June 30, 2023

The Jewish Press

Jewish Omaha Pride

Temple Israel, Beth El Synagogue and the Jewish Federation of Omaha have once again combined efforts to lead the Omaha Jewish Community in celebrating Pride! In 2018, a joint Pride Task Force of Temple Israel and Beth El Synagogue members created an opportunity for the community at large to come together to march in the Heart-

Co-Chairs Robert Friedman and Matt Hazimeh gathered a group of passionate lay leaders to bring our community together in planning for Pride and representing the Omaha Jewish Community at the parade. In 2018, Robert Friedman, a Temple Israel member, approached Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin to partner in creating an opportunity for Temple

See Jewish Omaha Pride page 2

Kamp Kef is Out of This World St. Louis honors Michael Parsow

REGULARS

Beth El Education Director

When it was first announced that I was taking on the role of Education Director at Beth El, kids and parents alike began asking, “Will you still have Kamp Kef?” This yearly tradition that is now in its ninth year, has become a highlight of the year. So, my task was to not only keep the tradition

See Kamp KEF page 2

Omaha native Michael Parsow was honored with the Mark C. Kodner Inspiration Award at the 2023 St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s Annual Meeting. Included below is the introduction Lynn Wittels, CEO of the St. Louis JCC, gave to Michael at the meeting.

Michael Parsow has been the neshama, the soul, of Camp Sabra since 1996, when he first started as a Habonim camper. If you’re counting, this will be his 28th summer at camp. There is no one who has more Sabra ruach, has a greater

love of “M Day” (Maccabia) or who cheers more loudly in the dining hall than Michael. Camp Sabra actually wasn’t the first camp Michael attended. He tried a different camp one summer, but he didn’t have a good experience. You see, Michael has Fragile X Syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that impacts a person’s ability to problem solve and causes learning and developmental delays. Kids can be cruel sometimes, especially when meeting someone who is different.

See Michael Parsow page 3

There will be NO PAPER next week, July 7. The next Jewish Press will publish on July 14.

Eye on Israel: Special Edition

5 JCC Dancers heading off to Israel

MARK KELLN

TERRI JOY

land Pride Parade.

Michael Parsow at St. Louis Jewish Community Center Annual Meeting

Kamp Kef

Continued from page 1

going but ensure that it lived up to expectations.

Jewish Omaha Pride

Continued from page 1 members to take part in the Pride Parade. His hope was to ensure that Judaism’s voice was heard and present in the celebration of Pride. Matt Hazimeh, a member of Beth El, was simultaneously hard at work at Beth El Synagogue to organize his congregation around the Pride festivities. Matt was moved by the political climate of the day to organize marchers to support the greater Omaha LGBTQIA2S+ community. Temple Israel and Beth El decided to join forces, and together with the passion and enthusiasm of their dedicated task force and the added partnership of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, they were able to bring together over 100 people to march together as a united Jewish community.

Since then, at least 50 adults and children have marched under the banner of Jewish Omaha each year.

Leading up to the 2018 Pride Parade, Pride Task Force members Sarah Gilbert, Noa Gilbert, and Sandy Nogg spearheaded the effort to build a beautiful rainbow chuppah that we march under each year. Just as the chuppah is open on all four sides representing welcoming, love, and acceptance, so too do the marchers hope to embody the same qualities.

Hazimeh, Friedman, and all those working on this year’s Pride efforts are hoping for record numbers. They want all ages - children, grandchildren, friends, and others - to join us for our Pride Celebration, whether you’ve attended every year, or this would be your first year marching.

Pride 2023 is the weekend of Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15

JEWISH

OMAHA PRIDE EVENTS

INCLUDE:

Pride Shabbat at Temple Israel (In per-

son and via Zoom) on Friday, July 14,

6 p.m. Clergy will give a Pride Blessing and feature guest speaker Noa Gilbert, winner of Temple Israel’s Youth Leadership Award. Following services, there will also be an oneg in honor of Pride.

Shabbat Morning Service & Pride Parade (In person) on Saturday, July 15,

8 a.m. Services will take place downtown on the 2nd Floor of the Brandeis Building (210 S. 16th Street). The congregation of Beth El will be providing breakfast. Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander of Temple Israel will be leading services.

Following services, all those wanting to march in the parade, including those who cannot attend services, will head to the staging area. The staging area is between Capital Ave and Mike Fahey Street on 16th Street, where we will find our spot in the parade line. Look for Temple Israel’s Director of Education, Jennie Gates Beckman, who will be holding the spot in the parade line.

Children of all ages are welcome at all Pride events. As we wait in line, children’s activities will be provided to help keep our youngest community members busy!

Please remember to wear comfortable

walking shoes, a lot of sunscreen, and even a hat or sunglasses! It will be a hot, humid day, so bring your water bottles! Pride water bottles and water to refill will be available.

Marchers will be handing out Skittles with information about the rainbow chuppah they are marching with as well as Jewish Omaha posters for those who are curious about Judaism.

If you are unable to walk, but still want to participate, you can find a place to sit along the parade route. Marchers needing parking assistance may contact Temple Israel Director of Events and Engagement, Mindi Marburg, 402.556.6536.

There is an updated t-shirt design for this year on a white background, which allows for the same shirt to be ordered in sizes from a newborn onesie to adult size 5X so the entire family can show their Pride in matching style. Please order your shirts by July 1 to receive them in time for the parade.

The Pride Team looks forward to you joining this fun morning event spreading joy, creating community and celebrating diversity. To find all registration information and the link to purchase shirts, please visit www.templeisrael omaha.com/pride

Each year Beth El hosts this camp experience for rising kindergarten to rising 5th grade students. It is held the four days following Memorial Day. Our high school and college students serve as counselors. Grandparents, known as the “Bubby Brigade” volunteer with activities as well. It really is a community event.

This year’s theme was Kamp Kef is Out of This World. I must say, it lived up to expectations! We had a visit from the Omaha Children’s Museum with their space-themed outreach program, which was coincidently called Space, It’s Out of This World. We took a field trip to the Strategic Air Command Museum in Ashland. We baked challah, learned Israeli dances, had amazing ruach sessions, played games, launched water balloons, rode our bikes, created amazing works of art, and so much more. Of course, there was an epic slip ‘n slide. Each evening, our campers and our counselors were wiped out!

According to one camper, Austin Abramson, “Kamp Kef Rules! It was always such a fun time! This year was a lot of fun! My favorite part was the field trip. I love airplanes so much! The counselors are awesome and made camp a lot better. My favorite counselors were Tyler and Ari and Ethan but it is hard to choose!”

His big brother Dayton agreed. “Kamp Kef was so much fun this year! My favorite part of camp was the mud slide because I am the mud slide king. The counselors are amazing and made sure we were all having a great time. I love all of the counselors!”

Parents see the value of Kamp Kef as well. Dayton’s and Austin’s mother, Marissa among them, “I love the tradition of Kamp Kef and how my kids look forward to it each year!

They are very upset on the last day because they know they have to wait a whole year to go back to Kamp Kef. It is such a fun week for the kids and they are definitely exhausted when I pick them up so I know they had a great time!”

