July 28, 2017 by Jewish Press

thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

this week

With My Whole Broken Heart: Tisha B’Av programming at Chabad page 3

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Dog Show page 5

2018 Campaign Chairs JU L Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 7 | 5 AV 5 7 7 7 | V O L . 9 7 | NO . 4 1 | C A ND lEli G h ti NG | FRID AY , JU L Y 2 8 , 8 : 2 7 P. M.

ANNEttE vAN DE KAMp-WRiGht Editor of the Jewish Press t is almost that time of year: the Jewish Federation of Omaha will kick off its Annual Campaign on Sept. 5, 2017. “I see this year’s Campaign as a terrific opportunity to share the Federation’s impact on both our Jewish and the general Omaha communites’,” said JFO CEO Alan Potash. “In addition, we will be able to use findings from this year’s community study to further tell our story and guide our future planning as we continue to grow.” This year, the motto “For Every Generation, Federation” is especially fitting. Dana Erman Kaufman and her husband Mike Kaufman, together with Dana’s parents Ruth and Joe Erman, have agreed to step up and be our Campaign Chairs. Chairing the Campaign with her parents, Dana said, is especially meaningful: “I will take any opportunity to participate in events with my parents! We truly enjoy being with each other, and we also enjoy giving our time in meaningful ways. Chairing the campaign with my parents is a win-win because we get to work together and support an organiza-

Ruth, left, and Joe Erman with Abigail, Michael, Benjamin and Dana Kaufman. tion that is important to all of us.” “We respect Joe and Ruth immensely,” Mike aded. “We’re happy to do anything we can to help with something they hold so dear.” Dana and Mike are the parents of

Israel delegation visits Nebraska

Uganda’s Jews are down to one meal a day because of East Africa’s famine page 12

Members of the delegation, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce staff, JFO Staff, and Delegation hosts after a meeting.

inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life Cycles

9 10 11

WWW.JEWISHOMAHA.ORG

SpONSORED BY thE BENJAMiN AND ANNA E. WiESMAN FAMilY ENDOWMENt FuND

NAtE ShApiRO Director of Development, Jewish Federation of Omaha At the end of June, a delegation of seven young Israeli political professionals visited Washington, DC and Nebraska as part of an exchange program between the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) and the Israel Youth Exchange Authority (IYEA). The delegation was hosted by Nebraska State Senators Colby Coash and

Adam Morfeld. The Delegation included members from several different political parties: Guy Levi, Parliamentary Advisor- Honorable Mickey Levy-Yesh Atid Party; Asaf Goldfarb, Parliamentary Advisor-Honorable Mickey Rosenthal-Ha’Mahane Ha’Tzioni Party; Dor Davidyan, Chairman Youth Movement-Beitenu Party; Batsheva Mola, Parliamentary Advisor-Honorable Elazar Stern, Yesh Atid Party; Shai Haik, Media Advisor-Honorable Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud Party; David Etzioni, Personal Advisor-Honorable KahalonKulanu Party; and Eliran Garsou, Board Member Likud Youth-Likud Party. While visiting Washington, they met with Facebook, ACYPL Board of Trustees members and Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith. They also attended a taping of Meet the Press with Chuck Todd featuring Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Ron Johnson. After visiting our Nation’s capital, the See israel delegation page 2

Abigail (13) and Benjamin (11). Dana is the Director of Communications for Proxibid and a member of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, while Mike is an attorney at law See 2018 Campaign page 2

Shaliach is coming soon

NAtE ShApiRO Director of Development, Jewish Federation of Omaha On Aug. 15, Yonatan “Yoni” Doron will arrive to begin his assignment as the Omaha community’s next Shaliach (emissary). [Shaliach is a male and Shlicha is the female form, Shlichim or Shlichot are the plural forms]. We were excited about his ideas during the interview process and look forward to assisting him in implementing them throughout the year. We are confident that the programs he will develop and participate in will be a tremendous asset to the entire community. From December of 2016, through May of 2017, Shlichim stationed in various Midwestern Jewish communities came to Omaha and conducted specialized, focused programs and activities for the kids, adults, and seniors. Now, we finally have our own dedicated Shaliach to create a personal connection between the Omaha Jewish Community and the people and land of Israel. The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), through local Partnership programs, provides the administrative support for the Shlichim Program. Shlichim are dedicated to the Jewish people, Jewish heritage

Yonatan “Yoni” Doron and to Israel. They are hand-picked from various streams of Israeli society and different professional and academic backgrounds. The Shlichim are assigned to communities actively involved in securing a vital Jewish future by creating programming tailormade for specific communities’ needs - designed to increase See Shaliach page 3

The values we learn from Torah

2 | The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017

community

2018 Campaign

Continued from page 1 and the First Vice President at CBRE|MEGA Commercial Real Estate. “Our family has been involved in the Omaha Jewish community for as long as I can remember,” Dana said. “From early childcare and early childhood education to summer camp and programming, the Federation has always been an important part of our lives.” Mike agrees: “Louri Sullivan asked and we jumped at the opportunity. That’s how important this is.” The Annual Campaign ensures that such programming continues to be a part of everyone’s lives. It’s that continuation that is one of the main reasons the Erman and Kaufman family agreed to take this role. Chairing the Annual Campaign takes time, passion and dedication for Jewish communal life. It’s something the Kaufmans surely have experience with: “The JCC is a destination,” Dana added. “It is a home away from home for many in our community. In addition, the resources that the Jewish Federation of Omaha provides to those in need are paramount. Chairing the Campaign and helping to ensure its agencies continue to thrive was an easy decision.” Dana has lived in other and larger cities, but when comparing those places to Omaha, she said: “While our Jewish community may be small in size, it is mighty in its ability to provide support, education and a sense of belonging. What we have here just doesn’t exist elsewhere. Omaha is truly special, and our Jewish community is equally unique.” Dana and Mike hope their children, who will watch both their parents and grandparents fill this leadership role, will learn from their example. To give back to the community, and do so in a meaningful way, is what it’s all about: Dana said it’s a great way to remind the younger generation about the important services the Federation provides, and how they benefit from them (who knows? They might be our Campaign Chairs in 2038). “The Federation provides support and services for every

generation and, at some point, many in our community will take advantage of those services,” Dana added. “Whether it's early childhood education, scholarships for summer camps

rabbi deana sussman Berezin and rabbi Brian stoller began temple israel’s first Board of trustees Meeting of the new year, reminding the Board of their connection to torah and the values that we learn from torah.

2018

Israel delegation

or college, senior living - or simply using the JCC facilities like the fitness center or pool, the Federation truly is for all ages - from generation to generation! I encourage every member of our community to stop by the Jewish Community Center. If you haven’t been on campus in a while, take a tour. Walk the halls, feel the excitement of the smiling campers or the children in their buggies on their way from the CDC to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, look at the classes offered, and participate in the programming available for all age groups. Check in with agencies like Jewish Family Service, which provides counseling, food pantry and other assistance for families in need; the list goes on. Without your support, we cannot sustain our community.” “Every one of these services,” Mike added, “shows how important and meaningful the Mission of the Jewish Federation is.”

Organizations

B’nai B’rith BreadBreakers

Mace hack, State Director of Nebraska’s Nature Conservancy, will describe his efforts to save our land, water and animals on Wednesday, aug. 2, noon. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

Retreat yourself...

93442

Relax and enjoy yourself with our respite stay services. • Luxurious Apartments • Exciting Activities • Gourmet Dining

402.493.5807 • 12606 West Dodge Road • RemingtonHeightsRetirement.com

Continued from page 1 delegation flew to Lincoln where they dined in the Haymarket, took a tour of the Capitol, met with Secretary of State John Gale and Governor Pete Ricketts. They met with various state senators to discuss policy in regards to education, drug legislation, LGBT issues and the welfare system. The Delegation toured a National Guard Base, the Innovation Campus at UNL, an ethanol plant and a feedlot. The delegation then came to Omaha and visited the biocontainment ward at UNMC and met with folks at Union Pacific Railroad. The Jewish Federation of Omaha (JFO) sponsored a kosher lunch for the delegation at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. The delegation, along with JFO staff members Nate Shapiro and Steve Levinger met with Mindy Ruffalo, Director of International Economic Development to discuss ways to increase the trade relationship between Israel and Omaha/Nebraska. After the Chamber meeting, the delegation toured The Start-up Collaborative (startupcollaborative.co), a start up incubator and accelerator. The delegation was shown a demonstration of Drive Spotter, which prompted a very exciting conversation about the value of the technology in regards to military use. The delegation then met with local designer Alan Tipp and Jeff Slobostki, Founder of Router Ventures to discuss ways to create partnerships between startups in Omaha and Israel. The delegation then travelled to and toured the Jewish Federation of Omaha campus before returning to the airport. The delegation comes at a high point in Nebraska-Israel relations. Last year, Nebraska became the first and only state in the US to be approved by Israel for import. The Jewish Federation of Omaha believes that one of the most effective ways to support our local Omaha community and our Israeli brothers and sisters is to promote closer business relationships.

