June 10, 2016

thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

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Rabbi Azriel’s farewell dinner JU NE 1 0 , 2 0 1 6 | 4 SIV AN 5 7 7 6 | V O L . 9 6 | NO . 3 9 | C A nd lEli g h ti ng | FRID AY , JU NE 1 0 , 8 : 3 9 P. M.

Tri-Faith Youth Banquet page 6

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat page 7

Elyce, left, Aryeh and Yaniv Azriel MikE kEllY Columnist, Omaha World-Herald Ed. note: At Rabbi Aryeh Azriels’s farewell dinner, Saturday, May 28, Omaha World Herald writer Mike Kelly delivered a fantastic speech. He has graciously allowed The Jewish Press to reprint it here.

A Jewish baseball museum, at last page 12

inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles

8 10 11

b

Dr. Baruch Feldstern brings Cecil B. DeMille to Beth El ozziE nogg for Beth El Synagogue On Saturday evening, June 11, following the 8:30 p.m.

Mincha/Ma’ariv service and Havdallah, Beth El Synagogue will serve up traditional Shavuot cheesecake desserts and a special study session with Dr. Baruch Feldstern. A resident of Jerusalem, Dr. Feldstern was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1972. In 1992 he received his PhD in Midrash and a year later began teaching Talmud in the Rothberg School for Overseas Students at the Hebrew University. From 1991-2013 he taught at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. During the Beth El Shavuot study session, Dr. Feldstern will present, Move Over, Cecil B. DeMille.

“Shavuot celebrates the giving of

Credit: Cynthia J. Kohll Photography

ob Freeman said Rabbi Azriel makes Jews feel more Jewish.

I’m Catholic, and he makes me feel more Jewish!

Thank you. I’m so honored to be here as we bless the Azriels, Aryeh and Elyce and their family.

I’m just your local newspaper guy – a

lifelong Catholic, happy to call this dear man my friend.

One time, Rabbi asked me to emcee an event at Temple Israel, and six of us took part in a planning meeting. I noted that I was the only non-Jew there and said I really appreciated being included. Aryeh See Rabbi Azriel page 2

Shavuot: Celebrate receiving the Torah at Beth Israel

Credit: freshdesignpedia.com

the Torah,” Dr. Feldstern said. “We read the Ten Commandments in the synagogue, but the Ten Commandments appear with striking differences in Exodus and Deuteronomy. So which set should we read and, more importantly, how can there be discrepancies in the record of God’s word?” After examining several Bible commentators’ explanations -- including Charlton Heston’s celluloid portrayal of Moses in DeMille’s Ten Commandments -- study session participants will focus on the See Shavuot: beth El page 3

RAbbi WEiSS Beth Israel Synagogue Join Beth Israel Synagogue for a variety of Shavuot events in celebration of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. The holiday itself marks the occasion when the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai and received the Torah from G-d, and every year Jews around the world gather to delve into the lessons of the Torah on Shavuot.

Beth Israel’s always great Shavuot celebration will be further enhanced this year by an incredible group of educators from New York,

including Moreh Benyamin Lerner, Yaakov & Feigy Jeidel, and Shimmy Mentch.

The holiday begins on Saturday night, June 11 at 9:40 p.m. with Maariv, followed by a special Shavuot meal starting off with hamotzi and appetizers at 9:55 p.m. An incredible night of learning will then begin. Following a short class at 10:15 p.m., the dinner’s main course of grilled cheese and salad bar will be served. Learning continues at 11:15 p.m. with another set of classes for adults and children alike. After a brief break at 11:59 p.m. to enjoy a dairy dessert and reception, the all night learning will continue. Classes will be followed by one-on-one learning opportunities. Need a learning partner? Just ask! The Shavuot Saturday night program is provided free of charge. For planning purposes, reservations are requested by contacting the synagogue office.

The first day of Shavuot, Sunday, June 12, will begin with Shacharit at 9 a.m. Plan to stay for a delicious lunch with lasagna, pasta primavera, salmon, tossed salad, garlic bread and, of course, fabulous dairy desserts. The cost is $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 4-12 and free See Shavuot: beth israel page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016

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Rabbi Azriel

Continued from page 1 well as in times of great family celebration. put his hand on my shoulder, smiled and said: “Michael, In 2002, my then 24-year-old daughter, who was a you’ve always been Jewish!” teacher in Texas, was abI wasn’t exactly sure what ducted by a stranger and viothat meant but I decided to lently attacked. I flew to Texas take it as a compliment. that day, a Friday, and an artiI’m pleased to share a few cle appeared the next mornthoughts, professionally and ing in The World-Herald, personally, about this rabbi reporting that Omaha native who connects our entire Bridget Kelly had been shot greater Omaha community. multiple times and was in I’ve known him for some critical condition. Later on years now, and we’re about that Saturday, finally feeling I the same age. I just can’t uncould breathe, I checked my derstand why he’s taking phone messages. early retirement!

The first one had been left Many times he has inat 5:53 a.m. I didn’t recognize spired my writing in The the number, but when I heard World-Herald. In recent the first word of the voice times when we’ve run into message I knew who it was each other, we both reach for from. The first word was... our cell phones and show off Shalom. photos of our grandchildren.

Shalom is a word that Rabbi When it comes to the little Azriel has spoken probably a ones, the rabbi and I are as million times, but I can’t tell goofy as any other grandpas. you how comforting and My wife Barb and I have compassionate that one loved getting to know our “Shalom” was to me. At the beloved son-in-law Eric’s worst time in our family’s life, Jewish family in New York. he had immediately reached Two and a half years ago at Top photo: The Azriel Family: Rabbi Aryeh, left, Elise and Yaniv out to me, someone who is one of our visits to their Azriel; bottom photo back left: Hazzan Erik Contzius, left, Cantor not a member of his congrehome on Long Island, it hap- Jennifer Blum Seeger, Cantor Karen Webber Gilat and Cantor gation. pened to be the first day of Wendy Shermet; front row: Rabbi Debbie Stiel, left, Rabbi Craig The message that followed Hannukah. We had a lovely Marantz, Rabbi Eric Linder and Rabbi Josh Brown.

“Shalom” was prayerful. I meal, and then Eric’s mother, grabbed a sheet of paper and a wonderful harpist, played wrote it down, for some reafor us -- Christmas carols. son thinking I should save it in that way.