By the conclusion of the week, it was clear why Kamp Kef is so successful—our teens! Our high school and college counselors did the bulk of the planning and prep for Kamp Kef. Each day they brought the energy and enthusiasm that made the campers excited to come each day. They worked incredibly hard from the moment they arrived in the morning on the first day, until the clean-up was done on Friday. Incidentally, they had to do the difficult cleaning tasks at the conclusion of Kamp Kef in the pouring rain. Our young adults showed incredible leadership. The entire community can be proud!

A special thank you to the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Foundation for their continued support of Kamp Kef. Without them, this amazing opportunity for our young people could not happen.

I can now see why so many people were asking about Kamp Kef a year ago. I cannot wait to get started planning next year’s Kamp Kef.

Bennett G. Hornstein Memorial Scholarship

DIANE WALKER

JFO Foundation Fund & Scholarship Administrator

The Bennett G. Hornstein Memorial Scholarship for aspiring or current law students has been awarded to both Nneka L. Jones and Lionel Dalmeida for the 2023-2024 academic year. Both will receive $5,000 awards. The Hornstein family chose to make two awards this year in honor of their late mother, Nancy Hornstein who died on May 24, 2023. Nobody exemplified Bennett’s interest in helping others in need more than Nancy. She would often stop by the Jewish Federation without notice and drop off a check or cash to contribute to the scholarship fund when she was thinking about Bennett.

Nneka Jones graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business Management. While at Agnes Scott College, her potential for leadership and as a change agent were recognized by several honors: a Posse Leadership Scholarship; a Comcast Leaders & Achievers Award; the Tiara M. Parks Raising Hope Scholarship; the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship; and a Spark the Change Scholarship.

Nneka entered Creighton University School of Law as a Dean’s Fellow with both a Frances M. Ryan Diversity Scholarship and Megan M. Hottman Scholarship. She is a member of the Black Law Student Association and Student Bar Association, and recently joined the Creighton Law Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee as one of its founding members. She will graduate from Creighton University School of Law in May 2025.

Jones spent the summer of 2019 as an intern to Matt Westmoreland, Councilmember of the Atlanta City Council where she drafted ceremonial documents, assisted with the planning of major events, and conducted needed research to draft legislation. He shared “Nneka brought incredible energy, enthusiasm, intellect, and commitment and quickly established herself as a thought and action-leader. In addition, two of her strongest attributes are her willingness to perform community service and her commitment to helping her peers succeed.” In 2020, Jones interned for Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski Garza, City of Chicago, 10th Ward Public Service Office and created the first “Contactless Voter Registration” drive in Chicago and organized outreach efforts for over 300 households to increase awareness of upcoming elections and their importance.

As the only child of a single mother growing up in Chicago, Nneka witnessed and experienced many inequities and injustices. These have fueled her undaunted faith, confidence in the legal system, and determination to work on behalf of underserved populations. She aspires to help rebuild the educational system through legal advocacy so that a child’s zip code or economic status will no longer determine their success. She is confident her legal education and career will help her challenge legislation and propose remedies to protect student interests and dismantle barriers that have kept diverse and low-income students from attaining an equitable education and achieving social mobility.

Lionel Dalmeida graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha, majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. While at UNO, he was a member of the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization and mentored with Peer Success.

Lionel entered the University of Nebraska Lincoln College of Law and quickly made his mark as a natural leader, driven to make a difference in the community. He serves as Vice President of both the Multi-Cultural Legal Society and the Black

Michael Parsow

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Two friends from Omaha suggested Michael give Sabra a try. He did, and he had a fabulous time. Everyone at Sabra accepted Michael and saw how kind, caring and fun he was. And while Michael’s experience at Sabra helped him build confidence and find his happy place, the entire Sabra community benefited from his presence, because Michael helped everyone at camp see that people with different abilities can add to the camp experience and, in fact, add to their own life experience.

When Michael’s camper days were over, the Sabra team invited him to return as a member of the staff, and he began his long tenure as the camp Hydration Manager in 2008. As the camp’s Hydration Manager, Michael and his roommate tour camp, dropping off ice water at areas without water. He also hands out snacks twice daily to campers and he also does a few odd jobs as needed, including logistics and photography.

Michael is also a valuable member of camp’s Community Care Team. When a camper is a little homesick or when campers celebrate great accomplishments like getting up on water skis for the first time, Michael is there for support. He is THE MOST joyous staff member. In fact, his joy is infectious.

Law Students Association. He will graduate from the University of Nebraska College of Law in May 2024.

In September 2022, Dalmeida was selected to serve on the Schmid Research Fellowship Program by Stefanie Pearlman, Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Professor, Schmid Law Library. She shared that she was so impressed with his leadership, passion, and intelligence she selected him for this role. He works with the College of Law in its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and has the potential to positively impact future generations of attorneys graduating from the School of Law.

Growing up as a young Togolese immigrant, Lionel experienced first-hand the struggles his family faced navigating a system that wasn’t designed for their success. From his father, he was given a sense of purpose and the determination to make a difference in the world. He chose a career in law to gather and hone the skills and knowledge needed to help other black people succeed in business. Having seen how black entrepreneurs are often excluded from opportunities and resources, Lionel will focus on business law and entrepreneurship.

Prior to law school, Dalmeida had the opportunity to help young black people while at the Hope Center. His work there focused on developing new life and work skills, such as interviewing and customer service, and connecting with long-term employment opportunities as well as building business plans. This experience reinforced his belief that education, mentorship, and support can be transformative tools to help overcome adversity. He has shared that his experience at the Hope Center fueled his determination to make a difference in the lives of marginalized communities. He is committed to helping black entrepreneurs succeed by leveling the playing field and supporting impoverished black youth to develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed. “Everyone deserves access to opportunities and resources that can help them thrive.”

Both Nneka Jones and Lionel Dalmeida embody the qualities that Bennet G. Hornstein exemplified: a high standard of academic achievement, an adventurous spirit, and a desire to take on an active role in service to the community. Applicants must also be attending law school at the University of Nebraska or Creighton University.

The late Bennett Hornstein, assistant Douglas County public defender for 20 years, was a passionate advocate of the rights of those who could not afford a lawyer. After his battle with cancer and untimely death at the age of 46, his family established the Bennett G. Hornstein Endowment Fund in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. This fund provides an annual scholarship for a law student who will carry on Hornstein’s commitment to working for those members of society whom no one else wants to help. For more information about the annual Bennett G. Hornstein Memorial Scholarship, please visit the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation website www.jfofoundation.org Scholarship applications are accepted each year, per instructions on the website.

The Foundation welcomes donations to the Bennett G. Hornstein Endowment Fund in support of the scholarship. Donations may be made via the Foundation’s website, www.jfo foundation.org, or by mail to: Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, 333 South 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68154. For more information, call the Foundation at 402.334.6551.

He is the greatest source of laughter, a great source of new ideas and the very heart and soul of Camp Sabra.

Since Covid, Michael and the Sabra staff team have zoomed each week, right before Shabbat. They talk about camp, they tell jokes, they may just share about their day or the week that is about to end. Most important though, they come together as a community to support one another. That’s what Michael is all about.

Michael’s mother, Carol, has noticed that the campers and staff at Camp Sabra are all special, caring, accepting people. In fact, she said that, “Kindness is contagious there.” She and her husband Alan are beyond thankful that Michael has been able to experience and learn from his many years at Camp Sabra. And we are thankful to Carol and Alan because they took that leap of faith so many years ago in sending their son to Camp Sabra.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha congratulates Michael and his family with this well-deserved honor. Mazal tov, Michael!

