June 30, 2017

thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

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Meet the counselors

Welcome to Temple Israel

JU NE 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 | 6 T AMMU Z 5 7 7 7 | V O L. 9 7 | NO . 3 8 | C a nd LELi g H ti ng | FRID AY , JU NE 3 0 , 8 : 4 3 P. M.

there will be no Jewish Press next week, July 7.

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sCott Littky Program Director, Temple Israel The next chapter in the life of Temple Israel is about to start July 1, when Brian Stoller starts his tenure as the senior rabbi. In late January, the congregation approved his appointment and since that time we have been getting more and more excited about his arrival. Rabbi Stoller’s first Friday evening Shabbat Service will be on July 7 at 6 p.m. When asked about

Camp counselor Elissa wiener hugs her campers

LIFE&LEGACY celebration page 5

This man almost killed Hitler page 12

Emma HoCHFELdEr Intern, Jewish Press hen you picture J Camp, a number of images probably flood your mind. Images of kids laughing, playing sports, dancing, swimming and enjoying all the things that a true summer experience has to offer.

However, there are vital people who ensure smooth sailing during the entire experience that are often in the shadows: the camp counselors.

Camp counselors make or break a child’s camp experience. Here at J Camp,

there are wonderful, dedicated counselors who work to ensure campers’ time here at the JCC is a time to remember.

Sixteen counselors comprise the summer camp staff at the J. There are also four “unit heads” who directly oversee the counselors, as well as the Youth Director for the JCC, Megan Webb.

Some of the counselors are enjoying their first summer at the J, while others have year-round involvement working with kids at the JCC. Their job description is that of a general counselor.

Counselors are in charge of a group of see meet the counselors page 2

Update from the Foundation

inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life Cycles

sponsorEd By tHE BEnJamin and anna E. wiEsman FamiLy EndowmEnt FUnd

8 10 11

Home ownership is an important part of the American dream. Some own more than one home, a common scenario Howard EpstEin Executive Director, among JFO Foundation Omaha’s snowbirds – our fellow Omahans who love our community, but prefer the warmth of California, Arizona, Nevada or Florida during the winter months.

Your home, whether a primary residence, a winter home or a vaca-

tion home, is a valuable asset, and, you, like many, may wish to live out your days in the comfort of your own home. You are also a generous person, inclined to give generously to support Omaha’s Jewish community when and where possible and in a manner that complements your lifestyle.

As a homeowner, you have the opportunity to make a greater gift than you might have thought possible and without changing your lifestyle.

Consider a retained life estate.

With a retained life estate, you can give your home, whether your primary residence or your vacation home, to the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation now, but continue to live in it as long as you wish. A retained life estate may be right for you if: • You want to continue to live in your home.

• You do not plan to pass on your home – or your vacation home –to family or other heirs.

• You want to save on income taxes.

• You want to make a substantial gift now through the Foundation to

significantly impact Omaha’s Jewish community.

How does a retained life estate work?

1. You transfer the deed to your home to the Foundation.

2. You continue to live in your home as long as you wish.

3. You remain responsible for upkeep, taxes, and other expenses during this time.

4. You receive an income tax charitable deduction in the year of your gift.

5. By removing your home from your estate, you may reduce estate taxes and probate costs when your estate is settled.

6. When you pass away, or if you decide to otherwise end the plan, the Foundation becomes the sole owner of your home. Then the Foundation will sell your home and use the proceeds to fund an endowment to benefit the programs and agencies within Omaha’s Jewish Federation that have been most important to you during your lifetime.

To learn more about a Retained Life Estate* or if you would like to see Foundation page 3

rabbi Brian stoller

this service, Temple Israel President, Rosie Zweiback said: “The first Shabbat service with Rabbi Stoller is truly a “Shehecheyanu” moment in the history of our congregation. We have been planning to welcome our new senior rabbi to Temple ever since Rabbi Azriel retired. We have big dreams for Rabbi Stoller and his beautiful family. And July 7 is when we start to make them a reality.”

Rabbi Stoller grew up in Houston, and attended The University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Honors Business Program & Finance in 1996. After graduation, he worked as a Political Consultant and Hill Consultant in Houston and then served as Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (IL), Washington, DC. Rabbi Stoller said: “Seven years in politics is enough to drive you to God. That is my short explanation for why I left my career as a U.S. Senate press secretary to become a rabbi – although, in truth, there is a lot more to the story. I see my journey from the Capitol to the rabbinate as a personal spiritual evolution toward a fuller, more authentic version of myself, a deeper engagement with things that really matter, and the realization of my destiny to be a teacher and spiritual guide to others.”

When asked about his move to Omaha and being the next senior rabbi of Temple Israel, Rabbi Stoller said: “My family and I are thrilled to be moving to Omaha and joining the Temple Israel family! Temple Israel is a strong, vibrant and innovative community, and it is so clear how deeply and genuinely the congregants care about each other. I am excited to partner with Temple Israel’s outstanding professional and lay leadership to continue the work of this historic congregation and chart the course for its future. I am also eager to collaborate with Omaha’s Jewish community see rabbi stoller page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017

community

Meet the counselors Continued from page 1 about 15 kids and facilitate activities surrounding art, science, swimming, field trips and all other summer fun.

They work in a team of two “to provide the best experience for the child”. Webb explains the camp counselors become “the parents when kids are away from their parent” at camp. A counselor’s job is “making camp happen”.

Counselors are selected by reviewing their work history and experience with children. After they are selected, they train in a week-long orientation to study child development, first aid, handling behaviors, group dynamics and conflict management. They aim to learn to “help kids help themselves”, Webb elaborates.

After the training and orientation, it is time to begin the journey of putting in 40 hours a week to be a camp counselor.

A number of camp counselors describe their responsibilities along the lines of “being a teacher or parent in the summer during the day”. They aim to watch the kids at camp and ensure they have an enjoyable experience while always staying safe. Counselors also help the campers with interact with other kids and form relationships with them as they grow.

Camp breeds an atmosphere that allows counselors to truly bond with the campers. It is five days a week of interacting with and getting to truly know each child. They are able to learn campers’ likes, dislikes, and quirks, and to share their funny moments.

Counselors love to hear the “random stories” from campers and create memories with each child. They are also able to bond with campers and their families throughout the summer.

Counselors are truly there for it all.

Camp isn’t only teaching campers, but the counselors, too. Each of the counselors has learned great patience working at J Camp. They learn to be stern and how to let the little things go

Wiener. Difficulty also arises when campers get very upset over some pretty tiny issues, but that’s all in a day’s work of being a camp counselor.

Oh, and of course, the heat is awful.

Camp counselor zach Stein and one of his campers as well. They also manage an array of different personalities and different age levels, so handling all of that is very impressive. It provides them an essential skillset for life.

Of course, though, camp is fun and games too. Counselors can embrace their inner child.

They get to join in on the fun while playing Gaga and swimming at the pool. Some of their favorite events are similar to campers’: swimming, lunch time interaction, and Gaga.

However, even the counselors can admit when J Camp gets a bit stressful.

When working with varying ages, it can be hard to change your working habits. Some challenges are “recognizing that kids learn in a different way and adapting accordingly” says second-year camp counselor Elissa

Even though there are straining parts of the job, counselors keep coming back. Working at J Camp “keeps you on your toes” and “It is something new every day,” so how could anyone turn that down? Plus, the smiling faces every single day are difficult to turn your back on. Counselors seem to truly appreciate the work they do. According to camp counselor Zach Stein, “I really love working with the kids, just being with them”. It clearly can be all the little things to make even adults love camp again.

Kids make sure the counselors are never bored. “Each week brings a new adventure.”

