July 15, 2022 by Jewish Press

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Beth Israel Tribute Dinner

In Highland Park’s Jewish community, few are untouched by deadly mass shooting Page 3

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The Kaplan Book Group SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist On July 21 the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will gather for its monthly meeting. Group members have the choice of meeting either in person in the Benjamin and Anna Wiesman Reception Room in the Staenberg Jewish Community Center or via Zoom. This month the group will be discussing Run You Down by Julia Dahl. Dahl is an author familiar to the group as they read Invisible City in October of 2017.

2022 Awards Night & Annual Meeting Pages 6 & 7

MARY SUE GROSSMAN n February of this year, Beth Israel Synagogue celebrated its “chai” year on Pacific Street. It likely seems quite odd, especially to newcomers to the community, to hear a Beth Israel congregant refer to it as the “new” building but compared to the prior location, it is indeed quite youthful. From September 1951 to February 2004, its well-known address was 1502 N 52nd Street. Beth Israel was the combination of smaller Orthodox congregations including Hamedrosh Hagadol (BHH),

I Shattered in an instant Page 12

otherwise known as “The Litvsche Shul,” B’nai Israel Adas Russia (better known as “The Kippler Shul”), B’nai Jacob Anshe Sholom (“The Kapulier Shul”), and Beth Hamedrash Adas Yeshurun and quickly served as Omaha’s largest Jewish congregation for many years. Key to the success of Beth Israel during those years, not to mention through current day, was the leadership. Looking back at the names of those leaders, it has been decided to honor those included on that illustrious See Beth Israel Tribute Dinner page 2

Imagine, Create, Heal at JCC Krakow REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor During her initial visit to Krakow in May of this year, artist Suzanne Horwich met countless children and adults who had recently fled Ukraine. “This is Ivan from Ukraine,” she wrote on her blog, “and he was my last student of the day. We sat quietly painting together, sharing our love for art. I could tell we were connecting even though few words were spoken.

Later, while I was trying to navigate the city of Krakow, I attempted to take the tram. I was feeling a bit flustered as I don’t speak Polish, and as the tram pulled up, I saw Ivan looking

right at me, beaming through the window of the tram. He was truly excited to see me in the street, and I was truly excited to see him, too. We are See Artists Giving Back page 2

In Run You Down, Dahl’s main character, Rebekah Roberts, a New York Tribune reporter, picks up where she left off in Invisible City. Rebekah is once again chasing down a story involving Ultra-Orthodox Jews and OTD (off the derech –- giving up Hasidism for a life in the secular world). What starts as an investigation of a murder versus possible accident becomes much more complicated as Rebekah delves further and further into the story. While Rebekah is searching for the truth surrounding the events leading up to the untimely death of Pessie Goldin, she is also attempting to reconnect with her birthmother, Aviva Kagan. Aviva abandoned both Rebekah and her father when she was just an infant. Writing in alternating chapters we are presented with Aviva’s account of the events that occurred prior and after her abandonment of her daughter and Rebekah’s account into the investigation as well as Rebekah’s attempts to finally meet her mother. Dahl takes us down various roads that interconnect Pessie’s death, the world of Ultra-Orthodoxy, OTD, Aviva’s family, anti-Semitism, and Neo-Nazis. The reader shares the journey Dahl is taking in dealing with Hasidic life and the restrictions it can present to both those who follow and reject its principals. The reader gains insights into just how narrow-minded people can be about religion, homosexuality, and See Kaplan Book Group page 3

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Beth Israel Tribute Dinner

Donald Gerber, and Dr. David Kohll. Continued from page 1 list names of which are well represented in “We will also be recognizing Irv Epstein, today’s Omaha Jewish community. On Sun- Beth Israel’s long time legal expert” reported day evening, Sept. 18, Beth Israel Syna- Bruce. “Irv has given countless hours of his gogue is holding a fundraising dinner with the time throughout the years, sharing his legal theme “Honoring the Presidents of 52nd expertise whenever needed. He is one of the Street.” The event chair is Bruce Potash. many quiet heroes that keep Beth Israel such “While I am not origia success.” nally from Omaha, I have The evening’s schedule heard so much about will begin with mincha at Beth Israel’s history” 5 p.m. followed by appeshared Bruce. “After one of tizers and drinks at 5:15 these conversations, I p.m. The dinner will wondered how many past begin at 5:45 p.m. and presidents there had been the program at 6:30 p.m. before the move ‘out west.’ Tickets will be $118 per Of those who served person. Full reservation while still on 52nd Street, information will be OMAHA NEBRASKA there are 15 of the 22 presshared with the commuidents who have passed away. I felt the time nity in late July. Sponsorship opportunities are was long overdue to recognize the contribu- also available by contacting Bruce or calling tions of these leaders and a tribute dinner the synagogue office at 402.556.6288. seemed the natural way to do so.” “It is hoped that each past president and/or The names of the those who have died, z”l, his family will be represented at the dinner. include Harry Sidman, Maurice Katzman, To date we have had a great response from Dan Gordman, Henry Apel, Haskell Morris, the families and expect Omaha’s Jewish comErnest Hochster, Paul Crounse, Dr. Maurice munity will be very supportive of the event,” Schwartz, Leon Wintroub, William Cohen, reported Bruce. “We are also on the lookout Jack E. Cohen, Manny Goldberg, Richard for additional volunteers and encourage anyKatzman, and Gary Parilman. Beth Israel one interested to call the synagogue office continues to be fortunate enough to count on with your name and number and a commitmany of its past leaders including Joe Kir- tee member will be in touch. This event will shenbaum, Dr. James Wax, Dr. Paul Shyken, be a great way to wrap up the year before the Mort Glass, Robert Oberman, Leon Shrago, High Holidays.”

