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The Jewish Press AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA | WWW. JE WISHOMAHA.ORG

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2 0 2 0 SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND

O C TO B E R 2 , 2 02 0 | 1 4 TIS H RE I 578 1 | VO L. 1 01 | NO. 49 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 6: 45 P.M.

Celebrating Omaha’s Tri-Faith Center A first-of-its-kind Interfaith project Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg Page 4

Grandma Kraft’s Cottage Cheese Pancakes Page 7

SIERRA SALGADO PIRIGYI Communications Director at Tri-Faith Initiative fter 14 years of dreams, discussion and hard work, the Tri-Faith Commons is complete.

On Oct. 17, 2020, Tri-Faith Initiative, Temple Israel, Countryside Community Church and the American Muslim Institute will celebrate the completion of the Tri-Faith Center and the ful-

fillment of Tri-Faith’s original mission: to intentionally colocate a synagogue, church, mosque and interfaith center on one shared commons.

On Oct. 17, Beacon of Hope: Tri-Faith Center Virtual Grand Opening will honor the past, present and future of Tri-Faith Initiative through a three-part celebration of the Tri-Faith Center as a safe haven for dialogue and friendship-building.

See Omaha’s Tri-Faith Center page 3

A tale of two High Holidays Page 15

Coast-To-Coast Book Club welcomes Susie Drazen 2021 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

Matching your gift

REGULARS

Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

16 17 18 19

STEVE LEVINGER Chief Development Officer, JFO Once again, this year’s Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Campaign will benefit from a generous pledge match program to launch our community towards another successful Campaign. Last year, Jewish Omaha received a $50,000 match incentive from the Staenberg, Kooper, and Fellman families to encourage the community to respond quickly with their annual pledges.

In fact, the JFO received $74,000 in new or increased gifts during the 24 hours leading up to the Campaign

Kickoff event unlocking the $50,000 dollar for dollar match. Amazingly, over $1.2M was raised in total during this short period of time and springboarded the Campaign to its largest year ever.

This year, JFNA ( Jewish Federations of North America) has worked with several large Jewish funders to amass an $18M “national fund” that is to be allocated as a matching fund incentive for Federations across North America to support human services needs in our communities.

Our Federation was informed last week that JFNA has set aside $60,000 (the maximum amount of funds available for an intermediate sized Federation) for Omaha to use as an incentive match for our community.

The match will consider any new or increasedgift to the Federation’s Annual Campaign which will then be matched at 50 cents on the dollar by JFNA funds. In other words, if a donor makes a new gift or increases See Matching your gift page 4

JOANIE JACOBSON She got her first library card when she was in kindergarten in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and has been an avid reader ever since. She loves non-fiction, specifically US political history; and Doris Kearns Goodwin, Geoffrey Ward, Jon Meacham, Robert Caro, Jonathan Alter, Blanche Wiesen Cook, and David McCullough head her list of favorite authors.

Thanks to the world wide web, Susie Drazen will bring her wit, wisdom, intellect and heart when she hosts The Miriam Initiative’s CoastTo-Coast Book Club on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

(CDT). Featured will be Simon Wiesenthal’s The Sunflower, a surprising and thought-provoking study of forgiveness, justice, compassion and human responsibility with contributions from the Dalai Lama, Harry We, Cynthia Ozick, Harold S. Kushner, Primo Levi and more. “The Sunflower was recommended to me,” Drazen said, “and I was intrigued by the concept of ‘the possibilities and limits of forgiveness.’”

Susie Drazen is an all-time Beth El favorite. She and her husband Paul (of blessed memory) came to

Omaha in 1982 and graciously served as rabbi and rebitzen until 2002. “I was in my twenties when we moved to Omaha,” said Drazen,

Susie Drazen

“and in many ways, I grew up at Beth El Synagogue. Beth El is still my heart home, and the silver lining to the pandemic is that I came home again. I am most grateful to Beth El and to Rabbi Abraham, Hazzan Krausman, Eadie Tsabari See Susie Drazen page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020

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Susie Drazen

Continued from page 1 and the Beth El family for the warmth of the welcome everyone has extended to me, especially these last few years.

“I was a book reviewer for women's clubs in Omaha, and I was always happy bringing my favorite books to new people and sharing what I loved,” she continued.

“My books are my friends. I love the characters, and want to know more about them, so I love discussing their personalities and the roads on which life takes them. I’m especially looking forward to sharing The Sunflower with women I know and women I’ll meet from the Omaha Jewish community and beyond!”

The Sunflower is a classic for all times.

While imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, Simon Wiesenthal was taken one day from his work detail to the bedside of a dying member of the SS. Haunted by the crimes in which he had participated, the soldier wanted to confess to and obtain absolution from a Jew. Faced with the choice between compassion and justice, silence and truth, Wiesenthal said nothing. But even years after the war had ended, he wondered if he had done the right thing. What would you have done in his place?

In this important book, fifty-three distinguished men and

women respond to Wiesenthal’s questions — theologians, political leaders, writers, jurists, psychiatrists, human rights activists, Holocaust survivors and victims of attempted genocides in Bosnia, Cambodia, China and Tibet. Their responses, as varied as their experiences of the world, remind us that Wiesenthal's questions are not limited to events of the past.

The reviews are in. “Five stars.

Couldn’t put it down. A transformative book.” The Sunflower will challenge you to define your beliefs about justice, compassion and human responsibility. Susie Drazen will engage you in a stimulating conversation you’ll long remember.

The Coast-To-Coast Book Club encourages women in the Omaha Jewish community to invite their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins and girlfriends across the country to join them on Zoom on Oct. 22.

To register, please visit www.bethel-omaha.org. Direct questions to Robby Erlich, Engagement Coordinator at rerlich@bethel-omaha.org. Zoom invitation to follow.

ORGANIZATIONS 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.

STEVE LEVINGER Chief Development Officer, JFO 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.”

In the not-too-distant future, 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.”

The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020 | 3

Omaha’s Tri-Faith Center

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Rev. Dr. Chris Alexander, left, Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Stoller, Author Margaret Wheatley, Imam Jamal, Rabbi Berezin, Cantor Alexander

Continued from page 1 The evening will kick off with tributes and greetings from Tri-Faith supporters, followed by One More Chair, an original performance created by Omaha playwright Beaufield Berry and Omaha filmmaker Tessa Wedberg.

“The performance, One More Chair, is a pandemic-era play that blesses TriFaith and serves as a ritual connecting us to each other. It honors Tri-Faith’s colocation of faith communities. It also sets the tone for our transition from focus on bricks-and-mortar to focus on creating lasting relationships and inclusive environments,” says Tri-Faith Executive Director, Wendy Goldberg.

Following the performance, attendees will gather in small groups for “Connecting Conversations” to keep the momentum going.

Beacon of Hope attendees are invited to order a Celebration Box to add to the festivities. These specially curated boxes include a special issue of Omaha Magazine celebrating Tri-Faith, a ceremonial candle, a “pocket blessing,” and a 3D architectural model of the Tri-Faith Commons. A limited number of Patron Celebration Boxes, which include a commemorative Tri-Faith wind chime, are also available. Celebration Boxes can be picked up, delivered, or shipped.

“We’re celebrating all that has been ac-

complished - all the funders, founders,and friends who have made this dream a reality. But also, we’re looking forward to all we’ll accomplish through this model of coming together,”

faith groups can meet up, but a welcome, safe spot for people from the outside who want to learn about Tri-Faith, the history of it and what’s going on today.

It’s also a place to come to for all kinds of

“It literally brings tears to my eyes to walk through it and to see it and to feel it. To be able to look out the west windows and see there is a really viable, active church over there on the right, and across the creek a big Jewish temple, and over here on the left a vibrant mosque.”

- Founding Tri-Faith Board Chair Bob Freeman, on experiencing the Tri-Faith Center says Goldberg.

Tri-Faith Board Member Bob Freeman played a central role in Tri-Faith’s origin story, and he eagerly anticipates when the Tri-Faith Center can open to the general public. Tri-Faith Initiative hopes to launch a virtual tour of the Center by the end of the year.

“While members and visitors will always be able to take the pathway or Abraham’s Bridge to meet up with one another at each other’s places of worship, we now have this fourth place as well.

The Tri-Faith Center is a crossover space where not only members of the three

events and occasions,” says Freeman.

“Each time we met, we practiced the theory of compounding interest,” Goldberg says, “whereby one little task, one little relationship at a time built on the belief that this is possible. All of those things guided the leaders in believing this is possible in small relational increments that build on each other.”

At its core, Tri-Faith is about people.

“The entire dream, from the beginning, was about relationships,” Temple Israel’s Rabbi Emeritus Azriel says. “It’s about talking to each other, arguing,

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4 | The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020

Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg SARAH WILDMAN WASHINGTON | JTA Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court and a tireless advocate for gender equality, has died at 87.

