1 9 2 0
|
C E L E B R A T I N G
1 0 0
Y E A R S
|
The Jewish Press AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA | WWW. JE WISHOMAHA.ORG
INSIDE
SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 | 1 5 E LUL 578 0 | VO L. 1 00 | NO. 45 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 7:33 P.M.
JFO Women’s Campaign ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor few weeks ago, the Jewish Federation of Omaha announced Jamie and Ted Friedland as the 2021 Campaign Chairs. In addition, other lay leaders have stepped up. One of them is Jamie Meyerson, who, together with
A
Keeping traditions in untraditional times Page 2
2 0 2 0
2021 are Diane Malashock and Susie Norton. Pomegranates are donors who give a minimum of $1,800 to the Annual Campaign. “The Pomegranate level of giving indicates my level of commitment to our Jewish community and to its success,” Susie said. “The many important services provided through the agencies of the JFO, and the JFO itself, are necessary for a healthy Jewish commu-
Mental Health stigma reduction KAREN M. GUSTAFSON, MS, NCC, LIMHP Jewish Family Service One of the responsibilities of Jewish Family Service (JFS) is to inform you of new programs and enterprises within the Jewish and Omaha community that promotes mental health care and wellbeing. This article describes one such program.
2021 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN The Kaplan Book Group examines the burdens of being The Rabbi’s Daughter Page 5
Friedel welcomes 66 students Page 12
Carrie Fingold and Traci Kugler agreed to chair the Pearl Society. The Pearl Society is a way to recognize women in our community who give $365 or more, with the option of purchasing a silver hamsa necklace with a pearl inset. “I am getting involved because I care deeply about our community and its future,” Jamie Meyerson said. “I also feel it’s important that our children see our involvement and that it inspires them to be involved themselves as they get older.” Chairing the Pomegranates giving level for
nity to not only survive, but thrive. By being a Pomegranate-level donor, I help ensure the continuation and growth of valuable services to Jews in Omaha and beyond.” At some point, we all need to put our ‘money where our mouths are,’ Susie added. “I chose to get involved, not only with my financial contribution, but by contributing my time and energy to help grow this year’s campaign. This felt like a crucial time to step up. It is a critical year for so many reasons. More people, in greater need, call out for See JFO Women’s Campaign page 3
From Jerusalem to Omaha
REGULARS
Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles
8 9 10 11
Museum of Tolerance
DR. JEANNETTE GABRIEL Director, Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies The University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies is pleased to announce its first program for the 2020-2021 academic year, From Jerusalem to Omaha: Michael’s Staenberg’s Vision for a Jewish Future. The online event will be Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and registration is required. Michael Staenberg, who recently received the 2019 JFO Humanitarian of the Year Award, will join the Schwalb Center in conversation about his overarching vision that has guided his extensive philanthropic work supporting cultural institutions within Israel and the United States. Staenberg, who grew up in the Jewish community in
Omaha, is president of The Staenberg Group (TSG) based out of St. Louis, MO. The Staenberg Family Foundation, founded by Michael and his wife Carol, has contributed over $150 million to non-profit organizations and another $200 million in-kind contributions. Staenberg will be discussing his vision for vitalizing Jewish life and creating a legacy for the next generations. The geographic focus of the Staenberg Family Foundation has been within Jewish communities in Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City and Denver. This Midwest concentration differs from the dominant perspective of supporting institutions within larger Jewish communities on the coasts. In addition, Staenberg is involved in helping to develop the See From Jerusalem to Omaha page 2
Picture of Oso, a new Spokesimal, and “family” of JFS Assistant to the Director, Mariana Nieto.
On July 30, the Wellbeing Partners, a local organization focused on building wellbeing into the way communities grow and do business, announced a new initiative to build support and understanding for mental health across the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas, in partnership with PGP (The Public Good Projects). Now more than ever, mental health has become a top priority across the country with almost 40 percent of Americans now showing signs of clinical anxiety or depression. In Nebraska, that number is 30 percent. The project takes a unique digital-forward approach using the power of animals, shared stories and social media to not only spark the conversation about mental health, but also address what keeps many people from seeking help--stigma. Stigma is cited as one of the top reasons why individuals avoid or abandon treatment. In fact, less than half of adults with mental health conditions receive treatment. The initiative includes the creation of two campaigns: Spokesimals Midwest is an education-based campaign inspired by unconditional love and understanding that animals provide. The campaign invites community members to submit pictures of their animals and/or pets, which are then paired with simple messages of encouragement, support and facts about mental health. These messages are for everyone, not just people who have an interest in mental health or live with a mental health condition. The more people know about mental health, the less society will allow mental health See Mental Health page 3
2 | The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020
News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
From Jerusalem to Omaha Continued from page 1 Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, a project of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. He said, “The biggest thing that I have learned about Jewish causes is that we are all in the same tent, but we all come in through different doors. I find it emotionally fulfilling to provide many doors across the Midwest and reaching to Israel.” From a middle-class family in Omaha, Staenberg built THF Realty, the third largest commercial real estate firm in the United States, that developed over 200 shopping centers nationwide. He attributes his success to his innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit and a passionate drive to succeed by means of hard work. That same passion has created the basis for his strong philanthropic spirit and belief in sharing his successes by “paying it forward” while enhancing lives of future generations.
The Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies was founded at UNO ten years ago by Natan and Hannah Schwalb based on their vision to provide young people in Omaha an opportunity to learn and explore Jewish and Israel S t u d i e s through scholarship and travel. Today the center provides Israel and Jewish studies-related academic offerings and research, local and international community outreach and faculty and student scholarships for research and travel. Upcoming fall programs will highlight the impact of COVID-19 in Israel, several new manuscripts on the history and impact of Jewish migration globally and the complex and evolving relationship between African-American and Jewish communities. For more information on Schwalb Center 2020 programming please see our website at http://www.unom aha.schw albcenter.edu.
ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith is pleased to announce the resumption of its award-winning speaker program via ZOOM. Although the Home auditorium remains temporarily closed, we’ll continue presenting an outstanding lineup of thought-provoking keynoters. For specific speaker information and/or to be placed on the email list, please contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com or leave a message at the BB JCC office 402.334.6443.
Keeping traditions in untraditional times
member who suggested a similar idea for a GABBY BLAIR neighborhood Passover seder. I thought, why Jewish Press Staff Writer Omaha Chabad is dedicated to making not apply this idea to Rosh Hashanah!? ShoRosh Hashanah traditions available during far is one of those things that can be done at the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to their a lot more than just 6 feet apart!” standard 9 a.m. services, Chabad invites the Teams of volunteers will walk to nearby entire community to an ‘Under-an-Hour houses or common areas with their shofars Rosh Hashanah Experience’ on Sunday, on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. “We will be having a ‘Rosh Hashanah Experience’ in a comfortable and friendly setting in the green space at Chabad,” explains Rabbi Blotner. “Services with shofar and inspiration, followed by delicious individually packed honey cakes, apple and honey will last under an hour. During this time an exciting and interactive children’s program will be held to accommodate families who would like to participate. All services and programs will be held outdoors to accommodate social distancing and masks are required.” Additionally, Chabad continues to offer a traveling shofar Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Synagoge service for those who live within _Enschede,_Venster_met_zuil_en_sjofar a few miles of the Chabad House. In light of and from the street, will perform the shofar the pandemic, Chabad would also like to offer service for residents who can listen from a block party style shofar service this year as their own lawns or even their doorstep!” well. “The idea is to have friends or commuAll offerings are free, but reservations are nity members in your neighborhood meet requested for proper planning purposes, so outside their homes and enjoy some pre- please reach out! packed holiday treats and hear the shofar For more information, reserve or to resince many may not be able to make it to syn- quest a shofar service, please contact Rabbi agogue this year,” explains Rabbi Blotner. Duni Blotner at Mitzvah@ochabad.com or “This idea was inspired by a community call 402.330.1800.