The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017 | 3

Jackson Home Appliance “OMAHA’S MOST TRUSTED NAME IN APPLIANCE REPAIR” NOW BRINGS THAT SAME ATTENTION TO HEATING & COOLING

With My Whole Broken Heart: Tisha B’Av programming at Chabad

Rachel Schoenholtz-Shatil Chabad of Nebraska oin us at Chabad this Tisha B’av for an emotionally gripping short film, a documentary sharing the stories of tragedy, triumph, and prevailing strength of the human spirit to overcome challenge and terrorism. A 45-minute documentary, With My Whole Broken Heart was produced by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), and will be screened at the Chabad Center on this coming fast day of Tisha B’av. The film tells how in the summer of 2001, two Jewish teenagers were hiking near their homes in Israel when they were stoned to death by terrorists. A few months later, Daniel Pearl, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was kidnapped and murdered in Karachi, Pakistan; his last words: “My father’s Jewish, my mother’s Jewish, I’m Jewish.” The film is framed around the Rebbe’s response to the 1956 terror attack in Kfar Chabad that claimed lives of five students. It features heart-wrenching stories of parents whose children’s lives were claimed by terror and their inspiring responses to their horrific experiences. It also follows the lives of two of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz and Buchenwald who emerged from the darkness and helped transform the Jewish landscape - former Israeli Chief Rabbi Yis-

rael Meir Lau and Rabbi Nissan Mangel, noted author and rabbi in Brooklyn. With My Whole Broken Heart will be shown at the Chabad Center at 1866 S. 120th St. on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m., followed by an open, round-table discussion with local renowned thinkers and trauma professionals about the triumph and strength of the human spirit to overcome and prevail in the face of trauma and challenge. Tisha B’av, the day of the greatest tragedies to befall the Jewish people, has imbedded within it the opportunity for rebirth and rebuilding. 9 Av is preceded by the Three Weeks, an annual mourning period when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple and our launch into a still-ongoing exile. The period began on the 17th of Tammuz (July 11th), which marks the day when the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans in 69 CE. The Three Weeks concludes with the fast of the 9th of Av, when both holy temples were set aflame. This is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, and it is also the date that many other tragedies befell the Jewish People. Fasting begins at sunset on 8 Av, Monday July 31 at 8:42 p.m., and ends on 9 Av, Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 9:12 p.m. Visit www.ochabad. com for additional resources about this day, the film, to find out what other historical events happened on 9 Av that plagued our People, and information regarding observances of the three weeks and Tisha B’Av.

continued from page 1 Jewish awareness, knowledge, and pride; to bridge the gap between Jews of different backgrounds and Israel, and to promote an understanding of Israel and its ideals. JAFI is proud to state, “Our shlichim and local educators don’t just teach Israel-- we are Israel!” Yoni has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Haifa in a dual academic program from the Department of Counseling and Human Development in the Faculty of Education. He currently serves as a personal tutor and mentor in the “Reali” Elementary School where he is volunteering with a child who is from a background of distress. In addition, he is the International Volunteer Coordinator for the IVF of North Israel. In this capacity he is in charge of the personal wellbeing and educational structure for 20 volunteers from Germany and France. These young volunteers are doing their civil service in Israel. He has also served as a psychology teacher in the “University for the People” program and an educational counselor for the “Aliyah” Elementary School. Yoni relates that he first developed an interest in what would become a long Shlichut when he was a teenager and signed up for a youth delegation with the twin city of Pittsburgh. Through this experience he developed a special bond and a sense of common purpose. “I came to realize in the years to come that this has been one of my most defining moments of my life. I am interested in doing Shlichut because the Jewish people of the diaspora are an integral part of my Jewish identity,” Yoni said. He believes that a community revolves around the ability of people to learn from one another and that being part of each other’s lives is an ad-

venturous thing we must all engage in. Yoni’s personal experiences range from watching movies, mountaineering (he has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with his father), music, and orienteering (navigational races through unfamiliar terrain). When he becomes exhausted from that, he enjoys his love for craft beers and local breweries. With his broad range of experience and personal interests, coupled with excitement and enthusiasm for his Shlichut, Yoni promises to add much to the Omaha community. We encourage you to welcome him upon his arrival and to participate in the programs that are about to come our way. Yoni is currently participating in a twoweek intensive training program in preparation for his arrival in Omaha. While visiting with him recently via Skype, he asked us to pass along the following: “I am very excited to get to see Omaha and all the lovely people in the Jewish community there – the different synagogues and the JCC – and being there for the beginning of the school year and the fall holidays. Also, I’m excited to see the city itself - the parks and rivers, its different attractions and, of course, going to a Husker game. I’ve been brainstorming many ideas to bring with me about ways to strengthen the connections of Omaha with the Western Galilee Partnership. In today’s world there are many ways to connect people of all ages and from all parts of the world. Together we can accomplish a lot.” If you see Yoni around the community, feel free to introduce yourself and show him what “Nebraska Nice” is all about. If you have any questions about Shlichut or Yoni, get in touch with Nate Shapiro nshapiro@ jewishomaha.org 402.334.6440.

Shaliach is coming soon

Jackson Heating & Cooling FEATURES CARRIER HOME HEATING & COOLING PRODUCTS CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE QUOTE FROM ONE OF OUR HVAC SPECIALISTS ON A NEW FURNACE, AIR CONDITIONER OR HEAT PUMP 8827 Maple Street Omaha, NE 68134

402-391-4287Carrier Factory Authorized Nate Certified Technicians

NORM’S

WHY NOT DO IT THE EASY WAY? DOOR SERVICE GARAGE DOOR SPECIALISTS SALES AND SERVICE COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

6200 South 90TH St. at 90th & Washington

Omaha, Nebraska

402-331-8920

Home alone?

Give your pet a place where they can play while you work the day away. We offer pet day care, grooming, dog training classes and overnight stays. Ask about our discounted day play packages

1513 Leavenworth

7824 F Street

402.496.3647

402.391.2458

Open 7 days a week Weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. • Weekends 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

4 | The Jewish Press | June 30, 2017

calendar August 2017

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

FRIDAY, JULY 28 Friday Learning Series with Rabbi Shlomo, 11:15 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Fran Sillau Performance, 4 p.m. Temple Israel TiYPE Event Shabbat Services followed by dinner at Hector’s, 6 p.m. Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, JULY 29 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Fran Sillau Performance, 3 p.m. SUNDAY, JULY 30 Fran Sillau Performance, 11 a.m. Temple Israel New Member Ice Cream Social, 4 p.m. at Rosie’s House Beth El Cooking/Serving at Stephen Center, 5:30 p.m. at Stephen Center, 2723 Q St. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 Friday Learning Series with Rabbi Shlomo, 11:15 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Shabbat Service and Picnic, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel TiYPE Event, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, AUGUST 5 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 Mah Jongg Tournament, 8 a.m. at Temple Israel Temple Israel OTYG Board Retreat, noon at the home of Sharon Comisar-Langdon

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 ADL Board Meeting, noon WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH Board of Commissioners Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at The Heritage Sterling Ridge SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 Temple Israel Madrichim Orientation, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Jewish Heritage Day, 2:05 p.m. at Werner Park MONDAY, AUGUST 14 Temple Israel Golf Outing, noon at Shadow Ridge Jewish Press Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at JCC TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Grief Support Group, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 OTYG Lounge Night, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 School Directors Meeting, 9 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 Temple Israel Young Couple Event Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel

132nd & Dodge (Next to Hy-Vee)

402/496-6090

Join us for Sunday Brunch! Please join us for Omaha’s newest Sunday Brunch. Our menu includes Chef Archie’s famous fluffy omelette, eggs benedict, and chicken and waffles, which is a huge hit on the east and west coasts. We open at 10 a.m. and serve brunch until 2 p.m. We want to thank the Jewish community for their support, and we look forward to serving all of you in the future. We hope to see you at brunch on Sunday.

