September 17, 2021

A N AG E N C Y O F T H E J E W I S H F E D E R AT I O N O F O M A H A

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 1 1 TIS H RE I 578 2 | VO L. 1 01 | NO. 47 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 7:11 P.M.

Let’s come together maid’s Tale. She is the daughter of Aveva and Marty Shukert ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT and grew up in Omaha, where she graduated from Central Jewish Press Editor s we have done for many years, the Jewish High School. She then attended New York University’s Tisch Federation of Omaha aims to bring the com- School of the Arts. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Ben and son Theo. munity together to “I feel very privileged to get to do mark our Annual what I do and,” she told Omaha MagCampaign. The event azine earlier this year. “You know, it’s is scheduled for Sept. 30 and will cool to come from, kind of outside of start with our major donor event at the coasts... and it feels cool to bring 5:30 p.m., followed by our commua different perspective to things nity event. This will start at 6:30 sometimes.” p.m. in the parking lot located by Shukert will bring that perspective our outdoor swimming pool and end back to Omaha, and share what life at 8:30 p.m. We are grateful to event has been like since she left. It’s a life chairs Jaime and Brian Nogg and rich with accomplishments, but it’s Kari and Brandon Tauber, who took easy to overlook the hard work that on the challenge of creating an ophas gone into that. While gaining exportunity to connect during these perience in the theater, she diligently conflicted times. honed her writing skills. She wrote Because of pandemic concerns, two hilarious memoirs as well as the the event will be held outside in a Star Struck series (if you’ve never read tent, as well as streamed online for them, you should) and ultimately those wishing to join from home. found writing and producing beAnd we hope you all do; we’re all came her calling. eager to see each other, whether in Rachel Shukert “As I get older,” she said, “I find the person or via live stream!

Our speaker that night, Rachel Shukert, is the Executive work is less about me and more about creating opportuniProducer of the Netflix hit series The Baby-Sitters Club, as ties for others. It’s a relief to not be thinking about myself, well as a writer and producer for Cursed and Glow. In addi- especially since I became a parent.” tion, she is a writer and executive producer for The Hand- See Let’s come together page 3

A

BGS Summer Soirée Page 4

JFO Women’s Philanthropy event Page 5

Memoirist Qian Julie Wang finally found a home Page 12

PJ Elementary connects families

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

8 9 10 11

ADL and the Newmans: A special relationship

Heather Lake, left, Sara Kohen, Abigail Kutler and Ashley Oropeza met with Jennie Gates Beckman in July to talk through different program ideas.

JENNIE GATES BECKMAN JFO Director of Community Engagement & Education Local leaders have continuously highlighted the need to bring our

children together from all parts of the Jewish community to strengthen their connection to one another and foster an environment where all Jewish youth feel respected and seen.

Many families who send their children to the Pennie Z. Davis Early Learning Center mourn the loss of cross-denominational friendships as grade school youth divide amongst their home congregations. The PJ Elementary initiative is designed to fill this gap and provide a casual, fun atmosphere where families with children in elementary school can build See PJ Elementary page 2

Sharee Newman, Murray Newman, and Jule Newman

SAM KRICSFELD On Sept. 19, 2021, the ADL-CRC will celebrate 70 years of service in Omaha. ADL-CRC Strong @ 70 will reflect on the past while looking to the future. No celebration would be complete without the story of the Newman family.

The Newman family and the Anti-Defamation League have a close relationship. The leadership and efforts of the late Jule Newman and his sons Murray and Bob have greatly supported and championed the ADL for decades.

See ADL and the Newmans page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021

News

Who Am I?

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

PJ Elementary

Continued from page 1 and maintain these important ties to their Jewish peers from across the greater Omaha area.

The brainchild of Abigail Kutler, immediate past president of the Jewish Press board and an active PJ Library parent, this idea arrived at just the right time. The past five years I have been able to build a considerable expansion of programming for children under the age of six. However, determining the type of activities that would best engage elementary school children has eluded me. Part of this could be that my own children are 2 and a half and almost seven, but I think the other important factor is that once children are in elementary school their time begins to fill with so many other extracurriculars, that it’s a battle for families to find time to connect with other Jewish families outside of Shabbat or religious school.

Abigail shared, “After graduating from the ELC, our boys love being able to connect with their Jewish friends through summer camp and Kidz Inn, but I personally miss getting to see the other parents, as well.”

There are no rules for defining Jewishness with these programs. Families of all backgrounds are welcome and siblings of all ages may join. Our goal is for the monthly familyfriendly activities to have a casual feel that will allow kids to play and parents to relax and enjoy the company of others.

In July, Abby hosted a group of parents of children representing all ages in this target

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

Sam Kutler and Elijah Oropeza had a blast at the Benson playground at the first meet-up over the summer.

demographic to brainstorm locales for each monthly gathering. An emphasis was made on planning as much outdoors as possible, both taking advantage of the beauty of not being cooped up inside, and lending flexibility and safety during an uncertain time.

“We realize that families are busy. Whether you can attend monthly or just once doesn’t matter, we just want to stay connected!”

The August meet-up was held at the Benson Splash Park, where grade school participants most enjoyed the Krispy Kreme donut holes and the PJ-branded spray bottles, while

It’s not just what they know.

It’s who they become.

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Evelyn and Sadie Beckman pose under the frog with Henry Kutler peeking through.

parents appreciated the cold sparkling water and conversation.

Sept. 12 families met up to pick apples and sample different types of honey to celebrate a sweet New Year. Oct. 3 we’ll be meeting at Nelson’s Produce farm to enjoy fun fall activities together.

