June 3, 2016

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this week Longtime Beth El executive director takes on new role as retiree Friedel graduation page 3

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Attending his final staff meeting last month as Beth El’s executive director, Larry DeBruin, seated, is surrounded by fellow staff members, seated, Eadie Tsabari, Laura Bair and Melissa Massey; back row, Interim Executive Director Robert Yaffe, Rabbi Steven Abraham, Judy Tully, Margie Gutnik, Hazzan Michael Krausman, and Melina Cohen.

Marty Ricks retires page 8

JILL BELMoNT for Beth El Synagogue arry DeBruin is ready to change up his fashion sense. As Beth El Synagogue’s executive director for the past 24-plus years, he has worn multiple hats – many of them at the same time – to keep the facility running smoothly and attend to congregants’ needs.

That all changed several weeks ago as he packed those hats away and retired from his longtime job.

There was no such thing as an eight-hour day for DeBruin, who chose to list his cell

Emerging voices: The Outer Space Treaty page 11

number as an emergency contact on Beth El’s after-hours automated message system.

He fielded middle-of-the-night calls from police and fire personnel, sometimes needing to meet them at the synagogue to figure out what tripped an alarm. He received calls from hospitals whose patients had asked for the rabbi. He addressed problems with leaky roofs, oversaw security issues, wrestled with recurring computer problems. And that was just the tip of the hat rack.

The job of executive director has changed and expanded over the years, DeBruin said, See Larry DeBruin page 2

Todah Rabbah and B’Hatzlacha Eliad and family

inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles

12 14 15

MARK KIRCHHoff Program and Communications Assistant, Center for Jewish Life After three amazing years, Eliad and Sara Ben Shushan and their family will be returning to their home city of Akko, Israel on June 14. You are invited to a farewell reception for the Ben Shushan’s on Wednesday, June 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the JCC Auditorium. This is an opportunity to express thanks and best wishes for success (“Todah Rabbah” and “B’Hatzlacha”) to the entire family before their departure.

Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan arrived in Omaha with his family on August 7, 2013. His wife Sara has been a teacher at Friedel Jewish Academy. In this capacity, Sara has

Sara and Eliad touched the lives of so many children who are beginning their experiences with Hebrew with a kind, loving person.

Eliad and Sara are the proud parents of son Nehoray, daughter Shilat, son Amitay and their youngest boy, Ittiel. Ittiel has the distinction of being born in the United States. Amitay has been attending the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center

(CDC); Shilat and Nehoray attend Friedel Jewish Academy. The entire family has endeared itself to the community as they brought Israel to Omaha with energy and excitement.

Eliad came with a clear vision of his mission. “My goal was very clear-- to bring Israel to the community and to strengthen the bond of love with Israel and Israelis,” he said. See Eliad and family page 3

Anonymous donor helps NJHS

Last summer, an avid supporter of the Omaha Jewish community’s LIFE & LEGACY initiative approached Howard Epstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, and offered to donate $10,000 to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society LIFE & LEGACY Endowment Fund. According to Epstein, “This generous individual wanted to encourage as many community members as possible to make a commitment to LIFE & LEGACY, with a special emphasis on commitments to NJHS. This donor insisted on anonymity and promised to donate $10,000 directly into the NJHS LIFE & LEGACY Endowment Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, conditional upon NJHS meeting or exceeding its goal of 18 commitments during the second year of the LIFE & LEGACY initiative.”

“The donor has been a long-time supporter of the NJHS,” continued Epstein, “and the donor understands the importance of preserving the history of the Jewish communities of Nebraska and Council Bluffs, which NJHS does so well.” NJHS did exceed its goals, obtaining 20 LIFE & LEGACY Letters of Intent during the twelve months that ended April 30, 2016.

In mid-May, the Foundation received $10,000 from the anonymous donor, promptly depositing the money into the NJHS LIFE & LEGACY Endowment Fund.

Renee Corcoran, Executive Director of NJHS, said, “This is wonderful! NJHS is one of the smallest organizations participating in LIFE & LEGACY, and those funds will really help us. Each year, the endowment fund will generate income which we’ll certainly use to further our efforts to preserve the history of the Jewish communities of greater Nebraska, Omaha and Council Bluffs. I have no idea who this anonymous donor is, and I wish I could personally thank him or her. I really value the donor’s support and dedication, and I know the members of our Board do too.”

“This anonymous grant served as a great incentive for the NJHS volunteers and staff to have conversations with their supporters and contributors about legacy giving, and those NJHS volunteers and staff doubled their efforts. Clearly, they were successful,” said Margo Parsow, LIFE & LEGACY Coordinator for the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. “In fact, all nine of our local LIFE & LEGACY partners met or exceeded their goals in both the first and second years of the Omaha LIFE & LEGACY initiative. In just two years, Omaha’s nine LIFE & LEGACY local partners have collectively signed 518 Letters of Intent, committing to See Donor helps NJHS page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

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community

YJO Lag B’Omer

M Nate Shapiro

embers of Young Jewish Omaha (YJO) gathered at the Grossman residence in the evening of May 21 to celebrate Lag B’Omer with a traditional bonfire. Participants prepared and ate Hobo Dinners (Foil Dinners), cooked s’mores, and enjoyed campfire songs. YJO is a peer lead initiative of the Jewish Federation of Omaha which seeks to provide a social forum for young Jewish adults in their 20s and 30s to pursue their Jewish identities comfortably and collectively. YJO would like to sincerely thank Mary Sue and Alex Grossman for hosting this successful event. For more information on YJO, visit the YJO Facebook page: www.facebook.com/YoungJewishomaha.

Larry DeBruin

Continued from page 1 with the addition of fundraising and development responsibilities. The demographics of an aging congregation, plus keeping up with the needs of new, younger Beth El members kept him on his toes. And whereas security concerns were not a factor two decades ago, they soon became front and center.

One thing that didn’t change was the director’s supportive role in his congregants’ lives, during both joyful and difficult times.

“I always felt that if that phone rang and a congregant needed something -- for instance, if someone lost a loved one and was calling to say, ‘What do I do? What’s my next step?’ I always thought it was important to be there for them, to be truly responsive, responsible and supportive.

“Whether it was a celebration of brit milah or baby naming, or helping someone after the death of a loved one, it was always about taking care of the people – no question about it,” he said, adding, “If we don’t build relationships and include the human element in the equation of everything we do at Beth El, then there’s no sense in anything we do. We’re a business, but we’re a business with a heart, and I was always committed to maintaining that focus.”

Larry DeBruin became Beth El’s executive director in October 1991, shortly after the synagogue moved from its home on 49th and Farnam Street to its current location. From the get-go he took special pride in caring for the new facility.

“It was always my goal to make sure that our building always stayed pristine,” he said. “It shows its age, but overall it’s a facility we can be proud of. It’s warm, it’s welcoming.

People come here from all around the country and they’re amazed by what a jewel it is in the Jewish community.”

His care of the synagogue was obvious to everyone, even to Moe Feingold, one of the architects who designed Beth El so many years ago. Feingold recently sent DeBruin a note, congratulating him on his retirement and thanking him “for taking care of my building.”

Several former and current Beth El clergy and synagogue presidents also expressed their appreciation for DeBruin’s dedication to the congregation.

“A synagogue is, for many of us, our second home and Larry has been its keeper for 24 years, putting the needs of our congregation above all else,” said Rabbi Steven Abraham. “When I was a new rabbi, Larry was both a mentor and mensch, helping me find my way while at the same time being understanding of the fact that I was still wet behind the ears. His care and compassion for congregants were as if they were his own family, something that will stick with me for my entire career. Our congregation has been extremely lucky to have had someone as dedicated, compassionate and wise watching over our home.”

Hazzan Michael Krausman said, “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Larry for the nearly five years that I have been at Beth El. From the very moment that I arrived I was impressed by his warm, kind and generous personality.

Even before we settled in Omaha, Larry and his wonderful wife, Hanna, spent hours helping us find a new home and making sure that we were comfortable in our new community. In fact, Larry took time while we were still in Florida to personally inspect what was to become our new house and

make sure it was right for us before Laurel and I even saw it!

“What always impressed me about working with Larry was that he has an unending love for Beth El and for each and every member of the Beth El family,” he continued. “I could always count on him to know details about the members of our community, their family members, their history, their level of involvement at Beth El, and anything else that there was to know about them – this, combined with his intimate knowledge of our building and systems, was just one of the many attributes that made him such an amazing executive director.

“Although we are grateful that Larry will still be an active member of our community, we will miss having his expertise as well as his warmth, openness, caring and deep concern on a daily basis here in our office. Together with my wife, Laurel, and our sons Zev and Zach, I wish him the most wonderful retirement and all kinds of success, nachas, and happiness in the future.”

Cantor Emil Berkovits, who served Beth El’s congregation from 1981 to 2003, noted that DeBruin was much more than a traditional executive director.

“In the 12 years I worked with Larry, I realized that he was not only an employee of Beth El, but also a friend to all.

He tried to make sure that everyone's needs were filled.

What better employee or friend would anyone need? Lili and I wish him a pleasant retirement, and know he will enjoy the grandchildren together with Hanna. Mazal tov!”

“The position of executive director is likely the most difficult position to define in a synagogue,” said Rabbi Paul Drazen, who led Beth El’s congregation from 1982 to 2002.

“Unlike the clergy or education director, the number of tasks and roles open to an executive director can be endless.

As I sat with Larry, I offered this guideline, ‘Each job at a synagogue has a mitzvah at its core. The mitzvah of the executive director is hakhnasat orkhim – welcoming guests.’

The mitzvah covers the gamut from how the phone is answered to how the building looks. It means making the entry into sacred space a welcoming one, no matter the reason for a person entering.

“Larry took that mandate to heart and he fulfilled the mitzvah of hakhnasat orkhim on behalf of Beth El for nearly a quarter century,” Rabbi Drazen said. “Whether coming to worship, to celebrate, to take care of business or to mourn, Larry saw to it that the greeting was appropriate, the support generous and meaningful.

“It’s no easy task to manage the various ins-and-outs of synagogue life and to do so with aplomb. Larry has done so.

For his years of service to Beth El, Susie joins me in wishing the DeBruins all the best.”

Michael Abramson served on the search committee that interviewed DeBruin for the executive director position.

From his first impression, he knew the candidate was “a perfect fit.”

