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J ULY 1 6 , 202 1 | 7 AV 578 1 | VO L. 1 01 | NO. 38 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, JU LY 16, 8: 37 P.M.
Healthcare Heroes Momentum trip
Educator Spotlight on Laura Geiger Page 2
Spotlight: Photos from around the Jewish commuity Page 4
GABBY BLAIR Jewish Press Staff Writer sk anyone who has been on a Momentum trip ( formerly JWRP) to Israel, and they will tell you it was an amazing and transformative once-in-a-lifetime experience. Action packed and informative from the moment you land in Israel to the time you board the return plane home, these trips are open to parents of college-aged kids
A
Less than three years after Tree of Life shooting, Pennsylvania legislature eliminates nonprofit security funding Page 7
The Maccabi Color Wars
and younger. Omaha has been blessed to have organized multiple groups for both men’s and women’s trips in the past and many community members have participated. While the Covid pandemic halted these trips over the past year and a half, Momentum is building once again and the organization led a small group of healthcare workers to Israel July 6-12, as part of their Healthcare Heroes Trip. Unlike other Momentum groups, the Healthcare Heroes See Healthcare Heroes page 3
The Cohen Building
The Nogg Family
REGULARS4 Spotlight Voices Synagogues
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SAM KRICSFELD The Maccabi Color Wars are an annual J Camp tradition. The whole camp is divided into various color teams, and campers are encouraged
to wear clothes that are their team’s color. Throughout the week, campers wage a friendly war to find out what color will reign supreme. This goodnatured war does not mean digging trenches in the sandpit or shooting Nerf guns - it’s more of a team Olympics. I walked down to the camp area to find the orange, red, green and blue teams all in a hushed excitement. The teams were gathered around a thick, long rope. It quickly dawned on me that I had come just in time to witness the fabled counselors’ tug-o-war. See Maccabi Color Wars page 3
RACHEL KENT Restoration is underway on the 500 block of West Broadway after a chisel ceremony held Thursday, July 1, at the location best known as the former home of Iowa Clothes. A groundbreaking ceremony was held July 8 to kick off construction on the $5.3 million restoration of the building. At this ceremony it was announced that the building is getting a new name and will henceforth be known as The Cohen Building. This new name immortalizes Iowa Clothes founder Harry Cohen for his impact on the Council Bluffs community.
“Council Bluffs residents have shown over and over that we love our town’s history. The restored Hundred Block, Haymarket district, Harvester buildings and Carnegie Library have become our new favorite places,” said President & CEO Brenda Mainwaring on behalf of the Iowa West Foundation, a major funder of the project. “We are pleased to support the newest restoration project. The Cohen Building will extend the restored vibrancy of downtown into the 500 Block, paving the way for new businesses and residents to enjoy Council Bluffs.” The building is one of the last See The Cohen Building page 2
2 | The Jewish Press | July 16, 2021
News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
The Cohen Building
Berner said, “Harry exemContinued from page 1 remnants of days gone by. It plified love of family, pride was once home to many in your work, generosity to thriving businesses includyour community and love ing Iowa Clothes, Storz for your country. That is Brewery and the brewery’s how you bring an instituBlue Ribbon Saloon, Wilcox tion like Iowa Clothes up Flowers, Martin’s Drug and from the one room baselater Eve’s Pastry Shop and ment where it began to beLane Brothers Pharmacy, as coming a mainstay of well as home to many tenCouncil Bluffs for 78 years. ants in apartments above A life fully and humbly lived the stores. deserves acknowledgment. Cohen and his store were He would be beyond a staple in the community proud.” for over half a century. The The 712 Initiative made a men’s clothing store was call on Facebook for stories founded in 1919 and made about the building in June the move to 530 W Broad2020 to help with a local way in 1930. It remained in historic landmark designaSteve and Patty Nogg the building until Iowa tion. The post resulted in Clothes closed in 1996. Cohen’s granddaughter Patty (Lee) over 300 comments, the large majority talking about experiNogg and her husband Steve made a significant donation to ences in the store and with Cohen through the years. the project for naming rights of the building. Nogg