February 27, 2015

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

The music of Judd Greenstein

February 27, 2015 8 Adar 5775 Vol. 95 | No. 24

This Week

Jack Stark’s message

by OZZIE NOGG When sports teams, Fortune 500 corporations or individuals want advice on ways to boost their performance level, Jack Stark is the go-to guy. Stark, a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked with the Nebraska Cornhuskers and NASCAR, will bring his motiva-

Paquita highlights Omaha Dance Project’s 10th year Page 5

CONNECTIONS - chamber music: inspired, transformed, redefined, on March 15, will feature musicians including Scott Quackenbush, trumpet, left; Darci Gamerl, oboe; Carmelo Galante, clarinet; Anne Nagosky, violin; Will Clifton, bass; and Leslie Fagan, flute.

by DIANE AXLER BAUM his work -- is scheduled for Wednes- 11:45 a.m. The Mainstreeters group B’nai B’rith BreadBreakers and the day, March 11, at 12:15 p.m., in the already has been invited, and other Mainstreeters are collaborating with Blumkin Home auditorium. Stacie interested members of the commuthe Omaha Chamber Music Society Haneline, executive director of the nity are also welcome.

Cost for the full buffet is $11; bevto introduce the community to the Omaha Chamber Music Society, will exciting music of Judd Greenstein. join six other professional musicians erage service is $3. BreadBreakers has suggested reservations for the lunch A free program featuring live per- in the multi-faceted presentation. formances of passages from GreenImmediately preceding the pro- and/or the program to assure adestein’s Clearing, Dawn, Dance – and gram, BreadBreakers will have its quate seating. To make a reservation, a video of the composer discussing regular weekly lunch, starting at Continued on page 3

Pink in the Rink Page 7

Beyond classroom walls Open pulpit Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

Next Month The Arts See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

9 10 11

by SUSAN WALLIS Education Project Associate, ADL The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a 102 year-old Civil Rights organization working to combat hate and bigotry, has embarked on a part-

nership with the University of Nebraska - Omaha (UNO) and Northwest Magnet High School (NWHS).

This collaboration has created a venue for area high school students to discuss issues impacting their schools and communities, learning lessons that are more difficult to teach in a classroom setting.

The UNO Service Learning Academy supports partnerships between nonprofit community organizations, UNO classes, and K-12 faculty to create projects that serve the community while also creating valuable learning experiences for students, allowing teaching to go beyond the classroom. Last summer, the Service

Learning Academy approached the ADL about a possible collaboration with UNO political science students and the NWHS Student Council.

Dr. Patrick McNamara, visiting professor of political science at UNO, has a passion for dialogue and conflict resolution and wanted to create a hands-on learning experience for his students. His idea was to promote the ADL’s mission of inclusion and respect by allowing his students to learn to facilitate meaningful conversations with their peers about issues facing youth throughout Omaha.

Mr. John Nguyen, special education teacher at NWHS and student Continued on page 2

Jack Stark tional message -- What it Takes to Be a Winner -- to the Jewish Community Center Theater on Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. The program is sponsored by the JCC and Jewish Family Service through the use of the Pennie Z. Davis Family Life Education Fund.

“Steve Nogg, our JFS co-president, suggested Jack to me as someone our community would want to hear because of his successful work with the Cornhuskers,” said Karen Gustafson, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service. “When I talked to Jack, he proposed an expanded presentation regarding performance psychology, in all its many uses, that would appeal to a broad audience.

On March 9, Jack will address how performance psychology works and why it works -- on the field, in the board room, and at home. He’ll offer strategies on how to help our kids maximize their potential, both educationally and athletically; how we can become better managers and get the most out of our employees; and how each of us can find ways to enhance our own lives. Because of Jack’s connection with football and sports performance, it seemed logical for the JCC to partner with JFS in bringing this program to the entire Omaha community.”

A pioneer in sport psychology, and one of its most respected practitioners, Jack Stark served from 1989 to 2004 as a team psychologist for the University of Nebraska Cornhusker football program. During his tenure, the Huskers won 88% of their games, including three national championships, and had the highest winning percentage in the 1990s. For nearly a decade, Stark has served as the team psychologist for NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports team, winner of five straight national championships. He also Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | February 27, 2015

Annual Langer’s Deli Lunch

Coming together for the annual lunch (and Jewish Press picture) at Langer’s Deli, LA: Mike Meyer, a former Omahan now living in Newport Beach, CA, left; Jacob Savage, Lexie Newman’s boyfriend from Los Angeles; Murray Newman, Steve Bloch, Mike Erman, Jay Lerner, Norm Veitzer, and Richard Murfeld, a Los Angeles friend of Norm Veitzer and regular at this lunch.

Beyond classroom walls Continued from page 1 council sponsor, shares this passion for discourse and continually aims to move teaching beyond the school walls.

Northwest is a magnet high school focused on law, government, and international diplomacy. True to this focus, Mr. Nguyen acknowledged that “working with the ADL and Dr. McNamara’s students gave my class the opportunity to make positive changes in our community.”

Over the last two semesters, the ADL worked with UNO and NWHS students, teaching them the skills needed to facilitate conversations around race and disparity. This project started with ADL staff providing general anti-bias training for both UNO and NWHS students, which allowed them to dissect the language of bias, including understanding the dangers of stereotypes and discrimination. The content of these antibias workshops centered on the students sharing their personal experiences with prejudice and encouraged listening to each other with the intent of being changed by what they heard.

At the end of the semester, over 100 students from area high schools attended the culminating student-led dialogue

event—at which participating UNO and NWHS students led a peer-to-peer program. These student leaders engaged other students in powerful conversations about issues faced in schools and communities throughout the Metro. As the events surrounding the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, unfolded last semester, much of the conversation at this final event focused on the experiences of youth of color throughout Omaha and across the country. Students discussed what communities need to do to create environments that are safe, honor individuality and promote respectful interactions.

UNO student Samantha Brown shared that “this class and this experience have shaped and changed me in a new way, and I am so moved after working with each individual unique person involved in this project. I am so delighted I was a part of such a neat program and it has inspired me to keep working towards resolving and discussing these problems in the future.”

The partnership continues this semester. ADL, NWHS and UNO will host another student-led dialogue event in April 2015. All three partners hope these dialogues will foster a deeper appreciation of respect in all communities.

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Jack Stark’s message

Continued from page 1 helped Creighton All-American and Player of the Year, Doug McDermott, maximize his abilities. “We’d meet for ninety minutes before every game,” Stark explained, “either in person or on the phone, and do fifteen minutes of visual relaxation exercises. Obviously, they worked.” Jack Stark served on the faculty of the Nebraska Medical Center’s departments of psychiatry and pediatrics as a tenured professor of medical psychology, and is the founder and director of Performance Enhancement Group that consults with Wall Street executives in the art of team building.

Stark’s book, The Championship Formula, is written in straightforward, no-nonsense language aimed to help organizations and individuals consistently achieve extraordinary results. According to reviewers, Stark has a unique perspective on the elements needed for sustaining success, and his book is “a great read if you’re looking to get in touch with your inner-champion.”

During a phone interview, Stark recalled one particular moment in his career. “It’s 1989 and I’m in Tom Osborne’s office making a presentation to the coaches on what I think I can do for the team. To me, Osborne is like a rock star. To be in his presence is profound. So I say, ‘I don’t want to over promise on what I can offer you and the Cornhuskers. I can probably make a 5% difference with the team.’ And Osborne responds, ‘Do you understand what you’re saying, Jack? At this level, 5% is huge. A 5% improvement in performance can be the difference between a good team and a national champ. One play, one game, can make a season.’ Osborne’s words stayed with me, and I use them in various situations.

