June 12, 2020 by Jewish Press

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For the love of a father The Dr. Jay Parsow Youth Basketball Scholarship Fund Iran: Visit to the Axis of Evil and its Jews Page 4

Motherless Brooklyn finds friends in Kaplan Book Group Page 5

LINDA POLLARD Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation ay Parsow was a Renaissance man. He was a physician, gardener, environmentalist, athlete and volunteer. He loved participating in life, whether by fishing, river rafting, bicycling, horseback riding, swimming, basketball, and volunteering. He was a cherished friend, a son, a brother, a husband and, most of all, a father to sons Aaron and Charles. In January 2001, at 46 years of age, Jay died suddenly from a massive coronary attack while playing basketball at the JCC. Aaron stated his father died “playing the sport he loved.” He left behind his wife, Margo, and sons Aaron and Charles. The void that was left could never be filled, but Jay’s family chose to honor the man they deeply cherished by establishing the Dr. Jay

The Parsow family Jay and Margo with sons Aaron and Charles

Parsow Youth Basketball Scholarship Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation in May 2001. This fund provides assistance for JCC mem-

Warning my son about racism Page 12

RBJH Staff and Residents feel community’s love

REGULARS

GABBY BLAIR Staff writer, Jewish Press Friends and family of Rose Blumkin Jewish Home residents have come up with creative ways to show their appreciation for RBJH staff during this trying time. Unable to receive visitors or volunteers since March has been a

Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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challenge for residents, families, friends and staff, alike. For months now, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home staff have been working around the clock ensuring that Residents receive not only the best care possible, but are coordinating window visits, drive-by parades, a pen pal program and much more. Staff have also turned to Zoom and other technologies to facilitate a wide range of virtual activity opportunities from FaceTime visits with loved ones to entertainment. According to Maggie Conti, Activities Director, RBJH staff feel and appreciate the love and support from the community. “Generous community donors, See Community’s love page 2

bers under the age of 18 who need financial assistance in order to participate in the JCC’s basketball program. See For the love of a father page 3

Friedel: Connecting the unconnected

SARA KOHEN Director of Advancement Friedel Jewish Academy Friedel Jewish Academy received $4,500 from the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge’s (JEIC) 2020 Ignition Grant Program to support its recently launched program “Connecting the Unconnected,” a partnership of five Jewish day schools from small Jewish communities. JEIC Ignition Grants jumpstart new or developing out-of-thebox programs that improve Jewish education in day schools. Beth Cohen, the Head of School, explains, “This program is a collab-

orative learning experience bringing together sixth through eighth grade students at five Jewish day schools in small Jewish communities (the “Alliance”) to apply Jewish texts, Jewish history, and Jewish values to real-world issues... through classroom instruction, virtual learning spaces, and real-world learning expeditions. In this program, students connect with students from other schools in Birmingham, AL, Greensboro, SC, Rochester, NY, and Woodbridge, CT around the topics of history, Jewish texts and values, social justice, advocacy, and Israel. See Friedel page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020

News

Community’s love

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Teaching the Holocaust: Megan Helberg JEN GOODMAN Institute for Holocaust Education As we began ramping up for our annual Week of Understanding events this fall, we had no idea how our world was about to change. We booked our speakers, venues, and schools with the expectations that it would be another crowd-packed spring of survivors sharing their testimonies, synagogues packed for Yom Hashoah remembrances, and receptions celebrating the winners of essay contests. As all of our lives changed, we adapted. We began working from home and staying in touch via Zoom staff meetings. We shared our Week of Understanding stories virtually through newsletters and Facebook posts. We livestreamed our Yom Hashoah event so everyone could take part. And we waited for the world to heal. Slowly, we began to reclaim pieces of our lives. We will return to our offices at the JCC campus in the coming months to resume working as a staff. We have begun planning for the fall, keeping in mind that we need to be flexible, that our new world is fragile. We’re so glad to be here and serving you, our community, and we’ve got some great things we’ve been wanting to show you. In the following weeks, the Institute

Megan Helberg

for Holocaust education will highlight teachers who have gone above and beyond to educate their students about the Holocaust. Megan Helberg, an English teacher from Burwell, Nebraska, and passionate supporter of Holocaust education and the IHE, was named 2020 Nebraska Teacher of the Year in October. Megan teaches eighth, 11th and 12th grades at Burwell Junior-Senior High School, where the total enrollment is about 150 students. “Holocaust education is incredibly im-

portant and needed in today’s society. Just because my students are in a rural area of Nebraska does not mean they are any less eager to learn about the Holocaust; they simply need someone to provide them with accurate and quality exposure. I try to be the person in their lives who can give them an opportunity to learn more about the Holocaust in an environment where they feel safe to ask questions and engage in tough, yet needed, discussions. The entire community has responded well to my Holocaust literature units. Many local groups have asked me to speak at their gatherings, which I see as highly encouraging. Not only are the students responding well, but so are their parents, local business owners, church goers, and community leaders. My main message is to treat others with kindness, especially those outside of your normal circle. Holocaust education in Nebraska is progressing with the help of the IHE and teachers who have been trained by various reliable entities; as a unified team we continue to provide quality Holocaust education across the entire ‘good life’ of Nebraska.” Megan will represent the state at various state and national events and compete for National Teacher of the Year.

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Continued from page 1 many of which prefer to remain anonymous, have contributed staff meals, masks and mask making materials.” Conti shares many other examples of caring and support through community action for staff and Residents alike. “Burke High School’s music department put together a concert for us and The Omaha Area Youth Orchestra has performed private concerts. Carole Lainoff, a retired nurse, dropped off treats for our nursing stations. UNMC Medical students started a pen pals club. St. Leo’s and St. Roberts parishes wrote cards to our Residents and St. Roberts made masks for staff. Sue McCann of Ballgowns for Smiles donated supplies for a craft project of making cheerful bookmarks. We received a call from NYC from Tizmoret A Cappella, a singing group from Queens College Hillel, about coordinating a Zoom concert for our Residents and staff. We are so grateful to the community for the two parades — they really lift spirits at the RBJH and we are looking forward to the third parade on Thursday, June 11, at 2 p.m. when Alan Potash and Mike Aparo will lead the parade on their motorbikes.” Conti continues. “Omaha’s synagogues and clergy have been incredible at reaching out as well. They have helped with programming we can stream to Residents weekly, monthly and on holidays. Ron Lugasy, Community Shlicha, meets with our Residents weekly and Lisa Lieb and Nancy Rips will be recording Shabbat songs that I plan to play each Friday afternoon. JCCand CDC staff are preparing cards for us and we are also looking forward to a performance by JCC camp dancers on June 12 outside our southeast sunroom.” All these efforts help bring comfort to the Residents and staff who know they are supported by our community and the larger Omaha community. If you have activity ideas or would like to help support current efforts at the RBJH please contact Maggie Conti at mconti@rbjh.com or 402.334.6521.

