March 10, 2023

The Jewish Press

BBYO International Convention

REGULARS

Spotlight 7

Voices 8

Synagogues 10

Life cycles 11

DEBBIE SHEMONY and edited by JACOB GELTZER

The 2023 BBYO International Convention theme, “Now is Our Time,” heralds a call to action to young leaders to focus on the importance of democracy as a means to create change.

Over President’s Day weekend, more than 3,200 teens from 44 countries attended BBYO International Convention (IC) in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 15–20, 2023, representing the largest gathering of young Jewish leaders in the world. This

Jewish Business Leaders starts 2023 off right

JAY KATELMAN

JFO Director of Community Development and LIFE & LEGACY/OJAA Coordinator

Jewish Business Leader Bagels & Breakfast will return to the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue at the Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center. We will meet on April 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the first event of 2023. It is our pleasure to welcome the President and Chief Executive Officer of Valmont Industries, Inc., Steve Kaniewski. Steve has been with the company since 2010 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company’s two primary business segments. “Valmont operates with 85 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries and more than 10,000 employees and has been in international markets for more than five decades.”

Before Steve took over as President and Chief Executive officer, Steve held many roles within Valmont. Steve was born in Philadelphia, PA, See JBL page 2

trailblazing event shaped the narrative on how teens combat antisemitism, embrace democracy, and fuel their enthusiasm for making a difference in their communities. IC 2023’s convention theme, “Now Is Our Time,” represents not only a celebration of the current strength and spirit of the teen-led BBYO Movement, but also an empowering invitation to young people worldwide to advocate for causes about which they are passionate.

See BBYO International Convention page 3

Community poker tourney

HOWARD K. MARCUS

Beth El Men’s Club Chair

Polish up your poker skills.

“Got Gelt? Get Dealt!” is happening March 19 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Beth El Synagogue.

The Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament is the brainchild of event co-chairs Shane Cohn and Mosah Goodman.

“‘Got Gelt? Get Dealt!’ is our vision for a community fundraiser with a focus towards raising funds for a specific cause,” Cohn said. “My

friends and I typically have a poker party a few times a year, so this seemed pretty easy, just on a larger scale and with a different purpose.”

In this instance, the cause will be Beth El’s Education for the Future Campaign. Proceeds from the event will go toward that fundraising effort.

“Our greatest achievement as a people is the education of our children,” said Rabbi Steven Abraham of Beth El. “We are grateful to Men’s Club for hosting a fun event where See Poker tourney page 2

Teens in Israel Page 2

Packed synagogues and no violence Page 6

The real story behind the Jewish family comedy iMordecai

Page 12

Teens from Mid America Region getting ready for an evening of Shabbat.

Steve Kaniewski

Community poker tourney

Continued from page 1

Teens in Israel

HANNAH AND ABBY STEIN

Benjamin Disraeli, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during the 1800s, once famously replied, when insulted about his Jewish heritage: “Yes, I am a Jew and when the ancestors of the right honorable gentleman were brutal savages in an unknown island, mine were priests in the temple of Solomon.” Disraeli, through this comment, shows his pride in his Jewish heritage, one all Jews should feel. The Jewish people are the longest lasting continuous ethnic group in history. What other nation can claim a history even remotely close to the Jews? Other civilizations have come and gone, but the Jews have remained. The cultures of ancient Greeks and Romans are extinct. The Babylonians and Persians died out millennia ago. However, the Jewish people have stood through time, protected by the hand of God. We are a people keeping the same laws as our ancestors 5000 years ago. We are a people observing the same traditions and praying to the same God. This enormity of Jewish history is one that should inspire pride in the heart of every Jew, just by being a part of this great legacy. We were always conscious of the Jewish people’s longstanding history, but there is a vast difference between knowing something and actually experiencing it firsthand. Our trip to Israel this past winter instilled in us a greater pride of our religion and brought us to an understanding we had not had before. We had never been to Israel and expected to be changed for the better by the trip. However, the experience far exceeded the expectation. It is a unique experience to walk on the land on which characters in the Torah once stood. We were able to stand in the city of David, on the streets where our ancestors had walked thousands of years ago, where the an-

cient kings of Israel ruled, where the prophets of Israel lived. Most impactful of all, we were able to see the Kotel, the actual wall surrounding the Beis Hamikdash. Seeing the actual wall alongside a depiction of the original makes the point more effectively than anything we could write about it. This ancient wall that stood above us symbolized the con-

tinuity of our religion. It brought the Torah to life. It showed that the Jewish people are not just one nation across the physical world, but across time as well. It was on this realization that we felt the proudest to be Jewish. Touching the wall, we realized that we were a part of this long-standing tradition, a part of God’s chosen people.

the money raised will help to renovate our school wing, making it the best learning environment possible for our students.”

The Poker Guy will run the tournament. For a $50 buy-in, each participant will receive poker chips and two drink tickets.

“From there you can buy back in to keep your chances alive to win some of the amazing prizes,” said Cohn.

Second and subsequent buy-ins are $25 each and will come with an additional drink ticket. Drinks also will be available for separate purchase. Light snacks will be served.

Cohn said he hopes the tourney will become a community event that annually travels to different Omaha Jewish venues under the direction of Beth El Men’s Club.

“This is about creating and building a community that we are all proud to be a part of,” he said. “If we can raise a bit of money to go towards things that are important to us while schmoozing with friends from the community, it’s a win-win!”

First prize is a William Henry pocket knife donated by Gunderson’s Jewelers. Second prize is a basketball autographed by the Creighton University team, plus RTIC items including a backpack cooler, slim can cooler and tumblers.

A $200 bourbon-tasting certificate from Proof! is third prize. Register at www.bethel-omaha.org by March 13. Participants must be 21 or older.

“Bring your friends, your spouse, your sister, your brother, your neighbor,” Cohn said.

For more information, contact Beth El Engagement Coordinator Robby Erlich at 402.492.8550.

JBL

Continued from page 1 and graduated from Santa Clara University in California. Steve now serves as a member of the board of directors and the executive board committee for the United Way of the Midlands and as chairman emeritus of the board for the AIM Institute. He is also a member of the Bellevue University’s Board of Directors and a member of the Creighton University Board of Trustees. Steve loves his community and is very passionate about helping Omaha become a better place. Steve has a wife Patricia and children, who are involved in the Omaha Community. Please RSVP by going to the following website: https://fundraise.givesmart .com/form/-q_5WQ?vid=xdjfy

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Jewish Camps: So important for every Jewish child

AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS

JFO Foundation Executive Director

The Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha wants to thank Joe and Maxine Kirshenbaum for establishing the Joseph and Maxine Kirshenbaum Camp Scholarship Endowment Fund. Their idea to start a camp fund had been percolating for years from witnessing all the good things The Financial Aid Committee of JFO has done and continues to do to support camp and education scholarships.