When I’m speaking at high schools, I remind the teens that one bad decision can cost them a scholarship or get them kicked out of school. At business seminars I remind attendees that one bad decision can ruin a company. One play, one game, can make a season. So it goes with life, too.”

During his presentations, Stark focuses on ways to overcome mental barriers, relax, concentrate and visualize success -- in sports and other areas. His sessions are lively with Q&A. “Someone in the audience will ask how she can improve her golf game. Or a teenager will ask how he can stop worrying so much about fitting into the crowd. Or someone bombed a job interview and wants to know how to handle the rejection. There’s plenty of stress out there. When people leave the JCC Theater I want them to be armed with tools and strategies to help them get ahead. My aim is to help people become 5% better and suggest a path that will lead to peak performance and success. We all have what it takes to be a winner.”

Steve Nogg will be in the front row of the JCC Theater on March 9. “All age groups will benefit from Jack’s message, which helps you think about how you can live a more fulfilling and positive life,” Nogg said. “Jack’s record as a Performance Psychologist is exceptional. His presentation will truly be a thought-provoking and enjoyable evening.”

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February 27, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 3

Beth El Scholar-in-Residence to offer Passover preparation

by MARGIE GUTNIK Rabbi Visotzky now serves as director of Program Director, Beth El Synagogue the Milstein Center for Interreligious “In every generation one is obligated to Dialogue and director of the Louis see his or herself as though s/he had partic- Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social ipated in the Exodus from Egypt.”

Studies at the JTS where he focuses on Dr. Burton L. Visotzky, Muslim-Jewish-Christian Appleman professor of dialogue. His work included Midrash and Interreligious a groundbreaking meeting of Studies at the Jewish Muslims, Christians and Jews Theological Seminary in New sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s York, will visit Omaha March King Abdullah in Madrid in 20-22. As Beth El Synagogue’s 2008. He also participated in Scholar-in-Residence, he is interfaith dialogue in Doha, expected to provide creative where he was among the first ways for us to augment our Jews invited by the emir of Passover observances.

Qatar.

“Dr. Visotzky is an amazing “Dr. Visotzky was a favorite teacher. I still remember his teacher of both Shira and teachings about Pesach and mine when we were students Dr. Burton L. Visotzky specifically the Hagaddah as at the Jewish Theological if they took place last week,” said Rabbi Seminary,” said Rabbi Steven Abraham.

Steven Abraham. “I believe with Dr. “Dr. Visotzky is a brilliant scholar who not Visotzky as our guide we will not only learn only loves what he does, but loves his stumore about Pesach, but also how to make dents. I don’t know of any professor at JTS the story come alive at our own Seder table.” who cared more about the success of his stuVisotzky will likely offer deeper under- dents than Dr. Visotzsky.” standing and appreciation for the Haggadah.

Visotzky is active as a lecturer and scholarRabbi Abraham explained, “Whenever a in-residence throughout the United States, scholar comes to town, one should walk Europe and Israel. With journalist Bill away with a nugget or two of learning, of Moyers, he developed the series Genesis: A meaning, of connection that was not there Living Conversation, serving as both a conbefore. This weekend will be no exception. sultant and participant; he was also a conAll who attend will gain a new respect for sultant to Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks our ancient texts, a new lens with which to SKG for the 1998 film, The Prince of Egypt. look at Pesach, and some new ideas for their Rabbi Visotzky holds a master’s degree in own Seder.” education from Harvard University and Visotzky will lead and teach several ses- received his rabbinic ordination and a Ph.D. sions centered on our ongoing understand- from The Jewish Theological Seminary. ing of and preparation for the Passover holiHe is the author of 10 books, including day. On Friday, March 20, he joins the con- Reading the Book: Making the Bible a Timeless gregation for Kabbalat Shabbat services at 6 Text (1991) and The Genesis of Ethics (1996). pm., followed by a congregational Shabbat His historical novel, A Delightful dinner at 7 p.m.

Compendium of Consolation, was published Shabbat dinner is $12.50 for adult mem- in 2008. Dr. Visotzky’s most recent book, Sage bers, $15 for non-members; children age 7- Tales: Wisdom and Wonder from the Rabbis of 12 are $7.50 for members and $10 for non- the Talmud, came out in spring 2011. members. There is no charge for children 6 The Scholar-in-Residence weekend is and under. Babysitting is offered free of open to the entire community. The mission charge both during services and during Dr. of Beth El Synagogue is to empower, engage Visotzky’s talk. Please contact the office If and inspire its congregants through God, you would like babysitting during the after Torah and Acts of Loving Kindness. It strives dinner presentation. to be a caring, warm and welcoming home of Saturday morning services will include a Conservative Judaism where our members D’var Torah by Dr. Visotzky with Kiddush have the opportunity to find spiritual fulfilllunch following. He will conduct a Seudah ment in their Jewish life through education, Shlishit – a teaching session – between min- friendship, religious and social experiences. cha and ma’ariv services at the close of Reservations for the congregational Shabbat.

Shabbat dinner can be made online at The weekend concludes with Visotzky’s www.bethel-omaha.org. If you have quesparticipation in Beth El’s Sunday Scholars tions, contact Program Director Margie Series at 11 am. All weekend programming Gutnik at programming@bethel-omaha. will take place at the Synagogue. org or 402.492.8550.

The music of Judd Greenstein Continued from page 1 please call 402.334.6443 or e-mail gjavitch@ cox.net, by 5 p.m. on March 8.

The March 11 lunchtime program music will take place only days before the Omaha Chamber Music Society’s fourth annual free concert at the JCC, set for Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. Titled CONNECTIONS – Chamber Music: Inspired, Transformed, Redefined, the concert will feature the opening movement of Mozart’s String Quartet No. 14 K. 387, The Spring; Prokofiev’s Quintet in G minor, Opus 39 for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and bass; and Greenstein’s Clearing, Dawn, Dance.

“The Omaha Chamber Music Society and I are immeasurably grateful to the Sokolof Javitch Music Fund for the continued support that enables us to bring outstanding chamber music, free of charge, to our community,” said Haneline. “We are especially proud and thrilled for the opportunity to present Judd Greenstein’s brilliant, beautiful, energetic work.”

Greenstein, 34, is a Brooklyn-based composer and musician-entrepreneur with a unique perspective on Classical music and musical expressiveness.

Co-founder of New Amsterdam Presents, a service organization for musicians, and New Amsterdam Records, he also is a doctoral candidate at Princeton University. His dissertation is on musical form.

In addition to a strong background in classical music, Greenstein is versed in Talmud, and several of his compositions are based on Jewish themes. Shlomo, which premiered at Carnegie Hall, earned him a Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists in 2010. He is re-working the piece toward recording it in the future, and he is planning a Yiddish opera based on a story by Isaac Bashevis Singer.

More information on forthcoming OCMS events, including the free March 15 concert at the JCC, is available at omahachamber music.org, or 402.690.6943.

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4 | The Jewish Press | February 27, 2015

March Community Calendar FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Beth Israel Scholar-in-Residence, Judge Daniel Butler, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Beth Israel Scholar-in-Residence, Judge Daniel Butler, 10 a.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1 BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Prayer, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel and JFS The Ten Commandments of Happy Relationship: The Jewish View from Family Court with Judge Daniel Butler, 11 a.m.

Beginning Prayer Study with Elyce Azriel, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 11 a.m. at Beth El Scholar Series featuring Rabbi Ari Dembitzer, 11 a.m. at Beth El Beth El Kibbutz Chaverim goes Ice Skating, 12:15 p.m.

Dames & Drinks, 7 p.m. at Lotus House of Yoga MONDAY, MARCH 2 Beth Israel Scholars Club for Boys, 3:30 p.m.

Tribute to the Rescuers Essay Contest Judging Night, 5:30 p.m.

Hebrew 102 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m.

Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3 Adult Ed Class The Wonderful World of Jewish Music, 11 a.m. at Beth El BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Klutznick Learning Series, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 UNO Class with Assaf Gavron, 10 a.m.

BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Purim Congregational Megillah Reading, 6 p.m. at Beth El Purim Megillah with Break-the-Fast, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel UNMC Chabura, 1 p.m.

Beth Israel Scholars Club for Girls, 3:30 p.m.

Purim: Megillah, 4:30 p.m. and Seudah-Talent Show, 5:15 p.m. at Beth Israel

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 UNO Class with Assaf Gavron, 10 a.m.

BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Beth Israel Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

BESTT Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El

MONDAY, MARCH 16 Beth Israel Scholars Club for Boys, 3:30 p.m.

Goldstein Lecture on Human Rights, 6 p.m. at UNO CEC Center Hebrew 102 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m.

Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH

THURSDAY, MARCH 12 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel UNMC Chabura, 1 p.m.

Center for Jewish Life Board Meeting, noon Beth Israel Scholars Club for Girls, 3:30 p.m.

Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

TUESDAY, MARCH 17 BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Klutznick Learning Series, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Men’s Club Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Junior Congregation, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mini Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, MARCH 8 BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Prayer, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel BESTT Torah Tots, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El Beginning Prayer Study with Elyce Azriel, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 11 a.m. at Beth El Scholar Series featuring Alan Potash, 11 a.m. at Beth El Purim Carnival, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El MONDAY, MARCH 9 Beth Israel Scholars Club for Boys, 3:30 p.m.

Tribute to the Rescuers Essay Contest Judging Night (SNOW DATE ONLY), 5:30 p.m.

Hebrew 102 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m.

Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m.

What it takes to be a Winner, 7 p.m.

Jewish Press Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 10 Eye on Israel with Eliad, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Klutznick Learning Series, 7 p.m.

BESTT Board Meeting, 7:15 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Friday Learning Series Travel Israel with Eliad – No Passport Needed, 11 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Beth El USY Kadima Kinnus, 3 p.m. in Ogden, IA through March 15 Shabbat Across America - Dinner and Special Shabbat Experience, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Shabbat Speaker Program: Hunger in the Heartland with Cheryl Lerner, 7:30 p.m. at B’nai Israel SATURDAY, MARCH 14 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Cup of Coffee with God, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Mini Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, MARCH 15 Babies, Bigger Kids and Bagels Parent/Child Playgroup, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Prayer, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 11 a.m. at Beth El Scholar Series featuring Dr. Rami Arav, 11 a.m. at Beth El IHE Book Signing for Bea Karp (My Broken Doll: A Memoir of Survival of the Vichy Regime), 12:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 UNO Class with Assaf Gavron, 10 a.m.

BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, MARCH 19 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel UNMC Chabura, 1 p.m.

Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m.

Beth Israel Scholars Club for Girls, 3:30 p.m.

Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, MARCH 20 Friday Learning Series Travel Israel with Eliad – No Passport Needed, 11 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Congregational Shabbat Dinner, 7 p.m. with Scholar-inResidence, Dr. Burton Visotzky at Beth El SATURDAY, MARCH 21 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Shabbat Services with Scholar-inResidence, Dr. Burton Visotzky, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Shabbat’s Cool for grades 3-7, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mini Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El

SUNDAY, MARCH 22 BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Monthly Kids Craft-Passover, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Prayer, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel BESTT Torah Tots, 10:15 a.m. at Beth El Beginning Prayer Study with Elyce Azriel, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 11 a.m. at Beth El Scholar Series featuring Dr. Burton Visotzky, 11 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Third & Fourth Grade Wedding, 11:15 a.m. at Beth El Training Company Concert, 5 p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 23 Beth Israel Scholars Club for Boys, 3:30 p.m.

Hebrew 102 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m.

Exploring Judaism, 7 p.m.

Beth El Women’s Rosh Hodesh Meeting: Movie sponsored by Institute for Holocaust Education, 7 p.m. at AkSarBen Cinema Jewish Press Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24 Rabbi Abraham’s Class, 10 a.m. at Beth El JSS Board of Directors Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Klutznick Learning Series, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’ Weekly Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 BESTT Weekday Classes, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High School, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, MARCH 26 BBYO Spring Regional Convention through March 29 in Omaha Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel UNMC Chabura, 1 p.m.

Beth Israel Scholars Club for Girls, 3:30 p.m.

Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

FRIDAY, MARCH 27 Friday Learning Series Travel Israel with Eliad – No Passport Needed, 11 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Beth El Social Committee serves lunch at NE AIDS Coalition, 11:30 a.m.

Family Shabbat/Got Shabbat! and Tot Shabbat Services and PreOneg, 6 p.m. at Beth El Scholar-in-Residence, Marc Shapiro and Dinner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel SATURDAY, MARCH 28 Scholar-in-Residence, Marc Shapiro Shabbat Lecture and Service, 9 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Shabbat Service with guest speaker, Alan Potash, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Junior Congregation, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mini Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, MARCH 29 BESTT Sunday Classes, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Prayer, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel BESTT Torah Tots, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 11 a.m. at Beth El Scholar Series featuring Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, 11 a.m. at Beth El USY Chocolate Seder, 12:15 p.m.

Beth El Social Action Committee serves Dinner at Stephen Center, 5:30 p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 30 JFO Board of Directors Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

Beth Israel Scholars Club for Boys, 3:30 p.m.

Pre-Pesach Pasta Party, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel Hebrew 102 with Eadie Tsabari, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31 BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

JCC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

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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February 27, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 5

Paquita highlights Omaha Dance Project’s 10th year

CADCA honors Tiffany Sherman Former Omahan Tiffany Sherman received the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) 2015 National Newsmaker of the Year Award. The Award was presented in February at the organization’s Annual Leadership Forum in National Harbor, Md.

Tiffany Sherman and Retired General Arthur Dean, Chairman and CEO of CADCA This award recognizes members of the media who have helped educate the public about substance abuse prevention, treatment and/or recovery, and who have contributed to CADCA’s mission of creating safe, healthy and drug free communities.

Tiffany has 20 years of media experience and has won several international awards for her work. For the past 11 years, she has produced training and awareness videos for the Center for Public Safety Innovation, which includes the Multijurisdictional counterdrug Task Force Program.

Tiffany is a 1991 graduate of Burke High School and a 1995 graduate of Duke University. She resides in Dunedin, Florida, and is the daughter of former Omahans Ellie and Mike Sherman.

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by CHERYL LERNER The Omaha Dance Project -- Omaha’s original city-wide celebration of dance -- will mark its tenth anniversary March 6-8 with performances of classical and contemporary dance works, highlighted by the 19th-century Russian classic Paquita.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at the Jewish Community Center Theater, 333 S. 132nd Street in Omaha.

“The purpose of the Omaha Dance Project is to provide a professional-style performing experience for students and adult community dancers,” said Cheryl Lerner of the Omaha Academy of Ballet, which sponsors ODP. “Dancers who want to participate attend a city-wide audition which is open to anyone regardless of studio affiliation or dance background. Choreographers watch the audition and choose the dancers with whom they want to work. The dancers commit to a rehearsal schedule, culminating in the weekend of performances. It’s basically the same process any professional dancer would follow for an independent concert.”

Another ODP objective is to give choreographers a forum to present their work, Lerner said. “Unless they’re affiliated with a university or a dance company, it can be very hard for choreographers in the Midwest to bring their work to an audience,” she said. “ODP gives them a chance to present their choreography in a fully-staged theater performance.”

In addition to Paquita -- staged by former Ballet Omaha and Cincinnati Ballet professional dancer Juliette Henning - ODP will include works by Omaha choreographers Ashley Durst, Danielle Laurion, Nichol Mason Lazenby, and Lynne Nevin, Lerner said. Guest performances by the Tbd. Dance

Collective, the UNO Moving Company, and the JCC Dance Training Company will round out the program.