Support for the first three programs has been made possible by funding from the Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. For more information and to make sure you receive notice of all the events, visit: https://www.surv eymonkey.com/r/PJElementary.

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

The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021 | 3

Let’s come together

Continued from page 1 Shukert is particularly interested in complex stories about women and girls, “especially when those stories involve women who are involved in their own projects,” she said.

“Strong women’s stories continue to be underrepresented in most media.”

She’s toured the new J and noticed how much has changed, yet stayed the same: “It’s amazing to go into the cultural arts department. It’s a place where I have so many memories and they all come rushing back when you walk into a dance studio. Yet it has so much more depth; I really wish all of this had been here when I was growing up.”

On Sept. 30, she will address her experiences growing up in Omaha and how it primed her for her current career.

“I’m interested in how we find our place, our role within community,” she said. “There are things I may not have realized growing up, that none of us are really aware of as we grow up

that come to the surface later in life. Among all the things that shape us, community is a big influencer. Between then and now, I’ve lived in multiple overlapping communities, and they have all in their own way left their mark on who I am today.”

She hopes people will walk away from her speech thinking about their own role in the community.

“When you look around you, at the people you admire—in one way or another, every one of us was more or less miserable in middle school. There is no big mystery to finding your potential; the hard part is deciding what it’s going to be. After that, everything is doable, as long as you are willing to put in the hard work. The most important thing? Figuring out what you can give back to the world.”

Annual Campaign gifts pledged the night of Sept. 30 will be matched up to $60,000. Since parking will be limited, we will offer valet service. Cost of attending is $18 per person. For more information, please contact Jennifer Tompkins at jtomp kins@jewishomaha.org.

ADL and the Newmans Newman served as the National Commissioner of the ADL Continued from page 1 Jule Newman had a tough childhood. According to a and was chairman of the Plains States Regional ADL/CRC March 3, 2017, article in the Jewish Press, “He challenged board, and Murray was the Nebraska State ADL Chairman. crews on passing trains to target practice: they would throw In his honor and memory, his sons, Bob, Jim and Murray, coal at him and his brothestablished the Jule M. ers. They would then colNewman Anti-Bigotry Enlect the coal, which the dowment fund in 2017. In family could not afford, the 2017 Press article, Bob and took it home to use said, “My father, in particfor heat. At other times, ular, and all others in our he would watch for panuclear family all lived trons at nearby bars who during times of open and left without their newspaextreme expressions of anpers, which he would retisemitism. The ADL has assemble and resell at a been the leading organizadifferent bar.” tion in opposition to hate.”

Jule’s parents immiJule had a strong intergrated from a small town est in law enforcement, near Budapest, and his fa- Fritz Cassman, left, Jule Newman, Bob Newman, Jim Wolf, Sid Osten and the fund therefore ther owned a grocery store. After serving in the Medical Corps was allocated for annual anti-bias training for law enforceduring World War I, Jule continued his father’s tradition and ment officers. The Press article also included that the fund’s started the famous Hinky Dinky line of grocery stores. second priority would be for programming focused on “the Jule was heavily involved with the ADL and received the prevention of hate, bigotry and antisemitism.”

ADL Torch of Liberty award in 1983. The award recognized In 2018, the first Jule M. Newman Law Enforcement Sumexceptional people who showed humanitarian concerns and mit on Extremism took place with 150 local law enforcement whose work brought people of every background together. officers participating. Jule’s sons Bob and Murray spoke at In his acceptance speech for the Torch of Liberty award, Jule the event. expressed his belief in the importance of intergenerational Sponsors of ADL-CRC Strong @ 70 include the Norman & support for the ADL. Frances Batt Family Fund, Bergman Incentives, Carol & “The work of the ADL has always been important to me,” Steve Bloch, Gary & Lisa Epstein, Paul & Sandy Epstein, he said. “I have urged my boys to read the bulletins, under- Fraser Stryker Law Office, Jerry & Cookie Hoberman, Rich stand the problems and get involved. I have seen and expe- & Fran Juro, Howard & Gloria Kaslow, Zoe & Carl Riekes and rienced antisemitism firsthand, felt its stinging blow, and Aaron Weiner & Therese Vaughn. related these situations to my boys... I have a tremendous Tickets for the event can be purchased for $70 each at sense of pride to see succeeding generations of my family Omaha.adl.org/event/70strong/, or contact Pam Mondoing their part [ for the ADL].” sky, ADL-CRC Assistant Director at 402.334.6572, pmonsky Jule’s sons, Bob and Murray, are no strangers to the ADL. Bob @adl.org.

Come dance at the J

Did you know our Staenberg JCC offers select dance programs for adults, 18 years and up? No prior dance training is required and these programs are open to members and nonmembers. Classes are a great way to learn something new and get physical activity.

Participants should wear clothing that allows them to move freely. For ballet, please wear ballet slippers. For tap, wear tap shoes. Modern classes are done with bare feet. Hip Hop is done in sneakers but they may NOT be shoes worn in off the street.

You can choose from Ballet for adults, adult hip hop, adult

You are the most powerful influence in your child’s daily life.

Kids who learn from their parents or care-givers about the risks of drugs are: • 36% less likely to smoke • marijuana than kids who don’t • 50% less likely to use inhalants • 56% less likely to use cocaine • 65% less likely to use LSD

For more information call:

1-800-648-4444 http://www.prevlink.org

modern dance and tap. For more information and to register, please visit our website at www.jccomaha.org and visit our performing arts page.