Seeing how years of Jewish summer camp experiences benefited their children, Joe and Maxine had a desire to establish a scholarship fund to provide financial assistance for Omaha’s Jewish youth to attend a Jewish summer camp. Maxine and Joe’s children attended Camp Esther K. Newman and then Camp Sabra, where they not only made lifelong friends, but also formed a strong Jewish identity. And, in turn, their grandchildren attended Herzl Camp, Camp Sabra and OSRUI.

In a conversation several years ago, one of Omaha’s rabbis discussed with Joe the importance of Jewish summer camp.

“Jewish summer camp is as important for Jewish children as Hebrew School.” They discover their separate identities through the unique learning and bonding experience that is so important for every Jewish child.

“The time was right for us to establish this fund at The Foundation,” said Joe. Maxine added, “Joe and I want to give back in ways that support and enrich our Jewish youth. We are fortunate to be able to establish this fund and have seen firsthand how important Jewish summer camp was for our children and grandchildren.”

When someone is ready to identify what is important to them, The Foundation is there to help them realize their dream. We look forward to learning about what is important to you and we will do the rest.

For more information, contact The Foundation at 402.334.6446 or ashivvers@jewishomaha.org

BBYO International Convention

Continued from page 1

BBYO celebrated the vibrancy of Jewish communities around the world by welcoming new chapters and communities to IC this year, including teens from Boise, Idaho; El Paso, Texas; Hamilton, Ontario; Maui, Hawaii; Princeton, New Jersey; Reno; Nevada; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Canberra, Australia; Sao Paolo, Brazil; Bucharest, Romania; and Stockholm, Sweden. In total, this year’s convention welcomed nearly 500 global delegates and staff from across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, including 12 teens from Ukraine, as well as another dozen Ukrainian teens who fled their country and sought refuge in countries throughout Europe, Israel, and North America. With unprecedented worldwide demand among teens to attend IC, groups of over 50 delegates each from Argentina and Germany participated this year, as well as hundreds of teens from 40 additional countries. The local Omaha delegation sent a new record of teen participants to IC this year, 17 teens from Omaha and Lincoln. And the Mid America Region sent a total of 127 teens from Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City and Minneapolis.

With an urgent recognition that leaders across generations must work together to address today’s challenges, BBYO was proud to welcome some of the brightest and most influential speakers ever to connect with teens at IC, including Douglas Emhoff, The Second Gentleman of the United States; Naftali Bennett, Israel’s 13th Prime Minister; Kudzi Chikumbu, TikTok Global Head of Creator Marketing; Gabby Douglas, ThreeTime Olympic Gold Medalist; David Hogg, March for our Lives Co-Founder; Deborah Lipstadt, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism; Samantha Logan, Actress, CW’s All American; Chris Olsen, Actor and Digital Creator; Ryan Turrell, NBA G League Motor City Cruise Player; and Maddie Ziegler, Professional Dancer, Singer, Model and Actress.

In a historic moment for BBYO, Douglas Emhoff, the Second Gentleman of the United States delivered a keynote address. The Second Gentleman and Naftali Bennett, Israel’s 13th Prime Minister, also hosted two separate roundtable sessions with teen leaders where they had dialogue on topics such as leadership, democracy, civic engagement, and antisemitism. BBYO is honored to be one of the most powerful platforms in the Jewish community for teens as they reflect on the need for vision and bold leadership with unparalleled access to world leaders.

“In planning for this year’s convention, our conversations with teen leaders kept returning to the importance of democracy and the role it can and should play in addressing key issues,” shared Matt Grossman, CEO of BBYO. “This concept will be the pivotal point through much of the program-

ming, including one-on-one roundtables with world leaders and influencers, learning sessions with scores of diverse educators, over 30 peer-led Shabbat services, and a multitude of activities that are intended to surprise and delight all those in attendance.”

In total, more than 5,000 of the Jewish community’s top teen leaders, educators, business icons, thought leaders, and influencers from around the world came together for one of the largest Jewish communal events of the year. Throughout an action-packed five-days, teen delegates not only heard from and met inspiring speakers, but they also enhanced their leadership skills, served the local community, learned together, celebrated the Sabbath, had access to exclusive music performances, and did their part to strengthen the Jewish future. IC also served as a gathering place for the Jewish communities leading philanthropists and professionals to collaborate on critical issues facing young people and youth-serving organizations. A stakeholder reception before IC Opening Ceremonies thanked hundreds of members of the Dallas Jewish community for their role in supporting the event.

This year, teens chose to rally around a local organization, Dallas Hope Charities, to collect donations for those in need. Dallas Hope Charities provides food, shelter, and services that instill dignity, stability, and “Hope For All,’’ and is focused on helping LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. Participants were asked to bring pens, pencils, highlighters, socks, and band-aids to help build their Worthy Bags.

Some unique IC program highlights this year included:

• Access to one-of-a-kind learning and service experiences including at Microsoft Tech Center, Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, Custom Ink, Dallas Animal Services, The Selfie Bar, and the Texas Motor Speedway (nearly 50 Leadership Labs and service projects in all).

• Exclusive musical performances by 24kGoldn, Nicky Youre, Cash Cash, and Loud Luxury.

• A Saturday night social experience, BBYO Block Party, featuring arcade games, henna art, glow sports, inflatable laser tag, a pickleball tournament, and a gaga pit, among a multitude of other games and experiences.

• An expanded AZA and BBG Sports and Wellness Expo with basketball, volleyball, soccer, and dodgeball tournaments, as well as a health and wellness track.

• A new interactive Summer Village, sponsored by RootOne, featuring a social media vending machine, VR sports games, a photo booth and life-size color me mural.

• An elevated Jewish Learning Lab, a wider series of teenled programs and TED Talks, and new networking events throughout the convention.

Joe and Maxine Kirshenbaum

The Bennett G. Hornstein Memorial Scholarship

DIANE WALKER

JFO Foundation Fund & Scholarship Administrator

The family of the late Bennett G. Hornstein established the Bennett G. Hornstein Endowment Fund in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation in 2005. The endowment funds an annual scholarship, awarded to an aspiring law student in an effort to carry on Hornstein’s commitment to working for the poor and powerless and striving to make a difference in the Nebraska community. Since the first award in 2006, the fund has provided nearly $45,000 in support to deserving law students.

Hornstein lost an eight-year battle with cancer in March 1986 at the young age of 46. During his life, he was an inspiration to his family, friends, and colleagues, demonstrating unwavering selflessness and commitment to helping those who needed it most. After receiving his law degree at the University of California at Berkley, Hornstein decided to spend a signifi-

cant portion of his life helping people who were hated, who were detested, and whom nobody else would help. He carried out that promise, case by case in his over 20 years as an attorney, from Nebraska courtrooms all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

Candidates should display a high standard of academic achievement, an adventurous spirit and a desire to take on an active role in service to the community. Applicants must also be attending law school at the University of Nebraska or Creighton University. Application deadline is April 5, 2023.