JCC Dance and Cultural Arts Director Esther Katz and Assistant Director Jessica Reed will be performing in the concert. They are both members of Tbd. Dance Collective and will appear in pieces by Stephanie Huettner and Nicol Mason Lazenby.

The JCC Dance Training Company will perform on March 7 and 8. Their work, Over the Rainbow, is choreographed by JCC Dance and Cultural Arts Director, Esther Katz. Of the piece, she says, “Most of us listen to Somewhere Over the Rainbow and it brings us to the story of Wizard of Oz. I recently was made aware of the deep Jewish roots within this song. The lyrics were written by Yip Harburg, a Russian Jewish immigrant. The music was written by Harold Arlen, a cantor’s son whose parents were from Lithuania. The lyrics were about Jewish survival during the Holocaust. Jews of Europe could not fly; they could not escape beyond the rainbow. The “chimney tops” take on a whole new light when you think of them in regards to the Holocaust. When I learned of this history I wanted to choreograph a piece presenting the struggle depicted in the lyrics vs. the carefree beauty that is most often thought of when listening to this song.”

Tickets for the Omaha Dance Project are $15 for adults, $10 for students and those 65 and over. Ticket information is available from the Omaha Academy of Ballet at 402.346.0469. Tickets may be reserved in advance. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The Omaha Dance Project is made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

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6 | The Jewish Press | February 27, 2015

Travel to Israel with Eliad: No passport needed

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Center for Jewish Life “Israel is a beautiful place. It is the soul of the Jewish people. Whether you are within or outside of its physical borders, Israel is home for all Jews,” states Eliad Eliyahu, Omaha’s Community Shaliach, beginning his pitch for the Center for Jewish Life’s next Friday Learning Series class.

The series, Travel Israel with Eliad – No Passport Needed, will meet from 11 a.m.–noon, March 13, 20, and 27 in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library.

and the Southern Desert. “There is nothing political about these divisions for these sessions. If you want something political, come to my Eye on Israel sessions,” Eliad quipped.

This journey will begin in Safed (Tsfat), a picturesque city of spiritual people and artists described by Israeli tourism material as being “wrapped in mysticism and mystery, and steeped in sacred atmosphere.” It has been a spiritual center since the 1600s when it was the center of Kabbala (Jewish mysticism).

The kabbalist mystics lived, studied, taught and wrote in the city and many of the graves are objects of veneration.

Eliad shared that even in the Diaspora before the existence of modern Israel there was a connection the Jewish people had to this special land. “We are going to take the road from

Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the Central Region. Believe me, it will be like two different countries,” Eliad promised. He has even hinted that a trip to the Southern Region will provide an opportunity to lie on your back in the saltiness of the Dead Sea and read a newspaper, or look at the pictures if you don’t speak Hebrew.

Join Eliad on March 13, 20, and 27 from 11 a.m.–noon in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library for Travel with Eliad – No Passport Required. This program is part of the Friday Learning Series through the Center for Jewish Life whose mission is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences.

NFTY Missouri Valley Spring Chavurah

Rather than focusing on the contentious elections in Israel, ISIS terrorism and unspeakable violence in Copenhagen, Denmark, and around the world, displays of mounting anti-Semitism in Paris and on college campuses in America, this three-week class will give participants the chance to “get away from it all” and focus on the beauty of this gem in the Middle East.

“I want to help people experience some peace in the turmoil of the times” share Eliad. “I want to share some of what I feel and know about this beautiful country. I want people to come with me on this three-part journey of the Friday Learning Series and experience something joyful and uplifting.”

You can get on board with Eliad with a very affordable “ticket” of just $26, which is discounted to $21 for those contributing to the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Make your reservations in advance by calling 402.334.6463 or emailing Mark at mkirchhoff@jew ishomaha.org. Neither a passport, a photo I.D., nor bothersome airport security will be a part of this journey which will prove to be a respite from the tumult of today’s world.

“Israel has everything in nature that you could want. We will experience mountains, valleys, snow, desert – Israel’s diversity of terrain, climate, and scenery is stimulating and refreshing,” Eliad explained. Eliad will be structuring the sessions by viewing the Northern Galilee, the Central Region,

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by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Over the course of the last year-and-a-half, we have opened the doors of Temple Israel to hundreds of visitors from all over the region who have come to see our new home and to learn more about Temple Israel. We have had so many groups visiting that we have even set up a group of Ambassadors for Temple to help guide these tours!

Excitement is building around Temple for a very important group of visitors to our home in May, the NFTY Missouri Valley Spring Chavurah from May 1 through May 3.

Over 200 teenagers from across the Missouri Valley region of NFTY will gather in Omaha for their annual Spring Chavurah. The theme for the weekend is Circle of Trust – Are Jew in It? The weekend will focus on inclusion in both the Jewish and the secular worlds. “OTYG is planning a fabulous event and is enthusiastic about hosting its first event in over two years!” stated Nikki Flatowicz,

Director of Youth Engagement at Temple Israel. Further she said, “Programming will include fun song sessions, services, amazing programs written by our very own teens, asefah (formerly known as GA), free time and, of course, the classic NFTY friendship circle and slideshow at the end of the weekend.”

In order to assure that the weekend is a huge success, the families of Temple Israel will be assisting in housing our 200 out-of-town guests and providing Shabbat morning breakfast and dinner, which will also serve as a wonderful time to build ties between the teens and our local families.

During the weekend, adults from Temple will also help with transportation to and from Temple and with preparing and serving other meals here at Temple.

For more information on our OTYG chapter activities or to learn about how you can help with the NFTY Missouri Valley Spring Chavurah, please contact, Nikki Flatowicz at nflatowicz@templeisraelomaha.com.

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February 27, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 7

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Jill Sherman, at the request of the Susan G. Komen Nebraska affiliate, participated in a breast cancer awareness night at the Omaha Lancers hockey game on Feb. 14. Diagnosed in October 2013, Jill, a breast cancer survivor, dropped the puck on the ice at Pink in the Rink, presented that evening by Methodist Health System. The daughter of Marc and Claudia Sherman, Jill was accompanied by her eight-year-old niece, Ally Sherman, daughter of Mitch and Shannon Sherman.

Klutznick Learning Series

by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Program Coordinator, The Center for Jewish Life Taking a look at the prohibition of mixing linen and wool and that of not sacrificing one’s offspring will be the focus of the second week of the 2015 Klutznick Learning Series on Tuesday evening, March 3 beginning at 7 p.m. Each night of the five-session series will examine two commandments from both a religious and a real life perspective based on the theme Beyond the Big Ten – And We’re Not Talking About Football.

Leading off the evening on March 3 will be Rabbi Ari Dembitzer discussing the religious side of the prohibition of mixing linen and wool - Deut. 22:11 – “You shall not wear cloth combining wool and linen.” Shelly Lerner, with Bel Air Fashions, will then talk about how designers and manufacturers make fabric decisions. Following a short break, Cantor Wendy Shermet will talk about the admonition of not sacrificing children to Molech - Lev. 18:21 -”Do not allow any of your offspring to be offered up to Molech, and do not profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.” Teresa Drelicharz from Jewish Family Service will then speak about the dangers that are sadly faced by many children and the services and efforts that are at work every day in Omaha to help them.

The following week, March 10 will feature Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan covering Exod.

22:27 “You shall not revile God, not put a curse upon a chieftain among your people” followed by Ari Kohen focusing on the importance of free speech. The second commandment covered will be that of killing a Sabbath breaker – Num. 15:32-36, “Once when the Israelites were in the wilderness, they came upon a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day…Then the Lord said to

Moses, ‘The man shall be put to death.’”