The J has been a big part of Omaha for over 80 years. We opened our doors in 1926 and still, today continue to serve everyone in the community with our state-of-the-art facilities, outstanding programs, and dedicated staff. We’ve been here in the past, we’re here today and we’ll be here tomorrow.

Call the JCC Registrar at 402.334.6419, or Member Services at 402.334.6426 today.

Associated Counseling Professionals Glen Fineman, LICSW, LIMHP Clinical Social Worker

Family & Children Issues Marriage Counseling Depression | Anxiety | Grief & Loss

2255 So. 132nd Street | Suite 200 | Omaha 402-334-1122 | fax: 402-334-8171 www.acpcounseling.com

4 | The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021

Tritz Plumbing Inc. 402-894-0300

BGS Summer Soirée

www.tritz.com repair • remodel

commercial • residential

family owned and operated since 1945

MAREN ANGUS JFO Philanthropy Coordinator The Ben Gurion Society hosted its Summer Soirée with 60 people in attendance at the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 29.

The weather couldn’t have been any more perfect to celebrate and honor young Jewish leaders in the community. It was a poolside gathering which gave everyone the opportunity to reconnect safely in person after many months of Zoom calls.

This year’s outgoing chairs Ally Freeman and Geoff Silverstein, and current chairs Lissy Kane and Justin Spooner were honored

for their dedication to BGS and thanked for their efforts in inspiring philanthropists in the Omaha Jewish community.

“What really stood out to me about the success of Sunday’s Soirée was the mix of new and existing members of our community,” said Spooner. “I’m excited that we have new faces looking to engage and join those of us in our community who have called it home for generations.”

Mosah and Lauren Goodman have agreed to serve as the 2021 BGS Chair-Elect and 2022 BGS Chairs. Over the course of the next year, they are looking forward to building personal relationships with BGS members and figuring out how to add a mentorship and networking proponent to the Society.

ADL Strong @ 70 JILL KUSHNER BELMONT The committee planning the ADL-CRC’s Strong @ 70 anniversary celebration met recently to discuss final details with regional director Gary Nachman. The casual cocktail party is slated for Sunday, Sept. 19 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside in the front of the JCC. Tickets are $70 and still available; for more information, contact Pam Monsky at 402.334.6572 or pmon sky@adl.org, or visit adl.omaha.org/70strong.

The ADL-CRC gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors for the Sept. 19 celebration: the Norman and Frances Batt Family Fund, Bergman Incentives, Carol and Steve Bloch, Gary and Lisa Epstein, Paul and Sandy Epstein, Fraser Stryker Law Office, Jerry and Cookie Hoberman, Rich and Fran Juro, Howard and Gloria Kaslow, Zoe and Carl Riekes, Jerry and Olga Schneider, and Aaron Weiner and Therese Vaughn. Support also comes from the Special Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and the Staenberg Family Foundation Anything Grant.

Pictured with Gary Nachman are, seated: Geordi Gonzales, left, and Dana Gonzales; standing: Jill Belmont, left, Ellie Batt, and Zoë Riekes.

TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.

Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai mitzvahs, engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at www.omahajewishpress.com/site/forms/. Deadlines are normally nine days prior to publication, on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Please check the Jewish Press, for notices of early deadlines.

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The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021 | 5

Thursday, Sept. 2, the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Community Engagement Venue at the J welcomed guests for the JFO Women’s Philanthropy event. The event was originally planned for the Pavilion, but the weather forecast did not cooperate. It was our new community shlicha Sivan Cohen’s debut performance as she shared her knowledge about wine. Hope to see you all next time!

6 | The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021

The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021 | 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 2020 and June 2021 our efforts have been sustained by the following contributors who chose to balance their own needs with the needs of others.

Grants

2020 Anything Grant Dennis Schuman Charitable Foundation 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

Endowments

Arthur L. & Betsy Davidson Emergency Assistance Endowment Fund for JFO Beatrice Karp Life & Legacy Fund for Jewish Family Service Craig Saylan Memorial Endowment Fund Edith & Paul Goldstein Endowment 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 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 Lieberman Family of Scottsbluff, NE Endowment for Special Needs Population 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 & Rose Lillian Fine JFS Tzedakah Endowment Fund Parsow & 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 Steven Bloch President’s Fund Yachad Endowment Fund

Life and Legacy

John Atherton & Marti Rosen-Atherton Andi Goldstein Gary & Barbara Goldstein David & Shirley Goodman Debbi Josephson Gloria Kaslow Howard Kaslow David Kohll Janet Kohll David Lieberman Thelma Lustgarten

Life and Legacy (cont.)

Bruce Meyers Patty Nogg Steve Nogg Gilda Pieck Sherry & Larry Shapiro

Friends Campaign

Anonymous Paula Albert Cantor Joanna Alexander Harry Alloy Marti & John Atherton John Atkins Rochelle and Arnold Ban Mary Berman Philip Bierman Steve and Carol Bloch Albert Bloch Brent Bloom Omaha Broadmoor Peter Brodkey Barry Carnine Gary Chasen Linda and Mark Cogen Marla and Robert Cohen Anne and Alan Cohen Joan and Justin Cooper Amy Cooper Teresa and Jeff Drelicharz Dr. Lew and Teresa Eirinberg Gary and Lisa Epstein Nancy Epstein Arnold and Helen Epstein Howard and Sharon Epstein Kristin and Matthew Faier Jim and Judith Farber Judith Feigin Ron Feldman Pierre Flatowicz Marshall and Norma Fried Friedland Family Foundation Sanford and Amy Friedman Harry Gates Larry and Deanna Gilinsky Ronald Giller Darlene Golbitz Wendy and David Goldberg Inna Goldman Donald and Andi Goldstein Howard Goldstein Judi Goldstein

Friends Campaign (cont.)

