November 6, 2015

Endowed by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

On being a Rabbi’s son

November 6, 2015 24 Cheshvan 5776 Vol. 96 | No. 8

This Week

by LEWIS GRONER Growing up, I had a unique job encompassing much responsibility, high expectations, and limited pay, but great benefits. What was my job?

Serving as a rabbi’s son in both Omaha and New Orleans where my dad, Rabbi Benjamin Groner of blessed memory, led pulpits when I was a kid, including Beth Israel Synagogue during the 1950’s and 60’s.

The job automatically came via birthright with no application process, and it emanated in part from our congregants. For example, just before Passover, when I was 15 and we lived in New Orleans, a congregant called our home. “I need to ask Rabbi Groner if a certain food is kosher for Passover or not,” he explained. Since Dad wasn’t in, I told Mr. Congregant that I’d have Dad return his call later. “Well, perhaps you could answer the question for me,” and he proceeded to inquire about the permissibility of a certain food on Passover. I didn’t know the answer, and ensured him that a real pro -- my dad -- would address his question upon his return home.

This made me realize that as a rabbi’s son, I was considered something of a junior rabbi, which always

Dr. Barry Epstein Memorial Lecture at Chabad Page 5

The Aronson family: The fight against Pancratic cancer Page 7

Lew Groner fascinated me. If an attorney’s client happened to call his lawyer at home and the son answered the phone because his dad was out, would the client ask the lawyer’s son to render an opinion on a legal matter? Or if a patient called his doctor at home (indeed, people did that years ago) and the doctor was gone, would the patient ask the doctor’s son to recommend a medicine for his ailment? I don’t think so! Yet a rabbi’s son is expected to play a role similar to his dad.

Wherever I went as a kid, if a ques-

tion about anything Jewish arose, the reaction typically was, “Let’s ask Lew -- the rabbi’s son should know!” So I became very adept at thinking on my feet, and if I didn’t know the answer, I tried to respond with something that at least sounded plausible.

At times, rabbis’ sons can play vital roles, especially when a rabbi’s family is hosting guests for Shabbat and the holidays. In the early 1960s, while living in Omaha, then Governor Frank Morrison and his wife joined us for a Passover Seder. I was only three or four years old and don’t remember any of it, but I’m told it was a marvelous evening, and I played a supporting role. My older brother Raphael -- who spent his formative years in Omaha, and who himself became a rabbi -- relates that I gave a rousing rendition of Go Down Moses to the Governor and the First Lady, which helped to ensure a memorable evening for all.

Governor Morrison was just one of countless people from all over the world who spent time in our various homes over the decades. Fortunately, Dad was a wonderful raconteur, entertaining guests with enlightening anecdotes and clever humor, and of Continued on page 2

Temple Israel welcomes Jerry Kaye

Women’s Mission to Europe Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

This Month Shopping Guide See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

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Jerry Kaye speaking with Temple Israel students last year.

by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute has always held a special place in Rabbi Aryeh Azriel’s heart. Over the

course of his time as the senior rabbi of Temple Israel, he has helped to send hundreds of kids to attend camp there. This coming summer will be the 65th summer of programming at Olin-Sang-Ruby. Over the years, more than 30,000 children have passed through the gates, building lifelong friendships, exploring their Jewish identity, and having the time of their lives. In 1952, Union Institute was founded by the Reform Movement; today, URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute serves more than 1,000 campers each summer from throughout North America and beyond. We look forward on Friday

Nov. 13 to welcome Jerry Kaye, the director of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, to Temple Israel.

Mr. Kaye also serves as the head of the Union for Reform Judaism Youth Department for the Great Lakes Region. He served as a member of the Brandeis University Professional Advisory Committee on Informal Education and has authored numerous works relating to Jewish education, self-esteem and youth. As co-chair of the URJ National Committee on Youth Program Education, he worked with program development for youth throughout the Reform Movement.

Continued on page 3

Female Masorti Rabbi visits Beth El

by BETH EL PUBLICITY Rabbi Chaya Rowen Baker of Kehillat Ramot-Zion congregation in French Hill, Jerusalem, will be a scholar in residence at Beth El Synagogue on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Rabbi Chaya Rowen Baker The Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and the U.S. Masorti means “traditional” in Hebrew. The movement began as a minyan at Australia’s Emanuel Synagogue in the early 1990s.

Today, there are 12 Masorti congregations in Britain.

Rabbi Rowen Baker is in the United States as a guest of the Central District of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), and during the second half of her visit she will be a featured educator at the USCJ Convention, Nov. 13-17 in Chicago.

Her North American visit comes on the heels of her participation last July in an interdenominational gathering at the home of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

As reported in The Forward, President Rivlin hosted leaders from the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and secular movements for an event demonstrating Jewish unity. It was widely considered a significant move for Rivlin, who has drawn criticism in the past for denigrating non-Orthodox Jews.

At the event Rivlin spoke about the importance of accepting all Jewish streams: “One could disagree with the positions and opinions of members of the Reform or Conservative movements, but one could not deny their dedication or the clear voice with which they speak in support of the State of Israel, here and around the world.”

Rabbi Meir Azari of the Tel Aviv Reform Congregation Beit Daniel was also present and said the following: “We need to stop seeing life in the framework of black and white. We need to see the importance of recognizing the other, even with its complexities Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | November 6, 2015

ADL-CRC welcomes Bob Wolfson home

by MARY-BETH MUSKIN Regional Director, ADL Bob Wolfson, associate national director of regional operations for the Anti Defamation League, honored Alan Potash for his years of service at a luncheon held in Omaha on Oct. 9 for ADL-CRC Plains State board members. Alan served as director of the ADL-CRC in Austin, Texas, from 2004-2006 and was the director of the ADL Plains State Region located in Omaha from 2006 to 2014. Alan’s leadership was key to preserving the important work of ADL in our region, and ADL looks forward to continued partnership with him in his new position as CEO of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Bob also discussed leadership changes at the national level.

Jonathan Greenblatt joined the ADL staff as the CEO and national director this summer, replacing Abe Foxman who led the ADL for the past 28 years. Jonathan has stated that the mission of ADL “To stop the defama-

Bob Wolfson tion of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment for all” is still as relevant today as it was when written 103 years ago. Bob reiterated that it is

“clear that our strength is still based on our mission and the future is bright.”

ADL has had a dual mission since its founding in 1913; “To stop the defamation of the Jewish people... and to secure justice and fair treatment for all.” A modern version of Hillel’s dictum “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?” ADL is rooted in the notion that effectively fighting anti-Semitism strategically and morally requires acting against bias and bigotry in all its forms.

“Omaha is lucky to have the strength of the ADL and all the expertise found within a national organization and equally fortunate to have the support of the OmahaCRC. The combination makes this a special office with the opportunity to access a world of opportunities as we continue to work toward a world without HATE,” said Mary-Beth Muskin, current director of the ADLCRC Plains State Region.

On being a Rabbi’s son Continued from page 1 course sharing brilliant insights into Torah and Judaism. Good thing that my mom -- the late Rebbetzin Frances Groner -- was an outstanding cook and a fine hostess! She even produced a Passover Parade of Recipes cookbook published by Beth Israel Synagogue Press, which was so popular that it went through three printings. As a rabbi’s son, my parents’ ability to make people feel special in their home greatly influenced me. To this day, I take home hospitality and the duty to welcome in strangers very seriously.

Growing up as a rabbi’s son was a unique privilege. It offered keen insight into the Jewish community and the human condition, including the myriad challenges in our congregants’ lives.

Dad often carried the weight of their burdens on his shoulders. I watched as he guided many through their trials and tribulations, including painful tragedies. He was always on call for congregants’ needs and ready to guide them through trying times, as well as to ensure their joyous occasions were beautiful and meaningful celebrations.

There’s a certain special connection between many congregants and the rabbi’s family that lasts a lifetime. The congregational family becomes part of the rabbi’s own family. For example, two young men Dad bar mitzvah’d in Omaha who I personally know are Marty Ricks, Chief Development Officer of the Jewish Federation, and Howard Epstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. (What are the odds that two of my dad’s bar mitzvah boys would become prominent leaders of the Omaha Jewish community years later?!) Because my dad was their rabbi, I naturally feel a special bond with them. Guess you just need to be a rabbi’s son to understand it.