The Mark C. Kodner Inspiration Award was generously established in honor of Mark Kodner by board members of Triad Bank. More than 20 years ago, Mark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and this award honors those who live life to the fullest and thrive in the face of adversity.

Nneka L. Jones

Lionel Dalmeida

History is made at Temple Israel

JOAN SUDMANN SHAPIRO

If you are like me, you have a cache of boxes tucked away somewhere in a closet or storage room. The boxes contain an assortment of old photos, letters, greeting cards, children’s artwork, certificates, and various documents. You have intended to sort through and “do something” with this stuff for years. Maybe decades.

Four years ago, when Mindi Marburg began working as Director of Engagement and Events at Temple Israel, congregant Joseph Pinson opened a closet door to show her its contents. Inside was a jumble of boxes and stacks of miscellaneous photos and papers that had been shoved into the closet ten years ago when the congregation moved into its current building. The unorganized mess collecting dust in that forgotten closet contained over 150 years’ worth of the history of the Omaha Jewish community. “Something” needed to be done with these precious photos and documents, Joseph and Mindi agreed. But what?

Mindi, who had grown up at Temple Israel and recently returned, did not forget about the contents of that closet. She wanted to do something to shine a light on that history, especially since Temple Israel was preparing for a 2021 commemoration of 150 years since the first Congregation Israel was established in Omaha in 1871.

There was someone else who never forgot about the history of Temple Israel and was determined to do something about preserving its legacy.That person was Miriam (Mibsy) Brooks. Mibsy’s parents, Rabbi Sidney H. and Jane H. Brooks, moved to Omaha from Springfield, Ohio, with one-year-old Mibsy, in 1952. Rabbi Brooks served as Temple Israel’s senior rabbi for 33 years. When he arrived, the home of the Jewish congregation was a temple on Park Street, which is now a Greek Orthodox Church. Rabbi Brooks was instrumental in getting a new temple built on Cass Street. “At the time, it sat in the middle of a cornfield,” Mibsy recalled.

Conversations between Mindi and Mibsy took place, and the project of creating an archive and a display to illuminate the history of Temple Israel was born. “I was a thorn in their side for ten years or more,” Mibsy, a long-time congregant who now lives in North Carolina, declared to me in a phone conversation. “I wanted an archive. But I didn’t want it to be handled by a committee of volunteers. I wanted it done by professional archivists. Temple Israel is the oldest Reform congregation west of the Mississippi. I felt the project was very important. Many congregants are not aware of the history.”

We are all familiar with people who demand that “somebody needs to do something about this!” and then walk away. But that was not Miriam Brooks. She wanted to see this project through. She offered to make a substantial donation to cover the cost of hiring professional archivists to do the job right. Where would Temple Israel find highly qualified professional archivists? Chicago? New York? The Smithsonian? As it happens, the right people for the job were right here in Omaha.

Jeannette Gabriel, Ph.D., is the Director of the Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She spent ten years with Smithsonian Associates, training History teachers in the Teaching American History Program. Ben Justman is the Executive Director of the Sarpy County Museum and the President of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society Board. Ben and Jeannette are professional

historians and archivists who are deeply committed to preserving Jewish history. They also happen to be married to one another. They submitted a proposal and were selected to archive the chaotic treasure trove in the Temple Israel closet and create an exhibit informing the Omaha Jewish community about its roots. Just as they were about to begin their work

in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world. “The pandemic was the greatest thing that ever happened to this project!” exclaimed Mibsy. Temple Israel was closed for 14 months. Jeannette and Ben could sort through the boxes and spread the materials out on tables all over the Social Hall where they could work undisturbed. They said it was a “labor of love” when I interviewed them in the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society archive at the Jewish Community Center.

Jeanette and Ben observed that “Temple Israel really cares about its history.” Temple Israel Executive Director Nate Shapiro affirmed, “Temple Israel is a proud member of, and contributor to, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.” Temple Israel has commemorated every big anniversary over the past 150 years. Former Temple Israel clergy have returned for these celebrations. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant that plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary were disrupted.

The question of where to locate the history exhibit generated a great deal of head-scratching, and many ideas were tossed around. Then one day, Mindi looked at the circular meditation room, which was barely ever used, and imagined it could be transformed into a gallery. There was general agreement that a history gallery would be an excellent use of that space. Graphic designer, Hylan Miller, was brought on board. If you have yet to venture beyond the Simon Community Court to peek inside the striking wood-paneled circular Temple Israel History Gallery, I encourage you to do so. The talented Ms. Miller worked closely with Jeannette and Ben to create a stunning visual display of the history of the Omaha Jewish community. As historians, Jeannette and Ben emphasize that there is a deep connection between Omaha’s Jewish history and the larger history of the Jewish people since the Jews in Omaha have roots in many parts of the world. They also point out that Omaha’s Jewish history is very closely tied to the history of Omaha as a whole.

The project took about three years. Miriam Brooks was thrilled to see the completed Temple Israel History Gallery In Honor of Rabbi Sidney H. and Jane H. Brooks. “I was speechless,” she proclaimed. “That space was just sitting there waiting for this. And yellow is my favorite color!” The round gallery, and the searchable kiosk that was created to accompany it, invite engagement with history. “I couldn’t be happier with the archive project.”

Asked for their perspective on the future impact of the archive, Ben and Jeannette would love to dig deeper. They have a passion for uncovering stories. They want to engage the community in identifying photographs and interacting with their history. Several people contributed documents, photos, and artifacts from their homes to the archives, and Jeanette and Ben encourage others to do so. As Jeannette put it, “Every story really matters.”

Jewish Business Leaders presents the Brandeis Story

JAY KATELMAN

JFO Director of Community Development

On Wednesdy, July 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., Jewish Business Leader Bagels & Breakfast will return for its second event of 2023. You are invited to join us in the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. This meeting has been three years in the making. The Brandeis story, which will feature speakers Steve Seline and Ted & Kathy Baer, was rescheduled due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are so glad to finally bring this wonderful story to our audience.

We will welcome Steve of Walnut Private Equity Partners and Ted and Kathy Baer of the Baer Foundation, who will join us to talk about this wonderful company.

“We are excited to honor the Baer legacy and recognize the magnitude of influence the Brandeis stores and the Baer fam-

ily had on the Omaha community,” JBL Founder and EVP at OMNE Partners Alex Epstein said. “The store’s success and family legacy is rich with history and it is a must-attend for community members. Brandeis and their expansion and other ventures carried so much weight into how Omaha is shaped today.”

There will also be a short video presentation where we will learn things about the Brandeis story we never knew. Remember to grab breakfast, provided by Star Catering and of course we will have coffee from Stories.

As always, we would like to thank our Platinum Sponsors: Bridges Trust, OMNE Partners, and Valmont. We would also like to thank our Event Sponsors: Alex Epstein, The Baer Foundation, and McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman, and Lepp. If you have any questions, please contact Jay Katelman at jkatelman@jewishomaha.org, or call 402.334.6461. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/JBLBrandeis

Eye on Israel: Special Edition

JAY KATELMAN

JFO Director of Community Development

On July 16 from 10-11 a.m., Join Sivan Cohen for Eye on Israel as she talks with medical professionals from the Galilee Medical Center in Israel. This is an opportunity to learn more about the Galilee Medical Center and the Israeli Health System from our visiting medical professionals.The group consists of Dr. Wafaa Bellan, Aya Kegade and Noya Haimovich. The community is invited to join us in the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Reception Room. Kosher lunch will be provided.

