October 13, 2023

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A Sensory History of NaziOccupied Amsterdam

The 21st Annual Omaha Jewish Film Festival is here Page 5

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ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor ov. 9 at 7 p.m., the community is invited to hear Saskia Coenen Snyder speak about pre-Holocaust Amsterdam. A collaboration between the Institute of Holocaust Education and The Jewish Press, this event will be held in the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue at the Staenberg Kooper Fellman JCC. Saskia Coenen Snyder is professor of modern Jewish history at the University of South Carolina, where she also serves as Director of the Jewish Studies Program. She received her doctorate at the University of Michigan in 2008.

Her first book, Building a Public Judaism: Synagogues and Jewish Identity in Nineteenth-Century Europe, examined synagogue architecture and building practices in four major European cities (London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris) and was published by Harvard University Press in 2013. Her most recent book, A Brilliant Commodity: Diamonds and Jews in a Modern Setting (Oxford UP, 2023), analyzes the role of Jewish merchants, entrepreneurs, and lapidaries in the nineteenth and twentieth-century global diamond industry.

Her work has been published by American, British, German, and Dutch University presses, but she also writes for local audiences -- she is a regular contributor to the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust’s annual edition, The Holocaust Remembered. Dr. Coenen Snyder has been a See A History of Nazi-Occupied Amsterdam page 3

The Kaplan Book Group is following their Intuition Page 7

Saskia Coenen Snyder

How roving rabbis helped the Jews of rural Australia celebrate Rosh Hashanah Page 12

Yachad welcomes new Coordinator

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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TERESA C. DRELICHARZ, MS, NCC, LIMHP, RPT Interim JFS Executive Director Jewish Family Service would like to welcome our new Yachad Coordinator, Heather Topil! Many of you already know Heather, as she is also the Assistant to the Executive Director of JFS and has been with the agency since January of 2023.

Heather is a Nebraska native who grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska but now lives just outside the Omaha area. She obtained her college degree in Business Administration but worked several years in the Elmwood-Murdock Special Education Heather Topil

system. In her spare time, Heather enjoys reading, napping, being outdoors, and anything related to the arts. The enthusiasm she has for her new role is very apparent as she describes what is to come : “I have a lot of really fun and neat gatherings planned for the group. My goal is to help facilitate the enrichment of lives See Yachad coordinator page 3

More than just dance

EVELYN HOBERMAN JCC Dance Training Company Member When Grace Caskey asked if I’d like to dance in Israel with her I eagerly said yes and jumped on the plan to help send us to Israel. It took work, meetings, and planning to make this goal a reality. Our amazing Performing Arts Director, Esther Katz, set this into motion. KCDC here we come!

This trip was more than just a dance trip. It was a cultural experience. I’d never felt very connected to my religion as we are nonpracticing Jews. I felt like I didn’t fit in at syna-

gogue and wondered if I ever would.

But being in Israel changed all of that. I refound myself and gained beautiful experiences that will last a lifetime. I could feel my feet hit the ground and my roots set into the soil. I had never felt so linked to my culture before. Visiting the Western Wall was magical. As I ran my hands across the weathered stone feelings of familiarity and totality washed over me. I found so much peace in this beautiful country. It taught me to feel and love everything and everyone around me.

See More than just dance page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023

News

More than just dance

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University of Nebraska Hillel and Chabad ring in the school year MAGGIE NIELSEN Nebraska Hillel Director of Public Relations Every August thousands of students arrive at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from near and far. For every one of these Huskers, the first week back is often marked by an abundance of welcome events held on the campus; but for a few, there was a special welcome back event thanks to Chabad of Nebraska.

On Aug. 25, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s chapter of Hillel, an organization for Jewish college students, was welcomed to join Rabbi Eli and Mushka Tenenbaum of Omaha at a local Airbnb for dinner and communitybuilding to mark the first Shabbat of the school year. Students from both the undergraduate and graduate levels attended the event, making it the largest welcome event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This Shabbat was my third Hillel welcome event and my second as Vice President. I have noticed that every year the number of attendees, and especially firstyears, has grown,” said Rachamim Zamek, a junior civil engineering major from Hong Kong; “Because of this I think Hillel has a bright future at UNL as a close-knit community focused on Jewish life.”

The students in attendance, both impressive in quantity and quality, were not lost on their hosts from Omaha.

“Every year, it is exciting for us to see the new up-and-coming future Jewish leaders. It’s obvious that they’re not only there for the fun but care deeply about Jewish identity and sincerely want to learn,” said Rabbi Katzman, when explaining why it is important for him to connect with Hillel: “They love the mys-

tical experience and joy and are thrilled to see that our Jewish values remain relevant, cool, and contemporary.”

For the students present, events like these allow for them to slow down and connect with their Jewish culture and community, which can sometimes be hard in the ‘go-go-go’ atmosphere that is college in August.

According to Laura Kirshenbaum, a junior biochemistry major from Omaha, who was present at the dinner, it was this sort of atmosphere that persuaded her to join. “Shabbat has always been comforting to me and I feel so lucky to be able to share the night with others who feel the same.”

However, for other students, like junior nutrition, exercise, and health sciences major Lauren Marshall of Omaha, events like these at the beginning of the year allow for a new chance to make connections; “My favorite part was seeing how many first-year students were Jewish. It

was nice to chat with old and new friends.”

But it was not just students like Lauren who were making connections; it was the Chabad hosts as well. “I so enjoyed getting to know the awesome people of UNL. There were several who were unable to make it, but l look forward to our next Shabbat together,” said Rabbi Eli. For Lillian Cohen, a senior communication sciences & disorders major from Omaha and Hillel President, seeing the connections made and the reception from the students at a sponsored event was all she could ask for: “I am so thankful that we have Rabbi Eli and Mushka.

I so appreciate all their generosity and support of Jewish students and especially ours at UNL.” All in all, whether students came for the atmosphere, connections, or a chance for Kosher food, the dinner was the perfect way to start off the year for Lincoln’s small but mighty population of Jewish college students.

Continued from page 1 Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company was truly amazing. We got to watch and work with so many beautiful dancers in the most beautiful place in the world. I learned so much from everyone around me, and despite a language barrier, made many new friends along the way. This intensive really brought out the best in me and drew out a dancer in me I didn’t know I had. Dance is more than just movement. Dance is my heart and soul and seeing like-minded people couldn’t make me happier. I love the way the music sounds and how my body just flows with how I feel. I connect to others through movement and enjoy seeing how they dance. It’s my form of self-expression and feeds my creativity. That’s what dance is to me.

The girls I dance with are really so incredible. They are more than just friends or dance company members. They’re my family. I know that whenever I need to talk or need a hug, I have a home to go to. Throughout the intensive we all hit rough patches. Whether it was my exasperated body or I was just mentally worn out, these girls were there to pick me up. We’d spend time in each other’s dorms giggling and sharing stories late into the night. I didn’t think we could become closer, but these two weeks proved me wrong. Although I missed Omaha, I couldn’t have possibly been homesick. These girls brought home to me and despite being in a different country, our daily dance classes together felt just the same.

My heart goes out to the wonderful funders who made this trip possible! We’re so grateful for the Albert and Eleanor Feldman Family Israel Foundation, the Staenberg Family Foundation, the Kiewit Companies Foundation, the Foundation Grants Committee, and the Special Donor-Advised Fund for supporting us on this journey.

ROOFING

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GUTTERS

The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023 | 3

Laurie Epstein and Melissa Shapiro named to Newman Supporting Foundation Board LINDA POLLARD Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer, JFO Foundation The Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha (JFO) Foundation was established in 1987 with an initial gift of $100,000 from Sharee and Murray Newman. Since then, the Newman Supporting Foundation has awarded nearly $614,000 in grants for programs provided by Jewish Federation of Omaha agencies, other Jewish non-profits organizations and secular charities in the Omaha area.