Kids are brutally honest; combining 15+ kids in one room at a time makes for a thrilling time. There is a See Meet the counselors page 3

Words to action, now more than ever

SCott Kurz Communications/Admin, Anti-Defamation League Plains States Region According to new data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), “Anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. surged more than one-third in 2016 and have jumped 86 percent in the first quarter of 2017.” In its annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, ADL reports that, “There has been a massive increase in the amount of harassment of American Jews, particularly since November, and a doubling in the amount of anti-Semitic bullying and vandalism at non-denominational K-12 grade schools.”

While these figures are unsettling, to say the least, the ADL-CRC is ramping up efforts in this arena through the use of its Words to Action program. Words to Action is an interactive workshop aimed at empowering Jewish students by addressing anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias on middle, high school and college campuses, examining and demonstrating constructive and effective responses to existing or potential troubling situations. Students are asked to confront and talk about a wide range of issues including anti-Israel incidents, prejudiced comments, hate speech vs. free speech, bias in the classroom, anti-Semitic vandalism and Holocaust denial.

Based on a comprehensive needs assessment the ADL-CRC determines each school’s most relevant challenges, then customizes and delivers workshops in either half or full-day formats guided by trained facilitators. Surrounding universities have been in touch with the ADL’s Plains States Regional Office (ADL-CRC) since the uptick in incidents and reports. “They are in need of this training more than ever,” notes Shiri Phillips, the ADL-CRC’s Words to Action Coordinator and Facilitator. “This training gives students the tools they need to combat and confront these situations.”

Through the ever-widening implementation of Words to Action, ADLCRC hopes to make significant progress in heightening the frequency and level of dialogue surrounding issues of anti-Semitism and Bias in all communities—building a positive generation of young people interested in reducing anti-Semitic sentiment and anti-Israel bias by instilling in them the need for prevention, awareness and appropriate action.

If you would like more information about the program, or are interested in participating, please contact Scott Kurz at skurz@adl.org or call 402.334.6570.

Rabbi Stoller

Continued from page 1 leaders and Temple Israel’s Tri-Faith partners to help shape the future of religious and communal life in this wonderful city.”

After services on July 7, there will be a BBQ with Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Potato Salad and Dessert. George Walker and his Jazz and Soul Review will provide music for the evening. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children, under 5 years old is free with a max family cost of $25. Please call Temple Israel, 402-556-6536, to RSVP by Wednesday, July 5. After July 5, the cost is $10 per person.

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The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017 | 3

Submissions due for An Evening with the Heirloomist he Nebraska Jewish Historical Society will honor and celebrate the history and community contributions of Jewish Omaha at its fall fundraiser, An Evening with the Heirloomist, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017.

The Heirloomist is a project of world renowned photographer and Omaha native, Shana Novak. Novak is an established still life photographer based in New York City and was recently featured in the July issue of O Magazine as well as Real Simple.

Via the Heirloomist, Shana Novak, The Heirloomist Novak creates one of a kind modern art photographs from prize possessions and family heirlooms. Novak’s work can be seen at www.thehe irloomist.com.

Novak, along with chairman Danny Cohn, will be digging deep into the archives of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society to select pieces to capture and highlight for the exhibit.

All of Novak’s work will be available the night of the event

to purchase via silent auction.

The public is asked to submit heirlooms that may be hiding in plain sight or tucked away in their homes that would

Foundation

Continued from page 1 explore the many philanthropic opportunities available to you, please feel free to contact me at 402.334.6466 or by email at hepstein@jewishomaha. org. *Consult your tax and legal advisors for specific tax and legal advice.

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evoke community nostalgia. To submit your heirloom for a chance for it to be photographed and featured at the event, please take a digital picture and submit along with a description of the heirloom and why you think it celebrates the Jewish history of Omaha to jewishomahaheirlooms@ gmail.com no later than July 5, 2017.

Criticizing patriotic symbols

It’s been a tough year in America and in Israel for patriotic symbols. In public demonstrations on a scale not seen since the famous 1968 Olympics Black Power Salute, professional football players and other athletes sat or knelt, sometimes with a fist raised, during the singing of America’s national anthem. Colin Kaepernick, then quarterback of the San Francisco TEDDY WEINBERGER 49ers and the first athlete to protest, explained: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

Israel’s flag has recently also come under fire. In a column entitled “It’s no longer my flag,” Haaretz’s Gideon Levy says: “Since it began flying in the territories, this flag has become the flag of apartheid.” Levy writes that “it can’t be my flag because it is the flag of a ‘Jewish and democratic’ state that may be Jewish—if someone could explain to me what that means—but it is certainly not democratic.”

Setting aside Levy’s puzzling remark about Jewishness (par for the course in Israel’s intellectual newspaper), Levy’s remark that Israel’s flag is not a flag of democracy is, unfortunately, gaining much wider traction in Israeli society. While it is tempting to dismiss the extremist Levy (his writing inevitably boils down to the claim that Israel was created in sin and has continued to sin grievously against the Palestinian people), even moderate leftists are now criticizing a founding principle of Israel: Zionism. Israel’s flag does not represent democracy, they say, because Zionism is not democratic.

Before going further, an explanation is in order: Zionism views the modern State of Israel as home for the Jewish people; as such, it officially privileges Jewish immigration to Israel, and, less officially, privileges Jewish towns and cities over Arab towns and cities. To be an Israeli anti-Zionist is to be an Israeli who rejects this privileging. Whether or not this was necessary in the past, they feel that Zionism is no longer defensible. This was made very clear to me in a recent article by one of Haaretz’s more moderate writers, Anshel Pfeffer.

In his article, Pfeffer criticizes the choices of Michael Steinhardt and Marvin Hier to light traditional torches on Mt. Herzl this past Yom Ha’Atzmaut (he feels that these

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Meet the counselors

Continued from page 2 lot of energy and enthusiasm for J Camp from the campers and counselors alike.

According to one seasoned counselor; “it is the best camp around.”

J Camp also has a noticeable difference from many camps. It is “a camp that allows for kids who aren’t Jewish to learn about the Jewish culture while keeping their own, too.” It is clearly more than a summer camp.

J Camp counselors play a vital role in the camp experience. They seem to be well aware of it, too. The most important part of being a counselor to them is “knowing that you have an impact on campers’ current and future lives.”

We can already see the impact camp counselors make every day here at J Camp.

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choices represent old-style Israeli reliance on diaspora money and political influence which, according to Pfeffer Israel, no longer needs). The opening clause to one of the paragraphs reads as follows: “Whatever you may think of Zionism.” The implication of these few words is breathtaking. It is no longer politically correct in mainstream Israeli leftist circles to assume that all of one’s readers are Zionists.

Squaring Zionism with democracy is no easy task, especially since Israeli Jews have not really decided how they view Israeli Arabs (as integrally part of Israeli society? as a minority population that has to be tolerated?). However, just as affirmative action in the United States is an accepted democratic tool for reversing discrimination, Zionism can be thought of as a similar democratic tool on behalf of the Jewish people. Will the State of Israel always privilege Jewish immigration? I don’t know. For now, just 70 years after the founding of the country, the policy does not seem excessive.

What is usually taken for granted in both the United States and in Israel is the ability of citizens to criticize their government, including its symbols. Every now and then we should remember (and protest against!) the very many countries where to speak out against one’s government is to risk torture and death. As long as NFL players are not barred from protesting during the singing of the national anthem, as long as Gideon Levy can write against Israel’s flag, then they may hope to convince others of the rightness of their positions—and we in turn can be hopeful because of that.

Happy Fourth of July!

Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest four, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie and Ezra are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@netvision.net.il.