said, “After reading the comments on Facebook it is Nogg explained, “I have always had an interest in preserving clear that many, many people in Council Bluffs have wonderthe past and collecting family photos and memorabilia. The ful memories of Iowa Clothes and its owner Harry Cohen.” idea of saving this building and rehabilitating it resonated “He was a beloved businessman and a respected member with me.” of the Council Bluffs community. In our current world of malls “We were happy to be able to contribute. For us there was and large chain stores, I hope his success story will be incenno question that this building should be named in honor of tive to others that they too can succeed in whatever endeavand in memory of my grandfather.” ors they undertake.” Cohen was well known and liked in the community. The redevelopment of The Cohen Building is the first phase Iowa Clothes was the place to go for everything from work of what is planned as a three-phase revitalization of the 500 clothes to formal wear for men. Harry was known for giving block of West Broadway. the first pair of OshKosh bib overalls to any customer who With construction officially underway, the 712 Initiative brought their new baby boy into the store. plans on reopening the building’s commercial and residential Former Iowa Clothes employee and family friend Terry space in July 2022. Berner reminisced on his time shopping at the store as a youth “Harry Cohen made such an incredible imprint on the comand explained “My brothers and I were treated like any adult, munity with his shop on the 500 Block,” said The 712 Initiative except at the end there was always bubble gum put in our CEO Sheryl Garst. “We’re glad to be able to honor his legacy hands.” while we work to activate this block once again.” Terry’s father worked for Harry, and he would later on work The historic character of the building will be maintained in for Harry’s grandson Richard “Pete” Lee who took over the the redevelopment, returning large storefront windows to the business after Harry’s passing in 1974. street level, encouraging walkability and window shopping. Harry was said to have employed a lot of youth in town to When completed, the project will add 18 new apartments and help them get a start in the business world. two commercial bays to the downtown district.
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Educator Spotlight on Laura Geiger
ARIEL O’DONNELL Institute for Holocaust Education Laura Geiger has been an educator for 17 years. She has served as an English teacher for the majority of that time, teaching both in Virginia and Nebraska. She recently finished a twelve-year run at Omaha North High School to take on the responsibilities of being a Dean of Students at Burke High School, also in Omaha. During her time as an English teacher, Geiger was also a Holocaust educator. After a trip to California to the Freedom Writer Institute and the Museum of Tolerance in Laura Geiger 2010, Laura was inspired to bring back what she learned. She and IHE’s founding executive director, Beth Dotan, launched The Week of Understanding in Omaha Public Schools soon after. This program just finished it’s 11th year and has expanded beyond OPS to schools across the metro area and beyond. Also in 2010, Geiger received the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy Teacher of the Year Award. And in 2012, she received the Operation Enduring Freedom Flag. In 2015, Geiger attended the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educators at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum where she was a part of professional development sessions for Holocaust Education. That led to becoming a USHMM Teacher Fellow in 2016. Over the next two years, she worked with USHMM staff, created lesson plans and ended up presenting to 50 area teachers in Kearney, Nebraska. Always finding ways to continue her own learning around the Holocaust, she took part in the Holocaust by Bullets workshop in March, 2019 and followed that up with a Holocaust educational tour of Europe in July of that year. Apart from Holocaust Education, Geiger has been heavily involved in the Freedom Writers movement. She attended the Freedom Writer Institute with Erin Gruwell and the Original Freedom Writers. She has taken part in the Freedom Writers Symposium four times, and was an Institute Counselor in the Summer of 2015. When discussing the Holocaust, Geiger says: “The Holocaust isn’t just a historical event. It is about people who have been affected for generations because of how someone felt about people who were different. The Holocaust is a lesson we must learn from that applies to all of humanity.”