The Newman Supporting Foundation Board of Trustees meets annually to determine Laurie Epstein grant allocations for the upcoming year. When they meet this fall, two new members will join in their deliberations. “On behalf of the Trustees of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation, I am pleased to announce the addition of Laurie Epstein and Melissa Shapiro as Trustees,” stated Jeff Kirshenbaum, president.

The Newman Supporting Foundation Board of Trustees now includes Kirshenbaum, Sharee Newman, Lisa Lewis, Jamie Friedland, Jay Lerner, Murray Newman, Danielle Gordman, Epstein and Shapiro. The Newmans, Lewis and Lerner have served as trustees since the Newman Supporting Foundation was founded. Dr. Patricia Newman was a founding trustee who served until 2009, and the late Harlan Noddle and David Friedland were also founding trustees.

Melissa Shapiro has been a very active volunteer with the Jewish community, as well as with the secular Omaha community. She is on the Omaha Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors. She is a member of the Omaha Performing Arts Presenters Circle Board of Directors. She served on the Executive Committee from 2022-2023. She was the PTO President at her children’s elementary school.

Melissa was on the Beth El Synagogue Board of Directors from 2017-2021. She served as the committee chair for the Federation’s Israel and Overseas Committee.

Melissa said that she spent her childhood swimming and dancing at the JCC. While in high school, she was very involved in BBYO. Melissa said, “I have seen and experienced the benefits

of Federation programs and activities and now my kids have also.”

“It has always been important to me to give back to the community that has given me so much. This board has made a real difference in people’s lives, and I am honored to now be a member of it. I am looking forward to learning more and helping support worthy projects and organizations,” Melissa stated.

Laurie Epstein also has a long history of volunteerism. Currently Laurie serves on the JCC Board of Directors, the Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah Board, and she is a Beth El Madrichim Educator. Laurie serves on Millard Public School’s Superintendent’s Advisory Committee. She is on the Aldrich Elementary Melissa Shapiro PTO and is a classroom volunteer. She is also a Federation Annual Campaign solicitor.

Previously Laurie served on the Early Learning Center Board, the Nebraska Friends of Foster Children Board, and volunteered at Aldrich Elementary in various capacities. She has volunteered at the Food Bank for the Heartland, and has served as Federation Annual Campaign Pearl co-chair.

Laurie said, “I have a huge passion for helping our Jewish community thrive. I love that we are a small enough community where when one person has an idea or puts in the work, it can make a large impact. I am very excited to see some of those ideas and be able to help fulfill them. I feel that I can add the perspective of someone with school-age children. “ When asked why she agreed to serve as a member of the Newman Supporting Foundation Board Laurie replied, “It sounds like an incredible board that gets to help so many people and organizations fulfill their missions. I’m looking forward to reading about the amazing ideas that people in the Jewish community want to create. I’m excited to learn from and work with some of the most generous people in our community.”

The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation works closely with its supporting foundations, managing and investing funds, administering operations and making disbursements from time to time as directed by the supporting foundation boards. To learn more about establishing a supporting foundation, please contact Amy Bernstein Shivvers, The Foundation Executive Director, at 402.334.6466.

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A History of Nazi-Occupied Amsterdam Continued from page 1 Residential Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in Amsterdam and is currently a European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) Fellow at the Dutch Institute for War Documentation, where she is collecting materials on the diamond industry during the Nazi occupation. At USC, she teaches undergraduate classes on modern Jewish history, the life and legacy of Anne Frank, and the History of the Holocaust, as well as graduate courses on material culture.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Dr. Coenen Snyder to Omaha,” Scott Littky, Executive Director of the IHE, said.

“For most of us, learning about the Holocaust and the occupation never stops. There is so much more knowledge to gain; we are grateful Dr. Coenen Snyder will be sharing some of her research in her talk, titled A Sensory History of NaziOccupied Amsterdam.”

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the urban topography of Amsterdam underwent a profound transformation. Once recognizable sights and sounds, familiar movements, and rhythms were disrupted by what we might call the semiotics of war: signs and symbols of an external military force, the pervasiveness of which deeply unsettled the local Dutch population. Occupation went beyond the

physical manifestation of German soldiers but encompassed an alteration of the urban texture in which local residents lived and worked. This process was visible and audible, forcing the Amsterdam population – and Jewish citizens among them – to negotiate the new reality of a Nazi presence.

This talk will focus on the responses of Amsterdam citizens to the Nazification of the urban environment. Dutch war diaries (including Anne Frank’s) offer insight into the sensory experiences of Jews and non-Jews during the war.

They disclose not merely what people saw and heard, but also how they saw and heard, and how sounds affected their perceptions of war and occupation. Their diaries suggest that the Nazi authorities used the sights and sounds of the built environment to mediate and affirm new forms of hierarchy, control, and social structure, claiming the right to dominate Amsterdam’s visual and acoustic space.

It is not necessary to RSVP for this event, and the entire community is welcome. A kosher dessert reception will follow Dr. Coenen Snyder’s presentation. This event is made possible through the generosity of the Special Donor Advised Fund at The Foundation. For more information, please contact Scott Littky at slittky@jewishomaha.org or Annette van de Kamp at avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

Yachad coordinator Continued from page 1 through inclusion and learning, as well as to create new memories both in and outside the Jewish community.”

Heather has stepped in to take the place of Joyce Kelly Ryan, our beloved former Yachad Coordinator who has been with the group for the past eight years. Joyce felt it was time to focus more on her full-time work and her family (including a new grandchild!) but has always made it clear that she has a very special place in her heart for Yachad. Joyce is pleased to welcome Heather as the new Coordinator, but has happily

agreed to stay on as the Yachad Assistant!

JFS feels very fortunate to have both Heather and Joyce working together to make sure our amazing Yachad members continue to have fulfilling experiences, and can look forward to new adventures for years to come!

Heather Topil can be reached by email, htopil@jfsomaha. com, or by phone at 402.330.2024. Feel free to contact her with any questions, or to refer new members — the group is now open to members of all ages!

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4 | The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023

85 years after Kristallnacht, rebuilding grand synagogue in Hamburg

The Bornplatz Synagogue in Hamburg, Germany, once held 1,200 congregants before it was destroyed in Kristallnacht. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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JACKIE HAJDENBERG JTA More than 80 years after one of Germany’s most prominent synagogues was destroyed on Kristallnacht, the Jewish community of Hamburg has taken ownership of the building’s site and is set to begin rebuilding it.

The site of the Bornplatz Synagogue, a neo-Romanesque building dedicated in 1906 that had a 1,200-seat sanctuary and was once the largest synagogue in northern Germany, was officially handed over to leaders of the city’s Jewish community on Wednesday. At the ceremony marking that restitution, officials from the city of Hamburg cut up a copy of the Nazi-era Aryanization document that ordered the demolition of the synagogue.

“We apologize for coming to the decision so late to give them back their property,” Dirk Kienscherf, a local official from the center-left Social Democratic Party, said to representatives of the Jewish community at the ceremony.

The synagogue was burned during Kristallnacht, the series of pogroms in 1938 when Nazis destroyed synagogues and Jewish-owned stores across Germany. Its remains were later forcibly sold to the city and demolished, and an air raid bunker, for use only by Aryans, was built next door. At present, the empty site features a mosaic outlining the synagogue’s architecture, including its vaulted ceilings, that was laid in 1988 by artist Margrit Kahl.

“The Bornplatz Synagogue will rise again and become a monument of remembrance, serving as the visible center for the vibrant Jewish life in our city,” Rabbi Shlomo Bistrizky, a Chabad-Lubavitch movement emissary and chief rabbi of Hamburg, said in a statement.