A fierce jurist known for her outsized presence and outspokenness, Ginsburg died from “complications of metastatic pancreas cancer,” the Supreme Court announced Friday night.

She had survived multiple bouts of different cancers over the course of two decades, vowing that she was healthy enough to continue her work and at times returning to the bench shortly after hospital stays.

Ginsburg’s death comes on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, six weeks before the presidential election and at a time of intense political polarization.

Four years ago, the Republican-held Senate refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg participates in a discussion at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., Feb. 10, 2020. Credit: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

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McConnell has said he will attempt to fill any spots that open up on the court while President Donald Trump is in office. He repeated that pledge on Friday night following news of Ginsburg’s death.

Trump has already appointed two judges, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, during his presidential tenure.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the minority leader, released a statement warning McConnell to wait out the election.

“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice,” said Schumer, who is Jewish. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”

McConnell used precisely the same words to justify delaying a Supreme Court nomination in 2016 following the death of Antonin Scalia, a conservative justice, much earlier in the election year than Ginsburg’s passing.

Ginsburg reportedly told her granddaughter Clara Spera in her final days: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”

In her 27 years on the court, Ginsburg emerged not only as the putative leader of the court’s liberal wing but as a pop cultural phenomenon and feminist icon, earning as an octogenarian the moniker Notorious R.B.G. — a play off the deceased rapper Notorious B.I.G. She won liberal acclaim by penning blistering dissents in high-profile cases concerning birth control, voter ID laws and affirmative action even as she maintained a legendary friendship with Scalia, the staunchly conservative firebrand who died in 2016.

Ginsburg was frank as well about the importance of Jewish tradition in influencing her life and career, hanging the Hebrew injunction to pursue justice on the walls of her chambers.

“I am a judge, born, raised and proud of being a Jew,” she said in an address to the American Jewish Committee following her 1993 appointment to the court. “The demand for justice runs through the entirety of Jewish history and Jewish tradition.”

See Ruth Bader Ginsburg page 5

Matching your gift Continued from page 1 their Annual Campaign gift by $100, it will also generate an additional $50 from the JFNA funds. Once $120,000 is raised in new or increased gifts, our community will maximize the entire $60,000 that JFNA has allocated to Omaha.

In essence, this would generate an incremental $180,000 as compared to last year’s Annual Campaign.

The intent of these funds is to help the JFO continue to meet the unprecedented demand for human services that are provided through our Federation agencies. These needs would include financial assistance for food, housing, medical care and other essentials. It would also allow the JFO to fund the increased costs for personal protective equipment brought on by COVID-19.

A debt of gratitude should be extended to Maimonides Fund for their generosity and leadership in making this Fund possible, along with the generous participation of the Lynn and Charles Schusterman Family Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Jack, Joseph & Morton Mandel Foundation, Singer Family Foundation, Leslie and Abigail Wexner, Wilf Family Foundation and The Jewish Federations of North America.

Tri-Faith Center

Continued from page 3 never the bricks and mortar. The buildings are merely the stuff above the surface. What’s beneath is what will sustain the enterprise.”

As a result of this intentionality of forging bonds, Freeman says, “We have relationships that are really rooted.”

“The goal is nurturing and taking advantage of the colocation to deepen our understanding of other faith traditions and ultimately our own faith and beliefs,” says Tri-Faith Board Chair Dr. Ali Khan.

“Relationships change things more than theology,” Countryside Community Church’s Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes reminds us.

The Tri-Faith Commons is open to all, and through Beacon of Hope, Tri-Faith hopes to invite the rest of Omaha and the world into their “bold endeavor in America’s heartland.”

“One upside to the current shift toward online programming is that more people than ever before can join Tri-Faith in commemorating this momentous achievement. We hope that supporters of interfaith cooperation from around the world will join us in a toast from home,” says Tri-Faith Communications Director Sierra Salgado Pirigyi.

Beacon of Hope: Tri-Faith Center Virtual Grand Opening is free to attend. The deadline to RSVP is Monday, Oct. 12 at noon.

The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020 | 5

ADL-CRC Voter’s Corner: Plan your vote now!

ELLIE BATT, CAROL BLOCH AND PAM MONSKY Whether you want to mail in your ballot, hand deliver it to your Election Commission Office, drop it in a drop box, vote early in-per-

son, or show up at the polls on Election Day, we have you covered. Choose one of these easyto-follow checklists and create your own customizable Voting To-Do List, helping you get from Voter Registration to Casting Your Ballot.

IN-PERSON (EARLY, Oct. 5 – Nov. 2) 1. Make sure you are Registered to Vote by Oct. 16 2. Go to Election Commission Office (Business Hours) a. Douglas County: 12220 W. Center Rd., Omaha, NE 68144 | 402.444.8683 a. NW Corner of Bel-Air Shopping Center b. Special Saturday voting on Halloween (9 a.m. -1 p.m. | Oct. 31) c. Express Vote & private rooms available for persons w/disabilities IN-PERSON (ELECTION DAY, Nov. 3) 1. Make sure you are Registered to Vote by Oct. 16 2. Find your polling place at https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview.

3. Show up!

MAIL-IN BALLOT (Early) 1. Make sure you are Registered to Vote by Oct. 16 2. Send in a Ballot Request (Must be received at Election Commission Office by Oct. 23) 3. When Ballot Arrives, Fill it Out and Don’t Forget to Sign it!

4. Mail it in or Drop it Off ASAP (Must be received by Election Commission Office by 4. close of polls Nov. 3) 5. Drop Box Locations (Douglas County) Check votedouglascounty.com to see location of newly placed boxes a. Douglas County Election Commission | 12220 W Center Road, Omaha b. Douglas County Engineer's Office | 15505 W Maple Road, Omaha c. Millard Public Schools Foundation | 5225 South 159th Avenue, Omaha d. Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch Library | 2100 Reading Plaza, Elkhorn e. City/County Building | 1819 Farnam Street, Omaha f. South Omaha Library | 2808 Q Street, Omaha g. Charles B. Washington Branch Library | 2868 Ames Avenue, Omaha h. Ralston Police Department | 7400 Main Street, Ralston i. Milton R. Abrahams Branch Library | 5111 N 90th St

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Continued from page 4 Ginsburg was nominated to the nation’s highest bench by President Bill Clinton following the retirement of Byron White. In her Rose Garden nominating ceremony, Clinton lauded Ginsburg for standing with the “the outsider in society … telling them that they have a place in our legal system, by giving them a sense that the Constitution and the laws protect all the American people, not simply the powerful.”

Ginsburg attributed that outsider perspective to her Jewish roots, pointing often to her heritage as a building block of her perspective on the bench.

“Laws as protectors of the oppressed, the poor, the loner, is evident in the work of my Jewish predecessors on the Supreme Court,” she wrote in an essay for the AJC. “The Biblical command: ‘Justice, justice shalt thou pursue’ is a strand that ties them together.”

The Brooklyn native was the daughter of Nathan Bader, a Russian immigrant and furrier, and the former Celia Amster. She often noted that her mother was “barely second generation,” having been born a scant four months after her parents’ arrival from Hungary. Ginsburg was keenly aware of the Jewish immigrant experience and her own good fortune to be born on these shores.

The Holocaust colored her perspective of the world and the law.

“Our nation learned from Hitler’s racism and, in time, embarked on a mission to end

law-sanctioned discrimination in our own country,” Ginsburg said at a 2004 Yom Hashoah commemoration at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. “In the aftermath of World War II, in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, in the burgeoning women’s rights movement of the 1970s, ‘We the People’ expanded to include all of humankind, to embrace all the people of this great nation. Our motto, E Pluribus Unum — of many one — signals our appreciation that we are the richer for the religious, ethnic and racial diversity of our citizens.”

But while Ginsburg was fortunate to be born in the United States, even brilliant women in the 1950s had no easy path. Following her graduation from Cornell University, where she met her husband, Martin Ginsburg, Ginsburg lived for two years in Oklahoma and experienced the setbacks that women faced at the time: She was demoted from her job at the Social Security Administration after her supervisor discovered she was three months pregnant.

Two years later, Ginsburg was one of only nine women in her Harvard Law School class with about 500 men. She had a 14-month old daughter and had to battle the endless skepticism of her professors and colleagues. A well-known story has it that at a meeting of her female classmates with the law school dean, the women were asked why they deserved a spot taken from men.

See Ruth Bader Ginsburg page 6

6 | The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020

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Rapid COVID-19 screening test developed in Israel to be used in major airports “Tests will be immediate, affordable and MARCY OSTER monitored, so that airports and airlines can JTA optimize the level of safety by mitigating the A rapid COVID-19 screening test developed risk of COVID-19 infection,” the statement said. in Israel will be used to screen passengers in In the pilot phase at the airports, those who several European airports.

The test involves gargling with a small amount of special mouthwash and spitting it into a test tube.

