August 6, 2021

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AUGUST 6 , 2 02 1 | 2 8 AV 578 1 | VO L. 1 01 | NO. 41 | TWO SECTIONS | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 8:16 P.M.

The 2022 Annual Campaign Chairs See our FOOD supplement for recipes and more Section 2

Friedel pandemic procedures prioritize safety, learning and community Page A3

Marty and Iris Ricks

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor oon, the Jewish Federation of Omaha will announce its Annual Campaign. We are in good hands with the 2022 chairs: Iris and Marty Ricks and Jessica and Shane Cohn have agreed to be this coming year’s Chairs.

“Our hopes for the 2022 campaign,” Iris said, “are to engage more donors and really make them feel part of the community. We especially want to reach out to those who

have never contributed before. In addition, we want to raise more than last year’s campaign!”

“The last year and a half have been incredibly challenging for all,” Jessica added. “As we begin to slowly and safely peek our way out of the pandemic, it’s refreshing to greet friends with a handshake and smile. I hope the 2022 Annual campaign can be an opportunity to reunite. In addition, I am passionate about women’s philanthropy and excited to work with the amazing chairs leading the women’s philanthropy roles.”

See Annual Campaign Chairs page A3

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Young Philanthropy Summer Soiree

Who is JewBelong for?

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REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

Shane and Jess Cohn

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ALLY FREEMAN 2021 BGS Co-Chair On Sunday, Aug. 29, what’s old will become new again as a contemporary generation of Jewish Omaha

Join our team

JFS staff and supporting community members during a previous ‘Out of the Darkness Walk’ in 2019.

gathers at the historic Blackstone building—reopened late last year as The Cottonwood Hotel.

Our first annual Summer Soiree at the hotel’s new poolside clubhouse will honor Omaha’s young Jewish life: past, present, and future.

“This event is a new opportunity to showcase the impact that the Federation has had in Omaha in the past, while inspiring a legacy of giving into the future,” said Lissy Kane, one of the 2021 Ben Gurion Society (BGS) CoChairs. “Omaha has a vibrant and growing, young Jewish community.

See Young philanthropy page A2

KAREN GUSTAFSON, MS, NCC, LIMHP Jewish Family Service Executive Director Jewish Family Service is hosting a team for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. To register and join our team, please go to AFSP.org, click on “find a walk near you” and select JFS as your team!

This event is FREE to attend; however, when registering you do have the option of donating to AFSP.

Over the years, Jewish Family Service (JFS) has been dedicated to several important causes, one being suicide prevention and education.

Partnering with the Kim Foundation for over seven years, JFS has been able to receive up-to-date information, including local and national statistics, and education related to suicide prevention that we bring back to the Omaha Jewish community.

Suicide is a real issue. Although it may not have touched your family directly, we do have community See Jewish Family Service page A2

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Jewish Family Service

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Young philanthropy

Continued from page A1 We want to give everyone the opportunity to connect with each other this summer and learn more about how to get involved on any level.”

The event will feature cocktails and appetizers poolside, and a short program recognizing this year’s Federation young leaders and philanthropists. But most of all, it will be a chance to socialize and celebrate.

The Blackstone Hotel was an Omaha legacy that is rich with connections to the historical Jewish community. Many of our own parents, grandparents, and friends grew up celebrating special occasions at the hotel: weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, dinners, coffee dates, and dances.

The beautiful building has been reimagined as a modern gathering place, while keeping many of the historic details intact, including the grand marble staircase. Several of the original restaurants have also been recreated, including the Orleans Room and the Cottonwood Room with its infamous tree sprouting from the bar.

“I love what they did with this iconic, Omaha building,” said Geoff Silverstein, outgoing 2021 BGS Co-Chair. “You don't have to have lived the history to appreciate the space and its importance in this region. But more importantly, I’m looking forward to bringing our young Jewish community together again here, in August.”

While the Summer Soiree was originally slated to be held during summer 2020, the young philanthropy leadership team finds even more value in having the event now, as people are especially eager to reconnect, meet new friends, and re-engage in community involvement.

“As our community comes back together, I think this event means more today than it would have a year ago. The future of the Jewish community in Omaha is dependent on our generation’s willingness and joy at coming to the table and saying ‘we choose to invest, and we choose to get involved’,” Jamie Skog Burke, Director of Community Outreach and Israel Engagement said. “We inherited a strong Jewish community because of the time and commitment of our parents, grandparents, and generations before us. Now, it is our time to bring the young adult community together to celebrate and reenergize as we think about what’s next.”

On behalf of the BGS 2021 Campaign Co-Chairs, we look forward to gathering together in this exciting new space and to reimagine the legacy this hotel holds for the next generation of Jewish Omaha.

The Summer Soiree is planned for Sunday, Aug. 29 from 3-5 p.m. and is open to the entire under 45 Jewish community.

Capacity at the venue is limited, so early registration is encouraged! To register, please visit bit.ly/2021BGS event, or email jskogburke@jewishomaha.org with any questions.

JFS staff and supporting community members

Continued from page A1 members who have been impacted by a suicide in their family. Please join us as we work to continue to bring attention to this important issue. Our goal is to prevent even one more family from having to go through this heartbreak.

In 2020, AFSP’s walk was held virtually. We are keeping our fingers crossed that this year will be in person. Once you are registered on our team, we will do our best to stay in touch with you about any changes to the format of the walk. We will also invite you to stop by Jewish Family Service to pick up a special gift for the day of the walk and to thank you for your participation.

ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith is pleased to announce the resumption of its award-winning speaker program via Zoom. Although the Home auditorium remains temporarily closed, we’ll continue presenting an outstanding lineup of thought-provoking keynoters. For specific speaker information and/or to be placed on the email list, please contact Breadbreakers chair Gary Javitch at breadbreakersomaha@ gmail.com or leave a message at the B’nia B’rith JCC office 402.334.6443.

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Annual Campaign Chairs Continued from page A1 Iris and Marty agreed to chair the campaign because they love the Omaha Jewish community and want to see it succeed.

“We always appreciated Omaha,” they said, “but after being in Portland for two years, we appreciate it even more. And of course we are delighted to be working with Jess and Shane!”

“As someone who often felt on the periphery of Jewish Omaha,” Jess added, “diving in and connecting with donors in the community was a way to feel included. I’ve received so much enrichment from the Jewish Federation- from PJ Library, Momentum, Jewish Learning, swimming at the pool, working out at the JCC and more- this is my way of giving back to the community that has given me so much.”

Our community needs to address the needs of all ages in the community, Iris and Marty said. “We must provide access to Jewish experiences, including lectures, camps, trips to Israel, conclaves, etc. We need to design programs to attract the community to our beautiful JCC. We also would love for the community to be more connected to Israel.”

Campaign, they added, benefits our community in many ways: “We could talk all day about that! It allows us to bring on a community Shaliach from Israel, helps fund the numerous Federation agencies such as The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Friedel Jewish Academy and the Pennie Z. Davis Early Learning Center. Your Campaign gift supports the synagogues, provides programming and subsidies for camps and trips to Israel.”

No strangers to the Annual Campaign, Jess and Shane were part of the team responsible for the last pre-pandemic Community event in 2019, when Omaha welcomed actor Joshua Malina. The 2022 Campaign will also start off with a community event on Thursday Sept. 30 (mark your calendar, we’ll tell you more about this soon!), all the more special because we haven’t been able to come together for a while.

“Josh Malina was a tremendous success,” Jess and Shane said. “His message resonated with our community. Hosting the kosher event at Temple Israel also was a great benefit.

Though I don’t want to give away too much, we plan to offer a kosher event on campus this year and hope our kickoff event is equally successful.”

“We are so excited about our kickoff event and the ability to hopefully gather together in person after Covid,” Iris added.

“My hope,” Marty said, “is that the Omaha Jewish population thrives in the future. It is estimated that the Omaha metropolitan area will grow to one million within the next ten years.

As the city grows, our dream is that Jewish community will also expand. Certainly, it will take employment opportunities to attract new people and to attract those who grew up here, to return. As families consider Omaha, beyond schools, cost of living, weather, arts, leisure, engagement in the Jewish community is generally a factor. We have terrific synagogues with outstanding clergy and educational leaders. We now have a Jewish Community Center that rivals any other in the USA. Just having a beautiful new building is not the answer. As Covid eases up, it’s time to plan to return to normalcy creating programs and events that educate, entertain, and foster a community spirit fitting with the unbelievable art that adorns the walls of our JCC. It’s time to create excitement with “sizzle”! The fuel required to do this is the Federation Annual Campaign. For those of you who have lived here for years, you know what our Jewish community has accomplished and, frankly, it would not have been successful without your past financial support. Iris and I agreed to co-chair the 2022 Campaign with the young, dynamic Jessica and Shane Cohn because we have felt a deep love for the Omaha Jewish community soon after moving here from California in June, 1998. Iris and I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Annual Campaign events this fall.”

Please stay tuned over the following weeks, as we bring you more details about the various events. For more information, please contact Executive Director of Community Philanthropy and Engagement Jennifer Tompkins at jtompkins@ jewishomaha.org.

Friedel pandemic procedures prioritize safety, learning, and community

SARA KOHEN Friedel Jewish Academy Director of Advancement Friedel Jewish Academy Head of School, Beth Cohen, calls last year “a school year like no other” that “taught us powerful life lessons about being flexible and adapting to changing situations.” Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Friedel students were able to learn in-person, five days a week, for almost all of 2020–2021 school year, with no in-school COVID-19 transmission.

This month, students and teachers will begin the new school year.

Friedel’s leadership team has spent the summer planning and working with the school’s team of local physicians to ensure that the return to school provides the nurturing, engaging learning environment families associate with Friedel while continuing to protect the health and safety of the school community.

Cohen says, “We know how important in-school learning is to our students. Following the expert advice about pandemic procedures will help keep our school community safe and learning together.”

The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend universal masking in schools, regard-

less of vaccination status. Because of this, all students, teachers, staff, and visitors will be required to wear masks while in the Friedel building. Mask use outdoors will be determined based on the activity.

