March 30, 2018

thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

this week

Gloria Kaslow honored Page 9

S

odus, will be published April 2.

“Why this commentary?” Dennis Prager asks in his introduction to this first volume.

“Because the Torah has formed the basis of Jewish life for 3,000 years, there are very many Jewish commentaries,” he writes, “a good number of which have passed the hardest test: the test of time.

However, the modern world poses intellectual and moral challenges that did not exist when the classic Jewish commentaries –most dating to the Middle Ages—were written. Therefore, most modern Jews read neither those commentaries nor the Torah. I hope this commentary will address nearly all the intellectual and moral objections of these Jews.”

That is no small task. Over the next two years, Joel hopes to see all five commentaries See The Rational Bible page 2

Passover today: What can we learn?

Eileen Remer honored

by L.O.V.E. Page 16

inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles

The Rational Bible

12 14 15

Ruth and Phil Sokolof lecture

MARCH 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 | 1 4 NISAN 5 7 7 8 | V O L. 9 8 | NO . 2 4 | C a nD leli G h ti nG | FRID AY , MARCH 3 0 , 7 : 2 9 P. M.

annette van De KaMP Editor, Jewish Press ometimes we come upon a project that seems tailor-made for the direction our lives have taken us. It grows bigger than us, we learn from it continuously and begin to understand the meaning of the words ‘life’s work.”

Sometimes, such a project finds us instead.

Approximately 15 years ago, Joel Alperson began working on The Rational Bible, which is, in short, “a commentary

by Dennis Prager, edited by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin,” Joel said. “As the title states, it’s a rational explanation of the Torah. We are attempting to give people a non-political, non-faith based, practical, accessible and meaningful explanation of the stories and laws in the Torah.”

The first volume, The Rational Bible: Ex-

Yom HaShoah 2018 Page 6

WWW.JEWISHOMAHA.ORG

SPonSoreD by the benjaMin anD anna e. WieSMan FaMily enDoWMent FunD

Gabby blair Staff Writer, Jewish Press As Passover 5778 draws to an end, take a break from restocking your shelves with chametz and take a moment to reflect on what can be learned from Passover, today. Mark your calendars for 4 Cups of Freedom: A Community Round Tables Event on Sunday, April 8 from 4-6 p.m. at the JCC Auditorium.

This event is free and open to the community. Each table will have an assigned moderator. Snacks and wine will be provided.

This thought-provoking round table discussion encourages all interested community members to pull up a chair and join the conversation as the four cups of the Passover Seder are “revisited”. Topics for the event will include migration in the 21st century with a specific focus on immigration

and liberty in the U.S. and Israel. This special event, presented by The University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Schwalb Center for Israel and Judaic Studies, The Jewish Federation of Omaha and The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Harris Center for Judaic Studies, will be hosted by Community Shaliach, Yoni Doron.

Dr. Patrick McNamara, Director of both the Schwalb Center and International Studies at UNO, will be presenting the immigration policies of Israel. Dr. McNamara teaches in the areas of international studies, conflict

resolution, negotiation and facilitation, sustainable development, social entrepreneurship, and civic leadership.

Dr. Ari Kohen, Associate Professor of Political Science and The Schlesinger Professor of Social Justice at the Harris Center for Judaic Studies at UNL, will be presenting America’s immigration policies. Dr. Kohen teaches political philosophy at the undergraduate and graduate levels; his research focuses principally on classical and contemporary political thought. Dr. Kohen — “I am excited to participate in this event with my friend, Patrick McNamara, and am thrilled with the creative idea Yoni Doron put forward to discuss a key lesson from the Passover holiday. Talking about immigration and immigrants is especially important in both the American and Israeli context at this moment, and I am really looking forward to the discussion and exchange of ideas.”

Yoni Doron hopes the round tables event will provide an opportunity for community members to come together on a personal level to share differing perspectives with others outside of one’s immediate circle of friends. “The topic of immigration is See Passover today page 3

KaSey De Goey Schwalb Center Staff Assistant Water scarcity is one of the biggest problems the world faces. Seth M. Siegel in his international best-seller, Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World, highlights Israel’s innovative technology to help solve this problem. The UNO Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies and the Jewish Federation of Omaha invite you to join us as we host the 2018 Ruth and Phil Sokolof Lecture with Seth M. Siegel.

Seth M. Siegel

Mr. Siegel has spoken about water issues on four continents, has a widely viewed TED talk, appeared before the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and the World Bank, and is a leading expert on Israel’s cutting edge solutions to water scarcity. He is trained as a lawyer but has devoted much of his time to community service. He is working on a book about the widespread contamination of America’s drinking water.

Due to the generosity of the Sokolof/ Javitch Family, this event is free and open to the public. The Schwalb Center Community Advisory Board Chair, Mary Bernier, stated, “Our community is fortunate to have the support and commitment of the Sokolof Family Foundation.

Their dedication has transformed Israel and Jewish Education in our region.” The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. on april 19 at UNO’s Thompson Alumni Center. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session and a book signing with Mr. Siegel. Parking is available.

The Ruth and Phil Sokolof Lecture Series is sponsored by the Sokolof Family Foundation and UNO’s Schwalb Center.

The Ruth and Phil Sokolof Lecture, established in 2009 by the Sokolof grandchildren, has brought a number of distinguished guests to Omaha. Past speakers include Prof. Jonathan Adelman (2017), Amb. Dennis Ross (2016) author Ari Shavit (2015), Amb. Stuart Eizenstat (2013), Prof. Stephen Berk (2012), Rabbi Daniel Gordis (2011), author Dan Senor (2011) and Amb. Martin Indyk (2009).

The Sokolof Lecture Fund, held at the University of Nebraska Foundation, was created to provide students, faculty, and the greater Omaha community the opportunity to hear speakers from a variety of perspectives present a diverse range of topics related to Israel and Judaism.

See Sokolof lecture page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

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Jbl bagels & business series presents: Harley Schrager of The Pacesetter Corporation Gabby blair Staff Writer, Jewish Press The Jewish Federation of Omaha is pleased to present the Jewish Business Leaders’ Bagels and Business breakfast featuring guest speaker Harley Schrager, retired President, COO and co-owner of the Pacesetter Corporation.

An Omaha native, Schrager has been recognized for his excellence in both business and community service and has made significant contributions Harley Schrager to Omaha and the greater metropolitan area. Schrager became President of the Pacesetter Corporation at age 29 and along with his brother Phil Schrager successfully built it into the nation’s largest, independent, direct sales home improvement company. In 1988 he founded and sponsored the Pacesetter Youth Baseball Organization, a city-wide, select, professionally-coached baseball experience for youth. Harley’s dedication and passion for sports and baseball contin-

The Rational Bible

summer

intern The Jewish Press is looking for a summer intern.

If you are currently attending college, are between the ages of 18 and 24, and want to become more involved in our community, this is your chance.

If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter to avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

We can’t wait to meet you!

thejewishpress

Continued from page 1 completed: “I hope many people learn to take the Torah more seriously,” he said. “It’s not a book of religious fairy tales and it’s not a book that was only written for those who lived prior to our modern times. There is reason to the stories and the laws of the Torah: it need not be understood as a faith document alone. Even an atheist can be informed by the explanations in this commentary. More than that, I believe people will learn valuable life lessons from it. This is why I chose to get involved: this commentary makes a remarkable case for the importance of adhering to these values.”

In his preface to The Rational Bible: Exodus, Joel delves deeper into his motivation to take on a project of such massive scope: “Who would have guessed that I would not only find myself reading a brilliant explanation of what I have come to regard as the greatest book ever written, but that I would also have helped to make this work possible? My Sunday school and Hebrew school teachers certainly would not have guessed.

Given my awful grades and even worse behavior, they’d be shocked. My grandfather, an Orthodox rabbi, would also be shocked. He had given me a five-volume set of the Torah when I was a teen, but whenever he would open one of those volumes, he would hear the binding crack. He knew I hadn’t even touched the books.”

He goes on to say that his story is hardly unique and most of us know he is correct in that assessment. Maybe we hear the weekly Parsha, maybe we are aware of where we are on the calendar, but how many of us sit down and really read, verse by verse, trying to find meaning in these old words that can guide us in today’s world? Yet, that meaning is there: rabbis the world over look to the Torah every day and extrapolate how we are supposed to act in the modern age. Dennis Prager’s commentary addresses that disconnect between when the Torah was written and the time in which we live quite thoroughly.

One of the most valuable and inspiring aspects of Judaism has always been the invitation it extends to the reader and practitioner to ask questions. This volume, likewise, does not simply offer explanations and commentary to be ingested, it encourages the reader to engage and think critically of the text of the Torah. Verse by verse, it extrapolates by asking questions and bridging the gap between the centuries. These are not fairy tales, these are not ancient stories that no longer apply: meaning can be found here and now.

“Why didn’t God give the Ten Commandments to the first Human Beings?” Prager poses. He also addresses the moral importance of remembering while discussing the pharaoh who “did not know Joseph.” He delves into the history of blood beliefs, calling them “a great source of cruelty:”

ued as he served on the Omaha Sports Commission and the Executive Committee of CWS of Omaha Inc., for 25 years. In 2001 he became the youngest inductee into the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame and has been honored to serve on the boards of many not-for-profit organizations, including Children’s Hospital, Children’s Museum, the Jewish Federation Foundation (President), and Girls, Inc., (President). For these efforts and others, he has received numerous awards including National Council of Christians and Jews (NCCJ) Humanitarian of the Year.

Come join us for coffee and a bagel and learn with us at The Happy Hollow Country Club (701 S 105th Street, Omaha) on Wednesday, april 18 from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Reserve your space today by contacting Steve Levinger before april 13 at 402.334.6433 or slevinger@ jewishomaha.org.

Please be sure to mark your calendars for these future JBL Bagels and Business events: July 25; 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Happy Hollow Country Club: Rachel Jacobson, Executive Director at Film Streams.

JBL Events are free with paid membership of only $100 per year.

Come, be a part of JBL and help us continue to build and strengthen the legacy of Jewish businesses in Omaha. For more information, or to become a sponsor, please contact Steve Levinger at 402.334.6433 or slevinger@jewishomaha.org or Alex Epstein at 402.505.7720 or aepstein@omnepartners.com; join online at http://www.jewish omaha.org/about/community-programs-and-events/jewish-busi ness-leaders/.

“Those who are not part of the right group are deemed worthy of persecution. The Torah, in contrast, did not place much value on blood ties. As Joseph Telushkin points out, Jacob is regarded as the third patriarch of the Jewish people, but his twin brother, Esau, who did not share Jacob’s religious beliefs, is not even regarded as a Jew. In Exodus (19:6) God tells the Jews to be a holy goy (national unit), not a holy am (blood group or ethnicity). The Hebrew bible holds, and later Judaism held, that anyone of any blood can become a Jew— just like the first Jew, Abraham, who was not born a Jew, but became one later in life.”

“This book should have been written 50 years ago,” Joel said. “Or even longer than that—too many Jews have walked away from their Jewish communities because of poor religious educational experiences and the even poorer answers they were given to their religious questions. I believe, even on the part of unaffiliated Jews (and secular gentiles, for that matter) there is an unfulfilled hunger for meaning. Religious teachers and organizations need to do more to dispense the kinds of lessons which will help to bring people back to their religious communities. I believe this book will go a long way towards making that happen.”