Dad was a highly respected rabbi in Omaha and in every community where he served. He was a man of influence and action, and a true leader. And he was the person -- often times with my mother -- who helped to turn countless people’s lives around and ensure those in his communities led richer and more fulfilling Jewish lives.

I feel fortunate indeed to be a junior

rabbi, and look forward to sharing more in mid-November when I spend my first Shabbat in nearly 50 years at Beth Israel!

Lewis Groner, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, will be the Scholar-inResidence for A Rabbi’s Son Returns Home at Beth Israel Synagogue, Nov. 13-14, sponsored by Marty and Iris Ricks. On Friday night, Lew will speak on “Reflections on Life as a Rabbi’s Son” (dinner reservations required, which include a complimentary copy of Rebbetzin Frances Groner’s Parade of Passover Recipes cook-booklet); and at Shabbat morning services he will share remarks on The Blessings of Being From Omaha. On Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the home of Joel Alperson, Lew will lead an interactive discussion on Big City Judaism vs.

Small Town Judaism -- Is One Better for the Soul? The entire community is invited to each event. Please contact Beth Israel at 402.556.6288 or www.orthodoxomaha.org for more information.

Female Masorti Rabbi visits Beth El Continued from page 1 and weaknesses. We need to seek out the good. We need to learn to compromise.”

“The gathering achieved its aim,” said Rabbi Steven C. Wernick, CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, “Positive change is always a possibility.

President Rivlin’s generous gesture allowed us to come together and affirm the multiplicity of authentic approaches to Jewish life.”

It is expected that Rabbi Rowen Baker will bring a similar message of respect and reconciliation to Omaha.

The topic for her talk is Chosen or Choosing? Jews throughout the generations have redefined and reframed the notion of choseness in response to changing circumstances, values, and ideas. Those in attendance will explore some original and unexpected approaches to this idea that may help us grapple with contemporary rhetoric in our relationships with people and God. Rabbi Rowen Baker was ordained in 2007 by the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary. Born to an Orthodox father and a Reform mother, she grew up within the Masorti Movement in Israel. After her army service, she was head of MAROM, the Masorti student and youngadult organization.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Hebrew University in Jewish History and Archaeology, and a Masters, magna cum laude, from the Schechter Institute of Jewish studies. Rabbi Rowen Baker participated in the first class of “B’ruach”, pastoral training at the oncology ward of Sha’are-Tzedek Medical Center, was the 2007 Tanenbaum Fellow of Congregation Beth-Tzedec in Toronto, and has been a fellow of RIKMA for leadership development since 2008.

Rabbi Rowen-Baker lives in Jerusalem with her husband Etai, their four children Adaya, Keshet, Clil, and Yagel, and their dog, Hummus.

The Central District of the USCJ, of which Omaha is a part, brings outstanding scholars to its membership through the generous support of an endowment fund made possible by Dr. Morton (of blessed memory) and Anne (of blessed memory) Kleiman. Last year’s USCJ scholar taught and lectured in 20 different congregations and Conservative institutions across the Central District.

The Masorti Movement in Israel is part of the worldwide Conservative/Masorti Movement. The Movement is dedicated to a pluralistic, egalitarian, and democratic vision of Israel and Zionism; to structuring communities built on these ideals, and continually advocating for an equal and truly pluralistic Israeli society, where all Jews may enrich and enhance their Jewish lives.

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Committed advocates for Israel visit Omaha

by MARK KIRCHHOFF world stage within the context of recent events. It will be Administrative Assistant, Center for Jewish Life especially timely for those considering the spring Dallas-based philanthropists, volunteers, and Israel advo- Partnership2GETHER community mission to Israel. cates Janine and Charles Pulman will visit Omaha Nov. 10 The session title bears the name of the grassroots initiative and 11. Through their supfounded by the Pulmans’ port and involvement in Why Israel Matters, Inc., Partnership2GETHER and as which focuses on the imporpart of the Central Area tance of Israel to all people Consortium of which Omaha and the innovations and conis a member, they became tributions to mankind that well-acquainted with Zoë and have been developed in Israel.

Carl Riekes who have encourThe initiative goal is to eduaged their visit. cate the public about Israel’s “To save one life is to save a rich and vibrant history along People,” says the Talmud. with its current conflicts with Janine and Charles Pulman its neighbors. have embraced many opporJanine Pulman graduated tunities to do just that. from the University of Texas Charles and Janine have travAustin in education, and eled to Israel numerous times; received her MS in guidance the count is over 40 times for and counseling from the Charles. Their most recent University of Houston. After Charles and Janine Pulman visit to the Gazan borders will teaching for five years, she has be the focus of their first community presentation during been an active volunteer in the Dallas community. In 1990 Eye on Israel with Community Shaliach, Eliad Eliyahu on she was employed as the Assistant Director of Volunteers for Tuesday, Nov. 10 beginning at noon in the Kripke Jewish Jewish Family Service, then became Director of Volunteer Federation Library. They will present Four Days On and Services in 1997-2012. Over the years she also served on Under the Israeli Border with Gaza, a first-hand account of Boards of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, National their visit to Israeli communities along the Gazan border Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah and currently is serving and their experience walking the Hamas terror tunnels. Eye on the Boards for Congregation Anshai Torah and National on Israel is sponsored by the Henry and Dorothy Riekes Council of Jewish Women.

Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Charles Pulman is a partner in the Dallas law firm of The Pulmans’ passion for the Jewish community and their Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch and Ungerman, passion for a Jewish future will be strongly in evidence dur- LLP, where he practices in the areas of tax, corporate, and ing their Omaha visit. This passion enabled them in 2013 to real estate. He received a BA, Cum Laude, from the witness the return of 40 Ethiopians to their Jewish roots in University of Texas; his law degree, Magna Cum Laude, Israel, with the Jewish Agency for Israel. They accompanied from the University of Houston; and a Masters of Law in nine families, 40 new olim, immigrants, as they made the Taxation from New York University. Pulman is also a first steps to making Israel their new home.

Certified Public Accountant and is Board Certified in Tax “We knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and, Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been while we’ve been to Israel and we are passionate about Israel, actively involved in civic activities and has been involved for nothing compared to this,” said Charles. “This pulled together many years in numerous Jewish organizations. He is curwhy we do what we do and who we are as a people.” He added rently a member of the Board of Governors of the S. Daniel “Being a Jew isn’t only a religion; it is being part of a faith and Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue, Netanya Academic part of a people. Who else rescues an ancient tribe with whom College, Netanya, Israel. they have nothing in common other than they are Jews.”

Their experiences will again be highlighted during a second presentation that will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the JCC Social Hall, when the Pulmans present Why Israel Matters. The session will highlight Israel’s accomplishments, innovations and contributions to the Continued from page 1 Jerry is also a premier story teller.

Olin-Sang-Ruby Institute is located in beautiful Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. When asked to explain what was so special about OSRUI, Jerry said, “Our camp is a place of fun and excitement where every child is imporby DEB MARBURG tant.” Jerry said further, when discussing camp, “That we On Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the National see our mission, in part, as providing the opportunity for Council of Jewish Women, Omaha Section, will host a conthe pursuit of excellence in Jewish life experiences. Our versation with Danielle Conrad, former State Senator and sessions are varied and focus on specific areas of interest, current Executive Director of the Nebraska ACLU. The including Kibbutz life, the arts, Hebrew immersion, and event will be held at Spirit World, 6680 Center St. and will more. We offer a wealth of activities, from archery and focus on the Unicameral. Attendees can ask questions about the Alpine Tower to drama, photography, and waterskiour state legislation while enjoying good company and a ing, to name just a few. Most importantly, our programs glass of wine. foster independence and personal growth.”

There is no fee for attending, but the NCJW asks for Jerry will speak in tribute to Rabbi Aryeh Azriel during donations of new or gently used hats, gloves, scarves and services at 6 p.m. Following services will be our monthly sweatpants. Donations will go towards keeping students at Shabbat Dinner and a chance for people to speak with Jackson Elementary School warm this winter.