The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020 | 3

For the love of a father

Continued from page 1 The secondary purpose of the fund is to pay for JCC memberships and program fees for Jewish families and individuals who have a financial need. Any remaining funds can be used to provide school supplies and school-appropriate clothes for needy Jewish children. Margo said: “Jay adored being a dad to Aaron and Charles and creating a life for them of new adventures.” Family road trips were special times for the Parsows and created wonderful and lasting memories for Aaron and Charles. Some of their activites included horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, and white water rafting. Aaron stated, “The family vacations were always about us.” Jay introduced his sons to basketball, and instilled in them the love of the sport that he had. “He loved that basketball taught Aaron and Charles team work and discipline,” Margo said. Aaron and Charles played basketball at the J and at Brownell-Talbot, where Jay started the summer and vacation basketball camps. Aaron and Charles loved the sport and loved the time they spent with their father through basketball even more. “My dad viewed the game of basketball as a conduit for teaching discipline, hard work, teamwork, and friendship,” Charles said. “Our family is grateful to be able to give others the opportunity to learn these values through basketball.” Jay wasted no time, living each day as if it was his last. He filled his days with work, family, sports, hobbies, and volunteering. Jay was known as an excellent gardener and practiced composting and recycling. He worked on environmental issues, caring deeply about nature, and sharing that compassion with his sons. Margo said: “Jay wanted to make the world a better place and during his short life, he did so indeed. He loved serving on the Blumkin Home board and knew that this was a way that he could perhaps enrich the lives of our Jewish senior citizens. Jay truly cared about all people young, old, challenged and gifted, of all nationalities and religions. He had a positive attitude about people and saw the good in all.” According to his family, Jay’s mantra was “maximum effort”, words that were often heard by Aaron and Charles. This mantra was deeply rooted in both sons and they live their lives accordingly. Aaron mentioned a second mantra of “ride the wave,” which Aaron defined as, “a metaphor for living every day to its fullest and taking time to celebrate the fun times in life and being ready (and in some cases having the courage) to move on to the next wave once the former has subsided.” Both mantras

were not only taught by Jay, but lived by him throughout his life. Even though Aaron and Charles were only 11 and 9 respectively when Jay died, he was able to impart in them his values, beliefs, passions, and his blueprint for a life well-lived. Jay’s legacy lives on through his family and through the many lives he touched. The Parsow family is extremely close, keeping in touch daily, even though distance now separates them physically. Aaron lives in New York and Charles lives in Boston. They are able to get together frequently, and travel to Omaha as much as possible to visit their mother and grandmother. Aaron said, “He [their father] made it very clear to us as kids that we were always to remain very close and never let anything come between us, which lasts to this day.” It is fitting that Jay’s family chose to honor their beloved father and husband by establishing a basketball scholarship fund. Aaron said: “We wanted future generations to be able to get involved in the sport and not let money get in the way of that. Basketball is a great team sport and the friendships you make on the court can last a lifetime.” Charles added: “My dad cared deeply about our family and the community. He would also be really happy to see people caring about the environment and living healthier lives.” Margo shared a card that Aaron and Charles bought for their dad on the first Father’s Day after his death as a type of catharsis. “Dear Dad, On Father’s Day we are thinking about you and how much you mean to us. About all the ways you have made such a wonderful difference in our lives. Thank you for letting us know that we could always count on you, that you believed in us and would stand by us no matter what. Thank you for encouraging the dreamer in us and for loving us through each and every fad and phase and for accepting our ideas when they were different from your own. Thank you for having faith during the times when we had to do it on our own, and for being there when things didn’t work out exactly how we thought they would. Thank you for all that you are/were - our wonderful, wise, and loving father.” Endowment funds are an enduring way to honor a parent or loved one. Honoring the memory of the special people in your life can be a lasting tribute to the love and memories that were shared with them. For more information on establishing an endowment fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, please contact Howard Epstein at 402.334.6466, or hepstein@jewishomaha.org.

Friedel Continued from page 1 Through the Ignition Grant, the schools and JEIC are developing the collaborative curriculum and supporting technology with which the students will learn with one another during the 2020–2021 school year, culminating in a capstone educational excursion to Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery, Alabama in spring 2021. The travel experience for Friedel students is funded by the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation. “The program exposes students to the variety of Jewish practice while reinforcing that we belong to one Jewish people,” said Ms. Cohen. “It helps encourage day school enrollment while overcoming the isolation in small schools.” “We are enthusiastic about the Alliance’s approach to unsiloing students and using online resources to create synchronous and asynchronous online classrooms,” said JEIC Founding Di-

rector, Rabbi Shmuel Feld. Over the past seven years, JEIC has supported more than 21 Jewish day schools’ innovations aimed at reigniting students’ passion for Jewish learning and improving the way Jewish values, literacy, practice and belief are transferred to the next generation. JEIC is a bold initiative to catalyze radical change in Jewish day schools across North America by bringing together educators, funders, influencers, and consumers to challenge day schools to achieve their mandate of optimizing student internalization of Jewish wisdom, identity, and decision making in the modern world. Initiated in 2012 by the Mayberg Foundation and supported through multiple philanthropic partnerships, JEIC pursues lasting school change through directed funding, philanthropic partnerships, impactful conferences, and innovative educational enterprises.

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4 | The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020