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Artists Giving Back Continued from page 1 two strangers in this city and what a comfort to see a familiar face. Our eyes connected and we had the biggest smiles. I quickly jumped on the tram and Ivan couldn’t wait to tell me, “Tomorrow we paint.” I smiled and said, “Yes, tomorrow we paint.” She quickly learned she wanted, needed, to return. Reprising her May visit in July, she’s already making plans to return in October as well. If you are interested in helping out, please visit Suzanne’s website for details: www.artistsgivingback.org. “In the middle of a tragedy,” she said, “I was able to create some joy and shift the energy for a few hours. They were so happy to receive the art supplies that my donors so generously funded. It’s important for me to stress that we must return to the humanization of the refugees and move past the victimization. We must return dignity to their lives.” This program is not just for kids, Suzanne emphasizes. “This program is for all ages, because everyone has the capacity to imagine. I’m particularly drawn to working with the mothers and grandmothers as they are bearing the burden. They smile, move forward, model a sense of security for the sake of the children. Nobody sees the cracks, but I know those cracks are hidden just below the sur-

face. With husbands gone at war or victims of war, these mothers must navigate a new language, new country, obtaining food, clothing and supplies. Can you imagine yourself doing that? Imagine doing that, with a smile on your face, for the sake of the children.” Suzanne believes in the work so much, she has invested her own money, in addition to the generosity of her partner seed donors, Tommy and Darlynn Fellman, Michael Staenberg and the Goldrich Family Foundation. “I also want to mention my team,” she said, “Director of Outreach, Amy Marshall, Founder of ProxiBid, my mentor Ken Maxwell, and Documentary Film maker and artist Marc Bennett, who is also a mentor. These friends have all donated their time and services to help me succeed. They believe in the program as passionately as I do.” While in Krakow, Suzanne will blog about the stories shared with her at http://www. artistsgivingback.org/. Our community, like so many Jewish communities around the world, stepped up during the initial months, but this war is far from over. One of the most important tasks we can take on is to bear witness, to pay attention and not look away. To that end, the Jewish Federation of Omaha is currently planning to host Suzanne in Omaha in early November. Please continue to check the Jewish Press for details about her visit.

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 the Press 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.

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In Highland Park’s Jewish community, few are untouched by deadly mass shooting synagogue where she was a congregant and staff member. LESLIE HIRSCHFELD AND ANDREW LAPIN Dozens of people were injured and the downtown left HIGHLAND PARK, Illinois | JTA Bright Bowls was open for July 4 in Highland Park’s main strewn with abandoned strollers and chairs as the shooting commercial district, and its owners, Lindsay and Matt left a trail of devastation in the heart of Highland Park, a city Meltzer, were prepared for a busy day. of about 30,000 where about half of residents are Jewish. The Lindsay had left her job at the Jewish United Fund of Chicago victims included both Jews and non-Jews, in a reflection of the to open her dream business, a vegetarian smoothie shop and suburb’s diversity and the draw of its Fourth of July festivities. wellness studio, in June Multiple GoFundMe 2020. This would be the first pages began circulating onyear since the pandemic line immediately for famibegan that her suburb lies of victims and would hold its annual Indesurvivors, including one for pendence Day festivities, inthe 2-year-old son of the cluding a parade, and the McCarthys, who will now Meltzers were eagerly anticbe raised by his grandparipating lots of foot traffic. ents, Nina and Misha LevThe Maxwell Street berg. That fundraiser drew Klezmer Band began playnearly $2 million in its first ing in the parade lineup, 12 hours; meanwhile, a performing the joyful Jewlocal rabbi who put out a ish standard Freylekhs fun call for pediatric spine surder Khupe (Happiness under geon referrals for an 8-yearthe Chuppah). A parade obold child from her server, local Jewish entre- A family embraces while observing the scene of a mass shooting at congregation who was critpreneur Candice Crane, a July 4th parade in downtown Highland Park, Illinois, July 5, 2022. ically injured said she was laughed and took pictures Credit: Max Herman/AFP via Getty Images overwhelmed by responses. with her husband and two of her young children. The Chicago suburb is home to a large Jewish community, “We were joking, ‘Only in Highland Park does the Klezmer including a substantial number of Israelis and the national band come,’” Crane said. headquarters of a liberal Jewish PAC. It was left in a state of Then everything changed. shock and trauma following the event. Jewish camps and “I was standing at the register, and all of a sudden, I see the other activities were canceled around the area the following Highland Park High School band running up the street,” Lind- day, and some of the many synagogues in the area announced say Meltzer said. “The first thought I had was that there was special services responding to the shooting. an active shooter.” North Shore Congregation Israel, located in nearby Glencoe, Moments later, a police officer rode up on his bicycle and announced that one of the victims was Sundheim, a congretold everyone to get off the street. gant, preschool educator and b’nai mitzvah coordinator at the “We just opened our door,” Lindsay said. “We have a base- synagogue. “There are no words sufficient to express the ment that’s about the size of our entire store, and we were able depth of our grief,” the synagogue said in a statement. to house over a hundred people safely, away from windows.” The congregation declined an interview with JTA, saying it Her husband stood at the front door, keeping watch, while was “fully focused on supporting our community right now,” Lindsay guided everyone else, mostly families with young chil- but held a service of comfort and consolation in response to dren, to hide downstairs. A teacher with some active shooter the mass shooting Tuesday evening. A separate memorial training, herself Jewish, played games with the children and service for Sundheim will take place Friday. helped keep everyone calm. Three members of Am Shalom, a Reform congregation in Meanwhile, Howard Prager, a tuba player in the band, said he nearby Glencoe, were injured by the gunman and two went thought he saw the shooter flee the scene. “We saw a lot of peo- to the hospital with their injuries, according to Rabbi Steven ple running,” he said. “We saw the panic and terror in their eyes.” Lowenstein, who said the injured did not want to release Crane hid with her 6-year-old daughter in an abandoned their names. storefront, separated from her husband and 1-year-old who Also planning to hold special services were North Suburban were taken inside an apartment building by a good Samaritan. Synagogue Beth El, a large Conservative congregation, and Re“We live literally five minutes from that intersection [where form congregation Makom Solel Lakeside, both in Highland the shooting took place],” Crane said. “That’s our neighbor- Park. Beth El declined comment to JTA. Rabbi Evan Moffic of hood. That’s basically our backyard.” Makom Solel told JTA that racial justice activist Rev. Jesse The shooting at Highland Park’s July 4th parade killed seven Jackson would likely attend the prayer vigil there Wednesday. people, six of whom were officially identified on Tuesday: Multiple area Jewish spiritual leaders told JTA that while Katherine Goldstein (aged 64), Irena McCarthy (35), Kevin Mc- they did not want to speculate as to the motives of the Carthy (37), Stephen Straus (88), Jacki Sundheim (63) and Nico- shooter, their communities were wrestling with their feelings las Toledo-Zaragoza (78). Sundheim’s name had been released of security being upended. “I think our Jewish antennae go up Monday night by North Shore Congregation Israel, the Reform See Highland Park mass shooting page 4

The Kaplan Book Group Continued from page 1 sexual abuse. In small town communities, sometimes extremism is ignored and allowed to fester until it is too late and becomes deadly. Dahl’s book was written in 2015 but is extremely relevant today given what has been happening throughout the country lately. As Dahl shows, the term “active shooter” is not a new term or situation that takes place in isolation but unfortunately affects us all and alters the way we live our lives today. Tolerance is an overwhelming theme throughout Run You Down as well as her previous book Invisible City. Please feel free to join us on July 21 in person or via Zoom.