Jerry one-on-one about camp. The cost of dinner is $5 a For more information and to RSVP, please contact Deb person and reservations can be made by contacting the Marburg at peng1deb@cox.net or Becki Brenner at Becki office of Temple Israel at 402.556.6536. brenner50@gmail.com.

Temple Israel welcomes Jerry Kaye

NCJW offers Wine and conversation

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Parents’ day at Elie’s base dangerous stuff.

The demonstrations ended with parachute instructors performing freestyle glides down to our viewing area.

(Several weeks later, Elie earned his parachuting badge through several “regular” jumps, both during the day and at night.)

Parents’ Day continued with addresses by the base commander and by Elie’s unit commander, and then finally we got to see Elie in his barracks. I guess Elie, who still sleeps at our house with a big guy in a bunk bed (his brother Ezra) felt right at home -- only here there were 16 big guys in eight bunk beds in his room.

Elie’s base is known throughout the Israel Defense Forces for its relatively luxurious facilities. Indeed, the base reminded us of a sprawling, attractive college campus. And the boys -- new recruits as well as their commanders -- are college-aged. Yet every time you visit a college campus, whether for orientation, graduation, or reunion, and you see large numbers of youngsters, you feel only good things: pride, youthful energy, hope for the future, etc. Here at Parents’ Day, Sarah and I had very mixed feelings. Of course we were proud of Elie and his comrades, but these young people were brought together in order to learn exactly what to do should their country ask them to put their lives at risk. So amid the pride, there was plenty of anxiety, fear, and worry for Sarah and me. However, we did not sense this among the native Israeli parents. Perhaps they also felt this way but were better able to hide it?

While Sarah and I are never going to learn how to support Elie without betraying any anxiety, I assume that our children will be much better at this with our grandchildren.

Yes, we can hope and work toward a more peaceful status quo with the Palestinians and with our other neighbors in the Middle East, but Israel is going to need an army for the foreseeable future. Thankfully, we have the IDF. Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest four, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie and Ezra are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@ netvision.net.il.

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Shopping Guide Coming November

We recently participated in Parents’ Day at the Paratrooper Base where our son Elie is training. Parents are ordinarily prohibited from visiting their children at this base; this is due not just to security concerns, but “in order to blur differences and emphasize unity” (i.e., allowing visits would create a situation where some soldiers are visited much more often than others). As not every military base even has a Parents’ Day, Sarah and I were especially happy for the opportunity.

Elie’s base is located about an hour and a half south of our home. The day’s program started with “live fire” demonstrations. As we waited in the stands with several hundred other visitors, Sarah and I shifted uneasily. In the foreground of the staging area were three cement houses, each with a Palestinian flag flying atop it.

The demonstrations began with sharpshooting. Two camouflaged sharpshooters popped balloons tied in place in the middle of a hill at a distance of about half a mile away. Then we were shown how paratroopers capture a hill (through a series of “charges”). Those cement Arab houses were now put to use. Teams of soldiers surrounded each house. We heard over the loudspeaker a holed-up suspect being told in Arabic to come out with his hands up. The suspect instead shot at the troops, who then returned fire and were able to capture him alive with the help of a dog biting into his leg. (Interesting side point about army dogs: once their jaws have clamped down upon a suspect, there is no verbal command in the world that will cause the dogs to release their hold; only their trainer through a tactile prompt will cause them to open their jaws.) Sarah and I were sitting there a bit stunned. All around us it seemed that we were in a version of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. There was tremendous excitement in the air, and kids as well as adults stood right by the front of the staging area to get better views. But we were thinking: Heck, this is

Breadbreakers On Wednesday Oct. 28, ACLU of Nebraska’s Executive Director, Danielle Conrad, paid a visit to B’nai B’rith Bread Breakers and spoke about hot topics such as the death penalty debate, Planned Parenthood, and marriage equality.

Pictured are Danielle Conrad, left, Gary Javitch and Rich Juro.

B’nai Israel Speaker Series Publishing Date | 11.20.15 Space Reservation | 11.11.15 Camera Ready Deadline | 11.13.15

Contact our advertising representative to advertise in this very special edition.

Jessie Wees | 402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org

Bea Karp will be the featured speaker at B’nai Israel Synagogue, Friday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. Bea will speak about her experience as a child in the Holocaust. She will share information from her book, My Broken Doll, which was published in 2014 and describes her survival of the Vichy Regime.

One of the camps Bea lived in during the war was Rivesaltes in the south of France.

A memorial was recently built at Rivesaltes.

Survivors of the camp were invited to view the new memorial; Bea just returned from this visit and will recount this memorable trip. If you need directions to the Synagogue, call Marty Ricks at 402.334.6440.

Note, the December service will be Dec. 18 instead of the usual second Friday of the month. Jerry Slusky will talk about the family history of owning and operating Playland Park in the mid-20th century.

November 6, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 5

Dr. Barry Epstein Memorial Lecture

by ROCHI KATZMAN Chabad Center Dr. Lawrence Schiffman will be visiting for Shabbos Nov. 14 to share with you an intriguing presentation, The World’s Fascination with Temple Mount - A historical view.

Dr. Lawrence Schiffman

Credit: cnn.com Turn on the news and there will inevitably be a story about Jerusalem and Temple Mount. From time immemorial, Temple Mount was a place of gathering and worship, a sacred destination, a piece of Heaven on earth.

What is its secret?

Join Professor Lawrence Schiffman for a whirlwind tour of history and scholarship. Twinned with warmth and wit, this unforgettable Farbrengen will stimulate your mind and heart. The delectable Kiddush lunch will tantalize your taste buds.

The program will follow the conclusion of services at Chabad at noon on Shabbat Nov. 14.

This lecture is dedicated in loving memory of Dr. Barry Epstein, son of Irv and the late Geri Epstein. Barry was a deeply compassionate doctor and a brilliant gentleman.

He is sorely missed by all whose lives he touched.

Dr Lawrence Schiffman is an authoritative Jewish scholar and historian, and a fascinating speaker and lecturer. He has written over seven books and hundreds of articles and has been a featured expert on the PBS Nova series documentary, Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and appears regularly in the popular educational TV series Mysteries of the Bible. He received his BA, MA and PhD degrees from the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University.

RSVP by calling the Chabad Center at 402.330.1800 or email RSVP@ochabad.com.

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Global Day of Jewish Learning

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Administrative Assistant, Center for Jewish Life From New York, New York, to Kisniev, Ukraine, to Djerba, Tunisa, and with over 500 communities in more than 40 countries worldwide, Omaha, Nebraska, will be a part of the Global Day of Jewish Learning on Nov. 15 from 1-5 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. This event brings the Jewish people together once a year to celebrate shared Jewish text through community-based learning.

The guiding values of the Global Day of Jewish Learning are fostering Jewish unity, empowering individuals through increased Jewish knowledge, and creating meaningful shared experiences.

The day was conceived to Dr. Ron Wolfson further the call of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, teacher, philosopher, social critic and prolific author, to “Let my people know.” This day, which is specially set aside for Jewish learning, is a project spearheaded by the Aleph Society with organizers around the globe.

Omaha’s event will key on this year’s theme, Love: Devotion, Desire and Deception. It will be the focus of the keynote address and the afternoon breakout sessions. In the keynote address, Dr. Ron Wolfson talks about his latest book, The Best Boy in the United States of America: A Memoir of Blessings and Kisses (Jewish Lights Publishing).

When told the Global Day theme, he commented that it fits perfectly with the book, which he describes as being about the power of family love to shape identity and memories.

“I was raised in the amazing Jewish community of Omaha, and many of the stories in my new book are a love note to the people who make Omaha the best Jewish community in the United States of America,” Ron said. “I’ve taught all over the world and there is no place like Nebraska, so it will be a very special pleasure to share memories of growing up here with friends and family.”

