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The Jewish Press AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA | WWW. JE WISHOMAHA.ORG
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2 0 2 0 SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
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Anne and Arthur Grossman Scholarship Fund Something uplifting: Shul music Page 3
LINDA POLLARD Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer, JFO Foundation nne and Art Grossman shared a deep love and commitment to Omaha’s Jewish community. This love was demonstrated during their lifetimes through their numerous volunteer activities, not only in the Jewish community, but in the greater Omaha community as well. They wanted their support of the Jewish community to continue after they were gone, and therefore established a Charitable Remainder Trust. The Omaha Jewish community was the beneficiary of the Grossmans’ thoughtful and generous estate planning. The proceeds of this trust created the Anne and Arthur Grossman Scholarship Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. The fund will provide scholarships to enable Jewish high school students in the Omaha metropolitan area to travel to Israel on trips sponsored by the Federation, Omaha synagogues, or Jewish youth organizations. Anne and Arthur’s son, Dr. Ron Grossman said, “Aliyah, to see the land of our ancestors, is something my parents would have wished for all Jewish children.” In addition to raising her four children, Anne kept busy with work and volunteer activities. See Grossman Scholarship Fund page 3
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History storytelling provides positive engagement Page 5
The forgotten history of Jews in the alcohol industry Page 12
Kosher memories
REGULARS
Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
7 8 10 11
Cantor Fettman
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor One small silver lining of the situation we’re in is that many people have taken advantage of the extra time at home to go through accumulated paperwork, photos and other stuff. A few weeks ago, I received an envelope from Donald Gerber. “Dear Annette,” the note began, “I hope all is well with you and your family! I recently was going through my things (I’m sure like so many peo-
ple who are stuck at home) and ran across these amazing pictures of Cantor Fettman...” The photos are from 1984 or 1985 and show Cantor Fettman kashering Don’s kitchen. “I’m struck by the joy that comes through on his face,” Don wrote, “and how happy he was to be helping another young Jewish family kashering their house.” Of course, I picked up the phone; I had to know more. See Kosher memories page 2
Anne and Arthur Grossman
Book Club features Susan Paley JOANIE JACOBSON Fasten your seat belts. The Miriam Initiative’s Coast-ToCoast Book Club is headed for Atlanta, home of former Omahan Susan Paley, who will take women in the Omaha Jewish community and beyond on a literary adventure they’ll long remember. They will be exploring the award-winning book Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 7-8 p.m. CDT on Zoom. “Susan’s love of books is contagious,” said close friend Sibby Wolfson, “and hearing her talk about them is always a joy. Every time we discuss a book, I learn from her, happily, and so will the women who join us on Aug. 11.” A project of Beth El Synagogue, the Coast-To-Coast Book Club encourages women in the Omaha Jewish community to invite their mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins and girlfriends across the country to join them online. “Last time, we had over 60 women from 14 states participate,” said Robby Erlich, Engagement Coordinator at Beth El. “We’re very excited to have Susan live-streaming from Atlanta and the book sounds like a great read.”
Paley describes Before We Were Yours as “an inconceivable story hiding in plain sight in U.S. history.” Based on a tragic true story, it’s been a best seller for years and has attracted readers of all kinds of books. “Now that we’ve moved, I want so much to learn about old Atlanta and the South,” Paley explained — “who were the people, what did they feel, what was life like? I’m trying to make sense of the huge and obvious Southern issues through See Book Club page 2
2 | The Jewish Press | July 24, 2020
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Book Club Continued from page 1 the small stories about families and feelings. Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, for example, is riveting, powerful and devastatingly realistic. I’m re-reading Faulkner and seeing his writing with fresh eyes.”
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Kosher memories Continued from page 1 Do you remember what the process was for kashering a kitchen? What are the steps? “My memory is fuzzy about the whole thing because this happened 35 years ago, but I will try to remember. Was this the first time you ever had your kitchen kashered or did you move to a new house? I had just gotten married in 1984 and was in my first home. I had grown up at Beth Israel and in preparation of getting married, Rabbi Nadoff and Cantor Fettman strongly encouraged us to make a Traditional Jewish home to raise our family in, so when the time was ready Cantor Fettman came to my home and brought his little blowtorch to kosher the cooking surfaces and, as I recall, to clean and boil silverware and other surfaces and items. If you have a completely kosher kitchen, and someone tries to be nice and drops off a casserole from a non-kosher kitchen, what do you do? How would one solve that particular problem (Let’s say, for the sake of argument, the casserole comes from a Catholic neighbor who doesn’t know any better) I don’t remember really having too many problems over the years from people bringing unexpected or un-kosher items to my home. It is my experience that neighbors are very understanding, learn quickly and are extremely eager to respect Jewish customs. In the rare cases that I have received something like cookies or something perhaps that was problematic, I just quietly took it to work and my co-workers have always been happy to help! Do you still to this day have a kosher kitchen? I do keep a kosher kitchen in my cur-
The Miriam Initiative
Cantor Fettman
rent home which Rabbi Kutner, of blessed memory, helped set up in 1997. It is so much easier to keep a kosher kitchen these days, because you can buy almost any product that you are looking for compared to years ago. For someone like me, tin pans, tin foil and disposable items are very user friendly and make things very easy. Why is it important to have clergy available to perform this service? Thank goodness there are a wealth of so very many Rabbis in our community to help with problems and to answer questions if you need help with your
kosher kitchen or if you make a mistake. I can’t say that I remember that much about the process from that first event when Cantor Fettman came to my home, but I do know he helped many others with the same process. He always had his little blow torch and he and Annette were always willing to help and were very giving of their time. The Omaha Jewish community truly benefited from their tireless efforts. We are a stronger Jewish community because of what our teachers and clergy people did for past generations and continue to do for present and future generations.
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Paley fell in love with books at a very early age. “My father mentored me,” she recalled. “He was truly a Renaissance man in his love for literature, and he passed on the gift of treasuring books to my sisters and me. He would choose the books he wanted me to read and then we’d discuss their themes and ideas. When living in Omaha, Paley led two book groups, one for several years at Beth El. “I’m attracted to women’s book clubs,” she noted. “The shared discussions and collective insights build community in different ways than in a mixed group. A special bond is created, one of shared interests, respect for each others’ points of view, and a willing desire for exploration into the topics raised. Leading those groups was amongst the happiest experiences of my life. “One of the best jobs ever was at Beth El teaching Jewish and Holocaust studies to eighth graders. I’m now a docent at the Breman Jewish Museum in Atlanta helping public school kids from all over Georgia learn about the Holocaust. It’s hugely satisfying. Thank you, Gloria Kaslow for mentoring me. “I look forward to ‘re-connecting’ with Omaha,” Paley concluded, “and taking part in the Coast-To-Coast Book Club!” To register for the Aug. 11 Coast-To-Coast Book Club, RSVP to Robby Erlich, Engagement Coordinator at rerlich@bethel-omaha.org. Zoom invitation to follow.