Scott Littky will handle the religious side with a member of the legal field talking about how sentences are determined in criminal cases.

On March 27, Rabbi Mendel Katzman and Ari Riekes will discuss showing deference to the elderly followed by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer and Alan Potash exploring the commandment to blot out remembrance of Amalekites. The final session, on March 24, will begin with Hazzan Michael Krausman talking about the commandment not to consult “ghosts,” followed by Patty Nogg and Zoe Riekes sharing their experiences in having a reading with deceased loved ones. The final part of that session will be Rabbi Steven Abraham talking about charging no interest when lending to the poor, plus Margo Riekes sharing the many financial dangers faced by the disadvantaged.

Each evening will feature four, 15-minute presentations, Q&A time plus a short break with refreshments provided. The sessions are unique and, while everyone is encouraged to attend each week, people are welcome to attend fewer sessions as well.

The series is available free of charge due to the generous financial support of the fund of the Klutznick Chair of Jewish Civilization at Creighton University. The Klutznick Governance Council includes Bonnie Bloch, Steve Riekes, Marty Shukert and Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, the Klutznick Chair.

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

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8 | The Jewish Press | February 27, 2015

Beth Israel: A great place to celebrate Purim

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by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Publicity Chair, Beth Israel Synagogue Be a part of Beth Israel’s great Purim events on March 4 and 5! With multiple readings of the Megillah, two delicious dinners, the Beth Israel Purim Talent Show and the talented Poppin’ Penelope, it will be a wonderful way to celebrate.

The day before Purim, Wednesday, March 4, is known as the Fast of Esther, when Jews fast and pray to commemorate the fast of the Jews during the time of Esther and Mordechai. Shacharit will be at 6:45 a.m., and Mincha and Maariv will be at 6 p.m. The first megillah reading will begin at 7 p.m., followed by dinner with Betty’s famous macaroni and cheese, salad, chips and dessert. Cost for dinner is Poppin’ Penelope $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 4-12 and free of charge for those 3 years and younger. A late megillah reading will take place at 9 p.m.

Purim day, Thursday, March 5, begins with Shacharit at 6:45 a.m. Megillah readings will take place at 7:15 a.m., 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. There will also be a 10:30 a.m. reading at the Blumkin Home and a 2:45 p.m. reading at Remington. Mincha begins at 5 p.m., immediately followed by the seudah and Beth Israel Purim Show at 5:15 p.m. The seudah menu includes spaghetti and meatballs, mashed potato bar and dessert. The cost is $12 for adults, $6 for children 4-12 and free for those 3 and under. A family rate for parents and immediate family is available for $30.

The Beth Israel Purim Talent Show will be the perfect opportunity for you to show off your talent. Prizes will be awarded for the best display of talent for various categories including adults, children, babies, groups, costumes and more. Please register with the office to participate.

Also adding to the evening of fun will be Poppin’ Penelope making her fabulous balloon creations for one and all. Billed as one of the most talented balloon artists in the country, Poppin’ Penelope, armed with the latest balloon-twisting skills and speed and a unique sense of humor, is an always popular face at events.

Purim is a wonderful Jewish holiday, and Beth Israel will help you fulfill the four special mitzvot of the day which include hearing the Megillah, both at night and during the day, the enjoyment of a festive Purim meal, sending gifts, Mishloach Manot, and giving gifts to the poor, Matanot l’Evyonim. For gifts to the poor, Beth Israel will once again

be collecting funds for Garin Ometz, an organization in Akko, Israel, which runs a center called Orot Chesed. The volunteers of Orot Chesed provide over 700 sandwiches every day for needy children in schools throughout the city.

Talent Show and dinner registrations can be made by emailing bethisrael@orthodoxomaha.org or by calling the synagogue office at 402.556.6288. All events are open to the community.

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. For more information, please contact Beth Israel Synagogue’s office at 402.556.6288, or e-mail BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

Arts+Entertainment Karen & Friends present “An Afternoon of Music” celebrating the Blumkin Home Residents on Sunday, March 1 at 1:30 p.m. in the JCC auditorium. Join Karen Sokolof Javitch and her ‘friends’ – Pegi Georgeson, Daniel Denenberg, Mia Vinci, Joyce Torchia, Krissy Kirby, Gene Klosner as they sing Karen’s original songs to all of the residents! It will be an hour of fun and surprises for everyone as Chuck Penington from Mannheim Steamroller accompanies them!

The Old Avoca Schoolhouse in Avoca, NE will be hosting a special “Schoolhouse Celtic Fiddling Camp”, for fiddlers, violists, mandolinists, guitarists, and ukulele players. Music from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will be featured. The sessions will be led by championship fiddler and author, Deborah Greenblatt.

The camp will be on Wednesday, March 11-Friday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can sign up for 1 day, or 2 days, or all 3 days. One day is $60, two days are $110 and three days are $150.

For more information, and to register, click on the following link: http://greenblattandseay.com/schoolhouse_fid dle_camp.shtml.

Enrollment for the “Schoolhouse Celtic Fiddling Camp” is limited. E-mail Deborah at debby@greenblattanseay.com if you have any questions.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Speaker to be announced for Wednesday, March 4, noon. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

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February 27, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 9

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Making conversation

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor A dear friend recently showed me an article she wrote, in which she quoted me as making a joke I totally don’t remember making. It made me think about my own conversations in a whole new light. We all have people in our life who have the power to make us see things differently, and she is one of those people.

As a society, we are slowly coming to terms with the fact that when we put something in writing, especially when that writing lands on social media, we need to choose our words wisely. We’re not there yet, the Internet is dripping with venomous comments that were typed in haste, and can’t ever be deleted. We’ve all been trolled, we’ve all hit “send” a little faster than we should have.

But at the same time, when we speak verbally, we often are a little more careless. In most cases our conversations are not being recorded, they are as temporary as the wind, now here, gone forever the next moment. You can’t prove I said it, and I’m going to deny it if you ever bring it up. I didn’t mean it that way. You must have misheard me. But also: I’ve told you this a thousand times; why won’t you listen?

For years, my husband has been quoting Deborah Tannen’s book You just don’t understand to me. If you’ve never read it, I recommend you do, as it deals with how what

we say is not always what the other person hears. In fact, there is a virtual landmine of misinterpretation going on while we talk. We deal with non-verbal cues, smiles, or the lack thereof, voice tone, and memories of previous conver-

sation that color whether we believe what the other is saying.

So much of what we say, even when we are not speaking

Loshon Hora, can be misconstrued. It’s a bit of a miracle we are still speaking to each other at all.

Of course, there’s a positive side to this. Knowing how important our words are to others, we can pay extra attention to what we say, when we say it, and to whom we say it. In addition to listening to others, we can listen to ourselves. When what we say changes meaning mid-way, when something doesn’t come out right, or—as in my case—we make a joke we don’t remember, we have the opportunity to learn something about how we interact with others. Loshon Hora isn’t just about not saying the wrong thing; it is also about saying the right thing.

That friend of mine who started this train of thought probably wonders by now how a few words from her brought all this on. I would tell her I have this obsessive tendency to over-analyze conversations and take them in a very different direction. It tends to happen when words are your job.

I don’t think I’m the only one; we all replay conversations in our head and try to make sense of them. I for one think it’s wonderful when humans interact this way, when we make each other exercise our brains. And I can’t guarantee I will remember every word that comes out of my mouth from now on, but I’m going to give it my best shot.

Purim poser: What is our fascination with villains?

by EDMON J. RODMAN LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- Who is the Haman in your life?

The person who, like the bad guy in the Megillah Esther that we read on Purim, schemes to bring you down.

