November 9, 2018 by Jewish Press

thejewishpress AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

this week

Omaha Jewish Film Festival Page 3

Temple Israel goes West Page 6

What is Gab and where else are anti-Semites gathering online? Page 12

inside Viewpoint Synagogues Life cycles

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Time for remembrance and reflection

Scott Littky Executive Director, Institute for Holocaust Education ov. 9 and 10, 2018 marks the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, translated ‘Night of Broken Crystal’, which refers to the ‘Night of Broken Glass’. The Night of Broken Glass was a wave of violent anti-Jewish attacks that resulted in shattered glass from Jewish-owned homes, synagogues and businesses lining the streets of Germany. In the aftermath of Kristallnacht, 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to Nazi concentration camps. German Jews had been subjected to repressive policies since 1933, when Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. However, prior to Kristallnacht, these Nazi policies had been primarily nonviolent. After Kristallnacht, conditions for German Jews grew increasingly worse. Many are of the belief that the events of Kristallnacht were the beginning of the Holocaust. As a part of the Omaha Jewish Film Festival this year, we will be commemorating Kristallnacht with the screening of the movie, Who Will Write Our History, the story of historian Emanuel Ringelblum and a project he termed Oyneg Shabes. The film was released in 2018 and is in English. In November 1940, days after the Nazis sealed 450,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, a secret band of journalists, scholars and community leaders decided to fight back. Led by historian Emanuel Ringelblum and known by the code name Oyneg Shabes, this clandestine group vowed to defeat Nazi lies and propaganda not with guns or fists but with pen and paper. Now, for the first time, their story is told as a feature See time for remembrance page 3

The Sensual and the Sacred Promoting Empowerment annEttE van dE kaMP-Wright Editor, Jewish Press Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., Chabad presents Miriam Lipskier, who will host the program The Sensual and the Sacred: Intimacy, Relationships and the Mikveh. This evening is for men and women and open to the entire community. “With her warmth and wit, Miriam Lipskier has been inspiring girls and young women,” Shani Katzman said. “She is relatable and approachable. Very fun and funny. Bring your teenagers; it is not just adults who can benefit from this topic, especially with the onslaught of mixed messages teens are exposed to through social media.” Miriam Lipskier is the co-founder and Director of the Chabad Student Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Together with her husband and eight children, she has

created a vibrant community of Jewish life and learning. Miriam is a dynamic teacher of Jewish thought and spirituality who lectures internationally. She is on

Miriam Lipskier staff at Bais Chana Women’s Institute and has been passionately teaching brides for over 18 years, using humor and wit to imbue time-honored tradition and kabbalistic secrets which serve to enliven and elevate our most intimate relationships. Her topics include the Chassidic perspective on prayer; the truth about Jewish dating and marriage; and the serious problem of happiness. See the Sensual and the Sacred page 2

in our World

PaM MonSky Community Development Liaison, ADL-CRC The 32nd Annual Promoting Empowerment in our World (PEW), a program of the Plains States Region Anti-Defamation League-Community Relations Council (ADL-CRC), took place on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Temple Israel. The 175 students from 18 area schools along with 45 facilitators and chaperones participated in a full day of activities designed to empower students to take a stand against bias and bigotry by heightening their understanding of the manifestation of hate and enabling them to recognize and challenge their own biases and in their peer group. The program was generously sponsored by The Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation, The Shirley and Leonard Goldstein

Supporting Foundation and the Fred and Eve Simon Charitable Foundation. The students, of all different races, ethnicities, religions and economic groups, worked in small groups led by ADL-CRC trained facilitators and volunteers to discuss bias and discrimination and how they can combat issues at their schools. ADL-CRC Education Director Ayanna Boykins explained, “The goal of PEW is that all student who participate will return to their schools as advocates for a world in which differences can be appreciated and respected, and become an active member of the No Place For Hate® Committee at their school.” The ADL No Place for Hate® initiative is a school climate improvement framework that provides Pre-K-12 schools See Promoting empowerment page 2

The Sensual and the Sacred

2 | The Jewish Press | November 9, 2018

community

Promoting empowerment Continued from page 1 with an organizing framework for combating bias, bullying and hatred, leading to long-term solutions. Dr. Mary-Beth Muskin, ADL-CRC Regional Director said, “PEW is my favorite day of the year! We work very hard at the ADL to ensure a meaningful and impactful experience for these incredible students. I would like to personally thank all the volunteer facilitators, educators and our generous funders for their continued support of this one-of-a-kind event.” First-time facilitator Jeff Collins said, “PEW was an amazing and fulfilling experience. Working with the students was eyeopening. They displayed real maturity and I would say a deeper, more natural understanding of differences than most adults. I think the kids really can save the world. I am grateful I had the opportunity to participate.” Becky Scherbring, another facilitator, responded: “It’s absolutely amazing observing how students respond and react to each other - and become more comfortable with each other - in such a short period of time. For example, it was obvious that one student in my group had a rough morning prior to coming to PEW, and she was giggling and sharing by the end of the day. Another student began the day with sort of the stereotypical teenage, “Whatever,” attitude, and during our small group closing circle, she said she realized she hadn’t been as open to others’ perspectives prior to PEW, and now she is. A couple of our students came in as al-

ready-seasoned social justice warriors and their energy and passion was so exciting! I always say, “Kids GET it!” I’m not worried about the future because of what I see in our children.”

outgoing, with the correct level of sensitivity to the conversations being held. At the end of PEW, I felt the future will be a lot brighter with these bright and engaging leaders.” Facilitator Melissa Beagley agreed and

Ron Moore is a counselor at Central High School and has been a PEW facilitator for a number of years. “I am always impressed by the knowledge and curiosity of the PEW participants. Again this year, I worked with a stellar group of high school students. I truly believe that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, and I am so proud of these budding activists. Not forgetting that the ADL is a leading organization in the education of these young people,” he said. Doreen Jankovich is also a veteran facilitator at PEW and remarked, “Our group was fantastic! The students felt their ideas were valued and respected. They were open and

added, “My experience with PEW and the youth who attended made me wish I worked with youth every day as I see in them a better future. They want change. They want to see people working together. Their voices can and, hopefully, will change this world. It was an exciting day with thought-provoking dialogue, minds opening wider, and people from different walks of life coming together. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this every year! It is an honor.” For more information about PEW and No Place for Hate®, please contact Ayanna Boykins, ADL-CRC Education Director, 402.334.6573 or aboykins@adl.org.

Continued from page 1 “Everyone who marries,” Shani said, “dreams of a happily ever aer. But life is frought with the reality of struggles and challenges and oen assaults on humanity's most precious relationship. “e institution of Mikvah brings G-d into the mix and changes the dynamic of the union of woman and man. e inclusion of Mikvah in a marriage adds a spiritual component with some very practical benefits. Family Purity, the time honored mitzvah governing a married couple's physical intimacy is one of the three distinctive feminine mitzvahs. And according to Jewish law, mikvah is the most important institution of a Jewish community. I dream of the day that young women will clamor to observe this Mitzvah. at they will understand what a gi it is and how doable.” Miriam Lipskier relates to her audience easily. If you want to find out more about Miriam Lipskier before the event, there are several videos of her teaching sessions online. They can be found, among other places, at TorahCafe.com. Please join us on Nov. 13; this program is free of charge. Light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are welcome at ochabad.com/Mikveh but not required.