The Rational Bible: Exodus does not propose new meaning to the Torah. Instead, it reminds us that that meaning has been there all along.

The Rational Bible can be pre-ordered from Amazon now at https://www.amazon.com/Rational-Bible-Exodus-Den nis-Prager/dp/1621577724.

Sokolof lecture Continued from page 1 The Jewish Federation of Omaha and the UNO Schwalb Center are excited to host Mr. Siegel and hope you can join us for this fascinating and unique opportunity. For more information about this and other events, please contact the Schwalb Center at uno schwalbcenter@unom aha.edu or 402.554.2788.

Passover today

Continued from page 1 at the forefront of current events in both Israel and the U.S. right now, but this topic is as old as the Passover story itself; immigration plays a central role in our own story, time and time again. It is my hope that by coming together in person, rather than, say, in an online forum, we can have civilized, respectful conversations and debates amongst ourselves. I know that for me on a personal level, being in the U.S., meeting new people and listening to what they have to say on this topic, along with current events here, has given me new ideas and Credit: Gomita84 perspectives on via Wikimedia commons issues back home, in Israel. I feel that being exposed to fresh perspectives here has really benefited me. I hope, by looking at the parallels in the U.S. and Israel on similar general issues, it may help others consider ideas outside of the box. We can learn so much from the ideas, mistakes and successes of others; it can help us rethink, reframe and understand perspectives that differ from our own. I hope people come, have fun and enjoy dialogue with wine, cheese and snacks; and what better time for this topic than right after we, as a people, finish a week dedicated to remembering our own Exodus?�

Questions? Please contact Yoni Doron, Community Shaliach at 402.334.6420 or ydoron@jewishomaha.org.

Visit us at jewishomaha.org

Fred J. Kader

The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018 | 3

community

The Holocaust through art

C

Donna Walter Education Coordinator, Institute for Holocaust Education ome and enjoy this year’s Art & the Holocaust exhibit in the JCC Gallery. Art & the Holocaust is designed to encourage middle school art classes to study the Holocaust and, specifically, the connections between that period of history and art (as documentation, as a means of resistance, stolen art, etc.). This very popular program is in its third year.

A total of 12 Omaha middle schools participated in the program over the course of this school year, with 1,079 students creating artwork. Schools participating this year are: Beveridge Magnet, Brownell-Talbot, Alice Buffet

Helen Manheimer

Milt Kleinberg

Magnet, Alfonso Davis, Gretna, Marrs Magnet, St. Cecilia, St. James Seton, St. Margaret Mary, St. Stephen the Martyr, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Wenceslaus.

Each school had one or two of their art teachers attend a training session with the IHE prior to beginning the project.

Teachers then passed on the speciallydesigned Holocaust lesson plans to their classes. With art supplies subsidized by the IHE, the students then went on to create works of visual art inspired by their studies. Many students created charcoal portraits of victims and survivors of the Holocaust (including faces you will recognize from our own community). Others produced a mural based on a piece of Holocaust literature, or designed a collage of images based on Holocaust-era artifacts. The exhibit will

Esther Silver

represent 10% of the artwork that was created. Funding for this program was provided by the Jetton Charitable Fund of the Omaha Community Foundation.

New this year will be three works of art from two area high schools – Creighton Prep and Millard South. They are part of an IHE pilot program using technology to design a Holocaust memorial. These students also experienced an IHE prepared lesson on the Holocaust, considered the purpose of a memorial, and viewed examples of Holocaust memorials both national and international before beginning their own design. This pilot program was generously underwritten by local donors.

A selection of the students’ thoughtful and stunning work will be on display in the JCC Gallery from April 2–20.

Lila Lutz

Cantor Leo Fettman

Omaha’s Holo c a u s t Re m e m b ra n ce Day Čˆ Yom Ha S h oa h

IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

Polina Labunskaya

Hersz Flatowicz

Paulette Flatowicz

Ilse & Marcel Kahn

Wednesday, April 11th ‡ 30

Bea Karp

Beth Israel Synagogue, Beth El Synagogue, Temple Israel.

The Gertrude T. & Albert B. Newman Endowment Fund and the Morton A. Richards Youth Program Fund (both of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation).

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Kitty Williams

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Let’s play

4 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

community

m

Cooking up fun: Beth El welcomes Cedric Young HowaRD K. maRCus emphis native C e d r i c Young’s love of cooking started early, in his grandmother’s kitchen.

“She made the best peanutbutter-and-jelly sandwiches in the world,” said Young, Beth El’s new chef and catering manager. “She had the best fried chicken in the world as well, so those two things piqued my fancy.”

Young spent a lot of time Cedric Young with his grandmother, who imCredit: Marcusofomaha.com parted her cooking knowledge.

“She was my inspiration,” he said.

Starting at age nine, Young took turns cooking for his family after coming home from school.

“Because of my grandmother, I was the perfect chef,” he said.

Young’s journey toward professional cooking began at age 12, during a visit to a Memphis baseball stadium.

There, he happened upon a large white tent. Lots of people gathered there as music played and a man cooked using the flambe method -- covering food with alcohol and setting it on fire.

“I was nosy and curious, and I moved to the tent,” Young said.

He peeked inside.

“All I saw was fire blazing up and people going, ‘Whoooo!”

The cook saw Young, invited him in and demonstrated the technique again.

From then on, Young was hooked.

“I just knew that food and people and fun went together, and I wanted that to be a part of my life,” he said. “I like to create different things for people and create experiences and nostalgic moments, because I had that same moment created for me in my youth.”

As time passed, Young began fulfilling his vocational aspirations by working in Memphis-area country clubs and hotels as he studied business and education at colleges in the city.

A key step in Young’s career progression was his work as a management trainee at Memphis’ Jewish-owned Peabody

Hotel. That’s where he learned about kashrut.

The hotel featured a busy kosher kitchen.

The Peabody’s catering service took care of food preparation at synagogues in the area, to the point that Young eventually became quite familiar with kashrut.

“It was just fun,” he said of his time at the hotel. “I would say that was the place that I got my grace.”

After spending 10 years at the Peabody, Young went to the Culinary Institute of America’s prestigious Greystone campus in California’s Napa Valley.

Graduating in 2007, he worked in more country clubs until coming to Omaha in 2010 as executive chef for a downtown hotel. That was followed by two years as kitchen manager and chef at an Omaha restaurant. Since 2015, Young has been executive chef and owner of Cey Food Company.

“I knew Cedric would be a great fit when, during our interview, he asked if he was allowed to creatively incorporate food into our programming,” said Beth El search committee member Jay Gordman. “Not only is he a fantastic chef -- try his blackened salmon -- he understands that community is built around a great meal.”

“I am thrilled to welcome Cedric to our staff,” said Rabbi Steven Abraham of Beth El. “I believe he will be a fantastic addition to our team and congregational family. Cedric is an absolute mensch, and I look forward to working together for many years to come.”

On May 19, Beth El will welcome Young and his family with a kiddush lunch following services. The community is encouraged to attend.

Passover: True freedom

Pesach, we celebrate true freedom. We searched out the “chametz” in our homes and our hearts. We rid ourselves of all the negative ego in our lives. We now focus on “matzah”, which also means “tamtzit” or essence. We focus on our essence, our soul, heshama. We focus on our family and friends. This is true Rabbi aRi freedom, the ability to rid ourselves of the ex- DembitzeR ternal to focus on the internal.

Beth Israel Synagogue Happy, kosher, and free Pesach to all.

sabine stRong RBJH Volunteer Coordinator L.O.V.E. (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly) has scheduled a Game Day on sunday, april 29 in the Jewish Community Center Auditorium. The event proceeds benefit the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Check-in starts at 12:30 p.m., and play begins at 1 p.m. “We invite individuals and groups to either put together their own game or come and join a game,” said Renee Kazor, who is coordinating Game Day together with Helene Shrago. “All games are welcome — Mah Jongg, Pan, Bridge, Shanghai, Scrabble, Poker; so pick your pleasure and be part of the fun.

Snacks and beverages will be served, and we have some terrific door prizes, too.” Registration fee is $18 per person. To reserve space before the April 18 deadline, make your check payable to L.O.V.E. and send with the registration form to L.O.V.E, attention: Les Kay at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. If you are looking for a game to play in, call Renee at 402.330.4404 and she will connect you with others who are also looking for a game. All proceeds from Game Day are part of the annual monies L.O.V.E. donates to the RBJH. “L.O.V.E. is very proud to provide gifts to the Blumkin Home every year,” Renee said. “Programs like Game Day allow L.O.V.E. to purchase needed items that benefit the Residents and the Blumkin Home staff.” In past years, L.O.V.E. has provided funds for the purchase of new patio furniture for the RBJH courtyard, laptop computers for the med carts, prayer books for religious services, and the Sensory Room which was dedicated in memory of Esther Wax. This year L.O.V.E. purchased four Smart TVs to display digital calendars for each wing of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home in memory of Eileen Remer.

L.O.V.E. was formed in 1971 and continues to play a vital role at the Blumkin Home. “Current L.O.V.E. volunteers assist with many of our programs,” said Sabine Strong, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Volunteer Coordinator, “and there is always a need for additional volunteers.” If you have an interest in giving the precious gift of your time, please call to schedule an appointment and visit with me to find your niche.” Sabine can be reached at 402.334.6519 or email: sstrong@ rbjh.com. All you need is LOVE!

The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018 | 5

ADL-CRC holds Jule M. Newman Law Enforcement Summit on Extremism

PAM MonSky had done copious amounts of research on the Community Development Liaison, subject, which showed in his presentation.”

ADL Plains States Region Later in the afternoon, Dr. Pitcavage was On Tuesday, March 20, the ADL-CRC the special guest at an Insider Access Meet hosted the First Annual Jule M. Newman and Greet at the Law Offices of Fraser Law Enforcement Summit on Extremism.

Stryker. Dr. Pitcavage spoke about extremism Special guest speaker, Dr. Mark Pitcavage, Senior Research Fellow with ADL’s Center on Extremism, and an extremism and terrorism expert with decades of experience, gave the keynote address at the Omaha Police Department Training Center to a capacity crowd of 50 law enforcement professionals. The Summit also included two concurrent break-out sessions led by Phil Lenz, FBI Supervisor of Omaha Division’s Lincoln, Grand Island and Dr. Mark Pitcavage and ADL-CRC Regional Director North Platte Resident Agencies, and Ed Mary-Beth Muskin at the Fraser Stryker Insider AcOslica, Intelligence Specialist for the cess Meet and Greet.

United States Attorney for the District of Ne- and also discussed security preparedness braska. Lenz spoke on the topic of Hate with the group of about 20 invitees.

Crimes in the area, and Oslica presented SoBob Freeman, partner at Fraser Stryker, cial Media and its use in investigations. and Steve Hogan, Associate at the law firm Dr. Pitcavage gave the keynote address fo- and an ADL-CRC board member, said, “The cusing on Extremism since the 2016 Presi- ADL-CRC event at Fraser Stryker with Dr. dential Election. In a lively presentation, Dr. Pitcavage was insightful and eye-opening.

Pitcavage talked about the rise of extremist From his wealth of knowledge about hateful groups and their motivations in the United extremism, Dr. Pitcavage briefed a high level States. Dr. Pitcavage is a historian and a noted local group and responded to specific quesauthority on extremism in America. In the tions and issues directly affecting the Omaha past, Dr. Pitcavage has served as Director of community. Omaha’s ADL-CRC Plains States the Center on Extremism, Director of Inves- Region appreciates having ready access to tigative Research and Director of Fact Find- such national resources in its fight against ing. In these various positions, Dr. Pitcavage anti-Semitism, extremism and racism in the has helped guide ADL’s efforts to combat ex- Omaha community.” tremism and domestic terrorism.

