August 23, 2019

thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

this week

Visiting the “Stans” page 6

Veggie shwarma pita sandwich page 16

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Beth El’s Miriam Initiative “Opening Night” party

inside Spotlight Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles

JFO Community Event AU G U ST 2 3 , 2 0 1 9 | 2 2 AV 5 7 7 9 | V O L. 9 9 | NO . 4 3 | C a ND lElI g h tI Ng | FRID AY , AU G U ST 2 3 , 7 : 5 3 P. M.

aNNEttE vaN DE kaMp-wrIght Editor, Jewish Press n Sept. 16, 2019, the Jewish Community of Omaha will come together for the Annual Jewish Federation of Omaha Campaign Event.

Themed, ‘A Night with the Stars,’ it promises to be something very special and you are all invited.

This year’s main attraction is actor Joshua Malina, best known for his recurring roles of Will Bailey on The West Wing and David Rosen on Scandal. The title of his speech is “How to make it in Hollywood and remain a mensch.”

Josh graduated with a B.A. in Theater Studies from Yale University and made his professional debut in the Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin’s A Few Good Men. His film credits include A View From the Top, The American President, In the Line of Fire and Bullworth. Plenty of star

Shirley Goldstein’s Legacy page 4

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SpONSOrED BY thE BENJaMIN aND aNNa E. wIESMaN FaMIlY ENDOwMENt FuND

power, but that’s not all.

Josh has been active in Jewish affairs for quite some time. He appeared in the Jewish Federation’s 2008 “Live Generously” campaign, then went on to star in a video aimed at Jewish high school students, to prepare them for the possibility they’ll face an anti-Israel climate on college campuses. During an appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy, he won $50,000 for Bet Tzedek, a probono law firm in Los Angeles.

Josh has spoken to countless Jewish Federations and Hillels across the country. Currently, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their two children.

He’s come a long way from Westchester Day School.

“One of the beautiful things about my day school education,” he said, “was the fact that the curriculum focused on ethics and the obligation of Jews to participate in Tikkun Olam, but a Joshua Malina Credit: Kevin Abosch See JFO Community Event page 2

Liv offers an inviting atmosphere, and the OzzIE NOgg Beth El Synagogue’s Miriam Initiative location is so convenient with tons of will host the 3rd annual “Opening Night” restaurants within walking distance where party on thursday, Sept. 5, from 7:30 until 9 p.m. at Liv Lounge in Aksarben Village. The free event will include a glass of wine, some nosh and some great conversation. Bus transportation is also available at no cost.

Chairpersons are Melissa Shapiro and Sherry Shapiro.

“It is so nice to co-host a night out with my daughter,” Sherry said. “Opening Night will be such a special evening, and every generation is welcome.” Melissa looks Mother-daughter duo Sherry Shapiro, left, and Melissa Shapiro chair Beth El’s 3rd annual forward to enjoying time with other women in a relaxed environ- Miriam Initiative Opening Night party. ment. “I’m really excited about the venue. you can enjoy dinner before the event. My mom and I have both attended the Miriam Opening Night Party in the past and enjoyed it, so it made sense when Joanie Jacobson asked us to chair the program this year.”

According to Jacobson, “We’ve planned a wonderful season for 2019-20 with lots of variety, and “Opening Night — Season 3” will get us off to a great start. It’s a party. A chance to go out with friends, see people you haven’t seen for awhile, maybe even make a new acquaintance or two. The See Miriam Initiative page 2

Beauty and Inspiration

DEBBIE DENENBErg Yitzchok Moully returns to Omaha Sept. 11 and 12 with new inventory, ideas and activities just in time for the New Year. Along with gorgeous paintings for sale, he shares the message that each of us must find our unique talent, use it to celebrate G-d and make the world a better place. “My role in life is to take my gift as an artist and my

understanding of the joys of Torah and mitzvot and convey them in my unique, colorful style,” he says.

Shani Katzman, Chabad’s Executive Director, is happy to bring Moully back for a second time. “We believe his inspiring artwork and upbeat messages will appeal to Jewish people of all ages. We like to use every avenue of expression to See Yitzchok Moully page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019

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AnnETTE vAn dE kAMp-wrIGHT Editor, Jewish Press ridges Trust, an Omaha-based Investment firm, has agreed to be the 2020 Platinum Sponsor for Jewish Business Leaders, JBL President Alex Epstein announced.

“Alex gets all the credit,” Mike App, Executive Vice-President at Bridges Trust, said. “He approached us about the sponsorship opportunity and when he talked to us about his vision, honoring Jewish businesses while teaching the younger generation, it felt like a perfect match. That multi-generational approach is exactly what we at Bridges Trust believe in, as our current CEO, Ted Bridges is the grandson of the founder of the company.” “We are honored to have

JFO Community Event

Continued from page 1 byproduct of that was an emphasis on what’s wrong with the world. As a result, I may have carried a bit more stress than a ten-year-old should. Today, I would remind ten-year-old Josh he’s only ten. Jews are a strong community and Tikkun Olam is a group challenge.”

The quintessence of Judaism, he adds, “is stated succinctly in the first line of the Sh’ma: Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One. That said, whatever one’s personal conception of G-d might be, the idea of living a just life, treating others as we would have them treat us, is elemental to Judaism. I love the emphasis on action, on behavior, that Judaism stresses. There is a shameful flourishing of hate in our country. Xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism. As American Jews, we must be alert to this dangerous and cynical wave of malice and mobilize against it.”

That action, taught at Josh’s Day School and in many others, is evident in the additional ‘stars’ this year’s Campaign Event will be featuring, as we will highlight the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s different agencies.

“We have a lot to be proud of in our community,” Campaign Chair Bruce Friedlander said, “and there are many different components of our Federation we plan to celebrate that evening. We have a vibrant Jewish Community Center,

Miriam Initiative

Continued from page 1 Party venue keeps changing but the fun stays the same.”

Bus pickups from Beth El to Liv Lounge are available, one at 5:30 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. Participants can choose to take the 5:30 p.m. bus and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in Aksarben Village before the Opening Night party, or board the 7 p.m. bus and join the group for a purely social evening at Liv Lounge. The bus will return to Beth El at 9:15 p.m. “Make a night of it,” Jacobson said.

“Come early to the Village, have dinner with friends, then walk over to Liv Lounge. Now, that’s fun.”

Capacities for both the bus and the Liv Lounge are limited, so reser-

Pictured left are Mike App and Jennie Hudnall from Bridges Trust during a visit to our campus.

Bridges Trust as a platinum sponsor for Jewish Business Leaders,” Alex Epstein said. “Bridges Trust cares about our community and realizes the Jewish Federation of Omaha plays a big role in doing good for the greater Omaha community.”

Jewish Business Leaders of Omaha brings together the Jewish business community to showcase the entrepreneurs, founders, and change-makers in our community while creating opportunity to connect, teach and leverage each relationship. The third Annual Hall of Fame induction meeting, at which JBL will honor Stanley Silverman, of blessed memory and Ted Seldin of the Seldin Company, will be held on Oct. 23, 2019. The first Jewish Business Leaders breakfast for 2020 will be held on Jan. 17 and will feature Dr. Joel and Nancy Schlessinger.

the fabulous Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, the Jewish Family Service, the Anti-Defamation League/Community Relations Committee and the weekly Jewish Press. All with tireless staff that is dedicated to keeping our mission, to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world, front and center.”

Watch your mail for an invitation, and join us at Temple Israel, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. Event Co-chairs of the Community Event are Danny Cohn and Andrew Miller and Shane and Jess Cohn (more about them in next week’s Jewish Press!).

The event is underwritten by Zoë and Carl Riekes and Margo and Steve Riekes, Kugler Vision and Republic National Distributing.

Josh Malina doesn’t know that much about Omaha yet, but he knows the most important parts: “I’ve done enough research to know Omaha has a thriving Jewish community and that the Federation is at its center. I am impressed by the generosity and focus of the Jewish community here. Additionally, when I think of Omaha, I think of steaks. Are there kosher Omaha steaks to be had?”

Join us for a kosher dinner and a great night.

For more information, watch your mailbox or contact Senior Director of Community Impact and Special Projects Louri Sullivan at lsullivan@jewishomaha.org.

vations are needed by Thursday, Aug. 29. Save your spot by calling the synagogue, 402.492.8550, and speaking with Robby Erlich, Beth El Engagement Coordinator, or email him at rerlich@bethel-omaha.org.

The Miriam Initiative is an ongoing series of projects and programs created and implemented by Beth El women. In its first two seasons, the Initiative successfully presented, among other programs, A Nite to Knit, Latkes and Libations, the Hamenstashen Bake-in, Simchat Shabbat Alternative Service, Operation Grateful Goodies, and the Tzedakah Box Art Project, plus pop-up events outside the synagogue walls. The Initiative welcomes all women who want to participate at any level from leadership to fellowship.

The Eclectic Art Show at Ginger’s Hang-up

ec·lec·tic /e’klektik/ Adjective. Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a feature Pottery by Tom Quest, Bronze Sculptures by Pete Wrobbroad and diverse range of sources. lewksi, and Pyrography by Linda Hatfield.

The Eclectic Art show is a new art exhibit featuring distinguished This diverse show is on display at the gallery throughout the regional artists at Ginger’s Hang-Up 8455 Frederick Street in Omaha. month of September. Ginger’s Hang-Up is open six days a week.

The Opening Reception is Saturday, Aug. 24 from 5-8- pm.

Hours at the free gallery are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, 10 a.m.