Applications are available on the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation webpage – www.jfofoundation.org/ bghendowment. Please contact Diane Walker with questions at 402.334.6551 or dwalker@jewishomaha.org

JCRC Jewish Day of Action

PAM MONSKY

JCRC Assistant Director

Join us Thursday, March 30, 2023 for the JCRC Jewish Day of Action. This is a special day for members of the Jewish community to meet their senators in Lincoln and express their concerns or support for legislation that impacts our community and our allies. The day will begin with a kosher breakfast near the State Capitol and will continue with meetings and tours throughout the day. Registrating for this event will help us prepare.

J- happenings

March 14, 7-8:30 p.m., Jewish Family Service and the Jewish Federation of Omaha will host one final episode of Fact or Fake: Do you Know the Difference? This program is for Members & Non-Members, Ages 12+. The topic for this final session is ‘Building Healthy Relationships.’

Registration is available at www.jewishomaha.org with links for each session on the home page.

This series is being sponsored by the Lazier L. and Harriet B. Singer Memorial Fund for Youth, the Howard and Judy Vann Family Education Fund and the Ann Goldstein Education Programming Endowment Fund.

March 9 and 11 at 7 p.m. and March 12 at 2 p.m. & 6 p.m., the Staenberg Omaha JCC is proud to partner with Circle Theatre for this 22/23 season. Circle Theatre’s next production, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, will be held in the Alan J. Levine Theater at the J this March. Tickets can be purchased at 402.334.6403 or through our website.

March 15, from 5-7 p.m. is the next meeting for the JCC Book Club.

Our Book Club is back! The JCC book club features alternating books, from contemporary to classic. Snacks and treats will be provided! Club will be led by Scott Shinbara. Participants are responsible for obtaining and reading the selected book by our meet-up. Sign up and start reading today! Call 402.334.6405 for more information. Meetings are held the first Monday of the month at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. Open to Members and Non-Members, ages 18+.

Sunday, April 2 at 11 a.m., it’s time for J Brunch: Watson & Co.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 day of show.

Listen to local musicians perform in the Linda K. & Nelson Gordman Black Box Theater while enjoying bagels, donuts, and coffee. New! Mimosas available for purchase for those 21 and older! Headliner Watson & Co. is said to be “an experiment in sound interacting with humankind through the language of music.” Supporting acts include Angeline Kay and

The JCRC is offering three options for training sessions so that everyone feels comfortable in their ability to convey their thoughts about issues facing legislators: Thursday, March 16 at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 22 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m. Please register for one of the trainings via Zoom or in person at the Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus of the JCC.

For more information, please contact Pam Monsky, JCRC Assistant director, 402.334.6572, pmonsky@jewishomaha.org

Randall Gruber.

Join us Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m. for A Taste of UNO. Enjoy an evening of art, music, and spoken word, featuring students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. This event is designed for the audience to sample all the wonderful things UNO has to offer, brought out west for your convenience. Dessert reception to follow. Contact Genesis Ventura, 402.554.3857 for more information.

Note: this is a facility rental event presented by an independent organization separate from the JCC.

Sunday, April 30, from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. there will be a Youth Heart Screening Event with My HeartCheck.

This event is held upstairs in the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue.

It is open to Members & Non Members, Ages 8-25 ONLY.

Cost is $149 per child – assistance may be available. Appointments must be scheduled through MyHeartCheck. org The JCC is the host site only and will NOT take registrations or payment for this event.

My-HeartCheck was designed with the help of the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, providing the most thorough youth heart screening program available. My-HeartCheck’s mission is to improve outcomes for children born with heart defects, estimated to be over 40,000 annually (1 in 100). While initial efforts to screening babies at birth have improved over the years, many conditions are still missed and some only develop as kids grow into their teens.

Appointments take approximately 30 minutes and are completely painless. Screenings include: Echocardiogram, EKG, anf blood pressure check.

For $149, your child will receive the same tests that cost in excess of $1,500 if done in the hospital. MyHeartChecek does NOT accept any health insurance but you are welcome to use your HSA or FSA account. Financial assistance may be available for families who qualify. For more information visit My HeartCheck.org or call 888.537-2597.

Trade scholarships available for the 202324 academic year

Charlie Yale to be recognized for Nebraska Scholastic Writing Awards

HASTINGS COLLEGE COMMUNICATIONS

An anonymous donor in our community has created two trade school and/or cosmetology school scholarship opportunities, up to $5,000 each, to go towards the 2023-24 academic year.

Not every student who advances into higher education signs up for a four-year curriculum. Some high school graduates seek job training that lasts a year or two and then places them in the workforce. Such opportunities include, but are not restricted to: Information Technology, Construction, Industrial, Transportation and Horticulture. It is not too late to apply for this upcoming school year!

Qualified students who have unmet needs regarding tuition for either a two-year trade school program or a trade certificate program can contact the Jewish Press at avande kamp@jewishomaha.org or jpress@jewishomaha.org for more information.

ORGANIZATIONS

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS

The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com

Hastings College hosted an awards ceremony March 3 to recognize 39 outstanding young writers from across Nebraska as an affiliate of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Charlie Yale, son of Sarah and Adam Yale, was among the recipients and was awarded a Gold Key Award(Journalism) and a Silver Key Award (Critical Essay).

Nebraska state poet Matt Mason was the keynote speaker, and winners had the opportunity to participate in workshops that day led by Mason and Hastings College faculty and staff.

“This was the biggest year yet for the Nebraska Scholastic Writing Awards, with 131 entries,” said Dr. Patricia Oman, associate professor of English, director of the Hastings College Press and chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures. “There are many talented young writers in Nebraska, and we are excited to recognize 39 students who received honors, the most students recognized since we began sponsoring the program in 2019.”

The 16 Gold Key and 23 Silver Key entries were be published by Hastings College Press in a book titled Best Nebraska Teen Writing 2023. Students received a copy of the book, as well as certificates, scholarships and other items during the event.

For the 12 students who received Gold Key awards, the opportunity for further recognition continues as their pieces will be sent to the national competition, where they will be judged by a panel of leading creative professionals. Five pieces were also nominated for the American Voices Award, which recognizes students with an original, authentic voice. National jurors will select one nominee from each region for the American Voices Award.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program was established in 1923 and has supported the creative talent of millions of students, including distinguished alumni Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol, all of whom received recognition in the Awards when they were teens.

Charlie Yale

Packed synagogues and no violence

PHILISSA CRAMER

JTA

A “National Day of Hate” against Jews planned by white supremacists that triggered sweeping warnings from law enforcement and Jewish security officials came and went without significant incident. Synagogues and Jewish institutions across the United States had spent the preceding days shoring up their security procedures, reassuring their congregants and requesting extra patrols from local police.