The quest to rebuild the synagogue, more than eight decades after its destruction, began in the shop of a local antique dealer in the summer of 2020. Daniel Sheffer, an Israeliborn entrepreneur now based in Hamburg, was in the shop when he discovered a silver Torah crown engraved with a dedication to Markus Hirsch, the first rabbi of the Bornplatz Synagogue — which left him feeling “overwhelmed,” he told the Jewish Chronicle.

“But I also felt embarrassed and ashamed and angry, because I was being asked to buy back what was stolen from my ancestors,” he added. “That feeling lasted for days.”

Sheffer eventually bought the crown and brought it with him to more than 50 meetings with public officials and other potential supporters of his campaign, titled “No to antisemitism. Yes to the Bornplatz Synagogue.”

That effort led to the formation of the Initiative for the Reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue, which Sheffer leads.

The project secured more than $600,000 in German government funding to conduct a study evaluating the feasibility of rebuilding the synagogue. The construction itself will be funded by the Hamburg municipal government, the German

government and private donations.

The pledges of public support for the project came following two more recent attacks on Jews in Germany: the 2019 shooting at a synagogue in the city of Halle, and an attack almost exactly a year later at the Hohe Weide synagogue in Hamburg during Sukkot, in which a Jewish student was seriously injured.

The Torah crown Sheffer bought is now housed at Hohe Weide synagogue. One of the Torah scrolls from the Bornplatz Synagogue, meanwhile, found its way to the United States in 1940 via Italy, rescued by a congregant, Joseph Bamberger. The Torah scroll continued to be used in the synagogues Bamberger and his family attended in Manhattan, and as of 2021, it is in the permanent collection of the city’s Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Some have argued that rebuilding the synagogue would lead the public to forget the atrocities of the Holocaust, while memorials like the one that currently exists in the square are a reminder of the community’s loss and destruction. “The mosaic communicates and commemorates the open wound of the building’s absence, and through it, the absence of what was once one of Western Europe’s most thriving Jewish communities,” Galit Noga-Banai wrote in Haaretz criticizing the reconstruction initiative.

Because of the unusual way the synagogue was destroyed — all of its rubble was pushed into the basement — some surprises have turned up during the excavation process. Those include colorful glass shards from the synagogue’s windows, which give a sense of what the building — whose image has been preserved in black-and-white photos — looked like, Northern German Broadcasting reported.

When the excavation is completed, an architectural competition for the design of the new synagogue will be held, and the bunker standing next to the synagogue will be demolished.

“This moment today is a turning point for our Jewish history in Hamburg,” Sheffer said, according to a local radio station.

“It is the victory of justice and Jewish life in Hamburg over the barbarism of the Nazis.

The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023 | 5

News

Scholarships available for the 2023-24 academic year The 21st Annual Omaha Jewish Film Festival is here LOCA L | N ATION AL | WO RLD

An anonymous donor in our community has created two trade school and/or cosmetology school scholarship opportunities, up to $5,000 each, to go towards the 2023-24 academic year.

Not every student who advances into higher education signs up for a four-year curriculum. Some high school graduates seek job training that lasts a year or two and then places them in the workforce. Such opportunities include, but are not restricted to: Information Technology, Construction, Industrial, Transportation and Horticulture. It is not too late to apply for this upcoming school year!

Qualified students who have unmet needs regarding tuition for either a two-year trade school program or a trade certificate program can contact the Jewish Press at avan dekamp@jewishomaha.org or jpress@ jewishomaha.org for more information.

ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch for our email for specific information concerning its thoughtprovoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com.

MARK KIRCHHOFF JFO Community Engagement and Education The 21st Annual Omaha Jewish Film Festival will be held on Oct. 16, 17, 18, and 19 at 7 p.m. in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater within the Staenberg Omaha JCC. Ticket passes, available at jewishomaha.org or at the table, are $10 for four admissions and $15 for eight admissions. Admissions may be used in any combination desired. Single admissions are $5 and are available at the ticket table. Each film will be hosted by a member of the Omaha Jewish community who will lead a post-showing informal discussion following the film. Make your plans to attend and then attend one or all!

Monday, Oct. 16, iMordecai hosted by Susie Silverman. iMordecai ( Judd Hirsch) from another era faces the challenges of the modern world, and when his duct-taped, foil-wrapped flip phone finally dies, he reluctantly accepts an iPhone from his son with whom he has a contentious relationship. Nina, an “Einstein Tech Instructor,” helps him unravel the mysteries of the “strange device with no buttons,” and in the process opens the door for him to accept new experiences and perspectives on relationships.

Tuesday, Oct. 17: My Neighbor Adolph hosted by Jared Berezin This 2022 film is the story of a grumpy Holocaust survivor living in South America who convinces himself that his neighbor is Adolf

FINANCIAL P L A N N I N G

Hitler. He becomes acquainted with him, attempts to collect evidence of his belief, and forms a nuanced friendship in the process.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: That Orchestra with the Broken Instruments hosted by Aviva Segall and Patrick McNamara A documentary in which a mixture of 100 professional and amateur musicians of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and languages join together with broken instruments to perform a concert. They face the metaphorical challenge of creating harmony in the discordant city, Jerusalem.

Thursday, Oct. 19: Tiger Within hosted by Dr. Leonard Greenspoon In the final film performance of his life, Ed Asner plays the role of Samuel, a Holocaust survivor who meets homeless, abused, 14-year old Holocaust denier and sex worker Casey.

Samuel has promised his now deceased wife to rid himself of the lingering hatred in his heart. Casey must struggle to find a way to free her own life of its misery. Each has something to teach and free the other.

We’re excited about this year’s Omaha Jewish Film Festival and we are thankful to our supporters - The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds: Ruth Frisch & Oscar S. Belzer Endowment Fund, Klutznick/Creighton Custodial Fund, Lindsey Miller-Lerman (Avy L. & Roberta L. Miller Foundation); Kenneth Ray Tretiak Memorial Fund, Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund, and the Foundation IMPACT Grant. Keep reading the Jewish Press and watching your emails for more details about the festival. Visit jewishomaha.org now for information and for purchasing passes. Your contact for answers to questions is Mark Kirchhoff, mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6463.

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6 | The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023

Above: Getting together for the JFO mentor-mentee program are Jody Malashock, left, Candice Friedman, Sharon Epstein, Howard Epstein, Buzz Malashock and Dusty Friedman.

Above: In case you missed it: Balloon animals at Beth Israel, courtesy of Drs. Michael and Karen Cohen.

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

Above: Friedel’s fifth and sixth grade students in the Torani class took a field trip to help build a community member’s sukkah.

Left, above and below: Sukkah decorating at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

Above, below and bottom left: Sukkot at Temple: Religious school students prepare decorations; the staff puts up the sukkah.

Above, right and below: Students building the new, shared community sukkah on the Jewish Federation of Omaha campus. The sukkah was used for daytime and evening meals and programs throughout the Sukkot holiday.

Above: Mary Sue Grossman serves desserts to be enjoyed in the sukkah.

The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023 | 7

The Kaplan Book Group is following their Intuition

SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist On Oct. 19 at 1 p.m., the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will gather for their monthly meeting. Group members have the choice of meeting either in person in the Benjamin & Anna Wiesman Reception Room in the Staenberg Jewish Community Center or via Zoom. This month they will be discussing Intuition by Allegra Goodman. New participants are always welcome.

As scientists work on their research, they inherently rely on their intuition of what will or won’t work to achieve the best results. For post doctorate researcher Cliff Bannaker, this means continuing his experiments of the R-7 virus to destroy cancerous tumors in his “nude” mice long after he has been admonished to stop this research which hasn’t proved to have positive success.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts, lab where Cliff works at the Philpott Institute is run by two opposite-minded scientists; Marion Mendelsohn is stern, serious and pure scientist; her co-director, Sandy Glass, is a practicing oncologist and egotist who is all for the attention of results even if they are premature.