Iran: Visit to the Axis of Evil and its Jews

columns of 66 feet tall, topped by animal sculptures. Thirteen RICH JURO Our visit to Iran was in 2010, after President G.W. Bush de- of the original columns still stand. It was roofed by cedar clared it to be an axis of evil (along with Iraq and North Korea) planks brought from Lebanon. The foundation bears an inbut before President Trump canceled the nuclear treaty with scription by Darius I describing the vast extent of the empire, them and imposed even more sanctions on Iran. Yes, Ameri- from Central Asia to Libya. cans could go there then, and still can. And, no, your life will Our tour guide around Persepolis was a local young woman. be safe, as long as you follow simple Iranian rules. If you’re Jew- She was knowledgeable and informative, but her hijab kept ish, and wear a Star of David or a yarmulke, you’ll probably be slipping down from covering safer than in Western Europe! her hair to her shoulders. Persia is basically the old name for Iran. Persians (IraShe paid no attention. Three nians) are not Arabs. It has 83,000,000 times a “security policeman” people, 95 percent of those walked up and indicated are Shia Muslim. Iran is a big her hijab was incorrect. country, varied in topograEach time she fixed it in the phy, and vast natural reapproved position, but sources, especially gas and oil. within ten minutes the Rich in history and culture, scarf was again down on there are 22 UNESCO World her shoulders... until the Heritage Sites in Iran. next guard scolded her. Fran and I flew from Omaha Persepolis stood for alto Mumbai, India, and stayed at most 200 years. In 330 the Trident Hotel that had been BCE Alexander the attacked by Pakistani terrorists Great, who united Macethe year before. We were donia and Greece, inmore worried about our vaded the Persian safety in India than in Empire. After mixed results, he Iran. In Mumbai, we won a great battle at Persepolis. boarded our home for To pay his troops, Alexander althe next two weeks: lowed them to loot all the private Cabin 508 in the Spirit houses. The conqueror sent for of Oceanus, an expedisafe keeping vast amounts of gold tion ship which we had and silver found in the palaces. sailed with before Then followed victory games and through remote isdinners with bountiful food and lands in Oceania. We drink. In the drunken aftermath, went through the Thais, a female courtesan (a Arabian Sea, and unique combination of prostitute then into the Persian and poetry reader Gulf. Just at the narfrom Greece) sugrow and strategic gested loudly that it Strait of Hormuz, would be a great idea where the Persian Gulf makes a for the Greek women to U-turn, we docked at Bandar burn down the PersepoAbbas. That city is a main port lis. Led by Thais and of Iran and the home to half a Alexander, they did. Almillion people. though Alexander later We disembarked and went may have regretted it, the through Iranian immigration possible reasons for the faster than American custorching of Persepolis: toms. On the buses to the 1. Simple drunkenness; airport, after welcoming us 2. Alexander wanted to let to Iran, our three local the Persians know that he women guides shocked us was a foreign conqueror; Top: Detail of Persepolis, probably showing Hebrews bringing with their remarks: 3. Revenge for the burning grain in tribute and middle: Mosque with picture of Ayatollah. “Do you think we want to of the Acropolis of Athens by wear these hijabs (hair covering)?” Xerxes I over 150 years before. “Our national government is a bunch of idiots.” Most likely, the fire was a combination of two or three of the “Stupid is the best description of our leaders.” motives. In any case, most of Persepolis was destroyed, includNot only were we astounded, but there were two male se- ing much of the literature, tapestry, and architecture of the curity guards on the bus, and we assumed they understood great Archaemid Empire. And for that reason, Iranians refer English. to the conqueror not as Alexander the Great but simply as Soon we were at the airport for our charter flight on Air Alexander. Bandar Abbas to the city of Shiraz. (No, we didn’t fly on a After the tour of Persepolis, we returned to Shiraz to a Sufi magic carpet although Iran is the world’s largest producer of restaurant for a lavish dinner. The Sufis are an Islamic order, handmade carpets.) Shiraz has almost two million citizens, with millions of followers around the world, including those mostly Muslim, but in 2010 there were 2,000 Jews and several who dance as “Whirling Dervishes”. They believe in a very perChristian churches. Its known as the city of poets, literature, sonal relationship between the individual and God. and wine. The wonderful Shiraz grape and red wine originated First was big plate after big plate of Persian appetizers: sabzi there, although since the Islamic revolution in 1979, alcohol (rice pilaf with white fish), khoresh bademjam (eggplant and is banned in the country (but we heard it is available illegally). tomato stew), kuku (Herb based fritata), koofteh berenji The city gets many tourists, especially Iranians and Asian (meatballs with rice), zereshk polo (rice, berries, chicken), and Muslims, to visit the tombs of the great Islamic poets and more. We stuffed ourselves. Then we were served the main other local sites. courses: platters of kebabs on skewers made of ground beef, At the Shiraz airport, we boarded buses again. This time our lamb, chicken, etc. Since we were too full to eat anymore, Fran destination was Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Per- carried over our serving dishes to the security guards eating sian Emperors (the real capital was mostly at Susa in Babylon at the table behind us. They thanked her in Persian and ate because Persepolis was inconvenient). Parsa was how the peo- prodigiously. ple referred to this area of Persia, but Persepolis simply means, What followed is one of the weirdest incidents of all of our in Greek, the Persian city. After Cyrus I started the Archaemid travels. We heard a thud on the floor behind us. Fran turned Empire about 2500 years ago, in 515 BCE, he began building around and saw the loaded gun from one of the security his capital here. The main palaces and terraces were mostly guards had fallen out of his pocket. He was still eating and didcompleted by his successors, Darius I and Xerxes I. The low n’t realize what had happened. Fran reached behind, tapped walls were all carved in great detail with scenes such as the him on the shoulder, and pointed to the gun laying on the emissaries from subjugated nations bringing tribute to the floor. He grabbed it, and thanked her, but this time he was not Persian capital. The Persian warriors are portrayed, whether smiling. Probably embarrassed. We didn’t take a picture. on horseback or on foot, in a peaceful manner (unlike almost After dessert, we flew on Air Shiraz back to Bandar Abbas, every other nations’ depictions of their own soldiers). then went to the ship. The next day we had a tour of the city Some of the multi-level magnificent constructions of this of Bandar Abbas, with its big outdoor market. Not surprisingly, half-square mile UN World Heritage Site: we did not tour the main base of the Iranian Navy. SurprisThe Gate of All Nations. ingly, our middle aged female guide told Fran and a couple of The Apadana Palace, 200 feet in each direction, with 72 See Visit to the Axis of Evil and its Jews page 6

The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020 | 5

News

RBJH: Residents need iPads

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Motherless Brooklyn finds friends in Kaplan Book Group

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is putting out a request for extra/unneeded/available iPad (tablet) donations for our RBJH Residents to use. Our computer center is unavailable under the current Covid restrictions, and we would love additional tablets for their use. Thank you so much in advance for your generosity! Contact Shelly Fox at 402.334.6532 or Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521.

ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Due to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home temporarily being closed to the public, B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers will not meet until further notice. For specific speaker information, please email Gary.Javitch@Gmail.com, Breadbreakers chairman. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

MARK KIRCHHOFF Program and Communications Assistant, JFO When the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group holds its Zoom meeting on June 18 at 1 p.m., the members will discuss a classic detective novel. The book is Motherless Brooklyn; the author is Jonathan Lethem, one of America’s most inventive novelists. The story is one of personal challenge, frailty, strength and intrigue. In Lethem’s book, Lionel Essrog is an orphan with the challenge of managing his Tourette syndrome. His sudden outbursts of barking, counting, and ripping the language apart in startling ways have caused him to be the target of laughter and ridicule. Despite his challenge, he, and three veterans of the St. Vincent’s Home for Boys work for Frank Minna, a small-time mobster running a limo service and detective agency. For the four employees, life without the charismatic Frank would be unimaginable, so they are willing to perform tasks that are not exactly legal. When Frank is stabbed to death, his wife skips town, and a colleague lands in jail, the two remaining colleagues vie for Frank’s position. LIMITED TIME OFFER

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Lionel’s world is suddenly topsy-turvy. Despite his difficulty in conversing, he attempts to untangle the threads of the case while keeping the words straight in his head. Jonathan Lethem was born on Feb. 19, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York. His first novel, Gun with Occasional Music, is a genre work that mixed elements of science fiction and detective fiction, published in 1994. Motherless Brooklyn (1999) and The Fortress of Solitude (2003) are cited as two of his most notable works. He has won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the World Fantasy Award. The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group meets regularly on the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. The group receives administrative support from the Community Engagement & Education arm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. For information about the group, contact Shirly Banner at 402.334.6462 or sbanner@jewish omaha.org. To view books discussed by the group over the past several years, go to www.jew ishomaha.org, click on the “Community & Education” pulldown tab and navigate to “Kripke Jewish Federation Library,” then to “Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group.”