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The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group meets on the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. New members are always welcome. To view books discussed by the group over the past several years, go to www.jewishomaha.org, click on the “Community & Education” pulldown tab and navigate to “Kripke-Veret Collection of the Jewish Federation” then to “Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group.” The Group receives administrative support from the Community Engagement & Education arm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. For information about the group and to join in the discussion, contact Shirly Banner at 402.334.6462 or sbanner@jewishomaha.org.

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Highland Park mass shooting

longer active with the group. He is also no longer a Beth El Continued from page 3 a little bit on these things,” said Rabbi Jodi Kornfeld of Beth congregant, according to a local source. Chaverim Humanistic Jewish Community in nearby Deerfield. Meanwhile, among the many local Jews who advocated for Moffic, a longtime contributor to JTA sister site My Jewish the ban was Marcia Balonick, executive director of the Joint Learning, told Chicago public radio station WBEZ the day Action Committee for Political Affairs, known as JACPAC, a after the shooting that “I do feel safe” in this community as a liberal pro-Israel lobby group headquartered in Highland Park. Jew, but added, “Of course this affects our psyche. It’s why we She was riding a float at the parade with her son, grandson have many security measures at our synagogue.” Other rabbis and grandson’s baseball team and witnessed the shooting. noted that, while their own congregants may have been safe “I never imagined I’d face this in my own community. Nothphysically from the attack, they are feeling the damage psy- ing prepares you for bloodshed on the streets I walk on,” chologically. Balonick said, adding that Although local authorithe incident would make ties have not yet said JACPAC “more determined whether they believe the than ever before to ensure shooter’s motivation was that we elect members of antisemitic, at least one Congress who will once and Highland Park rabbi refor all put an end to gun viported that the suspect, olence with an assault whom authorities said had weapons ban.” pre-planned his attack for Several Jewish groups, weeks, had previously vissuch as the Conservative ited a synagogue: his own. movement’s Rabbinical AsYosef Schanowitz, the sembly, said the violent rabbi of the Highland Park rampage was the latest inChabad, told the Orthodox stance of America’s failure news site Anash that he recto legislate firearms. “Our ognized the alleged shooter, hearts ache for the lives cut who he said had been short by gun violence and turned away from Chabad Highland Park, Illinois, parade-goers and Bright Bowls employees we despair that U.S. governby its armed security guard gathered in the store’s basement in the wake of a mass shooting, ment leaders have not reduring a Passover Seder this July 4, 2022. Credit: Carey Walker acted decisively enough to year. A spokesperson for prevent these tragedies Chabad told JTA the confrom becoming commongregation has a security place,” the Rabbinical Ascamera but didn’t say sembly said in a statement, whether footage of the inciurging reforms. dent was captured. The local Jews who The building’s security scrambled to flee to safety guard also confirmed to the and help people during the Forward that the suspect carnage said they were devhad visited the congregaastated that their once tion during Passover, saying tranquil haven had become he gave his name and sat in a horrifying scene. the sanctuary for 45 min“Matt and I have lived in Clergy at North Suburban Congregation Israel, a Reform synagogue so many different places in utes before leaving. No other North Shore in Glencoe, Illinois, speak during a service responding to the High- the world. We both grew up area synagogues reached by land Park mass shooting that claimed the life of a congregant and here, we fell in love here,” JTA reported having seen staff member, July 5, 2022. Credit: Screenshot from livestream Lindsay Meltzer said. “We the shooting suspect at their houses of worship. knew this was the place we wanted to raise our kids. I can’t beAuthorities said the alleged killer, who was charged late lieve it, it’s just upsetting that this has now hit our own town.” Tuesday with seven counts of murder, had obtained the highPrager, who said his band’s clarinet player has decided he powered rifle used in the massacre legally. The shooting has will no longer play at parades, is a regular attendee at virtual once again reignited debates around gun control measures in Kaddish minyan services hosted by My Jewish Learning. He the United States — a subject even Highland Park’s own Jew- says he takes comfort in Jewish rituals in times of crisis, and ish community has been divided over in the past. also tries to promote positive interactions with fellow humans In 2013, a local Jewish pediatrician named Arie Friedman, via his book Make Someone’s Day. then a member of Beth El, sued the city over its new assault “We need to find more ways to lift one another up,” he said. weapons ban, claiming that the ban was infringing on his Sec- “Especially during these times. By looking for ways to make ond Amendment rights. people feel better, by caring about one another.” A 2010 candidate for the U.S. House and 2012 candidate for This story was produced in collaboration with Jewish the Illinois state Senate, and at the time active in the Repub- Chicago: The JUF Magazine. Its reporter is a member of lican Jewish Coalition’s Chicago chapter, Friedman brought the Highland Park Jewish community and has personal his petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied it in 2015. ties to some of the interview subjects, as well as at least Friedman did not respond to several JTA requests for com- one of the victims. ment Tuesday, and his pediatric office said he was on vacaJTA reporters Jackie Hadjenberg and Asaf Shalev contion. A spokesperson for RJC told JTA that Friedman is no tributed reporting.

