May 5, 2017

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In Memoriam: Shirley Goldstein

Holocaust Remembrance Day pages A2 & A3

Esther Wax Sensory Room page b1

Israelis start Memorial Day with siren to remember 23,544 fallen page b8

inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles

A8 A10 A11

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Annette vAn de KAMp-WrIght Editor of the Jewish Press hirley Gershun Goldstein passed away on Wednesday April 26 at the age of 94. She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard “Buddy” Goldstein. A Memorial service was held on Friday, April 28 at Beth El Synagogue.

“I grew up in my aunt Rose Rosen’s backyard,” Bruce Friedlander, Jewish Federation of Omaha’s president, remembers. “She and her husband Ben lived behind Shirley and Buddy Goldstein. As children, there were times we needed a break, and we’d always flee to the Goldstein home. Shirley and Buddy would welcome us every time. We’d be frazzled and loud, and they always calmed us down. Little did I know back then the impact they would both have on this world.”

That impact, in Shirley’s case, has been tremendous.

“The Angel in Omaha,” the Omaha World Herald called her in 1996, on the occasion of the honorary doctorate of Humane Letters Shirley received from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Shirley received the honor for her lifelong efforts helping Jews escape the former Soviet Union, for which she was also named the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Humanitarian of the Year in 1982.

Originally from Council Bluffs, Shirley lived in Schuyler, NE as a child. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High

School and worked at the Martin Bomber Plant before she married Leonard. She stayed home to raise their three children while Leonard was busy in his transportation business.

‘Just a regular housewife’ is the phrase that pops up, again and again, throughout the vast number of articles written about Shirley. Even a 1979 JFO volunteer-of-the-year form, signed by Mary Fellman in her role as President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, names Shirley’s occupation as housewife.

“Mother of three,” Fellman adds, “grandmother of two, devoted daughter to mother in Dr. Sher Home for the Aged. Wife of immediate Past President of Jewish Federation of Omaha, charming hostess for many groups in home.”

Fellman continued: “Shirley has performed uniquely as chairman of the Omaha Committee on Soviet Jewry, almost single-handedly carrying on the work of keeping the local community informed about the position and need of Soviet Jewry, contacting the political leadership on their behalf through letters, phone calls, personal contacts on an almost daily, totally involved, basis. In her work as chairman, she has visited Russia four times and made contact with many families there. Her knowledge has enabled her to speak before many local groups and in other communities.”

Shirley’s passionate work on behalf of Soviet refugees made her, of course, anything but a ‘regular housewife.’ She first

became involved in the Free Soviet Movement during the early 1970s. This did not happen in a vacuum; having grown up watching the efforts of her father, Ben Gershun, who resettled Jewish refugees from post-World War II Europe in Council Bluffs, Shirley understood the concept of ‘welcoming the stranger.’ She and Leonard often opened their home for international students and even sponsored a Cambodian refugee family.

So when she began to learn more about the dire situation for many Soviet Jews, she jumped into action.

“Not content with merely educating herself on the subject,” Leo Adam Biga wrote in 2006, “she went to the USSR seven times, meeting with leaders and rank and file Jews alike. She took chances, brazenly ignoring U.S. State Department warnings and Soviet orders to steer clear of ‘troublemakers.’ She became a familiar figure to Refuseniks in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Odessa and other cities. A benevolent angel from the West bearing contraband gifts. A tiny rebel with the brass of a cat burglar. She recorded testimonies and snapped pictures, concealing cassette tapes and film cartridges under her clothes. She sneaked things in and out with a kind of mischievous glee. A true believer unafraid to upset the Politburo or defy the KGB, who knew of her and tried discouraging her, but she carried on anyway. She was on a mission.”

See Shirley goldstein page A11

a2 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

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Liz FeLDSTern Executive Director, Institute for Holocaust Education The Nebraska State Holocaust Commemoration takes place each year in the Capitol Rotunda in Lincoln. The event includes middle school poetry contest winners, a high school choir, the Lincoln clergy, and a candle lighting for Holocaust survivors. The location and title of this event – as a State commemoration in the Capitol Building – are important, because they recognize and reflect the fact that the

“g

Holocaust was a state-sponsored atrocity. Hatred and prejudice were made legal in order to isolate and annihilate an entire people. That is why Nebraska’s decision to commemorate the Holocaust in a government building and with legislative support is so important. This year’s Legislative Sponsor was freshman Senator Tony Vargas, whose words perfectly captured why the Holocaust – though it took place in Europe and 75 years ago – is deeply important to Nebraska in our time.

The importance of remembering

Honor your mother by establishing a charitable fund in her name.

Call the Foundation today!

Contact Howard Epstein, Executive Director 402-334-6466 hepstein@jewishomaha.org www.jfofoundation.org

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SenaTor Tony VargaS ood afternoon and thank you all for being here. I am honored to be able to welcome you to our Capitol today and truly grateful for the opportunity to be here with all of you to remember and honor the survivors, liberators and victims of the Holocaust.

I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could say to you to do justice to this important and sacred occasion. How can I, a PeruvianSenator Tony Vargas American Catholic, find the right words to share with all of you today?

What I came up with is this: that an attack on any faith, culture, or nationality is an attack on all of us. An attack on Jews is an attack on Catholics, is an attack on Muslims, is an attack on Buddhists and Sikhs and Hindus. And for people in this country in particular, it is an attack on our diversity and on the very foundation on which America was built -- this idea that people of different religions from different countries and different backgrounds can live together and be free from persecution. And that idea is what has brought generation after generation of immigrants from all over the world to the United States, includ-

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New York, NY The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed President Trump’s pledge to confront anti-Semitism and his recognition of the need to honor both the survivors and the victims of the Holocaust.

In Mr. Trump’s remarks to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the president called anyone who promotes Holocaust denial, “an accomplice to this horrible evil” and pledged to stamp out prejudice, condemn haPresident Donald Trump tred, and bear witness to the Credit: ABC News Australia memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who perished in the Shoah.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement: We welcome President Trump’s clear pledge today to

ing my own parents, who immigrated here from Peru to realize their American Dream. Our diversity is what makes our country so beautiful and so strong.

But here, this afternoon, we must confront the stark reality that this beauty and strength are attacked more and more each day. As of the beginning of this month, more than half of the Jewish community centers in the U.S. had received threats of violence. We cannot deny it. And we cannot accept it.

Anti-semitism, and discrimination in any form, is a distillation of evil that must be answered. We have a responsibility to speak out and to do what is right. That righteousness is what we honor here today -- it’s the lesson of the Holocaust itself. When we face evil in any form we must have courage and remember that none of us are powerless. We always have a choice.

We must reject indifference and live in a way that shows we have actually learned from the past. That means standing against bigotry and rejecting darkness and exceptionalism in our communities and in our politics. It means being guided by the lesson in the Torah: to welcome the stranger, for we were once strangers, too. Instead we must examine our own hearts and cultivate empathy for others.

That is how we honor the lesson of the Shoah and keep it in our memories -- by living the lessons in our actions every day and pursuing justice, even when it’s hard.

May the memory of the lost be a blessing. And may we all do our part to defend others and embrace the humanity that we all share. Thank you.”

confront anti-Semitism and we look forward to working with the president and his administration to put his pledge into action.

It deeply matters that President Trump used the power of his office to stand against anti-Semitism and hate and to honor the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others murdered in Europe. But this spirit should not be restricted to Holocaust Remembrance Day. We very much hope the president will continue to use his bully pulpit to speak out against anti-Semitism, bigotry and hatred in all forms. We urge the president and his administration to act to protect targeted communities against hate crime and discrimination.

As Americans, we are also proud that every president since the museum opened has addressed the Days of Remembrance event. This is an important statement about our nation’s highest ideals and commitment to apply the lessons of the Holocaust.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_News.

Mayor signs Omaha Holocaust proclamation

Front Row: Milton Kleinberg, left, Bea Karp, Dr. Fred Kader, Mary Beth Muskin, Alice Klein, Becki Brenner, and Liz Feldstern; Back Row: Rabbi Mendel Katzman, left, Ari Riekes, Emily Newman, Mayor Stothert, Gary Javitch, Steve Levinger.

GARy JAvitch In support of our Omaha Jewish community Holocaust Remembrance Day program, Mayor Jean Stothert signed a proclamation declaring last week and Wednesday, April 26, as “Holocaust Remembrance Day/Week.” The actual proclamation originated with United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the city adapted it to suit our Jewish community needs.

In a signing ceremony held in the Mayor’s office on Monday, April 24, the mayor and leaders of the Omaha Jewish community, including Holocaust survivors, discussed the importance of commemorating those dreadful years from 1933 to 1945.

For more than a decade, Omaha’s Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith has arranged this meeting, according to Gary Javitch, president emeritus of the Lodge. Each of the Holocaust survivors, Beatrice Karp, a French refugee, Dr. Fred Kader, a “hidden child,” and Milton Kleinberg, Holocaust author, shared a brief heartfelt story of what they endured.

While there are many today who downgrade the importance of the Holocaust in American Jewish history, the entire group noted that the lessons of the Holocaust still apply today as do concerns about genocides inflicted upon ethnic groups throughout the Middle East.

Other speakers contributed their thoughts as well.

They included Emily Newman, a PhD candidate in public administration at UNO (our student representative), Ari Riekes, the current Lodge president, and Mary-Beth Muskin, PhD., the ADL director.

In addition, Liz Feldstern, the Institute of Holocaust Education (IHE) director, Alice Klein, NCJW president, Becki Brenner, NCJW representative, Rabbi Mendel Katzman of the Chabad House, and Steve Levinger, representing the Jewish Federation of Omaha all divulged observations about the Holocaust with the mayor.

At the end of the meeting, the mayor, a strong promoter of the Omaha Jewish community, stood for pictures with the group.

The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | A3

community

Eye on israel: Are significant societal changes in the making?

MARK KiRchhoFF sition [by the Haredi political and rabbinic Program and Communications Assistant leadership]. ...Yet beneath the surface things On Monday, May 8 beginning at noon in are certainly changing in that community.” the Kripke Jewish Federation Library, Rabbi Rabbi Shlomo has invited and will be Shlomo Abramovich will joined by Rabbi Yechiel lead the May session of Goldbaber, a scholar living Eye on Israel. Rabbi in Jerusalem as part of the Abramovich will begin Chasidic Haredi society, to with his customary review discuss these changes. of the most current events Rabbi Shlomo and Rabbi taking place in Israel, alYechiel studied together at ways with the underlying Bar Ilan University in Isprinciple of presenting a rael. “He is a unique perbalance of opinions on any son. He has written given topic. articles and is doing indeFollowing his review of pendent research on the Israeli news, Rabbi history and sources of Rabbi Shlomo Abramovich Shlomo will lead a discusJewish customs,” said sion of the most recent societal changes and Rabbi Shlomo. “His pursuing an education struggles in Israel that are bubbling just bein the manner he has is truly unique in neath the surface and sometimes erupting Haredi society. Because he is a part of that in the streets. In a September 2016 article in community, he provides amazing insights Arutz Sheva, noted scholar, historian, into the process of change that is happening speaker and educator Rabbi Berel Wein today. I know that those who come to Eye wrote: on Israel will be fascinated and will learn a “One of the major societal shifts here in great deal from what he has to say.”

Israel is changing attitudes and behavior of This is a great opportunity to gain insight the haredi community towards taking a into one aspect of change in Israel that will more inclusive role in Israeli society. On the have a profound effect into the future. Be surface... no such change is really noticesure to note that this session is on Monday, able. Every attempt to reform or change the May 8 in the Kripke Jewish Federation Lieducation structure is met with fierce oppo- brary beginning at noon.

a4 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Omaha Community Playhouse

community Words of Torah

This time of year, the emotions of being a Jew run deep in our hearts and souls. We go from remembering the Holocaust to remembering our brothers and sisters who lost their lives defending our right to RaBBI aRI our homeland. We DemBItzeR then celebrate Israel’s Beth Israel Synagogue independence. We go from one extreme to another. This is the story of our people. We need to experience deep pain to experience deep joy. This week’s Torah readings, “Acharei Mot” and “Kedoshim” teach us that the greatest clari-

fication of our identity sometimes is a result of tremendous adversity. Nothing can ever justify the pain we suffered as a people in our recent Holocaust. However, we then received a momentous gift, the State of Israel.

