah plus welcoming guests, learning the tie between the phases of the moon and Jewish holidays and the various blessings used on foods, it was a fun learning time for students and adults alike. The program was coordinated by Ilana Weiss with teachers Natasha Kraft, Joan Cooper, Sarah Linn, Naomi Fox, Deborah Kronick, Rabbi Yaakov Weiss and madrachim

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Sarpy County Juvenile Court Judge Larry Gendler will discuss the problem of “Sexting” among teens and younger, among other topics on Wednesday, Feb 17, noon. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

Birth Adrianna and Jay Benton of Omaha announce the Jan. 12 birth of their daughter, Ayala Rose Benton.

Her middle name is after Ayala’s great aunt Rose Pitlor.

She has a sister, Fiona Sky Eide and a brother, Benyamin Jay Benton.

Grandparents are Bonnie Hines of Omaha, and Mr. and Mrs. Pelmer.

Great-grandparents are Richard and Billie Spiegal, George and Ramona Rudolfo-Rivera and William and Carol Pelmer.

Synagogue, the Center for Jewish Life, Friedel Jewish Academy and Temple Israel. The program was made possible with the generous financial support of the Herbert Goldsten Trust.

Irish music concert Greenblatt & Seay’s Schoolhouse Performance Series features a concert of Irish music on Sunday, March 13, at 2:30 p.m., in the Old Avoca Nebraska Schoolhouse. Greenblatt & Seay & Friends will be singing and playing a variety of instruments, including fiddle, pennywhistle, folk harp, guitar, hammered dulcimer, and recorders. Traditional Irish tunes will be featured, along with some Greenblatt & Seay originals inspired by the great Irish traditions.

Greenblatt & Seay have been playing and singing together since the night they met, decades ago. Their performance on March 13 will include the championship fiddling styles of Deborah Greenblatt, and the fancy whistle-playing of David Seay.

The concert will be downstairs and followed by light refreshments and a chance to chat and even jam with the performers. Avoca is in southern Cass County, Nebraska, on the 13 C Spur, one mile south of Highway 34.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, and $1 for children. Seating is limited. For more information, write to Greenblatt & Seay, The Old Schoolhouse, P.O. Box 671, Avoca, NE, 68307, or call 402.275.3221, or e-mail at debby@greenblattandseay.com.

The historic Old Avoca Schoolhouse was built in 1925, and has been the home of the Schoolhouse Performance Series since 1990. Music lessons, workshops, fiddle camps, and field trips are offered by Schoolhouse residents, Greenblatt & Seay, and are available by appointment.

Freelance Writer wanted The Jewish Press staff seeks a local freelance writer for original story assignments, $0.10 per word.

If you are interested, email cover letter and writing sample to the editor at avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

No phone calls please.

6 | The Jewish Press | February 12, 2016

Alexander Hamilton’s Jewish connection, Part II

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by RICH JURO Editor’s note: See the Feb. 5 edition of the Jewish Press for part I of this story.

In 1787 it was necessary to get the 13 states to approve the newly-written Constitution. Hamilton was the chief author of The Federalist, wellreasoned articles that led to the ratification of the document that governs us still. He recruited James Madison and John Jay. Writing under the pseudonym of “Publius” (one of the founders of the Roman Republic), they quickly wrote and published 85 essays supporting the adoption of our founding charter. Hamilton was the lead writer of these editorials that resulted in our changing from a weak confederation to the strong United States of America.

When George Washington was elected President in 1788, he chose Hamilton to be the first Secretary of the Treasury. At the time, the young Republic was in dire financial straits. Hamilton initiated several programs that resulted in a strong financial base: establishing a national bank, using one currency instead of multiple paper notes from different states and banks, having the Federal government assume the war debts of the individual states, and paying off war bonds at face value. These actions led to the establishment of credit for the young country; but they also led to a break with James Madison and with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, both of whom favored a less centralized national government. But historians agree that it was Hamilton’s bold strokes that put the new country on a firm economic footing. Again, for a second reason, it’s been said that Alexander Hamilton made us the United States of America.

Could Hamilton have become President even though he was born in the West Indies?

Yes, because one qualifies for President if born in US territory or if one was a citizen at the time of the adoption of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and Hamilton had become a citizen before that date. However, he was never seriously considered as a Presidential candidate. His forthright talk and controversial policies had created enemies, both among fellow Federalists like the second President, John Adams, and the states-rights Democrats like Jefferson and Madison. In addition, Hamilton’s extramarital affair was publicized by scandalseeking newspapers.

The Presidential election of 1800 resulted in a technical tie between Thomas Jefferson

and Aaron Burr, even though Burr was supposedly running for Vice President.

Although Hamilton was vehemently opposed to Jefferson’s policies, he had always despised the person and vacillating politics of Aaron Burr even more. So Hamilton changed his electoral vote, which resulted in Jefferson becoming our third President. The hatred continued between Burr and Hamilton, ultimately resulting in a duel between them on July 12, 1804. Hamilton was shot and killed.

Alexander Hamilton’s picture has appeared on the US $10 bill since 1861.

As the first Secretary of the Treasury he saved our country’s economy, so appropriately the US Treasury building appears on the other side of the note. Now Hamilton’s image may be replaced by that of a woman “to be determined”. It seems unfair to this writer to remove the portrait of a man who achieved so much that he is always referred to as a “founding father”. If we are to change anyone, wouldn’t it be better to remove Andrew Jackson from the $20 bill? Jackson’s main accomplishment was driving the American Indians from their lawful lands and killing as many of them as he could.

Now there is a new tribute to Hamilton.