“Eclectic” features works by Painters Katrina Methot-Swanson, to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday. On Saturday, the hours are Courtney Kenny, Judith Anthony Johnston, Valerie Light Anderson, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Debra Joy Groesser, Conrad Hinz, and Cindy Mathiasen. We will also PAID ADVERTISEMENT

residents give back

rBJh residents ricki eirenberg and ron Budwig present karen Gustafson of JFs with a tzedakah donation. emily Clement Activities Coordinator, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home recently presented Jewish Family Services with a donation collected over many months of Bingo games. Each time residents play Bingo, they are given the option of putting their winnings in the tzedakah box, a beautiful ceramic bank donated by resident Ricki Eirenberg. When the tzedakah box was filled and the contents counted, the Residents had raised a toal of $42.05. Ricki and fellow resident Ron Budwig delivered the donation to Karen Gustafson of Jewish Family Services. The funds will go toward helping the Tzedakah Food Pantry. The Residents of the Blumkin Home look forward to filling the tzedakah box again.

Organizations

B’nai B’rith BreadBreakers

B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers meets weekly on Wednesdays at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home auditorium from noon to 1 p.m. For specific speaker information, please email Gary.Javitch@Gmail. com, Breadbreakers chairman. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewish omaha.org.

Jewish Press readers, If you do business with any of our advertisers, please tell them you saw their ad in the Jewish Press. It really helps us!

The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019 | 3

community Continued from page 1 incorporate what is joyful and compelling about Judaism.”

The story of how Yitzchok became an artist is as inspiring as he is.

“When I was 26, I discovered the silk screen,” said Yitzchok, who is self-taught. “My existential crisis came halfway down the rabbit hole. Not only was I the father of a growing family, I was a Chabad youth rabbi by day and an artist by night. I was working hard to compartmentalize my life—to keep happy on my own trajectory.”

Yitzchok knew that being a rabbi was a calling. “To show my love of Judaism is the most important thing to do”. He felt art was a hobby. It was becoming clear that he couldn’t do both.

“I consulted my mentor. He said the question is not ‘how can you choose?’ My mentor reframed it, “How can you take the gift G-d gave you and impact the world in a meaningful way?” Reb Moully is now a full-time artist. His art celebrates Jewish life and community and it has given him an international following and teaching platform.

“My inspiration really comes from Chassidus, Kabbalah, and Judaism itself. A turning point was a lecture I heard from Rabbi Yossi Paltiel. He spoke about the timeline of the Rebbe’s ten-part mitzvah campaign. We call it Mivtzoim.

These were all “do it yourself ”

Yitzchok Moully

yitzchok moully in Omaha Workshops are open to all

Wednesday, sept. 11 Chabad House 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Women’s Art Café and Lunch Meet Yitzchok Moully and get inspired for the New Year

Beth El Synagogue 4:15-6:15 p.m.

Overflowing Workshop for grades 3-7 Exploring the power of gratitude in a visual and hands-on form 6:30-8 p.m.

Community +1 Mural for grades 8-12 A collaborative project—create an interactive mural celebrating our unique community

thursday, sept. 12 JCC Gallery 7 p.m.

Canvas and Cocktails Enjoy the inspiration, purchase artwork and cocktail with the community. Meet Yitzchok Moully, hear his stories and share his vibe.

mitzvot in terms of accessibility. The Rebbe stressed t’fillin for every Jewish man, affiliated or not, observant or not. He stressed that every Jewish girl three years or older could light candles for Shabbat to add her light to the world.”

Rabbi Paltiel links the history of when the Rebbe rolled out the mitzvah campaign to the history of Eretz Yisrael. We all know about the Six Day War. Where did all that power come from? It blew my mind. We have power; we have impact.

This idea influences my art.

Omahans will get to see the work I call Visualizing Spirituality. A mitzvah is here, in this space, but we don’t see it with our naked eye. My art tries to convey its energy.

When asked where his art has taken him, Reb Yitzchok replies, “I’ve been to Omaha, Nebraska! That’s pretty ‘out there’.” He has also been to the biannual in Jerusalem twice, and his art has taken him pretty much coast to coast.

Reb Yitzchok hopes to engage with the entire Omaha Jewish community. In addition to special workshops with the children of Friedel Jewish Academy and the Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, the following events are open to all. Chabad of Nebraska gives special thanks to Michael Staenberg and the Jewish Federation of Omaha for the Anything Grant that made this special program possible.

4 | The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019

community

Shirley Goldstein’s Legacy

From Shirley’s kitchen: Jane’s Carrot Ring From: Barbara Finkle Originating from: Jane Finkle (Lagman)

Jane’s caRRoT RinG

Ingredients: 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 cup shortening 1 cup grated carrots 1 tablespoon cold water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder Directions: Cream shortening and sugar. Mix water and egg. Add carrots and dry ingredients and lemon juice. Pour in greased mold and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serves 6-8 Editor’s note: There was some debate in the Press office between our Creative Director Richard Busse and myself whether ‘shortening’ was absolutely a must or whether I could replace it with butter. After running it by Shirley’s daughter, Gail Raznick, I went with butter. Also, I added some cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice because I couldn’t help myself.

To submiT announcemenTs

Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewish omaha.org, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai mitzvahs, engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org.

Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m.

Please check the Jewish Press, for notices of early deadlines.

JeanneTTe GabRiel Director, Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies, Department of Religious Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha The Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Center for Human Rights held an opening of the exhibit, Shirley Goldstein’s Immigrant Rights Legacy: Operation Exodus in Omaha at the Criss Library at the University of Nebraska-Omaha on August 9. There will be a series of events held throughout the exhibit, which will be on display through Nov. 10. The event was attended by 150 people that represented a mix of the extended Goldstein family, the local Jewish community and faculty and staff from UNO. Several second generation Soviet Jews who resettled in Omaha as children, including Zarina Kosinovsky and Olga Tomchin, traveled from out of state to be at the opening.

The audience viewed the exhibit that highlighted Shirley Goldstein’s activities as a national and international immigrant rights leader helping Soviet Jews leave the country. It also featured meetings and protests by Omaha’s Jewish community in support of Soviet Jews and their efforts to assist resettlement of about 200 families from the mid 1970s through the 1990s. Finally, the exhibit highlighted the experiences of Soviet Jews who settled in Omaha --documenting their family’s experiences in the Soviet Union and their own after arriving in the United States. The exhibit’s opening piece was a framed art picture featuring postcards sent from Soviet Jews to Shirley Goldstein. The exhibit also showcases artifacts, collages of political activism and resettlement, photographs and fliers from meetings and protests, and video projection of interviews from Shirley Goldstein and other activists connected to Operation Exodus - including Sissy Silber, Ruth Potash, Ally Milder, John Glenn, Don and Gail Goldstein, the Kosinovsky family, and Anna Yuz-Mosenkis.

Brief statements were made by Dean Richards of Criss Library, Dean Boocker of the College of Arts & Sciences, Curtis Hutt, Director of the Goldstein Center for Human Rights, Don Goldstein on behalf of the Goldstein family, and Jeannette Gabriel, curator of the Exhibit. In connection with the exhibit, the Goldstein family has donated the Shirley Goldstein papers to UNO Archives.

The next events connected to the exhibit will be Julia Alekseyeva’s presentations on her graphic novel, Soviet Daughter, that will be held Sept. 18 and 19 at Beth El Synagogue and at the UNO Criss Library.

Top photo: Jeannette Gabriel, left, Hal and mary Daub, and Gordon and ann moshman; second photo: Gail Raznick, left, Don Goldstein and Kathy Goldstein; third photo: items at the exhibit and bottom: sissy silber, left, George Walker, Dora Goldstrom, Don Goldstein, chani and Feigy Katzman.

PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPERS ARE

STUDENTS WITH BETTER GRADES It all starts with Newspapers

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The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019 | 5

Join Jfs: Out of the Darkness Omaha Walk Karen Gustafson Executive Director, Jewish Family Services unday, Sept. 8, an Out of the Darkness Community Walk is scheduled at Lewis and Clark Landing, North Riverfront Drive in Omaha. Check –in and registration time begins at 11 a.m. and the program itself starts at 1:30 p.m., with the walkers taking off at 2 p.m. End time is 4 p.m.

Participants can register online at https://afsp.donordrive.com/ until noon, Friday Sept. 6. When you register, you can identify a team.

Type in the word ‘Jewish’ and JFS will automatically pop up. We are asking “our team” to wear white clothing and meet up around 1 p.m.

You can find us under the JFS sign.

Registration is free and open to the public. Walk donations are accepted until Dec. 31.

When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. Thanks to Walkers and Donors like you, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.

Before the walk, you can visit the free Resource Center.

Local Mental Health Wellness organizations and businesses will be on hand with information available for you to take home. In addition, participants are invited to bring photos of loved ones to share on the Memory Wall (please bring copies, do not bring originals). We are not responsible for photos left at the Memory Wall. Photos can be picked up after the event.

There is no cost to add photos/memories to the memory wall.

Losing someone to suicide or struggling with a mental illness can feel like no one understands what you are going

through. Unlike other illnesses, it is difficult to look at someone and know their connection.

There is an honor bead for everyone, whether you have lost a loved one, struggle personally, support a friend and/or family member, or all of the above. Honor beads will be available for participants at no cost.

The event also includes raffle drawings, meals, drinks and baked goods for sale.Water will be provided along the route at no coast to participants. The Out of the Darkness Community Walk is a journey of remembrance, hope, support, and a walk that unites a campus and community – a time to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and our loved ones.

Ripple effect

Karen Gustafson Executive Director, Jewish Family Services Tell me, who has not been touched by someone with depression, or someone who is going through a tough time? Do you know for certain they are not considering taking their own life? Do you know how to ask? Do you know what suggestions to make?

Jewish Family Service would like to make sure you have all the information you could need to save a life, or just to offer a compassionate ear.

September is Suicide Prevention Month; in addition to the sept.

8 ‘Out of the Darkness Walk’ featured above, Jewish Family Service will host a special program for 26-40 year-olds at the home of Melissa and Matt Shapiro. This event is part of JFS’ ongoing quest to educate our community about Suicide Prevention, not only risk factors by age group, but proactive factors and how to help a friend in need.

To RSVP and for further information about this program, please contact Jewish Family Service Executive Director Karen Gustafson at kgustafson@jfsomaha.com.