Reminder: Beth Israel Blood Drive

Beth Israel will host a Red Cross Blood Drive in its Social Hall Sunday Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Scheduling your time slot ahead of time is essential to help with planning; if you don’t have the ability to register online, you can contact Faige Jeidel at 347.522.2668 or call the Beth Israel office at 402.556.6288. In addition, Rabbi Ari Dembitzer will be giving a short class at 10 a.m. and at noon focusing on this great Mitzvah. Don’t have that much time to spare? The donation process itself from the time you arrive until you leave takes about an hour. That’s one hour to save a life.

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omaha Jewish film festival: The conflicted life of Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Mark kirchhoff Community Engagement and Education, Jewish Federation of Omaha ’m Colored, Jewish, and Puerto Rican. When I move into a neighborhood, I wipe it out.” Such are the opening words spoken by Sammy Davis, Jr. in the film Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve gotta be me shown on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the JCC Theater as part of the Omaha Jewish Film Festival. This 100 minute documentary in English presents the conflicted life of this popular entertainer in a way that reveals much more than what was seen on the stage. Thanks to the production by internationally acclaimed “Dog and Pony Productions, Inc.” using their state-of-the-art equipment and professional expertise, every nuanced dance move and distinctive Sammy Davis, Jr. song will come to life in a way that movie-goers have come to appreciate. The greatness of his work bursts forth throughout, as does the depth of his struggles. Sammy Davis, Jr. had the kind of career that was indisputably legendary, so vast and multi-faceted that it was dizzying in its scope and scale. And yet, his life was complex, complicated and contradictory. Davis strove to achieve the American Dream in a time of racial prejudice and shifting political territory. Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve gotta be me explores the life and art of a uniquely gifted entertainer who frequently found himself bracketed by the bigotry of white America and the distaste of black America; he was the most public black figure to embrace Judaism, thereby associating his identity with another persecuted minority. The film features new interviews with Billy Crystal, Nor-

Time for remembrance

continued from page 1 documentary. Written, produced and directed by Roberta Grossman with Executive Producer Nancy Spielberg, Who Will Write Our History mixes the writings of the Oyneg Shabes archive with new interviews, rarely seen footage and stunning dramatizations to transport us inside the Ghetto and the lives of these courageous resistance fighters. They defied their murderous enemy with the ultimate weapon – the truth – and risked everything so that their archive would survive the war, even if they did not. According to the Vancouver Jewish Film Festival, “The Oyneg Shabes Archive is the most important cache of in-the-moment, eyewitness accounts from the Holocaust. It documents not only how the Jews of the Ghetto died, but how they lived. The film is based on the book of the same name by historian Samuel Kassow.” The film was also awarded Best Documentary Film at this year’s San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Who Will Write Our History, will be shown in the JCC Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased online at www.jewishomaha.org or at the door the night of the movie. The Institute of Holocaust Education would like to thank and recognize the generosity of the Murray H. & Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation for their support for this event. The Institute of Holocaust Education, along with Ron Lugasy, our Omaha community Schlicha, are also happy to have the exhibit “Beyond Duty” on display in the JCC Gallery and available for viewing before or after the showing of Who Will Write Our History. The “Beyond Duty” exhibit is dedicated to the “Righteous Among the Nations” and to the Holocaust survivors whose courage and resilience continues to inspire us. The term “Righteous Among the Nations” refers to gentiles who risked their lives to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel, has recognized more than 26 thousand individuals as Righteous Among the Nations, including 36 diplomats. As Per Anger, Swedish diplomat in German-occupied Hun-

man Lear, Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Kim Novak, with never-before-seen photographs from Davis’ vast personal collection and excerpts from his electric performances in television, film and concert. Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve gotta be me unveils the life and career of a man whose trajectory blazed across American society from the Depression through the 1980s. Davis commanded the attention of audiences everywhere. This film is a riveting documentary that is destined to leave a profound impact on the audience. The final film of the 17th Annual Omaha Jewish Film Festival on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the JCC Theater will be Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel. A stirring story of sports, patriotism and personal growth, Heading Home traces the underdog journey of Israel’s national baseball team competing for the first time in the World Baseball Classic. You will soon come to realize, however, that there is more to this story than baseball. It is an entertaining tale of American Jews joining a team and re-discovering their Judaism along the way. Tickets are $5 either in advance or at the box office. To purchase advance tickets and to view trailers, visit www.jewishomaha.org and click on the Film Festival top slider image. We extend our thanks to the generous sponsors of this year’s film festival: The Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith, and the following Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation funds: Klutznick/Creighton Custodial Fund, Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund, Kenneth Ray Tretiak Memorial Fund, Ruth Frisch, Oscar S. Belzer Endowment Fund and the Avy L. & Roberta L. Miller Film Fund.

gary recognized as Righteous Among the Nations said, “So what can we do? They were queuing up outside the embassies, pleading for help. What could we do? There was nothing in our books of instructions telling us how we could save people of other nationalities.” Many countries of the free world were reluctant to help Jewish refugees during the Holocaust and most diplomats continued operating according to these guidelines. Only very few felt that extraordinary times required extraordinary action and were willing to act against their governments’ policies to save Jews. This small minority mustered the necessary courage to recognize the significance and consequences of blindly following procedures. When faced with the plight of the Jews; they decided that although they were of a different nationality and religion, they were unable to continue with their professional routine, and hence chose to defy their superiors and, if necessary, suffer the consequences. The Beyond Duty exhibit honors the righteous diplomats who risked their lives and the safety of their families to rescue hundreds of Jews. The exhibit has been displayed at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem and at 70 Israeli missions around the world in 20 different languages. “As soon as I learned about the possibility to bring this amazing exhibit to Omaha,” Ron Lugasy said, “I contacted Scott Littky to partner with IHE to bring this award winning exhibit to Omaha. It was important in my opinion to have this exhibit, and to show some of the people who chose to help save Jews and not focus on those who wanted to destroy us. I want us to remember those who stood next to us.” The exhibit is here through the month of November and can be viewed during regular JCC hours. For more information on Who Will Write Our History or the Beyond Duty Exhibit, please contact Scott Littky, Executive Director of the Institute for Holocaust Education at 402.334.6575 or slittky@jewishomaha.org. To purchase tickets in advance for Who Will Write Our History either visit www.jewishomaha. org or call 402.334.6463.

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Please let the Jewish Press know in advance when you are leaving and when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to your “old” address before we are notified by the Post Office. Every time they return a paper to us, you miss the Jewish Press and we are charged! Please call us at 402.334.6448 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org.

After Pittsburgh From our CEO

As I followed the news stories of the Pittsburgh tragedy, I heard the many descriptions of the strength, closeness, history and community of Jewish Pittsburgh and the Tree of Life Synagogue. I draw many parallels with our own community. We too are an old established Jewish community. At one time, many lived in the area called “Bagel.” Today we have spread across Omaha, ALAn POtASH heavily concentrated within three Chief Executive Officer, miles of the JCC and the synagogues. JFO We are a welcoming community with all denominations of Judaism. At the same time, as I returned from the GA with the “We Need to Talk” theme still on my mind, I feel like there are many conversations ahead for us. We have different opinions. We want different things. Where are we alike? Where can we come together? Conversations are two-way streets – we meet, we discuss, we learn. e Jewish Federation of Omaha is not easy to label. We are oen called the umbrella organization that oversees the many agencies on our campus from the Jewish Community Center to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. We truly are the sum of our parts. We nurture our young ones and care for our elderly. We welcome. We educate. We work out together. We provide support and assistance. We fight anti-Semitism. We come together for film festivals and Friday deli. We share events and opinions in the Jewish Press. We stand with Israel. We stand with one another. Our mission - to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world – is clear and concise. Along with the synagogues, the Federation is a bedrock in the foundation of this community. We have been a vital partner since 1923. We will continue to serve Jewish Omaha into the future. is is where our leadership – lay, professional, spiritual – come together. In times of true need, our differing opinions become irrelevant. We focus on one another. I looked at our many access points that are regularly used to communicate and have that list below. As you take a look, let me ask you – how are we doing? ere are so many good things happening in our community – how effective are we

in sharing this with you? What would you like to see us do more or less? Where do you prefer to get your community news and information? How would you define the Federation? I welcome your thoughts. We try and tell the story of who we are and the work we do on these many diﬀerent platforms.