Come Visit Us We’d love to meet you and welcome you into our floral fairyland at the Benson Plant Rescue. Just the other day an orchid cactus started blooming. Judy made me hurry and take a photo of it, and it’s a good thing she did because less than 15 minutes later a lady walked in and bought both the blooming one and the one waiting to bloom. That’s the way things happen around here. You see something you like? Better grab it while you can because it probably won’t be there when you come back. I can’t begin to tell you how many of our customers have learned that lesson the hard way. Last Friday, when it was slow because of the oppressive heat, a customer came in and walked around the shop for the better part of an hour. When I asked her if I could help, she replied that she was just looking and absorbing, soaking up the essence of the plants’ being. I can’t remember if she ended up buying anything or not, but she surely seemed to be having a good time staring! So don’t take our word for it. Come see for yourself. Next weekend is Father’s Day, and we’re expecting a big crowd. So we are taking precautions to guarantee everyone’s safety. A mask is a must, and social distancing will be strictly enforced. But if you can’t come in person, then take the virtue tour at BensonPlantRescue.org. And as you grow in your understanding of how our nonprofit helps build community, please remember us with a recurring donation to OMAHA GIVES! by going to OmahaGives.org and entering the keyword “Benson Plant Rescue.” Then follow onscreen prompts. Or mail checks to address below. Thank you.

READ MORE at BensonPlantRescue.Org by Dr. D, Co-Founder & President Benson Plant Rescue/Community Produce Rescue (BPR-CPR) 7224 Maple, Omaha, NE 68134 (402) 933-3867 BensonPlantRescue@gmail.com BensonPlantRescue.org

6 | The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020

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Visit to the Axis of Evil and its Jews Continued from page 4 other women tourists that she would leave Iran if she could, but feared to put her family in jeopardy. So what were our overall impressions of modern Iran? Its large, with over 80 million people, which makes Iran both the most populated and largest in size of the nations of Western Asia. It has a diverse geography, and vast natural resources, including the second largest (to Russia) natural gas reserves in the world and the fourth biggest oil reserves. Its technically a democracy, with the Parliament and President being elected by the people. But the ultimate power is in the Ayatollah as Supreme Leader. The nation has officially been known as the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979 when the Islamic revolution took place and installed a theocratic constitution. We had all of the women guides complaining about their dictated mode of clothing, and describing their leaders as “stupid”. But they had to comply with the Islamic rules. President George W. Bush described Iran as one of the three Axis of Evil countries, and President Trump has increased the sanctions even more. Yet Iran complied with the nuclear treaty drawn up under President Obama. It has a 93 percent literacy rate and has more of a democracy (except for the Supreme Leader) than most of the

Fran dressed for Mosque

Middle Eastern nations. It hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees from its neighbors of Iraq and Afghanistan. We fully expected there to be protests and demonstrations from the citizens unhappy with the economic situation or

the theological restrictions. They have happened, but were suppressed. Sharia Law and the Supreme Leader remain in power. Iran remains static, but somewhat also in flux. Who knows what the future will bring? It’s definitely a Country of Paradoxes. THE JEWS OF IRAN Iran is an ancient culture with at least 6,000 years of history. Jews were in Persia at least since 600 BCE when Assyria conquered the area of Palestine and forced the exile of Jews. Thousands dispersed to Babylon and Persia (now Iraq and Iran). In 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great of Persia defeated Babylon, and allowed the Jews who desired to return to Israel. Later, Emperor Darius ordered the completion of the Second Temple. Several Books of the Bible (Esther, Ezra, Daniel, and Nehemiah) report favorably on the Jews vis á vis the Persian Empire. At that time, most of the Persian people were Zoroastrian. In the seventh century A.D., Arabs conquered Persia, and brought the Islam religion. Timor the Lame brutally took over the area in 1383, and sent many of the Jewish artisans and artists to work in his capital (Samarkand, Uzbekistan). In the 15th century, the Sunni practitioners of Islam were forcibly converted to the Shia branch. The Islamic revolution See Iran page 7

ADL-CRC launches Summer Webinar Series

PAM MONSKY Community Relations Liaison, ADL-CRC Plains States Region ADL Regions in the Central Division are joining together during the Coronavirus pandemic to bring a series of summer webinars to the community. The next one is June 17 at 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Mountain States Region, the featured topic is The Role of the German Legal Profession in the Holocaust.

The German Nazi State’s objective of removing all Jews from Europe generally –and all of the land the Nazi State controlled more broadly – could not have been undertaken without the complicity and support of the German legal profession. In brief, the German legal profession was a willing and often enthusiastic accomplice to the tragic genocide. Practicing lawyers, prosecutors, and judges worked handin-glove with the Nazi leadership to convert Nazi policy objectives into the German legal code. Moreover, attorneys in numerous state agencies and ministries prepared government-issued pronouncements that both clarified the purpose of legislation and manipulated its implementation. This presentation will focus on the role played by the German legal profession in aiding and assisting the Nazis’ genocidal efforts against the Jewish population. The event is sponsored locally by the ADL-CRC, the Institute for Holocaust Education, UNL School of Law and Creighton University Law School. CLE credits are available. Please visit jewishomaha.org/ADL/ to register.

All of our locations are now open for dine in service Carryout, Curbside Pickup, and Online Ordering available Check out our websites for hours, directions and menus absolutelyfresh.com baileysbreakfast.com shucksfishhouse.com dundeedell.com absolutelyfreshmarket.com