But the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors hate, wrote on Twitter that a meaningful escalation of antisemitic activity did not come to pass, despite some white supremacist actions and propaganda drops around the country. “Despite concerns over increased antisemitic activity, 2/25 has so far been a pretty typical Saturday in America,” the organization tweeted.

Some Jews had said they were staying home or taking other precautions against the threats of synagogue vandalism issued earlier in the week by a small extremist group in Iowa. Police published bulletins about the threats, but law enforcement officials in New York and Chicago said ahead of Saturday that they saw no indications of concrete threats. That assessment was echoed by the Secure Community Network, a group that coordinates security for Jewish institutions nationwide.

“This is yet another example of how social media is contributing to the rise in antisemitism, this time by spreading and amplifying the activities of what is surely a very small group of people,” Julie Platt, chair of the Jewish Federations of

North America, wrote in an email on Feb. 24.

Reports from synagogues suggested that the pews were crowded on Shabbat with Jews who said they would not be deterred by hate. In some cases, they were joined by non-Jewish allies who wanted to show their support.

“It was packed,” said Rabbi Eric Woodward of Beth El-Keser Israel in New Haven, CT, where a preplanned Silly Hat Shabbat was transformed at the last moment into an act of defiance.

“We are wearing silly hats tomorrow because it is the first Shabbat of Adar, the month when we are supposed to ‘increase our joy’ and get ready for the costume holiday of Purim,” Woodward had written to his congregants.

Communities demonstrated defiance in other ways, too. Temple Emanu-El in New York City, for example, held its Shabbat morn-

SUNDAY FUNDAYS DAYS

Let’s have some fun!

ing services on Fifth Avenue, rather than inside its majestic sanctuary on the block. Among those attending were non-Jews who wanted to show their support.

“For me, today was a symbol of resistance, of being in solidarity with the Jewish people. With all of the threats and bad things, it’s a symbol of strength and solidarity,” Jose del Rosairo told the New York Post

That was exactly what Jewish advocates had urged as Shabbat neared. The ADL had encouraged Jews to turn Saturday into “Shabbat of Peace, Not Hate.” Meanwhile, social media influencers exhorted their followers to demonstrate their Jewish pride and support for Jews under threat.

“Some fringe white supremacist groups have planned a national ‘day of hate’ against

the Jewish people” read a widely shared Instagram post by Jessica Seinfeld, who previously went viral by offering non-Jews a way to signal online that they rejected antisemitism by the rapper Kanye West.

“We are hoping our friends will help us counter this idea with their love and light,” wrote Seinfeld, a cookbook author and wife of the comedian Jerry Seinfeld. “Will you consider joining a Jewish friend at synagogue for Shabbat? Help us fill our sanctuaries with courage and friendship.”

One of the most prominent non-Jews to join a synagogue service on Saturday was New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was at New York City’s Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, which primarily serves LGBTQ Jews.

“When there are people out there who think that by their words alone, by declaring a day of hate, that the rest of us, particularly those in the Jewish community, would cower and say, ‘Well, we’re afraid of them. We’re going to stay home,’” Hochul said in brief remarks to the congregation. “They certainly misjudged the situation.”

The ADL said there had in fact been protests by antisemitic groups in Ohio and Georgia on Saturday and antisemitic materials distributed in at least four other states, even as feared violence did not materialize.

“We know that the threat does not magically disappear as the sun sets on this so-called ‘day of hate,’” the organization tweeted. “We know that vigilance is part of being Jewish in America in 2023. And we take great comfort in knowing we do not face this darkness alone.”

Chaired by Rachel & Daniel Grossman

Security cameras hang across the street from the Park East Synagogue in New York City. Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Above: Though not technically a community event, a fun coincidence occurred when Nancy and Phil Wolf found themselves on the same cruise ship as Rich and Fran Juro! Here they are with Team Trivia friends Ann and Andrew from England. They played trivia twice daily when possible. The cruise went from Buenos Aires, Argentina, past Antarctica, to Santiago, Chile. Fun!

Above, right and below: Beth Israel happily welcomed Yaakov, Faige, Lea, and Dalia Jeidel for a visit back to Omaha the weekend of Feb 24. Lots of pre and post Shabbat fun was had by young and old.

SP O TLIGHT

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

Below: Eadie Tsabari and Nancy Coren met up in Jerusalem and had a great time discussing retirement.

Above: BESTT 8th graders made a quick trip to Chicago to visit the Illinois Holocaust Museum. Since we were here; we visited Ken’s kosher grill, Willis Tower Skydeck, and Cloud Gate.

Below: Kansas City’s Jewish Federation staff got into the game. Congratulations to the Chiefs, to all their fans, and yes—that’s Sam Kricsfeld on the right.

Below: Preparing Hamantaschen at Temple Israel.

Top, above and below: Kids challah bake at Chabad.

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.

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ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT

Jewish Press Editor

As I’m writing this, it’s almost Purim- and by the time you read it, Purim will be over and we’ll be preparing for Passover. Personally, I’m kind of using Purim as an excuse to not start Pesach cleaning; also, I haven’t made a single decision about what we’re doing this year. Except for not hosting a big seder at our house. Our plate is too full and this whole family needs a break, my husband told me—and I agree. A small seder it is.

Why is life so busy? Didn’t we assure each other during the pandemic there was a lesson in all of this? I clearly remember stating I wouldn’t go back to the merry-go-round way of living. I believed it when I said it, even.

And yet, here we are. Running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

I guess, as the masks have (mostly) come off, our attitudes have also shifted back to what they were pre-Covid. Too much, or not enough: it’s a question that comes up often. But maybe you are all fine, and it’s just that I have a tendency to overschedule. Could that be the case?

Of course not. There are few of us who find true balance on a regular basis; we just like to imagine others are better at it. Because if others can do it, then someday maybe so can we.

Here’s the thing: the Jewish calendar kind of nudges us along the way. While Purim is noisy and

messy and by its very nature disorganized and upside down, Passover comes with weeks of preparation. We go from being free from Haman to being enslaved in Egypt-and then being free again. We go from Purim parties, where we celebrate in aban-

we have everything under control. What is important is that we are here for it. Not in a temporary ‘this-too-shall-pass’ kind of way, but in the moment, now.

So how do we embrace the chaos, not just as a necessary evil, but fully? If we find joy in the frantic pace, can we also better appreciate the calm? After all, there is no storm without quiet, there is no strength without weakness, there is no laughter without tears. Life is full of contradictions and opposites. The secret of living it well is in accepting all the different aspects. Accepting the peace and accepting the craziness (and everything that falls somewhere in the middle) equally. And so, deciding during the onset of the pandemic to not go back to a frantic life was probably a lost cause to begin with.

don, to scrubbing our houses and sitting down for a very organized seder meal. Even the seder plate reminds us to put everything in its place. We eat as many Hamantaschen as we can get our hands on, and then we can have no cookies at all (coconut macaroons don’t count as cookies).