3345 N. 107th Street Omaha, NE 68134
Andra Johnson Insurance Agent
Toll Free Phone Fax Cell Email
866-443-9698 402-614-9292 402-614-9293 402-206-6459 ajohnson@americanseniorbenefits.com
MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS • LIFE • LONG TERM CARE • ANNUITIES
Family-owned for 50 years! Art, lamps, decorative accessories, gifts One-week custom picture framing service www.lewisartgallery.com
General Election Publishing date | 10.02.20
8600 Cass Street | 402-391-7733 Open: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sat 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Space reservation | 09.23.20
Contact our advertising representative to promote your candidacy. SUSAN BERNARD | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org
The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020 | 3
We are at an exciting and transformative moment; a crossroads of the Omaha JCC’s past, present and future that is rich with opportunity. Our Future is Now, and we invite you to Be a Part of It! “You have to see it to really appreciate it... photos don’t do it justice.” These are words commonly heard in the hallways of the transforming Staenberg Omaha JCC as construction continues in several areas. According to the Federation’s Chief Development Officer Steve Levinger, “Our community is so fortunate that around 100 donors have made contributions to the building project so far. This has allowed us to do construction work while we are out raising necessary capital. Most projects of this type require that a large percentage of the funds are secured before the shovel actually hits the ground. “We have now raised about 88% of the necessary dollars and are at a point where we are excited to invite the entire JCC community, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, to help us reach the
finish line. This is a project that benefits all of us and ensures the sustainability of our facilities and community for generations to come.” Beginning next week, a community-wide fundraising campaign led by Donald Goldstein, David Gilinksy, John Glazer, Joanie Jacobson and Mike Siegel will begin with the goal of raising an additional $4 million on top of the $29 million already secured. The JCC website will provide an overview of the project with a donation page for online gifts. Postcards, brochures, on-site tours and other plans are in place to ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate in the dreams and vision of our future. We are making some big changes that will enhance our JCC for the 21st century and allow us to continue impacting our community members’ lives now and in the years to come. “This is truly a community-wide effort,” Steve said. “Every gift to this project matters and is essential to complete the transformation, so we invite you all to join us.”
JFO Women’s Campaign Continued from page 1 every one of us to help make a difference. It’s like voting... every vote counts. Every dollar—and each individual gift—counts.” Cindy Goldberg and Sharon Kirshenbaum are co-Chairs of the Women’s Major Donor and Lion of Judah segment of the Annual Campaign. Cindy’s words echo Susie’s: “I think now, more than ever, is a very important time to step up and help others. I have said many times that it is our responsibility to take care of our own Jewish community, nobody else is going to help our community other than us!” Sharon agreed: “My motivation to chair the Women’s Major donor division lies with my firm belief in Tikkun Olam. I truly believe that we need to leave this world in better shape than when we came into it. One way of doing that is helping to raise the money necessary to keep our Jewish community active and thriving and to help those not as fortunate as ourselves.” There is no doubt this Campaign will look different than it did in previous years. “I’m optimistic that it will all work out,” Cindy said. “We may believe that making solicitations over the phone may not be the best way to do it, but we will work hard to make our phone conversations that much more meaningful.” “In addition,” Sharon said, “staff at the Jewish Federation of Omaha has many amazing virtual events in the works that will help us feel the love of our community. However, the fundraising doesn’t change. The Lions of Judah are an amazing group of dedicated and passionate women that step up to make solicitations and give to the campaign when asked.” Cindy said she’s always been a firm believer that women have a strong impact on our Jewish community, and this year is no different. “I definitely look to my mom as my role model of a strong woman leader,” she said. “She has led by example and she taught me the importance of giving back.” “Women want to make a difference,” Sharon said. “One way that they do this is through their philanthropic giving. Women’s giving demonstrates that women are knowledgeable philanthropists, who understand how to exercise their power to make a difference. Women don’t just sit on the sidelines.
They step up every time and demonstrate their dedication and responsibility to the needs of the Jewish community, here at home and around the world.” Sharon’s most important mentors, Jan Goldstein and Maxine Kirshenbaum, “have instilled in me the importance of Tikkun Olam. They have both played such an important part in repairing the world and have taught me what’s really important in life. I am also inspired by the many women in our community who step up and make our Jewish community a priority.”
Mental Health Continued from page 1 conditions to be stigmatized. Individuals can submit their animal or pet at www.Spokesimals.com. WhatMakesUs is a contact-based campaign designed to challenge perceptions and change the conversation around mental health. This campaign is a collection of photo and video testimonials from community members living with mental health conditions and their allies, highlighting what makes them who they are---not defined by a mental health condition. These testimonials are then distributed across multiple social media platforms and by community partners. By sharing stories from real people in the community, stigma is reduced by highlighting shared interests, values and experiences, and showing the WhatMakesUs who we are is about so much more than whether or not we live with a mental health condition. Community members can share their story at WhatMakesUs.com. Funding and support for these campaigns come from the Sherwood Foundation, Mutual of Omaha Foundation, CHI Health, Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare and a growing list of public and private sponsors. These include: The Douglas, Sarpy/Cass, and Pottawattamie (Iowa) health departments, the Metro Area Planning Agency (MAPA), and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. To learn more about The Wellbeing Partners visit www.thewellbeingpartners.org.
A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC.
Anne & Alan Cohen Marty & Kathy Cohen Marty Cohen | 402-690-1591
1735 S. 87 St. | District 66/Westside | $650,000 Classic 4 BR/3 Bath/3 Car 2-Story residence on a lush west-facing lot. Impressive foyer. Huge living room w/bay window. Updated eat-in kitchen. A dedicated office for today’s “new normal”. Wood floors, smooth ceilings. Owner’s suite has a dressing room with double closets and an updated bath w/heated floors. Spectacular family room with a soaring ceiling, custom built-ins, fireplace and a full wall of windows overlooking the park-like backyard.
4 | The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020
ADL-CRC Voter’s Corner Jenne Vandeveer MEDICARE Insurance Agent
3345 N. 107th St. | Omaha, NE 68134 402-290-1415 | jvandeveer@americanseniorbenefits.com
Changing your address? Please give us the following information: Your name, old address and new address and when you want the address change to go into effect. Call 402.334.6448 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org
The Jewish Press
ELLIE BATT, CAROL BLOCH AND PAM MONSKY Each week, from now until the election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, the ADL-CRC Plains States Region will provide the essentials on the upcoming election regarding voter registration, mail-in ballots, etc. We will be providing information and tips just like this to help you cast your ballot securely and with confidence. If you have any questions, please contact Pam Monsky, pmonsky@adl.org or 402.334.6572 or Gary Nachman, Regional Director, gnachman@adl.org. ARE YOU REGISTERED? Check your registration, or register to vote on the website of your county Election Commission Office or the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office (sos.nebraska.gov/elections/ 2020-elections). You have until Oct. 16 to register for the Nov. 3 general election. To ensure delivery of your ballot (if you’re voting by mail), make sure to register ASAP. Visit votercheck.necvr.ne.gov for more information or to check your registration. If you have moved or changed your name, you must re-register. If you are registering for the first time you will need a driver’s license
or state ID card. Attention all high school students!! If you will be turning 18 on or before Nov. 3, check out RockTheVote.org, a website to engage and build the political power of young adults. You must meet the following qualifications to register to vote: • Age: To register to vote you must be 18 years old. If you are 17 years old and will be 18 by the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of this year, you can register. • Residence: To register, you must be a resident of Nebraska and of the county where you are registering. If you move, you must reregister. • Citizenship: You must be a United States citizen in order to register to vote. • Felony Conviction: If you have been convicted of a felony, either in Nebraska or another state or in federal court, you cannot register to vote until two years after the completion of your sentence including any probation or parole term. • Mentally Incompetent (Non compos mentis): If you have been found by a court to be mentally incompetent, you cannot register to vote.