Dr.Wafaa Bellan is a specialist in both anesthesia and intensive care medicine and a senior physician in GMC’s department of Anesthesia and Operating Rooms. Dr. Bellan and Mrs. Kegada will be speaking about how the Galilee Medical Center is a model for peace and coexistence, among other topics related to Israeli medicine. Dr. Bellan began working as a senior physician in Galilee Medical Center’s Department of Anesthesia and Operating Rooms, in April 2021. She also serves as a clinical instructor at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar Ilan University.

Dr. Bellan lives with her husband and two children in Kfar Vradim in the Galilee. She plays the qanun, an oriental Arabic musical instrument made from wood with strings arranged in parallel rows. For ten years, prior to her medical career, she taught music and qanun, and participated in many musical performances and musical groups in Israel and internationally.

Aya Kagade, MHA, MEM is the Director at

the International Affairs Department of the Galilee Medical Center. Born in Georgia in the former Soviet Union, Aya Kagade graduated from “Bosmat” – the three-year high school for research and development science affiliated with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, where she focused on Computer Science and Automatic Data Analysis. An employee of the Galilee Medical Center (GMC) since 1989, she became a senior member of its Administrative Services and served as the Director General’s Office Manager from 1994 to 2009.

Aya then became Director of the International Affairs Department and since then has shaped the face of the foreign outreach of the rapidly growing medical center, by overseeing and facilitating collaboration between GMC’s professional staff and its partners and colleagues around the world through a variety of channels including establishing the medical center’s International Education and Training Center.

Aya is the mother of five children in addition to being the director of two branches of International Affairs at Galilee Medical Center.

Noya Haimovich Kerklies was born and raised in Northern Israel, although in the past few years she lived in the South, where she worked in the Yerucham-Miami Partnership. Today, she is working for the Western Galilee partnership as a living bridge coordinator.

To register, please visit https://tinyurl. com/medicaleyeonisrael. For more information, please contact Jay Katelman at jkatelman@jewishomaha.org

Rabbi Benjamin Sharff joins Temple Israel

STEFANIE BAGUIAN

Temple Israel Director of Communications

We are excited to officially welcome Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, his wife Joy and their children, Emily, Noah and Alex into the Temple Israel and Omaha Jewish community!

Rabbi Sharff will officially join Temple Israel on July 1. His first day in the building will be July

WHO ARE YOU?

We are both Omaha natives. Bruce says he was fortunate to be born into a family that taught him to be a good Jewish boy!

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GIVE?

We give because everyone needs a safety net. All of your dreams may not necessarily come true, and in that case, you’ll need some help to pick yourself up.

WHO TAUGHT YOU TO GIVE?

Our entire family has taught us to give. It was always a mission of our family to help those in need.

Rosh Hashanah GREETINGS

This year you can send your greetings through these very special ads that will run in our annual Rosh Hashanah issue. Each ad can be personalized with your name, the names of your children or your grandchildren. Just fill out the form below and send or bring it to the Jewish Press office. But hurry; these ads will only be accepted through July 25, 2023

ROSH HASHANAH GREETINGS ADS

5 and his first Shabbat Service will take place on Friday, July 7, where he will join Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander on the Bimah. We look forward to what he will bring to the community. If you’d like more information on Rabbi Sharff’s transition, please visit Temple Israel’s website, www.temple israelomaha.com

HOW DO YOU PASS DOWN YOUR PHILANTHROPIC PHILOSOPHY TO OTHERS, INSPIRING THEM TO GIVE?

It’s important to talk to people in person. Listening and meeting with people face-to-face is a path to understanding what’s important to them.

WHERE AND HOW DO YOU HOPE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Life can change in an instant and it’s important to reach out to those with the greatest need. By raising funds for the Jewish Federation, we hope to help the entire Jewish community. Fundraising has no end date!

Dr. Wafaa Bellan

Rabbi Benjamin Sharff

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: PAM AND BRUCE FRIEDLANDER

JCC Dancers heading off to Israel

GRACE CASKEY JCC Dance Training Company Member

Several members of the JCC’s dance Training Company, including myself, have the extraordinary opportunity to travel to Israel and participate in a summer program hosted by a leading modern dance company and to get to know our Omaha partnership area.

This will be the second time Esther Katz, JCC Performing Arts Director, will take a group of JCC Dancers to the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s summer intensive (KCDC), the first of which was in the summer of 2019. The first group of dancers returned to Omaha eager to share about their adventures, and just how transformative the experience was for them. They continue to shower us with enthusiastic commentary about the program, despite it being four years later. Listening to the dancers’ testimonies of what positive experiences they had during their time in Israel convinced me that this was a program I wanted to attend at some point in my dance education. I

first inquired about the intensive over a year ago, and made it known to our company director that I really did want to put my wish into actuality.

After many months of discussion and scheduling, the plan to send seven JCC dancers on this trip has been confirmed. Our group will head to Israel in early July, where we will stay for two weeks,

Welcome, Jewish Press

Intern Ashton Kay

learning about and absorbing Israeli culture and artistry. At the end of our intensive we will spend a shabbat hosted in our partnership area with teens who also dance at KCDC. All of us have been required to attend “pre-trip” meetings, where we have been learning about Israel’s history, its cultural and societal dynamics, and its partnership program through the Omaha JCC. It has been a joy to learn about all of these things in preparation for our departure, and we cannot wait to continue to do so through our travels.

Each of the dancers attending this dance program extend their thanks to our generous donors: the Albert and Eleanor Feldman Family Israel Foundation; the Staenberg Family Foundation and the Kiewit Companies Foundation.

We also thank the Foundation Grants Committee and the Special Donor-Advised Fund. Because of these contributions, it has been possible to offer this opportunity to aspiring dancers at the JCC. We are endlessly grateful, thank you so much for helping to make our dreams a reality.

Life & Legacy notes: Friedel Jewish Academy

Administrator

The Life and Legacy program has given Friedel Jewish Academy – and all of the partner organizations – the opportunity to have conversations with people you wouldn’t think would be working on estate planning just yet: families with young children. Life and Legacy is about providing support to organizations that have been important to your family, in all stages of life. Young families who have made their Life & Legacy commitment understand they can both ensure their children’s future and make a financial commitment in order to make a big impact to the organizations in Jewish Omaha that are near and dear to their family.

My name is Ashton Kay, and I am the summer intern at the Jewish Press. I’m a journalism student at UNO, and I have been writing for a long time. My mother is a writer and an English teacher at Metropolitan Community College. Her father, my grandfather, used to be a high school English teacher. I’ve been surrounded by writers my whole life, so I hope that I’m at least decent at it by now.