Shortly afterwards Cliff ’s mice begin to show positive tumor reducing results and the entire lab becomes involved in trying to replicate Cliff ’s experiment and success. Glass and

Mendelssohn use this “breakthrough” to secure funding and grants and publishing the preliminary results even though they have yet to be thoroughly confirmed.

Cliff ’s former girlfriend and fellow postdoctoral researcher, Robin Decker, also at Philpott, begins to suspect that the results of Cliff ’s work are “too good to be true”. Unable to duplicate Cliff ’s results and discovering other signs of perhaps false or selected data were used in the publication of the results, Robin brings her concerns to first her co-scientists in the lab and then to outside sources. Eventually with a Congressional investigation, the Philpott Institute’s reputation is called into question pitting former and present colleagues against each other with moral consequences for everyone.

“Truth depends on context” which could be said about everything that unfolds in Allegra Goodman’s human drama set in her 2006 scientific drama of Intuition.

Please feel free to join us on Oct. 19 in person or via Zoom. The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group meets on the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. New members are always welcome.

The Group receives administrative support from the Community Engagement & Education arm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

For information about the group and to join in the discussion, contact Shirly Banner at 402.334.6462 or sbanner@jewishomaha.org.

Sharon Chen’s Zalabia

This recipe is part of the ‘Taste of memories’ project, which shares the favorite dishes of Israeli fallen soldiers.

Sharon’s mom says that every time they went to visit Sharon at the base, she would bring this dish with boiled eggs, crushed tomatoes, and schug, and they would sit down with all of Sharon's friends and enjoy the food together.

Sharon was born and raised in Kibbutz Alonim, located in the Lower Galilee. He was a kid full of happiness, smiled all the time, a good friend, and a professional athlete. Sharon was very connected to his family. He was Israel’s bike riding champion and represented Israel on the national team. Before joining the army he had the option to join with a special status to be a competitive rider, but he refused

because he wanted to be in a combat unit. In 2013 he joined the army’s special unit “Egoz”.

A year later, the commando unit held a night drill and the next morning, Oct. 11, 2014, at 9 a.m., the crew went to sleep. When they woke up two hours later, they tried to wake Sharon, and they discovered that he was not breathing. They took him to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya; four days later he was pronounced brain dead, and his family decided to donate his organs and “give life” to five people.

He was nineteen and a half years old when he fell. He was layed to eternal rest in the Kibbutz Alonim cemetery and is survived by parents Yossi and Iris, brother Roy, and sisters Romi and Rotem.

Reprinted from Ron Lugasy’s recipe collection.

SHARON CHEN’S ZALABIA Ingredients: 2 1/4 lbs flour 3 Tbsp. of sugar 1 Tbsp. of salt 2 eggs 1 tsp. of baking powder water Directions Mix all the ingredients and add water as needed until the dough is somewhat thin.

In a deep pan, heat oil until it’s very hot.

With your hand, take a pieces of dough (you can do it with a spoon too) and put it carefully in the oil.

Fry on both sides until it is golden.

Remove from the oil and place on a pan with a paper towel so it will soak the oil.

You can eat salty with a boiled egg, crushed tomatoes, and Schug, or sweet with honey and sugar.

INFORMATION ANTISEMITIC/HATE INCIDENTS If you encounter an antisemitic or other hate incident, you are not alone. Your first call should be to the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in Omaha at 402.334.6572, or email JCRCreporting@ jewishomaha.org. If you perceive an imminent threat, call 911, and text Safety & Security Manager James Donahue at 402.213.1658.

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8 | The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023

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

ISRAEL AT WAR

Statement from the Jewish Federations of North America

KEY POINTS: • Cabinet has officially declared war. More than 600 Israelis have been killed. Some 2,000 Israelis wounded. At least 5,000 rockets fired at Israel. An estimated 100 Israelis are being held hostage in Gaza.

• The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT) is the first responder in the recovery process of families and individuals who have been impacted by acts of terror and violence, providing immediate grants to assist victims, as needed, within 48 hours of an attack. The Agency estimates that it will need to provide at least 350 short term grants and 750 long term grants.

• JDC is providing support to those in the line of fire, including elderly, people with disabilities, children and families at risk, and other vulnerable populations adversely impacted during this war and in past conflicts.

• Jewish Federations stand in total and complete solidarity with Israel. We are working closely with our partners on the ground and have opened an emergency fund to support these efforts. https://jfeds.org/israelfund2023.

In what many have begun to call Israel’s 9/11 (see the Jerusalem Post’s cover storytoday) the Jewish state has entered the second day of its war against Hamas. Clearly, the numbers above point to one of the blackest days in the country’s history.

Jewish Federations issued a statement on the current fighting. Several Federations have already scheduled solidarity gatherings. We encourage Federations to organize such gatherings to help build support for Israel in your communities.

Here is an outline on how to create an event. For additional help, please contact Alexandra Coffey.

Our Israel Office has activated our emergency protocols, is working closely with our partners on the ground, and is in close contact with the Government of Israel and the IDF. We will continue to update as the situation develops. Funds raised and designated to the Jewish Federations of North America Israel 2023 Emergency Fund will be allocated to the most pressing needs, or distributed as designated by a Federation or donor.

SURPRISE ATTACK Yesterday, on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah in Israel, at around 6:00am, hundreds of Hamas Palestinian terrorists infiltrated Israel from Gaza, by sea, air and land, tearing down border fences and entering Israeli towns in the region in vehicles and on foot. (See our update from yesterday here).

Dozens of terrorists infiltrated numerous Israeli cities, kibbutzim and towns, and in many cases, went door to door, executing men, women, children and the elderly. Hamas troops drove into as many as 22 locations in southern Israel, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border. Many of the victims were young people attending a large outdoor party.

Some 100 civilians are believed to have been captured and taken into the Gaza Strip and are currently being held hostage

by Hamas forces. Video footage released by Hamas shows men, women and children being loaded and unloaded from cars and motorcycles, hands bound and looking very scared.

The Red Cross and other international bodies have been denied access to the Israeli hostages.

Israeli television and social media have been awash with shocking footage of civilians being taken hostage, including women holding babies in their arms. Similarly, dozens of recordings of calls made by frightened civilians saying they are locked in their rooms and that there are terrorists inside their homes.

Later, Israeli troops entered the areas under attack and numerous fierce battles took place with the armed terrorists. In some cases, stand-offs and gunfights continued until late into the night, including in numerous situations where hostages were being held. Intense battles took place at a police station in Sderot controlled by large number of terrorists that saw severe levels of gunfire; at a major hostage situation in the town of Ofakim; and to free a number of Israelis who were held hostage for hours by Hamas gunmen inside the dining hall at Kibbutz Be’eri. As of the time of writing, the IDF says that these hostages were rescued safely and that it is close to regaining control over all Israeli territory, although searches for terrorists continue.

While most victims’ names have not yet been released, fatalities include numerous Arab Israeli citizens as well as IDF troops,

firefighters and police officers. One soldier who fell was the commanding officer of the Nahal Infantry Brigade, Col. Jonathan Steinberg. Another victim was Mayor of Sha’ar Hanegev (the San Diego Federation’s partnership region) Ofir Libstein, who fell in a gun battle defending his town. See more on the victims here.

ROCKETS FIRED With 5000 rockets fired at civilian targets, millions of Israelis ran multiple times to shelters, as explosions were heard across the country, on an ongoing basis, throughout the day. Rocket fire continues today.

The majority of rockets either fell in open areas or were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, but some reached their intended targets, hitting homes, businesses and a hospital.