Good for the soul ROBBY ERLICH Engagement Coordinator, Beth El On Friday Sept. 4, Beth El will host an informational and how-to Zoom class on birding. This birding 101 class will be held at 2 p.m. and will be led by retired environmentalist and outdoor recreation professional Vern Gersh. There has been interest from several Beth El members to host a birding class as it can be done at a safe distance. Birding is something completely different and unique that Beth El can offer to help us find a different kind of fun and some spiritual peace when so many of us have been quarantined for so long. “The sport of birding is low cost, good for the soul and body, and is surpassing other popular sports like soccer and basketball in terms of popularity” according to Vern. Vern has devoted his professional career to out-
door therapeutic programming, nature conservation programming at local nature centers and national parks in Minnesota, California and Colorado. Throughout his travels, he has remained a vigilant birder since the mid 1980s. Vern got his start with birding by teaching a bird photography class. “I love it- it’s great to get some exercise and you learn to be patient and observant- it gives you great rewards in the long run.” According to Vern, there are many Audubon society groups to connect with, which are stocked with helpful resources. “I am looking forward to sharing a thing or two with the fine folks from Omaha!” To register for this introductory birding class, please visit www.bethel-omaha.org. For questions, please e-mail Robby Erlich, Engagement Coordinator at rerlich@bethelomaha.org.
Best in Omaha hotels EVEN HOTEL OMAHA DOWNTOWN Well-come to EVEN Hotel Omaha Downtown, where travel, wellness and balance meet. Located in the heart of downtown Omaha, EVEN Hotel is just moments from TD Ameritrade Park, home of the College World Series, the CHI Health Center and Eppley Airport. EVEN is conveniently located near Omaha’s best social and professional attractions, including the Henry Doorly Zoo, Joslyn Art Museum, Durham Museum and Omaha Children’s Museum. EVEN Hotel Omaha Downtown sits “on the cusp” of Creighton University and the beautiful and eclectic Old Market District. We are proud to offer our guests high-speed WIFI, and complimentary shuttle service to Eppley Airport and the surrounding downtown Omaha area. Stay well and relaxed in our guaranteed King bedrooms, mindfully designed with eucalyptus linens, in-room exercise zones, and walk-in showers with spa-inspired amenities. Recharge in our best-in-class Athletic Studio, state-of-the-art pool, and healthy dining options, made to order and enjoy, or packaged for grab-and-go meals on the run. Plan your business meeting or special event in any one of our spacious event rooms. Big or small, rest easy, EVEN has you covered. Stay relaxed. Stay well Stay EVEN.
ALOFT OMAHA WEST Stay in style at Aloft Omaha West, where a new and exciting experience awaits your arrival. Offering an ideal location in Omaha, near Dodge Street and I-80, our brand-new hotel is close to Lindsay Corporation, Sojern, Methodist Hospital and UNMC. Kick back in our pet-friendly guest rooms, specially designed with smart refrigerators, 55inch flat screen TVs, walk-in showers with Bliss Spa amenities and our ultra-comfortable beds for the ultimate travel experience. Grab breakfast in the hotel, or on the fly with our signature portable breakfast bowls, or refresh your energy levels with a healthy snack from our 24/7 Re:fuel eatery. Relax and unwind with your friends and family in our W XYZ bar, where craft beer and cocktails are all the buzz. Take a splash in our boutique hotel’s custom indoor pool, open daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m., or recharge at our state-of-the-art fitness center, anytime, day or night. Planning a meeting or special event? Aloft Omaha West has over 3,800 square feet of captivating event space. Whether planning a quick business meeting or a lush wedding, Aloft Omaha West will cater to your every need. Work or play, you will discover an exceptional stay at Aloft Omaha West. Different by design.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020 | 5
News
What to do?
ADAM TRUBNIKOV Solution Engineer The more I do what I do, the more I realize there is more to do. Each person has their purpose. The ambitious type seeks out a purpose greater than themselves. Those rewarded with immediate short-term pleasure are content with what the day brings because they can generate rewards right when they need to. But what is my purpose? Is it to stay in the computer world and help those in need? Or is it to take my cumulative knowledge, skills and experiences to build something greater? This is a hard question to answer because just like we cannot place a price on a human life, we cannot decide whether or not a malfunctioning printer or disconnection from the Internet is truly a small problem. A mediocre solution can mean the world to the helpless individual. Due to the digital age we live in, getting online can make all the difference. This is why among all of the world problems we experience today, I have made a decision to try something new. I will continue to help my fellow community members and clients the best way I can. However, look out for something bigger. Consider the changes we are experiencing beside the pandemic. From environmental problems to political extremism, it is easy to complain about the problems experienced on a macroscopic level. Yet, it is difficult to influence change in a direction that makes sense solely to the individual. The complainer has several options to choose from. He or she can keep complaining, get involved through politics or volunteering, or start a business that fills the void. There is another option though. Follow my activity. Better yet, reach out to me at 402.707.7219 or vokinburt@hotmail.com. I have a plan to “fix the world” while keeping my day job. PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Visit us at omahajewishpress.com
Healthy
Life
LOCA L | N ATION AL | WORLD
The Kaplan Book Group examines the burdens of being The Rabbi’s Daughter SHIRLY BANNER Library Specialist, Kripke Jewish Federation Library In keeping with social distancing, the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will be using Zoom to meet until further notice. To Join the Zoom Meeting, Contact sbanner@jewishomaha.org for the link and meeting ID On Sept. 17 the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will be discussing Reva Mann’s memoir The Rabbi’s Daughter. What behavior is to be expected of the granddaughter of the former Chief Rabbi of Israel and the daughter of a highly respected London rabbi? Can rebellion against her strict Orthodox upbringing and her shattered family dynamics be tolerated? Will Reva ultimately find her way and resolve her spiritual quest to understand her past, her faith, and the reasoning behind her family’s hidden secret? Does one grow up as the person they are expected to be or must they endure the trials and tribulations of finding who they are and how they fit into the world around them? Growing up in London, Reva is a wild child, testing her limits and her parents’ patience
Social
Life
2220 Farnam Street Omaha, Nebraska 68102
215 S 181st Street Omaha, Nebraska 68022
Downtown Omaha
West Omaha
with her various incidents of drug use and sexual escapades. Is this rebellion a result of her parents’ idiosyncrasies, her religious background or trying to deal with a sister who was born severely handicapped and institutionalized? After an ill-fated romance with a non-Jew, Reva decides to move to Israel to study midwifery where once she felt so at home during her many visits with her grandfather. Once in Israel, Reva begins and then suspends her studies to focus on her spiritual side and a newly religious awakening. Studying at a women’s Yeshiva, Reva becomes more and more connected to the strict Orthodox upbringing of her grandfather and soon begins going on dates arranged by a matchmaker. In her shidduch date with Sim-
cha Lewinsky, Reva finally finds someone she can relate to on a newly emerging spiritual level and commits to spending her life with Simcha to build a home and family. A marriage with three children and numerous ups and downs in their relationship and expectations lead to a divorce from Simcha. Reva is once again lost trying to find her place in the world. Ultra Orthodoxy is no longer the answer, but what is? Is it a blending of the ways of her father and grandfather and acceptance of the past? Join us on Thursday, Sept. 17 and decide for yourself. The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion group meets normally on the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library, but we will be “meeting” online using Zoom until further notice. New members are always welcome. The group receives administrative support from the Community Engagement & Education arm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. For information about the group, contact Shirly Banner at 402.334.6462 or sbanner@ jewishomaha.org. To view books discussed by the group over the past several years, go to www.jewishomaha.org, click on the “Community & Education” pull down tab and navigate to “Kripke Jewish Federation Library,” then to “Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group.”