The Global Day of Jewish Learning also offers learning opportunities at the click of a mouse or the touch of a screen through 24x24, a free video learning resource open to everyone. World-class scholars, artists, rabbis and authors are generously participating in 24x24. Appropriately referred to as “LIVE! Sessions”, broadcasts from both in-person events and web-based gatherings will be a part of the day. Speakers will engage with this year’s Global Day, and viewers will be able to ask questions of the speakers and engage with their fellow far-flung viewers live on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. To find out more about this digital offering, go to

www.theglobalday.org and click on the pull-down option “24x24.” The first session will begin at 00:00 GMT or 6 p.m., Central Standard Time.

Omaha’s events begin at 1 p.m. with a welcome and introductions by Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, the Klutznick Chair for Jewish Civilization at Creighton University and chair for this year’s Global Day event. “All Jewish learning is exciting and valuable,” reports Greenspoon. “It is even more so on this Global Day of Learning when we join together with Jews from throughout the world to study and learn from each other. It is as if the whole world becomes our classroom, a particularly appropriate image, as we keep in mind that ‘love’ -- which is sometimes spoken of as the power that makes the world go round -- is the topic.” The fund of the Klutznick Chair is generously sponsoring the Global Day of Jewish Learning.

Following the keynote address, the afternoon will continue with several sessions by various local presenters including Dr. Moshe Gershovich, Dr. Halla Kim, Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, Dr. Curtis Hutt, Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan and Marty Shukert. Details on the presentations will be highlighted in next week’s Jewish Press.

Omaha’s participation in The Global Day of Jewish Learning is promoted by the Center for Jewish Life whose mission it is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences. For more information, please call 402.334.6463 or email mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org.

Russian Cultural Club

The Russian Cultural Club took an autumn road trip to three of Nebraska’s lovely state parks – Mahoney, Platte River and Schramm. This trip was sponsored by the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Front row: Connie Coco, Mark Rubezhin, Alla Rubezhin, Olga Sitnyakovsky, Lisa Magalnik, Svetlana Goldin, Lina Levit, Ella Tomchin, Svetlana Tsymkovski, Alex Tsymkovski; Second row: Anna and Igor Mosenkis, Max Magalnik and Mark Tomchin.

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6 | The Jewish Press | November 6, 2015

Walmart pulls Israeli soldier costume, Arab nose

The Aronson family: The fight against Pancreatic cancer

by JON ARONSON seminal observations in the biology and genetics of pancreYou may have noticed that the logo on our masthead atic cancer. looks a little different this week. It’s purple, in honor of “My ultimate research goal is to identify a blood test that those who fight pancreatic cancer, their families and those any adult walking into a doctor’s office can get for pennies on who have lost someone to this horrible disease. November the dollar,” Dr. Maitra said. “This will help identify pancreatis pancreatic cancer awareness month. ic cancer before it becomes inoperable.” Maitra was awarded The American Cancer Society predicts that in 2015 this $200,000 grant from the Pancreatic Cancer Action alone, approximately 49,000 people have been be diag- Network, PanCAN, based out of Manhattan beach, CA. nosed with pancreatic cancer; for more than 40,000 of them The funding has been guaranteed by Bob’s children. it has been or will be fatal.

Molly, Tom, Jackie, myself Pancreatic cancer accounts and Bob’s grandson Bobby for about 3% of all cancer were intimately impacted by diagnoses in the United the news of this specific States, and 7% of all cancer research, due to the direct deaths. link to Bob’s diagnosis. Bob A lasting tribute to my was diagnosed with type 2 father is underway, as a bold Diabetes approximately 12 effort has kicked off to fund months before his eventual cutting edge research aimed diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatat identifying biomarkers in ic cancer. He passed away on diabetic patients. These bioNov. 28, 2006 after a heroic markers would warrant furbattle. ther screening for pancreatic “It’s hard not to think of all cancer. The research grant the memories we could have has been named after the late had with Dad if this cutting Robert (Bob) Aronson, who edge research had taken place was an Omaha native. My sibsooner,” Tom, said. “Dad was lings and I hope to make a always so healthy. To think we lasting impact in the fight could have known about the against pancreatic cancer in cancer a year earlier, when he honor of our dad. was diagnosed with Diabetes, When Bob Aronson estabit would have made an lished the Lenore Simon Bob, Tom and Jon Aronson on the golf course (we always incredible difference.”

Aronson Education Fund for loved playing golf together) All of us Aronson kids are the Jewish federation of Omaha Foundation in 1997, he did determined to raise these funds, which will equip Dr. Maitra more than create opportunities for Jewish women to follow and his team with the needed resources to make truly their dreams of teaching. He also instilled in his own chil- impactful strides in how pancreatic cancer is diagnosed and dren the desire to give back and create hope. Robert grew up treated. in Omaha, and graduated from the University of Nebraska, It is incredible to see the reaction and participation from Lincoln, and ingrained the Husker spirit in his children our friends and family. We are very excited about the possifrom a young age: hard work, family, and giving. bility of making a lasting impact in this fight, with our Dad’s The research into the identification of biomarkers is tak- name linked to it. ing place at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer For more information about the continued fight against Center, under the supervision of Dr. Aniban Maitra. Over pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.razoo.com/ the past decade, Dr. Maitra and his team have made several story/Pancreaticcanceractionnetwork.

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by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- A few days before Halloween, Walmart pulled an Israeli soldier costume and a “Sheik Fagin” prosthetic nose after facing a backlash from social media.

The products reportedly were removed from the discount department store chain’s website and from store shelves hours after the American-Arab Anti-Discriminatory Committee called on Walmart and other retailers to remove the products, as well as others deemed anti-Arab.

The committee, known as the ADC, was joined in its call by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, or USPCN. “The Israeli forces are a symbol of violence and fear for Palestinians living under occupation, and Palestinians around the world whom have lost their homes and been victims of violence at the hands of soldiers,” ADC said in a statement.

“A symbol of fear, violence and a long history of dispossession should not be used for entertainment purposes. An Israeli soldier costume is highly offensive to ArabAmericans, particularly those who have had family members, including children, killed by Israeli soldiers.”

ADC also denounced the sale of “a variety of ‘Arab’ costumes, which it said “can lead to hate crimes against ArabAmericans.”

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Mike Silverman, left, winners of the Schrager Employee of the Year awards Mary Lewis, Shelley Cash and Karen Hook, Beth and Harley Schrager.

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November 6, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 7

by BETH COHEN Head of School, Friedel Jewish Academy The new Friedel Alumni Club invites teens who graduated from Friedel since

guests from our community will come to lead parts of the sessions. The sessions will take place once a month in the Shaliach’s home, with the first session on Saturday,

THE 2015 BATCHELDER CONFERENCE FOR BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY UNO’s Thompson Alumni Center

Thursday, Nov. 12, 7:30 pm Lawrence H. Schiffman, Judge Abraham Lieberman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, Director of the Global Network for Advanced Research in Jewish Studies, New York University “Archaeology and Text: Khirbet Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls.”

Photo by Hanan Shafir

Friedel invites Alumni

Friday, Nov. 13, 7:30 pm James D. Tabor, Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

“How an Enochian Vision of the Cosmos Took Over the World: Ascent to Heaven, Astral Immortality, and the World to Come in Emerging Judaism and Early Christianity.”

Judea Capta Domitian Coin

More presentations 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov.13 to 14. | All sessions open to the public. $10 entrance, STUDENTS FREE.

world.unomaha.edu/bethsaida/conference Equal opportunity educator and employer. For special needs or assistance: 402.554.3108 or TTY 402.554.3799.

The 2015 Friedel Jewish Academy Graduates 2011 to take part in exclusive programs with Eliad Eliyahu, our community Shaliach. The sessions will be ONLY in Hebrew and will include segments about Judaism, current events in Israel, watching famous Israeli movies, and, of course, Israeli snacks! Israeli

Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. For more information please contact Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan at Eliad@jewishomaha.org. The Friedel Alumni Program is sponsored by the Henry and Dorothy Riekes Donor-Advised Fund.

The keys to kindergarten

by SARA KOHEN for Friedel Jewish Academy Do you have a preschool or kindergartenaged child or grandchild? Do you just want to learn more about how young children develop and learn? Parents and caregivers often wonder why young children behave the way they do and what adults can do to help children reach their full potential. It can sometimes be difficult, however, to know whom to ask or to find the time to do so while juggling family and work responsibilities. One solution to this is to bring the experts together to talk to the community and answer questions.