The Jewish Press | July 16, 2021 | 3
Healthcare Heroes Continued rom page 1 trip was open by nomination only. Twenty-five mothers working in healthcare from across North America were chosen to participate after an interview process. Two of this year’s selected participants are Omaha’s very own Amy Tipp and Danni Christensen! According to the Momentum website, “this unique seven-day and six-night experience will focus on healing Amy Tipp souls, connecting with peers, and drawing inspiration from Jewish wisdom and modern-day Israel. It will feature Momentum’s signature educational programming, led by world-class speakers and Israeli thought leaders, as well as exclusive programming developed especially with healthcare workers in mind. Mifgashim (encounters) with Israeli mothers in the healthcare field will be at the heart of our experience. A select group of Israeli women will join our group, sharing their stories and strengthening the connection between Israel and the Diaspora. Upon their return from Israel, participants will continue their year-long journey at home, taking part in a post-trip learning program.” Participants will spend most of their time in Tel Aviv, with a Shabbat stay in Jerusalem and an excursion to Masada. Additionally, they will meet inspiring United Hatzalah first responders and learn about the start-ups behind Israel’s fight against COVID-19 along with the latest Israeli healthcare innovations. They will also visit The Shalva National Inclusion Center and attend a workshop with an Israeli NGO. Upon return, the women will spend a year meeting remotely once a month to continue post trip learning. Danni Christensen was shocked when Momentum notified her of her nominations. “I was just floored when they contacted me to say I had been nominated by three different people,” said the mother of two. Currently working as the Administrator of CareOne Medical Group, Christensen has over 16 years in the healthcare field. “I have held my CNA license since I was 19 years old and have completed courses towards my nursing degree. I have worked in home health care and hospital settings, but my heart has always belonged to geriatrics and hospice/end-of-life care.” Christensen took part in an Omaha led Momentum trip in 2017, her first and only trip to Israel until now. “It was a trip beyond what I could have ever imagined. To just be nominated for the Healthcare Heroes trip was ...Dayenu. To actually be selected... I was overwhelmed and humbled.... I had so many feelings and just no words. It is still just surreal!” Bashert perhaps, that Amy Tipp would also be selected for this unique opportunity from such a large pool of nominees as the two women not only went on their first Momentum trip together in 2017, but were even roommates! Tipp earned her nursing degree from The University of Kansas in 1996 and spent years working in women’s health as a labor and delivery nurse. She also taught childbirth education, breastfeeding and Lamaze classes. “Every facet of women’s health and women’s rights has been at the forefront of my care,” she said. “There was never any question as to what specialty I’d pursue.” In 2013 Tipp earned her Advanced Practice Degree and took a position at The University of Nebraska Medical Center. Currently, the mother of three works as a Nurse Practitioner at Methodist’s Women Hospital. Tipp first found out about the Healthcare Heroes trip when she was notified of her nomination at the end of May. “I was just deeply honored to be nominated and humbled to be selected. Considering the number of health care professionals out there and the small number selected for this trip, I really thought my chances of being selected were slim. Especially after the year we have had in healthcare, I feel like there are many more deserving than I,” explains Tipp. “As this is the inaugural Healthcare Heroes trip, there is no past experience of participants to draw on. Everything has moved very quickly since finding out I was nominated the last week of May. By June 20, I had been interviewed, selected and had attended two virtual meetings. I began a new position at
ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith is pleased to announce the resumption of its award-winning speaker program via ZOOM. Although the Home auditorium remains temporarily closed, we’ll continue presenting an outstanding lineup of thought-provoking keynoters. For specific speaker information and/or to be placed on the email list, please contact Breadbreakers chair Gary Javitch at breadbreakersomaha @gmail.com or leave a message at the B’nai B’rith JCC office 402.334.6443.
Methodist in February and was nervous about requesting time off with such short notice; I was very relieved that my employer was supportive of this opportunity.” Tipp explains that Momentum, in accordance with guidance from the State of Israel, is following very strict protocols for their group. “We need a negative PCR test that must be taken before we leave and within 72 hours of our landing Danni Christensen in Tel Aviv. Once on the ground, Momentum has hired a company to transport and test us for antigens. They have a very specific test that checks for spike proteins, which confirms vaccination rather than antibodies from having had the virus. To ensure no surprises upon arrival, many of those going on the Healthcare Heroes trip have already been tested for this and will be tested again upon arrival. Surprisingly the only place to get a spike protein test is at Lab Corp in Lincoln as there are no Omaha facilities currently conducting this test. After testing, we will be quarantined in our hotel room until results come back, hopefully in less than a day.” While the extra layers of health screenings certainly add to the stress of the trip, both ladies agree it is worth it. “Health and safety is obviously of top priority not only for the healthcare professionals going on this trip but also for the group organizers and the Israeli government. From the beginning we were told to be flexible as the trip may be adjusted to meet shifting COVID-19 regulations. In spite of this we are incredibly excited.”