Back & Neck Pain Headache Arm & Leg Pain Auto & Work Related Injuries Sports Injuries

R E S TA U R A N T

655 North 114th Street • Omaha, NE Mon & Wed: 8 a.m.-Noon & 2-6 p.m. Tues: 2-6:30 p.m. Thurs: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fri: 9 a.m.-Noon & 2-5 p.m. Sat: 9-11 a.m.

402/496-2090 Mon. - Thurs. 11 am - close • Fri. 11 am - 9 pm Sat. 4 pm - 9 pm • Sun. 11:30 am - 9 pm

FOR A LIMITED TIME!

Jade Garden Chinese Restaurant CARRY OUT AVAILABLE

402-498-8833 Beer and Wine Available

nal o i t sa

n e

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22 Temple Israel Rosh Chodesh Event WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH Religious School, 4 p.m. at Temple Israel Adult Education Class, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 Community Study Meeting, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 Religious School, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel TED Talk, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Backyard Concert Series 2017, 5-7 p.m. MONDAY, AUGUST 29 Iowa Western Community Band, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH Risk Meeting, 2 p.m. at RBJH Religious School, 4 p.m. at Temple Israel Adult Education Class, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel

FIRST CLASS ENTERTAIN

HONEYMAN RENT-ALL The Party Place WITH

FOR THE FINEST IN ENTERTAINING ACCESSORIES, HOW CAN YOU THROW A PARTY AND NOT INVITE US? • Tables • Chairs • Linens • Skirting • China • Glassware • Champaign Fountains • Chafing Dishes • Party Canopies • Wedding & Church Displays • Dance Floors • BBQ Grills • Coat Racks • Candelabras • Margarita Machines • Chocolate Fountains

Our Visit room w o Sh

11226 Wright Circle

402-333-2882 (1 Block South of 114th & Center)

We Disp dding Sup lays & plies

Grow your business.

CD Rates Ask an Enterprise Banker about our latest CD Special and let us help put your money to work for you!

2068 N. 117 Ave.

North Park (117th & Blondo) M-Th: 11-9:30 • Fri & Sat. 11-10:30 • Sun. Noon-9:30

MONDAY, AUGUST 21 Mainstreeters Lunch, 11 a.m. at RBJH

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel

MONDAY, AUGUST 7 Eye on Israel, noon

DR. KRISTINE B. SIMONSON CHIROPRACTOR

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 Pancake Man, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Book Club, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Religious School, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Temple Tots Sunday, 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Musical Theater Auditions, 1-2 p.m. Adults (18 & up) and 2:30-4 p.m. Kids (8 - 18) Backyard Concert Series 2017, 5-7 p.m.

Advertise.

Call for advertising opportunities in the Jewish Press.

12800 West Center Road

330-0200 210 Regency Parkway

392-0400 N.A., MEMBER F.D.I.C. MEMBER F.D.I.C.

Susan Bernard 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org

Jewish Heritage Day: Come early

The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017 | 5

maRk kiRcHHOff Program and Communications Assistant, Jewish Federation of Omaha ark your calendar for Aug. 13, Jewish Heritage Day at Werner Park. Join your friends as the Omaha Stormchasers take on the Iowa Cubs. The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown at 2:05 p.m. by the winner of the “early ticket purchase” contest – purchase your tickets by Aug. 1 to be eligible. Be at the park by 1:20 p.m. so that you can enjoy the JCC Training Company Dancers perform under the direction of Esther Katz, Dance and Cultural Arts Director for the Jewish Community Center. Esther shared her enthusiasm for her young ladies’ performance, “The JCC Dance Company is a wonderful group of young ladies 12 years old and up who spend hours

Bike to the Bagel

in classes and rehearsal working on the art of dance. We are excited to share our love of dance with everyone at Jewish Heritage Day at Werner Park.” Go to this Jewish Federation of Omaha webpage www.jewishomaha. org and follow the link on the left to

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Dog Show JiLL OHLmann Activities Coordinator, RBJH RBJH has gone to the dogs. On July 13 more than 25 lovable canines were spotted at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home during the annual Dog Show. Staff, family members of residents and local therapy dog handlers generously took time out of their day to bring their furry friends in for a visit. Shelley Cash, the Home’s Director of Nursing, emceed the event. Residents were entertained with information about each dog, a few tricks, and plenty of time to interact with their special guests. Sarah Navratil, an Activities Coordinator,

community

“Jewish Heritage Day at Werner Park” to learn more and order your tickets. The event is made possible by the support of the Staenberg Family Foundation Anything Grant and the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Special Donor Advised Funds.

Pictured left: Resident Larrie Hopson and Jasmine, a Yorkshire Terrier. Right: Resident Ethel Lerner and her Yorkie companion, Tiger.

stated the event was simply “a sea of cuteness.”

Each dog went home with a bag of treats as a token of the residents’ appreciation.

marty Shukert led a bike tour of the old Bagel neighborhood. memories and stories of the Jewish history of Omaha were shared during each stop along the seven-mile ride.

What I learned at J Camp this summer

6 | The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017

community Why is israel holy? Parshat Devarim

This week we begin the Book of Devarim. Devarim repeats many of the concepts found in the rest of Torah. However, we now focus on the laws in the Land of Israel. When we enter Israel, the Torah is written on earth’s stones to express that Judaism is not only a way to live a moral life, it is the way to transform the mundane to the holy. Israel is about the holiness in nature, and in Israel, one uses nature to connect to G-d. Rabbi aRi As we approach the ninth of Av and mourn DembitzeR the loss of a complete Israel, we focus exter- Beth Israel Synagogue nally and internally about what we are missing in the comfort of America. We lack the ability to truly connect heaven and earth. We lack the spiritual clarity that at times will divide us. We lack the closeness that cause pain and illness. May we yearn for what’s lacking, then may we lack no more. Shabbat Shalom

From the NJHS archives

the woman whose photo we printed in the June 30 edition of the Jewish Press was identified: her name is Geraldine bernstein Kaplan, a Central High School graduate. the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society would like your help in identifying the basketball player in the above right photo. Please contact the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society kweiner@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6441.

emma HoCHfelDeR Intern, Jewish Press ummer 2017 went by in a whirlwind. J Camp was full of laughs and fun for everyone involved. There was an inordinate amount of Gaga played, swimming done, games won and memories made. Along the way, though, there were some important lessons learned, too. Campers were so delighted by the J Camp experience. They reflected on their new expertise in crafts, specifically making slime and concocting bouncy balls. Other campers enjoyed learning to roller skate and to make face masks. While preoccupied with concrete skills mastered, some of the larger life lessons hid right beneath the campers’ noses. While campers frolicked in chugim every day, other lessons were being learned at the same moment. When campers realized that “You have to not fight when you get out in games”, they were really understanding how to be a humble winner and a good loser, too. Every game played helped mold the campers into being better sports for next time. While the kids were learning how to make new projects they were being exposed to new experiences and developing fine and gross motor skills. Although the campers might not remember all the steps to the cool crafts they made, they will hopefully maintain the skills they learned while making them. Campers harnessed their ability to create friendships and appreciate new adventures. Camp taught each child how to overcome the challenges of making new friends and working with others. As one camper eloquently said: “Camp taught me how to be kind.” What else could you hope for from a summer camp? Learning at J Camp isn’t just reserved for the campers, but for the counselors and the staff as well. The counselors and leaders-in-training (LIT) realized the valuable takeaways from camp as the summer drew to a close. Most of the J camp staff conquered the task of learning to work better with children, which is difficult yet rewarding. Counselors and LIT alike were able to work on improvisation and working as one cohesive unit. As one

Passover We’re Happy In The Neighborhood! There’s something for everyone KHULWDJH FRPPXQLWLHV FRP 402-504-3111 | WK 3DFL¿F LQ 2PDKD

counselor put it, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” For the counselors, camp is a little more than fun and games. Counselors are able to leave J Camp with a better ability to be patient and how to problem solve. Not only is J Camp a summer job, but an invaluable opportunity to gain a unique skillset that will stay with them through life. Even the masters of J Camp, Megan Webb, Youth Director, and Alison Burger, Assistant Youth Director, are continuously learning lessons from their years conducting camp. This year Alison explains how she honed in on her already well-seasoned ability to just “have fun and go with the flow”. Megan added: “We grow the most when we are at the end of our comfort zone.... At camp, campers and staff develop independence, a sense of who they are, and discover new passions they didn’t know they had.” She continues to explain: “I am constantly challenged by campers and staff to make camp better and provide new and unique experiences that cannot be had anywhere else. Sometimes things work out the way they were planned, and sometimes they don’t, but I always come away with something new.” J Camp is a new experience every year, which means each year there is more to be mastered. Observing from the sidelines and taking notes, I witnessed a bit of learning taking place myself. At the beginning of camp there were absolutely more tears shed over a lost game of Gaga than towards the end of summer. The flag songs were more confidently bellowed in July than merely being mumbled in May. I saw how friendships grew and kids and counselors alike broke out of their comfort zones. Summer camp is an experience all its own. The memories made last a lifetime; just ask any person who used to be a camper. J Camp provides its own unique adventure for its campers while being fully immersed in the Omaha Jewish community. As the fall rapidly approaches and the days seem to be cooling down, the final weeks of J Camp near. At the close of camp, campers will leave with a few scraped knees, memories filled with laughter, stories to last a lifetime, and some lessons learned that they will always carry with them.