Years later, during his tenure as synagogue president, Abramson recalled that, “We spoke no less than four times a day to go over every aspect of Beth El’s operation. Larry organized and planned almost every life-cycle event at the synagogue. People do not know how hard he worked and how much he loved the synagogue and its congregants. It See Larry DeBruin page 4

Eliad and family

Continued from page 1 “When you consider the intensity of the news from Israel and the Middle East, I know I picked a challenging time to be a shaliach. However, Israel is an amazing place. It is full of history, beauty and a spirit that I wish to share and teach about. Sometimes it is so exciting that I need to sing and dance about it!”

Even a partial list of Eliad’s activities over the past three years serves as a fitting testament to the effort he has put forth to operationalize his goal: Eye on Israel, Global Day of Jewish Learning, the Klutznick Learning Series, Beth El Talmud Torah, Beth Israel Shavua Tov Israel and Conversational Hebrew, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home – Hava Nagila and Israel updates, Rotary Club presentations, adult classes and classes for 7th and 8th graders at Temple Israel and Beth El, tefilah with Friedel Jewish Academy, musical engagement with the CDC. His development and assistance with special programs for Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Tu B’Shevat, PJ Library Programs, and numerous other activities have kept him busy and the community engaged. The Israeli community in Omaha will always have fond memories of the evening gatherings he organized. The Friedel Jewish Academy graduates will always have smiles on their faces as theyremember their time with Eliad and his family. The downside of preparing lists is that many items are left out, and that is certainly true here. But for those who have come to know the Ben Shushans, please add your own special experiences and events to this list.

It is not the list of activities that is the measure of the man. It is the man himself who touches our lives. For all who have come to know Eliad and his family over these three years there is sure to be a warm place in your heart and soul accompanied with a greater understanding of the importance of Israel to us all. Todah Rabbah ve B’Hatzlacha!

Please mark your calendar now and attend the reception Wednesday, June 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the JCC Auditorium.

The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016 | 3

Friedel graduation

Donor helps NJHS

Friedel Jewish Academy’s sixth graders graduated Wednesday, May 25 and celebrated with family, staff and alumni. This year’s graduation also meant saying goodbye to Jewish Studies teacher Naama Artzi, who leaves Friedel after 14 years, and, as mentioned elsewhere in this issue, the Ben Shushan family, who return to Israel after three years.

Continued from page 1 after-lifetime gifts totaling an estimated $14.97 million. We are looking forward to a successful third year as well.”

LIFE & LEGACY is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and nine local partner organizations: The Jewish Federation of Omaha and its Agencies, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, Temple Israel, Chabad House, Anti-Defamation League/CRC, Friedel Jewish Academy, Institute for Holocaust Education and Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.

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Larry DeBruin

4 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

community First Responders Foundation upcoming events

Annette vAn de KAmp-Wright Editor of the Jewish Press On June 10, 2010, a little over 900 police officers and firemen and –women were on duty at 40 different locations in the city of Omaha. ey were in for a surprise that day, as the volunteers of the First Responders Foundation brought them lunch.

“It was a way to say thank you,” said Ray Somberg, one of the initiators of the FRF, and its current President. “We just really wanted to show appreciation to these heroes. Public opinion isn’t always kind to them, and yet they put their lives on the line for our community every single day.” e FRF is the only foundation in Omaha that focuses on both police and firefighters, and the only foundation that provides these first responders with support and vital equipment. e foundation partners directly with Omaha’s police and fire chiefs to fulfill wish lists and provide meaningful resources that make a positive impact on the community. e FRF is rooted in 9/11 remembrance, and was conceived during a discussion founders Ray Somberg and Jerry Hoberman had in 2008 when they reflected on how first responders are oen taken for granted until tragedy strikes. ey decided to create a nonprofit organization centered around police and firefighter appreciation and support.

Since then, the foundation has grown into Omaha’s premier nonprofit in supporting first responders. We focus efforts on fundraising, programming, and events that support our mission to enhance public safety and build community appreciation and respect for our first responders. (source: firstrespondersomaha.org) is ursday, June 9, will mark the seventh First Responders Appreciation Lunch. It’s followed on June 20 with the second annual Golf Tournament at Oak Hills Country Club.

“We started this in 2015,” Ray said, “and the first time we tried it, we were rained out. It rained again in June and in July, but we didn’t give up. Finally, in September, we were successful and 120 golfers participated in the event. Participants were a mix of police officers, fire fighters and members of the general community.

But it doesn’t stop there.

“In 2015,” Ray said, “the River City Star people held an event named “ank Blue.” It had nothing to do with the

FRF, and it was for police, not fire fighters. It was an excellent event, and we wanted to support it, so this year the FRF is joining forces. River City is producing it, we are hosting and Farmer’s Insurance is our sponsor, and it now includes the Fire Department. e event is meant for families of first responders and not open to the general public.”

Some of the other members of the FRF board include Lloyd Roitstein, Kip Gordman, Bruce Hoberman, Ron Brodkey and Bruce Shackman, who is the Foundation’s secretary. Both the Omaha Fire Department and Omaha Police Department are represented, as is past Mayor Mike Fahey. Over the years, the FRF has added several events to its calendar.

“Our signature event is our Annual 9/11 memorial Benefit,” Ray said.

“It will be held this year on Sept. 8, at the Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn on 6th and Leavenworth, commonly known as the ‘Horse Barn.’ We expect around 400 people to attend. ere will be live music, a silent as well as a live auction, and a casual BBQ. Our honorary chairman is Ron Roskins, and this event is open to the public. Cox Communications are our main sponsor, and we really feel this is a great way for all of us to pay tribute and say thank you for what first responders face on a daily basis.” e FRF will also host the Annual Minute of Silence on Sunday Sept. 11; the event has been moved from memorial Park to Stinson Park at Aksarben. e final event on the 2016 calendar is Action Day. “We coordinate this with the boy scouts and girl scouts, and this marks the third year for this program. It’s held at the Omaha Public Safety Training Center, and will take place Oct. 15. It’s open to the general public, and it is very family oriented. Fire fighters demonstrate how to descend from a building, kids can try on uniforms and have their picture taken with our heroes, and lunch is provided. It’s an opportunity for kids (and adults!) to learn about what it takes to be a fire fighter or a police officer. ey learn about equipment and procedures in a very hands-on manner. e scouts who participate are able to earn badges, but you don’t have to be a scout to participate.”

Want to get involved? For more information about the First Responders Foundation and its events and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit www.firstrespondersomaha.org.

Continued from page 2 will be hard to replace this love and devotion. I was lucky to have him at my side while I was president. More importantly, we are all lucky to have had him at Beth El.” Bruce Shackman also served on that search committee, and he, like Abramson, was immediately confident that DeBruin was the right choice for the job. Subsequent personal interviews only solidified that belief.

“The test of time has obviously shown that we made the perfect choice 25 years ago,” Shackman said. “Larry has truly been one of Beth El's most valuable assets. He worked with three rabbis, four cantors, over a dozen presidents, multiple programming, youth and education directors, and multiple Boards, as well as staff people. He knew every nook and cranny of our synagogue and did an excellent job overseeing the maintenance of our facilities. His compassion was evident when he worked with people, and he was of tremendous service to Beth El, both publicly and behind the scenes.

We all owe Larry a debt of gratitude for a job so well done.”

Saying that “Larry lived up to his title as executive director of Beth El Synagogue,” Bruce Friedlander added, “To navigate almost 25 years of lay leadership in itself was a remarkable accomplishment. Larry loves Beth El, and his service to Beth El and our community came from his heart. For that, we all should be grateful.”

Another former president, Sally Zipursky, noted that, “It's so hard to come up with the right thoughts about Larry. He has been such permanent fixture at Beth El for so many years. Larry is one of the kindest, most empathetic people I have ever met. He treated every congregant as if they were a member of his family, because Beth El is his family. I'm very excited for him to retire and spend more time with his family, but there will be a void every time I come in the building and he isn't there to greet me with a hug and a kiss!”

Joel Rich, who just completed his tenure as the congregation’s president, applauded DeBruin for his dedicated service and also emphasized his involvement in the recent improvements made to the Beth El cemetery.

“Larry’s assistance with the Cemetery Expansion Program started during the early discussions about our needs and continued through the fundraising, contract and construction,” Rich said. “The cemetery was always available when needed, even in the midst of construction. He always worked to make the cemetery and Epstein Chapel warm and welcoming places.”

Rich noted that as a tribute to DeBruin’s exceptional service, Beth El has established an annual congregational honor, named the Larry DeBruin Service to Beth El Synagogue Award.

The community will honor DeBruin at a special tribute dinner at the synagogue on Friday, June 17, 7 p.m. For details or to RSVP, visit www.bethel-omaha.org, or contact the synagogue office at 402.492.8550.

The new retiree has tossed aside all those synagogue hats he wore for so long and said he looks forward to reading, traveling with his wife, visiting his grandchildren, attending to a 25-year-old honey-do list, and taking leisurely walks.

And for the sake of getting a decent night’s sleep, let’s hope he hasn’t forgotten one of his first priorities: deleting that cell number from the synagogue’s answering system.

The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016 | 5

Serving Generations…

145th Annual Meeting at Temple Israel

o

ScoTT LITTky Program Director, Temple Israel n Sunday, May 22, Temple Israel under the leadership of Temple President, Dr. Michael Halsted, held its 145th Annual Meeting.

The morning began with brunch organized by Dennis DePorte, Executive Director and prepared by Chef John Hattam. Following brunch, Dr. Halsted called the meeting to order.

making sure that the Temple kitchen was up and running for dinners on Wednesday evenings and for whatever is needed on a Sunday morning. Rabbi Azriel presented the Pillar Award to Toby Fellman. In his comments about Toby, he spoke about Toby’s love for Temple Israel and how hers is always the first face that all who enter Temple for Shabbat services see. She is everyone’s Bubbie and friend!

Those who have committed a gift to the

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Installation of the new Temple Israel Board First on the agenda was the President’s annual report. Dr. Halsted touched on the success of the year and, since his term was ending, thanked the congregation for allowing him to be President and reported how much he enjoyed the experience. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel then gave his annual report and reminisced about the last 28 years and how he had worked with 15 different Temple presidents and participated in 28 annual meetings. Following Rabbi Azriel’s remarks, Sally Kaplan along with Jane Rips gave the Transition Committee Report. Included was a review of the selection of Rabbi Darryl Crystal as interim Rabbi for one year and the hiring of Rabbi Deana Sussman as assistant Rabbi.