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The Jewish Press | July 24, 2020 | 3
Redlining: America’s Fault Line
PAM MONSKY Community Development Liaison, ADL/CRC ADL Regional offices in the Central Division (Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska) are joining together during the Coronavirus pandemic to bring a series of summer webinars to the community. The next program will be hosted by Omaha on Wednesday, July 29 at 2 p.m. The featured topic is Redlining: America’s Fault Line. Presenters will be Earl Redrick, a senior public service official serving in the federal government, working in the areas of housing and community and economic development; and Palma Strand, Professor of Law and Director of Creighton University’s 2040 Initiative in the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (NCR) Program, Earl Redrick Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. Redlining is a discriminatory practice by which banks, insurance companies, etc., refuse or limit loans, mortgages, insurance, etc., within specific geographic areas, especially inner-city neighborhoods (Dictionary.com). Common in the early part of the 20th century until the 1970’s, the lasting effects of Redlining are contributing to the systemic racism we are experiencing today. Our webinar will explore the impact of limits on access and opportunity still felt today. Earl’s background is concentrated in civils rights, specifically employment, housing and community. External to his
primary work, Earl serves as a consultant in leadership and policy development (E4 Leadership Solutions), providing facilitation, mediation and training services. Earl holds a BA and MBA from Dallas Baptist University (DBU), and he is currently a PhD candidate at DBU studying Leadership. He is also a 2013 graduate of the acclaimed Excellence In Government Executive Fellows program taught by the Partnership for Public Service, and a 24-year retired Army veteran, who is passionate about community service. Before joining the NCR Program, Palma spent 10 years on the faculty of the Creighton University School of Law. Palma holds a BS and JD from Stanford University and an LLM from the Georgetown University Law Center. Her academic research centers on how legal structures and institutions promote or undermine justice and equity, Palma Strand especially in relation to race and gender. In addition, she is Co-Founder and Research Director of the nonprofit Civity, which works with leaders to create relational connections across social differences. She also plans and facilitates Conversations About Race and Belonging with the Nebraska State Education Association. To register for this event, please visit Omaha.adl.org, or watch your email for our newsletter. For more information, please contact Pam Monsky, Community Development Liaison, pmonsky@adl.org or 402.334.6572. Nebraska attorneys may apply for CLE’s.
Grossman Scholarship Fund
Continued from page 1 She was President of the Henry W. Yates grade school PTA, Vice-President of the Beth El Synagogue sisterhood, a volunteer helper in the Beth El Synagogue kitchen and a volunteer for the American Red Cross, where she delivered blood from transfusion centers to hospitals. Anne worked as a secretary to the Dean of Clarkson Hospital School of Nursing, a job she began in her 70s. After her retirement, she became a temporary secretary to various Omaha physicians and at the Creighton University Medical School. Anne died in 1995 at 82 years old. Art owned Art’s Package Store until he sold it in the mid1960s. He then became the regional manager of Renfield Importers in 1977. Just like his dear wife Anne, Art didn’t truly retire. After his official retirement from Renfield, he became a free-lance writer for a trade journal, The Nebraska Beverage Analyst, contributing a minimum of one article each issue. As Art said in a 1986 Jewish Press article: “I felt I had an obligation to this community. It’s been good to me and I wanted to put something back into it. Bears hibernate, people aren’t supposed to.” His retirement gave him more time to pursue his other passions. Art and Anne enjoyed travelling and together they visited 28 countries. Art was a dedicated volunteer in the Jewish community. He served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Jewish Community Center, the Bureau for the Aging, Jewish Family Service and Beth El Synagogue. He was also on the Russia Resettlement Committee, the steering committee for Phase III of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Chairman of the Old Timers Division of the Federation Campaign,
on the Men’s Federation campaign cabinet, the Federation telethon campaign and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home telethon campaign. Throughout the years, Art was named Volunteer of the Year by Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Bureau for the Aging. He also wrote the Old Timers’ Review for the Jewish Press. Outside of the Jewish community, Art was a long-time participant in creative writing contests. He started entering contests during the Depression as a way to earn extra income for his family. As a prolific and creative writer, Art won over 600 prizes entering sweepstakes and promotion contests by writing slogans, essays, poems and jingles. Four times Art served as the president of the Nebraska Contest Association. Art was a nominee twice for the United Way of the Midlands Volunteer of the Year. He was also involved in March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Cancer Society, Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and the Foster Grandparent Program. Art died in 2002 at 90 years of age. Anne and Art Grossman wanted to continue their support of the Omaha Jewish community after their lifetimes, and by their mindful planning found a way to do so by establishing a Charitable Remainder Trust. A Charitable Remainder Trust provides a steady income to the beneficiaries during their lifetimes, with the remainder going to a charitable cause upon their death. If you would like information on a Charitable Remainder Trust, or are interested in establishing an endowment through estate planning, please contact Howard Epstein at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, 402.334.6466, or hepstein@jewishomaha.org.
Something uplifting: Shul music HAZZAN MICHAEL KRAUSMAN Hazzan, Beth El Synagogue On Thursday evenings at 7 p.m., a group of participants from Omaha (as well as several from as far away as Florida) join me by Zoom as we enjoy and discuss music videos of some of the great melodies that shape our modern synagogue service. Together we explore such musical questions as: Where does our music come from? How do different melodies fit into our service? What works for us and what doesn’t? It has often been said that music
is the language of the Jewish soul. From the ancient psalms of the bible to the songs of the temple Levites, classical choral compositions, rock, folk and the modern expressions of the renewal moment, Jews have always yearned for meaningful musical expression of their prayers. Our class gives the worshipper insight into the tools and processes that a Hazzan employs to craft a musical service that reaches as many souls as possible. Just as an artist uses a pallet of colors to add See Shul music page 5
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Administrative Assistant Beth Israel Synagogue is seeking a skilled, confident individual for the position of Administrative Assistant. The position provides administrative support to the synagogue staff, handling information requests, performing a variety of clerical functions, receiving visitors, creating weekly emails and publications, assisting with program arrangements, working with volunteers, handling a variety of special projects, and data base management. Strong oral and written communication skills are needed. Strong organizational and decision-making skills are key in addition to attention to detail and accuracy. Competency in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Publisher, and Outlook required. This is a part-time position, 20-26 hours with potential for hours to increase. Submit resume to beth israel@orthodoxomaha.org attn: Julee Katzman.