I said, “Karen, I loved your Away in the Manger, but do A week and a half ago I said to my wife, “Honey, don’t we you know Adam Sandler’s Hannukah Song? (laughter _) .... have a box with Bridget’s memorabilia?” Turned out it was She went right into it:“Put on your yarmulke, here comes actually three boxes, and I began searching through them. I Hannukah.” looked and I looked and said to Barb, “I seem to remember Professionally, some of my dealings with Rabbi Azriel it was on a yellow sheet.” have related to this amazing plan for a Tri-Faith campus. In I found it. This is the actual yellow sheet, and this is what no place else in the world has a community intentionally I wrote down on June 22, 2002: planned to build a synagogue, a mosque and a church, as 5:53.... Rabbi Azriel. ... “Shalom. I want to share our well as a fourth interfaith building, on one plot of land. It’s prayer for healing. Our thoughts, our emotions at this time not the Holy Land, but when it is completed, it will surely are with your family. We are praying in our congregation be holy land. for Bridget, your daughter. May she discover strength and Seven years ago, 1,100 people gathered across the street come fast to speedy healing. Please don’t hesitate to call if from here for a stirring event: “Dinner at Abraham’s Tent: there’s anything we can do.”

Conversations in Peace.” At the end, a benediction was I didn’t hesitate. I called him. Rabbi hadn’t met Bridget at sung by a cantor, an Episcopal priest and an imam -- rethat point but he told me he sensed she was a woman of spectively in Hebrew, English and Arabic. The evening faith, and she was -- and is. ended with the words, “salaam, peace and shalom.”

In fact, she later said that what happened to her was so In 2013, as you know, the beautiful Temple Israel synafar beyond anything she could handle, she simply gave it to gogue opened near 132nd and Pacific. Construction will God. And when her attacker left, thinking she was dead, start soon on the American Muslim Institute’s mosque. she got up – and felt as though she had been lifted up by And Countryside Community Church has voted to build God. there as well. Many people have led on this project, includI, the dad, rather bitterly said, “Oh, yeah? Well, where ing Dr. Syed Mohiuddin and Pastor Eric Elnes. I don’t was God 10 minutes earlier?” She replied, “He was there know that anyone has pushed harder or longer than Rabbi holding my hand.”

Aryeh Azriel.

That’s the greatest testament of faith I’ve ever heard.

He is full of fire, occasionally willing to thump his hand The Irish like me sometimes get angry with God. Jews on a table for emphasis. I once heard him say, “I am one of don’t do that, do they, Rabbi? those Israelis with no patience. I want this to happen now.”

When we need it, Rabbi Azriel, too, will hold our hands.

It’s happening, Rabbi.

He also will push us -- push us hard to move forward. What Like many or all of you, I also have had a personal conhe won’t do is push us away. On the contrary, Aryeh brings nection with this unique Omahan, Rabbi Azriel. As I tell people together. And he has had a huge impact on Omaha. my story, I know that most of you, too, have had direct conThank you, Aryeh, and thanks to all of you. I bid you tacts with Rabbi in times of illness, injury or tragedy, as salaam, peace -- and especially to you, my rabbi, shalom.

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The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016 | 3

Shavuot: Beth Israel

Continued from page 1 for ages three and younger. Please contact the Beth Israel office for reservations.

On Monday, June 13, the day again begins with Shacharit at 9 a.m. and services will include Yizkor at 10:30 a.m. On the final day of Shavuot, Beth Israel will honor the Ben Shushan family, Eliad, Sara, Nehoray, Shilat, Amitay and Ettiel and wish them well before they return to Israel.

The Ben Shushans have made great contributions to the Beth Israel and Omaha communities over the past three years and Beth Israel would like to thank them for all of their work on behalf of the Jewish community of Omaha.

More learning sessions will take place in the evening, including a special session with ice cream for adults and children at 7:30 p.m. The holiday concludes with Maariv and Havdalah at 9:50 p.m.

The mission of Beth Israel Synagogue is to perpetuate the legacy of Torah Judaism in the modern world and provide a home for those who wish to learn about and observe halacha, Jewish law. Beth Israel Synagogue welcomes all persons of the Jewish faith to join, and accepts the diversity of practice and thought among its members. Beth Israel offers a variety of religious, cultural and social programs throughout the year. For more information, please contact Beth Israel Synagogue’s office at 402.556.6288, or e-mail BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

Shavuot: Beth El

Continued from page 1 commandment to remember the Sabbath day, what our tradition says we are supposed to ‘remember’ and how we might actually fulfill the injunction.

“Spending time in Torah study on the eve of Shavuot began with the mystics of Safed,” explained Beth El’s rabbi, Steven Abraham. “Typically, this Tikkun Leil Shavuot can address a variety of topics, including ancient or modern texts, Jewish history or current events. We’re delighted to have Dr. Feldstern share his wisdom with us, and we invite the community to join in the learning.”

According to a recent issue of Tablet Magazine, Jewish communities across the country are trying to make the tikkun a more popular destination with performances, film screenings, and Israeli dancing. This year, Valley Beth Shalom -- a Conservative synagogue in Los Angeles -- will bring in a cow to give children an opportunity to watch a milking demonstration and churn their own butter in conjunction with the tradition of eating dairy on Shavuot.

“We had live camels at Beth El during our Second Seder for the congregation,” Rabbi Abraham said, “and the rides were very popular with the kids and some adults, too.

Cows on Shavuot may be next; but for now, Beth El will stick with cheesecake and other dairy desserts.”

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Voices of Beth El: Holly and Glen Fineman

SHErriE SaaG the Jewish Community. births; they never questioned attendfor Beth El Synagogue “I needed a place to say Kaddish for ing Sunday school or any Talmud len and Hollie Fineman my father. I was single when I came to Torah classes, as well as BESTT or Hecame to Omaha in the Omaha and wanted to connect with brew High classes. They were able to 1970s and, accordsee their Jewish friends and ing to Hollie, when learned much about many asfirst married, were pects of Judaism.” Hollie says advisors for the USY group at Beth El became the boys’ Beth El and were paid $20 a “home away from home.” month. “We loved being with Glen has taught Hebrew the kids who are now all High School classes for over grown and have USY’ers of 13 years at Beth El, hoping to their own,” said Hollie. continue to make valuable Glen was born and raised contributions to students’ on the South side of Chicago lives. Through teaching on and moved to the suburbs various subjects with both when he was 11 years old. His Glen, left, Hollie, Lila, Lindsay, Michael, Scarlett, Brooke and Nathan Jewish and general content, mother, a Chicago native, and Glen feels he is able to prohis father, born in Montreal, vide an opportunity for Beth Canada and raised in Detroit, El teens to discuss and learn met at Roosevelt High School from each other about diffion Chicago’s north side. cult issues in life.