Next were the presentations of Temple Israel’s annual awards. Aliyah Lasky, Director of Youth and Young Adult Engagement, presented the Youth Award to Sophie Budwig. Sophie was a very active member of OTYG, serving last as chapter President.

She also served in the Madrichim program and as a role model for all of our youth. The Caring Award was next presented by Rabbi Azriel to Bob Kaplan in recognition of his work in visiting the residents at the Rose Blumkin Home. Without fail Bob visits residents on behalf of Temple Israel each Friday. The Volunteer Award was presented by Dennis DePorte, Executive Director, to Barton Arnold, Randy Langdon and Jeff Slutzky for their help and dedication to

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PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE Rabbi Azriel and Toby Fellman – Pillar Award Life and Legacy program were next recognized by Dr. Halsted. To date we have 52 commitments and are looking forward to growing our list in year three of the program.

In her role as Past-President, Sally Kaplan was called upon next to give a report from the Nominating Committee. This was followed by the election and installations of all of our Temple Officers and Trustees. Cantor Wendy Shermet installed the new Board and called upon Rosie Zweiback, Temple Israel’s new President, to offer her remarks.

The morning ended with Cantor Shermet’s closing prayer and chocolate cake for dessert.

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6 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

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The restitution of Nazi-looted art

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jta news staff In a reversal, Germany’s culture minister said she favors including a Jewish community representative on the country’s controversial committee for restitution of Nazi-looted art. Minister Monika Grütters said she supported adding a Jewish delegate during a meeting Tuesday with Yehuda Teichtal, a rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin. Teichtal’s office announced her decision on ursday following his meeting with the minister. e decision concerns the so-called Limbach Commission, which is an advisory commission on the return of cultural property seized as a result of Nazi persecution, and especially Jewish property.

Earlier this year, World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder criticized the Limbach Commission as having “no teeth” as a mediator in controversial art restitution cases. He has lobbied for the inclusion of a representative of the Jewish community on the body.

But Grütters resisted these calls, telling the New York Times in March: “We did not do this, and for good reason,” because a Jewish member “would be the only voice who would be prejudiced.”

shabbat at Remington Heights

GinGeR K. saBolCiK to Remington Heights to recite prayers, sing traditional song such as Sales Director, Remington Heights Senior Community Lecha Dodi and Shalom Alaychem and the Kiddush is recited. Two ShabRemington Heights, an Assisted and Independent Living Community bat candles are lit, and the candle blessing is recited. located at 12606 West Dodge Road in Omaha, Nebraska, provides a Shabbat has not only become a special evening for the Jewish Resmultitude of services for our Residents. We are located just blocks away idents, it has become an evening that all Residents look forward to. from the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, the Jewish Community Center, Not only do we celebrate Shabbat every Friday evening, we celebrate and all three local synagogues. One of the special services we provide all Jewish holidays throughout the year. is an opportunity for our Jewish residents to participate in Shabbat on Remington Heights also offers Rock Steady Boxing, which is a new Friday evenings in our dining room. This special meal consists of home- innovative therapy program for those afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease. made matzah ball soup, challah from the Bagel Bin, Kosher wine, and For more information, to join us for Shabbat, or to see the remarkother elegant items prepared for this special meal. able renovations that are being made to our community, call A Rabbi from Temple Israel or other community volunteers will come 402.493.5807 and ask for Kathy Boroff, RN, Executive Director.

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German authorities hid the discovery for approximately one year before a magazine broke the story.

Earlier this year, Lauder said the interim results of the investigation into the stash were “meager and not satisfactory.” Headed by a taskforce independent to the Limbach Commission, the probe flagged approximately 500 works in the Gurlitt trove that are under suspicion of being looted art and whose provenance the task force has been checking since 2013. Only a handful had been identified as stolen or returned.

During her meeting with Rabbi Teichtal, Grütters stated that she intends to “positively consider adding a member of the Jewish community to the committee board” in her forthcoming talks with the German states and municipalities, “in order to boost the confidence in the committee’s work and its transparency,” Teichtal’s office said in a statement.

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o

Life and Legacy’s annual celebration

mARGo PARsow Simple Steps to Find Your Passion and LIFE & LEGACY Coordinator Change the World, to share her message n Tuesday, June 14, at 6:30 and encourage adults of all ages and backp.m. Jewish Community Cengrounds to embrace and live their legacies. ter, the Jewish As the daughter of HoloFederation of caust survivors, Barbara Omaha Foundaknows the importance – and tion and our nine commuthe accompanying sense of nity partner organizations responsibility – that comes will recognize and thank the with legacy. Her mother was members of our Omaha incarcerated at Auschwitz Jewish community who have and is the sole survivor of a generously made a commitfamily of sixty-five people, ment to leave a legacy gift and her father worked for through the LIFE&LEGACY Oskar Schindler, on whose program of the Harold story Steven Spielberg’s film Grinspoon Foundation. We Schindler’s List was based. are delighted to present as This family legacy, coupled part of our celebration, Barwith her personal and profesbara Greenspan Shaiman as Barbara Greenspan shaiman sional experience and work our key note speaker who will share her with Champions of Caring, have motivated thoughts and expertise with us on “Living Barbara to help others to live their legacies Your Legacy Now.” by giving back to their communities.

In 1995, Barbara founded Champions of Through speeches, workshops and conCaring, a non-profit organization that has sulting, she shares her highly effective and empowered over 10,000 youth in Philadel- replicable ten-step approach to provide phia and South Africa to become leaders participants with the necessary tools to in public service and active, engaged citicreate social change in an informed and zens. She has created programs that have creative way. From corporate team-buildinspired and motivated young people with ing and community outreach to organizathe skills to create service projects to adtional culture-changing, public and private dress local and global issues and create high-school classrooms to university semcultures of caring within their own inars, faith-based programs to community schools and communities. women’s and men’s groups, she has preThe overwhelming success of Champisented this message to audiences of all ons of Caring with young people, comages and backgrounds, locally, nationally bined with Barbara’s professional and internationally. Changing the world, experience, entrepreneurial spirit and over one person at a time. thirty years of public speaking, led her to Please join us as we celebrate the great create her newest venture, Embrace Your success of our LIFE&LEGACY program Legacy, concurrently with the release of and be enlightened by the inspirational her new book, Live Your Legacy Now: Ten message from Barbara Greenspan Shaiman.

SeniorLiving

The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016 | 7

community this trip meant friendship

pecially with the help of my commuJoshuA KuRtzmAn nity - Beth Israel, the JCC and school, Israel was an amazing place for all of and through my youth groups - BBYO my friends and me. We went to so and USY. many places in Israel including Naharya, I liked how everyone gets along in IsJerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Akko! rael: the Jews, the Muslims, and the I enjoyed everything we did and the Christians. In just ten days, I had the places we went: from the Dead Sea best time of my life. Never have I been to The Old City of David, from the so happy in my life - I was at home. hospital to a school, and from souI wish to go to Israel again somevenir shop to souvenir shop! time, hopefully soon. Thank you the I spent lots of time with my friends, Jewish Federation of Omaha for the including Asaf (the tour guide), wonderful experience. You let thirty Shlomo (the bus driver), and my host five Jewish teens, including me, go on family with my great friend Spencer! this trip and made me so happy beI owe this great trip to my mother, Rabbi Ari Dembitzer, Cantor Wendy Rabbi Ari Dembitzer calling yond my expectations. You always help with having the best trips anyone Shermet, and last but definitely not the group together. least Rabbi Steven Abraham. During the trip to Israel could ask for: BBYO conventions, USY conventions, I grew religiously, spiritually and socially. I will con- and the most important one - the Mega Teen Mission tinue to grow into a fine man when I am an adult, es- Israel trip!

NJ man convicted of terrorism JTA NEWS STAFF A 24-year-old New Jersey man was found guilty of terrorism for vandalizing Jewish temples and firebombing a rabbi’s residence four years ago.

Anthony Graziano of Lodi was convicted last Friday of terrorism -- the most serious offense -- and 19 other charges. e jury, however, cleared him of several attempted murder charges and one count of aggravated arson.

Graziano faces 30 years to life in prison

on the terrorism charge alone when he is sentenced on July 22. He showed no emotion as the verdict was read in state Superior Court in Hackensack, the news site NorthJersey.com reported.

It was the first case in Bergen County to employ a post-9/11 terrorism law that required the finding that five or more people were terrorized by the crime or that the acts were carried out to promote terror, according to NorthJersey.com.

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8 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

community Marty Ricks retires

Wednesday, May 25, members of the community and staff came out to wish Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Marty Ricks a happy retirement and share some cake. Left, from top: Denise Meyers, Marty, Sandra Belgrade and Bobbi Leibowitz; Bary Zoob and Marty; Cindy Reed and Jessica Westerlin; Jeff Kirshenbaum, Marty Cohen and Steve Levinger; Middle, from top: Jerry Slusky with Margo Parsow; Erin Leutzinger and Shane Kotok; Marty with Murray Newman and Mike Platt; Right, from top: Jay Noddle, Marty and Steve Bloch; Marty with Rabbi Steven Abraham and his wife Shira; Harley Schrager and Alan Cohen; JCC Campus Manager Phil Malcom playing the piano during the event.

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T

Farewell to Eye on Israel from Omaha

ElIAD ElIYAHu BEN SHuSHAN Community Shaliach he shaliach’s main goal is to bring Israel to the community. We do not bring the Israel that people see in the world media, or the legendary Israel as the land of “milk and honey”. The Israel a shaliach brings is the Israel that is real in today’s world.

For the last three years during Eye on Israel I have been joined by over twenty speakers who brought their special voices from and about Israel. The topics were often controversial and the voices were so special because they were so personal. This was the goal of this program – putting a personal lens to the image of Israel.

Now I am preparing for my final Eye on Israel session which will be the first Tuesday of the month, June 7, from noon-1 p.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. In thinking back on the many topics we have discussed, I decided I wanted input on the focus for this last session.

In the May session of Eye on Israel I asked participants to vote for the most engaging, emotional and interesting sessions we have had together. It was a very close vote. Based on numbers, the final three topics will be (1) the current wave of terror (2) aliyah and assimilation in Israel and (3) today’s antiSemitism outside of Israel.