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4 | The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017

calendar July 2017

All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Pat Anson at 402.334.8200. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the events.

FRIDAY, JUNE 30 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 1 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH THURSDAY, JULY 6 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Hebrew Class with Rabbi Schlomo, 10 a.m. at RBJH ADL Supreme Court Review, 10:30 a.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 7 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m.

Beth El Shabbat in the Park, 6 p.m. at Lake Zorinsky Shabbat to Welcome Rabbi Stoller, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, JULY 8 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Temple Israel College Age TiYPE Event, 5:30 p.m. at DJ’s Dugout-Aksarben Village, followed by the concert at Stinson Park

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH

SATURDAY, JULY 15 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, JULY 16 Temple Israel Bike Outing with Rabbi Stoller Mainstreeters going to A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, 2 p.m. at Ralston High School MONDAY, JULY 17 Mainstreeters Lunch, 11 a.m. at RBJH IHE Governance Council, 11:30 a.m.

TUESDAY, JULY 18 Temple Israel Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Temple Israel Grief Support Group, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH Jewish Movie Night: I am. Shimon Peres, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel

FRIDAY, JULY 21 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m.

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FRIDAY, JULY 14 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m.

Tempe Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights

THURSDAY, JULY 20 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Hebrew Class with Rabbi Schlomo, 10 a.m. at RBJH

MONDAY, JULY 10 Eye on Israel, noon

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THURSDAY, JULY 13 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Hebrew Class with Rabbi Schlomo, 10 a.m. at RBJH

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SATURDAY, JULY 22 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Fran Sillau Performance, 3 p.m.

PJ Party with Havdallah, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, JULY 23 Friedel Jewish Academy Family Day at the Zoo, 9:15 a.m.

Fran Sillau Performance, 11 a.m.

Temple Israel Rosh Chodesh Event, 4 p.m. welcoming Karen Flayhart TUESDAY, JULY 25 Temple Israel Holy Smokes with Rabbi Stoller, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH THURSDAY, JULY 27 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Hebrew Class with Rabbi Schlomo, 10 a.m. at RBJH FRIDAY, JULY 28 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m.

Fran Sillau Performance, 4 p.m.

Temple Israel TiYPE Event Shabbat Services followed by dinner at Hector’s, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 29 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Fran Sillau Performance, 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 30 Fran Sillau Performance, 11 a.m.

Temple Israel New Member Ice Cream Social, 4 p.m. at Rosie’s House Beth El Cooking/Serving at Stephen Center, 5:30 p.m. at Stephen Center, 2723 Q St.

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The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017 | 5

community

LIFE&LEGACY

On June 15, 120 people gathered to celebrate the successful completion of year three of the LIFE & LEGACY initiative and to honor the donors, lay leaders and volunteers. Special guests included Arlene D. Schiff, National Director of LIFE & LEGACY, The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and the keynote speaker Amy Hirshberg Lederman of Arizona. Karen Sokolof Javitch wrote an original song for the event. The song was performed by Karen and an intergenerational group, the LIFE & LEGACY singers.

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What is a Mitzva?

6 | The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017

community A visit to the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center

Dr. Kenneth Cowan, Director of the new Fred and clinicians as well as researchers, leads directly into the Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at the Nebraska Medical lobby. That lobby is filled with art work, a preview of the faCenter gave a tour of the new Cancer Center to Bridget cility’s Healing Arts Program. Patients will no longer have Gordman, Kip Gordman, Jerry Hoberman, Cookie Hoberman, Speedy Zweiback, Debbi Zweiback, Howard Epstein, Midge Bowers, Bill Bowers, Zoe Riekes and Carl Riekes.

The visiting group stands in front of original glass art from glass artist Dale Chihuly at the cancer center's Chihuly Sanctuary. With assistance from Nelson Gordman, this tour was a coordinated joint effort between the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and the Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska Foundation.

Bridget Gordman, left, Kip Gordman, Jerry Hoberman, Cookie Hoberman, Speedy Zweiback, Debbi The cancer center is a joint Zweiback, Howard Epstein, Midge Bowers, Bill Bowers, Zoe Riekes and Carl Riekes. venture between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and clinical partner Neto travel from building to building: they can see all their braska Medicine. It will pull all cancer-related functions — specialists under one roof. There is an added benefit for research, outpatient and inpatient — together under one those specialists: with the use of three large conference roof. It is the largest project in university history and the rooms, including an auditorium that seats 100, doctors and largest public-private partnership Nebraska has seen to reserachers can discuss cases. The researchers will be better date. informed about pateints, the treating clinicians will have The front entrance, used by pateints and their families, more direct access to researchers.

Parshat Chukat In this week’ s Torah portion we learn about the seemingly strange mitzvah, the Red Heifer. The Rabbis tell us that this teaches us the true meaning of the concept of a Mitzva. In Hebrew school, our teachers translated the word “mitzva” as a good deed. However the Talmud teaches us that Mitzva RaBBI aRI DEMBITZER is a commandment or a connecBeth Israel Synagogue tion. The way to connect heaven and earth is to transcend and uplift the physical, through a mitzva. Thus a Mitzva is not limited to what we, as finite beings call a “good deed.”

However, the goodness is brought about through a mitzva. Thus we do a mitzva because G-d commanded us to, which then connects us to G-d’s will when we fulfill the Mitzva. May we merit to do many Mitzvot, both that we can relate to today, and also those we can only relate to tomorrow.

Shabbat Shalom.

Do you know who this is?

BDS protesters continue to pressure Radiohead JTA British protesters disrupted the band Radiohead’s performance at a popular festival in Britain over its upcoming performance in Tel Aviv.

As Radiohead performed Friday as the headliner at the Glastonbury Festival in South West England, some waved Palestinian flags and raised a banner reading “Israel is an apartheid state. Radiohead, don’t play there,” the Londonbased website Jewish News reported. Some members of the audience also shouted “free Palestine.” e band was greeted with applause as it took the stage, according to the report.

Dozens of high-profile artists signed a letter sent to Radiohead in February urging the band to cancel its July performance in Tel Aviv. Earlier this month, Radiohead singer om Yorke said the letter was “offensive” and called out its signers for assuming the band is not informed on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Pro-Palestinian advocates have since ratcheted up their protests against Yorke and the group. e activist group London Palestine Action gathered outside the office of Radiohead’s accounting firm last week with posters accusing the band of “supporting Israeli apartheid.”

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The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is looking for the identification of the person, year and event of this photograph. If you have any information, please contact the NJHS office at 402.334.6441.

The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017 | 7

JCC Camp starts another day

This picture is from Tuesday, June 20 at 9 a.m. Campers and counselors come together to raise both the American and israeli flag as part of camp tradition every morning.

SAM in 1946

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Home alone?

This photo from the nebraska Jewish historical Society’s archives, first printed in our June 9 edition, was of a Sigma Alpha Mu event in november of 1946. identifications have been made! The nJhS thanks all readers who responded.

Back row: Jack epstein, left, Morrie Lipp,

Making Challah

elmer Greenberg, harry B. Cohen, dave Bernstein, irv Yaffe, Rollie Lewis, Leonard Lewis, Stanley Mayper and ed Schimmel Front Row: norman Bordy, left, Max Canar, harold Pollack, ed Rosen, Jimmy hamerstein (may have been from out of town), henry Riekes, Bob Bernstein, Joe Raznick and Max Prostock.

Thursday June 22, a group of toddlers and their family members came to make Challah at the JCC. There are two more classes in July and two more in August. Registration is required.

Organizations

B’nAi B’RiTh BReAdBReAkeRS

On July 5, Ray Somberg will discuss the First Responders organization and its continued tribute to the fire and police officers who keep our communities safe. B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers meets weekly on Wednesdays at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home auditorium from noon to 1 p.m. 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.