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Teaching the Holocaust: Becki Zanardi
know what Auschwitz was or hate crimes - soJEN GOODMAN lidifies for me the need for Holocaust education.” Institute for Holocaust Education Zanardi decided in 2017 to attend the NeBecki Zanardi’s Holocaust education journey braska Institute for Holocaust Education Adbegan in 2011, when she returned to Scotus vanced Educator Training as well as the Central Catholic School, in Columbus, NE, three-day Belfer Conference for Educators. where she teaches English for grades 10 and 12. “Also in 2017, I was asked to join the Nebraska “Prior to teaching Elie Wiesel’s Night to my Institute for Holocaust Education Consortium students, I went to Washington, D.C. and the Council,” she said. In 2018, she began giving United States Holocaust Museum,” she said. community presentations on the Holocaust; “Nearly every time someone from my comshe entered a master's degree program last fall. munity hears I teach Holocaust education, I am “Holocaust education has become a passion asked if I've heard about the former businessfor me, and God has placed it in my heart for man in this area who denied the Holocaust until a reason. I am not certain of that reason just his death. He had business transactions with yet. Just when I thought I had read "the worst" Nazis and former Nazis in Europe but refused Becki Zanardi one human can do to another human, I come to believe the Holocaust happened. Being in Dachau in 2012 and then Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau across another atrocity in my reading assignments. We, as hulast summer, paired with the latest headlines regarding anti- mans, are all capable of great good or great evil, and by learnsemitism - whether about the percentage of people who don't ing about the evil, maybe I can promote great good.”
Israel’s second attempt at reopening schools
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MARCY OSTER JERUSALEM | JTA Israeli elementary schools will open in the fall, but with no more than 18 students per class, and older students will learn at home all but one day a week. That is about half the typical class size in Israel, meaning that many additional teachers will need to be hired. The country will tap retirees, students, unemployed educators and soldiers to enter the classroom to make the new limits possible, the country’s education minister said on Wednesday. The plan for the school year represents a major shift from what the country tried to do this spring when schools reopened after a two-month closure because of the pandemic. In May, all grades returned to the classroom in a rapid reopening that included no changes to the number of students in each class. A sharp increase in cases of the coronavirus among stu-
dents and teachers sent thousands of students and school staff into isolation, and an outbreak connected to a Jerusalem high school has become a cautionary tale for countries around the world considering how to safely resume schooling. Last week, amid a steep rise in cases nationwide, the country announced that schools and camps for students older than fourth grade would be remote. (Lower grades currently are in summer school despite the rise in infections.) Education minister Yoav Gallant said those students would enter their schools once a week for in-person lessons, the national broadcaster Kan reported. Having the younger students attend school every day “is essential to the economy,” Gallant said. This would allow parents to go to work or work remotely effectively. Young students may also lack the academic and social skills to make online learning effective.
IN THE NEWS JOEL Z. PASSER, M.D. recently graduated from Temple University Hospital Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery Residency Program. He was also awarded a diploma upon completion of one year as Chief Resident of the Temple University Neurosurgery Department in Philadelphia, PA. He has accepted a one year Fellowship in Skull Base Surgery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas under the direction of Franco De Monte, M.D. Dr. Passer was a former recipient of the Sokolof Merit Scholarship for college students pursuing a career in the field of healthcare. He is the son of Dr. Jeffrey and Sandra Passer.
ROBERT MALASHOCK of Malashock’s Jewelry Co. was recognized for 50 years of dedication to professional standards set by the American Gem Society (AGS). Robert has demonstrated an ongoing professional commitment to ethical business standards and continued education in the jewelry industry. Since 1934, the AGS has been dedicated to consumer protection within the jewelry industry. In addition to satisfying the AGS criteria, members have shown a proven commitment to their community and the highest standards of ethical practice.
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Shul music Continued from page 3 depth and beauty to a painting, the Hazzan uses the array of Jewish music to evoke the meaning and illustrate the message of our liturgy. The class begins with establishing a working definition of Jewish music. From there we explore Nusach, the prescribed rubric of music that is recommended for each prayer and prayer service of the calendar – from weekday to Shabbat to High Holy Days. Having established this foundation, we embark on a musical journey across time and geography, exploring the many genres that can inform and illustrate our prayers. We explore a variety of musical examples through YouTube videos, which often enables us to see the original artist or composer of the music. These videos also let us view live performances. Video links and class notes are always available by request after each class. Shul Music – Contemporary Synagogue Song gives us the unique opportunity to explore and strengthen our bond with our Jewish Musical Heritage. As a bonus, this class will give you an added insight and understanding of the synagogue service, which will greatly enhance your prayer experience during services. Because each session focuses on a different style of music, anyone can feel free to join in at any point. There is no charge to attend. Our class is held on Zoom every Thursday at 7 p.m.; please visit the Beth El website for the link. I am looking forward to seeing you and sharing some great music!
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History storytelling provides positive engagement IRA NATHAN With the partnership of Beth El Synagogue and the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS), I gave a Zoom presentation on The History of Nathan’s Lake on June 23, 2020 to their members. Over 50 people attended the live presentation and it was recorded and watched by many more. My adventure began last summer when I read the 1978 Jewish Press article, “Omaha Jews Gather at Nathan’s Lake,” written by Leonard Nathan. The lake became the center of social life for Omaha Jews who wanted to experience rural life and was the home of the first JCC summer Camp, Morris Levy. This article provided important facts about the Nathan family history and raised my curiosity to find Nathan’s Lake. My journey was greatly aided by archived NJHS pictures and hundreds of articles from the Omaha World Herald and The Jewish Press. The lake is located six miles north of the Florence area of North Omaha. The journey let me get in touch with my ancestors. Jewish values encourage us to respect and honor our parents and ancestors. This story was about my father’s Uncle Samuel and Aunt Lea Nathan and begins in 1909 and continues until the 1940’s. Through research, I was able to see them as real people and able to put their lives back together in the place where they lived. The Jewish Welfare Camp Committee led by Dr. Phillip Sher had the vision in 1925 to
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establish a summer JCC camp for young boys and girls. The camp was named after Morris Levy, a Jewish charity benefactor. During
At Nathan’s Lake, Ira holds a 1912 Nathan Family Reunion Picture
1925–1927, this camp gave young boys and girls a vacation, sometimes their first. The camp had four tents with wood floors and became the “talk of the town”. William Blumenthal, JCC Superintendent said, “The Jewish Welfare Federation is taking another step towards helping the Community.” During the presentation, the names for 58 youth campers (45 boys and 13 girls) were
shown and attendees recorded names that they knew in the Zoom Chat box. This was a positive engagement activity and had the following positive results: • Beth El Staff identified seven names that became members of the Beth El Synagogue. • Relatives were identified by participants. They were Ben Blatt, Sam Blatt, Sam Colick, Marvin Fitch, Vernon Fitch, Dorothy Lustgarten, Julian Nathan, Leonard Nathan, Henry Riekes, and Silvia Ross. Other comments received relating to the presentation were: • Harry Zimman, a member of the Jewish Welfare Camp Committee, donated land for Beth El at 49th and Farnam. • Jake Kosowsky (Athletic Director) and Dr. Ben Slutsky (Camp Doctor) were recognized. • Participants Homer DaVault and Howard Kaiman visited the lake and their lake pictures were shared with the Beth El Sunday Torah Group. • Some participants talked about later JCC camps – Harriet Harding (Bellevue) and Esther K. Newman (Platte River). In closing, I encouraged everyone to explore their family history in order to get in touch with their ancestors. The program demonstrated how adult education programs about Jewish history can be a worthwhile positive engagement program. If you are interested in seeing the recorded presentation, please contact Robby Erlich, rerlich@bethel-omaha.org.