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Maccabi Color Wars
Continued from page 1 As I stood ready with my camera, a huge Bluetooth speaker hidden in a pine tree started blaring the theme from Rocky, and counselors began using traffic cones as megaphones, leading their teams in playful chants. “I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win!” the green team shouted. The ropes were readied as three counselors grabbed each end. Jacob Geltzer, Assistant Director of the J Camp, shouted, “Go!” The brave warriors from each team pulled valiantly as the campers cheered them on. The music switched to Eye of the Tiger and the counselors were reinvigorated, performing Olympian feats of strength. The rope began to tear as... Okay, not quite. It was a predictably normal tug-o-war, but the campers were loving it. Counselor tug-o-war is one of the few events that the campers themselves don’t compete in. There are various other contests including races and sports matches. I couldn’t tell you which team actually won the tug-owar tournament. At the end, each team was cheering as loud as they could, and I had become discombobulated by having only looked through my camera lens for 15 minutes. As cheesy as it sounds, it didn’t really matter who won. Everybody had a lot of fun. “It brings out the true camp spirit,” J Camp Director Amanda Welsh said. “It also allows campers to do activities that they wouldn’t usually do and have so much fun.” Maccabi Color Wars ended on July 2, but J Camp will continue weekly until Aug. 6. In addition to J Camp, the Staenberg Omaha JCC offers Summer Fun Days, Leaders in Training, Swim and Dive Team, Premiere Youth Camps, Premiere Sports Camps, Premiere Dance Camps and Premiere Musical Theater camps. You can register your campers online at jccomaha.org, over the phone at 402.334.6426, or in person at the Member Services Desk.
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4 | The Jewish Press | July 16, 2021
Above: Ariella and Joe Rohr welcomed new daughter Sophie, sister to Amelia.
Above: RBJH Resident Jerry Freeman gets an early start on July 4th holiday.
SP O TLIGHT
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
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, below and bottom: RBJH Residents and staff enjoyed hotdogs fresh off the grill to celebrate summer and baseball! The month of June was jam-packed with famous baseball movies, College World Series games and documentaries of favorite baseball players, such as Sandy Koufax and Hank Greenberg. We thank the Julius Froom & Phil and Minnie Freeman Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.
Above and below: Lloyd Roitstein and Larry DeBruin; Ari Kohen and Becky Kahn; Alison Newfeld and Nate Shapiro; Ron Giller and Jeff Kirshenbaum meet up at the JCC.
Voices
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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 Mary Bachteler Accounting Jewish Press Board Margie Gutnik, President; Abigail Kutler, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen; David Finkelstein; Bracha Goldsweig ; Mary Sue Grossman; Les Kay; Natasha Kraft; Chuck Lucoff; Joseph Pinson; Andy Shefsky and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha. org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.
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The Jewish Press | July 16, 2021 | 5
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.
Mask Wars
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor “Biden pushing a vaccine that is NOT FDA approved shows COVID-19 is a political tool used to control people,” Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Congresswoman, tweeted last week. “People have a choice, they don’t need your medical brown shirts showing up at their door ordering vaccinations. You can’t force people to be part of the human experiment.” (Btw, vaccinations are not forced and all available vaccines in the U.S. have been FDA- approved). Previously, Greene had compared mask-wearing and other protective measures to Holocaust-era restrictions on Jews. That earned her a private trip to the Holocaust Museum, after which she promised to do better. Apparently, it didn’t do the trick. It’s funny, how the pandemic affected us all, world-wide, and yet we can’t seem to agree on how to respond, how to fix it, or how to do anything together, really. The cultural war we’ve been fighting over masks alone should go into the history books. Who knew we would get this bent out of shape over a tiny piece of fabric? Now that, in Nebraska at least, we no longer have a mandate, masks are off almost everywhere. I’m still wearing mine, most of the time because A) I immediately picked up a cold, and B) they just reinstated mask wearing in Israel and they are usually ahead of us with such things. When it comes to medical issues, I find one can do worse than follow Israel’s lead. I am not trying to say everybody should do what I do- as long as you don’t give me a hard time when I try to keep my germs to myself. What surprises me, though, is that when we faced a deadly virus,
we spent so much time arguing over masks. People showed up in swastika masks. People created masks made from the American flag with a large hole in the middle. We developed a mask language, where we used it as an extension of our identity. They portrayed the names of political candidates, slogans (sometimes not-so nice ones) and in many
what you think at all. So why all the arguments? Is it that deep down we know full well we have no control, so we try to exert control in other areas? Could it be that simple? Here’s the thing: we have no way of knowing whether this will be the only pandemic we’ll face in our lifetime. Who knows? This one came out of left field (the scientists would probably disagree, but I maintain that most of us regular people did not see this one coming). And if it happens once, it can happen again. Instead of arguing, we should probably make a list of useful things we’ve learned... Have some extra toilet paper on hand, just in case. It’s okay to stock up on soap and sanitizer. Credit: DswissK, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike Enough for your own 4.0 International license. household and some to case, they were used to convey the wearer did not donate. Ramen noodles stay fresh forever. Personal agree with the wearing. People wore it around their space is real. Doctors know things. The mute butnecks, under their noses, or not at all—even when ton is on the left side of your computer screen. And the law required it. Show me your mask (or lack when the recomendation is to wear masks, do it. thereof) and I will tell you who you are. Instead, what we have learned so far is how easy Were any diseases, ever, this political? Oh wait, it is to bicker and fight when we’re all stressed, like yes, they were. We should have probably been pre- a married couple with money trouble. Maybe next pared for this, I don’t know, strange reaction. Be- time (there will totally be a next time), we can just cause at the end of the day, a virus doesn’t much be nicer to each other. If we start every interaction care about your swastika mask, or whether you be- with intentional kindness, life will be better. I promlieve the virus is real or not. The virus doesn’t care ise.