“Kedoshim,” according to Rashi, means to separate from the world around us in order to connect the way G-d wants of us. With the State of Israel and our renewed national identity, we have the ability to reveal holiness in nation, land and government. Independence creates the responsibility to use the freedom well. To reveal gods light in everything. First, we must recognize God’s hand in everything and then we can reveal it to others across the world. Think positive, act positive.

Shabbat Shalom.

B’nai Israel Speaker Series B’nai Israel Friday Night Shabbot Speaker Series will continue on May 12, 7:30p.m. with guest speaker Dick Fellman.

Fellman is a lawyer, UNO educator, historian, former Nebraska State Senator and storyteller extraordinaire who will relate his recent trip to Paris, France, to attend his granddaughter’s bat mitzvah. Why Paris and not

Israel? We know about Bev’s (may she rest in peace) connection to Paris, but what was Dick’s connection from many years ago? We will hear about his impressions of the country and its people as he toured the area, touching on security and perhaps comments on the recent and ongoing election of a new president.

Step into the enchanted world of the beloved musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. This classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress, is guaranteed to entertain all audiences. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self — but time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. This “tale as old as time” is filled with spectacular costumes and sets and is a must-see for the whole family.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the first Disney

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When someone gets hearing aids for the first A person who is hard of hearing may experience miscommunication, frustration and even isolation. time, there is an adjustment period as the person The audiologists at the Boys Town Ear, Nose and learns how to hear in a new way. Many amplified Throat (ENT) Institute can provide solutions and sounds are different than what one might remember hearing before the onset of hearing loss. support for people who are hard of hearing.

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The annual Graduation Issue will publish this year on May 19, 2017. Senior photos will run in that issue and we know you’ll want to highlight the achievements of your high school graduate! Congratulatory ads are available in two sizes.

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Mazal Tov, Aaron!

We are so proud of your achievements – membership in NHS, varsity letter in tennis and a Merit Award from the Band.

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We are so proud of your achievements – membership in NHS, varsity letter in tennis and a Merit Award from B.E.S.T.T. Love, Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters and grandparents

The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | a5

e

Mother knits four generations together Oliver B. POllak nglish born Nellie Borgzinner (1891-1960) married German born Dr. Felix Bachmann (18811956) in England in 1912. They moved to Germany. Nellie must have felt awkward when Felix served in the German army during World War I. They had two children: Reni, born in 1915, and my mother, Ruth, born in 1921.

Nazi persecution tore the couple apart. Nellie returned to England in the mid-1930s.

Felix, a proud assimilated German Jew, thought Hitler a temporary phenomenon. The German people would reject him at the next election and return to their civilized cultured senses. Then came Kristallnacht. Reni left in March 1939 from Hamburg. My mother, a teenager, stayed with her father in Hanover. Too old for kinder transport, she contemplated escape

to England or Shanghai. She had seamstress skills and got a visa for England, perhaps facilitated by Nellie, who kept house in Richmond for Luxembourg diplomat Hans Roger Madol. A refugee, she found employment as a nanny and then a bar maid. Mother died in 2016 a week after her 95th birthday.

The click clack click clack of her knitting needles created a material legacy. My father, sister and I sat with outstretched arms as she would prepare the skeins of knitting wool. Frugality extended to recycling, unraveling outfits that no longer fit or had gone out of style. She quietly counted stitches.

Frayed collars and cuffs were made presentable, sleeves shortened, pant legs taken in or extended, patches sewn, socks darned, the thimble ever present. Scissors cut down worn adult pants and jackets for a second child-size life reassembled by the foot treadle See Four generations page a6

Greetings to the Omaha Jewish community Jean StOthert Mayor of Omaha I had the privilege of outlining the “State of the City” in front of our fellow citizens at the City Council Chamber in February and I am more optimistic about the future of our great city than I have ever been.

The efforts of so many community leaders and organizations in Omaha during my time as mayor has provided the foundation for much of what we have accomplished.

Omaha is stronger and safer. Our city is growing.

Employment and wages are up. Construction and development are strong and our economy continues to expand.

Homicides and gun shootings are down, 56 new police officers are on the streets, city savings accounts are at record highs, budget deficits of the past have been fixed, the city property tax rate has been reduced twice, and transparency across city government has improved.

Just as importantly, we’ve dedicated the public resources necessary for more job training, enhanced summer youth employment opportunities, and more high quality affordable housing. The new Human Services Campus in North Omaha will bring needed assistance to homeless men, women and families.

In my speech, I told the public I want to increase

the budget for the Step-Up summer jobs program for at-risk youth. This is a wonderful program that invests in our young people.

Over the next four years, I look forward to leading efforts to further enhance public safety, significantly increase our funding for critical infrastructure and street repair, and implement improved public transportation options. In addition, we will provide more support for neighborhood initiatives, complete numerous high-profile and exciting development projects, and support entrepreneurship and small business.

Omaha is a caring and generous community and I enjoy working with so many dedicated community leaders and volunteers.

During the last four years, I have had many opportunities to learn about and support efforts important to the Jewish Community. Thank you for including me in events for B’nai B’rith and the Chabad House. I am proud to support the Tri-Faith Initiative and the work being done to improve interfaith understanding and promote shared values.

I also appreciate having the opportunity to outline my vision for a stronger, safer, and more supportive city over the next four years in this publication.

It is an honor and privilege to serve as the mayor of Omaha and I respectfully ask for your support this spring for second term. Thank you.

Councilwoman aimee Melton

“The civil rights of none shall be abridged on and stronger bonds of community. It is easy to take account of religious belief or worship, nor shall this spirit for granted, and even to assume that it is any national religion be established, nor shall effortless, but events around the country, and now the full and equal rights of conscience be in any in our own city, sadly remind us otherwise.

The First Amendment protects freedom of relimanner, or on any pretext, infringed.”

James Madison gion. However, the right to worship can never be reAt times in our history, our society has struggled alized in the face of threats and violence. The work to live up to the ideal of religious diversity. Never- of combating hatred and promoting understanding theless, religious liberty is a hallmark of the Ameri- is not just the job of any single organization. Rather, can experience. This legacy makes recent stories of it rests with all of us. Whoever we are, we are oblireligious intolerance all the more difficult to hear. gated to acknowledge and promote all that unites Omaha is a city that strives to exemplify under- us in this community we call home. standing and cooperation. We have built our city on I applaud the work of the Omaha Jewish Federathe shoulders of pioneers, immigrants of every tion. stripe, and we are reminded of all that unites us. It I stand with you to preserve and expand that is this spirit that has defined the work of the Omaha spirit of unity in Omaha.

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OMAHA IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK. ON MAY 9TH, VOTE TO RE-ELECT AIMEE MELTON! As a former domestic violence prosecutor, a working mom, and a small business owner, Aimee Melton understands the issues that matter most:

d Cut personal property tax rates – twice d Balanced city budgets and increased cash reserves

d Hired and trained 56 new police officers, and invested in new patrol cars

d Increased funding for road improvements by $4.8 million, and

d Omaha has added nearly 8,000 new jobs since 2013.*

* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

When I was elected to represent District 7 on the Omaha City Council in 2013, our city faced many tough challenges. Skyrocketing taxes, a deficit budget, and rising crime were my top priorities.

Since then, Omaha’s budget deficits have turned to surplus, and we cut property tax rates twice. We have made public safety our number one concern, adding more police and investing in new technology.

We have made great progress in Omaha. Our city is growing again.

Let’s keep it going, together.

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a6 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

Class

Four generations

of 2017 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Continued from page a5 Singer sewing machine and hand stitching.

Her hands were always busy; cooking, baking, gardening, pottery, glass work and cleaning.

She sewed and knit for herself, her husband Willi and her children, Judy and me, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her knitted bounty clothed nephews and nieces, grand and great nieces and nephews. They were born into the world and immediately had doll size knitted and crocheted wool clothing.

Sweaters, cardigans, vests, monogrammed hot water bottle covers, hats, scarves, mittens, socks, and then on to large rectangles, baby blankets, rugs, carpets. The margins of cut pattern paper with dart incisions, Butterick, McCall, Simplicity, Glamour, littered the floor. Some were handed down from generation to generation, some wore out, and some were kept for sentimental reasons; her handiwork economical, practical, utilitarian, simultaneously colorful, warm, and cuddly.

I hear click and clack of the knitting needles in waiting rooms and the airport. Double-tasking women, wasting no time, knitting and talking. What emotion passed through her mind as she unraveled and repurposed prior creations.

I still have a mustard yellow gold and blue and green window-pane mohair pullovers, porridge wool button jacket, much the same with a long zipper, an orange button sweater, which I wore as recently as 2015, proudly announcing, “My mother knit this in the 1970s.” Karen, under mother’s tute-

High School Seniors and Parents

We will be publishing our annual High School Graduation Class pages on May 19, 2017. To be included, we need the student’s name, the parent(s)’ name(s), the graduate’s current high school, the college they will be attending and a graduation photo. Please email the information and photo to: jpress@jewishomaha.org by May 8, 2017.

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lage, knit me a dark blue vest, which I still wear four decades later. Such patience, love and obsession is rewarded with comfort and thanks.

My sister Judy, seven years my junior, has memories. Age and gender resulted in different observations and conversations. Judy recalls, “Granny Nellie sewed. I don’t know when Mom learned to knit, crochet and sew. I assumed she learned during childhood. Mom made me a fisherman knit sweater and many more beautiful sweaters. Mom made a cardigan for my husband Bill. She knit doll clothing for my daughter Chelsea and sewed bedding for her doll’s bed. Mom made the same pullover sweater for Donna, Karen and me, all in different colors. Erika, my daughterin-law, now has Mom’s sweater. Mom would make curtains, pillows covers and decor accents for the home. She created latch hook rugs from Shillcraft kits. Mom knitted or worked on a hook rug while watching tv with Dad in the evening. I would start a knitting project and Mom would fix my mistakes and finish it for me. When we lived on Santa Tomas, I was between four and ten, Mom taught a sewing class.”

So many yards of yarn, so many stitches, so many happy recipients. The Guinness Book of Records states the fastest knitter did 118 stiches per minute in 2006.

Mother’s knitting beneficiaries extended to four generations and at least 16 people.

Mother, happy not to cook in her later years, knitted as long as she could. At mother’s funeral, some family members wore sweaters she knit.

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B’nai B’rith BreadBreakers

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Please call 402.493.5807 for more information on program dates and times.

Mayoral candidate Heath Mello is running for office because he believes Omaha can be a better city.

“Omaha is facing a chronic lack of vision in planning for our future,” Mello said. “For the past four years, the Mayor’s Office has approached problems with stop-gap measures, rather than with real solutions and transparent accounting for the city’s activities.”

That’s why Mello has proposed multiple solutions, including a 5-point Reinventing City Hall plan, to help our city address its crumbling roads, crime rates, and missed economic opportunities.

Priority No. 1 for Mello is addressing Omaha’s current infrastructure crisis. Omaha residents have come to expect challenges with snow removal and road repairs, while major infrastructure projects have been delayed, seemingly indefinitely. This is the inevitable result of a City Hall that is not holding itself accountable to the residents of Omaha.

In all neighborhoods Mello visits on the campaign

trail, he talks with residents who are concerned about crime. Mello’s plan to address crime and response times in all zip codes includes a 5th police precinct, independent staffing analysis, and having more officers on hand when crimes are most likely to occur. However, to fight crime, Mello believes we must also address its root causes: lack of access to living wage jobs, behavioral healthcare, affordable housing, and reliable transportation.

To build an Omaha of the future, Mello begins in the present with a plan for openness, citizen engagement, promoting innovation, and improving performance. Mello will make it a top priority to establish OpenOmaha.org, which will help city departments and residents talk to each other, share feedback and build better plans for the future of our city.