Mika Caplan among undergraduate winners of Holland Future Scientist Awards

Lisa speLLman UNMC Public Relations Mika Caplan (pictured far right) was among ten undergraduate students from five Nebraska colleges and universities recently received the 2019 Richard Holland Future Scientist Award from the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.

The students received cash awards totaling $5,000 at the annual INBRE (Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence Program) conference on Aug. 6 in Nebraska City.

The awards are named in honor of the late Richard Holland, an Omaha philanthropist and longtime supporter of research. This is the 12th year the Holland Future Scientist Awards have been given.

The students were judged for their oral and poster presentations of the research work they conducted this summer as part of the INBRE program.

The INBRE program is overseen by Paul Sorgen, Ph.D., a professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Sorgen is the principal investigator of the $16.2 million grant funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences

of the National Institutes of Health.

Established in 2001, the INBRE Scholars program was created to expose students to serious biomedical research and build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions.

The students, referred to as INBRE scholars, enter the program after completing their sophomore year of college upon recommendation of their college professors. It is a two-year comprehensive training program to prepare the students for graduate school.

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6 | The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019

Visiting the “Stans�: Part I

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rich juro gyzstan and Kazakhstan. But when you drive There are actually 5 “Stans�. They are Kyr- to Tolmak, the highway meanders back and gyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turk- forth between the two nations. Why? Because menista, which my wife Fran and I visited in the road was built when both countries were 2013, plus Tajikistan. They are located in Soviet Socialist Republics. The Russian civil Central Asia, south of Russia and west of engineers chose the easiest route for conChina. All were originally peopled by no- struction, ignoring the boundaries between madic tribes, which is how each got their the “sister� republics. So although the main names (e.g. the Kazakhs). All were part of the highway from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan has ancient Silk Route from China to Europe; all strictly enforced border crossings, the road to were part of the Mongol Empire; and all were Tolmak just wanders across the national borcreated as “Soviet Socialist Republics� by the ders with no officials to worry about.

USSR in the 20th Century. They became inWe noticed that there are a lot more cars dependent nations in 1991 due to the collapse than you would expect in a very poor nation. of the Soviet Union. Fran and I were fortu- The reason is that many of the vehicles are nate to journey to the four nations in 2013. smuggled into Kyrgyzstan, then driven into The 4 “Stans� are remote, interesting, and neighboring countries, and then sold. The very different, as you will see. buyers in Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan avoid Kyrgyzstan: 40 girls, an animal fair, and more paying high import taxes, and the Kyrgyz Do you know anything about Kyrgyzstan? smugglers make a tidy profit.

Most people don’t. Our visit to the 4 “Stans� started in that remote Central Asian nation. Its a poor, mountainous country. Officially, its The Kyrgyz Republic, but everyone calls it Kyrgyzstan.

The history goes way back: “Kyr� means 40 in the ancient Turkic language, and “ghyz� means girls. According to legend, the 40 girls were the mothers of the 40 tribes that made up the original Kyrgyz nomadic people. The country’s flag reflects the history, with 40 rays of the sun deKyrghyzstan Spice and Grain Market picting the 40 original tribes. The center graphic representing a yurt, Getting through the vehicle and animal the movable house used by nomads in the traffic in the narrow streets of the city of Tolsteppes of Central Asia. mak was a real problem. We finally got to the The national hero, Manas, united the 40 Chuy Animal Market. Its only held on Suntribes around 840 AD., defeated the Uighur, days. There was no designated parking. Luckand the Kyrgyz became a major force in the ily, our driver found a small spot between lots area for several centuries. Eventually they be- of old pickup trucks that had been there since came part of the Mongol Empire, then part of 4 a.m. Walking into the outdoor market was the Russian Empire in 1876, then a Soviet So- tricky. We had to look up to be aware of cialist Republic from 1936, and finally an in- trucks maneuvering into position. Their drivdependent country in 1991 when the USSR ers were much more concerned with the dissolved. But since it became independent, safety of their animals than with Western the national government has been toppled a tourists. We had to look down to step over the couple of times. The Soviet industrial plants mud and gook that overtook the grassy were idled and mostly sold for scrap to China. patches. We had to avoid large animal turds.

So there’s some gold mining and some animal Fran and I would say “watch out for the land raising and some corn and cereals grown, but mine�, usually meaning large animal dropthat’s not much to sustain an economy. pings rather than unexploded ordnance. Most Living right on the ancient Silk Route, important, we had to look around to avoid which was used from the first century until being bitten, gored or kicked by horses, goats, almost 1500, the Kyrgyz people are a mix of donkeys, yaks, or other assorted critters. cultures. Most look Asian and most are MusThere were areas loosely set up for different lim, as Islam was introduced by Arab traders kinds of vendors: cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, centuries ago. However, the Islamic practices even ducks. A lot of trucks were piled high here are much less strict, as they were modi- with hay bales, with the owners sitting on top. fied by the original shamans of the nomadic The most surprising sight was when we forefathers. An embarrassment to the locals is walked behind an old car with the trunk that the notorious terrorist brothers who car- open. Inside were 5 little piglets for sale. We ried out the killings at the Boston Marathon didn’t make an offer, as we weren’t sure what were born here (although the family moved we would do with the piggies if our proposal to Chechnya when the boys were young). was accepted.

The first day we drove to an old caravan We left the animal fair and went to lunch town from the Silk Route days. We saw the at a Hawaiian Restaurant (!), complete with 1000 year old red brick Burana Tower, which palm trees, a pond with koi (Chinese carp), is an ancient minaret. Next we were amazed and, of course, a camel. The excellent tradiby the “balbals�, ancient stone stelae with tional dish served was beef shashlik, obvihuman faces etched in them. They were ously local rather than Hawaiian. probably left as gravestones by the prehistoric Kazakhstan: A huge, Wealthy Nation Turkic tribes.

We drove north on the highway to the modSunday morning we headed from our hotel ern, more affluent city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. in the capital city of Bishkek to the city of Tol- Previously called Alma-Ata, Almaty used to mak near the northern border with Kaza- be the capital city of Kazakhstan. In 1997, the khstan. Like most neighboring countries, government changed the capital to Astana, there are boundary disputes between Kyr- See Visiting the “Stans� page 10

Blackjack at the Rose

The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019 | 7

community israel advocacy on Campus

sabine strong RBJH Volunteer Coordinator once a month on Monday morning Volunteer scott eisenman will host a friendly game of blackjack (twenty-one) for any resident that wants to play. residents testing their luck and skills in this classic game. there is nothing better than beating the dealer!

We have it all at the rose blumkin Jewish Home.

Pictured clockwise: Volunteer scott (Dealer), left, ricki eirenberg, Mitzie Monovitz, Volunteer John, Marvin richards, steve fischer, and bettie Muskin.

Mrs. Maisel shuts down traffic

Josefin Dolsten JTA A marketing campaign for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was so popular that the police had to shut it down briefly.

To advertise the hit series, Amazon partnered with businesses in and around Los Angeles to offer 1950s era prices for a day — the same prices the characters from the show would have paid.

On Aug. 15, customers could buy movie tickets for 51 cents, slices of pie for 30 cents and gas for 30 cents a gallon. The gas promotion was so popular that police had to shut it down temporarily because the cars lining up were leading to traffic jams, ABC 7 reported.

In the hit series, which was nominated recently for a slew of Emmys, Jewish housewife Midge Maisel decides to pursue a career as a comedian in late 1950s New York.

DaViD atri ollege campuses are intended to be places where ideas can be exchanged freely and opposing views can be exchanged for the purpose of constructive debate.

This idealized norm is rare to find nowadays, as supposed ‘hate speech’ continues to be restricted and opposing viewpoints are silenced in the defense of a ‘safe space’. Unfortunately, Israel advocacy is placed in a sensitive position under these conditions. While anti-Israel sentiments and demonstrations are nothing new in college campuses, currently there are several unique challenges that highlight the need for strong Israel advocacy. There is a place for legitimate criticism regarding our Jewish State, but we find that most of the complaints and demonstrations expressed against Israel are more oriented towards blatant anti-Semitism. One need only look at certain members of congress to realize that unless a clear and proactive strategy is employed, the US-Israeli relationship might become compromised. This strategy must focus on younger generations and utilize a multi-pronged approach towards battling anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses. This is the mission of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), a relatively new student-run organization that is committed to defending the State of Israel in universities all across the globe. With around 50 chapters in the US and Canada, SSI has proved to be an excellent platform for Israel advocacy, defeating the Anti-Semitic Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in several instances on the universities’ student governments.

As I began my higher education at Drake University in Des Moines Iowa, I quickly realized that Israel-advocacy was sorely needed. While there is an active Hillel on campus, it is best to have a fully devoted organization to deliver strong and direct action to counter Anti-Israel sentiments and events, such as when Reverend Naim Ateek came to speak at Drake the day before Yom Kippur 2017. Ateek founded Friends of Sabeel in

ONE TIME DEAL

ROSH Hashanah Greetings This year you can send your greetings through these very special ads that will run in our annual Rosh Hashanah issue. Each ad can be personalized with your name, the names of your children or your grandchildren.

1990, a Christian organization dedicated to attack and demonize Israel through distorted Christian beliefs and an avid supporter of the BDS movement. Throughout his talk, Ateek compared Israel’s policies to terrorism, sympathized with Hamas and other terrorist groups, and constantly twisted Scriptural passages to bolster the validity of the Palestinian claim to the Holy Land. After the event, little was done by the university’s administration and a few of the Jewish students felt frustrated by the lack of response. This event was anti-Israel in nature, and ventured into Anti-Semitic territory. Shortly after, we reached out to the SSI National office, and within a few days we had a working SSI chapter at Drake. Our mission is simple: to be a clear and confident pro-Israel voice on campus. Since our foundation, we’ve had several wildly successful events, ranging from speakers to smaller educational events. We’ve hosted IDF soldiers, emissaries from the Israeli Consulate in Chicago, Israeli rapper Ben Blackwell, and most recently our dear Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Abramovich. We’ve got many exciting events planned for the 2019-2020 academic year as well.

