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with Hinky Dinky Supermarkets in 1965. SHERI IRWIN-GISH “We are honored to recognize Allan beExecutive Director of Communications, cause he embodies many of our shared NeMarketing and External Relations, braska values, including ingenuity, hard College of Business, UNL maha businessman Allan work, business acumen and heartfelt comNoddle, ‘62, will receive the mitment to the community,” said Kathy Far2020-21 Lifetime Achieve- rell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed ment Award from the Uni- Dean of the College of Business. “He sets a versity of Nebraska– high standard of achievement and philanthropy for our stuLincoln’s College of dents and the entire Business. The college’s Nebraska Business most esteemed honor, community.” the award recognizes Noddle continues to individuals for their give back to his alma outstanding leadermater by supporting ship, as well as time, programs such as the energy and guidance International Busiprovided throughout ness Select program, a their career. cohort-based proA paramount leader gram that offers stuin the food distribudents a unique study tion industry, he abroad opportunity, worked and consulted professional mentorin 28 countries on ships and business four continents in exdevelopment projecutive roles for Dayects. He also serves as mon Worldwide, a trustee for the UniRoyal Ahold and versity of Nebraska Giant Foods. During Allan Noddle Foundation. Noddle’s time with Noddle has often volunteered his time Ahold, he oversaw all of the Latin American and Asian companies and was the first speaking in classes and at events. In 2010, he American to serve on the Dutch corpora- was recognized as an Alumni Master by the tion’s executive board. Prior to that, he College of Business and returned to campus served as CEO of Ahold USA Support Serv- to share his experience and knowledge with ices and president and CEO of Giant Foods students. in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His career began See Alan Noddle page 2
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Hanukkah Happenings through Beth Israel Page 3
The little store that could... Page 8
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ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor Temple Israel invites you to join us
in the parking lot as we celebrate the first night of Hanukkah! Temple staff is building a special Hanukkiah, and will broadcast over Zoom so we can come together while staying safe and warm. Temple staff and clergy is taking this opportunity to come together as a way to spread the light to others. Temple Israel is hosting a winter gear drive for Together, Inc. to assist in their outreach to families and those who are homeless during the winter. To that end, Temple asks people to bring the following new or gently-
used items as gifts to donate: - winter coats - hats, gloves, scarves - hand/foot warmers - sleeping bags - tents Assisting people of all backgrounds, Together Inc. is a leading non-profit that administers several different programs. Free food is available from their Choice Pantry, and they also process applications to SNAP food stamps, Kids Connection or other benefits. See First night page 2
Educator Spotlight: Mark Gudgel KAEL SAGHEER Education Coordinator, Institute for Holocaust Education In his seventeenth year of teaching literature and composition, Mark believes that apart from being a good husband and father, there is no higher calling than to work in education; for him, the definition of “education” is an expansive one.
Mark Gudgel Credit: Gudgel for Mayor campaign
Mark currently teaches at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Southeast Community College, as well as an honors World Religion class and Humanities: Genocide in the Twentieth Century class at Omaha North High School. In addition, he is the co-founder and former Executive Director for the Educators’ Institute for Human Rights. Mark traveled to Rwanda in 2008 and has since founded the nonprofit organization to conduct teacher training in Rwanda as well as other nations affected by genocide and crimes against humanity. He has recently returned from sabbatical in London, where he was researching the use of labels in Holocaust education. After a long week of teaching, Mark often spends time volunteering with a variety of organizations. He is a current member of the TriFaith Initiative Planning Committee; a board member of the “Presenters” Omaha Performing Arts, and a member of the VinNEBRASKA Executive Committee. In addition, this year he was the recipient of the 2020 Nebraska Department of Education “Award of Excellence.” Mark also recently completed a book on teaching about the Holocaust, which will be available next year through Teachers College Press. If that isn’t enough to fill his day, he launched his campaign for mayor this fall.
2 | The Jewish Press | November 27, 2020
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Temple Israel Blood Drive CASSANDRA WEISENBURGER Temple Israel Director of Communications Donating blood products is essential to community health and the need for blood products is constant. Temple Israel is hosting a blood drive on Sunday, Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., and all are welcome to come donate. Due to COVID-19, we will have extra safety protocols in place: • Anyone in the blood drive area will have to wear a mask and have their temperature taken before entering. • We will be social distancing all of our beds and history booths. Surfaces are disinfected between donors.
• Masks are required. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1.800.733.2767) or visit https://rcblood.org/34YINQe to schedule an appointment. The American Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Additionally, plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for COVID19 antibodies may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. There is no known end date in this fight against coronavirus, and the Red Cross needs the help of blood and platelet donors.