“As Mayor, I will ask Omaha residents to hold me accountable for our city’s functions and progress toward building a city that works for all of us,” Mello said.

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The Friday Learning Series goes to war MARk kIRChhOff Program and Communications Assistant n a three-part series beginning on Friday, May 12 with sessions on two subsequent Fridays, May 19 and 26 from 11:15 a.m.-Noon in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library, Rabbi Shlomo Abramovich will lead participants to war. In fact, he will lead them to three wars - each on its own day. He will talk about the 1948 War of Independence, the Six-Day War in 1967, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. At the root of these wars are the Israeli and Arab claims to the same land as their ancestral rights. These sessions will go beyond the history lessons and reviewing the facts surrounding the wars. Rabbi Shlomo is examining them from a different perspective.

“It is true that many of the facts about each war are disputed and they even change with time,” observed Rabbi Shlomo. He adds that while

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Rabbi Shlomo Abramovich some of those disputed facts will be incorporated into the sessions, he is focusing on another aspect of these wars.

“Wars have profound effects on a society. They shape and change the way in which people think about themselves.

As a result, they change the political,

For more information on Temple Israel’s youth programs contact Aliyah Lasky, Director of Youth and Young Adult Bella Radler from Temple Engagement, 402.556.6536. Israel addresses those attending Spring Chavurah.

military, social, and economic activities of the country,” he added. Rabbi Shlomo has made the study of these wars a part of his academic expertise, and he will share his knowledge and conclusions in these three sessions. “I certainly welcome and encourage people to attend each session, but each session is designed to be an independent discussion,” Rabbi Shlomo said. “Attend any or all sessions and you will learn about these wars in another way.”

These sessions are open to the community free of charge.

While you are marking May 12 as the first date of the series, be sure to mark May 19 and 26 beginning at 11:15 a.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library as the next two. No RSVPs are required, but we would appreciate a call or email indicating your plans to attend so that we may set up the room accordingly. Respond to Mark Kirchhoff at 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org.

The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | A7

community What is Elder Law?

Seniors face complex legal concerns that are often different from what they faced when they were younger. Actions taken may have unintended legal effects. As a senior or someone who’s helping make decisions for a senior, it’s important that you work with an attorney who is an expert in Elder Law. Rather than being defined by technical legal distinctions, Elder Law is defined by the client to be served.

An Elder Law attorney: • Focuses his or her practice on the legal needs of seniors.

• Works with a variety of legal tools and techniques that specifically meet the goals and objectives of the older client.

• Uses a holistic approach to legal advice, taking into consideration the key issues facing seniors: housing, financial well-being, asset preservation, health and long-term care, and autonomy/quality of life.

• Brings to his or her practice a knowledge of the issues facing seniors.

• Will take into account and empathize with some of the physical and mental difficulties that often accompany the aging process. The attorney’s understanding of the real life problems of people as they age allows them to determine more easily the difference between the physical versus the mental disability of a client.

• Is tied into a formal or informal system of social workers, psychologists, and other elder care professionals who may be of assistance to you.

To speak to an experienced Elder Law attorney, contact Elder Law of Omaha today at 402.614.6400. All new clients are provided with a FREE 30 minute attorney consultation.

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See full digital issues of the Jewish Press: https://issuu.com/jewishpress7

A8 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

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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.

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Should we worry about North Korea?

ANNETTE vAN DE KAmP-WRiGhT Editor of the Jewish Press ast week, North Korea threatened Israel with “merciless, thousand-fold punishment” and labeled it the only “illegal possessor” of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. (JTA.com) They did so on Israel’s Memorial Day, no less. The over-the-top statement came as a response to Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman’s comments made during an interview with Hebrew-language news website Walla.

Liberman called Kim Jong-un “a madman in charge of a crazy and radical group that undermines global stability.” It wasn’t Liberman’s first time; in 2010, he labeled North Korea as part of the “axis of evil and the biggest threat to the entire world.” Its partners: Iran and Syria.

And thus, the playground fight was on.

In its statement slamming Israel, North Korea called Israel the “only illegal possessor of nukes in the Middle East, under the patronage of the U.S.” “The reckless remarks of the Israeli defense minister are sordid and wicked behavior and a grave challenge to the DPRK (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea),” the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s statement continued.

“This is the cynical ploy to escape the world denunciation and curse as disturber of peace in the Middle East, occupier of the Arab territories and culprit of crimes against humanity.” The statement further threatened Israel and anyone who “dares hurt the dignity of its supreme leadership.”

(JTA.com) In the west, we’re used to North Korea’s grandstanding.

Excessive threats and grandiose language is generally how Kim Jong-un communicates. Because of that, we tend to ignore him. A crazy man? There’s no real doubt, is there? But here’s the thing: maybe we should worry a little more. I don’t know.

To be sure, there have never been diplomatic relations between Israel and North Korea. At the establishment of the State of Israel, North Korea denounced it as an “Imperialist Satellite.” North Korea did, however, recognize the sover-

Avigdor Liberman

eignty of the State of Palestine over all of Israel in 1988, with the exception of the Golan Heights, which its supreme leader considers to be part of Syria. North Korea fought Israel during the Yom Kippur War and has supplied missile technology to Israel's neighbors, including Iran, Syria, Libya and Egypt.

“The escalation and the military build-up accompanied by an inflammatory war of words are of concern to the Israeli security establishment,” Yossi Melman wrote in a Jerusalem

Post article dated April 27, 2017. He adds: “If the US goes to war against North Korea, shifts its focus away from Israel and the Middle East and downgrades the strategic alliance with Israel, it would be a historic reversal. But that probably won’t happen because neither Washington nor Pyongyang wants a war. The US is flexing its muscles and attempting to use what can be called “coercive diplomacy” to force the tyrannical regime of Kim Jung-un to change its behavior in the international arena: to stop developing nuclear capable, long-range ballistic missiles and stop threatening its neighbors South Korea and Japan.”

So is the very vocal threat against Israel just background noise? Melodrama created by North Korea’s leader to be served to his people in easily digestible sound bites? Who knows.

Israeli politician and member of the Foreign Affairs and defense Committee Shelly Yachimovich of the Zionist Union criticized Liberman on Twitter: “We have enough enemies. Let’s focus on them.”

Perhaps that’s a logical stance, considering all the recent chatter about how dangerous North Korea actually is. Let’s face it: with South Korea on one side, and China on the other, North Korea is not exactly surrounded by friendly neighbors. Should the unthinkable happen, Israel would most likely not be North Korea’s first target. Add to that the fact that all we seem to be able to do is speculate, focusing on real, rather than perceived, threats is only logical. After all, it’s not like we can’t take our pick. Iran, Syria, Lebanon; Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Qaida; continued Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions resolutions around the world coupled with a massive increase in anti-Semitic vandalism and language all combine to fill our dance card. Crazy as he may be, we don’t need to add Kim Jong-un to the list.

No one is assigned to Jewish outreach at the DNC. Who ya gonna call?

from the primaries that the committee was a reforts with a big focus on constituencies of faith,” RoN KAmPEAS doubt of the establishment, and to reconcile the Eric Walker, a DNC spokesman, told JTA. WASHINGTON | JTA camps loyal to candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, I“From speaking at AIPAC to meeting with the You’re a Jewish donor or macher and you need Vt., and Hillary Clinton. He is still in the slow Conference of Presidents of Major American to talk to someone at the Democratic National grind of hiring replacements.

Committee, stat. Who’s most likely to return • The liaisons listed by Business Insider were your call? elected DNC officials who happened to have Tom Perez, the party chairman, according to close ties to the communities they were asJewish and Democratic insiders. signed. Jewish candidates ran in the most rePerez is also pretty much it – no one else is cent DNC elections, but none won. (Notably, handling Jewish issues right now. there are three Jews on a separate 21-person Business Insider posted the DNC’s assigned commission formed to advance party unity -roles for its officers on April 19. Liaisons were one each named by Sanders, Clinton and included for blacks, women, Latinos, Asians, Perez.) Had a Jewish candidate been elected to LGBT, farmers and various regions – but not the DNC executive, he or she likely would have the Jewish community. been a liaison to the community. Rep. Debbie For a party that prides itself on cultivating an Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the last DNC array of constituencies, the absence of a dedichair, fulfilled that role. cated Jewish staffer seems anomalous to many Jewish Democrats, especially considering that DNC Chairman Tom Perez speaking to a crowd of supporters • The whole party increasingly embraces DNC liaisons are available to a range of other at a Democratic unity rally at the Rail Event Center in Salt Sanders’ argument during last year’s campaign that identity politics is alienating white workminority groups.

Lake City, Utah, April 21, 2017. ing class males; minority liaisons are not the “It’s of the utmost importance to have a DNC Credit: George Frey/Getty Images priority they once were. staffer handling this vital DNC constituency,” • Perez, who launched his political career in Jewish Organizations, Tom has made outreach to said one Jewish Democratic activist, who like Montgomery County, Maryland, which has a disthe Jewish community a personal priority,” he many others asked to speak on background beproportionate Jewish population, is intimately acsaid. “The Jewish community will continue to cause of the sensitivity of criticizing a party seen play a vital role in the Democratic Party, particu- quainted with Jewish issues. (Those who attended as under siege since the devastating November his briefings at the Presidents Conference and at larly as Jewish community centers and schools elections. are being targeted, and as the Trump administra- the American Israel Public Affairs Committee “There are plenty of good operatives who are gave him high marks for nuanced, detailed takes tion seeks to divide us.” available after the disappointing performance in Jews have long been a key constituency for De- on the issues.) A Jewish liaison would be redunthe presidential election, and it’s puzzling they dant (although Wasserman Schultz also emmocrats, and not just because their donations haven’t found one yet and it’s concerning they ployed a dedicated Jewish liaison). make up a third to a half of the DNC’s support. haven’t got someone doing this full time,” the • Jews still reliably vote Democratic. Clinton They are also a key vote in swing states like Jewish Democrat said. “I like Tom Perez, but Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and have proven received 71 percent of the Jewish vote in Novemthey’re really dragging their feet.” ber, according to exit polls. Outreach to a loyal to be among the most dedicated organizers over Perez, who was elected in February, named liblock of votes isn’t an immediate priority. the decades. aisons to other communities two weeks ago.

That attitude frustrates Rabbi Jack Moline, DNC officials and those close to them outlined Eric Walker, a DNC spokesman, told JTA that who in 2014 directed the National Jewish Demovarious reasons why the party was slow to name Perez sees cultivating Jews as key to revitalizing cratic Council. Even with such overwhelming a dedicated staffer or officer to deal with the the party. support, there are always ways to get out the JewJews. Among them: “Jewish Americans have always had a home in ish vote, he said.

• Perez has cleared out much of the DNC staff, the Democratic Party, and part of Tom’s agenda See Who ya gonna call? page A9 wanting to dismantle the perception lingering is to re-establish our constituency outreach ef-

The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | a9

Yom Hashoah is a call to assist the poorest survivors

Rabbi YecHiel ecksTein vivor.” Many Jewish groups define a survivor as someone JTA who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp or This week, the State of Israel’s comptroller sharply critighetto, hid in Nazi-controlled lands, or who lost a family cized the government for neglecting the intense poverty of member to the Nazis. many of the state’s elderly Holocaust survivors.