SAVE THE DATE ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 10-11 a.m., we aim to host our next local author event. Our guest that day will be Ariel O’Donnell. Ariel will share how she became a writer, and talk about the place of femininity, Judaism and childhood trauma in her poetry. She will also do a poetry reading. This event will be both on Zoom and in-per-

son. For the in-person event, refreshments will be served and RSVPs are due by Thursday, July 29. There is no cost for this event. Please look forward to reading and learning more about Ariel and her poetry! For details and to register, see the July 14 Jewish Press email and the July 22 print edition, or email avande kamp@jewishomaha.org or rring@jewish omaha.org. Ariel O’Donnell

The Jewish Press | July 15, 2022 | 5

News

Second Annual Omaha Jewish Alumni Association Charity Golf Outing Historic Welsh synagogue reopens as cultural center LOCA L | NAT IO NAL | WO RLD

JAY KATELMAN OJAA Coordinator Due to the popularity of last year’s 2022 OJAA Charity Topgolf Outing, the Omaha Jewish Alumni Association is excited to bring this event back! On Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, OJAA will be holding the fundraiser again at Topgolf Omaha at 908 N 102nd St, Omaha, NE 68114 from noon to 3 p.m. Tickets for the event are $54 per adult and $36 per child. This includes three hours of golf, lunch, and access to our silent auction. Bays are limited to six people per bay, so round up a group of friends, family, coworkers, or sign up and meet some new friends!

Not a golfer? No problem. Feel free to come out and eat, drink and enjoy the company of others. You will be amazed at how much fun Topgolf is for everyone. This event is also great for work outings. Sign up today at https://app.mob ilecause.com/e/MDW8OQ?vid=smysa. All money raised from this OJAA fundraiser will be distributed by the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation to families who need financial assistance to enroll or keep their child or children enrolled at the Pennie Z. Davis Early Learning Center ( formerly known as the Child Development Center) at the JCC. If you are unable to make it or are out of town, there will still be a Sponsorship and donation option if you are so inclined. We are very excited to see as many of you as possible on Aug. 14! Please use the link provided above to sign up, sponsor, or donate. Feel free to forward to all of your friends and family. Please contact me with any questions at 402.334.6461 or email at jkatelman@jewishomaha.org.

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MADELINE FIXLER JTA The Welsh and British governments are giving a Jewish heritage organization over $600,000 to open a Jewish cultural center at a historic former Welsh synagogue. The Foundation for Jewish Heritage, a British group that researches, advocates and restores Jewish heritage sites across Europe, announced Tuesday that it will receive the funds from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), which is administered by the British government, and the Welsh government’s Transforming Towns program to begin a development phase. The Foundation bought the Merthyr Tydfil synagogue building in 2019 with the plans of creating the first museum devoted to the history of Jews in Wales. The Merthyr Tydﬁl synagogue, which opened in 1877, has The synagogue was opened been out of use since 2006. Credit: Chris Andrews/Wikimein 1877, when an influx of Cen- dia Commons

tral and Eastern European Jewish immigrants to South Wales necessitated a second synagogue in the area. However, as the local industrial economy declined into the latter part of the 20th century, so did the local Jewish population. With no one to fill it, the synagogue was officially sold in 1983. It had various purposes over the years, but was classified as so deteriorated in 2006 that it has been out of use ever since. Dame Helen Hyde, chair of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, said that the new center will “tell the remarkable story of the Welsh Jewish community while also tackling important issues within our society of today.” The 2011 national census, the last official estimate of the Jewish population of Wales, reported 2,064 people. Today the number is believed to be in the hundreds. The closest active synagogue to Merthyr Tydfil is in Cardiff.

Trade scholarships available for the 2022-23 academic year An anonymous donor in our community has created two trade school scholarship opportunities, up to $5,000 each, to go towards the 2022-23 academic year. Not every student who advances into higher education signs up for a four-year curriculum. Some 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, In-

dustrial, 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 avande kamp@jewishomaha.org or jpress@jewishomaha.org for more information.

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2022 Awards Night & Annual Meeting F MIKE SIEGEL President, Jewish Federation of Omaha irst, I’d like to congratulate the honorees. Without your individual passions, this building would be just that - a building. Instead, you have created an environment of community, friendship, and education. Our strategic plan has been in place for over a year now and we are making great strides in its implementation. Our community is becoming more engaged on this campus. Our Community Engagement and Education department has expanded our PJ Library to include PJ Elementary as well as creating an avenue for participants to get together at different locations throughout the city. The Philanthropy and Engagement department assigned every board member several donors to call to thank them for their support. This is a conscious effort to start moving our fundraising efforts from transactional to relationship building. The Finance staff has created a measurable dashboard to allow board members to better analyze the progress of every JFO agency. The JCC is breaking all kinds of records with membership, camp attendance, program attendance and program variety. There is an energetic vibe around campus and I feel this is just the beginning. Our CEO search committee has been deliberate and thorough. We expect to announce our new CEO in the coming months. Nancy Schlessinger and Lisa Lucoff have done an outstanding job of leading this committee; and I thank the entire search committee for their dedication to finding an excellent leader for the Jewish Federation of Omaha. In the coming fiscal year, our community can look forward to a new lay leadership training program being developed by the Philanthropy and Engagement Department. This program is vital to ensure the continuity of our lay leadership through the generations. In addition, the JFO began a staff development program to equip our staff with tools to become better managers and train them for future leadership roles in our organization. Continuing with our strategic plan, our leadership team will be creating additional dashboards to track program participation, allowing both the staff and our boards to understand what is working and what needs to be tweaked. Our Planning and Community Engagement Committee will be busy this year, working on marketing materials to help local businesses recruit Jewish people to Omaha. They will also be making a concerted effort to reach Jewish Omahans that have not previously been identified. Last but not least, I am excited for some new Senior programming coming to the JCC this fall. These include J Days, where retirees and others can join together to enjoy a game or two over lunch. Or join us for a daytime concert of contemporary classical music as part of the Omaha ‘Under the Radar-’ festival. I encourage all of our seniors to give these new programs a try. These are just some of the highlights that our community can expect to see over the next year. Thank you to the JFO Board and all of our agency boards for their dedication and wisdom throughout the year. To the entire JFO staff – THANK YOU. None of our progress would be possible without the dedicated, hardworking staff who show up every day with the drive to create the best experience for everyone that visits our campus. Please thank a staff member when you see them doing a great job. Positive feedback goes a long way to maintaining a healthy culture. Finally, Phil Malcom, Marty Ricks, and Jan Goldstein. I am practically speechless at their devotion to our Jewish community. They have gone above and beyond in their roles as Interim CEO, and consultants. We have all benefitted from your efforts this past year, and I am forever grateful to each one of you. It is exciting to be a part of this campus. The variety of activities available for our 6-month-olds through our 100-year-olds is remarkable and something to be proud of. Be on the lookout for more outstanding programming. I encourage you to try something new. With our supportive community and a top-notch staff, I know our future is bright.