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8 | The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017

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; Paul Gerber; Alex Grossman; Jill Idelman; Mike Kaufman; David Kotok; Debbie Kricsfeld; Abby Kutler; Pam Monsky; Paul Rabinovitz and Barry Zoob.

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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.

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american Jewish Press association award Winner

Nebraska Press as- National Newspaper sociation association award winner 2008

W

The language of terror aNNeTTe vaN De KaMP-WrIGhT Editor of the Jewish Press hether it is a car veering onto a busy sidewalk, a lone teenager attacking his fellow students or someone shooting at U.S. Congressmen practicing on the baseball field: there is always one major question law enforcement has to answer. Was it terrorism?

Terrorism: literally, Google defines it as “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.” Merriam-Webster calls it “The systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.”

But more often than not, ‘terrorism’ is defined through association with Fundamentalist Islam. And while non-Muslims may commit great atrocities, they are rarely referred to as ‘terrorists.’

Don’t believe me? Here are the ways The New York Times described James T. Hodgkinson, who in the early morning of June 14 opened fire on the Republican Party’s baseball team as they were practicing: ‘Lone gunman.’ ‘A man with white hair and a beard.’ ‘A fervent opponent of Mr. Trump.’

CNN called him ‘a small business owner, defined by hatred of conservatives’ and referred to him as ‘the shooter.’

In the days following that shooting, much was written about Hodgkinson. He owned his guns legally, he was an abusive parent and he lived out of a van while preparing for his attack. But nowhere was the word ‘terrorist’ used.

Hodgkinson was not Muslim, he was not affiliated with ISIS and therefore, this was not terrorism.

Remember Portland’s Jeremy Joseph Christian? After making disparaging remarks about two Muslim women, he killed two men and injured a third for defending those women.

“The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, said that “a review of Christian’s Facebook page shows an individual all over the political spectrum but indicates that he holds some racist and other extremist beliefs,”

wrote The New York Times. He is a white supremacist, a whites-only proponent, an anti-Semite and an angry racist, but not a terrorist.

But the times, they may be changing.

When a van driver plowed into people who were just leaving a mosque in Finsbury Park, London, it quickly became

to think of themselves as holy warriors. But the truth is, they have no love for their fellow Muslims, or for Islam as a religion. They do not value its traditions, its cultural heritage, or believe in anything but utter destruction.

“The so-called Islamic State is the enemy of Islam. In fact, ISIS is the enemy of Judaism, Christianity, Yazidism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, atheism and all others who oppose its evil and barbaric agenda. The difference, however, is that Muslims suffer by far the most from ISIS’ horrific attacks,” Dean Obeidallah wrote in huffingtonpost.com earlier this year. Isis is, after all, active in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Mali, Somalia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

There is another term for ISIS: ‘Daesh,’ which is an acronym of ISIL's Arabic name that is used by Arabic-speaking detractors.

“It is considered derogatory, as it resembles the Arabic words Daes (lit. "one who crushes, or tramples down, something underfoot") and Dãhis (loosely translated: "one who sows discord"),” according to the Wall Street Journal. Using that term in ISIS territory, by the way, is punishable by flogging or by having your tongue cut out. Apparently, the one thing we can agree on is that words matter.

Credit: Alborzagros via Wikimedia Commons So how do we stop linking the word ‘terrorism’ and known that the attacker, Darren Osborne, was white and not ‘Muslim?’ How do we learn that the “Islamic State” has lita Muslim. Three days later, he appeared in Westminster mag- tle to do with Islam? How do we counter the fact that when istrates court. The charge: terrorism-related murder and at- one of the houses in my street is for sale, my 80-year-old tempted murder. Suddenly, the dam broke and the term neighbor from a few houses down admits she hopes there ‘terrorism’ was used for a non-Muslim all over the newspapers won’t be Muslims moving in? Because, you know, they “just and Television stations. Maybe it was because it was the third make her nervous?” in a series of attacks in London and everyone was on edge, We do it by opening our eyes, and we do it by speaking maybe there was a need to finally call it what it was. the truth, by using the right words. Terrorism is terrorism, The words we choose to describe what is happening in no matter who is holding the knife. Repeat after me: not all the world matter. When we consistently associate ‘Terror- terrorists are Muslims; not all Muslims are terrorists. Most ism’ with ‘Muslims,’ we give ISIS what it wants. Members of them are actually your friends and your neighbors—now call themselves ‘Islamists,’ or ‘The Islamist State,’ and like there is word choice I can get behind.

Keeping pro-Israel politics bipartisan in an age of polarization ShalOM lIPNer WASHINGTON | JTA America. Bipartisanship. Compulsory.

The literal ABCs of Israel’s national security doctrine remain Jerusalem’s airtight bond with the United States.

The tangible friendship expressed for Israel by elected officials at all levels of the U.S. government, the robust cooperation between their business, scientific, defense and intelligence communities and grassroots American support for the Jewish state endure as the sine qua non of Israel’s success.

None of this would have been possible unless Democrats and Republicans – recognizing the partnership’s inherent value to America – had united in common cause to embrace Israel.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has long known this. Reeling from the fallout of its 2016 policy conference, when then-candidate Donald Trump took to the podium to castigate President Barack Obama as “the worst thing that ever happened to Israel,” AIPAC management was determined to prevent this year’s event in March from turning into a partisan battlefield.

But noble aspirations are the first victims in the era of the perpetual political campaign. Addressing the assembly on the first evening, Vice President Mike Pence stoked the coals of divisiveness, proclaiming that “for the first time in a long time, America has a president who will stand with our allies and stand up to our enemies.” He was only echoing the sentiments expressed at that same morning’s opening plenary

by Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, who said, “For the first time in many years, perhaps even many decades, there is no daylight between our two governments.”

To be sure, Obama clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly, famously blindsiding his government by withholding a U.N. Security Council veto that led to the condemnation of Israel in the twilight of his presidency. But he was still the same president

who ultimately signed off on a multi-year, $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding on security assistance -- the one that compelled Netanyahu to “thank President Obama and his administration for this historic agreement.”

Here’s the rub: Memories of there never being

fordable luxury for them.

Because the White House switches hands, congressional majorities are not eternal and even governments in Jerusalem have been rumored to change, neither side of the aisle can be written off.

If the Israeli leadership ever had to deal with a hostile and alienated counterpart in the United States, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Ironically, for bipartisanship to be restored to full health, a particular aspect of Israel’s awkward synthesis of identity politics is both relevant and instructive here.

Governance in America is anchored in a two-party system, but Israel’s proportional representation has birthed dozens of parties since its inception; the current Knesset boasts 11 caucuses. Among them are boutique factions championing narrow constituencies, namely religious Jews and Israel’s Arab citizens, but counterintuitively, an independent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shaking hands voice has not always served their needs. with President Barack Obama at a bilateral meeting in New One byproduct has been that these factions York City, Sept. 21, 2016. are deputized as chief lobbyists for basic servCredit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images ices such as religious education and functional any “daylight” between even the tightest of allies neighborhood policing for their communities. In are myth. Nor has the advent of the Trump era more familiar terms: The fundamental delivereliminated all points of contention. But Israel has ables of liberal democracy have been turned into been fortunate to enjoy sustained, exceptionally horse-traded special interests. And if these high levels of coordination and collaboration smaller parties then fail at their polls, whole secunder U.S. administrations of both political stripes. tors of society risk being marginalized. MeanAnd what is it that enables that consistency, while, with people voting their parochial which allows Israel to both thrive today and plan concerns, the state becomes almost ungovernable. for its future? You guessed it. Bipartisanship.