On Sunday, Nov. 15 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the JCC Social Hall, a panel of experts will discuss the Keys to Kindergarten. The panel will be comprised of Michael Cohen, M.D., a pediatrician with Village Pointe Pediatrics;

Teresa Drelicharz, MS, NCC, LIMHP, RPT, a Registered Play Therapist with Jewish Family Service; Debora Wisneski, Ph.D., M.Ed., Associate Professor; John T. Langan, Professor in Early Childhood Education in University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Teacher Education Department and Diana Zeman, kindergarten teacher at Friedel Jewish Academy. These experts will discuss what they wish parents and caregivers knew and will then take questions from the audience.

Light refreshments will be served.

The event is sponsored by Friedel Jewish Academy, UNO College of Education, Jewish Family Service, and Village Pointe Pediatrics and is open to the entire Omaha community. To register for free babysitting, please email friedelacademy@fjaomaha. com by Nov. 11 to let us know the number and age of children attending.

J.K. Rowling opposes boycott of Israel

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- J.K. Rowling defended her decision to oppose a cultural boycott of Israel in a post on her Twitter account.

“The sharing of art and literature across borders constitutes an immense power for good in this w o r l d , ” Rowling wrote on TwitLonger recently.

The Harry Potter author was criticized by a number of her fans on social media after she joined 150 British artists in signing an open J.K. Rowling letter, published by The Guardian recently, arguing against a cultural boycott of Israel and for cultural engagement.

Rowling addressed what she said were “A number of readers asking for more information about why I am not joining a cultural boycott of Israel,” saying she had “never heard of a cultural boycott ending a bloody and prolonged conflict.”

“At a time when the stigmatization of religions and ethnicities seems to be on the rise, I believe strongly that cultural dialogue and

collaboration is more important than ever before and that cultural boycotts are divisive, discriminatory and counter-productive,” she said.

Rowling further argued that the impact of a cultural boycott would be felt predominantly by ordinary Israelis and not by the Israeli government, which she said would be the source of any policy change. She said she has “deplored most of Mr Netanyahu’s actions in office,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

One young Palestinian woman wrote an impassioned post on Facebook describing how she grew up reading the Harry Potter books and equated the experiences and struggle for justice of the main characters with the plight of her own people.

She was not the only disappointed Harry Potter fan.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Creighton University’s Head Basketball Coach Greg McDermott will talk about the upcoming season on Wednesday, Nov. 11, noon. RSVP required to gjavitch@ cox.net or 402.334.6443. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishoma ha.org.

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8 | The Jewish Press | November 6, 2015

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Conspiracy theories and falsehoods

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor What’s your favorite conspiracy theory? I like the one about how Jews invented a special machine that causes tornadoes.

There’s also the one about how the Camp David accords and the resulting peace treaty with Israel increased diseases (especially cancer and hepatitis) among Egyptian citizens. In 1215, when the Catholic church made the Eucharist the law (the notion that the host actually turns into the body of Christ) it became popular to accuse the Jews of mutilating that host, providing an instant excuse for expulsion.

When what you purchase at the grocery store has a Hechsher on it, it means it has a secret “kosher tax.” That’s the real reason kosher products are more expensive; the extra profits are sent directly to Israel. The attacks on 9/11 were ordered by the Israeli government, in the hope it would spur America into a war with rogue Muslim states. And if you’ve ever wondered how Switzerland has remained neutral all this time: it’s because the Jews made that happen by hoarding immense wealth in Swiss banks.

According to Iranian professor Hasan Bolkhari, mouse Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame, is “a tool for the Jews.”

Apparently, Europeans called Jews “dirty mice” during the Nazi era. The goal of the cartoon was to change Europeans’ perception of mice, and think of them as smart, rather than dirty and stupid. Yes, you read that right.

Not all conspiracy theories are old and tired; new ones crop up all the time. Recently, the head of a group representing pharmaceutical firms in Greece warned that a pending bill to open up the country’s drug market to cheap generic drugs was the result of a conspiracy between Germany and Jewish groups (Source: JTA). And in late October, reports surfaced that email accounts, linked to CIA Director John Brennan and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeb Johnson were hacked. The alleged hacker, a high school student, claimed he did what he did because “Johnson and Brennan are influential, and fund Israel for

killing innocent people.” (Source: CNN) The fact that wild theories about Jewish people continue to make the rounds is puzzling. What does it say about the world that with hatred come strange fables? Where does the idea come from that it’s okay to despise others because someone made up a bedtime story? Because, surely, nobody really believes we invented Tom and Jerry?

I’m not sure there is an easy answer. Maybe, rather than trying to figure out how this keeps happening, we should focus on what to do about it.

The concept of the false narrative keeps changing. While conspiracy theories have always had a touch of the bizarre, it seems that lately they have taken a turn for the w o r s e .

Wouldn’t it be nice if everybody just stopped listening to these lies? If people refused to always believe the worst, and countered these stories with a bit of truth? If only.

Of course, few of us are entirely innocent when it comes to passing on falsehoods. Imagine this: you’re on social media, and your favorite aunt posts a story about a politician you both despise. Because of that, you don’t check the source that reported the original story; instead, you buy into it hook, line and sinker. After all, you knew there was a reason you didn’t like him, and it seems completely logical that he

made this latest alleged faux pas. So you share the story with all your other contacts. A few days later, you find out the story wasn’t true. You go back to erase your original post, but it’s too late: it’s already been seen by 120 of your closest friends. What’s worse, at least three of them have shared it in turn, so the number of people who have been exposed is by now in the hundreds.

A false story about someone running for office is not as damaging as those conspiracy theories this editorial started out with. And yet, this underlying habit of people across the globe to spread juicy stories that fit their personal agenda remind us that lies are easily spread, and just like in the fairy tale, those feathers won’t go back into the pillow case. And we don’t always know where those feathers land.

The high school student who decided to hack government emails may decide to do something more hurtful next time. Maybe his ideas were formed by reading the wrong sources online, maybe he does not have a filter that warns him when a story might not be true. And that filter is important: the adage ‘don’t believe everything you read’ continues to hold true.

So check your sources. Whether you are reading mainstream media or blog posts, whether you are dicussing poltiics in the coffee shop or during Thanksgiving dinner, know where your information comes from. Demand the same of the people you are interacting with. Because the story you sperad may be one that needs to be told, but it could just as easily end up being a damaging lie. Knowing the difference between the two is everyone’s responsibility.

Why some public school parents are switching to Jewish day schools

by URIEL HEILMAN (JTA) -- When Ali Martell’s eldest daughter reached school age, Martell and her husband both assumed she’d go to a Jewish day school, as they had.

And for a while, she did. But after the couple’s two younger children started school, too, the Martells began to feel overburdened by tuition. They couldn’t afford to send their kids to the summer camp of their choice, replace their aging minivan or go to Israel for a cousin’s bar mitzvah. So three years ago, they pulled their kids out of their Toronto Jewish day school and enrolled them in public school.

But this fall, Martell’s kids are all going back to Jewish day schools.

“My husband I were both happy that we had a bit of financial flexibility, but we were really missing the Jewish day school system,” Martell told JTA. “We just didn’t feel connected to the community like the way our kids were when we were in Jewish day schools.”

The last straw came on Israeli Independence Day this past May, when Martell found herself teary eyed watching her friends’ day school kids marching down a blocked-off street wearing Israel’s blue and white. For her kids, Yom Haatzmaut was just a regular school day.

“As a family, we were all feeling that little piece was missing from our lives,” Martell said.

The Martells are among the many Jewish families who are making the switch this fall from public school to Jewish day school. Though precise data about such students doesn’t exist, record-keeping at the Avi Chai Foundation suggests that the annual number of switchover students is at least in the hundreds: In the last year alone, Avi Chai was aware of 200 or so

(Founded in 1920) Eric Dunning President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Jessie Wees Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Thierry Ndjike Bookkeeper

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, President; Andy Ruback, Past-President; Andrew Boehm, Scott Farkas, Sandy Friedman, Paul Gerber, Alex Grossman, David Kotok, Debbie Kricsfeld, Abby Kutler, Pam Monsky, Paul Rabinovitz, Nancy Wolf and Barry Zoob.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world.

Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press.

Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page sto-

public school children switching to Jewish high school.

While transferring the opposite direction, from Jewish day school to public school, is probably more common and has an obvious financial benefit, there are a variety of factors motivating families to go the other way.

Many do so for the same reason families choose Jewish day

An “outside classroom” at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit.

Credit: Hillel Day School school from the get-go: because they value a Jewish education. Without the financial means, some families opt to split their kids’ education between public school in the early years, then Jewish day school once they’re older (or vice versa).

For others, the decision can be motivated as much by “push” factors -- such as the shortcomings of the local public schools -- as “pull” factors, like the benefits of full-time Jewish education.

“Some people who transition to Jewish day schools are ries and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishoma ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

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

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transitioning out of public school because they’ve decided the public school system doesn’t work for them,” said Marc Kramer, executive director of RAVSAK, a network of 135 community Jewish day schools. “They perceived the quality of the public school education is not high, or their child excels in certain areas in ways the school cannot serve those needs.”

Andrea Askowitz, a mother in Miami, said she switched her kids into a Jewish day school only because her local public school, Sunset Elementary, was way too rigorous.

“I wasn’t drawn to the Jewishness, just drawn away from the inhumanity,” Askowitz said.

Some parents don’t realize what they’re missing until their child already is in public school and the parents gradually become aware of the importance of having their kid in a Jewish environment -- to say nothing of the benefits of a formal Jewish education, Kramer said.

He recalled one public school father whose “aha moment” came halfway through a Passover seder, when he observed with disbelief how his friend’s day school-educated kids seemed capable of leading the seder.

“They see their friends’ kids, and they see they’re happy, excelling, building competency in Hebrew,” Kramer said.

“They have the realization that unless you’re in this game you can’t play beyond the beginner level.”

Northwest Yeshiva High School, the only modern Orthodox high school in the Seattle area, usually gets a few students every year from public schools. Melissa Rivkin, the school’s advancement director, says many come from families who would have preferred Jewish education throughout but just couldn’t afford it.

Continued on page 9 News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.”

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

Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the

Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

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

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November 6, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 9

What Nostra Aetate can teach us about dialogue with Muslims

by PIM VALKENBERG another, even if it is sometimes painful.

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Fifty years ago, on Oct. 28, 1965, In my own experience, this kind of serious theological Pope Paul VI and the bishops of the Second Vatican Council engagement is lacking in the Catholic dialogue with promulgated the declaration Nostra Aetate on the relation- Muslims. And our friendships, while developing, remain in ship between the Catholic Church and other religions. a state where it is frankly difficult to address delicate matIn the decades since, the document has done much to fos- ters. After more than 10 years of intensive deliberations, we ter dialogue between Catholics and Jews. Indeed, at a con- still find it hard to find the words to express disagreement ference convened several months ago by the Catholic for fear of severing the relationship.

University of America to mark the anniversary of Nostra And that is only the theological challenge. We all know Aetate, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York began his how much more daunting the political challenges are. Most address by referring to the words of one of his associates: interreligious dialogues do not survive a serious debate “What’s the big deal?” The about the State of Israel and general conviction was that the Palestinian territories. the document has worked What Christians in dialogue well to improve relationships with Muslims can learn from between Catholics and Jews.

Jews in dialogue with Yet other forms of interreliChristians is the ability to gious dialogue are lagging. remain friends while disRelations between Catholics agreeing. One of my Muslim and Muslims, Hindus and friends has said that real diaBuddhists seem to be far less logue is the art of upgrading improved by the landmark the quality of our disagreedocument. Why the differments. Maybe it is time to ence? And can the improved learn something that can only dialogue between Catholics be done after 50 years of exerand Jews be a model for these cise: how to disagree in a way Jews and Muslims participating in the Foundation For Ethnic other dialogues? that furthers our relationship.

Understanding’s “Weekend of Twinning,” in Los Angeles in If there is one lesson I have Yet there is more. Maybe the Credit: Walter Ruby 2008. learned in participating in real challenge for me as a dialogues with Jews, it is that engaging in these debates has Catholic engaged in Abrahamic dialogues is to recognize made me more sensitive to Jewish concerns about interreli- that I am no longer the center of that dialogue. It has been gious dialogue. I have begun to understand that Jews do not painful for me to see that some Jews and some Muslims are like the appeal to Abraham as our common forefather not so interested in what I have to say because they find it because it undermines their insistence on the particularity much more interesting to talk with one another. of each religious tradition. And I have experienced a little bit And they are right, of course: Not only do the two reliof what it means to live in the shadow of the Holocaust. gions have much in common, the political consequences of I remember vividly a discussion with an army veteran in a better understanding between the two are enormous.

Israel in which he explained how important it is for Israelis Having lived in Europe for a long time, I am well aware that to live in security and in a position of strength. While my the conditions for Jewish-Muslim dialogue are much better Jewish colleagues agreed, I could not help but think that the in the United States. And even as a bystander, I can tell that Gospel suggests that Christians should live not in a position it is taking place: in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Los of strength, but of weakness. Of course, I know it is easy to Angeles and elsewhere. say such a thing when Christians are in fact in positions of The ultimate lesson of Nostra Aetate for Catholics might power. But though our disagreement was intense, the be to step aside and facilitate others. I now realize that the friendship remained. best thing we did at the Catholic University conference was At the Catholic University conference, Dolan's address, as to offer Jews and Muslims our hospitality. They sat together, well as that of Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg, reminded me of enjoyed their kosher and halal food, and talked and talked two specific characteristics that can make the dialogue between and talked. Theologians and priests and even cardinals were Catholics and Jews a model for other types of dialogue. among them. But they were not the center because the cenFirst, theological hot-button issues are addressed with ter of the dialogue was not the lectern -- but the table. frankness and openness. And second, deep friendships have Pim Valkenberg is a professor of religion and culture at been developed that make it possible to tell the truth to one the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

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Why some public school parents are switching Continued from page 8 “They either are from families who save until high school and then will put their kids in a Jewish school in high school because those are very pivotal years in a teenager’s life and they want them to have Jewish values, Jewish education, Jewish friends,” Rivkin said. “Or, they are kids who were in public school and didn’t like it -- maybe it was too big, or the social group was too fragmented -- and they’re looking at our school more as a community environment.”

Some enroll simply because they want the benefits of a small school, like access to teachers and fewer students in each classroom; Northwest Yeshiva has only 60 students in total.

For Barret Gruber Harr, a Reform Jew whose two daughters are switching this fall from public school to Hillel Day School near Detroit, the decision to switch was a convergence of considerations. She and her husband weren’t happy with their kids’ local public school, which had denied her eldest daughter’s diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They had considered Hillel two years ago when they moved to the area from Dallas, but they were put off by its seeming Orthodoxy.

Then they learned from friends that Hillel recently had undergone a philosophical change, and they took a second look. Initially skeptical, they fell in love with the school almost immediately. Harr, who is getting a master’s degree in Jewish education, says Hillel appears to be doing everything right.

“Every class we went in the kids were deeply engaged, the teachers were charismatic,” she said of her tour of the school.

“They’re really cultivating 21st-century learners, and to really love Jewish values, and teaching collaboratively and creatively. I was crying by the end of the tour. I will eat ramen for the rest of my life so my kids can go to this school.”

Miriam Greenstein, who lives in the Northeast, decided to

make the switch this year for her oldest daughter, who is entering the sixth grade. She had been at a Hebrew charter school, a publicly funded school, but Greenstein decided that having excellent Hebrew-language studies and Jews among her peers just wasn’t enough.

“This is her bat mitzvah year. She’s missing out on the Jewish part of her education, and that’s important to us,” Greenstein said. “When it’s Purim, I want her to feel like it’s Purim that day. When it’s Chanukah, I want her to feel it’s Hanukkah all week long. You’re not going to get that in a public school. And that’s an experience I want my daughter to have.”

