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UNO taps top Russian expert for annual lecture APRIL 1 4 , 2 0 1 7 | 1 8 NISAN 5 7 7 7 | V O L . 9 7 | NO . 2 7 | c a Nd lEli G h ti NG | FRID AY , APRIL 1 4 , 7 : 4 5 P. M.
GaRy Javitch onathan Adelman specializes in security studies, foreign policy, and revolutions. And that is why the Columbia University PhD (1976) is no stranger at the White House and a frequent visitor to the State Department. Because of his expertise on Russia and China, the government has summoned him to Washington DC on many occasions to provide insight and perspective. Indeed, his words carry a great deal of weight. In the 20 years between 1988 and 2008, he journeyed to China 17 times on lecture tours and engaged in 15 international speaking tours to 13 countries for the State Department. With all that travel, it is hard to imagine that the professor at the renowned Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver found time to author or edit 12 books on Russia and China. Besides the books, he also penned 92 op-ed pieces on China, Russia, and Israel published in Forbes magazine, the Jerusalem Post, the Huffington Post, Newsweek, Time, and CNN to name only a few of many outlets. He has a lot to say and he says it really well. His strong credentials led UNO’s Natan & Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies to invite the scholar to speak at their annual Ruth and Phil Sokolof Lecture. The University of Nebraska at Omaha houses the See UNO annual lecture page 3
Registration open for Beth El’s Kamp KEF page 5
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ElizabEth REmbERt The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hillel Club hoped to bypass division and disconnect when it hosted “Huskers Unplug” on March 3.
Jonathan adelman
Why do we keep talking about suicide?
Credit: Elizabeth Rembert The event began with sunset yoga on the Nebraska Union greenspace, then bingo, coloring and conversation in the Union Centennial Room and ended with a ballroom dance party in the Union Ballroom. The event was a part of the National Day of Unplugging, an annual project of Reboot. Reboot is a Jewish organization that affirms Jewish traditions, and with the National Day of Unplugging, Reboot hoped to uphold the Jewish value of using the Sabbath to “unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors and connect with loved ones,” the See huskers unplugged page 3
KaREN GUStafSON JFS Executive Director A portion of my job in the last year was to join a coalition of community mental health professionals, school representatives, police departments, clergy and city professionals all of whom are invested in
minimizing the number of suicides in the Omaha Metropolitan area. The Metro Area Suicide Prevention Coalition was started by the Kim Foundation, the philanthropic arm of C & A Industries. The Kim Foundation was started by C & A owners, Larry See talking about suicide page 2
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community
Talking about suicide continued from page 1 and Kathy Courtnage in honor of Larry’s daughter Kim. At our most recent meeting on March 28, The Kim Foundation reported statistics gathered by the Omaha Police Department and the Sarpy County Sherriff’s Department, from March 2016-March 2017 for the Omaha Metro area: There were 63 suicides: 55 males; 8 females. Of the 63: 8 were age 18 and younger; 15 were age 19-30.; 16 were age 31-45; 22 were age 46 and older; with 2 unknown. the most common method used was asphyxiation. Youngest person: 14 years old (3 of them) Oldest person: 86 years old. Jewish Family Service (JFS) recently hosted training, for community educators, rabbinic staff and JCC leaders working with teens, on Sunday, March 5. This 2-hour training, called Q.P.R. (Question, Persuade, and Refer) was taught by Region 6, with 18 Jewish community staff in attendance. The goal of this training was to give professionals helpful information and tools in order to talk to people who may be depressed and showing signs of risk for suicide. It is a MYTH that asking someone if they are thinking about suicide will put the idea in their heads and cause them to attempt. In fact, the opposite is true. That is, if you feel that someone is suicidal... ASK them. Our individual role should be to pay attention to our community members and to care for them by perceiving a change in behavior. This training was sponsored in part by the Richard ‘Pete’ Lee Memorial Endowment Fund, the Pennie Z. Davis Family Life Education Fund and an anonymous donor. Here are some common warning signs (this list is
Speech contest winners
not all inclusive as individual behavior varies): talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself; looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun; talking about feelings
of hopelessness or having no reason to live; talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain; talking about being a burden to others; increasing the use of alcohol or drugs; acting anxious or agitated, behaving recklessly; sleeping too little or too much; withdrawing or feeling isolated; showing rage or talking about seeking revenge; and, displaying extreme mood swings. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, here are some resources to help: Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.tALK (8255) The Boys Town National Hotline: 800.448.3000 Lasting Hope Crisis Line: 402.717.hoPe (4673) Crisis Text Line: text hoMe to 741741 Jewish Family Service: 402.330.2024 OR call 911 OR take someone to the nearest emergency Room for evaluation For more information on the Kim Foundation, go to www.thekimfoundation.org. Also, visit www.13 minutes.org to listen to a very helpful PSA about suicide prevention and to obtain helpful information.
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beth cohen Head of School, Friedel Jewish Academy riedel Jewish Academy’s annual speech contest with 5th and 6th graders took place at the end of March. Students research, write and deliver a three to five-minute speech on a specific topic and spend time being coached on voice inflection, language structure and how to engage an audience. Pictured with Mrs. Denise Bennett (5th and 6th grade teacher) are, Maayan Zinman (2nd place), left, Jack Cohen (3rd place) and Sophia Mavropolous (1st place). Winners move on to the District Level of the Modern Woodmen of America National Contest. Since Mrs. Bennett introduced the contest at Friedel, the school has had five Nebraska State winners and the 2015 National Winner, Danny Denenberg. All students at Friedel Jewish Academy participate in a weekly Innovation Learning class. Pictured, Gila Feldstern and Oz Abramovich, both kindergarteners, are building and programming a robot with Lego WeDo. 1st and 2nd graders also work with Lego Robotics while 3rd through 6th graders are creating with VEX Robotics. The robotics unit of Innovation Learning is made possible through a grant from the Foundation Grants Committee and the Special Donor-Advised Fund, both of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.
! l e a r s I e t a r b e el
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2017 Yom Ha'atzmaut FESTIVAL
Monday, May 1 All events are FREE and open to the community.