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ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jemele Hill call out anti-Semitism in the Black community thing they were saying was anti-Semitic — not that a lack of MARCY OSTER awareness would be any excuse. This also doesn’t mean that JTA In the wake of a string of high-profile controversies involv- my family — or other African Americans — are more or less ing the likes of rapper Ice Cube and NFL player DeSean Jack- anti-Semitic than others in America, but experiencing the son, two more prominent Black commentators have called out pain of discrimination and stereotyping didn’t prevent them anti-Semitism in the Black community this week: NBA Hall of from spreading harmful stereotypes about another group. She called on Jackson, who has since talked with a HoloFamer-turned columnist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and sports caust survivor, to take up journalist Jemele Hill. Jewish NFL player Julian In his latest column for Edelman’s offer to visit the The Hollywood Reporter on U.S. Holocaust Museum Tuesday, Abdul-Jabbar arand the National Museum gues that there has been a of African American His“shocking lack of massive tory and Culture together in indignation” over recent Washington, D.C. statements on social media Abdul-Jabbar and Hill by various sports and enteraren’t the first leading Black tainment figures that persports commentators to petuate anti-Semitic weigh in on DeSean Jackson canards. He cites messages and Stephen Jackson’s composted by Ice Cube; DeSean Jackson; comedian Chelsea Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE; Sean Zanni/Patrick ments — Stephen A. Smith McMullan via Getty Images and Michael Wilbon voiced Handler, who is Jewish but boosted a defense of Louis Farrakhan’s history of anti-Semitic their thoughts on the topic last week. In addition, actor and television host Nick Cannon offered remarks; and the former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who in defending DeSean Jackson’s original post brought up a conspir- his “most deepest and sincere apologies” to the Jewish community for the “hurtful and divisive words” he used in an acy theory involving the Rothschilds and world domination. Abdul-Jabbar, who has written a regular column since 2017, episode of his podcast. It came a day after he was fired from ViacomCBS over an says Hollywood and the sports world did a collective “shrug interview “which promoted hateful speech and spread antiof meh-rage” in response to those incidents. “[I]f it’s OK to discriminate against one group of people by Semitic conspiracy theories,” with Richard “Professor Griff ” hauling out cultural stereotypes without much pushback, it Griffin, a rapper who performed with Public Enemy and was kicked out of the group in 1989 for making anti-Semitic remust be OK to do the same to others,” he wrote. A day earlier, in a column in The Atlantic, Jemele Hill wrote marks. The apology came after a 30-minute phone conversation that “Regardless of what happens with Jackson, the unfortunate truth is that some Black Americans have shown a certain with Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Associated Press reported. Cooper cultural blindspot about Jews.” Stereotypical and hurtful tropes about Jews are widely ac- told the AP that they had plans to meet again in person. Cannon tweeted about the conversation, calling it a “blessed opcepted in the African American community. As a kid, I heard elders in my family say in passing that Jew- portunity.” Fox on Wednesday said in a statement that, in light of his ish people were consumed with making money, and that they “owned everything.” My relatives never dwelled on the subject, apology, Cannon would remain the host and executive proand nothing about their tone indicated that they thought any- ducer of The Masked Singer.
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Cross
Training Center
www.crossrecycling.com Phone 402-590-2100 ƌŽƉ Kī ĚĚƌĞƐƐ͗ ϱϬϯϬ EŽƌƚŚ ϳϮŶĚ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ Omaha, NE 68134
Solutions to Poverty through Work
ůů ŝƚĞŵƐ ĂƌĞ ƵƐĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǀŽĐĂƟŽŶĂů ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ at Cross Training Center.
^ĞĞ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ZĞĐLJĐůŝŶŐ &ĞĞƐ͕ ƌŽƉ Žī ,ŽƵƌƐ ĂŶĚ WŝĐŬ ƵƉ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘
B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers meets weekly on Wednesdays at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home auditorium from noon to 1 p.m. For specific speaker information, please email Gary.Javitch@Gmail.com, Breadbreakers chairman. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.
Cross Training Center changes peoples’ lives BRENDA BANKS Executive Director, Cross Training Center The CROSS TRAINING CENTER trains and encourages over 350 youth and adults each year. These include men and women who have been homeless, incarcerated and living with other challenging circumstances. The one thing they all have in common is that they live in chronic poverty and want to change their life. Entering the work experience program at Cross Training Center gives them the skills and experiences they need to be successful. The mission of the program is to empower and equip unemployed and under educated youth and adults. This is done through an innovative work training program where students learn essential workplace skills while working in a variety of positions. The organization operates small businesses where their students work for the purpose of learning vocational skills and receiving hands-on work experience. They operate a full service electronic recycling center where they accept anything with a cord, battery or motor from businesses and residences. They’re able to divert over 400,000 pounds of electronics each year from the landfills. Computers, laptops, appliances and other small electronics are repaired or refurbished and sold at low prices at Cross Training Center’s retail store. Used vehicles that are donated are used for training purposes while being repaired or prepped for individuals in need. The organization is growing and with that growth comes a variety of needs. They are adding an additional 10,000 square feet of operating space onto their existing building, adding a commercial kitchen and expanding their retail space. This planned expansion will allow them to increase their services and help more families break the cycle of poverty. We are always looking for speaking opportunities to inform others about our program. And we encourage people to come tour our facility and learn more about our program and our upcoming expansion. Reach out to us at www.crosstc.com or 402.590.2100. PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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Above and below: On Friday July 10, a car parade was organized for Yachad members. Each participant also received a gift bag full of presents.
Above, below and bottom: Each week Rabbi Yoni Dreyer together with his family delivers Shabbox’s to families in Omaha. Each package contains freshly baked Challah, Shabbat candles, goodies and a message from both Beth Israel and speciďŹ cally the clergy about keeping in touch and staying strong. The July 10 delivery was graciously sponsored by Deborah Platt.
Above: JCC Campers cheered on the participants in the Yachad parade.
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: Another successful week at J Camp.
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
8 | The Jewish Press | July 24, 2020
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Abby Kutler President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Michael Ivey Accounting Jewish Press Board Abby Kutler, President; Eric Dunning, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen, David Finkelstein, Candice Friedman, Bracha Goldsweig, Margie Gutnik, Natasha Kraft, Chuck Lucoff, Eric Shapiro, Andy Shefsky, Shoshy Susman and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha. org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha. org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.