Tony-award winning songwriter LinManuel Miranda has written and stars in the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, about his life and work. The story faithfully follows the acclaimed biography of Hamilton by Ron Chernow, but the music is mostly in hip-hop and rap. Miranda, of Puerto Rican descent, usually portrays Hamilton. The cast, including the character of George Washington, is primarily actors of color. President Obama took his family to see the hit show. Perhaps he will issue an executive order to save Hamilton’s portrait from oblivion?

Finally, reporter Trish Regan has suggested that were he alive today, Hamilton might be the one to solve the Eurozone economic crisis. After all, Hamilton got states like Virginia, which had paid off their Revolutionary War debts, to agree that the Federal Government should take over the debts of states like Massachusetts. Ms. Regan states, “It was the Colonial America equivalent of getting Germany to assume the debts of Greece.” My suggestion: if Europe solves its problems by following the principles set down by Alexander Hamilton, then it would be very appropriate to place Hamilton’s picture on the 10 Euro note. Now that would be a happy ending.

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Promote your business in this special issue with an ad and a short article. Contact our Advertising Executive to advertise in this very special edition.

Susan Bernard | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org

by OZZIE NOGG On Sunday, Feb. 14, L.O.V.E. (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly) will deliver heaps of hugs and kisses to Blumkin Home Residents and their families during the Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Social scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the RBJH Auditorium.

Singer-guitarist Bill Welch will entertain with A Day of Love Songs during the event.

“We’ll have soft-serve ice cream and all sorts of toppings plus other goodies,” said Linda Cogen, Volunteer Coordinator at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. “What better time than Valentine’s Day for L.O.V.E. to show the residents how much they care about them -- and vice versa. The Ice Cream Social promises to be one big love-in.”

The program is open to the entire community at no charge.

February 12, 2016 | The Jewish Press | 7

Kids Campaign

Noah Blair is filling a Pushka (Tzedakah can) for the Jewish Federation of Omaha Kids Campaign. Do you have yours? Pushkas are available through the Pennie Z. Davis Childhood Development Center, Friedel Jewish Academy, the JCC front door, all three synagogues and the Chabad House.

Giving coins to help others is easy, and it’s fun!

The younger members of our community will be able to donate their Tzedakah during the Jewish Federation of Omaha Purim Carnival at the JCC March 20. More details will be announced in a future article in the Jewish Press.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Louri Sullivan at 402.334.6485 or lsullivan@jewishomaha.org.

NCJW wants YOU!

by HOLLY WEILL Nominating Chair, NCJW-Omaha Section The Omaha Section of National Council of Jewish Women is seeking nominations for its 2016-17 Board of Directors. NCJW is a grass-roots organization that focuses on improving the lives of women, children and families. Opportunities are available to become involved in a variety of areas including Community Service, Membership, Public Relations/Communications, Fundraising, Public Affairs, Finance, Secretarial work and more.

Prior involvement in the Omaha Section is not required. We only ask that you have a commitment to doing work in our community that will improve the lives of women, children and families. If you or someone you know is interested please contact Holly Weill for more information please call 402.493.5126 or email holly weill@yahoo.com.

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ADL educates the community on dealing with hate crimes

by MARY-BETH MUSKIN The trend is commonly referred to as the school to prison Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League pipeline.

Nearly 150 people focused on how to effectively deal with Law enforcement officers learned about the legal criteria hate crimes during training events sponsored by the Anti- for determining whether a hate crime has occurred. They also focused on investigative Defamation League and held and enforcement strategies. at the Jewish Community Community members were Center on Jan. 13 and 14. invited to a brown bag lunch Miriam Zeidman, ADL‘s and learn about understandMidwest civil rights counsel, ing the unique nature of hate visited Omaha to conduct a crimes. They discussed the series of sessions aimed specifically for four groups legal distinction between hate consisting of educators, law crimes and bias incidents. enforcement officers, local An ADL-sponsored leaderleaders and community ship group discussed civil members. rights issues. Miriam spoke Miriam Zeidman is based on the topic of “50 years since Selma -- A Taste of Civil in Chicago and serves an 18Rights.” state region extending from “We appreciate the particiWyoming to Delaware. Her Miriam Zeidman, left, and Mary-Beth Muskin pation of so many people role is to advance ADL’s civil rights work by addressing discrimination complaints, moni- especially when you consider that the Wednesday events toring and testifying on state legislation and conducting occurred on the same day as President Obama’s speech in training sessions. She worked as a litigation attorney before Omaha,” said Mary-Beth Muskin, ADL-CRC Plains States joining the ADL and graduated from Stanford School of Law. Region Director. “Now is an important time for communiIn the session for educators, Zeidman discussed an alarm- ty members and law enforcement to come together to learn ing national trend in which students of color, LGBT or with as much as we can about the nature of hate crimes and what disabilities disproportionately face harsh disciplinary sanc- we can do to support others. It is our intent that this begin tions which increase their likelihood of being incarcerated. the dialogue and a call to action.”

Jewish teen sentenced to life in killing of Palestinian

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A Jewish teen was sentenced to life in prison and a second teen to 21 years for kidnapping and murdering a Palestinian teen by burning him to death.

The sentences were handed down Thursday afternoon in Jerusalem District Court, where the teens were found guilty in November. They have not been identified because they were minors at the time of the killing of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, of eastern Jerusalem.

One of the teens was convicted of attempted aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, attempted arson, murder and abduction for the sake of murder. The other was convicted of murder and abduction for the sake of murder.

A third defendant, Yosef Haim Ben-David, 31, of the Adam settlement in the West Bank, was also found to have carried out the crimes for which he was accused, but the court delayed issuing a sentence while it considers the lastminute submission of an insanity plea claiming that BenDavid was not responsible for his actions at the time of the

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kidnapping and murder. Ben-David has a history of mental illness and has been under medication for his condition, the original indictment said. His case reportedly will be considered in court on Feb. 11.