Numerous Israelis were killed and injured in the attacks. See here for footage of a rocket that landed in a populated Tel Aviv street.

Schools are closed throughout the country today, and gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned.

One rocket was fired at Israel by Hezbollah forces from Lebanon. Israel hopes to avoid escalation into a two-front war but this is clearly a concern. Also today, an Egyptian policeman opened fire on a busload of Israeli tourists in Alexandria, killing two Israelis and one local guide, and injuring others.

ISRAELI RESPONSE Last night Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the nation on live television, saying, that Israel is experiencing “events never seen before.” He vowed to use all of the IDF’s power to hit Hamas, and warned Gaza civilians to “get out now.” See his full remarks here.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has indicated his willingness to join an emergency government, together with National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz. Political discussions are underway. See this opinion piece, “A wounded, weakened Israel is a fiercer one.”

The Israel Defense Forces has initiated a massive call-up of reserve forces (see footage here). The army said four divisions of reservists were being deployed to the Gaza border, joining 35 battalions that were already there. Electricity to the Gaza Strip has been cut.

The IDF hit over 500 targets in numerous air strikes, dropping 16 tons of munitions on terror sites, killing at least 230 people on the ground. Targets hit include 17 military compounds, four headquarters, and four high-rise towers the IDF said were used by Hamas. See here for footage of a strike on multiple terror cells in the area of the security fence in the Gaza Strip over the past day. According to many reports, the IDF is preparing for ground forces to enter the Strip.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that all Israeli citizens around the world who wish to return to Israel should know that Ben Gurion Airport is open for incoming and outgoing flights. Some foreign airlines have canceled flights to Israel.

For those in Israel, the IDF’s Home Front Command has an app that can be downloaded here that gives information, advice and instructions to people on the ground. The site does not work outside of Israel.

Omaha Community gathers Israel is at war. More than 600 Israelis have been killed.

Some 2,000 Israelis are wounded. At least 5,000 rockets fired at Israel. An estimated 100 Israelis are being held hostage in Gaza.

In what many have begun to call Israel’s 9/11 the Jewish state has entered the second day of its war against Hamas.

Clearly, the numbers above point to one of the blackest days in the country’s history.

We gathered Monday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theater to show our community’s love and solidarity with Israel.

Our Jewish Federation of Omaha stands in total and complete solidarity with Israel. We need your support, and we’re asking you to donate generously today to both the Israel Emergency Fund (to respond to immediate needs) and the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign (to build up the reserve to make sure we’re ready for every crisis).

Day 2: Operation Iron Swords

LEAH GARBER I have never experienced the pain, frustration, fear, or sorrow that I feel today—and will continue to feel in the coming days. I am constantly on the brink of tears, which spill over every now and then—when our little grandchildren are not around.

After a short, disturbed night’s sleep, we woke to the intensity of the disaster, which is slowly becoming clearer. The concept of “at least” before the number of dead is unbearable. As I write these lines, we are mourning the murder of more than 600 Israelis and praying for the recovery of more than 2,000 wounded, including several hundred who are seriously wounded.

The abduction of 100 civilians and soldiers into Gaza is shocking, and the fear of what will happen to them is unrelenting. Among the captives are dozens of American tourists and Thais who work in greenhouses near the border, as well as citizens of Great Britain, Germany, and Russia. Many had gathered to participate in a special outdoor party with thousands of others—a party that turned into a bleeding battlefield.

Adi Koplon was taken from her home with her four-yearold child and her one-and-a-half-year-old toddler. The children were abandoned at the border, and she was dragged into Gaza. Soldier Liri Elbag had completed an observation course, and just last week, was stationed in Nahal Oz. Twenty-three soldiers from her unit were killed; she was dragged into Gaza. Eighty-five-year-old Ypa Adar was photographed next to armed terrorists on the way to Gaza. Yoni Asher saw footage of his wife and their two daughters, three and five years old, along with the girls’ grandmother on one of the videos Hamas released on social media.

Now that some of the names of the murdered have been published, we see their faces—their smiles, their kind, innocent gazes, reflecting their dreams, the lives they sought, their love. Now, we see only shattered hopes in their faces— victims of hate and destruction. What an unbelievable slaughter of innocents. Theirs are the 600 faces of war. Noa Argamani was among those kidnapped from the outdoor party along with her boyfriend’s brother. The horror on her face will forever be engraved in our collective memory. And what about all those whose fate is still unknown? Are they alive? Injured? Kidnapped?

The stories of the terrorists’ brutality and the atrocities they themselves photographed percolate. Ofir Libstein, the mayor of a community near the border, was among the victims. Not long ago, Ofir hosted a JCC Association leadership delegation. Together with him, we stood overlooking Gaza as he told us of his lifelong project—to build a large industrial area so that Palestinians who cross daily from Gaza into Israel could make a decent living. Ofir dreamed of coexistence, of living in peace and brotherhood. He was killed yesterday in his home in a kibbutz near the border.

Thirty police officers were slaughtered in Sderot’s police station. Or, Tal, and Ruthi, a family of three were killed in their home. Elhanan, whose parents I know well, fought fiercely and was killed—just as his uncle and cousin were killed by terrorists a few years ago.

These are just a few of the names of Israelis whose lives have been stolen from them. Even if our eyes cannot believe what we see, and our ears refuse to believe what we hear, the weight of the pain, the grief, pulls us down into the blackness of our new reality.

Four of our daughters and our grandchildren are staying with us while their husbands and fathers—our sons-inlaw—are in the army. Earlier today, the children all said a prayer together. Not really understanding what’s happening but sensing the atmosphere, seven-year-old Shaked asked if she should save her dad some pasta from lunch—the naivete of childhood in the face of war.

As if staying back with the little ones while worrying for their husbands is not enough, our daughters, feeling they must do something, sent out WhatsApp messages to the residents of our community, telling them we are collecting toys to share with the kids in the south who escaped home with only their clothes. A few hours later, our empty boxes overflowed with toys. When we can, we will head south to distribute them to the children whose childhood has been stolen from them. Maybe, just maybe, a teddy bear will put a smile on their faces...

Leah Garber is a senior vice president of JCC Association of North America and director of its Center for Israel Engagement in Jerusalem.

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The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023 | 9

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

Street fights over prayer offer liberal Israelis a chance to define a Judaism they can believe in

DR. MASUA SAGIV JTA Israeli, observant Jews living in the United States, and especially here on the West Coast, are aware of the time difference between them and Israel at the beginnings and endings of holidays. While Israel celebrates — or commemorates — meaningful days, I’m behind, still preparing. So unlike my family and friends in Israel who observe Yom Kippur and found out only after their sundown what transpired on Monday in Tel Aviv, I read reports and watched videos of the clash between secular and religious Jews in Dizengoff Square as it unfolded.

Feeling both devastated by the ruining of Yom Kippur prayers and angry at the provocation and manipulation by those who organized the Tel Aviv services, I entered Judaism’s holiest day with a heavy heart and teary eyes.

And yet, in the days since, I also found some reason for hope that this painful moment was a watershed in Israel’s path, in which secular Israeli liberals may claim Judaism on their own terms, despite a religious establishment that sees Orthodoxy as its only legitimate expression.

In brief, Rosh Yehudi (translated “Jewish head”), an organization whose goal is to spread Orthodox Judaism in secular Israel, received approval from the Tel Aviv municipality to conduct Yom Kippur services in Dizengoff Square. These services have been taking place since the early days of the pandemic, and many people — observant and secular alike — attend them. This year the municipality approved the services so long as they would not include a mechitza, a physical divider separating men and women, a decision that the courts supported. The context of the city’s decision was the ongoing assault by the government and its followers (in the name of religion) on the core values of Israeli liberals — specifically gender equality.