Virusight Diagnostic, a newly formed Artificial Intelligence health care venture between Sheba Medical Center’s ARC Innovation Center and Newsight Imaging, has signed a strategic Israeli travelers enjoy a celebratory arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, March letter of intent for 23, 2020. Credit: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90 rapid screening of airline passengers with ICTS test positive for the coronavirus will have to Europe, a security provider at major airports in take the regular swab test, The Times of Israel 23 countries, Newsight announced in a state- reported.

The gargle test uses SpectraLIT, Newsight ment on its website.

Imaging’s portable and accurate spectral A trial of the test last month involving analysis device, to determine the presence of some 400 people at Sheba showed about 95% the COVID-19 virus. accuracy.

Vote for

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

her judicial oath of office a week later, beContinued from page 5 When Martin, a Harvard Law graduate, coming only the second woman to serve on took a job at a New York law firm, Ginsburg the court after Sandra Day O’Connor. transferred to Columbia. At both schools she As a Supreme Court jurist, Ginsburg conserved on the Law Review, and she finished tinued her fight for gender equality. In 1996, Columbia tied for first in her class. Yet not a she wrote the majority opinion in United single law firm would hire her.

States v. Virginia, which deemed the Virginia Ginsburg eventually clerked for Judge Ed- Military Institute’s policy of not admitting ward Palmieri and went on to teach law at Rutgers University. She created the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union and was the first tenured woman to teach law at Columbia.

Ginsburg quickly built a reputation for establishing gender parity before the law, arguing six major sex-discrimination cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning all but one.

In one of those winning cases, Weinburger v. Wiesenfeld in 1975, Ginsburg repre- President Bill Clinton speaks as he nominates Ruth Bader sented a widower left with a Ginsburg to the U.S. Supreme Court in a Rose Garden cerechild in his care when his mony at the White House, June 14, 1993. Credit: Ron wife died in childbirth. The Sachs/CNP/Getty Images father requested the childcare benefits that women unconstitutional. She also authored a woman would receive if her husband died the dissent in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire, a but which were then denied to men. pay discrimination case that would lead to “From the outset, she insisted that gender the 2009 Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Though discrimination was not only an issue of a critic of the landmark Roe v. Wade case women’s rights, demonstrating how using that decriminalized abortion nationally, gender as a basis for different treatment was Ginsburg consistently argued for protecting also harmful to men,” Judith Rosenbaum of the right to abortion. the Jewish Women’s Archive said.

Late in her career, she emerged as a culIn 1980, President Jimmy Carter named tural icon. In 2013, law student Shana Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Knizhik started a Tumblr blog collecting all District of Columbia. Her nomination to the manner of Ginsburg fan art, from celebratory Supreme Court was approved overwhelm- tattoos to coffee mugs, T-shirts and onesies. ingly by the Senate on Aug. 3, 1993. She took See Ruth Bader Ginsburg page 8

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The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020 | 7

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Meet the three Jewish candidates on Trump’s Supreme Court justice shortlists

peals, which is based in both St. Louis and St. Paul, is active RON KAMPEAS in the Minneapolis Jewish community. His paternal grandparJTA For the past decade, Jews have made up a third of justices ents are Holocaust survivors and their experiences helped on the U.S. Supreme Court. And while that streak appears drive him to the bench. likely to end when President Donald Trump nominates some“My grandfather talked to me about the importance of laws one to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday, there in a society,” he was quoted as saying by the Kansas City Jeware Jews on the shortlist.

Of the 44 conservative jurists he has named over time as possible court choices, two are Jewish and another cites his Jewish father’s upbringing as shaping his outlook.

All three are men, making them unlikely to be Trump’s choice when the president unveils his pick, which he said would happen by the weekend.

Trump has said he is likely to name a woman, and none of the frontrunners cited in media reports is Jewish.

Still, justice shortlists often act as a pool for future Supreme Court picks, so it’s worth knowing who made Trump’s cut. They are: Steven Engel, 46, is the assistant Ambassador Christopher Landau, State Department Official Portrait, left; David Stras, attorney general for the Office of Legal Credit: Getty Images; and Steven Engel, Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images; Background: Counsel, the branch of the Depart- Supreme Court Building, Credit: Wikimedia Commons. ment of Justice that advises the president on legal matters. He ish Chronicle in 2018 after Trump released his first list of posis a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation, a Reform sible nominees. “That broke down in Germany. The law synagogue known for its government official-heavy member- protects civil liberties, preserves the structure of government, ship. His mother taught academically gifted students at and maintains order.” (Stras, 47, also cited “Perry Mason” reYeshiva Har Torah in Queens, New York. He was a leading runs as making an impression.) member of the Trump transition team, focusing on the DeWhoever is ultimately confirmed for the role will join six partment of Justice. other justices, including the two remaining Jews on the court, He clerked for Alex Kozinski, a Jewish judge who was known Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer. Both were nominated by as an outspoken conservative on the liberal 9th Circuit Court Democratic presidents. of Appeals until 2017, when he was driven out amid claims of sexual harassment. Kozinski took part in Engel’s 2004 wedding to another clerk, Susan Kearns. A clerkship for Kozinski was a fast track to a Supreme Court clerkship, and Engel went on to clerk for Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Continued from page 6 The blog spawned a 2015 book with the Notorious R.B.G. The late Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, opposed tag co-authored with Irin Carmon.

Engel’s 2017 nomination for his current job because Engel, as “Justice Ginsburg more than earned her Notorious a deputy assistant attorney general, had signed off on a 2007 crown and the admiration of millions of people with her memo allowing torture during interrogation. fearless advocacy for marginalized people and her stubChristopher Landau, 56, is the ambassador to Mexico. He born belief that women are people,” Carmon said. “People is a graduate of Harvard Law School and clerked for two confelt moved to make fan art and tattoo her face on their bodservative Supreme Court justices, Clarence Thomas and Anies because she spoke for them when it mattered.” tonin Scalia. In an online July 4 celebration, he told the story Ginsburg is survived by two children — Jane, a law proof his Jewish father’s flight from Vienna. His father later befessor at Columbia, and James, a music producer — and came an ambassador to several Latin American nations. four grandchildren. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010.

David Stras, who is on the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Ap-

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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Omaha Jewish Community Beit Midrash Omaha is blessed with a Jewish community whose members have deep affection for each other and for their spiritual leaders, regardless of which congregation they happen to belong to. Embracing our desire to be together and learn together, this exciting Beit Mi d r a s h (house of study) gives all of Jewish Omaha the opportunity to engage in spirited and chall e n g i n g cross-denominational study with local rabbis and cantors. The year of study will culminate with a Tikkun Leil Shavuot (evening-long study session).

Classes will be held virtually, via Zoom, until further notice. Drop in for one session, or become a regular attendee – everyone is welcome.

Upcoming class sessions, The Jewish Vote: Torah, Civic Duty and the 2020 Election are scheduled for Oct. 21 and 28.

Community Panel discussions include Election Debrief: Where do We Go from Here? on Nov. 4; In God’s Image: Jewish Views on Race, Diversity and Justice, on Nov. 11, 18 and 25; The Future is Now: Re-Imagining Judaism for a Post-Pandemic World – Part I on Dec. 2 and 9.

Please contact Mark Kirchhoff for more details 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org or visit our website at www.jewishomaha.org, where you can see the full schedule under the Community Beit Midrash tab, located at the top of the homepage.

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Tears of joy, again

Tears came to my eyes, time and again, and I found myself taking my glasses off, wiping the corners of my eyes with a clean white handkerchief and folding it once more and placing it back in my pocket. I wondered why, why is this happening to me at my age. I was in Omaha and he was in Syracuse. It was all virtual. And then it came to me, another time, those tears had nothing to do with RICHARD FELLMAN me. They were all about this grandson.

This was my fifth grandchild’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. And there were still three more which I hope I’ll be able to attend as I have in the past.

The others were each unusual, but in a more normal... no that’s not correct... more like bar mitzvahs always are. Two were at Beth El, the Omaha synagogue I’ve belonged to since I was in first or second grade and my parents enrolled me in Hebrew School, and others were equally unique, one in Jerusalem on a bright sunny day with the family sitting on ancient stones in a corner of the Old City, and the other in a small Synagogue in Paris, off a main street on a quiet Shabbat morning in an otherwise bustling section of that great city.

But this one was different, even though it was in an American city, Syracuse, New York. Nobody was there except for the Bar Mitzvah boy’s immediate family. The cantor was at her home, though her husband, the musician, was next to her. The rabbi who conducted the services was in New Jersey. The grandparents were not there either, the grandmother in northern Michigan, and me, the grandfather, in Omaha. Uncles and aunts of the Bar Mitzvah boy were in Omaha, Los Angeles, Chicago, Aspen, Washington and Dallas. And cousins and other distant relatives seemed to be everywhere... Detroit, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, Phoenix, and places I can’t re-

member, plus Israel and Denmark.