Children’s Carnival 5:30 - 7:00 P.M. | JCC PAVILION G>“iĂƒ] ˆ˜y>ĂŒ>LÂ?iĂƒ] v>Vi ÂŤ>ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒÂˆÂ˜}] ĂŒ>ĂŒĂŒÂœÂœ >Ă€ĂŒÂˆĂƒĂŒ] L>Â?Â?ÂœÂœÂ˜Ăƒ >˜` ÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂ˘iĂƒt œœ` vĂ€ÂœÂ“ -ĂŒ>Ă€ >ĂŒiĂ€ÂˆÂ˜} >Ă›>ˆÂ?>LÂ?i vÂœĂ€ ÂŤĂ•Ă€VÂ…>Ăƒi° ˜ ĂŒÂ…i iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒ Âœv ˆ˜VÂ?i“iÂ˜ĂŒ Ăœi>ĂŒÂ…iĂ€] ĂŒÂ…i iĂ›iÂ˜ĂŒ ĂœÂˆÂ?Â? Li Â…iÂ?` ˆ˜`ÂœÂœĂ€ĂƒÂ°
B’nai B’rith Jewish Trivia Contest 6:00 - 7:00 P.M. | JCC SOCIAL HALL Wˆ˜ V>ĂƒÂ… ÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂ˘iĂƒ vÂœĂ€ ĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ĂƒiÂ?v >˜` ĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ v>Ă›ÂœĂ€ÂˆĂŒi Â?ÂœV>Â? iĂœÂˆĂƒÂ… VÂ…>Ă€ÂˆĂŒĂžÂ° ‡“>ˆÂ? L˜>ˆLĂ€ÂˆĂŒÂ…JÂ?iĂœÂˆĂƒÂ…ÂœÂ“>Â…>Â°ÂœĂ€} ÂœĂ€ V>Â?Â? Â{äӎ ĂŽĂŽ{Â‡Ăˆ{{ĂŽ ĂŒÂœ Ă€i}ÂˆĂƒĂŒiÀ°
Israeli Movie & Street Food Reception 7:00 P.M. | JCC THEATER & GALLERY ĂƒĂ€>iÂ?ˆ Â“ÂœĂ›Âˆi œ˜ ĂŒÂ…i Lˆ} ĂƒVĂ€ii˜ ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ĂƒÂŤiVˆ>Â? Vœ˜ViĂƒĂƒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂƒI° *ÂœĂƒĂŒ wÂ?“ Ă€iViÂŤĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ vi>ĂŒĂ•Ă€ÂˆÂ˜} ĂƒĂ€>iÂ?ˆ ĂƒĂŒĂ€iiĂŒ vœœ`] LiiĂ€ >˜` ÂœĂƒÂ…iĂ€ ĂœÂˆÂ˜i° * Please check food ingredients in order to avoid any food allergy reaction.
This program is made possible with the support of The Herbert Goldsten Trust, the Israel American Committee and the following Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds: Special Donor-Advised Fund, the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, and the Murray H. & Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation.
The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017 | 3
PJ’s and Prayer at Temple Israel
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Members of Temple Israel’s OTYG chapter along with Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin had an amazing time at their recent, PJ’s and Prayer Program.
UNO annual lecture
Continued from page 1 Center in the Arts and Science building. “We chose Dr. Adelman to speak because he has lectured in Omaha several times before, and he has proven extremely popular. He is able to explain complex topics in a way that everyone can understand,” Nate Schwalb said. “His lecture topic for the evening will be Russia & Israel: New Emerging Powers in the Middle East. The program is free for the entire community and will take place on the UNO campus on April 27 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom. It starts at 7:30 p.m. “As the US pulled back from its leadership role in the Middle East over the last few years, Russia has gained a foothold in the region. For the time being though, Israel and Russia have worked out an accommodation so that the Syrian civil war has not overlapped into Israel. “To take advantage of his extensive background,” the Schwalb Center founder added, “we asked him to address Russia and Israel. The role the two nations play in the Middle East has major ramifications. “Those topics are both timely and topical because Russia, in particular, and China have been in the news quite often lately, especially because of their increasing belligerence in world affairs,” the Schwab Center founder added. A talented presenter on the Middle East, especially Israel, Dr. Adelman, also speaks Russian and Hebrew. A short while back, he wrote The Rise of Israel: A History of a Revolutionary State. The Schwalb Center Nate and his wife Hannah founded the Center to bring the richness of a great world culture to the heartland, according to the UNO website. Established in 2009, the mission of The Natan & Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies’ is to create, coordinate, and promote an interdisciplinary program focusing on teaching and scholarship in Jewish and Israeli
Huskers unplugged
Continued from page 1 National Day of Unplugging’s website said. Unplugging from devices is important for the Jewish RSO, because the rules of resting on the Sabbath extend to resting from devices too. This is a new obstacle for Jews, Hillel Vice President Aviva Atri said. 150 years ago, people weren’t concerned about the distance iPhones and iPads caused, but Jews today have to be more aware of their modern amenities. “Today, I think the community recognizes these things take you away from what’s important,” Atri said. Hillel’s executive board was interested in bringing an opportunity for connection to UNL. “We want to encourage people to come together and communicate,” social outreach coordinator Talia Halperin said. The Hillel executives wanted to make the event accessible to people who weren’t concerned about the rules and regulations of the Sabbath. So they partnered with the Muslim Student Association, OASIS and the Ballroom Dance Club. Atri said the partnerships represented support and engagement in today’s tense environment. Husker Unplug’s schedule of events was designed to cut through the environment and the devices to enable connection. “I think all the events are a good way of showing, ‘Yeah,
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history, politics, culture, and society. The Center’s primary goals are to expand knowledge about Judaism and Israel, both on the university campus and in the broader Nebraska community, and to promote and facilitate collaborative scholarship (teaching and research) with academic institutions in Israel. The Ruth and Phil Sokolof Lecture series Jennifer, Mark, and Rachel Javitch, the grandchildren of Ruth and Phil Sokolof, set up a lecture fund to seek speakers who could bolster the Center’s goals. They named the ‘Series’ after their grandparents. Their very distinguished past speaker list has included US ambassadors (to Israel: Martin Indyk; to the European Union: Stuart Eizenstadt; to the Middle East: Dennis Ross), Best-Selling authors (Dan Senor: “Startup Nation;” Ari Shavit: “My Promised Land”), and scholars (Dr. Stephen Berk and now Adelman). Lloyd Roitstein, Schwalb Advisory Board Chair, remarked on why he thought Dr. Adelman would be a very notable addition to the lecture series list. “It’s all about the professor’s experience,” he noted. “The professor worked for eight years as a Senior Scientist on contracts for the Defense Department and for the State Department, going on international speaking tours ranging from Japan, India and Mongolia to England, Germany, Turkey and Chile. “Moreover, he has been to China and Russia almost two dozen times, most recently this summer teaching a course on the Middle East at the Chinese Ministry of Security Studies’ University of International Relations in Beijing. He has also taught at Hebrew University and the University of Haifa and worked with the Israeli Foreign Ministry. “He has a world of experience and a great number of fascinating stories to share. Based on his speaking ability and his popularity, he should get a great turnout,” Roitstein concluded.
we’re here to communicate and engage, but we’re also here to have fun,” Atri said. Hillel and the organizations began planning the event after the university reached out to Hillel. The marketing and communications department had learned about the National Day of Unplugging and asked Hillel if it would be doing anything. “It’s awesome to come to a university that wants us to unite and wants us to interconnect,” Atri said. Huskers Unplug was the largest event Hillel has ever hosted, and the executives said it brought a lot of new planning, new considerations and new adjustments. “When there’s only one dinner table, you don’t really have to think about these things,” Hillel President Zach Bram said. Collaboration with the other hosts made planning the event easier, Atri said. Bram said the other organizations were “beaming with excitement” at the prospect of joining forces with Hillel, and that enthusiasm carried into the collaboration. The event was different from anything Hillel had ever hosted, but it also had a lot of things familiar to the club: it was focused around conversation and connection, the tables held traditional Israeli food and it included Judaism’s values. Even the sunset yoga was Sabbath-themed, Atri said, laughing.