The school will reexamine this policy once children ages 5 and up are able to be fully vaccinated.

Cohen also explained that the school will be able to relax some distancing guidelines. This will allow for a return to mixed-grade activities, like the daily all-school morning meeting, more collaborative work activities, and using classroom spaces in more flexible ways. Students will, however, remain in cohorts during lunch and snack.

Cohen looks forward to a day when the pandemic is fully in the past, but says that for now, she is “confident that we are making the best decisions we can, based on the information available to us, to prioritize both health and safety and students’ learning and all-around development.”

Friedel does still have a limited number of spaces available in certain grades. Those who are interested in learning more about a Friedel education are encouraged to contact Director of Advancement Sara Kohen at skohen@fjaomaha.com.

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Observations on the media coverage of the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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BARRY SUMMER Omaha Jewish Paralegal After listening to and reading some of the coverage of the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I feel a duty to express my view that much of the coverage of the events in May in the Middle East was biased in favor of the Arabs. I find this situation, which reflects a trend that has been worsening over the years, very concerning. In this piece, I hope to draw attention to this problem with a recital of some memories of that media coverage to stimulate awareness and discussion of this problem within the Jewish community.

The recent war was preceded by clashes between Arab demonstators/rioters and Israeli police at the site of the AlAqsa mosque in Jerusalem. On NPR, the coverage began by including remarks stating that some of the Arab demonstrators were throwing rocks and water bottles at Israeli police before the police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The ambassador to Israel from the era of the Trump administration further stated in an article run by The Hill that the demonstrators were throwing “incendiary devices”, which I understand to mean Molotov cocktails, at the police. But this statement did not receive attention from the other media outlets I sampled, which in my case included much of NPR coverage, some by The Atlantic (if memory serves), and some on the radio show As It Happens which comes from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

After the initial reports on NPR that at least included mention that the demonstrators were throwing rocks at the police officers, the coverage of these events began to deteriorate on NPR. First, one commentator only focused on the fact that water bottles were thrown but skirted the fact that at least rocks were thrown as well. Then in a later “report” by a journalist who appeared not to be an employee of NPR or any major American or Canadian news service but which was broadcast by NPR, the journalist only stated that there had been “demonstrations, which were followed by police violence.” The journalist completely left out any mention of rocks or even water bottles, let alone Molotov cocktails. Obviously the word ‘demonstrations’ connotes a more peaceful type protest than what actually occurred, especially when the fact that dangerous articles were thrown at the officers is completely omitted from the journalist’s remarks.

Once the war between Hamas and Israel started, an article in, if memory serves, The Atlantic quoted President Biden as saying that Israel has a right to defend itself, but the article said Biden had said so “robotically.” Based on coverage by other sources, I know of absolutely no reason to think President Biden had made his statements in favor of Israel’s right to defend itself “robotically”. The intent of the author seemed to be to say that we’ve heard of Israel’s right to defend itself many times already, and we’re getting tired of it. But there is no indication from any other source I know of that Biden was less than firm and even emphatic in upholding Israel’s right of self-defense. This particular article went to blame pretty much the entire conflict on the “occupation” of the West Bank.

But this is by no means clearly justified. Hamas, who started the bombing, does not admit Israel has a right to exist, so there is no sound basis to think that even if Israel’s presence in the West Bank ended completely and immediately, Hamas would not still be fiercely hostile to Israel.

In addition to, and in keeping with, the above article’s blaming of Israel for the entire recent conflict, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, in segments of its show As It Happens,

interviewed only Arabs about the conflict for several nights in a row. One Arab interviewee threw in a complaint about events taking place as far back as 1948, using the extremely loaded term “ethnic cleansing” going on for “73 years” to stir up ire against Israel. No Israeli was interviewed during that segment at all who could have explained that certainly during the Clinton administration, as well as in 1947, the Palestinians could have had a state if they had chosen to, which would have stopped all construction of settlements in the West Bank and evictions of Arabs from homes in East Jerusalem in its tracks. In other words, the failure of the Arabs to cement a deal for a state when Israel offered it left the West Bank and East Jerusalem vulnerable to settlement by right-wing Jews.

Thus much of the history of what the radio guest called “ethnic cleansing” was entirely preventable. Further, the Arab narrative that in the main Arabs were involuntarily expelled in 1948 from what became Israel is and remains a highly disputed point. At least that history is complex enough to merit inclusion of an Israeli voice in a segment talking about the distant background of the recent flare-up, assuming it is relevant at all. The press seems to be afflicted with a sort of selective amnesia in connection with this conflict, remembering Israel’s alleged misdeeds, but completely forgetting the Palestinians’ numerous opportunities to prevent or at least mitigate them.

Eventually As It Happens may have interviewed one Israeli kibbutznik on a night on which I missed the show, and did later interview someone who, albeit not an Israeli, did work for the U.S. State Department at one point, and who finally and properly laid the central blame for recent wars and much of the conflict in general on the takeover of Gaza by Hamas.

But the interviews by the CBC were overall very stacked in favor of Arab voices.

Further, during the war, NPR would always state the number of Arab deaths in Gaza first when discussing the casualties of the war, and would always mention the number of children who died. The commentator on NPR might then go on to mention the number of Israeli dead, but would not state the number of children who died. One person I spoke with said the mentions of the Israeli dead came as something of an afterthought when the number of total dead was discussed.

NPR interviewed an American activist during this time as well, and while the interview did not center on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, the interviewee said that “Israel attacked Gaza and committed human rights violations.” This Orwellian statement went completely uncountered.

Another infuriating development of coverage of events in this area of the world is that the media has begun referring to the Arabs who reside in Israel as “Palestinians”. The Arabs who live in Israel and have the option to be Israeli citizens are not Palestinians. That is clearly a different geographic territory.

They are Israeli Arabs. No one should ever concede the population who lives in Israel to a Palestinian identity. That simply reinforces the Arab sense of “otherness”. We’ve even heard Jews engage in this nonsensical and defeatist terminology.

Let’s not allow anyone to hand Israel over to the people living next door, even if it is conceptually and linguistically.

It should be pointed out that one bright spot in the coverage of the recent conflict occurred in the New York Times, which published an editorial by Bret Stephens saying that Israel probably would not get the credit it deserves for its virtues ( from the rest of the world). That came as a breath of fresh air.

See Israeli-Palestinian conflict page A5

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Update from Hazon

The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) requests help from the community in identifying photographs from the archives. Please contact Kathy Weiner at 402.334.6441 or kweiner@jewishomaha.org if you are able to assist in the effort to preserve Jewish Omaha history.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Continued from page A4 My reaction to much of the coverage of the recent conflict is to feel a duty to write to NPR, The Atlantic, and the CBC in protest of their biased coverage. It’s the least I can do for the sake of fairness and accuracy in reporting. I encourage others in the Jewish community to join in that effort, writing to whatever news source or sources you came across during the recent conflict that you think were biased too.

RICHARD SLUTZKY Hazon(www.hazon.org), the largest faith-based environmental organization in the United States, just announced its intention to merge with another strong Jewish environmental organization, Pearlstone Center, www.pearl stonecenter.org, headquartered outside of Baltimore.

Until June 30, I had the privilege of being Chair of Hazon for the last two years.

Well known for its annual bike rides in Israel (that’s how I got involved), Hazon promotes a diner menu of exciting programs including: JYCM, the new Jewish Youth Climate Movement which educates and organizes Jewish high schoolers across the country to promote environmentalism in their communities; Adamah, a training ground for Jewish college aged adults to learn about Jewish environmentalism, and Brit Hazon, a program encouraging individual Jews to make a personal commitment toward a more sustainable way of life.

Just south of the Berkshires, in Falls Village, CT, Hazon operates the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, which has been under Jewish communal aus-

pices for more than 120 years. Originally purchased to offer recreation for women working as pieceworkers in the NYC textile industry, it later morphed into a Jewish Renewal retreat center for many years.

In 2014, Hazon took over the operation of the Isabella Freedman Retreat Center, refocusing its programming on Jewish environmentalism, with a healthy mix of spiritual and religious retreats attracting a wide spectrum of Jews from the culturally Jewish to Haredi Jews. The retreat center became

extremely popular during Jewish holidays and its Sukkahfest was a regular sellout, attracting hundreds of Jews of all ages from the Northeast and beyond. I remember attending a Sukkahfest in recent years and being pleasantly surprised by the diverse mixture of Jews-queer Jews, straight Jews, young and old Jews, Haredi Jews, left, center and right wing Jews, all coming together under an enormous Sukkah for lunch, thinking to myself how nice it would be if we could only replicate this experience repeatedly--sharing time and learning from each other together.

My tenure as Chair started in July, 2019, and we had hired new staff for national programming, for development, and a new Executive Vice President to assist our CEO. We were well positioned to accomplish our goals.

We had just completed a strategic plan earlier that year, and were intent on bolstering our national programming which included augmenting an initiative we call the Seal of Sustainability, sort of an environmental Good Housekeeping Seal to encourage Jewish institutions to initiate steps to become more sustainable, like using solar panels, See Update from Hazon page A7

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Jewish brothers make NHL history

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The Kaplan Book Group starring Marjorie Morningstar

SHIRLY BANNER Library Specialist On Aug. 19 the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will be resuming their monthly meetings in person, as well as via Zoom, in the new Benjamin & Anna E. Wiesman Reception Room. They will be discussing Marjorie Morningstar by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Herman Wouk. Wouk’s most notable works include The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance, all of which were adapted as mini-series or movies, Wouk wrote well into his golden years with a final novel written at 98, a memoir written at 100; he was working on a new book when he died ten days short of his 104th birthday.

While Marjorie Morningstar was published in 1955, the novel begins during the late 1930s, just as Hitler is coming into power in Europe. Marjorie Morningstar is a classic coming-of-age story of Marjorie Morgenstern, a young Jewish American daughter of immigrant parents seeking to find herself and dreaming of a career in the theater in her hometown of New York City. While attending Hunter College, Marjorie stars in several amateur productions where she garners great reviews even though

the productions themselves are lacking in merit. During one such production, Marjorie befriends fellow thespian Marsha Zelenko and the two girls spend the summer working as counselors at Tamarack, a children’s camp. Across the lake is South Winds, an adult resort which is supposed to be off-limits to Camp Tamarack’s staff. Marjorie’s mother refers to South Winds as

“Sodom” and the resort pretty well lives up to that image for a sheltered and naive Marjorie.