I was born in Omaha and

I’ve lived here my whole life. I have a lot of family in Utah around the Salt Lake area, so I’ve always had a second home there. I try to visit them every summer and Thanksgiving, but ever since COVID, Thanksgiving has been here in Omaha. In my free time, I like to spend time with my friends, cook new recipes (and eat them) and I have been teaching myself guitar. I enjoy movies, television, music, video games, or any kind of modern media in between. Don’t ask me what my favorites are because I have a hard enough time deciding, and it’s always changing. Recently I’ve enjoyed the new movie Across the Spider Verse and I’m in the middle of watching the show Shameless. Strangely, despite my love of music and good stories, I don’t like musicals (except for La La Land). I want to share some writing with you, as well as work on improving my skills as a journalist. I hope that I can help you all learn something, and at the same time, I hope that I can learn something from you too. I want to learn more about this community, and I’d like to figure out what it means to work as part of a team in an environment like this. I’m new to the JCC, but it is such a large and intriguing place to get to know. Hopefully during my time here I can familiarize myself with this building, as well as all that goes on inside. I’d also like to meet some new faces, so if you see me around, please say hello.

When I go back to school in the fall it would be great to have some insightful experiences. As a journalism student, learning about news writing and photography is more meaningful when you’ve published a story or a photo. Even further into the future, I’d like to know what I’m getting myself into. What does it mean to be a journalist, and how do you improve? In my time here, I want to bring some creativity you will enjoy, and that will help me become a more seasoned writer. The Jewish Press Internship is made possible through the generosity of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation.

JCC Dancers at frameworks concert

Ashton Kay

STACIE METZ

JFO Foundation Program and Stewardship

Above, right and below: Second week of Beth Israel Summer Camp included learning, playing, dancing, hiking, baking and much more!

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

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

Top, above, below and bottom: On June 11, families joined PJ Library and Friedel Jewish Academy for their annual Family Day at the Zoo. More than 110 people checked out the zoo’s many exhibits and then met up for snacks and conversation.

Above: RBJH Residents enjoy a beautiful spring day by going fishing. “Live Well. Go Fish” takes seniors, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and hospice patients boating and fishing on a wheelchair-accessible pontoon boat at beautiful Lake Wanahoo.

Left, above and below: Friday, June 16, the JFO leadership team showed appreciation to all staff by serving lunch.

Voices

The Jewish Press

(Founded in 1920)

Margie Gutnik

President

Annette van de Kamp-Wright

Editor Richard Busse

Creative Director

Howard Kutler

Advertising Executive

Lori Kooper-Schwarz

Assistant Editor

Gabby Blair

Staff Writer

Ashton Kay

Intern

Sam Kricsfeld

Digital support

Mary Bachteler

Accounting

Jewish Press Board

Margie Gutnik, President; Abigail Kutler, Ex-Officio; Helen Epstein; Seth Feldman; David Finkelstein; Ally Freeman; Mary Sue Grossman; Chuck Lucoff; Patricia Newman; Joseph Pinson and Larry Ring.

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 JFO are: Institute for Holocaust Education, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Social Services, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Press Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

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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 Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

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Peace Dove

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor

In 2006, private explorers in Uruguay recovered a giant bronze Nazi eagle from the wreckage of the Admiral Graf Spee. The country displayed it as a historical artifact at first, but when people reminded government officials they were glorifying Nazism, they pulled the exhibit. One businessman offered to buy it and destroy it, but it never came to pass.

“President Luis Lacalle Pou,” Juan Melamed wrote, “offered another idea: let the Uruguayan sculpture artist Pablo Atchugarry melt down the relic, refashioning the Nazi eagle into a dove of peace.” That, as expected, didn’t go over well either.

“‘Turning a Nazi artifact into a peace dove would be like if ‘Mexico turned its Aztec sacrificial stones into camping tables,’ Uruguayan historian and humorist Diego Delgrossi argued. A former parliamentarian, Anibal Gloodtdofsky, likened it to ‘transforming Auschwitz into a nude camp.’”

Whoa. Not quite the same, I’d say, but we get the point.

The question of what to do with Nazi artifacts has kept us busy for almost eight decades. Personally (although nobody asked), I am not against destroying all of it. We have narratives, photographs, even film; who needs all those other dust collectors? But there are people who feel that there is historical value, that keeping objects facilitates remembering, that getting rid of the uniforms and armbands and swastika-topped silverware is the same as sanitizing history.

RABBI JILL HAMMER

JTA

This article originally appeared on My Jewish Learning.

My mother died in February, and since then I’ve been caring for her home. At the time of her death, she had over a hundred plants — and that’s only inside the house. Outside, there were hundreds more — roses and lilacs and dahlias, lilies of the valley and irises and daffodils, violets and honeysuckle and sunflowers. They bloom in almost all seasons, from late winter to late autumn. Except when the ground is frozen, there is never a moment when something is not blooming in my mother’s garden. And she celebrated when they bloomed, whether once a season or once every 10 years. They were, in many ways, the great work of her life, and it’s powerful for me to be caring for them now.

I grew up surrounded by those plants. I ate wild strawberries, chestnuts and pears. I used pine needles for doll beds and hickory nuts for toy food. I slept (or pretended to) on carpets of moss and used branches of sumac as scepters. Once, I dug up some daffodils near the creek and moved them to my “garden” in the woods. My mother was furious (though those daffodils still bloom in the woods every spring). But my early plant experiences were mostly good. I planted peas with my father, and watched him guide the young bean plants up their poles. I noted when the violets came out and when the chestnuts fell from their trees. I particularly loved the wild roses that bloomed in June (in fact, they’re blooming now). For me, as for my mother, the plants are their own kind of people — beings I try to nurture, appreciate and understand.

So it’s moving to me that the Jewish tradition sees plants in a similar way — as beings with voices. Psalm 96:12 states: “Let the fields rejoice and all that is in them; let the trees of the forest sing for joy.” Psalm 17:33 proclaims: “Let the trees of the forest sing at the presence of God.” In Psalm 48:8,

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.

I am not sure that is true. If we take a look at the original intent with which these objects were created, we might have an easier time coming up with an answer. Hitler and his friends put their stamp on thousands of things, way beyond uniforms, flags and cars: if your ashtray

Turning that eagle into a peace dove, you might think, sort of serves the same purpose: it effectively destroys that bronze monstrosity and turns it into something pleasant. The thing is, you and I will know what is underneath. It may look like a dove, but we’ll still imagine the eagle it once was and all that it represents. And if you and I know, so will the Nazi-sympathizers.

Carlos Maslaton, an attorney and political liberal with a large social media following, has a different take:

“The eagle on the Graf Spee must not be adulterated or destroyed,” he tweeted. “On the contrary, it should be taken to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, which is the country of the Jews, and exhibited in a special monument with the phrase: ´Failed Nazis, the operation went wrong. Zionism has won. Blow yourself up.’” The Simon Wiesenthal Center, too, has urged Uruguay to display it in a museum-although without the catchy phrase.

didn’t have a swastika on it, you weren’t really a good Nazi. It’s branding, it’s the constant repetition, shoving the imagery of the Reich into everyone’s face, like a claim of ownership—and when I think of that, I can think of no better answer than to destroy the lot of it. No more auctions, no more worrying about who keeps what and why. Wouldn’t that be great?

the fruit trees offer praise. In Isaiah 55:12, the trees clap hands.

Maimonides understood these verses to be metaphors, but the Midrash — writings that fill in gaps in biblical texts — claims that trees do in fact speak with one another and with other creatures, and that they discuss the earth and its well-being. The Jerusalem Talmud too understands these verses expansively, saying that when Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai began to teach mystical secrets, the trees started to sing. The Zohar, the mystical Torah commentary, imagines that when the Creator visits the Garden of Eden at midnight, the trees burst into song.