We must remember that the fight for our only State is continuous and ever-changing. College campuses are fertile places for Anti-Israel and Anti-Semitic sentiments to grow, but with the appropriate efforts expended, great understanding and support for the Jewish State can be garnered for decades to come.

If you’d like to support SSI or get in touch please contact me directly via email.

Please see what we’re up to at SSI on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ssiDrake/.

David Atri can be reached at David.atrischuller@ drake.edu.

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The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019 | 9

Rabbi Hillel said

“If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”

These words remind us that though self-interest is our right, we also have a duty to care for others. Today.

For over a century, Jewish Family Service of Omaha has focused on providing crucial aid to individuals, couples and families facing challenges in their lives.

Between July, 2018 and June, 2019, our efforts have been sustained by the following contributors who chose to balance their own needs with the needs of others.

Grants

Endowments

In Kind Donations

Back to School

Members of our community deserve to live with dignity. These grants provide financial assistance, counseling services, YACHAD activities and other critical programs that strengthen Jewish family life.

Dennis Schuman Charitable Foundation Herbert Goldsten Trust Lazier L. Singer Memorial Fund for Youth Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Foundation - Worldwide Grant Program Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation Sokolof Foundation Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Teen Foundation of Young Jewish Giving The Carolyn Kully Newman Memorial Fund The Milton S. & Corinne N. Livingston Fund The Phillip* and Terri Schrager Supporting Foundation

Omaha Jewish Community Legal Assistance Donor Advised Fund Parsow and Simons Families Special Needs Community Fund Paul & Joy Grossman Family Endowment Fund Paul Alperson Endowment Fund Pennie Z. Davis Family Life Education Fund Perlmeter Family Jewish Family Service Assistance Fund Richard “Pete” Lee Memorial Endowment Fund Robert Sturm JFS Housing Assistance Endowment Fund Rosalie & Milton Saylan Endowment Fund for JFS Ruth & Bernard Raskin Endowment Fund Ruth & Otmar Liebenstein JFS Financial Assistance Endowment Fund Samuel & Delma Goodman Youth Fund, Donor-Advised Fund Steven Bloch President’s Fund Yachad Endowment Fund

Endowments

Life and Legacy

Girl Scout Troop at Friedel Howard Kutler HyVee I-GO Van & Storage Co. Isabella Wright Jan Wayne Jeff Zacharia Joan & Charles Shapiro Joanie Marshall Jonathan and Linda Isaacman Joni Jacobson Jordana Kurtzman Joshua Shapiro Joyce Ashley Judy Roffman Kael Sagheer Kraft Family Linda Fischer Marge & Jim Bresel Marty and Iris Ricks Mary Beth Muskin Maxine Noodell Meghan Vieregger ORKIN Pre-K 6th Temple Religious School Rabbi Maximo & Jeanne Shechet Rachel Martin RBJH Renee Handleman Rocky Lewis Sara Howard Sara Kohen Select Moving & Storage Shari Sterenberg Sharon Kirschenbaum Shirley Smallheiser Steve Littky Steven and Marsha Senft Susie Norton T.O. Haas Tire and Auto Temple Israel Synagogue The Abraham Family The Feldstern Family The Koom Family The Pennie Z Davis Child Development Center

Rabbi Maximo and Jeanne Shechet Jan Goldstein Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Jarold & Gail Kohll Federation of Omaha Jason and Laurie Epstein Jeremy & Annette Wright Project Dreidel Al Bloch and Fefe Passer Joan M Kaiman Alan and Linda Muskin Joanne and Jerry Freeman B’nai B’rith/Henry Monsky Lodge Joe and Tina Meyers Jack and Helene Shrago Joseph A. Erman Jeff and Sharon Kirshenbaum Joye & Steve Wees Joe and Tina Meyers Judie Goldetsky Larry and Sherry Shapiro Judy Roffman Rabbi Maximo and Jeanne Shechet Kerry and Michael Hollst Rabbi Steven and Shira Abraham Lenore Ross Rabbi Stoller & Karen Flayhart Margo Parsow Sharon and Howard Kooper Martin & Iris Ricks Steve and Patty Nogg Maxine & Joe Kirshenbaum Sue Meyers Michael Heifetz Ted and Amee Zetzman Michael Levine Ted and Jamie Friedland Miriam Moran Mort Zuber Project Tzedakah Mr. and Mrs. Bob Goodman Allen and Eden Ostravich Mr. and Mrs. Howard Friedman Beth El Synagogue Patty & Mike Sherman Beth Israel Synagogue Phyllis Aronson Bruce Meyers Rick & Fran Juro Gary Kudym Rita and Robert Yaffe Howard Kutler Sander J. Kasin Karen Gustafson Shari Engman Temple Israel Synagogue Sherry & Larry Shapiro The Pennie Z Davis Child Development Center Sheryn & Arnold Joffe Shirley & David Goodman Contributions & Tribute Cards Sissi Lapides ANONYMOUS Steve and Marcia Pitlor Abby and Adam Kutler Stewart and Judith Tully Adam and Sarah Yale Sue Meyers Al Bloch & Fefe Passer Susie Cohn Amy D. Reynolds and Ben Shapiro Suzi & Mike Mogil Amy Hruska Tammy & Carl Birnberg Arnold & Sheryn Joffe Tammy Rubin Benjamin Wiesman Tom & Ronna Sherman Carl Frohm Memorial Fund Zelda Friednash Carol and Steve Bloch

Tikkun Olam -- repairing the world -is a moral obligation. Through these endowments, JFS continues to help people build lives of hope and joy.

Beatrice Karp LIFE & LEGACY Endowment Fund for Jewish Family Service Craig Saylan Memorial Endowment Fund Edith & Paul Goldstein Endowment Fund Glazer Family Endowment Fund Harris Family Endowment, Donor-Advised Fund Harry & Fannie Stock Rothkop/Theodore Rothkop Fund Howard and Judy Vann Family Education Fund Ike Friedman JFS Financial Assistance Fund Jake & Mary Wine Fund Jennifer Beth Kay Memorial Fund, Donor-Advised Fund Jerome J. and Frances O. Milder Endowment Fund Jewish Family Service Campaign Legacy Fund Jewish Family Service Discretionary Fund Jewish Family Service Endowment Fund Kutler Dental Custodial Fund Leo & Frances Rodick Memorial Endowment Fund Lippett Family Endowment Fund Louis Friedman Fund for New Americans Mark & Sophie Sturm Immigrant Education Fund Mickey (Sturm) Stern Memorial Endowment Fund Nancy Noddle JFS Financial Assistance Fund Nathan and Rose Lillian Fine JFS Tzedakah Endowment Fund

Bruce Meyers David & Shirley Goodman David Kohll David Lieberman Debbi Josephson Gary & Barbara Goldstein Gilda Pieck Gloria Kaslow Howard Kaslow Janet Kohll John Atherton & Marti Rosen-Atherton Sherry & Larry Shapiro Thelma Lustgarten

In Kind Donations Alan & Carol Parsow Alan & Linda Muskin Allen and Eden Ostravich Ann Pickel Annette Van de Kamp-Wright Bagel Bin Beth El Synagogue Beth Israel Synagogue Bob and Barbara Goodman Bruce Goldberg Bruce Meyers Debra Kronick Diane Walker Donald Goldstein Dottie Rosenblum Dr. James Wax Gary Javitch

Back to School Alan and Linda Muskin Edye Roffman Howard and Gloria Kaslow Jordana Kurtzman Mercedes Obora Michael and Susie Norton National Council of Jewish Women

Cindy Kohll Persky & Joshua Persky Claudia G. Sherman Rev. Trust Colleen and Valentino Madia David and Shirley Goodman Deborah Friedman Doris & Harry Alloy Dr. Fred and Sarah Kader Gail and Phillip Raznick Gary Nachman Gloria Kaslow Ike and Roz Friedman Foundation Jack Shrago

Contributions & Tribute Cards

Friends Campaign The Talmud says, “A good friend is a tower of strength. To find one is to find a treasure.” Friends of JFS help families in crisis receive guidance to put their lives back in order.

Friend for Life Amy Forss Friedland Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kaslow Judy and Keith Josephson Tom Fellman

Friends Campaign

Friends Campaign

Friends Campaign

Benefactor James McMullen Janie and Allan Murow Jay and Nancy Noddle Jeffrey A. Passer Michael and Susie Norton Mr. and Mrs. Natan Schwalb Mr. and Mrs. Steve Zalkin Murray and Sharee Newman Sally A. Zipursky The Todd & Betiana Simon Foundation

Patron Michael I and Elena Shnayder Molline R Cassman Mr. and Mrs. Howard Epstein Norman and Suzy Sheldon Richard and Terryl Zacharia Richard M Fellman Steve and Carol Bloch Susan Rothholz Toba A Cohen-Dunning Wayne Schwarz

Sponsor Patricia and Michael Sherman Patricia L Mogil & Scott S Tatelman Ronald Giller Sandra N. Nogg Sherry and Larry Shapiro Stanley and Angela Krieger Steven and Bonnie Levinger Terri & Dick Zacharia Thomas and Kate Kirshenbaum Vicki M Perlmeter

Angel Dr. Alan and Debbie Kricsfeld Ann and Gordon Moshman Mr. and Mrs. Bob Goodman Bruce Meyers Deborah B Josephson Donald and Andi Goldstein Jeff and Sharon Kirshenbaum Jim and Judy Farber Judy Roffman Karen and Jeff Gustafson Sandy and Paul Epstein Steve and Patty Nogg Sylvia B. Cohn Tina and Joseph Meyers

Supporter Brent Bloom Helen Rifkin Howard and Sandra Friedman Iris and Martin Ricks J.D and B.J Thompson Jennifer Meyerson John Atherton & Marti Rosen-Atherton Mary and Tom Bernstein Mary Sue and Alex Grossman Sharon Brodkey Teresa Drelicharz