6 | The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020
The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020 | 7
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, 2019 and June, 2020, our efforts have been sustained by the following contributors who chose to balance their own needs with the needs of others. Grants
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
Life and Legacy
John Atherton & Marti Rosen-Atherton
Omaha Gives Donors Harry Gates
Contributions & Tribute Cards
Contributions & Tribute Cards
Nancy Epstein and Robyn Belgrade
Alan and Carol Parsow
In Kind Donations Bob Belgrade
Andi Goldstein
Darlene Golbitz
Paul and Sandy Epstein
Cynthia & Joshua Persky
Beth El
Gary & Barbara Goldstein
MarySue Grossman
Gary and Lisa Epstein
Steve and Marcia Pitlor
Beth Israel
David & Shirley Goodman
Karen Gustafson
ERFTMIER LAW LLC
Sheila Priluck and Family
Roni Braaton
Debbi Josephson
Debra Kaplan
Family Enrichment Inc.
Amy Reynolds and Ben Shapiro
Child Development Center
Gloria Kaslow
Jay Katelman
Tom and Darlynn Fellman
Marty and Iris Ricks
Janey Dann
Howard Kaslow
Mendel Katzman
Ted and Jamie Friedland
Judy Roffma
Debbie Denenberg
David Kohll
Gail Kenkel
Ike and Roz Friedman Foundation
Residents of Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
Linda Isaacman
Janet Kohll
Leah Kosinovsky
Jane Fruchtman
Marcia Ruback
David Lieberman
Steven Levinger
Richard and Wendy Goedeken
Thelma Lustgarten
Patricia Mark
Donald and Andi Goldstein
Philip Schwartz and Lee G. Schwartz Philantropic Foundation
Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
Bruce Meyers
Mariana Nieto
David and Shirley Goodman
Patty Nogg
Allan Noddle
Robert and Barbara Goodman
Endowments
Steve Nogg
Jay Noddle
Nancy Jacobson
Tikkun Olam -- repairing the world -- is a moral obligation. Through these
Gilda Pieck
Nancy Nogg
Jewish Press Staff
endowments, JFS continues to help people build lives of hope and joy. Craig Saylan Memorial Endowment Fund
Sherry & Larry Shapiro
Patty Nogg
Arnold and Sheryn Joffe
Susan Norton
Edith & Paul Goldstein Endowment Fund
Friends Campaign
Dr. Fred and Sarah Kader
Jeff Platt
Joan Kaiman
Marti Rosen-Atherton
Lisa Kanne & Karma Yoga Healing Circle Donors
Lynne Saltzman
Lorrie and Gary Katelman
Larry and Sherry Shapiro
Howard and Gloria Kaslow
COVID-19 Emergency Relief
John Sheehan
Leslie and Helen Kay
The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
Buey Tut
Jeff and Sha on Kirshenbaum
was set up by the Jewish Federation of Omaha and Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. We would like to thank everyone who gave to this important cause.
Margie Utesch
Joe and Maxine Kirshenbaum
Annette Van de Kamp-Wright
Matt Kirshenbaum
Edward Walsh
Jerry and Gail Kohll
Ann Walter
Brandon and Jennifer Koom
Phyllis Wasserman
Howard and Sharon Kooper
Jeff ey Winick
Stanley and Angie Krieger
Herbert Goldsten Trust Lazier L. and Harriet B. 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 Foundation The Milton S. & Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund The Phillip and Terri Schrager Supporting Foundation
Harry & Fannie Stock Rothkop/Theodore Rothkop Fund Howard and Judy Vann Family Education Fund Ike Friedman JFS Financial Assistance Fund Jake & Mary Wine 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
Cancelled this year to encourage and support donations to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.
Omaha Gives Donors Tommie Adams
Contributions & Tribute Cards
Mark & Sophie Sturm Immigrant Education Fund
John Atherton
Mickey (Sturm) Stern Memorial Endowment Fund
Sharon Brodkey
John Atherton and Marti Rosen-Atherton
Nancy Noddle JFS Financial Assistance Fund
Kirsten Case
Tom and Mary Bernstein
Nathan and Rose Lillian Fine JFS Tzedakah Endowment Fund
Linda Cogen
Albert Bloch
Parsow and Simons Families Special Needs Community Fund
Toba Cohen-Dunning
Steve and Carol Bloch
Paul & Joy Grossman Family Endowment Fund
Kathryn David
James and Marge Bresel
Teresa Drelicharz
Child Development Center
Pennie Z. Davis Family Life Education Fund
Holly Dunning
Mark and Linda Cogen
Perlmeter Family Jewish Family Service Assistance Fund
Tom and Darlynn Fellman
Marvin and Susie Cohn
Richard “Pete” Lee Memorial Endowment Fund
Karen Flayhart
Donald and Marlene Dandy
Cindy Friedman
Howard and Sharon Epstein
Paul Alperson Endowment Fund
Robert Sturm JFS Housing Assistance Endowment Fund Rosalie & Milton Saylan Endowment Fund for JFS
Dr. Larry and Diane Malashock
Larry and Sherry Shapiro
Kevee Kirshenbaum
Michael and Patricia Sherman
Lina and Roman Kogan-Pitman
Jack and Helene Shrago
Deborah Kronick
Judy and Jerry Simons
Sharon Lintzman
Gloria and Ed Smith
Mason Magnus
Robert F. and Sharon L. Swartzbaugh
Diane Malashock
Sokolof Foundation
Bruce Meyers
Lindsey Sophir
Maxine Noddell
Jennifer Tompkins
Sandy Nogg
Stewart and Judy Tully
Allen and Eden Ostravich
Dr. Evan P Varkony
Anne Pickel
Joye & Steve Wees
Marti and Iris Ricks
Roger Weinberg
Jan Schneiderman
Jeremy Wright and Annette Van de Kamp-Wright
Marsha and Steve Senft
Richard and Terri Zacharia
Rabbi Maximo and Jeanne Shechet
Barry and Nora Zoob
Mark and Ruth Sherman
Young Jewish Giving Brady Meyerson
Joe and Tina Meyers
Robert Osborne
Scott and Jenny Meyerson
Samantha Sullivan
Mike* and Suzi Mogil Alan and Linda Muskin Murray and Sharee Newman
Project Dreidel
Sherman and Sandy Brodkey
Dr. Patricia Newman
Marvin and Susie Cohn
Jay Noddle
Steve and Joye Wees
Nancy Noddle
Susan Cohn
Connie O’Connor
Bnai Brith
Allen and Eden Ostravich
JFS Discretionary Fund - Project Dreidel - Kavich Family
Fefe Passer and Al Bloch
Dr. Fred and Sarah Kader
Sherry and Larry Shapiro
Gloria and Ed Smith Shoshy, Adam and Molly Susman Temple Israel Diane Walker Jan and Phillip Wayne Isabella Wright Amee Zetzman *Of Blessed Memory
All contributions are as of June 30, 2020. We apologize if your name was omitted from this list. Please call JFS at 402-330-2024.