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Questionable decisions ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor It was a strange story to begin with. In late June, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported “As protesters made their way to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s home on Sunday night, demanding her resignation, they marched and shouted along private Portland Place. They were met by a couple pointing guns and telling protesters to get away.” The protesters were there on behalf of the Black Lives Matter Movement; the couple-with-guns were Mark and Patricia McCloskey. They were defending their home, claiming they were afraid for their lives. That pulling guns on protesters is not exactly conducive to a calm exchange seems obvious; however, per Missouri State Law, they were within their rights. They live in a gated community; the street in front of their house is private. Still; guns? And it wasn’t even the first time; there are reports of the couple pulling guns on neighbors who walked in the grass next to their home. “Americans saw the story they wanted to see,” the Post-Dispatch also wrote. “Some saw respected professionals fearing for their safety, reasonably exercising their Second Amendment rights to defend their home from violent trespassers. Others saw an overwrought, older affluent couple, recklessly pointing their weapons and asserting white privilege.” It wasn’t the McCloskeys’ first questionable decision. “In 2013, Mark McCloskey destroyed beehives placed just outside of his mansion’s northern wall by the neighboring Jewish Central Reform Congregation and left a note saying he did it, and if the mess wasn’t cleaned up quickly he would seek a restraining order and attorneys’ fees.” He also claimed, in the note, the area outside the wall was still his property... but for someone who cares so much about the land he owns, why would he have put the wall there? The beehives were a religious school project and the honey was meant for Rosh Hashanah.
There is a long list of lawsuits the couple has filed throughout the years. They’ve sued everyone from family (all Marks’ siblings and even his father) to former employers and endless neighbors; listing them all makes for juicy but rather depressing reading. The sheer volume of legal conflict is in and of itself a sign of poorly controlled temper. In retrospect, it is a bit of a miracle nobody ended up shot that evening in June.
When they pointed their guns at a Black Lives Matter protest, they showed their hand. Each of these things on their own might have allowed them to stay under the radar. Combine them, and they paint an unpleasant picture. The beehive destruction was not necessarily an act of anti-Semitism; more an equal-opportunity type of toxic behavior. And yet, were I at the shul, it would bother me that the neighbors are so quick to wave their weapons around. Owning them for home protection is one thing, pointing them at a group of people is another. What if the shul goes back to large gatherings and there is a big Sukkot party? What about summer picnics? Anyone who’s ever taken their kids to shul for an outdoor event knows they don’t stay put very well. And then it finally dawns on me. When I see the photos of these people pointing guns, I am disturbed. But it isn’t Credit: Anthere; licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike until I read about the de3.0 Unported license. stroyed beehives that I But those beehives, they keep bothering me. feel I have the right to speak up, to have an opinion. Let’s say that the land outside the wall did, in- Come after the protesters, right or wrong, I don’t deed, belong to the McCloskeys. Why destroy the feel ownership, I don’t feel I have the right to an hives? Why not simply go to the synagogue and opinion. Come after another synagogue and sudhave a conversation with the Rabbi? Plus, now you denly it’s a lot more personal, even though I’ve have bees flying all over the place. Certainly that’s never even been near this synagogue. It’s my own not the outcome you’d want? personal ‘gotcha’ moment. In avoiding civilized discourse with their neighThis realization doesn’t make things easier. The boring synagogue, the McCloskeys showed their decision to point guns at protesters may be queshand. In suing the property Trustees in their neigh- tionable, but so is my own response to the story. I borhood for allowing an unmarried gay couple to am not sure what to make of that, except that I live in the community, they showed their hand. have a lot more to learn.
92 Years In 1928, Omaha Central High School played a basketball game against a school from St. Joseph, MO. The Missouri team refused to play against Black athletes. Central’s Black player was not allowed to play in the game. “We had no right to have SAM KRICSFELD any relation with a school Intern, Jewish Press that does not recognize the equality of humanity.” This and the following quotes are from a letter to the editor of the Omaha World Herald by Joe Kricsfeld, a Jewish Romanian immigrant and my greatgrandfather. “Now the question arises; why do we hate the Negro, and who is responsible for creating that hostile attitude toward the race? It’s useless for anyone to try to give a specific cause for our hatred toward the Negro, because hatred has no logic in itself. It is based on cruelty, meanness and stubbornness.” In 2018, 59.6% of hate crimes were committed because of racial prejudice, and 47.1% of those crimes were against Black people. As of 2019, in the United States, there were 47 active KKK branches in addition to 155 white nationalist, 48 racist skinhead and 26 neo-confederate organizations, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. “During the World War they have fought side by side with the white men for one common cause. Is
not their blood as red as ours? Is this their reward?” During the next World War, Black people fought for President Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms”: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear – freedoms they lacked at home. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation is unconstitutional. In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed.
Florence and Joe Kricsfeld
In 2008, 52% of Americans believed that race relations would improve, compared to eight years later, when only 25% of Americans believed they would, according to a Pew Research study. In 2019, 71% of Black Americans said that race relations in the U.S. are generally bad, according to another
Pew Research study. 50% of Black Americans thought that it’s unlikely that they will eventually have equal rights. We’ve come far, but not nearly enough. I am not one to give answers – I have no right to even suggest that, and even less of an idea of what to do. All I know is that we must stand behind both individuals and organizations that call for an end to racism. No matter your political views, no matter your own race or religion, you must push for an end to racism and you must push hard. I certainly need to do more. The 2020 presidential election is just around the corner. If you can, you must vote for who you think is right for all Americans. Whether that be Trump, Biden or whoever else you think would be right, you must push for equality. “I can foresee the Joe Kricsfeld rise of another great Lincoln in the near future who will once more set free the Negro race, and undo the wrong done to them for all those years.” It’s been 92 years. Joe Kricsfeld would be disappointed.
TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai mitzvahs, engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at www.omahajewishpress.com/site/forms/. Deadlines are normally nine days prior to publication, on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Please check the Jewish Press, for notices of early deadlines.