Column 1: Michael Siegel and Phil Malcom; The Schlessinger family; Sivan Cohen and Jan Goldstein; Alex Shyken, Toba Cohen-Dunning and Teddy Dunning; Howard Epstein and Jenn Tompkins. Column 2: Howard and Gloria Kaslow; Shani Katzman, Denise and Jon Meyers; Jen Eisenman and Trish Mark; Scott Littky with Syndey Tetrault and her family; Rabbi Mendel Katzman with Devorah Tenenbaum. Column 3: Joe, Jeff and Maxine Kirshenbaum; Jill and Marc Belmont; Jan Wayne, Geordi Gonzales, Dana Wayne Gonzales and Phil Wayne; Sarah Spooner and Andrea Siegel; Joel Schlessinger and Phil Malcom. Column 4: Jared and Tamara Draeger; Lissy, Justin, Sarah Spooner and Gayle Milder; Rabbi Mendel Katzman with Devorah Tenenbaum and Karen Javitch. Column 5: Donald and Andi Goldstein; Eli Lopez and friend; Helen Epstein, Gloria Kaslow, Judy Brookstein and Sibby Wolfson; Justin and Lissy Spooner.

8 | The Jewish Press | July 15, 2022

Above: RBJH Residents spent much-needed away time on the water and even did some ﬁshing.

Above and below: Thank you to Drs. Karen and Michael Cohen and to Toba Cohen Dunning and Eric Dunning for sponsoring our ﬁrst teen event of the summer! Beth Israel’s teens enjoyed an evening of go-karts, laser tag, bbq, and more.

Top, above, right and below: Families from across the community joined Friedel Jewish Academy and PJ Library for a Family Day at the Zoo. Families explored the zoo, spent time with friends—both old and new—and enjoyed some snacks in the shade.

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.

Above, right and below: First week of JYE Beth Israel Camp!

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

The Jewish Press | July 8, 2022 | 9

Voices The Jewish Press (Founded in 1920) Margie Gutnik President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Sam Kricsfeld Digital support Mary Bachteler Accounting Jewish Press Board Margie Gutnik, President; Abigail Kutler, Ex-Officio; David Finkelstein; Mary Sue Grossman; Les Kay; Natasha Kraft; Chuck Lucoff; Joseph Pinson. 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 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. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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The voice of Eichman And I find that when it comes to processing the ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Holocaust, we are still, as a people, experiencing Jewish Press Editor When Adolf Eichman was on trial in Jerusalem the various levels of grief simultaneously. in 1961, the court had documentation and testiThe level most at the forefront when we see stomony, but they also obtained more than 700 pages ries like these is probably acceptance. It’s not there, of transcripts of tapes, which Eichman himself and maybe it will never come. How could we? Havrecorded in Buenos Aires. The tapes were marked up with corrections in Eichmann’s own handwriting. “But Eichmann asserted that the transcripts distorted his words. The Supreme Court of Israel did not accept them as evidence, other than the handwritten notes, and Eichmann challenged the chief prosecutor, Gideon Hausner, to produce the original tapes, believing they were well hidden.” (NYT, July 4, 2022) The documentary The Devil’s Confession by Israeli Screen shot from the documentary The Devil’s Confession, in which Israeli film maker Yariv Mozer, based actors reenact Eichman’s recording of his biography. on these actual tapes, was recently broadcast on Is- ing said that, is it any wonder that hearing his voice raeli Television. While not yet available on foreign on tape shocks us all over again? markets (as of this writing), snippets and trailers can My mother has long maintained that of all the be found online. In it, Eichman’s voice gives a chill- historical evidence, hearing the voices is the harding account of what life was like during Nazi reign. est to deal with. And while she’s often said that There is little we -those of us who have been pay- about Hitler’s voice, it is equally true for Eichman. ing attention- don’t know. Yet, to hear it in his own It’s not only the words he speaks, it’s the cold, devoice, there is a directness, a certain level of raw- tached way in which he delivers them. There is not ness that makes it feel like unchartered territory. only the utter lack of empathy, there is an almost

busines-like cadence. Like he’s reading board minutes, Data, facts, without even the hint of emotion. It’s is imposisble to accept that such evil could be perpetrated without any sense of sorrow. And so, as much as I admire the filmmaker for creating the documentary, I don’t think it moves the needle as far as any of us understanding or accepting what happened. Of course, it doesn’t aim to. It aims to educate, to present undeniable proof, and to present—through the chilling voice of Eichman himself—a more important voice, that of the victims. Perhaps understanding or acceptance are never in our reach. Perhaps, bearing witness is important regardless of what stage of grief we personally are at. If the recorded voices of Nazis can affect us this much, how much more should the voices of the victims linger? Shouldn’t they ring louder, shouldn’t they drown out the ugly noise, even when they were silenced many decades ago? So there is our real job. Yes, Eichman’s voice is chilling, difficult to listen to, hard to process. But in paying attention, we can hear those other voices— the ones we really should remember, the ones we really must pay attention to. Because those are voices of suffering, of pain, but also voices of love, of hope,-against-hope, of life and family and ancestry and what’s more, they are meant for our ears. The voice of Eichman tells us he was evil, no more. The voices of his victims tell us we are all human, they tell us to live and remember and celebrate and feel, and most importantly, they tell us to keep going.