This description of plants is a reflection of the way many of us experience plants — as alive, and in relationship to us. And it’s likely they reflect how our ancestors did too. Many indigenous spiritual practitioners consider plants to possess intelligence, so it’s certainly possible our ancestors saw plants this way as well. And it might be time for us to be mindful of this too, given that we are breathing in what plants breathe out, and vice versa.

A team of researchers at Tel Aviv University has recently discovered that plants make sounds, albeit at a frequency we can’t hear, and that they make more sounds when distressed. This claim was made long ago in the Midrash, which teaches that when a tree is cut down, its cry goes from one end of the world to the other but no one hears. How differently might we act if we could hear the cries of trees and plants? And how much richer might we be if we could tune into their songs?

Indeed, this might not be as far-fetched as it

Nazi memorabilia give me a visceral reaction. I was 16 years old when I visited Antwerp and saw an original copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf displayed in a shop window. I remember exactly how it made me feel (in my country that book was forbidden and seeing it in a public setting was unheard of). Years later, I spotted a Nazi armband at an antique store in Kearney, Nebraska, and the feeling was the same. We may tell ourselves they can be teaching tools, but in the wrong hands, they serve a very different purpose. And that is a risk I find simply too big. Instead, I’d like to imagine this world with one fewer ugly bronze eagle.

sounds. In some kabbalistic understandings, we have plant consciousness inside us. According to the mystic Hayyim Vital, plants are a category of beings known as the tzomeach — the growing ones. They exist among four kinds of living creatures: humans, animals, plants and stones (yes, even stones are considered beings). Vital says that the human soul reflects all these kinds of beings, and so perhaps we are kin to all of them. Even God has plant-like aspects: The kabbalists call the structure of the divine personality the Tree of Life, and in the Zohar, the Divine Presence is called the gan, the garden, or the chekel detapuchin kadishin, the holy apple orchard.

My own small New York apartment has many fewer plants than my mother’s home, but I care for them lovingly. Once, while I was away, the cat sitter forgot to water the fuschia and when I came home it was nearly dead and had only five living leaves left. I slowly nurtured it back to health, watering often but not too much, and now, a year later, it has bloomed many times. I may not be able to hear its voice, but I can see its beauty and I can feel the power and persistence of its life-force. As the summer solstice approaches, I invite all of us to celebrate, protect and listen to these green beings, these creatures who eat light and who create the very air we breathe.

Rabbi Jill Hammer is an author, teacher, midrashist, mystic, poet, essayist and priestess. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

A security guard looks at the bronze eagle recovered from the stern of the German Graf Spee battleship, on display in Montevideo, Uruguay, Feb. 13, 2006.

Credit: Miguel Rojo/AFP via Getty Images

Summer is almost here. It’s time to learn the Torah of the garden.

Credit: Getty Images

Why I don’t love ‘Jew hate’ as a substitute for ‘antisemitism’

I read a lot about antisemitism — as a professor researching prejudice, as a former fellow at a Holocaust memorial center, as a blogger for The Times of Israel, as the son of a Jewish father who was so grateful to get to live in the United States and as the father of a Jewish son in that same country, but with antisemitism on the rise.

I’ve noticed a shift in what I’m reading. The media, especially social media, are increasingly replacing the term “antisemitism” with a new term: “Jew hate.”

“Simply put, antisemitism is Jew hate,” Richard Lovett, cochairman of Creative Artists Agency, the world’s leading entertainment and talent agency and a marketing and branding powerhouse, remarked last month in an address encouraging his industry to fight antisemitism. Also last month, the governor and attorney general of Massachusetts, the mayor of Boston and other state leaders launched a campaign to “#StandUpToJewishHate,” an effort bankrolled by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Brooke Goldstein, the founder of the pro-Israel Lawfare Project and author of the book “End Jew Hatred,” has started an organization with the same name. The nonprofit JewBelong launched the #EndJewHate billboard campaign in 2021 in cities around the country.

London’s Jewish Chronicle — the oldest continuously published Jewish newspaper in the world — has now run several articles using “Jew hate” in addition to or instead of “antisemitism.”

I have asked colleagues who work on Holocaust remembrance, fighting antisemitism and promoting tolerance why they now prefer “Jew hate” to “antisemitism.” They consider it strong and clever branding, jarring and unapologetic, and I can’t argue with that. The phrase packs a punch. And it aligns Jewish groups with a larger social phenomenon: the various efforts to study and stop the menacing resurgence of hate groups. There are new university centers for the study of hate, new hate-focused conferences and several journals dedicated to hate studies. Hate is hot. Branding antisemitism as “Jew hate,” it is hoped, will help to mainstream concern about antisemitism.

The popularity of “Jew hate” coincides with concerns about the term “antisemitism.” Once usually spelled “anti-Semitism,” the term is increasingly spelled without the hyphen and with

JEROME A. CHANES AND MARK SILK

JTA

There was a young lady of title

Who insisted on wearing a sheitel. She didn’t care much

For kashrut and such,

“But the sheitel,” said she, “now that’s vital!”

As the old limerick suggests, there has long been a tradition of picking and choosing Jewish observance in America, whether it involved keeping kosher or observing Shabbat, or, in this case, covering your hair with a wig (a sheitel) if you’re a married woman.

But in America today, choice has come to occupy a central place not merely in how Jews practice Judaism but in the very way they conceive their religious identity.

Over the past several decades, Americans have come to regard their religion less and less as an ascribed identity — as something they were born into — and increasingly as what they choose to be at the present time. This shift has had a particularly dramatic effect on Jewish Americans, in whose tradition religious identity had for millennia been ascribed at birth. The tension between ascription on the one hand, and choice on the other, informs American Jewish religion.

Understanding religious identity as chosen is crucial to understanding the future of Judaism in the context of its denominations, its numbers, its relationships with other faith communities, its stance on public affairs — and, perhaps most important, its ability to renew itself in response to pressures from outside and from within.

Reform, after steady growth in synagogue membership from the late 1970s until the new century, is no longer the fastestgrowing movement. Still, Reform in America, while it struggles with the boundaries of “who is Jewish,” has lowered the barriers to participation in its brand of Judaism. “Inclusiveness” is the byword for contemporary Reform, both externally (outreach to non-Jewish spouses), and internally, by welcoming those Reform Jews who choose to embrace rituals — tallit and kippah and tefillin, mikveh, full synagogue services — traditionally considered outside the sphere of a movement that does not regard halacha, or traditional rabbinic law, as binding.

Have Reform’s accommodations worked? So far, the answer appears to be “yes,” as the percentage of Reform in American Jewry has remained stable at around 35-40% for decades.

a lowercase first “s.” This change was made out of concern that the former spelling reinforced the pseudo-scientific, long-discredited idea that Jews are members of the “Semitic” race.

Nevertheless, adopting “Jew hate” in place of “antisemitism” is a big mistake. It misses way too much.

For its part, the question for the Conservative movement is more about ascribed identity than about anything else. The movement is struggling with the question of how long it can

The term “antisemitism” — like the reality it describes — encompasses not only hate, but also fear and envy. People can fear or envy Jews without hating them. True, these biases can lead to stereotypes about Jews and the negative consequences of those stereotypes. People with preconceived notions about Jews are likely to notice and remember selectively or simply hear and believe whatever supports their biases while disregarding, disbelieving or downplaying information to the contrary. One Jewish head of a major newspaper or movie studio, according to this thinking, shows that Jews control the media. In this way, antisemitism can be self-perpetuating even when not powered by outright hatred.