For this session I am happy to be joined by two people who have first-hand knowledge and experience on these topics. Our

first speaker will be Sarah Littky, a Lone Soldier serving in the Hebron area of the West Bank, a city most commonly associated with its high rate of terrorism. The latest wave of terror throughout Israel and the West Bank makes the world even more aware of the deep-seated problems in the area. Sarah is a part of the COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) unit in the IDF working with Palestinian citizens on a daily basis. This unit assists those citizens in obtaining medical treatment in Israeli hospitals.

We will then welcome Rabbi Baruch Halevi, who is familiar to many members of our community here in Omaha. Rabbi Halevi will share his personal experience as a well-known rabbi in the USA who made aliyah to Israel with his wife and four children during this past year.

As always, the session will start with a short Israel update in which we will compare different media sources from Israel and around the world as they report the latest news events taking place within the country.

Please join me as we learn together on Tuesday, June 7.

Eye on Israel is sponsored by the Henry and Dorothy Riekes Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and is administered by the Center for Jewish Life whose mission is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences.

Netanyahu scolds new Knesset member for visiting Temple Mount JTA NEWS STAFF Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scolded Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick for paying a visit to the disputed holy site hours before being sworn in as a Knesset member.

Glick, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, visited the Jerusalem site -- which is holy to both Muslims and Jews -- on Monday and was sworn in that evening. The controversial activist had been next in line on the Likud list of members for a Knesset seat, which opened when Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, upon learning his ministry would be given to Yisrael Beiteinu’s Avigdor Liberman, resigned from the parliament last week.

Netanyahu has barred all ministers and Knesset members from going to the Temple Mount in an effort to defuse tensions there. Only Muslims are permitted to pray at the site, and rumors that Israel planned to change the status quo there led to the wave of Palestinian stabbing attacks and other violence that began in October.

According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu told Glick, who has paid countless visits to the Temple Mount and has led Jews on tours of it, at the end of a Likud faction meeting Monday: “This is the last time you do this to me.”

Seemingly surprised, Glick responded: “What did I do?

Earlier today I called up [Internal Security Minister Gilad] Erdan in the U.S. and I told him about the whole thing.”

Over the weekend the American-born rabbi, who survived a Palestinian assassination attempt last year, told the Israeli media he had no plans to violate the Temple Mount ban, saying, “With my entrance to politics, I am a team player and not an individual one.”

On Monday, as he left the Temple Mount, Glick thanked Israeli police officers for protecting him during his visits, telling them, according to the Times of Israel: “Know that everything that I do stems from the peace this place represents. I hope that it’s remembered that

peace is the name of God, and everything I do for the country, the people and for Jerusalem, is driven by this city, the city of peace.

On a tour of the Temple Mount, Yehuda Glick shows religious Jews a diagram of the Jewish temple, which once stood where the golden Dome of the Rock stands today in Jerusalem, Sept. 17, 2013.

Credit: Christa Case Bryant/ The Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images

“I hope that light, goodness, blessings, bounty and peace will prevail in the place and everywhere else on earth.”

Glick is a resident of the West Bank settlement of Otniel.

Organizations

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Speaker to be announced for Wednesday, June 8, noon. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@ jewishomaha.org.

10 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

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Getting to know Avigdor Liberman, Bibi’s enigmatic pick for defense minister

Y

Ron KAMpeAs heavy regions of Israel bordering the West Bank with JewWASHINGTON | JTA ish-heavy portions beyond the Green Line – is what has es, there’s the Avigdor Liberman who wants to stirred controversy. Liberman tries to make it sound like behead bad guys, mandate loyalty oaths and pay common sense: Jews want to live chez-eux, why wouldn’t Arabs to leave the country -- the one who makes Palestinians? fun of the disabled and who dodged a fraud For one thing, not every Israeli Arab wants to live in a charge.

Palestinian state – subtle but deepBut Israel’s onetime foreign minisseated differences have emerged beter and maybe-next defense minister tween the populations since 1948. is not quite the cartoon he’s made out Israeli Arabs have said they resent to be – OK, the cartoon he at times being considered as pawns. seems determined to make himself For another, Liberman proposes out to be. paying Israeli Arabs to leave – a As defense minister, Liberman transfer policy that would undercut would double to two the Cabinet his hopes that Israel would no longer ministers who have seriously considbe an international “punching bag,” as ered a two-state outcome: himself he told Al-Monitor and Prime Minister Benjamin NeYuli Tamir, a former education mintanyahu. He is more deferential to ister, wrote in Haaretz in 2015 that the United States- Israel relationship Liberman’s plan sets dangerous precethan Netanyahu. And his posture todents, by positing that minorities canward Israel’s Arab neighbors is not all not exist with majorities, and by threat. suggesting that majority Arab areas of It’s time to review three areas Israel should seek sovereignty.

Avigdor Liberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu “If Israel consents to discuss a rewhere the once and possibly future party, speaking at a news conference at the drawing of its borders based on demember of the security cabinet has Knesset, May 18, 2016. served as a voice for moderation – mographic criteria, it probably won’t Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 be long before the Arabs of the but also to keep in mind how his rhetoric undercuts his apparent restraint.

Galilee (where they are currently a majority) and of the • Two states for two peoples, or transfer and a recipe for Negev (where in certain areas there is an Arab majority) unrest? may also question their belonging to Israel,” she said.

Liberman has spoken seriously and extensively about • Avigdor plays nice, or is he just scared of the bigger peace, and has in fact embraced two states, even though he bully? rankled disability advocates a year ago when he called twoMartin Indyk, who led the U.S. team that tried to broker state advocates “autistic.”

Israeli Palestinian peace in 2013-2014, said Sunday on TwitOne of his most radical ideas would crack the sequencing ter that Liberman was easier to work with than Moshe that famously helped scuttle the 2000 Camp David peace Yaalon, the man he would replace and who has been liontalks: Yasser Arafat, then the Palestinian leader, was consid- ized by the left in the current political crisis as a defender of ering embracing then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s propos- democracy. als, but balked when he toured the Arab and Muslim worlds “Lieberman says reprehensible things but I remember and was told he would be seen as a quisling if he agreed to that he supported” U.S. Secretary of State John “Kerry’s Barak’s terms, particularly on Jerusalem. peace efforts when Yaalon was insulting him,” Indyk said.

Liberman’s solution: negotiate holistically. Make peace In 2013, attending the Saban Forum, organized by the with the Arabs and the Palestinians simultaneously. It’s a Brookings Institution, he said it was best not to air differences plan that would allow the Palestinians greater leverage, publicly, advising the sides to “cool down the atmosphere.” should they coordinate with other Arab nations to extract Liberman is known to be critical of Netanyahu’s at-timesconcessions. That’s one reason why Netanyahu insists on di- confrontational posture vis a vis the U.S., believing the Isrect talks, where Israel holds more cards. But, the thinking raeli leader often seems too eager to get into it with Israel’s goes, it also could lead to a more stable and permanent most powerful and important ally. peace in the region. Liberman, looking toward activating But that might also be a function of a natural bully deferthis plan, could keep Netanyahu focused on working with ring to the big kid on the playground. Liberman and his moderate Arabs in the region. lieutenants have shown no compunction about insulting “The security advantage means cooperation with moderleaders of less imposing countries like Turkey, Sweden, ate nations, exchanging intelligence, joint efforts,” Liberman Spain and France. told Al Monitor in 2014. “With regard to this facet, our • Yvet has a heart that’s so big! As big as the Aswan Dam! partners could gain very nice inputs. And there’s also the Liberman, known by his Russian nickname Yvet, offered economic sphere. I am convinced that one day, we’ll have humanitarian assistance to Syria in 2012, as its civil war deembassies in Riyadh, in Kuwait, in the Gulf States and other scended into chaos. places. The combination of our initiative, technology and So he cares, right? Cares enough that in 2001, when Egypt knowledge with their tremendous financial reserves can to- was considering reintroducing forces in the Sinai, he said gether change the world.”

Israel should threaten to bomb the Aswan Dam – effecHis proposal to swap heavily populated areas – Arabtively, commit a major war crime.

Reflections of a forty-year career teaching French: Is France safe for Jews?

Retired Professor Jan Lund will deliver her talk “Reflections of a Forty-Year Career Teaching French: Is France Safe for Jews?”at B’nai Israel on Friday, June 10. She will give the background of her education and career teaching French on the elementary, secondary and university levels. She will look back on what drove her career choices, and recount some of the experiences she had leading twenty-plus student tours to France from 1980 to the present and teaching in Paris for Creighton University. She will discuss the veracity of some of America’s press representations of France in light of the terrorist acts that

have rocked the country and its Jewish Community in the recent past.

Services are at 7:30 p.m., and are led by lay leader Larry Blass. Following services and Jan’s talk, we will have our usual tasty and lively Oneg. B’nai Israel will not have Shabbot services in July and August and will resume in September.

emergingvoices

The Outer Space Treaty

one way or another, everybody has heard of space described as the “final frontier”. Whether from the opening lines of Star Trek (if you like that show) or from more serious sources (if you, like me, don’t quite understand its appeal), the phrase conjures up excitement. But something that most people aren’t aware of is that said final frontier is blocked off from colonization or serious exploration because of the multinational United Nationssponsored ‘Outer Space Treaty’, which prohibits nations from claiming territory in outer space. In a bizarre bit of irony, this treaty has essentially stalled government-sponsored space exploration by removing a major incentive for doing so while simultaneously setting the stage for some potentially severe conflicts stemming from private sector space companies.

It should be noted that the Outer Space Treaty is by no means all bad; rather, it is just a partially outdated product of its times.

The treaty was initially ratified in 1967, right in the middle of a period both when decolonization (and anti-colonization) had become a craze and when fears were widespread that space would become a major source of conflict between the superpowers.

Indeed, most of the treaty’s provisions reflect this second branch of motivation for its passage – for example, it prohibits the installation of nuclear weapons in space and lays down the ground rules for how nations should treat spacecraft and astronauts of other nations. Even today, these provisions are not only logical but definitely desirable; it is solely the territorial ban that is antiquated. Thus, the treaty should not be revoked, merely amended to fit with the realities of the modern day.