The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020 | 7

Iran

More About Our Passover

and the principals and the doctors at the schools and hospital Continued from page 6 in 1979 overthrew the Shah (king) and established a theoc- are mostly Muslim. In the 1990’s, the government republished racy. Now the state religion is the Shia branch of Islam. the notoriously anti-Semitic and libelous “The Protocol of the Through 25 centuries, the Elders of Zion”. A high official of the government proJews of the Persia have been alclaimed a few years ago ternately encouraged, tolerated, that the Holocaust was persecuted, or any combinaa myth. There is one aption thereof. During WW II, pointed Jewish member hundreds of Eastern European of Parliament. He actually Jews escaped the Holocaust publicly protested the to Central Asia, and some government official for wound up in Iran. In 1948, denying the Holocaust. there were 150,000 Jews in Now there are about Iran. When Israel was es8,000 Jews in the capital of tablished that year, many Tehran, 2,000 more in ShiJews emigrated there. In raz, and various smaller 1979, there were about Jewish communities. The 100,000 Jews in Iran, and total of over 10,000 makes they enjoyed freedom of it the largest Jewish popreligion and economic success ulation in the Middle under the Shah. Since the IsEast outside of Israel. lamic revolution, most Jews The Jews in Iran are safe have left the country, going to Isas long as they don’t rael, the USA, and Western Euproclaim their affection rope. Its said that the poor Jews for Israel. They are more went to Israel, the rich Jews went traditionally religious to the USA, and the middle class than their ancestors, stayed in Iran. In the USA there the Jews in the USA, or are big communities in Southern the Jews of Israel. Most keep California and in Long Island, kosher (yes, there are kosher New York State. meat markets), and there is alTop: Relaxing Inside the Mosque and below: Iranian kids. In current Iran, the official most no intermarriage. Some line is freedom of religion for those religions that were in ex- feel that the Iranian government treats Jews well so that the istence before Islam ( Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, officials can blame Israel and Zionists for everything else. etc.), but persecution for those religions established after Fran and I didn’t meet any Jews in Iran nor visit any synaIslam (the followers of Bahai, especially). But there is official gogues. Partly, we didn’t have time, and partly, if any Iranian hatred for Israel and Zionists. Ayatollah Khomeini said: “We Jews met with Americans, it might put them under suspicion recognize our Jews as separate from the godless, blood-suck- of consorting with the enemy. Notwithstanding, the Muslim ing Zionists.” He then issued a fatwa decreeing Jews in Iran Iranians we met were always friendly to Americans. We muwere to be protected. The are 13 active synagogues, five Jew- tually agreed that the governments didn’t get along, but the ish schools, and one large Jewish hospital in Tehran. Those people of each country could. institutions are unguarded and safe, and Jews can wear We’ll end this section about the Jews of Iran like we ended yarmulkes and other religious garments or jewelry safely in the tale of our visit to Iran: It’s a country of paradox! public. Jews serve in the armed forces like other Iranians. For more of our travel accounts, from North Korea to But there is an undercurrent of discrimination. The teachers Ethiopia, visit our blog: franandrichstravels.com.

Emergency Financial Assistance Available KAREN M. GUSTAFSON, MS, NCC, LIMHP Executive Director, Jewish Family Service While the JFO and the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation took the lead in designing a Fundraising Campaign to meet the expected needs of the community, Jewish Family Service ( JFS), was behind the scenes developing a strategic, shortened version of our Assistance Program. Our goal is to quickly and easily offer some financial relief to those families who have lost their job during this crisis and for those who need groceries or help paying a portion of a bill, such as rent or utilities in order to remain stable. If you are in need of assistance, you can make your request contacting us by phone. We created a process whereby a community member who has a request can call the JFS Main Office at 402.330.2024, between the hours of 9 a.m.-noon, Monday– Thursday. During this time, we have staff and volunteers dedicated to taking calls. The reason for these times is to allow JFS to process calls each day and to ‘ideally’ finalize each day’s requests by the end of that day, with Friday designed as a catchup day to finalize anything that was pending for the week.

Our counseling services continue to be offered through our new “Virtual Counseling” program. Sessions are held via Zoom Video-communications, and are recognized by most insurance carriers. You can attend your sessions using your smartphone or computer from home. Please call our office at 402.330.2024 to make an appointment. Our therapists have conducted over 150 virtual sessions since the campus closed in midMarch. We continue to offer Adoption Home Study services though secure video-conferencing. Call our office at 402.330.2024 to learn how. Through May 20, Jewish Family Service has provided $11,026 in Emergency Financial Assistance to 62 families. We realize that we cannot pay every bill for every person, but we want to offer as much assistance as we can to families in our community. We care about YOU and we worry about YOU. The entire collection of agencies under the umbrella of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is behind this effort and wants YOU to know that we are here to help YOU. We are just a phone call away!

Bloomberg Challenge Still Waiting for Word, Mike. #039 in this Sponsored Series

Dear Mike, As measured by sales, the Benson Plant Rescue just posted the best month in our entire 22 year history here in Omaha. So that slowdown we experienced in April due to being closed because of the pandemic has now been dramatically reversed as we have recouped our losses and then some. “Great!” you may be saying to yourself. “Since you are having such successful sales that means you won’t be needing any of my money any more then, right?” NO. Actually it means that we will be needing even more. You see, Mike, we continue to prove in Omaha that a small, community-based, all-volunteer organization like ours can not only endure but can become self-sustaining. That’s why we want to see our idea franchised elsewhere. But expanding at a national level is going to take more investment, which is where Big Donors like you come in. From what I’ve read about you personally and your Foundation corporately, we are precisely the kind of local nonprofit that ought to be of interest to a philanthropist like you. So what gives? Purim is long past as is Passover, yet the rest is silence. Granted, you’re a billionaire who no doubt gets zillions of people asking you regularly for part of your stash. So of course you no doubt employ a small army of people just to open your mail and turn people away. I get it. What I don’t get is the total silence coming out of New York on your behalf. Don’t you think that’s a little bit rude? So later this morning I’m going to reach out to you again, only this time I’ll send copies to both Boomberg LP and Bloomberg Foundation. Maybe that way our request will finally get before the eyes of someone who understands there may be a way we can do mutually beneficial business together. So how about it, Mike? You going to come thorough with a 5:1 Match to our Capital Campaign fund at Midlands Community Foundation or not? We’re shooting for Seven 5’s ($555,555.55) by July 5th. That’s only 27 days from when I’m writing this and only 23 days from when this column comes out in The Omaha Jewish Press. You climbing on board our speeding train? Or you going to stand on the platform in the station and watch us steam on by? Time to decide, Mike. Time to send word. Like I was saying, your pledge will guarantee our network of volunteers a place to plant and pot and find fulfillment in our daily task of building community one plant project at a time. We’d like to work with you in the promotion of Victory Gardens that bring together people of diverse ages, races, genders, education, wealth, or whatever. Our country longs for healing in this time of national need. Gardening helps. You in or not? READ MORE at BensonPlantRescue.Org by Dr. D, Co-Founder & President Benson Plant Rescue/Community Produce Rescue (BPR-CPR) 7224 Maple, Omaha, NE 68134 (402) 933-3867 BensonPlantRescue@gmail.com BensonPlantRescue.org

8 | The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020

Above: Two totally random nice guys from Omaha, Nebraska helping out a driver (and co-worker) who got a ï¬&#x201A;at tire.

SP O TLIGHT PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

Top, above and below: Wacky Wednesdays continue at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home with Crazy Hair Day! Employees enjoyed a Chinese Buffett that lifted staff spirits, which was sponsored by Steve and Patty Nogg.

Preparing Shavuos-to-go deliveries at Beth Israel: above: Rachel Kricsfeld and Zoe Berman; right: Brad Berman and Sam Kricsfeld.