“I attended services at Beth Both Hollie and Glen have El as soon as I moved to many meaningful memories Omaha for graduate school, at Beth El from a variety of in order to feel connected to the Jewother Jews in the conservative moveevents and lifecycle moments in their ish community. I also wanted to conment, so Beth El was and continues to family’s lives. Hollie describes the Auf nect with other conservative Jews and be the right place for me,” said Hollie.

Rufs for both of her sons and future the Jewish community since my family Hollie served on the Beth El Board daughters-in-law as “amazing”. She was unaffiliated in Chicago. I needed for ten years, during which time Beth adds this year’s Passover Seder to her to feel a stronger Jewish identity.” Glen El was designed and built on 144th list. “It was a wonderful, creative said.

Street. She taught first grade Sunday multigenerational experience, one that Hollie’s father and mother moved to school for seven years, and when her hopefully, our children and grandchilMarshalltown, Iowa, from Chicago in sons were small she introduced regular dren can attend next year.”

1953, where some of her mother’s exShabbat dinner programming for An additional meaningful Fineman tended family had been resettled from young children. memory was the day Glen and their Eastern Europe after the war. “We kept “It was so important to us to get our oldest son, Michael, became B’nai kosher and would drive three hours to children involved from the time they Mitzvah together. buy meat at the kosher butcher shops were born, Hollie said, “Our sons, Both Hollie and Glen feel the opporin Omaha and then drive back very Michael and Nathan, both married tunity to create and share with their quickly so nothing would spoil!!” Hol- Kansas City girls they first met in Beth El family has been an enriching lie said the synagogue in Marshalltown BBYO and USY.” and joyful part of their lives. They are has been gone for many years. Her Regarding his sons, Glen added, happy to lend their Voices to Beth El parents are buried in a small section of “Our children attended Shabbat servand join in the conversation to support the community cemetery devoted to ices and events at Beth El since their synagogue life.

“Omaha is our home although many still consider us newcomers because neither of us were born here.”

Hollie Fineman

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An incredible Shabbat

4 | The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016

community This month at the JCC Gallery Lynn BaTTEn JCC Gallery Manager During the month of June, the JCC Gallery proudly welcomes Los Angeles based artist, Loren Kantor.

Kantor, a woodcut printmaker, artist, and writer, first fell in love with woodcut printing in the 80’s after seeing a German Expressionist Exhibit at the LA Lauren Bacall County Museum of Art. “I loved the stark lines and bold imagery The prints embedded in my subconscious and whenever I saw a woodcut print I felt a sense of excitement,” he said.

Being a fan of vintage movies, Kantor began carving a series of Classic Movie Woodcuts.

End of school year

“The black and white imagery inherent in film noir was a perfect match for the carved line of the woodcut. I later learned the roots of film noir cinematography came from the German Expressionist movement.”

Loren’s recent series of film-inspired woodcuts include classic actors like James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart as well as modern directors like Jim Jarmusch and David Lynch. A portion of this series will be on display in the JCC Gallery. All of the work displayed will be for sale.

JCC Gallery hours are Mondays - Thursdays from 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Lynn Batten, Gallery Manager, at 402.334.6564.

The JCC Gallery extends special thanks to the following Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds for their support of JCC Gallery Programming: The Gertrude T. & Albert B. Newman Endowment Fund and The Ann Woskoff Schulman Memorial Fund.

ZEV KrausMan nlike my other trips to Israel, this one allowed me to focus more on the people of Israel. The most impactful part was the shabbat with my host family. Because I am shomer shabbat, I requested to be with a host family that was shomer shabbat as well. The family I stayed with was Mizrachi, tracing their roots back to Yemen. Because of this, there were many cultural differences between us besides their ultra Orthodox level of observance.

For one thing, the food was out of this world. I’m serious - you haven’t lived until you’ve had real Jachnun. On Friday night we walked with our host sister, Shiri, to her school where Volunteering at the naharia medical center she and her painting the walls. friends have either a weekly bible study session or a random game session. That week was random games. It was so bizarre and fun to play Dag Maluach (Israeli Redlight Greenlight), charades, and monkey in the middle (with a hat) with real Israeli teens. Of course I also learned that my Hebrew skills weren’t nearly as good as I thought they were; but to be fair, Israeli teens talk very quickly. Sharing jokes and stories about our lives, we quickly formed a permanent bond with our host family. For the rest of my life, I’ll never forget that amazing shabbat with my incredible host family.

In the news

adam Patrick Howard graduated from Valencia High School in Valencia, CA, on May 27. His parents are Stephanie and Rodger Howard of Santa Clarita, CA. Grandparents are Sarah and Ted Seldin of Omaha. Adam plans to attend Syracuse University in the Fall.

Celebrating another successful year at Temple Israel’s Confirmation on May 18.

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The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016 | 5

Update from our CEo

Known by a variety of names, the Center for Jewish Life has always been an important asset to our community. It began as the Bureau of Jewish Education, evolved into Jewish Educational and Library AlAn PotAsh Services, grew into the Chief Executive Officer, Center for Jewish Edu- JFO cation, and finally, in 2012, became the Center for Jewish Life. roughout this evolution, the mission has remained constant: to provide programs and services to maximize the involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling, and meaningful Jewish experiences. It is no mistake that Jewish is in that sentence more than once; CJL works to enhance the Jewish flavor of all we do here at the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Having stated that, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors approved the dissolution of the Center for Jewish Life as a stand-alone agency of the Federation. As a means of further expanding and enriching community engagement, each part of CJL will now fall under the Federation umbrella.

When I mention the Center for Jewish Life, what do you think of? e Shaliach? Of course, we will be continuing this valuable program. We have just completed three years with an unforgettable Israeli liaison – Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan.

Eliad and his family have impacted every aspect of our community and will be a hard act to follow. Details of the new shaliach program are still pending. e upcoming program may not look the same but we remain committed to developing and sharing knowledge of and passion for Israel. e Jewish Omaha Film Festival? Again, we will be continuing this program, an annual event since 2001. Last year’s festival entertained over 800 people. e dates and films are being determined. Watch the Jewish Press for additional news.

e Kripke Library is home to one of the largest collections of Judaic material in the Midwest. It also may look slightly different in the future but we remain committed to keeping this asset available for our community. e Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group and the Jewish Book Month celebrations will continue.