Too much, or not enough: maybe the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and the answer is that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Sometimes we live messy and chaotic lives, sometimes

ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL JTA

Next month will mark three years since the Covid outbreak was officially declared a pandemic, which is 30 in Zoom years. For those lucky enough to be spared the worst of the pandemic, it nevertheless changed how they worked, played and socialized. Very few businesses — especially in the nonprofit sector that includes synagogues and other Jewish institutions — didn’t move at least part of their operations online.

“We were living in a world that changed overnight,” Tiffany Shlain, the artist, activist and Emmy-nominated filmmaker told me recently. “On the more technical side, we were forced to live on our screens in a way that made us realize how much better the real thing is. However, this move to online spaces did expand what Jewish learning and organizations we can tap into.”

I spoke to Shlain ahead of the Jewish Digital Summit, which begins Feb. 28. It’s a three-day, fully virtual conference run by 70 Faces Media, the parent company of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the New York Jewish Week and other sites. Shlain will be among the industry leaders helping individuals and organizations working in Jewish spaces to boost their digital expertise.

A pioneer in both realms, Shlain is the founder of The Webby Awards for excellence on the internet. She is also the author of the 2019 bestseller, “24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection,” which calls for a 24-hour “Tech Shabbat” for people glued to their screens.

“During Covid, it was a lifesaver,” she said, referring to her family’s experience taking breaks from technology at their home in Northern California.

“At a time when it felt like all the days were the same, blurring together, we got a hard stop every week, and a chance to spend time with each other, off screens, in nature, doing things we loved. When we got back online afterward, the internet felt fresh (and we did too). This is still what keeps me balanced in today’s 24/7 world.”

For the times people are plugged in, and want to be better creators and consumers of digital content, I asked Shlain to share her recommendations for various sites, projects and organizations that are getting it right. Who succeeded in keeping people connected, or reimagining what ritual and community look like now?

“Now that we are in this new phase of the pandemic, we need to reconsider what works best online and what’s better in person,” she said.

Here are her recommendations for the hybrid future: HEY ALMA

The culture site and online community calls itself “Jewish, feminist, and full of chutzpah” and is part of 70 Faces Media.

“If you want to see how to ‘do’ Instagram, check out Hey Alma. It’s always witty, insightful, funny, and ironic — it’s my favorite Jewish Instagram handle. My daughter Odessa, who’s in college, and I are constantly sending each other their posts. I love their spot-on tone. It feels like we’re all in on the same joke, which is exactly what it feels like when you meet another Jew.”

THETWEETOFGOD ON TWITTER

Comedy writer David Adam Javerbaum ran the satiric Twitter account, which had 6.2 million followers before shutting down last November.

“Twitter used to be my preferred social media, although now I am on Instagram much more. One of my favorite Twitter handles of all time was TheTweetOfGod. Once Elon Musk started destroying Twitter, TheTweetOfGod sadly left, but there’s still a record there of all his posts. I highly recommend checking it out for his pure brilliance at taking a concept and using the medium in all its holy glory. The creator (ha!) ran with this concept of God tweeting in so many brilliant directions, even

With apologies for sounding too much like a therapist, I think it’s okay to sigh in exasperation when we have five million things to do before bedtime and no chance we’ll accomplish half of them. It’s okay to complain that we are too busy and life goes too fast. It’s okay to feel guilty for not getting all our work done, and then turn on Netflix anyway.

As long as we remember to complain and enjoy in equal measure, and remind ourselves that we function best when we embrace both the quiet and the noise. After all, don’t we carry both those things within us already?

down to the one person he follows. It’s a great example of taking a new format and using all its different constraints for maximum entertainment and engagement.”

REBOOT

An arts and culture non-profit that helps foster experiential Jewish projects and programs, including podcasts, film, multimedia, art projects and holiday events.

“I am a firm believer that arts move society in a way that creates important changes, which is what Reboot is all about. Reboot is a thriving, provocative hotbed of creativity. I love Reboot’s ambitious rethinking of Jewish rituals, their podcasts and newsletter, and now their Reboot Studios, which funds new Jewish media content. I was part of the first cohort when it was very much an experiment and I have collaborated on many projects with people in their network. It’s also been great to see it grow into this amazing community of artists and culture leaders. Covid activated this network both internally and for great public experiences in a whole new way that continues today.”

ONETABLE

A national nonprofit that empowers people 2139 to host Shabbat meals and build community.

See On one foot page 9

On one foot: Digital innovator and ‘Tech Shabbat’ pioneer Tiffany Shlain’s lessons from 3 years living online

Credit: Montage by Mollie Suss

Beyond the ‘Day of Hate’: The best strategy to keep American Jews safe over the long term

YEHUDA KURTZER

JTA

My synagogue sent out a cautiously anxious email yesterday about an event coming this Shabbat, a neo-Nazi “Day of Hate.” The email triggered fuzzy memories of one of the strangest episodes that I can remember from my childhood.

Sometime around 1990, in response to local neo-Nazi activity, some Jews from my community decided to “fight back.” I don’t know whether they were members of the militant Jewish Defense League, or perhaps just sympathetic to a JDLstyle approach. When our local Jewish newspaper covered the story, it ran on its front cover a full-page photo of a kid from my Orthodox Jewish high school.

The photo showed a teenage boy from behind, wearing a kippah and carrying a baseball bat that was leaning threateningly on his shoulder.

As it happens, “Danny” was not a member of the JDL, he was a kid on his way to play baseball. Sometimes, a baseball bat is just a baseball bat. But not for us anxious Jews in America: We want to see ourselves as protagonists taking control of our destiny, responding to antisemites with agency, with power, with a plan. I’m sorry to say that as I look around our community today, it seems to me that we have agency, and we have power — but we certainly don’t seem to have a plan.

The tactics that the American Jewish community uses to fight back against antisemitism are often ineffective on their own and do not constitute a meaningful strategy in the composite. One is that American Jews join in a partisan chorus that erodes our politics and fixates on the antisemitism in the party they don’t vote for. This exacerbates the partisan divide, which weakens democratic culture, and turns the weaponizing of antisemitism into merely a partisan electoral tactic for both sides.

Another tactic comes from a wide set of organizations who have declared themselves the referees on the subject and take to Twitter to name and shame antisemites. This seems to amplify and popularize antisemitism more than it does to suppress it.

A third common tactic is to pour more and more dollars into protecting our institutions with robust security measures, which no one thinks will defeat antisemitism, but at least seeks to protect those inside those institutions from violence, though it does little to protect Jews down the street. Richer Jewish institutions will be safer than poorer ones, but Jews will continue to suffer either way.

A fourth tactic our communal organizations use to fight antisemitism is to try to exact apologies or even fines from antisemites to get them to retract their beliefs and get in line, as the Anti-Defamation League did with Kyrie Irving, an approach that Yair Rosenberg has wisely argued is a no-win proposition. Yet another tactic is the insistence by some that the best way to fight antisemitism is to be proud Jews, which has the perverse effect of making our commitment to Jewishness dependent on antisemitism as a motivator.