Finally, Dr. Pitcavage was the guest at the Sargeant Allen Straub of the Omaha Police Glass Leadership Class, which is made up of Department attended the Summit and com- 22 hand-selected community members who mented, “I would like to thank the Anti- focus on a wide array of topics central to the Defamation League for offering the Jule M. mission of the ADL-CRC. Newman Law Enforcement Summit on ExThe Jule M. Newman Law Enforcement tremism to our department. The summit was Summit was made possible through the genvery well planned out and organized. Break- erous funding of the Jule M. Newman Antiout sessions included topics such as Hate Bigotry Endowment Fund at the Jewish Crimes and Social Media Investigations. The Federation of Omaha Foundation. The fund time allotted for each breakout session gave sponsors specific programming designed and ample opportunity to ask questions generated conducted by the ADL-CRC Plains States Refrom the presentations. The presenters came gional office. prepared and well-organized to present their Knowing that their father respected the specific topics. The keynote speaker, Dr. mission of the ADL-CRC, Jules’ sons Bob, Mark Pitcavage, gave a very enlightening Jim and Murray chose the organization as the presentation on Extremism Since the Presi- beneficiary of the fund. Jule had a strong indential Election. My only suggestion for fu- terest in law enforcement; therefore, the fund ture summits is to extend his time because I ensures that anti-bias training for law encould listen to him all day. It was apparent he forcement officers will be held annually.

outlook nebraska Visually Impaired Community Resource Fair Are you or is someone you know dealing with vision loss?

If yes, plan to attend the Visually Impaired Community Resource Fair April 14 and 15 at Baxter Arena. The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.

Many people are experiencing vision loss because of diabetes, glaucoma, and aged-related macular degeneration. Care givers and family members can come to one place and learn about resources available and to meet others with vision loss.

Additionally, people with vision loss or blindness can attend to learn about new technology and other recreation, cultural, and advocacy services available right here in Omaha. Parents can also bring their children between the ages of six months and 18 years to the fair for a free vision screening courtesy of Omaha Area Lions Clubs.

Who should come to this?

• Anyone who is dealing with vision loss and those who support them, including their friends, loved ones, and even employers.

What would one expect at the fair?

• People who understand your situation and can help you find solutions that work for you.

• More than two dozen organizations that serve the blind and visually impaired will be present to describe services and answer questions.

• Tools that will help you at home and on the job.

Things like computer screen readers, magnifying devices, and apps to help you read restaurant menus.

• People who help with job training and job placement, transportation, • Resources for parents, • Free vision screenings for children.

To learn more, visit outlookne.org/resourcefair.

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6 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

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State Senator John Murante, will share his thoughts on legislation and taxation.

The Senator will discuss the final days of the Unicameral’s 105th Legislative session, including an update on efforts to curb taxes in Nebraska.

He will discuss tax impact as a small business owner and the importance of controlling the expenditure of Nebraska taxpayer dollars.

Nebraskans Supporting the FAIRtax Monday, April 9 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Parker’s Smokehouse 16880 Hwy. 6, Ashland, Nebraska 68003 1. Registration (6:15 - 6:30 p.m.)

2. Dinner 3. Intro - Rob Rohrbough, President (7 p.m.)

4. Sen. John Murante 5. Wrap-up (8 p.m.)

Sen. John Murante has represented Gretna and rural Sarpy County since 2013. He is a proven conservative who has fought for voter ID, tax relief and abolishing the learning community. He has been President and CEO of his family’s business, Big Fred’s restaurant in Omaha.

As a senator, he has chaired the Special Committee on Election Technology and has served as Chair of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee since 2015. He is currently seeking the Treasurer’s office and has been endorsed by more than 100 current or former office holders. His top priority is to manage Nebraska taxpayer dollars wisely, guided by conservative values.

Reservations are not necessary but are appreciated.

You may register on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/NebraskansSupportingtheFairTax/ For more information: NEFAIRtax.org

Yom HaShoah 2018 Gabby blair Staff Writer, Jewish Press Beth El Synagogue will be the setting for this year’s Yom Hashoah Remembrance Day, planned for Wednesday, April 11. The evening will begin with youth programming for those in grades 8-12 at 5:30 p.m., followed by the community program at 7 p.m.

Organized by the Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE), this year’s Yom HaShoah is written by Joanie Jacobson and Jill Belmont, and directed by Joanie Jacobson, who shares the following: “The focus is on the survivors as individuals. What are their names? What are they like? What do they have to say that we need to hear? We are so privileged to have these people in our city and in our lives. So, how do we honor them? How do we make the Holocaust revlevant in 2018 and what does that have to do with us?”

Joanie and Jill have worked closely over the last six months, interviewing and compiling the stories of nine local Holocaust survivors.

“It has been such an honor to chronicle these very personal and unique recollections,” Jill said. “Some are heartbreaking and poignant, some uplifting and humorous. What they all share are the remarkable resiliency and spirit of each person.

All these things will come through loud and clear as they tell their stories.”

Survivors who will share their stories, wisdom and insight include Annette Fettman for Cantor Leo Fettman, Dr.

is there such a thing as a good tax?

After the eyeballs stop rolling, most people say “No” whether they are angry or laughing. Why is that? Don’t we want to pay for the legitimate services that government provides us? Conservatives want lower taxes and smaller government; liberals want compassion for the poor and disadvantaged.

In any case, nothing is more certain than death and taxes.

The follow-on question usually begets a quizzical look and contemplation: If there were such a thing as a “good” tax, what would it look like? “Well, [chuckles] when I decide when and how much I pay!” Think about it: Is our work really ours if the government takes what it wants from our pay-

check and gives us the remainder? Is our house really ours if we have to pay the government “rent” (property taxes) every month, or once or twice a year?

What about something we don’t like?

How about special tax favors? Some people think of Washington, DC, as the “swamp”.

Why is that? Does it relate to taxes? What if we all were taxes equitably? What would that mean? Many people look at a single rate as regressive, especially if it is levied on sales rather than income, but what if that single rate applies only to discretionary purchases and not to necessities?

President Calvin Coolidge said once that in the end, all taxes are paid by those who PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Fred Kader, Marcel Kahn, Bea Karp, Milton Kleinberg, Polina Labunskaya, Lila Lutz, Esther Silver and Kitty Williams. The evening will offer a unique opportunity to get to know these vibrant and valuable members of our community. Also participating will be Bob Wolfson, Danny Denenberg, Devra Bram and Liz Feldstern.

The Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration is generously funded by the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, Temple Israel, and the Jewish Federation Foundation’s Gertrude T. and Albert B. Newman Endowment Fund and the Morton A. Richards Youth Program Fund.

For more information about Yom HaShoah or the youth programming, contact IHE Executive Director, Liz Feldstern at 402.334.6575 or lfeld stern@ihene.org.

toil. Do you know that up to 22¢ of every dollar you spend on food (or anything else) is for hidden taxes? What is that? It is the amount of taxes that every business passes down to its customers as it must if it wants to stay in business! What is fair about that?

Don’t we want some kind of equity or fairness? Perhaps we could look at a tax that is not “confiscatory”, i.e., one that does not demand from us a dollar amount based on how much property we own or how much income we make. It might be one that does not interfere in any way with purchasing our “necessities” but only on our discretionary purchases at a flat rate. There is a bill in Washington that does that: It is called the FAIRtax plan.

W

Reflections on the power of the Seder hat are some of the psychological and emotional currents that make the Passover Seder a powerful ritual? It is important to remember that the Seder is supposed to be the culmination of several weeks of study and preparation. Leading up to the holiday, one is supposed to study the TEDDY laws of Pesach and conduct a rigorous WEINBERGER Spring cleaning. Because the Rabbis associated hametz (leavened products) with spiritual impurity, the cleaning takes on symbolic tones: by making one’s house hametz-free, one also makes it spiritually clean. And then, on the night before Pesach, there is a ritual search for hametz, to be followed the next morning with a ritual burning of the hametz. By Seder time, therefore, a person is primed for a powerful ritual experience because one is supposed to already be at a heightened emotional and spiritual state.

The Seder itself is really ritual within ritual, for each family has its own way of conducting the Seder, its own foods, its own melodies. And families often have “ritual” guests--some people go to particular friends’ houses year after year. This is a big advantage of Passover abroad (in Israel there is just one Seder): ideally, it’s wonderful to play host for one Seder and be hosted for another.

There are two themes of the Haggadah and they are often interrelated. The first one, the “redemptive” theme, stresses that God Himself took the Jews out of Egypt; the second, the theme of “recurrent catastrophe,” maintains that Jews are always in need of God’s help, for “In every generation they seek to destroy us.” Ever since the Holocaust, the second theme has dwarfed the first in Jewish life. The real power and wonder of the Seder is that, at least for this night, the redemptive theme comes to the fore. How does the Seder do this?

A key moment of the Seder’s redemptive theme is when we recite “And God took us out of Egypt—not by an angel, not by a seraph, nor by a messenger, but the Holy One, Blessed Be He in His glory, and He alone.” The Haggadah’s emphasizing God’s singular role in the Exodus is striking in light of what we had read earlier: “If God had not taken our ancestors from Egypt, then we, our children, and our chil-

The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018 | 7

dren’s children, would still be slaves to Pharaoh.” That juxtaposition between abject need and divine intervention is very powerful for the Seder participant.

The Haggadah’s next parts all build to a climactic moment.

We first list the Ten Plagues; as we do so, we dip our pinkies into our wine cups, symbolically spilling a drop of Egyptian blood. Ostensibly this action is to lessen our joy, to be mindful of the human loss inflicted by God upon the Egyptians.

Symbolically, through the language of touch, we experience here a kind of bloodletting—and we also distract ourselves from asking questions about theodicy that the Seder does not address; i.e., if God is all-powerful and all-good, how and why do our enemies have so much free reign to do evil?

The singing of Dayenu, with its very simple, repetitious tune, is entertaining and also, in a non-discursive way, recalls the many miracles performed by God over the course of the Exodus. Afterwards, the redemptive theme of the Seder is further emphasized as we reiterate, in prose form, all the wonders that were just discussed in the song (how God gave the Jews the manna, the Shabbat, the Torah, Israel, etc.).

And then, after pointing to the three primary symbols of the Seder (Pesach/shank bone, matzah, and maror/bitter herbs), comes the climactic passage of the Haggadah: In every generation a person is obligated to view himself as if he were the one who went out from Egypt, as it is said: “And you shall tell your son on that day, saying ‘For this purpose the Lord labored on my behalf, by taking me out of Egypt’” [Exodus 13.8]. It was not our ancestors alone who were delivered by the Holy One Blessed by He—we were also delivered with them.

If things are working the way they should, we now actually feel redeemed! We have read all that God did for the Jewish people, and there before our eyes are the tangible symbols of the redemption. We feel that we ourselves have come through. Our only response can be to sing praises to the Lord—and that is precisely where the Seder takes us now, to the recitation of the first portion of the Hallel: the ultimate liturgical praise of God. Happy Passover!