What Jewish progressives can learn from New York City’s Democratic primaries MIK MOORE JTA (New York Jewish Week via JTA) — After several years of big wins for insurgent progressive Democrats in New York City, last week’s municipal primary was regarded by some as a test of their strength, especially when a surge in shootings and homicides provided fodder for attacks on progressive criminal justice policies by Republicans and “law-and-order” Democrats. New York is basically a one-party town, so the primary provides a window into some of the internal debates among Democrats there and nationwide. So when Eric Adams, a former police captain and current Brooklyn Borough president, emerged as the front-runner for mayor, a narrative emerged that the left, feeling energized after last year’s George Floyd protests, had seen a reversal of fortune. The left is not dead. Reports of the electoral irrelevance of the left in New York were greatly exaggerated. Yes, it’s true that the two candidates embraced by most of the left in the mayor’s race fizzled out (City Comptroller Scott Stringer and nonprofit executive Dianne Morales), but progressives rallied around civil rights attorney Maya Wiley. Progressive candidates are leading the heavily contested races for Manhattan and Brooklyn borough presidents. Alvin Bragg, one of four progressive candidates running for Manhattan district attorney, overcame a huge financial disadvantage to defeat Tali Farhadian Weinstein, an Iran-born Jewish prosecutor who ran as the centrist, establishment candidate. Approximately half the new City Council will be made up of progressive-to-liberal members, with a number of true AOC-style superstars joining the council. Meanwhile, a few hundred miles away, a Democratic Socialist beat a centrist Democrat in the Buffalo, New York, mayoral primary. All in all, progressive organizations and unions in the Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of
America orbit are feeling pretty good after Tues- Jews and outer borough Jewish homeowners. Landay’s voting. der and Bragg were buoyed by more liberal Jewish The Democratic machines aren’t dead either. With Republicans largely irrelevant in a city that registers overwhelmingly Democratic, the big fights are between independent progressive Democrats and machine-driven, real estate-/Wall Street-/NYPD-aligned Democrats. On balance, independent progressive Democrats continue to get stronger but still have a way to go. The Adams campaign shows that Democratic machines can still deliver, particularly when they are working closely with powerful New York City Council member Brad Lander, right, earned the enmonied interests. Beyond the may- dorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, center, in his race for oral race, Democratic machine can- New York City comptroller. Credit: Lander for NYC didates — often backed by millions in outside voters in Manhattan and brownstone Brooklyn. expenditures — won handily over several widely The Jewish Vote, a progressive group affiliated endorsed independent challengers. with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and the The Times... and the times. Working Families Party (and on whose steering The New York Times may have been the single committee I serve), endorsed and campaigned for most influential player in this year’s primary (yes, dozens of progressive candidates, helping to elect even more than Ocasio-Cortez, whose endorse- rising stars to the City Council like Sandy Nurse, ment was coveted by progressives). Without the Shahana Hanif and Tiffany Caban. Times endorsement, Bragg, Lander and mayoral Lincoln Restler, a Jewish candidate leading his contender Kathryn Garcia would have struggled to race for City Council, is, like Lander, poised to be do as well as they did. an important standard-bearer for progressive JewPublic safety is a big issue for voters. But this pri- ish New Yorkers while maintaining strong relationmary showed that it isn’t the only issue, and it’s ships with Hasidic communities. clear that anti-carceral candidates can still do very Despite dire predictions that more aggressive criwell in this environment. That said, without some tiques of Israeli policy and the occupation by proimprovements to public safety, it will likely not stay gressive Democrats would undermine support that way for long. from moderate or even conservative Jewish voters, The Jewish vote still matters. Restler and Lander’s diverse coalitions are a useful Jewish voters were a key part of several success- reminder that alignment around Israel is rarely the ful coalitions. Adams — like Andrew Yang, the for- most important factor to Jewish voters. mer front-runner who conceded defeat on primary Ed. note: This article was edited for length. day, worked hard to build support from Orthodox Read the full story at www.jta.com.