Ruth & Bernard Raskin Endowment Fund Ruth & Otmar Liebenstein JFS Financial Assistance Endowment Fund Steven Bloch President’s Fund Yachad Endowment Fund Arthur L. and Betsy Davidson Emergency Assistance Endowment Fund for JFO Beatrice Karp Life and Legacy Fund for Jewish Family Service
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.
8 | The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020
Above and below: A Celebration of Donuts at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Residents and staff enjoyed warm and delicious donuts from Krispy Kreme for a fun theme courtyard experience. Residents gain some knowledge, and fun facts about donuts, received donut sprinkles, nail polish and played donut trivia. Larry Rawlings, the RBJH bus driver, won a gift certificate to Krispy Kreme Donuts for guessing The Simpsons for which television show lead character loved donuts.
Above and below: Leta and Chuck Levinger celebrated 66 years of marriage on Aug. 22. Mazel Tov! As a wedding gift, Chuck gave Leta a romantic card, flowers and a painting from Chuck’s art sessions with Opening Minds through Art.
Below: The Lubmans proudly pose next to their newly affixed Mezuzah.
SP O TLIGHT PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.
Below: Teen get-together hosted by Dr. Michael & Karen Cohen.
Above: Rabbi Duni Blotner on his way in to UNMC for the weekly Lunch n’ Learn with the doctors, residents and students, hosted by Dr. Howard Gendelman.
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020 | 9
Voices The Jewish Press (Founded in 1920) Abby Kutler President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Michael Ivey Accounting Jewish Press Board Abby Kutler, President; Eric Dunning, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen, David Finkelstein, Candice Friedman, Bracha Goldsweig, Margie Gutnik, Natasha Kraft, Chuck Lucoff, Eric Shapiro, Andy Shefsky, Shoshy Susman and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha. org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha. org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.
American Jewish Press Association Award Winner
Nebraska Press Association Award winner 2008
National Newspaper Association
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.
Share the love
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor As we are busy wrapping up the final parts of the big Rosh Hashanah edition, I’m starting to wonder what we’ll do at home when the holidays finally get here. That this year will be different is an understatement; we are all, by now, painfully aware just how different. Besides buying honey-themed gifts to send to friends and planning what sort of desserts we’ll make I haven’t gotten very far. I’ll take a little time off, sure, but these days, it seems spending any time away from the office isn’t as rewarding as it used to be. That sounds worse than it is— home isn’t stressful, it’s just that I’m so incredibly grateful to have an office to go to at all when many others are unemployed, it feels like a vacation is the last thing I want or need. What I need is other people—I imagine many of you feel the same. I need a filled-to-the-brim synagogue, a full parking lot, a bustling kitchen getting ready for an indulgent Oneg, so many familiar faces you don’t know who to greet first, the slight panic that comes with showing up late-ish and finding limited empty seats, schmoozing, hugs and smiles and the knowledge that over the next few weeks, you’ll be fully immersed in the Jewish calendar. To me, Judaism has always been a community affair. From growing up in Europe, where the memory of the Holocaust occupied a permanent seat at the table, to Omaha, Nebraska, where being Jewish is something to be thoroughly enjoyed with others, it’s been an awakening. It’s the notion that happiness is an integral part of Judaism, not in spite of tragedy, but because the community itself makes it so. There is a vibrancy here that I never experienced back home. And I miss it. It’s been six
months and I think we’re all hitting the wall. Or are we? When you have a roof over your head, enough to eat and your health, complaining is not a good look. That vibrant energy we normally experience during this season can still be put to good use—as long as we consciously redirect it. At our house, we have an unwritten rule. If something goes wrong (a bad grade, a broken appliance, car trouble, it can be anything) we do a random mitzvah. While one may be utterly unrelated to the other, it makes us feel better. The funny thing is, it works every time. It’s as if one misfortune is canceled out by working to fix something completely different. Of course, we still work on getting the initial problem taken care of, but the mitzvah is the more important thing, because it truly lifts our spirits. And since a pandemic certainly qualifies as “things gone wrong,” I think we need a serious amount of mitzvahs. There’s the JFO COVID fund, which is a logical place to start. You can find the link to donate on
the right side of the home page. Partially because of this Fund, Emergency Financial Assistance is available for anyone in the Jewish community who is affected financially by the virus outbreak. Support our synagogues and our clergy. Few of us, unless we have been in their shoes, can imagine what it must feel like to be a rabbi or hazzan who is confronted with an empty synagogue. Tell RBJH Residents and staff you are thinking about them. No, we can’t visit, which is awful— and it’s not about to change any time soon. But you can send a note to a Resident, or sponsor a meal for the staff. Remind them that we can be together apart. Go through your contact list and call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Support a local business, not because you need anything from their shop, just because you want them to stick around. Send a postcard to someone. Remember postcards? In short, do some good. Share love. It is, in the end, what is going to help us all pull through as a community.
My children have become nocturnal during the pandemic MEREDITH LEWIS This article originally appeared in Kveller. It started out innocently enough. “Can we stay up late?” my kids, ages 7 and 9, asked the first evening back in March after in-person school was canceled. “We don’t have real school tomorrow.” “Sure, why not?” I said. I couldn’t have guessed what that answer would eventually lead to. Over the past few months, my children have slowly become nocturnal. Not in the cute “my kids go to bed late and then sleep in” kind of way. Nope. My kids are actually keeping nighttime hours: These days they are going to bed at 5 a.m. and waking up after 4 p.m. When I confess this to friends, their reactions range from laughter to confusion, but here’s the truth: With a few exceptions, this arrangement is working for our family. And, truthfully, it’s the only way I’m surviving the quarantine. Like families across the country, once we no longer had the daily get-up-early, get dressed-packlunches-eat-breakfast hustle so we can rush-toschool-and-get-to-the-office, bedtime was stretched later. The kids started to sleep in during the mornings. And once the Zoom school calls ended in late June, what motivation did I have to wake them up? So I could repeatedly nag them about going outside, or remind them again that they weren’t going to spend the entire day watching shows on their iPad? Throughout the past month, I haven’t seen my kids much at all during daytime hours — hours that I typically devote to doing (and keeping) my job. I check in on my kids in the middle of sundrenched afternoons, only to find them asleep on their floors (which they apparently find more comfortable than their beds) cuddled up with stuffies, blankets and often each other. When they wake up for the “day” — which, as we’ve already established, is the nighttime — they are generally happy and ready to play with Legos, listen to audiobooks, and sort endless piles of YuGi-Oh cards. I’m reminded of the verse from Proverbs, “hanoch l’naar al pi darko” — “teach a
child according to their own way.” While I know our schedule won’t work for most children, mine seem to be thriving for now. As a working mother, I have no idea how else I could actually pull off working if it wasn’t for this crazy schedule. I have a supportive partner, but he also has his own job and daily demands. Because my kids are generally asleep during daylight hours, I’m able to balance a demanding job with hours of conference calls, writing, and supervising. Unlike so many of my peers, I have enough focus time to get most of my work done most days.