At South Winds, Marjorie is introduced to one-hit-wonder Noel Airman who is the musical director at South Winds. Despite Marjorie’s mother, Rose’s, various attempts and arranged set ups for “acceptable” potential husbands, Marjorie is obsessed with Noel.

Their relationship spans almost the entire novel with a few key relationships intermingled as well. As Marjorie and Noel go through a variety of highs and lows in their lives, their relationship seems to be more often than not at polar opposites.

Within Wouk’s novel, Marjorie forms friendships with several other important men in the development of her life.

Towards the end of the novel Marjorie meets Mike Eden on board the Queen Mary as Marjorie once again is in pursuit of the illusive Noel Airman in Europe. While Mike Eden is an older gentlemen who is a pharmaceutical representative, it is his association with anti-Nazi organizations that helps Marjorie to realize there is an entire world of people with unselfish goals and a See Kaplan Book Group page A7

The brothers Hughes: Jack, left, Luke and Quinn. Credit:: @_quinnhughes on Instagram; background via Getty Images

EVELYN FRICK Talk about goals: Luke Hughes has become the third brother in his hockey-playing Jewish family to be drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft.

The New Jersey Devils picked the 17-year-old defenseman fourth overall in Friday’s selections, making the Hughes brothers of Orlando, Florida, the first American family to have three siblings drafted in the National Hockey League’s first round.

Jack, a center, was chosen first overall by the Devils in 2019 — earning the distinction as the first Jewish player ever taken No. 1. A year earlier, oldest brother Quinn had gone to the Vancouver Canucks with the seventh pick.

Certainly the brothers were revved up over the news — you can watch their reaction to Luke being drafted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K2GwOhcfPg Their athletic prowess isn’t so surprising considering their genes: Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, played ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse at the University of New Hampshire. Later she was a member of the U.S. women’s hockey team at the 1992 Women’s World Championships, where she was named a tournament all-star and helped Team USA take home the silver medal. Their father, Jim, is a former ice hockey player for Providence College and has worked for the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. See Jewish brothers page A7

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Update from Hazon Kaplan Book Group Continued from page A5 using compostable plates and utensils and ensure that served food is not wasted or over purchased. We were building upon our active presence in Detroit, where Hazon sponsored a major Jewish food conference, and built an energetic staff there working with our Seal of Sustainability program with local synagogues. We also began adding new Board members from across the country to reflect our national ambitions and commitment.

Then Covid hit. Running a retreat center like Isabella Freedman in rural CT required significant support staff to operate the facility and provide programming, hospitality and maintenance services. We rightfully anticipated that state protocols would mandate that we close the Freedman campus and took preemptive action. Sadly, we had to cancel all programming for the 2020 year and had to lay off more than 35 staff members, a terribly stressful action, but we had to do this in order to survive as an organization. Fortunately, our remaining staff was intrepid and began renting our facility to other leading Jewish organizations in the Northeast, allowing us to earn much needed revenue to make up for losses from the shutdown.

Nigel Savage, the Manchester-born creative and charismatic founder of Hazon, made it known to the Board and me that he wanted to step down after 21 years of service as CEO this September, the beginning of the Shmita year, so that he could spend time in Israel and contemplate his next chapter. Thus began our search for a new CEO. Jakir Manela, current CEO of Pearlstone Center in Baltimore and a current Board member of Hazon, threw his hat in the ring and also proffered the concept of a merger with Pearlstone. Jakir had spent considerable time as a young adult at Isabella Freedman and had gone through our Adamah Jewish farm training. Since Jakir spent his post-college life dedicated to Jewish farming and environmentalism, was smart, articulate, well-liked and respected as a leader and a very successful CEO at Pearlstone, we believed it was in the best interests of Hazon to explore the concept.

We formed an exploratory committee to meet with a similar committee from Pearlstone Center to see if a merger made sense. We looked at our respective missions and goals, finances, and staff, and it was clear this merger made a lot of sense, a synergy between two strong organizations.

Pearlstone Center has a magnificent 180 acre campus including forests, fields, meadows and rolling hills. The Pearlstone leadership has done an excellent job building and running a Jewish retreat center similar to Isabella Freedman, with comfortable accommodations for up to 300 people. Their staff is very knowledgeable about hospitality and programming, complementing our existing staff with their strong skill sets.

Before finalizing with our Boards, we quietly talked to our major donors and foundations about this possibility. What appeared to us as a great way to hire a new charismatic CEO while combining two strong like-minded organizations into one definitely resonated with our funders.

As of August 1, Jakir will be Hazon’s CEO (as well as Pearlstone’s CEO) while both organizations work on legally merging, combining finances and databases, organizing staff and building esprit de corps among the staff. The merged entity will be known nationally as Hazon and in the Baltimore area, the Pearlstone name will remain to be prominent.

The new Hazon will have a $12 million budget and will employ over 100 employees. Our new home office will be at Pearlstone, but we will continue to operate Isabella Freedman and our Detroit offices.

As we witness the horrific drought conditions in the West, the immense impact of catastrophic flooding in Europe, and other climate aberrations that we are seeing on a more frequent basis due to climate change, we are reminded of the fragility of our small planet and our responsibility as Jews to participate in Tikkun Olam-- to literally heal the world. Even though the American Jewish community is proportionately small, we CAN make a difference and we are compelled by our faith to make every effort to do so. And if not now, when?

Former Omahan Richard Slutzky lives in Great Barrington, MA and is a member of the Board of Hazon and the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.

Jewish brothers Continued from page A6 Mom is Jewish, dad is not.

“We did Passover when we were younger,” Jack Hughes told “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio in 2019. Jack also had a bar mitzvah.

Along with brother Quinn, Luke Hughes has another Jewish defenseman to emulate: Adam Fox of the New York Rangers, who this season was named the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy signifying the NHL’s top defenseman. Other Jewish players in the league include Zach Hyman and Jason Zucker.

Continued from page A6 purpose in life. Another such noble man in her life is Wally Wronken whose friendship, like Noel’s, spans a majority of the novel. Wally is a slightly younger but successful version of “Noel Airman”; he tries to be a more realistic influence on Marjorie’s life and ultimately has the last word on just who Marjorie Morgenstern Schwartz is and has become.

The original movie adaptation of Marjorie Morningstar starred Natalie Wood and Gene Kelly in 1958. In 1998, Al Pacino optioned a remake of the movie to star himself and Scarlett Johansson, but the movie was never made. It’s safe to say that Marjorie Morningstar’s literary influence certainly far exceeded Wouk’s expectation of his critical 556 paged book.

Please feel free to join us on Aug. 19 in person or via Zoom.

The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion group meets on the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. New members are always welcome. To view books discussed by the group over the past several years, go to www.jewishomaha.org, click on the “Community & Education” pulldown tab and navigate to “Kripke Jewish Federation Library,” then to “Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group.”

The group receives administrative support from the Community Engagement & Education arm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. For information about the group and to join in the discussion, contact Shirly Banner at 402.334.6462 or sbanner@jewishomaha.org.

See full digital issues at https://issuu.com/jewishpress7

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A8 | The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

Above and below: The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Resident Marguerite Sideris has quite the collection of beads in her room. She finds this beloved hobby fun, creating beautiful jewelry to give as gifts, and it keeps her busy throughout the day, plus it makes her happy.

Top, above, below and bottom: There is nothing like live entertainment, and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home has it back after over a year without seeing their favorite entertainers. Residents and staff are tapping their toes and swaying their arms to the sound of beautiful, lively music. Even Hazzan Krausman was back to lead the singing program in the Synagogue in person.

SP O TLIGHT

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

Below: Lifelong volunteer Nancy Rips is back reading Current Events to Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Residents! We have so missed this charismatic entertainer!

Above: If you’re on Facebook, you know it’s tomato-guessing season. How many tomatoes did Friedel Jewish Academy’s student helper pick in the school garden? The answer was 55- Emily Coffin and Margie Gutnik came closest and earned some produce.

The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021 | A9

Voices The Jewish Press (Founded in 1920) Margie Gutnik President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Mary Bachteler Accounting Jewish Press Board Margie Gutnik, President; Abigail Kutler, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen; David Finkelstein; Bracha Goldsweig ; Mary Sue Grossman; Les Kay; Natasha Kraft; Chuck Lucoff; Joseph Pinson; Andy Shefsky and Amy Tipp.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press.

Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication.

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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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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.

Sportsmanship ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor “For the first time ever,” Emily Burack wrote on July 23, “the Olympic Games held a moment of silence during the opening ceremony for the 11 Israeli athletes murdered during the Munich Olympics in 1972.”

It has taken almost 50 years to get here. It’s not for lack of trying. Many people, including some of the murdered athletes’ widows, have advocated for this a long time.

“In 2012, ahead of the London Olympics, the IOC rejected an international campaign for a moment of silence: ‘The opening ceremony is an atmosphere that isn’t fit to remember such tragic events,’ Jacques Rogge, then the leader of the IOC, said at the time.”

That was such a short-sighted remark, I don’t even know what to say. In my book, ‘not fit to remember’ means ‘we don’t care.’

Although these current Olympics are almost over, I hope that moment of silence will set a trend.

I hope it reminds us that there is no expiration date on remembering and honoring victims of hate, just as there is no expiration date on hate itself.

Of course, there is always more tsuris during the Olympics. Sometimes athletes refuse to compete with Israelis, as in the case of Algerian Judoka Fethi Nourine, who would have had to face an Israeli opponent had he not walked away. His coach was

adamant they made the right choice: “We were not lucky with the draw. We got an Israeli opponent and that’s why we had to retire,” he told Algerian media.