A more effective way to guarantee themselves a Skeptics in Israel and within the Republican hearing would have been for these groups to set up Party are not wrong: Israel does have a conspicu- shop within Israel’s two major political blocs. That ous problem within the present-day Democratic way, their core requisites would become integrated Party. Its sources range from the raging currents into the platforms of all governments, no matter of globalization to differences over Israeli policy which way the winds were blowing. In fact, signs of vis-à-vis the Palestinians. The incontrovertible greater consolidation are now underway in Israel fact today is that Republican sympathies for Iswith talk of mergers and some newer contenders rael far outstrip Democratic ones, thus posing a fielding slates with greater in-house diversity. challenge from which friends of this bilateral reSuch thinking is a piece of cake for Americans. lationship dare not shirk; capitulation is an unaf- See Keeping pro-Israel politics bipartisan page 9

‘Jewish spouses matter,’ says a new study.

And the intermarriage debate escalates

The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017 | 9

Keeping pro-Israel politics bipartisan

Continued from page 8 The Republican and Democratic universes are seeded with multiple affinity groups that toil to ensure their pet causes are well represented in both parties. Among those promoting a strong U.S.-Israel bond, in this context, are the National Jewish Democratic Council and Republican Jewish Coalition, institutions that liaise with their respective party apparatuses and work to foster closer ties between the two nations.

But bipartisan fellowship is becoming ever more tenuous, and I’ve witnessed personally how hyper-politicization can inflict damage to the cause – with supporters of this relationship “colluding” to turn it into a wedge issue when they hammer each other as only fair-weather friends. Since the mission of both the NJDC and the RJC is to help elect members from their own parties, they almost have a vested interest in undermining the bipartisan foundations of U.S.Israel relations.

This same spirit of polarization has also consumed much of the cohort advocating on behalf of America’s alliance with Israel. AIPAC’s commitment to providing a warm bipartisan home for this community is being assailed by less politically inclusive outfits on both flanks. For the past eight years, J Street’s decidedly pro-Obama bent challenged the kumbaya of pro-Israel orthodoxy. And today, prominent Jewish funders and evangelical groups are calling for a more hard-hitting approach than AIPAC’s, one attuned to the sensibilities of Trump’s America.

How to square this circle when bipartisanship is indispensable but politics is king?

Friends of America’s partnership with Israel might best consider performing triage to stem the bleeding. If the relationship is to recoup its “unifier” status, the most immediate order of business should now be to neutralize the acrimony.

AIPAC’s professionalism will remain a formidable asset -- but only if the organization is not transformed into a boxing ring where political rivals come to exchange blows without regard for the injury it causes to bipartisanship.

Unless supreme efforts are invested to insulate this neutral ground, it could conceivably implode. Participants in last week’s AIPAC joint trip to Israel for Republican and Democratic campaign operatives’ officials – reportedly it “helped them dial down the bitter partisanship of current-day Washington” – would be the first to vindicate this approach.

At the same time, the current environment has prescribed an increasingly important role for tapered and cohesive silos of the like-minded. Enjoying the cachet of intellectual traction among their natural allies, partisan groups are equally potent messengers on issues ranging from foreign aid to the Iranian nuclear threat that they can cast skillfully in the vernacular of their particular guild. Ideally this task would be performed without too much emphasis on why the opposing team is “weak” on the issue; rather the mutual objective would be for all sides to be “strong.”

Psalm 133 is correct: It is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell together. But to ensure that Democrats and Republicans keep forging ahead to advance the alliance between the United States and Israel – a “best interest” of both countries – parallel inclusive and exclusive tracks of communal activism might just be a sign of the times. Perhaps it’s time for Bipartisanship 2.0. “Bipairtisanship,” if you will.

Shalom Lipner is a nonresident senior fellow of the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.

From 1990 to 2016, he served seven consecutive premiers at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor, We were very saddened by the death of Harold Bernstein and happy to read about Sol Kutler. Both of them grew up in Council Bluffs as did I. I am exactly one year younger than Sol. I read all your editorials. In reference to the one on page 12 of your June 2nd issue, the 23 year old man who was murdered by Jeremy Christian, was from Ashland, Oregon. We moved to Ashland from C.B. 15 years ago. The young man was a close friend of our grandson, Noah Slater. They went through school together in Ashland. Noah now lives in Taiwan.

On June 5th, Sally and I were married 66 years.

Hope all is well with you. You do a wonderful job with the Jewish Press.

Sincerely, Maynard telpner

ANdrew SiLow-CArroLL with the consequences within their affiliated institutions.

NEW YORK | JTA (Chovevei Torah already issued a statement reiterating that One of the wisest things ever said about intermarriage it forbids its rabbis from performing intermarriages.) came from former Atlantic sports columnist Jake Simpson: e denominational and halachic issues are intriguing “No stat could have predicted … the wonder that was for insiders, although the casual reader might be more David Tyree’s helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII.” taken with the personal stories each of the rabbis tells. In a Granted, Simpson wasn’t writing about the high rates of nearly 60-page explanation of his decision, Lau-Lavie wrote Jews marrying non-Jews. He was complaining that the of the interfaith marriages he performed before his ordinagrowing emphasis on statistical analysis in sports — sabertion as a Conservative rabbi, as well as the requests he conmetrics — was undermining the human element of the tinues to receive from “Jews and people of other heritages game. A statistician will tell you who is likely to catch a or faiths seeking a Jewish wedding, life, and community. touchdown pass. But only ecstatic Giants fans (and heart“Each story was unique,” he wrote. “I couldn’t bear saybroken Patriots fans) could appreciate the glories of Tyree’s ing no. e firsthand encounter with the pain of rejection improbable reception. and its consequences to the couple, to me, and to our comAnother sportswriter, Joe Posnanski, described it as “the munity convinced me of the need for an urgent solution. It human record versus the has become not just a practihuman heart.” cal issue but also one of It’s not a stretch to recogdeeply personal, ethical, and nize a similar argument theological dimensions.” among those who care about Mlotek wrote of the young Jewish “continuity” and what Jewish woman he met as a it means to live a meaningful staffer on Honeymoon Israel, Jewish life. On one side, the which takes couples with at think tanks and sociologists least one Jewish partner on are churning out statistics heritage trips to Israel.

(Hebrewmetrics?) suggest“Rachel” told Mlotek that her ing the dire toll intermarparents cut her off aer she riage is taking on the became engaged to an Arab strength and vitality of Jewman.

Adam and eve depicted on a 19th-century ketubah, a Jewish mar- “My guilt is tremendous ish life. riage contract, from the Norsa-torrazzo Synagogue in Mantua, and I understand my parents’ On the other side, rabbis Credit: DeAgostini/Getty Images disappointment,” she exand others in the grassroots italy. are demanding that Jewish leaders take into account the plained through tears. “Still, is there any way there might deeply personal stories of individual Jews and those who still be a space for me within Judaism? I feel as if God has love them, lest they feed the alienation from Jewish institu- brought my partner and me together.” tions that the numbers crunchers complain about.

Mlotek wrote: “A posture of radical hospitality and love According to a new analysis by the Jewish People Policy will be the only way to ensure Jews remain Jewish and JewInstitute, or JPPI, analyzing stats on “non-haredi” Ameriish remains worthwhile.” can Jews aged 25 to 54, “just 21 percent are married to For the B’nai Jeshurun rabbis, the personal is theological, Jews, while well over twice as many [50 percent] are nonto borrow a phrase. eir decision came with the launch of married and 29 percent are intermarried.” Only 15 percent what they are calling the Jewish Home Project, which will of this cohort are in Jewish-Jewish marriages with Jewish feature support programs, “resources for daily Jewish livchildren at home. ing, a more robust conversion program and rich Jewish ede implication, once you exclude the haredi Orthodox ucation courses.” If rabbis a generation ago performed — as well as the modern Orthodox, who oen marry beintermarriages to smooth the feelings of the Jewish partfore age 25 — is that the non-Orthodox Jewish population ner’s parents, now they want to embrace the couple and do is in a steep demographic decline, perhaps perilously so. all they can to make them a part of the Jewish community.