Credit: Rudall30/Getty Images
Just as I’m wrapping up the end of these long workdays, I wake up my kids and my parenting day begins. We enjoy the last few hours of fleeting sun for late afternoon swims, dusk bike rides, and reading stories well into what used to be the “night” for my children. Normally by 10 p.m., the adults in the house go down for their bedtime, and the kids have the evening to themselves to continue to play together. They’ve certainly become more independent, figuring out ways to resolve their own fights, make their own snacks, navigate Netflix, and keep themselves busy enough that they don’t need parents hovering over them. What do they do all night? Who knows? I see clues of their activities scattered around the house: iPads charging near their bed, a half-eaten bowl of cereal in the kitchen sink, Lego pieces scattered in the hallways, a broken milk-crate fort in one of their
rooms. It’s clear they are safe and busy (if not exactly tidy). Look, this approach wasn’t intentional nor is it conventional. But let’s be honest: We’ve never seen a parenting moment like this. The demands are nonstop and are physically, emotionally, and mentally draining to the core. Then we get up and do it again the next day, and the next day, and the next day — with no end in sight. It’s awful, and yet, we are the lucky ones. We are the ones who get to stay home and don’t have to go to workplaces where we may be exposed to coronavirus. The ones who have secure jobs that allow us to work from home and financially take care of our family. The ones whose kids are old enough to understand what’s going on and young enough to not see milestones they’ve worked toward for years be canceled. There are some misfires, of course. They sometimes wake up in the afternoon, confused not only about the time of day but also clearly in need of some outdoor Vitamin D or some form of food other than a carb. Other days, my kids stomp downstairs to eat “breakfast” before heading to bed for the day, and they are so loud they wake me up, just a few hours after I’ve fallen asleep. Just a few days ago, I again reminded my kids that while I was happy their schedule was working for them, they needed to consider the adults in the household as well, which in this case meant not yelling while overflowing giant bowls of cereal. They came back 10 minutes later with breakfast in bed for me: toast, banana yogurt, jellybeans, and a salad of Israeli pickles, blackberries, cheese, and cinnamon raisin bread crust that isn’t likely to appear on your favorite Jewish food blog anytime soon. They apologized, gave me kisses, and soon went to sleep. I thought to myself, “They have become more independent. They have developed a deeper sense of empathy. They are fighting less. I should be thankful.” And I am thankful. I’m also really, really tired. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
Synagogues
10 | The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
CHABAD HOUSE
An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN
South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE
Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com
TIFERETH ISRAEL
Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
B’NAI ISRAEL We will not be holding services on Friday, Sept. 11. For information on our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Mary-Beth Muskin and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. VIRTUAL MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9 a.m. and Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Birding 101 with Vern Gersh, 2 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdallah, 8:39 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; No BESTT. MONDAY: Office Closed for Labor Day WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4:30 p.m.; USY Check-In, 5:15 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Shul Music with Hazzan Krausman, 7 p.m.; Miriam Initiative Anybody Can Play A Good Hand, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY-Sept. 11: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.; AIPAC: A Story That Defines A Movement, 6:45 p.m. (following services) SATURDAY-Sept. 12: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; AIPAC: The US-Israel Relationship: A Relationship We Need, 11:15 a.m. (following services); Selichot with speaker Susan Kuklin, 7:30 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv/Havdallah, 8:30 p.m. (followed by Selichot) Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. Classes, Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah on Zoom, Whatsapp or Facebook Live. On site services held outside in Sukkah, weather permitting. Physical distancing and masks required. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:33 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Havdalah, 8:32 p.m. (Zoom) SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Daven and Donuts for Kids, 9 a.m.; Rambam: Rabbi Moshe, 9:45 a.m. (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m. MONDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45
a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Middot with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m. (Zoom); Parsha Inspiration with Rabbi Ari, 4:30 p.m. (Facebook Live); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY-Sept. 11: Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Prayer, 7:45 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:21 p.m. SATURDAY-Sept. 12: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Havdalah, 8:19 p.m. (Zoom). Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
CHABAD HOUSE Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Due to Coronavirus, all services and classes have moved online. For schedules and more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.org or call the office at 402.330.1800 FRIDAY: Candlelighting, 7:33 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Ends, 8:31 p.m. SUNDAY: Sukkot, The Gift of G-d's Embrace: Holiday Prep, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Mendel and Shani Katzman. 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. THURSDAY: Intermediate Hebrew Reading and Prayer, 11 a.m.; Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Katzman. FRIDAY-Sept. 11: Candlelighting, 7:21 p.m. SATURDAY-Sept. 12: Shabbat Ends, 8:18 p.m.
B’NAI JESHURUN The Temple office is on reduced hours until further notice and all services and activities are being offered via livestream or teleconferencing. Please call 402.435.8004 or email office@southstreettemple. org for further information or to make an appointment for a visit, if necessary. You may also email board president Nicholette Seigfreid at president@south streettemple.org. South Street Temple’s events can be found at https://south streettemple.org/calendar/. FRIDAY: Erev Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. service leaders/music: Leslie Delserone, Nathaniel Kaup, Steve, Kaup, Elaine Monnier, Peter Mullin; Candlelighting, 7:37 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m. on Parashat Ki Tavo led by Maria Cadwallader; Hav-
dalah (72 minutes), 8:36 p.m. SUNDAY: Temple Gardening, 8:30 a.m. MONDAY: Office Closed for Labor Day TUESDAY: Tea & Coffee Time with Temple Friends, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. WEDNESDAY: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. via Zoom. FRIDAY-Sept. 11: Erev Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Leslie Delserone, Nathaniel Kaup, Steve, Kaup, Elaine Monnier, Peter Mullin, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:26 p.m. SATURDAY-Sept. 12: Shabbat Morning Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m. on Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelich led by Elaine Monnier; Havdalah (72 minutes), 8:23 p.m.; S’lichot Service, service leaders/music: TBD, 7:30 p.m.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE All services canceled until further notice.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is currently closed to visitors.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander. DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Mindful Meditation with Margot, 9 a.m. FRIDAY-Sept. 11: Tot Shabbat, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links. SATURDAY-Sept. 12: S’lichot Study Session with Rabbi Stoller — Comtemplating Repentance: A Personal Journey of Writing and Reflection, 7-7:45 p.m.; S’lichot Service, 8-8:45 p.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL
FRIDAY: Zoom Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:34 p.m. SATURDAY: Zoom Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 8:32 p.m. WEDNESDAY: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. via Zoom. FRIDAY-Sept. 11: Zoom Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m. Candlelighting, 7:22 p.m. SATURDAY-Sept. 12: Zoom Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m.; S’lichot Service, 8 p.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 8:20 p.m. Mt. Carmel Memorial Service, Sunday, Sept. 13, 10:30 a.m. Board Meeting, Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m. Please visit tiferethisraellincoln.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
There are some things you just can’t do on Zoom LEIBEL BAUMGARTEN Chabad When asked to conjure up an image of a rabbi on Rosh Hashanah, you’d likely picture a rabbi draped in a tallit deep in prayer, or perhaps standing at the pulpit delivering an inspiring sermon. But for the past 34 years, it would be just as likely to see Rabbi Mendel Katzman of Chabad trudging uphill in sneakers miles away from his Shul with beads of sweat dripping down his brow. You see, before and after services, Rabbi Katzman and other Chabad volunteers walked for miles to blow the Shofar for home and hospital bound individuals unable to attend Shul to hear the Shofar in person. They visited nursing homes, retirement centers, hospitals, private homes and even some offices and stores! This year, although there will be outdoor shofar blowing at services at Chabad following all medical and legal recommendations and guidelines, COVID-19 still threatens to drastically increase the number of people who will be unable to attend shul, especially among the elderly. Rabbi Duni Blotner of Chabad and Rabbi Yoni Dreyer of Beth Israel are collaborating to grow on Chabad’s annual “shofar blowathon” initiative and reach as many homebound Omaha Jews as possible. “There are some things you just can’t do on Zoom,” says Rabbi Katzman. “Hearing the shofar in
person is a foundational mitzvah; it sets the tone (pardon the pun) for the whole year.” While there are numerous traditions and customs associated with Rosh Hashanah, the festival celebrating the New Year, and known as the Day of
simplicity, serving as a wakeup call for the listener to rekindle their relationship with G-d. “Eating brisket with the family is important,” says Rabbi Katzman, “But it is important to nourish the soul as well with the mitzvah of the day.”