However, many of the Jews in the FSU experienced the Like the sirens that will blare Monday in Israel on Yom Holocaust as well, either hiding from Nazi-aligned forces or Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, to memorialize enduring the war at close range. After the Holocaust some the 6 million, the report sounded a new call, urging us to began new lives in Europe, the West or Latin America, move from memory to acmany flourishing. In the Sotion, to save survivors living viet Union, some returned to in poverty not only in Israel, urban areas and revived. But but also around the world. others who lost most or all We must act now, before it’s their family never recovered. too late. There are some After meeting many of 400,000 survivors still alive, these forgotten survivors, I but their average age is 85. walk away in disbelief. How Many of these survivors, at can it be that the wealthiest least 280,000, are living their Jewish community in history final days in crippling does not see this crisis? How poverty. One-fourth of Israel’s can it be that we continue to 180,000 survivors and onedo so little while 40 elderly third of the 100,000 survivors Holocaust survivors lighting memorial candles during an interna- survivors die every day, many in the United States live below tional Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration at the u.s. living their last years without Holocaust memorial museum in Washington, D.c., Jan. 27, 2017. even basic dignity? But there the poverty line. Survivors Credit: Win McNamee/ Getty Images is no feeling of urgency, no and other elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union, which lacks even a basic social safety one to “shrei gevalt.” Have we as a Jewish community lost net, endure unimaginable conditions. our sense of oneness and our commitment to the principle These are the forgotten survivors. Like Lova, in her late of “kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh” -- all of Israel are respon80s, who lives in a tiny rural village outside Kiev. Lova had sible for one another? no heat for six months when my organization, the InternaOn Holocaust Remembrance Day, when the sirens sound tional Fellowship of Christians and Jews, visited her this in Israel and we memorialize the day in Jewish communiwinter. We brought her food, water and a blanket, but she ties throughout the Diaspora, we must recommit ourselves was wrapped in tattered material, her hands exposed and to never forget the 6 million victims. purple from the bitter cold. Lova was among the more forBut we must move from memory to action. We must do tunate we met – she saved a few cans of scraps from the something to ensure that every survivor, no matter where summer and had a few buckets of unfrozen drinking water. they are, can live out their final days in decency. We owe We visited Olga, in her early 90s, to find a can of pickled them no less. beets covered with maggots in her dilapidated kitchen. She “Time is running out,” said the report by Israel’s state had no water because she was too weak to chop wood for comptroller. “The survivors who experienced the events of her stove. the Holocaust are entitled to live the rest of their lives with For years the Fellowship has been aiding these forgotten dignity and to receive the recognition they deserve.” survivors in Israel and the FSU. Thanks to millions of genThat warning was focused on the forgotten survivors in erous people worldwide, mostly Christians who love Israel Israel, but it could be about all forgotten survivors. Though and the Jewish people, we have raised over $1.4 billion in we are neglecting our brothers and sisters in the Jewish the past 20 years. Just last year we were able to help 1.6 mil- homeland, there also remain hundreds of thousands of our lion Jews with $140 million in aid, among them 128,000 kin throughout the world who are dying alone and in need poor survivors, with basic needs such as food, water, blanfor whom no sirens blare. kets, medicine and heating fuel.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is the founder and president of Yet it is just not enough. Tens of thousands more surthe International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. For vivors worldwide desperately need our help. more on the forgotten Holocaust survivors, please visit forThe crisis is intensified by the very definition of “surgottensurvivors.com.

University of Wisconsin student government passes divestment resolution JTA The student government of the University of Wisconsin-Madison unanimously passed a divestment resolution targeting companies operating in many countries that included an amendment specifically about Israel.

The resolution passed Wednesday by the Associated Students of Madison by a 24-0 vote, with two abstentions, calls on the university and its foundation to divest from companies involved in private prisons, arms manufacture, fossil fuels and border walls, and banks that “oppress marginalized communities.”

The vote comes a month after a divestment resolution specifically targeting Israel failed to pass the student government and two weeks after the student government passed a proposal to create a new financial transparency and ethics subcommittee. The meeting was held April 12, the second day of Passover, when several Jewish representatives were absent.

Wednesday's resolution uses language brokered between Jewish student leaders and the authors to target unethical corporations in more general terms without attacking Israel. However, during the open forum discussion prior to the vote, some students called for the onepage resolution to be amended to include specific countries and issues, the Daily Cardinal student newspaper reported.

An amendment added to the one-page resolution, which Jewish students said brought the resolution more in line with the proposal that failed a month ago, blames Israel for police violence against AfricanAmericans, citing an exchange program in which senior American police officers travel to Israel to learn about counterterrorism, the

pro-Israel organization StandWithUS said in a statement.

During debate on the resolution, anti-Israel activists called the Jewish community “oppressors” and said that Jewish students oppose divestment against Israel because it threatens their “white privilege.”

A Jewish member of the Associated Students of Madison was publicly targeted and harassed by other members of the student government during the meeting as well, according to the campus Hillel.

“The behavior of members of ASM to publicly target and harass the Jewish students and in particular the one Jewish student on ASM was reprehensible,” the university Hillel's executive director, Greg Steinberger, said in a statement issued following the meeting. “We look forward to engaging the university and the state in a review of what happened tonight at the ASM meeting.”

In a statement issued after the vote, the university administration said the resolution is nonbinding and will not result in a change in university policies or its approach to investing.

“We are concerned that the actions taken tonight appear to violate a ruling of the Student Judiciary; Jewish members of student government, who raised this issue with the Student Judiciary, walked out of the meeting after expressing concerns that the process was undemocratic and not transparent,” the statement said.

“UW-Madison values and welcomes members of all faiths and identities. We have heard clearly from the Jewish community how targeted they feel by the actions of the last month. Chancellor [Rebecca] Blank has made clear her opposition to the concept of BDS and academic boycotts.”

Who ya gonna call?

continued from page a8 “If we are indeed a dependable constituency for the Democratic Party, it would seem the Democrats would want to mine that for other opportunities,” Moline said.

The absence of a dedicated Jewish liaison comes at a sensitive time, posing challenges and opportunities for Jewish Democrats: • Perez’ closest rival in the DNC election, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., is among the Congress members most critical of Israel and decades ago worked with the anti-Semitic Nation of Islam movement. Now Perez’ deputy, Ellison has long since apologized to Jews for that association -- although his critics insist that his prominence in the party should be of concern to Jews.

• What it means to be a pro-Israel Democrat is in flux, with much of the party and most of its lawmakers – among them nearly all its Jewish caucus – alienated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s outright hostility to former President Barack Obama.

• Israel remains the key issue for many baby boomer Jewish Democrats, while younger Jews in the party are more preoccupied with confronting President Donald Trump and his associations with the far right.

• Trump’s closeness to the “alt-right,” the loose assemblage of hyper-nationalists who induce a visceral revulsion in liberal Jews, should be an opportunity to cultivate Jewish donors and voters.

The Jewish Democratic activist said a dedicated and skilled Jewish liaison would understand how and when to massage the diverse constituencies within the Jewish Democratic community.

Donors, for instance, are known to make anxious calls when criticism of the party’s Israel posture hits the papers.

A skilled liaison would know whether the criticism was serious or was right-wing trolling, and would be able to explain the difference to the donor, the activist said.

“You have to be able to differentiate between genuine constructive criticism that’s coming rom a good place and the noise from people who wouldn’t support you in the first place,” he said.

Another concern is that the party reverts to a model used in the past, when a single senior staffer handled all faith outreach, supervising junior staffers assigned to the Jews, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims.

A Jewish Democrat who has held multiple roles within the party said that model did not adequately address a community that saw itself as more than simply a faith.

“It’s not like Christianity or Islam, a faith, it’s a peoplehood or an ethnicity,” said this Democrat. “To make that distinction is important to the Jewish community.”

Moline, who now directs the Interfaith Alliance, an advocacy group, said the reflex in the party to treat Jews as just another faith frustrated him.

“It was indeed a challenge to persuade the folks I was interacting with that Jewish self-identification was not the same as Christian or Catholic or Muslim self-identification,” he said. “I would explain that the Jewish community was more motivated by issues than by faith. Speaking the language of faith was not going to have the same impact to communities organized around the federation rather than the church.”

Steve Rabinowitz, who runs a media consultancy advising Democratic and Jewish organizations, said he was confident Perez would name a liaison in good time, if only for appearance’s sake. Rabinowitz gave Perez high marks for his outreach to the Jewish community.

“Do they need it?” Rabinowitz said of anxious Jewish Democrats. “Eh. Are they going to get it? Yes.”

To submiT announcemenTs

Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewish omaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.

Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai mitzvahs, engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewish omaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Please check the Jewish Press, for notices of early deadlines.

a10 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 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 may 12, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker Dick Fellman, he will offer reflections on his recent trip to Paris to celebrate his granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah. 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: Graduation/Teacher Appreciation Shabbat, 6 p.m. followed by dinner; Tot/Family Shabbat, 6 p.m. followed by dinner. saTurday: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush; Junior Congregation, 10 a.m.; Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Shabbat Speaker -- Dr. Baruch Feldstern, noon; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:15 p.m. weekday serViCes: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. sunday: BESTT Classes & Picture Day, 9:45 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:15 a.m.; Torah Tots, 10:30 a.m.; Sunday Speaker -- Dr. Baruch Feldstern, 11:15 a.m. monday: Women’s Book Group, 7 p.m. at the home of Judith Barnes. wednesday: BESTT Classes, 4:15 p.m.; Hebrew High, 6:30 p.m. at UNO. Thursday: Shanghai, 1 p.m.

No BESTT Classes, sunday, may 14 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.; Mincha/Ma’ariv & Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:08 p.m.; Shabbat Dinner Celebration of Israel, 8:30 p.m. saTurday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights in the Weekly Torah Reading, 7:05 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 7:50 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:13 p.m. sunday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. monday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Eye on Israel, noon; Reb Nachman Class, 1 p.m.; Hebrew Class, Level II, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Polling Site -- General Election, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. wednesday: Shacharit, 7 a.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.; Lunch and 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. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. followed by a festive kiddush luncheon. sunday: Shacharit, 8:30 a.m. followed by Sunday Secrets: Jewish Fun Facts class at 9:15 a.m. weekdays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. monday: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani. 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 Emily Judds; Shabbat Evening Service, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:10 p.m. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim; Havdalah (72 Minutes), 9:41 p.m. sunday: LJCS Final Day, 9:30 a.m. at Tifereth Israel.

Tuesday: Kochavim Rehearsal, 6:45 p.m.

Thursday: Trope Class, 6:15 p.m. with Michael Boekstal. Class participants will need The Art of Torah Cantillation

by Marshall Portnoy and Josee Wolff; Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m. adulT eduCaTion Tuesday: Intro to Judaism, Session #15, 6:30 p.m. led

by Rabbi Lewis.

Friday Night Live! Shabbat Evening and Confirmation Service, friday, may 12, 6:30 p.m.

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 may 21 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, email Sarah Beringer at sarah.m.beringer@gmail.com.

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.

Help in our Temple Gardens! Help us get ready for a beautiful summer garden! How can you help? Tending the flower beds during the summer: We can also use help with routine weeding and trimming during the spring and summer. Help us keep a beautiful garden to enhance our Temple! Contact: Ellin Siegel at ellin7@aol.com or 402.525.4022 or the Temple Office and let us know you would like to help in the gardens.

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.

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 Jim Polack and David Herzog.

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

Temple israel

friday: Shabbat Service/High School Senior Sendoff & Celebration/OTYG Board Installations, 6 p.m. Following the service, Temple Israel’s high school seniors will be given a celebratory blessing by the Clergy as they prepare to begin the next phase

Community updates

The Phil and Ruth Sokolof awards reception will be held on Tuesday, May 9, rather than Thursday, May 9 as previously indicated.The event will take place in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium at 7 p.m. and is open to the community.

Tickets for the JCC Musical Theater Community Acting Group’s production of Oklahoma will go on sale Monday, May 8 at 9 a.m. in the front hallway of the Jewish Community Center. You can also purchase them by calling Laura Wine, registrar, at 402.334.6419 or at the door on the day of the show. Advanced ticket purchase is strongly recommended. Tickets will only be sold at the door when seats remain the day of the show.

Performances are scheduled for Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m. and Sunday June 11 at 2 p.m.

General admission tickets are $10; children and students are $5. In addition, there are Patron ticket options. The amount beyond the ticket price is a tax-deductible donation.

Actor: $100 ( 2 tickets, reserved seating and name in the program); Director: $150 (4 tickets, reserved seating and name in the program) and Producer: $200 (6 tickets, reserved seating and

of their lives. The Brandon Thomas Pursuit of Passion Scholarship will be awarded during the evening. A lovely Oneg sponsored by the Gordman Family will follow the Service. saTurday: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Services, 10:30 a.m. sunday: Madrichim Appreciation Breakfast, 9 a.m.; Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; Temple Tots Sunday, 10:30 a.m.; School Picnic, 11:30 a.m. wednesday: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; Chapel for School, 4:30 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 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; TiYPE Trivia Night, 7 p.m. at Varisty Sports, 4900 Dodge St. Omaha.