“Jew hate” does not take into account apathy, the lack of concern that throughout history has allowed the actual haters to get away with much more than they would have otherwise. Nor does “Jew hate” take into account a dangerous kind of admiration. Well-meaning people may have positive stereotypes about Jews being intelligent and good in certain professions. These biases are not hateful, but they do reduce Jews to stereotypes.

“Jew hate” does not adequately capture antisemitism born of ignorance — not only of Jewish history and culture but also of the history and effects of antisemitism. Ignorance about Jewish culture, history and traditions can contribute to discrimination against Jews, thus perpetuating antisemitism even when there

sustain its policy of forbidding its rabbis from performing marriages between Jews and non-Jews. The question of intermarriage is central to the future of Conservative Judaism, as its contemporary identity is defined and has always been defined by the clear line it draws between Jew and non-Jew. This dilemma suggests that the future of the Conservative qua independent movement is highly uncertain.

Many analysts suggest that Reform and Conservative Judaism will ultimately merge and become a single heterodox movement. That, or Conservative will remain as a smaller movement, concentrated in large population centers.

is no hate. The rising and amazing ignorance of the facts of the Holocaust, for example, sets the stage for more people to dismiss or downplay its severity. That, in turn, will breed resentment — or worse — toward Jews, who are increasingly being cast as obnoxious and self-pitying for insisting that the Shoah happened and seeking to remind the world how bad it was.

If it irritates people when a Jew doesn’t care to join them in singing Christmas carols or to buy the annual Christmas stamp, that’s not necessarily hatred. It’s probably just ignorance of what it means to be in the minority versus the majority. Nevertheless, such ignorance, like ignorance of the Holocaust, can have an antisemitic effect.

Most alarming, the concept of “Jew hate” undermines the fight against antisemitism by — and this was supposed to be a point in its favor — making antisemitism just one instance of a broader category: hate. It should go without saying that one should be against most forms of hate. “Hate has no home here” lawn signs are admirable. But there are essential differences between each form of hate. They are not simply flavors to be served up when the media or a corporation wants to take a popular position. Diseases of the society, like diseases of the body, need to be understood and combatted on their own specific terms. Antisemitism has its own distinct history and pathology. The fight against antisemitism is not just the fight against white supremacy or misogyny or Islamophobia with a different name on the tee shirt.

Ultimately, what worries me most is that the concept of “Jew hate” lets people off too easily. Most people aren’t going to defend hatred, but having disavowed hatred, there’s still a lot to answer for. Antisemitism is real and there seems to be no end in sight. The digital age has amplified the speed and spread of anti-Jewish tropes, extremist ideologies and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Metal detectors and armed guards are now common at major Jewish gatherings. That’s a sign of real sickness in the culture, but rebranding antisemitism to fit more neatly into the “fight hate” agenda isn’t the cure.

Todd L. Pittinsky is professor of Technology and Society at Stony Brook University.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

pressions of Jewish Renewal that took root in the 1960s and ’70s — the havurah movement, Jewish feminism, practices that bear its spiritual approach — found newer expressions in communities such as Kehillat Hadar in New York; Yeshivat Maharat, which provides Orthodox ordination to women; The Kitchen in Los Angeles; “partnership” minyanim that maximize women’s participation within the parameters of traditional halacha, and New York’s unaffiliated B’nai Jeshurun congregation. Indeed, while the formal structures that generated Renewal recede in memory, Renewal has had a broad and deep impact on American Judaism and on American Jewish life. The impulse of Renewal, whatever its varied expression, was and is to create alternatives to the prevailing Jewish movements and forms. These alternatives are “chosen” ways of participation, and Renewal is yet vibrant.

The wildcard in American Judaism is, of course, the “nones,” those who identify as Jews of no religion. According to Pew, the percentage of U.S. Jews who do not claim any religion is 27% — higher among the young and going up. The future of Judaism in America will depend in part on the relative percentages of Jews with religion and Jews of no religion: Which will grow, and which will decline?

Orthodoxy, meanwhile, claims 17% of Jews ages 18 to 29, compared with just 3% of Jews 65 and older, according to Pew. If current trends continue, their proportion of the entire Jewish population in America will grow from a small minority to a dominant majority by the end of the century.

Yet there is no one “Orthodoxy” in America. Orthodoxy is expressed in Modern and Centrist forms, the many flavors of Hasidism, the numerous forms of non-Hasidic “haredi” Orthodoxy, Chabad-Lubavitch and the Orthodoxies that push the religious and ritual envelope in countless ways. It’s about choice.

But the price for Orthodoxy may be high, as the increased fractionalization of the movement demonstrates. Haredi groups (what we call Sectarian Orthodox, and others call “ultra-Orthodox”) operate by preventing choice, especially in some of the more sectarian Hasidic groups that create barriers to prevent adherents from leaving. More progressive Orthodox groups have adopted strategies that accommodate choice.

Orthodoxy will remain strong, but its future presents no consistent pattern.

Understanding Jewish Renewal is central to understanding the present and future of American Judaism. The varied ex-

What has changed in American Jewish religious life? It is what Will Herberg, in his landmark book “Catholic-Protestant-Jew,” did not see in the 1950s: There is no longer any pressure to remain within any given religious community, nor in any movement or stream of Judaism, nor within Judaism itself (as the rise of the “nones” suggests). The American Jewish religious future — for all the movements, denominations and post-denominationalists — will be positioned in this dynamic.

When religious identity is increasingly seen as a matter of personal choice, groups that have depended upon ascribed identity to guarantee their numbers will be challenged to develop not only new means of keeping and attracting members but also new ways of conceptualizing and communicating who and what they are.

Jerome A. Chanes is co-editor with Mark Silk of The Future of Judaism in America and the author or editor of four previous books and more than 100 articles, reviews, book-chapters and encyclopedia entries on Jewish public affairs, history, and arts and letters. Forthcoming is a book setting a historical and societal context for 100 years of Israeli theater.

Mark Silk is director of the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life and professor of religion in public life at Trinity College, Hartford.

Credit: JTA collage by Mollie Suss

We have seen the Jewish future, and it is all about choice

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: 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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236

402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

For information on COVID-related closures and about our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Renee Corcoran, Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.

B’NAI ISRAEL BETH EL

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.; Mondays and Thursdays 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Kiddush lunch following services sponsored by K. Wayne and Carole Lainof; Havdalah, 9:45 p.m. Zoom Only.

SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY: Beth El Office Closed.

FRIDAY-July 7: Kabbalat Shabbat 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-July 8: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 9:45 p.m. Zoom Only.

SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Unveiling Ceremony of Gilda Pieck, 4 p.m. at Beth El Cemetery.

MONDAY: Women’s Book Group, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: Shofar Blowing Workshop, 6 p.m. at Hazzan Krausman.