education

The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017 | 7

Three Palestinians reported killed in riots over Temple Mount metal detectors

JTA President Mahmoud Abbas called Jared Kushner, a Three Palestinians were killed in clashes between special adviser to President Donald Trump with rerioters and police in Jerusalem and the West Bank sponsibility for peace talks between Israel and the over the Israeli government’s decision to keep in place, Palestinians, and asked him to make sure Israel reindefinitely, metal detectors at the entrance to the moves the devices. Temple Mount, the Palestinian media reported. The police said they would not allow Muslim worThousands of Israeli soldiers and troops were de- shippers younger than 50 to pray at the mosque on ployed in eastern Jerusalem following riots Thursday, Friday, but that women of all ages would be allowed July 20, which resumed the following afternoon, Is- to enter the compound. rael’s Channel 2 reported. Six police officers and an The Palestinian Red Crescent said that 36 of the unknown number of rioters were injured Friday, July 21 outside the Old City of Jerusalem, a spokesman for the Israel Police reportedly told the Palestinian Maan news agency. The police said they were not immediately aware of fatalities in clashes. According to Maan, an 18year-old from the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan was shot in the neck. Another Palestinian died in the hospital from wounds he susIsraeli police and Palestinians clash in eastern Jerusalem, July 21, tained during clashes in the a-Tur 2017. Credit: Hadas Parush/Flash90 neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem. A third Palestinian sustained fatal injuries protesters were taken to the hospital for treatment. during a riot at the Abu-Dis village near Jerusalem, Two were in serious condition after being hit by rubber and later died of his wounds in a hospital in Ramallah, bullets, the group said. according to Maan. He was identified by local sources Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat supported the decision as 17-year-old Muhammad Mahmoud Khalaf. to keep the metal detectors, calling it “responsible.” Some 42 people were wounded in clashes Thursday “This is not a political matter; it is a professional, night, July 20, between security forces and Pales- security issue,” he said in a statement. “No one is tinian protesters, who rioted during rallies against the challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount and introduction of metal detectors last week, Army Radio I call on all Muslim residents to help maintain the reported. calm, not to act violently and to obey the police’s orThe metal detectors were placed at the entrance ders. Those who come to pray in peace are welcome. to the Temple Mount compound, which contains the Those who come to engage in terror and provocation Haram al Sharif area that is holy to Muslims, after will be dealt with harshly.” three Arab-Israeli terrorists killed two police officers Simultaneously, demonstrators in Istanbul protestnear the mosque on July 14. The gunmen were shot ing the installation of metal detectors at the Temple dead by troops who pursued them. Mount in Jerusalem kicked a synagogue’s doors and On the morning of July 21, the office of Israel’s hurled objects at it. transportation and intelligence minister, Israel Katz, Several dozen men gathered around Neve Shalom published a statement confirming the decision on the with anti-Israel signs on Thursday night in what the detectors by the “cabinet on security and foreign re- Turkish Jewish community on Twitter called “intimilations,” a reference to a forum of decision makers dation and provocation.” The community called on aufrom within the Israeli government that includes Prime thorities to make sure it “stops” and that the people Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avig- responsible are prosecuted for a hate crime. dor Lieberman and Katz, among others. Reacting to the incident, Celal Altuntas, a Turkish “The cabinet has decided to keep in place all the dissident author living in the Netherlands, wrote on measures decided upon following the lowly attack, Twitter that “the Jewish community in Turkey does including the use of metal detectors,” Katz said. “The not feel safe.” Israel Police are responsible for implementing this Ivo Molinas, the editor-in-chief of the Turkish Jewpolicy.” ish community, wrote on Twitter: “I am a Turkish citThat same day, thousands of men chanted about izen. Why do you protest outside my place of Allah and their devotion to the Al-Aqsa mosque, which worship?” is in the Haram al Sharif compound. The Anti-Defamation League also condemned the The Palestinian leadership and several other Arab incident. leaders called the use of metal detectors a provoca“We trust the Turkish Government will provide nection. According to Army Radio, Palestinian Authority essary security,” ADL wrote on Twitter.

coming in august

publishing date | 08.25.17 space reservation | 08.16.17 camera ready deadline | 08.18.17

Promote your business in this special issue. Contact our advertising executive to advertise in this very special edition.

Susan Bernard 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org

Medical Care for Mind and Spirit Mental healthcare for a variety of disorders including: Insomnia | Depression | Bipolar disorder Memory disorders | Concentration difficulties Anxiety disorders | Life stressors 440 Regency Parkway Dr. | Suite 136 Omaha, NE 68114

402-934-7404 www.lifetimeinsight.com

Sarit Hovav, M.D. Board-Certified Psychiatrist Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

www.facebook.com/lifetimeinsight www.twitter.com/lifetimeinsight

Rockbrook Village Organic Farmers Market

Shop our weekly artisanal market every Thurs- experience with free, close, available parking. This day from 4-7 p.m. focused on local and responsi- year we’ve also added a small bar, provided by local bly-grown produce, grass-fed meats, free-range favorite Little España, which sells wine, beer, saneggs, cheeses, herbs, teas, and much more! Get to gria and snacks for customers to purchase and enjoy know the Farmers growing your food and learn while they shop! Stop by after work for a quick about their specific practices behind the scenes. happy hour with friends, then pick up fresh ingrediYou’ll also find plants, gourmet breads and pastries, ents for your Thursday night or weekend meals. artisanal candies and even all-natural soaps and We are now in our third year for this communitybeauty products. service event and we are thrilled to partner with The Rockbrook Village Organic Farmers Market other local farmers and business owners as it reis an intimate affair where you can avoid the crowds lates to our mission of supporting local! Buy in conand comfortably stroll, shop and feel confident in fidence at our third annual Organic Farmers Market, the quality of food for sale. Located in the central Thursdays 4-7 p.m., exclusively at Rockbrook Vilplaza of the Rockbrook Village shopping center, our lage, just off the interstate at 108th and Center. market provides a well shaded and relaxed shopping Rockbrook Village -- homegrown, locally owned. PAID ADVERTISEMENT

8 | The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017

Save the date for upcoming Major donor events

Bridal | Prom | Tuxedos

Come experience the Spotlight difference and let us put the Spotlight on you! Ask about our Pinterest appointments. 2545 S. 174th Plaza | Omaha | 402-334-6808

SPOTLIGHTFORMALWEAR.COM

The perfect addition to your home gym! The Cybex Arc Trainer

More results in less time. Research shows that the Cybex Arc Trainer burns more calories than any other cross trainer or elliptical cross trainer tested. The science behind the Arc Trainer’s big calorie burn is the Arc motion. It engages the right muscles— quads and glutes—that demand lots of energy from the body when they are called upon to work. That means big calorie burn. And… because the Arc Trainer is demanding of the muscles—not the joints, it can be used longer without putting a strain on the knees, hip or back.