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Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 |712.322.4705 email: BnaiIsraelCouncilBluffs@gmail.com Join us for our monthly Shabbat Speakers Series on Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Bea Karp. She will be speaking about her experiences as a child survivor of the Holocaust, and sharing stories from her book My Broken Doll. Oneg to follow service. Please join us! Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

Larry Blass will officiate the Speaker Series Service.

For information on our historic synagogue, or to arrange a visit, please contact any of our board members: Mark Eveloff, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf and Phil Wolf. Tribute cards for any occasion are available. Contact Sissy at 311 Oak Ridge Ct., Bellevue, NE 68005 or 402.292.8062.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

FRIDAY: Family Shabbaton at the Lied Lodge, Nebraska City; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Family Shabbaton at the Lied Lodge, Nebraska City; Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5 p.m.

WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Family Shabbaton at the Lied Lodge, Nebraska City; No BESTT Classes; Torah Study, 10 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT Classes, 4:15 p.m.; USY Board Meeting, 5:45 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 11-12) Dinner and Discussion, “Omaha to Israel,” 6 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-10), 6:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Shanghai, 1 p.m.

Our Shabbat Tables, dinner at congregants homes, Friday, Nov. 13 Shabbat’s Cool (Grades 3-7), Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. followed by lunch.

BESTT Habonim (Grades K-2), Sunday, Nov. 15, 12:15 p.m. lunch and activity.

All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.orthodoxomaha.org Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv, 4:56 p.m.; Shabbat Dinner honoring the Chevra Kadisha, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Torah Parade and Shabbat Classes, 9:45 a.m.; 15 mins after Kiddush -- Mishna L’Neshamah and Teen Class; Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion, 4:10 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 4:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:56 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Our Prayers, 9:45 a.m.; Shavua Tov with Yaldei Beit Yisrael: The Future of Beth Israel, 1 p.m.; Caffe

Bat Mitzvah Lauren Sarah Kugler, daughter of Traci and Lance Kugler, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Temple Israel.

Lauren is a seventh-grade honor student at Westside Middle School and she is a participant in the Duke University Talent Identification Program.

Her interests include swimming, running and attending Camp Sabra.

For her mitzvah project, Lauren volunteered with Special Olympics where she helped with the opening ceremonies and also with various sporting events.

She has a sister, Megan, and brothers, Alex, Ryan and Evan.

Grandparents are Cyndi and John Kugler, and Sandy and Stuart Kutler.

Great-grandparents are Harriet and the late Lazier Singer, Louise Blohm and the late Dale Kugler, the late Robert and Frances Koehler, and the late Phil and Marian Kutler.

Ivrit, 2:30 p.m. with Shaliach Eliad Eliyahu.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

THURSDAY-Rosh Chodesh Kislev: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.

Scholar-in-Residence: Lewis Groner, A Rabbi’s Son Returns Home, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 13-14. Many thanks to Marty and Iris Ricks for sponsoring.

Beth Israel Youth Group (BIYG) Pizza Making and Movie Night (Fifth grade and older), Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel.

Candlelighting Friday, November 6, 4:56 p.m. prefer, just email David Weisser at president@southstreettemple.org.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road | Offutt AFB, NE 68123 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. RSVP by calling the office.

WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak.

THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu.

All programs are open to the entire community.

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 Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis.

FRIDAY: LJCS Family Service and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Celebrate the consecration of this year’s LJCS Kindergarten class. Note: No services at South Street Temple that evening.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Chaye Sarah.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; South Street Temple Festival Summit/Annual Meeting, 2 p.m. at TI. If you have suggestions for nominees for the Board of Trustees, please send them to our Nominating Committee at phenk57@yahoo.com. Snacks will be provided by the Board of Trustees, but you are also welcome to bring something to share. No child care will be available for the meeting.

WEDNESDAY: LJCS classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel; The Harris Center for Judaic Studies and the Dept. of Classics and Religious Studies present Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, New York University: The Reception of the Bible in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Rabbinic Judaism, 7 p.m. at Union Auditorium on the City Campus.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE! Shabbat Evening Service, Nov. 20, 7:45 p.m. featuring the Star City Kochavim.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Sunday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m. followed by a dessert reception at South Street Temple.

Volunteers are needed at 2 p.m. to set up. If you can help, please contact Sara at 402.477.6050 or the Temple office at 402.435.8004 or office@southstreettemple.org. Anyone who wishes is encouraged to bring cookies or bars for the reception, plated and ready to serve (bring to the reception or label them and put them in the freezer ahead of time).

President’s Office Hours, Sunday Mornings, 10 a.m.–noon at SST. If you have any Temple business you would like to bring before the Board of Trustees, potential programs, or new ideas, please let us know! Call for an appointment at the Temple or just to chat any time at 402.513.7697. Or if you

323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Jim Polack and David Herzog.

Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Cantor Shermet.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; Madrichim Meeting, 10 a.m.; Temple Israel Book Club with Scott Littky, 11 a.m.; Religious School Steering Committee Meeting, noon; OTYG Board Meeting with Lunch, 12:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: Mah Jongg Classes, 7 p.m. Come learn how to play Mah Jongg! Cost is $45 and will include a Mah Jongg card. To RSVP, please contact Program Director Scott Littky, 402.556.6536.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; Chapel for School Service wtih Rabbi Azriel, 4:30 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Bible Quiz Study with Rabbi Azriel, 6 p.m.; WRJ Biennial Reflections, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Conversations with the Cantor, 10 a.m. with Cantor Shermet; Kol Rina Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.

November First Friday - on the Second Friday, Friday, Nov. 13. Candlelighting & Kiddush in the Simon Community Court, 5:30 p.m., Service, 6 p.m., dinner following services Jerry Kaye, Director of Olin Sang Ruby, will give the D’var Torah during services and you will have a chance to visit with him during dinner. Cost is $5/person, max of $20 per family. Please RSVP to Temple Israel, RSVP@templeis raelomaha.com or 402.556.6536, by Wednesday, Nov. 11.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

FRIDAY: LJCS Family Service and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Celebrate the consecration of this year’s LJCS Kindergarten class. Note: No services at South Street Temple that evening.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Rise and Shine-PJ Library Event, 3 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Please RSVP to the office.

WEDNESDAY: LJCS classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

The Global Day of Jewish Learning, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.- noon at TI. Sponsored by: Tifereth Israel, Bnai Jeshurun and the Lincoln Jewish Federation.

Join Us for the WORLD With No Hate Shabbat Service, Friday, Nov 20, 7:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Bring a guest...a neighbor, friend, or co-worker to share this unique servicefollowed by a special oneg Shabbat. The guest speaker will be Dr. Marilyn Johnson-Farr, Doane College Dwight E. Porter Professor of Education.

International Global Shabbat comes to Omaha!

by RACHEL MARTIN BBYO/Teen Director The entire community is invited to join Omaha Jewish teens in celebration of BBYO’s Global Shabbat, Friday, Nov. 13, 6-8:30 p.m. at the JCC Auditorium.

Planned, organized, and led by local Jewish teens, the evening includes Shabbat services led by Aleph Shaliach Benjamin Brodkey. Dinner and additional programming follows. Teen leaders will speak about their time within the organization, special awards will be given to deserving

members, and AITs (Alephs-in-Training) will be formally inducted into the International Order of BBYO. We hope our family, friends and supporters join us for this truly memorable night! The Omaha BBYO Council welcomes donations toward their programming and there is an admission fee for the evening (adults: $7, teens and children: $5, under 5: free).

For more information and to RSVP, contact Omaha Council S’gan Nate Gendler at 402.957.0877 or nrgendler@aol.com. RSVP by Monday, Nov. 8.

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November 6, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 11

At Rabin rally, calls to pursue peace and defend democracy

by BEN SALES TEL AVIV (JTA) -- Some 100,000 people joined together in central Tel Aviv on Saturday to pay tribute to slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, but they were divided over what exactly they were rallying for.