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Research award for Roni Reiter-Palmon MelISSA lee Director of Communications, University of Nebraska University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds today announced the 2017 winners of the university’s most prestigious awards for teaching, research and engagement. The university-wide awards recognize faculty whose work has had a significant impact on students, the university and the state. “The University of Nebraska has an enormous impact on economic vitality and quality of life in our state and around the world. Our faculty, who are some of the best in the Roni Reiter-Palmon country, deserve much of the credit,” Bounds said. “Nebraskans can be proud of the teaching, research and engagement efforts led by their university. I know I am – and I’m reminded daily of how fortunate I am to work among such talented and dedicated colleagues.” Awards will be presented during a luncheon this spring. Winners – who are selected by a university-wide committee of faculty members and, in the case of the engagement award, community members – receive $10,000 each, a pres-
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MUSHKA KATZMAN Chabad Center Pesach recalls Redemptions, both communal and personal, past and present. Jews everywhere gather to recall days gone by and to create new memories to hold precious in the future. The four cups of wine attributed to the four Matriarchs symbolize royalty and freedom. We imbibe this freedom and cultivate and nurture liberation within. The Cup of Elijah is offered in anticipation of a world redeemed to be heralded by Elijah the Prophet. The four sons – different and unique – gather unified regardless of their quirks; this is a demonstration of unity and redemption. Embedded into every nuance of our Seders is a glimpse into the Ultimate Redemption – a time of perfection, healing, and G-dliness. The Chabad Center will host the Annual Moshiach Feast on the final day of Pesach as established by the Baal Shem Tov. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend on April 18 at 7:30 p.m. At the Feast, we say L’Chaim on an additional four cups of time and eat some more Matzah.
idential medallion and an engraved plaque. Outstanding Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) Award: recognizes individual faculty members for outstanding research or creative activity of national or international significance. Roni Reiter-Palmon, Ph.D., Varner Professor, Department of Psychology and Director of the Center for Collaboration Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Reiter-Palmon has been teaching and conducting research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for more than 23 years. She has been a part of more than 100 research publications in her career and presented that research more than 200 times in national and international settings. The cumulative $7.3 million she has obtained in external grants and contracts speaks to her widely recognized expertise in multiple research areas. Reiter-Palmon is a problem solver, and her research reflects that. Her voice is at the forefront in the fields of collaboration and creativity. Her work in those areas spans many disciplines from business to psychology. Reiter-Palmon’s work is making her colleagues and students better, more creative leaders and problem solvers. She studies the components of the creative and collaborative processes, giving a deeper understanding of both the theory and practice of team and individual creativity. Reiter-Palmon’s research and teaching has tangible impact on the development of leaders in Nebraska and around the world.
To RSVP, call 402.330.1800 or visit www.ochabad. com/RSVP. In the maze we call life – as a People and as individuals, we constantly strive to remove the shackles of slavery. Emotionally, we extricate ourselves from unhealthy relationships. Psychologically, we rid ourselves of bad habits and impulses. Join us for soulful meditation and song and the tools to help take your Pesach and redemption to the next level.
In the news
Naomi Zipursky, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Emory University on March 28. Naomi is a Dean’s List student at Emory and also President of Emory University Hillel. Naomi was one of 60 students at Emory inducted into Phi Beta Kappa (representing less than 3% of the senior class). Before going to Emory, Naomi was very active at Beth El, working as a Sunday School Teacher and was President of USY; she also worked for two summers as a Camp Counselor at JCC summer camp.
Scholar-in-Residence: Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman
SCOTT LiTTKy Program Director, Temple Israel Temple Israel is excited to announce our next scholar-inresidence, Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman on Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30. Rabbi Weiman-Kelman’s visit to Temple Israel is sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman founded Congregation Kol HaNeshama in 1985. The community is a center for Progressive Jewish life in Jerusalem, on the forefront of the struggle for religious pluralism in Israel’s highly polarized society. Rabbi Kelman Rabbi Weiman-Kelman teaches prayer, liturgy and spiritual development at the Hebrew Union College Jerusalem campus. Rabbi Weiman-Kelman has served as Chairperson of MaRaM (the Council of Progressive Rabbis) and as Chairperson of Shomrei Mishpat - Rabbis for Human Rights. In November of 2003, he received the Isaac Meyer Wise and Stephen S. Wise Award for his contribution to the Reform Movement in Israel. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1979. His B.A. is from the University of Wisconsin (1974). A native New Yorker, he is married to Paula, who is a documentary filmmaker. They have three grown children, Zohar, Benjamin and Raphaela. Below is the schedule for Rabbi Weiman-Kelman’s visit: Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. during Shabbat Services, he will present A Jerusalem Synagogue That Changed the Way We Pray. Saturday, April 29, there will be two opportunities to learn from Rabbi Weiman-Kelman. At 9 a.m., the topic will be Interfaith Dialogue in Jerusalem Today: How Jewish, Christian and Muslim Leaders Share Their Stories and at 1 p.m., the afternoon session is titled Song of the Soul: A Jewish Prayer Workshop. Sunday, April 30 at 10 a.m., Rabbi Weiman-Kelman will present My Life in Israel: A Father, A Synagogue Rabbi, A Faith Leader. All of Rabbi Weiman-Kelman talks are open to all who would like to attend. For more information on the weekend, please contact Program Director Scott Littky, 402.556.6536.