Why an Orthodox Jewish organization welcomed the end of Roe v. Wade RABBI AVI SHAFRAN JTA Agudath Israel of America, the national Orthodox Jewish organization for which I work, welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Predictably, we were immediately cast into an “enemy” or “ally” box, depending on who was doing the casting. The first group assumed that we don’t care about women; the second, that we were embracing the Christian evangelical agenda. Neither is remotely the case. We care about Judaism and embrace only it. From a Jewish perspective, to be sure, the contention that there can be entirely proper reasons for a woman to seek an abortion is not arguable. There are cases in which, according to Jewish tradition, the option of abortion needs to be available — such as when a pregnancy’s progression threatens the life of the potential mother. Moreover, in cases where a fetus has genetic abnormalities or will face a fatal disease after birth, there are Jewish decisors who would sanction abortion, at least up to a point. Nor can anyone claim that American women, including Jewish ones, haven’t suffered, or even died, as a result of pre-Roe abortion restrictions. The stories are many, and they are rightly wrenching. But no one can claim, at least not with the support of facts, that the Jewish religious tradition considers abortion to be a mere matter of a woman’s (or, for that matter, a man’s) personal choice, the abiding mantra of so many Americans today. The most common reasons — in 92% of cases, according to a 2004 Guttmacher Institute study — that women give for having an abortion have to do with economic, timing or partner-related concerns. While such motivations may be endorsed by many Americans as worthy, legitimate reasons to opt for abortion, Judaism rejects them as entirely inappropriate factors to be weighted in a decision of such gravity as the decision to end a developing life. Abortion is a topic dealt with in detail by a wealth of both time-honored and contemporary Jewish religious law responsa. While various Jewish

legal opinions may take different approaches to the of women’s lives according to our religious concerns. nature of the issue, the decisors of Jewish law who The ready availability of safe at-home abortifaguide us indisputably hold that, absent extraordi- cients that can be mailed across state lines, and the nary circumstances, terminating a pregnancy is a ability of women to travel, at no expense, due to grave sin. And so, the fact that a number of Jewish groups have wholeheartedly joined the “woman’s choice” chorus, no less in the name of Judaism, compelled us to speak up, if only to clear the Jewish record. However, because of the exceptions, rare though they blessedly are, that allow abortions under certain circumstances, The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Agudath Israel of America has overturned Roe v. Wade, which had enshrined the right to an abortion never supported, and cannot in the United States. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images support, any state legislation that would outlaw various groups’ offers, to other states where aborabortion unqualifiedly or give a fetus the status of a tion is unfettered, would allow women to undergo “person.” Abortion-limiting laws must preserve a an abortion in the rare circumstances sanctioned right to terminate a pregnancy in cases like those by Jewish law. Nevertheless, outlawing abortion mentioned above, both as a matter of constitutional without allowing for exceptions, including sincere free exercise of religion and of moral principle. religious convictions, is unacceptable and arguably, But the bottom line for us is Jewish religious law’s unconstitutional. indisputable judgment about fetal life: It is entitled And so, in the end, some of the laws that the to our protection. And no one should be allowed to “pro-choice” movement will oppose will be opmisrepresent as a “Jewish view” anything other posed as well by observant Orthodox Jews. than that well-established truth. Not, though, because we embrace the idea of Now, of course, there is no reason that American abortion as a choice to be made by anyone for any law need reflect Jewish values. But even without reason. But, rather, because of what our faith relooking to Judaism for guidance, a civil society, quires of us. through its laws, should want to promote a social What it also requires, however, is that we — and ethic that affirms the supreme value of life. Allow- all people — do all we can to greatly decrease the ing abortion at will does the opposite. It behooves number of developing lives that some would, withJews and non-Jews alike to be deeply concerned by out the requisite contemplation, destroy. To emthe millions of potential lives — Jewish and non- brace, in other words, a culture that celebrates life. Jewish alike — yearly snuffed out because fetuses Rabbi Avi Shafran is a columnist for Ami were not protected. Magazine, writes widely in Jewish and general In this post-Roe world, citizens in each state are media and also serves as Agudath Israel of charged with, through their elected officials, crafting America's director of public affairs. laws to govern abortion. Our goal as Jews should be The views and opinions expressed in this article are to promote laws that treat developing life with rev- those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the erence, even while accommodating the protection views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | July 15, 2022

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

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ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154 rbjh.com

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

B’NAI ISRAEL Join us on Friday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. for evening services. 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: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9 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: Pride Parade with Temple Israel: Service and Breakfast-to-go, 7:15 a.m. at Temple Israel and Parade Line Up, 9 a.m. Downtown; Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 9:40 p.m. Zoom Only. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Misorti with Rakefet Ginsberg, 11 a.m. Zoom Only. FRIDAY-July 22: Nebraska AIDS Coalition Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY-July 23: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 9:30 p.m. Zoom Only. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL FRIDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:38 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Kids Parsha Class, 6:50 p.m.; Mincha, 8:40 p.m.; Shalosh Seudos/Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 9 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 9:45 p.m. SUNDAY: Fast Begins, 4:21 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 8 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.; Fast Ends, 9:35 p.m. MONDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Prayer, 7:45 a.m. (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 8 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m. TUESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Prayer, 7:45 a.m. (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 8 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Prayer, 7:45 a.m. (Zoom); Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m.; Daf Yomi, 8 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv,

8:40 p.m. THURSDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Character Development, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Kids Parsha Class, 10 a.m.; Medical Ethics, noon at UNMC; Daf Yomi, 8 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m. FRIDAY-July 22: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:33 p.m. SATURDAY-July 22: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Tehillim for Kids, 5:30 p.m.; Kids Parsha Class, 6:50 p.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m.; Shalosh Seudos/Laws of Shabbos/ Kids Activity, 8:50 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:39 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/Zoom hybrid (Ochabad.com/classroom). 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/Le chayim; Candlelighting, 8:37 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:44 p.m. SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps (food-free), 9 a.m. MONDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani Katzman; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen. TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Virtual Pirkei Avot Women’s Class, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Introduction to Hebrew Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Advanced Hebrew Class, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 18 — No advance experience necessary), noon with Rabbi Katzman; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Class, 8 p.m. FRIDAY-July 22: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochab ad.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 8:32 p.m. SATURDAY-July 23: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:38 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. Note: Some of our services, but not all, are now being offered in person. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at

SST. Oneg host: TBD; Candlelighting, 8:38 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with lay leadership at TI; Game Night Potluck Live, 6 p.m. at SST; Havdalah, 9:45 p.m. SUNDAY: Fast Begins, 4:27 a.m.; Men's Jewish Bike Group of Lincoln meets Sundays at 10 a.m., rain or shine, to ride to one of The Mill locations from Hanson Ct. (except we drive if it’s too wet, cold, cloudy, windy, hot or humid) followed by coffee and spirited discussions. If interested, please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail.com to find out where to meet each week; Jewish Book Club, 1:30 p.m. and will discuss The Family Carnovsky by Israel Joshua Singer via Zoom; Pickleball at Tifereth Israel is on hiatus until after Yom Kippur 5783. In the meantime, everyone is welcome to play at Peterson Park through the spring and summer; just wear comfortable clothes and tennis or gym shoes. For motre information, contact Miriam Wallick by email at Miriam57@aol.com Fast Ends, 9:35 p.m. TUESDAY: Tea & Coffee with Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. FRIDAY-July 22: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex, Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at SST. Oneg host: TBD; Candlelighting, 8:33 p.m. SATURDAY-July 23: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Pinchas; Havdalah, 9:39 p.m.