The Jewish Press | July 24, 2020 | 9
The right to asylum was recognized after the Holocaust. We could be witnessing its end. MARK HETFIELD SILVER SPRING, MD. | JTA In 1948, after the Holocaust, the right to asylum was recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to ensure that never again would anyone be trapped in their country of persecution. On June 15 of this year, the Trump administration, using administrative law to further restrict refugees, proposed exhaustive new asylum regulations that, if implemented, could mark the end of asylum as we know it. It is no surprise that changes dismantling asylum are being proposed in the midst of a global pandemic and a sweeping national call for racial justice. These changes to asylum rules include everything from completely barring the granting of asylum on the basis of gender (which, for example, could exclude women fleeing gender-based violence in their home country) to altering the very definition of what “persecution” means. In addition, they would make getting asylum because of one’s political opinion or membership in a particular social group exponentially more difficult. Under new regulations just finalized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as of Aug. 25, asylum seekers will be forced to wait an extra six months before they will be allowed to work to feed themselves. Some asylum seekers, including those who enter the United States between ports of entry or file for asylum after a year of being in the country, won’t be permitted to work at all. Think in human terms and on a personal scale what this means: Take the case of Vincent, an asylum seeker who fled Honduras due to the persecution he experienced as a member of the Garifuna Indigenous group. Vincent is a single parent to an 11-year-old son who is a U.S. citizen, and they currently live in a homeless shelter in New York. He has been waiting months since he filed his application for asylum. Now he will need to wait a year or more before he can even apply for work authorization. Asylum lawyers for HIAS, the Jewish resettlement agency, have clients with hearings set for 2022, 2023 and 2024 who, under the new rules, will not be eligible for work permits at all
because of where they entered the country or when they were able to file their case. Immigration courts are now scheduling hearings in 2024 and 2025. This administration is expecting these asylum seekers to live in the United States for up to five years with no work authorization. How does this make sense? This is just the latest assault in this administration’s relentless attack against refugees.
Credit: Getty Images
Just a week after taking office as president, Donald Trump tried to stop all refugees from entering for 120 days, some of whom were already en route to the United States. After that executive order was struck down, Trump instead decided to reduce the number of highly vetted resettled refugees admitted to the United States from 110,000 to 18,000 in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Then the administration decided that contrary to American and international law, asylum seekers had to present themselves at a port of entry rather than at any border, so that asylum claims could be processed in a “controlled, orderly, and lawful manner.” When asylum seekers did that, they were put on an illegal, ad-hoc, monthslong waiting list and forced to wait in Mexico, where they have been subject to discrimination and violence. In late May of this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new “public health order” stopping immigration at the U.S. border indefinitely, with no exception for
Rosh Hashanah A
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This year you can send your greetings through these very special ads that will run in our annual Passover issue. Each ad can be personalized with your name, the names of your children or your grandchildren. Just fill out the form below and send or bring it to the Jewish Press office. But hurry; these ads will only be accepted through August 5, 2020.
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asylum seekers. As a result, those seeking the safety of asylum in the U.S. are not even able to state their claim for asylum before being pushed back. To those of us who know asylum law, the order was shocking because it undermines America’s commitment after the Holocaust to ensure that “never again” will people be trapped in their country of persecution, a system that saved the religious, cultural and ethnic identity, if not the lives, of hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe and the USSR, Cuba and the Middle East. There are laws and treaties protecting asylum seekers. The Refugee Convention, implemented by the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980, forbids the return of asylum seekers to danger. Congress passed the law — and now Congress must step up and defend it, exercising oversight power to investigate practices of the Department of Homeland Security and restrict the administration from misusing appropriated funds to block asylum seekers and separate families. It’s important to let your representatives know the Jewish community supports the laws they passed to protect asylum seekers and exhort them to use their oversight power. You can also comment on the proposed rule and let Homeland Security know that we see its attempts to end a program that has saved Jewish lives. Make sure that candidates in races across the country hear a clear message from us as voters: We need our elected representatives to stand for the rights and safety of refugees and asylum seekers. Trump has used COVID-19 as cover for ending America’s tradition of welcoming and protecting refugees. The pandemic will hopefully end by 2021. But these new proposed changes intend to end asylum permanently. We are exhorted in the Torah, more than any other commandment, to welcome the stranger. We can’t let the American tradition of asylum die on our watch. Mark Hetfield is the president and CEO of HIAS, the global Jewish refugee agency. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
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Synagogues
10 | The Jewish Press | July 24, 2020
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
CHABAD HOUSE
An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN
South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE
Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com
TIFERETH ISRAEL
Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
B’NAI ISRAEL Join us for our monthly Shabbat Speakers Series on Friday, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. with a guest speaker. Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Our service leader is Larry Blass, and as always, an Oneg wil follow service. 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 and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. VIRTUAL MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9 a.m. and Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat To-Go Pick Up, 10 a.m.-noon; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdallah, 9:24 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Sing Me to Sleep with Rabbi Abraham and Hazzan Krausman, 6:30 p.m.; USY Film Club, 7 p.m. MONDAY: Jewish Law Class with Rabbi Abraham, 8 p.m. TUESDAY: Jewish Values with Rabbi Abraham, 11:30 a.m.; African-American & Jewish Connections in Music with Jeannette Gabriel, 2 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Coffee and Conversation with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; USY Check-In, 5:15 p.m.; Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv with Eicha, 8 p.m. THURSDAY: Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Tisha B’Av Mincha, 1 p.m.; Teen Book Club, 4:30 p.m.; Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv (Fast Ends), 9 p.m. FRIDAY-July 31: Shabbat To-Go Pick Up, 10 a.m.noon; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY-AUG. 1: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdallah, 9:16 p.m. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m. (Zoom); Candlelighting, 8:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Havdalah, 9:36 p.m. (Zoom) SUNDAY: Rambam: Rabbi Moshe, 9:45 a.m. (Zoom) MONDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with
Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp). TUESDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp). WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp). TURSDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Middot with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m. (Zoom); Parsha Inspiration with Rabbi Ari, 4:30 p.m. (Facebook Live). FRIDAY-July 31: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Kabbalat Shabbat (Zoom), 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:23 p.m. SATURDAY-Aug. 1: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Havdalah, 9:27 p.m. (Zoom). Classes, Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah on Zoom, Whatsapp or Facebook Live. On site services held outside in sukkah, weather permitting. Physical distancing and masks required, Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
CHABAD HOUSE Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Due to Coronavirus, all services and classes have moved online. For schedules and more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.org or call the office at 402.330.1800 FRIDAY: Candlelighting, 8:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Ends, 9:35 p.m. MONDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani; Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Mystical Thinking, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introduction to Reading Hebrew, 10:30 a.m. FRIDAY-July 31: Candlelighting, 8:23 p.m. SATURDAY-Aug. 1: Shabbat Ends, 9:26 p.m.
B’NAI JESHURUN The Temple office is on reduced hours until further notice and all services and activities are being offered via livestream or teleconferencing. Please call 402.435.8004 or email office@southstreettemple. org for further information or to make an appointment for a visit, if necessary. You may also email Board president Nicholette Seigfreid at president@south streettemple.org. South Street Temple’s events can be found at https://south streettemple.org/calendar/. FRIDAY: Erev Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. service leaders/music: Leslie Delserone & Peter Mullin; Candlelighting, 8:31 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m. on ParashatDevarim led by Maria Cadwallader; Havdalah (72 minutes), 10 p.m. TUESDAY: Tea Time with Temple Friends, noon via
zoom. FRIDAY-July 31: Erev Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Elaine Monnier, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:24 p.m. SATURDAY-Aug. 1: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 9:54 p.m. Charles and Nancy Coren Farewell Reception, Sunday, Aug. 2, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Tifereth Israel..