Now, why is this necessary? It seems bizarre that a treaty designed to prevent conflict should lead to conflict, but that is precisely what the Outer Space Treaty is likely to do. Consider: in a great step forward, the U.S. passed legislation last year permitting private companies to operate for-profit industries in

space. But as an NPR report from December 22nd of last year noted, the passage of this legislation essentially violates the Outer Space Treaty, as the U.S. is probably technically unable to actually let these companies claim territory in space.

Now, this is a problem only because the UN seems to hold the rather Connor P. Mullin naïve view that private companies will not go ahead and claim territory anyway, regardless of what they say is permitted. And, in turn, this will almost certainly lead to conflict between nations attempting to boost their own private space industries and the UN. Amending the treaty to permit the claiming of territory in space would resolve these conflicts before they can arise, saving a lot of trouble.

Hubble telescope image of bubble nebula Credit: JPL/NASA/STScI

Apart from avoiding negative outcomes, making it possible to claim territory in space will also have the positive effect of driving exploration by providing an extra level of motivation to do so. Scientific research in a collaborative sense – essentially the sole activity permitted under the Outer Space Treaty – will always occur, but, as cynical as it may seem, the best way to promote pushing the limits of space is by providing the potential

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The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016 | 11

for wealth. Indeed, we can already see an example of this, in a fairly unexpected place: Luxembourg. As another NPR report – this one from February 3rd of 2016 – notes, this tiny nation is attempting to become a major player in the space (notably asteroid-mining) economic sphere because they recognize the vast opportunities space has open. If Luxembourg of all nations wants to get involved in space exploration because of the tangible benefits from doing so, surely other countries have the same sort of motivation that is currently being stifled by the Outer Space Treaty. Amending the treaty, therefore, will ‘uncork’ this motivation.

Objectively, and luckily, however, the answer to this whole problem is relatively simple. It entails changing just the one article of the treaty, and in a remarkably minor way. Said article, Article II, currently reads “outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means”. All that has to be done is to alter it to read “outer space is subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty only by means of use or occupation”. Brilliantly simple – the treaty would thus still prohibit ridiculous outcomes like a nation attempting to claim the entirety of Mars by shooting a flag to it, but letting nations annex territory in space if they are actively engaged in the colonization of that territory adds an all-important incentive to get nations into space in the first place.

Few people are even aware of the Outer Space Treaty’s existence, let alone its negative effects on space exploration. It is far from entirely bad, and certainly does not need to be completely broken; merely amended to reflect today’s reality (rather than the reality that existed, or was imagined to be likely to exist, nearly a half-century ago). Permitting direct territorial claims under certain circumstances would drive exploration and likely help forestall future conflicts, thus at long last opening up the final frontier.

Connor Mullen is a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He shares his story as part of the Emerging Voices series. Emerging Voices invites Jewish writers between the ages of 13 and 25 to share their thoughts and opinions about any topic they choose. If you are interested in writing for this series, please email the editor at avandekamp@jewish omaha.org.

Emerging Voices is supported by the Joanie Jacobson Jewish Cultural Arts Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.

12 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

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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; Scott Farkas; Paul Gerber; Alex Grossman; David Kotok; Debbie Kricsfeld; Abby Kutler; Pam Monsky; Paul Rabinovitz; Nancy Wolf and Barry Zoob.

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American Jewish press Association Award Winner

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i

We all have to show up AnnEttE vAn DE KAmp-Wright Editor of the Jewish Press t was quite a week for Jewish Omaha. On Wednesday, we celebrated Marty Ricks’ retirement, followed by Friedel Jewish Academy’s graduation (how on earth did these kids grow so fast?) and Thursday night we celebrated Zalmen Katzman’s Bar Mitzvah. Then came Rabbi Aryeh Azriel’s last sermon as Temple Israel’s Head Rabbi on Friday, followed by a massive dinner in his and Elyce’s honor Saturday night. Those are, of course, just the highlights.

What always strikes me whenever community members get together, whatever the occasion may be, is the sheer joy with which people interact. There is something in the air during these events that is palpable, and it goes way beyond ‘Nebraska Nice.’ Yes, I’m feeling sappy. Indulge me.

When I took that plane to Chicago many years ago, I came with one suitcase, no knowledge about this place or its people and nothing to draw me here save for a boyfriend who had no concrete plans to stay put anywhere. If, at that point, I had told him: “Let’s go

live on Aruba, or in France, or South Africa,” he would have gladly packed his bags. Fast-forward twenty years and our world has completely tilted. Jewish Omaha is home, and it’s a better home than we could have ever imagined.

However, growing roots comes with its own set of rules. It means saying goodbye often, sometimes for happy reasons, sometimes for tragic ones. That has to be okay, even when it is not. Life is all about moments, like Shirley Goldstein dancing, or three past Temple Israel rabbis together on the Bimah with Rabbi Azriel.

And yes, saying goodbye and being there as things come to an end. In other words, we have to show up.

If you are reading this, and don’t recognize yourself, I want to challenge you. When Jim Farber spoke at Saturday’s dinner, he quoted Rabbi Azriel: (and I’m paraphrasing) “We can be like ships, safe in port. But that is not what ships were built for.”

My question is: are you? Safe in port, busy with your daily life and all its trappings, not finding time to attend community or synagogue events? Where have you been during the past months? Did you attend shul, or go to the book club, or eat at the Deli, attend a wedding, a graduation, have coffee with someone? If you, for some reason, weren’t physically able to leave your house, did others come to keep you company? If your answer is a loud “No,” we should change that.

On page ten of the Jewish Press, every week, you can find the synagogue schedule. In addition, we place the community calendar in every last issue of the month. You can find a more complete calendar on the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s website at www.jewishomaha.org (click on ‘calendar’). And in case you don’t have a computer in front of you, here are some of the upcoming events: Temple Israel has scheduled a Mah Jongg tourna-

ment at 9 a.m., Sunday, June 5. In the afternoon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat will be performed in the JCC Theater. You can come for the 2 p.m. show, or at 5 p.m. The JFO Annual Meeting is monday, June 6, starting at 7 p.m. and the next day, there will be an Eye on Israel session with Eliad at the Kripke Federation Library, noon. It will be his last: We say goodbye to Eliad and his family Wednesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. No, I’m not happy about that one either; we are going to miss them all.

B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers holds a luncheon almost every Wednesday at noon, and they always have interesting speakers. You can show up for lunch or just for the speaker. There is a farewell Shabbat for Rabbi Josh Brown, 6 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Temple Israel, and if you have little kids, I can recommend the Mini-Minyannaires at Beth El, Saturdays at 10:45 a.m. The JFO Foundation has the second annual Life and Legacy celebration June 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Beth Israel offers a great women’s study group every thursday at 9:30 a.m. Also, if you are a big reader, you simply cannot miss the Dorothy Kaplan Book discussion group, which meets next thursday, June 16 in the Kripke Federation Library at 1 p.m.

So much to do, so little time: I get it. But, if you don’t have a single event on your calendar, here’s your mission (if you choose to accept it): pick one. Just one.

You don’t even have to stay the entire time. And if you are unable to leave your house for health reasons, please call us. Also, I am well aware that some of you who read this don’t exactly live in the neighborhood, and have to rely on phone calls and emails. I cannot emphasize enough how much it means to hear from former Omahans who live elsewhere. Please, stay in touch. A community like ours only thrives when we come together, however, whenever, and wherever.

Survivors’ welfare is a public, private and community responsibility

mArK WiLF and toDD morgAn JTA They survived unimaginable horrors, yet went on to live productive lives, despite the haunting memories, the profound loss and physical scars from years of deprivation. Now many Holocaust survivors need our assistance so they may live their twilight years with dignity in their homes and communities.

Most Holocaust survivors are in their 80s and 90s, and an astounding 25 percent of them in the United States live in poverty, struggling to meet basic needs for food, housing, health care and transportation. Many live alone and have no extended family who survived the Holocaust.

Spouses who used to provide support are no longer living. Each year, just as we lose many survivors, we also see others coming forward, identifying themselves as Holocaust survivors in desperate need of assistance.

As survivors age, they face challenges different from other older adults. Some suffer from delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder, making it more difficult to live in assisted living or nursing homes, where institutional life, with its uniformed staff, regimented schedules and rules can lead to flashbacks of concentration camps or other periods of confinement. Unfamiliar showers can be a frightening reminder of gas chambers.

Multiple studies have found that survivors are more likely than others to experience anxiety and nightmares.

We cannot let this happen.

For many survivors, social services are their lifeline. Home care, the most expensive of these vital services, costs an average of $20 per hour per survivor. With approximately 125,000 Holocaust survivors in the U.S., it will take extensive resources to serve even the neediest of survivors. The German government, through the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, provides the majority of the funding for social services, but survivor needs are exceeding available funding.

Local communities have taken note, and we’re inspired by the philanthropic campaigns that are working to educate the community. Together we’ve raised more than $30 million over the past couple years.

Additionally, companies have stepped up to help. We’re grateful for the partnership between the Alpha Omega dental fraternity and Henry Schein Cares to offer Holocaust survivors pro

Auschwitz and Belsen concentration camp survivor Eva Behar showing her number tattoo in her London home, Dec. 1, 2014.

Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images bono dental care, and the generosity of the Starkey Hearing Foundation to provide hearing aids free of charge to survivors in need.

Finally, government leaders are recognizing the specialized assistance that aging Holocaust survivors require. Vice President Joe Biden announced the White House’s initiative to help Holocaust survivors in 2013. This resulted in numerous avenues for assistance.

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day earlier this year, President Barack Obama declared, “Governments have an obligation to care for the survivors of the Shoah because no one who endured that horror should have to scrape by in their golden years.”

In March, Jewish federations distributed $2.8 million in federal grants to assist programs for Holocaust survivors. Coupled with the required matching funds, the disbursement results in $4.5

million for survivor services. For the first time, the federal government will soon issue guidance to states on serving Holocaust survivors, as required by the Older Americans Act Reauthorization that cleared Congress in April.

A few states and local governments are providing assistance as well. In Florida, for example, local Jewish federations worked together to obtain a special state appropriation for Holocaust survivor services, while in New York City last year, the mayor and City Council approved a budget including $1.5 million to assist Holocaust survivors living in poverty. More states and local governments should follow these leads in pursuing special appropriations.

Perhaps more impactful is that we encourage Germany to continue to fulfill its moral responsibility by providing additional financial resources for social services for Holocaust survivors, as recently called for in bipartisan resolutions in the U.S. House and Senate.