Circle of Friends 2 ANONYMOUS Anne and Allan L. Cohen Benjamin Johnson Betty and Jack Kozlen Boris Turetsky Carolyn R. Stern Claudia Sherman Darlene E Golbitz David and Julie Herzog Deborah Denenberg Dolores M Goodman Dorothy K Rosenblum Esther Silver and Sabina Shapiro Galina B Tsed Garrett Taub Janey W Dann Judith Kaplan Leon and Sally Wintroub Lynne-Carol and Errol Saltzman Marilyn J Zevitz Mark Ocheretyanskiy and Lyudmyla Lariana Mary Berman Milton and Doris Parker Paula Endelman Peter J Brodkey Richard and Wendy Goedeken Roxanne Kahn Shelley Eisenman Steven and Barbara Rothenberg Steven and Margo Riekes Susan H Silverman Susan Long Yuliy & Svetlana Tronyak

Champion Lisa and Gary Epstein Philip Michael and Nancy Lindow Wolf Susan Fellman Witkowski Patron Allan S Noddle ANONYMOUS Beth Brodkey Caryl Martinez Charlotte Zipursky Dr. and Mrs. Larry Malashock Fefe Passer FMTC, IRA Custodian Matthew Y Faier Gary and Lorrie Katelman Gerald and Cookie Hoberman Harold and Alice Kosowsky Harriet (Sissy) M Katelman Silber James Polack Janie Kulakofsky Jason and Laurie Epstein Jeff and Ellen Platt Patron Jody and Buzz Malashock John and KayLynn Goldner Judith Feigin Judith I Roffman Mary Wampler and Philip Bierman

Sponsor 2 ANONYMOUS Arkadiy P and Larisa Ginzburg Arnold L and Helen A Epstein Caryn Rifkin Charney Rosinsky Clinton and Helene Weber David Goldberg Dorothy R Spizman Gates, Harry and Linda Georgine S. Koom Helen and Leslie Kay Helga Patterson Jeremy and Annette Wright Joan and Terrance Bernstein Joan M Kaiman Joel I and Mary Ann Rich Julie C Anon Lenore Ross Leslie Kully Lois Milder Margie and Bruce Gutnik Marilyn Tipp Mark and Alla Rubezhan Matt and Jennifer Kirshenbaum Michael and Andrea Siegel Miles S Remer Morris and Cindy Friedman Nancy Nogg Nancy Rips

*Of Blessed Memory All contributions are as of June 30, 2019. We apologize if your name was omitted from this list. Please call JFS at 402-330-2024.

Jewish Family Service is able to do its work because members of this remarkable community genuinely care about one another. Thank you for your generous support.

10 | The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019

Visiting the “Stans”: Part I

Continued from page 6 10,000 Jewish graves in Bukhara but only 100 – 150 Jews now. which used to be called Akmola. Confused? So were we.

One legend has it that Jewish traders starting coming to this Kazakhstan is a huge country, the 9th largest in the world. area at the time of King Solomon 3000 years ago. Another Despite its large size, there’s only 18 million people, most of says that the Bukhara Jews are descendants of two of the ten whom were nomads in the not too distant past. Because of lost tribes of Israel. A third story states that the local Jews the long history (1919-1989) as a Soviet Republic, most of the came here after the Persian Empire expanded in the 5th Cenpeople speak Russian, but Kazakh is the official language. tury BC. Its even told that when Timur was rebuilding Now many young people do learn English.

Samarkand and Bukhara in the 14th century AD, he brought Fun fact: the apple originated in Kazakhstan (the fruit, not in Jews from Persia as weavers and dyers. the phone) millions of years ago. There have been memoirs Whatever happened, and all the legends may be somewhat (a good one is Apples Are from Kazakhstan) and scientific true, the fact is there developed in this area a significant Jewarticles written about it. ish population, but they The country has a stable, were isolated from the Jews if autocratic, government, in Europe. So the Bukhara and is rich in oil, gas, and Jews (in this case, Bukhara other resources. The Russrefers to all of Central Asia, ian cosmonaut training and not just the city of Bukhara) space center is located in survived and developed Kazakhstan. So the econunique traditions. For exomy is prosperous while ample, its said that Jews the Kazakh government prayed in mosques, maybe does a balancing act beat the same time as the tween its two big neighbors Muslims. The Jews here (China and Russia) and had their own culture, lanalso towards the USA. guage, and ethnicity.

In Almaty, we went to the In the 1970’s and 1980’s Russian Orthodox Cathemost of the Jews in this area dral that was built in 1904 emigrated to Israel and the entirely of wood but withUS. In the borough of Kyrghyzstan Animal Market out the use of nails. We also Queens in New York City, visited a ski resort (no snow now) and the Museum of Kazakh there are estimated to be 50,000 immigrants or descendants Musical Instruments. of Bukharan Jews! Now there are only a few thousand left in Uzbekistan: UNESCO, the Stroker, Muslims, and Jews all of Uzbekistan.

The next day, we flew to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Fun fact: Uzbekistan is one of only two double-landlocked Due to a big earthquake in 1966 which destroyed most of the countries in the world. Explanation: a landlocked country is old city, Tashkent consists of fairly new buildings. Fran and I one that doesn’t touch any oceans or their extensions (gulf, had been in Uzbekistan in 1980 during a tour of the Soviet sea, etc.); a double-landlocked nation is one where every Union. It was in Tashkent in 1980 that Fran got ill with a re- country it borders is itself landlocked. The only other one? curring kidney infection. She went to the hospital with Joann, Liechtenstein in Europe. our young woman tour escort, who was fluent in Russian.

Next we flew out to the cities of Nukus and Khiva in westThey met with a tall doctor who smiled and said, “I speak a ern Uzbekistan. We made a stop at a unique museum, which little English”, but that was his only English. The good news goes by 6, count ‘em, 6 different names: is that he prescribed some German-made pills (never OK’d 1. Nukus Art Museum, because its in Nukus, the capital city by our FDA, because of the possible nasty side effects) that of the area. worked and cleared up Fran’s problem. The bad news: the 2. Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art, because the westgood doctor while examining Fran made a habit of stroking ern part of Uzbekistan is an autonomous region of the counher breasts. Fran didn’t care as long as the pills worked, but try, with its own culture, history, and ethnicity. the physician is ever referred to by us as “The Stroker”.

Karakalpakstan used to have a thriving economy from fishing This was a better and healthier tour of Uzbekistan for us. in the Aral Sea and farming in the irrigated soil. But then so We visited Samarkand and Bukhara, ancient cities that were much of the Aral Sea was drained that the area became one centers of civilization in their time. Samarkand was founded the poorest areas of the USSR. Indeed, we viewed the “ship around the same time as Babylon, over 2700 years ago. Even- cemetery” and the desolate town on the former shore. tually, the Mongol emperor, Tamerlane (Timor the Lane) con3. The Savitsky Museum, because it was founded by a quered the area in the 14th Century. He was buried there and I.V.Savitsky, a Ukrainian – Russian who came to the area in you can still see his wooden coffin. We had heard that his epi- the 1950’s to take part in an archaeological and ethnographic taph was: “Were I alive today, mankind would tremble”. His search in the area. Afterwards he stayed, and started assemgrandson, Uleg Bek, built one of the most advanced observa- bling local art, costumes, carpets, jewelry, etc. Savitsky also tories, which is available to marvel at today. collected thousands of avant-garde artworks, even though Onto Bukhara, another UNESCO World Heritage Site be- they were being banished and destroyed by the Soviet leadcause of its long history as a major stop on the Silk Road and ership in Moscow. The local officials were so impressed by its beautiful Islamic architecture. The Katan Mosque was built Savitsky’s dedication to the local culture that they built a small in 1514 and can hold 12,000 worshipers. There are splendid museum for those and for the taboo art, too. Now a magnifcomplexes of buildings built around ponds. The mausoleums icent building has been built to house the 80,000 items. and madrassas are huge and architecturally stunning. For ex4. The Anti-Soviet Museum, for the reasons just described. ample, the mausoleum of Ismail Samanid is over 1000 years 5. The Museum of Forbidden Art. old and has both Islamic and Zoroastrian motifs in the de6. “Le Louvre des Steppes”, called that by European admirers. sign. The Kalyan Minaret is 150 feet tall. The main use was Then we toured Khiva, another UNESCO World Heritage not to call Muslims to prayer; instead, criminals were thrown site that supposedly was founded by Noah’s son, Shem. whose off the top, giving it the ominous alternate name, the Tower descendants are the Semites (hence the derivation of the term of Death. anti-Semitism).

Being Jewish, Fran and I were interested in why there are Next week: read all about Turkmenistan.

The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019 | 11

Above:The Friedlander/Sciolis welcome Joe back from Camp Sabra. From left: Pam and Bruce Friedlander, Joe Scioli, Andee and Jack Scioli and in the front, William Friedlander.

Right: Danielle Gordman with the luggage‌ Above: Taylor, Brian, Jaime and Cory Nogg welcome Jordan (holding family dog Frankie) home from camp Sabra.

Below: Carol Parsow welcomes son Michael back from Camp Sabra.

Below: Andy Isaacson and Lenore Ross enjoy dinner after the Goldstein exhibit at UNO last week.

SP O TLIGHT

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

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

Above: Team Omaha at the 2019 Maccabi Games.

Above: Family learning with SEED at Beth Israel.

Above: Temple Israel members: Jennifer, left, Simon Murphy, Dan Gilbert, Justin Cooper, Bonni Leiserowitz, Chris Blake, Mary Wampler, McKenna Blake, Joseph Pinson, Phil Bierman.

Not pictured: Micah Gilbert. For the eighth consecutive year, Temple participated in a coalition with volunteers from 13 religious organizations in Omaha to build a home with Habitat for Humanity. The home we worked on will be sold with a zero interest loan to a three-generation family that came to Omaha seven years ago as refugees from Burundi.

Left: Malachi Nachman, left, Brad Berman and Eli Lopez at Beth Israel.