Join TiYPE 21+ at Varsity Sports for great night of trivia! RSVP to alasky@templeisraelomaha.com by Monday, May 8.

10th Grade Confirmation, friday, may 12, 6 p.m. Confirmation families are invited to share Shabbat dinner with the class following the service. Reservations are required for dinner; cost is $15 per person. Please RSVP to Jen Goodman, jgoodman@templeisraelomaha.com or 402.556.6536, by Wednesday, May 10.

Annual Meeting, Tuesday, may 23, 6:30 p.m. Please join us for the Annual Meeting to honor Rabbi Darryl Crystal for his great service and leadership as our Interim Rabbi during this year of transition. We will also be voting on the Bylaws and the Board of Trustees 2017-2018 slate. Afterwards, we will enjoy a wine and cheese oneg.

Holy Smokes, Tuesday, may 23, 7:30 p.m.

TifereTh israel

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. followed

by Kiddush lunch. sunday: LJCS Final Day, 9:30 a.m. 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. The date of the Tifereth Israel Annual Meeting has been changed from June 4 to may 21 at 3 p.m. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Card of Thanks

Thank you for remembering me.

sandra

name in the program).

The Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Monday June 5 at 7 p.m. Join us in honoring our Agency Volunteers of the Year, Spirit of Federation Award recipients, Humanitarian of the Year, Malashock Professional Award recipient, Community Service Award recipient and more! The meeting is open to the entire community; refreshments will be served.

It is almost time for Omaha Gives! Omaha's 5th annual 24-hour charitable challenge is set for May 24. The giving begins at midnight with a minimum $10 donation; hourly drawings and prizes make your donations go even further. Please check the Jewish Press in the coming weeks for details on how to participate.

Thursday May 25 marks the beginning of Summercamp at the Jewish Community Center.

Camp season runs through August 11 this year. That means there will be many kids of different ages in various parts of the building, as well as outside. Please remember to slow down when you drive onto our campus so we can keep everyone safe.

The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | a11

lifecycles in memOriam

60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials

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Shirley Goldstein

Continued from page a1 As for smuggling out contraband, the most famous example is most likely the story of Natan Sharansky. Shirley was one of the last Americans to see Sharansky before he was arrested and sent to the gulag for nine years. It was 1975, Shirley was outside a Moscow synagogue, when she was asked the question: “Have you met Sharansky?”

She hadn’t, but that would change before the day was over.

“Anatole Sharansky was the voice, really, of all the refuseniks. I don’t know why I didn’t recognize his name,” Shirley told the Jewish Press in 2006.

“Your darling mother Shirley was a five star general in the army of students and housewives who defeated the KGB and brought us freedom,” Sharasnky wrote to the Goldstein family.

“She was one of the most unrelenting five star generals, for 20 years she traveled together with Leonard as a tourist to secret places in the FSU but never wasted a minute as a fighter When we met for the first time in a hotel in Moscow, she immediately gave me a taperecorder and directed me to the bathroom so I could dictate the names of the refusniks and their individual stories of persecution. Of course she didn’t hesitate even for a minute to smuggle this tape to freedom and then to make sure that it was disseminated to tens and thousands of people all over the world. With the KGB, she was immovable and for us she was a soft and wise sister in a close-knit family. She was a Jewish fighter and a yiddeshe momma at the same time She was the true embodiment of this unique struggle when we Jews became one loving and fighting family. So it's not surprising at all that she and my mother Ida became such close friends. Avital and I and my brother Leonid and Raya will always cherish her friendship.

May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.”

Meeting people face to face drove home for Shirley why this cause was so vital. In an interview during the height of the Free Soviet Movement, Shirley said: “These people cannot speak out for themselves, so other people must do it for them. I feel like what I am doing is something important. It’s hard for people in the U.S. to grasp what all they have to give up just for wanting to leave and how much support they need just to survive. Seeing all they endure makes you want to help just one more case.

You get hooked.” (Leo Adam Biga, 2006) “With this week’s commemoration of Yom HaShoah and the continued need for people to stand up and make a difference in the world,” JFO CEO Alan Potash said, “we can honor Shirley’s life by committing ourselves to accomplishing even a fraction of what she did. We can make a difference one person at a time.”

“During the 1950s and ‘60s, Shirley and Buddy were the same warm and welcoming people the community learned about during the later years,” Bruce Friedlander said. “How proud I am of having those memories. Whenever I approached them as an adult to ask them for help, as during the building of the new Beth El synagogue, they would be generous and humble. All they would say was: ‘Do good things.’ It is advice I heed to this day. They left us beautiful memories, a fabulous family and I will never, ever forget what they taught us.”

The beautiful photos included in this story were taken by Dede Zimmermann. About Shirley, Dede wrote: “Family is not always blood. Family is also defined by those who come into your life by chance and through amazing humanity, loyalty, kindness, strength and never ending warmth, leave you a better human.

“Grandma” Shirley was the master of humanity who lead by example and changed countless lives by standing up for what she believed in. A tiny but mighty force who let nothing stand in her way and taught us all by her example. I am forever blessed because of her and my Goldstein family. I will miss this sweet soul more than words can say and will

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honor her memory by doing more for others.

“Grandma, you are irreplaceable and I thank you for your love and friendship, rest in peace sweet soul.”

Shirley is survived by son Donald and wife Andi Goldstein; daughters and son in law Gail and Phil Raznick and Kathy Goldstein Helm; grandchildren Rebecca (Derek) Groothuis, Deborah (Matt) Baum, Emily Raznick, Ben (Shawn) Johnson, Zak Helm and Molly Helm, as well as four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to “Welcoming the Stranger Fund” at Beth El Synagogue, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.

B’nai mitzvah

zev Dan gOrDman

Zev Dan Gordman, son of Danielle and Jeff Gordman, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 13, at Temple Israel.

Zev is a seventh-grade honors student at Westside Middle School. He is a participant in the Duke TIP program.

Zev enjoys playing basketball, tennis and piano. He loves spending summers at Camp Sabra, hanging out with friends, and traveling with family.

For his mitzvah project, Zev served meals at Siena Francis House, volunteered at the FoodBank of the Heartland and is collecting food for the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.

He has a sister, Harper.

Grandparents are Linda Stark, the late Walter Stark and Linda and Jerry Gordman.

Great-grandfather is Stanley Lewin.

phOenix arieL mavrOpOULOS anD SOphia mavrOpOULOS

Phoenix Ariel Mavropoulos and Sophia Mavropoulos, son and daughter of Karen Klingberg and Dimitrios Mavropoulos, will celebrate their B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, May 13, at Beth El Synagogue.

Phoenix is a seventh-grade Honor Roll student at Bennington Middle School. He holds a State Champion title in taekwondo and currently plays hockey with the Omaha Jr. Lancers. Other interests include wrestling, track, reading and science.

Sophia is a sixth grade student at Friedel Jewish Academy. She holds a State Champion title in gymnastics. Other interests include swimming, hip-hop and writing.

For their B’nai Mitzvah project they raised funds to help bring clean water to people in developing countries.

marriage

SKOg/BUrKe

Jamie Lyn Skog married Bartley James Burke on April 30, 2017 in Omaha.

Jamie is the daughter of Jeffery and Ricki Skog, and she is currently the Hillel director at Denver University.

BJ is the son of Bartley and Nancy Burke and he works for a construction company.

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A12 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

worldnews

This Sunday school teaches Jewish kids Yiddish -- and socialism

T

Ben SAleS NEW YORK | JTA he Jewish Sunday school teacher, a black accordion strapped to her shoulders, stands before a photo of a 1927 Jewish protest in Warsaw and introduces her students to an important holiday observed by their ancestors.

It is May Day, the holiday celebrating workers’ rights.

“Socialism is the idea that everyone should have what they need,” says the teacher, Hannah Temple, as a projector flashes images of a protest sign and Jewish immigrants marching in a labor demonstration. On the walls, multicolored signs declare “Jewish communities fight for $15” -- a minimum wage campaign -- “We are all workers” and “Remember the Triangle Fire,” a reference to the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire that killed 146 garment workers at a factory and galvanized the labor movement. Temple teaches the children words to a Yiddish May Day anthem and offers a short primer on early 20th century labor activism.

“We need to sleep some, we need to work some, but we need some time that’s for us,” she says, describing the campaign for an eight-hour workday.

She invites the few dozen students and parents in the room to a May Day protest in downtown Manhattan. A few hands go up.

The Yiddish sing-along-cum-socialist teach-in is the morning meeting of the Midtown Workmen’s Circle School, a secular Jewish Sunday school that combines Yiddish language and culture education with progressive social justice organizing. It’s one of eight such schools, called “shules,” in four states serving a total of 300 students aged 5 to 13 -- teaching them everything from an Eastern European melody for the Four Questions to how to protest on behalf of underpaid fast-food workers. The curriculum ends with a joint bar/bat mitzvah ceremony for the seventh-graders.

Though it’s more than a century old, the Workmen’s Circle, a left-wing Eastern European Jewish culture and social justice group, has seen its fundraising and school enrollment grow in recent years. Part of the boost, leaders say, was due to the diametrically opposed presidential campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Donald Trump.

Sanders, says executive director Ann Toback, awakened American Jews to secular, progressive Jewish culture conveyed with a heavy Brooklyn ac-

cent. Trump, she adds, sparked Jews on the left to organize in protest.

Workmen’s Circle isn’t shy about its political leanings. Following the presidential election, it made a lapel pin bearing the faces of Sanders and Trump accompanied by the words “mensch” and “putz,” respectively.

A student and teacher play the violin during a presentation on child victims of the Holocaust at the Midtown Workmen’s Circle School in Manhattan, April 23, 2017.

Credit: Ben Sales In the five-month period after the election, the group saw its donations double over the same stretch the previous year. It has opened five of its eight Sunday schools in the past three years. The biggest, in Boston, has more than 100 students.

The Midtown school, like its counterparts, eschews traditional Jewish Sunday school mainstays like learning Hebrew or studying ritual and prayer. Israel isn’t a focus. Workmen’s Circle has partnered in the past both with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, a left-wing group that focuses on domestic issues, and Habonim Dror, the left-wing Labor Zionist movement.

Instead, kids take three types of classes: arts and crafts, Yiddish language and history, and culture and social justice. Recently, three students in the Yiddish class were reading a play, in transliteration, about a robot.The arts and crafts class was making banners for an immigrant rights protest. In the history and culture class, four students prepared for their bar and bat mitzvahs next year. For the ceremony, they’ll do a research project on their family his-

tory and interview an elderly relative. This year’s bar mitzvah class made presentations on children who were killed in the Holocaust.

One student said knowing Yiddish made her feel like her friends at school who hail each other in the hallways in Bengali. Another said her favorite Workmen’s Circle experience was participating in the Jan. 21 Women’s March in New York City. And for some, the appeal lies in attending a Sunday school that avoids the standard memorization of Hebrew prayers.

The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring was founded in 1900 in large part to help Jewish immigrants from Europe succeed in America. Along with advocating for better working conditions, it offered members services like health care and loans.

It supported socialism at a time when Jews on the Lower East Side of Manhattan helped elected a Socialist Party candidate, Meyer London, to Congress.

No longer socialist but still left wing, the Workmen’s Circle fights for those issues largely on behalf of non-Jewish workers, leading campaigns for immigrant rights or better pay.

And instead of helping Yiddish speakers integrate into America, the organization’s cultural mission has flipped, preserving and promoting an old world culture for American Jews. It runs Yiddish language classes for adults and a summer camp for kids, and hosts culinary and holiday events.