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE All services canceled until further notice.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is currently closed to visitors.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander. DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, noon; Tisha B’Av Service, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: The Israel Forum, 10 a.m. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
TIFERETH ISRAEL
Virtual services conducted by Nancy Coren. FRIDAY: Zoom Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m. Candlelighting, 8:31 p.m. SATURDAY: Zoom Shabbat Morning Service with Nancy Coren, Danny Neiden and special guest Rabbi Alex Felch., 10 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 9:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Tisha B'Av Zoom Session, 8:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Office Closed; Zoom Tisha B’Av Eicha Service, 8:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Office Closed for Tisha B’Av. FRIDAY-July 31: Zoom Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m. Candlelighting, 8:24 p.m. SATURDAY-Aug. 1: Zoom Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 9:23 p.m. Charles and Nancy Coren Farewell Reception, Sunday, Aug. 2, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Tifereth Israel. Please visit tiferethisraellincoln.org for additional information and Zoom service links. The LJCS is looking for a Lead Teacher for our Preschool/Kindergarten classroom. The LJCS is seeking a candidate who is dependable, energetic, creative and nurturing. Early Childhood education experience is preferred. If you or someone you know is interested in interviewing for this position, please contact Andrea Halpern at ahalpern1386@gmail.com.
Still the best Jewish summer romance of all time. upper-middle-class Jewish girl has a summer roSTEPHEN SILVER mance with a non-Jewish guy at a resort in the JTA Dirty Dancing is now on Hulu because, well, no- Catskill Mountains in the early ’60s. The film, directed by the late Emile Ardolino, was body puts a classic in a corner. The 1987 romantic drama starring Patrick Swayze written and co-produced by the Jewish writer and Jennifer Grey is one of Hollywood’s most crack- Eleanor Bergstein, who based it on her own youthling romances, set in perfect early 1960s detail. It was part of Swayze’s memorable run of movie star roles in the late ’80s and early ’90s, and the one in which he delivered the most famous line of his career. It also had one of the best collections of songs in film history, combining vintage classics with originals like She’s Like the Wind and the Oscar-winning (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. And there were the tremendous dancing moments, of course, most notably Swayze’s famous lift of Grey — one of the most Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in a scene from the 1987 film Dirty thrilling final scenes of any Ameri- Dancing. Credit: Vestron/Getty Images can movie. ful experiences. Grey, who is Jewish, played the proAn underrated part of its appeal: It’s very, very tagonist, Frances “Baby” Houseman. Jewish, even if the topic of Jewishness never comes Baby’s family is spending the summer of ’63 at up in the dialogue. Kellerman’s, a fictional stand-in for Grossinger’s, A massive hit movie sprung from a very specific the venerable Catskills resort. Her father ( Jerry Oraspect of the American Jewish experience: An bach) is a doctor, while her older sister, Lisa ( Jane
Brucker) is a belle-of-the-ball type. The resort, it’s soon established, has a rigid caste system among employees in which the waiters are (implicitly Jewish) Ivy Leaguers, while the entertainment staff is gentile and working class. Baby soon falls in with the latter group, led by the handsome dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze), to whom she develops an instant attraction, leading to both a dance partnership and a romantic one. Amid all the sizzling chemistry, the famous lines, the great songs and all that dancing, the movie is at its heart a romance between a rich Jewish girl and a non-rich guy who’s not Jewish. The legacy and legend of the film has only grown over time, and it was among the most well-remembered roles in Swayze’s acting career following his passing in 2009. Meanwhile, the 30th anniversary of Dirty Dancing in 2017 somehow occasioned both a muchhated television remake — one that considerably toned down the Jewishness — and a Guardian think piece about Why Dirty Dancing would never be made today. Dirty Dancing holds up better today than most other 1980s movies, mostly because it was set in the 1960s rather than then-contemporary times. And after years of cable reruns, Dirty Dancing arrived in its new streaming home of Hulu on June 1.
Life cycles
The Jewish Press | July 24, 2020 | 11
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NEBRASKA STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS BIRTH AMELIA ROSE TARADAY Ariel and Jeff Taraday of Culver City, CA, announce the July 9, 2020 birth of their daughter, Amelia Rose. She has twin brothers, Eli and Nathan, age 4. Grandparents are Aveva and Marty Shukert, and Adrienne and Michael Wienir.
ENGAGEMENT KUTLER/MATELIS Mr and Mrs Stuart Kutler announce the engagement of their daughter Alison to Joseph Matelis, son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Matelis of Rockville, Maryland. Grandparents are the late Harriet and Lazier Singer, the late Marian and Phil Kutler, the late Bernardine and Albert Raeder and the late Marie and Valentine Matelis. A wedding is planned for September in Omaha.
Operation ‘Good Neighbor’ Tuesday, July 28 at noon, the Jewish Federation of Omaha presents Operation ‘Good Neighbor.’ This Zoom session is open to the community free of charge, thanks to the generous support of the Ann Goldstein Programming Endowment Fund and the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Klutznick/Creighton Custodial Fund. ‘Good Neighbor’ presents the untold story of Is- Credit: www.idf.il raeli medical support provided to Syrian refugees. “The war in Syria was sparked in March 2011 and quickly spiraled into a humanitarian crisis,” reads the official IDF website. “In February of 2013, the first wounded Syrian came to the Israeli border asking for help and was then treated by the IDF. From then on, many more Syrians were accepted into Israel to receive medical care. As a result, a decision was made to establish a field hospital on the Syrian border to ensure efficient medical aid. This marked only the beginning of what would soon transform into Operation Good Neighbor, an of-
ficial humanitarian mission.” The program will host LTC (Ret.) Eyal Dror, who established and commanded the ‘Good Neighbor Directorate,’ an operational unit under the IDF Northern Command whose function was the management of humanitarian assistance to Syrian civilians who were victims of the Civil War. More than 6,000 people have received care through this operation. The session will be moderated by Jeremy Wright. Jeremy is a teacher, therapist and medical student at UNMC. As part of the JFO trip in 2018. He visited the Syrian border and learned about Operation ‘Good Neighbor.’ He then created a study-abroad option for future doctors; the first ten UNMC students will participate in an away-rotation at the Galilee Medical Center in 2021. To join, use the Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93477749 328 or check the link on the Jewish Federation of Omaha website at www.jewishomaha.org.