Khdeir was beaten unconscious before he was burned to death in the Jerusalem Forest on July 2, 2014, to avenge the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens the previous month, Ben-David told police at the time of his arrest.

At the court hearing, Khdeir's father said the family will appeal the 21-year sentence for one of the minors as too lenient. Hussein Abu Khdeir also repeated the request he made last month at a closed sentencing hearing that the court demolish the killers' homes as they would for a Palestinian terrorist.

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8 | The Jewish Press | February 12, 2016

Point of view

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A brighter, more respectful future

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT of clowns, not at the wall and not anywhere else.”

It is one thing to disagree and argue over how our Torah Jewish Press Editor Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush called for women should be interpreted, and what our different roles are verOn Jan. 31st, the Israeli cabinet voted to upgrade the egal- who gather to pray at the Kotel to be “thrown to the dogs.” sus what they should be. Civilized discourse is the backbone So, let’s recap: the current change is not really that much of Judaism, and without the constant questioning of God, itarian prayer space at the Western Wall. Here’s what the of a change, women can still not read from the Torah in the the text, and each other, we do not grow as Jews. But this is plan entails: The current prayer platform for non-orthodox not discourse. This is hate speech, and it comes prayers at the Robinson Arch area (the southern from Jews, and it is directed at other Jews. end of the Western Wall) will be formally desigPresident of the Union for Reform Judaism nated as a prayer space for non-Orthodox worRabbi Rick Jacobs wrote the following: ship. Once that section is completed, Women of “In the Babylonian Talmud, in Tractate Yoma the Wall will no longer be able to worship at the 9b, our sages teach that the second Temple was traditional women’s section. That section will destroyed because of sinat chinam, baseless remain under the authority of the administrator hatred among Jews. From the new pluralistic, of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Rabbi egalitarian prayer space, affirmed by the Israeli Shmuel Rabinovitz, as well as the Western Wall cabinet, one can look down on the very stones Heritage Foundation. that fell when the second Temple was destroyed.

Eli Groner, Director-General of the Prime As we pray in our new space we will be remindMinister’s office called it a “Practical comproed of that dark time when our people were riven mise, not an ideological compromise.” by internal hatred. I hope the Orthodox leaders That’s putting it mildly. who disparage our place at this holy site will Rabbi Rabinovitz was somewhat relieved: learn from our people’s painful history and work “Ever since the fringe and vociferous group of to shape a brighter, more respectful and loving Women of the Wall started its mass-media activifuture for the Jewish people.” ty, the Western Wall went from being a unifying A brighter, more respectful future: that sounds site to one of incessant quarrels. The defamation The non-Orthodox section, shaded in blue, will double in size to nearly 10,000 square good to me. But to get there, we need to do a little of G-d’s name that this group and its supporters feet. The purple shaded area remains Orthodox and covers 21,500 feet. work. We need to understand that we, as Jews, will have caused is terrible, and it will take years to repair it. We traditional women’s section; instead, Robinsons’ Arch gets a never agree on everything. We need to be okay with that, and must do everything to put this terrible chapter behind us.” nice multimillion shekel upgrade (but no rabbi) and is no we do that by maintaining a respectful attitude about each Moshe Gafni, Chair of the Knesset’s Finance Committee, longer under Rabinovitz’ supervision. It’s a compromise other’s differences. We don’t have to call each other “fringe,” went a step further: indeed, but it is one that many people can live with. Why or “clowns,” and no one needs to be thrown to the dogs.

“Reform Jews are a group of clowns who stab the holy then is it necessary to insult those who fought to get to this Disagreement can be a force for good, or it can irrevocably Torah. There will never, ever, be recognition for this group point? divide us. It is up to all of us to know the difference.

In defense of the Big Fat Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party

by BETH AIN (Kveller via JTA) -- I took my first baby steps into bat mitzvah planning this week, and I had a lot of feelings -- but mostly a twinge of nostalgia. Somehow a girl who was once a toddler with a furrowed brow, a desperate love of Little Bear, and a staying asleep problem is going to lead an entire weekend of Shabbat services and later, an entire evening of hors d’oeuvres and hora dancing.

Did I mention I am -- ahem -- planning for a weekend that is a year and a half in the future? I know. I’ve got time. This is all insane.

What I do not have, and which I very much expected to have, are mixed feelings about throwing a big party to celebrate the occasion. A quick Google search about b’nei mitzvah planning reveals comment sections so fierce (and defensive and judgmental), I thought for a moment I had accidentally time traveled back to 2005, when Urban Baby posts and the anonymous moms whose persistent debates about nursing versus formula haunted my every thought. Me, waiting in line to check out at Duane Reade with armfuls of formula and lots to say about it, having imaginary conversations with opinionated women I hoped never to meet. A memory for another time.

This is something else, though. This is not formula or breast milk, work at home or stay at home. This is about a simcha -- a celebration. And you know what? We just don’t get that many of those.

Lately, I’ve heard a lot of bad news. Lately, very young mothers are getting breast cancer diagnoses. Lately, I lost an uncle far too soon. Lately, a wonderful 40-something husband and father in my town dropped dead -- smack in the middle of his life. So lately, I’ve been thinking we should gather together more often, in large groups, and hoist people up on chairs just so we can make our faces hurt with smiles and feel the pinches of our aunts and our uncles.

Lately I’ve also been missing childhood and the things

(Founded in 1920) Eric Dunning President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Thierry Ndjike Accounting

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, President; Andy Ruback, Past-President; Andrew Boehm, Scott Farkas, Sandy Friedman, Paul Gerber, Alex Grossman, David Kotok, Debbie Kricsfeld, Abby Kutler, Pam Monsky, Paul Rabinovitz, Nancy Wolf and Barry Zoob.