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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 Sussmam Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. via Zoom. FRIDAY: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m.; Rainbow Shabbat Service and Oneg, 6 p.m. via Zoom or InPerson. SATURDAY: Pride Shabbat Service, Breakfast and Parade, 7:15 a.m.; Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom or In-Person. WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Class, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel via Zoom or In-Person. FRIDAY-July 22: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. via Zoom or In-Person. SATURDAY-July 23: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom or In-Person. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

Ben & Jerry’s sues Unilever over sale of Israeli business CALEB GUEDES-REED JTA Ben & Jerry’s is not letting go of its West Bank pullout goal without a fight — with its parent company. The iconic ice cream brand has filed a lawsuit against Unilever over its decision last week to sell the Israeli arm of the business to Israel-based franchise, American Quality Products, Ltd., which will continue to sell Ben & Jerry’s in the West Bank. Ben & Jerry’s says that Unilever’s decision was made without the brand’s board’s consent, and wrote in a statement on Tuesday that stopping the sale is necessary to protect “the social integrity that the ice cream brand has spent decades building.” The lawsuit will aim to block the sale. After publicly critiquing the Unilever move last week, the Ben & Jerry’s board voted on Friday to file the suit, the New York Post reported. “It’s a done deal,” American Quality Products, Ltd. owner Avi Zinger wrote in response. “Unilever chose the morally correct, socially just and principled path when it ensured that Ben & Jerry’s ice cream would always continue to be produced and

sold in Israel and the West Bank.” for an “economic Iron Dome” protecting Israel from Other pro-Israel groups that had pressured financial pressures, a reference to the country’s Unilever to take action to maintain the brand’s Is- venerated missile defense system. rael presence dismissed the lawsuit, with the Israeli-American Coalition for Action calling it “a tantrum by BDS activists at Ben & Jerry’s” (referring to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement targeting Israel). IAC For Action executive director Joseph Sabag told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that his group and others, including StandWithUs, turned Ben & Jerry’s into a rallying cause because of Unilever’s size and influence within the business world. They hoped to make the case a de- Credit: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images terrent to other companies considering their own The Ben & Jerry’s board, which has a history of Israel restrictions, or considering a similar acquisi- social justice advocacy, made the decision to stop tion agreement that would give a brand the same selling its products in what they call “Occupied kind of control over its social advocacy. Palestinian Territory” following Israel’s deadly con“I can hardly think of a company out there that flict with Hamas in May 2021. would want to follow in Unilever’s footsteps now,” Unilever originally stated that it had little power Sabag said. He referred to the pro-Israel advocacy over decisions made by Ben & Jerry’s board, which campaign around Ben & Jerry’s as proof of concept makes its recent decision to sell a surprise.

Life cycles IN MEMORIAM

MARIAN CACKIN Marian Cackin passed away recently at age of 98. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Milton Cackin. She is survived by her children, Betty and Larry Roitstein, Larry and Kate Cackin, and Deb and Lou Kully; six grandchildren; and nine great- grandchildren. Marian will always be remembered and loved by her family.

DAVID D. MARSHALL David D. Marshall passed away on July 7, 2022, in Omaha. Services were held on July 10, 202, at Beth Israel Cemetery and officiated by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. He is survived by Linda McCart; siblings; Howard and LeAnne, Dr. Meg Marshall, Joan Marshall, Jon and Diana, Mark and Amy;, nieces and nephews, Sophia, Ben, Zachary, Lauren, Vincent and Jack. Dave had great sense of humor, a very loving and generous heart, and was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The Jewish Press | July 15, 2022 | 11