Reflections: Yom Kippur 2020 ROCHI KATZMAN Today I pray. I did not ask for things. I asked to be on the right path. For if I am in the right place at the right time, whatever it is I need will flow. Graciously from our benevolent Maker. I ask for an environment. For the people around me to support each other in creating safe spaces. For each of us to be our best, in our respective lanes. This Yom Kippur, I do not pray for stuff. I pray to be in the right place at the right time. For the wisdom and bravery to choose to be a receptacle for
what is flowing. For G-d's generosity is great. I pray to not limit my soul's ability to shine. I pray that I don't stuff the pipes. I pray for the strength to take responsibility for my actions. I pray for the ability to let go, to release what is not mine. I pray for faith. I pray to continue this dialogue throughout the year. I don’t pray for stuff. I pray for connection, respect, wholeness, accountability. I pray for an experience. This year, I really don't want stuff, I want life.
First night Continued from page 1 Families in Omaha can also learn about housing assistance or programs for their children. Together is involved in the operation of a number of resources to help struggling Omaha Nebraska residents with almost any problem and challenge they are dealing with. While more details are below, there can be short-term financial help to get through a tough time, or for those in an immediate crisis, money may be paid out in an emergency. Staff from the non-profit take care of the client and their needs. This may involve supplying them with a box of food from the Pantry, some free baby formula, or a box of diapers. Just that little bit of extra support will often take some pressure off and make your month a little easier. Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., come together in the Temple Israel park-
ing lot, drop off your donations, and pick a spot to watch the lighting. At 7:30 p.m., we will begin our short service and celebrate Hanukkah together as a community.
ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith is pleased to announce the resumption of its award-winning speaker program via ZOOM. Although the Home auditorium remains temporarily closed, we’ll continue presenting an outstanding lineup of thought-provoking keynoters. For specific speaker information and/or to be placed on the email list, please contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com or leave a message at the BB JCC office 402.334.6443.
The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) requests help from the community in identifying photographs from the archives. Please contact Kathy Weiner at 402.334.6441 or kweiner@jewishomaha.org if you are able to assist in the effort to preserve Jewish Omaha history.
Allan Noddle Continued from page 1 He serves on seven corporate boards and has served on numerous community boards, including Junior Achievement, the Better Business Bureau, Hershey Medical Center and the Jewish Community Center. He has also received accolades as an inductee into Omaha Central High School’s Hall of Fame and the Private Label Manufacturers Hall of Fame. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1962, graduating cum laude. He also graduated with top honors from the U.S. Ordnance Officers Supply School and served as first lieutenant in the 24th Infantry Division. Noddle joins a distinguished group of more than 30 business leaders — including Warren Buffett, Alice Dittman and Jim Seacrest — who have received this honor since its inception in 1984. He will be formally honored during the college’s annual Advisory Board Awards event at Howard L. Hawks Hall on April 23, 2021. Additional award winners include Kiewit, corporate leadership; Mike Dunlap, business leadership and Jack O’Holleran, young alumnus.
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The Jewish Press | November 27, 2020 | 3
Hanukkah Happenings through Beth Israel MARY SUE GROSSMAN for Beth Israel Synagogue The first night of Hanukkah on Thursday, Dec. 10, is fast approaching. As with so many things in the past nine months, this year’s celebrations will be reimagined. The Beth Israel Programming Committee and staff have put together ways to help you make this a special holiday. “As everyone continues to feel frustrated in not being able to return to ‘normal,’ we want to provide a way to give a new focus. For Hanukkah 2020, we are encouraging everyone to emphasize the importance of giving to others,” shares Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. “By shifting our focus to others, we in fact are helping ourselves. The mitzvah of sharing is illustrated from the belief that if a person only has oil and wicks for himself for the holiday, he should share with another who has none even though the giver will be unable to fully light in the final days.” Beth Israel has made giving easy for everyone with just a click on the phone, tablet, or computer. It’s an online Hanukkah Toy Drive to benefit Chai Lifeline. With a mission of “bringing joy and hope to children, families and communities impacted by serious illness or loss,” Chai Lifeline is a natural choice to benefit from the generosity of the Omaha community. The organization’s programs and services meet the unique emotional, social and financial needs of families living with serious illness or loss. Chai Lifeline provides unparalleled support throughout the child’s illness, recovery and beyond. “Toys gifted to Chai Lifeline will bolster the resources for the staff and volunteers in helping the families,” explains Julee Katzman, Programming Committee Chair. “We organized a toy drive three years ago and the excitement and generosity was amazing,” she shares. “While we won’t have the fun of watching the pile of toys grow as they are dropped off, promoting the online drive is the next best thing.” Rabbi Ari, who has been involved with Chai Lifeline since 1997, explains that toys are not only given to the ill child but to the siblings as well. “Helping brighten the lives as the entire family is key in helping support a child who is ill,” Rabbi Ari states. In addition to serving as Beth Israel’s rabbi, Rabbi Ari is also the Boys