MarySue Grossman Karen and Jeff Gustafson Margie and Bruce Gutnik Jerry and Cookie Hoberman Nancy Hornstein Richard and Joanie Jacobson Judith Josephson Deborah and Larry Josephson Joan Kaiman Robert Kaplan Sarah Kaplan Howard and Gloria Kaslow Gary and Lorrie Katelman Les and Helen Kay Louis and Renee Kazor Larry Kelberg Jeff and Sharon Kirshenbaum Maxine and Joe Kirshenbaum Tom and Kate Kirshenbaum Milton and Marsha Kleinberg Gail and Jerry Kohll Larry Koom Harold and Alice Kosowsky Jack and Bette Kozlen Leslie Kully Marshall and Barbara Kushner Howard Kutler Abigail and Adam Kutler Barbara Lashinsky Nancy Milder Lazer Joan Lehr Gary and Cheryl Lerner Michael Levine Lina Levit Jody and Neal Malashock Diane and Larry Malashock Gregory Mann Roslyn Mannon Jose and Caryl Martinez Tina Meyers Bruce Meyers Jenny Meyerson Lois Milder Patricia Mogil Henry and Pam Monsky Gordon and Ann Moshman Allan and Janie Murow Alan and Linda Muskin Gary Nachman 5DQGL 7XUNHO 1DQ²WR Jean Neff

Friends Campaign (cont.)

Murray and Sharee Newman Mariana Nieto and Buey Ray Tut Allan Noddle Sandy Nogg Nancy Nogg Steve and Patty Nogg Susie and Mike Norton Linda Novak Louis Pachman Jeffrey Passer Fefe Passer Helga Patterson Scott Burger and Barbara Person Ann Pickel James Polack Bruce and Linda Potash Shayna and Matthew Ray Miles Remer Amy Reynolds Marty and Iris Ricks Carl Riekes Nancy Rips Judy Roffman Toni Rosen Gregg Rosenberg Charney Rosinsky Marcy Ruback Lynne-Carol and Errol Saltzman Victor and Joyce Samuel Susan Scherl Michelle Schneider Julie Schram Nate and Hannah Schwalb Wayne Schwarz Larry and Sherry Shapiro Raisa Shats Norman and Susie Sheldon Mike and Patty Sherman Claudia Sherman Michael Shrier Linda Shrier Michael Siegel Harriet Katelman Silber Esther Silver Susan Silverman The Todd and Betiana Simon Foundation Michael Staenberg Carolyn Stern Jennifer Tompkins Yuliy and Svetlana Tronyak Ann Walter

Friends Campaign (cont.)

Phyllis Wasserman Anne and Arnie Weitz Barbara Widman Sally Wintroub Nancy and Phil Wolf Jeremy and Annette Wright Terri and Richard Zacharia Sally and Jim Zipursky Barry and Nora Zoob

Contributions/Tribute Cards Anonymous Michele Aizenberg Marti and John Atherton Beth El Synagogue Irene Blend Carol and Steven Bloch Bnai Brith B’nai Israel Synagogue Sandra and Sherman Brodkey Linda and Mark Cogen Toba Cohen Dunning Donald and Marlene Dandy Janey Dann Teresa and Jeff Drelicharz Joe Erman James and Judith Farber Cantor Leo* and Annette Fettman Perri and Aaron Fink Norma and Marshall Fried Ike & Roz Friedman Foundation Debbie and Scott Friedman Richard and Wendy Goedeken Donald and Andi Goldstein David and Shirley Goodman Mary Sue and Alex Grossman Jewish Press Staff Sheryn and Arnold Joffe Tammy Johnson Joan Kaiman Howard and Gloria Kaslow Maxine and Joe Kirshenbaum Janet Kohll Gail and Jerry Kohll Stanley Krieger Alan and Linda Muskin Murray and Sharee Newman Allen and Eden Ostravich Carol Parsow Fefe Passer & Al Bloch Cynthia Persky

Contributions/Tribute Cards (cont.)

Michael and Jeanette Pincus Ray and Gwen Pred Amy Reynolds Marty and Iris Ricks Helen Rifkin Judy Roffman Richard and Sharon Roffman Edye and Max Roffman Charney Taub Rosinsky Lenore Ross Lynne Saltzman Sherry and Larry Shapiro Mike and Patty Sherman Jack* and Helene Shrago Michelle Silberstein Susie Silverman Mark Singer Jaynie Smeerin and Bob Slutzky Gloria and Ed Smith Michael Staenberg Ronnie Stein Stewart and Judith Tully Dr. John and Wendy Vann Gail Veitzer Bruce and Becky Wartell Steve and Joye Wees Jeremy and Annette Wright Terri and Richard Zacharia

Young Jewish Giving Samantha Sullivan Zach Atlas

In-Kind Donations Hindy Batt BBYO Roni Braaton Jan Fischer Joanie Jacobson Gary Javitch Lester Katz Martha Lerner Marty Ricks Steve and Marsha Senft Shari Sterenberg Isabella Wright *Of Blessed Memory All contributions are as of June 30, 2021.

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.