Synagogues
6 | The Jewish Press | July 16, 2021
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
B’NAI ISRAEL We will not being holding Shabbat services in July. Join us in-person on Friday, Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m. for evening services. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! For information on our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9 a.m. and Mondays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El. & Livestream. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Livestream; Tisha B’Av and Eicha, 9:15 p.m. at Beth El and Zoom. SUNDAY: Tisha B’Av Shacharit, 9 a.m. at Beth El & Zoom; Tisha B’Av Mincha, 1 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom; Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom MONDAY: Shabbat BBQ To Go Orders Due by 5 p.m. THURSDAY: Cool Runnings — The Story of the Israeli Bobsled & Skeleton Federation, 7 p.m. on Zoom only. FRIDAY-July 23: Shabbat BBQ To Go Pickup, 10 a.m.-noon; Nebraska AIDS Coalition Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream. SATURDAY-July 24: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 9:30 p.m. on Zoom only. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.
BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. Classes, Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah on Zoom, WhatsApp or Facebook Live. On site services held outside in pergola, weather permitting. Physical distancing and masks required. FRIDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbos, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:37 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Kids Class, 10:30 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.; Fast of Tisha B’Av Begins, 8:54 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. Fast of Tisha B’Av Ends, 9:34 p.m. Havdalah, 9:44 p.m. MONDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 8
p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Board of Directors Meeting, 6:30 p.m.; Daf Yomi, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Character Development, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. FRIDAY-July 23: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbos, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:32 p.m. SATURDAY-July 24: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Kids Class, 10:30 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 8 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:38 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 online at 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, 6 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/Lecha yim; Light Candles, 8:37 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Red, White & Blue Kiddush; Shabbat Ends, 9:43 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit & Coffee Conversation, 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 17b], noon with Rabbi Katzman. FRIDAY-July 23: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 6 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad. com/Lechayim; Light Candles, 8:31 p.m. SATURDAY-July 24: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Red, White & Blue Kiddush; Shabbat Ends, 9:36 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: Rabbi Alex, Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Candlelighting, 8:38 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study on Parashat De-
varim, noon via Zoom; Fast of Tisha B’Av Begins, 8:55 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:44 p.m. SUNDAY: Temple Garden Work Party, 8:30-10 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 its too wet, cold, cloudy, windy, hot or humid) followed by coffee and spirited discussions. No fee to join, no dues, no president, no board or minutes taken. If Interested please email Al Weiss at albertw801@ gmail.com to find out where to meet each week; Jewish Book Club Meeting, 1:30 p.m. and will discuss The Unanswered Letter by Faris Cassell; Come learn and play Pickleball, 7-9 p.m. at Peterson Park. Everyone is welcome; just wear comfortable clothes and tennis or gym shoes. If you need a paddle to contact Miriam Wallick by email at Miriam57@aol.com or by text at 402.470.2393 before Sunday. MONDAY: Makers of Jewish Things, 7 p.m. via Zoom. TUESDAY: Tea & Coffee with Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m. FRIDAY-July 23: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex, Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Candlelighting, 8:32 p.m. SATURDAY-July 24: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study on Parashat Vaetchanan, noon via Zoom; Havdalah, 9:37 p.m. SST Board of Trustees Meeting, Sunday, July 25, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE
FRIDAY: 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 is currently closed to visitors.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander. DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. via Zoom. FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. via Zoom or InPerson. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom or InPerson; Tisha B’Av Service, 7 p.m. via Zoom or In-Person SUNDAY: Tisha B’Av — Join us via Zoom or In-Person; Rosh Hashanah Bibliodrama Rehearsal, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom or In-Person. MONDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, 11 a.m. via Zoom. WEDNESDAY: Mindful Meditation with Margot, 9 a.m. via Zoom. FRIDAY-July 23: Shabbat Service with guest speaker Ilene Arnold, 6 p.m. via Zoom or In-Person. SATURDAY-July 24: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Join us via Zoom or In-Person; Family Havdalah, 6 p.m. Join us via Zoom or In-Person Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