The words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: “The symbol of God [in the world] is man, every man. God created man in His image, in His likeness. ... “Reverence for God is shown in our reverence for man. ... An act of violence is an act of desecration. ... But “The mark of Cain in the face of man has come to overshadow the likeness of RABBI BRIAn God. There has never been so much guilt StOLLER and distress, agony, and terror. At no time Temple Israel has the earth been so soaked with blood.” Rabbi Heschel wrote these words in 1943, as the Nazis were slaughtering Jews throughout Europe. But tragically, they still ring true today. Once again, the vile scourge of anti-Semitism is on the rise, this time right here in America. The 11 souls who were murdered in God’s holy sanctuary have ascended to heaven and joined millions of their brothers and sisters who have been slaughtered over the centuries simply because they were Jews. Anti-Semitism, in all of the many forms it has taken, is and always has been a corrosive blight on humanity. But today, in the aftermath of Pittsburgh, one thing – one critical thing – is different from the past. Down the centuries, from the Holocaust to the pogroms to the Crusades, few outside our own community mourned for the Jews. But today is different. Today, all of you – Christians, Muslims, people of all faiths, secular citizens, our public officials, and civic leaders – are coming together, standing here and in so many places throughout our country to mourn with us, and show your love for us, and your friendship with us. We thank you for raising your voices together with ours to say “This is not acceptable in the United States of America! The assault and murder of Jews will not be tolerated in our country!”

Anti-Semitism has been with us for as long as there have been Jews. But the unified voice of our fellow citizens condemning antiSemitism outright, and the compassion and love and solidarity and genuine concern you are showing to our community – this is unprecedented. And it is a blessing. All of you are a blessing to us. And these are not just words we say at times like this. We live our interfaith relationships every day here in Omaha. I am proud to be a rabbi at Temple Israel, which is the Jewish partner in the Tri-Faith Initiative. Our Temple sits on a piece of land that used to be home to the Jewish country club in Omaha. In the last century, Jews in Omaha, like in many cities across America, formed their own club because they were not welcome at other country clubs. But then times changed. Social barriers that kept Jews separate from the rest of society broke down and there was no longer a need for a Jewish country club, so it closed. And the Tri-Faith Initiative bought the land. Today, this slice of land at 132nd and Pacific, which used to house a country club representing the Jewish people’s exclusion from the broader Omaha community, is now the home of the Tri-Faith Initiative – a partnership representing the Jewish people’s full integration into the landscape of American life; a partnership between Jews, Christians, and Muslims that is a beacon of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity across faith lines. In the darkness of the Holocaust years, Rabbi Heschel warned that God had fled from the world and “will return to us [only] when we shall be willing to let Him in.” To all our friends in Omaha’s faith community, and secular community, and civic community, I say: Thank you for letting God in. In this time of terrible darkness, thank you for helping us feel the warmth of God’s light. Editor’s note: Due to time constraints, not all clergy is represented in this edition. We will continue with their remarks in our Nov. 16 edition.

Jewish Omaha’s platforms

• Jewish Press • newsprint and online editions; Facebook • JFO • www.jewishomaha.org; Jewish Omaha – biweekly • e-newsletter; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, You Tube, Vimeo and • LinkedIn; posters and the digital displays in the front lobby, the • Kripke Library, and Member Services also highlight events and • programs • JCC • www.jccomaha.org; weekly e-newsletter – This Week at the J; • Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube; quarterly newsletter • – The Centerpiece; Dance & Cultural Arts programs; CDC • Parent Directory; JCC app • ADL-CRC • www.omaha.adl.org; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, • and You Tube; e-newsletter – Plains States Post • IHE • www.ihene.org; Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube; quarterly • e-newsletter • JSS = RBJH & JFS • www.rbjh.com and www.jfsomaha.com; Star Deli is on • Facebook • JFO Foundation • www.jfofoundation.org; monthly newsletter

We do also frequently send email blasts with event information, invitations and reminders. All of these, not to mention the communications of our community synagogues, intend to keep us informed of current events, upcoming programming, opportunities to be together. Is it working? How do you define connected and engaged? Please call or email me and share your feedback. You can reach me at 402.334.6574 or alanpotash@jewishomaha.org.

Remarks from Omaha’s Pittsburgh vigil

after Pittsburgh

The Jewish Press | November 9, 2018 | 5

A loss for all of humanity

Oh Lord. Are we losing our way? We are a country founded by people fleeing religious persecution, who formed a government which guarantees freedom of religion and equal rights for all. And yet, as we share our grief in this house of worship, we are protected by armed guards, from those who would deny us those rights. Tonight, we mourn the innocents senselessly taken from us in Pittsburgh. May they JiM Fried rest in peace. We send our deepest sympathies Board President, ADLto their loved ones. We pray for the survivors. Plains States Region We share our sorrow with all people everywhere, because this is a loss for all of humanity. History records that hate never goes away. It is always present, swirling beneath even a calm surface. Now, an insidious tide of antiSemitism is rising, once again, around the world, and in our own country. The numbers are ominous, with recorded incidents increasing in the US by 57% just in 2017. Hate crimes against Jews now total

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community more than all other religiously motivated hate crimes combined. The slaughter of congregants in Pittsburgh in the midst of a joyous celebration is a stark reminder of this resurgent reality. Anyone who tells you that hateful speech does not lead to hateful action is dead wrong. Words matter. Whether true or false, words unleash actions. The Tree of Life Synagogue is now a familiar name to everyone. But, it is also a powerful symbol. In Judaism, the Tree of Life is a well-known metaphor for the Torah and its Ten Commandments. When we conclude reading from the Torah every Sabbath, we sing the Hebrew words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eitz Chaim He, La Machazikim Baâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, and all who uphold it are blessed.â&#x20AC;? Dear God, let us find the strength and courage to go forward through this darkening sky, free of fear, toward lives filled with moral values and good deeds. Let us unite and speak with a single voice, to fight hatred and bigotry, and to preserve the ideals which have always made our country great. Let us live together in peace and harmony.

Our hearts are shattered by the heinous and horrific attack on our brothers and sisters in Pittsburgh. Just recently, as part of my volunteer Police Chaplain duties, I presented at a regional training for chaplains on how to minister to individuals during trauma and the vicarious effects on the one who offers support and counsel. Never would I believe how close raBBi Mendel this would hit home! katzMan No need to reiterate the story and Chabad of Nebraska the depth of our collective pain. We pray to G-d to provide strength and comfort to the grieving families. We further pray for the complete and speedy healing of the injured, of the survivors and of the entire Pittsburgh community. How do we eradicate and uproot such baseless hatred?

The Rebbe taught: With baseless, irrational love. We need to spread love and unity; positivity. Mitzvot, and light. Many thanks to the law enforcement individuals who valiantly and sacrificially rise to our protection. We are grateful to live in a country that protects our right to live openly and proudly as Jews and cherish the friendship and outpouring of support. In the merit of our collective added mitzvot, may we each bring much comfort and peace at this extraordinarily challenging time. May we merit the coming of Moshiach, who will usher in peace and tranquility. P.S. If there is any way we can be of assistance during this difficult time, please do not hesitate to get in touchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here. We are always available to talk, listen and to be of support. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Due to time constraints, not all clergy is represented in this edition. We will continue with their remarks in our Nov. 16 edition.