8 | The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021

Above and below: RBJH rings in Husker football season in a big way with cheering, watching Nebraska football games, and singing the Nebraska fight songs while enjoying margaritas, chips and salsa.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha held a Ben Gurion Society Summer Soiree at the historic Blackstone building, which is now the Cottonwood Hotel.

Above: Geoff Silverstein, left, Ally Freeman, Lissy Kane and Justin Spooner; below left: Sivan Cohen; right: Lindsey Belmont and Michael Small.

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: Jamie SkogBurke, left, Hillary Rubesin, and Ally Freeman.

Above: At the First Annual OJAA Charity Topgolf Outing are Larry Kelberg, left, Hayley Barnes, Jim Haitt, Stephanie Shapiro-Cohen, David Shapiro, and Bob Belgrade.

Below: Friedel students learned about motion using games and manipulatives.

Above: Ananya Ray, left, Mike Chapman, Rochi Katzman and Eric Shapiro; below: Ally Freeman, left, Tamara Draeger, Jamie SkogBurke and Diana Williams.

Voices

The Jewish Press (Founded in 1920)

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

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

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

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

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

E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org.

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Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events.

News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.”

The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf.

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Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422.

Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021 | 9

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.

A New Day

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor It’s a new year, a new day. Starting again, a new beginning, a second (or third) chance, an opportunity for a do-over. There are all these words with which we often approach the New Year, but now that it is here and we’ve had our fill of apples and honey and cake and chocolate (ok, that last one is probably only at my house), what do we really do with it? Do we truly start over and take this as a chance to be better, or do we simply go back to the way things were?

If I’m completely honest, that’s what I do most years. I talk a great game, but when push comes to shove, I pick life up where I left it. I don’t really change anything. Change can’t be forced, I tell myself, but maybe I am just lazy.

“The High Holidays are a time for honestly taking stock of our own lives and the world around us,” writes Rabbi Hannah Goldstein (Temple Sinai, Washington, D.C.). “We confront our own mortality, and make the brave decision to ‘choose life’ in the face of so many challenges.”

Rabbi Yosef Goldman (Shaare Torah, Gaithersburg, Maryland) adds: “We are all experiencing liminality at every level of community and society. In so many ways we are stuck in between. We are not who we were before the pandemic; we know that we will not be “going back to normal.” And yet it is not yet clear who we are becoming, what the contours are of the paradigms of our new reality, how we organize our sense of self personally and collectively.”

Taking stock of our own lives and finding out

who we are becoming? That’s easier said than What about what the world needs from me, from done. I’m not so sure any of us are really ready to us? ‘take stock.’ Where are we? Who are we? How has Yikes. Has there ever been a Rosh Hashanah that this pandemic altered us? I don’t know and I’m was this difficult to process? As always, there are pretty sure you don’t either. It feels as if we need an- no easy answers. This year, specifically, there may other 20 years or so before we can truly understand be no answers at all. At least, not right away. That how we, how our communal life, how our relation- doesn’t mean all is lost—it is still the holiday season ships have changed. So I am not even going to try and we are still surrounded by reminders of what to solve that particular puzzle right now.

As for the ‘new normal’ (I really despise that phrase) we are meant to discover, I’m equally stumped. Is it a matter of figuring out technology, room size, hybrid meetings, things like that? Or does it have more to do with how we fill our communal needs on a more personal level? Can I survive with one hug per month instead of Credit: tovfla/Getty Images ten? Can I feel connected over the phone as much is expected of us. And somehow, finding a way to as if we were sitting across from each other in a ‘start over’ is not really optional. How we do that, I restaurant, or are our friendships eroding, bit by have no clue. I do know one thing: we have to do it bit? How many hugs, dinner parties, get togethers, together. We have to stay connected, even when it’s screaming-with-laughter-evenings have I taken for a five-second wave from across the parking lot, granted in the past? rather than a two-hour dinner. Even if we can’t have Most importantly, how do we ‘start over’ without those hugs, even if we can’t get on that plane. As sinking into depression? It’s tempting to focus on long as we find a way to stay in touch, I think we what is missing, rather than what we can change can do this. Call a friend, send a message, drive by and improve. And by the way, why do I only talk someone’s house, text someone you love them. about what we need, what I need and what I miss, Let’s all stay together, Let’s continue to love each what I wish we could have back? other and worry about the rest later.

I will fight for others to be able to make their own sacred choice.

RABBI RACHAEL PASS JTA On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, in my second year of rabbinical school, while working at my first-ever High Holiday pulpit, I accidentally conceived.

I took my pregnancy test on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, and whispered the blessing “asher yatzar et ha’adam b’chochmah,” who created human beings with wisdom, when it read positive.

That night, I attended a required class Shabbat program at Kehilat Romemu on the Upper West Side, where I discovered that morning sickness could indeed happen at night in a shul bathroom.

I prayed. I read every piece of Jewish literature on abortion that I could find. I read every opinion article on the internet about “why I’m happy I had an abortion” or “how I came to regret my abortion.” I made a pros and cons list. I consulted the wouldbe father and my rabbinic mentor, Rabbi Jen Gubitz. I cried on the phone with my mom. Ultimately, I made the choice using the instinctual wisdom inside myself, heeding nobody’s opinion but my own.

And perhaps God’s.

We Jews are commanded, in lines that appear in this week’s Torah portion: “I have put before you today blessing and curse, life and death. Uvacharta v’chayyim, Choose life.”

That commandment has been coopted as a rallying cry for those who support restrictions on abortion, such as the Texas ban on abortions after six weeks that went into effect when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block it. But for me and so many others, this verse is a clear rebuttal to that law, the most significant infringement on abortion rights in America since the Roe v. Wade protected a women’s right to choose 48 years ago.