Honduras opens embassy in Jerusalem GABE FRIEDMAN JTA Honduras formally moved its Israeli Embassy to Jerusalem on Thursday, becoming the fourth country to make the move. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett hosted Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández in a ceremony that also included the foreign ministers of the two countries. According to The Times of Israel, Hernández said in a speech that since he took office in 2014, Honduras has become “one of the two countries in Latin America, and one of the five in the world, that most often abstains from the resolutions [by international bodies] that Israel opposes.” Bennett said in response: “Under your leadership, Honduras consistently stands by Israel in international institutions when it is not always popular, and sometimes it also involves paying a price. This
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, right, shakes hands with his Honduran counterpart, Lisandro Rosales as Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, top right, speaks with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Credit: Heidi Levine/AFP via Getty Images
is a testimony to our friendship.” The two countries also signed a series of cooperation agreements on agriculture, health, education and technology. Following talks with Bennett’s predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, Honduras announced its plan to move its embassy last year. The Central American nation of nearly 10 million is the first country to make the move under the auspices of the new government that ousted Netanyahu earlier this month after his 12 years in power. The United States, Guatemala and Kosovo had previously moved their embassies. Though Israel’s government infrastructure has long been stationed in Jerusalem, countries have historically avoided enshrining the city as Israel’s capital in deference to Palestinian leaders, who want the eastern part of the city to be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The Jewish Press | July 16, 2021 | 7
News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
Less than three years after Tree of Life shooting, Pennsylvania legislature eliminates nonprofit security funding
RON KAMPEAS JTA The Orthodox Union blasted Pennsylvania Republican-led Pennsylvania legislature for cutting security funding for nonprofits to zero. The General Assembly budget passed last month effectively ended a five-year fund the state established in 2019, just after the Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh, to secure nonprofits. The fund has so far distributed $10 million in grants of between $25,000 and $150,000 to organiza- An FBI officer stands next to the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh following a deadly shooting tions designated by the FBI there in 2018. A spike in anti-Semitic rhetoric online preceeded the shooting. Credit: Brendan Smias likely targets for hate alowski/AFP via Getty Images “How do you choose to be fiscally conservative and leave so crimes, including synagogues, churches and mosques. A gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life syna- many populations in need when you have excess dollars begogue complex in October 2018, the worst attack on Jews in cause of the federal stimulus dollars?” said Arielle FrankstonU.S. history. White supremacist activity has only increased in Morris, the executive director of Teach PA, an Orthodox Union project. “One of the hardest parts for me is going back to JCCs, the Pittsburgh area since then. “Jewish community leaders across the commonwealth are synagogues and camps and saying, ‘I know you’re scared, but disappointed with the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s deci- this year we don’t have the funding.’” sion to defund security support for at-risk groups last week,” the Orthodox Union said in a statement Tuesday. “Although TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS authorized to fund the nonprofit grant program through 2024, Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress the legislature has now curtailed the five-year directive, zero@jewishomaha.org; or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE ing out a resource demanded by the biased crimes and vio68154. Readers can also submit announcements -- births, lence rampant in the country.” b’nai mitzvahs, engagements, marriages, commitment cerThe cut was one of a number of programs zeroed out as Republicans led the passage of a $40 billion budget that invests emonies or obituaries -- online at www.omahajewishpress. in education and infrastructure, but reserves about $5 billion com/site/forms/. Deadlines are normally nine days prior to for savings in order to keep taxes from rising. publication, on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Please check the JewMuch of the reserved money comes from billions in federal ish Press, for notices of early deadlines. stimulus funds directed to the state for coronavirus relief.