Head Counselor for Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline’s camping program and has been involved with Camp Simcha since 1997. The Amazon link for the Beth Israel Hanukkah Toy Drive is found at www.orthodoxomaha.org, on the Beth Israel Facebook page, plus the link found in the synagogue’s weekly email. The staff respectfully asks that toys are NOT delivered to the synagogue. Another way to give is through a food drive to benefit Chabad of Nebraska Community Food Pantry. The only location in West Omaha, the pantry works to end hunger by organizing food, information, and support for community survival and dignity. Working to end food poverty and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income and disabled Omahans, the food pantry welcomes donation items in original, unopened packages with the expiration date on the package and not in glass containers. For information on dropping off donations, please contact Chabad at 402.330.1800. Monetary donations are also welcome. In addition to giving, Beth Israel is also happy to provide an avenue for everyone’s Hanukkah preparations. Wondering where to get candles? Wish you had some new Hanukkah items to add to the fun? Looking for a special gift? Look no further than the Beth Israel Sisterhood Gift Shop. Available by appointment only, the gift shop has a selection of menorahs, decorations, candles, dreidels and other games, special Hanukkah gifts and more. To schedule a time, email bethisr ael@orthodoxomaha.org or call the office at 402.556.6288. If there is no answer, please leave a message. And last but far from least, if it’s happening in 2020, what would an event be without Zoom? Join Rabbi Ari, Laura and their children on the first night of Hanukkah in the Beth Israel Zoom Room for a virtual candle lighting. The event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. Join in the singing, fun and a bit of learning to get the eight nights off to a great start. Find the link on the Beth Israel Facebook page or at orthodox omaha.org. Beth Israel wishes the entire Omaha Jewish community a great Hanukkah celebration. Hanukkah Sameach!
Foundation offers match to Endowment Gifts
The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation has launched an initiative to match contributions made to any endowment which is established to cover costs to maintain, repair and preserve the newly renovated Staenberg Omaha JCC. The Foundation will boost your gift with a 20% match. Your $1,000 endowment gift becomes $1,200; your $5,000 endowment gift be- HOWARD EPSTEIN comes $6,000; your $25,000 endowment Executive Director, gift becomes $30,000; your $100,000 en- JFO Foundation dowment gift becomes $120,000. The maximum match is $20,000 To qualify for the match, your gift of $1,000 or more must reach the Foundation by Dec. 31, 2020. “The newly renovated Staenberg Omaha JCC is amazing,” said David Gilinsky, President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation board. “The already completed fitness center, aquatics facilities, locker rooms, health clubs, dance studios and community engagement rooms are immensely popular, bright and modern. And we’ll be unveiling the expanded, new lobby, theater, hall of history and other areas in the coming months. The Foundation recognizes that our entire JCC is a real gem, and we want to make sure it will stay fresh, inviting, fully functional and up-to-date for years to
come,” continued Gilinsky. Between now and Dec. 31, 2020, the Foundation will match gifts to the Jewish Federation of Omaha Facilities Repair and Replacement Endowment Fund or to any other endowment fund established for the specific purpose of paying costs to repair, replace and renovate buildings, aquatics facilities, equipment, furniture and fixtures in the newly renovated JCC. “The Foundation board has allocated $120,000 for this matching fund grant,” said Gilinsky. The Foundation welcomes charitable gifts of cash, appreciated securities, real estate and certain other assets. Your gift can go directly into the newly created JFO Facilities Repair and Replacement Endowment Fund: or, for gifts of $10,000 or more, if you prefer, the Foundation will establish an endowment in your name or in honor of a loved one. The endowment funds will be invested, and each year, the income generated will be available for the intended purpose of repairing, replacing and renovating the JCC facilities. Please contact Howard Epstein, Executive Director of the Foundation, to make arrangements for your endowment gift. Howard can be reached at 402.334.6466 or hepstein@jewish omaha.org.
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4 | The Jewish Press | November 27, 2020
Above: Mother Chapter AZA members enjoying a night out together at the new Top Golf Omaha.
Above: Fiona Benton braved the wind to collect diapers and other useful products for the WCA as part of her Bat Mitzvah project. Below: For Veterans Day, members of LOVE made individual gifts for all the Veterans at the RBJH. They sent roses to the wives of servicemen. All servicemen/women received a veteran’s T-shirt.