“Nourine is not the first athlete to intentionally evade an Israeli judoka,” Gabe Friedman wrote for JTA. “Iran’s judo federation has long forced its ath-

Israel's Tohar Butbul, who Fethi Nourine was supposed to compete against. Credit: Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images

letes to throw matches to avoid competing against Israelis. The International Judo Federation banned the Iranian team from international competition for a few days this spring over the policy but reinstated them on March 2. At the 2016 Games in Rio, an Egyptian judoka refused to shake hands with Israeli

Ori Sasson after losing to him. Sasson would go on to win a bronze medal in the over 100 kg group.”

What’s most troublesome about this is how Nourine’s coach does not feel defensive about the decision to withdraw. To him, it’s obvious from his comments, this makes sense. Of course you must withdraw if pitted against an Israeli. But here you have an athlete who, we can presume, has trained for years and years to make his Olympic dreams come true. And yet, the mere notion of competing with an Israeli (any Israeli) is so distasteful that both he and his coach are willing to walk away. I get it, and at the same time I don’t. And shouldn’t there be a hefty consequence when an athlete acts like that?

Are the people in his home country proud of him or are they divided? What exactly would go wrong for them if they just decided to compete? Fine; don’t shake hands, it’s a pandemic anyway, but why not at least stay in the Games? What are they so afraid of?

So here is my question: what went through that Algerian athlete’s head during the opening ceremony? When not only was there that moment of silence for the victims from the Munich terror attack, but additional messages of love, hope and peace? Togetherness? These Olympics were supposed to emphasize how the world is one. “United by emotion,” the motto reads.

But which emotion is that? Love? Empathy?

Friendship? Or something uglier?

The Holocaust is exaggerated in pop culture.

LUKE BERRYMAN Chalkbeat via JTA This piece was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education.

“Hey, I did have one question …” That was the tentative opening to an email I recently received from a high school teacher. The Ninth Candle, the Holocaust education organization I founded, had led some educational programs for her students, and the teacher and I had been trading emails for a few weeks.

Even teachers at schools with established Holocaust programs can be reluctant to get too close to the big questions about it. I sense a widespread but unspoken fear of being called insensitive or offensive or worse, antisemitic. She only asked me her “one question” after a relationship had begun to form and she had my repeated reassurance that nothing was off the table.

And the question? She wanted to know if the Nazis had used human fat, rendered from Jewish prisoners, to make bars of soap. The class materials she’d been given said they had. She doubted the claim but was too afraid to challenge it.

The answer is no, they didn’t. Despite the teacher’s apprehension, it was perfectly reasonable to ask.

This teacher shared more of her class materials with me as our exchange went on. Along with the “soap myth,” which academics are still untangling, there was a mess of small but significant factual errors: chronology, place names, victim numbers. We soon realized that Holocaust education at her school, like at many schools across the country, needed to be overhauled. A recent study revealed that our knowledge of the Holocaust is declining.

Most millennials and Gen Z members surveyed don’t know that 6 million Jews were murdered during the genocide, and half of those surveyed can’t name a single concentration camp or ghetto.

Meanwhile, antisemitic incidents are surging.

One of the first things we can do to improve the situation is to uproot myths from our curriculums.

This involves discussing all those difficult questions. We also need to keep class materials updated because our knowledge of the Holocaust is still evolving. (The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is a good source for teachers who want to make sure their lessons are up to date.)

Take the soap myth. Rumors that the Nazis made soap from Jewish prisoners emerged before World War II was over, and evidence to support them was presented at the Nuremberg Trials. In the 1980s,

historians discovered that the issue was more com- novel The Assignment is about two students chalplex than first realized, and their investigations lenging their school over a classroom activity that continued into the 21st century. requires some of them to argue in favor of the “Final We now know that the Danzig Anatomical Insti- Solution.” Wiemer illuminates historical facts about tute’s preparation of corpses made a soapy byprod- the Holocaust with contemporary ideas about what uct used to clean the institute during the final it means to be an ally to marginalized groups. The months of the war. The corpses weren’t Jewish, and story is a timely response to real-life ”assignments.” no bars of soap were ever made. But Allied and SoAs a Holocaust educator, the most common viet propaganda, and pop culture works like Zofia question children ask me is: “How come the Jews Nalkowska’s 1946 book Medallions, inflated the institute’s disrespect for the dead into something even worse.

There are many other examples of our knowledge of the Holocaust improving over time. But such changes don’t always make it into curriculums and schools.

This is partly due to Holocaust education’s dependence on pop culture, with its liberal use of works that deliberately blur fact and fiction.

Schools commonly choose to include books and movies like Schindler’s List, Historical pictures view at the Holocaust Memorial Center in BuThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas and dapest, 2019. Credit: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images The Tattooist of Auschwitz. But these works aren’t use- didn’t fight back?” This is a product of their expoful teaching tools. They treat the Holocaust as a game sure to the myth that Jews went to their deaths of cat-and-mouse, Jews as an interchangeable mass “like lambs,” and it shows the inadequacy of conwho went to their deaths unthinkingly and survival temporary Holocaust education. It also helps exas a matter of attitude. In addition, there are so many plain why many young people are prone to taking advocacy groups putting free, one-size-fits-all Holo- the Holocaust lightly. Such ignorance can breed incaust lesson plans on the internet now that some difference, and as the historian Ian Kershaw said, schools and teachers barely know where to begin. it was indifference that paved the road to For students, pop culture’s repetitive, two-dimen- Auschwitz. Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf that the sional treatment of the Holocaust makes it difficult Nazis would never recruit members from “the unto think about it critically, or to feel empathy for its thinking herd” of the public. He knew that widevictims, or to connect it with the present especially spread indifference would help his pursuit of if that’s where one’s Holocaust education begins and antisemitism more than widespread fanaticism. ends. (More than 30 U.S. states still have no mandate We learned many lessons from the war, but the that the Holocaust be taught at all.) Folding more threat of indifference enabling hatred to run riot is as cases of resistance into Holocaust curriculums is one pressing today as it was in Germany in the 1930s and way to address this. I’ve seen students’ relationships 1940s. The Holocaust is the most radical demonstrawith the subject change when light is cast on the up- tion of what can happen when the suffering of others risings in Auschwitz, Sobibor and Treblinka, or on re- goes unchecked. This is why improving the way we sisters like Alexander Pechersky and Zivia Lubetkin. teach it must be a priority for schools everywhere.

Another way is to study the Holocaust alongside Luke Berryman is the founder of The Ninth CanNazi Germany’s “forgotten victims,” as the historian dle, a Chicago-based nonprofit trying to end anRichard J. Evans calls them: the Roma and Sinti peo- tisemitism by sharing knowledge. He did a Ph.D. ples, gay people, people with mental and physical on Nazi propaganda at King’s College London. disabilities, and Slavs, among others. Students often The views and opinions expressed in this article are connect with books that reach imaginatively beyond those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the the settings of camps and ghettos. Liza Wiemer’s views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

Synagogues

A10 | The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

CHABAD HOUSE

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN

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

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154 rbjh.com

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL

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

B’NAI ISRAEL Join us in-person on Friday, Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m. for evening services. Our service leader is Larry Blass.

Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

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

Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

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

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

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 9:10 p.m. on Zoom only.

SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY: Passport to Shabbat Spanakopita Cooking Class, 4:30 p.m. on Zoom only.

FRIDAY-Aug 13: Passport to Shabbat Culture Connection; Greece, 4:30 p.m. on Zoom only; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-Aug 14: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Kiddush Lunch Celebrating the birthday of Steve Riekes and the anniversary of Margo and Steve Riekes, noon; Havdalah, 9 p.m. on Zoom only.

Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

Classes, Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah on Zoom, WhatsApp or Facebook Live. On site services held outside in pergola, weather permitting. Physical distancing and masks required.

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbos, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:18 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Daf Yomi, 7:40 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:20 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 7:40 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:20 p.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit, 6:45 am.; Daf Yomi, 7:40 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:20 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 7:40 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:20 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.;

Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 7:40 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:20 p.m.

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Character Development, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Kids Parsha Class, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Daf Yomi, 7:40 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:20 p.m.

FRIDAY-Aug 13: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbos, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:08 p.m.

SATURDAY-Aug 14: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Daf Yomi, 7:30 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:10 p.m.

Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE All services are in-person. All classes are being offered online at Ochabad.com/classroom. For more information or to request help, please visit www. ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 6 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/Lecha yim; Light Candles, 8:16 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:19 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Parsha and Coffee, 9:45 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani Katzman; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Virtual Pirkei Avot Women’s Class, 7 p.m.

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

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Advanced Hebrew Class, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study [Sanhedrin 17b], noon with Rabbi Katzman.

FRIDAY-Aug 13: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 6 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad. com/Lechayim; Light Candles, 8:07 p.m.

SATURDAY-Aug 14: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:08 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch.

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

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/ music: Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Candlelighting, 8:18 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with lay leaders at TI; Havdalah, 9:20 p.m.

SUNDAY: Men's Jewish Bike Group of Lincoln meets Sundays at 10 a.m. rain or shine to ride to one of The Mill locations from Hanson Ct. (except we drive if its too wet, cold, cloudy, windy, hot or humid) followed by coffee and spirited discussions. No fee to join, no dues, no president, no board or minutes taken. If Interested please email Al Weiss at albertw801@ gmail.com to find out where to meet each week; Come learn and play Pickleball, 7-9 p.m. at Peterson Park. Everyone is welcome; just wear comfortable clothes and tennis or gym shoes. If you need a paddle to contact Miriam Wallick by email at Miriam57@aol. com or by text at 402.470.2393 before Sunday.

TUESDAY: Tea & Coffee with Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.

THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-Aug 13: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex, Leslie Delserone and Peter Mullin, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Candlelighting, 8:09 p.m.

SATURDAY-Aug 14: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study on Parashat Shoftim, noon via Zoom; Havdalah, 9:10 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander.

DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. via Zoom.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Service: Installation of Executive Director Nate Shapiro, 6 p.m. Join via Zoom or InPerson.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Join us via Zoom or In-Person; Shabbat Service, 7 a.m. Join us via Zoom or In-Person.