More than a year ago, long before the pandemic changed everything, I planned the trip I would take for Zachary Fellman’s Bar Mitzvah. I would spend a few days both before and after in Syracuse, sponsor a dinner or some gathering for all the family and guests, and then spend a few more days with my son Jon in New York. I’d see the Yankees and a Broadway play or two, and maybe even buy a new winter coat. Then came the pandemic, and everything changed.

Frankly, I was worried, though neither my son nor his wife, parents of Zach, seemed to be worried. They just moved ahead, planned everything on Zoom, and everything worked.

There were more people “attending” by Zoom who were from out of town than could possibly have attended if it had taken place the old-fashioned way. Everyone would have been in the synagogue, a beautiful old Temple, but the bimah was so far away from the pews that nobody could have seen the expressions on the faces of those called to the Torah for an Aliyah. And nobody would have seen my tears.

Zach, the Bar Mitzvah, did unusually well. He led the entire service, Hebrew and English, with a feeling of confidence as if he had been leading services his entire life. He read from the Torah with ease, and he repeated that same skill with the reading of the Haftorah When it came time for his speech he was masterful. The text was carefully and maturely written. There were parts of it which would have made a college student proud. He demonstrated to all who listened that his historical and political knowledge was far beyond his years, and when “Hail to the Chief ” was played one could envision that young man many years from now standing at attention in some major political role.

But he was only 13 years old. He was a Bar Mitzvah boy. And See Tears of joy page 10

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Jewish service held for Justice Ginsburg

Justice Ginsburg’s unflagging devotion to this RON KAMPEAS project. Not even cancer.”

WASHINGTON | JTA On a crisp blue sky morning, Holtzblatt A rabbi recited psalms and said the traditional prayer for the departed as the Supreme began the service with psalms and ended with El Malei Rachamim, Court launched its formal the prayer about a mercimourning of Justice Ruth ful God traditionally said Bader Ginsburg on for the departed.

Wednesday, Sept. 23.

A battery of current and Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt former clerks to Ginsburg of Adas Israel, a Conservaaccompanied the justice’s tive congregation in coffin up the steps of the Washington, opened the Supreme Court, where she memorial at the court laid in repose for two days with a Jewish service. before lying in state for a “This was Justice Ginsday at the Capitol across burg’s life’s work, to insist the street. Ginsburg was that the Constitution dethe first Jew and the first liver on its promise that we the people would include Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Credit: woman to lie in repose at Allison Shelley/Getty Images the court and to lie in all the people,” Holtzblatt state at the Capitol. said of Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18 at 87.

Chief Justice John Roberts closed the brief “She carried out that work in every chapter of her life as an advocate arguing six times be- ceremony with a eulogy.

“Ginsburg’s life was one of the many verfore this court for equal treatment for women and men, as a judge on the D.C. Circuit court, sions of the American dream,” he said. “Her father was an immigrant from Odessa. Her and as a justice on this court.

“And as a path-marking role model to mother was born four months after her family women and girls of all ages, who now know arrived from Poland. Her mother later worked that no office is out of reach for their dreams. as a bookkeeper in Brooklyn. Ruth used to Whether that is to serve in the highest court ask, ‘What is the difference between a bookof our land, or closer to home for me, as the keeper in Brooklyn, and a Supreme Court jusrabbi of their community. Nothing could stop tice?’ Her answer: one generation.”

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JCC school break specials School Break Specials are full day programs for kids who are out of school for scheduled breaks.

School Break Specials run from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and are open to Members and Non Members, K-7th grade. Registration is per day and drop off and pick up are at the JCC Youth Lounge. Cost for School Break Specials is $35 per day for members, $45 for non-members; cost is per child.

Before and After Care is available.

Additional registration for those programs is required.

Before Care runs 7 a.m.–9 a.m.; After Care runs 4 p.m.–6 p.m. Registration is per day and breakfast is included for Before Care participants who arrive by 8 a.m. Afternoon snacks are included for children enrrolled in After Care.

Kidz Inn participants must register separately for SBS, as only Before and After Care is covered under Kidz Inn. Pizza Fridays are not included; for that, additional registration is required.

We’ve recently updated some of the terms of our registration policies for Youth pro-

gramming. The following adjustments went into effect on Oct. 1, 2019. School Break Specials, Winter Break Specials, Spring Break Specials, and Kids Night Out programs are subject to the following terms: If a registration is received less than one week prior to the program a $20 late registration fee will be assessed to each participant; If you cancel less than one week prior to the program you will receive a credit to be used for future programs at the JCC; If you do not show up for a program and have not notified staff, no refund or credit will be given; If you cancel prior to one week before the program a full refund will be issued or you can request credit for a future program.

Visit our website at www.JCCOmaha.org for further information about our youth programs, relevant policies, links to necessary forms and information on what to bring.

For additional questions, please ontact Amanda Welsh at 402.590.2152 or Allison Burger at 402.334.6409.

Tears of joy Continued from page 9 I was proud of him. I was a good deal older, much, much older, and once more with tears of joy rolling down from the corners of my eyes, thinking of those who were no

longer present and wishing they could share these moments, thinking of Zach’s parents and how proud they were, and praying prayers of thanks for allowing me to reach that day, I simply said, “Thanks.”

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House passes Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act MARCY OSTER JTA The federal government would be required to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism under a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020, which passed Monday by voice vote, would authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices in the departments of Homeland Security and Justice, as well as the FBI, to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity.

Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., sponsored the legislation, which had 179 co-sponsors.

Sen. Dick Durbin, also an Illinois Democrat, has sponsored a similar measure in the Senate.

“Racially/ethnically motivated violent extremists were the primary source of ideologically motivated lethal incidents and violence in 2018 and 2019. From the Tree of Life synagogue to a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, we have all tragically seen the deadly effect,” Schneider said Monday from the House floor. “According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of white nationalist groups rose by 55% since 2017. And last November, the FBI re-

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QAnon is an old form of anti-Semitism in a new package BEN SALES JTA Scott Wiener, a California state senator, has been barraged with anti-Semitic attacks online, including one falsely accusing him of promoting “Jewish pedophilia.”

A Republican congressional candidate, Marjorie Taylor Greene, appeared to accuse George Soros and the Rothschild family of being involved in a cabal of Democratic pedophiles. On Twitter, she has repeatedly called Soros, a Jewish billionaire, of being an “enemy of the people.”

On Sept. 11, a Facebook group’s post claimed that an Israeli company knew about the 2001 terrorists attacks in advance.

These smears have at least one thing in common: They come from followers of QAnon, the vast — and patently false — theory that Democrats across the country are running a secret cabal to abduct and abuse children, harvest their blood and defeat Donald Trump.

But are those anti-Semitic beliefs baked into QAnon? Or do some of the posters happen to be anti-Semites while believing in QAnon?

The answer, according to those who study extremism and have been watching the meteoric ascent of QAnon, is the former: QAnon is inherently anti-Semitic — and only growing more so. Researchers are still gathering data, but are seeing the trend pop up globally. The New York Times reported that there are 200,000 QAnon social media accounts on Germany’s far right, and that the conspiracy was part of what inspired a faction of German extremists to storm its parliament in August.

“In terms of qualitative intelligence, there’s no doubt that it’s becoming more anti-Semitic,” said Joel Finkelstein, the director of the Network Contagion Research Institute, which studies hate and incitement on social media, and is gathering data on anti-Semitism in QAnon. “There’s just no doubt about that.”

The QAnon theory has become increasingly popular and visible in recent months, in the United States and abroad. According to NBC, its Facebook groups boasted millions of members in early August. Republican candidates for Congress have supported it, and people

there, the idea of kidnapping children for blood,” said Magda Teter, a Jewish studies professor and author of “Blood Libel: On the Trail of an Antisemitic Myth.” “People are going to start googling ‘killing children for blood.’ That will lead them to anti-Semitism even if they

A group of Germans who follow the QAnon conspiracy theory protest in Berlin, Aug. 29, 2020.

That day, inspired by QAnon, a group of German extremists stormed the country's parliament.

Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

wearing or carrying Q slogans have shown up to mainstream political rallies. Even as some Republican leaders have condemned the theory, Trump has declined to disavow it.

The theory is expansive and elastic, stretching to include many different tropes in the service of its sweeping scope. That can make its core anti-Semitism hard to detect or track.

But the claim that rich Jews, including the Rothschild banking family, secretly control the world has long been a recurring feature.

And other elements that don’t explicitly mention Jews also have anti-Semitic resonance, like the blood libel, an age-old anti-Semitic canard claiming that Jews kill Christian children to harvest their blood for ritual purposes.

“This whole blood libel is very prominent

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may not be initially inclined.”

In recent weeks, QAnon has begun to attract heightened scrutiny, many others have pressed that case. One was the founder of the group Genocide Watch, former George Mason University professor of genocide studies Gregory Stanton, who published a piece earlier this month titled “QAnon is a Nazi cult, rebranded.”