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.

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about it that stand out for me. One of those things is my own bat mitzvah party, the video footage (on VHS) of which I refuse to watch for fear it will ruin the hazy montage that lives in my memory as a raucous mix of sock-sliding Coke and Pepsi games mixed with twinkling lights and appropriate amounts of tween and family drama. I suppose for 1980s semi-rural Pennsylvania, having a Saturday night affair was maybe a little bit extravagant, my mom’s party planning prowess put to the test by the advent of tacky ‘80s things -managing the balloons-inside-balloons trend with great sense and style. Earlier, we had put glitz aside for earthiness by hand-making my invitations together at the kitchen table, coloring in little leaves with green felt-tip pens next to the words “Be a Blessing.” Such was my theme.

I also remember riding my bike to the cantor’s house, his wife fumbling around in the kitchen while he and I went over and over Song of Songs and where he taught me not just the words and the tune but the meaning. To me, this man and his thick Yiddish accent actually embodied meaning and Torah and the history that no balloon-inside-balloon centerpieces could ever take that away -- but OK, they might just add to it.

Because I also remember having all of my relatives there for the service and later for the party, all of them -- dancing and smiling and smelling like themselves -- cologne and maybe hints of cigar on some, vodka and red lipstick on others. So many of them are gone. My grandparents, my great-aunts and -uncles and now, even my own maternal uncle, who played his guitar on the bimah after the Havdalah service was over, and whose presence that day and later at my various graduations and my wedding was important and the memories lasting.

We can debate what a party is worth, what it should cost, if you should take a trip to Israel instead, have a little kiddush luncheon and call it a day. It’s all good. It’s all wonderful. There are so many ways to mark an important milestone -- klezmer music and high heels is only one of them. What bothers me is when one’s values are called into question

because you want the whole shebang.

I’m guilty of it myself. It’s a wedding for a 13-year-old, people might say. Well, sure. The same way a wedding is for the bride and the groom, I suppose that’s true. But how can we say that the wedding isn’t also for the parents of the bride and the groom, the grandparents, the college friends and camp friends who only get to be all in one place so many times in life -- and let’s be honest, as we get a little older, not all of those times are good times. Every other day in life is a series of piecing people together -- a dinner date here, a birthday brunch there, a holiday card sent to the faraway people and places when you wish you could send for them instead.

The truth is, I don’t know yet what kind of party I will throw for my daughter’s bat mitzvah. I’m feeling it out. I only want it to be a moment where we live in the present and in memory at once -- preserving the smell of people and the feel of them pinching your cheeks, and squeezing your hand and maybe drinking too much, opening up too much.

(Perhaps your uncle will even hook up with your cousin on the other side of the family -- I’m not saying that did happen, I’m just saying it could.) It’s OK to throw a party. It’s OK not to. Just let people have their simchas, however they want to have them. No comments.

One last thing about my bat mitzvah, though. Most of what you need to know about my mother is that she quoted both Robert F. Kennedy and Ferris Bueller on the bimah that day, and the latter is the one that stays with me: Life moves pretty fast -- if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.

Beth Ain is a children’s book author and creator of the Starring Jules chapter book series published by Scholastic.

Learn more about Beth and her books at bethain.com.

Kveller is a thriving community of women and parents who convene online to share, celebrate and commiserate their experiences of raising kids through a Jewish lens. Visit Kveller.com.

ries and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishoma ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

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February 12, 2016 | The Jewish Press | 9

Terror and the art of downplaying

Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER In the last week of January, the violence that some are calling the “Third Intifada” came to the Givat Ze’ev area. On Monday, Jan. 25, at around 5 p.m., just two miles down the road in the small Beit Horon settlement, a 24-year-old woman was mortally wounded and a 60-year-old woman was moderately wounded. Then on Wednesday night, Jan. 27, at around 11 p.m., a 36-year-old man was stabbed in the back in the shopping strip at one of Givat Ze’ev’s gas stations.

This being Givat Ze’ev (which still has the feel of a small town), it’s not surprising that I am friendly with two of the people who were at the scene.

Twenty-seven-year-old Hillel Hagar, who works at a pastry shop a few doors down from the stabbing, was one of the men who wrestled the attacker to the ground. Though Hillel is newly married and might have thought twice before he acted the way he did (Sarah and I and our daughter Rebecca went to his wedding a few months ago), here is what he told the media before he was taken away in an ambulance (he sustained two minor cuts to his leg): “I heard screams and I started running, without knowing where I’m running or

why I’m running.” When someone told Hillel that he is a hero, he said: “I’m nothing of the kind.” Also at the scene was my friend Dudi Gur (about whom I wrote a column a few years ago entitled “My Israeli Doppelganger”), a volunteer paramedic who happened to be coming home from the theater. For Dudi, who does regular rounds in Jerusalem, the incident was fairly routine medically. Like Hillel, he objected to making a big deal about what he did, and though the next day he was bombarded with media requests, he refused to be interviewed and play the hero. Dudi’s home is located about half a mile from the attack. When I asked him if that gave him pause, he said: “You often have to pay a price for living where you live. In Russia, many people pay the price of frigid cold, here you pay the price of an incident like this.”

Unlike Hillel or Dudi, I was not born in this country, and yet I also find myself reacting to incidents of terror with relative equanimity. How do I do it, not having been socialized here? The answer is downplaying. I was socialized by my father Lenny Weinberger, the King of Downplayers. His golden rule: You can be too careful.

My father’s immediate reaction to danger is to downplay it.