Teddy Weinberger, Ph.D., made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Jane Ross, and their five children, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie, Ezra, and Elie, all of whom are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@netvision.net.il.

community Kids Can Omaha Luncheon

Educate. Engage. Inspire. Those three words have been the driving force for 110 years at Kids Can Community Center. Originally founded as Social Settlement Association in 1908, focus on children and families was the common thread throughout the first century of service.

In 2018, we continue to focus on kids through our mission to educate, engage, and inspire children through early childhood care and out-of-school experiences. For our youngest ones, we have year-round programs for children 18-months to 5-years old. Our goal is to have every child ready for kindergarten using the nationally recognized Creative Curriculum and Handwriting Without Tears as our principle teaching components.

For our elementary students, we offer daily out-of-school programs. At our Center site at 49th and Q, we have mentoring, before school, after school, and full day programs. Plus, we are open the entire 12 weeks of summer to ensure kids are not only safe, but engaging in educational and recreational activities. Kids Can also operates afterschool programs on-site at Gilder, Miller Park, Wakonda, and Nelson Mandela Elementary schools.

That is what we do at Kids Can, but why do we do it? Our core value is the belief every child deserves impactful, engaging experiences despite any socio-economic barriers they may encounter.

Many of our families face obstacles for access to quality care or eligibility for subsidies. Our goal is to remove those barriers and focus on building a bright future… our children.

We cannot do this alone. With the help of our community, we can fulfill our mission to educate, engage, and inspire kids. You can support our kids by joining us at the Can Do Luncheon on April 18 at the new downtown Marriott in the Capitol District. Visit www.

KidsCanOmaha.org or call 402.731.6988 for more information.

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Mega teen trip: Catherine Cox

8 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

community Mainstreeters in April

MaGGie COnti Director of Activities and Volunteer Services, RBJH Which Way Do I Go? Driving and Transportation Options for Seniors, Monday, April 9, from 1:30 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Board Room. No charge. The presenter from the VNA, Katie Pile, MSW, will address senior driving safety tips as well as a variety of community and private services (Uber, Lyft and Go Go Grandparent) that offer transportation options for seniors. Jewish Social Services and the Visiting Nurse AsKatie Pile, MSW sociation realize the importance of being proactive about your health and lifestyle. the local fifth grade. As his This educational session will be especially infamily, his new classmates, teresting for seniors who want to learn more and the larger community about taking charge of their well-being.Reall struggle to find their freshments will be served. Please call Maggie compassion and acceptConti at 402.334.6521 and reserve your spot ance, Auggie’s extraordiby Wednesday, April 4. nary journey will unite A Tribute to Johnny Cash featuring singerthem all and prove you guitarist Dustin West on Wednesday, April can’t blend in when you 18 at 1:45 p.m. Rose Blumkin Jewish Home were born to stand out.

Auditorium. There is no admission charge!

Rated: PG (for thematic elAll are welcome! Come enjoy an afternoon of ements including bullying, all your favorite Johnny Cash songs along and some mild language). with music from Johnny’s friends - Willie NelRunning time: 1 hour and son, Neil Diamond, Arlo Guthrie, John Den53 minutes. Free popcorn ver and others! Stay for the ice cream social will be served, warm and after the show! delicious!No reservations Sunday, April 22: Joy of Laughter presents necessary - Don’t be late Tom Anzalone – Singer, Impersonator and for the show!Have lunch at Entertainer at 1:30 p.m. in the Jewish Comthe Star Deli (Rose munity Center auditorium. We dare you to not love this guy! Blumkin Jewish Home) before the show! The Star Deli is open Tom has entertained our troops around the world, opened for for business at 11:30 a.m. the group Chicago and has been featured on NPR. Now, it’s Mainstreeters welcomes all Jewish residents of the Omaha your turn for some free laughs, food, and fun. Sponsored by area age 60 plus. The group offers a mixed-bag of learning The Meyers Family Legacy of Laughter Endowment Fund of opportunities plus social and cultural events. Be sure to join the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. the good times. For questions call Maggie Conti, Director of 37 Years – Love is in the Air Musical Show: Wednesday, Activities and Volunteer Services at 402.334.6521.

April 25, 1:45 p.m. Silverman Auditorium of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. There is no admission fee. Omaha music veterans, Tyler Smith & Sandy Cunningham have reunited after 37 years (hence the name – a true love story), with Kyle Knapp. Playing music that takes you back –how far?

Maybe.... 37 years! Stay for the ice cream social after the show B’nai B’rith BreadBreaKerS – all are welcome.

B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers meets weekly on Wednesdays at the A Free Afternoon at the Movies: Wonder, Friday, April 27 Rose Blumkin Jewish Home auditorium from noon to 1 p.m. For at 1 p.m. in the JCC Theater. Based on the New York Times specific speaker information, please email bestseller, Wonder tells the inspiring and heartwarming story Gary.Javitch@Gmail.com, Breadbreakers chairman. For more inof August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until formation or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters

Organizations

The Omaha Teen Trip to Israel is a collaborative project led by the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Beth El Synagogue, Temple Israel, and Beth Israel Synagogue. The purpose of the mission is to bring Jewish Omaha Teens to Israel to experience the Jewish Homeland, connect with Israelis, and connect with each other. As a way of saying “thank you” to the community, the teens are writing about their experiences and sharing them with the community via The Jewish Press throughout the year.

In addition to being led and financially supported by each Omaha Synagogue and the Jewish Federation of Omaha, The 2017-2018 Teen Trip was supported in part by The Herbert Goldsten Trust, the Phillip & Terri Schrager Supporting Foundation, the Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund, the Carl L. Frohm Educational Custodial Fund, the Milton S. & Corrine N. Livingston Foundation Fund, the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, and the JFO Foundation Special Donor Advised Funds. Thank you to all who supported this effort.

Catherine COx On Christmas morning, I woke up excitedly. Not because I would be celebrating Christmas, but because I would be heading to the airport and beginning my 10-day trip to Israel; a trip that I knew would broaden my horizons and allow me to experience Judaism and learn about what Judaism means to me.

After the original jet lag wore off, I was able to fully enjoy all of the beauty that Israel has to offer. The food was amazing, and seeing and hearing Hebrew everywhere was a wonderful shock to my system. When we stayed with our host families, I was fully immersed in the Israeli culture. I learned about the kibbutz and how high school works for Israeli teens. Over the trip, I was able to make new friends from Israel and from within the Omaha delegation.

My favorite part of the trip was getting to visit the Western Wall in the ancient city of Jerusalem. For the first time, I finally understood how I am connected to my friends and family in being Jewish. I thought about my mother and my sister visiting the same wall and how someday my own kids would visit it too.

While the end of the trip was stressful due to weather, I was still sad to be leaving. I learned so much about myself, other cultures, and Judaism on the trip. I am glad I went, and I am now even more excited to go on my birthright trip in the future.

Gloria Kaslow honored

O

MarK Kirchhoff Community Engagement and Education n Sunday, March 11, the Jewish community paid tribute to Gloria Kaslow and toasted her dedication and loving care in welcoming the Russian immigrants of the 1990’s and, most recently, with a Syrian family in conjunction with Beth El Synagogue and Lutheran Family Service. Her care spreads out even more. She has long been an active participant in the work of the Institute for Holocaust Education and Jewish Family Service, among many other endeavors.

Gloria began the aernoon’s event by recounting the history of how she came to be a part of the Omaha Jewish community. Leonard Greenspoon, Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization, followed with a biblical grounding for welcoming the stranger, beginning with Abraham welcoming travelers.

From this point, Rabbi Abraham emceed an artistic and educational program on five main waves of immigration to Omaha. Rita Paskowitz, through her master storyteller talents, presented an original piece titled, What’s a nice Jew like you doing in a place like this? In doing so, she told the story of the early Jewish settlers, from 1854 through 1913. Renee Corcoran, Director of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, presented A Glimpse of the Fortunate Few – those from the 1930s who made it out of Germany before WWII (Mike Erman’s was just one family’s story). Jim Fried, son of survivors Sam and Magda Fried, continued the history by recounting the stories of the Holocaust survivors.

As the aernoon progressed to recounting the welcoming of the Russian Jews to Omaha, three families shared their stories, their emotions, and their heartfelt thanks for Omaha and Gloria in making their transitions to living in Omaha very special. ese families were Alex, Olga, and Dina Kogan; Anna YuzMosenkis, and Margaret Turetsky. It was nearly impossible to find a dry eye in the crowd upon hearing those interviews. e current efforts in Welcoming the Stranger, a project of Beth El Synagogue, were explained by program leader Allan Murow. Lacey Studnicka of Lutheran Family Services expanded on the current refugee resettlement efforts in the city of Omaha, the state of Nebraska, and the United States.

Following the tracing of 150 years of history, Liz Feldstern, Executive Director for the Institute for Holocaust Education and Karen Gustafson, Executive Director for Jewish Family Service led the audience of over 130 people in a tribute toast to Gloria Kaslow.

As part of the toast, Eadie Tsabari led the room in singing a parody of Battle Hymn of the Republic, re-written to honor Gloria’s work, by former Omahan Stan Mitchell. “e event was the result of many months of planning with Gloria and Leonard [Greenspoon]; our hard work really paid off. In partnering with the Klutznik Fund, we wanted to strike the right balance of Jewish learning and tribute – both to Gloria and the Omaha Jewish community as a whole,” exclaimed Jennie Gates Beckman, Director of Community Engagement & Education.

The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018 | 9

10 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

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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 events.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 31 Second Night Seder festivities begin 5 p.m. at Beth El Yachad Attends Seder Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El Congregational Seder, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel SUNDAY, APRIL 1 Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El MONDAY, APRIL 2 Parsha Study with Shani, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad TUESDAY, APRIL 3 Ethical Life Class with Rabbi Abraham, noon at Whole Foods Star Deli Passover Deli Night, 5:30-7 p.m. at RBJH

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 Mystical Thinking with Rabbi Katzman, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad Breadbreakers Luncheon and Speaker, noon at RBJH Ethical Life with Rabbi Abraham, 7 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, APRIL 5 Hebrew Class, 10 a.m. at RBJH Talmud Class, noon at Chabad Beth El Chesed Committee Visits Blumkin Home, 2 p.m.

Successful Aging in Israel & Nebraska, 7 p.m. at UNO FRIDAY, APRIL 6 Shulchan Ivrit-Hebrew Table with Yoni, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH First Friday Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, APRIL 7 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel TiYPE Breaking Pesach Program, 5:30 p.m.

Moshiach Feast, 7 p.m. at Chabad SUNDAY, APRIL 8 BESTT Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Religious School, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Yom Hashoah w/ Rabbi Shlomo, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel OTYG Meeting, noon at Temple Israel Performing Arts Academy, 2 p.m.

Temple Israel JYG at the Mark, 2 p.m.

Musical Theater Rehearsals, 3 p.m.

Round Tables Discussion Event, 4 p.m.