QAnon is the latest version of “the conspiracy ‘revealed’ in the most influential anti-Jewish pamphlet of all time. It was called Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” Stanton wrote in his essay. He also said QAnon is a revamped take on the blood libel, which was spread in modern times through the “Protocols.”

In fact, according to Eric Feinberg, vice president of content moderation at the Coali-

tion for a Safer Web, which aims to combat extremism online, references to the Elders of Zion and to a “Zionist-occupied government” are common on QAnon forums. He said QAnon adherents are latching on to widespread Jewish support for Democrats, especially as the election approaches.

“In terms of Elders of Zion, calling out Hollywood, which tends to be Jewish, calling out specific Jewish congresspeople as pedophiles,” said Feinberg, describing anti-Semitic ideas found in QAnon. “Also, it tends to be that Jewish people align more with Democrats. They use that against us to basically say that Jews are pedophiles.”

Some of QAnon’s supporters are surely aware that they are targeting Jews. But the ideas of harvesting children’s blood and controlling the world through a secret cabal are anti-Semitic even if the growing numbers of QAnon adherents don’t realize it, or don’t directly refer to Jews, Teter said. These ideas are so old and established, she said, that they function as codes for anti-Semitism and obviate the need to mention Jews directly.

“Some of them are using anti-Semitic tropes even though they may not be directly talking about Jews,” she said. “There are a number of elements that they promote that are definitely coming from the vocabulary and from the cauldron, reservoir of anti-Semitic ideas even though they may not be saying directly that Jews are doing it.”

Teter added that these ideas will act as dog whistles for neo-Nazis and other anti-Semites, such that they have the effect of propagating anti-Semitism regardless of their original intent.

“If they are going to mention the whole package of conspiracy, of blood, of media, of money, even without mentioning Jews, you can definitely get that kind of implicit anti-Semitic See QAnon is an old form page 13

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The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020 | 13

Sapiens as a graphic novel

MARCY OSTER JTA For anyone intimidated to start reading Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari’s comprehensive book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, help is on the way: A graphic novel version will be available next month.

Sapiens: A Graphic History will be narrated by a caricature of Harari and reimagines human evolution as a reality television show. It’s the first of four planned volumes covering the material in the bestselling book, which has sold 16 million copies in 60 languages worldwide.

The aim is to interest readers who don’t usually engage with science and history, ac-

cording to Harari’s website.

The nonfiction book charts the course of the development of humans from the prehistoric era to modernity. It was published originally in Hebrew as a textbook for Harari’s students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Comics artists David Vandermeulen as cowriter and Daniel Casanave as the illustrator collaborated on the graphic novel.

In 2019, Harari and his husband, Itzik Yahav, co-founded Sapienship: a social impact company, with projects in the fields of entertainment and education. Sapienship tries to focus public conversation on today’s global challenges.

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The Israel-UAE-Bahrain peace deals, explained

QAnon is an old form Continued from page 12 message about controlling the media, government and whatnot,” she said. “You don’t have to be explicit and then those who know, know.”

The way that QAnon ideas tend to propagate means that large numbers of people are encountering and absorbing anti-Semitic tropes all the time. Feinberg said his research has found that QAnon content across social media platforms is increasingly coming from Telegram, a messaging app that also has open groups where users can see and share public content. That makes the content more easily shareable to mainstream social media platforms than, say, an entry on the extremist message board 8kun, and also gives rise to “a

boomerang or circular ecosystem” whereby QAnon ideas move rapidly across platforms with little evidence of their origins.

The fact that certain messages on Telegram are encrypted, and that the company is based outside of the United States and therefore not fully subject to U.S. oversight, also make the messages harder to track, Feinberg said.

“The Rothschilds, all of that Elders of Zion stuff, you can actually search that on Telegram and pick that up,” he said. “They’re using it in this regard especially because Jews tend to be Democrats and they say most of the media is controlled or owned by Jewish people. So they use that against us because they believe Trump is the savior.”

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UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, left, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump at the signing ceremony for the agreements on “normalization of relations” reached between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain at the White House, Sept. 15, 2020. Credit: The White House/Tia Dufour/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

GABE FRIEDMAN AND BEN SALES JTA Israel has signed diplomatic agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, two of its Arab neighbors, and the word “historic” has been used a lot.

For Israel and the region, the so-called Abraham Accords signings truly were historic: There was a big ceremony on the White House Lawn, which conjured memories of

Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shaking hands after signing the Oslo Accords. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu each have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their roles in brokering the deals. But what’s actually in the agreements? And what do they change? Is this truly the “dawn of a new Middle East,” as Trump claims?

See The peace deals, explained page 14

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The peace deals, explained Continued from page 13 Here’s a breakdown.

Three separate documents were signed: the separate pacts Israel has with the UAE and Bahrain, and a general statement by all the parties involved, including the United States, which played a key role in the negotiation process.

The general statement, titled the Abraham Accords Declaration, affirms that all the signees agree to “pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world.” It also notably includes language about the ties of the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) and a condemnation of “radicalization and conflict” — a resonant note about a region whose conflicts have given rise to terrorism.

Neither of the individual agreements contain in-depth detail, but the Israel-UAE treaty is more developed because it was announced first, nearly a month earlier. Bahrain announced its agreement with Israel last week and agreed to join the White House ceremony relatively late in the game.

In the course of four pages, the Israel-UAE document says both nations will establish “full normalization of bilateral ties,” embassies with resident ambassadors and cooperation in an array of areas, from investment to tourism to agriculture. It also calls for both parties to “foster mutual understanding, respect, co-existence and a culture of peace between their societies in the spirit of their common ancestor, Abraham.”

The shorter Israel-Bahrain document says that the countries, in addition to opening embassies for the first time, will hammer out specific agreements in a similarly wide range of areas in the coming weeks.

Since it was founded in 1948, Israel has hoped for acceptance in its region. This treaty marks two more steps in that direction.

Shortly after its founding, Israel was attacked by a coalition of Arab armies, and for decades Israel was not recognized by any nation in the Middle East — the countries did not talk to

The triple handshake between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, President Jimmy Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin seals the signing of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty on the White House lawn, March 26, 1979. Credit: Tel Or Beni/GPO/Getty Images

Israel, trade with Israel or treat Israel like a legitimate state.

Israelis could not travel to any Arab country and vice versa.

That changed in 1979 when Egypt, which had fought four wars with Israel over the span of 25 years, became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state. In 1994, Jordan followed suit.

But that’s just two Arab countries among nearly two dozen.

Throughout its 72-year existence, at least publicly, Israel has been treated as an illegitimate state by nearly all its neighbors and been seen as an intruder that stole land from the Palestinians.

By establishing these diplomatic ties, the UAE and Bahrain are recognizing Israel as a country that is here to stay in the region. It’s a sign that the wider narrative about Israel in the Middle East could be beginning to change.

There is one big difference between these agreements and the ones Israel signed with Egypt and Jordan: Those were peace treaties and these aren’t.

Before signing, Egypt and Jordan were technically at war

with the Jewish state and had fought on multiple occasions.

Both Arab nations had tried to destroy Israel, which conquered territory from each of them in 1967. That’s why those treaties were a big deal: They ended overt, deadly hostilities.

Both Egypt and Jordan border Israel, also making the treaties more significant. They removed immediate threats to Israel and allowed Israel to cooperate openly with two of its neighbors on border concerns.

Neither the UAE nor Bahrain have ever attacked Israel; nor has Israel attacked them. So there was no peace to be made.

And unlike with Egypt and Jordan, Israel and the two countries are far from each other.

Trump is obviously elated that these treaties came together — especially at the tail end of an election season in which he has faced low approval ratings during a pandemic. The same applies to Netanyahu, who has spoken for years about peace with the wider Arab world even as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has festered. But the player who might feel most vindicated is Jared Kushner, Trump’s senior adviser and point man on Middle East peace, as well his son-in-law. Critics had mocked the real estate developer’s role, saying he was ill qualified to take on an international diplomacy portfolio. He can fight that criticism now in the form of the biggest peace development in decades.

Even domestic opponents of Netanyahu and Trump are pleased by the Abraham Accords. Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate for president, said in a statement that he welcomed the treaty and that “It is good to see others in the Middle East recognizing Israel and even welcoming it as a partner.” The leader of Israel’s opposition, Yair Lapid, tweeted, “Congratulations to Israel, the UAE and Bahrain on this historic agreement” — before a tweetstorm castigating Netanyahu for Israel’s coronavirus policy. Edited for length. Read the full story at www.omahajewishpress.com.

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A tale of two High Holidays SHIRA HANAU JTA At the Jewish Center on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, this year’s High Holidays were anything but normal.

With eight services happening in various spaces throughout the building, on the roof and in the street (closed off to facilitate services), approximately 400 people gathered for socially distanced and masked services at the Modern Orthodox synagogue.

Within just a few blocks of the synagogue, members of eight Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist synagogues gathered at multiple street corners or leaned out their windows to hear the shofar after attending Rosh Hashanah services over livestream.