Fitness, Sports Performance, Rehabilitation and Service

402.343.0552 4511 S. 119th Circle, Omaha, NE 68137 oﬃcesupport@novahealth.net

e Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign will kick oﬀ September 5. e Women’s Major Donor Event, chaired by Judy and Betsy Baker, will be held Tuesday, September 12 at Happy Hollow from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. e event will feature speaker Dr. Sima Goel, author of Fleeing the Hijab, a true account of her story as a Jewish Iranian teenager who crossed the most dangerous desert in the world rather than accept the restrictions of life in Iran of the early 1980s. Her quest for freedom is a thrilling, timely inspiration for people longing to create a life of meaning. Sima is now a successful chiropractor in Canada, as well as a speaker on optimum health, fulfilling her dream of freedom and determination to help others. Dr. Goel’s book is available through the Jewish Federation of Omaha Kripke Library. e Men’s Major Donor Event, chaired

by David Gilinsky and David Kohll, will take place at Beacon Hills, Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. We will welcome speaker Sgt. Benjamin Anthony, the founder of Our Soldiers Speak (www.oursol diersspeak.org). is non-for-profit NGO provides briefings and analysis on the realities and challenges faced by the Israel Defense Forces in asymmetrical combat situations. Benjamin is the lead lecturer for the organization which has reached diverse audiences at more than 380 campuses across several continents, as well as leading think tanks in various countries. e minimum gi to attend either event is $1,800 or $1,000 if under 45. See the Aug. 18 Jewish Press for additional details. For more information, please contact Contact Louri Sullivan at lsullivan @jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6485

JERUSALEM | JTA The Israeli military said an operation it started a year ago has treated thousands of Syrians and provided thousands of tons of aid to Syrians dealing with its nation’s civil war. The Israel Defense Forces announced its “Operation Good Neighbor” on Wednesday, saying it has a “moral imperative” to provide aid to the Syrians on the country’s northern border. Israel has largely tried to stay out of the more than six-year war in Syria and has in the past downplayed the amount of assistance it has provided for the country’s civilians on the border. The first activities coordinated by the Northern Command headquarters took place in August 2016, the IDF said in a statement, and since then there have been more than 110 aid operations The primary recipients of the aid are the approximately 200,000 residents of the Hauran region of southwestern Syria. About 400 families live in tents near the Israel-Syria border, with the rest living in villages or out in the open. A third of the aid recipients are displaced persons or refugees and half of them are under the age of 18, according to the IDF. Over 4,000 people have been brought to Israel to receive medical treatment, among them hundreds of

children, the IDF said. The military also transfers medicine, supplies and equipment to Syrians across the border. An internationally managed field hospital has

Israeli operation assisting thousands of Syrians harmed by civil war

Home for sale by owner

This beautifully landscaped 4 bed/4 bath Ranch-style home located at 1810 South 109th Street in the Rockbrook area sits on 1/2 acre. Open and modern floor plan with pantry, main floor laundry and storage galore. Large lower-level rec room with murphy bed and full bath plus legal 5th bedroom. Backyard has waterfall and gas fire pit on large covered patio. Fully fenced and private. Close to Happy Hollow Club, Trader Joe’s, and bike path. Easy access to Hwy 680 and Pacific and West Center corridors. Rockbrook Elementary School. Located in School District 66. See our Listing on Zillow/Trulia for more information. Contact either deolesh@gmail.com or 402-334-1462. PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Credit: IDF@IDFSpokesperson

also been established at an Israeli outpost near the border, according to the IDF. “Based on my 20-year medical career, I can truly say that the medical care we have provided to our neighbors here in the north of Israel is one of the most significant efforts to treat those in need that I have ever witnessed,” Col. Dr. Noam Fink, the chief medical officer of the Northern Command, said in a statement. “I deeply hope that our contribution will have a direct impact on the lives of our Syrian neighbors.” Dozens of mortars and gunfire from Syria have landed on Israel, most in the Golan Heights, believed to be accidental spillover from the country’s civil war. The IDF has responded to those with return fire. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Israel has been secretly providing aid to Syrian rebels on the border in the Golan Heights for several years, including cash, food, fuel and medical supplies, and has established a military unit that oversees the support in Syria.

Letter to tHe editor

Dear Editor, The July 14, 2017 Jewish Press printed an announcement that Dr. Robert Newman received his DVM (Veterinary Medicine degree) from the University of Missouri. Several people have asked me if Dr. Newman is related to me. For those who didn’t ask and may be wondering, the answer is, “Yes. he is my grandson and my wife, Phyllis H. Newman, is his stepgrandmother.” His father is Jeff Newman. Bob Newman

The Jewish Press | July 21, 2017 | 9

viewpoint thejewishpress

(Founded in 1920) Eric dunning President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Thierry Ndjike Accounting Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, President; Andy Ruback, Past-President; Sandy Friedman, Treasurer; Andrew Boehm; Paul Gerber; Alex Grossman; Jill Idelman; Mike Kaufman; David Kotok; Debbie Kricsfeld; Abby Kutler; Pam Monsky; Paul Rabinovitz and Barry Zoob. 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@jewish omaha.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@jew ishomaha.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, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

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.

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press As- National Newspaper sociation Association Award winner 2008

The myth of not knowing ANNETTE vAN dE KAmP-WriGHT Editor of the Jewish Press ometimes when you clean the office, you find surprising things you didn’t know you had. It’s even nicer when someone else does that cleaning and it’s not your office (thanks, Amanda) but you still get the spoils. It’s how Jewish Press intern Emma Hochfelder and I became the “lucky” recipients of a mint edition of The New York Times from April 12, 1943 (you can read what Emma found below). In many ways, it’s a typical newspaper. There are wedding announcements, engagements, births and obituaries; news from the financial markets and Washington D.C. updates. And, of course, stories from the fronts and an excessive number of advertisements for War Bonds: “They give their lives, you lend your money. This Spring’s best buy!” Most of the news is grim enough. On April 8, President Roosevelt froze wages in an attempt to halt inflation. Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler met in Salzburg for their axis conference. American troops were engaged in North Africa and Japan, but the Warsaw uprising hadn’t happened yet. Since the U.S. draft was enacted in 1940, World War II and the U.S.’ involvement is definitely evident on all pages, if not in every headline. Yet it is difficult to read this paper knowing what we know. The only mention of what was happening to the Jewish people can be found on page 5, in two separate short announcements under the headline “Nazis erase ghettos in two Polish cities.” Here is the first story: The Polish Telegraph Agency said tonight that the Germans had erased the ghetto at Krakow in a three-day massacre that started March 13, and also had eliminated the ghetto in Lodz. The fate of the Jews in the latter city was unknown, but the agency said it was believed they also were killed. The number of victims in the two large Polish cities was

not estimated, but the agency said it doubted whether many Jews still were in the city when the terror started. And this is the second: All “stateless Jews” now living in Rumania have been ordered to leave the country by May 1, it was disclosed by the Nazi-operated Paris radio in a domestic French broadcast reported by the Office of War information yesterday.

ended up transported to Chelmno and Auschwitz, where the majority were killed upon arrival. I get it; the average American reader in 1943 may not have known those numbers. It’s convenient to look at this particular newspaper from our vantage point, when information is at our fingertips. And yet, a line like “but the agency said it doubted whether many Jews still were in the city when the terror started” should have given people pause. Was the reader supposed to take it for granted that nothing really bad happened? Was the mere fact that Jews in foreign lands were shoved in ghettos not in and of itself so atrocious that the entire world should have demanded an explanation? And if there indeed were not that many Jews still in A column of captive Jews march with bundles down the main thoroughfare in Krakow the ghetto during the during the liquidation of the Krakow Ghetto. SS guards oversee the deportation action to massacre (the article the extermination camps. does use that word If they do not leave by that time, the broadcast said, “they after all) where would they have gone? Surely even back will be deported to former Soviet territories on the other then people realized that the whole concept of a ghetto side of the Dniester and now occupied by Rumanian troops.” was that Jews were imprisoned there? It’s not as if they Due to space constraints, it’s only that first story I can volunteered. talk about here. At the time of this “final liquidation,” apBut here is what really scares me. It’s easy to judge the proximately 10,000 Jews were left in Krakow. Of those, editors and readers of 1943 for not asking enough ques8,000 were transported to the Plaszow labor camp. The re- tions. We, however, have to ask ourselves: which stories do maining 2,000 were slaughtered. Any more left in the ghetto we bury, not pay attention to, choose to not think about too after that were sent directly to Auschwitz. much today? What will history judge us for? Because I don’t A total of 204,000 Jews passed through the Lodz ghetto really believe we have learned all that much during the past between December 1939 and January 1945. Most of them 70-some years.

The repetition of history: Divide and destroy EmmA HocHfEldEr Intern, Jewish Press A recently discovered vintage copy of the New York Times appeared in the Jewish Press office this week. The 42-page edition was dated April 12, 1943. You could feel the history coming alive through the pages. Ads for war bonds and military actions overseas spread across the 70-year-old paper. It was far more intriguing than any old history book. The texts and articles themselves seemed very dated. At least, most of them anyway. An editorial by publisher Generoso Pope, titled “Divide and Destroy,” had a familiar tone. Pope’s editorial was reprinted from being originally published in an ItalianAmerican paper. The editorial spoke in-depth about the divisive tactic of using “divide and rule”. Pope discussed how both Hitler and Mussolini transformed divide and rule into “divide and ruin, to divide and destroy.” Pope mentioned how no good can come from “pitting race against race, cultivating and exploiting race prejudice, is the most characteristic sign of conniving ruthless demagogue”. He continued on to explore how such divisive tactics “breeds oppression and tyranny.” The oppression and exploitation Pope mentioned revolved around the Axis powers’ treatment of the Jewish people. He expounded on how “First, Hitler chose his scapegoat. He pounced savagely on Germany’s smallest and most helpless minority-- the Jews.” The message of the editorial was clear; the language and tactics of “dividing and destroying” was dangerous and detrimental to society as a whole.