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8 | The Jewish Press | July 16, 2021
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A one-of-a-kind biography SANDEE BRAWARSKI New York Jewish Week via JTA In Sydney Taylor’s 1951 book All-of-a-Kind Family, a young girl says to her sister, “You’ll have to make up with her when Yom Kippur comes.” The dialogue is revolutionary. Few novels of the time — let alone one aimed at a children’s audience — would make so natural a reference to a Jewish holiday or, in this case, its relevance to everyday life. All-of-a-Kind Family was the first from a mainstream publisher to highlight Jewish children. Set in 1912 and featuring the adventures of five sisters in a hardworking immigrant Jewish family on New York’s Lower East Side, the book inspired a series that went on to sell millions of copies and remains in print. I hadn’t read the All-of-a-Kind Family books since I was a kid and read them over and over. Last week I found four of the five volumes in the series in my local library and quickly went through them, remembering not only Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte and Gertie but the connections my younger self had felt to each of them. To an adult reader, Taylor’s sentences remain vivid and her dialogue crisp and realistic. Anyone with siblings will appreciate the way these young women get along (and sometimes don’t — but end up making amends by the end of the chapter). Taylor helped Jewish children see people like themselves and their traditions in the pages of books, and bring Jewish culture to an American audience. She was ahead of her times in many ways, as June Cummins has shown in the first-ever biography of the award-winning author, From Sarah to Sydney: The Woman Behind All-of-a-Kind Family (Yale University Press), written with Alexandra Dunietz. Taylor’s was a life of forward-thinking artistic expression. Cummins researched widely and interviewed Taylor’s only daughter, Jo Taylor Marshall, and other relatives. Marshall granted her access to piles of Taylor’s materials in her New Jersey basement, including a locked trunk with diaries that
Marshall had never opened. The biography has a powerful back story: While working on the project, Cummins began suffering from ALS and her health deteriorated. When Cummins could no longer type or speak, she was able to dictate sentences using an eye-tracking communication device – she would look at a letter on a keyboard to spell out words and then sentences. Before her death in 2018 – after working just about every day during the previous two years — Cummins knew that the manuscript had been accepted.
Cilly and Morris Brenner with the five daughters who would inspire the children’s book series All-of-a-Kind Family, 1909. Author Sydney Taylor is second from left, holding an apple. Credit: Judy Magid
In the book’s introduction Cummins, a professor of English at San Diego State University who taught children’s literature, explains that she was drawn to Taylor as a subject when she included All-of-a-Kind Family in her syllabus and noticed that very little had been written about her. “I realized that Taylor was a transformational figure not only in American children’s literature but in American Jewish life as well,” Cummins wrote. She adds: “Taylor’s semi-autobiographical books exemplified complicated issues of identity because their author’s life was rich with the possibilities of being a Jew in America.”
All-of-a-Kind Family is set lovingly on the Lower East Side, Cummings takes the reader further back into Taylor’s family’s history in turn-of-the-20th century Europe. Taylor’s mother, Cecilia Marowitz, known as Cilly, was well-educated and cultured, the daughter of a prosperous businessman in Bremen, Germany. Taylor’s father, Morris Brenner, the grandson of Polish rabbis, came to Bremen in search of a better job and worked for the Marowitz business. The family’s history is full of surprising and dark twists: a daughter left behind with another relative, incest, an open extramarital affair. In 1900, Cilly and Morris immigrated with their first child, settling on the Lower East Side. Sarah, their third daughter, was born in 1904 when the family was living in a fourth-floor walk-up at 708 E. 5th St., just off Avenue C. That tenement building’s footprint is now part of a community garden, El Jardin Del Paraiso. During Sarah’s childhood, the street was jam-packed with multigeneration immigrant families. Hardly anyone’s idea of Paraiso, paradise. While the stories in the series are somewhat autobiographical, as Cummins points out, they are selective in their representation, leaving out much of the hardship, poverty and trials experienced by the family. The Brenner sisters got their famous nickname in elementary school, when the principal would single them out — all dressed alike, in clean, starched, handmade dresses with white-embroidered pinafores and matching ribbons in their hair — to meet visiting dignitaries. A Chinese visitor said, “They’re all of a kind – an all-of-a-kind family.” After Taylor’s death in 1978, her husband Ralph helped to name an award in Jewish children’s literature in her honor. Today the Sydney Taylor Book Awards, under the auspices of the Association of Jewish Libraries, are awarded annually to “outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience.” This story was edited for length. See the full article at www.omahajewishpress.com.
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