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Reminder:â&#x20AC;&#x2C6; Hanukkah competition

YaakOV Jeidel While our Sukkah competition was successful, our Hanukkah will be even bigger and better! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happy to announce that anonymous donors have contacted me about underwriting the cost of a more significant prize, and that the competition will be expanded to include both Facebook and Instagram and once again be open to the entire Jewish community of Omaha. Anyone with an account can partake, even if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s post. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how it will work: Participants must A- post a picture between the first night and fifth night of Hanukkah (sunday evening, dec. 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, dec. 7 any time before sundown) with them by the lit Menorah. B- Include in the post why Hanukkah is meaningful to them (and not just the Jewish version of Christmas). And C- use the hashtag #OmahaIsLit18 when posting. Participants will have until the 8th day to acquire likes on their post. The one who receives the most likes on an individual post on their personal page wins. The winner will be announced on the 8th day at 11 a.m. Cst on Beth Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook and Instagram pages. May we all merit to light the Menorah this year with extra meaning and pass onto our children and grandchildren the passion to continue to do Mitzvas no matter what the circumstances. I hope both you and your family members (together or separate) will join in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hanukkah competition. Maybe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll even win a nice prize!

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6 | The Jewish Press | November 9, 2018

community Moshe Gershovich Memorial Symposium

kasey de goey Staff Assistant, Schwalb Center The UNO Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies is pleased to announce the Moshe Gershovich Memorial Symposium and Publication Workshop on Global North Africa and the Middle East on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the UNO Community Engagement Center. This symposium will honor the memory of the late Dr. Moshe Gershovich by hosting scholars from around the world who, like Dr. Gershovich, are experts on Global North Africa and the Middle East. Dr. Moshe Gershovich was a Professor of History and Director of the Schwalb Center and was passionate about this region. The public is invited to two keynote events at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dr. Wilfrid Rollman will present the afternoon keynote (12:30 p.m.) and the evening keynote (7 p.m.) is by Dr. William Lawrence. Dr. Rollman is a Senior Lecturer at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and a Visiting Professor at Harvard University and is currently completing the translation and critical study of an Arabic memoir on 19th and early 20th century Morocco. Dr. Lawrence is currently a Visiting Professor at the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University. He was a former State Department Senior Advisor for Global Engagement, International Crisis Group North Africa Director, and Control Risks Associate Director for Middle East and North Africa. Both events are free and open to the public. Please join the Schwalb Center in honoring the memory of Dr. Moshe Gershovich. For more information, please contact the Schwalb Center at 402.554.2788 or unoschwalbcenter@unomaha.edu.

Temple Israel goes West 11th/12th grade college visit to Wyoming

CassaNdra HICks WeIseNbUrger and implement a Jewish life for themselves in this state.” Director of Communications, Temple Israel On their first full day, Friday, they explored the University n the last Thursday of October, six of our 11th of Wyoming campus and Hillel in Laramie. Dr. Seth Ward, and 12th graders went on a college trip to Associate Academic Professional Lecturer in Religious Wyoming. Robert OsStudies, taught our students a class borne, Leo Norton, on Crypto-Jews, and that evening Brandon Wigodsky, the group attended services at Mt. Alex Kraft, Alec Feidman, and Sinai Synagogue in Cheyenne. It is Peyton Blake all piled into a van the oldest synagogue in Wyoming with Cantor Wendy Shermet, and has its own mikvah due to the Aliyah Lasky, and Rachel Scheet building’s location over a river. (our former student who graduSaturday began with a hike at ated from the University of Turtle Rock in the Medicine Bow Wyoming) and headed west for an National Forest. That afternoon eight-hour drive to the vast plains the group traveled to Kindness of Wyoming. Ranch, an animal sanctuary that “The college trip, which occurs covers a sprawling 1,000 acres in on the opposite year of the Israel Hartville, Wyoming. It is the only trip, is an amazing way of introone of its kind in the entire counducing our kids to what is availtry that takes in former research able Jewishly on campus. Even on animals including cats, dogs, campuses with smaller Jewish horses, pigs, and sheep. It was communities you can find Jewish founded in 2006 by Dr. David life and a faith community. The Groobman, a Jewish psychiatrist University of Wyoming has a Hilwho wanted to rescue, rehabililel and Jewish study classes. This tate, and find new homes for these trip also serves as a sort of wakeup neglected animals. call to these teens for what they They had Havdalah there in need to do to get ready for college,” what Cantor described as one of University of Wyoming campus explained Cantor Shermet. the most beautiful places on Aliyah Lasky was in charge of planning the trip: “What Earth. Kindness Ranch let our group stay at their manor made this trip unique were the individuals who live and that night at no charge and even bought them pizza and work in Wyoming and how they are able to incorporate dessert! their lives with different Jewish traditions, culture, and cusThis wonderful ranch was a highlight of the trip for everytoms. This can be a challenging goal for many, simply be- one. “It was my favorite part of the trip because I learned so cause of the location and limited Jewish population there. much about how they are helping animals that are in need That is what made this experience so amazing - our students and it inspired me to try to make a difference,” said Alex Kraft. got to see the perspective of how and why it is important for Aliyah added, “It is absolutely an amazing place. The people these individuals to keep and explore their Jewish identities Temple Israel goes West page 7

The Jewish Press | November 9, 2018 | 7

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after Pittsburgh Hachnasat Orchim

Friends Thank you all for being here tonight. I want to begin by saying thank you. What we see tonight is an outpouring of love and support that makes a clear statement to the Jewish community and the greater Omaha Community that we are not alone. Throughout history, Jews have been the focus of hate and vitriol; yet all too often when our relatives looked around for suprabbi steven port, there was no one to call. Please know abraham how honored we are to call you our friends Beth El and neighbors. We come together tonight not as distinct faith traditions, but as one family, one community and with one voice to pay our respects to 11 innocent souls murdered for observing their faith. This hurts so much because as we learn about the dead, we see our own community members; it hurts so much because when we look up our majestic flag waving at half-staff, we know full well it is because they came after us. He came into our synagogue, our home and murdered our people. Rabbi David Wolpe wrote that “Anti-Semitism is a different sort of hatred, the most durable and versatile in history. You can hate Jews because they are communists, capitalists, foreigners, residents, immigrants, elitists, have strange ways, are too assimilated, bankroll the left or bankroll the right. You can hate them because they were weak and stateless or now because they are Zionists and defend Israel. There is always a reason and, of course, it is never just because they are Jews.” As Jews, we know the power of hate speech and we must call it out when we hear it. We know better than most the dangers of unchecked hatred which must be confronted wherever it appears, whether that be online or in the workplace or at our own dinner tables or in the words of our elected officials. When we allow hate to be present in our midst, when we allow homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, racism and sexism to exist in our presence, we create the space for anti-Semitism to live and breathe. This past week in synagogues across the globe we read parshat Vayera, the specific section of Torah, that speaks of two poignant events in our peoples past. We read that our forefather Abraham was sitting at the opening of his tent and saw three men standing nearby. Abraham, we are told, runs from his tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, said, ‘Friends, if it is ok with you, do not rush ahead and leave. Let me bring you some water; bathe your feet and rest under the tree.’ He went on to offer them something to eat since they had travelled such a long distance. From this singular incident in the Torah we learn the value of Hachnasat Orchim, hospitality or welcoming guests. The welcoming that Abraham and Sarah provided these “strangers” is a model for what it takes to make people feel welcome in our community. Abraham didn’t wait. He rushed to greet his visitors. He made sure that they were comfortable and taken care of. And when his guests were done with their meal, he walked them out, away from his tent, to