And finally, the most perverse tactic is that some on both the right and the left fight antisemitism by attacking the ADL itself. Since it is so hard to defeat our opponents, we have started beating up on those that are trying to protect us. What could go wrong?

Steadily, like a drumbeat, these tactics fail, demonstrating themselves to be not a strategy at all, and the statistics continue to show a rise in antisemitism.

Perhaps we are too fixated on the idea that antisemitism is continuous throughout Jewish history, proving only that there is no effective strategy for combating this most persistent of hatreds.

Instead, we would do well to recall how we responded to a critical moment in American Jewish history in the early 20th century. In the aftermath of the Leo Frank lynching in 1915 –the murder of a Jewish man amid an atmosphere of intense antisemitism — Jewish leaders formed what would become the ADL by building a relationship with law enforcement and the American legal and political establishment. The ADL recognized that the best strategy to keep American Jews safe over the long term, in ways that would transcend and withstand the political winds of change, was to embed in the police and criminal justice system the idea that antisemitism was their problem to defeat. These Jewish leaders flipped the script of

previous diasporic experiences; not only did they become “insiders,” they made antisemitism anathema to America itself. (And yes, it was the Leo Frank incident that inspired Parade, the forthcoming Broadway musical that this week attracted white supremacist protesters.)

For Jews, the high-water mark of this strategy came in the aftermath of the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh. It was the low point in many ways of the American Jewish experience, the most violent act against Jews on American soil, but it was

periodically terrorize us. But we are much more capable than we are currently behaving to fight back against the collective threats against us. Instead, let’s be the smart Americans we once were.

The real work right now is not baseball bats or billboards, it is not Jewish pride banalities or Twitter refereeing: It is quiet and powerful and, if done right, as American Jews demonstrated in the last century, it will serve us for the long term.

Yehuda Kurtzer is the president of the Shalom Hartman

followed by a mourning process that was shared across the greater Pittsburgh community. The words of the Kaddish appeared above the fold of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. That is inconceivable at most other times of Jewish oppression and persecution. It tells the story of when we are successful –when antisemitism is repudiated by the general public. It is the most likely indicator that we will be collectively safe in the long run.

We were lucky that this move to partner with the establishment was successful. I felt this deeply on a recent trip to Montgomery, Alabama. Seeing the memorials to Black Americans persecuted and lynched by and under the very system that should have been protecting them from the worst elements of society is a reminder that not all minorities in America could then — or today — win over the elements of American society that control criminal justice.

A strategic plan to defeat antisemitism that must be collectively embraced by American Jews would build on this earlier success and invest in the infrastructure of American democracy as the framework for Jewish thriving and surviving, and continue the historic relationship-building that changed the Jews’ position in America. It would stop the counterproductive internecine and partisan battle that is undermining the possibility of Jewish collective mobilization.

It means more investment, across partisan divides, in relationships with local governments and law enforcement, using the imperfect “definitions of antisemitism” as they are intended — not for boundary policing, but to inform and help law enforcement to monitor and prevent violent extremism. It means supporting lawsuits and other creative legal strategies, like Integrity First for America’s groundbreaking efforts against the Unite the Right rally organizers, which stymie such movements in legal gridlock and can help bankrupt them.

It means practicing the lost art of consensus Jewish collective politics which recognize that there must be some baseline agreement that antisemitism is a collective threat, even if any “unity” we imagine for the Jewish community is always going to be be instrumental and short-lived.

It means supporting institutions like the ADL, even as they remain imperfect, even as they sometimes get stuck in some of the failed strategies I decried above, because they have the relationships with powerful current and would-be allies in the American political and civic marketplace, and because they are fighting against antisemitism while trying to stay above the partisan fray.

It means real education and relationship-building with other ethnic and faith communities that is neither purely instrumental nor performative — enough public relations visits to Holocaust museums! — so that we have the allies we need when we need them, and so that we can partner for our collective betterment.

And most importantly, it means investing in the plodding, unsexy work of supporting vibrant American democracy — free and fair elections, voting rights, the rule of law, peaceful transitions of power — because stable liberal democracies have been the safest homes for minorities, Jews included.

I doubt we will ever be able to “end” individual antisemitic acts, much less eradicate antisemitic hate. “Shver tzu zayn a Yid” (it’s hard to be a Jew). We join with our fellow Americans who live in fear of the lone wolves and the hatemongers who

Institute of North America and host of the Identity/Crisis podcast.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

On one foot

Continued from page 8

“I love the way OneTable brings young Jews together to organize and facilitate Shabbat experiences.They have a great Mad Lib-like questionnaire to help users figure out how they want to experience Shabbat. They also offer DIY tools for hosting and attending Shabbat dinners. I highly recommend exploring their site. We’ve worked together on a couple of films about the value of Shabbat you can see while you’re there. Rethinking Shabbat for the 21st century has been a big focus of my Jewish work, and I love the way OneTable scales this online. We are working on a cool fourweek online program for people to try screen-free Shabbats in 2023. Stay tuned.”

BREAKFAST @ TIFFANY’S

Shlain’s own newsletter offers a highly curated combination of her own projects, arts events and “things I think you’ll find interesting.”

“I’ve been writing a monthly newsletter called Breakfast @ Tiffany’s for over 25 years. Each month, I share both the project that I’m working on and a selection of books, films, podcasts, art exhibits, events and articles to inform and inspire, make you laugh and think. It always features a lot of Jewish work. I love sharing my perspective on what’s going on in the world through my lens as a Jew, mother, wife and human on this planet. It’s also my laboratory as I am both sharing what I think is best online and in the real world. So many organizations focus primarily on social media posts but as we repeatedly see, the social media company can change the algorithm and what we see with a switch of a business plan or CEO. No one gets between me and my community in my newsletter. It’s a straight connection, and I love the call-and-response feedback I get from readers who have been with me a long time and new ones. It’s a way to ensure you can communicate with your audience with no one else in control of who sees what.”

CHAT GPT

The conversational chatbot uses artificial intelligence to create everything from poems and cover letters to film scripts and term papers.

Chat GPT is basically a digital golem. People may have read about it but everyone should try it to get an experience of its capabilities. Could this be the ultimate Jewish online experience — where it’s all about knowing how to ask questions and decipher and wrestle with the truth?

Andrew Silow-Carroll is is Editor at Large of the New York Jewish Week and Managing Editor for Ideas for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York, Nov. 20, 2016. Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Visitors view items left by well-wishers along the fence at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on the first anniversary of the attack there, Oct. 27, 2019. Credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Synagogues

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

618 Mynster Street

Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766

712.322.4705 www.cblhs.orb

email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street

Omaha, NE 68154-1980

402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154

402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

CHABAD HOUSE

An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch

1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646

402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

LINCOLN JEWISH

COMMUNITY:

B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple

Union for Reform Judaism

2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797

402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road

Offutt AFB, NE 68123

402.294.6244

email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

ROSE BLUMKIN

JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154 rbjh.com

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)

13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206

402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236

402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL

Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, March 10, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker, Alexandra M. Cardon. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

For information on COVID-related closures and about our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.; Mondays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades 3-7) 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 7 p.m. Zoom Only.

SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Hebrew Reading, 11 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman.

MONDAY: Women’s Book Group, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: Pirkei Avot, 11:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham at Beth El & Live Stream.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4:15 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m.; Keret & Kinneret, 6 p.m. with Dr. Rami Arav. Zoom Only.

FRIDAY-Mar. 17: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-Mar. 18: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades 3-7) 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 8:05 p.m. Zoom Only.

Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 6:07 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha, 6 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity 6:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:08 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit 9 a.m.; Mind, Body & Soul Women’s Event 10 a.m.; Daf Yomi 6:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 6:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Parsha Class for 3rd-6th Grades, 2:45 p.m. at Friedel; Beth Israel Workshop, 6 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 6:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development, 9:30 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 6:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.; Parsha Class, 7:40 p.m.

FRIDAY-Mar. 17: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 18: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:45 a.m.; Mincha 7 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 7:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:16 p.m.

Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE

All services are in-person. All classes are being offered in-person and via Zoom (ochabad.com/academy). For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.

FRIDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/ Lechayim; Candlelighting, 6:07 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit 9:30 a.m.; followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:07 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps: Video Presentation 9-9:30 a.m. and Breakfast, 9:45 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m.; Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Tanya Class, 9:30 a.m.; Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Hebrew Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

THURSDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Hebrew Reading, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 34), noon; Hebrew Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Jewish Law Class, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-Mar. 17: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ocha bad.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 7:14 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 18: Shacharit 9:30 a.m.; followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 8:15 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL

Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch.

Note: Some of our services, but not all, are now being offered in person.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:09 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service with lay leaders and music by Leslie Delserone and Peter Mullin with Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Oneg host: TBD.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service 9:30 a.m. with lay leaders at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Ki Tisa; Havdalah 7:10 p.m.

SUNDAY: Daylight Saving Time Begins; No LJCS Classes; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group continues to meet

during the winter months, 10:30 a.m. at Rock-N-Joe, just off of 84th and Glynoaks. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@ gmail.com; Community Social Action Committee Meeting, 1:30 p.m. at SST; Pickleball, 3-5 p.m. at TI. For more information please contact Miriam Wallick by text message 402.470.2393 or email at Miriam57 @aol.com. Wear comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear.

MONDAY: Federation Board Meeting, 7 p.m. via Zoom.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS Classes

FRIDAY-Mar. 17: Kabbalat Shabbat Service with lay leaders and music by Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Oneg host: TBD; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:17 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 18: Shabbat Morning Service 9:30 a.m. with lay leaders at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Vayakhei-Pekudei; Havdalah, 8:17 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

FRIDAYS: Virtual Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month at Capehart Chapel. Contact TSgt Jason Rife at OAFBJSLL@icloud.com for more information.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s service is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Batsheva Appel, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander

FRIDAY: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m.; Tot Shabbat Service, 5:45 p.m. In-Person.; Shabbat Shira Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY: Torah Study 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Taste of Tri-Faith Earthquake Fundraising Event, 4 p.m. at Countryside Community Church.

SUNDAY: Grades PreK-6, 9:30 a.m.; Kol Rina and St. Paul Choir Exchange, 10 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 5410 Corby St. In-Person; Teen TriFaith Garden Project, 1 p.m. In-Person.

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m.-noon In-Person; Grades 3-6, 4-6 p.m.; T’filah, 4:45 p.m.; Grades 9-12, 6-8 p.m. at Temple; Grades 7-8, 6:30-8 p.m.

THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Class 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel — In-Person & Zoom.

FRIDAY-Mar. 17: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m.; Deication of Temple Israel History Gallery, 5:45 p.m. sponsored by Mibsy Brooks. In-Person.; Shabbat Service: Choir Exchange with Kol Rina and St. Paul Exchange, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-Mar. 18: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

Israeli Orthodox Jew raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for victims of settler riot

RON KAMPEAS JTA

An Orthodox Jew and Israeli left-wing political activist has raised more than $400,000 for victims of a recent settler riot in a Palestinian West Bank town.

Yair Fink, a former Labor Party candidate known by the nickname Yaya, launched a crowdfunding campaign for the residents of Huwara, a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank where hundreds of settlers rampaged on Sunday, burning dozens of cars and buildings, and injuring dozens of residents.

One Palestinian was killed in the riots in a town to Huwara’s south. The riots came after a Palestinian gunman killed two Israeli brothers who were traveling through the village.

In his fundraising appeal, Fink mourned the murder of the brothers, Hillel and Yigal Yaniv, and then wrote, “Even in our place of deep rage and sorrow, we must never lose our humanity. That is not our Judaism.”

Fink, a major in the army reserves, told Haaretz that he is coordinating with the army to make sure

the money reaches only victims and not anyone associated with terrorist organizations.

“In the past year, I served 50 days in the military reserves to protect Israelis from terrorists,” he wrote in his appeal. “This initiative is my service as a civilian.”

Fink filled his Twitter feed with screenshots from among the hundreds of attacks and death threats he said he is receiving on his WhatsApp account.

He also posted positive feedback. “Hi Yaya,” said one correspondent. “You came to a house party of ours once. In my name and the name of my religious Zionist friends, we wanted to send strength to your activism these days, and especially to your initiative to raise money for the victims of the shocking rioting in Huwara.”

Yair Fink is the founder of Lobby 99, the Israel public lobby group, and a member of the Public

Council for Reconciliation. Formerly, he served as Executive Director of the Good Neighbor Association and as Chief of Staff for the Leader of the Opposition in the Knesset.

A graduate from the religious Kibbutz yeshiva, he holds an MBA from the Hebrew University.

Left wing activists protest against events in Huwara, in Haifa, (Feb. 27, 2023. Credit: Shir Torem/Flash90

Life cycles

PAUL RIFKIN

Paul Rifkin passed away on Feb. 21, 2023, at age 94 in Dallas, Texas. Services were held on Feb. 24, 2023, in the Mount Zion section of Restland Cemetery in Dallas and were officiated by Rabbi Elana Zelony of Congregation Beth Torah in Richardson, Texas.

He was preceded in death by father, Harry Rifkin; mother, Miriam Kavior Rifkin; and brother, Ben Rifkin.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Phyllis Kirshenbaum Rifkin; sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Debbie Rifkin of Plano, TX; Bill and Susan Rifkin of Brooklyn, NY; Ed and Deby Rifkin of Seattle, WA; and Don Rifkin and Melissa Schaffer of Upper Montclair, NJ; eight grandchildren: Brian (Lauranne), Michael, Katie (Greg), Kenneth (Jaime), Dany, Gabe, Moses, and Ezra; and one great-grandchild, Corey.