The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017 | 5
community Registration open for Beth El’s Kamp KEF
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Photos from left: Kamp KEF fun; Sammy Ray, left, counselor Alyssa Cohen, Tyler Epstein, Molly Epstein; Kamp KEF kids; Leah Dubrow, left, Evan Shapiro, Levi Weill, Jason Dubrow; and enjoying Camp KEF: Leah Dubrow, left, counselor Elissa Weiner, Joslyn Friedman and Naama Abraham. OzziE NOgg
ids from four years of age to rising 4th graders will have the chance to enjoy a week of Jewish summer day camp at Beth El Synagogue during Kamp KEF 2017. “Kef means fun, in Hebrew,” said Eadie Tsabari, Beth El Director of Congregational Learning. “Beth El is all about giving kids a Jewish summer camp experience, and Kamp KEF is a great way to introduce our cutest, greatest, littlest children to this amazing, fun experience.” The camp sessions run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9. Before and after care is also available. This summer marks Kamp KEF’s third season. The week uses an informal approach to Jewish learning, with a focus on singing, arts and crafts, and making new friends. The theme this season is Dimyon - Imagination - and each day will focus on a different Jewish value and a Hebrew word associated with that theme: Nefesh (soul); Gibor (strength); Ateed (the future); and Kehilah (community). “With those Hebrew words as our guides,” Eadie said, “we’ll use dimyon imagination - to build a tent city, have a cookout and learn about recycling; we’ll learn how we nourish and feed our souls through drama and art; discover what makes a ‘superhero’ by learning about Mitzvot; talk about what’s in the kids’ future -- Robots? Time Travel? And on the last day of the session we’ll zero in on community, visit our Israeli friends at the kibbutz where we’ll pick oranges, milk a cow actually rubber gloves filled with chocolate milk - and celebrate Shabbat together. Everyone, kids and staff, have a blast” According to Amy Dworin, Beth El Director of Youth Engagement, “The themes allow us to incorporate Jewish
content in a way that doesn’t distract from the main goal - to create a fun experience in a Jewish setting.” Because a large number of campers is expected at KEF this summer, camp will be divided into two groups - Pre-K through Grade 1, and Grades 2 through 4 - for age-appropriate activities that include kid yoga, planting a garden, a talent show, and making challah for Shabbat. “And,” Dworin continued, “just like at big kid camp, every day includes a flag raising, Birkat Hamazon and Ruach at lunchtime, outdoor fun during ‘waterfront’ time on the Slip ‘N Slide, plus clean up, flag lowering at the end of the day, plus special Kabbalat Shabbat events. Of course, there are snacks and plenty of free time on the Beth El playground. And we also plan one field trip during the week, but the location is always a surprise.” Along with Beth El clergy, professional staff and parent volunteers, the Kamp KEF counselors include college students and High School/Middle School madrichim who act as ‘guides’ during the year in the synagogue’s Hebrew and Sunday School. For Eadie Tsabari, Kamp KEF is all about building community. “The best way to instill Jewish values into our children is by doing. Summer camp is a place to build memories, make best friends and have a wonderful time. We invite Beth El families and all Omaha Jewish families with young children to feel welcome, to come experience Kamp KEF and this great week of Jewish fun.” For registration details, please visit the Kamp KEF website: http://www.bethel-omaha.org/activities/youth/kamp-kef/.
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Friedel Jewish Academy Passover Seder
rabbi Shefa Gold visits temple israel
Friday, April 7, staff, teachers and students at Friedel Jewish Academy enjoyed their Passover Seder before going on break. Even Moshe with his sheep and Pharaoh made an appearance.
rabbi Shefa Gold, an expert on hebrew chants, conducts a workshop to aid participants in their individual transformative spiritual growth.
organizations
B’nAi B’rith BrEAdBrEAkErS
All four grandparents of our Israeli guest, inbal, lived in the Middle East and were forced out of their homes after 1948 when Israel became a state. She will share her family's personal story about their challenges and their survival in a world filled with turmoil on Wednesday, April 19, noon. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.
Pinat P2G: The Partnership Corner nAtE ShAPiro Director of Development The Partnership2gether Central Area Consortium – Western Galilee is proud to present you the opportunity to join our annual Tour Israel, Israel Bike Journey for amateur bike enthusiasts. Discover Israel by bike with Israelis, run by Team Trans Israel and Gran Fondo Travel. PARTNERSHIP2GETHER is offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to discover Israel by bike -- from the
northern border with Lebanon in the Western Galilee, to the eastern border with Syria along the Golan Heights to southern Israel in the Jordan Valley to Eilat, with Israelis. This year we offer two tracks - a 4 or 7 Day track - The Tour for ‘Shabbat riders’ is from Oct. 18-24, 2017 and for those up for a bigger challenge Trans from Oct. 18-21, 2017 (not including travel time). Interested? Get more information visit http://www.trans-israel.co.il/en
and contact Harel Nahmani at transalp.israel@gmail.com or Heidi Benish, P2G mission and Budapest coordinator at HeidiB@jafi.org. Enjoy our video clip from previous tours: https://youtu.be/vRBR24qf3uc Are you up for the challenge? Join us! Please share with your community members and friends! For more information regarding Partnership2gether, contact Nate Shapiro: nshapiro@jewishomaha.org.
The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017 | 7
i
Young Beth El family typifies JewAsian phenomenon
to Judaism before she and Dusty married. “I was open to Ozzie NOgg n 2004, shortly after they both graduated college, Jew- converting and wanted to convert for myself, Dusty and our ish-American Dusty Friedman met Chinese-Amerifuture family,” she said. “I’d grown up in a predominately can Candice Wong in Chicago. In 2014, after a Jewish community in Highland Park, IL and probably went ten-year, often long-distance relationship, the couple to more Bar and Bat Mitzvahs than Dusty. I was even in a moved to Omaha and then married. Today, together Jewish sorority. I studied with Rabbi Steven Abraham at with their 4-month old daughter, Frankie Nicole Friedman, Beth El. Dusty joined me in the studies and loved it because the young couple reflects the it was a good refresher families profiled in JewAsian: course.” Having grown up in A Study in Race, Religion and Omaha, Dusty has witnessed Identity for America’s Newest a gradual change in the city’s Jews - by Helen Kiyong Kim Jewish demographics. “I beand Noah Samuel Leavitt. lieve the diversity enriches The authors were scholars-inour community,” he said. residence at Beth El Syna“We’re especially grateful to gogue this past March 31Rabbi Abraham for making April 2, where their book was us feel welcome at Beth El.” the topic of discussion. The rapidly growing numBoth Dusty and Candice ber of multicultural marFriedman found JewAsian reriages between individuals of latable and relevant to them different racial, ethnic and reand to their daughter. “It was ligious backgrounds is on the great that Beth El brought rise. But is acceptance? “For Helen and Noah to Omaha to the most part,” Candice said, educate the community,” “the Jewish community has Candice said. “Their book been welcoming. When talks about what the ‘new Dusty and I first moved here, Jew’ is, and raises lots of I felt self-conscience at synaquestions that have definitely gogue with the Friedman come to mind for Dusty and family, but that’s definitely me: how do we keep the Jewchanged. Some of the older ish and Chinese traditions generation look and smile, alive; how do we teach the while others sometimes still traditions to our children so stare awkwardly. Actually, in they don’t lose those cultural Omaha it’s more complicated Candice, Dusty and Frankie Nicole Friedman identities.” Dusty identified trying to explain that I’m with many of the interviews in the book. “I’ve been a JewJewish to a non-Jew. They definitely don’t expect it and are ish-Asian pair with Candice since we met right after colsurprised. In the end, I think all of us need to remember to lege,” he said. “Helen and Noah did a good job of pointing be open and welcoming in this ever-changing society.” out the interesting dynamics a Jewish-Asian couple encounAs an example of this ever-changing society - and to illusters and then showing how this ties into a larger global trate their family’s ability to blend multiracial and multiculecosystem of humans worldwide.” tural identities - Dusty told the following story. “Every year Dusty, the son of Amy and Sandy Friedman and grandson during the holidays, Candice’s family in Chicago has a traof Molline and Fritz Cassman, graduated from Northwestdition of gathering everyone in the kitchen to make wonton ern University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Indussoup from scratch. The first time I took part in this traditrial Engineering. He received an M.B.A. from Emory tion, Candice’s sisters kept pointing out to me that the wonUniversity-Goizueta Business School in 2007. He currently tons I was putting together had way too much meat stuffed works at Aon in Omaha selling insurance/risk management inside them. Candice’s dad came into the kitchen, saw all services to local businesses and organizations. Candice my abnormally large wontons in the bowl among the perWong Friedman holds a 2004 BFA in Graphic Design from fectly sized and carefully folded ones, and said, ‘Don’t you the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and is a Sensee? He’s making kreplach.’ Candice’s dad was so open and ior Art Director at a local advertising agency. “I’m thirdwelcoming. Today, his response puts me in mind of the generation Chinese-American,” Candice said. “My parents words Helen Kim and Noah Leavitt used in JewAsian, on were born in the United States, as was my mother’s father. the page where they dedicated the book to their kids, Ari My mother’s mother was born in China, and both my faand Talia. The dedication reads: ‘For Aryeh Zakkai and ther’s parents were born in China. I have three siblings and Talia Shalom Kim-Leavitt: Noble heritages have been ena large extended family. There were always lots of get-totrusted to you; guard them well.’ That’s the lesson Candice gethers with tons of good Chinese food.” Candice converted and I hope to teach our daughter.”