Both of our families managed to overcome great odds and survive the Holocaust, fortunate to be able to re-establish their lives in America and prosper. Not every Holocaust survivor was so lucky.

They are the survivors who need our help. We must volunteer our time, visit Holocaust survivors and engage them in their Jewish communities.

These survivors are our heroes, our teachers and our mentors. One day they will no longer be with us. Until that day comes, we are obligated to ensure that they live their remaining days and years in dignity.

When future generations ask if the Jewish community took care of its Holocaust survivors, let that answer be a resounding “yes.”

Mark Wilf is president and co-owner of the Minnesota Vikings and a board member of JTA’s parent organization, 70 Faces Media. Todd Morgan is the founder and chairman of Bel Air Investment Advisors. Together they co-chair the Jewish Federations of North America’s Fund for Holocaust Survivors.

The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016 | 13

Yes, there is a Jewish left on campus, and it needs to be heard BrOOke DAvIes CHAPEL HILL, N.C. | JTA Recently, in an article for JTA, The Missing Left: Where’s the support for liberal Zionists on campus?, Andrew SilowCarroll noted that “many American pro-Israel organizations and leaders ignore or ostracize liberal Zionists.” In the absence of progressive Zionist groups on campus, who should be able to both criticize and love Israel at the same time, he wrote, the Israel debate on campus is left to those who defend Israel uncritically, or who join the ranks of the Boycott, Divestment BROOKE DAVIES and Sanctions movement.

In fact, there is a large, thriving home for pro-Israel, pro-peace students on campus -- and J Street is it.

Founded just six years ago, J Street U has spread to over 100 schools across the country, with over 70 full-fledged chapters. Our leaders are front and center in campus conversations about Israel, and regularly engage in debate over Israel’s future in local and national press. Last year, we hosted over 1,100 students at our national conference in Washington, D.C. We are the bridge between liberal values and support for Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state.

I’m always surprised when I find myself in a room -- be it the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America or other communal spaces -- surrounded by Jewish leaders asking why there isn’t a pro-Israel left on campus. I and the other J Street U student organizers are exactly who they’re looking for. We’re leaders of a pro-Israel movement that isn’t afraid to hold its leaders accountable, that loves Israel but feels a deep urgency to end the occupation, that stands for a two-state solution and recognizes that boycotts are not an effective way to get there.

We’re loud and present at our Hillels, in our student governments and at national Jewish and pro-Israel gatherings.

We are the pro-Israel left. So why do some leaders seem not to notice us?

My guess is the mainstream Jewish community doesn’t actually know what it wants from a progressive Zionist group on campus. Silow-Carroll wrote in his article that had Bernie Sanders given his speech critical of Israeli policy at the America Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference in March, it “might have signaled to young liberal Zionists that the pro-Israel mainstream is at least willing to air such views, even if they don’t like them.” Having a place to “air views” is important, but it’s not why I’m in this move-

Neo-Nazis salute ‘Aryan goddess’ Taylor Swift

JTA NEWS STAFF According to white supremacists, singer Taylor Swi is a Nazi at heart, feeding her legions of followers racist messages coated in Grammy-winning songs.

JTA spoke to Andre Anglin, a writer of the white supremacist blog the Daily Stormer, about the singer’s fascist appeal: “Taylor Swi is a pure Aryan goddess, like something out of classical Greek poetry,” Anglin said. “It is also an established fact that Taylor Swi is secretly a Nazi and is simply waiting for the time when Donald Trump makes it safe for her to come out and announce her Aryan agenda to the world.” e connection between Swi and Hitler pre-dates the rise of Trump, according to Milo Yiannopoulos, a columnist for the right-wing website Breitbart. Its possible origin is a satirical photo series started by a teenage Pinterest user who overlaid photos of Swi with Hitler quotes attributed to the singer. Swi’s lawyers were not amused, demanding Pinterest remove the posts: “e association of Ms. Swi with Adolf Hitler undisputedly is ‘harmful,’ ‘abusive,’ ‘ethnically offensive,’ ‘humiliating to other people,’ ‘libelous,’ and no doubt ‘otherwise objectionable.'”

But neo-Nazis embraced the idea, regularly writing online about Swi with the enthusiasm of high school fanboys and fretting that she might “succumb to the Merchant” -- meaning give in to the Jews.

ment and it’s not what J Street U believes will end the conflict. We believe that our support for a two-state solution and opposition to settlement expansion are mainstream positions held by the majority of American Jews, and we want our communal leadership to reflect those positions and to act on them.

But I understand that leadership is often resistant to change, hesitant to upset the status quo in which criticism of Israeli policy is anathema and in which there is little room for discussing alternate narratives. When J Street U speaks out loudly and clearly about our values, it challenges our communal leaders to look honestly at their own role in ending the conflict -- so much so that they may prefer to ignore us, rather than seriously reckon with our concerns.

Sometimes, I sense that Jewish communal leaders disapprove of my work, despite the fact that I love Israel and want to help secure its future, just as they do. Some in the community have pressed me to stop organizing for and affiliating with J Street U. I’ve encountered enough of these sentiments to know the anger usually arises from a place of fear and uncertainty, not of genuine disagreement. Issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the occupation are difficult and con-

tentious, and I understand that many prefer to look away rather than deal with them directly -- or to focus exclusively on the anti-Israel sentiments of the far left and ignore the chorus of important questions young pro-Israel progressives are asking.

It may seem easier to ignore J Street U and wait for another progressive, pro-Israel group to come around -- one that, magically, could attract and engage thousands of young people without talking about the issues that deeply concern them. Good luck finding it.

In the meantime, J Street U exists -- and we’re growing. I urge leaders of our community to come meet with us, question us and listen to us, as many have and continue to do.

We are the pro-Israel, pro-peace, progressive group of young people that you have been calling for. You won’t like everything we have to say -- and we certainly will have our disagreements with you. But the time has come for us to act together to help address the challenges facing Israel and our community.

Brooke Davies is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in peace, war and defense.

She is the current J Street UNC chapter chair and also serves as the J Street U national communications chair.

Sympathy for Palestinians over Israel up sharply among younger Americans, Pew survey finds

JTA NEWS STAFF NEW YORK | JTA Democrats are more than four times as likely as Republicans to say they sympathize more with the Palestinians than with Israel, according to a survey published Thursday, and sympathy for the Palestinians among Americans overall is growing.

Sympathy for the Palestinians is up most sharply among the youngest American adults, growing threefold over the last decade, the new survey by the Pew Research Center shows. Some 27 percent of millennials say they are more sympathetic to the Palestinians than to Israel; in 2006 the figure was 9 percent. The share of those favoring Israel has held steady at about 43 percent.

On Israel, the survey also shows one of the widest-ever gaps between the two main political parties.

While self-identified Democrats are more likely to favor Israel over the Palestinians (43 percent to 29 percent), they are far less sympathetic toward Israel than either Republicans or Independents. Among self-identified Republicans, 75 percent say they sympathize more with Israel compared to 7 percent sympathizing more for the Palestinians. Among Independents, the sympathies are 52 percent with Israel and 19 percent with the Palestinians.

The new data is part of a telephone survey of more than 4,000 American adults between April 4 and 24 in which Pew surveyors asked respondents a range of questions about how they view the U.S. role in the world.

Among Americans overall, 54 percent say they sympathize more with Israel and 19 percent sympathize more with the Palestinians, with 13 percent saying with neither side and 3 percent with both. Compared to a similar survey conducted in July 2014, sympathy for Israel held steady while sympathy for the Palestinians jumped by one-third, to 19 percent today from 14 percent in the earlier survey.

Among liberal Democrats, the least pro-Israel grouping, more respondents say they are sympathetic toward the Palestinians than toward Israel: 40 percent vs. 33 percent.

While the pro-Israel figure has held steady, the pro-Palestinian figure is the largest it has been in 15 years, suggesting that sympathy for the Palestinians is growing among these Americans who previously did not favor one side over the other.

Self-identified conservative Democrats and moderate Democrats favor Israel by a margin of 53 percent for Israel to 19 percent for the Palestinians.

Supporters of Hillary Clinton are more likely to favor Israel over the Palestinians (47 percent to 27 percent), while backers of Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent of Vermont, are more likely to favor the Palestinians (39 percent to 33 percent for Israel).

On the Republican side, conservative Republicans favor

Israel somewhat more than moderate and liberal Republicans do (79 percent vs. 65 percent).

The survey shows older Americans overwhelmingly favoring Israel over the Palestinians by a 4-to-1 margin, and Gen-Xers sympathizing with Israel more by roughly a 3to-1 margin.

An Israeli border policeman speaking to a Palestinian man near the scene of a stabbing attack in Jerusalem’s Old City, Oct. 7, 2015.

Credit: Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images There is more optimism among Americans that a twostate solution can be achieved by the Israelis and Palestinians than skepticism that it cannot: 50 percent compared to 42 percent. On this, Americans younger than 30 are more optimistic (60 percent believe in the two-state solution) than Americans over 65 (49 percent say it’s impossible).

About 61 percent of Democrats say they believe a Palestinian state can coexist peacefully beside Israel, compared to 38 percent of Republicans.

Overall, Americans are more convinced now than they were in August 2014, in the wake of the last Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, that a two-state solution is possible.

On other issues in the survey, 57 percent of respondents say they want America to deal with its own problems and let other countries sort out their problems on their own, while 37 percent say America should help other countries.

Respondents identified ISIS as the top global threat facing America, followed by cyberattacks from other countries, the rapid spread of infectious diseases and refugees from the Middle East.

The largest partisan gap on the threat matrix was on the issue of climate change: 77 percent of Democrats identified it as a leading global threat compared to 26 percent of Republicans.

There is a sharp partisan divide on the question of how best to defeat global terrorism: 70 percent of Republicans say overwhelming military force is the best approach, while 65 percent of Democrats say that just creates more hatred and terrorism.

14 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

synagogues B’nai iSrael Synagogue

618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 402.322.4705 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 June 10, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Jan Lund, a former Council Bluffs resident and retired educator. She will be speaking about her teaching and traveling experiences with an emphasis on the anti-semtisim in France. There will an Oneg to follow service. All community members are invited to attend.