It is difficult to fathom this article was written 74 years ago when the daunting behavior of the world leaders sounds all too familiar. The idea of scapegoating one particular minority is common practice in what is known as American politics today. Pope narrated how the “savage hatred has been bolstered up by false science.” Arguably, the same can be said about how

fake news and misleading articles can change the perception of the public. The deceptive language concerning those in the Islamic faith, immigrants, refugees and all those deemed “other” by the new administration has created a volatile situation. An entire campaign run on hate and fear has morphed into an unprecedented political climate. The false narratives about “jihad” attempt to misinterpret an entire faith of 1.6 billion human beings. The dyadic language around what type of immigrants the United States government cherrypicks and allows entry culminates in stereotypes and ingrained prejudices.

Bans on entire nation-states, based on the religion of people who are feeling persecution in their home countries sends us back in time to when President Roosevelt turned away the St. Louis. The present political climate does not represent a future of a country that has learned from its mistakes or the mistakes of others. The political atmosphere in which we find ourselves now displays that we have not learned from history. America has become divided in talk of “us” vs. “them” in regard to anyone who is different or just not exactly the same. The argument that words are only words is weak. When words become actions it is then too late to react. Pope warned that this mindset based on division “sends whole nations reeling backward into barbarism.” He continued, “It destroys real and profound unity of free peoples.” Is that what the United States wants? A nation divided? As Pope explained in his editorial, “The whole world has had more than enough of it. The more we do to banish this plague from the face of the earth, the sooner will the world be a better place to live in.” In 1943, he made the claim “enough is enough;” yet in 2017, his article is still so relevant. The conversation and dialogue used in Pope’s piece parallels the worries many Americans have today concerning the actions of the Trump administration. In the close of his article, Pope preached acceptance and tolerance. He concluded, “None of us can do too much too soon”. Today, the same urgency of the necessity of action is felt every day in this country.

10 | The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017

synagogues B’naI Israel synagogue

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

BeTh el synagogue

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

BeTh Israel synagogue

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

ChaBad house

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

CongregaTIon B’naI Jeshurun

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

offuTT aIr forCe Base

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244

rose BlumkIn JewIsh home

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel

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

TIfereTh Israel

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

B’naI Israel synagogue

Please join us for our upcoming events: Annual Membership Meeting, sunday, aug. 27, 11 a.m. Shabbat Service, sept. 1, 7:30 p.m. led by Shayna Kurland and Ben Cohen in honor of their wedding weekend. Erev Rosh Hashanah, wednesday, sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. Curtis Hutt, UNO Schwalb Center. Rosh Hashanah, Thursday, sept. 21, 10:30 a.m. Anna Mosenkis, New American. Kol Nidre, friday, sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. Leonard Greenspoon, Creighton University. Yom Kippur, saturday, sept. 30, 10:30 a.m. Karen Gustafson, Jewish Family Service. Our High Holiday services are led by Jeff Taxman. Shabbat Speakers Series resumes on friday, oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. led by Larry Blass. For information on our historic synagogue, please contact any of our board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf and Phil Wolf.

BeTh el synagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. frIday: Nebraska AIDS Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Volunteers are needed each month to make desserts for the lunches we serve at the Nebraska AIDS Coalition. If you can help, contact project chairman Joan Marcus; A Wing and A Prayer, 5:30 p.m. No charge to attend but please RSVP. saTurday: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. weekday serVICes: Sundays, 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. sunday: Morning Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Stephen Center Cooking, 5:30 p.m. at 2723 Q St, Omaha. Join as we again cook and serve dinner at the Stephen Center. If you are interested in helping, contact M'Lee Hasslinger. monday: Ma’ariv and Eicha, 8 p.m. Tuesday: Morning Minyan, 7 a.m.; Mincha, 2 p.m.; Evening Minyan, 5:30 p.m. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

BeTh Israel synagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. frIday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Friday Learning with Rabbi Shlomo, 11:15 a.m. at the JCC; Mincha/Ma’ariv & Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 8:28 p.m. saTurday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights in the Weekly Torah Reading, 7:25 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:32 p.m. sunday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. monday-erev Tisha B’av: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Tamudic Tales with Rabbi Shlomo, noon; Mincha, 8:30 p.m.; Fast Begins, 8:41 p.m.; Understanding Eicha — What Are We Really Mourning, 9:15 p.m. Tuesday--Tisha B’av: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Kinnot and class with Rabbi Shlomo, 8-9 a.m.; Mincha, 7:30 p.m.; Film “Jerusalem Journey”, 8:15 p.m.; Ma’ariv, 9:05 p.m.; Fast Ends, 9:19 p.m. wednesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m. Thursday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Shlomo, noon.

ChaBad house

Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. frIday: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. followed by a festive kiddush luncheon. sunday: Shacharit, 8:30 a.m. followed by Sunday Secrets: Jewish Fun Facts class at 9:15 a.m. weekdays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. monday: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani; Tisha B'Av, 9 p.m. Ma’ariv services and reading Lamentations afterwards. For more information on Tisha B'Av Programming, please visit www.ochabad.com/tishabav. Tuesday: Tisha B’Av Programming presented by Chabad with my whole broken heart, 5 p.m. at Chabad. Free and open to the community.

wednesday: New Tanya Series -- The Anatomy of Your Soul: Who Are You?, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Thursday: Advanced Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Summer is here and there's no better way to spend it than with Chabad at Camp Gan Israel! Register today for camp! Summer Camp Registration is OPEN! All programs are open to the entire community.

CongregaTIon B’naI Jeshurun

frIday: Shabbat Evening Service, 6:30 p.m. led by Nathaniel Kaup; Oneg, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:27 p.m. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Alex Clark and Peter Mullin; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Devarim; Erik Higgins (bass) and Marie Sønderskov (flute) in Concert, 7:30 p.m. Program will include Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, as well as Icelandic, Scandinavian, Japanese and Syrian folk songs. Admission gratis; Free-will donations accepted; Havdalah (72 Minutes), 9:56 p.m. monday-erev Tisha B’av: Reading of Megillat Eicha (Lamentations), 8:45 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Thursday: Trope Class, 6:15 p.m. with Michael Boekstal; Temple Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.; High Holidays Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m. If you want to be involved and aren't on the current choir member list, contact Elaine Monnier (402-327-9212 or emonnier@allophone.com), Holly Heffelbower (hheffel@ inebraska. com), or ‘like’ South Street Temple High Holy Days Choir on Facebook. annual Back-to-school supplies drive: South Street Temple continues its tradition of providing supplies to students and teachers at Saratoga Elementary School. Eighty-six percent of Saratoga’s students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, double the average for Lincoln Public Schools. The school is specifically in need of the following items: Crayons, especially the twistable kind, Glue sticks, Pencils - mechanical and wooden (No. 2), Boxes of tissues, Hand Sanitizer, Sanitizer wipes, Pocket folders (2 pockets), Erasers and Composition notebooks. Please drop all donations in the totes labeled “Saratoga School Supply Drive” in the social hall by aug. 11. Thank you! Angels Play Writing Collective, featuring the writing of Brian Bornstein, the acting of Elaine Monnier, and the stage managing of Barb Barron!, July 19-29 at UNL’s Studio Theatre, First floor of the Temple Building, 12th & R Streets in Lincoln. Admission is $15 per Flight or $25 for a Festival pass. Tickets available online and at the door. For information or details, visit www.angelscompany.org or call 402.474.2206.

offuTT aIr forCe Base

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

rose BlumkIn JewIsh home

saTurday: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

Temple Israel

frIday: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Friday Shabbat TiYPE

Night (21+), 6 p.m. Join TiYPE for Shabbat services at Temple Israel, followed by dinner at Hector’s! Appetizers are on us! RSVP required. saTurday: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Services, 10:30 a.m. Torah Reader: Larry Gittelman and Haftarah Reader: Miles Remer. sunday: Fifth Sunday Breakfast Service, 7:30 a.m. at Stephen Center; New Member Family Ice Cream Social, 4-5:30 p.m. Thank you for joining our Temple Israel Family! Rosie Zweiback, President of Temple Israel, and her husband Mace Hack invite you to Sunday afternoon with ice cream and conversation. This will be a chance for new congregants who have joined in the last two years to get to know our Board of Trustees, the Membership Committee, the Temple Israel Staff and Clergy, including Rabbi Brian Stoller and his family. RSVP required. monday: Tish B’av Service, 7 p.m. Please join us for a solemn service commemorating Tisha B’Av. Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning for the tragedies in Jewish history, the brokenness in the world today, and the pain and loss in our own lives. Shabbat Service and Picnic, friday, aug. 4, 6 p.m. Mah Jongg Tournament, sunday, aug. 6. Registration fee is $35 and includes breakfast, lunch and one raffle ticket. The registration deadline is friday, July 28. To register, please call the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536. Jewish Heritage Day at Werner Park: Omaha Storm Chasers vs Iowa Cubs, sunday, aug. 13, 2:05 p.m. The Jewish Federation of Omaha is sponsoring a day at the ballpark! Join the entire community for this family-friendly baseball game featuring the Omaha Stormchasers vs. the Iowa Cubs. Details about purchasing discounted tickets will be available closer to the big day. If you want to be part of the team planning this event, please reach out to JFO Director of Community Engagement & Education. Temple Israel Golf Outing, monday, aug. 14, noon at Shadow Ridge Country Club. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402-556-6536, to sign up.