As authors Steven M. Cohen and Sylvia Barack Fishman Critics of the “stat heads,” as a baseball fan might put it, point out in an essay for JTA, this decline is not only a say that, unlike folks on the ground, they don’t see the peofunction of intermarriage. It’s also the result of late marple behind the numbers. ese critics say the major studies riage, no marriage and low birth rates. and their authors treat the intermarried as a statistical burYet the Jewish engagement gap between the inmarried den rather than living and breathing individuals making and the intermarried is “truly enormous,” according to JPPI. sometimes hard, sometimes welcome choices. at intere inmarried are more likely to feel that being Jewish is faith couples feel judged by the “tribalistic” mainstream, very important, to have Jewish friends, to belong to a synaand that Jewish institutions should accept people as they gogue and to raise their children “in the Jewish religion.” By are, not as they wish them to be. Besides, critics say, the contrast, “non-Jewish spouses and children in the home statisticians are working against forces they can’t resist and each seem to diminish the likelihood of Jewish engagement.” longing for a past that cannot be recaptured. ese kinds of analyses alarm Jewish institutions; they Meanwhile, the sociologists and pollsters insist that they seek answers in institutional ways. Should more money be are deeply concerned about Jewish individuals, not just invested in a highly engaged “core,” or spread among outfaceless Jewish “communities.” ey study Jewish belongreach to the “periphery”? Does the smart money go to the ing not because they are scolds, but because they believe hip startups that are trying to attract less-engaged Jews, or that a vibrant Jewish community — with strong instituto the legacy institutions that still have large (if shrinking) tions, crowded events, knowledgeable members and commembership bases? plex friendship and family ties — creates a deeply Just days aer the JPPI study came out on June 5, there meaningful life. at the Jewish thing is not worth preservwas a much different kind of reaction to the intermarriage ing for its own sake, but because of the difference it has “challenge” coming from rabbis of at least three distinct made in the lives of individuals and the world. stripes.

And their research, as opposed to their gut, leads them Clergy at B’nai Jeshurun, a big and influential synagogue to recommendations — and yes, judgments at a time when on New York’s Upper West side, announced that they judging is out of favor. would begin officiating at the weddings of interfaith coue authors of the JPPI study take aim at their critics ples who commit to creating Jewish homes and raising when they conclude, “Many regard all Jewish journeys and Jewish children. Downtown, Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, family configurations not only as equally valid, but as who runs the innovative Lab/Shul, said he, too, would offiequally valuable for Jewish engagement and continuity. In ciate at intermarriages despite his training in the Consercontrast with such avowedly non-discriminatory and nonvative movement, which bans its rabbis from doing so. discriminating thinking, our study demonstrates that JewAnd in an essay for e New York Jewish Week, Rabbi ish spouses matter, Jewish children matter, and, more Avram Mlotek, who was ordained at the liberal Orthodox generally, the configuration of Jewish families matters a Chovevei Torah yeshiva, suggested that “It’s time we revisit great deal for current Jewish engagement and future Jewish our tribalistic approach toward intermarriage and our continuity.” highly divisive conversion practices.” Mlotek was coy about e battle line has been drawn, and it runs right between what that would mean in practice, although he did suggest the human record and the human heart. that the Orthodox and Conservative movements should take a cue from the Reform’s “welcoming posture towards families with non-Jewish partners.”

B’nai Jeshurun is not affiliated with a movement and its ps://www.facebook.com/ShalomahaPress decision is internal; Lau-Lavie and Mlotek will have to deal

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10 | The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017

synagogues B’naI Israel synagogue

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

BeTh el synagogue

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

BeTh Israel synagogue

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

ChaBaD house

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

CongregaTIon B’naI Jeshurun

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

offuTT aIr forCe Base

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244

rose BlumkIn JewIsh home

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel

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

TIfereTh Israel

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

B’naI Israel synagogue

Please join us for our upcoming events: Annual Membership Meeting, sunday, aug. 27, 11 a.m.

Shabbat Service, sept. 1, 7:30 p.m. led by Shayna Kurland and Ben Cohen in honor of their wedding weekend.

Erev Rosh Hashanah, wednesday, sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.

Curtis Hutt, UNO Schwalb Center.

Rosh Hashanah, Thursday, sept. 21, 10:30 a.m. Anna Mosenkis, New American.

Kol Nidre, friday, sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. Leonard Greenspoon, Creighton University.

Yom Kippur, saturday, sept. 30, 10:30 a.m. Karen Gustafson, Jewish Family Services.

Our High Holiday services are led by Jeff Taxman.

Shabbat Speakers Series resumes on friday, oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. led by Larry Blass.

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

BeTh el synagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. frIDay: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. saTurDay: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:45 p.m. weekDay serVICes: Sundays, 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. sunDay: Morning Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.

TuesDay: Morning Minyan, 9 a.m.; Synagogue office closed for Independence Day. frIDay, July 7: Shabbat in the Park, 6 p.m. at Lake Zorinsky. Note: There will be no evening services at Beth El. saTurDay, July 8: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; MiniMinyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:45 p.m. sunDay: Morning Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.

TuesDay: Women’s Book Group, 5-8 p.m. at Knowles Mercy Center. We’ll discuss The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff, with a special opportunity to speak with the author. A vegetarian dinner will be served at 5 p.m. for those who make a reservation by July 6. Please register for dinner. There is no cost for those who opt out of dinner. For more information and for carpooling options, contact Darlene Golbitz.

ThursDay: Shanghai, 1 p.m.; Israeli Dancing with Shira, 7:30 p.m.

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

BeTh Israel synagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. frIDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Friday Learning Series with Rabbi Shlomo, 11:15 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv & Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:43 p.m. saTurDay: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights in the Weekly Torah Reading, 7:40 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:25 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:53 p.m. sunDay: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m.; Beth Israel Summer BBQ, 5 p.m. monDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Tamudic Tales with Rabbi Shlomo, noon.

TuesDay-weDnesDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

ThursDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ethics with Rabbi Ari, 7:45 a.m.; Woman’s Class with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m.; Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Shlomo, noon. frIDay, July 7: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Friday Learning Series with Rabbi Shlomo, 11:15 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv & Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:42 p.m. saTurDay, July 8: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights in the Weekly Torah Reading, 7:40 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:25 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:50 p.m. sunDay: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. monDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Eye on Israel with Rabbi Shlomo, noon at JCC Kripke Library.

TuesDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m. weDnesDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Board of Commissioners Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

ThursDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ethics with Rabbi Ari, 7:45 a.m.; Woman’s Class with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m.

Visit us at jewishomaha.org

ChaBaD house

Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. frIDay: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. saTurDay: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. followed by a festive kiddush luncheon. sunDay: Shacharit, 8:30 a.m. followed by Sunday Secrets: Jewish Fun Facts class at 9:15 a.m. weekDays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. monDay: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani. weDnesDay: New Tanya Series -- The Anatomy of Your Soul: Who Are You?, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Mendel Katzman.