THURSDAY: Late Night at the Zoo, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 14: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-July 15: Pride Parade with the Omaha Jewish Communtiy with services at 8 a.m. at the Brandies Building and Parade at 10 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Services with guest speakers from the JFO Partnership and JAFI Medical Speakers Delegation, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream followed by Kiddush Lunch with Enhanced sponsorship by the Jewish Federation of Omaha; Havdalah, 9:40 p.m. Zoom Only. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity 9 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:53 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

TUESDAY: Beth Israel Office Closed; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

THURSDAY: Fast of 17 Tammuz begins, 4:08 a.m.; Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.; Parsha Class, 9:10 p.m.; Fast Ends, 9:37 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 7: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:42 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 8: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv 8:30 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity 9 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:50 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

Trade

An anonymous donor in our community has created two trade school and/or cosmetology school scholarship opportunities, up to $5,000 each, to go towards the 2023-24 academic year. Not every student who advances into higher education signs up for a four-year curriculum. Some

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 8:40 p.m.; Parsha Class, 9 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 14: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:39 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 15: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Kids Class, 7:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 8:30 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 9 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:46 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE

All services are in-person. All classes are being offered in-person and via Zoom (ochabad.com/academy). For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/ Lechayim; Candlelighting, 8:43 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:52 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps: Video Presentation 9-9:30 a.m. and Breakfast, 9:45 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Parsha Reading, 10 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 34), noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Class, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 7: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ocha bad.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 8:41 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 8: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:49 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps: Video Presentation, 9-9:30 a.m. and Breakfast, 9:45 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Parsha Reading, 10 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 34), noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Class, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 14: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ocha bad.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 8:38 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 15: Shacharit 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:45 p.m.

LINCOLN

Note: Some of our services, but not all, are now being offered in person.

FRIDAY: Final Friday Shabbat Community Dinner, 6 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex and music by Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 7 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 8:44 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Chukat-Balak; Havdalah 9:52 p.m.

SUNDAY: Men’s Bike/Coffee Group meet, 10:45 a.m. at The Mill on the Innovation Campus. We sit outside, facing east. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail. com; Pickleball, 3-5 p.m. at TI.

MONDAY: Synagogue Offices Closed; Mutual Review Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. at SST.

TUESDAY: Synagogue Offices Closed.

WEDNESDAY: Ruach Committee Meeting, 1 p.m. via Zoom.

THURSDAY: Fast of 17 Tammuz begins, 4:14 a.m.; Fast Ends, 9:41 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 7: Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex and music by Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Oneg Host: TBD; Shabbat Candlelighting, 8:42 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 8 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Pinchas; Havdalah 9:50 p.m.

SUNDAY: Men’s Bike/Coffee Group meet, 10:45 a.m. at The Mill on the Innovation Campus. We sit outside, facing east. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail. com; Social Action Committee Meeting, 1:30 p.m.; SST Board of Trustees Meeting, 1:30 p.m.; Pickleball, 3-5 p.m. at TI.

MONDAY: Federation Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 14: Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex and music by Leslie Delserone and Peter Mullin, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Oneg Host: TBD; Shabbat Candlelighting, 8:39 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 15 Shabbat Morning Service 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Matot-Masei; Havdalah, 9:46 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

FRIDAYS: Virtual Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month at Capehart Chapel. Contact TSgt Jason Rife at OAFBJSLL@icloud.com for more information.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s service is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Batsheva Appel, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander

FRIDAY: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person

THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Class, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel via Zoom

FRIDAY-July 7: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. InPerson; Shabbat B’yachad Service: Rabbi Sharff’s First Shabbat, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-July 8: Torah Study and Brunch, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. Please RSVP by July 3.

SUNDAY: Family Fun Day with Water slide for Grades Seven and Younger, 1 p.m. In-Person.

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person

THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Class, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel via Zoom

FRIDAY-July 14: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. InPerson; Shabbat B’yachad Service: Pride Shabbat, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-July 15: Shabbat Service and Pride Parade, 8 a.m. on the Second Floor of Brandies Bldg; Torah Study 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

high school graduates seek job training that lasts a year or two and then places them in the workforce. Such opportunities include, but are not restricted to: Information Technology, Construction, Industrial, Transportation and Horticulture. It is not too late to apply for this upcoming school year!

Qualified students who have unmet needs regarding tuition for either a two-year trade school program or a trade certificate program can contact the Jewish Press at avandekamp@jewishomaha. org or jpress@jewishomaha.org for more information.

Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch.

JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL

scholarships available for the 2023-24 academic year

Pittsburgh trial enters new phase

TORSTEN OVE

PITTSBURGH | Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle via JTA

Prosecutors have moved to block the convicted synagogue shooter and his defense team from presenting certain evidence to the jury during the next phase of the trial, such as comparing the case to others or putting a witness on the stand to argue that the death penalty is not a deterrent to murder.

The defendant was convicted last week of using an AR-15 to slaughter 11 worshippers from three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue building on Oct. 27, 2018, because of his hatred of Jews. Among the 63 counts on which he was convicted, 33 carry the potential death penalty.

The penalty phase started Monday, June 26. The government will present its evidence — called “aggravating factors” — for why prosecutors think the shooter should die in the federal execution chamber in Indiana. The defense will present its case for life in prison — “mitigating factors.”

Prosecutors are asking the judge, Robert Colville, to rein in the defense team. Not surprisingly, the defense has objected to nearly all of the government’s requests.

Under the Eighth Amendment, a jury in a capital case is required to consider all mitigating evidence and decide how much weight to give it. But prosecutors said that doesn’t mean the defense has “unfettered discretion” to present anything the

INFORMATION

ANTISEMITIC/HATE INCIDENTS

If you encounter an antisemitic or other hate incident, you are not alone. Your first call should be to the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in Omaha at 402.334.6572, or email JCRCreporting@ jewishomaha.org. If you perceive an imminent threat, call 911, and text Safety & Security Manager James Donahue at 402.213.1658.

lawyers consider mitigating.

“Rather,” they said, “the Supreme Court has clearly established that relevant mitigating evidence must be related to the defendant’s background, character, or record, or the circumstances of his offense.”

This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial by the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle and the Pittsburgh Union Progress in a collaboration supported by funding from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership. It is reprinted with permission.

Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com

ORGANIZATIONS

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS

The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENT

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING works! Place your 25 word ad into thousands of Nebraska homes for $225. Contact The Jewish Press or call 1-800-369-2850.

HELLO NEBRASKA! Introducing www.nepublicnotices.com, a new public notice website presented as a public service by all Nebraska newspapers. Free access, fully searchable – because democracy depends upon open government and your right to know.

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FOR SALE - INTERNET

FREE HIGH speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-855-646-1256.

FOR SALE - INSURANCE

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-490-4149 www.dental50plus.com/81 #6258.

FOR SALE - SATELLITE

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE Package, $89.99/mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-763-0124.

FOR SALE - SENIORS

STROKE AND Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-844-893-8016.

PUT ON your TV Ears and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-926-4154.

GUN SHOW

GUN SHOW: June 30, July 1,2 Westfair, Council Bluffs, IA Fri 3-8pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. $10 for all weekend (under 14 FREE).More info: 563-608-4401 www.marvkrauspromotions.net.

HOME SERVICES

ELIMINATE GUTTER cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-671-2859.

DOES YOUR basement or crawl space need some attention? Call Thrasher Foundation Repair! A permanent solution for waterproofing, failing foundations, sinking concrete and nasty crawl spaces. FREE Inspection & Same Day Estimate. $250 off ANY project with code GET250. Call 1-844-958-3431.

REPLACE YOUR roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer$500 Discount + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-888-316-7713.

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