TIfereTh Israel

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. frIday: Services, 6:30 p.m. saTurday: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. There will be no Kiddush lunch this week. monday: We will gather at 8:45 p.m. to commemorate Tisha B'Av, the day of national mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem (586 b.c.e. and 70 c.e.). We will hear a chanting of the Book of Lamentations, Eicha, as well as have a discussion about the return to Zion during the time of Ezra and Nehemia and the modern day importance of Israel today. Tifereth Israel's 8th Annual Shabbat on the Green/ New Member Dinner will be friday, aug. 11. We will be grilling up hotdogs and sides beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by a fun outdoor Shabbat service. We hope to see you all there! Please RSVP to the office NO LATER THAN MONDAY, AUG. 7. Join your Tifereth Israel friends for a solar eclipse viewing party on monday aug. 21 hosted by Seth Harris at his home at 15049 S. 46th St., Roca, NE 68430. A Kosher dairy potluck lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. Bring a comfy chair or blanket. RSVP to Nava in the office!

Three Israelis reportedly killed, one wounded in West Bank stabbing attack JTA neWs sTAff ree Israelis reportedly were killed and one wounded in a stabbing attack in a West Bank settlement north of Ramallah. Two men, one in his 40s and one in his 60s, and a woman in her 40s reportedly died of their wounds, while a woman in her 60s was seriously injured in the attack in Halamish, according to e Times of Israel. Israeli media reports said the attacker was shot. e attack follows clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces over the Israeli government’s decision to keep in place indefinitely metal detectors at the entrance to the Temple Mount. e security devices were installed in response to a July 14 terrorist shooting near the holy site that killed two Israeli police oﬃcers.

On Friday July 21, three Palestinians reportedly were killed in clashes between rioters and police in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Six Israeli police oﬃcers were injured in the rioting. e previous night, ursday July 20, some 42 people were wounded in clashes between security forces and Palestinian protesters, who rioted during rallies against the introduction of the metal detectors last week, Army Radio reported. e metal detectors were placed at the entrance to the Temple Mount compound, which contains the Haram al Sharif area that is holy to Muslims, aer three Arab-Israeli terrorists killed two police oﬃcers near the mosque on July 14. e gunmen were shot dead by troops who pursued them. e Temple Mount compound contains the Haram al Sharif area that is holy to Muslims.

The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017 | 11

lifecycles In memorIAm

lucIlle epsteIn

Lucille Epstein passed away on July 19 at age 95. Services were held July 21 at Beth El Cemetery Chapel, 84th & L. She was preceded in death by husband, Jack G. Epstein; brothers, Norman and Harold Abrahamson. She is survived by daughter, Ronee Krashes and daughter and son-in-law, Diane and John Zipay; grandchildren: Michele and Michael Olsen, Jeremy and Melody Zipay, Michael and Natalia Krashes, and Liz and Dave Colanto; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association or Beth El Synagogue.

lAWrence p. pollAck

Lawrence P. Pollack passed away May 21 at age 83. A celebration of life with military honors will be held on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Magnolia Hotel, 1615 Howard St. All are welcome to attend. He was preceded in death by parents Harold and Sylvia Pollack; wife, Janice Pollack. He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Barbara Pollack of Bothell, WA; daughters, Katheryn Pollack and Sally Pollack, both of San Carlos, CA; two grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Judith and Larry Pazol of Bloomfield Hills, MI; brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Lana Pollack of Ann Arbor, MI. Memorials may be made to Nebraska Humane Society or Visiting Nurse Association.

Western Wall heckling worse than ever for monthly service

JERUSALEM | JTA More than 100 women who assembled for the Women of the Wall’s monthly Rosh Chodesh service at the Western Wall faced more intense heckling than ever, the group said. e women, who smuggled in a small Torah scroll for the service, were attacked verbally and physically, the group said in a statement issued Monday, hours aer the service in the women’s section of the Western Wall plaza.

PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPERS ARE

STUDENTS WITH BETTER GRADES It all starts with Newspapers.

Pulverent e MONUMENT CO.

Frank L. Ciciulla Jr.

60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials

1439 So. 13th

402-341-2452

Tritz Plumbing Inc. 402-894-0300 www.tritz.com repair • remodel

commercial • residential

family owned and operated since 1945

Byron rAznIck

Former Omahan Byron Raznick of Denver passed away on June 6. Services were held June 7 at AISH Denver. Interment was held at Rose Hill Cemetery. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Tillie Raznick; daughter, Carol Raznick, daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Curtis Goodman, and son and daughterin-law, Richard and Judy Raznick; grandchildren: Allyson and Anthony Naes, Aric, Renee, and Madison Goodman; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sandy and Dr. Terry Bryant, Toby and Marshall Forbes, and sister, Shirley Schwartz. Memorials may be made to AISH Denver, 9550 E Belleview Ave, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, or Cardiology Research Fund, in Memory of Byron Raznick, Univ. of Colo. Health Foundation, 303.752.8120, https://uch. thankyou4caring.org.

Faith groups reject voter fraud commission

JTA news sTAFF A coalition of faith organizations, more than half of them Jewish, issued a statement objecting to a presidential commission investigating what the 24 signatories called “baseless claims” of widespread voter fraud. In the letter sent to members of Congress, the coalition urged lawmakers not to fund the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity set up by President Donald Trump to probe what he has called widespread claims of improper voting that have the eﬀect of “canceling out the votes of lawful American citizens.” e faith coalition rejects those claims, citing evidence that the rate of voter fraud in the United States is statistically insignificant. “e commission was designed to advance baseless claims made by President Trump and others of widespread voter fraud during recent elections in the United States,” according to the letter, which was organized by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. “Several comprehensive studies have debunked such a myth, finding only a handful of voter fraud cases in recent history.” e letter warns that the commission could lead to policies that prevent eligible citizens, especially the poor, people of color and the elderly, from voting. Signatories included the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Council for Public Aﬀairs, the National Council of Jewish Women, and groups from the Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform movements.

Women of the Wall members praying at the Western Wall plaza to mark the beginning of the Hebrew month of Av, July 8, 2013. Credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90 Young girls and women with their faces covered whistled, shouted, spit at and cursed the worshippers in an effort to shut down the service, which was held behind police barriers at the back of the women’ section. Men also chanted, jeered and yelled vulgarities to drown out the women’s prayers, shouting invective such as “Reform are worse than ISIS,” and “Reform go home,” according to the Women of the Wall. Some women said they were shoved by security guards and had to dodge water bottles thrown at them. e group also said that prayers from the men’s side were broadcast by a loudspeaker that is usually used only for special services such as the priestly blessing or on Tisha B’Av, and that the loudspeakers were purposely aimed at the women’s section. “It seems like the State prefers cursing, jeering and whistling over women’s prayer,” said Women of the Wall chair Anat Hoﬀman. “ere’s no way to explain the helplessness of security opposite a hostile and misguided minority armed with whistles and plastic trumpets, including little girls who screamed at the top of their lungs, to silence the WOW worshipers. e month of Av is traditionally an opportunity to remember that Jerusalem fell not for the might of the oppressors, but for the weakness of the people of Jerusalem, who were distracted by internal struggles.” e group has held its monthly Rosh Chodesh prayer for the new Hebrew month in the women’s section for more than 25 years. In January, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of women being allowed to read from the Torah in the women’s section at the Western Wall, and put a halt to security searches of the women for items such as Torah scrolls, tallitot and tefillin. e Western Wall Heritage Foundation had prevented women from bringing Torah scrolls and religious items into the women’s section.

neBrAskA stAteWIde clAssIFIeds

AttentIon AdVertIsers! For $225/25 word classified you can advertise in over 163 Nebraska newspapers. For more information contact the Jewish Press or call 1-800-369-2850.