SUNDAY: Second Sunday Breakfast Service— Stephen Center, 8:30 a.m. In-Person; Rosh Chodesh: Tri-Faith Garden & Orchard: More than Just Feeding the Hungry with Taylor Keen and hosted by Ilene Arnold, Kris Faier and Bonni Leiserowitz, 10:30 a.m.

In-Person; Kol Rina Rehearsal, 3 p.m. In-Person; Rosh Hashanah Bibliodrama Rehearsal, 5 p.m. In-Person MONDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, 11 a.m. Join via Zoom.

TUESDAY: Kol Rina Rehearsal, 6 p.m. In-Person FRIDAY-Aug 13: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. Join via Zoom or In-Person.

SATURDAY-Aug 14: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Join us via Zoom or In-Person.

Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

Nigeria frees three Jewish filmmakers who had been held for weeks in ‘horrendous conditions’ BEN SALES JTA Three Jewish filmmakers who were detained by Nigerian security forces nearly three weeks ago have been released and returned to Israel.

Rudy Rochman, Andrew Leibman and Edouard David Benaym were in Nigeria as part of their work on a documentary about far-flung African Jewish communities. They were in an area that is home to the Igbo people and is the focal point of a separatist movement. A Jewish activist is leading the movement, which has entangled the local Jewish population.

The filmmakers have said their work is apolitical and has no connection to the rebellion.

They had brought the Jewish community a Torah scroll. They said that activists shared images of the gift and misrepresented them as showing support for the separatist movement.

On July 9, Nigerian security forces arrested the

trio, who were held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, until detained separately.

Wednesday. They arrived in Israel the following day.

“Although the team cannot continue their filmThe local U.S., French and Israeli embassies had advocated on their behalf.

In a statement posted Wednesday to Instagram, the filmmakers said they “were caged and held for 20 days in horrendous conditions, locked into a small cell, sleeping on the floor with no access to showers or clean clothes.” Following five days of captivity, they were able to receive three meals a day from the local Edouard David Benaym, left, Rudy Rochman and Andrew Leibman pose with the Torah scroll before their trip to Nigeria. Credit: We Were Never Lost Chabad.

They said in the statement that a local Igbo Jew- ing of Igbo Jewish life in Nigeria, their mission is not ish woman had been arrested along with them and over and the story will be told,” the statement said.

Life cycles BIRTH HILA ARIELLE GOLDBERG Adam and Jennifer Goldberg of Guivat Shmuel, Israel, announce the July 5, 2021, birth of their daughter, Hila Arielle.

Grandparents are Cindy and Bruce Goldberg of Omaha, and Wendy and Yigal Hadad of Ottawa, Canada.

Great-grandparents are Joanie Lehr and the late Marty Lehr, of Omaha, Carol and Manny Goldberg of Boca Raton, FL, Leah and Morris Melamed of Ottawa, Canada, and Ruth and Abba Hadad, Moshav Zimrat, Israel.

Israel first country to begin giving third COVID vaccine shots BEN SALES JTA Israel is the first country to start giving a third dose of the COVID vaccine shot to its population in an effort to stem the spread of the Delta variant.

Those older than 60 are the first to get the booster from health care providers.

President Isaac Herzog was among the first in that group. Benjamin Netanyahu, the former prime minister and current leader of the parliamentary opposition, got his shot on camera and encouraged others to vaccinate.

(Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is younger than 60.)

“I am proud we are the first country to vaccinate with a third dose,” Herzog said, according to The Times of Israel.

“The step we are [taking] here is an important one for social solidarity in the State of Israel.”

The third dose aims is to provide an extra layer of protection to the elderly, who are at higher risk for serious illness and death. Pfizer, which has manufactured the vast majority of Israel’s vaccine doses, also recommended a third dose.

Earlier this year, Israel led the world in getting shots into arms and in March became the first country to vaccinate more than half its population. Case numbers plummeted, but they have spiked again in recent weeks from the Delta variant.

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Throwing a scoreless inning on Jewish Heritage Day MARVIN GLASSMAN JTA As the lone Jewish player on the Miami Marlins, relief pitcher Richard Bleier was featured on the team’s website for its Jewish Heritage Day on Sunday.

He didn’t disappoint the 12,765 fans at loanDepot Park in Miami, many of whom were on hand for the promotional event. They cheered Bleier as he entered the game in the seventh inning with the home team ahead by seven runs over the San Diego Padres.

The 34-year-old lefthander, who once pitched for Team Israel, threw a scoreless inning, setting down the Padres in order and punctuating his outing with a strikeout of the last batter.

Miami went on to win the game, 9-3.

“Today was special, and it was an honor to play on Jewish Heritage Day and [have] the Marlins acknowledging the large Jewish community in Miami and South Florida,” said Bleier, a Miami Beach native who was raised in nearby Plantation and As part of the festivities, fans received a commemorative Tshirt and heard the singing of the Israeli national anthem along with the U.S. anthem.

The Jewish Heritage Day promotion was also featured on Jew ishMiami.org, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation website.

This year’s event was a stark contrast to the Jewish salute held in 2006 by the then-named Florida Marlins, when the promotional material featured Mike Jacobs, a first baseman.

Problem was, Jacobs wasn’t Jewish.

Bleier, however, is a bona fide Jew, having represented Team Israel in the 2013 World Baseball Classic’s qualifying round.

He pitched one scoreless inning in the three games and said he was proud to represent the Jewish state, calling it “an experience that I will never forget.”

“I hope to play again for Israel in the future,” he said. The team is currently competing at the Tokyo Olympics.

Bleier made his MLB debut in 2016, at age 29, for the New York Yankees. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2017 before coming to the Marlins in 2020.

This season, Bleier has appeared in 43 games and owns a 21 record with an earned run average of 3.00. He has struck out 29 in 39 innings.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: “Our Library Reimagined,” stated the recent Omaha Jewish Press headline.

The Aug. 6 article explains, “Libraries have been re-imagining themselves in order to remain relevant in today’s world. While fewer books will be on display, one constant will remain: this space is designed for the acquisition of knowledge and the exchange of ideas.”

Acquisition of knowledge and an exchange of ideas? Great. I appreciate dynamic speakers and vigorous panels. I encourage book related events and demonstrations. And I love children’s story times at the library.

The article resumes, “Shelving throughout the space will feature a highly curated selection of our current holdings. We will feature new and interesting books and materials, often related to an upcoming program or Jewish holiday. We will create space for a permanent Friedel section, while the remainder of our full collection will be housed both on and offsite while not on view.”

Library Reimagined? It sounds more to me like Library Removed. The article continues, “Few books on shelves, but more room for events such as educator training sponsored by the AntiDefamation League or a cocktail reception before one of our theater performances”.

I’m for training workshops sponsored by the ADL or other

groups, and anyone who knows me, knows I’ll happily attend a reception before or after an event in the theater.

I’m also for books.

Think of the Jewish Community Center as a business, because it is. It’s an enterprise that serves its customers. With that in mind, what do you say to the customer who comes in from the RBJH asking to see a beloved remembered title? Do you reply, “We’re sorry, it’s at our off-site location? We can get it for you in two weeks.” Or if a young Mom stops by to check Passover cookbooks, and it’s Hanukkah time, do you explain, “We’re very sorry, but you’re on the wrong holiday. Those are at our offsite location.

We can get them for you, but right now it’s Hanukkah time and we just have Hanukkah books on display.”

Books and libraries are more valuable than ever in the 21st century. So is the internet with its monumental database of information. No one’s giving up their computers or hand held devices.

Should a library be reimagined and updated? Yes, of course.

Should a library be changed to have more events and only house a rotating selection of books? I think there might be a better compromise.

Nancy Rips Omaha Public Library Advisory Council Board Member Omaha Public Library Board of Trustees Past President Kripke Jewish Federation Library Past President

The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021 | A11

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A12 | The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

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

Who is JewBelong for?

ELIYAHU KAMISHER J. The Jewish News of Northern California via JTA Dozens of hot-pink billboards and transit ads have appeared in major American cities over the last month, referencing the Holocaust and antisemitism.

The ads are the brainchild of JewBelong, a New Jersey-based nonprofit whose stated mission is to “rebrand Judaism” with a hip, made-for-social-media bent. But now JewBelong is going through a rebrand of its own. Founded in 2017 primarily as a vehicle for increasing Jewish pride among what it deems “disengaged Jews,” the organization has recently shifted its operations to focus specifically on combating antisemitism.

The $450,000 campaign first made waves with a massive billboard in New York’s Times Square. Now it’s focusing on San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Miami, and the group has plans to expand into other markets.

Founders Stacy Stuart and Archie Gottesman are longtime marketers who made their names with irreverent and often left-leaning advertisements for Manhattan Mini Storage, a company owned by Gottesman’s family. They started out focusing on low-barrier Judaism, like a Zoom Passover seder and online explainers on marriage and baby names. But Gottesman told the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent that the pair felt it was inappropriate to continue JewBelong’s business as usual — providing rituals, Shabbat songs and recipes — during a time “when people are hating you.”

Stuart said the group is looking to mimic the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice and the Stop Asian Hate campaign. The latest Israel-Hamas armed conflict, she said, uncovered deep-seated antisemitism that is not getting enough attention.

As evidence that the issue of antisemitism needs wider representation, Stuart cited a lackluster showing at a July 11 rally outside the U.S. Capitol; around 2,000 people showed up to

protest against rising antisemitism.

Stuart said she is “heartbroken” that Jews are not seeing more support for combating antisemitism.

“Black Lives Matter, we all had the posters on our lawns — like we are there,” she said. “That’s kind of what we do, right, as a people. And we just feel there’s been very little of that for the Jewish community.

Where is everyone?”

JewBelong identifies as nonpartisan, but the group has inserted itself into political spaces before. During the 2020 presidential primaries, a group of JewBelong activists in Los Angeles stood outside A JewBelong bus ad in downtown a Democratic debate site San Francisco. The ads are part of holding placards with a a nationwide campaign to raise fake quote mockingly at- awareness of antisemitism. Credit: tributed to “the alt-right”: Gabriel Greschler/J. Jewish News of “Two Jews running for Northern California President? It’s like Charlottesville never happened.”