Nothing is as serious as “they” make it out to be (“they” being the people in charge of your well-being). This approach serves as a healthy antidote to the anxieties of everyday Israeli life. Because the fact is that there are many tempting ways to be overly careful in Israel. One can decide never to go to a certain gas station again, one can decide never to ride a bus; one can avoid malls, movie theaters, open-air markets

and restaurants; one can avoid traveling upon certain roads in the territories, and one can avoid traveling to the territories at all (although this is a bit problematic if one finds oneself living inside the territories). Clearly, life in Israel challenges the position that “one can never be too careful.” If one tries to live by this motto, one may very rapidly discover that one has ceased to function normally in Israeli society.

It’s all about risk assessment, and about giving up on the hope that one can do things to be 100% certain that nothing bad will happen to you. In America, my father saw that the authorities in charge of one’s security and health were so clearly aiming for this mythical 100% security that they had to be counteracted with an “it’s not so serious.” Israel, on the other hand, seems to do a good job in weighing the risks and avoiding unnecessarily inconveniencing the civilian population.

It’s true that I sometimes resented the extremes to which my father’s downplaying could attain. As a kid, for example, all of my illnesses were of course downplayed. In order to stay home from school, I had to prove I was sick; said proof had to be with a minimum thermometer temperature of 102 degrees; for accuracy, said thermometer had to be rectal.

But Dad, now that I live in Israel, all is forgiven. Your downplaying really comes in handy here.

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.

Sanders talks about faith, Clinton grapples with rabbi’s question on humility

by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- At a New Hampshire town hall meeting, Bernie Sanders described himself as a man of faith and Hillary Rodham Clinton opened up to a rabbi about her insecurities.

Wednesday’s town hall in Derry, broadcast live and moderated by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, came six days before the New Hampshire presidential primary and just days after Sanders nearly upset Clinton, the putative front-runner, drawing to a virtual tie in the Iowa caucuses.

“You’re Jewish, but you’ve said that you’re not actively involved with organized religion,” Cooper asked Sanders, the Independent senator from Vermont vying with Clinton, the former secretary of state, for the Democratic presidential nod.

Sanders, who until now has been hesitant to discuss his religious beliefs or Jewish upbringing, said faith is a guiding principle for him.

“You know, everybody practices religion in a different way,” he said. “To me, I would not be here tonight, I would not be running for president of the United States, if I did not have very strong religious and spiritual feelings.”

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responsibility he had for others.

“My spirituality is that we are all in this together and that when children go hungry, when veterans sleep out on the street, it impacts me,” he said. “That’s my very strong spiritual feeling.”

A question for Clinton came from Rabbi Jonathan SpiraSavett, who helms Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua, New Hampshire. He quoted a teaching by Rabbi Simcha Bunim, a Hasidic sage of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

“Every person has to have two pockets and in each pocket they have to carry a different note,” Spira-Savett said, quoting Bunim. “And the note in one pocket says the universe was created for me. And in the other pocket the note says I am just dust and ashes.”

He then asked Clinton: “How do you cultivate the ego, the ego that we all know you must have, a person must have to be the leader of the free world, and also the humility to recognize that we know that you can’t be expected to be wise about all the things that the president has to be responsible for?”

Clinton launched into a reflection on her difficulties living in the public eye. She contrasted her struggles “about ambition and humility, about service and self-gratification” with

her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who she said “was such a natural, knew exactly what he wanted to do.”

Clinton said her struggle to balance ego and humility is a daily one.

“And I don’t know that there is ever any absolute answer, like, ‘OK, universe, here I am, watch me roar,’ or, ‘Oh, my gosh, I can’t do it, it’s just overwhelming, I have to retreat,’” she said.

The former New York senator said she takes advice from faith leaders, including rabbis who send her notes on Jewish religious teachings.

Clinton quoted a Jesuit reading of the Christian parable of the prodigal son.

“Be grateful for your limitations,” she said. “Know that you have to reach out to have more people be with you, to support you, to advise you, listen to your critics, answer the questions.”

Spira-Savett’s Bunim citation left an impression on Clinton; she returned to it toward the end of the town hall when she confessed to hankering for anonymity, to longing for time with friends.

“They keep me grounded,” she said. “They keep me honest. They deflate my head. They deal with the universe in one pocket and the dust and ashes in the other.”

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10 | The Jewish Press | February 12, 2016

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. 12, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Gary Nachman, who will speak about his winery, Rainwood Vineyards, the first licensed winery in Douglas County. Oneg to follow service.

Please join us! Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

Larry Blass will officiate the Speaker Series Service.

For information on our historic synagogue, or to arrange a visit, please contact any of our board members: Mark Eveloff, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf and Phil Wolf. Tribute cards for any occasion are available. Contact Sissy at 311 Oak Ridge Ct., Bellevue, NE 68005 or 402.292.8062.

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: Kadima Kinnus at Sunstream Retreat Center in Ogden, IA; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Kadima Kinnus at Sunstream Retreat Center in Ogden, IA; Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; MiniMinyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m.; Israeli Wine Tasting with Steve Kerbel, 7:30 p.m.

WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Kadima Kinnus at Sunstream Retreat Center in Ogden, IA; No BESTT Classes; Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Learn to Read Hebrew with the Hazzan, 10 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m.

TUESDAY: Who Wrote the Bible? Lunch and Learn, noon with Rabbi Abraham.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT Classes, 4:15 p.m.; Who Wrote the Bible? Minyan and More, 6:15 p.m. with Rabbi Abraham; Hebrew High, 6:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: USY Nerdy Game Night, 5 p.m.

Tot Shabbat, Friday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m. followed by dinner.

Shabbat’s Cool (Grades 3-7), Saturday, Feb.20, 10 a.m. followed by lunch.