Rosh Yehudi declared it would abide by this condition and many people who just wanted to pray came to its services. Yet right after Yom Kippur started, religious activists — supported by the police on site — created a makeshift divider out of Israeli flags. In response, secular protesters, many of them affiliated with the mass movement to protest the government’s efforts to weaken Israel’s judiciary, interrupted the services by whistling, chanting “Shame!” and removing the makeshift divider, ultimately stopping the services. Similar protests of public Orthodox Yom Kippur services took place at other sites throughout Tel Aviv and other predominantly secular cities within Israel.

For decades, Yom Kippur in Israel has been a unique day. Despite a lack of laws regulating the day, no cars are seen on the roads. Praying, biking, walking and talking, observant and secular Jews mix in the streets and synagogues across Israel. But the events of the last nine months in Israel destroyed that fragile harmony.

Israel is once again caught in a war of narratives.

Is it a story of Orthodox activists defying the court’s decision and intentionally causing provocation, forcing gender segregation in the bastion of Israeli secularism? Or is it a story about how Israeli liberals, protesters and the left hate religion and religious Jews?

Setting aside the blame game, the events of Yom Kippur raise two sets of questions for Israel’s future.

The first is the nature of the Israeli public square as it relates to Israel’s Jewish character. What should be the boundaries of tolerance to illiberal practices such as gender separation when they are a part of a religious practice? Was the city right to limit the traditional form of Orthodox prayer due to the public nature of the space? Were the protesters wrong in not respecting this tradition? Should attempts at the religionization of the public sphere and political climate be ignored or taken into consideration?

The more profound question — and the one that that says that we chose to live in this country beis much harder to answer — revolves around the cause we have roots here. That the Bible is our nature of Judaism itself. Who claims what in the book, that the Hebrew of Ezekiel and Isaiah is the name of Judaism will have lasting repercussions for language of our dreams, that we are part of a comthe future of Israel long after the particulars of this munity that has memories and commitments. We year’s Yom Kippur are forgotten? And to that end, I want to suggest that a possible change is afoot in how secular Israeli liberals see Judaism.

For decades, Israel has been caught in a social dichotomy: right-wingers are seen as conservative and religious or traditional, whereas left-wingers are seen as liberal and secular.

Prime Minister Ben- Secular and religious activists argue after the Orthodox group Rosh Yehudi set up a gender divider during a public prayer on Dizengoff Square for Yom Kippur, Sept. jamin Netanyahu 24, 2023. Credit: Tomer Neuberg/Flash 90 embraced this dichotomy as early as 1997 when he claimed that the are the flag bearers of a Judaism that is not mesIsraeli left “had forgotten what it means to be Jew- sianic, not racist, not arrogant and not violent. ish.” He doubled down on this view at the end of Unlike Galon’s view that implicitly rejects all JuYom Kippur this year when he stated, “The leftists daisms because of how Orthodox Judaism is interhad rioted against Jews.” preted today by the government and its followers, This dichotomy is also promoted by the Israeli Lapid offers an alternative vision by laying claim to left. About a week ago, former Meretz leader Ze- a more expansive version of Judaism, whether hava Galon shared the following post on X: “The based on beliefs, culture and/or a shared history. problem with Israeli society is the assumption that A nascent but growing chorus of voices in Israel there is wisdom in Judaism even though it is a is creating just such an alternative. At nearby manifest of Orthodox Jewish men who weren’t par- HaBima Square in Tel Aviv, a Conservative, egaliticularly smart. It’s time for us to realize that … tarian service took place at the end of Yom Kippur. their cart is full of inciting and dangerous non- The Neilah prayer that closes Yom Kippur started sense, and it’s time we left it on the side of the road.” with 20 participants and ended with 300. Secular Galon represents the view of many in the Israeli lib- neighborhoods in northern Tel Aviv have plans to eral camp today who say they are ready to abandon build a public secular sukkah and conduct egalitarJudaism, which they equate with Orthodoxy inter- ian Hakafot (dancing with the Torah) on Simchat preted in the most extreme way.

Torah. And as a response to Police Minister Itamar Indeed, for decades haredi and Religious Zionist Ben-Gvir’s ultimately abandoned plans for a rabbis and politicians in Israel have sought to dic- prayer/provocation on Dizengoff Square, the tate only one option for Judaism: an uncompromis- protest movement offered public, egalitarian prayer ing religious Orthodoxy. This conception on HaBima Square Thursday night, which hunprofoundly contradicts the values of Israeli liberals, dreds attended. and therefore many like Galon say they reject JuTwo days after Yom Kippur, Magi Otsri, a writer daism in any form. But in doing this, Israeli liberals and legal scholar and one of the protest movealso allow the most extreme elements within Israeli ment’s leading online figures, posted a short video Judaism to deepen their grip and shape Judaism as that went viral. In it, Otsri notes that Israeli Orthothey see fit. doxy’s unwillingness to change the halacha of sepAs a result, secular Israeli liberals reduce them- arating men and women during prayer is based on selves to a marginalized minority within Israeli so- sexist, power-based notions of women created by ciety, the majority of whose members seek a men. She asserts that in the past biblical rules were connection to tradition and Judaism and distance easily changed when it suited religious decisionthemselves from values that run counter to it. Sur- makers. What’s fascinating is that the secular, Tel veys show that only a minority of the general Israeli Aviv-based Otsri uses arguments that were until public supports the protesters’ actions on Yom Kip- now only employed by people internal to Orthopur, regardless of the motivations or provocations doxy (such as religious feminists). Referring to reliof the services’ organizers. If faced with an either/or gious mechanisms for bypassing the prohibition on choice between a discriminatory version of Ju- making loans with interest and the religious rules daism and universalist liberalism, the Israeli major- of war, Otsri is not making her argument on strictly ity will choose the former. liberal grounds but employing the language of JuFor a long time, only a minority of Israelis actively daism. worked against this dichotomy. Liberal Religious Today, more than ever, Israeli liberals are at a Zionist, Conservative and Reform Jews, as well as crossroads. In the past nine months, they have arJewish Renewal activists, mostly stood alone in try- ticulated a Zionism they have embraced and ing to create and defend a liberal Israeli Judaism. claimed as their own. Will they leave Judaism beBut in the aftermath of Yom Kippur, this might be hind, or will they claim it too? Given the rate of changing. shocking events in Israel, discerning social trends Opposition leader Yair Lapid shared on X that his in Israel from afar can be overwhelming. But amid neighbor didn’t fast on Yom Kippur for the first the conflicting narratives and deafening discourse, time in 30 years to spite the other camp. His re- I want to encourage those who care about Israel to sponse was telling: “You lost. You gave them own- listen for and encourage the softer and more subtle ership of your Judaism.” He went on to offer the sounds of Judaism in the words and deeds of Israeli following observation: liberals. Dr. Masua Sagiv is the Koret Visiting AsWe don’t have anything to prove. And we don’t sistant Professor of Jewish Law and Israel Studneed anyone’s approval that we are good Jews. We ies at UC Berkeley School of Law, have our own version, no less whole. The version Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com.

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

CHABAD HOUSE

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. with our Debbie Friedman, Senior Organizational Conflict Specialist for TerraConn and she will talk about helping people to “Play Nice At Work”. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

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

Handicap Accessible.

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

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

FRIDAY: Six-String Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah of Kooper Menin, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Junior Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 7:10 p.m.

SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Hebrew Reading for Adults, 10:30 a.m. with Hazzan; Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 11:15 a.m. with Hazzan.

TUESDAY: Pirkei Avot, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4:15 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m.

FRIDAY-Oct. 20: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 21: Shabbat Morning Service and B’nia Mitzvah of Arrow and Hazel Hoffman, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Junior Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 7:10 p.m.; Young Adult Haunted Havdalah, 7:30 p.m.