MONDAY, APRIL 9 Parsha Study with Shani, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad TUESDAY, APRIL 10 Ethical Life Class with Rabbi Abraham, noon at Whole Foods ADL Full board meeting, noon Beth El Chesed Committee Visits Remington Heights, 2 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11 Mystical Thinking with Rabbi Katzman, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad Breadbreakers Luncheon and Speaker, noon at RBJH Rabbis and Presidents Meeting, noon at RBJH Religious School, 4 p.m. at Temple Israel BESTT Hebrew School, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High, 6:30 p.m. at Beth El Omaha Community Holocaust Commemoration, 7 p.m. at Beth El

THURSDAY, APRIL 12 Hebrew Class, 10 a.m. at RBJH Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Talmud Class, noon at Chabad Come Play Shanghai, 1 p.m. at Beth El Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Human Rights Lecture, 7 p.m. at UNO FRIDAY, APRIL 13 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You at Heritage-Sterling Ridge, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 14 Temple Tots Shabbat, 9 a.m. at Temple Israel Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Jr. Congregation, 10 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, APRIL 15 BESTT Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Religious School, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Yom Ha’atzma’ut w/ Rabbi Ari, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Book Club, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Torah Tots, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El YJG Teen Foundation Meeting, 12:30 p.m.

Performing Arts Academy, 2 p.m.

Musical Theater Rehearsals, 3 p.m.

NE State Holocaust Commemoration, 3 p.m. at State Capitol Building in Lincoln MONDAY, APRIL 16 Family Shabbat or Havdallah, 8:30 a.m.

Parsha Study with Shani, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad IHE Young Artists’ Reception, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 17 Ethical Life Class with Rabbi Abraham, noon at Whole Foods BBYO/ADL Program, 5 p.m.

Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 JFO-Jewish Business Leaders Meeting, 7:30 a.m. at Happy Hollow Mystical Thinking with Rabbi Katzman, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad Breadbreakers Luncheon and Speaker, noon at RBJH Beth El Chesed Committee Visits Sterling Ridge, 2 p.m.

Religious School, 4 p.m. at Temple Israel Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration, 4 p.m.

BESTT Hebrew School, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High, 6:30 p.m. at Beth El Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration, 6 p.m.

Adult Education Class, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Ethical Life with Rabbi Abraham, 7 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, APRIL 19 Hebrew Class, 10 a.m. at RBJH Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Middle East Forum, noon at UNO Community Engagement Center Talmud Class, noon at Chabad Israel Overseas Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

2018 Ruth & Phil Sokolof Lecture, 7 p.m. at UNO Thompson Alumni Center L.O.V.E. Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at RBJH FRIDAY, APRIL 20 School Director’s Meeting, 9 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Matzah Ball Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel

SATUDAY, APRIL 21 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, APRIL 22 BESTT Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Religious School, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Temple Tots Sunday, 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Joy of Laughter, 1:30 p.m.

Cast B Recital Dress Rehearsal, 3:15-5 p.m.

Temple Israel Dinner in Abraham’s Tent, 6 p.m. at CenturyLink Center MONDAY, APRIL 23 Parsha Study with Shani, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad TUESDAY, APRIL 24 YJG Shuk, 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25 Mystical Thinking with Rabbi Katzman, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad Breadbreakers Luncheon and Speaker, noon at RBJH Religious School, 4 p.m. at Temple Israel BESTT Hebrew School, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Hebrew High, 6:30 p.m. at Beth El Humans of Tel Aviv Art Reception and Talk, 6 p.m.

Adult Education Class, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel THURSDAY, APRIL 26 Hebrew Class, 10 a.m. at RBJH Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Talmud Class, noon at Chabad Planning Committee, 4:30 p.m. at RBJH OTYG Lounge Night, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel Israel Oversease Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Community Forum, 7 p.m. at Beth El FRIDAY, APRIL 27 Beth El Cooks/Serves Lunch at NE AIDS Coalition,11:30 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Scholar in Residence: Dr. Keren McGinity, 6 p.m. at Beth El Shabbat Service/Confirmation, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, APRIL 28 Scholar in Residence: Dr. Keren McGinity, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Jr. Congregation, 10 a.m. at Beth El OTYG Elections/Lock In, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, APRIL 29 Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Religious School, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Torah Tots, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education with Scholar in Residence: Dr. Keren McGinity, 11 a.m. at Beth El Pesach Sheini Brunch, 11 a.m. at Chabad TED Talk, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel JCC Dance Classes for Picture Day, noon L.O.V.E. Game Day, noon Musical Theater Rehearsals, 3 p.m.

MONDAY, APRIL 30 Parsha Study with Shani, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad JFO Board Meeting, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH YJO strategic Planning Meeting, 6 p.m.

Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut at Beth Israel

MAry Sue GroSSMAn Beth Israel Synagogue The month of April includes three distinct events in the Jewish world - Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron, and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Community members are invited to expand and enhance their knowledge of these remembrances with special classes and events scheduled at Beth Israel Synagogue.

On Sunday, April 8 at 10 a.m., Rabbi Shlomo Abramovich, Beth Israel’s Visiting Scholar, will teach a class entitled How Should We Remember the Holocaust? Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, is the annual commemoration to remember the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Rabbi Shlomo’s class will include a discussion on the three dates on which the Shoah can be remembered and the significance of each. [Omaha’s Community Yom Hashoah Commemoration will be held Wednesday, April 11, beginning at 7 p.m. at Beth El.] The following week, on Sunday, April 15, Rabbi Ari Dembitzer will focus on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, during True Independence at 70. Rabbi Ari’s class, which begins at 10 a.m., will include a discussion on how American Jews can deepen their relationship to Israel, the Jewish home-

land, and also look at the significance of the historical times in which we are living today.

Yom Ha’atzmaut will also be the focus of Rabbi Ari’s weekly class, Connecting with our Faith, on Thursday morning, April 19, at 10 a.m. The topic on the 19th will be Yom Ha’atzmaut – The Final Step of the Redemption from Egypt.

Yom Hazikaron, a remembrance of Israel’s fallen soldiers, will be observed at Beth Israel on Tuesday evening, April 17, beginning at 7 p.m. The evening will commence with the sounding of a siren for two minutes. In Israel, a siren is heard twice during Yom Hazikaron. The first is sounded at 8 p.m. and a second time at 11 a.m., during which all daily activities and traffic throughout the country come to a halt. After the siren, a short film will be shown, followed by talks by Yaakov and Sara Abramovich, parents of Rabbi Abramovich. Yaakov was a tank gunner in the Yom Kippur War. Sara will recall her childhood memories of the Six-Day War. Anyone who served in the IDF who wishes to share a story, is also encouraged to participate. Please contact Beth Israel to be included.

For additional information on the above events or any other Beth Israel programs, please visit orthodoxomaha. org or call 402.556.6288.

New Holocaust Memorial Plaques

exactly six million times a year. In 2017, it became clear they needed to be repaired. is was accomplished with the help of fine glass artist Valerie Spellman-Batt, who created the beautiful new glass pieces, and Jim Fried’s nephew, Josh Fried, who is an engineer in Detroit and who created new circuits for the lights.

“It was very important to us to get this accomplished before the community Yom HaShoah Commemoration April 11,” Jim said, “and we hope everyone who attends will stop by and take notice of the new Holocaust memorial plaques.

community yJo game night

nATe ShApiro Director of Development, Jewish Federation of Omaha On March 15, YJO held a game night at Spielbound Board Game Café. 16 members of our Jewish and Jewish Adjacent community got together and played board games for a couple of hours. The group played Telestrations, a mash up of Pictionary and Telephone, as well as the game Cards against Humanity, which you should google if you’re curious. The game night was led by Alex Wolf. YJO is a social group for Omaha’s Jewish and Jewish Adjacent community in their 20s and 30s.

To keep up with YJO, follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebo ok.com/youngJewishomaha/ or email yJo@jewishomaha.org.

RBJH book club visits students

Passover Star Deli

The RBJH Star Deli will be closed March 30 and April 6 for the Passover holiday. Instead, there will be a special Passover Deli the evening of Tuesday, April 3, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Silverman Auditorium. Specials include the famous Latke Reuben (two crispy potato latkes stuffed with half a pound of corned beef and homemade Thousand Island dressing) and a brisket platter. All sandwiches will be served on a matzoh roll.

resident Annette Fettman and seventh grade students.

Jill ohlMAnn Activities Coordinator, RBJH Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home recently visited Buffett Magnet Middle School. As part of an intergenerational book club, Residents met with a group of seventh grade students to discuss the novel A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

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It's been 15 years since Sam and Frances Fried arranged for Holocaust memorial plaques to be hung in all three Omaha synagogues as well as the Chabad House.

“Both my parents felt the loss of their immediate family intensely,” Jim Fried said. “I remember my mother, Magda, used to talk about how hard it was to not have a place to go, to grieve. My mother yearned to know where they were: her mother, her sister. Both felt the loss of their family through the lens of not ever knowing what had become of them.”

Finally, in 2002, Sam and Frances created a special memorial to be hung near the Yahrzeit plaques. e memorial represents all who perished during the Holocaust, with a light that comes on

The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018 | 11

402.493.5807 • 12606 West Dodge Road • RemingtonHeightsRetirement.com

12 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

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(Founded in 1920) Eric Dunning President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Thierry Ndjike Accounting Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, President; Andy Ruback, Past-President; Sandy Friedman, Treasurer; Alex Grossman; Jill Idelman; Andy Isaacson, Mike Kaufman; David Kotok; Debbie Kricsfeld; Abby Kutler; Pam Monsky; Eric Shapiro and Barry Zoob.

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T

(not) Mary Fellman’s Fruit compote

ANNETTE vAN DE KAMP Editor, Jewish Press here is a distinct advantage to sitting in my chair at the Jewish Press. It doesn’t come from telling stories, managing deadlines or bringing home a paycheck. While those things are important, every once in a while, I have the opportunity to connect with people I’ve never met for random reasons. Sometimes they suggest stories, sometimes they ask follow up questions about something we’ve published. Sometimes they just email or call to say hello. Then, every once in a while, someone asks a question for which I have no answer.

I don’t like not having an answer.

Let me explain.

A few weeks ago, while we were up to our neck in Passover production, I received an email from an out-ofstate reader by the name of Marilyn. She explained that she’d had an electrical fire in her kitchen, many of her possessions were in storage, including her recipes; she wasn’t sure if they had survived and if they had, she wouldn’t be able to access them until after Pesach.

For many years, she’d made Mary Fellman’s fruit compote. It was a favorite, and was there any possible way I could find it for her?

I’ll be honest. My first thought was: that’s a needle in a very large stack of needles. However, we had to try. Giving up before we even started was not an option.

“Please don’t go through too much trouble,” Marilyn told me when I explained it would not be an easy task.

The question is: how much ‘trouble’ is too much? I checked the archives and although I found endless stories by and about Mary Fellman, there was no fruit compote recipe. I tried social media, I tried the Internet, I tried

Passover issue after Passover issue. I found recipes, but no fruit compote.

It kept nagging at me until, finally, my fabulous Assistant Editor Lori found a little time in her schedule and decided to join in the fun. She searched years’ worth of issues that were published during the months leading up to Passover. Finally, she found it. The Jewish Press of March 22, 1985 has a Vaad’s New column on page 12.

We would have found it sooner, were it not for the fact that those old Vaad columns are not specifically listed in the catalogue; it simply states: “Published intermittently between 1960-1980.”

Because of Lori’s diligence, I was able to mail the recipe to that reader, only to find out it still wasn’t the right one.

Apparently, the elusive recipe uses dried fruits. If, by any chance, this sounds familiar to you and you think you have this recipe, please share by emailing avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org.

If Mary Fellman only knew! That’s not all; in talking to this reader about recipes in general, she shared Ida Sach’s

They didn’t say she was gay JoSEFiN DoLSTEN NEW YORK | JTA A woman who was featured in a hit Netflix documentary about former Orthodox Jews says the fact that she was openly lesbian was cut from the film.