“There’s so much culture they’re missing,” says Kolya Borodulin, the group’s associate director for Yiddish programming, who grew up in Birobidzhan, the Soviet Union’s Jewish Autonomous Region. “Jewish holidays, traditions described by famous Yiddish authors -- any contemporary issues you name -- are reflected in the Yiddish language. So you can see this parallel universe in Yiddish.”

Even if they go to eight years of Sunday school, Borodulin says, the students are unlikely to come out speaking proficient Yiddish, or even reading a page in the language’s Hebrew script. The school’s aim, rather, is to reinforce a cultural and ideological Jewish identity in its students. The aspiration is that years after they leave, they will be able to connect to their Judaism on holidays, in song and on the picket line.

“What resonates most with them is the social justice and having a sense of what we believe in,” says Debbie Feiner, whose two sons, ages 9 and 12, attend the Midtown school. The older one, she says, understands that “when you see some injustice, you need to take action. He can’t be a passive bystander, and he’ll connect that with his Judaism.”

The mother-daughter bond is a close one; you two can talk about anything. Don’t let discussing retirement living put an end to that. We’ll provide information and advice to make the conversation a little bit easier. See where the conversation goes. You might just find a place uniquely your own. Give us a call at 402-691-8434 or visit Immanuel.com

You’ve had plenty of awkward conversations.

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The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | B1

section2

C O M M U N I T Y

i

The L.O.V.E. Sensory Room, in memory of Esther Wax

AnneTTe vAn de KAmp-wRiGhT n the west wing of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, residents can find a new addition: the Multi-Sensory Room, dedicated to the memory of Esther Wax, who was a L.O.V.E. volunteer for the Home from 1998 to 2015. e introduction of the new space coincides with the dedication of Esther’s headstone, which will be at Beth El Cemetery at noon, Sunday, May 7. e sensory room is a space for stimulation of the senses, including sight, sound, touch, smell, taste and movement. It offers an opportunity for activities free from cognitive demands, which residents can enjoy with staff and family members. e activities can be stimulatOccupation Therapist leaders of the sensory room - Rosie Gneym ing or calming, depending on the residents’ needs. ere is a bubble tube that changes color, and Amanda Kerber her journey from being a third year OT student comdepending on how one aims the accompanying pleting her Professional Rotation to becoming a procolor-coded cube. Calming images can be projected fessional out in the field. on the wall and one can choose between different re“I have been using the room with patients using laxing music. e room even provides aroma therapy. observation to determine which aspects of the sene concept of the L.O.V.E. Sensory Room origisory room are most therapeutic for people on an innated in the Netherlands during the 1980s and was first created for older adults with learning disabilities. dividual basis. Most of the residents I have brought into the room relax and watch the colors of the bubToday, it is used for a wide range of populations inble tube and fiber optic light ropes change and enjoy cluding individuals with cognitive and physical imthe projected images while listening to music. pairments, such as those with dementia.

“For years, therapists have been exploring the use of e L.O.V.E. Sensory Room is an initiative of Rosie sensory rooms in decreasing some behaviors associGneym. Amanda Kerber is currently pursuing her ated with dementia, including aggression, wandering, Doctorate of Occupational erapy at Creighton lethargy and apathy. As holistic healthcare professionUniversity and has collaborated with Rosie and als, occupational therapists are interested in using Sherri Judah, registered Occupational erapists at RBJH to begin program development with the room. non-pharmacological means to help decrease the effects of dementia. is room is one avenue that can alOn her blog, A Noteworthy Journey, she documents

leviate these symptoms. As individuals advance through the stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they oen lose the ability to participate in previously enjoyed activities. Occupational therapists recognize that these individuals can still enjoy some of the sensory aspects of activities. Focusing on using the senses to bring about stimulation or relaxation can add to the quality of life of individuals with dementia and could help to reduce behaviors like wandering, going into other individuals’ rooms and being physically aggressive. More research needs to be done, but the current research suggests that sensory rooms can have positive effects on individuals with dementia.”

Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, added: “is room is such a fantastic addition to the Home. It increases activity levels and provides excellent stress-management. What’s more, it can positively affect communication between residents and caregivers.”

“Dementia is becoming more and more prevalent in our nation and world,” Amanda wrote. “As it relates to Alzheimer’s disease alone (just one form of dementia), consider this: at this point in time, over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, it is projected that 16 million Americans will be diagnosed with AD. e importance of learning how to best serve individuals with memory impairments is only becoming more apparent.” e RBJH’s L.O.V.E. Sensory Room provides one more building block in making treatment better for families, caregivers and, most importantly, residents themselves. In addition, it will provide one more avenue to remember Esther, who cared so deeply about the residents at the Home.

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community

M

Remembering Michael Davidovich Mayzel Yulia ZYrianova ichael Davidovich Mayzel passed away April 12 at age 79. He was born in the city of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in a Jewish family that originated from Dvinsk in Latvia (Latvian: Daugavpils). His father, David Mendelevich Mayzel, was a military man who went through World War II where he was gravely injured; aerwards he worked as an engineer. His mother, Dora Gelfand Livovna, was a home maker and brought up two wonderful sons who lived in peace and were surrounded by love.

Michael studied in primary and secondary schools in Leningrad and was an aspiring humanitarian with interest in history, literature and Russian language, and was an avid reader. In spite of his inclination, he had chosen to become an engineer and completed Natural Gas Industry College and received an Engineering Bachelor degree in Heat Energies from Leningrad's North-West Polytechnics Institute. He worked as an engineer for 40 years at the Leningrad's Automatic Machinery Factory.

From a young age, Michael was a passionate theater-goer and even developed a second career as an amateur actor, performing at the Leningrad's people's theater on Rubinstein's street. In his later years, when Leningrad changed its name to St. Petersburg again, he became a director of the theater of Vladimir Malischickogo.

Michael's other hobby stemmed from his talent to compose poetry in commemoration of special events, anniversaries and dedications. ese bright personalised creations were mainly in the form of light verse with the purpose to entertain and amuse his family and friends. A collection of his poetic works was published in Russian a few years ago. We are still in the process of gathering his latest masterpieces.

Michael married Larissa Rapina in 1960. ey had three children, Svetlana, Yulia and Maxim and six grandchildren; all three live and work in different countries and even different continents: America, the Middle East and Australia, and are all high achievers in their professions: a concert pianist,

a doctor and a lawyer. His children are a testament to Michael's good values.

In 2000, Michael made the decision to immigrate to the USA with his wife Larissa and his son Maxim without much deliberation and with the hope for the better future for him and his family. He had survived this transition without suffering nostalgic regrets and felt much gratitude to his new American Jewish and wider community who received him with generosity and kindness. In Omaha he studied English and did occasional manual jobs. His never- ending interest in all life matters was fulfilled by the study of history and politics of his new country and by the visits to Omaha Symphony concerts where his daughter Svetlana and son in law Matt performed.

Unfortunately, the last 16 years of Michael's life were affected by his fight with renal failure, diabetes and cancer. He was courageous in the face of his illness, never complained and was forever grateful to American medicine and, specifically, to the Omaha's HealthCare Services.

Today, people remember Michael as an optimistic, a kind, generous and highly spiritual man and are grieving for him.

His family remembers him as a wonderful husband, loyal and loving father and affectionate grandfather. We will forever mourn him.

Let Mother Earth be his feathers!

NCJW Omaha Section Board Election change of date The NCJW Omaha Section Election Meeting will be held Monday, June 12 at 7 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Board Room. All members are encouraged to attend to vote. Refreshments will be provided.

Looking for something different?

• Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, will lure you with its pristine beaches, warm waters and ancient roots, while Croatia’s friendly people and fascinating history offers easy island hopping in spectacular, serene beauty.

• Bonn, Germany, the birthplace of Beethoven, for friendly ambience while sampling Rieslings or Kolsh, the local beer, or a visit to the quaint little town of Monschau with its 13th century castle, halftimbered houses and mustard museum.

• Cambridge, England is a bike-loving, cobbled university town with creaky-floored Tudor pubs and medieval churches • Beaujolais, France is similar to the wilder parts of Napa with its winding roads, rugged hills and ancient church bells ringing in the villages.

• Italy on your mind? Make a visit to Siena, a medieval city in the Chianti region of Tuscany renowned for its Gothic cathedral and Piazza del Campo, or for the foodies - how about a visit to Arezzo, one of the country’s most exciting culinary destinations?

• Spain’s Basque country is also well known for its superb cuisine, and a growing number of tourists are traveling to Segovia in Spain’s castle region to see its towering Roman aqueduct and glimpse part of its rediscovered Jewish past.

• Liechtenstein, the little German-speaking principality tucked into the Alps between Austria and Switzerland, or Slovenia, a promising new wine producer reclaiming the lost tradition of family wine making.

• For nature lovers, the Iceland countryside offers lupine-covered fields, breath-taking fjords and one of the world’s largest puffin colonies.

Whatever your summer vacation dreams include, Travel Faire can make them a reality!

Contact Donna for more information at donna@travelfaire inc.com or call 402.397.6900. Visit with us at 8719 Shamrock Road in Countryside Village.

louie M’s Burgerlust

Louie M’s Burgerlust has been a family owned restaurant for 35 years. Located in the heart of the historic Vinton Street Business District, Louie M’s was originally a small catering company serving local daycares. Louie M’s quickly morphed into an Omaha institution serving local residents as well as guests for across the United States and around the world.

Though we have won several awards for our never frozen, handpattied half pound burgers; we are also known for our homemade Corned Beef Hash and eggs, Green Pork Chili Breakfast Burrito and Fluffy French Toast. Of course, all of our dishes from breakfast to dinner are homemade.

We are conveniently located just west of the intersection of I-80 and 13th Street between popular destination spots that include the Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha’s Old Market and the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens. Check us out on Facebook for our weekly dinner specials or visit our website at louiemsburgerlust.com.

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The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | B3

The Apollon Art Space

The Apollon Art Space is part art gallery, part dinner theater, part community arts center operated by practicing artists and life-long arts patrons. We know our customers because we are our customers. The decades of combined arts experience in our management team, on both sides of the stage, means that we know the experience of an arts and entertainment venue as patrons first and we work hard to ensure that the Apollon is the kind of place we would want to be – that way we know you’ll love it, too!

We believe that art consists of just three elements: the performer, the witness, and the shared experience between them. This definition of art transcends genre, medium, time and place, thus extending across the entire breadth of services we offer. In short, our guiding mission is to create the very best artistic experiences we can, regardless of the forms they take.

We constantly seek out the best in all realms, such that we can provide the absolute best experience for our patrons. Our space is designed to be highly flexible, and our management team is devoted to doing everything it can to create the most conducive environment for our artists, so that they can create progressive, quality artwork that remains firmly grounded in the personality and the creative tradition of the Great Plains.

In turn, the focus of our artists rests entirely on creating an inexpensive, accessible, unique and high quality experience for our patrons. That’s what we offer every time you come see us – a one-of-a-kind dinner and performance experience that is a great value and a great time for all! Learn more by visiting our website at http://www.apollonomaha.com or by calling our box office at 402.884.0135.

Now open Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner.

Enjoy a select dinner menu including specialty burgers, homemade pasta dishes and homemade desserts.

10% discount for Police, Fire and Active Military.

As always, open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.

Gallery 72: Modern and contemporary art Roberta and Robert “Bob” Rogers had a vision to open an art gallery in Omaha devoted to showing modern and contemporary art by nationally recognized artists. After several years of exhibiting and selling art out of their home on Jones Street, they established Gallery 72 on 72nd street in 1972.

In 1974, Bob purchased a two-story brick building at 2709 Leavenworth Street. The first floor became the new location for Gallery 72, which included a front room gallery space, a main gallery, a backroom for art storage and a frame shop in the basement. The second floor was fully renovated into their living space, which was one of Omaha’s first loft-style apartments.

In addition to the exhibitions of artwork new and unique to Omaha, Gallery 72 quickly became well known for the potluck dinners held on the Thursday night before the opening of an exhibition. The potlucks brought artists and collectors together in a casual and informative setting that spurred lively conversations, and ultimately led to the development of many life-long friendships. For many guests, this was their first introduction to art and artists, which became the lynchpin for the start of public,

private and corporate art collections, as well as establishing Roberta and Bob as pioneers in Omaha’s visual arts community. In 1990, they received recognition for their support when they were honored with the Governor’s Arts Award.