Sunday Scholar Series, Sunday, Feb. 21, 11 a.m., featuring Glen Fineman on Hearing Men’s Voices. Program sponsored

by Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs.

All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

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 Pam Ganz.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Terumah; Jewish Movie Night, 7 p.m. Havdalah Service, Dessert Potluck, and the Movie Bye Bye Braverman.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Purim Spiel Rehearsal, 12:15 p.m.; LTYG FUNDRAISER: Let the Youth Group babysit while you celebrate Valentine’s Day!, from 4–8 p.m. Cost is $15 per child or $25 per family (includes meal) If you have questions, email Shoshannah Schreiber at Shoshanahthejew@gmail.com or LTYG Advisor Nicole Taege at ntaege@gmail.com.

MONDAY: Temple Office Closed for Presidents Day TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon.

WEDNESDAY: LJCS classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY: Intro to Judaism, 6:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Lewis.

Sha-ba-ba-bat Family Dinner and Service, Friday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m.

Game Night/Potluck, Saturday, Feb. 20, 6 p.m. All ages welcome! Questions? Please contact Deborah Swearingen.

President’s Office Hours, Sunday Mornings, 10 a.m.–noon at SST. If you have any Temple business you would like to bring before the Board of Trustees, potential programs, or new ideas, please let us know! Call for an appointment at the Temple or just to chat any time at 402.513.7697. Or if you prefer, just email David Weisser at president@southstreettemple.org.

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.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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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. Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv & Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:37 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Torah Parade and Shabbat Classes, 9:45 a.m.; 15 mins after Kiddush -- Mishna L’Neshamah and Teen Class; Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion, 4:50 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 5:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:38 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Our Prayers, 9:45 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Office Closed THURSDAY: Scholar’s Club for 6th Grade, 3:30 p.m.; Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m.

323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Marty Shukert.

Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

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: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 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.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m.; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Torah Reader: Denise Blake and Haftarah Reader: Miles Remer.

SUNDAY: No Religious School; OTYG would like to Babysit for you!, 4 p.m. at Temple Israel. Would you like a free evening to yourselves? OTYG would like to babysit for you on Valentine’s Day! Let OTYG take care of your children ages 2-11 while you enjoy a nice dinner out or just relax at home. Cost is $15 per family. The proceeds will be going to Camp Rainbow. We will also be accepting additional donations if you would like make an additional contribution.

Food will be provided as well as activities for the kids including movies, arts and crafts, board games and more!

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Director of Youth and Young Adult Engagement Aliyah Lasky, alasky@templeisraelomaha.com or 402.905.0409. Reservations required.

TUESDAY: Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustee Meeting, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; Chapel for School Service, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi Brown; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Was DNA God’s Way to Protect the Chosen People?, 6:30 p.m. with Dr. Bruce Buehler.

THURSDAY: Diversity in Israel: A Real Reality Show with Eliad Eliyahu, 10 a.m. with Eliad Eliyahu.

Baby Brunch for Children under One Year and their Parents, Sunday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m. This is an opportunity

Candlelighting Friday, February 12, 5:37 p.m. to meet other families with babies, schmooze with our clergy and staff, enjoy food together, and share a story or two.

There will be toys and a safe place for your babies to play on the floor. For more information, please contact Interim Religious School Director Sharon Comisar-Langdon, 402.556.6536. You can drop in or you can let Sharon Comisar-Langdon know you are coming.

Under the Sea with OTYG Spaghetti Dinner and Auction, Sunday, March 6, 5 p.m. Join us in celebration of our Temple Israel youth at this year’s Spaghetti Dinner and Auction. There will be food, silent auction items and friends and family to share this event with. Proceeds will be going to support Camp Rainbow, a camp for kids with cancer and other blood-related diseases, along with funding youth activities. The cost is $10 for adults, $4 for children ages 612 and no charge for children five and younger. Please RSVP to Temple Israel, RSVP@templeisraelomaha.com or 402.556.6536, by Tuesday, March 1. Now requesting donations! Please contact Director of Youth and Young Adult Engagement Aliyah Lasky, alasky@templeisraelomaha. com or 402.905.0409.

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 Lunch and Learn with Christa Yoakum, a Nebraska Appleseed employee and Coordinator of Nebraska is home, noon (following services). She will speak about her organization's direct work with immigrants and refugees by creating Welcoming Communities. The purpose of the program she will talk about is to have U.S. born community members feel comfortable settling refugees in their communities.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel.

TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon.

WEDNESDAY: LJCS classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

Deli Style Lunch, Sunday, Feb. 21 at 12:15 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. The Star Deli will be providing the meal for those who sign up in advance, so please RSVP.

At Obama’s prayer breakfast

by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Barack Obama cited examples of Jews and those who rescued them in a prayer day message calling on Americans to overcome fear and welcome the stranger.

Obama in remarks to the annual National Prayer Breakfast cited multiple examples of faith communities working together to bring relief to natural disaster zones, to care for the sick and to welcome refugees.

“When Syrian refugees seek the sanctuary of our shores, it’s the faithful from synagogues, mosques, temples and churches who welcome them, the first to offer blankets and food and open their homes,” he said to the gathering organized by a Christian group and drawing many leading U.S. lawmakers and other influential people.

Obama recounted the heroism of Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, a POW who refused to reveal to a German commandant during World War II which troops under his command were Jewish. The president spoke last week at the Israeli Embassy event in Washington at which Edmonds and three others were named by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust remembrance authority, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Edmonds ordered all U.S. troops to fall out when German commanders at the camp asked to bring out Jewish troops.