ThursDay: Advanced Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Mendel Katzman. frIDay, July 7: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. saTurDay, July 8: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. followed by a festive kiddush luncheon. sunDay: Shacharit, 8:30 a.m. followed by Sunday Secrets: Jewish Fun Facts class at 9:15 a.m. weekDays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. monDay: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani. weDnesDay: New Tanya Series -- The Anatomy of Your Soul: Who Are You?, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Mendel Katzman.

ThursDay: Advanced Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Mendel Katzman.

Summer is here and there's no better way to spend it than with Chabad at Camp Gan Israel! Register today for camp!

Summer Camp Registration is OPEN! Give your child an amazing experience this summer with Chabad!

All programs are open to the entire community.

CongregaTIon B’naI Jeshurun

frIDay: Pre-neg, 6 p.m. hosted by Steve McLaughlin; Shabbat Evening Service, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:44 p.m. saTurDay: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Alex Clark; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Chukat; Kent and Lupe Malcom vow renewal, 5 p.m., with a dinner to follow at their home - 1515 A Street, Lincoln. All are invited to attend!; Havdalah (72 Minutes), 10:13 p.m.

TuesDay: Temple office closed for Independence Day. ThursDay: Trope Class, 6:15 p.m. with Michael Boekstal. frIDay, July 7: Pre-neg, 6 p.m.; Shabbat Evening Service, 6:30 p.m. led by Leslie Delserone and Peter Mullin; Candlelighting, 8:42 p.m. saTurDay, July 8: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by TBA; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Chukat; Havdalah (72 Minutes), 10:11 p.m.

ThursDay: Trope Class, 6:15 p.m. with Michael Boekstal; High Holidays Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.

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

LJCS CAMP ISRAEL, July 10–July 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at TI. Kosher lunch and snack provided. LJCS enrolled students entering. Tuition for each week is $75 and if you are enrolling two or more children, the cost is $50 per child, per week. This program is open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade.

Please send tuition checks payable to LJCS to Andrea at TI no later than July 1. Camp registration is required through LJCS. We are looking for any Lincoln (current or former residents) Jewish military veterans - both those who are deceased and those who are still alive. Names of any individuals they know who were murdered in the Holocaust - this is to make sure we have them listed at the Nebraska State Holocaust Memorial.

Please e-mail or mail names to: garyhill@cega.com, P.O. Box 81826, Lincoln, NE 68501.

offuTT aIr forCe Base

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

rose BlumkIn JewIsh home

saTurDay: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Jim Polack. saTurDay, July 8: Services, 9:15 a.m.

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

Temple Israel

frIDay: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. saTurDay: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. led by Rabbi Brian Stoller. This is his first Torah Study at Temple Israel; Shabbat Morning Services, 10:30 a.m. frIDay, July 7: Shabbat Service Welcoming Rabbi Brian Stoller, 6 p.m. Join us at Temple Israel for Rabbi Stoller’s first Friday evening Shabbat Service. After services, there will be a BBQ. George Walker and his Jazz and Soul Review will provide music for the evening. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children, under 5 years old is free with a max family cost of $25. Please call Temple Israel, 402.556.6536 to RSVP by wednesday, July 5. After July 5, the cost is $10 per person. saTurDay, July 8: Concert Series with College-Age TiYPE, 5:30-10 p.m. Join TiYPE for dinner at DJ’s Dugout in Aksarben Village, followed by enjoying the concert at Stinson Park-The Confidentials will be playing! RSVP to Aliyah Lasky by monday, July 3.

Bike Outing with Rabbi Stoller, saturday, July 16. Watch e-tidings for more details.

Grief Support Group, Tuesday, July 18, 7 p.m. led by Marla Cohen, MS, NCC, LMHP. If you have any questions about the Grief Support Group, please call the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536.

Movie & Discussion Night at Temple Israel: I am. Shimon Peres, wednesday, July 19, 7 p.m. Movie followed by a discussion.

Rosh Chodesh Kick-Off Event, sunday, July 23, 4-6 p.m., home of Danielle Gordman. Join us poolside for wine, apps, and chats as we welcome Karen Flayhart, wife of Rabbi Brian Stoller, into our community! Please RSVP to Temple Israel, 402.556.6536, by July 14.

Holy Smokes Cigar Smoker with Rabbi Brian Stoller, Tuesday, July 25, 7 p.m. This men’s only (21+) evening featurs cigars, spirits, beer and philosophical discussions of men’s issues and perspectives from Jewish texts.

Maj Jongg Tournament, sunday, aug. 6. Registration fee is $35 and includes breakfast, lunch and one raffle ticket. The registration deadline is friday, July 28. To register, please call the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536.

TIfereTh Israel

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. frIDay: Services, 6:30 p.m. saTurDay: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. There will be no Kiddush lunch this week.

TuesDay: Synagogue office closed for Independence Day. frIDay, July 7: Services, 6:30 p.m. saTurDay, July 8: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.

There will be no Kiddush lunch this week.

LJCS CAMP ISRAEL, July 10–July 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at TI. Kosher lunch and snack provided. LJCS enrolled students entering. Tuition for each week is $75 and if you are enrolling two or more children, the cost is $50 per child, per week. This program is open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade.

Please send tuition checks payable to LJCS to Andrea at TI no later than July 1. Camp registration is required through LJCS.

north Dakota Jewish pioneer cemetery

JTA news sTAff North Dakota’s oldest Jewish pioneer cemetery has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Sons of Jacob cemetery in Garske served a community of about 100 Jewish homesteaders from Eastern Europe. A group of descendants and locals applied to the state historical society for the national register; their application was approved by the National Park Service on June 5, the Bismarck Tribune reported June 22."This is an agricultural region, but we don’t usually think about the Jewish settlers as being farmers," Shirley LaFleur, who wrote the application, told the Tribune.

The Jewish homestead lasted from 1883 to 1925.

The cemetery includes 17 graves and 13 markers, and saw its last burial in 1935. It was rededicated by descendants in the early 2000s.

The Garske cemetery is one of nine rural Jewish cemeteries in the state, according to the Tribune.

The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017 | 11

lifecycles In memorIam

sheIla evelyn rosen

Sheila Evelyn Rosen passed away on June 17 in Encinitas, CA, after a brief illness. Services were held June 25 at the Beth El Cemetery at 84th and L Streets, followed by a celebration of Sheila’s life at the Rose Blumkin Home.

She was proceeded in death by husband, Jerry; daughter, Ellan; sister Sonya Baker, and parents Hannah and Abe Pradell.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Sara; four grandchildren: Shannon and Andy Na, Geoff and Joanna Rosen, HIlary Rosen and Grant Rosen; great-grandchild, Charlie Na; brother-in-law, Bob Baker; and nephews: Tom Rosen, Kenny Rosen, Scott Baker, Bruce Baker, and Danny Baker.

Nearly three months earlier, she had celebrated her 90th birthday with her family. It was a special moment, filled with laughter, hugs, smiles and plenty of family time -- the only ingredients that Sheila had wanted.

Sheila was born in Omaha on March 23, 1927 to Hannah and Abe Pradell.

She had a younger sister, Sonya.

She graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1945, attended the University of Missouri, and among other things, helped out at her parent’s neighborhood grocery store.

On Sept. 28, 1947, Sheila married Jerry Rosen and together they raised two children -- Ellan and Steve.

While she lived most of her life in Omaha, she spend the last eight-plus years at the La Costa Glen senior living community in Carlsbad, CA. Those

were among the happiest and best years of her life, living near her granddaughter Shannon, son-in-law Andy, and great grandchild, Charlie.

Sheila prized her independent living and her “this too shall pass” attitude kept her strong. More than anything, she enjoyed being with her family, be it in Kansas City for Thanksgiving, special occasions in Sun Valley, Id., or just attending countless school and sporting activities to support her grandchildren and great grandchild. Her family meant the world to her.