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

BETH ISRAEL FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 6:29 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Shtiegers, 4:26 p.m. at the Geigers; Tehillim Youth Class, 4:40 p.m. with Rabbi Tal; Soulful Torah: Unpacking the Or HaChayim’s Teachings, 5:25 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:20 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 6:50 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:27 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Monday Mind Builders, 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv,

6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m.; Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m.; Parsha Class, 6:40 p.m.

FRIDAY-Oct. 20: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 6:18 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 21: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Shtiegers, 4:15 p.m. at the Geigers; Tehillim Youth Class, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi Tal; Soulful Torah: Unpacking the Or HaChayim’s Teachings, 5:15 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 6:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:17 p.m.

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

CHABAD HOUSE All services are in-person. All classes are being offered in-person and via Zoom (ochabad.com/academy). For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/ Lechayim; Candlelighting, 6:28 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:26 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps: Shacharit, 99:30 a.m., Video Presentation, 9:30 a.m. and Breakfast, 9:45 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 34), noon; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Class, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-Oct. 20: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ocha bad.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 6:18 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 21: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. followed

by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:16 p.m.

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

All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:31 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI; Torah Study, noon; Havdalah, 7:29 p.m.

SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes — Fall Break; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group meet, 10:45 a.m. at The Mill on the Innovation Campus. We sit outside, facing east. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail.com; Jewish Book Club Meeting, 1:30 p.m. and will discuss Metropolis by B A Shapiro. Please contact Deborah Swearingen if you are interested in joining or learning more; Board of Trustees Meeting, 1:30 p.m.; Pickleball, 3-5 p.m. Anyone interested in playing or learning how to play can text Miriam at 402.470.2393.

TUESDAY: Taste of Judaism Class: Torah/Jewish Values, 7-9 p.m. with Rabbi Alex at SST. Please email lincolnjewishcommunity@gmail.com to register.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS Classes — Fall Break; Adult Ed Movie Night: Ushpizin, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at SST. FRIDAY-Oct. 20: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:21 p.m.

SATURDAY-Oct. 21: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI; Havdalah, 7:19 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander FRIDAY: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah of Ari Blumkin, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom..

SUNDAY: No Youth Learning.

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person.; Grades 36, 4:30-6 p.m.; Grades 8-12 Teen Lounge Night, 6-8 p.m..

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

FRIDAY-Oct. 20: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. InPerson; Tot Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Classic Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-Oct. 21: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

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

Holocaust denier is running for school board in Minnesota ANDREW LAPIN JTA One of the candidates on the ballot for an upcoming Minnesota school board election is an avowed Holocaust denier who has called for all Jews to be sterilized and tattooed with the Star of David, all synagogues to be closed and all Jewish children to be forcibly removed from their parents.

Vaughn Klingenberg is one of seven candidates on the ballot for three open seats in Roseville, a suburb of the Twin Cities. In addition to his views on Jewish people, which he recently published under his own name on a blog, he also visited two area synagogues during the recent High Holidays, actions that have earned condemnation from the state’s attorney general and from local Jewish leaders alike.

“He has our attention. He’s clearly tried to get the attention of the public by spewing hateful, antisemitic rhetoric, which is obviously untrue but is also dangerous,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison told a local news channel.

“Minnesota has no place for hate, and we’re not going to tolerate it. And he can think whatever he wants to think, he can even blog about it,” Ellison added. “But when he starts showing up at peoples’ houses of worship and trying to inspire others to commit acts of hatred, that’s where we have to draw the line.”

The site of the first-ever Target store and home

of a college once run by the late evangelist leader the Jewish calendar... an obsessive Holocaust denier Billy Graham, Roseville has a population of around and antisemite who espouses the most vile conspir36,000. Candidates for school board only need to acy theories would violate our sacred spaces,” Ethan demonstrate proof of residency and declare they Roberts, deputy executive director of the group, told are not sex offenders or running for another position simultaneously, according to election information provided by the district, which did not return a Jewish Telegraphic Agency request for comment.

Klingenberg has not participated in any local candidate forums for the election, set for Nov. 7. This appears to be his first run for public office. He did not respond to JTA requests for comment.

In a blog entry dated Sept. 20, Klingenberg describes visiting two synagogues in the Twin Cities. At the first, over Rosh Credit: 10’000 Hours/Getty Images Hashanah, he said he “dropped off some literature the local Jewish news site TC Jewfolk. on Big Zionist Jewish responsibility for the HoloRoberts added that the JCRC is working with law caust.” At the second, during the Kol Nidre prayer enforcement “to do everything possible to ensure said at the start of Yom Kippur, he said he wanted that Vaughn Klingenberg knows that he is not welto catch Jews reciting “an anti-vow that excuses all come at our houses of worship and Jewish commuJews who recite it from any oaths, promises, vows... nity institutions.” etc. that they may make in the upcoming year.” He Regional representatives for the Anti-Defamawas reprimanded by synagogue security at both lo- tion League, the American Jewish Committee and cations, according to his own accounts. educator union group Education Minnesota are These visits got the attention of the Jewish Com- among organizations who have condemned the munity Relations Council of Minnesota and the candidate.

Dakotas. “It is appalling that on the holiest days of Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com.

Life cycles IN MEMORIAM ANNA LITVIN Anna Litvin passed away on Sept. 30, 2023 at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Services were held on Oct. 3, 2023 at Beth El Cemetery and were officiated by Rabbi Steven Abraham.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Boris Litvin.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Sam; and grandson, Daniel.

Anna was a selfless person and dedicated her entire life to helping others, whether that be her family or her patients while practicing medicine as an endocrinologist in the former Soviet Union. A very kind and caring soul, Anna was liked by all. Despite significant language barriers in the US, she had many friends at the JCC, Livingston Apartments, and Blumkin Jewish Home.

Anna will be sorely missed by her family, her friends, and all those who knew her. Her impact on those who had the privilege of knowing her will last decades beyond her life.

Save the Date

Join us Sunday, Nov. 5 for “All in the Family”!

Jody Malashock, Jay Gordman, and Adria Tipp will share their family stories of philanthropy, following by table discussions on our Jewish values and a kosher reception.

All in the Family takes place on Sunday, Nov. 5, 4 – 5:30 p.m. in the Goldstein Community Engagement Venue.

RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/Fabat40.

Seeking support for dementia SHELLY FOX Jewish Senior Outreach Director Families going through the dementia diagnosis have a new outlet for help.

Family Ties Senior Move Management is partnering with Jewish Senior Outreach to host this ongoing support group, to bring the community together for those impacted by dementia and cognitive impairment.

Forget Me Not, the first dementia support group will be held at the Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus, the First Wednesday of each month, beginning Nov. 1 at 2:30 p.m. The group will meet in the Wiesman Room @ the JCC. Knowing how dementia impacts families first-hand and sharing experiences makes this opportunity one of a kind.

Being able to meet with others that are dealing with similar challenges offers unique support.

Heidi Dunning, dementia practitioner and Jonie Sturek, cofounder of Family Ties Senior Move Management will facilitate this group with Shelly Fox, Jewish Senior Outreach Director.

If you, or someone you love, has dementia and you are looking for guidance on how to navigate the dementia diagnosis, please join us. No pre-registration is required.

Please feel free to reach out to Shelly Fox at 402.334.6532 or sfox@rbjh.com, Jonie Sturek at 402.305.1895 or Heidi Dunning at 402.201.6633 for more information.