And when it comes to Israel, JewBelong’s views are unequivocal. The organization has aligned itself with staunchly proIsrael Twitter personalities, including writers Noa Tishby, Eve Barlow and Hen Mazzig, on the front lines of Internet skirmishes over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and antisemitism.

Echoing a common pro-Israel talking point about the right of Israel to defend itself, one of JewBelong’s signs reads, “You didn’t like it when we didn’t defend ourselves. And you don’t like

it when we do. Doesn’t leave much wiggle room.”

Co-founder Gottesman is a prominent pro-Israel figure who sits on the board of Democratic Majority for Israel, a lobbying group that pushes Democratic lawmakers to support pro-Israel policies. In a 2018 Twitter post, she wrote, “Gaza is full of monsters. Time to burn the whole place.” She has since apologized for the statement.

JewBelong also awards “Partisan Prizes,” monetary rewards to people who post regularly about antisemitism on social media, inspired by Jewish partisans who resisted the Nazis during World War II. Partisan Prize recipients tend to be vocally pro-Israel, and many advertise Zionism in their bios.

Some Partisan Prize recipients have asked not to be publicly recognized by JewBelong because they said the extra attention has also brought them death threats.

A recent Instagram post from one Partisan Prize winner, who has since deleted their account, shared an image that repurposed a quote from the movie Mean Girls: “Stop trying to make Palestine happen.”

The organization told the Exponent it has 150,000 followers online, but its combined presence on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube amounts to fewer than 43,000 followers.

There has been criticism, but pro-Israel groups have given high marks to the group’s current antisemitism awareness campaign. Roz Rothstein, co-founder of StandWithUs, which has sponsored national pro-Israel advertising campaigns, praised the JewBelong initiative as a “one of many steps that can help fight the virus of hate.” This is the goal that JewBelong’s founders hope will resonate with supporters.

This story was originally published in J. The Jewish News of Northern California, with additional material from the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. Reprinted with permission. Edited for length; see full article at www.omahajew ishpress.com.

Join us Sunday, August 22nd Chuck Arnold, also known as “Uncle Chuck” was a man who believed in the power of community. In doing so, he inspired generations of Jewish Omahans.

Among his many roles, “Uncle” Chuck served as the JCC’s first Summer Camp Director and was JCC Athletic Director for 28 years! Whatever the task, he did it with love, warmth, and dedication. We are proudly raising money to build an additional basketball gymnasium in Uncle Chuck’s honor.

5:00 - 7:00 PM - UNCLE CHUCK NIGHT WITH

FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT

Night SUNDAY

AUGUST 22 333 South 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154 | www.jccomaha.org

The community is invited to enjoy a FREE outdoor concert from 5:00-7:00 pm by Midwest Dilemma. There will be fun swag, games and food for purchase from Dante’s, Cheese Life, and Kona Ice. We will also be launching our efforts to build a second JCC basketball gymnasium in Uncle Chuck’s honor. Those who donate at this event will receive a free Uncle Chuck t-shirt The construction of a new PICKLEBALL complex is also included in this plan. Both spaces will provide an opportunity to further foster a sense of community something that Uncle Chuck would have promoted.

4:15 PM - SPECIAL PRE-CONCERT

SUMMER CAMP REUNION!

Calling all CAMPERS!

Campers who have attended J Camp or any other Jewish Summer Camp are invited to join us for a pre-concert Summer Camp Reunion! Wear your camp gear and help us celebrate the power of Jewish Summer Camps! Dinner will be provided to those who RSVP. Families are welcome. We will meet at 4:15 pm in the JCC Pavilion. Please RSVP

by August 17th. Scan the QR Code to register or find the form online at jewishomaha.org.

FOOD

A supplement to The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

B2 | The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

Jackie’s “Special” Chip Cheesecake

Food

From Shirley’s Kitchen: Souffle Froid Au Chocolat From Jackie Brandstein Originating from Jackie Kennedy Onassis (She taught Brandstein, served it in the White House) Usually served at dinner parties “I told Jackie I needed something special to impress a young man, but since I didn’t cook, I wanted something uncomplicated.”

Serves 6-8.

SOUFFLE FROID AU CHOCOLAT Ingredients: 1 envelope unflavored kosher gelatin, softened in 3 tbsp. cold water 2 squares unsweetened chocolate 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar 1 cup milk 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. salt 2 cups heavy cream Shaved chocolate (for garnish) Directions: Melt chocolate over hot water. When melted, stir in confectioner’s sugar, mix well.

Heat milk just enough so that a film shows on the surface, then stir into melted chocolate slowly and thoroughly. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches boiling point, but don’t boil. Remove the mixture from the heat and mix in the softened gelatin, granulated sugar, vanilla extract and salt.

Put in refrigerator and chill until slightly thick.

Beat mixture until it is light and airy.

In a separate bowl, beat heavy cream until it holds a shape, then combine the mixtures. Pour into 2 qt. soufflé dish or serving bowl. Chill 2-3 hrs. until ready Credit: Bryan… (Taipei); licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionShare Alike 2.0 Generic license. to serve. Garnish with shaved chocolate.

From and originally by Jackie Brandstein “My children were convinced I could start a business selling the cheesecakes, but I didn’t want to spend my life in the kitchen!”

JACKIE’S “SPECIAL” CHIP CHEESECAKE Ingredients for crust: 8 1/2 ounce package of chocolate wafers 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 6 oz. ground walnuts 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup melted butter Directions for crust: Crush chocolate wafers. Combine wafer crumbs, nutmeg, walnuts, sugar and melted butter. Press into 9 or 10 in. springform pan. Refrigerate while making filling.

Ingredients for Filling: 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 3 – 8 oz. packages of cream cheese (room temperature) 1 cup sour cream 1 tsp. vanilla 1/8 tsp. salt 12 oz. mini chocolate chips Directions for Filling: Beat eggs and sugar together at high speed on an electric mixer. Add cream cheese, beat until smooth. Beat in sour cream, vanilla and salt. Add mini chocolate chips and stir into batter.

Final directions: Pour filling into crust. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 1 hr.

Let rest in turned-off oven 1 hr. Cool on rack, then place in refrigerator.

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Six Jewish delis run by women that you need to know about les sits alongside etrog liquor and Japanese whisky. It’s a place, RACHEL RINGLER the founders say, “where everyone could find something.”

This article originally appeared on The Nosher.

Not long ago, there were ominous reports about the fate of Mamaleh’s Jewish delis. Lovers of pastrami and chopped liver wrung their When Rachel Miller Munzer and her partners opened their hands.

Boston Jewish deli in 2016, they named it Mamaleh’s, a Yiddish While it’s undeniable that there are far fewer Jewish delis word of endearment. Munzer’s husband, Alon, was moved by today than there were a generation ago — David Sax, author David Sax’s book “Save The Deli,” about the decline of the Jewof “Save the Deli,” calls them “a dying breed” — a revival is un- ish deli. The husband-wife team felt “an obligation to save a derway, in many cases led by women. dying art.”

That wasn’t always the case in a male-dominated industry.

But in the past five years, several delis owned and run by women have joined the Jewish food landscape, putting their own stamp on the Jewish deli. We’ve rounded up the best of them.

Daughter’s Deli Those who love deli and have been to Los Angeles know Langer’s Deli. In 2018, Trisha Langer, granddaughter of Langer’s founders, opened Daughter’s Deli in West Hollywood.

The menu is classic deli fare — hot pastrami, potato latkes, lox with a schmear — but with a modern aesthetic. The blintzes and knishes are delicately sized, and while matzah ball soup is on the menu, chopped liver and mushroom barley soup are not.

In homage to her roots, Langer named sandwiches for family members, like The Papa sandwich, stuffed with hot pastrami and swiss cheese, for her grandfather, Langer’s founder.

Her baby is the dessert business: chocolate chip cookies, New Kugel Credit: Daughter’s Deli York-style cheesecake and her own version of black and white cookies, made without lemon zest.

Call Your Mother Daniela Moreira is the chef at Call Your Mother, a “Jew-ish” deli in Washington, D.C., founded in 2019, which she runs with her partner, Andrew Dana.

Their menu is influenced by nostalgia, as well as the flavors Moreira and Dana love. As a nod to her South American background, for instance, Moreira put a Latin Pastrami sandwich on the menu: pastrami, spicy herb mayo, veggie slaw and jalapenos on rye. For dessert, babka and black and white cookies stuffed with dulce de leche sit alongside peanut Russ and Daughter’s Credit: Russ and Daughter’s butter-pretzel doughnuts.

Moreira is involved in more than just the food. She and her partner offer their staff English lessons, gym memberships and classes with trainers who teach them how to care for their bodies.

Edith’s https://www.instagram.com/ p/CM4cI5KDIvk/ When you’re next in New York, take the subway to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and stop in at newly opened Edith’s.

Owner Elyssa Heller gathers elements of world Jewish cuisine and applies them in fresh and unexpected ways.

Her most popular item is a bagel filled with bacon, egg and cheese — with a Solomon’s Credit: Nicolette Lovell latke for extra crunch. Her bagels, by the way, are twisted, a reference to the original twisted Polish Their food, Munzer says, is “from the heart, made with bread from Krakow, the bagel’s ancestor. thought, of the highest quality.” You can get a pastramiThe cooks at Edith’s use a “no waste” concept. Instead of chopped liver sandwich or a rich bowl of chicken soup filled making matzah balls with matzah meal, for instance, they with chunks of chicken, carrots, celery and one or two large make dumplings with day-old bread mixed with schmaltz. matzah balls. And if you are dreaming of a hot tongue sand“We take historical elements and incorporate them into our wich, look no further. Their restaurant even has a gift shop food,” Heller says. where you can pick up lactaid pills.

They use every part of the fish, too, which they smoke in“It’s the Jewish disease,” Munzer said. “We need it available!” house. Expect to find their softly scrambled eggs topped with Russ & Daughters salmon skin “gribenes.”