Judgment, the primary mitzvah is the sounding of the shofar, a ram’s horn. The horn’s blasts are not remarkable for their musicality, but rather for their
If you or someone you know will be unable to attend Shul to hear the shofar in person, please contact Rabbi Duni Blotner at mitzvah@ochabad.com.
Life cycles IN MEMORIAM ELINOR GREENBERG Elinor Greenberg of Sarasota, FL, passed away on Aug. 9 at age 86. She was interred in Haym Salomon Memorial Park in suburban Philadelphia, PA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard “Bernie” Greenberg and her parents,Isadore and Dena Struletz. She is survived by her two sons, Howard of Ewing, NJ and Joel of Austin, TX; grandchildren: Jacob and Eliza; sister, Ina Moore of Atlanta, GA; nieces, Jennifer and Rachel; great-niece, Lailah, and many cousins. A native Georgian, she met her future husband on a blind date during the Korean War when Bernie was at Officers Candidate School in Columbus, GA. A homemaker and amateur artist, Elinor bequeathed her appreciation of culture to her sons and nieces along with her grandmother Rebecca’s (Mamabecca to Howard and Joel) famously-regarded mandel bread recipe. She was active in Temple Emanu-El – where her mandel bread was highly prized – and she volunteered at the Kobernick House on the Aviva Campus. She became a dog lover late in life when she rescued a Shih Tzu. Honey and Elinor were “wedded at the paw” till Honey’s trip across the Golden Bridge. Memorials may be made to Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Rd. Sarasota, FL 34232 or your local animal rescue. DONALD LLOYD MARTI Donald Lloyd Marti passed away on Aug 19 in Lincoln. He was preceded in death by parents Lloyd (former Lincoln mayor) and Fern Marti, stepmother Elizabeth Marti and brother, Douglas Marti. He is survived by wife Karolyn Kagan Marti, daughter and sonin-law, Marcelyn Marti-Rogers and Charles Rogers, son and daughter-in-law, Curtis and Stacy Marti of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and grandchildren: Mallory Rogers and Edward Boone, Gavin and Renatta Rogers and Max, Adia, Sophia and Mitchell Marti; brotherin-law, Doug Kagan. He was a proud graduate of The Culver Military Academy class of 1949. He did his undergraduate work at UNL and received his Juris Doctor at UNL College of Law 1959. Donald was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and was a lifetime member of the Nebraska Bar Association. He was a partner in the Lincoln law firm of Marti, O'Gara, Dalton, Bruckner and Keating. He was a member of the Nebraska Board of Abstractors and Examiners appointed by Governor Tiemann. Donald served with the United States Army Ordnance Corps with the rank of First Lieutenant, honorably discharged in 1955. HAYLEY MILLWARD Hayley Millward passed away on Aug. 24, 2020 at age 47 in Omaha, Nebraska. Memorial service arrangements are pending and will be communicated at a later date. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sara Cleaveland Wright and Stephen Wright and son, Devon Cleaveland; mother, Sylvia Allen and father and step-mother, David and Sue Millward; brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Evelyn Millward; sister, Joanne Millward and sister and brother-in-law, Stephanie and Brian Kronberg; several nieces and nephews: Rhys Smith, Jessica Smith, Henry Millward, Rosemary Millward, and Emilia Kronberg. Hayley was a British transplant from Sheffield, England, who moved to Omaha in the 1980s. Although she resided in Omaha, she remained close to her British roots and spent almost every summer with her mother, Sylvia, with whom she shared a special bond. They both loved to travel and share a good laugh! Known to many simply as "Miss Hayley," she spent a significant portion of her professional life sharing her energetic spirit and love of teaching at the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center at the Jewish Community Center of Omaha. She later went on to work in sales. Everyone who came into contact with Hayley experienced first-hand the ease with which she was able to talk to anyone -- from any walk of life -- and find common ground or shared interests. She will be greatly missed by her friends and family. Hayley battled Crohn's and Colitis for much of her life, so memorials may be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
SUBMIT OBITUARIES TO THE JEWISH PRESS:
Email the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; mail to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; or online at online at www.omahajewishpress.com/site/forms/.
ANNIVERSARY DEBBIE & LLOYD ROITSTEIN Mazal tov to Debbie and Lloyd Roitstein, who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 30, 1970 by Rabbi Kripke at Beth El Synagogue. Their children are Carrie Roitstein and Steven and Stephanie Roitstein. Debbie and Lloyd have two grandchildren, Ayden and Mycah. The celebration has been delayed due to COVID-19.
Fire at University of Delaware Chabad ruled arson MARCY OSTER JTA Arson was the cause of a fire at the Chabad center at the University of Delaware, the state’s fire marshal has ruled. Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio said Wednesday that investigators have found “no indication of a hate crime,” and that the fire marshal’s office is “exploring all avenues,” the Wilmington News Journal reported. A criminal investigation has been opened. The damage from Aug. 25 night’s blaze was initially estimated at $75,000, though new estimates put the figure at closer to $150,000-$200,000. A group of students calling themselves Students of Chabad UD launched a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild the campus Chabad. As of early Thursday morning the students had raised more than $25,000 from at least 641 donors. “Chabad at UD is a home away from home for many Jewish students at the University of Delaware. Each week they open their doors, for Shabbat dinners and other programs such as holidays, celebrations, and learning opportunities,” the students wrote. “This campaign is being run by the students of Chabad, it is the least we can do to kickstart the larger campaign that will be rolled out shortly.” Classes at the university are scheduled to start next week. “It is heartbreaking to learn the fire at the Chabad Center was set intentionally,” Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton said in a statement. “This is a sickening act of hostility that threatens the safety and security of our inclusive, welcoming neighborhoods. My thoughts are with the Jewish community and those affected by this tragedy.” It required 45 firefighters, including from neighboring fire companies, to bring the fire under control, according to local media reports. The Chabad Jewish Center in Portland, Oregon, caught fire twice last week; the cause of those blazes is still unknown.
Hearth For Healing Counseling Ctr, LLC Visit us at hearth4healing.com
Helping You Through Hard Times Telehealth available
712-571-0680
Couples ~ Children ~ Teens ~ Adults Holistic Personalized Approach
13304 West Center Rd. | Suite 218 | Omaha
The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020 | 11
Pulverente MONUMENT CO. 60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials
1439 So. 13th 402-341-2452 Frank L. Ciciulla, Jr.
Tritz Plumbing Inc. 402-894-0300 www.tritz.com repair • remodel
commercial • residential
family owned and operated since 1945
NEBRASKA STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS
ADVERTISE STATEWIDE for $225/25 word classified ad. Over 150 newspapers with circulation of more than 237,000. Contact the Jewish Press or call 1-800-369-2850.
BANKRUPTCY: FREE consultation. Lowest rates. No office visit required. As Nebraska’s #1 bankruptcy firm, we have helped thousands of clients file bankruptcy in all 93 Nebraska counties. We can Stop garnishments and foreclosures fast. www.SamTurcoLaw.net. Call 402-965-0424 or send e-mail to info@SamTurcoLawOffices.com.