In 2001, Gallery 72 entered a period of changes, beginning with the death of Roberta in October.

Soon after, John Rogers began assisting his father in the operation of the gallery. In 2008, due to health issues, Bob moved out of the gallery loft, although the gallery remained on Leavenworth until the fall of 2012, when John relocated to Vinton Street as gallery owner and director. The end of an era came with the death of Bob Rogers in Dec. 2012.

The gallery’s new location at 1806 Vinton Street is in the heart of the Vinton Street Art District. The renovated 1800 sq. ft. gallery space includes a state-of-the art lighting system and the original 13foot tin clad ceiling and oak wood floor. John Rogers, the current gallery owner, states, “The opening of this new gallery space celebrates my parents’ legacy and the gallery’s 40-year history of offering exceptional contemporary art and fine art prints to both new and established collectors.”

Capitol Bindery, Inc. 1812 Vinton Street Omaha, NE 68108-1435 Phone/Fax (402) 342-5511 Four generations of sewn and hard case bookbinding.

Specializing in short-run binding of legal documents, thesis, genealogy, and periodicals. Hotfoil stamping for personalization on bibles, scrapbooks, ring binders, and padfolios.

John Buck Cultural Imagery: Wood Sculptures and Wood Block Prints Opening Reception | Thursday, June 15 | 5 – 9 p.m.

Through Saturday, July 29

Oracle Art Supply: Locally owned art supply source Oracle Art Supply provides art materials and supplies to artists whether professional, student, or hobbyist in South Omaha and the surrounding region. The knowledgeable artists on our team provide a level of one-on-one customer service not available in the “big box” supply stores.

One-on-one customer service is not the only feature that makes Oracle Art Supply special; we also have an art book library, thrift shop and a commitment to local products.

Our art book library features nearly 500 art making and art history titles that can be checked out from the store for free! The thrift shop is great for students, offering great deals on all sorts of art supplies some brand new, some used, donated from generous artists in our community. Our

Capitol Bindery

Capitol Bindery was founded in1929 by Morris Dolgoff. In 1953 Leonard Brown bought the company after returning from the Korean War. His son Robert took it over in the late 1970’s and Kevin became the third generation to operate the business in 2007, working alongside his son Carl.

The bindery was originally on Capitol Ave., then 13th and Farnam, then 14th and Harney and now on historic Vinton St. among the art galleries, eateries and specialty shops.

Although things have changed, especially with the advent of computers, the tradition of quality bookbinding continues. Rather than binding large courthouse record journals, large volumes of school and library binding and vast quantities of medical journal,; Capitol Bindery has evolved into short run volumes of legal documents, genealogies, thesis, periodicals, newspapers, church bulletins and the occasional medical, architectural and other various journals. The running joke, when asked our minimum

local art supplies are a new program we are growing, with a commitment to add at least one new product every month. Right now local products include beautiful handmade bags, coloring books and handmade paper.

We feel very lucky to be located in such a rich historic area full of so many great art galleries and businesses. We also feel very lucky to be located in an area so close to the interstate and downtown, giving access to art supplies in an area that previously did not have a closer option.

For more information about us visit our website at OracleArtSupply.com, check us out on facebook at facebook.com/oracleart or give us a call at 402.884.1664. order, is “at least one.”

Not much has changed in the process, the books are all still sewn and hand worked through the various stages. The hand-turned covers-in cloth or leather- are custom made to each book and foil stamping of titles is mostly done with hand-set type. While we still do some hand sewing, most books are done on an oversew machine. This allows us to sew individual pages in sections that still allow the pages to turn easily and strong enough to stand the test of time.

The machines, which foil stamp titles on books, also give us the ability to personalize books, ring binders, pad folios, scrap books and other various items with either names or logos.

While computers and e-books have had a definite impact on the binding industry, there will always be those who appreciate the feel of a good book. With a book you can sit under a tree, read and watch the clouds, rather then depend on “the cloud” and an electronic connection. Now visit us on facebook!

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B4 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

i

These comedians want to bring Yiddish humor to TV

JosEfin DolsTEn brand of Yiddish humor to a larger audience. e duo is in e challenge facing Batalion and Elman is how to JTA talks with a Canadian broadcaster to create a TV show broaden the appeal of YidLife Crisis beyond the Jewish based on the web series. In addition, YidLife Crisis received community without abandoning its Yiddish roots. t’s safe to say that Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman are an entrepreneurship grant earlier this month from the Jewough the pair say they hope to remain in the main some of the funniest Yiddish speakers around. eir Yiddish-English web series, YidLife Crisis, is a modish philanthropy Natan Fund to further expand its content. roles, the TV show would also introduce a cast of characters ern-day, Montreal-based Seinfeld that would make from other religious and cultural backgrounds who grapany Jewish mother kvell (“It’s in Yiddish!”) and ple with similar questions of identity. kvetch (“e sex, drugs and Jesus jokes! Oy!”). e series “would take a lot of the content from YidLife e series, which premiered in 2014, follows the nebCrisis -- the chemistry and ideas behind it -- but go furbish Leizer (played by Batalion) and rebel wannabe ther down the road of multicultural Montreal, putting a Chaimie (Elman) as they wander around Montreal, eat at few other multicultural characters on display as well,” restaurants and have Talmudic debates about their Jewish Batalion said, speaking with JTA on a conference call with Elman. identities. ey’re not particularly concerned that a departure from In one episode, Chaimie tries to convince Leizer to the show’s tight Jewish focus will alienate the show’s most order food in a restaurant on Yom Kippur. Leizer relucdevoted fans. Batalion, who has produced, composed and tantly agrees -- but insists the waitress separate the meat written content for “horror musical” films, assured JTA and dairy-based foods. In another, which takes place at a that a potential TV series “would still be extraordinarily kosher sushi restaurant, the two men fight, in Yiddish, Jewy.” over the affection of a woman (played by Big Bang eory While the characters would speak more English on TV actress Mayim Bialik), not realizing that she can understand everything they are saying.

Eli Batalion, left, and Jamie Elman created and star in the web series than in the web series, Yiddish would feature as “a code Now Batalion, 36, and Elman, 40, hope to bring their YidLife Crisis.

Credit: Darren Curtis language” in which Batalion and Elman’s characters interact with older family members.

“We love Transparent as a show that at its surface is not about Judaism, but in practice it’s filled with loads of Jewish content. And we think this would be the same,” said Elman, whose acting credits include Mad Men and Curb Your Enthusiasm, drawing a parallel to Amazon’s acclaimed series following a Jewish family as the father comes out as transgender.

Working on scripts for the TV series keeps Elman and Batalion plenty busy -- that means they’ve had to put the third season of the web series on hold. “e goal from early on was to see if we can take this to long-form, so now that we’re given that opportunity to try, we’re putting all our eggs in that basket,” Batalion said. ey noted, however, that they are still making Yiddishlanguage videos -- including clips of Hollywood classics and holiday songs hilariously dubbed into Yiddish -- to satisfy fans hungry for content.

In creating YidLife Crisis, Batalion and Elman said they wanted to challenge perceptions both of Yiddish and Judaism.

“We wanted to show a different side of Judaism and a different side of Yiddish, and that Yiddish is not just a language for ultra-Orthodox Jews,” Elman said.

Batalion and Elman, who both learned Yiddish as teenagers at the secular Bialik High School in Quebec, said a goal was to showcase the language and its cultural heritage.

“We also felt that the Yiddish was critical to drawing attention to what we were trying to say, or to some of the themes we were speaking to -- themes of culture and how to Voted Omaha’s Best Interior Designer preserve it,” Elman said. “Yiddish is something that was nearly lost in the Holocaust.” e pair didn’t become friends until 2007, when Batalion Let us help create your ideal space was on tour with his two man show, J.O.B. e Hip-Hopera, which follows the biblical character Job as he is transported to modern-day New York. Batalion performed with his co402.934.8088 producer, Jerome Sable, in Los Angeles, where Elman was contact@lkdesign.biz www.lkdesign.com working as an actor. Wowed by the performance, Elman befriended the pair and went on to produce a web series with Sable.

Batalion and Elman later found a way to meld their friendship and professional goals, creating YidLife Crisis. ough the two live on opposite coasts -- Batalion lives in Montreal, Elman is still based in Los Angeles -- they film the episodes in Montreal. ey have also filmed special episodes in Tel Aviv and London.

When asked to describe their relationship, they draw on the two defining characteristics of the show: Judaism and humor.

“Talmudic,” Batalion said of the duo’s connection.

Elman, on the other hand, quipped that it’s “not entirely kosher.”

Jokes aside, that juxtaposition speaks to a central theme in YidLife Crisis: the tension between the pull of the Jewish tradition and the appeal of secularism. at conflict is also present in the Yiddish language, Batalion said, noting that the language is in fact largely made up of German, a nonpublishing date | 06.09.17 space reservation | 05.30.17 camera ready deadline | 06.02.17 Jewish source. “e language itself is highly honed,” he said. “It speaks to Promote your business in this special issue with an ad and a short article. and sounds like a thousand years of Diasporatic experience Contact our advertising executive to advertise in this very special edition. living in another culture. And that’s what you get in our episodes -- it’s all about Jews living in a secular world.”

Susan Bernard | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org

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june

Pope Francis defends calling refugee centers ‘concentration camps’

JTA News sTAFF Pope Francis doubled down on his characterization of refugee and migrant centers in Europe as “concentration camps.”

A German reporter asked Francis Saturday on his papal plane if he meant to use the term last week during a ceremony on April 22 at Rome’s Basilica of St. Bartholomew. e reporter for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung explained to the pope that: “For us Germans this was obviously a very, very serious word, and very close to ‘extermination camp.’ ere are people who say that this was a linguistic lapse. What did you intend to say?”

Pope Francis waving from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Dec. 25, 2015. Credit: Franco Origlia/Getty Images “ese refugee camps -- so many are concentration camps, crowded with people,” Francis said April 22 during a ceremony in commemoration of modern-day Christian martyrs in Rome’s Basilica of St. Bartholomew. e remark reportedly was unscripted. e American Jewish Committee criticized the comment the following day, urging the pope “to reconsider his regrettable choice of words.”

On Saturday, the pope said: “ere was no linguistic lapse: ere are concentration camps, sorry: refugee camps that are true camps of concentration.”

He noted that in such camps people are “closed in and can’t leave.”

He also referred to such camps as a “lager,” which is the German name for a concentration camp. “But it doesn’t have anything to do with Germany, no,” he said.

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The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | B5

worldnews Donald Trump proclaims May annual Jewish American Heritage Month

President George W. Bush first proclaimed May Jewish Heritage Month in JTA News sTAFF President Donald Trump proclaimed May Jewish American Heritage Month, 2006, and it has been proclaimed annually by the sitting president ever since.

The proclamation by the Trump White House used the Yiddish term “Di Goldcontinuing a tradition maintained by every president since 2006. ene Medina,” or the Golden Country, to “During Jewish American Heritage describe how Jews looked to the United Month, we celebrate our nation’s States to escape religious persecution strong American Jewish heritage, and seek economic opportunity. rooted in the ancient faith and tradiThe statement specifically mentioned tions of the Jewish people. The small Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband of Dutch Jews who first immiband Jared Kushner, who both serve grated in 1654, seeking refuge and reas senior advisors in the White House. ligious liberty, brought with them their Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism families, their religion, and their cherbefore marrying Kushner in 2008. ished customs, which they have “This month, I celebrate with my passed on from generation to generafamily -- including my daughter, tion,” read the proclamation issued late Ivanka, my son-in-law, Jared, my Friday by the White House.

“The moral and ethical code of the President Donald Trump speaking at a news conference announc- grandchildren, and our extended family Jewish people is inspired by their spir- ing Alexander Acosta as the new Labor Secretary nominee in the -- the deep spiritual connection that binds, and will always bind, the Jewish itual vocation of ‘tikkun olam’ -- the East Room at the White House, Feb. 16, 2017.

Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images people to the United States and its charge to repair the world. Through that vocation, the Jewish people have left an indelible mark on American cul- founding principles,” the proclamation said. “We recognize the faith and opture. Today, it is manifested in the towering success Jewish people have timism exemplified by American Jews is what truly makes America ‘The achieved in America through a unique synthesis of respect for heritage and Golden Country,’ and we express our Nation’s gratitude for this great, strong, prosperous, and loving people.” love of country.”

Omaha Transportation and Technical Museum

In our unstable and uncertain economy, deciding which organizations tional goal of the museum is to provide people hands-on experience to give money to is difficult. There are dozens of worthy organizations with the various trades that existed between 1860 and 1930. Those available. There are organizations that have a proven record of helping are listed on our web page. Additional trade shops are being added as people in need. Donating to a startup organization might be hard to history reveals itself. We can’t guarantee people will develop careers justify. With no history, you don’t know how, or if, the organization will because of the museum. We’re certain that people will develop hobbies fulfill the stated goal. There are far too many reasonable sounding or- that wouldn’t be available without this type of facility. ganizations that are established to be fraudulent.

You can help make this possible. Our current goal is a $10,000 ad Our overall goal is to be self-sufficient. Fees for regular memberships, campaign. Donations can be made through Great Western Bank. special memberships and internships would be the major source of funds Checks can also be sent to Omaha Transportation and Technical Mufor daily operations. Rental of items owned by the museum might just seum, PO Box 27272, 7300 Main Street, Ralston NE 68127. We’re a cover the cost of the insurance, but that’s part of the reason people will 501 (c) 3 and all donations are tax deductible. All donations will be achave to come back next week. Providing space for conventions, shows, knowledged with a letter and posted to our Face Book page. Plans are swap meets and other meetings can provide additional operating funds. to have acknowledgements in the administrative static display building.

Regular seminars would also provide operating funds. The educa- Visit our website, www.otatm.webs.com.

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B6 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

worldnews Let us cater your next event

Whether you are considering a Wedding, B’nai Mitzvah, Brunch, Lunch Meeting, Shabbat Dinner or a Kiddush, Save the Date Catering can work with you to provide delectable meals, artistic appetizers, and scrumptious desserts for any event. We specialize in catering presented with panache and creativity by our chefs, and are eager to share our creations with you and your guests.

Save the Date Catering originates from Kracky McGee’s Restaurant, which has locations at the Eppley Airport and the Woodmen Tower in Omaha. For over 11 years we have served customers from all over the world, and have developed a menu that is as diverse as they are.

Give us an idea of your vision, and we will come up with creative ways to make it come to life. We cater elegant disposables all the way to formal, fully staffed, sit down meals. There are no minimums or maximums, no order or event is too small or too large. If you have any special dietary needs, we will follow them precisely to your guidelines.

Your special day may focus on a wide range of age groups, so offering traditional items like chicken, salmon, soup and bruschetta, or ethnic fusion items like sushi, mini hot dogs, quesadillas and tostadas is a great idea. Even the pickiest of your guests will enjoy kosher or non-kosher catering when you offer a variety of items at the event you are hosting.

Check out our menu at www.savethedatecateringandevents. com, but just use that as a template, let your imagination be your guide! We love a challenge and can do almost anything! Our Catering Coordinator, Brenda Tharp, would love to sit down and discuss the details of your upcoming event, call or text her anytime 402.871.5708 or email savethedatecateringandevents@yahoo.com.

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Fed up with Shabbat laws, secular Israelis fund bus service to the beach TEL AVIV | JTA hese secular Israelis are done playing by the rules on Shabbat. î ˘ey’re going to the beach.

Noa Tnua, a tiny Tel Aviv busing cooperative, has crowdfunded hundreds of thousands of shekels to dramatically expand its service to the coast on the weekends, when most of the country’s public transportation shuts down to observe the day of rest.

Some 2,600 Israelis have donated online -- a record this year on the popular Headstart platform this year. â€œî ˘e success of this campaign shows just how fed up people are with the situation on Shabbat,â€? said Noa Tnua founder and chairman Roy Schwartz Tichon. “If you can’t aord a car in Israel, you’re stuck at home on the weekend.â€? î ˘e unexpected influx of more than 313,000 shekels ($87,000) and counting since March 15 -- nearly doubling Noa Tnua’s original target -- has been driven by widespread frustration with Israel’s Shabbat ban on public transportation. But backers of Israel’s religious “status quoâ€? -- fiercely guarded by haredi Orthodox politicians -have called such initiatives a threat to the state’s Jewish character.

Noa Tnua, which means Move Forward in Hebrew, has pledged to use its crowdfunded windfall to open two new bus lines this summer — one along Route 18 from Tel Aviv south to Jaa and Bat Yam, and another

from the Negev city of Beersheba to the coastal town of Ashkelon. A public survey to determine the location of a third line has been scheduled for June.

service, he started the nonprofit along with board members Noam TelVerem, 25, and Lior Tavori, 32.

Every Saturday, a rented 53-seat tour bus traverses the route five

Noa Tnua founder Roy Schwartz Tichon, second from right, and board member Noam Tel-Verem, third from right, posing with volunteers before the launch of their bus service in Ramat Gan, Israel, June 6, 2015.

Credit: Avihai Levy î ˘e group also said it will oer soldiers free rides on Route 18 until the end of the year and give away at least 180,000 shekels ($50,000) in rides to disadvantaged populations. î ˘e campaign will end Sunday.

Schwartz Tichon, a 24-year-old student at the Open University, opened Noa Tnua’s first bus line in June 2015 along the busy Route 63 between Tel Aviv and its Ramat Gan and Givatayim suburbs. Using money he saved during his mandatory army

times, making about 30 stops, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nearly 2,000 people have signed up for the service to date, with hundreds using it on summer weekends.

Elia Halpern, 46, a court stenographer and single mom from Ramat Gan, has been a Noa Tnua rider from the beginning. She said getting access to the bus was like “being released from prison.� Before discovering Noa Tnua on Facebook, she had mostly See Bus service to the beach page B7

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The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017 | B7

Bus service to the beach

Continued from page B7 the status quo. spent her Saturdays at home because she cannot afford a car “A successful project. Whenever there is religious coeror taxi rides to nearby Tel Aviv and back. cion, those interested in maintaining a free state must “Now we go see movies or visit my family in Tel Aviv,” unite,” one wrote April 28.

Halpern said. “I recently took my son to the beach on Satur“A most welcome initiative until this country regains its day for the first time. He was so excited. Roy has really done senses and there is full public transportation for the entire something amazing for me and other people in the area.” population,” wrote another.

Israel prohibits most public transportation on Shabbat Schwartz Tichon, who grew up in Haifa taking Shabbat based on an understanding reached in 1947 between thenbuses for granted, said the Orthodox should not be able to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and the Agudath Yisrael dictate how the whole country spends the weekend, espemovement, which represented the small haredi Orthodox cially when the biggest impact is on the poor. He said his community of the time. ultimate goal is to make at status-quo agreepublic transportation on ment became the basis Shabbat a reality that the for many religious government would simarrangements in Israel, ply have to accept. including in the areas of “If three-quarters of kashrut, marriage and the country wants someeducation. thing, eventually it will Allowances and loopget it,” he said. “We’re the holes in the Transporta‘Start-up Nation,’ we tion Ministry’s know how to change regulations, passed in things.”

1991, let a limited numBut few are holding ber of bus lines operate their breath for action by on Shabbat. Haifa and Israel’s Knesset, where Eilat, cities with large haredi political parties non-Jewish populations, Elia Halpern and her son riding the Noa Tnua bus to Tel Aviv, 2016. wield considerable clout, Credit: Halpern especially on religious isare allowed to have bus services. And shuttles, or “sheiruts,” run in and between sues. Haredim and their supporters have argued Shabbat some cities based on the claim that they address a vital must be protected for the sake of Jewish unity. In a debate transportation need, as allowed in the regulations. with Schwartz Tichon last week on Israel’s Channel 10 TV In Jerusalem, a private bus service called Shabus has run station, haredi journalist Benny Rabinovich sounded this since 2015. By working as a collective, the group circumtheme and vowed to relentlessly oppose Noa Tnua. vents the requirement that it be licensed by the government.

“If we want to remain a Jewish state -- the secular, reliNoa Tnua is similarly structured. Members sign up online gious, haredim, Ashkenazim, Sephardim, all of us -- the for free, and pay 9 shekels per ride via the smartphone app only thing that makes it Jewish is the Shabbat. Nothing HopOp, which processes the payments aer Shabbat. else,” Rabinovich said. “I’ll make sure this bus line is closed While Israelis have complex and varied views on issues of because you’re taking actions that are against the law. I synagogue and state, there is broad support for public transpromise you that I’ll do whatever it takes in the Transportaportation on Shabbat. A survey commissioned last year by tion Ministry. I will not give up.”

Hiddush, a group that promotes religious pluralism, found Halpern, who donated 50 shekels to Noa Tnua’s camthat 72 percent support keeping at least some buses and shut- paign, advocated more of a “live and let live” mentality. tles running between Friday aernoon and Saturday evening.

“We shouldn’t force them to have buses in their neighborHundreds of donors posted supportive comments on Noa hoods,” she said, “but they shouldn’t force us not to have Tnua’s crowdfunding page, with many complaining about them either.”

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B8 | The Jewish Press | May 5, 2017

worldnews

Israelis start Memorial Day with siren to remember 23,544 fallen JERUSALEM | JTA sraelis across the country stood at attention for a minute-long siren marking the start of the 24-hour Yom HaZikaron, or Memorial Day. e siren sounded at 8 p.m. on Sunday night. Over Memorial Day, Israel will remember the 23,544 men and women who have died defending the State of Israel and its pre-State Jewish population since the start of the Zionist movement in 1860.

Credit: Damzow e day also recalls the 3,117 terror victims who have been killed in the same time period.

Some 97 Israelis have been added to the count since last Memorial Day, including 37 disabled Israelis who have died of their injuries.

In a Memorial Day eve service at the Western Wall, the memorial torch was lit by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and the widow of Haggai Ben-Ari, flanked by two of her three young children, who succumbed in January to his in-

Credit: Udi Steinwell juries sustained during the 2014 Gaza war. He had been in a coma for 2 1/2 years and died at the age of 31.

“By this wall of tears and of hopes, this evening, 50 years aer the liberation of Jerusalem, we remember: our liberty

is sacred, both sacred and hard. We know that there is a price to be paid for our existence here, for our liberty. ere is a price, and we, in awe and terror, are willing to pay that price,” Rivlin said. He turned to the families in attendance at the ceremony: “Dear bereaved families, we are living that privilege. You paid the price. e price of our liberty purchased in blood.”

Rivlin also called for continued efforts to bring home the bodies of two soldiers that remain held by Hamas in Gaza since the 2014 war. ere are 9,157 bereaved parents, 4,881 widows, and 1,843 orphans under the age of 30 of killed Israeli soldiers and security officers, according to the Defense Ministry.

A second siren, lasting two-minutes, for Memorial Day will sound on Monday at 11 a.m. Following that siren the national ceremony for the fallen soldiers will be held at the national cemetery at the Mount Herzl , and ceremonies will be held at military cemeteries throughout Israel. Two hours later a ceremony in remembrance of terror victims also will be held at Har Herzl.

Earlier on Monday, a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was held at the building in Jerusalem of Yad Labanim, an association of bereaved families. Hours earlier, Netanyahu spoke at the dedication of a new remembrance hall for Israel’s fallen soldiers on Mount Herzl. Netanyahu was heckled by a bereaved father, Shaul Chitayat, who shouted “Apologize! I don’t forgive you.”

During Memorial Day regular television programming and entertainment is suspended. e names and ranks of every killed soldier are shown on a 24-hour television broadcast, each flashed on the screen for several seconds.

Memorial Day ended 8 p.m. on Monday with a ceremony on Mount Herzl, including the lighting of 12 torches that heralded the start of Independence Day.

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