I chose life when I left Literary Artistry of the Bible early on a Thursday afternoon to walk the few short blocks from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s New York campus to the Margaret Sanger Planned Parenthood on Bleecker Street. I took the first pill in a quiet office, sitting across from a doctor who looked just like me. The next morning, my Medieval Jewish History class took a field trip to the Met Cloisters. Our professor was late because she had to prepare her brisket for

Shabbat dinner. I felt so sick I could hardly stand.

That night, I livestreamed Shabbat services while holding the four Misoprostol pills in the four corners of my mouth, waiting for them to disintegrate.

A week after the bleeding stopped I went to the mikveh, the Jewish ritual bath, with ImmerseNYC, a liberal mikveh project founded by Rabbi Sara

Pro-choice protesters march outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 as Texas passed a law which effectively bans nearly all abortions. Credit: Sergio Flores For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Luria. I did an adapted version of a post-abortion ritual written by Rabbi Tamar Duvdevani. I listened to Debbie Friedman’s Sow In Tears, Reap In Joy on repeat the entire way there and the entire way home. I felt weak and I felt strong. I sang to myself because I was still scared, as I dipped under the water and came back up: Elohai n’shamah shenatata bi t’hora hi, My God the soul you have given me is pure.

The next morning, our class took a field trip to that same mikveh. I asked five of my classmates, now colleagues, to come early. They were pretty much my only friends in New York at the time and some of the only people that I had told about my abortion. We stood on the corner of 74th and West End Avenue on a windy morning with a challah that I had baked and a little bit of honey and finished the ritual together. We dipped the challah in the honey, a symbol of sweeter times ahead. I cried.

We stood in a circle and they wrapped their arms around me. “Hazorim b’dimah b’rinah yiktzoru,” I repeated, “those who sow in tears will reap in joy.”

You may have noticed that my abortion story is very Jewish. Everything from the timing of the ac-

cidental conception to the decision and procedure itself was brimming with my Jewish practice, learning and living. It is impossible to extricate my Judaism from my abortion.

And yet you might also assume that my abortion would not have been Jewishly “okay,” permissible under halacha, or Jewish law, because I simply did not want to be pregnant — because mine is the kind of abortion that anti-choicers most disdain.

The standard Jewish line on abortion is that Judaism traditionally permits abortion when the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. This derives from Mishnah Ohalot 7:6, which states that “[ for] a woman who is having a hard labor — makshah leiled — they cut up the fetus in her womb and remove it limb by limb, mipnei shechayeiha kodmin l’chayyav, because her life comes before its life.” Chayeiha kodmin l’chayyav, her life comes before that of the fetus.

What does it mean that the life of the pregnant person comes before that of the fetus? Over the centuries, various rabbinic authorities have offered their answers. It means that her physical needs and pain levels are prioritized over the birthing of the child (Rabbis Josef Trani and Jacob Emden). It means that her mental health is prioritized over the birthing of the child (Rabbi Mordecai Winkler). It means that her dignity and her honor are prioritized over the birthing of the child (Rabbi Ben-Zion Ouziel). It means that the primary consideration in the Jewish question of abortion is the needs of the person giving birth, their life, their health and their dignity.

There is nothing more sacred than the right to live one’s life as one chooses — and to choose life, and to choose blessing. In having an abortion, I chose my life. Now I will do what I can to ensure that others can retain the sacred choice to make their own choices and their own blessings.

Rabbi Rachael Pass is the associate rabbi and director of spiritual counseling at the T'Shuvah Center, a Jewish home and recovery community for individuals with addiction of all kinds. She was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2021.

This article was edited for length. Please find the full text at our website: www.omahajewishpress.com.

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

CHABAD HOUSE

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN

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

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154 rbjh.com

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL

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

B’NAI ISRAEL Join us via Zoom on Friday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. for evening services. Our service leader is Larry Blass.

Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

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

Handicap Accessible.

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

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

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Junior Congregation, 10 a.m. at Beth El; Havdalah, 8 p.m. Zoom Only.

SUNDAY: Morning Minyan, 9 a.m. at Beth El & Zoom; BILU Fun Run, 9 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

MONDAY: Morning Minyan, 7 a.m. at Beth El & Zoom; Erev Sukkot Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom.

TUEDAY: Sukkot Day 1 Morning Service, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream — Soup in the Sukkah following services; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

WEDNESDAY: Sukkot Day 2 Morning Service, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream — Soup in the Sukkah following services; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. Zoom Only.

THURSDAY: Sukkot Day 3 Morning Service, 7 a.m. at Beth El & Zoom; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom.

FRIDAY-Sept. 24: Sukkot Day 4 Morning Service, 7 a.m. at Beth El & Zoom; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-Sept. 25: Sukkot/Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream — Yizkor following Torah Service; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 7:50 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom followed by Adult Soiree in the Sukkah at Beth El. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

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

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha, 7:10 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:10 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Daf Yomi, 6:20 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:10 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 6:20 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7 p.m.

MONDAY: Erev Sukkot — Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp);

Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 6:20 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv/Candlelighting, 7:07 p.m.

TUESDAY: Sukkot Day 1 — Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:06 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Sukkot Day 2 — Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha, 7 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:03 p.m.

THURSDAY: Chol Hamoed Sukkot — Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Parsha for Kids, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Daf Yomi, 6:20 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-Sept. 24: Chol Hamoed Sukkot — Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Parsha for Kids, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:01 p.m.