These Jewish delis are all relatively new and one could say they stand on the shoulders of another Jewish eatery — an apSolomon’s Sacramento, Calif., has a vibrant food scene, but it was miss- petizing shop, not a deli — based in New York. Russ & Daughing a Jewish deli. Jami Goldstene and Andrea Lepore remedied ters was the first American business to have “& Daughters” in that situation when they opened Solomon’s in July 2019, its name. In fact, says Niki Russ Federman, a fourth-generation named for Russ Solomon, founder of Tower Records and local owner, when Joel Russ named his business in 1935, “people Jewish boy who loved deli. While inspired by New York Jewish assumed the owners were a Mr. Russ and a Mr. Daughters.” delis, this establishment also features street food that you can Women have been working and running the business from find in the countries where Tower Records has stores. its earliest days.

The Patti, their most popular sandwich named for “Today, almost all of our managers are women,” Federman Solomon’s wife, combines scrambled eggs and white cheddar said. “And at times we have more women working behind the with aioli in a warm Japanese milk bun or bagel of choice. It counter than men.” sits alongside The Bangkok — fried chicken, red Thai curry How does Federman see the future of Jewish food? sauce, kewpie aioli, turmeric pickles, cabbage and cilantro on “It’s bright!” she said. a warm Japanese milk bun.

She exhorts new businesses to “respect tradition and find The cocktails here are designed with the same approach; a their own voice to put their own spin on what they are doing.” bloody Mary flavored with turmeric and finished with dill pick-

The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021 | B3

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The Jewish Press

B4 | The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

Meet the man who wants you to eat more vegan food

THE ARTS

that’s the type of cuisine,” said Admony, whose SHIRA HANAU restaurant features Middle Eastern cuisine.

JTA Jeffrey Yoskowitz isn’t exactly known as an Yoskowitz sees his new project as part of a advocate of vegan food. broader trend toward what he calls “plantThe food writer and entrepreneur is proba- forward” eating. The target demographic for bly best known as the founder of Gefilteria, the project isn’t just vegans, it’s those who are which sells artisanal gefilte fish, or as the blog- interested in reducing their consumption of ger behind Pork Memoirs, a blog exploring animal products but want to do so with cretaboos, Jewish and otherwise, surrounding the ative meals. The project begins just a few other white (and decidedly not vegan) meat. months after Eleven Madison Park, a MicheBut even with that omnivorous past Yoskowitz, 36, recently started Papaya, an online food delivery platform offering fully plantbased meals from top chefs at vegan and non-vegan restaurants.

Collaborating with New York City restaurants, the website will feature weekly meal “drops”: a vegan meal prepared by different chefs will be delivered to your door.

The first drop features a meal

by Einat Admony, the famed Is- The first Papaya meal drop will include three dishes made by raeli chef behind the Manhattan famed Israeli chef Einat Admony. Credit: Papaya restaurant Balaboosta, to be delivered on July lin starred restaurant in Manhattan, an29. The meal, which is meant to feed one “gen- nounced it would forgo meat and seafood. erously” or two for a light meal, costs $45.

“We call them plant-curious eaters and While vegan food may sound like a far cry people who are just trying to eat more plants, from the classics of Ashkenazi cuisine, like who are trying to maybe reduce the carbon kugel ( full of eggs), cholent (meat) and footprints, who are just being thoughtful blintzes (milk, butter and cheese), Yoskowitz about some of their choices,” he said, countsaid vegetarianism has also had a historic role ing himself among them. as part of Ashkenazi food culture.

Yoskowitz views Papaya as a way to challenge For Yoskowitz, who lives in Brooklyn’s Crown traditional restaurants to add more creative Heights and frequently writes about tradi- vegan options while spotlighting restaurants tional Ashkenazi foods, there’s almost always that are already vegan. He sees parallels between a historical connection to his food choices. veganism and the kosher rules: Both are punc“Yes, I am Mr. Ashkenazi food,” Yoskowitz tilious in describing what is and isn’t allowed. said. “But what you don’t know about me is “What we’re trying to do is showcase that that my grandmother was a vegetarian.” within these constraints there are really creHis grandmother’s family was strictly vege- ative ways of cooking and pushing cuisines tarian and spent summers at the Vegetarian forward,” he said. “Some of the really inventive Hotel (yes, that was its name) in the Catskills. Jewish dishes came about because of all of Established by a Jewish family sometime be- those constraints.” fore the 1920s, the hotel in upstate Sullivan For Rosh Hashanah, Yoskowitz plans to County offered strictly vegetarian meals to a prepare a Papaya meal with his Gefilteria mostly Ashkenazi Jewish clientele. partner Liz Alpern and Libby Willis, the chef And at one time, Yoskowitz points out, at KIT in Crown Heights. While the menu is meat was a luxury for the average Jew. being kept under wraps, Yoskowitz said it “In the Ashkenazi tradition, it’s a special oc- would include challah (made without eggs), casion food, and for holidays,” Yoskowitz said. as well as dishes that incorporate mushrooms “It was a very different story than we see in and fermented vegetables. the Jewish deli today.”

While he wouldn’t comment on the possiFor the first meal with Admony, Papaya bility of making a vegan gefilte fish, Yoskowitz customers will get a hummus plate, Asian said substitutes for animal products were not sesame eggplant and a cabbage cake filled the point of Papaya. with freekeh, an ancient grain.

“There’s one approach that’s ‘just make it a “Naturally, Balaboosta is doing a lot of Beyond Burger or beyond something,’” he dishes that may not be intended to be vegan said. “And I’m trying to actually push beyond or vegetarian, but they’re like that because that and try to elevate the space.”

The Blue Card

Publishing date | 10.08.21

Space reservation | 09.28.21

Contact our advertising executive to promote your business in this very special edition.

SUSAN BERNARD | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org

The mission of The Blue Card is to provide direct financial assistance, with utmost respect and ever mindful of their dignity, to needy Holocaust survivors in the United States.

Of the approximately 75,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States, onethird live below the poverty level. Today these survivors range from more than 75 to 106 years old, most of the current survivor population having been children under 13 when Germany invaded.

As the number of living survivors rapidly declines, their need for financial assistance increases substantially, particularly amid COVID-19.

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2. Dental Program: provides much-needed funding toward dental care.

3. Stipend Program: supports the most poverty-stricken survivors with monthly checks.

4. Jewish Holiday Program: provides support for the High Holidays, Hanukkah and for Passover, giving survivors the financial means to have a happier holiday season.

5. The Emergency Response Program: provides the system to survivors who do not have the financial resources to pay for installation, service, and maintenance.

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The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021 | B5

Banana Cake From: Gail Goldstein Raznick Originating from: friend Holly Fries “Here’s a good banana cake recipe! It may not be as good as Aunt Jane’s (which we all fondly remember) but the frosting is a great added touch.”

Cooking time: 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees

Food

From Shirley’s Kitchen: Carrot Layer Cake From Kathy Goldstein Helm Serves 10-12.

BANANA CAKE Ingredients: 2/3 cup margarine 1 2/3 cup sugar 3 eggs 1 1/4 cup mashed banana 2 1/4 cup flour 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 2/3 cup buttermilk 2/3 cup chopped nuts Directions: Cream margarine and sugar. Blend in eggs. Add banana and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Stir in nuts.

Pour into greased and floured 9X13 inch baking pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool before frosting.

Frost with caramel frosting: 1/2 cup margarine 1/4 cup milk 1 cup brown sugar, packed 3 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar Combine margarine, milk and brown sugar in saucepan.

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cool for 10 minutes. Gradually stir in confectioner’s sugar and beat until well blended.

CARROT LAYER CAKE Ingredients for cake: 2 cups flour 1 3/4 cup sugar 2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. salt 1 1/2 cup salad oil 3 cups grated carrots 4 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 1 cup walnuts (optional) Directions for cake: Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together in large bowl.

Add in following order: salad oil, grated carrots, eggs, vanilla and walnuts. Blend well after each addition.

Pour batter into greased 13x9x2 in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until top springs back. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 min. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Split in half and frost as layer cake Ingredients for frosting: 8 oz. cream cheese 3/4 package powdered sugar 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 tsp. vanilla Directions for frosting: Combine ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Spread on cool cake.

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B6 | The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

Food

Happiness is still good food From the Beth Israel Sisterhood cookbook.

CHOW MEIN CASHEW NUT CASSEROLE FROM MRS. IZ ELEWITZ Ingredients: 3 oz. chow mein noodles 2 tsp. soy sauce 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1 tbsp. melted butter A few drops liquid pepper seasoning 1 10 1/2 oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 7 oz. can tuna fish, drained 1/3 cup lightly salted cashew nuts 1 cup finely-chopped celery Credit: Hoitingtungs, licensed under the Creative Commons At1/4 cup chopped onion tribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

1 cup water in a little butter until golden. Add to the soup Directions: Toss the chow mein noodles with soy sauce, mixture along with the water. Turn into a shalgarlic powder, melted butter and liquid pepper low 4-cup casserole dish (a pie plate is also seasoning and set aside. Combine the soup, fine). Top with chow mein noodle mixture. Bake tuna, nuts and celery. Saute the chopped onion in 350° oven for 30-40 minutes. Serves 4.

TUNA CHOW MEIN FROM DORIS PARKER Ingredients: 1 6-7 oz. can of tuna 1 4 oz. jar sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup sliced almonds 1/2 cup sliced celery 1 can ream of mushroom soup 1 16 oz. can of bean sprouts

1 onion, diced 3 oz. chow mein noodles Directions: Combine all ingredients except 1/2 cup noodles. Turn into a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Top with leftover 1.2 cup noodles. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes.

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From Shirley’s Kitchen Nana’s Ginger Cookies

From Ann Goldstein Originating from Bertha Walrath, Ann’s grandmother.

Always in the cookie jar when Ann was little.

“These cookies are known by my friends and family for more than three generations! They were often around for holidays or whenever anyone was ‘home,’ or given to friends for special occasions. The greatest challenge is whether someone likes them crispy or soft – which seemed to be dependent on the time they cooked in the oven!”

Makes 5 dozen.