The different services were emblematic of the starkly divided approaches to the High Holidays that American Jews experience this year. While for Orthodox synagogues, services are largely be held in person, for most non-Orthodox synagogues, prayer takes place over livestream, with in-person offerings confined to short, outdoor rituals.

Even before the pandemic, the two communities were different in many ways. But this year’s High Holidays have cast new light on the primary difference between Orthodox and non-Orthodox congregations across the country: their approach to halacha, Jewish law.

Jewish law is composed of the biblical and rabbinic texts that guide nearly every aspect of daily life. For Orthodox Jews, Jewish law is considered binding and is meant to be interpreted by rabbinic experts. For Conservative Jews, Jewish law is also considered binding, though the Conservative movement has shown more flexibility in adapting certain rules to changing circumstances. For the Reform movement, rabbinic answers to Jewish legal questions are seen as more “advisory”

than “authoritative.” and masked services, meaning the synagogue Hashanah and Yom Kippur observance.

During the pandemic itself, the Conserva- has had months of practice. While many Or- While the Reform and Conservative movetive movement has adopted some new rab- thodox communities first encouraged back- ments have allowed for High Holiday services binic decisions, called teshuvot, to adapt yard minyans, many Orthodox synagogues to take place over Zoom, many synagogues Jewish practice to a so— in all parts of the Jewish cially distanced world. world — still organized opporIn March, the Conservatunities to hear the shofar in tive movement’s Commitperson in an outdoor setting. tee on Jewish Laws and Here, too, halacha may play Standards ruled that serva role, as Conservative rabbis ices requiring a minyan, or have not issued formal opina quorum of ten adults, ions about whether listening to could be held over video a shofar over Zoom fulfills the conferencing in a moment commandment to hear its of crisis. In May, the comblast. But even more important mittee ruled that video for some is the chance to give conferencing could be community members a small used for Shabbat and holiin-person experience at a time day services when elec- A socially distanced outdoor service at the Green Road Synagogue, a Modern Or- when more is out of reach. tronic devices would thodox synagogue in Cleveland, Ohio, in August 2020. Credit: Rabbi Binyamin Blau In addition to the shofar generally not be used. Conservative rabbis and began reopening at their synagogues in late blowings organized by the liberal synagogues congregants even worked with Zoom to make spring and early summer. on the Upper West Side, local Orthodox synsure streaming would be possible without re“We’ve been doing this for so long and we’ve agogues organized opportunities to hear the quiring the violation of other prohibitions. done well with it,” said Robinson of his syna- shofar outdoors for those who are not comBy contrast, in the Orthodox community, gogue’s services over the last several months. fortable attending a full in-person service, video conferencing is not considered a valid But to Rabbi Vanessa Ochs, a professor of particularly older people or families with substitute for the ten adult men needed for an Jewish studies at the University of Virginia, young children.

Orthodox minyan. And when it comes to Shab- High Holiday services are no less essential for The public shofar blowing may be new for bat and holidays, no major Orthodox rabbis Reform and Conservative Jews. many communities, but the initiative has anhave allowed for the use of video conferencing.

“Particularly for the thousands of thou- tecedents in the Chabad movement. Since Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, who works at Beis sands of American Jews who come together the 1950s at the direction of the Lubavitcher Medrash Mikor Hachaim, an Orthodox syna- once or twice a year for the High Holidays and Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, gogue in Chicago, said that for Orthodox Jews, that’s how they identify themselves – it’s a ne- Chabad emissaries have blown the shofar in the act of gathering in a synagogue is “essen- cessity,” said Ochs. parks, hospitals and other public spaces in tial,” much like the work done by healthcare For them, the non-Orthodox approach to communities around the world for those who and grocery store workers. using technology on holidays means a risk- would not otherwise hear the shofar.

“In our minds this is as essential of an es- benefit analysis around whether to hold in“It’s exciting to me as the rebbe’s student,” sential service as possible,” said Robinson. person services yields another conclusion. said Rabbi Shalom Paltiel of the Chabad CenAnd for Robinson, the High Holidays won’t “There is an alternative,” said Ochs. ter in Port Washington, New York, “that in be the first time his synagogue returns to inOne place where the two parts of the Jew- 2020, 70 years later, everybody is doing it, person services. His synagogue first reopened ish world have come together is around sho- every temple from every denomination is takfor Shabbat services in May, with distanced far blowing, a required component of Rosh ing the shofar to the local park.”

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Above and below: All in a day’s work: Alan Potash blows the Shofar for kids and staff at the Pennie Z David CDC.

Top, above, below and bottom: Residents and staff of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home enjoyed a beautiful day in the courtyard for an Apple Jack festival. Participants enjoyed lots of sweetness with a smorgasbord of sautéed cinnamon apples over ice cream, apple strudel, mini cupcakes, and caramel apple lollipops.

Above: Amy Cassman Friedman said: “We are so lucky and blessed to celebrate Molline Cassman’s 90th birthday. She’s the best mother, grandma and great-grandma one could ever hope for. Not a bad bridge player either!”

Happy Birthday from all of us, Mollie!!

SP O TLIGHT

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

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

Below: Jamie Skog and Michael Parsow took advantage of the JFO Noshery kitchen to bake together.

Above: Staff members Sandra Bautista and Ana Motley surprised their JFO colleagues with homemade enchiladas.

We all hope for a repeat performance.

Voices

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Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.

Thoughts before Yom Kippur ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor By the time you read this, Yom Kippur has come and gone, G-d willing. I’m writing from the other side of things, which always makes it a little weird.

Today is Tuesday September 22, and according to JTA, “A hearing in the trial of alleged accomplices in the 2015 Hyper Cacher kosher store attack in Paris that left four people dead was set for Yom Kippur.”

It happens every year: events are scheduled on the holiest day and we are reminded that “holiest” really means “holiest only for us.” Nobody else really cares. Maybe some have heard about it, have some vague understanding that at some point the Jews fast-or-something, but the notion that this is the most important one of all our holidays escapes most non-Jews.

I never know whether I have the right to be irritated by that. Check the calendar, I want to say, only to realize that I might not actually have any reason to expect that of people.

Does a holy day become more holy if everybody knows about it? Am I ruining my own holiday experience by choosing to fuss over whether nonJews are aware of what day it is? Shouldn’t I focus on my own responsibilities for this day instead?

With COVID-19 making life just a little more depressing, it’s very tempting to become contemplative this season. “I can’t complain,” I say when people ask how I’m doing, but then I complain anyway. Because, after all, it’s Tishrei, and although my calendar does have all the holidays on it, it is otherwise emptier than it should be.

So what am I doing, fussing over the fact that lenging, especially for those who can’t hug their somewhere in Paris, a court refuses to cancel a family members right now, the reminders of how trial, if I can’t even figure out how to approach our lucky we still are stare us in the face. holidays with the gratitude they deserve? Does anySo, does that mean we don’t have the right to one else feel this way? complain, get fed up, become irritated with the way Turns out, the answer is yes. “[This is] a time for Jews to contemplate themes of repentance, reckoning and renewal,” Ruth Graham recently wrote in the New York Times. “This year, ‘renewal’ is not exactly the national mood. The coronavirus pandemic slogs forward, the West Coast is burning and racial and political conflicts rage on, with a contentious presidential election looming in November.”

‘Renewal’ may indeed not be the national mood, but has it been so easy to feel a sense of renewal in all the previous years? Or is it just that we now, finally, have a reason to try extra hard? How do we interpret renewal anyway? What does it mean, really?

Renewal: “the replacing or repair of Credit: slgckgc, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribusomething that is worn out, run-down, or tion 2.0 Generic license broken.” things are? Not necessarily. What it does mean is Is that us? Are we worn-out, broken? that, when we address our challenges, we need to If I’m being completely honest, I don’t know. “renew” our faith and our gratitude in the same It seems that, no matter how bizarre this year has breath. Faith that we will come through this, faith in been, it has also never been easier to find someone our community and gratitude that we continue to who has it worse. Here in Omaha, we don’t have have a community. fires to flee from, or floods that destroy our homes.

We have much to look forward to. There may be We continue to build a community that will be here days when we are showing some cracks, but we are long after we are gone, and although life is chal- definitely not broken.

What Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg taught us about the gift of time

Tokef. It describes Rosh Hashanah as a day of judg- She spoke movingly of the Jewish values she was DANIEL SHAPIRO ment, when God decides who shall live and who raised with — the pursuit of justice, caring for those NEW YORK | JTA As Jews in the United States prepared to light shall die, who by fire and who by water, who by in need, setting right what is wrong in the world — candles to welcome Rosh Hashanah, they were hit plague (the word jumped off the page this year like as ideas that inspired her work. with the last terrible news of a terrible year: the never before), who in the fullness of their years and And what she did with her time! Her legal brildeath of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Gins- who before their time. liance, her extraordinary dedication and her legburg. At 87, and with a lifetime of accomplishments It is far too literal a recitation for some worship- endary fearlessness led her to establish legal that few can match, she has earned her rest. But pers. Is God really deciding today which of us will doctrines that shattered sky-high and deeply enthe exquisite, agonizing time of her passing under- survive the coming year and which of us will not? trenched barriers to equality for women. scored one of the great lessons of her own life and But even so, it clarifies what is at stake as we pray And when, with her characteristic modesty, she of Rosh Hashanah: how we make use of the time for God, who gives and can take life, and in whom ascended to the Supreme Court, Ginsburg emGod grants us matters. braced the work with passion and a sense On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, of mission to extend rights and freedoms, while we attended a small, masked, soand to prevent their backsliding, whercially distanced outdoor minyan in the ever possible. So committed was she to spacious backyard of dear friends (we are this calling that not even near-death exliving in Israel), my daughter asked me periences could knock her off her stride. what the connection is between Rosh Four times she defeated cancer that Hashanah and the Akedah, the story of might have felled her. She worked the binding of Isaac, which we read from through it, reading briefs and composing the Torah in the morning service. opinions in her hospital bed. Ginsburg This disturbing episode is often desurvived the death of her beloved husscribed as a testament to Abraham’s band, Marty, as devoted a life partner as faith, so firm that he would not withhold there could ever be. Seemingly frail, she his son on God’s command. On a day took on tough daily workouts to sustain that we profess our own faith in God, her strength. Through it all, she never some see Abraham as an exemplar. But stopped making use of each moment to that description is troubling as well bepursue her ideals. cause of the egregious act his faith made And in the process, she became an inhim willing to commit. spiration to millions, especially to young I fumbled for a better answer, trying to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Temple Emanu-El Skir- women and girls like my daughters, and interpret the story through Isaac’s eyes ball Center in New York City, Sept. 21, 2016. Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty the unlikeliest of pop culture icons: the rather than Abraham’s. Maybe, I sug- Images Notorious RBG. gested, there is a connection between what Isaac we place our trust, to inscribe us for blessing in the Her untimely death leaves all of us bereft of a went through in the Akedah and what we pass Book of Life. woman of valor, wisdom, courage, humility, dethrough on Rosh Hashanah.

But Unetaneh Tokef is far more than our simply cency and genius. The circumstances lay before us Bound to the altar, with a knife raised above him, beseeching God to keep us alive. The brush with a great political struggle to ensure fairness in how rescued at the last moment by the angel’s call, death it evokes helps lay bare our responsibilities. her successor is chosen. The stakes of this crucial Isaac survived a near-death experience brought It closes with the hope that teshuvah, prayer and election, already astronomical, just got even higher. upon by the person he trusted most. It must have acts of lovingkindness can soften the severity of the But her amazing life also serves as a guide for this shaken him to his core. But perhaps once he sur- decree. The message is that we are obligated to use battle: be principled, do what is right, pursue jusvived it, the ordeal caused him to dedicate his re- our time on this earth wisely, to fix what is broken, tice, empower others, protect the vulnerable and, maining time to carrying out his mission to build to care for others, to renew ourselves and to renew above all, make use of every moment. In the next a great nation. our world. six weeks, that lesson will resonate most of all.

We pass through something similar, if less trauIf anyone lived a life that could teach us the same There is not a moment to waste. matic, on Rosh Hashanah. The most haunting lesson, it was Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She underDaniel B. Shapiro served as U.S. Ambassador to Isprayer in the holiday’s liturgy is the Unetaneh stood the obligation to use her time to good effect. rael from 2011 to 2017.

Synagogues

18 | The Jewish Press | October 2, 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 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.

Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Character Development, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/ Ma’ariv/Daf Yomi, 6:40 p.m.

FRIDAY-Oct. 9: Shacharit, 7 am.; Mincha/Candlelighting, 6:34 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 10: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Candlelighting, 7:32 p.m.

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

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: Soup for Sukkot, Pick up at 10 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Sukkot 1 Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 7:40 p.m.

SUNDAY: No BESTT Classes; Sukkot Day 2 Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY: Pizza in the Hut, noon; Jewish Law with Rabbi Abraham, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY: Biblical Literacy with Rabbi Abraham, 11:30 a.m.; Pizza in the Hut, noon.

WEDNESDAY: Coffee and Conversations with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; BESTT (Grades 3-7) Online, 4:30 p.m.; Virtual USY Check-In, 5:15 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Shul Music with Hazzan Krausman, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-Oct. 9: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 10: Shmini Atzeret Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m. followed by Hakafot Virtual Reception.

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.; Mincha/Ma’ariv/Candlelighting, 6:45 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 6:25 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Candlelighting, 7:44 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:45 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:41 p.m.

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

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

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

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom);

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: Outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m. followed by Kiddush; Candlelighting, 6:45 p.m.; RSVP for services please email mitzvah@ ochabad.com.

SATURDAY: Outdoor Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:30 p.m.; RSVP for please email mitzvah@ ochabad.com; Light Candles after, 7:42 p.m.

SUNDAY: Outdoor Shacharit, 10:30 a.m. followed

by Kiddush; Holiday Ends, 7:42 p.m.; RSVP for services please email mitzvah@ ochabad.com.

MONDAY: Outdoor Community Sukkot Festival, 5 p.m. RSVP for services please email mitzvah@ ochabad.com.

TUESDAY: Sukkot Musical Celebration, noon; RSVP for services please email mitzvah@ochabad. com.

WEDNESDAY: Outdoor Soup in the Sukkah: Women’s Sukkot Celebration, 7 p.m. RSVP for services please email mitzvah@ochabad.com.

FRIDAY-Oct. 9: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Candlelighting, 6:33 p.m.; Outdoor Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m. followed by Kiddush and Hakafot. RSVP please email mitzvah@ochabad.com.

SATURDAY-Oct. 10: Outdoor Morning Service, 10 a.m.; Yizkor, 11 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m. followed by Kiddush and Hakafot. RSVP for services please email mitzvah@ochabad.com; Light Candles after, 7:31 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 Sukkot/Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex/TBD; Candlelighting, 6:48 p.m.

SATURDAY: Sukkot/Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. led by Rabbi Felch via Zoom; Torah Study, 10:45 a.m. on Yom Rishon shel Sukkot led by TBD; Candlelighting, 7:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes; Havdalah (72 minutes), 7:43 p.m.

MONDAY: Kelen/Bloom Sukkah; 6:30 p.m. in-person, with Zoom elements.

TUESDAY: Tea & Coffee Time with Temple Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom; Pandemic Sukkah Crawl, Part 2: Mullin/Delserone Sukkah, 6 p.m. via Zoom.

WEDNESDAY: Pandemic Sukkah Crawl, Part 3: LJCS hosts at Tifereth Israel Community Sukkah, 6 p.m. with Rabbi Alex and Zoom/Streamed for the community.

THURSDAY: Pandemic Sukkah Crawl, Part 4: Kaup Sukkah, 5 p.m. with Rabbi Alex and Iryna.

FRIDAY-Oct. 9: Temple Office Closed; Erev Simchat Torah/Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. via livestream with Rabbi Alex; Candlelighting, 6:36 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 10: Temple Office Closed; Shabbat Morning Service and Yizkor, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Felch and format:TBD; No Torah Study; Simchat Torah Celebrationfrom TI, 6:30 p.m. with Rabbi Alex; Candlelighting for Yom Tov, 7:34 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 Service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Virtual Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.

SUNDAY: Youth Learning Programs for Grades PreK-6; Temple Tots, 10:30 a.m.

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

WEDNESDAY: Mindful Meditation with Margot, 9 a.m.; Youth Learing Programs: Grades 3-6, 4-6 p.m.; and Grades 7-12, 6:30-8 p.m.

THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Discussion, 9:30 a.m.

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

TIFERETH ISRAEL

FRIDAY: Office Closed; Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m. with Rabbi Alex live streamed from South Street Temple; Candlelighting, 6:47 p.m.

SATURDAY: Service, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Alex with Zoom; Candlelighting, 7:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes; Havdalah (72 minutes), 7:44 p.m.

MONDAY: Sukkah Crawl Part 1, 6:30 p.m. at the home of Ken Bloom and Sarah Kelen— In person and virtual options available, please contact the host.

TUESDAY: Sukkah Crawl, Part 2, 6 p.m. at the home of Peter Mullin and Leslie Delserone via Zoom.

WEDNESDAY: Sukkah Crawl Part 3: Community Sukkah event hosted by LJCS, 5 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

In person and virtual options.

THURSDAY: Sukkah Crawl Part 4, 5 p.m. at the home of Nathaniel and Steve Kaup. In person and virtual options available, please contact the host.

FRIDAY-Oct. 9: SST invites Tifereth Israel to live stream service, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 6:35 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 10: Zoom Services, 10 a.m.; Zoom Erev Simchat Torah Services, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:34 p.m.