SATURDAY-Sept. 25: Chol Hamoed Sukkot — Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Daf Yomi, 6:10 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:50 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:58 p.m.

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

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

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 6 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/Lecha yim; Candlelighting, 7:12 p.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10:30-11:30 a.m. followed

by Kiddush Lunch; Shabbat Ends, 8:08 p.m.

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

MONDAY: Candlelighting, 7:07 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch in the Sukkah; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:15 p.m.; Candlelighting after, 8:03 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch in the Sukkah; MIncha/Ma’ariv, 7:15 p.m.; Holiday Ends, 8:01 p.m.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

FRIDAY-Sept. 24: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 6 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad. com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 6:59 p.m.; Mincha/ Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY-Sept. 25: Shacharit, 10:30-11:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush Lunch; Shabbat Ends, 7:56 p.m.

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

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

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex, Leslie Delserone and Peter Mullin, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Candlelighting, 7:13 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study on Parashat Ha’Azinu, noon via Zoom; Havdalah, 8:11 p.m.

SUNDAY: LJCS Classes begin, 9:30 a.m.; Men's

Jewish Bike Group of Lincoln meets Sundays at 10 a.m. rain or shine to ride to one of The Mill locations from Hanson Ct. (except we drive if its too wet, cold, cloudy, windy, hot or humid) followed by coffee and spirited discussions. No fee to join, no dues, no president, no board or minutes taken. If Interested please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail.com to find out where to meet each week; Jewish Book Club, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom and will discuss The Mezuzah in the Madonna’s Foot by Trudy Alexy; Community Sukkah set-up, 3 p.m. at TI; Come learn and play Pickleball, 7-9 p.m. at Peterson Park. Everyone is welcome; just wear comfortable clothes and tennis or gym shoes.

If you need a paddle contact Miriam Wallick by email at Miriam57@aol.com or by text at 402.470.2393 before Sunday.

MONDAY: Erev Sukkot — Candlighting for Yom Tov, 7:08 p.m.

TUESDAY: Synagogue Offices Closed for Sukkot; Yom Tov Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI; Tea & Coffee with Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom; Candlighting for Yom Tov, 8:06 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: TI Office Closed for Sukkot; No LJCS Classes; Havdalah, 8:04 p.m.

FRIDAY-Sept. 24: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex and Elaine Monnier, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Candlelighting, 7:02 p.m.

SATURDAY-Sept. 25: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Havdalah, 7:59 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home‘s service is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

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

FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. via Zoom or InPerson.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom or InPerson.

SUNDAY: Youth Learning Programs — Grades PreK-6, 9:30 a.m.; Book Club, 10:30 a.m.

MONDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, 11 a.m. via Zoom.

TUESDAY: Sukkot Service, 10:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Youth Learning Programs: Grades 36, 4-6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6-8 p.m.; Community Dinner, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Class, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel.

FRIDAY-Sept. 24: Shabbat Service with Artist-inResidence Elana Arian, 6 p.m. via Zoom or In-Person.

SATURDAY-Sept. 25: Torah Study with Artist-inResidence Elana Arian, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom or In-Person; Havdalah Concert with Artist-in-Residence Elana Arian, 7 p.m.

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

London police arrest suspect in 6 recent assaults on Jews CNAAN LIPSHIZ JTA Police in London have arrested a man in connection with a series of six assaults on Jews in areas of the city with large Jewish communities.

The assaults began Aug. 18, when somebody struck Jews on the street during the day in the northern neighborhood of Hackney, then kept walking briskly away. The victims reported minor injuries.

In one of the incidents the victim was a child. In another, the blow administered by the perpetrator caused the victim, a man in his sixties, to trip and break a bone in his foot.

The perpetrator was filmed in at least two of the six incidents attributed to the suspect, whom British police identified as a 28-year-old man but did not name. The videos show a tall and bearded man wearing a white taqiyah, a large yarmulke-like

hat favored by many Muslims, during the assaults.

The assaults came at a tense moment for British Jews. In the first half of 2021, the Community Security Trust, an organization focused on security for Jewish communities, recorded the highest-ever number of antisemitic incidents in any six-month period since it began monitoring the issue in the 1980s.

The tally for January-June in 2021 was 1,308 incidents, compared to 875 in the corresponding period the previous year. The total for 2020 was 1,668 incidents. More than 600 of the 1,308 incidents recorded in the first half of 2021 occurred in May, during the violent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Jewish men walk in Stamford Hill, London, in 2018.

Credit: Matthew Chattle/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

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

Life cycles IN MEMORIAM LOIS ENDELMAN Lois Endelman passed away on Sept. 4, 2021. Services were held on Sept. 6, 2021, at Golden Hill Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Endelman and son, C. Randy Endelman.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Paul Blackman, son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Krista Endelman and daughter-in-law, Penny Endelman; and eight grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Temple Israel or the Jewish Federation.

MARIE ROFFMAN-RUBACK Marie Roffman-Ruback passed away on Aug. 23, 2021, in

Council Bluffs, IA. Services were held on Aug. 27, 2021, in Council Bluffs, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents and late husbands, Selwyn Roffman and Paul Ruback.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Mark Roffman and Judi Katz, and Richard and Sharon Roffman, daughter, Nancy Roffman Smith; seven grandchildren: Shayna and Yair Silbermintz, Noah Roffman, Sarah and Scott Roffman, Lainey Smith and Rich Asadorian, Zach Smith and Julia Rubinshteyn, and Melissa Smith; four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Selwyn Roffman Endowment Fund at Beth El Synagogue.