Standing together

Our hearts break for the families of those killed and injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue and for the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh. As details unfold on the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, it appears that authorities are investigating this as a hate crime. Rest assured that every resource the ADL has is actively engaged with mary-beth aiding law-enforcement. muskin It is unforgivable for Jews to be tar- Regional Director, ADLgeted during worship on the Sabbath Plains States Region morning and unthinkable that this is happening in the United States of America. This violence occurs at a time when ADL is reporting an historic increase in both anti- Semitic incidents and anti-Semitic on-line harassment. As we mourn the losses and search for answers, ADL (in conjunction with the ADL-CRC) will remain steadfast in our mission to fight anti-Semitism wherever and whenever it occurs. We at the ADL-CRC believe, now more than ever, that we must unite and stand together in addressing anti-Semitism and hate in all its forms.

make sure they were headed in the right direction. The concept of welcoming is at the heart of what it means to be Jewish. The members of the Tree of Life synagogue knew it, that is why they were participating in the HIAS Refugee Shabbat. The gunman before entering the Tree of Life synagogue posted his disdain for organizations like HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, for their work helping bringing refugees to the United States. HIAS is one of nine agencies that works with the State Department to help in refugee resettlement, one of the others being Lutheran Family Services with whom we have partnered and will continue to do so in the future. How ironic that the same parsha, the same section of Torah that speaks of Abraham and Sarah welcoming guests, discusses the city of Sodom being destroyed. Destroyed, the rabbis of the Talmud tell us, because of a lack of hospitality, a lack of human decency, a lack of civility. We are told that if there were even 10 righteous souls found in Sodom that the city would have been spared, and this week the city of Pittsburgh lost 11. This importance of welcoming is as applicable today as it was in the Talmud. I thank you all for being here tonight. We are blessed in the Jewish Community to have incredible friends and partners. This week we will bury our dead and then go back to the work that God commanded us, but let us never forget this sense of community. My prayer is that just as you are with us today, that we continue to be here for each other. Be it a church or a mosque, a concert or a theater, wherever we gather in community - that we will stand as one, embracing our differences, honoring the memories of those 11 innocent souls who were senselessly murdered this past Shabbat morning. May their souls be bound up in the bonds of eternal life. Editor’s note: Due to time constraints, not all clergy is represented in this edition. We will continue with their remarks in our Nov. 16 edition.

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Continued from page 6 who work there are some of the most gracious, passionate, and caring people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.” Being there, in this place of caring and compassion, was even more special considering what a terrible day it was for our community and the country as a whole. This day was a reminder that even though there are those in this world who commit terrible acts, it’s important to remember that most people are good-hearted and doing serious hard work of healing the world even in times of darkness. They returned to Mt. Sinai synagogue Sunday morning to meet the religious school children and then hopped back in the van to head back home. “Overall, our students have RAVED about the trip. A few have commented that they have learned more from this trip about college and other life experiences than they have from their actual schools. From what Cantor Shermet and I experienced and observed, it was clear that the students had learned a great deal from the trip and built stronger relationships with one another. I truly believe that this trip accomplished everything that it set out to do,” said Aliyah. Alex would agree: “I am most definitely glad that I went on this trip and it has opened my mind to a whole new world of options for after high school.” “We appreciate that the teens and their parents trust us to take them into the unknown on these journeys!” added Cantor Shermet.

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Rep’s Bacon and Carbajal co-sponsor bipartisan bill to educate children about Holocaust

mannal HaDDaD anD Danielle Jensen Salud and I decided to put our names on this Congressmen Don Bacon (R-NE) and Salud piece of legislation together because it rises Carbajal (D-CA) jointly announced their de- above party division. It is fitting to honor the cision to co-sponsor H.R. 5460, the Never victims of Pittsburgh and the Holocaust with Again Education Act on Nov. 2. So far, 18 sets this legislation.” of bipartisan members have agreed to cosponsor this legislation, which will ensure our children and students understand the dangers of rising anti-Semitism and its history. H.R. 5460 will provide our teachers with the resources and training they need to teach our children the important lessons of the Holocaust and the consequences of intolerance and hate. According to a survey released last April by Don bacon salud carbajal the Claims Conference in Germany, 49 percent of millennials cannot name “e tragedy in Pittsburgh and a startling a single concentration camp; 31 percent of lack of public knowledge about the Holocaust Americans believe that two million or fewer should alarm all Americans, regardless of poJews were killed in the Holocaust; and 52 per- litical party. We must work together to educent of Americans think Hitler came to cate our children about the history and power by force. consequences of anti-Semitism,” said Rep. e lack of knowledge about the horrors Carbajal. “I’m proud to be joining this critiof the Holocaust, combined with the recent cal, bipartisan legislation in tandem with my horrific act of violence in Pittsburgh, have friend and Republican colleague, Rep. made it clear to both Representative Bacon Bacon.” and Carbajal that this legislation is sorely e legislation will help create a fund at the needed. Department of Education to provide grants “It is troubling that so many of our young to schools and teachers, create a Holocaust people do not know about the horrors of the education website, develop curriculum, and Holocaust and how millions of Jewish people create an Advisory Board to help develop the were murdered,” said Rep. Bacon. “My friend program.

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(Founded in 1920) abby Kutler President annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Thierry ndjike Accounting Jewish Press Board Abby Kutler, President; Eric Dunning, Ex Officio; Laura Dembitzer; Candice Friedman; Jill Idelman; Andy Isaacson; Michael Kaufman; David Kotok; Natasha Kraft; Debbie Kricsfeld; Eric Shapiro and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishom aha.org. Letters to the editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de 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. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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Words of kindness

anneTTe Van de KaMP-WRiGhT Editor, Jewish Press hat line from the Musical Hamilton keeps running through my head: “I imagined death so much, it almost seems like a memory.” I think the same can be said for the murders in Pittsburgh. Anti-Semitism is an old and familiar enemy; although this was a much more serious and unimaginable example, we nonetheless find ourselves in familiar territory. We’ve been expecting this, we’ve talked about it, warned each other, and here we are. Never is now: it is so much more than a slogan. It is our reality and we have to live with that. But live we must. When the dust settles (because it will), we have to ask the tough questions. What do we do? How should we feel? What comes next? How many other crazy armed people are out there who think it is perfectly reasonable to kill Jews for being Jews? How does one even get to that point? And does it matter to us, what exactly motivated this one murderer, when throughout so many centuries the killing of Jews has been a fact of life? Something that is deeply woven into our shared history, but which we’ve been unable to understand all this time? In that context, this particular shooter is nothing but a footnote. A miniscule detail in a very large and bloody painting. He is no one. The victims are important, the perpetrator is not and we should forget his name. During the first days, we exchanged many words. Words of comfort, words of anger and sadness; from social media posts to face-to-face exchanges, speeches in the synagogues and phone calls. It’s what we do: we talk, endlessly, to ourselves, to each other and sometimes to complete strangers who surprise us with their empathy. “But words are not enough,” we then say, because we demand action. We must do something. Vote, speak out against hate, reach out to other people, do a mitzvah—you name it. It’s true; we do have a great need for action.