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8 | The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017
CDC Seder
The Jewish Federation of Omaha is excited to be a part of this amazing grant opportunity! A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO
Fund your Jewish organization’s* operations, project or program with a Staenberg Family Foundation Anything Grant. Eligible grant applications could be for anything, including: • Hiring a nonprofit consultant • Purchasing technology
Applications are open from April 1 -May 5, 2017
These one-time matching grants will range from $1,000 to $5,000, equal to 50 percent of the project budget. Organizations are responsible for raising the remaining 50 percent from other sources. Project budget not to exceed $10,000.
• Staff/Board professional development • Building beautification/improvement *Available to Jewish organizations in Omaha, Lincoln and Council Bluffs, IA
APPLY and get more information at jewishomaha.org/AnythingGrants or contact Louri Sullivan at lsullivan@jewishomaha.org.
Thursday, April 6, staff and teachers from the Pennie Z. Davis Childhood Development Center made their way to the Jewish Community Center’s Auditorium for their very own Pesach Seder. Parents and grandparents joined the four-yearolds for a real Seder meal, complete with “Matzahmen.” There is no better way to learn about and get in the mood for Passover!
ROCK STEADY BOXING PROGRAM FOR PARKINSON'S Swing by for a boxing-inspired wellness course designed to promote strength and balance in people living with Parkinson's disease. Courses are open to the community and all activity levels. Starter Course - For people who are more advanced in the progression of Parkinson's disease. Intermediate Course - For individuals who are comfortable with balance and mobility.
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The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017 | 9
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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 Thierry ndjike Accounting Jewish press board Eric Dunning, President; Andy Ruback, Past-President; Sandy Friedman, Treasurer; Andrew Boehm; Paul Gerber; Alex Grossman; Jill Idelman; Mike Kaufman; David Kotok; Debbie Kricsfeld; Abby Kutler; Pam Monsky; Paul Rabinovitz and Barry Zoob. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewish omaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha. org.
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The questions we have to ask right now
anneTTe van de Kamp-WriGhT Editor of the Jewish Press ight now, we’re all focused on Passover (although the Seders will be done by the time you read this, I am still knee-deep in cleaning while writing). However, very soon, we’ll redirect our focus to Yom HaShoah, which will take place Wednesday april 26 at 7 p.m. at Beth Israel. Chairing the committee is Debbie Kricsfeld. It is a way for her to honor the memory of her grandparents; all four survived the Shoah and suffered immensely. Chairing the Yom HaShoah committee is about more than keeping track of meetings, communicating with staff and volunteers and supervising every detail. It is also, maybe most importantly, about setting an example. Nowhere is that example more important than when it comes to remembering the Shoah, not as a distant memory, but as something that matters now, today. As time marches on and the years between the atrocities of the Holocaust and today grow, it becomes ever more important. There are many of Debbie’s generation who were raised by eyewitnesses. But future generations do not have that luxury. It is up to us to ensure they are not only well informed of what happened, but of the need to keep retelling the story. “Multiple generations come together at any given Jewish event,” Debbie said. “It’s part of our culture to include all of us at our Shabbat table, our Seder table, every holiday and simcha. It should be the same at Yom HaShoah.” When we mark this day as a community, and we stand together as a community, it has an impact on our children. “Anytime our community comes together, we show our children we are one,” Debbie said. “Regardless of where we stand politically, socially or economically, we unite to honor the memories of the victims of genocide. Listening to survivors and hearing their experiences are things that are im-
perative. Our survivors are getting older, their stories won’t be told first-hand forever. Some day in the near future, we will only be able to read those stories, which is why now is the time we must ask questions.” Debbie’s message is clear: we are in this together, as a community. No matter who we are or where we come from, we all have a responsibility. Come april 26, we will fill Beth
to not take the story of Passover so seriously. As long as everything is cooked in time, we have our Matzah and our horseradish and all the guests have RSVP’d, we treat the Hagaddah as an ancient tale. After all, we live in 2017 America, we have iPhones and fast cars and busy jobs; we do not toil in slavery or have need for a Moses to lead us out of Egypt. Pharaoh is long dead and buried; what’s it to us?