A position of Director of Community Engagement & Education has been created -tasked with further enhancing innovative Jewish learning and programming while reaching out across the Omaha communal landscape and attracting all ages. e programming, education, library and community shaliach will now fall under the direction of this new role. We have posted this new position and have begun interviews. e Israel/Overseas component which includes our Partnership2GETHER will transition to our Financial Resource Development team, under the direction of Steve Levinger. It will fit well with this group’s Israel projects and missions. Our commitment to continue to grow and strengthen our relationship with Israel’s Western Galilee remains solid.

I am investigating the best option strategically for the extremely important and sensitive piece of CJL’s scope – the scholarships and grants. ese changes will allow innovative Jewish enhancements to become a more robust part of the Federation’s mission-based focus.

Ours is an ever changing, ever evolving community and the Federation is committed to remaining responsive to those needs. e demographic study we have undertaken will be instrumental in identifying our future wants and needs. We anticipate the first community meetings relative to the study to begin next month. Again, additional information will be provided in the Jewish Press. e time and effort given to the Center for Jewish Life by the community has been greatly appreciated. I do hope the community will continue to build and support a relationship with us. Volunteer and leadership opportunities are always available.

BEth CohEn Head of School, Friedel Jewish Academy Friedel Jewish Academy unveiled their new logo at their Graduation Ceremony in May. A Marketing Committee, chaired by Laurel Krausman, and a Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Ari Kohen, have spent the past year listening to the community and developing the school’s message. The logo is one piece of the new face of Friedel, with a new website being rolled out in August.

“In creating the logo, we wanted it to say that Friedel

is a vibrant, dynamic, child-centered Jewish institution.

When our students saw the new logo for the first time, I loved that they saw the imagery in all of the design elements,” explains Head of School Beth Cohen.

“The Tree of Life, the Hebrew letters as the leaves of the tree, and the illusion of the tree being like a young child with their arms and mind open – all intend to communicate a love for learning, growth, development, creativity and innovation, along with the energy and love of Jewish life instilled in those who are connected to Friedel.”

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6 | The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016

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tri-Faith Youth Banquet

o

aLiYah LasKY Director of Youth and Young Adult Engagement, Temple Israel n Wednesday, May 25, Temple Israel hosted the first Tri-Faith Youth Program for 7th-12th graders. The program was the “Tri-Faith Youth Banquet.” Every person who participated in the banquet brought their favorite food dish or an item used in their religious and/or cultural background to share with other participants. With each item or dish, each participant also wrote on a placard what their item or dish was and the significance behind it. The evening then started with introduction games and mixer questions, to allow the participants to meet new people and feel more comfortable with their surroundings. Within 15 minutes, all the young people were seated with different people laughing, smiling and enjoying their new found friends.

Before dinner, a representative from each religious institution led the group in a prayer before the meal. Participants then were able to come up to the banquet table, to try an assortment of different foods that were contributed by youth members of Countryside Community Church, the American Muslim Institute, and Temple Israel. There was food ranging from Matzah Ball soup and latkes, to Biryani and Sheer Khorma, Gingerbread cookies and Pickled Herring. Needless to say, none of the 50 participants in the evening left

hungry. All ended up stuffed and satisfied!

Near the end of dinner, three representatives from each Tri-Faith group led a discussion about what each learned about someone else’s faith and culture and spoke about their desire to further explore in-

depth conversations together.

The teens said they would like to meet again soon and plan the next program that would build on the evening’s activities and also be social in nature.

After cleaning everything up, Will Howell, Countryside’s youth director and Hina Naushad, AMI’s youth director and I could tell everyone left the program satisfied and wanting more of these kinds of experiences with our Tri-Faith partners.

We are very much looking forward to our next Tri-Faith youth program and spreading the word about how successful and meaningful these kinds of programs and discussions can be for future generations.

For more information on future activities, please contact Aliyah Lasky, Director of Youth and Youth Adult Engagement at Temple Israel, 402.556.6536.

Betty Bader’s Retirement Party jordana L. KurtzMan for Beth Israel Synagogue

Betty Bader, Beth israel’s Kitchen Manager, recently retired after 25 years. Left: Betty cutting her retirement cake; right: joshua and isaac Kurtzman with Betty

organizations

B’nai B’rith BreadBreaKers Speaker to be announced for wednesday, june 15, noon. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

jewish press notice

There will be no Jewish Press on july 1, 2016. The Jewish Press office is closed Monday, july 4,

for Independence Day; Questions? Please call 402.334.6448.

The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016 | 7

community

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat

Thursday, June 2, and Sunday, June 5, the members of the JCC Musical Theater Community Acting Group performed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Premiere Musical Theater Camp (ages 8-14) is from July 11 through 15. Call Registrar Laura Wine at 402.334.6419 to sign up. Visit jewishomaha.org/jcc/ and click on the ‘Camp’ tab for the latest updates. Joseph was made possible through support from the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Fund, the Morton A. Richards Youth Program Fund, the Samuel and Bess Rotherberg Memorial Endowment Fund and the JCC Theatre Program Endowment Fund.

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8 | The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016

viewpoint thejewishpress

(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.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press.

Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

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Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewish omaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha. org.

Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org.

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view.

Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf.

Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422.

Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or e-mail to: jpress@jewishomaha. org.

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press As- National Newspaper sociation Association Award winner 2008

Political speak

ANNETTE vAN DE KAmP-WRiGhT Editor of the Jewish Press here is an element in the current political narrative that has bothered me for the longest time. It’s the idea of the “outsider in politics.” Apparently, for many people not being a politician makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

Do you visit your dentist to have your baby? Do you go to your insurance office for an MRI, or to your local farmer’s market to have your taxes done? No, you don’t.

Why not? Because it’s ridiculous, that’s why. And yet, when it comes to the highest office in this country, many talking heads portray being an outsider as a good thing, and many voters buy it. That worries me.

I’m a child of the 1980s, when the thing that scared everyone the most was having a head of state crazy enough to push that big red button. At the same time, the Presidency is not a dictatorship; the President does not have as much power as we sometimes think. The candidates themselves should probably remember that as well. Any campaign promises that start with the words “When I’m President…” should be taken with a grain of salt. Unless a Congressional majority has your back, you’re not going to get very far.

However, that has never stopped any politician, regardless their party affiliation, from using a lot of empty words. It is all part of the unspoken language rules that come with being a politician. We don’t learn about it in school, but everybody knows it: when a politician speaks, the public needs to translate.