Below: Recipients of Shavuos-to-go deliveries from Beth Israel.

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

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Abby Kutler President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Michael Ivey Accounting Jewish Press Board Abby Kutler, President; Eric Dunning, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen, David Finkelstein, Candice Friedman, Bracha Goldsweig, Margie Gutnik, Natasha Kraft, Chuck Lucoff, Eric Shapiro, Andy Shefsky, Shoshy Susman and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha. org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.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@jewishomaha. 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. 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 KampWright, 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 email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020 | 9

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 automation of destruction SAM KRICSFELD Jewish Press Intern An uncomfortably large number of renown companies were involved with the Nazi regime. Volkswagen, Bayer, Chase National Bank, Hugo Boss and many others were involved with the Third Reich in some way. Is it ethical to buy and support these companies today? The arguments at first may seem simple. One could argue, “Any company directly or indirectly connected to a regime hellbent on destroying a people, no matter how long ago, should be shunned and bankrupted.” Another could say, “No one alive and working for the company today was involved with the Nazis – the companies are under new management with new employees and are no longer doing anything wrong.” But, of course, nothing is that simple. I am going to use IBM as an example. IBM is well known for its groundbreaking innovations in computing. The American company has been around since the early 1900s and is responsible for some genuinely amazing things – the first computer hard drive, one of the earliest personal computers, creating artificial intelligence capable of winning Jeopardy and even contributing to landing on the moon. Despite this impressive history, IBM also played a large part in some of World War II’s greatest atrocities. IBM had subsidiaries around the world – including Germany. During WWII, IBM contributed to Nazi Germany in many ways. Edwin Black wrote an award-winning book on the subject: IBM and the Holocaust: The Strategic Alliance Between Nazi Germany and America’s Most Powerful Corporation. The connection between IBM and the Holocaust is clear – the Nazis couldn’t have done what they did without IBM. To enact the plan to destroy anybody even re-

motely Jewish, the Nazis needed a system to identify and track Jewish people. Then the Nazis needed to move European Jews into ghettos. Then the Nazis needed to precisely time train arrivals of victims into death camps. These processes were unprecedentedly complex and couldn’t be done by hand. Computers as we know them did not exist, but a precursor did: IBM’s punch-card and cardsorting system.

Credit: Herranderssvensson This ﬁle is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

The German subsidiary of IBM, Dehomag, “accomplished what had never been done before – the automation of human destruction,” according to Black. Dehomag helped with the German census, population numbers and registrations which logged and identified those who would become victims of the Holocaust. Thousands of Dehomag punch-card machines were distributed throughout Nazi Europe with the knowledge of IBM’s New York headquarters. IBM was the sole provider of these machines and their cards. IBM subsidiaries trained Nazi officers and set up dealerships run by IBM employees. IBM employees serviced the machines – even when the machines were in the depths of death camps.

IBM contributed to millions of brutal, inexcusable deaths. The motive may have been purely financial – the Nazis did pay IBM – but that doesn’t change anything. IBM has since condemned the Holocaust; a 2001 press release from IBM in response to Black’s book and a coinciding lawsuit said that it “find[s] the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime abhorrent and categorically condemn[s] any actions which aided their unspeakable acts.” This is not, however, an apology or admittance of guilt. A significant problem is how crucial IBM is to the world we live in. They helped create the computers which we use constantly. They helped contribute to the moon landing – an event propelling humankind into a new age. A flat-out boycott of IBM would mean sacrificing a portion of our lives that we have grown nearly dependent on. The same could be said of many companies – millions would be without a car if VW was boycotted. Millions could get sick without Bayer aspirin. Regarding IBM, I believe we should refrain from using their products unless they are not exchangeable with any other product. As far as I can find, they have neither apologized nor given reparations for the undeniable atrocities they did. But what about the other companies? Our responses must be on a case-by-case basis. IBM is only an example. I think that we should demand from companies involved with Nazis acknowledgement, condemnation, apology and, if applicable, reparations. The only thing universal and certain is that we cannot forget what the companies did. Sam Kricsfeld is the 2020 Jewish Press Intern and will be a senior at the University of Kansas. The JP Internship is made possible through the generosity of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation.

Zoom shiva shouldn’t end once the pandemic does SHARRONA PEARL PHILADELPHIA | JTA The pandemic and social distancing have ironically made physical distance matter less than ever. Today we are all a voice on the phone or a face on the screen. Those far away are not an afterthought but rather equal participants. When it comes to supporting those who have lost loved ones, I am so grateful to be able to be there on that screen. And I’ve learned that it’s not just something we should use as a temporary measure: The Zoom shiva call should be an important and sustaining part of the post-pandemic Jewish future rather than a temporary solution to the current crisis. So much of Jewish community is built around being together. We are adjusting: balcony minyanim, Zoom bar mitzvahs and virtual challah bakes. These are beautiful and important and powerful adaptations. They are also, without a doubt, temporary. As soon as it is safe, we will go back to the much more satisfying and halachically robust in-person options. But the Zoom shiva call should remain. While halacha requires an in-person minyan for those sitting shiva to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish (when there’s not a pandemic going on), there is much comfort an additional friendly face can bring, whether in-person or on the screen. The ability to sit with our mourners when they most need our support should not be limited by physical proximity. We have discovered a model that works. In the midst of all the loss and death and mourning, I am grateful to have been able to be present for my friends across the world even as we all remain in our own homes. As someone who is always far away from extended family and childhood friends, the Zoom shiva call is a way to be present among others when our mere presence is what’s most needed. A traditional approach to sitting shiva relieves the primary mourners (parents, siblings, children

and spouses of those who have died) of all hosting and social obligations. They are proscribed from greeting visitors, from managing meals for themselves and others, from dealing with the logistics of hosting during this week. A close friend typically takes on the role of organizing all the physical details, from who will cook what and deliver it when to making sure the community knows when they can visit the mourners. Going forward, we should also have someone taking care of all things virtual: someone who will be

sense of sadness and loss. We can be very intentional about creating greater access and participation, envisioning a future in which community is not always dependent on proximity. There is comfort to be had in having one’s hand held, in the shelter of community brought into the intimate spaces of one’s life. That can and must one day return. But there is also comfort to be had in seeing the faces and hearing the stories of those who cannot share space but can share time. Sharrona Pearl is Associate Professor of Bioethics at Drexel University.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A family takes part in a shiva call, a Jewish mourning period, in a Zoom videoconference. Credit: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

in charge of setting up the tech and monitoring it, disseminating the call-in information and helping moderate the Zoom shiva rooms themselves. It is not just distance or health that has historically limited one’s ability to pay a shiva call. There are family and child care obligations, work schedules and access issues for people with disabilities. The Zoom shiva call offers a tool to create a more inclusive and sustaining community for both the mourners and those coming to support them, who may also be finding ways to process their own