12 | The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019

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Not the only conversation ANNETTE vAN DE KAMP-WRIGhT Editor, Jewish Press ometimes it seems you can’t read a news brief without immediately getting caught in an opinion-tornado: who is for, who is against, who is wrong and who is right? I can tell you one thing: I’m not writing about Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump. I barely know my own mind in this unholy mess and I can’t make it sound as if I’m telling anyone else what to think.

Besides, there are other things happening around the world that are interesting.

Take London Mayor Sadiq Khan, for instance. He has been in his current position since June 2016, is the son of Pakistani immigrants and was a strong (but not strong enough) voice against Brexit. He is also a practicing Muslim and last week, he called on a local council to approve plans to build a Holocaust memorial next to Parliament.

“Khan said in a letter to the Westminster City Council, a borough council in Greater London, that building the Holocaust memorial and museum in Victoria Tower Gardens would “make a powerful national statement,” according to the UK Jewish News. He also said: “As we see the scourge of anti-Semitism and hate crime increasing across our country, now more than ever we need a National Holocaust Memorial, so we can learn the lessons from history, as well as pay tribute to the victims of the Nazi genocide.”

Already described in British media as a ‘row,’ the plan has opponents aplenty. UNESCO, Historic England and The Royal Parks are three organizations that have spoken out, deeming the location not appropriate. Why they think that is anyone’s guess; no explanation was given for their opin-

ion. It’s tempting to think they’re fine with a Holocaust memorial, just not in their backyard.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan Credit: Rob Stothard/Getty Images

It’s an interesting idea, to put such a monument front and center, in a location where lawmakers have no choice but to see it every day. It’s like a visible representation of where Holocaust lessons should be in our minds: front and center. As a son of Pakistani immigrants and a practicing Muslim, Khan understands the dangers of baseless hate and xenophobia all too well.

Meanwhile, back in the US, ICE Captain Thomas Wood-

worth drove his truck into a row of protesters who were sitting on the ground and blocking the entrance to the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls. The protest was organized by the new Jewish group Never Again Action, which opposes ICE and United States immigration policy.

During the same week, dozens of anti-Semitic flyers were found in a Queens, New York neighborhood. An Israeli teen who was injured in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank underwent neurosurgery but remains in critical condition. A unique former synagogue in Belarus from the 19th century is being auctioned off for a little over $6,000. A 17th-century Jewish cemetery in Hamburg, Germany, has become a hub for the sale and use of hard drugs. An Ohio man was arrested after he posted a video to Instagram, showing him shooting an assault rifle, accompanied by the sounds of sirens and screams. Under the video Reardon added the caption, “Police identify shooter of Youngstown Jewish Family Center as local white nationalist Seamus O’Rearedon.” The Youngstown JCC was tagged in the post.

And oh, rockets were fired from Gaza on southern Israel for two consecutive nights. One of them landed it someone’s private backyard. Imagine that for a second.

There are so many things we could talk about, important stories, stories that should be shared. And yes, the discussion surrounding Israel’s boycott of foreign elected officials is an important one; it just isn’t the only one and we should stop treating it as such.

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.

Pro-Israel positions don’t excuse anti-Semitism in America

DAvID SchRAuB BERKELEY, Calif. | JTA Rep. Tom Emmer, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, recently sent out a fundraising letter on behalf of the Republican Party that accused a trio of “deep-pocketed far-le billionaires” — George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer — of having “essentially BOUGHT control of Congress.”

Many in the Jewish community contended that this was anti-Semitic verbiage. ey are correct.

But it is worth exploring how this anti-Semitism controversy, encompassing a prominent and powerful Republican, has developed in comparison to those which have dogged that other Minnesota congressional representative, Rep. Ilhan Omar.

We must begin by addressing what has by now become a ritual: the proclamation from some Jews, speaking “as Jews,” that the anti-Semitism allegation is false, ridiculous, a lie, a smear. In Emmer’s case, this role was filled by Rabbi Hershel Lutch, a personal friend of Emmer’s who accompanied the congressman on a 2016 visit to Israel.

On the trip, Lutch reported in a Jewish Telegraphic Agency opinion piece that Emmer expressed care and concern about the Israeli state and its security.

He shed tears at Yad Vashem and thoughtfully dialogued with Rabbi David Lau about the future of Jewish education in America. “ese are not the actions of an anti-Semite,” Lutch insisted.

“By falsely flagging conduct as anti-Semitic,” he continued, “we lose our ability to stay focused on combating the very numerous and extant threats of anti-Semitism — and, importantly, we lose our credibility to define and identify them.” And “[b]y raising the specter of anti-Semitism against our community’s friends, we inadvertently alienate our closest allies.”

I confess to finding this litany darkly amusing.

How oen have we heard our complaints of antiSemitism met with accusations of political opportunism? How frequently has it been whined that “any criticism” or “all conduct critical” of Jews or Jewish institutions (including Israel) is now deemed anti-Semitic? How regularly are the in-

evitable Jewish friends trotted out to grant absolution, to tell us we should be ashamed of alienating allies with our spurious allegations?

But the case for Omar and Emmer’s challenged comments being anti-Semitic does not depend on asserting awful, corrupt motives or hatred of Jews, which I am sure they do not hold, nor is it falsified by each of them having Jewish friends and allies, which I am sure that they do possess. In both cases,

The divergent responses to anti-Semitism coming from Reps. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, and Tom Emmer, a Republican, tell us a lot about America, writes law professor David Schraub. it rests not on a ridiculous assertion that all “criticism” of a Jew is anti-Semitic, but rather on a tailored understanding of how their comments leveraged a particular history of an anti-Semitic portrayal of Jewish power.

Specifically, Emmer’s anti-Semitism lies in his use of the trope of a plutocratic Jewish conspiracy that has the American political establishment “bought and paid for,” stealing our national sovereignty from patriotic “Main Street” Americans and placing it in the hands of wealthy globalist financiers. It’s not as if this is particularly obscure; Lutch presumably understood its anti-Semitic roots well enough when Omar spoke of AIPAC’s “Benjamins.”

Anti-Semitism primes people to accept — and violently rebel against — the premise that the rootless international Jew has stolen control of “their” land, their property, their culture and their government. And there is a straight line between this sort of rhetoric and the very real white supremacist violence that’s getting Jews killed. In the white nationalist imagination, there is an “invasion” of

immigrants coming to destroy White American culture. And they are convinced that invasion is being orchestrated by Soros, Bloomberg and their wealthy (((globalist))) friends who have successfully purchased control over the American political establishment. is is the logic that links Charlottesville (“Jews will not replace us”) directly to Pittsburgh (motivated in part by fury at Jewish support for immigrant rights) to Poway to the pipe bombs that showed up at Soros’ house. And these, in turn, are impossible to disassociate from broader white supremacist violence from Christchurch to El Paso.

With each invocation of “globalists” and “cosmopolitan elites,” each “sheriff ’s star” logo or jeremiad against “cultural Marxism,” each conspiracy theory about how Bloomberg has bought off Congress or how caravans of migrants to America are a Soros-funded plot, this hatred burrows deeper into the American psyche.

Does Tom Emmer endorse violence against Jews?

I am quite confident he does not. But anti-Semitism appears in many forms, and the biggest and most dangerous mistake that has overtaken our collective understanding of anti-Semitism is believing it to be exclusively the province of snarling monsters whose sole motive is promoting Jewish pain.

Anti-Semitism does not always emerge from hate.

It can equally manifest through negligence, recklessness, ignorance, laziness, opportunism and more. As a result, anti-Semitism, like racism, like misogyny, like Islamophobia, like all ideologies of oppression can and oen does appear even in persons who have Jewish friends, who are appalled by the Holocaust, who would never think of themselves as hateful persons and who imagine themselves to want nothing but the best for all Americans of any faith or creed.

I believe Tom Emmer earnestly thinks of himself this way; I believe the same of Ilhan Omar, and I believe the same of many other Americans of goodwill who nonetheless have sometimes dipped their toes in anti-Semitic waters. To demand this antiSemitism be addressed is not to equate its proponents to David Duke, but that they are not the heirs See Pro-Israel positions don’t excuse page 10

The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019 | 13

Pro-Israel positions don’t excuse Continued from page 10 of David Duke does not mean it isn’t anti-Semitism, either.

Yet while the case for Emmer’s letter being anti-Semitic is structurally quite similar to the case against Omar, there was a visible difference in how the two were treated. e comparatively muted reaction to Emmer’s letter stands in stark contrast to the weeks upon weeks of breathless histrionics over Omar. ere has been no insistence on any congressional resolutions condemning Emmer, no demand that he be stripped of his committee assignments. Minnesota Jewish groups are still organizing marches targeting Omar, but these “nonpartisan” affairs seem unlikely to turn their reticles onto Emmer (or his Minnesota colleague Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who similarly accused his Democratic opponent of being “owned” by Soros and also once suggested that Joe Lieberman only backed the Iraq War because he was a “Jew”). Even those Jewish figures who have raised their voices in reproach have done so in the gentlest terms, racing to confirm that despite his unfortunate choice of words, Emmer is and remains a “good friend to the Jewish community.”

Omar could only wish for such deferential treatment. But there’s another difference between Emmer and Omar that to my mind is even more revealing. In response to Jewish protests — ones that have been leveled repeatedly and consistently by the Jewish community for years now — Emmer, like virtually all other Republican figures who have dipped into the Soros well, has defiantly refused to apologize.

While a Jewish Community Relations Council official indicated that he had asked Emmer to “refrain … from the recitation of ‘George Soros, Tom Steyer, and Michael Bloomberg,’” Emmer has given no indication he will accede to the request.

Instead, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee thundered back, insisting that “there is nothing anti-Semitic about drawing attention to billionaire donors and who they are giving money to.” Emmer, for his part, has spoken of giving the NRCC a “mandate to be ruthless.”

In this, Emmer is a man of his party. In response to continued pleading insistences by the Jewish community that the conspiracy-mongering around Soros is dangerous, hurtful and threatening, Republicans have presented a united front in absolutely, positively refusing to care. If, as the saying goes, the opposite of love isn’t hate but indifference, then the past few years have shown there to be no love lost between

the Republican Party and the Jewish community.