It’s how we know “Family values” means anti-LGBT, and when a candidate promises to lower taxes, she/he means: “vote for me and then we’ll see.”

Then there’s the inability to answer questions head-on. Where a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will do, politicians often twist and turn their answers into rehearsed language that addresses issue B, when the question specifically focused on issue A. The Urban Dictionary identifies ‘Political Speak’ as follows: “The art of changing two way discourse into one-way communication; sticking to the party message no matter what the other is saying. Political speak is when a politician is interviewed and asked a question and the politician answers with a response that has nothing to do with the question, but rather propounds the party message on their topic of the day. Thus transforming what was a two way discourse into a one way diatribe with very little if any meaningful content.” (Urbandictionary.com) You sometimes have to wonder how they talk to each other

when the doors are closed and nobody is recording. It’s mindboggling.

In her 2007 article Life, Liberty and Politicians’ Maddening Way with Words, Anne Applebaum wrote: “The truth, of course, is that political campaigns get interesting only when the candidates stop speaking in ringing generalities and infuriating phrases, which doesn't mean that they therefore become successful or even good for the country. Sen. John McCain's 2000 campaign appealed precisely because he eschewed pre-prepared gobbledygook—though that wasn't enough even to win the Republican nomination. I am also still convinced that voters originally liked George W. Bush's inarticulacy: At least he didn't sound quite as smooth, and ultimately meaningless, as everyone else. Only with time did his natural-born inability to speak English begin to produce infuriating phrases of truly unique pointlessness: "These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved" was a recent classic.” (Slate.com) Not much has changed since Applebaum wrote that paragraph. So where does that leave the voters? How does the public get past what is said, when what is said is empty and meaningless and fraught with generalities?

I’m not sure I have an answer. I do believe one of the reasons Donald Trump is where he is today because he convinced his audience he speaks plainly. And I guess the public is so tired of trying to make sense of what politicians mean, even hateful and controversial statements, when spoken plainly, resonate with his audience.

President Johnson speaks to the nation, 1964.

Not too long ago, I listened to a story on NPR about Ted Cruz’ work during the 2000 Presidential election recount. He was eloquent, clear and easy to listen to. No translation needed. He avoided meaningless words, or platitudes: he said what he meant, and it made sense. He sounded like a man it would be possible to have a civil discourse with. Maybe even a civilized disagreement. It was a big difference with the Ted Cruz who showed up on the campaign trail 16 years later, and the narrative of Cruz as the outsider starts ringing false when listening to that earlier voice.

This November, the country will elect its next leader. There is nothing about that that will be easy. The daunting task of informing one’s self about what candidates really mean, think, plot and envision is one that would challenge a room full of political science professors.

Jim FARBER Editor’s note: Temple Israel Past-President Jim Farber gave the following speech at the May 28 dinner celebrating Elyce and Rabbi Aryeh Azriel. He graciously agreed to let the Jewish Press reprint it.

In 1988, four Temple Israel congregants traveled East to check out the man we thought could be our new Senior Rabbi.

We attended a sermon by the candidate, followed by an Oneg attended by a large portion of the 1,800 member Baltimore Hebrew Congergation. We received glowing recommendations about Elyce and Aryeh from everyone. In fact, as we reviewed the comments, we had to reach one of two conclusions: A) Rabbi Aryeh Azriel was the greatest thing since sliced bread, or B) they were overselling him to get him out of there.

You know what was decided next.

Let’s flash back to the interview process.

Among the primarily traditional candidates to lead this mostly classical Reform congregation in a conservative Midwest city was a bearded Israeli with some physical challenges and an accent that was definitely not Midwestern.

There were a few things, though, that outshone everything: he had enthusiasm and a positive outlook.

important things I have to say.”

Did I mention enthusiasm? How about chutzpah?

After Aryeh was named Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel, a reception was held where he was introduced to the Board of Directors. After his opening remarks, someone asked him if he was an American citizen.

“You bet I am,” he replied. “I even know the final two words of the national anthem.

It’s ‘Play Ball’.”

His success as a fundraiser is legendary.

He is a man of ideas and his six-word sales talk is guaranteed to get a project funded.

He gets unanimous approval for great programs at board meetings. After those meetings, the President will take him aside and ask him: “Aryeh, you committed us to this, but we can’t afford it. Where will the money come from?”

Rabbi Azriel’s reply: “Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out.”

Elyce and Rabbi Aryeh Azriel And we always do.

Credit: Cynthia J. Kohll Photography Congratulations to the original search An example: When he was asked: “Will your committee. Elyce and Aryeh, your 28-year inaccent be a disadvantage?” he replied:”It’s an adternship is hereby pronounced a success, and we vantage. It makes people pay attention to all the send you on your way to new opportunities!

Enthusiasm and Chutzpah

The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016 | 9

What sex in a traditional Shavuot reading can teach today’s teens

DoNNa KiRShBaum text is bigger than two consenting adults in a bed. It inOmer, Israel | JTA cludes remembering in whose image we are created, that we As Jews, we tend to pride ourselves on our tradition’s valare God’s partners in improving and sanctifying life, and ues and how we pass them on to future generations: values that freedom and responsibility are both essential for ausuch as education, tzedakah, loving the stranger, pursuing thentic relationships that help both partners grow. justice and tikkun olam, “repair of the world.â€? But if you Jewish teens, living in a complex world full of competing were to start a conversation today with a teenager, would values, need to hear that the more they are able to connect you be ready to articulate Jewish values related to dating sex to love and love to respect, the more deeply satisfied and and sexuality? whole both they and Several such values can their partners will feel. be gleaned straight from Jewish Women Internathe Book of Ruth, custional recently produced tomarily read during the “Dating Abuse: Tools for holiday of Shavuot, which Talking to Teens,â€? an begins this year on the online video course for evening of June 11. Best parents and teens about known for its embrace of healthy relationships, Ruth as a convert to Juprevention of abuse and daism and its emphasis proven interventions. on loving-kindness, the î ˘e curriculum notes Book of Ruth also inthat teens, especially cludes interactions that girls, are “bombarded have a potentially sexual with the glorification of cast to them. It is a text idealized, romantic, obthat names what it sees sessive loveâ€? and that The Book of Ruth articulates Jewish values related to dating and sexuality, many boys are “inunrather than sugarcoats.