“The Nazi colonel said, ‘I asked only for the Jewish POWs,’ and said, ‘These can’t all be Jewish,’” Obama recounted. “And Master Sergeant Edmonds stood there and said, ‘We are all Jews.’ And the colonel took out his pistol and held it to the master sergeant’s head and said, ‘Tell me who the Jews are.’ And he repeated, ‘We are all Jews.’”

“I can’t imagine a moment in which that young American sergeant expressed his Christianity more profoundly than when, confronted by his own death, he said ‘We are all Jews’,” Obama said to applause. “I can’t imagine a clearer expression of Jesus’s teachings.”

Pulverent e

February 12, 2016 | The Jewish Press | 11

In memoriam PHYLLIS BERNSTEIN GLAZER Phyllis Bernstein Glazer devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Feb. 5 in her home surrounded by her loving family. Services were held on Feb. 8 at Temple Israel.

She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Glazer, her sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Jordana and John and Jennifer Glazer; grandchildren: David, Grant, Emily, Danny and Jane; and brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Janice Bernstein.

Phyllis was passionate about life, learning and her faith.

She was compassionate toward others and no one was a stranger to her. Her wit, intelligence and generosity were a gift to us all.

To her family she leaves her many lessons, blessings and traditions. She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.

Memorials may be made in her name to the Temple Israel Endowment Fund.

BETTY KAPLAN SCHWARTZ SUTEJ Betty Kaplan Schwartz Sutej passed away on Jan. 25 at age 92. Services were held on Jan. 28.

She was preceded in death by her parents Blanche and Max Kaplan, and husbands, Louis Schwartz and James Sutej.

She is survived by daughter, Debbie Landers; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and John Siref; grandchildren: Laura Pearl, Andrew Pearl, Larry Siref and Shawn Siref.

Memorials may be made to Silver Memories or Hillcrest Hospice.

DOROTHY SUVALSKY Dorothy (Dotty) Suvalsky loving mother and grandmother passed away on Feb. 5 at age 84 in Atlanta, GA. Services were held Feb. 8 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Council Bluffs, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Suvalsky; her parents, Sam and Eva Krieger; her sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Irwin Greenbaum; brother-inlaw and sister-in-law Selwin and Reva Suvalsky.

She is survived by her daugther, Linda Suvalsky of Atlanta, GA and son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Lisa Suvalsky of Houston,TX; and grandchildren: Erin and Paige Suvalsky of Houston,TX. Memorials may be made to Berman Commons Assisted Living, 2026 Womack Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338.

$55,000 trip to Israel included in Oscar gift bags

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- A 10-day trip to Israel valued at $55,000 is among the gifts that will be offered in the swag bags given to some of this year's Academy Awards nominees.

Distinctive Assets, the company that assembled the bags, put the value on the first-class trip, the Daily Beast reported. In total, the luxurious gifts in each bag are worth $200,000, the report said.

Among the other gift items are a lifetime supply of skin creams from Lizora, valued at $31,200; ultherapy, a laser skin-tightening procedure courtesy of 740 Park MD, $5,530; a year’s worth of unlimited Audi car rentals from Silvercar, $45,000; and a 15-day walking tour of Japan, $45,000.

Nominees in the Oscars main acting and directing categories receive the bags, according to the Daily Beast.

Sharp exchange over Iran policy

by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bernie Sanders snapped at one another over the Jewish senator’s Iran policy in their final debate before the New Hampshire primary contest, with the former secretary of state twice suggesting it would endanger Israel.

The NBC moderators pressed Sanders on what they said were gaps in his foreign policy. Sanders has not named a foreign policy team of advisers and generally focuses on the economy in his campaigning.

Clinton stepped in with her own broadside, naming Israel as facing increased dangers under Sanders’ policies.

“A group of national security experts, military intelligence experts, issued a statement about Senator Sanders’ views on foreign policy and national security, pointing out some of the comments he has made on these issues, such as inviting Iranian troops into Syria to try to resolve the conflict there; putting them right at the doorstep of Israel,” she said.

Sanders has not quite advocated inviting Iran to add troops to its contingent already in Syria, where it is allied with the Assad regime and is combating rebel forces, including the Islamic State terrorist group. Instead, in a November debate, he lumped Iran in with other Muslim states he said would be more appropriate than the United States to directly battle the Islamic State.

Sanders has a substantial lead on Clinton in New Hampshire, the first primary state. Clinton won a razor-thin victory in Iowa, but Democratic Party officials in the state are taking another look at the results, the Des Moines Register reported Saturday. A win in New Hampshire could lend Sanders momentum as he challenges Clinton nationally, where she is ahead in polling.

He has pushed back against Clinton’s resume, which includes a stint as President Barack Obama’s first secretary of state, by noting that he opposed the Iraq War in 2002, while Clinton, then a senator from New York, supported it.

She now says she regrets voting for the war.

Sanders returned to that theme in the most recent debate.

“Once again, back in 2002, when we both looked at the same evidence about the wisdom of the war in Iraq, one of us voted the right way and one of us didn’t,” he said.

Sanders and Clinton also tussled over whether he said he would “normalize” ties with Iran in the wake of last year’s nuclear deal with the country, which both candidates support. In a debate last month, Sanders said, “What we’ve got to do is move as aggressively as we can to normalize relations with Iran,” although he quickly added that he was not advocating for full ties, and noted Iran’s backing for terrorism.

Sanders said he never advocated immediately normalizing relations. “Who said that I think we should normalize relations with Iran tomorrow?” he said. “I never said that. I think we should move forward as quickly as we can.”

Unusually for Sanders, who has been reticent about his Jewish upbringing, he closed the debate by relating a memory of his father.

“My dad came to this country at the age of 17 from Poland,” he said. “Didn’t have any money, couldn’t speak English, he died pretty young, and I think it would have been beyond his wildest dreams to see his son up here on this stage today running for president. I love this country, and my dad loved this country, and he was the most proud American because of what it gave him in terms of raising his family, even though we never had much money.”