When we get to the place in the Megillah where Haman is forced to lead Mordechai though the streets of Shushan, saying, “This is what is done for the man whom the king desires to honor,” might we insert ourselves -- like a video game -into an updated version of the story? Imagining that a seriously negative person in our life is pushing our car down the street while we sit behind the wheel and wave?

Not that your neighbor is Lord Voldemort or Dr. Moriarty, but what about that boss who is omitting your name from the organization chart? The relative who always leaves you off the guest list? That student spray-painting swastikas on your son’s fraternity house? Or just the forever interrupting “Rachel” from cardholder services?

If we could only rid ourselves of them, then “Oh, today would merry, merry be.”

Or would it?

In the Purim story, we have sweet Esther, wise Mordechai and foolish Ahashveras -- a pretty light cast of characters until the heavy, Haman, adds the contrast of evil and stirs the action.

Beginning with childhood, we intuitively understand how boring fairy tales would be without the witch, and in Oz, Dorothy would have no one to resist surrendering to.

On Purim, Haman is the name we are supposed to blot out, yet clearly his name remains written in our minds.

Could it be that in our own life stories, we need someone to mix it up with in order to progress? Does that explain our fascination, even attraction, to villains?

Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, tells us that the “crown of a good name is superior to all.” So why do we seem so at ease with those who wear a black hat -- and I don’t mean the haredim.

We hate what Gordon Gecko of Wall Street stands for, but why do we know what he had to say about greed? Is it that we like to see the bad guy get his comeuppance, or do we just like seeing him coming up? Either way, the series finale of Breaking Bad, featuring the high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine dealing anti-hero Walter White,

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was watched by over 10 million viewers.

In sports, when our team’s archrival comes to town, we get tickets to watch our heroes trounce the villians. But as we boo when their stars come to the plate, make a late hit or a flagrant foul, we hate them while at the same time understanding that without those bums, the fun would fade.

In some of our favorite computer games, like Grand Theft Auto, we can even act out the ways of the villain. Watching my adult sons play one day, I was surprised to see how readily they took on the role of the evil protagonist. Trying it myself, driving my stolen car down the streets of Santa Monica, I soon became a regular Haman on Wheels, threatening the extinction of an entire population of pedestrians. Was that me grinning as I “accidentally” backed up over a man on the sidewalk?

In Jewish texts, beginning with the snake in the Garden of Eden, we are tempted by the promises of the villain. At Passover, as we take a drop of wine for each plague, the heart-hardened Pharaoh fills our seder tables, though afterward we ease the tension by singing about “frogs in his bed.”

In synagogue, the words of the sorcerer Bil’am, who the rabbis called “harasha,” “the wicked,” even begins our prayers with the words “Mah tovu,” “How goodly.”

At Hanukkah, without the severe decrees of King Antiochus, we would not only be minus a dilemma in December but a holiday, too.

The biblical anti-hero calls to us as well. In discussions about the Torah portion Korach, which is named for the man who rebels against the authority of Moses, I sometimes find it easy to take his side. Wasn’t he just a misunderstood nonconformist?

And though I first heard the story of the Golem as a child, I am still confused: Was the Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague’s monster of mud hero or villain? Or a little of both?

The truth is that in villians we see a little of ourselves. An idea in Jewish thought is that we are all born with both an evil inclination, “Yetzer hara,” and a good one, “Yetzer hatov.” Does this internal duality connect us to Haman?

Perhaps for the part of our psyches that conjures up ways to wipe out opposition before we consider how wrong it is.

In terms of reconciling the villain inside, thankfully most of us don’t have Darth Vader as a dad. But we do imagine,

and even know, what we look like in black. And on Purim, if you put a light saber in our hands, even if it is a toy, we know that somehow the force wouldn’t be any fun without the bad.

Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles. Contact him at edmojace@gmail.com.

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.

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-

Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial

material and photos to: avandekamp @jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jew ishomaha.org.

Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org.

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events.

News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.”

Letter TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: This is in response to the letter from a member of the community (Feb. 13) questioning the delivery of services at Planned Parenthood and the ethical values as it relates to Jewish practice and teachings. As a member of the Jewish community and one who has devoted her career to the betterment of women’s rights and healthcare, I can attest that at all times my faith and service to women demonstrated that yes, in fact – the services provided are supported by Jewish beliefs. I have been a former Chief Executive Officer of 2 Planned Parenthoods, so have firsthand experience in the provision of services and the respect we have for women and their choices. Providing healthcare at free and/or discounted services to disenfranchised populations, reflects on our commandment to assist those in need, respecting women and valuing their decision making aligns with the honor and respect we have for women and their important role in our community.

Supporting families and education of our youth is reflected in the services we provide.

Women access care at Planned Parenthood for a myriad of reasons. We listen, respect them, and value their ability to make informed decisions. Information, education, and referrals are given regarding any decision they choose to make, parenting, adoption, and abortion. In my position as CEO of Southwest Ohio, I provided prenatal services and we proudly delivered over 60 babies. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has an on-going relationship with the Avalon Center to facilitate the adoption process.

Planned Parenthood is an organization focused on healthy women and families. Ethical values of respect and compassion are true hallmarks of our religious belief.

Becki Brenner 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.

10 | The Jewish Press | February 27, 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 March 13, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Cheryl Lerner on Volunteering with the Chabad Food Pantry. Please bring any of the following items to be donated to the food pantry: Peanut Butter, Tuna Fish, canned vegetables, toilet paper and toothpaste. Oneg to follow service. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

Larry Blass will officiate at all of the Speaker Series Services.

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: Lunch at Nebraska AIDS Coalition, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10 a.m.; Mini Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6 p.m.; YAC Game Night, 7:30 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: BESTT Classes, 9:45 a.m.; Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m.; Sunday Scholar Series, 11 a.m., featuring Rabbi Ari Dembitzer, Interim Rabbi, Beth Israel Synaogue on Why Does One Drink on Purim?; Kibbutz Chaverim goes Ice Skating, 12:15 p.m.; Dames & Drinks, Yoga & Wine, 7 p.m. at Lotus Yoga, 144th & Center.

TUESDAY: The Wonderful World of Jewish Music, 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT Classes, Purim Fun Day, 4:15 p.m.

Early dismissal at 6 p.m.; Purim Congregational Megillah Reading, 6 p.m.

Shabbat Services/Men’s Club Shabbat, Saturday, March 7, 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Scholar Series, Sunday, March 8, 11 a.m., featuring Alan Potash, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Federation of Omaha on The Paris Situation.

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, 5:54 p.m.; Friday Night Dinner and Judge Daniel Butler, Scholar-in-Residence, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. featuring sermon by Judge Butler: Finding Sparks of Holiness in a Wi-Fi World; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 5:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:55 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Midrash: Understanding our Prayers, 9:45 a.m.; Judge Butler: Ten Commandements of Happy Relationships; The Jewish View from Family Court, 11 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Scholar’s Club for Boys, 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: Wrestling with Rashi Class, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Weiss.

WEDNESDAY-Fast of Esther: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.; Megillah Reading, 7 p.m.

Dinner following Megillah Reading. Menu includes: Betty’s Famous Mac & Cheese, salad, chips, and dessert. $8 for adults; $4 for kids ages 4-12; free for kids 3 and younger; Late Megillah Reading, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY-Purim: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Megillah

Candlelighting Friday, February 27, 5:54 p.m.

Readings, 7:15 a.m., 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; Mincha, 5 p.m.; Purim Talent Show and Seudah, 5:15 p.m. Menu includes: spaghetti & meatballs, mashed potato bar, and dessert. $12 for adults; $6 for kids ages 4-12; free for kids 3 and younger; family rate of $30. Featuring Popping Penelope. (see full story on page 8.)