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

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

BeTh el Synagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. friDay: Camp Kef, 9 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SaTurDay: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. weekDay SerViceS: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

SunDay: Torah Study, 10 a.m.

TueSDay: KinderMusik, 9:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. weDneSDay: KinderMusik, 9 a.m., 10:05 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:05 a.m.

ThurSDay: Shanghai, 1 p.m.; Men’s Club Whiskey Tasting, 7:30 p.m.

Ma’ariv and Havdalah, Saturday, June 11, 9:30 p.m. followed by cheesecake and a special study session with Dr. Baruch Feldstern.

Shavuot Morning Services, Sunday, June 12, 9:30 a.m. and Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m.

Shavuot Morning Service with Yizkor, monday, June 13, 10:30 a.m. followed by Dairy lunch and Mincha.

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

BeTh iSrael Synagogue

Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. friDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha-Ma’ariv & Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Shabbat Dinner, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel. Menu: Kiddush, Challah, Salad, Beef dinner, potatoes, vegetables and desert. Adults: $12; Children 4-12: $6; free for children 3 and under; Mini-Presentation: birkat Kohanim -- The Gift of Peace; Candle Lighting, 8:35 p.m.

SaTurDay: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Torah Parade and Kids Classes, 9:45 a.m.; Shabbat morning Lecture following Kiddush lunch: Sefer Rut -- Hereditary and Greatness -- What’s in a Name; Shabbat Afternoon Ladies Class: Yom Yerushalayim, 5:30 p.m.; Insights into the Weekly Portion, 7:35 p.m.; Insights into the Weekly Portion, 7:35 p.m.; Shabbat afternoon presentation for girls in grades 5-9: The Sky’s the Limit, a session from Megillat Rut and QA session, 7:35 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:20 p.m. Seudah Shlishit discussion: Engaging and Teaching our Youth to become Jewish Leaders; Havdalah, 9:45 p.m.

SunDay: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m.; Shavua Tov Israel and Café Ivrit will not meet. weekDayS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. monDay: Ladies Rosh Chodesh Group, 6 p.m.

TueSDay: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.

ThurSDay: Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m.; Scholar’s Club for 6th Grade, 3:30 p.m.; Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m.; Talmud Learning, 8 p.m.

First Night of Shavuot, Saturday, June 11.

First Day of Shavuot Lunch along with Family Fued, Sunday, June 12. Menu: Lasagna, past primavera, tossed salad, garlic bread and dairy desserts. Adults: $12; Children 4-12: $6; free for children 3 and under.

chaBaD houSe

Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. friDay: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m SaTurDay: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.

SunDay: Minyan, 8:30 a.m. weekDayS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

TueSDay: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. RSVP by calling the office. weDneSDay: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development

of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak.

ThurSDay: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@ unmc.edu.

All programs are open to the entire community.

congregaTion B’nai JeShurun

Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. friDay: Pre-neg, 6 p.m. hosted by LTYG; Shabbat Evening Service, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:36 p.m.

SaTurDay: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Bechukotai; Havdalah (72 minutes), 10:06 p.m.

SunDay: Rabbi Lewis presentation on Creating Heaven on Earth through tikkun olam, 9:30 a.m. at First-Plymouth East, Kloefkorn Elementary.

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

ThurSDay: Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.

Shavuot Service, Sunday, June 12, 9 a.m. and Lunch and study, noon at Tifereth Israel.

Project for Clinic With a Heart: Make hygiene kits for people to use in an emergency or when traveling. Here's what each kit needs: two washcloths, bar of antibacterial soap, 6 oz. tube of toothpaste, toothbrush, nail clippers, wide tooth comb, 12 oz. of shampoo, deodorant, individual hand sanitizer or one-gallon ziplock freezer bag. Donations can be brought to the Temple Office.

Lincoln Jewish Community School CAMP ISRAEL, July 11– July 22, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Kosher lunch and snack provided. LJCS enrolled students entering Kindergarten through 7th grade are eligible to attend Camp Israel. $75 per week for on e child and $50 per week per child for two or more children. Contact Andrea Halpern or Tracy Gordon if you are interested in participating!

offuTT air force BaSe

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

Temple iSrael

friDay: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Brown and Cantor Shermet.

SaTurDay: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Services, 10:30 a.m.

SunDay: Mah Jongg Tournament, 9 a.m. Registration fee is $35 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and one raffle ticket. Proceeds will benefit the Temple Israel Archives and CureSearch for pediatric cancer. Reservations required.

Farewell Celebration with Rabbi Brown and Family, friday, June 10, 6 p.m. Shabbat Services followed by a congregational BBQ. Erev Shavuot Service, Saturday, June 11, 6 p.m.

Shavuot Service and Yizkor, Sunday, June 12, 10:30 a.m.

TifereTh iSrael

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. friDay: Services, 8 p.m. followed by an Oneg.

SaTurDay: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddish lunch.

SunDay: Tifereth Israel and PJ Library Invites You to TAKE A HIKE with us, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Join us for a story walk and a picnic gathering and a chance to meet new friends and families with children ages 2-12. Please RSVP and let us know how many in your family will be joining us.

Lincoln Jewish Community School CAMP ISRAEL, July 11– July 22, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Kosher lunch and snack provided. LJCS enrolled students entering Kindergarten through 7th grade are eligible to attend Camp Israel. $75 per week for on e child and $50 per week per child for two or more children. Fees due to Tifereth Israel office by Tuesday, may 31.

Please let Nava in the office know of any personal information changes as she is working on the new TI directory. Please inform the office of any landline/cell number, address or name changes ASAP. Thank you.

roSe Blumkin JewiSh home

SaTurDay: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Jim Polack.

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

State Dept.: Coalition deal ‘raises legitimate questions’ on Israel’s path jta news staff In a first official statement to the coalition pact signed between Likud and the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said this “raises legitimate questions” about the direction in which Israel is headed.

The statement came hours after the signing of a coalition deal that will install hardline settler Avigdor Liberman as defense minister instead of Moshe Yaalon, a former general and Likud member.

Confirming to a journalist that the State Department has seen the reports on the new deal, Toner said: “We’ve also seen reports from Israel describing it as the most right-wing coalition in Israel’s history. And we also know that many of its ministers have said they opposed a two-state solution,” according to a transcript of the exchange during the daily press briefing in Washington, which was published on the website of the US Department of State.

“This raises legitimate questions about the direction it may be headed in and what kind of policies it may adopt, but ultimately we’re going to judge this government based on its actions,” Toner added. “We’re going to work with this government as we have with every Israeli government that preceded it, with the goal of strengthening our cooperation, and we remain

steadfast in our commitment to the security of Israel, and in our commitment to working towards a two-state solution.”

Often described in media as far-right in his political approach, Liberman, who has served as Israel’s foreign minister, has made statements in favor and against making territorial compromises for peace. He has also made statements favoring the establishment of a Palestinian state, though he has since said conditions are currently not favorable to realizing this outcome.

Asked about his willingness to cede land in 2014, he said during an interview: “The nation of Israel is more important than the Land of Israel.”

A supporter of the death penalty for terrorists and of conditioning Israeli citizenship on a pledge of allegiance, Liberman’s proposed peace plan involves giving over to a future Palestinian state areas of Israel proper that are populated by Arab Israelis, who are predominantly Palestinian and have Israeli citizenship.

In exchange, he proposed Israel would receive land in the West Bank currently inhabited by Jewish settlers.

“Those who decide they identify as Palestinian could give up their Israeli citizenship and become citizens of a future Palestinian state,” he said in the 2014 interview with Channel 2.

The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016 | 15

lifecycles engagement

JavitCh/ventura

Jenny Javitch and alon ventura announce their engagement.

The bride to be graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota. She works for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities.

She is the daughter of Karen and Gary Javitch, and the granddaughter of the late Ruth and Phil Sokolof, and the late Mildred and Robert Javitch of Cleveland, OH. Her fiancé earned his Bachelor of Science in Real Estate from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas. He is a Commercial Real Estate Broker at Entheos Commercial in Minneapolis.

He is the son of Rachel and Sam Ventura of Las Vegas, and the grandson of the late David and Marie Azoulay, and the late Shemtov and Pnina Ventura - all from Israel A wedding is planned for June 26 in Minneapolis.

Vandalism at 3 New England synagogues

JTA NEWS STAFF BOSTON | JTA Recent vandalism targeting three New England synagogues is aimed at intimidating the Jewish community, the director of the New England office of the Anti-Defamation League said.

Robert Trestan said the attacks at two synagogues in the Boston area and one in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, are part of a spike in anti-Semitic incidents in the region since the start of the year.

Trestan said there is no indication the recent incidents are related, but the short time frame and proximity stand out.

He said the uptick in reported anti-Semitic incidents since the beginning of 2016 -- particularly in schools, but also in the community -- runs from harassment to graffiti. “e incidents already reported to us this year exceed all of 2015, with school-based incidents experiencing the largest increase,” according to a spokesperson at the New England office. e exact figures will be part of a forthcoming report from the national ADL. On May 22, a large swastika was discovered painted across the sign at Temple Ohawe Sholam, an Orthodox synagogue and the only one in Pawtucket, which borders Providence.

On the same day in Beverly, Massachusetts, the words “Merry Christmas” and a large dollar sign were discovered painted on the back walls of Temple B’nai Abraham. May 15, a swastika was discovered painted on the parking lot of Temple Emanuel in Andover, the largest Reform congregation in the city north of Boston.

“These are acts to intimidate Jews at sacred spaces,” Trestan said. e incidents should not be dismissed because the weapon of choice was a can of spray paint, Trestan cautioned. “e message of intimidation and hate is very strong,” he said.

In Pawtucket, the incident is being investigated as a hate crime. ere was no surveillance video in the immediate vicinity and no arrests have been made, according to police.

At a news conference outside Temple Ohawe Sholam the morning aer the grafitti was discovered, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebian condemned the anti-Semitic vandalism.

At the news conference, Grebian and the police chief joined the synagogue’s rabbi and president, as well as others from the Rhode Island Jewish community and clergy from other religious groups.

Within hours of discovering the swastika, drivers passing by were stopping to voice concern and support, according to Marty Cooper, community relations director of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. One Muslim woman offered to pay for replacing the sign, Cooper told JTA. He cited the support of the state’s 7-year-old interfaith organization and other religious organizations. e Jewish Alliance is now exploring ways to provide security cameras to synagogues.