Gem in local Community For more than 90 years, I was a free man (get it), traveling the highways and byways of my hometown, Omaha. I was happy and healthy. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would end up where I am now: the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Oh, I remember writing a check when word got out a facility was on the horizon to replace the Dr. Phillip Sher Home (Dr. Sher was my great uncle). I visited the Home regularly as a member of the Caring Committee for Temple Israel. But now, I am a resident... and I am happy. Thanks to the foresight of Rose Blumkin, her family and the leaders in our community who had the courage to make the Home happen. This place is a gem for the citizens who need care. The medical people are highly professional, caring and yes, loving. The food is great and restaurant quality (try the Matzoh ball soup). The physical training staff are fantastic--maybe the best in the area. The physical maintenance people keep the building and grounds tip top and the activities staff is more than active, providing programs and services not only for the Residents but also for the wider Jewish community. The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is a jewel in the world of care. This is a place the entire community can well be proud of, thanks to the foresight and generosity of fellow Omahans. JERRY FREEMAN, Omaha

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | June 12, 2020

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

CHABAD HOUSE

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

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

TIFERETH ISRAEL

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

B’NAI ISRAEL B’nai Israel will not have in-person services until July 10. For information on our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Carole and Wayne Lainof, MaryBeth Muskin and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. VIRTUAL MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdallah, 9:50 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; USY Film Club, 7 p.m. MONDAY: Jewish Law Class with Rabbi Abraham, 8 p.m. TUESDAY: Jewish Values Class with Rabbi Abraham, 11:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Coffee & Conversation with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; USY Check-In, 5:15 p.m. THURSDAY: Teen Book Club, 4:30 p.m.; Shul Music, with Hazzan Krausman, 7 p.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat To-Go, TBD; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdallah, 9:53 p.m. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:40 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights to the Weeky Torah Portion, 7:35 p.m.; Micha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:25 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:50 p.m. SUNDAY: Rambam: Rabbi Moshe, 9:45 a.m. MONDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; Tasty Torah with Rabbi Yoni, noon; JYE BI Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.

TUESDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Mishnayot with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.; Board of Commissioners Meeting, 6:30 p.m. TURSDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; Character Development with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.; Parsha Inspiration, 4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; Musical Kabbalat Shabbat with DJ JJ, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Due to Coronavirus, all services and classes have moved online. For schedules and more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.org or call the office at 402.330.1800 FRIDAY: Candlelighting, 8:36 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Ends, 9:45 p.m. MONDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani; Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Mystical Thinking, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introduction to Reading Hebrew, 10:30 a.m. THURSDAY: Intermediate Hebrew Reading and Prayer, 11 a.m.; Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Katzman.

B’NAI JESHURUN The Temple office is on reduced hours until further notice and all services and activities are being offered via livestream or teleconferencing. Please call 402.435.8004 or email office@southstreettemple.org for further information or to make an appointment for a visit, if necessary. You may also email Board president Nicholette Seigfreid at president@southstreettemple.org. South Street Temple’s events can be found at https://south streettemple.org/calendar/. FRIDAY: Pop-up Shabbat – No Temple service; Candlelighting, 8:41 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m.; Hav-

dalah (72 minutes), 10:11 p.m. TUESDAY: Jewish Women’s Lunch in Zoya Zeman’s backyard, noon. THURSDAY: Ritual Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Erev Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Nathaniel & Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 10:13 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE All services canceled until further notice.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller. DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, Across Abraham’s Bridge: Celebrating the Gifts of Our Tri-Faith Traditions: sermon by Rev. Dr. Chris Alexander, Countryside Community Church 6 p.m. SATURDAY: 2nd Sunday Breakfast Service at the Stephen Center, 8:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. TUESDAY: Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, noon. THURSDAY: The Israel Forum, 10 a.m. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Virtual services conducted by Nancy Coren. FRIDAY: Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30-7 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat morning Service with Daniel Neiden of NYC and Nancy Coren, 10 a.m.; Havdalah (72 min.) Please visit tiferethisraellincoln.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

Phased reopening at the JCC A careful and phased reopening of the JCC began on June 1 with Summer Camp and the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center ONLY. Limited access to the Fitness Center began June 8. More information will be announced as it becomes available. Please remember that all dates and programs are subject to change Phase 1 began June 1 and includes the Childhood development Center, Private Personal Training & Pilates – By Appointment ONLY –and Summer Camp. Phase 2 began June 8. During Phase 2 of our reopening, the Fitness Center is open to members, age 16+, by reservation only. We are operating at limited capacity and have limited hours. Services and access to certain areas will be also reduced. Locker rooms will be closed, so please come ready to work out. The ONLY access point will be through the the Member Services Entrance. Please do not attempt to access the building using the west building entrances. Visit our website at jccomaha.org to reserve your workout session. Fitness Center Hours for June 8-14 are: Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: Closed Summer Dance Classes Begin June 15 The facility will only be open to those registered for in-person dance classes. There is a limit of 8 students per studio. The entrance point for dance classes will be the south upstairs entrance, near Friedel. Starting June 8, the following areas have become accessible with limitations in place: Phil Sokolof Fitness Center Some limitations apply. To adhere with social distancing protocol, cardio and weight equipment will be staggered and have rotating use. Limited to 50 percent capacity. Fitness Center Walking Track

Fitness Center Restrooms Dance Studios (starting June 15) – Open ONLY to those registered for in-person dance classes WHAT’S NOT AVAILABLE The following areas and programs will NOT be offered until further notice: Areas All Indoor & Outdoor Pools Locker Rooms & Showers Family Changing Area Basketball Gymnasium & Raised Walking Track JFIT Studio Fitness Center Cubbies Charter Health Spa Lounge Spin Studio Main Front Entrance Theater Programs & Services Group Exercise Classes (virtual classes available) JFIT Classes

Adult Drop-In Sports Fit & Sit Physical Therapy Services Massage Therapy Services Sale of Concessions & Coffee If you have any questions, please contact Laura Wine, JCC Program Director, at lwine@jccom aha.org. Details for Phase 3 will be announced at a later date. The Jewish Community Center has been a big part of Omaha for more than eight decades! We opened our doors in 1926 and still, today continue to serve everyone in the community with our stateof-the-art facilities, outstanding programs, and dedicated staff. We’ve been here in the past, we’re here today and we’ll be here tomorrow. For additional information about our phased reopening, please check our website at www.jccom aha.org.