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12 | The Jewish Press | February 12, 2016

Jewish hotspots during Brazil’s blockbuster Carnival season

by MARCUS MORAES Jairo Roizen, are making headlines for their RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) -- Brazilians joint debuts as songwriters and composers know how to party. Nowhere is that more for their first-division samba schools, obvious than at Carnival, Brazil’s most pop- Unidos do Peruche and Perola Negra. (A ular celebration festively combining its rich samba school is a sort of club in which thouand multi-ethnic melting pot. It’s also one of sands of members practice and perform in the world’s largest multi-day celebrations, when ecstatic crowds enjoy fabulous samba parades and enormous street parties.

Carnival follows a lunar calendar, so the exact date varies -- this year it’s Feb. 510. The celebration kicks off Friday night and ends on Ash Wednesday at Noon. Easter Sunday comes 40 days after.

Though it may have Catholic connotations, the roots of Carnival trace back A performance by the Mangueira samba school in Rio. Credit: Riotur to pagan rites of spring held by the ancient Romans and Greeks. Across huge compounds devoted to samba.

Europe, the season was celebrated with par- Structured like a guild, they have a strong ties, masks and dancing in the streets. The community basis and are usually associated Portuguese brought the Carnival concept to with and named after a neighborhood.)

Rio in the late 1800s, when French-style In fact, Potolski’s love of samba is so deep balls and masquerade parties became com- that it inspired the real deal. In 2008, he fell mon. Over time, unique elements deriving in love with Thais Paraguassu, an amazing from African, Ameri-Indian and even porta-bandeira, a female dancer who carries Jewish cultures were incorporated. the samba school’s flag. Paraguassu convertCarnival has become a proud national ed to Judaism and the two married last year. institution -- and Brazil’s 120,000 Jews have RIO SAMBADROME found numerous ways to engage with the Prior to hosting events in the 2016 festivities around them (or escape them Summer Olympics, the Rio Sambadrome altogether, should they so choose). will showcase 26 samba schools that will SAO PAULO PARADE wow spectators with their exquisite choreThere’s hot Jewish news at the Sao Paulo ography and elaborate floats.

Sambadrome -- a samba arena with a conGenerations ago, Jewish engagement in crete runway the length of nearly six football Rio Carnival took place at Yiddish Avenid, a fields lined with stands that hold 27,000 nickname for the area in downtown Rio de spectators.

Janeiro where most of the Jewish immiTwo Ashkenazi Jews, Ronny Potolski and grants from Eastern Europe settled between

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the 1920s and 1960s. Here, Jews exchanged klezmer and other European music traditions with their Afro-Brazilian neighbors.

The neighborhood is part of a larger district known as “Little Africa” that’s now recognized as the cradle of samba.

Jewish themes often permeate Rio’s majestic parade, though that’s not the case this year. In 2003, the Mangueira samba school won second place for depicting the story of the Ten Commandments, including a float in the shape of a Star of David and costumes embellished with sidelocks, tefillin, small Torahs and dreidels.

However, Rio’s parade often mixes the sacred and the profane, and it’s famous for igniting controversy around samba songs and themes. In 2008, for example, a planned Jewish-themed float by the Viradouro samba school made headlines for portraying piles of Holocaust victims’ bodies and even a dancing Hitler. Fortunately it was banned before the show started.

STREET BLOCOS IN RIO Blocos are street party groups that dance, sing, drink, flirt, kiss and do, well, whatever else among the skillful drummers playing samba. This year in Rio, 505 blocos are set to perform.

Founded by a group of 13 youths, including nine Jews, the bloco Sargento Pimenta - Portuguese for Sergeant Pepper -- has quickly become a phenomenon. It draws some 180,000 people who want to dance and sing to samba versions of Beatles hits.

About 10 percent of Pimenta’s 140 musicians are Jewish; Pimenta has performed in some Jewish weddings where traditional Jewish songs were played.

ERETZOPOLIS OR GUARUSHALAYIM After a 90-minute drive from Rio, you reach Teresopolis, a cozy mountain town. So many of Rio’s Jews keep a vacation home

here that it’s also known as Eretzopolis, a riff on Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. Those who don’t have a condo here tend to have relatives or friends who do.

During Carnival, the small local Jewish population of 500 triples with the influx of Rio residents seeking cooler temperatures and a more peaceful environment.

But for those who can’t disconnect from the thrill, the Carnival ball held by WIZO – the global Jewish women’s volunteer organization dedicated to social welfare -- is the place to be, especially if you have kids.

Because Purim always falls very close to Carnival, the Jewish holiday is always the theme. The Queen Esther pageant, which closes the ball, is a must-go for little girls.

For the Jews of Sao Paulo, a traditional spot to escape Carnival craziness is a condo in the coastal city of Guraruja -- sometimes known as Guarushalayim, an amalgam of Yerushalayim, the name of Jerusalem in Hebrew, and Guaruja.

SHALOM, BAHIA! Bahia, in northeast Brazil, is known as the country’s most musical state. It’s the epicenter of African culture here and birthplace of capoeira, the Brazilian martial art.

Capoeira has become a hit in Israel -- as such, an estimated 2,000 Israeli tourists disembark in Bahia’s capital city, Salvador, from December through Carnival, according to a local Jewish source.

During Carnival, local synagogues are said to welcome some 200 Israelis for Shabbat dinners.

“The vast majority are backpackers who have just finished their military service in Israel and come to South America to celebrate,” said Mauricio Laukenickas, who runs a local travel agency. “Whether you are Israeli, or wherever you come from, baruch habah to Carnival in Bahia.”