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

More Hebrew with Mor MARK KIRCHHOFF Community Engagement and Education Picking up where our Community Shlicha Ron Lugasy left off, Mor Sheinbein, an Israeli native, is providing the opportunity for you to either begin or continue to learn and practice conversational Hebrew. She will teach an eight-session series of classes through Community Engagement and Education, an arm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. No previous experience with Hebrew is required to participate in these classes. The classes will be held virtually on Mondays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Oct. 12 and extending through Nov. 30. Classes are offered free of charge. Voluntary contributions to help underwrite the cost of the class are accepted. A minimum of eight participants registered by Oct. 5 is required in order to conduct the class.

Many people in the community will likely remember Mor from the time she taught Hebrew at Friedel Jewish Academy and also conducted adult

Hebrew classes in the evenings. Her departure from Omaha in 2014 was not without purpose. She attended Columbia University School of the Arts where she studied writing, was awarded a teaching fellowship, taught English and Composition, and received her MFA in writing. In the last two years, Mor has been back in Israel and works in the tech industry. But her true love and calling is teaching.

She's excited to get back to teach in Omaha, one of her favorite communities.

Times change and new challenges present themselves. Mor is prepared to teach via Zoom. “This class goes beyond the classic Hebrew School. We are quite upbeat, we have a good time, and everyone progresses in their understanding of the Hebrew language.” Mor says that she is able to structure the class in such a way that those who have had some previous instruction and those who have not can work and learn together. “I am amazed at how quickly everyone learns,” Mor re-

lated. "Learning a language is a window to the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of a people, a culture. Language conveys the richness and depth of a culture. Keeping a language alive helps keep a culture alive.

Challenge Mor Sheinbein yourself and keep in touch with your heritage. You can do this!"

To take advantage of this eight-week languagelearning opportunity, call Mark Kirchhoff at 402.334.6463 or send an email to mkirchhoff@ jewishomaha.org. Once he records your name, phone number, email and zip code, you will be all set and will receive a link to "Zoom in" on the classes.

Life cycles IN MEMORIAM ESTELLE S. FAIER Estelle S. Faier passed away on Sept. 14, 2020 at age 93. Private services were held on Sept. 16, 2020 and officiated by Rabbi Steven Abraham of Beth El Synagogue. A memorial service will be held at a later date, and those wishing to attend may contact family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Robert Gerald Faier; parents Julius Sokol and Celia Bronstein; brother, Joseph Sokol.

She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Joan Faier and Andrew Tannen; Elizabeth Faier and Anders Linde-Laursen; son, John Faier; grandchildren: Benjamin Tannen; Joshua Tannen and Julia Miller; and sister-in-law, Anne Sokol.

Estelle was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 1927. She graduated from James Madison High School in 1943 and Brooklyn College with a B.S. in Chemistry. One of a handful of women in her class, she received a M.S. in Chemistry from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences in 1949. While at Columbia, she met fellow chemistry masters student, Bob Faier of Omaha, who became her husband of 46 years until he passed away in 1996.

The couple moved to Omaha in 1951. While her husband attended medical school and began his medical practice, Estelle, who had a small child, was a research chemist in a UNMC school laboratory. She also taught nurses a special chemistry class at Creighton and general chemistry courses at UNO. In the 70s, Estelle returned to school herself to take accounting courses at UNO, receiving her certificate in public accounting in 1979. She became an accounting instructor at Metropolitan Community College (formerly Metro Tech) in 1980 for 17 years. She loved to share stories of how former students would recognize her in a store or restaurant and tell her how much they enjoyed her class, often adding that it changed their lives through learning a valuable skill.

Estelle was devoted to her husband, children, mother-in-law, grandchildren and her own family who did not live nearby. A life-

See full digital issues https://issuu.com/jewishpress7 Notice is hereby given that Hekate Communications, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 9518 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68114. The initial agent for this service of process of the company is Dana Kaufman, 9518 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68114. The company is member-managed. The nature of the company is consulting services.

long community volunteer, she co-chaired the Brandeis University Book Drive; served as a docent at the Joslyn Art Museum; and acted as treasurer for her chapter of Wall Street Women, which she founded. A lover of opera, classical music, art, literature, and travel, she was also a lifelong supporter of Omaha’s cultural institutions.

Estelle, an intellectually curious person, was equally at ease talking about politics, the stock market, and even chemistry with her grandkids. An inspiration to her family, she gave her all to every task she undertook, was persistent in pursuit of her goals, was resilient in the face of adversity, showed kindness and support to those in need in her life, and had a sharp intellect and quick wit.

Memorials may be made to Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Joslyn Art Museum.

JACK J. LIEB Jack J. Lieb passed away Sept. 20, 2020 at age 80. A memorial service will take place at a later date in Omaha.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lillian and Charles Lieb, and sister Linda Lieb Goodman.

He is survived by Gail, Dana, Josh and Beata, Gus, and Charlotte Lieb, many relatives and friends.

Jack graduated from Creighton University. He grew up in Omaha, but spent most of his life in South Carolina as a psychologist.

The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020 | 19

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20 | The Jewish Press | October 2, 2020

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

Looking back at a crazy Jewish year of politics RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON | JTA To prepare for Rosh Hashanah, take a break, my editor said.

Let’s take this moment to look back at the crazy year in politics, he said.

So I did — but it wasn’t a restorative break. In 5780, the news didn’t stop.

Shana tova to my readers, and here’s hoping we’ll get a bit of a breather in 5781. Here are some takeaways and highlights from the past Jewish year.

THE JEWS OF IMPEACHMENT Last fall, the story was President Donald Trump’s impeachment — doesn’t that feel like a biblical millennium ago? It’s easy to forget the sheer number of Jewish players at the heart of the ordeal, from Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to the whistleblower Alexander Vindman to the Democrat committee chairs who led the proceedings, like Adam Schiff.

I rounded up the long list here.

The fact that the Democrats’ three lawyer witnesses were Jewish also caught the eyes of people like Ann Coulter, who said there was “too little ethnic diversity” on the panel.

ANNEXATION ANXIETY Another bombshell development that feels long ago at this point, especially after the recent signing of the Israel-BahrainUnited Arab Emirates normalization deals, was the possibility of Israel annexing parts of the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pushed for the action as early as July 1, but the Trump administration put the brakes on it.

I covered the intense response to Netanyahu’s goal, which critics warned would permanently damage the possibility of a two-state solution. A Democratic senator proposed legislation against the annexation, and some of the most prominent pro-Israel voices in Congress came out loudly against it. Even AIPAC, the biggest pro-Israel lobby in the country, allowed lawmakers their criticism here.

BIDEN, DEMOCRATS AND ISRAEL LOOMER LOOMING Among the 20-plus candidates who vied for the Democratic Earlier this month I spoke to Laura Loomer, the Jewish nomination, Joe Biden had the longest-standing and closest right-wing provocateur who was kicked off Twitter for her Isrelationship to the pro-Israel community. Once the former lamophobia. She’s running for a House seat against a Jewish vice president was the nominee, he made clear that he would incumbent, Lois Frankel, who’s a moderate establishment Dehew to his bona fides: Biden said he would not consider conditioning assistance to Israel nor boycott the AIPAC lobby’s annual conference, and he nixed including the word “occupation” in the Democratic Party platform.

But the Israel-skeptical progressives in the party are not going away; in fact, they are gaining strength. “The Squad” remains in place, and the quartet of first-term congresswomen is expected to be bolstered by new members who ousted longtime pro-Israel stalwarts.

REPUBLICANS AND JEWS, WAITING OUT TRUMP The Republican congressional leadership, joined by the Republican Jewish Coalition, spent a good part of the year attempting to Clockwise from top left: President Donald Trump, Laura Loomer, Joe Biden, purge extremists from the party’s ranks (and Senator Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Rabin Square in Israel, Ambassador David the convention) — and then retreating into si- Friedman Credit: Getty Images/JTA montage lence when some of the same extremists were endorsed by mocrat. Frankel calls Loomer a bigot; Loomer says Frankel President Trump. It didn’t help that Trump has made it his does the bidding of jihadists. The whole thing was a very Jewmission to purge from the party the foreign policy interven- ish slice of the culture wars. tionists like John Bolton who once comprised the wing of the THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS party most favored by politically conservative Jews. Or that I was at the White House as the foreign ministers of the the very themes the extremists peddled seeped into the Re- United Arab Emirates and Bahrain joined Trump and Israeli publican convention messaging.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign the Abraham AcHow to pitch Trump to the Jews remained the main Repub- cords — treaties opening up normalized diplomatic relations lican Jewish dilemma this year. Trump made the work inter- between their countries and Israel. It was a historic moment, esting with Rosh Hashanah greetings in which he berated and I parsed the messaging at the signing event. For more on Jews for voting for Democrats and again appeared to conflate the significance of the deals, see the article on page 13.

American Jews with Israel.