At the same time, those words are incredibly important. community and nothing and nobody can change that, unless The Sunday morning after the shooting, I sat in a meet- we allow it. And if we know what’s good for us, we won’t. ing where we listened to a guest speaker. She didn’t have Editorials express the view of the writer and are not it easy, I’m sure; what do you say to a room full of people necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish who are reeling from such horrific events? So she talked about connecting. “When we connect (I’m paraphrasing) with others, we create moments of friendship, moments of love,” she said. “Those connections we create during the good times, we bank, so they sustain us during the bad times.” We say plenty of nice things to each other when tragedy strikes. We reach out, we hug, we come together and thank G-d for that. Nobody should process these heinous events in isolation. That’s not The installation in the foyer of the JCC that was created by our Shlicha Ron Lugasy. Visiwho we are as tors to our building can leave their own message of support. Jews. But what we Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of do during the good times, she’s right, is just as important. Connecting with others, exchanging words of friendship and Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. love during those good times is also who we are. We are a

I never met Cecil and David Rosenthal, may their memories always be a blessing, but I knew them. I can see Cecil, described as a “gentle giant” by his family and many, many friends, standing at the front door of the Tree of Life sanctuary, greeting everyone who ar- dR. Ron WoLfSon rived there with a broad Guest Editorial smile and a strong handshake. I can hear him offering every person who came through those doors a warm word of welcome – “Shabbat shalom!,” “Good morning!” His brother-in-law, Michael Hirt, said in his eulogy that Cecil could have been the mayor of Pittsburgh, if not for his developmental challenges, challenges he triumphantly overcame to be the most beloved person in the community. His brother David, quieter by nature, was no less beloved, admired for his fastidiousness, taking care to hand out siddurim (prayer books) to those arriving and ensuring the tallitot (prayer shawls) were lovingly cared for. They were the “greeters,” the “ambassadors,” the m’kablei panim, the “face” of the sacred community. How sadly ironic that these warm souls were murdered in cold blood by a stranger with antiSemitism flowing through his veins on the very Shabbat when we read the Torah portion Vayeira. We learn the story of Abraham and Sarah’s tent, the classic text teaching us the deep Jewish value of hachnasat orchim, welcoming guests. Sitting in the heat of the day at the entrance of his tent, three strangers appear to Abraham. He runs to greet them – “My lords, if it please you, do not go past your servant.” Did Abraham know who these men

were? In that split second of recognition, did Abraham wonder if there was malice in their hearts or were they just wanderers in search of a morsel of bread and a drink of water? It did not matter to Abraham. He ran to greet the strangers, as, undoubtedly, so did Cecil and David, who cared not whether those entering the synagogue were members or guests, rich or poor, gay or straight, Republican or Democrat. What they never imagined was that a stranger filled with hate for Jews would enter a welcoming sanctuary intent on massacre. I am devastated by the loss of these two sweet men who were so deeply valued by a community who appreciated their greetings. And I am heartbroken that we will once again consider the awful necessity of “hardening the targets” – our synagogues, schools, centers, campuses and organizations. There will be those who assert that we must do this, no matter the cost both economically and spiritually, in order to protect our people against those who seek to do us harm. There will be others who will say that security guards with pistols would have no chance against a crazed assassin wielding an AR-15. I wonder what Cecil and David would have us do. Somehow, I believe they would understand the need for security measures on the perimeter of the building, but they would teach the guards how to say “Shabbat Shalom” or “Shana Tova” to everyone, even as they search purses and tallit bags, as many of our wonderful security personnel already do. I know they would never want us to stop greeting each other. They would likely tell us how wonderful it would be if all of us knew each other like they did, for building a community of relationships begins by telling each other our stories, by knowing each other’s names, by being there for each other in good times…and bad. This past Shabbat, tens of thousands of us streamed into our synagogues for Solidarity Shabbat services to stand with the Pittsburgh Jewish community. There were beautiful prayers and

To honor Cecil and David

words of comfort. There were “regulars” and many guests. There was heightened security, likely causing delays to enter our buildings, and crowded pews filled with those we know and those we don’t. Let us honor the memory of Cecil and David by practicing their art of hospitality and continue to welcome each other with a smile, a handshake, and a warm embrace. As we join together to grieve and remember, let us resolve that “the Rosenthal boys” would want us to never allow hate to trump love. Dr. Ron Wolfson is Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University and the coauthor of Relational Judaism Handbook.

LeTTeR To The ediToR

Dear Editor, Sadly, I couldn’t attend memorial service at Beth El, but I just wanted to send a message of solidarity and support to you and everyone working at the ADL. I do not know whether any of you are Jewish or not, you're sticking your necks out every single day going to work, trying to make this world a better place. It truly takes bravery for you all to stand up to those who hate. I had another great day at PEW this year, and I just want to thank you all at the ADL for what you do. I attribute a lot of the positive things I do in the classroom to training I've received at your events for the last 15 years. I support all my friends at the ADL, and although I can't be at the memorial tonight, I'll always gladly stand arm in arm with you all in defiance of hatred and violence. Bryant Bull Social Studies Teacher, Justice & diversity League Sponsor Millard West high School

eaRLy deadLine noTiCe

The Jewish Press will be closed on Thursday, nov. 22 for Thanksgiving. The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is Wednesday, nov. 14, 9 a.m. for the Nov. 30 Issue: Hannukkah Edition. Questions? Call 402.334.6448

10 | The Jewish Press | November 9, 2018

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Join us for our monthly Shabbat Speakers Series on Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker Sarpy County Attorney, Lee Polikov. Our service leader is Larry Blass, and as always, an Oneg to follow service. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel! For information on our historic synagogue, contact any of our board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Wayne Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf, or email nancywolf16620@gmail.com.

Beth el syNagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. friday: Tot Shabbat Pre-Neg, 5:30 p.m.; Six String Shabbat Musician-in-Residence Josh Warshawsky, 6 p.m.; Tot Shabbat, 6 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. Musician-in-Residence Josh Warshawsky; Shabbat’s Cool (Grades 3-7), 10 a.m.; Mincha following Shabbat Morning Services; USY/Kadima Slowach and Supper, 6 p.m. at Eadie’s House. weekday serViCes: Sundays, 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. suNday: Gift Shop Open House, 9:30 a.m.; BESTT Classes (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Morning Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Torah Tots, 10:30 a.m.; Yiddish Class, 11 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman; Young Jewish Giving, Grades 6-8, 11:15 a.m.; Kibbutz Chaverim (Grades 3-4), noon. moNday: Community Spirit Project: Operation Grateful Goodies Baking Days, 9 a.m. tuesday: Talmudic Arguments Class, 11:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham; Mahjong, 1 p.m.; Chesed Committee visits Sterling Ridge, 2 p.m. wedNesday: Gift Shop Sale, 3 p.m.; BESTT Classes (Grades 3-7), 4:15 p.m.; Community Spirit Project: Operation Grateful Goodies Baking Days, 4 p.m.; USY Ma’arivamped, 5:15 p.m.; A Study of Omaha’s African American & Jewish Communities, 6 p.m. with Professor Jeanette Gabriel; BESTT Hebrew High, 6:15 p.m.; Talmudic Arguments Class, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Steve Abraham. thursday: Ramah Info Night, 7 p.m. at Rabbi Abraham’s House. Interfaith Thanksgiving Service & Dinner, sunday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m. at St. Luke, 11810 Burke St. Operation Grateful Goodies Baking Days, monday, dec. 10, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and wednesday, dec. 12, 3-8 p.m. To sign-up or for more information please visit www.bethelomaha.org. Become a Soulful Parent, sundays, Nov. 18, Jan. 27, feb. 24 and march 31 at 10 a.m. Join us for an exploration of parenting challenges against the backdrop of Jewish ideas and texts.