Paul was born in Omaha on March 20, 1928. He was active in sports, especially at the JCC. He played football for Tech High School. He was later honored to be enshrined in the Omaha JCC

Athletic Wall of Fame, as was his brother, Ben. Paul and Phyllis Kirshenbaum met and fell in love as teenagers. The only year they were apart was when Paul served in occupied Japan while in the army after World War II. Paul and Phyllis were married on Dec. 26, 1948.

Paul graduated from Omaha University in 1951 with bachelor degrees in business and engineering. He spent most of his career in the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. He and Phyllis lived in Omaha until 1972. Paul's employer transferred him in 1972 to Pittsburgh, PA, where they lived for 12 years. He and Phyllis moved to Dallas, TX, in 1984.

Paul was a kind man, devoted to his family, who went through life with good intentions and goodwill to all he met along the way. He was a great listener, and loved engaging in discussions about politics, business, sports, and many other topics.

Memorials may be made to Jewish War Veterans, Congregation Beth Torah in Richardson, Texas, or the organization of your choice.

Welcome, Howard Kutler

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT

Jewish Press Editor

The Jewish Press welcomes Howard Kutler as our new Sales Manager. Howard was born and raised in Omaha, and knows the community well—and many of you know him!

In March of 2017, Howard was fortunate to have had the opportunity to sell his business, Nova Fitness Equipment.

While he has truly enjoyed the open schedule for travel and leisure time for the past six years, he is very happy to be back working for The Jewish Press as the advertising representative.

“My excitement for taking this position,” Howard says, “is that it puts me back in a job where I interact with customers. And it puts me in a routine of coming into the office of a healthy and engaging work environment.”

Being back at work will change his frequency of traveling. The most important destination when he leaves town now will be to visit his daughter Sarah in Cleveland. Sarah has recently started a new job as the staff social worker for Assurance Health. Howard credits Friedel Jewish Academy for

Sarah’s academic and professional success.

“I have always held an appreciation for the work being done by the people of the Jewish Federation of Omaha,” Howard added. “From the people who work at the Early Learning Center to the caring staff of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, it is an amazing community and facility we have here under the roof of the JCC.

During his personal time, you will find Howard attending services and the activities of both Beth Israel and B’nai Israel synagogues. He serves on the boards of B’nai Israel Synagogue and the Nebraska Foundation for Visually Impaired Children. Howard enjoys camping out, going the fitness center of the JCC, cooking, riding his bicycle, and seeing plays on Broadway.

You can reach Howard at hkutler@jewishomaha.org

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The real story behind Jewish family comedy

STEPHEN SILVER

JTA

The real Mordecai Samel, at the time in his late 70s, really didn’t want an iPhone in 2015. The Holocaust survivor who had been living in South Florida since 2004 didn’t see a need. His taped-together flip phone worked fine. But his son Marvin insisted.

One thing that helped convince Mordecai to give in: the ability to listen to the klezmer music of his youth that the iPhone provided.

Soon Mordecai was going to iPhone lessons at a local store six times a week.

“It’s there that I see my father holding court, telling stories,” Marvin said about the lessons, “and I said, this is it. This is the vehicle to tell the story as a screenplay.”

Thus sprung an unusual comedy film that hits theaters Friday inspired directly by first-time director Marvin Samel’s life, centered on a Jewish family that is split by a stark generational divide.

In the film — as in the Samels’ real lives — Marvin (played by Sean Astin) attempts to sell his cigar company while his father’s antics continually get in the way and his mother (Carol Kane), who has Alzheimer’s Disease, sometimes wanders off.

“I had to tone him down for the movie, because no one would believe me if I actually printed the truth. He’s always getting himself into trouble,” Samel said of the real Mordecai, a retired plumber who is played onscreen by Tony and Emmy Award winner Judd Hirsch.

At the same time, Marvin’s wife, who has just given birth to twins, is upset with him about delays in the company sale and the family’s resulting cash crunch. Mordecai agrees to take the iPhone lessons and befriends the instructor (Azia Dinea Hale) who he calls “Einstein Nina,” someone with a surprising family backstory of her own.

Mordecai tells her some stories about his family’s escape from the Nazis when he was a child, showing her family pictures from before the war and noting that he can’t remember his mother’s face. These stories, Marvin Samel said, were inspired more by the stories told by Mordecai’s brother, who was older when the family fled, than by his own. The family left Poland in 1939, when Mordecai was three and his older brother was six. They first went to the Soviet Union and eventually to Brooklyn.

iMordecai was shot in 23 days in late 2019, meaning that Samel filmed a movie that starred Hirsch as a heavily-accented, old-world Jewish immigrant inspired by a relative of the filmmaker at least a year before Steven Spielberg did the same for The Fabelmans. Hirsch is nominated for an Oscar for his role in that movie, his first Academy Award nomination since Ordinary People more than 40 years earlier.

Samel’s film, which features the city of Miami extensively, has been a hit so far in Florida. It had its world premiere in January 2022 at the Miami Jewish Film Festival, where it won the audience award for best narrative film.

Samel is taking the film on a tour that criss-crossed the Sunshine State this month, including a run of 10 shows at The Villages, the world’s largest retirement community. That tour, in which the real Mordecai has been on stage at times, headed to New York’s Quad Cinemas, and a limited theatrical release — also heavy in Florida — starts Friday. Tour dates in such markets as Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago are next, prior to a return to Florida, Samel said.

Mordecai’s family was from Janów Podlaski, a small town in Poland at the center of the territory split by Hitler and Stalin in 1939. Some flashback sequences are presented in animation.

Marvin Samel sold his company, Drew Estate Cigars, back in 2014. The film was mostly self-financed, in part from the proceeds of the cigar company’s sale, “all the way through distribution.” While Samel has always loved the movies, even seeing movies like Taxi Driver and Hair when he was much too young to do so — “my temple, growing up, was the movie theater,” he said — he had never before set foot on a movie set prior to the first day of filming of iMordecai

Perhaps the success with the older Florida crowd has to do with the universality of the film’s subject matter. Even Warren Buffett, the famed investor, turned in his flip phone for an iPhone back in 2020, when he was nearly 90, even though he had bought many billions of dollars in Apple stock by that point.

Yvette Miro, a 99-year-old who lives in Tamarac, Florida, said it’s “hard to remember not having” an iPhone after getting one to replace her flip phone about 10 years ago. A Brooklyn native — she attended Eastern District High School at the same time as Mel Brooks, who was a couple of years younger — Miro has lived in Florida since 1999, and even at her age continues to host weekly Shabbat dinners with her family, including her nine grandchildren and more than 30 great-grandchildren.

But unlike Mordecai, rather than badgered into getting the iPhone, she got one herself.

Judd Hirsch plays a Holocaust survivor in iMordecai. Credit: FeMor Productions