DENIED SOCIAL Security Disability? Appeal! If you’re 50+, filed SSD and denied, our attorneys can help! Win or Pay Nothing! Strong, recent work history needed. 877-247-9416 [Steppacher Law Offices LLC, Principal Office: 224 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18503]
AFFORDABLE PRESS Release service. Send your message to 155 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800369-2850 or www.nebpress.com for more details.
ENJOY 100% guaranteed, delivered to-the-door Omaha Steaks! Get 4 Free Burgers and 4 Free Chicken Breasts. Order The Omaha Steaks Classic at Only $129.99. Call 1-855-993-6208, mention code 64185HQH or visit www.OmahaSteaks.com/ meals674.
UP TO $15,000.00 of Guaranteed Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company, 866-9822256 or visit www.Life55plus.info/ne.
HIGH-SPEED Internet. We instantly compare speed, pricing, availability to find the best service for your needs. Starting at $39.99/month! Quickly compare offers from top providers. Call 1-888-326-3360.
HUGHESNET SATELLITE Internet - 25mbps starting at $49.99/ month! Get More Data. Free Off-Peak Data. Fast download speeds. WiFi built in! Free Standard Installation for lease customers! Limited time, call 1-844-290-3051.
VIASAT SATELLITE Internet. Up to 12 mbps plans starting at $30/month. Our fastest speeds (up to 50 mbps) & unlimited data plans start at $100/month. Call Viasat today: 1-877-255-9312.
DIRECTV - SWITCH and Save! $49.99/month. Select All-Included Package. 155 Channels. 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand. Free Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Premium movie channels, Free for 3 months! Call 1-855-977-3794.
DISH NETWORK $59.99 for 190 Channels. Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/month (where available). Switch & Get a Free $100 Visa Gift Card. Free Voice Remote. Free HD DVR. Free Streaming on All Devices. Call today! 1-877-688-4784.
EARTHLINK HIGH Speed Internet. As low as $14.95/month (for the first 3 months). Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic technology. Stream videos, music and more! Call Earthlink today, 1-844-2540368.
THINKING ABOUT installing a new shower? American Standard makes it easy. Free design consultation. Enjoy your shower again! Call 1-866-604-0853 today to see how you can save $1,000 on installation, or visit www.newshowerdeal.com/nepress.
MOVING OUT of state in the next 30-60 days? Don’t get taken for a ride! Moving APT offers a Price Match Guarantee and Risk Free Reservations. Carriers are all licensed and bonded. Free quote! Call 1-866-318-0166.
LONG-TERM CARE nurses, RN or LPN, 40-bed unit of health center. Full-time and part-time available. Caring environment. Excellent salary, benefits. Apply at JCHealthandLife.org., Career Center. COMPUTER ISSUES? Geeks on Site provides Free diagnosis Remotely 24/7 service during Covid-19. No home visit necessary. $40 Off with coupon 86407! Restrictions apply. 855-668-1997.
WESLEY FINANCIAL Group, LLC, Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-899-7756.
BECOME A Published Author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing - trusted by authors since 1920. Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for your free Author’s Guide, 1-877-858-2822 or visit http://dorranceinfo.com/Nebraska.
DONATE YOUR car, truck or van. Help veterans find jobs or start a business. Call Patriotic Hearts Foundation. Fast, Free pick up. Max tax-deduction. Operators are standing by! Call 1-877-3122360.
12 | The Jewish Press | September 4, 2020
News
Friedel welcomes 66 students
LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D
Temple Israel Book Club CASSANDRA WEISENBURGER Director of Communications, Temple Israel The Temple Israel Book Club is excited to announce our guest speaker for September: Brian Bogdanoff, retired Omaha homicide detective and author of Three Bodies Burning: The Anatomy of an Investigation into Murder, Money, and Mexican Marijuana. Born and raised in Omaha, Brian grew up at Beth Israel, attended Central High School like his parents and grandfather, and headed to UNO to figure out what he wanted to do in life. After taking a class called “Deviant Behaviors in Criminal Justice,” he decided to take more criminal justice classes, and in the mid80’s Brian got an internship with the police department. It was during this time that a child tragically went missing and a task force was created. Brian’s duty was to answer hot line phone calls for tips, right alongside FBI agents. Brian knew he wanted to become a cop. Brian began his career walking a foot patrol for roughly three years. He was recruited to narcotics and worked undercover for 12 years, then he made his move to homicide where he worked to solve drug-related murders. Since the 90’s, Brian has also been teaching high schoolers about laws like search and seizure and probable cause. It was during one
of these later demonstrations that Brian gave a presentation on one of his biggest cases. “One of the students said it was the best case he ever heard and that I should write a book about it,” said Brian. When you read the book’s description, it’s easy to see why this case is so fascinating: “A haunting triple murder... the inside story of the investigation. When two worlds collide—the illegal transportation of tons of Mexican cartel marijuana to inner city gang members in a Midwestern city’s “hood”— three bodies end up burning, caught in a web of greed as a major international drug deal goes very bad. The chilling trail of evidence from a remote wooded area where three bodies are set on fire leads homicide detectives across the country chasing down witnesses and conspirators in a two-year search for cold-blooded killers. This case has it all: murder, piles of cash stashed in the most unlikely of places, a blood-soaked crime scene, the remote dump site for bodies, luxury cars, flashy jewelry, and hundreds of pounds of illegal dope. An unbelievable break takes detectives down the rabbit hole where CSI meets Law & Order and where good old gumshoeing and meticulous forensic procedures bring down a mega-mil-
lion-dollar drug conspiracy and lock up the bad guys for life. Follow the case through the eyes of the gritty homicide/narcotics detective. A handbook for the amateur criminologist, this book is for true crime fans, prosecutors and defense attorneys, and cops and robbers. Warning: This book contains graphic crime scene photos and adult language.” Brian published the book in 2010 and tells the exact story of the case and how it happened. The only things he changed were some of the names of the characters. “The way you solve one of these crimes is you need people to cooperate,” said Brian. “You have to find out who’s involved in your conspiracy and then you have to attack that circle and you get lower-end people to cooperate. I’m successful in that and I get people to cooperate and testify in open court.” And what’s even more interesting? Brian has even brought a couple of the folks who testified in the case to his high school and book club talks to help tell the story! Three Bodies Burning is full of stories, crime scene photos and even humor. The Temple Israel Book Club will meet at the home of Susie and Jim Silverman on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 10:30 a.m. We will gather on their deck for a socially-distanced morning. You can also join us via Zoom at https://us02 web.zoom.us/j/8599968158. For more information, please contact Justin Cooper, Justin_Cooper@mudnebr.com, or Susie Silverman, susie@jamessilverman.com.
SARA KOHEN Director of Advancement, Friedel Jewish Academy On Aug. 19, Friedel welcomed 66 students for the new school year. This is the most students ever enrolled in Friedel’s 50+ year history, and it represents the second year in a row of record-high enrollment. This fall, Friedel is offering both an in-person and a remote option for students, as well as a robust plan for eLearning in case the course of the pandemic requires the whole school to pivot once again to learning remotely. Students played socially-distanced red light, green light at recess, desks are placed at a safe distance and Friedel faculty organized a back-to-school Welcome and Wave.
The Arts Publishing date | 10.109.20
Space reservation | 09.30.20
Contact our advertising executive to promote your business in this very special edition. SUSAN BERNARD | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org