Beth israel syNagogue

Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. friday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha, 4:53 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 4:53 p.m.; Scholar-in-Residence, Herb Keinon Shabbat Dinner, 6 p.m. saturday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Scholar-in-Residence, Herb Keinon, 9 a.m.; Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion, 3:50 p.m.; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 4:35 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:54 p.m. suNday: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Jewish Time and Calendar, 10 a.m. with Yosef Siegel; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. moNday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Jewish History — Your History, noon with Rabbi Shlomo; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. tuesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. wedNesday: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home; Board of Commissioners Meeting, 6:30 p.m. thursday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Connecting with Our Faith, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Ari; Jewish Ethics, noon with Rabbi Ari at UNMC; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

ChaBad house

Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. friday: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats,

study and shmoozing. saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. weekdays: Shacharit, 7 a.m. followed by coffee, treats, study and shmoozing. moNday: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani. wedNesday: Mystical Thinking, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Power Lunch with Shani, noon. Reserve at office @ochabad.com or 402.330.1800. thursday: Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Katzman. All programs are open to the entire community. For more information call 402.330.1800 or visit www.ochabad.com.

CoNgregatioN B’Nai JeshuruN

Services conducted by Rabbi Teri Appleby. friday: Candlelighting, 4:55 p.m.; Erev Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m. with music by Leslie Delserone and Peter Mullin; Oneg, 7:30 p.m. hosted by Ailyne Tayloe saturday: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Scholar-in-Residence: Prof. Margaret Gurewitz and Dr. Zachary B. Smith, 10:45 a.m. on A Disharmonious Marriage: American Religion, American Politics; Havdalah (72 minutes), 6:24 p.m. suNday: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.; LJCS Gesher, 10 a.m.; Global Day of Jewish Learing, 9:45 a.m. at SST; Adult Hebrew Class 2, 11:30 a.m.; Concert in Remembrance of Victims of Violence, 7 p.m. Frist Presbyterian Church, 840 S. 17 St, Lincoln; Come learn and play Pickleball, 7-9 p.m. All equipment furnished. Wear comfortable clothing. For questions, call or text Miriam Wallick at miriam57@aol.com. tuesday: Star City Kochavim Rehearsal, 6:45 p.m. wedNesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. at TI; Federation Board Meeting, 7 p.m. thursday: Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m. Jewish Book Club, sunday, Nov. 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Gere Library and will discuss My People by Laura French. Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, sunday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m. at TI. All faiths are welcome and encouraged to attend! You are invited to bring a non-perishable food donation for The Food Bank of Lincoln.

offutt air forCe Base

friday: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.

rose BlumkiN Jewish home

saturday: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

temple israel

friday: Shabbat Evening Service, 6 p.m. saturday: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m. suNday: 2nd Sunday Breakfast Service at Stephen Center, 8:30 a.m.-noon; Kol Chokolad Kids Choir, 9:30 a.m.; Religious School Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; Temple Tots Sunday, 10:30 a.m.; Temple TED Talk, 10:30 a.m.; Caring

Committee Meeting, 10:30 a.m.; Religious School Steering Committee Meeting, noon. tuesday: Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. wedNesday: Religious School for Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6:30 p.m.; Family School, 6:30 p.m.; Tanakh Tales: Women of the Bible, 6:30 p.m. taught by Rabbi Berezin. thursday: The History of the Jewish People: The Birth of Christianity, 10 a.m. taught by Rabbi Berezin; OTYG Painting Your Jewish Tree, 6-8 p.m. Break out your inner Leonardo Da Vinci as we paint and craft a variety of Jewish-themed items while discussing what being Jewish means in 2018. Open to 9th-12th graders. The cost to participate is $10. RSVP to Jacob Kahn, jkahn@templeisraelomaha.com; Rosh Chodesh Blintz Making with Amy Rabinovitz and Kris Faier, 6:30–8:30 p.m. RSVP to Temple Israel, 402.556.6536. Chocolate Shabbat & Dinner, friday, Nov. 16: Dinner, 5:15 p.m., Services, 6 p.m. Multi-generational service featuring our kids’ choir, Kol Chokolad; everyone is invited! We start with a community dinner at 5:15 p.m., continues with Friday evening Shabbat service at 6 p.m., followed by a chocolate Oneg. There is no cost for the dinner, it is being generously sponsored by Angie and Stan Krieger. RSVP to Temple Israel, 402-556-6536, by thursday, Nov. 15. 23rd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, sunday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m. at Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church, 2650 Farnam Street. OSRUI Weekend, friday, Nov. 30-sunday, dec. 2. Save the date for this fantastic weekend to learn more about OSRUI!

tifereth israel

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: monday-friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. friday: Celebration of Shabbat with Friends from Tifereth Israel, 6:30 p.m. at the home of Seth Harris (15049 South 46th St. Roca, NE 68430). Bring a dairy or pareve salad, vegetable dish, or dessert. The main dish, challah, and grape juice will be provided. If anyone needs a ride, please call the office. RSVP to the office; Candlelighting, 4:55 p.m. saturday: Shabbat Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon; Got Shabbat, 11 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 5:45 p.m. suNday: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.; LJCS Gesher, 10 a.m.; Global Day of Jewish Learing, 9:45-11:45 a.m. at SST; Come learn and play Pickleball, 7-9 p.m. All equipment furnished. Wear comfortable clothing. For questions, call or text Miriam Wallick at miriam 57@aol.com. wedNesday: LJCS Hebrew School, 4 p.m. at TI. Jewish Book Club, sunday, Nov. 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Gere Library and will discuss My People by Laura French. Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, sunday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m. at TI. All faiths are welcome and encouraged to attend. You are invited to bring a non-perishable food donation for The Food Bank of Lincoln. LJCS Hat and Mitten Drive — Every child deserves a warm and cozy winter season! Join the LJCS as we collect socks, hats and mittens for the children of the Cedars. LJCS is collecting NEW socks, hats and mittens. Donations will be collected through sunday, Nov. 18. Donations can be dropped at SST or TI.

North Carolina congressional candidate said Jews must accept Jesus as savior jta news staff A Republican candidate for Congress in North Carolina said Jews must accept Jesus as their savior and that Islam is the work of Satan. Mark Harris, a former pastor, defeated threeterm Republican Rep. Robert Pittenger in a May primary and faced Democrat Dan McCready in the midterm elections. As senior pastor of Charlotte’s First Baptist Church, Harris claimed in sermons that Islam was “dangerous” and the work of Satan. He also said peace between Israel and the Palestinians could not be achieved until Muslims and Jews accepted Jesus as their savior, CNN reported. Harris called the Koran the “great counterfeit,” citing passages in it he said are identical to passages from the Bible, and he warned against listening to political leaders who call Islam one of

the great religions of the world. In a 2011 sermon, Harris spoke of a recent trip he had taken to Israel. “You cannot be in that land, as powerful and as moving as it is, without realizing the incredible tension that is constantly in that land between the Palestinians and the Jews. There will never be peace in Jerusalem until the day comes that every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,” he said in the sermon. “Jesus, when he went into Jerusalem, said, ‘I am the vine. I am the true vine,’ and until those that are called in Islam realize that and until those that are called in Judaism realize that, for that — matter, until those that are caught in the religion of Christianity and are missing the personal relationship with Jesus Christ, realize that, there’ll never be peace in their soul or peace in their city.”