Omar, for her part, at least tried to apologize. She spoke powerfully about her own need to check her biases and listen seriously when members of another community communicated that she was hurting them.

Certainly it has been an uneven effort, and Omar has not fully followed through. But increasingly, figures like Omar and the Democratic Party are punished because they try — however painful it is — to listen and adjust. However much or little you credit Omar’s efforts, surely they must compare favorably to Emmer’s flat refusal to engage at all.

Yet in practice, politicians like Emmer and his fellow Republicans are rewarded for their arrogant refusal to listen to the Jews. Somehow their refusal to even dignify Jewish testimony with a response redounds in their favor. Omar apologizes, at least partially, and is not forgiven. Emmer does not even gesture at an apology and nonetheless expects absolution as if it were his birthright.

It has to stop. For all their protestations that they are friends and allies of the Jews and the primary bulwark against the forces of anti-Semitism today, American conservatives continue to demand that they be graded on a massive curve, where a few nice words about Israel earns them a complete get-out-of-anti-Semitism-free card in America.

It doesn’t. American Jews care about Israel and its wellbeing. But we live in America, and asking us to excuse threats and provocations against Jews here because one adores Jews when they’re two continents and 6,000 miles away is disrespectful to us both as Jews and as Americans.

Simply put, if Tom Emmer is half the ally to the Jewish community that people like Rabbi Lutch insist that he is, he’d be willing to listen to the overwhelming consensus among the American Jewish community that the continually centering of Jews as part of a wealthy cabal of globalists seeking to destroy America is anti-Semitism full stop. In this climate, it is pouring gasoline on a fire that’s perilously close to becoming an inferno.

David Schraub is a lecturer in law and senior research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He blogs regularly at e Debate Link. Follow him on Twitter @schraubd. e views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

Rashida Tlaib decides against Israel visit

gabe fRIedman JTA After being barred from entering Israel on Aug. 15, Rep. Rashida Tlaib submitted a humanitarian request to visit her aging grandmother in the West Bank, and Israel’s interior minister approved it.

But Tlaib changed her mind the following morning, saying that in the end she could not enter Israel “under these oppressive conditions.”

“Silencing me and treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me,” the Michigan Democrat tweeted. “It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in — fighting against racism, oppression and injustice,” Tlaib and fellow Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., were barred from making a planned visit to Israel on Sunday because of their declared support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to apply his country’s 2017 law, which bans foreigners who publicly support Israel boycotts, to the two congresswomen.

But Israel still allows humanitarian requests as exceptions to the law. In her request submitted Thursday, Tlaib had asked to visit the West Bank to see her grandmother, who is in her 90s, saying it could be her “last opportunity to see her.”

She promised not to promote the boycott movement against Israel while there.

“I will respect any restrictions and will not promote any boycotts against Israel during my visit,” she wrote.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri quickly approved Tlaib’s request on Aug. 16. Tlaib tweeted her change of heart just before 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 16.

Omar, who likened Israel’s decision to bar her to President Donald Trump’s travel ban against specific predominantly Muslim countries, will still not be allowed to visit.

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14 | The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019

synagogues B’Nai israel syNagogue

618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705

Beth el syNagogue

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

Beth israel syNagogue

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

ChaBad house

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

CoNgregatioN B’Nai JeshuruN

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

offutt air forCe Base

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

rose BlumkiN Jewish home

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

temple israel

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

tifereth israel

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

B’Nai israel syNagogue

Join us for our monthly Shabbat Speakers Series after a brief hiatus. We will next meet on friday, sept. 13, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker Dr. Marvin Bittner on Fizzle and Fret: 2009's So-Called Influenza Pandemic and What We Can Learn from It 10 Years Later. Our service leader is Larry Blass, and as always, an Oneg wil follow service. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

For information on our historic synagogue, contact any of our board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Howard Kutler, Carole Lainof, Wayne Lainof, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf, or email nancywolf16620@gmail.com.

Handicap Accessible.

Beth el syNagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. friday: NE AIDS Coaltion Lunch, 11:30 a.m. — Offsite; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. TeamMate Presentation; USY Slow-ach and S’mores, 8 p.m. — Off-site. weekday serViCes: Sundays, 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. suNday: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Merit Scholarship Meeting, 11 a.m. tuesday: Mahjong, 1 p.m. wedNesday: High Holy Days Crash Course, 7:15 p.m. with Hazzan Krausman. thursday: Brachot and Breakfast, 7 a.m.

First Day of BESTT Classes (Grades 3-7), wednesday, sept. 4, 4:15–6:15 p.m.

First Day of Hebrew High Dinner & Classes (Grades 8-12), wednesday, sept. 4, 6:15-8 p.m.

Beth israel syNagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer friday: Halacha Class with SEED, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; The Path of the Just with SEED, 7:45 a.m.; A Jewish View on Comtemporary Issues, 11:15 a.m. with Rabbi Shlomo at the Kripke Library; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 7:54 p.m. saturday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Israeli Style Kiddush Sponsored by Harold and Maneva Ruth Edelman, 11:15 a.m.; Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion, 6:50 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 7:35 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:54 p.m. suNday: Shacharit, 9 am.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. moNday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; The Secrets of Teshuva: Turning into a Better Vision of Myself, noon with Rabbi Shlomo; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. tuesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. wedNesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; An Evening of Music and Inspiration with the Weinreb Bros, 6 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. thursday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Connecting with Our Fatih, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

ChaBad house

Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. friday: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. weekdays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. suNday: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Sunday Secrets, 9:15 p.m. following Minyan. moNday: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani; Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. wedNesday: Mystical Thinking, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introduction to Reading Hebrew, 10:30 a.m.; Power Lunch with Shani, noon. Please RSVP by calling 402.330.1800 or emailing office@oChabad.com. thursday: Intermediate Hebrew Reading and Prayer, 11 a.m.; Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Katzman.

All programs are open to the entire community. For more information call 402.330.1800 or visit www.ochabad.com.

CoNgregatioN B’Nai JeshuruN

Services conducted by Rabbi Teri Appleby. friday: No Services at Temple; Federation Shabbat Service and Potluck, 6 p.m. at Antelope Park Enclosed Shelter.

Please bring a dairy or pareve dish to share.If you participated in a Jewish camp this summer, please bring photos and memories to share. All members of our community are welcome; Oneg, 7:30 p.m. hosted by Dennis Dohner and Zoya Zeman; Candlelighting, 7:54 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m. on Parashat Eikev; Havdalah (72 minutes), 9:23 p.m. suNday: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.; LJCS Gesher, 10 a.m.; Adult Hebrew Prayer Class, 11:30 a.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 1:30 p.m. wedNesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. thursday: High Holidays Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.

offutt air forCe Base

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

rose BlumkiN Jewish home

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

temple israel

friday: Musical Shabbat with Soul Zimra, 6 p.m. Soul Zimra combines acoustic and bass guitar with mandolin to create music that will charm fans of folk, rock, blues, bluegrass, and contemporary music. Musicians Andy Dennen, Marcus Newman, and Gary Schaffel combine genres to create music that makes you want to sing along. Their goal is to “bring meaning, energy, transcendence, and light to prayer” and their music is family-friendly and irresistibly joyful. saturday: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. On Saturday morning this popular Jewish worship band from Chicago will be leading Torah Study alongside Rabbi Stoller and Cantor Alexander as we discuss the morning’s theme, “Music, Payer & the Quest for God”; Shabbat Morning Service featuring Soul Zimra, 10:30 a.m. Torah Reader: Dan Gilbert. suNday: Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; Grade 6 Information Meeting, 10:30 a.m.; Social Justice Committee Meeting, 10:30 a.m.; Temple Israel Tri-Faith Committee Meeting, noon. wedNesday: Grades 4-6, 4 p.m.; Community Dinner, 6 p.m. Menu: Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, Egg Rolls, Extended Salad Bar, Dessert. Our Wednesday night dinners are open to

the entire community! If you have a child in our Wednesday learning programs, there will be no cost for your family’s dinner. We invite the community to come and enjoy dinner for a cost of only $4 per adult and $3 per child (12 and under), which will be billed to your account. Please RSVP to Temple Israel the Monday before. Watch for exciting menu options throughout the year! Every meal will include a gluten free and vegetarian option. If any additional dietary accommodations are needed, please contact Membership Engagement Coordinator Mindi Armstrong, 402.556.6536.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.

More Than a Joke - A Tri-Faith Symposium: This new weekly symposium, co-taught by the clergy of the Tri-Faith Initiative, will offer people of any faith or no faith the chance to learn together and discover new insights in the teachings of the three Abrahamic traditions. We will study in each of the three Tri-Faith houses of worship, as sessions will be held at Temple Israel, Countryside Community Church, and the American Muslim Institute on a rotating basis. Participants are invited to bring their own lunch to the Wednesday sessions and to enjoy additional snacks provided by the Tri-Faith Initiative. Omaha is the only place in America where this experienc is possible! Made in God’s Image: Jewish, Christian & Muslim Perspectives on Human Rights, Tuesday Evening Dinner & Panel Discussion, sept. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Wednesday Lunch-and-Learns, sept. 11, 18, 25, noon-1 p.m. at American Muslim Institute.

Preparing our Hearts for the High Holidays, wednesdays, sept. 4, 11, 18 & 25, 6:30-8 p.m. taught by Rabbi Brian Stoller. As we prepare to enter the High Holy Day season, Rabbi Stoller will guide us in exploring the themes of forgiveness, atonement, and renewal, and help us ready our hearts and minds to come before God in t’shuvah.

Rosh Chodesh: Israeli Dancing, thursday, sept. 5, 6:30 p.m. hosted by Susan Long. This will be a fun event to learn Israeli dancing and no skills are required! More details to come!

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office

tifereth israel

hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. friday: No Services; Federation Shabbat Service and Potluck Dinner, 6 p.m. at Antelope Park Enclosed Shelter.