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 Marc Shkolnick; guests: confirmation class from Osceola and Shelby United Methodist Churches.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Mishpatim; Havdalah Service, Potluck Dessert and Jewish Movie Night, 7 p.m. Bring a dessert to share and join us for a showing of Enemies: A Love Story.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite and Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel. Parents are invited to join us for Purim treats at 11:45 a.m.; Confirmation Class, 10:15 a.m. at Bagels & Joe; Youth Group Children’s Purim Carnival, 1:30-2:45 p.m.; Purim Spiel: Frozen in the Magic Kingdom (of Shushan), 3 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS classes; Creative Megillah Reading, 7 p.m.

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

THURSDAY: Beginning Hebrew, 6 p.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 7 p.m.

Sixth Niagara Abrahamic Traditions Dinner, Wednesday, March 11, 6-9 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

RSVP required by March 4. Respond to the Temple office at office@southstreettemple.org or 402.435.8004. Free Will Donation.

President’s Office Hours, Sunday Mornings, 10 a.m.–noon at SST. If you have any Temple business, programs, or new ideas you would like to discuss with Temple president David Weisser, please email him at president@southstreettemple. org or call him at 402.513.7697, or stop by the Temple between 10 a.m. and noon on Sundays when religious school is in session.

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.

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The Next Home Show will be: Sioux City, IA: February 26th - March 1st at the Siouxland Home Show & Pierre, SD: February 28th - March 1st at the Pierre Home and Sports Show.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. led by Chabad.

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: Fourth Grade Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Brown and Cantor Shermet along with the fourth grade.

SATURDAY: Tot Shabbat, 9 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other families with young children, connect with our clergy, and add that wonderful Shabbat spice to the life of your family. 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.

Meredith Matz, daughter of Stacie Spies-Matz and Jay Matz, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Hamentaschen Baking, 10 a.m.; Grades K-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; ThirdSixth Grade Youth Activity - Bowling with Temple Israel, noon. Meet in the Social Hall for Pizza Lunch after Religious School. Parent Pick up at Western Bowl at 2 p.m. - 4725 S 131st Omaha 68137. No additional cost if you have paid the Youth Activities fee (part of Religious School Registration.)

To RSVP, and more information, email Debbie Massarano at dmassarano@templeisraelomaha.com.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; Purim Carnival, 4:30 p.m.; Family Night, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; Shushan Purim Motown Style Service and Spiel, 6:15 p.m.; Hamantaschen, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Dilemmas of Faith: God and Spirituality in the Modern World, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel; OTYG Lounge Night, 6 p.m.

First Friday Shabbat Service, Friday, March 6.

Candlelighting and Kiddush in the Simon Community Court, 5:30 p.m., Service, 6 p.m., followed by dinner. Menu: Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Mixed Vegetables and Apple Pie. Cost is $5/person, max of $20 per family.

Please RSVP to Temple Israel, templeisrael@templeisraelomaha. com or 402.556.6536, by Wednesday, March 4.

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.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite and Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel. Parents are invited to join us for Purim treats at 11:45 a.m.; Haftorah Reading class, 11-11:50 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS classes; Purim Extravaganza, 5:30 p.m. at the Coren home. All ages welcome. There will be a light dinner, Megillah reading, and entertainment including Zach and Avi Knecht on their guitars following the Megillah reading and Howard the magician. If you think you will be joining us (and we hope you do) please let Nava in the synagogue office know.

Havdalah Havurah, Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m. at the home of Jaine and Andy Merliss (2825 William St). The gathering will include a musical performance by Ben Merliss and Nathaniel Kaup.

Pulverent e

February 27, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 11

In memoriam ARTHUR “ART” ABRAMS Arthur “Art” Abrams passed away on Feb. 17. Services were held on Feb. 20 at Beth El Cemetery, 84th and L Street.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years LaReine and sons, Barry and Steve.

He is survived by his daughter, Delia Markowitz of Oceanside, CA. He was born in 1920 in Bayonne NJ to Harry and Ethel (Shein). He graduated Bayonne High School 1938. He was a Manager for Zales Jewelry and earned the status as a Traveling Diamond Club member. He was a veteran of WWII 467 Bomb Squad AAB Delhart TX. He was a member of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Lincoln and Beth El Synagogue in Omaha.

Memorials may be made to the organization of your choice.

EDWARD (ESE) FORMAN Edward (Ese) Forman passed away Feb. 22 at the age of 90.

Services were held on Feb. 25 at Golden Hill Cemetery, 5025 North 42nd Street.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Annette Frank Schloff and Sara Persell.

He is survived by nephew and niece, Ron and Marsha Frank; niece and nephew, Sharon and Elliot Goldman of Chicago; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Ed served in the Air Force and returned to Omaha, working as a clothier at Parsow’s Menswear for many years and was also a drummer with the Eddie Hadad Orchestra, as well as an artist.

Memorials may be made to the Eastern Nebraska Veteran's Home, Alzheimer's Care, 1205 S. 40th St., Bellevue, NE 68123.

MYLEE W. KATELMAN Mylee W. Katelman passed away on Feb. 9 at age 102.

Services were held Feb. 11 at Oakhill Jewish Cemetery, 17510 Sunnydale Rd., Council Bluffs, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband Maurice.

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Sue, and son, Jeffery, and daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Sol Carter; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

Clarinet. Norm then returned to Omaha and took over the family business of Krizelman Plumbing Co. until he retired in 2011. In 1980 he married his high school sweetheart Judi Dobroftsky. Throughout his life, Norm enjoyed listening to jazz and Frank Sinatra and spending time with family.

Memorials may be made to The Norman Krizelman Memorial fund at Great Western Bank.

FLORAINE SINGER RICE Former Omahan Floraine Singer Rice passed away Feb. 16 in Minneapolis, MN, where she moved in 2008. A private graveside service was held in Minneapolis.

She was preceded in death by husband, Norman M. (Bud) Rice, parents Morris and Dora Singer and siblings, Mildred Goodbinder and Lazier and Irvin Singer.

She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Alan Winner, and son, Steven; grandchildren: Robyn and Neil Paloian, and great-granddaughter, Marissa.

Memorials may be made preferably to the organization of your choice.

IRA TRACHTENBARG Ira Trachtenbarg passed away on Feb. 18 at age 86.

Services were held Feb. 22 at Beth El Cemetery, 84th & L Streets.

He was preceded in death by Geraldine Trachtenbarg and four siblings; Bernard, Malcolm, Ruth and Mort.

He is survived by wife, Margaret; daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Paul Cohen, and daughter, Sharron Tholt and Ken Runnion; grandchildren: Lisa and Shawn Hugg, Andrea and Chad Johnson, Eric and Meghan Goodman, and Michelle and Peter Schultz; great-grandchildren: Spencer, Peyton, Sylvia, Owen, Emily, Alex, Tate and Nash; and numerous dear friends.

Memorials may be made to the Nebraska Chapter of the the Alzheimer's Association, or to the organization of your choice.

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Community Activities Director The Jewish Community of Sioux City is seeking a Community Activities Director.

Duties will include administration and implementation of all Sioux City Jewish Federation and Congregation Beth Shalom activities. The full-time position will open in the late spring of 2015. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a resume to the office at 815 38th Street, Sioux City, IA 51104.

The Activities Director will be the go-to-person to make things happen. Skills will be important but energy and commitment will be equally important.

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NORMAN A. KRIZELMAN Norman A. Krizelman passed away on Feb. 15 at age 73.

Services were held Feb. 18 at Beth El Cemetery, 84th and L Street.

He was preceded in death by wife Judi Krizelman and parents, Frieda and Max Krizelman.

He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Heather Abramson, and daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Jack Donnelly of Pittsburgh, PA; grandchildren: Andrew Abramson and Lauren Donnelly; sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Dave Cohen of Houston, TX; aunt, Esther Swerdlow of Philidelphia, PA; nieces and newphews, Laurie and Phillip Applebaum of Dallas, TX, and Pam and Donald Smith of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, and Phillip and Lisa Cohen of of Austin, TX; great-nieces, Shayna, and Michelle; great-nephews, Zachary, Parker and Blake.