“Lots of shuls can’t afford the cameras. It’s a problem,” Cooper acknowledged.

Fighting about the origins of Yiddish

Cnaan Liphshiz JTA Science has finally provided evidence of what Jewish Star Wars fans long suspected: Yoda is a member of the tribe -- or at least he speaks like one.

The Yoda reference appears in a video in which a 36-year-old Israeli linguist at Sheffield University in England argues that Ashkenazi Jews and the Yiddish language originated in Turkey.

The study joins a number of others published in the past 15 years that challenge the prevailing theory that Jews originated in the Mediterranean Middle East and that Yiddish was developed among Jews in Europe. The research is controversial not only because its critics say it is scientifically weak, but also because it is seen by some to weaken Jews’ claim to the Land of Israel -- and is used to this end by some who oppose the Jewish state.

In a video released in April, geneticist Eran Elhaik explains that Yoda, like Yiddish speakers, uses words from one language, but follows the grammar rules of another. The little green guru speaks strangely constructed English the same way that Yiddish uses German and Hebrew words, but Slavic grammar.

The video is an effort by Elhaik to explain and publicize his study on the origins of Yiddish and Ashkenazi Jews, coauthored by Tel Aviv University linguist Paul Wexler and others and published in March in Oxford University Press’ prestigious journal Genome Biology and Evolution.

According to their theory, the original Ashkenazi Jews lived in a “SlavoIranian confederation” and over time developed Yiddish as a secret language to “gain an advantage in trade.” Though they used German and Hebrew words, they kept the Slavic grammar.

As evidence, Elhaik’s study cites a genetic analysis tracing Ashkenazi Jewish lineage to ancient trade routes in northeastern Turkey.

The findings made headlines around the world. But some of the world’s most prominent scholars in the fields of both Yiddish and Jewish genetics quickly rejected the study and condemned its outsized claims as reflective of deteriorating scientific standards and the politicization of research questions about Jewish history.

Shaul Stampfer, a professor of Soviet and East European Jewry at the Hebrew University, said of Elhaik’s research in an email to JTA: “It is basically nonsense.”

Prof. Dovid Katz, founder of Vilnius University’s Yiddish Institute and an author of several books on the language, savaged the study’s linguistic analysis.

“The authors have melded accurate but contextually meaningless genetic correlations with laughable linguistic theories that now proliferate, sadly, as a consequence of a much weakened Yiddish academic environment internationally,” he told JTA. “There is not a single word or sound in Yiddish that comes from Iranian or Turkish.”

A dialect of Yiddish “thrived before there even was a single Slavic-derived word in the language,” he added. “The paper is a fine example of genetics as smokescreen for off-the-wall linguistics.”

In response, Wexler called Katz’s criticism “totally false” and ignorant -and “more of an emotional tirade than a scholarly statement.”

Sergio DellaPergola, a Hebrew University professor who is among the most prominent demographers of the Jewish people, called the study a “falsification” and “one of the big canards of the 21st century.” He criticized its “exceedingly small” sample size and non-inclusion of Sephardi Jewish genes, which he said would have undermined the findings.

A 2014 analysis by Bennett Greenspan, the American founder of a genetic testing company, compared the profiles of nearly 15,000 Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish men to non-Jews in the Middle East and Europe. He found a “nearly perfect genetic match” between 75 percent of the Jews and the non-Jewish Middle Easterners.

Had a Sephardic-Ashkenazi analysis been included in Elhaik’s study, it would have shown greater similarity between the two groups of Jews than between Ashkenazi Jews and Turkish non-Jews, DellaPergola predicted.

Like most scholars, DellaPergola believes Ashkenazi Jews descend from those who migrated from the Middle East to Europe hundreds of years ago.

The last word, it turns out, may belong to Yoda. “Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view,” the Jedi master said -- in perfect English.

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16 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2016

Thank you

to our Life & Legacy donors for your part in our journey.

It’s more than a donation.

Rabbi Steven & Shira Abraham Michael & Sheri Abramson Michael Albert Anonymous (35) Joyce Ashley John Atherton & Marti Rosen-Atherton Elyce & Aryeh Azriel Bob Belgrade Sandra Belgrade Mark & Jill Belmont Harry Berman Marilyn F. Berman Bonnie Rae Bloch Steven R. Bloch Becki Brenner Beth Brodkey Ron Brodkey Carrie & Josh Brown Elliot Brown Michelle Byrnes Beth Cohen David & Karla Cohen Marla & Bob Cohen Drs. Michael & Karen Cohen & Family Pam Cohn Justin Cooper Ronald & Cheryl Cooper Hal & Mary Daub Arthur L. Davidson Betsy G. Davidson Larry & Hanna DeBruin Rabbi Ari Dembitzer Deborah Denenberg Norman & Eunice Denenberg Steven Denenberg

Tippi Denenberg Pam & Dennis DePorte Eric Dunning Toba Cohen-Dunning Harold Epstein Howard & Sharon Epstein Irving Epstein Mel Epstein Richard Evnen James & Judy Farber Yonatan & Liz Feldstern Toby Fellman Cantor Leo & Annette Fettman Glen H. & Hollie Fineman Alan J. Fredricks Jerry Freeman Joanne Freeman Robyn & Bob Freeman Bruce & Pam Friedlander Amy & Sanford Friedman Lloyd D. & Lois N. Friedman Trust Lois N. Friedman* Lynne Friedel Gellman Howard E. Gendelman H. Lee & Carol Gendler Charitable Fund Donald Gerber Dan & Sarah Gilbert David Gilinsky & Katherine Finnegan Ronald Giller Darlene & Sherman* Golbitz Gary & Barbara Goldstein Dora Goldstrom Alan Goodman* David & Shirley Goodman Andie Gordman & Dan Fitzgerald

Jay & Allison Gordman Linda & Jerry Gordman Steven Gottlieb Andy & Carole Greenberg Barton H. & Caryl B.* Greenberg Joshua & Amanda Gurock Mendy & Michael Halsted M'Lee Hasslinger Kathy Goldstein Helm Bonnie Kuklin Horwich Jon Jabenis Randi Friedel Jablin Joan Sandler Jacobson Richard Jacobson Gary & Karen Javitch Patrick Jensen Sylvia Jess Edward & Anne Joseph & Family Debbi Josephson Frances Juro Richard Juro Marcel & Ilse Kahn Gary & Sally Kaplan Myron Kaplan Russ Kaplan Beatrice Karp Gloria C. Kaslow Howard J. Kaslow Cookie Katskee Julee Katzman Jeff & Sharon Kirshenbaum Kevee Kirshenbaum Donald S. & Delores Klein Marsha A. Kleinberg Milton M. Kleinberg Sara & Ari Kohen David & Janet Kohll

t’s your legacy.

Howard M. & Sharon Kooper Shane & David Kotok Jack Kozlen Alan & Deborah Kricsfeld Janie Fox Kulakofsky David & Debi Kutler Howard & Nancy Kutler K. Wayne & Carole A. Lainof Randal Langdon Sharon Comisar-Langdon Joanie Lehr Sandy & John Lehr Steve & Bonnie Levinger Rochelle Lewis Felicia & Scott Littky Mario Lopez Steve & Thelma Lustgarten* Dr. Edward & Sally Malashock Jody & Neal Malashock Chaya Sarah Malkah Dan Marburg Joan Krasne Marcus Jon & Denise Meyers Sue Meyers Tina & Joe Meyers Troy & Jamie Meyerson Dr. Sidney Mirvish* Stanley & Evelyn Mitchell Eli & Ann Modenstein Ann Moskovits Janie & Allan Murow Bruce Muskin Mary-Beth Muskin Amy Nachman Gary Nachman Murray & Sharee Newman Dr. Patricia Newman

Allan S. Noddle Patty Nogg Steve Nogg Andrea Olson Alan S. Parsow Carol S. Parsow Margo Frohman Parsow Bonnie Pfrenger Eric & Julie Phillips Marcia & Steve Pitlor James & Susan Polack Alan E. Potash Bruce Potash Linda Neumann-Potash Paul Rabinovitz Mary & Joel Rich Philip & Diane Rich Marty & Iris Ricks Ari Riekes Carl Riekes Margo Riekes Steven J. Riekes Zoë Riekes Jane & Harlan Rips Silvia G. Roffman Debbie & Lloyd Roitstein Susan Rothholz Lynne-Carol Saltzman Rosalie & Milton* Saylan Carol* & Ed Schneider Jeff Schweid Aviva Segall & Patrick McNamara Mr. and Mrs. Ben Shapiro Sherry & Larry Shapiro Len Burrell & Cantor Wendy Shermet Gary Shyken

Liat Shyken Paul Shyken Susann Shyken Michael & Andrea Siegel Esther Silver Stanley & Norma Silverman Tootie Simon Gerald & Judy Simons Nancy B. Skid Michael Staenberg Carolyn "Rocky" Stern David Keiser & Lillian Keiser Stoms Foundation Louri Sullivan Barry H. Summer Marilyn & Steven Tipp Basya Tsed R. Thomas Vann Irving & Gail Veitzer Norman & Joodi Veitzer John & Donna Walter Jim & Esther* Wax Aaron Weiner & Therese Vaughn Harry M. Weiner Kathy Weiner Rabbi Yaakov & Ilana Weiss Susan Fellman Witkowski Nancy L. Wolf Renee & Jeff Zacharia Charlotte & Morley Zipursky Sally & Jim Zipursky Deborah & Speedy (Dr. Eugene) Zweiback Rosie Zweiback & Mace Hack *Of blessed memory As of May 1, 2016

260 560 Donor commitments

14.9

Legacy commitments to Omaha’s Jewish organizations

$

million Estimated value of Legacy commitments

Help secure the financial future of Omaha’s Jewish community through the LIFE & LEGACY™ initiative. LIFE & LEGACY is a collaboration between the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and our local Jewish partner organizations: The Jewish Federation of Omaha and its Agencies, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, Temple Israel, Chabad House, Anti-Defamation League/CRC, Friedel Jewish Academy, Institute for Holocaust Education, and Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.

Join these generous donors and make your LIFE & LEGACY commitment today.

Contact the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.

Howard N. Epstein, Executive Director 402-334-6466 | hepstein@jewishomaha.org Margo Parsow, LIFE & LEGACY Coordinator 402-334-6432 | mparsow@jewishomaha.org