Rabbi Donna Kirshbaum writes.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons dated with hyper-sexuFor example, here we read about Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of Ruth’s destitute, wid- alized messages reducing relationships to degrading sex, owed mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz invites Ruth, along with glorifying control of women’s bodies, and promoting vioother young women, to collect unharvested produce in his lence.â€? But it also reminds parents and other trusted adults fields. He tells Ruth that he has instructed his men not to that they can counteract these influences by sharing their molest her. Naomi, hearing later that day about Ruth’s own values with their children. gleaning in Boaz’s fields, admits her relief that young men Although the Book of Ruth is an ancient text told in only from another field won’t be touching her daughter-in-law. four chapters, it can be a source of Jewish values for teens Later, Naomi counsels Ruth to make herself as attractive as entering the world of dating today. î ˘ese include the impossible, to seek out Boaz aî‚?er his dinner, and to “uncover portance of giving actions their right names; for instance, his feet and lie down.â€? Boaz was a sexual hero to our ancesnaming any form of coerced or non-consensual sexual actors -- one who manages to restrain himself for the sake of tivity as abuse. Another is that every human act, even one the dignity and welfare of another. When Ruth identifies that seems instinctive and oî‚?en depicted as a purely physiherself that night, she calls Boaz her redeemer -- someone cal transaction, deserves the dignity that comes from our who can save her, legally, from continued widowhood. But being God’s partners. A third is that sex is potentially holy he points out there is an even closer relative in the town, and not something innately shameful. whom he goes to look for as soon as day breaks. We can also Of course, the story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz has much infer that nothing of a sexual nature happens between them to teach everyone about healthy relationships. JWI’s holiday because of what we know about Boaz from the start: He con- guide, “Rethinking Shavuot: Women, Relationships, and siders everyone created in the image of God. Jewish Textsâ€? (available as a free download), provides exî ˘is basic Jewish value, in turn, can lead us to Judaism’s cerpts from the Book of Ruth along with contemporary view of the potential sacredness of all relationships, includcommentaries and conversation starters, especially for coling sexual ones. As Rabbi Paul Yedwab teaches in “Sex in lege-age students and adults at all stages of life. the Texts,â€? his guide for Jewish teenagers, “In our sexual acAs the Jewish world prepares to celebrate revelation at tivities, we need to retain our human character – indeed our Shavuot, may we all continue to learn and teach enduring divine imprint.â€?

Jewish values that continue to be revealed to us through our Finding a potential for divine connection in sexual enconversations with and about our texts. counters does not make Jewish tradition averse to sex and Rabbi Donna Kirshbaum is a member of JWI’s Clergy sexuality; it encourages sexual pleasure. But the Jewish con- Task Force on Domestic Abuse in the Jewish Community.

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NCJW calls on government, courts to act quickly

NaNcy K. KaufmaN Chief Executive Officer, National Council of Jewish Women The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) called on the government and the circuit courts to act to preserve no-cost access to contraceptives for employees and students of non-profit religious hospitals, charities, and colleges, among other nonprofit employers, in the wake of today’s US Supreme Court’s ruling in Zubik v. Burwell.

The court did not rule outright in the case, but instead ordered lower courts to reexamine the challenges and told the parties to attempt a compromise. NCJW CEO Nancy K. Kaufman released the following statement: The Supreme Court’s ruling in Zubik v. Burwell to send the case back to the federal circuit courts once again delays certainty on how access to contraceptive coverage will be assured for those who are employed by faith-affiliated nonprofit organizations. The National Council of Jewish Women has worked tirelessly on this issue and joined an amicus brief supporting women’s unfettered access to birth control coverage under the health reform law, which we believe is critical to respecting women’s religious liberty. We are disappointed with today’s lack of a conclusive resolution to the case, but remain hopeful as eight of nine circuits had already ruled in the government’s favor upholding such coverage.

Nevertheless, NCJW continues to urge the US Department of Health and Human Services to stand fast in its efforts on behalf of women in whatever process unfolds.

The Supreme Court itself instructed the parties to be sure that women covered by religious nonprofits receive ‘full and equal health coverage, including contraceptive coverage.’ We are encouraged that this goal remains the standard for resolving this case. NCJW remains committed to affordable access to birth control for all women, no matter what their employer believes, their income, or any other factor.

Zubik also illustrates the need for the Senate to do its job to fill the current Supreme Court vacancy by holding hearings and allowing a vote to confirm a ninth justice as soon as possible.

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.

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10 | The Jewish Press | June 10, 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: Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv, 6 p.m. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Service & Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 9:30 a.m. Sophie Ambrose and Alice Weiss will celebrate their Bat Mitzvahs; Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m.; Ma’ariv & Havdalah, 9:30 p.m. followed by cheesecake and special study session with Dr. Baruch Feldstern. weekday serVices: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. sunday: Shavout Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. monday: Synaogue Office Closed--Second Day of Shavuot; Shavuot Morning Service with Yizkor, 9:30 a.m. followed by Dairy lunch and Mincha. wednesday: Minyan & More, 6:15 p.m. with Rabbi Abraham.

Dinner in honor of Larry DeBruin on his retirement, friday, June 17, 7 p.m.

Lunch at Nebraska AIDS Coalition, friday, June 24, 11:30 a.m.

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, 7:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:39 p.m. saTurday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Torah Parade and Kids Classes, 9:45 a.m.; Insights into the Weekly Portion, 7:35 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:20 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah/ Candlelighting, 9:40 p.m.; Kiddush and Shavuot Seudah on the house!; Hamotzi and Appetizers, 9:55 p.m.; Learning Sessions 1a and 1b for adults and children, 10:15 p.m.; Main Course (Grilled Cheese and Salad Bar), 10:45 p.m.; Session 2a and 2b, 11:15 p.m.; Dairy Dessert Reception & Ice Cream, 11:59 p.m.; Session 3a and 3b for adults and children, 12:30 a.m.; Session 4 (adults), 1:30 a.m.; One-on-one learning through the night, 2:30 a.m.; Early Shacharit, 5:15 a.m. sunday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; First Day of Shavuot Lunch along with Family Fued. Menu: Lasagna, past primavera, tossed salad, garlic bread and dairy desserts. Adults: $12; Children 412: $6; free for children 3 and under; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:05 p.m.; Candle Lighting before 8:58 p.m. or after 9:52 p.m. weekdays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. monday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Yizkor, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush and Presentation to Eliad Eliyahu and Sara Ben Shushan and family; Session 6a & 6b for adults and children (& Ice Cream), 7:30 p.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.; Session 7, 8:50 p.m.; Ma’ariv/ Havdalah, 9:50 p.m.