Credit: Veganbaking.net Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

NANA’S GINGER COOKIES Ingredients: 3/4 cup shortening (Crisco) 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup molasses 1 egg 2 1/4 cup sifted flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. cloves

Directions: Cream together the shortening, brown sugar, molasses and egg.

Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, then add to creamed ingredients.

Form into small balls by hand. Roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 in. apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 10-12 min. Keep on cookie sheet for a few minutes before moving to cooling trays.

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The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021 | B7

Signaling a religious revolution kashrut of these different organizations that claim to give certiLINDA GRADSTEIN fication,” he said. “Nobody knows who they are or what they are.

JERUSALEM | JTA The Eucalyptus, a restaurant just outside the Old City here, You wouldn’t think of this in any other situation, but when it draws in diners by offering “authentic biblical cuisine” — made comes to religion everyone seems to think they can control it.” from ingredients and dishes found in the Bible.

Despite decades of protest from secular Israelis and reThe chef, Moshe Basson, has an unusual way of sourcing his peated government attempts to sap its power, the Chief Rabfood, foraging for some of the biblical-era herbs in forests and binate retains broad control over Israeli religious life. In fields around Jerusalem. So when he decided to certify the addition to dominating kosher certification, the body has a restaurant as kosher in 1997, he made special arrangements monopoly on officially recognized marriage, divorce and burwith Israel’s Chief Rabbinate that would allow him to keep ial for Israeli Jews. finding the herbs for himself rather than buying them from a Tzohar, which claims more than 1,000 rabbis and educators certified merchant. as members, has been a pioneer in offering an alternative to “I use all of the ‘Sheva Minim,’ the seven species mentioned Orthodox Israelis turned off by the Chief Rabbinate’s strict in the Bible, as well as all kinds policies or tortuous bureauof wild herbs,” Basson told the cracy. It was founded in 1995 Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “I after a Jewish extremist assashad a written agreement with sinated Prime Minister Yitzhak the Rabbinate that I could conRabin, and aims to overcome tinue to do that, as long as I the schisms in Jewish society checked them for bugs the way while offering a more accessithey instructed me to.” ble approach to Judaism.

But other chefs complained Whereas the Chief Rabthey were not allowed to use binate’s supervisors come to products that Basson was alrestaurants only to check that lowed to use. Eventually, three all the rules are being followed, years ago, the Chief Rabbinate Customers sitting at Cafe Kadosh in Jerusalem, May 2020. The Tzohar supervisors work in the suspended his kashrut certifi- restaurant is one of hundreds in Israel that has opted for kosher kitchen. They check the vegcate, and Basson began to look certification outside the auspices of Israel's Chief Rabbinate. etables or the rice for bugs that Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 for other options. would make the food nonHe landed on Tzohar, a group of relatively liberal Orthodox kosher, and often pitch in cutting vegetables or even cooking. rabbis who offer an alternative kosher certification service.

The kosher certification plan may be just the first of several When Basson asked older Orthodox diners if they would ac- religious reforms pursued by the current government, the first cept Tzohar’s certification, he said, “half said yes and half said in six years not to include a haredi Orthodox party. The coalino.” The response from younger patrons was more enthusiastic. tion’s largest party, Yesh Atid, has long advocated for the libThe Eucalyptus is one of more than 200 Israeli restaurants eralization of religious regulations, which polls indicate most that has eschewed the Chief Rabbinate’s kosher certification in Israelis would support. favor of Tzohar’s. It’s the latest sign that Jewish Israelis, who had According to surveys conducted by Hiddush, an organizabeen divided into the two broad camps of “religious” and “sec- tion that advocates for religious pluralism, solid majorities of ular,” are now seeking a greater range of ways to practice their Jewish Israelis want Israel to offer civil marriage and accept a religion — many of them outside the Chief Rabbinate’s control. wider range of Jewish conversions. In a 2020 survey, Hiddush Now that increased diversity in kosher certification is get- found that only 11% of Jewish Israelis trust the Chief Rabting government backing, religious Affairs Minister Matan Ka- binate as an institution. hana announced a plan to reform Israel’s kosher certification Restaurant owners who are chafing at the Chief Rabbinate’s system, effectively turning the Chief Rabbinate into a regula- demands appear to be taking action. Take the case of Cafe Katory agency for private kosher certifiers like Tzohar — a role dosh, a Jerusalem bakery and restaurant founded in 1967. it hasn’t played before.

Earlier this year, the Chief Rabbinate told the cafe that it The Chief Rabbinate will continue to provide its own kosher would have to put stickers on its products saying they were supervision to restaurants that want it. But private agencies dairy and make its croissants into triangles. The latter manlike Tzohar would also get government recognition, and in date was part of the Chief Rabbinate’s attempt to institute a those cases the Chief Rabbinate’s role would be shifted to en- nationwide standard in which dairy pastries would be shaped suring that the agencies are complying with a set of universal as triangles to make them more identifiable. and transparent standards.

“The Rabbinate really started to bug us,” owner Itzik Kadosh Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, must approve the plan. told JTA. “Everyone knows all of our croissants are dairy. There “The kosher revolution will introduce competition to kosher is no way I was going to change the shape or put a sticker on it.” certification for the first time ever,” Kahana said in a stateAfter Kadosh protested publicly, the Chief Rabbinate took away ment. “It’s a move that will improve kosher certification, the restaurant’s certification and launched a smear campaign on streamline services, reduce prices and make the process easier Facebook saying it was open on Shabbat, which wasn’t true. for restauranteurs, hoteliers and the entire food industry.”

That’s when Kadosh decided to contact Tzohar. He said The Chief Rabbinate has pushed back against attempts to Tzohar’s female supervisor checked more than 300 of his prodreform the certification system. According to current Israeli ucts to ensure they were kosher. Tzohar kashrut costs 200 law, Tzohar’s certificates cannot use the word “kosher” or its shekels more per month than the Chief Rabbinate, Kadosh derivatives, which are exclusive to the Chief Rabbinate. In- said, but the supervisor works three hours a day checking the stead, a typical certificate will say “All raw materials were flour and cleaning the vegetables. In addition, because the suchecked and approved by the Tzohar rabbinic organization.” pervisor is an employee of Tzohar, not the restaurant, he doesRabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz, a member of the Chief Rab- n’t have to pay her benefits. binate council of Israel, told JTA that the Chief Rabbinate’s Kadosh said his business has not suffered and that even certification remains the best way for a restaurant, and its pa- haredi, or ultra-Orthodox Jews, continue to patronize his trons, to make sure they are eating kosher food. restaurant.

Weisz said there are dozens of private certifiers, including “The Rabbinate behaved like the Mafia,” he said. “Maybe Tzohar, that profess to offer kashrut supervision but cannot people used to be afraid of them, but I refused to be blackbe trusted. mailed. I said to them, “OK, take my certification. Tomorrow “I wonder how many people have examined the so-called I’ll just go to Tzohar.”

Bellevue Village Theatre The Brownville Village Theatre is open for its 54th season now until Aug. 15. BVT is proud to be reopening safely this summer, bringing you five different quality shows to see at an extremely affordable price. One of Nebraska’s oldest repertory theatres, the Brownville Village Theatre is a true repertory theatre; each time the theatre doors open for a performance, it’s for a different show. The theatre is located in the charming arts and culture village of Brownville, Nebraska.

This summer our season includes A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and adapted by Jame Sie, a science fantasy based on the multi-award winning young adult novel; Artifice

by Anne Flanagan, a hilarious farce about a deceased artist (or is he?); Schoolhouse Rock Live! Book by Scott Ferguson, George Keating and Kyle Hall, Music and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, Kathy Mandry, George Newell and Tom Yohe, a musical adaptation of the popular

1970’s cartoon that taught science, math, grammar, and history; Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley, a dramatic comedy about three sisters from Mississippi who reunite after the youngest sister shoots her husband; and Fools by Neil Simon, a comedy fable about a town cursed with stupidity and the schoolteacher who tries to break that curse.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $9 for students 18 years old and under. BVT also offers a $12 ticket rate for groups of ten or more.

BVT has taken safety precautions to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. This includes face masks being required to be worn while indoors. For more guidelines and more information about our season, check out www.brownvillevillagetheatre.com or call 402.825.4121. BVT looks forward to bringing another great season of theatre to southeast Nebraska!

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B8 | The Jewish Press | August 6, 2021

Food

Schmaltz is the secret ingredient you need for your salad

STEPHANIE GANZ This article originally appeared on The Nosher.

If you, like me, are a regular chicken roaster, you’re halfway to one of the best salad dressings out there: schmaltz vinaigrette, a tangy, savory top coat for a simple salad of mixed greens and whatever you’ve picked up at the farmers market.

Using a warm fat, like bacon or duck fat, in a vinaigrette is a time-honored practice that works extremely well thanks to the ability of fat to emulsify with the other ingredients, creating a silky, rich dressing. Warm bacon dressing over a spinach salad is a classic for a reason, but I would argue that a good schmaltz vinaigrette is even better.

While my chicken is resting post-roast, I tip the pan, letting the schmaltz and pan juices run into a spouted measuring cup, which I keep by the stove until I’m ready to use it. To make this dressing without roasting a chicken first, take 1/4 cup schmaltz (I keep a stash in the fridge) and bring it up to temperature in a sauté pan before drizzling it into the other ingredients.

This dressing is versatile. I usually use apple cider vinegar, but another vinegar or even lemon juice would work beautifully. To add brightness, I throw in chopped herbs from the garden, usually chives and basil, but parsley, tarragon, or oregano are all welcome to join the party. A warm schmaltz vinaigrette can stand up to hearty greens like escarole or even kale, but there’s no need to shy away from the heat when you’re working with lettuces like romaine or arugula. All benefit from a light toss in the good stuff.

Credit: Stephanie Ganz

SCHMALTZ VINAIGRETTE Ingredients: 1/2 shallot, minced 1 Tbsp. chives, minced 1 Tbsp. basil, chiffonade 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1/4 cup schmaltz, warm salt and pepper to taste Directions: In a small metal mixing bowl, combine the

first five ingredients. While whisking, pour in the schmaltz in a thin, steady stream. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Use promptly.