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Omaha children need our help BARRY ZOOB While I have been self-isolating at home, I have had a lot of time on my hands. As a result, I needed to do something which was meaningful and memorable. So, I decided to help raise funds for kids who need a healthy meal daily. We are living in unprecedented times and the kids living in underserved areas of our community need our help. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands’ (BGCM) physical doors may be closed due to COVID19, however their programs and services for Club members and their families are still open. One of those programs is Free Evening Meals. Club members and their families can pick up a USDA SFSP meal at eight of the Club locations throughout the Metro. This program was initiated to ensure “our kids” and their families have evening meals – which have always been provided at the Clubs. Today, at no cost to the kids and their families, BGCM is serving, on average, 800 kids and their families daily. To date, they have served more than 35,000 meals with a below market negotiated cost of just under $3.00 per

meal per day. I reached out to the community and was able to put together a partnership of organizations. The purpose of this partnership is to create awareness and to help raise funds so this program can continue until all the Clubs reopen. The partners in this effort are KETV, Beth-El Synagogue, and the Omaha Firefighters. We can do this. No child should ever be denied a healthy meal. As Mother Teresa said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” We have already $9,000 in matching funds committed. Please make your donation online or mail a check to the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, 2610 Hamilton Street, Omaha, NE 68131. Your support truly will make a positive impact in children’s lives throughout our community during this COVID crisis. We all must be a part of this effort. I am asking each of us to participate in this effort whether it be a donation of $5.00 or $5,000. Thank you and be safe.

Israeli parliament women’s committee led by a man The choice of Forer “rub[ed] salt in [the] SAM SOKOL wound” caused by the number of women JERUSALEM | JTA in Israel’s 120 seat parliament, which has Israeli feminist groups responded with dipped to only 29, argued the Center for outrage on Monday after it was anWomen’s Justice, an advocacy group. nounced that a male lawmaker had been “This comes at a time where Israeli chosen to lead a parliamentary panel women are facing a crisis, with domestic tasked with advancing gender equality in violence at an all-time high and the corothe country. navirus exacerbating women’s social and Oded Forer, a member of the right-wing economic inequality,” the group said in a Yisrael Beiteinu party, succeeded the outstatement on Facebook. “More than ever, going chair, parliament member Aida the Committee for the Advancement of Touma-Sliman, as head of the Knesset Women needs a qualified and expert Committee for the Advancement of leader at the helm. This is not that.” Women & Gender Equality — despite being the only man on the committee and Reports of domestic violence increased by having little experience dealing with gen- Oded Forer seen at a hearing at the 112 percent during the lockdown imposed Supreme Court in Jerusalem, Feb. by Jerusalem to limit the spread of the der issues. The Israeli feminist group Kulan decried 5, 2020. Credit: Yonatan Sindel/ COVID-19 pandemic, and 11 women have Forer’s appointment as a move “that Flash90 been murdered by their partners since the pushes women out of decision-making mechanisms” and “a start of the year. “At what point are women’s needs and rights going to be joke at the expense of women in Israel.” It also described the issue as a “cynical” political play to placate the Yisrael Beit- taken seriously?” Israeli activist Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll told einu party and the larger parliamentary opposition that it the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “What are we saying to women? [That] your needs don’t really matter so much.” belongs to.

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Warning my son about racism KEN LANE This story originally appeared on Kveller. When I fell in love with my wife several years ago, I could accurately foresee aspects of our future life together: finding our first apartment; snuggling together on rainy mornings, listening to the droplets rinse our bedroom windows; having mini-panic attacks when the check came on date nights but knowing it was worth the hit to our bank account; making Havdalah over Coors Light because we drank all the wine the night before. But until my wife told me she was pregnant, there was something I definitely hadn’t anticipated: having to tell my son that there are people, severely broken people, in the world that hate him — not because of anything he did, but simply because he’s Black. To make matters more confusing, some of these people wear badges. To make matters still more confusing, some of these people look exactly like me. My wife and I have more in common than any couple I know. We’re both jazz and soul musicians — I’m a bassist, and she has the most velvety contralto voice I’ve ever heard. We both like to nerd out on sci-fi; I’m more Return of the Jedi, while she’s more a David Tenant-era Dr. Whovian. We’re both Jewish — I like to dig my nose into Sichos HaRan, the sayings of the Hasidic Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, while her recitation of the Shehecheyanu prayer is always the loudest for anyone’s first aliyah. Still, there is one glaring difference between us. I am a white man — a “ginger,” to be more

The author and his son Credit: Ken Lane

epidermically specific. My wife, on the other hand, is a Black woman — though she refutes that claim, saying “I’m not Black — I’m mocha.” Because of this, our son, who is now nearly 2, has a gorgeous caramel complexion and hair that keeps itself in the tightest corkscrew spirals when dry and hanging well below his eyes when wet. Many years ago, my wife’s younger brother was stopped by police, along with many of his fellow Black friends, on their way home from the neighborhood baseball diamond. “Why do you have a bat, son?” What seemed like a simple question was tainted with a degree of hostility, as the members of the group plainly donned team caps, mitts, and baseballs. Had the question been asked in the movie The Sandlot of the ragtag boys, the officer’s judgment would have been

on trial instead of the true intent of his question. My brother-in-law answered his query respectfully, as well a barrage of accompanying questions. The interaction left him shaken and confused, leaving most of the group with the same question: Would the officer had stopped us if we were white? Unlike many others that ended tragically, this story about his unpleasant interaction with police ended peacefully — though it certainly didn’t imbue the young boys with much trust in police. Upon hearing this story around the time we began dating, a fuller spectrum of my responsibilities as the parent of a Black child came into view. For his own safety, I would need to not only teach my son about racism, but actively warn him about the bad apples of our society — some of whom wear badges, and most of whom look like me, Dad. The good news is that I have time to impart this lesson, as he’s only 2. The bad news is that I don’t know when to teach him — nay, warn him about racism. Upon asking my wife when she was “taught” about racism, she draws a blank. Her first experiences were mostly second-hand — an instance from a family friend in the grocery store, or a grandma’s sage commentary on a news story, explaining what the anchors can’t. Later, racism for her wasn’t so much in a single event as felt in the chill of icy stares. Her descriptions of being stared down, and family instances of being treated in a secondclass way because of their skin tone, increase

my desire to warn my son about the existence of racism sufficiently — and lovingly. My greatest fear is my son experiencing racism unprepared, only to even momentarily second-guess whether or not to take refuge in my arms because they bear the same complexion of the person, or people, who hurt him. The thought of warning him about the harm that may come to him from someone that looks like his Opa, his uncle, or me, makes my guts sink. The only thing lifting them back up again is knowing how completely and madly in love we are with him. So when will I sit him down and have “the talk” about racism? Though the Talmud instructs fathers to teach their sons how to swim, it’s mostly silent on the subject of enduring racism. The timing of such talks will likely precede the “birds and the bees.” Being that he’s currently preoccupied with eating Cheerios by the fistful like a barbarian king, drumming his hands on every surface he walks by and convincing us that he can count to 10 by starting from 6, I’m happy to report that racism is not on yet on his toddler radar. I don’t intend to make him afraid of all police, but simply to smell the bad eggs before they crack in his path. Still, this isn’t a conversation anyone should have to have with their children. How many more minority generations will have to endure the broken bullies of our society? Until then, I can only do what any parent can for their children — prepare him for the world as best I can and displace the hate with love.