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

War on a day of rejoicing At about 6:40 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 (Simchat Torah here), I dreamt that there was a siren. When I woke up about an hour later, Sarah told me that the siren was for real and that Nathan had come to pick up his 5-year-old son Noam (who had slept here overnight with his cousins, Elie’s children). When Elie and I got to synagogue, Eitan the gabbai (and the person at our synagogue TEDDY who handles emergencies) asked Elie if WEINBERGER he is authorized to carry a gun. Elie said yes (in fact, Elie carries a hand-gun at all times). Services continued more or less as normal until the day’s main event: the hakafot (circuits made with the Torahs). There are 7 of these, and with all the singing and dancing that accompany them, each one can take 20 minutes or longer. Eitan announced, however, that due to the war and to instructions to limit large gatherings of people, the hakafot would be greatly curtailed. Eitan also said that the synagogue would then continue with the day’s full services, but everyone was free to decide for themselves whether or not to stay. When I heard Eitan use the word “war,” my heart dropped. Eitan is in his mid 80s, old enough to have served not only in the Yom Kippur War but in the Six-Day War— this is a person who does not use the word lightly.

The hakafot began and Elie and I went around with the Torahs. Elie has a large projecting voice (he is a company commander after all), and he often led the singing. The seven hakafot ended, but when I looked around Elie was gone. A few minutes later Elie’s 3-year-old daughter Ayala toddled in. Sarah later told me that Elie had crossed paths with them. Elie had told Sarah that he was going to our home to call his division commander. Ayala, upon seeing Elie heading home, started to throw a fit, thinking (mistakenly) that she would be denied her Simchat Torah candy. Twenty minutes later Elie was back, breathing hard (he had run from our house). He told me that he was going in to the Ofer Military Base (coincidentally, very close to Givat Ze’ev, where he was raised). Elie then went into the women’s section to say goodbye to Sarah. I was to learn that this scene was repeated all over Israel—young men specifically coming to synagogue to say goodbye to their parents.

When we got home, I was pleased to see that Nathan had returned with his whole family--his wife Avia and their 2-yearold Lavi as well as Noam. During our preparations for lunch, our neighbor and friend Rabbi Zvi Koren stopped by to tell us that we were halachically permitted to open an electronic device and check it hourly to see if there were instructions from Home Front Command. As I imagine was the case in many national-religious families, where there is typically a range of observance, there were those of us who were updated as to the seriousness of the situation and those who were not; having 5 kids around made it easier not to speak of the war, but it was hard to conjure up a festive atmosphere.

At around 7:30 p.m., Elie called to briefly say that he was okay and that his company was “holding the line” in an area near Shilo (in the Shomron). Hadar wanted to spend the night at her parents’ in Jerusalem, but as Elie had taken their car, Sarah drove the family to Jerusalem. While we were buckling everyone up, Elie called again. Elie downplayed what he was doing, saying “we’re not in the action, we’re just doing baby stuff like stopping rock throwing,” but it was heartbreaking to hear Hadar, voice cracking, pleading with Elie to take care of himself and to not let anything bad happen to him.

Ruthie’s husband Nofar, the other member of the family doing active military-reserve duty, is in a unit that identifies missing people. On Saturday he was told to go to a base relatively close to Gaza. The early report from Nofar was that it was a “complete balagan” down there. His unit was so overwhelmed with work that it was not clear to them how to start.

On Sunday afternoon March 8, however, I did receive the following text message from Nofar: “I am okay. We are working hard and are preparing for all scenarios.”

Teddy Weinberger, Ph.D., made aliyah with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Jane Ross, and their five children, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie, Ezra, and Elie, all of whom are veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@gmail.com.

Visit us at omahajewishpress.com

The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023 | 11

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12 | The Jewish Press | October 13, 2023

News LOC AL | N ATI O N A L | WO R L D

How roving rabbis helped the Jews of rural Australia celebrate Rosh Hashanah NOMI KALTMAN MELBOURNE | JTA Ruth Hannah has lived in the Australian coastal town of Mallacoota for more than 30 years. The 72-year-old daughter of Holocaust survivors knows of only one other Jewish person in her town, which has a population of 1,183 people.

Known for its beautiful beaches and wildlife, Mallacoota is located near the middle of a 650-mile coastal route from Melbourne to Sydney. Along that route, there is not a single city with more than 50,000 people within a 5-hour drive. Unsurprisingly, preparing for Jewish festivals in the region can be challenging.

“Mallacoota is one of the most remote towns in [the state of] Victoria, so we don’t have a shul,” or synagogue, said Hannah.

Since the 1980s, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement — a Hasidic sect that focuses on outreach to Jews in countries around the world — has filled the void for Hannah and thousands of other Jews scattered across the less populated areas of the outback. Most Chabad emissaries focus on Jewish life in one locale, but Rabbi Menachem Aron and his wife, Rebbetzin Shevi Aron, who are based in Melbourne, coordinate the Chabad of RARA — short for Regional and Rural Australia.

“People want connection. You see how much they need it and appreciate it. It’s really rewarding,” Rabbi Aron told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “You see on their faces. Living in these places is not just far away from a Jewish community, it’s also isolating. People don’t have access to the most basic things…like groceries or healthcare. You can wait eight weeks to see a [doctor]. So, it’s quite challenging for anyone.”

Like other Chabad chapters around the world, the RARA branch often sends Jews care packages with food and materials to use in celebrating holidays. For Rosh Hashanah, Jews

like Hannah received honey cookies and shofars.

But Chabad of RARA also sends out groups of roving rabbis to drive thousands of miles across Australia’s outback to visit Jews and deliver supplies in person. The Arons coordinate

Rabbi Mendel Junik prays while overlooking the rugged outback of the Pilbara region in western Australia. Credit: Rabbi Menachem Aron

groups of young Chabad students from yeshivas around the world who come to Australia for the Northern Hemisphere summer, to conduct visits to Jews living across Australia in some of the least inhabited places on earth.

Young Rabbis Menachem Manssouri and Mendel Junik from Los Angeles flew to Australia in early June for a month, for example, to conduct a 2,500-mile road trip to find Jews to connect with. The trip began in Darwin — one of Australia’s most remote capital cities, which has no existing Jewish infrastructure, and according to the 2021 Australian census, a total of 91 Jews.

“We started in Darwin where we had a list [of Jewish people].

In Darwin, we probably met up with 40 Jews,” Manssouri said.

From Darwin, Manssouri and Junik flew to Broome in Western Australia and drove thousands of miles up the coast.

“We did something very unique compared to other RARA trips. We went to a lot of towns. South Hedland. Roebourne.

Monkey Mia. Deham. Exmouth. No one had ever done those areas,” Manssouri said.

When asked how he located Jews in towns where there are no existing contacts, Manssouri was full of practical advice.

“We go to the police station. The hospital. We walk around town to all the stores trying to get leads. We were pretty successful with that,” he said.

Manssouri is awed by the way he connected with Jews in the most unexpected places — including at one of Australia’s most remote gas stations, in Karratha, a city in the sparselypopulated Pilbara region. Manssouri talked to Jews who were waiting to fill up their RV with gas and who lived a more than 15-hour drive to the nearest synagogue.

“When you look back at it, it blows you away,” he said. “People think that they get inspired by the rabbis, but really, the rabbis get inspired by the people. It’s a two-way connection.”

Around 7 million people, or 28% of the Australian population, live in remote or rural areas, according to the country’s government. According to Aron, there are about 10,000 Jewish people living in regional and remote Australia, and he personally keeps in contact with approximately 4,000 of them. (There are approximately 120,000 Jews in all of Australia.)

The Chabad movement is constantly extending its global footprint; in the past years emissaries have established a presence in places from Zambia to Costa Rica to the Canary Islands.

Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com.

HANUKKAH

Publishing date | 11.24.23 Space reservation | 10.24.23 Contact our advertising executive to promote your business in this very special edition.

Howard Kutler | 402.334.6559 | hkutler@jewishomaha.org