The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021 | 11

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12 | The Jewish Press | September 17, 2021

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

Memoirist Qian Julie Wang finally found a home EMILY BURACK This article first appeared on Alma.

Qian Julie Wang grew up in libraries. Coming to America at age 7, she was thrown into the brand new world of New York City. Soon, she was spending all her free time in her local Chinatown library, soaking up as much English as possible. It became her second home, a place of safety.

Now, she’s telling her story for the first time — buoyed by the hope of reaching those in libraries who were just like her.

Wang and her parents were undocumented, and the 2016 election — which occurred just after she became a naturalized American citizen — spurred her to begin writing her memoir on her phone on the subway. Those subway snippets would become Beautiful Country, a gorgeous and heartfelt tale of Wang’s childhood as an undocumented New Yorker.

Wang is also an active member of a synagogue and its Jews of Color community. When she’s not writing incredible memoirs, Wang is a litigator working as the managing partner of Gottlieb & Wang LLP — a firm dedicated to advocating for education and disability rights.

Her story is a modern day Jewish American immigrant tale, and over e-mail we spoke about what it means to have this book out in the world, her work with Jews of Color and the meaningful publication of Beautiful Country on Rosh Hashanah.

In many ways, Beautiful Country is such an American story. What inspired you to share your tale of being an undocumented child?

I’d always dreamed about writing this book. While I grew up learning English on library books, I never found a book that depicted characters who looked like me and lived in the way my parents and I did. It was my biggest and wildest ambition to write a book that might allow others out there to see themselves reflected in literature, and have them know that it is possible to survive similar circumstances. Even so, I figured I would never make it happen, because I lived under messaging from all directions, my parents included, that my past was shameful and had to be kept hidden.

It wasn’t until the discourse of the 2016 election, which took place just six months after I became a naturalized U.S. citizen, that I discovered that I had a newfound power and thus responsibility to share my story, that at that juncture of my life, I was making an actual decision to stay quiet — a privilege that millions of undocumented immigrants do not have. It was then that I realized that what I had long thought of as singularly mine was no longer my secret to keep.

What does it mean to you to be Jewish?

For me, being Jewish cannot be separated from tikkun olam, the concept that calls upon us to repair the world. For many years of my life, I operated by a set of clear and abiding principles, and asked inconvenient, challenging questions, but I had no formal spiritual framework. When I discovered Judaism, I finally felt complete. I realized that I had been Jewish all along; I simply hadn’t known it. Central to tikkun olam is hearing the call of the voiceless and fighting for justice in every available avenue. It also means standing up and speaking out even when it might be uncomfortable to do so — to be rooted first and foremost in our faith in equality.

Credit: Design by Emily Burack; Image of Qian Julie Wang by Ryan Muir

What’s your favorite part about being Jewish?

Without a doubt, it has been the Jews of Color community.

After immigrating to America, I was never able to feel fully at home in a public space. That changed when I started gathering with my fellow Jews of Color. In that sphere, I have been so fortunate to find lifelong friends — my sisters and family in spirit. We are not a monolith by any means, but the unity of intersectionality is a beautiful thing. There was probably no better way to discover kindred spirits with whom I share my passion for activism, racial justice, immigrants’ rights and spirituality.

How did you balance working as a litigator and writing your memoir?

Balance is a concept that I think few litigators know (I certainly don’t!). We are in overdrive pretty much all the time. I wrote the first draft of Beautiful Country while making partner at a national firm. The only way to balance it with working 6080 hours a week was a concrete rule: As long as I was on the subway platform or on the subway on my way to or from work,

I was writing on my phone. Even with this rule though, there were months (and up to nearly a year) when I just had to take time off writing entirely.

This was particularly the case in early 2019, because I was also planning my wedding at the time. I gave myself permission then to stop working on the book, not knowing if I would ever find my way back. But in late September 2019, on our flight to our honeymoon, I realized that the break had allowed me to subconsciously process everything else that needed to go into my book. I pulled my phone out and started typing on that flight, and gave myself until Dec. 31, 2019, to finish the first draft or forget about it for good. At that point, I had maybe one third to half of the book finished. But two months later, on Dec. 30, I was done with the entire draft.

Something I was really struck by was how much reading, and your local library, was a safe space for you as a child (as a fellow kid who loved going to the library!).

Can you talk a little bit more about this?

The public library is a cornerstone of our society and provides vital access to resources and knowledge to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. Librarians are our unsung, modern-day heroes. For me growing up, the library was my second home. It was safe and I could always count on it to supply my old and new family and friends in the form of beloved characters — and all for free. As a child who felt lonely and lost most of the time, the Chatham Square public library branch in Chinatown was my anchor in my American life. It was where I learned English, discovered my favorite books and learned what it meant to feel comfortable in my new land. It was there that I never had to question whether or not I belonged.

What does it mean to you that other young Chinese kids will be able to read your story now?

This is the very reason I wrote the book: this dream that another Chinese, Asian American, immigrant, poor or hungry kid might come upon it at their public library and might find in it something that gives them hope or solace to keep going.

I think it is easy to forget as adults how very difficult and terrifying it is to be a child navigating the world. There have been many times in the publication process when I have wondered whether I was crazy to go through with putting this book out into the world. But each time I returned to that vision of a preteen discovering my book at the library when she needs it most, all of my fears fall by the wayside.

This article was edited for length. Please find the full story at our website: www.omahajewishpress.com.

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