Thursday: Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m.; Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m.; Talmud Learning, 8 p.m.

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.; Shabbat Evening Service, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:40 p.m. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Bemidbar; Havdalah (72 minutes), 10:10 p.m. sunday: Shavuot Service, 9 a.m. at Tifereth Israel; Lunch and study, noon at Tifereth Israel.

Game Night/Potluck, saturday, June 18, 6 p.m.

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.

rose Blumkin Jewish home

saTurday: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Scott Weiler.

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

Temple israel

Services, 10:30 a.m.; Erev Shavuot Service, 6 p.m. Join us for pizza, prayer and a piece of cake as we celebrate Shavuot.

We will discuss the current refugee crisis in the world as we remember the story of Ruth joining our people as a stranger and becoming the key to our future. sunday: Shavuot Service and Yizkor, 10:30 a.m.

Movie & Discussion Nights at Temple Israel: The Gett, wednesday, June 15, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel. An Israeli woman (Ronit Elkabetz) fights for three years to obtain a divorce from her devout husband (Simon Abkarian), who refuses to grant his permission to dissolve the marriage. A discussion on the challenges of a Jewish divorce will follow the movie led by Scott Littky, Program Director, Temple Israel.

TifereTh israel

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. friday: Services, 6:30 p.m. saTurday: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddish lunch. sunday: Shavuot Services, 9:30 a.m. followed by a special Shavuot lunch and study session beginning at noon with members of South Street Temple joining us at our building.

Rabbi Lewis and Nancy Coren will both lead a study session related to the Book of Ruth (which is read on Shavuot). The sessions will end by 2 p.m. monday: Shavuot Services, 9:30 a.m. a yizkor service will follow the Torah service. Yizkor gives those who have suffered the loss of a loved one in the past an opportunity to pay tribute to their memories.

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.

friday: Farewell Celebration with Rabbi Brown and Family, 6 p.m. Bring your whole family to the child friendly Shabbat service to say your goodbyes to Rabbi Josh Brown, Carrie, Hannah, Noah and Ezra. The service will be followed by a congregational BBQ in the outside courtyard. saTurday: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo signs executive order against BDS

jtA NewS StAff New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order against the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement.

The order signed Sunday, hours before the start of New York’s annual Celebrate Israel Parade, will require state agencies to divest themselves of companies and organizations aligned with the BDS movement.

Cuomo said at the signing at the Harvard Club in Manhattan that New York is Israel’s “true friend.”

“And it’s very simple. If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you,” he said. “If you divert revenues from Israel, New York will divert revenues from you. If you sanction Israel, New York will sanction you. Period.”

New York is the first state in which the governor has taken executive action against the BDS movement. Several state legislatures have passed anti-BDS legislation, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and South Carolina. In total, 21 states have taken up anti-BDS legislation.

Cuomo, a Democrat, criticized elements of his party that have taken stands perceived as being against Israel.

“As a Democrat, I always took for granted that there was a natural relationship with Israel

that was unquestionable,” Cuomo said. “You now have aspects of the Democratic Party that are being critical of Israel as being disproportionate in its response.”

Alphonso David, counsel to the governor, told The New York Times before the signing that he expects the number of companies that do business with the state that endorse or are engaged in the BDS movement to be “quite significant.”

In other news, McGill University’s student board called BDS unconstitutional.

BDS resolutions that “actively campaign” against Israel run counter to the McGill University’s undergraduate student union constitution, the union’s judicial board agreed.

While the board decision, called a “reference,” still faces ratification by the Student Society of the McGill board of directors, the move on June 1 is being hailed as a victory on a Montreal campus where BDS motions have failed to pass three times over 18 months.

The decision “is a clear signal that the SSMU understands the nature of BDS on campus,” said Patrick Benaroche of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Quebec.

The reference was the judicial board’s response to a complaint filed in March by a McGill student upset over the third BDS motion proposed at the university a month earlier.

The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016 | 11

PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPERS ARE

lifecycles bat mItzvah

leah bayla guroCk

leah bayla gurock, daughter of Amanda and Joshua Gurock, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, June 18, at Congregation Beth Abraham Jacob in Albany, NY. Leah is a sixth-grade student at Maimonides Hebrew Day School in Albany, NY. Her interests include gymnastics, hanging out with friends and babysitting.

For her mitzvah project, Leah raised $3000 to adopt the Music and Memory Program for the Guilderland Nursing Home.

She has a sister, Sophia and two brothers, Max and Jacob.

Grandparents are Candee and Jerry Mack of Omaha, Peggy and Noah Gurock of Atlanta, GA. Great-grandparents are the late Morris and Jean Bresel of Omaha, the late Bayla and Gunther Shloss of New York, and the late Leah and Jack Gurock of New York.

In memorIam

lInda Sue (PrIeSman) SmIth

Linda Sue (Priesman) Smith passed away on June 2 in Sun City, AZ. Services were held on June 8 at National Cemetery, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024.

She was preceded in death by her parents Justin Priesman and Lois (Pepper) Priesman.

She is survived by her husband Michael; son, Jason of Phoenix, AZ; brother, Steven Priesman, sister-in-law, Marion Priesman, nephew, Brian Priesman, and neice, Jennifer (Priesman) Goos) all of Omaha.

Linda graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she studied journalism. She worked for both the Council Bluffs Nonpareil, and the Des Moines Register &Tribune, prior to joining the telecom industry where she spent most of her career as a technical writer. She was a strong advocate for social justice, and member of ORT. In retirement, Linda focused her passion towards child advocacy spending over 20 years working within the Foster Care system, including serving as a CASA in her home state of Nebraska, and on the state Foster Care Review board in her new home of Phoenix, AZ. Linda enjoyed reading, cooking, games, and the company of friends & family.

Memorials may be made to the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, 1645 E. Missouri Ave, Suite 450, Phoenix, AZ 85016, phone: 602.252.9445 and website: http://fosterfriendaz.org/.

Sports briefs

David Kay and Sandy Gordon of Integrity ATA Marital Arts competed in the Great Plains District Championship Tournament held in Sioux City, Iowa. David placed 2nd in Combat Sparring. Mrs. Gordon, owner of Integrity ATA, placed 2nd in Forms and Weapons and 1st in Sparring and Combat Sparring. Ethan Finkelstein had also qualified to compete in this tournament but was unable to attend.

This tournament was for those who qualified by being in the top 10 in their rank and age division in their state. The Great Plains District is made up of Nebraska, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri. Those who qualified should be very proud of themselves.