Etty Ausch, 33, is one of three people who tell their stories of leaving the Brooklyn Hasidic community in One of Us, which was released in September. The acclaimed film, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (both of Jesus Camp and Detropia), shows Ausch’s custody battle over her seven children with her former husband, whom she describes as abusive. It alleges that the Hasidic community bands together, harassing her and raising money for her former husband’s lawyer.

It also shows Ausch slowly breaking away from Orthodox Judaism, eschewing long skirts and a wig for pants and her natural hair, which was shaved according to a Hasidic custom.

But there was one significant detail left out of the story, Ausch revealed to JTA last month. Years earlier Ausch had come out as a lesbian, and at the time of filming she was openly dating a woman. The filmmakers were aware of this and shot footage of Ausch with her girlfriend, but that part of the story was left out in the editing process. Ausch said the filmmakers told her that Netflix made the decision.

“They filmed, and I was openly gay in the film, and Netflix made them take it out and when they told me about it, I was like ‘OK,’ but I didn’t get a choice. It wasn’t like I could say ‘no’ or ‘yeah,’” she told JTA over coffee at a Midtown Manhattan cafe.

Neither the film production company, Loki Films, nor Netflix responded to JTA requests for comment.

“It was such an important part of who I was because all the years that I was married, my thenhusband knew I was gay,” Ausch said. “He was actually the one who told me when I didn’t know what gay was, and that there was such a thing that women have attractions to other women.”

She said her husband urged her to get treatments that promised to get rid of her same-sex attractions.

“We went through all the motions of seeing rabbis and getting treatments to fix it, so he knew and the way I was treated by him was very much the

reason why I left,” Ausch said. “He wasn’t very accommodating or understanding.”

Ausch lives now with her girlfriend, Sarah, in New Haven, Connecticut. In an essay published by the young women’s site Refinery 29, Ausch wrote about meeting Sarah at a support group for Jewish LGBTQ women. She is close to finishing an associate’s degree in criminal justice at the Borough of

Etty Ausch said her sexuality was cut from Netflix’s One of Us. Credit: Ausch Manhattan Community College and hopes to transfer to a four-year college in the fall. Her longterm goal is to attend law school and defend minority and vulnerable groups, including the LGBTQ community and women.

“Being able to be a voice for other people is important to me,” she said.

Though Ausch went through the experience herself, she does not want to defend others who are leaving Orthodoxy.

“There’s a huge need for it there,” she said, “but knowing what it is like when I went through it there and the lack of justice, having this whole bloc voting system where they vote people into court and they basically have no standing chance — I don’t want to go up against something I can never win.”

The film suggests that a local court favored Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn, where haredi Orthodox Jews tend to vote their community’s interests in local elections. Elected officials have been accused of pandering to the Orthodox vote on issues like reporting sexual abuse or a controversial circum-

honey cake recipe with me. That one I will save for Rosh Hashanah, but I’ll share Mary Fellman’s fruit compote here, so you can see for yourself what all the fuss was about. Again, it’s not the one Marilyn was looking for, but since Lori found it, I felt we should still reprint it.

FRuiT CoMPoTE Combine in saucepan: 1/3 cup sugar 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup water 1 stick cinnamon 1/2 tsp. whole cloves Mix well and boil 2 minutes. Strain off spices, and add two cups each fresh strawberries and fresh pineapple wedges. Chill. Bananas may be added at serving time.

Serves 6.

And, because it’s almost Passover, here’s a bonus recipe: PASSovER BuNS 4 eggs 1 1/3 cups matzoh meal 1 cup water 1/3 cup oil 1 tbsp. sugar 1/4 tsp. salt Add oil to water and bring to a boil. Mix together meal, salt and sugar and add all at once to boiling mixture, stirring hard. Remove from heat and transfer to mixer bowl.

Have eggs at room temperature. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating hard after each addition. Drop from tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake in pre-heated 425 degree oven 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 20-25 minutes longer or until nicely browned.

Happy Passover, everyone!

cision practice called metzitzah b’peh.

Though Ausch talks to her children on the phone every day, she says the tight-knit community hasn’t let her see them since June. She declined to discuss the details of the current custody agreement between her and her former husband. Three of her children live with her former husband and his new wife, while the remaining four live with relatives.

“They’re trying to keep me out of the children’s lives just because I am not religious,” she said.

“They think I’m a bad influence and all that.”

During the interview last month, Ausch was trying to schedule a time to see her children later in the week. She later told JTA that the visit did not happen.

“My hope is so low, if I can work it out, it will be great, but if they just don’t want to make it happen, I won’t be surprised,” she said at the time.

The film chronicles the lives of Ausch and two other former Hasidic Jews, Luzer Twersky, 32, and Ari Hershkowitz, 20, as they deal with the fallout of leaving their communities and try to adapt to a secular lifestyle. Twersky, who left behind his wife and children when he decided to stop being religious, is seen trying to make it as an actor.

Since leaving his Hasidic community, Twersky has appeared in various roles, including on the hit show Transparent and in a Yiddish production of God of Vengeance. In the film Hershkowitz, who says he was sexually abused as a child, struggles with drug addiction and leaving behind a life of familiarity. He told JTA that he is now working in technology and is planning to start college in the fall.

Ausch has only watched One of Us two or three times, she said, because it brings up bad memories.

Following the film’s release, she was invited to speak to the audience after screenings. She always waited outside when the film played because she found it too difficult to watch and then answer questions.

“It’s hard for me to see what that year was like and how hard it was and how I really really tried and how I kept hoping for things to be very different, and things looked pretty good for me for a while because I had custody of them for a year,” Ausch said.

See They didn’t say she was gay page 13

The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018 | 13

Post-Parkland activism shows teens don’t need our praise.

They need a place at the table DaviD BryFMan JTA In the aftermath of the fatal mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, the Jewish community should take note: Teenagers are not just the future of the Jewish people; they are the dynamic force driving social change today.

Today we are witnessing history unfold as the American teenage populace is mobilizing. This moment will be recorded as one in which adolescents were the catalysts for societal change – and they will keep fighting because they know that they are on the right side of history.

The irony should not be lost here. Generation Z (teens born post-2000) are often described as the most narcissistic, materialistic generation that the world has ever known. They are referred to as “the iGeneration” and “the Selfie Generation.”

Their addiction to electronic devices has been well documented, and with it the social deficits that this addiction brings.

Those of us who study and work with today’s youth know all too well that despite the alleged self-indulgence of this generation, its members have repeatedly demonstrated that they are committed to social and political change. And now the spotlight is firmly on them -- and it’s their time to shine.

Those who mistrust the influence of technology fail to truly understand these youth. For today’s youth, technology is not what they do; it is who they are. The smartphone and its apps are an extension of their lives. And social media, in all of its variations, enhances their social life and amplifies their engagement with the world.

After the tragedies of Parkland, and Sandy Hook, and Columbine, and too many others to name, it is time to allow today’s youth to fix what we could not. Our role as adults must be to empower our young to take control of the conversation and ensure that policymakers hear their voices loud and clear.

On a recent webinar sponsored by The Jewish Education Project and 12 major Jewish organizations serving youth, 450 educators tuned in live as Saralyn Lerner -- a Jewish high school senior from Boca Raton, Florida, who helped organize a sit-out at her school in the days following the shooting at

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland – issued the following call to action: The best thing you can do is instead of simply just empowering your teens and allowing them to do the things they have been asking — like these marches and these sit-outs and these walkouts and these protests — [is to] actually take part in them.

You, as Jewish educators, you are the ones who taught us how to fight for what we believed in, whether you’re our teachers,

Cameron Kasky addressing other area high school students in a rally at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following a countywide school walkout in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 21, 2018.

Credit: Rhona wise/AfP/Getty Images whether you’re our rabbis, whether you’re our cantor at our synagogues — we looked up to you. It’s your generation that put these ideas in our heads of how we can use our own voices and we’re doing exactly that. But we need your help because a generation of teenagers, as much as I’d like to hope that we could, we’re not taking over the world. We’re starting a movement, and every movement has its leaders, every movement has its followers. And on this movement, the Jewish educators... also are the leaders of this. You’re telling us since we were kids, that we need to speak for ourselves, that we need to protect, that we need to respond to one another, you showed us that way, and the only way that these peaceful protests and that change is going to happen is if you keep showing us those right ways.

What my mini-midlife crisis made me realize

Danielle aMeS SPivaK Kveller via JTA My recent 34th birthday brought a mini-midlife crisis. A 48-hour period of existential questioning concluded with a watershed moment: I need to have more fun.

That’s easier said than done. With work, three little kids, bills, and trying to run a traditional Jewish home, I realized I’ve completely forgotten about fun.

When I was in my early 20s, Saturday nights were spent at nightclubs in the Meatpacking District followed by shawarma runs with friends at 3 a.m. So what happened? After decade’s worth of stresses — which included a husband in surgical residency who was never around, losing my first pregnancy at 22 weeks, and working full-time through nauseous pregnancies with very short maternity leaves — fun had slipped to the bottom of my very long to-do list.

It’s hard to prioritize fun when everyone in your orbit depends on you for survival. But I now realize I need to shift some of these priorities around.

One recent evening, my 5-year-old daughter made a joke, and I laughed out loud. Her response? “Mom, I have never heard you laugh before.” That isn’t true, of course. I do laugh, on occasion — especially when I am watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

But she had a point: I am too serious. My mother — who is smart and loving with a doctorate in Jewish studies — seemed to only enjoy life’s little luxuries once her kids left home, like playing mah jongg and going to the gym. For the sake of my sanity, however, I can’t wait until retirement. I need to lighten up now.

“Me time” is something I realized I’d confused with “fun time” — that an occasional manicure wasn’t cutting it in the “fun” department. But since I’m not able to jet off for a long weekend in Cabo with my girlfriends, I’m learning to recognize that fun can be had during life’s little moments. I’m determined to unearth the slightest instances of humor and lightheartedness in my everyday life — “being in the now” is

my new mantra.

Every weekend, for example, my Instagram friends share their “Sunday Funday” posts. I decided it’s time I had a Sunday Funday, too. The Sunday after my birthday, my husband was working and my kids and I were coughing as if we had hairballs in our throats. But instead of feeling sorry for myself, we all bundled up — it was 60 degrees! That’s cold for LA! — and went to the park.

We climbed to the top of the slide and, one by one, my kids rode down on my lap. We giggled, amusing ourselves in the most simple way. Thoughts of “what should I make for dinner?” faded, and I let go of regret that we weren’t going on vacation anytime soon. Instead, I saw the playground through the delighted eyes of my kids. And you know what? It was fun.

Later that week, I brought my 4-year-old daughter to my office. Together, we explored a place familiar to me through her eyes. We ate m&ms and colored at my desk. Another day, my 2-year-old son and I did errands, but we stopped on the sidewalk to wait and watch airplanes in the sky, jumping and squealing together.

Don’t get me wrong, I also need adult fun in my life. There is only so much “being in the now” will accomplish when your kids have been whining at you for six hours straight.

Whether it means my husband and I get out more to comedy or dance clubs, or to play tennis, or to drink martinis — or all of the above — I’m working on making that happen.

Still, the first step was me acknowledging that fun is a state of mind. I’ve learned that no amount of money or time or energy will bring fun — the key is being present. As my Nana Goldie always said, “The past is history, the future is a mystery, but the present is a gift.” This year, I am going to relish in the present and laugh a lot more along the way. Who’s with me?