No major changes in Democratic platform on Israel RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON | JTA Centrists on the platform-writing committee of the Democratic National Committee overrode progressives who wanted the platform to condemn Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. The 2020 platform only alludes to the occupation, preserves Israel’s defense aid and rejects the movement to boycott Israel. But it does warn against annexation. The platform has not yet been released publicly, but the Jewish Telegraphic Agency obtained notes from someone who was read the platform’s Israel portion over the phone. JTA’s source asked to remain anonymous to main- Democratic presidential canditain the confidentiality of date Joe Biden speaks at a camthe official who provided paign rally at the National World the information. The lan- War I Museum and Memorial in guage, approved by the Kansas City, Mo., March 7, 2020. drafting committee, must Credit: Kyle Rivas/Getty Images be affirmed by a larger platform committee, but generally there have been few changes in language once the drafting committee gives an okay. Leading party progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have called for cuts in defense assistance if Israel goes ahead with annexation. And there was also a concerted effort, led by among others J Street, to have the platform mention the occupation, in part because Netanyahu appears closer than ever to annexing parts of the West Bank. Centrists overruled progressives and only alluded to the occupation, warning both Israelis and Palestinians against taking unilateral steps including “annexation” and saying Israel should not expand settlements. “We’re very concerned that the draft apparently makes no reference to Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory,” J Street said in a statement. “Acknowledging and opposing the daily indignities and injustices that Palestinians face under occupation is an indispensable step on the path to promoting and achieving a viable, lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace
agreement that can satisfy the fundamental needs and aspirations of both peoples.” There were nods to calls for the platform to more equitably treat the Palestinians than it has in the past; previous platforms have at times barely mentioned the Palestinians. The new platform recognizes the legitimate aspirations of both peoples. Additionally, the $3.8 billion Israel gets annually in defense assistance remains sacrosanct in the platform. “Democrats believe a strong secure and democratic Israel is vital to the interests of the United States,” the platform says. “Our commitment to Israel’s security, it’s qualitative military edge, and right to defend itself ” as well as the 2016 Obama administration memorandum of understanding establishing the $3.8 billion figure “is ironclad.” The platform also robustly rejects BDS, or the movement to boycott Israel because of the occupation, and United Nations measures targeting Israel. “We oppose any effort to delegitimize Israel at the United Nations, or through the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement which singularly targets Israel,” the platform says, while also recognizing free speech rights, a nod to Democrats who oppose BDS but also oppose state laws criminalizing BDS. Platforms are typically released at party conventions. The Democratic Party’s was delayed until next month because of the coronavirus pandemic. While a committee drafts the platform, the presidential nominee, this year expected to be Joe Biden, typically plays a significant role. That means the United Nations language in particular, likely distances Biden from one of the Obama administration’s final acts, allowing through a U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned Israel’s West Bank occupation. Plus, Biden has said that the one area where he would resist Sanders’ influence was foreign policy, and he appears to have done that when it comes to Israel. It’s not clear that Sanders, who ran in the presidential primaries and was the most serious threat to Biden’s nomination, pushed for Israel changes. When Sanders conceded to Biden, the two men had an online meeting and Sanders pressed hard for progressive changes in six policy areas, none having to do with foreign policy. The two-state solution remains paramount in the platform, which also pledges to reestablish ties with the Palestinians, including reopening the PLO office in Washington.
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12 | The Jewish Press | July 24, 2020
News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
The forgotten history of Jews in the alcohol industry JOEL HABER This story originally appeared on The Nosher. Jews have a long and very influential history in the alcohol industry spanning Europe, Israel and North America. For most of the 1800s, Eastern European Jews held a virtual monopoly on the business in their regions. They produced much of the beer and hard alcohol, and ran nearly all the taverns where it was sold. Jews had been in the trade for centuries, but when Polish landowners saw they could make 50% greater profits by turning grain into alcohol than by selling it for food, Jews seized the chance to play an integral role. At the time, Polish Jews could neither become nobility nor work the land as peasants. While many Jews turned to trading and peddling, the lords saw a different opportunity. Jews were considered good with business, they reasoned well, and would be unlikely to drink up the product. So, under a leasing system known in Polish as “propinacja,” Jews were granted exclusive rights to run the alcohol industries. By the middle of the 19th century, approximately 85 percent of all Polish taverns had Jewish management. Jews similarly dominated the industry in the Pale of Settlement (in today’s Ukraine and Belarus), though on a slightly lesser scale. Jewish participation in the alcohol business was so prevalent that according to Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel’s Tavern: Jews, Liquor, & Life in the Kingdom of Poland, 30-40 percent
of Poland’s Jews (including women and children) worked in the industry. That’s an impressive statistic by itself, but considering that approximately three-quarters of world Jewry lived in Eastern Europe at the time, that amounts to about 25 percent of all Jews in the world! The quirk of the outsize Jewish population in the region is not all that accounts for the high percentage. That one-in-four figure is without Credit: Getty Images even considering Jews in other parts of the world. But the 19th century seems to have been a peak time for Jewish involvement in alcohol worldwide. In Hungary, we encounter many Jewish families prominently involved in wine production. The Zimmermans, for example, were among the famous and award-winning producers of Tokaj wine. (Their pre-Holocaust winery is now owned by one of the region’s top producers.) Similarly, the Herzog family produced such high-quality wine (alongside their beer and spirits) that Emperor Franz Josef appointed them his exclusive wine suppliers. In Germany and France, meanwhile, Jews were dragging the local alcohol industries
into the modern age. In France, Jewish wine producers were vertically integrating into sales as well, while in Germany, Jews created
the first industrial-scale breweries. Across the Atlantic, German Jewish immigrants to the United States were disproportionately represented in alcohol production. In Jews and Booze: Becoming American in the Age of Prohibition, Marni Davis points out that they primarily focused on distilling whiskey due to its “nationalistic significance.” Those who bought and drank whiskey “championed it as a deeply American product.” Simultaneously, back in Ottoman Palestine, wine production was returning for the first time in hundreds of years. Though ancient Israel was well known as a wine-producing region, hundreds of years of rule by Muslims ( for whom alcohol is forbidden) turned the industry into little more than a memory. But
when more Jews began immigrating and joining the small community that was already living there, viticulture gradually returned. In 1848, the Shor family opened a winery in the Old City of Jerusalem, adjacent to the Temple Mount itself. They were joined in the business in 1870 by the Tepperbergs and in 1889 by the winery later to be known as Carmel. These laid the groundwork for the booming wine industry that exists in Israel today. Why were so many Jews prominently involved in the alcohol business during the 19th century? It was a period of transition in the world, with industrialization leading (among other things) to a big increase in alcohol production and consumption. At the same time, the old persecution of Jews had removed many other income sources, leaving Jews with few other ways to make a living. So part of the answer may be that, as had been the case so many other times throughout history, Jews simply took advantage of whatever opportunities they had, and succeeded. Jews rapidly left the business toward the century’s end, thanks to both increased competition and government oppression, leaving this chapter in our history largely forgotten. Furthermore, even while Jews were prominent in the industry, there was an internal stigma against Jewish involvement in a profession that was seen as less than honorable and at times required the use of some loopholes to remain in compliance with Jewish law. In other words, the Jewish community also forgot because it wanted to forget.
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