You are the most powerful influence in your child’s daily life.

Kids who learn from their parents or care-givers about the risks of drugs are:

Separate swim periods for women

jta news staff An only-in-New-York story about a public swimming pool that offered women-only swim periods for the area’s Orthodox community turned into a full-blown media firestorm when The New York Times weighed in on the subject. e pool, located in the heavily Orthodox Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, had been offering women-only hours since the 1990s to accommodate those whose religious sensitivities forbid women and men from swimming together.

Late last month, the Parks Department canceled the women-only swim periods aer an anonymous complaint was made to the city’s Commission on Human Rights, only to reverse itself following objections by Assemblyman Dov Hikind, an Orthodox politician representing the nearby Borough Park and Midwood neighborhoods. e reversal led to a strongly worded editorial in the Times on May 31 asserting that setting aside a special time for a religious group at a public facility violated “the laws of New York City and the Constitution, and commonly held principles of fairness and equal access.” “e city’s human rights law is quite clear that public accommodations like a swimming pool cannot exclude people based on sex,” the editorial argued, adding that the current practice has a “a strong odor of religious intrusion into a secular space.” e editorial drew a swi backlash from parts of the Jewish community, who accused the paper of unfairly rejecting a reasonable religious accommodation and of applying a double standard to Orthodox Jews.

Seth Lipsky, the founding editor of the New York Sun and a former editor of the Forward, wrote a heated missive in the New York Post titled “Let My People Swim -- and Damn the New York Times.”

In a letter to the Times, Rabbi Avi Shafran, the director of public affairs for Agudath Israel of America, a haredi Orthodox umbrella organization, called the women-only hours a “reasonable accommodation,” according to the Jewish Daily Forward. “e classical concept of modesty that is embraced by many citizens may have its roots in religious systems,” he wrote. “But reasonable accommodation of the needs of such New Yorkers is not an endorsement of any religion.”

A group in New York’s Rockland County associated with that area’s Hasidic Satmar community, the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council, also released a statement saying”e hypocrisy and inflammatory language in the New York Times is astounding in many ways.” e Commission on Human Rights and the Parks Department continue to review the pool policies, a spokesperson told Gothamist.

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12 | The Jewish Press | June 10, 2016

sports

A league of their own: A Jewish baseball museum, at last GABe FRieDMAn JTA When Jews visit the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, they can learn about the two most celebrated members of the tribe who have been inducted into the hallowed museum: Hank “The Hebrew Hammer” Greenberg and Sandy Koufax.

Now they’ll have the chance to find out about the dozens of other Jews who played in the major leagues or made contributions to the game.

Thanks to the effort of a dedicated memorabilia collector, clearly taking Theodor Herzl’s legendary words to heart -- “If you will it, it is no dream” -- a Jewish baseball museum is, at last, a reality.

Well, make that a virtual reality.

An extensive new website, The Jewish Baseball Museum, is a veritable Jewish baseball nerd’s dream. Set to launch Monday, the site is complete with biographies of nearly all the Jews who made it to the big leagues.

There are interviews with former players and prominent baseball-industry types, as well as a timeline of Jewish baseball stories that dates to the 1860s.

The site could be the precursor to an actual Jewish baseball museum in Chicago, according to its creator, Jeff Aeder, a Chicago-based real estate investor and Cubs fanatic.

The Jewish Baseball Museum is a passion project for Aeder, 54, who says he has amassed one of the largest collections of Jewish baseball memorabilia in the country. His

collection, which is showcased on the site, comprises some 2,000 objects -- among them are a Ron Blomberg bat with a Star of David on the knob and a letter written by Green-

Clocwise from above: Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg batting for the Detroit Tigers in 1935.

Credit: TSN Archives/Getty Images; this custom baseball signed by Sandy Koufax and other Hall of Famers, including Yogi Berra, is a prized possession in the Jeff Aeder collection.

Credit: Jeff Aeder; and the bat one-time MVP Al Rosen used in the 1955 All-Star Game are among the treasures found in the Jeff Aeder collection.

Credit: Jeff Aeder

berg to a friend during World War II -- and approximately 2,500 pre1990 baseball cards of Jewish players.

Aeder says the website is an opportunity to introduce the stories of older Jewish

A Fitting Place

ballplayers to younger generations.

“Of all the [Jewish] ballplayers who’ve played in the major leagues, everybody always says Koufax and Hank Greenberg,” he told JTA. “But when you learn and read about people like Jimmie Reese [born James Herman Solomon], Al Rosen, Sy Rosenthal, Mo Berg, there are just so many people.

And they have unbelievable stories.”

Take Lipman Pike who, in 1871, became the first Jew to play for the majors -- and earned a salary of $20 a week.

The two other Jews in the Hall of Fame -- early Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss and Lou Boudreau, who was raised Catholic and never identified as Jewish -- are not featured on the site.

Aeder -- who with his wife, Jennifer Levine, were named Chicagoans of the Year in 2013 for opening the Wolcott School, a high school for kids with learning challenges -- will gauge the reaction to the website before moving ahead with plans for the physical museum. He hopes it will open as early as 2017 in his native Lakeview neighborhood on the city’s North Side.

Aeder said his collection would form the core of the museum’s permanent exhibit.

For now, the site lives up to its title as an “online museum.” Viewers can zoom in for closeups of Aeder’s collectibles and scroll through dozens of videos with footage of classic Jewish baseball moments, from Koufax’s World Series wins to Shawn Green’s four home-run game. Stories and interviews by well-known baseball writers populate the site’s many other sections.

Perhaps surprisingly, Aeder, who says he has a “fairly obsessive personality,” hasn’t spent decades amassing his huge collection.

Rather, it has taken shape only the past few years, during which Aeder attended auctions, scoured eBay and sent personal letters to owners looking to sell.

Aeder is no stranger to having a successful “hobby” -- he’s also the founding owner of Milt’s Barbecue for the Perplexed, a popular kosher barbecue joint near Wrigley Field that serves up old-fashioned ribs and sides and gives its profits to worthy causes. The restaurant has earned the respect of Cubs fans -Jews and non-Jews alike -- as well as last year’s Cy Young Award winner, Jake Arrieta.

Aeder’s motto for his labor-of-love ventures sounds like something the late Yogi Berra might say: “If you’re going to do something, do it first class,” he said. “Otherwise don’t do it.”

So here’s hoping another sage’s words will come true. In this case, “the voice” from Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.”

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