BAnkruptcy: Free initial consultation. Fast relief from creditors. Low rates. Statewide filing. No office appointment necessary. Call Steffens Law Office, 308-8728327. steffensbankruptcylaw.com. We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

AFFordABle press Release service. Send your message to 165 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800-369-2850 or www.nebpress.com for more details.

pAXton, neBrAskA, good schools, good family life. Longtime lumber/hardware business for sale. Please call Pat, 308-539-4211, or Mike, 308-239-4211.

tWo BusInesses, in one building, Western Nebraska. Running floral and newspaper. Call for more details, 308-586-1313.

mountAIn House Meal Summer Sale. Deliciously dependable food for survival and emergency preparation! Free 4 Day Supply ($85 Value) w/$200 Ten Day (100 servings) Kit Purchase. Call 1-844-290-4763.

dIsH netWork. TV for less, not less TV! Free DVR. Free Install (up to 6 rooms) $49.99/month. Plus Hi-Speed Internet - $14.95/month (where available). 1-877-6884784.

spectrum trIple Play. TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 each. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. We buy your existing contract up to $500! 1800-317-2540.

moBIleHelp, AmerIcA’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether you’re home or away. For safety and peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! Call today! 1-888-506-0793.

sAFe step Walk-In Tub. #1 selling walk-in tub in North America. BBB accredited. Arthritis Foundation commendation. Therapeutic jets. MicroSooth Air Therapy System. Less than 4 inch step-in. Wide door. Anti-slip floors. American made. Call 855-5141511 for up to $1500 off.

FAIrBury JournAl-neWs is looking for an editor or reporter. Pay based on experience, $25,000-$35,000 range, plus benefits. (402) 729-6141, jennifer@fairburyjournalnews.com.

Full-tIme Maintenance Position. Applications may be sent to the Utica Village Clerk’s office, PO Box 158 Utica, NE 68456, or call 402-534-4237. Must be able to earn water/wastewater certification within one year. EOE.

FunerAls cAn be very expensive. Can your loved ones afford it? Protect them with Final Expense Insurance. Call today to learn more: 800-551-7141.

lIFe Alert, 24/7. One press of a button sends help fast! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can’t reach a phone! Free Brochure. Call 800-216-4935.

Got lAnd? Our Hunters will pay top $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a free info packet & quote. 1-866-309-1507, www.BaseCampLeasing.com.

12 | The Jewish Press | July 28, 2017

worldnews

Uganda’s Jews are down to one meal a day because of East Africa’s famine

Ben SAleS JTA

ganda’s 2,000 Jews have long maintained a modest existence. They live in the east of the country in a hilly, rural area that lacks paved roads, consistent electricity and freely running water. But this year, the situation for Uganda’s Jewish community, called the Abayudaya, has worsened. Twenty million people across Africa and the Middle East are now at risk of illness and death due to a famine that is centered in Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen and South Sudan. Caused by a mix of factors, including civil wars, underdeveloped infrastructure and a drought, the famine is “the largest humanitarian crisis since the creation of the U.N.,” Stephen O’Brien, the emergency relief coordinator for the United Nations, said in March. “People look dehydrated and starving,” Gershom Sizomu, the community’s rabbi, told JTA on Tuesday. “People got sick and weak, and there are people who died because of complications because of the food shortage. People were already sick, so without food they become weaker and weaker.” Sizomu told JTA that the Abayudaya, who rely on their own crops to survive, have been hit hard by the drought. While conditions are easing now because the harvest season has arrived for maize and beans, many families are subsisting on one meal a day, he said. Two community members who already were sick have died of malnutrition. Fleeing the area is useless, Sizomu added — food shortages are plaguing the cities, too. The community, whose members converted to Judaism under Conservative auspices about 15 years ago, stays in regular touch with Jewish communities in the United States and Israel. But only one American synagogue has provided famine relief to the Abayudaya. Beth El, a Conservative congregation in Pittsburgh, had hosted Sizomu for a weekend of Torah study last year, where he mentioned the risk of impending famine. So when 60 congregation members convened last month for the synagogue’s annual meeting, congregation president Cliff Spungen passed around an envelope for donations. It came back

filled with $800. In the following weeks, Spungen sent email appeals to the synagogue’s members, as well as to Temple Emanuel, a nearby Reform synagogue. In total, the Pittsburgh campaign has raised $6,500 — a hefty sum in rural Uganda, where a family in Nabugoye, the Abayudaya’s main village, can live on as little as $5 a day. “We hope it helps,” Spungen said. ” It’s been really eye-opening and meaningful that people have been generous.”

Gershom Sizomu, religious leader of the Abayudaya, in 2003. Credit: Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

When it comes to the Jewish community fundraising for famine relief in East Africa this year, Beth El’s campaign is a rare success story. Take the Jewish Coalition for East Africa Relief, 24 Jewish groups convened by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. More than two months after the coalition was created, it has raised just $10,000. The “trickle of dollars” is not enough to even begin planning for allocations, said Will Recant, the coalition’s chair. Instead, the coalition is now investing in raising awareness of the crisis through education and advocacy, sending pamphlets and U.N. fact sheets to congregations and Jewish communities.

The coalition’s goal is broader than the synagogue campaign. The synagogues were able to make an impact because their donations targeted one small community. The coalition hopes to make a significant contribution to the overall aid effort in East Africa. Fundraising has been difficult, Recant added, because the famine is a gradual crisis that hasn’t garnered much international attention. Following a high-profile event like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, for example, a similar coalition of Jewish groups raised $600,000 — most of it during the couple of months after the tragedy. After the 2015 Nepal earthquake, the American Jewish World Service raised $2.5 million in aid contributions. “Money poured in because it was sudden and shocking,” said Sam Wolthuis, the group’s director of disaster response and international operations. AJWS has garnered $200,000 since June for East Africa relief. “We’ve realized that with ongoing conflict and crises that take place over long periods of time, we’re not getting as much as we need to fill the needs on the ground,” Wolthuis said. Once the coalition raises enough money, Recant said it hopes to help the Abayudaya with long-term water supply issues. Be’chol Lashon, a group that advocates for Jews of color, is also helping the Abayudaya with infrastructure planning. This part of East Africa last experienced a severe famine in 2011. That year, a coalition of Jewish groups under the same name raised nearly $150,000. Sizomu told JTA that the Abayudaya shared the money they received from Pittsburgh with surrounding communities also suffering from shortages. And if the coming harvest improves conditions, Sizomu said he hopes to refocus the community’s attention on setting up water storage and irrigation systems so farmers can weather the next drought. But he acknowledged that developing the necessary infrastructure will be costly. And in the meantime, people are still starving. “People are depressed, and you can see it on their faces,” Sizomu said. “Parents are depressed because they have many things to take care of. There’s a constant need for food.”

HELPING SENIORS CONTINUE A FULL, ACTIVE, AND HEALTHY WAY OF LIFE Home Care Aides and CNAs | Companions or Sitters | Homemakers

NON-MEDICAL HOME CARE Alzheimer’s Care | Companionship | Dressing and Bathing Exercise | Housekeeping, Laundry and Chores | Medication Reminders Personal Services | Preparing and Serving Meals | Respite Care Short-Term Recovery Assistance | Walking Transportation to Appointments, Errands and Shopping “I want you to know how appreciative I am of the care you took of my husband, and later, of my daughter. Your kindness, good humor, and professional care often got Dick to do some things he really didn’t want to do like a shower and some of his P.T. and O.T. You often went out on your own to bring him some little things he enjoyed (Italian ice, a piece of pizza). You were always honest, fair, reliable, and showed empathy, not only for your patient, but also for his family. Dick enjoyed hearing about your family and

stories of your homeland. The two men who worked with you shared the same work ethic and personal integrity as you did. When my daughter was in a memory facility and became unable to do for herself, she needed three caretakers instead of two. You came twice a day to help so I wouldn’t have to move her to a skilled nursing facility. I have no reservations in recommending you and your staﬀ.” – Mary Ann Formico

402.709.6775 15305 Davenport Circle | www.beautifullifefamilycare.com | beautifullifefamilycare@gmail.com