The Jewish Press | November 9, 2018 | 11

PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPERS ARE

lifecycles Birth

atara ShoShana and doVid moShe Shyken

Rachel (Rivka) and Joey Shyken of Jacksonville, FL, announce the Oct. 10 birth of their children, Atara Shoshana and Dovid Moshe. They have two sisters, Akiva and Nava. Grandparents are Bruce and Jodi Kanner of Gaithersburg, MD and Keva and the late Yafa Shyken.

erez n’tanel margolin

Shirley and David Goodman announce the birth of their fourth greatgrandchild, Erez N’tanel. Erez has an older brother, Tzur Noam and lives in S’de Boaz, Israel. His parents are Ya’el and Avi Margolin. Grandparents are Cathy and Joe Gluck of Skokie, Ill and Dawn and Sandy Margolin of Piedmont, CA. Other great-grandchildren are N’amah Gluck of Jerusalem, Israel and Aric Spitzer of South Salem, NY.

B’nai mitzVah

doniVen reeSe ChriStenSen

Doniven Reese Christensen (Polivka), son of Dana (Danni) and Michael Christensen, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Beth El. Doniven is a seventh-grade student at Kiewitt Middle School. He excels in cross country running, chess and all academics. Doniven enjoys football, video games and martial arts. He hopes to one day enlist in the Marine Corps and study medicine. For his mitzvah project, Doniven spent time with Mosaic and will be volunteering this winter with the Open Door Mission. He has a younger brother, Micah. Grandparents are Ray (z'l) and Kathy Christensen (Hromek) of Omaha, and Bruce and Darcy Byrne (Pezowicz) of Sarasota, Florida. A hearty thank you to all of his former Friedel Jewish Academy teachers and all of his Beth El Synagogue "family" for their support to help Doniven prepare for this simcha!

adria roSe tiPP

Adria Rose Tipp, daughter of Sonia and Alan Tipp, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday Nov. 17 at Temple Israel. Adria is a seventh-grade honors student at Westside Middle School. Adria is interested in softball, traveling, hanging out with friends and family. For her mitzvah project, Adria volunteered with Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands Learning Program and HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy). She has a brother, Asher, 10, and a dog, Benson. Grandparents are Marilyn and Steve Tipp of Omaha, and Sara and Michael Baum of Columbia, MD. Great-grandmother is former Omahan Malwina Moses of Maryland.

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Save these dates

e Humans of Tel Aviv exhibit will be shown at Star Deli Restaurant in Benson, 6114 Military Avenue through the month of November. In March of 2019, you can see Erez Kaganovitz’ photographs at No More Empty Cups Coﬀee Shop, 1502 S. 10th Street, Omaha. A JCC Dance Party is scheduled at Fit ‘n Sit for Saturday, Nov. 17 from 5:30-8:30 pm. Please contact Esther Katz at ekatz@jcc omaha.org or call 402.334.6406 for more information. e Musical eater’s performances of Peter Pan are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. Please call 402.334.6419 to purchase; general admission is $10, child-student rate is $5. e JCC’s next musical theater show will be announced at the weekend performances of Peter Pan. Auditions will be held Sunday, Jan. 20. Registration is REQUIRED to audition. Performances of the spring musical will be ursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. Contact Esther Katz at ekatz@jccomaha.org for questions. Young Jewish Giving invites all Jewish middle school students to come to Beth El Sunday, Nov. 11 from 11:15 a.m.noon. and learn about Tzedakah and Communal Responsibility. Kosher doughnuts and juice will be served. e YJG High School Event takes place Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 7-8 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Kosher dinner will be served. Learn about Financial Literacy from local banker Alec Gorynski. Questions? Contact Danielle Gordman at dgordmanjew ishomaha.org.

Red Cross Babysitting Training at JCC

e American red Cross will provide babysitting training at the Jewish Community Center, Sunday Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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12 | The Jewish Press | November 9, 2018

usnews

What is Gab and where else are anti-semites gathering online?

JOsefin DOLsTen JTA obert Bowers, the man held in the shooting deaths of 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, belonged to an online community where he frequently railed against Jews and immigrants. at social media site, Gab, has come under closer scrutiny this week. Created two years ago as a haven for far-rightists who felt they were being targeted on mainstream platforms, Gab quickly rose in popularity. But the site wasn’t just home to ideological discussions. Critics say threats of violence and virulent hatred are a common theme of those posting to it. JTA spoke to two experts on extremism to learn more about Gab and sites like it. Michael Edison Hayden is an open source intelligence analyst at Storyful, a company that analyzes conversations on social media. Oren Segal is the director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism. Gab was founded by Andrew Torba in August 2016 as a response against what he saw as censorship of right-wing users by some social media platforms. Oen these users were kicked oﬀ platforms for using racist or anti-Semitic language or harassing individuals. Among those who found a home on Gab was Milo Yiannopoulos, the former Breitbart News provocateur who was booted from Twitter aer urging his followers to harass the African-American comedian Leslie Jones, and Andrew Anglin, the founder of the neo-Nazi site e Daily Stormer. “What makes the entirely le-leaning Big Social monopoly qualified to tell us what is ‘news’ and what is ‘trending’ and to define what ‘harassment’ means?” Torba told Buzzfeed in 2016. “It didn’t feel right to me, and I wanted to change it, and give people something that would be fair and just.” Straight away, Hayden said, Gab became a popular platform for white nationalists as “a place where they felt they could give

voice to their anti-Semitic, racist, bigoted, misogynistic views out in the open.” He has spent over a year studying the site. Segal called the site “the primary destination for a lot of white supremacists and anti-Semites.” Apple and Google have refused to oﬀer Gab in their app stores due to concerns about hate speech. Gab claims to have some 800,000 users, but Hayden estimates the actual count is far less.

and other unpleasant things at Gab very easily.” e vast majority of messages posted by Bowers were antiSemitic in nature, according to the Anti-Defamation League. ose type of messages are not unusual on Gab, according to Hayden. “It was common for Gab posters to treat Jews as if they were inhuman and blame them for all kinds of problems,” he said. Oct. 29, Gab said on Twitter that the site was taken down but was looking to return with a new host. Visitors to the site see a message from Torba in which he says that he has been providing information to the Justice Department and FBI about “an alleged terrorist.” “In the midst of this Gab has been no-platformed by essential internet infrastructure providers at every level,” the message reads. “We are the most censored, smeared, and no-platformed startup in history, which means we are a threat to the media and to the Silicon Valley Oligarchy.” Segal said that he had seen discussions on Gab before it was taken down of other possible venues for users. ose cited include the emerging social media platforms Wrongthink, Minds and Mewe. Wrongthink, whose site yielded an error message as of late last week, is “already somewhat popular with right-wing posters because it promotes itself A Jewish emergency crew and police officers at the site of the mass shoot- as an alternative network by people who ‘actually ing at the Tree Of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Oct. 28, 2018. respect your freedom of speech,’” Segal said. e Credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images other sites don’t necessarily have an extremist or As a social media site, Gab is considered an appealing al- right-wing bent. ternative to other sites frequented by white nationalists, inVoat, a news aggregator and social networking site, and the cluding Stormfront, 4chan and 8chan, that are forums but do forums 4chan and 8chan are also popular among those on the not as easily facilitate connections among users. far-right, Hayden said. And while Twitter and Facebook conHayden said that “in the way that you can organize a party tinue to crack down on hateful accounts, users there continue on Facebook or discuss the news with your friends in a group to target others with anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic DM on Twitter, a racist could organize harassment campaigns messages daily.

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Susan Bernard | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org