Israel to capacity, we will stand together to honor, remember, and make a promise to do it again every year after this. It’s an interesting process, going from Passover straight to Yom HaShoah. Celebrating our freedom from slavery, only to focus on one of the most heinous examples of that freedom being taken away, always makes me wonder: what was it like during Pesach in those years? It’s impossible to imagine, but it can inspire us to really pay attention to the world around us. More than 70 years after Auschwitz, it can be tempting
Having Yom HaShoah on our calendar this month reminds us that slavery is always a threat; not only for us, but for many people in this world. We cannot recline and think this is a thing of a distant past. We have to ask the question: what happened, what is happening right now, and what will happen in the future? It is when we become complacent, that we are most likely to see history repeat itself.
her daughter had any weight or diet-specific health concerns (no). I asked Linda if her daughter seemed depressed or anxious (no). I asked Linda if she felt concerned about the way her daughter felt in her own body (no). Then WTF, Linda?! After further explanation, I learned that Linda was concerned that her daughter might be getting a bit chubby. I’ve been working professionally with Jewish teenagers for the past seven years. I’ve seen young women in shambles over their non-perfect grades. I’ve listened as young women confide in me everything from disordered eating, to drug use, to gender identity, to pressures around sex. I’ve watched young women’s eyes dart nervously to the pizza box, year after year, meeting after meeting, never once taking a slice for themselves. I’ve taken late night phone calls from young women when they are feeling scared, confused and powerless. I can’t think of a single young woman who needs her parents to tell her to stop eating so much cream cheese. They get enough of that from their friends, from the men in their lives, from the women in their lives, from social media and from the naturally chaotic process of growing into themselves. Young women, whatever their background, do not need one more authority figure to point out to them when they no longer look like a sexless child and should cover up/eat less/work out more. They already see it. They carry it around with them every day. And every night. You aren’t telling them anything they haven’t already heard and taken very seriously. Sometimes more seriously than you’d like to imagine -- sometimes dangerously. Here is what young women do need: Parents who understand that dieting doesn’t always make us thin, and that thin isn’t what makes them valuable, and that their bodies aren’t anyone else’s concern. They need parents who have conversations with them about how to enjoy and celebrate
food, not why they would enjoy fitting into a smaller dress size. Even more, they need parents who are curious about how their daughters feel about their bodies, without judgment, without shame. They need accomplices in understanding and dismantling the sexism that undermines their personhood. Of course, if your daughter does have a medical issue associated with her weight, it’s important to get the right care for her. But parents, please, please don’t make things worse than they already are. Those silent eye rolls you throw her way when she reaches for another latke don’t help either. If you feel genuinely concerned about your daughter’s health, offer her love and support and be curious about how she feels. Offer to spend time with her doing something she likes to do. And communicate, above all else, that you want her to be happy, not skinny. Everyone is affected by sexism. Everyone has body issues. But Jewish women (and queer folks, people of color and differently abled folks, while we’re at it) often experience it differently. I can speak from my own experience as a former Jewish teenager with disordered eating, as a clinician who completed her master’s thesis on Jewish Women and Our Bodies, and as a veteran Jewish youth educator when I tell you: Your daughter should eat however much cream cheese she wants to, and she will figure out for herself, when she is ready, how she feels best in her own body. And if you find yourself, parent or aunt or grandma with feelings of disapproval or judgment when you watch your daughter slather her bagel in the morning, I urge you to process your feelings on your own with a spouse or a trusted friend. Do not take them out on your daughter. Because chances are, your feelings aren’t actually about her. They are about you. And you deserve the same compassion, curiosity and attention your daughter does. 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.
Stop telling your daughter she should eat less cream cheese STephanie Goldfarb Kveller via JTA A few weeks ago, I led a workshop about Judaism, food and bodies for a mostly female, mostly youngish (20s and 30s) audience with the group Mishkan Chicago. Being a chef, social worker and Jewish youth professional, this was basically my idea of group processing Disneyland: lighthearted yet touching discussion around the tension many of us feel to become both balabustas and rail thin, to both “eat more” and “eat less” out of respect for our mothers (and their wishes to marry us off well), and to live up to the ideal beauty standards of the “perfect Jewish woman” — when nobody is able to define who she is or what she looks like (Is she white? Did she have a nose job? Waist-to-hip ratio?). Almost everyone in the room had something to say, and our discussion confirmed my suspicion that I am not the first Jewish woman to call myself “bad” for having another cookie, and certainly not the first who learned how to suck in my stomach at summer camp. After the workshop, a few folks hung around. One of the participants -- let’s call her Linda -approached me, introduced herself and, after chatting, asked me for some insight on a problem she was having: “How do I get my teenage daughter to stop eating so much cream cheese?” I am a lot of things, but patient is not one of them. “Don’t,” I blurted. “Do not tell your daughter to eat less cream cheese. She doesn’t need that shit from you.” Linda didn’t respond. She just sort of stood there and stared at me with a confused, almost tickled look on her face. I stared back. And then I remembered to check myself, took off my feminist rage helmet and put on my person-centered social worker hat. I asked Linda if
10 | The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017
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
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 14, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker Nate Shapiro, Jewish Federation of Omaha who will discuss his recent trip to Israel. Oneg to follow service. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! Our services are led by lay leader Larry Blass. 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, 7 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv, 6 p.m. saturday: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; No Junior Congregation; Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Passover Lunch, noon (approximate); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:45 p.m. weekday serViCes: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. sunday: Shacharit, 9:45 a.m.; No BESTT Classes; Torah Study, 10:15 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 7:48 p.m. monday: Synagogue Office Closed; Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:50 p.m. tuesday: Synagogue Office Closed; Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha following morning services; Yom Tov Ends, 8:51 p.m. wednesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; BESTT Classes, 4:15 p.m.; USY Membership Program, 5:30 p.m.; Hebrew High at the Blumkin Home, 6:30 p.m. Sunday Scholar Series, sunday, april 23, 11:15 a.m., featuring Dr. Mark Celinscak, Louis and Frances Blumkin Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kindergarten Round-Up, sunday, april 23, 11:15 a.m. Teen Yom Hashoah Program & Dinner, wednesday, april 26, 5:30-7 p.m. at Beth Israel. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
Beth israel synagogue
Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. friday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv & Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 7:45 p.m. saturday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights in the Weekly Torah Reading, 6:45 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 7:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:48 p.m. sunday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; No Bagels but Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m.; Candle Lighting, 7:47 p.m. monday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:49 p.m. tuesday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Yizkor, 10:30 a.m.; Mincha, 7:45 p.m.; Class with Rabbi Ari, 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:51 p.m. wednesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Board of Commissioners Meeting, 6:30 p.m. thursday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ethics Class with Rabbi Ari, 7:45 a.m.; Woman’s Class with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m.; Learn with Rabbi Shlomo, noon at UNMC.
ChaBad house
Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. friday: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing; Candle Lighting, 7:46 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. followed by a festive kiddush luncheon; Shabbat Ends, 8:48 p.m. sunday: Shacharit, 8:30 a.m. followed by Sunday Secrets: Jewish Fun Facts class at 9:15 a.m.; Candle Lighting, 7:48 p.m. weekdays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. monday: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. followed by a kiddush luncheon; Candle Lighting, 8:50 p.m. tuesday: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Yizkor, 11 a.m. followed by a Kiddush Luncheon; Mincha, 7 p.m.; Moshiach Feast, 7:30 p.m.; Passover Ends, 8:51 p.m. wednesday: New Tanya Series -- The Anatomy of Your Soul: Who Are You?, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Mendel Katzman. thursday: Advanced Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Mendel Katzman. All programs are open to the entire community.