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Boris Johnson’s Jewish moments, from a broken menorah to a change in Israel-UN policy departure from the European Union, visited the Belfast synCNAAN LIPHSHIZ agogue and vowed to sort out the kosher market problems JTA For many Britons, Boris Johnson’s tenure as prime minis- that Brexit helped create. The issue has not been solved as ter will have been defined by scandals like the one that of yet, but its acknowledgment was an unusual recognition forced him to resign on July 7. of the plight of a small minority by a politician who has For Jewish Britons, the memories might well include a bro- sought to minimize Brexit’s negative effects. ken menorah. THE BROKEN MENORAH Elected in 2019, the Conservative Party leader announced During a Hanukkah reception in London last year, Johnson Thursday that he would step down after his cabinet collapsed enthusiastically waved around a delicate menorah that he amid his latest scandal — the way Johnson handled the case had just been given as a token of the appreciation of the Conof a senior official who had been accused of sexual abuse. servative Friends of Israel group. The object’s candle holders Johnson has also come under criticism for his violations of went flying across the room. Johnson, true to his bumbling the United Kingdom’s public image, looked sheepCOVID-19 rules and his alish while the menorah was leged failure to report some reassembled. Yair Lapid, who meetings with Russian oliwas then Israel’s foreign mingarchs (notwithstanding, ister, laughed at the situation, Johnson has been relatively Johnson, or both. “I guess tough in his criticism of Russyou’re not supposed to wave ian President Vladimir Putin.) a menorah about,” Johnson Johnson said he intends to was heard mumbling. stay on until his party holds YIDDISH ON PASSOVER an internal vote for a succesIn a 2021 video greeting for sor, leaving open the quesPassover, Johnson, whose tion of when and whether he maternal great-grandfather, will actually vacate the office. Elias Avery Lowe, was a When he does, Britain’s Moscow-born Jew, demonnearly 300,000 Jews are likely U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces his resignation strated some deep familiarity to remember him as some- outside 10 Downing Street in London, July 7, 2022. Credit: Carl with Jewish customs and one whose leadership had lit- Court/Getty Images even used a Yiddish word, tle lasting effect on their status. Johnson’s predecessor, kvetch — which means to whine — to refer to some of what Theresa May, led the U.K.’s adoption of the International goes on when Jewish families sit around the Passover Seder Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti- dinner table. semitism, blacklisted Hezbollah as a terrorist group and A SHIFT ON ISRAEL AND THE UN lifted the unofficial boycott on official visits to Israel by senAs foreign secretary, Johnson spoke out pointedly against ior members of the British Royal House. what he described as anti-Israel bias at United Nations foIn contrast, Johnson’s tenure featured few changes, for bet- rums. He also shifted the position of the United Kingdom on ter or worse, on the issues that many community members items dedicated to criticizing Israel alone, moving it from hold dear, according to Herschel Gluck, an influential Or- “yes” to abstention and finally to a “no.” In 2021, he went one thodox rabbi from northern London. He noted that under step further and stated that the United Kingdom was opJohnson, British authorities did strengthen enforcement of posed to the Palestinian bid for an investigation into alleged rules that haredi Jewish schools in the United Kingdom war crimes by Israel. “This investigation gives the impression seem reluctant to uphold. of being a partial and prejudicial attack on a friend and ally “Johnson has charisma, spoke generally in positive terms of the U.K.,” he said. His position furthered the reversal and gave the feeling that the community was dear to his started by his predecessor May, which ended decades of the heart, which a lot of people liked. But I can’t think of a single Foreign Office’s endorsement of resolutions and initiatives area where he actually delivered,” Gluck said. hostile to Israel. Anat Koren, the editor-in-chief of London’s Hebrew-lan- AN INTIMATE HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DISCUSSION guage newspaper, Alondon, offered a more sanguine assessWhereas his predecessors often spoke at events featuring ment of Johnson’s tenure. Holocaust survivors and commemoration activists, Johnson “He was a friend to Israel with a warm attitude to the Jew- last year organized an hour-long video call with a survivor ish community,” she said. “He made sure there isn’t a deteri- and a death camp liberator in which his role was to listen. oration when it comes to the government’s attitudes to Israel Johnson sat on the edge of his seat as he heard the stories of and the Jews, and that’s already a lot.” Auschwitz survivor Renee Salt and a Bergen-Belsen liberator Whatever his scorecard on Jewish issues, Johnson certainly Ian Forsyth. As he interviewed the two elderly speakers, he provided some memorable Jewish moments since 2019. stopped to inquire about certain details (“You must have been 14 by then?” he asked Salt) and told the two that what A RARE VISIT TO THE BELFAST SYNAGOGUE During a coalition-building visit last month to the offshore they had told him was “one of the most powerful things I’ve British territory, Johnson, who is a key promoter of the U.K.’s ever heard.”

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12 | The Jewish Press | July 15, 2022

News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D

Shattered in an instant RON KAMPEAS JTA Brad Schneider knows from Chicagoland July 4 parades. The Jewish Democratic congressman has been working them since 2011, when he started running for his first term in Illinois’ 10th district. He packs five parades in on the day, and he can rattle off the established order, their start times staggered so there are no conflicts. “Vernon Hills, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glencoe, and Northbrook,” he said. “I’ll walk 12 to 15 miles by the end of the day.” On Monday, he started as always with Vernon Hills and he noticed something different. There was a post-pandemic buzz. “There was a special energy this year because people felt it was so good to be back together, back together as a community,” Schneider said. “People are coming out, they’re showing me pictures from 10 years ago at the parade and we’re taking another picture now.” He was enjoying the vibe just after 10 a.m. when he got to the next stop on his itinerary, Highland Park. He was at the north end of the parade route on Central Street, and his staffers were at the south end, so he called them to work out where to meet. “I was talking to my team, my team leader,” he said, referring to a campaign organizer. “And she said there’s shots and everybody is running away.” In a moment, a fourth of July idyll had become a nightmare. A gunman in the heavily Jewish town — where Schneider himself lives — had opened fire from a rooftop, killing seven people and wounding dozens. Schneider, a businessman, was before entering Congress a lay leader in the American Jewish Committee and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and he has been a leader in Congress in advancing pro-Israel legislation. Schneider offered his phone to children trying to call their parents. He helped direct traffic away from the carnage. He

told his staffers to meet him at his house to shelter in place. He spent the next two days checking in with constituents and local officials to see what he could do to help. By the time he spoke to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Wednesday, he was coming out of a haze. In a stream of consciousness, he described the parade he had longed for. “Most people are smiling, some will agree with me, some don’t,

Rep. Brad Schneider, left, chats with a constituent two days after a mass shooting, in Highland Park, Ill., July 6, 2022. Credit: Twitter

but we have nice conversations, a lot of people wear these … headbands with the stars and stripes or red and white tassels and I’ll joke and I’ll say, ‘You’ve grown patriotic antennae’ and things like that,” he said. “It’s the parents and grandparents sitting in the chairs,” he went on. “If they planned ahead, they’re either under a tree or they brought a little tent for some shade. And the kids are out on the street cheering and smiling and obviously a lot of different people in the parade bring candy and swag for the kids and they love it and it’s the happiest of times.” And then he described the July 4th that was. “All of that was shattered in an instant on Monday when a guy with a military assault weapon climbed a ladder, sat on a

rooftop, and fired off what’s being reported as many as 70 shots in a matter of seconds,” he said. One of Schneider’s first calls was to the local sheriff. “He told me that he had seen two individuals who were dead at the scene and that there were other people being taken to the hospital,” he said. “We now know it was seven people murdered. … My heart is breaking for these families.” A number were Jewish, he noted, at least three of the seven. Schneider started reciting their names, but stopped, perhaps because it seemed beside the point. The victims who most gripped him were the parents of a 2-year-old toddler, found wandering amid the carnage. “I was on CNN and I started to tell the story about Aiden McCarthy, the 2-year-old who’s now an orphan, and I nearly lost it on camera and broke down afterward,” he said. “The adrenaline is starting to leave. I’ve been running on adrenaline for 48 hours and the emotions are starting to swell up,” he added, sobbing. And then he composed himself, and, asked to explain what happens next, he recited the menu of reforms Democrats have sought for decades. “These are weapons of war intended to kill as many people as efficiently and as quickly as possible,” he said. “They have no business in our communities or on our streets. We also have to address the mental health issues, the societal determinants of health. There are so many things that we need to address. But getting these assault weapons off the street should be first order.” But what was preoccupying Schneider was the community, his community, and what would happen to it in the wake of a shattered July 4th. “The more we learn about the story, the more connections we will see to every aspect of who we are as a community,” he said.