Danielle Ames Spivak is mom to 3 kids ages 5 and under based in Los Angeles.

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

Over the next weeks and months, The Jewish Education Project will be offering guides and resources for organizations who want to elevate the voices of teenagers within their communities. With encouragement from rabbis, education directors and other Jewish professionals, we will encourage teens to raise their voices in congregations and communities across the country, particularly on Shabbat HaGadol (The Great Shabbat), March 24, the Shabbat before Passover that for centuries has been set aside as a day for communal rabbis to deliver major sermons. This year, Shabbat HaGadol coincides with the March For Our Lives gun control demonstrations throughout the U.S. led by American teens. Through an initiative called Generation Now Voices, The Jewish Education Project will invite, collect and disseminate teen sermons that speak to the issues of our time, spark debate and inspire change.

On a personal level, as a recently naturalized American citizen, I urge every adult to offer teenagers the resources and transportation -- and if need be to act as chaperones -- so that they can show up to demonstrate. I would also urge every nonprofit organization to consider including teenagers on their boards as active voices and decision-makers, particularly if their voices can provide important or missing perspectives. I encourage every gathering, conference and demonstration, no matter what the issue, to find an impassioned teen to speak to that issue. In the weeks leading up to March 24 and beyond, I urge all clergy to yield their pulpit to a teenager in their congregation.

These steps are not lip service. They are recognition that today’s teenagers have something fiercely real to say; that they are here and that they have a voice worth hearing. These steps also reflect our recognition that we adults might not have all the answers, and that sometimes we might be best served in actively withdrawing to offer those better suited to fill that space.

David Bryfman, PhD. is the chief innovation officer of The Jewish Education Project. View The Jewish Education’s Projects resources for Responding to Parkland: Supporting our Students from Grief to Activism.

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.

From bagels to obesity clinic

JTA news sTAff e Jewish owners of a popular bagel shop in London vowed to fight their landlord’s plans to turn their building into an anti-obesity clinic.

Shalom Hot Bagels, located in the northeast part of the British capital, told e Jewish Chronicle that they had not been consulted on the move, which the building’s owners filed with municipal planning authorities, the Londonbased paper reported last week.

“We don’t intend to let it happen,” a spokesman for the bakery, which was established 32 years ago, told the Chronicle. “We have a long lease with the landlord, and if the planning application gets approved we will fight it.” e owners’ application for permission to renovate states that a practice with four consulting rooms, a dental suite and a sexual health testing facility would replace the store.

In the application, Client Design Services Limited, the company that the owners have contracted to handle the intended renovation, emphasized the need for a clinic to fight obesity.

“It is estimated that 55 percent of adults are either overweight or obese. In addition to this, there is a growing prevalence of diabetes within this local community,” Client Design Services wrote. “e clinic will aim to provide weight loss and diabetes services.”

They didn’t say she was gay

Continued from page 12 Being away from her kids and the experience of leaving the Orthodox world still weigh heavily on Ausch every day.

“My life is always going to be very much set on the script of what I went through, so it’s not this carefree existence where I can go about my life and be like, ‘Now I’m in school, this is so fun,’” she said. “It’s heavily influenced by what I went through, so it’s more of me trying to make the best of it.”

14 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

synagogues B’naI Israel synagogue

618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

BeTh el synagogue

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org

BeTh Israel synagogue

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

ChaBad house

An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

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

offuTT aIr forCe Base

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

rose BlumKIn JewIsh home

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

TIfereTh Israel

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’naI Israel synagogue

Join us for our monthly Shabbat Speakers Series on april 13, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker Jeannette Gabriel on Locking up Al Levy: Omaha’s Struggle Against Jim Crow during WWII. Our service leader is Larry Blass, and as always, an oneg to follow service. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

For information on our historic synagogue, please contact any of our board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf and Phil Wolf.

BeTh el synagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. frIday: Shacharit/Siyyum B’khorim, 7 a.m. followed by Biur Chametz; Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m., a shortened service that will allow everyone time to return home for First Seder. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Services, 9:30 a.m.; Passover Around the World Family Seder: Warmup, 5 p.m., Mincha, 5:30 p.m., Seder, 6:15 p.m. weeKday serVICes: Sundays, 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. sunday: No BESTT Classes.

Tuesday: The Ethical Life with Rabbi Abraham, 10:30 a.m. at Whole Foods. wednesday: No BESTT Classes; No BESTT Hebrew High Classes; The Ethical Life with Rabbi Abraham, 7 p.m.

Thursday: Chesed Committee visits Blumkin Home, 2 p.m.

Shacharit, friday, april 6, 10:30 a.m.

Yom HaShoah Teen Program (Grades 8-12), wednesday, april 11, 5:30 p.m.

Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration, wednesday, april 11, 7 p.m.

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

BeTh Israel synagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. frIday: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by Siyum B’chorim; Mincha and Candle Lighting, 7:29 p.m. saTurday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion, 6:30 p.m. with Rabbi Ari; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 7:15 p.m.; Passover Across America Seder, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel; Candlelighting/Earliest Seder time, 8:31 p.m. sunday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 7:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:31 p.m. weeKdays: Creating Spiritual Life, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari. (Note: No class on Thursday, April 5.) monday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.

Tuesday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m. wednesday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.

Thursday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Candlelighting, 7:35 pm.

ChaBad house

Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. frIday: Join us for a delightful Family Seder, 7:30 p.m.

Relive the Exodus, discover the eternal meaning of the Haggadah, and enjoy a community Seder complete with handbaked Matzah, wine, and a wonderful dinner spiced with unique traditional customs. saTurday: Shachairt, 10-11:30 a.m. followed by a Kiddush. sunday: Morning Services, 10-11:30 a.m. followed by a Kiddush. weeKdays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. frIday, april 6: Morning Services, 10-11:30 a.m. followed by a Kiddush. saTurday, april 7: Morning Services, 10-11:30 a.m. followed by a Kiddush; Yizkor, 11 a.m.; Farewell to Pesach Moshiach Feast, 7 p.m. An unforgettable inspiring evening for young and old. Take Pesach to the next level! For more info and reservations call 402.330.1800, email office@ocha bad.com or visit www.ochabad.com.

All programs are open to the entire community.

Visit us at jewishomaha.org

CongregaTIon B’naI Jeshurun

Services conducted by Rabbi Teri Appleby. frIday: Erev Pesach/First Seder—No Services at Temple. saTurday: Pesach Day 1—No Services or Torah Study at Temple; Community Seder, 6 p.m. sunday: No LJCS Classes; No Adult Beginning Hebrew Class.

Tuesday: Intro to Judaism: Anti-Semitism/Holocaust/ Yom HaShoah/Tisha b’Av, 7 p.m. wednesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m.

Family Dinner, friday, april 6 at 7:30 p.m. hosted by Aimee Hyten and Family.

Garden and Grounds work party, sunday, april 8, 8:30 a.m.

LJCS CAMP ISRAEL is gearing up for another great twosession July 9–July 20, 2018. Make plans for your child to attend this summer.

It's not too soon to be thinking about summer camp! All Federation families are eligible for Camp Incentive Grants of $300 per camper to pay the initial camp registration deposit.

offuTT aIr forCe Base

frIday: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.

rose BlumKIn JewIsh home

saTurday: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Marty Shukert. frIday, april 6: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Marty Shukert. saTurday, april 7: Yizkor Memorial Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Jim Polack.

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

Temple Israel

frIday: No Services at Temple Israel, friday, march 30. Since so many in our community will be hosting or attending a first-night Seder on March 30, we will not hold a Shabbat service at Temple Israel that evening. saTurday: No Torah Study and we hope you will join us for Passover Breakfast; Passover Breakfast, 9:30 a.m.; Passover Service, 10:30 a.m.; Passover Family Seder, 6 p.m.

RSVPs required. sunday: No Religious School. wednesday: No Religious School.

Thursday: Jewish Heroes, Heroines, and Personalities: Amos Oz, 10 a.m. taught by Rabbi Emeritus Aryeh Azriel.

Class meets at Temple Israel.

Concluding Passover Service and Yizkor, friday, april 6, 10:30 a.m.

April First Friday Shabbat, friday, april 6, 6 p.m.

TiYPE Breaking Pesach Program, saturday, april 7, 5:30 p.m. Ages 18+ welcome. Join TiYPE for a fun night of board games and delicious carbs as we break the fast together at the home of Rabbi Deana and Jared Berezin. RSVPs required.

New Member Brunch, sunday, april 8, 11 a.m. This is an opportunity to learn more about Temple Israel and how to get more engaged with the services, programs, and events.

It’s also a good time to meet other new members! All members who have joined since January 2016, and their children, are invited to attend. There will be activities for the children and a presentation with the board of trustees, committee chairs, temple staff, and lay leadership. Fresh fruit, bagels, pastries, juice, and coffee will be served. There is no cost, but we do need you to RSVP, 402.556.6536 or rsVp@temple israelomaha.com, by april 4. We hope you will join us!

Rosh Chodesh: Behind the Scenes at the Institute of Culinary Arts, Tuesday, april 10, 6 p.m. at The Institute of Culinary Arts, 5730 N. 30 St. Rosh Chodesh marks the beginning of every Hebrew month. We welcome the month of Iyar at our Rosh Chodesh gathering hosted by Andie Gordman and Susie Norton. We will get a behind-the-scenes tour of the institute, which was named #8 in the 2016 Best Choice Schools Top 50 Culinary Schools list, and its student-run Sage Bistro. Chef Brian O’Malley, Associate Dean, will entertain us with a cooking demo and we will enjoy an appetizer buffet, desserts, and wine after the tour and demo. The cost is only $18 because an anonymous donor subsidized the cost of this event. Please RSVP online or call 402.556.6536 by friday, march 30.

TIfereTh Israel

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. frIday: Synagogue office closed; Unveiling ceremony for the monument of Max Neiden, 3 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Please join the Max’s family and the family of Gail Wishnow as we remember their loved one and say mourner's kaddish; Adult centered Seder, 6 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:32 p.m. saTurday: Shabbat Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 11 a.m.; There will be no Kiddush Lunch after services as the kitchen is closed for Passover; Child centered Seder, 6 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:33 p.m. sunday: No LJCS Classes. wednesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m.

Thursday: Hebrew classes for adults, 6:30-7:30 p.m., with Esti Sheinberg. Each meeting will include listening, speaking and a little reading. frIday, april 6: Synagogue office closed and Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m. saTurday, april 7: Shabbat Pesach Service, 10 a.m. with Yizkor. Pesach ends at 8:40 p.m.

It's not too soon to be thinking about summer camp! All Federation families are eligible for Camp Incentive Grants of $300 per camper to pay the initial camp registration deposit.

Application packets are availible in the Tifereth Israel foyer.

As you start to make summer plans, consider sending your child to LJCS CAMP ISRAEL, July 9–July 20, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Light Kosher dairy snack and lunch included. Tuition for each week is $75. This program is open to children ages 5-14. We require ALL campers to be registered through the LJCS, therefore we cannot accept drop-in guests.