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun
Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. friday: Pre-neg, 6 p.m. hosted by Sara Friedman; Shabbat Evening Service, 6:30 p.m. muisc by David Manley; Candlelighting, 7:47 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Passover Topic; Game Night and Potluck Dinner, 6 p.m.; Havdalah (72 Minutes), 9:19 p.m. sunday: No LJCS Classes; Candlelighting, 7:50 p.m. monday: Kochavim Rehearsal, 6:45 p.m.; Candlelighting for Pesach, 9:21 p.m. tuesday: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at The Parthenon, 5500 S. 56th St. Please contact Deborah Swearingen at 402.476.7528; Kochavim Rehearsal, 6:45 p.m.; Havdalah (72 Minutes), 9:22 p.m. wednesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. at TI. thursday: Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.; Trope Class, 7 p.m. with Michael Boekstal. Class participants will need to order The Art of Torah Cantillation by Marshall Portnoy and Josee Wolff. Please help us fund our Annual commitment to Clinic With a Heart. The funds we contribute help to pay for clinic supplies and prescription medications for the patients. Your tax deductible contribution to Clinic with a Heart can be made with a check to the Temple, designated for the clinic. South Street Temple is partnering with "We Can Do This" to provide weekend meals to the children of the F Street Community Center. Join us as we provide lunch on the third Sunday of every month. Food/monetary donations, meal preparation and assistance with setting up, serving, and clean-up are needed! We will serve our next meal on april 23 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, email Sarah Beringer at sarah.m.beringer@gmail.com. Nebraska State Holocaust Commemoration, sunday, april 23 at 3 p.m. in the Nebraska State Capitol Building Rotunda. Our legislative sponsor is Senator Tony Vargas of Omaha, and our guest speaker is Dr. Lana Obradovic from the Political Science Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dr. Obradovic came to Nebraska as a refugee from Bosnia. Annual Community Holocaust Memorial service, monday, april 24, 5:30 p.m. at Wyuka Cemetery led by Nancy Coren and Rabbi Lewis at the Nebraska State Holocaust Memorial. LJCS CAMP ISRAEL, July 10–July 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at TI. Kosher lunch and snack provided. LJCS enrolled students entering. Tuition for each week is $75 and if you are enrolling two or more children, the cost is $50 per child, per week. This program is open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Please send tuition checks payable to LJCS to Andrea at TI no later than July 1. Camp registration is required through LJCS.
Ridge, 4 p.m.; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. saturday: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Services, 10:30 a.m. Torah Reader: Kate Murphy and Haftarah Reader: Miles Remer. sunday: No Religious School. monday: Concluding Passover Service and Yizkor, 10:30 a.m. If you would like to have the names of your loved ones read at the concluding service, please contact Temple Israel, 402.556.6536 or mweidner@templeisraelomaha.com with the names; TiYPE Breaking of Pesach, 5:30 p.m. at 17551 Pinkney Street Omaha, NE 68116. There will be delicious foods and great movies, games, and fun involved. RSVP required. tuesday: Executive Meeting, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. wednesday: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; Chapel for School, 4:30 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Taste of Talmud II, 6:30 p.m. thursday: Music of Today as Prayer and Prayer of Today as Music: What’s it all About? 10 a.m. with Scott Littky; The Jewish Federation of Omaha presents: Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel. Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, one of Talk magazine's 50 best speakers in the United States, lectures throughout the country. His book, Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History is the most widely selling book on Judaism of the past two decades. Free and open to the community. Temple Tots Shabbat, saturday, april 22, 9 a.m. Temple Israel Blood Drive, sunday, april 23, 8:30 a.m.– 2 p.m. Temple Israel Book Club, sunday, april 23, 10 a.m. Grief Support Group with Marla Cohen, MS, NCC, LMHP, sunday, april 23, 10 a.m. For those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
tifereth israel
friday: Shabbat Comes to You at The Heritage Sterling
Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. friday: Services, 6:30 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. Please note there will be no Kiddush lunch, the kitchen is closed for Passover. sunday: No LJCS Classes. monday: Synagogue Office Closed; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:59 p.m. tuesday: Synagogue Office Closed; Services, 9:30 a.m.; Yizkor, 11 a.m.; Ladies Lunch Group, noon at The Parthenon, 5500 S. 56th St. Please contact Deborah Swearingen at 402.476.7528; Pesach Ends, 9 p.m. wednesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. Nebraska State Holocaust Commemoration, sunday, april 23 at 3 p.m. in the Nebraska State Capitol Building Rotunda. Our legislative sponsor is Senator Tony Vargas of Omaha, and our guest speaker is Dr. Lana Obradovic from the Political Science Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dr. Obradovic came to Nebraska as a refugee from Bosnia. Annual Community Holocaust Memorial service, monday, april 24, 5:30 p.m. at Wyuka Cemetery. In case of inclement weather, the gathering will meet at Tifereth Israel. LJCS CAMP ISRAEL, July 10–July 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at TI. Kosher lunch and snack provided. LJCS enrolled students entering. Tuition for each week is $75 and if you are enrolling two or more children, the cost is $50 per child, per week. This program is open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Please send tuition checks payable to LJCS to Andrea at TI no later than July 1. Camp registration is required through LJCS.
JTA NEWS STAFF Responding to an online ad, an Austrian couple from Vienna bought a 19th-century headstone that was taken from the grave of a Jewish man and gave it to a Jewish community. In an recent article about the couple, the Heute daily did not name the man and identified the woman as Katharina B., a 35-year-old Christian scholar of international relations. She and her husband found the ad on a website for used goods, the report said. It was advertised as antique-style building material. Pictures posted on the website showed the Hebrew-language writing engraved into the headstone of Lev Unger, who passed away in 1884. The seller, who was not named, wrote it was “used” and “bargain cheap.” He charged 275 euros, or approximately $300, for the headstone, which Katharina and her husband
paid before loading the heavy slab into the trunk of their car. They drove 80 miles from Vienna southward to the municipality of Feldbach to buy the item from the seller, who kept it inside his garden shed. “Because of the Hebrew inscription, I immediately realized that this is a Jewish tombstone, and I wondered how this man can have a Jewish tombstone,” Katharina told Heute. The man said he bought it from an undertaker but would not offer further details, the report said. The couple gave the headstone to Elie Rosen, president of the Jewish community of the city of Graz, who is trying to locate the cemetery from which the headstone was taken. They neither asked nor were offered reimbursement. Rosen placed the headstone -- temporarily at least -- in a section of the Jewish cemetery in Graz.