Norman graduated from Westside High School and then attended Berkley School of Music and New England Conservatory in Boston where he studied Saxophone and

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Nebraska You are invited to join us for a festive Purim experience on Thursday, March 5 at Chabad.

The Megillah Reading will take place at 5 p.m. and is followed by a feast. Come in your best costume, and participate in a Mishloach Manot swap.

Attendance is free, but RSVPs are appreciated. Email: Britta@ochabad.com

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. Rooted. But Not Standing Still.

Career Opporunity Economic Development President Custer County, Nebraska The Custer Economic Development Company is seeking an Economic Development President responsible for the coordination of activities, programs and operations focused on the retention and expansion of existing businesses, attracting new businesses and creating jobs while preserving the quality of life in Custer County Nebraska.

Completion of a bachelor’s degree, advanced education, training and completion of professional economic development training preferred. A combination of education and experience will be considered. Will be required to travel and work a varying schedule, including nights and weekends.

Full-time salaried position. Compensation based on experience and skills.

Benefit package provided. Candidate required to establish residency in Custer County within three months of employment and have a valid driver’s license.

Submit cover letter, resume and 3 professional references no later than 5pm CT, Friday, March 13, 2015. For a complete description, contact: Stuart L. Fox, Chairman • stuartf@nesb.net Custer Economic Development Corporation P.O. Box 2 • Broken Bow, NE 68822 308-870-5012 • www.custercountyne.com

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ENTRY-LEVEL Police Officer job opening in Ogallala, NE. Application requests - contact Ogallala Civil Service Commission, 410 East Second Street, Ogallala, NE 69153 (308-284-2024) or email csigwing@kc911.net. Application deadline date 03/16/15 4:00 p.m. (MT). EOE.

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$500 SIGNING Bonus for Journeyman Electrician/Foreman for our Commercial division. Top wages. Anderson Bros. Electric, Plumbing & Heating, 2600 E. Highway 30, Kearney, NE. OPERATOR POSITIONS open at Nebraska Energy, LLC, in Aurora, NE. Competitive wages and benefits. For full job descriptions, visit www.aventinerei.com and click Careers for listings. Applications can be picked up on location or resumes can be mailed to 2103 Harvest Drive, Aurora, NE 68818, or e-mailed to Julie.Jensen@aventinerei.com.

SERVICE MANAGER needed for tractor shop in Case/IH dealership. Good pay and benefits. Contact Tim at 402-395-2181.

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12 | The Jewish Press | February 27, 2015

Remembering our history

Open pulpit RABBI STEVEN ABRAHAM, Beth El am often intrigued that while Modern Hebrew has a term for “history,” no such word existed in the biblical language. Words, or lack there of, tell us a lot about a society, culture or religion. While “history” may not have been in the lexicon of our ancestors, the term “memory” held an important place, as did the obligation to remember. History is a story, someone else’s story, a story we typically read or watch unfold through the lens of another. To learn or speak about history is to take part in an experience for which you were not present. It is to deal with facts and figures, often devoid of personal meaning. History is impersonal; memory, on the other hand, is deeply personal. It is, as Jonathan Safran Foer put it, “the Jewish sixth sense.” Memory, as opposed to history, is something all together different.

This coming Shabbat is known as Shabbat Zachor, The Shabbat of Remembrance. Shabbat Zachor, which falls immediately before Purim, along with Shabbat Shekalim, Shabbat Parah and Shabbat HaChodesh are four of the special shabbatot that lead us up to the holiday of Passover, each getting their name from a theme found in the Torah Portion.

On Shabbat Zachor we are told to remember the vicious attack upon the Israelites in the desert by the Amalekites.

The biblical command, beautiful as it is confusing, is “to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven, you shall not forget” [Deut. 25:19].

Shabbat Zachor is far from the only mention of remembrance in our tradition. Only a few short weeks ago we read the Ten Commandments, the fourth commandment being to remember the Sabbath day and make it holy. On Rosh

Hashanah, one of the three sections of the Musaf Amidah is entitled Zichronot (memories), where we are told that God remembers the past and present. And perhaps the most well known use of the word Zachor is when it is morphed to Yizkor, a service where we recall our loved ones of blessed memory.

How fascinating that the memories of our biblical ancestors are kept fresh in our minds because we read about them every week. The stories, merely by reading over them,

I

become part of our identity; we internalize them as our own.

If history is to see the world through someone else’s eyes, then “to remember” is to internalize the experience as if it was your own. By that understanding, we can include the Passover commandment that “each person must see him or herself as if they had come out of Egypt” [Mishna Pesachim 10:5] as a part of our collective memory. One of the most beautiful experiences I ever had was sitting at a Passover Seder with a young woman who was a Jew by Choice. We read through the Haggadah and at one point, she turned to me, with a sense of pride in her heart and a tear in her eye saying “This is my story.”

Why is this the case you ask? Why must we remember things, honor them, and see ourselves as if we had been spared? The reason is simple, to teach us empathy. Why are we reminded in the Torah to have only one law for yourself and the stranger who lives amongst you? Because you, too, were once a stranger in the land of Egypt. Simply recalling history allows for apathy, it allows us to say, “That wasn’t me;” whereas memory only has room for empathy. Even when the story may be something for which we are ashamed or wish to forget, the story is ours.

When we commemorate the holiday of Tisha b’av (9th day of Av) we remember the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. And it has become the prevailing custom to remember other atrocities that have befallen the Jewish people on that same day. Calamities such as the beginning of the First Crusade, the expulsion of Jews from England, France and Spain; as well as the deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka.

Perhaps because these events, in the grand scheme of Jewish history, are considered recent, the imperative has changed from “remember” to “never forget”. Remembrance and not forgetting go hand in hand, just as we are read on Shabbat Zachor: “Blot out the memory of Amalek... you shall not forget.”

As uncomfortable as it may be, as we sit in 2015 watching images of rampant anti-Semitism make its way across Europe, we must realize that this, too, is our narrative. To say it is something else is to deny what we have lived through before and swore to never forget. The rabbinic dictum of Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, which translates to “all of Israel is responsible for each other” [Shevuot 39a], binds us together not by nationality or language, but by our faith and our memories.

Now is the time to invest in our community’s future!

It’s more than a donation.

t’s your legacy.

During the past fiscal year, your Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation disbursed nearly $1.5 million from endowments, custodial funds and supporting foundations.

Distributions from Endowment, Custodial Funds and Supporting Foundations (Total Disbursements: $1,486,000)

2013-2014 Fiscal Year Outside Organizations & Other Disbursements $78,000 (5%) JCC & Its Programs $99,000 (7%)

Foundation Merit Scholarships & Awards $61,000 (4%)

ADL/CRC & Institute for Holocaust Education $60,000 (4%) Jewish Federation of Omaha, Center for Jewish Life & Jewish Press $594,000 (40%)

Contact the Foundation today!

Local Jewish Organizations $133,000 (9%)

Scholarships (College, Camp, JCC, CDC) $190,000 (13%)

As the local coordinator of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY™ initiative, the Foundation and our nine local Jewish partner organizations, have received over 220 commitments for after-lifetime gifts from generous members of Omaha’s Jewish community.

Howard N. Epstein, Executive Director 402-334-6466 hepstein@jewishomaha.org Jewish Social Services (Rose Blumkin Jewish Home/Jewish Senior Outreach/Jewish Family Service) $271,000 (18%)

Margo Parsow, LIFE & LEGACY Coordinator 402-334-6432 mparsow@jewishomaha.org