Temple Israel appreciates its teachers CaT KIng Director of Engagement and Communications On Sunday, March 25, Temple Israel hosted a luncheon for its religious school teachers to express appreciation for their service to the children of our congregation. With 176 children enrolled in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, Temple Israel’s Religious School is thriving, and much of the credit goes to the teachers and staff, many of whom have been with the school over a decade, some even longer. Sharon Comisar-Langdon has been the Director of the Religious school since 2015 and has many years’ experience as an educator in the Millard school district. She gave her annual report to the Temple Israel Board of Trustees last week, and reported that many of the curriculum changes and restructuring that began in 2014 are showing positive results.

Explaining what sets a Jewish religious school apart from other Sunday school models, Sharon emphasized that we include foreign language education in our curricula because we teach Hebrew. She also presented some of the other highlights of our school such as music, art, community experiences, Israel studies and Holocaust exploration, an Israel trip, college campus tours, confirmation, and Bet

Café where students have time with our clergy “unplugged.” Temple Israel also provides dinner and family school on Wednesday evening. None of this would be possible without our dedicated teachers and religious school staff. As our school year draws to a close, we wish to express our deepest and most joyful gratitude to those who make a Jewish education possible for our children.

Temple Israel teachers are: Marlen Frost, Ann Noodell, Dora Goldstrom, Jill Idelman, Joan Cooper, Natasha Kraft, Naomi Fox, Patsy Wallace, Aliyah Lasky, Leora Werner, Margaret Gurewitz-Smith, Daniel Christiansen, and Eileen Clignett. Supporting our teachers are our Madrichim, college assistants, and other administrative support staff: Jen Goodman, Hannah Goodman, Justin Norton, Sophie Budwig, Ben Brodkey, Aleia Budwig, Jacob Arnold, McKenna Blake, Ruby Platt, Julia Brodkey, Peyton Blake, Sam Gittelman, Maddee Rauhauser, Brandon Wigodsky, Leo Ray, Lauren Marshall, Micah Gilbert, Brooklyn Armstrong, Aaron Norton, Leo Norton, and Alex Kraft. Temple Israel clergy also help teach our students. As Temple Israel Religious School Director Sharon Comisar-Langdon puts it, “It takes a village, and we have the best village there is!”

The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018 | 15

lifecycles birTh

maya JeSSiCa brook

Jennifer Cooper Brook and Erik Brook of Chicago, announce the Feb. 17 birth of their daughter, Maya Jessica Brook.

She is named for her maternal great-grandmother Mania Friedman of Omaha, and her paternal great-grandfather Julius Brook of New York.

Grandparents are Rose and Harvey Cooper of Omaha, and Rita and Bob Brook of Chattanooga, TN. Great-grandparents are the late Mania and Zalman Friedman of Omaha, the late Albert and Bertha Cooper of Philadelphia, PA, the late Julius and Ruth Brook from New York, NY, and Harold and Yuppie Shavin of Chattanooga, TN.

Concert in Lincoln

LinCoLn FriendS oF Chamber muSiC and nanCy Coren e Lysander Piano Trio returns to Lincoln with clarinetist Charles Neidich on Monday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. for a program of composers displaced by the rise of Nazism and fascism in Europe—Bartok from Hungary, Castelnuovo-Tedesco from Italy, and Hindemith and Ben-Haim from Germany. e concert, titled Transplanted, coincides with Nebraska’s annual week of Holocaust Commemorations and ends Lin-

in memoriam

LouiSe radLer

Phyllis Weinberg passed away peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 18 in Omaha at age 92. Services were held Feb. 22 at Golden Hill Cemetery, with a memorial service at Temple Israel.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob Weinberg in 1987.

She is survived by her son, Roger of Des Moines, and son and daughterin-law, Jon and Jan of Lincoln; and five grandchildren.

She was born May 19, 1925 and was the only daughter of William and Rose Milder, sister to Pete and Edwin. After graduating from Omaha Central, Phyllis attended the University of Illinois and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi. In 1950 she married Bob Weinberg and moved with him to Fremont where they owned Weinberg’s Clothing Store for many decades, raised their two sons, and actively participated in a variety of civic and charitable organizations. Phyllis was an avid golfer and served on the board of Nebr.

Women’s Amateur Golf Assoc. (NWAGA) and as a volunteer at Fremont Memorial Hospital, and eventually moved back to Omaha to be near her brothers and an extensive family of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Robert and Phyllis Weinberg Memorial Scholarship, c/o Fremont Health Foundation, 450 E. 23rd, Fremont, NE 68025, or to the organization of your choice.

morLey ziPurSky

Morley Zipursky passed away peacefully on March 17 at aged 92. Service and internment was held on March 20 at Beth El Cemetery.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Charlotte, and daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and Syd Thompson, Diane Quale Zipursky and John Holmes, son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Sally Zipursky, and grandchildren: Matt and Melissa Thompson, Zach and Shree Thompson, Rachel and Carlos Camarena, Alisa Zipursky, Aaron Zipursky, Naomi Zipursky as well as beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Morley was a WWII veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy. Morley served on Beth El’s Board of Trustees for many years and is a Past President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Memorials may be made in Morley’s memory to Beth El Synagogue, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, or VNA.

To SubmiT obiTuarieS To The JewiSh PreSS:

Email the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; mail to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; or online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on Jewish Press and go to Submit Announcements.

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Louise Radler passed away on March 23 at age 92. Services were held March 28 at Temple Israel, 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Benie Radler.

She is survived by her children, David and Gretchen, Andrew and Leslie, Lisa and Sara, Tamara and Miles; grandchildren: Hannah, Isabella, Tyler, Seth, Jenna, Dylan and Nathan.

Memorials may be made to the organization of your choice.

PhyLLiS miLder weinberg

Pulverent e

coln Friends of Chamber Music’s 2017-18 season. It will be at the Johnny Carson eater at Lied, 11th & Q Streets. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $5 for students, available in advance from Lied Center Ticket Office, 402.472.4747, www.liedcenter.org/events (enter “lfcm”) or at the door.

Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

A pre-concert lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Johnny Carson eater. Esti Sheinberg, Associate Professor of Practice in Music History at the UNL Glenn Korff School of Music, will give the pre-concert lecture. Dr. Sheinberg, who is also a member of Tifereth Israel, will discuss the world political stage and the different social and political situations which led the four composers of the concert program to become “transplanted.”

A post-concert reception will be held immediately following the concert.

For more information please visist www.lfcm.us.

Over 20,000 protest coming deportation

JERUSALEM | JTA More than 20,000 protested against a government plan to deport African asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan to a third country in Africa during a rally in Tel Aviv. e rally in Rabin Square was organized by NGOs and Sudanese and Eritrean groups, as well as the Stop the Deportation movement and the South Tel Aviv against the Deportation group, the Jerusalem Post reported. Several asylum seekers spoke at the rally, and spoke of the persecution they faced in Eritrea and Sudan.

Signs read: “We shall neither expel nor kill the stranger and refugee.”

For now, deportation notices will not be issued to women, children, fathers of children, anyone recognized as a victim of slavery or human trafficking, and those who had requested asylum by the end of 2017 but have not received a response, Haaretz reported.ere are up to 40,000 Eritreans and Sudanese living in Israel, including 5,000 children.

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16 | The Jewish Press | March 30, 2018

community

T

Eileen Remer honored by L.O.V.E. GaBBy BLaiR Staff Writer, Jewish Press he League of Volunteers Offering Assistance to The Elderly (L.O.V.E.) is pleased to announce the dedication of the Eileen Remer Neighborhood Television Displays. This latest L.O.V.E project was officially revealed at The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (RBJH) on Sunday, March 11. Attendees at the dedication ceremony included husband Miles Remer, friends, family, and clergy of Eileen along with RBJH staff and current L.O.V.E. Board members.

Eileen, who passed away in November 2017, was a dedicated and tireless volunteer in the community.

She has been described as a highly organized individual with a big heart who was loving and supportive to her family and friends.

Eileen served with L.O.V.E. in many capacities over the years including as Board president. According to Maggie Conti, RBJH Director of Activities and Volunteer Services, Eileen also helped run the gift shop and wrote contribution cards. “I couldn’t even begin to tell you all of the things Eileen Remer has done for us and for L.O.V.E. She was an extraordinary networker; she knew everyone and remembered the details - birthdays, anniversaries, you name it. She was a person who really cared, and I could think of no one better to honor during this special dedication. I, personally, am so grateful for the new improvements, and I think she would be very pleased with them as well.”

According to RBJH staff and Residents alike, the addition of the display televisions, one in each of the home’s four wings, has already proven to be a vast improvement over the previous activities wall board calendars. The Residents have found them to be aesthetically pleasing, visually interesting and easier to read. The staff loves that they have modernized

Clockwise from top: The Remer family at the Blumkin Home after the dedication, Miles Remer and Cantor Shermet in front of one of the TVs that was dedicated to Eileen, and Eileen and Miles Remer. and streamlined communications for everyone at the touch of a button.

L.O.V.E. purchased the four 55” televisions last fall and additionally covered the costs for installation, wiring, and subscription to Life Loop; a service company that manages the displays and provides technical support.

Maggie Conti explains the many advantages of having the new displays. “The activities staff is able to input daily, weekly and monthly activities schedules, menus, special announcements such as birthdays or anniversary messages, add fun

pictures from past events and, most importantly, make changes to the schedule when necessary. It takes as little as 10 minutes for changes to be reflected on all four of the displays simultaneously. Before the digital displays, large paper wall calendars were painstakingly filled out by hand for each of our four RBJH neighborhoods each month. They were harder to read and making changes on them was both time consuming and difficult; plus, when changes had to be made, it made our calendars look sloppy. I am especially glad that the TVs have been a big hit with the residents. They enjoy seeing announcements and pictures that cycle throughout the day. Our activities schedule for the day remains on the side bar along with date, time and daily weather information which is also very handy. Another added perk is that, through using a specially established Life Loop channel, each resident is able to pull up the same display on their own personal room televisions. Residents can also access special feature films we may play from time to time on a different channel of the same system from the comfort of their own rooms if they wish.”

Current L.O.V.E. Board co-president, Michael Shrago, is pleased that the new displays have already had such a positive impact and was thrilled with the reception of the Remer family. “The list of L.O.V.E. contributions to the RBJH over the years is extensive. As co-president, I want to remind the community that L.O.V.E. is dedicated to enhancing and improving the Resident’s experience; however, L.O.V.E cannot help Residents without help from YOU! There are many ways to support L.O.V.E. - financially through membership or through the giving of your time. Consider sharing a little L.O.V.E. today!”

Interested in volunteering? Want to make a donation? Contact Sabine Strong, RBJH Volunteer Coordinator at 402.334.6519 or via email at: sstrong@rbjh.com. Background checks are required of all volunteers as the safety of our Residents is our number one priority. L.O.V.E. is a 501c3; all donations made to L.O.V.E. are 100% tax deductible.

4 Cups of A community round tables event

Sunday, April 8 | 4-6pm Jewish Community Center of Omaha | 333 S. 132nd St. | Omaha, NE 68154

Migration in the 21st century: What can we learn from Passover?

Take your spot at the table and be part of the conversation as we revisit the 4 cups of the Passover Seder, and discuss important topics of immigration and liberty in the US and Israel. Each table will have a moderator. Snacks and wine provided.

This event is free, but please RSVP online at www.jewishomaha.org

Presenting Israel’s immigration policies: Patrick McNamara, Ph.D. Director of the Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies at UNO

Presenting America’s immigration policies: Ari Kohen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science and Schlesinger Professor of Social Justice in the Harris Center for Judaic Studies