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. monday: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz. tuesday: 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
Online ad leads Vienna couple to buy ancient Jewish headstone
The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017 | 11
Before someone offers you alcohol or other drugs, decide what you are going to say.
lifecycles B’Nai miTzVaH
eLizaBeTH maTz
Elizabeth, daughter of Stacie Spies-Matz and Jay Matz, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, April 22, at Temple Israel. Elizabeth is a seventh-grade student at Westside Middle School. She enjoys playing basketball, guitar, swimming, golf, skiing and spending time with family and friends. For her mitzvah project, Elizabeth worked with a little boy with Down Syndrome. Together they played games, went to the zoo, swimming and out for milkshakes. She has two sisters, Samantha (16) and Meredith (15). Grandparents are Simone and Allan Spies of Delray Beach, FL, and Donna and Monte Matz of Omaha.
ari BeNJamiN FiNkeLSTeiN & eTHaN JaCoB FiNkeLSTeiN
Ari Benjamin Finkelstein and Ethan Jacob Finkelstein, sons of Becca and David Finkelstein will become B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, April 22 at Beth El Synagogue. Ari is a seventh-grade honor roll student at Kiewit Middle School. His interests include archery, playing the saxophone and spending time with friends and family. Ethan is a seventh-grade honor roll student at Kiewit Middle School. His interests include basketball, watching baseball and spending time with friends and family. For their mitzvah project, Ari and Ethan are collecting donations to Jewish Family Services and will lead Beth El students in a learning experience about JFS and their impact on our community. They have a younger brother, Asher. Grandparents are Ray and Dianne Ruetsch of Columbia, MO and Sharon and the late Barry Finkelstein of Memphis, TN.
eNgagemeNT
edeLSTeiN/PaLay
Stan and Ellene Edelstein of Omaha would like to announce the engagement of their daughter Sarah edelstein to david Palay, son of Howard and Patti Palay of Minneapolis. Sarah completed her undergraduate education at the University of Kansas and received her doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She currently works at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, MN. She is the grand daughter of Harold and Helen Abrahamson of Omaha and the late Haskell and Edith Edelstein of Denver. David completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota. He obtained his MBA at Carlson School of Management and works at Medtronic in operations management. He is the grandson of Lester Seglin and the late Beverly Seglin of Minneapolis and the late Robert and Bertha Palay of Grand Forks, ND. A Sept. 17, 2017 wedding is planned in Omaha.
marriage
SCHeer/HaBer
abby Scheer and Joshua Haber were married April 9 at Beth El followed by a reception at Magnolia Hotel in Omaha. The ceremony was officiated by Rabbi Steven Abraham. She is the daughter of Rita and Robert Yaffe of Omaha, and Beth and Michael Scheer of Jacksonville, FL, and the granddaughter of Bella Kaplan of Boca Raton, FL. The bride graduated from Indiana University where she received her National Louis MA in Education. She works for Charter Schools of Chicago. Her matron of honor was her cousin and friend, Stacy Wegener, maid of honor was her friend, Michelle Goldberg and her attendants were her sisters-in-law, Caryn Scheer and Angela Abenaim, and friend, Adrien Loncar. The groom is the son of Barbara and Ken Haber of Paramus, NJ. He is the grandson of Charlotte and Eugene Haber of New York. The groom received a BA Institute of Culinary from Hofstra University. He works for PF Chang’s in Omaha. The best man was his brother, Michael Haber and his groomsmen were friends Ben Nisan, Curtis Mulder, and brother-in-law, Marc Scheer. Following the wedding the couple will live in Omaha.
BirTHday
Faye ruBaCk
The family of Faye Ruback sends loving birthday wishes to her as she celebrates her 90th birthday on April 15. A native of Minneapolis, Faye moved to Omaha in the late 1940s, shortly after her marriage to Omahan Howard Ruback. At the time of his passing in 2007, the couple had enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage. Faye's family includes daugh- Faye ruback, surrounded by grandters and sons-in-law Shari and children, Nicole Torres, left, Carter Bob Eades, Nancy and Terry eades, Jacob Torres and emma Wiseman, Cindy Ruback and eades. Mark Lowen; son, Randy; six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Wishing you a very happy birthday, Mom/Gamma, and many more!
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iN memoriam
edyTHe kraSNe
Edythe Krasne of Council Bluffs passed away April 5. Services were held April 9 at Oak Hill Cemetary, 1350 East Pierce Street, Council Bluffs. A Visitation with the family followed at the home of Gail and Tom Kenkel. She was preceeded in death by husband Lloyd Krasne. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and John McKinley, Gail and Tom Kenkel, and son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Amy Krasne; grandchildren: Melissa and Britt Gray, Chuck and Kim McKinley, Matt and Anna Kenkel, Eddie and Deborah Kenkel, Liz Cleveland and Ellie Krasne; and 12 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the organization of your choice.
SHeLdoN (SHeLLy) LiNCoLN
Sheldon (Shelly) Lincoln passed away April 1 at age 92 in Palm Desert, CA. There was a private burial held. He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen Wooten, parents, Ruth and Jack Lincoln; son, Brian Scott Lincoln; brothers, Irving, Norman, Harry and Harold; and sisters, Helen Frenkel, Gloria Cohen and Martha Bind. He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie, son, Douglas, sons and daughters-in-law, Craig and Chris and Jake and Dianne; grandchildren: Reed, Jewel and Jase; brother, Joe; sisters, Shirley Lipsey and Betty Black.
JaCk C. roCkmaN
Jack C. Rockman passed away March 20. Services were held on March 23 in London, England. He was preceded in death by Corinne Rockman. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Stacey and son, Stephen; grandchildren: Dominic (Gill), Sam, Daniel, Oliver, Caroline and Misha Rockman; partner, Shirley Shapiro; and sister Rita Gromb. Memorials may be made to the Eileen S. Erman CDC Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.
TeCHiya SHireL SHimoNa goLd
Techiya Shirel Shimona Gold succumbed to her lengthy struggle with mental suffering on Jan. 30 at age 28. She was preceded in death by grandparents, former Omahans Ervin and Miriam Simon, and uncle, Neil Simon. In Israel she is survived by her parents, Baruch and Sara Gold, brothers, Natanel and Shlomo Gold, their spouses and beloved nieces and nephews. Survivors in the U.S. are grandmother Bea Gold; sisters, Chava Gold and Dania Gold Namdar; aunts, Julie Simon Martens, Sandra Gold, Penny Novello and their spouses. She was the daughter of former Omahan Sara Gold (née Sally Simon). Memorials may be made in her memory designated to the Mad in America Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to rethink psychiatric care in the US and abroad: https://www.madinamerica.com/donate.
CLariFiCaTioN
A notice in the March 31 edition of the Jewish Press mentioned a Temple (Israel) Cantor’s Appreciation Award. Such an award, in fact, does not exist. The Jewish Press regrets the error.
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12 | The Jewish Press | April 14, 2017
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