Sheila was an elegant woman with a warm personality and big heart. She will be missed by a wide circle of friends and family, whom she kept in touch with regularly up until her sudden death. Birthdays, weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, anniversaries, or just checking in, Sheila was always writing or calling. She was a pillar of the family.

Sheila enjoyed many simple pleasures -- day trips around the San Diego area with her La Costa Glen friends, board games, and of course, In & Out burgers and fries, pizza, and Dairy Queen ice cream with her home-made brownies.

Sheila and Jerry were members of Beth El Synagogue, and were active in Omaha’s Jewish community.

The family would like to thank the staff at La Costa Glen for their care and support, along with the medical staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital.

Memorials may be made in Sheila’s memory to the Jerold I. and Sheila E. Rosen endowment fund, at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, 333 S. 132nd St., Omaha, NE, 68154.

Ban on Jewish Pride flags at gay march called ‘unbridled hypocrisy’ JTA news sTAff Jewish groups denounced the banning of Jewish Pride flags at a lesbian march in Chicago and called for an apology.

Organizers of the 21st annual Chicago Dyke March told the three women asked to leave the march that the rainbow flags with a white Star of David in the center would be a “trigger,” or traumatic stimulus, for people who found them offensive.

A Dyke March collective member told the Windy City Times that the women were told to leave because the flags “made people feel unsafe,” and that Sunday’s march was “anti-Zionist” and “pro-Palestinian.” e Anti-Defamation League said in a statement Monday that march organizers should apologize to the women for what it described as an “outrageous” action. “e community of LGBTQ supporters is diverse and that is part of its tremendous strength,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s CEO. “Both the act and the explanation were anti-Semitic, plain and simple. We stand with A Wider Bridge and others in demanding an apology. We appreciate the Human Rights Campaign’s support and we call on other leaders from LGBTQ and progressive communities to join us in condemning this exclusion.” e Human Rights Campaign, which calls itself the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization with 1.5 million members, tweeted its support for the women.

“Marches should be safe spaces to celebrate our diversity and our pride. is is not right,” the group wrote.

e Chicago Dyke march in a statement issued late Sunday said that Palestinian and Jewish anti-Zionist marchers approached the women and expressed concern about the flags since they are “visually reminiscent of the Israeli flag” due to the placement of the Star of David in the middle, and because such flags are widely used in “pinkwashing” — what some activists say is Israel’s attempt to promote its progressive gay rights as a screen for mistreatment of Palestinians. e women were asked to leave, according to the statement, aer they began “defending the state of Israel and Zionism as a whole.” e statement continued: “It became clear that the political position of the marchers was at odds with the anti-racist and anti-Zionist ethos of Dyke march Chicago.” e Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights NGO, also denounced the banning of the Jewish Pride flags, saying it “brings disgrace to a movement that is dedicated to equal rights for all.”

“Equal rights that is, except for Jews who dare to celebrate their ties to their people and the Jewish homeland,” Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the center, said in a statement.

He added: “e unbridled hypocrisy and anti-Semitism of these campaigners degrades the cause for equality for all in our society and for LGBTQ rights around the world.” e Chicago Jewish Voice for Peace, which backs the antiIsrael Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, offered its support to march organizers, retweeting their statement and declaring, “We stand 100% w @DykeMarchChi. ...”

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12 | The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017

worldnews

W

This man almost killed Hitler: An incredible true story Tom TuGEnd LOS ANGELES| JTA

hat if Adolf Hitler had been assassinated shortly aer his armies invaded Poland to start World War II? How would global — and Jewish — history have played out? e question is not answered directly in the German film 13 Minutes. But the movie, based on an actual, lone-wolf plot to kill the Fuehrer that nearly succeeded, is both a classical thriller, pitting one man against the system, and an exploration of how minute circumstance can affect the fates of millions.

13 Minutes is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, who is perhaps best known for his remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, as well as e Downfall, which re-created Hitler’s last days in a Berlin bunker.

At the heart of the film’s plot is Georg Elsner (played by Christian Friedel), a 35year-old carpenter and tinkerer in a small Swabian village who played in the town band and was popular with the local girls.

He’s a communist sympathizer — but not a party member — who observes with growing concern how his village gradually transformed during the early years of Nazi rule.

Elser sees an acquaintance who is forced to sit on the street -- surrounded by Brownshirts and townspeople -- with a sign around her neck reading, “In the village I am the greatest swine and consort only with

Jews” (it rhymes in German). He attends a propaganda film in which Hitler proclaims that under his rule every German will have a radio, then a luxury, and the rutted village roads will be paved and lighted.

At a time when “expert” statesmen and pundits maintained that Hitler represented a temporary aberration or could be appeased, Elser becomes convinced that the Fuehrer will plunge Germany into war — and that if nobody else will stop the Nazi dictator, he must do the job himself.

Elser knew that Hitler addressed his followers at Munich’s largest beer hall every Nov. 8, the date of his foiled 1923 putsch to seize power in the Bavarian city as a base to overthrow the Weimar Republic.

So, starting in late 1938, he repeatedly visited the beer hall, taking careful measurements of the columns flanking the speaker’s podium. Elser took a job in an armaments factory and smuggled out explosives, dynamite sticks and detonators.

As Nov. 8 drew closer, Elser labored night aer night on his knees, holding a flashlight in his mouth, to insert the homemade bomb into the column. He connected the bomb to two clocks timed to trigger during Hitler’s typically lengthy tirade.

On the evening of the putsch anniversary, Elser took a train to the Swiss border to await news of Hitler’s death. Instead, however, he learned that the Fuehrer had unexpectedly cut short his speech.

Exactly 13 minutes aer Hitler le the

podium, the bomb exploded at the precise spot where Hitler had been standing. e blast killed seven Nazi officials and, to Elser’s lifelong regret, an innocent waitress.

even his name and birth date. Only aer the Gestapo drags in his longtime lover, who is pregnant with his child, does he acknowledge the plot, with himself as the sole author.

Nobody believed Elser’s story, but instead of being executed on the spot, he was shipped to various concentration camps, ending up in Dachau.

In April 1945, however, as Hitler’s dream of a 1,000-year Reich came crashing down, the Fuehrer remembered Elser — and ordered that he be executed with a pistol shot through the neck. Two weeks aer Elser was killed, U.S. troops liberated Dachau.

13 Minutes, released in Germany in 2015 with the title Christian Friedel as Georg Elser in 13 Minutes.

Elser — He Would Have Credit: Bernd Schuller/Sony Pictures Classics Changed the World, was well As Elser tried to cross the border into received by German critics and the public, Switzerland, something about his behavior Hirschbiegel said by phone from Vienna. aroused the suspicion of a German border e influential magazine Der Spiegel guard, who arrested Elser and sent him, noted that because of the film, Elser became under guard, to a Gestapo prison in Berlin. recognized as “a true German hero” aer Hitler was convinced that Elser was but a having been largely ignored by historians. tool in a vast conspiracy orchestrated by 13 Minutes is the latest in a number of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill German movies showing how individuals and demanded that Elser be tortured until Germans, men and women, stood up he revealed the masterminds behind the asagainst the Nazi regime. ey include Sosassination attempt. But even under the phie Scholl: e Final Days, Rosenstrasse most brutal torture, Elser refused to give and, most recently, Labyrinth of Lies.

Health+Wellness Coming in july

publishing date | 07.14.17

space reservation | 07.05.17

camera ready deadline | 07.07.17

Promote your business in this special issue with an ad and a short article. Contact our advertising executive to advertise in this very special edition.

Susan Bernard | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org