Please bring a dairy or pareve dish to share.If you participated in a Jewish camp this summer, please bring photos and memories to share. All members of our community are welcome; Candlelighting, 7:54 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Service, 10 a.m. followed by a light Kiddush luncheon; Havdalah (72 minutes), 8:53 p.m. suNday: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.; LJCS Gesher, 10 a.m. wedNesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

California high school students make Nazi salute and sing Nazi marching song at ceremony

marCy oster JTA Students at a Southern California high school made a Nazi salute and sang a Nazi marching song at the start of an awards ceremony. e school district will not say publicly if or how it disciplined the students. e incident, which took place last year, involved 10 members of the boys water polo team at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, the Daily Beast reported. e video was posted to Instagram by one of the athletes, according to the Daily Beast, and widely circulated among students at the high school.

A spokesperson for the Garden Grove Unified School District which includes Pacifica High School told the Daily Beast that school administrators learned of the incident and video in March, four months aer it occurred.

“While the district cannot comment on student discipline, the school did address this situation with all involved students and families,” the spokesperson said. “e district adheres to strong policies about harassment and cultural sensitivity, and we condemn all acts of anti-Semitism and hate in all forms. We remain focused on

educating students about cultural sensitivity and are committed to holding students accountable, educating them on the consequences of their choices, and the impact these actions have on our schools and community at large.”

A current Pacifica student told the Daily Beast that the incident was never spoken about by the administration and said it is not clear how the students involved were punished. e song was written by German composer Herms Niel and was played to inspire Nazi troops from around 1935 until 1945, according to the Daily Beast.

In an interview with the news website, Peter Simi, a professor on extremism studies at Chapman University, noted that the song is obscure and wondered how the athletes learned about it.

“It’s not something you’d expect somebody to accidentally know about. ere’s some means by which they acquired knowledge about the song and associated Nazi issues,” Simi said. “Are they on websites or web forums or other social media platforms where they’re engaging with others informed on these issues?”

It is the second such incident in southern California over the last year.

The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019 | 15

lifecycles in memoriam

arThur L. davidSon

Arthur L. Davidson pased away on Aug. 17 at age 92. A private graveside service was held Aug. 19, followed by a Celebration of Life at at Temple Israel.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Betsy G. Davidson, daughter and son-in-law, Mary-Beth and Bruce Muskin and son and daughter-inlaw, Doug and Juanita Davidson; grandchildren: Anne Muskin Brower and Matt Brower, Emily Muskin Rathner and Jesse Rathner, Zachary Muskin and Jenni Pozmantier, Bryan and Jamie Scholtes, Brandon and Sarah Scholtes, Austin Davidson, and Michelle Davidson, great-grandchildren: Edie Brower, Emma, Nicholas, Grace, and Zack Scholtes, and Caleb, Cole, and Dominic Scholtes.

Arthur L. Davidson was born March 22, 1927 in Des Moines, Iowa. The youngest of three, he was born into the furniture business and worked his whole life in it. As a young man he joined the military, moving to Chicago and was one of the original members of the radar unit in the US Navy.

After his time in the service he graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he met Betsy G. Davidson. They were married in St Paul, in 1950.

Arthur and Betsy moved their family to Omaha in 1958 to run the Omaha branch of Davidson’s Furniture. Davidson’s was a community staple for many decades where he worked alongside his son Doug. In addition to being a loving father and a prominent business owner, Arthur was very active in the Omaha community. A former president of Operation Bridge, he was a regular volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, a member of Kiwanis, and a lifelong mason for the Scottish Right.

Arthur was a true behind the scenes man- the backbone of everything he did. In his quiet, confident, and sometimes stubborn way, he solved all problems, fixing everything from toys to heartbreaks. He approached life with love and passion whether it be playing tennis, fishing, camping, sailing, or just tinkering for hours on end.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Temple Israel, and the Anti-Defamation League.

minerva beverLy “bev” gendLer

Minerva Beverly "Bev" Gendler passed away on Aug. 14 at age 89. A private service was held.

She is survived by son, Larry; grandsons: Max and Nate; brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Clariette Joseph; ex-husband, Hymie; ex-daughter-in-law, Tami; other family members; and newly designated "cousin" by her, Shari Hess; a recently discovered and very special and loving half brother raised in Milwaukee who has coincidentally resided in Omaha for approximately 40 years, Fr. Charles (Chas) Kestermeier S.J.of Creighton University.

Memorials may be made to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, the National Council of Jewish Women, Creighton University, or the organization of your choice.

eLaine SaunderS richardS

Elaine Saunders Richards passed away on Aug. 18 at age 97. Private burial services were held at Beth El Cemetery.

She is survived by children Lynn, Mark, and Paula and granddaughters Laine, Katie, and Naomi.

To SubmiT obiTuarieS To The JewiSh PreSS:

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birTh

cooPer andrew raznick

Sara and Daniel Raznick of Hamden, CT, announce the July 22 birth of their son, Cooper Andrew Raznick.

Grandparents are Jerry Raznick of Omaha, Jeanne and John Katelman of Fort Myers, FL, Lori and Andy Phillips of Broomfield, CO. Great-grandparents are Dr. Judith Stern of Fort Myers, FL and the late Richard Stern, the late Morris Raznick and the late Bess and Julius Katzman.

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oLiver iSaac Lucoff

Oliver Isaac Lucoff (Ollie), son of Erika and Phil Lucoff, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Beth El Synagogue.

Ollie attended Friedel Jewish Academy from Kindergarten through 5th grade, transferring to Grandview Middle School in 6th grade. He is currently an eighth grade honor roll student at Grandview Middle School.

His favorite activities include spending time outside with friends, woodworking, fishing, soccer, wrestling, summer camp and video games.

For his mitzvah project, Ollie volunteered at Heron Haven Nature Center and Fontanelle Forest because he has a passion for nature and wildlife. At Heron Haven, Ollie helped complete the building of a beehive for solitary bees, the only bees native to Nebraska. At both Fontanelle and Heron Haven, he assisted with general clean-up/maintenance. His plan is to continue to volunteer at both places in the future in order to help preserve and maintain these urban greenspaces.

He has a brother, Jake (15) Grandparents are Laura and Bob Friedman of Boca Raton, FL and Dena and the late Mark Lucoff of Milwaukee, WI.

Toddler Social Sports at the JCC In September and October, the JCC offers Toddler Social Sports (for members, Age 2). is class introduces athletics, sportsmanship, and teamwork on a fundamental level.

Stimulating and fun exercises keep kids active and entertained. Participants must be age 2 by Sept. 1, 2019.

JCC sport programs for ages 2-5 focus on strengthening motor skills, social skills, coordination and basic sport fundamentals. Small class sizes ensure children get the individual attention important for their age. If you have any questions, please contact Lynette Brannen at 402.590.2144 or email lbrannen@jccomaha.org.

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16 | The Jewish Press | August 23, 2019

food

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Veggie shwarma pita sandwich: A meat-free alternative for dinner emanUeLLe Lee ita bread is often stuffed with spiced, shaved shwarma meat or crunchy, deepfried falafel. But my version of a pita sandwich is a hearty vegetarian alternative to a meat-stuffed pita, inspired by the anything-but-ordinary stuffed pita sandwiches of Miznon from iconic Israeli chef Eyal Shani.

Eggplant is a common ingredient in Israeli and Middle Eastern cooking. After all, it is meaty, delicious, versatile and can cook up quickly — ideal for weeknight meals. I serve these sandwiches with spicy pickled cabbage, just like they do at the shwarma shops, along with yogurt and chopped parsley for some bright freshness.

Note: You can make each element of the pitas a day ahead and stuff the pitas when you’re ready to enjoy (reheat the eggplants for a minute in the microwave before serving).

This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher.

Veggie shwarma pita sandwich

Ingredients: For the eggplant steaks: 5 tbsp. olive oil 1 large eggplant, sliced lengthwise into 5-6 slices 1inch-thick 2 tbsp. tomato paste 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tsp. honey 1/2 tsp shwarma spice 1/4 tsp. chili powder sea salt 1/2 cup water For the parsley salad: 1 small bunch of fresh parsley, washed and dried, very finely chopped zest of 1 lemon 1/2 clove garlic, crushed juice of 1 lemon 1 tbsp. olive oil a pinch of sea salt For the pickled cabbage: 1/4 white or red cabbage, stem removed and very finely sliced juice of 2 lemons 1/2 tsp. dried chili flakes 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/2 tsp. olive oil To serve: 2 pieces of fluffy pita bread 4 tbsp. plain yogurt, or greek yogurt

Directions: Brush the eggplants generously with olive oil.

Heat a large frying pan and add 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Add the eggplant slices to the pan. Make sure each piece is touching the surface of the pan; you may need to work in batches. Once the bottom sides have softened and become golden, turn them over. Add a little more oil if necessary. Press down on the slices with a spatula or wooden spoon to help them cook through. Transfer the eggplant onto a paper towel to remove the excess oil.

To make the parsley salad, combine the chopped parsley with the garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Combine the sliced cabbage with the lemon juice, sea salt, chili flakes and olive oil; mix well. Set aside so it softens and pickles.

Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in the same pan that you used

for the eggplants and add the garlic. Once it becomes slightly golden and aromatic, add the tomato paste and mix to soften it. Add a pinch of sea salt, the honey, shwarma spice and chili powder. Add 1/2 cup water and mix until you have a silky consistency.

Add the cooked eggplant slices back into the sauce, coating them on all sides. Leave each piece to slightly caramelize, turning them over once the bottoms are slightly sticky and browning, about 2 minutes on each side.

To serve, warm the pitas in the microwave for 30 seconds or in the oven for three minutes. Cut the tops off the pitas (don’t discard them!) and stuff each one with some cabbage, 2 1/2 eggplant steaks, a few spoons of yogurt and finally the parsley salad. Enjoy the extra pickled cabbage, yogurt and parsley salad with the leftover pita tops. Serves 2.