The demonstration, which marked the 20th anniversary of Rabin’s assassination by a Jewish extremist incensed by his government’s efforts to reach a peace accord with the Palestinians, was called “Remembering the murder, fighting for democracy” -- a nod to the slaying’s universal lesson of respecting the rule of law and the country’s elected leaders, no matter their politics.

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The addresses that did focus on social solidarity and respect for democracy in turn made little mention of the peace process. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin thanked Israelis for their resilience and -- having himself received death threats -- declared that leaders fighting extremism are not afraid. But in praising Israeli democracy, he also obscured the distinction between Israel and its West Bank settlements.

“Even in the midst of the current bloodshed, even in the face of the heinous terrorism which does not distinguish between Tel Aviv and Gush Etzion, Beersheva and Kochav HaShachar, Israel’s democracy has not ceased to realize its

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Former U.S. President Bill Clinton at a Tel Aviv rally remembering Yitzhak Rabin called on the crowd to finish the slain prime minister’s efforts toward peace.

Credit: Gili Yaari/Flash90

Some of the tens of thousands attending a Tel Aviv rally marking 20 years since the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Oct. 30, 2015.

Credit: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90

But some of the event’s speakers were interested in a different cause. The top-billed speaker, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, devoted much of his address to praising Rabin’s dedication to the peace process, and he concluded with a call to finish Rabin’s work.

“The next step will be determined by whether you decide that Yitzhak Rabin was right,” Clinton said. “That you have to share the future with your neighbors, that you have to give their children a chance, that you have to stand for peace, that the risks of peace are not as severe as the risks of walking away from it.”

President Barack Obama struck the same chord in a video address, where he lauded Rabin for relentlessly pursuing peace. The Obama speech sounded like a thinly veiled jab at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently told lawmakers that Israel would not withdraw from territory in the foreseeable future and would “live forever by the sword.”

“Yitzhak Rabin understood the dangers Israel faces, but he also said the Palestinians are not to be ruled over forever by force,” Obama said. “Like a true statesman, he was willing to exhaust every opening, every possibility for peace. In these difficult days, his life, his dream, can inspire us.”

strength and resilience,” Rivlin said, naming a pair of Israeli cities and a pair of settlements. “And for this we are today filled with pride.”

Even the signs in the crowd were split. Some stated “It is forbidden to raise a hand against democracy.” But others, sponsored by Peace Now and Israel’s left-wing parties, carried slogans like “Rabin understood: two states,” or a sign with Rabin’s face and the word “leadership” on one side, and Netanyahu’s face and the word “cowardice” on the other.

Tal Segev, 15, a member of the Scouts youth group holding a Peace Now sign, said he came to the rally “to emphasize that the message won’t be forgotten, the message of peace.”

But Eliad Avreki, 35, one of the few men in the crowd wearing a kippah, said the rally was “not a matter of right or left.” The focus, he said, should be on promoting civil dialogue to prevent extremist acts. A coordinator for the religious Zionist, pro-settlement youth group Bnei Akiva, Avreki said he went to anti-peace process rallies before Rabin’s assassination, but sobbed when he heard about his death.

“I opposed his path,” Avreki told JTA. “But I opposed his death even more.”

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12 | The Jewish Press | November 6, 2015

Ground report from the Women’s Mission to Europe

by SHERRIE SAAG Communications, Jewish Federation of Omaha Nineteen community members departed on Oct. 27 for the Women’s Mission to Europe, chaired by Kimberly Robinson and staffed by Director of Community Impact and Special Projects, Louri Sullivan.

While some set out from different cities and traveled through different connections, all gathered together in Warsaw, Poland. Louri reported that once on their United Airlines flight, the coach section was almost empty so everyone ended up having their own row and plenty of space to sleep!

Louri recounts, “We were met at the airport by Sara, our English–speaking guide for the week.

While she isn’t Jewish, it was clear she is extremely knowledgeable and very sensitive to the journey we were embarking on. At Warsaw Ghetto, there is a street that has stores with signs of Hebrew lettering and a theater called Shalom. We were surprised to learn that the Warsaw Ghetto was nearly a third of the city. We could imagine how much smaller it became when Jewish families were forced to move into the walled ghetto.”

The guide helped everyone understand that the Polish people and their relationship to the Holocaust is not a simple discussion. Poles, 6 million of them, 3 million Jewish, were killed and persecuted during WWII, more than in any other country. “Even if they wanted to help Jews, Poles were putting their entire family, street and neighborhood in jeopardy of being killed or sent to a camp,” she continued, “Poles may have worked at camps, but they did so to provide for their families and out of fear.”

The group visited the Korczak’s Way memorial, represented in sculpture at the main entrance to the Federation campus.

As they toured the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews, an Israeli group was holding a service outside which reminded many “that not only was Hitler’s plan not successful, but we continue to come and learn so it never happens again.”

Thursday found the women on the road to Majdanek, a camp that many of their own daughters visited while on BBYO’s March of the Living. “The visual of the large rock sculpture as you enter the camp was memorable but nothing could match what we witnessed after walking out of the cre-

matorium – an immense pile of ashes now covered by an incredible cement structure. Something you can’t understand or explain - you have to see it with your own eyes,” Louri described.

Beth Seldin Dotan led a beautiful service to commemorate this immense loss. Darlynn Fellman, Louri’s mom, lamented, “How could one person’s crazy ideas get to this point...”

The Mission group in Warsaw After a long afternoon bus ride, the evening was spent with a representative of the Galicja Jewish Museum in Krakow. “Jakob” spoke of similar problems to those we speak about in Omaha - What is the size of the Jewish community? Are they engaged? How do we reach them?

Friday, Oct. 30 a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. They walked through one shocking room after another; shoes, suitcases, household belongings, and the unimaginable amount of human hair. Louri recalls, “Many of us had been warned about what we would see but one can never be prepared for the horrors that were experienced by the victims of the Holocaust. Auschwitz has a deceiving exterior as it was previously brick army barracks. But Auschwitz Birkenau was the picture I had in my head, the railroad tracks, the disembarkment area where families were split and told to go right to their death or left to work. We said Kaddish for all the vic-

tims and remembered by name, with Stacey Rockman and Dana Erman Kaufman by our side, each member of the Erman family that perished at Auschwitz. We will not forget.”

On Shabbat, they enjoyed a tour of Prague on Segways and a group went on to see Terezin. “This was another experience in deception. There are two parts of Terezin – the prison and the ghetto/concentration camp town. The prison dates back to 1780 and the town was used to deceive the Red Cross,” Louri says.

This deception seemed unbelievable to the group as they watched a propaganda film showing the ‘gift of the town’ to the Jewish people and Jews enjoying a soccer game and children playing with dolls. It was juxtaposed with actual prisoner pictures painting a much different picture including starvation, anguish and despair. Louri explained, “We were again told that the Czech people didn’t want be a part of the extermination of the Jewish people but they feared for their lives. Many found ways to hide their children or their Jewish identity.” Terezin was where Jordana Glazer’s great grandfather was sent prior to being moved to Auschwitz. Jordana left a stone in honor of his memory.

Sunday began with a tour of the Prague Jewish Quarter and the cemetery we had heard so much about; Jews buried 12 deep due to lack of space. “We saw several synagogues located within walking distance of each other; one in continual use for over 700 years, making it the oldest synagogue still in use in Europe, proof of a once huge Jewish community trying to revitalize itself after the Holocaust and Communism, both which encouraged an incredible atheist population.”

“After lunch we said good-bye to Beth Seldin Dotan as we caught our train to Vienna and she returned to Israel. Many of our guides were arranged through Beth’s many contacts with the Institute for Holocaust Education. Her personal relationship with so many on our trip was such a gift for us.”

Louri closed with, “We are having a meaningful and insightful tour filled with emotion. We are happy to have the opportunity to share our experiences with the community.

The mission returned to Omaha yesterday, Nov. 5 and a travel blog reporting the 2nd half of the trip will appear in an upcoming issue of the Jewish Press.

Hanukkah Celebrating Coming November

Publishing Date | 11.27.15 Space Reservation | 11.16.15 Camera Ready Deadline | 11.20.15 Contact our advertising representative to advertise in this very special edition.

Jessie Wees | 402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org