Left and above: In Beth El Torah Tots we discussed welcoming friends and ways we can be a friend while still being safe. Since we can’t have as many play dates as we would like, we made puppet friends!
SP O TLIGHT
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.
Above and below: The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home celebrated Veteran’s Day by thanking veterans of all branches of the military and the spouses of serviceman. Thank you for your sacrifice, your bravery and service.
Above: RBJH staff had a little fun on Friday the 13th.
The Jewish Press | November 27, 2020 | 5
Voices The Jewish Press (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 Michael Ivey Accounting Jewish Press Board Abby Kutler, President; Eric Dunning, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen, David Finkelstein, Candice Friedman, Bracha Goldsweig, Margie Gutnik, Natasha Kraft, Chuck Lucoff, Eric Shapiro, Andy Shefsky, Shoshy Susman and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha. org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. 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@jewishomaha. 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 KampWright, 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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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 blessing in disguise ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor It’s Thanksgiving week, which normally comes with a pretty standard set of rules. You plan an extensive menu that should include turkey and pumpkin pie. There should also be cranberries, yams with marshmallows and something called ‘green bean casserole.’ Then you invite friends and family, eat until you feel sick and watch football. Arguing about religion and politics during dinner is optional. I’m simplifying, of course; my understanding of this very American holiday is partially shaped by watching too many movies. Still, I get how meaningful it is to have a reason for bringing people together and how hard it must be to not have that option this year. After Passover and the High Holidays, which were both marked by isolation and virtual services, this is just more of the same. It goes without saying we’re all tired of it. And under these circumstances, it can be a little challenging to remember gratitude. What are we grateful for? How do we avoid falling into a complaint-loop, focusing only on what’s bad? I mean, this year, take your pick. If we want to feel negative, we certainly have a serious supply of things to be depressed about. Silver linings only appear around dark clouds. Perhaps we start simple. We have clothes, we have a roof and walls, we have enough to eat. Food and shelter are basic necessities that too many of us take for granted. We don’t always treat it as the privilege it is to have those things. Every day when I drive to and from work, I see the homeless by the
side of the road, holding their signs. They are a daily reminder that there is nothing ‘basic’ about having a home to go to and having an endless supply of
shorter and darker.When we need the company of our loved ones more than ever, we can’t have what we want. Feelings of depression (I don’t care if it’s about something as silly as not sharing pie with your relatives) should not be ignored. There is a major difference between complaining when you already have enough and feeling genuinely lonely and sad. The real challenge in front of us is recognizing the difference; we have to work hard to see the signs not only in ourselves, but in those we normally would be celebrating with. Patrick Fitzgerald, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license If we can’t welcome food. It’s called ‘privilege.’ When we look at our own our friends and family into our homes and literally situation in the context of privilege, it’s easy to see feed them, perhaps we can feed them in different we have no excuse to complain. We are lucky to ways. When all the busy preparation and noise falls have our needs met, even if we can’t share our away, maybe then we’ll find the quiet space to ask Thanksgiving meal with dozens of other people. ourselves: what is the essence of human contact, But. what can we salvage during a time we can’t physiWhile we know it’s wrong to complain when we cally be together? When we ask ‘How are you?’ have so much, we still have to face reality. Like all what answer do we give and what answer are we holidays in 2020, this Thanksgiving will be strange willing to listen to? Maybe that quiet space is the and a little lonely. At the same time, the days get blessing in disguise.
We need Thanksgiving more than ever this year DANIEL TREIMAN JTA Americans are in desperate need of some common ground. That’s why, this year, Thanksgiving isn’t coming a day too soon. No matter our political views, our religious beliefs, or if we hail from the reddest rural regions or bluest urban areas, on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans will step outside their daily routines to partake in this beloved national holiday. True, we mark Thanksgiving in many different ways. For some, expressions of gratitude to God take center stage, while others celebrate more secularly. Some watch football religiously, while others prefer the Charlie Brown special. Some stick to the holiday’s traditional menu, while other families augment their turkey dinners with dishes reflecting their own particular cultural backgrounds — and vegetarian Americans might opt for a tofurkey. But a shared national holiday is still a shared national holiday, even if its observance is infinitely customizable and variegated. What’s more American than e pluribus unum? In many respects, Thanksgiving is to Americans what Passover is for Jews. And both holidays build bridges across deep divides. American Jews are not immune to the same forces that are setting Americans against one another. It can sometimes be difficult for American Jews to remember that we are one people, especially when religious differences increasingly overlap with a sharp political divide. Yet the fact that every Passover we all still gather around Seder tables to recount the same story reminds us that we share a past and — we hope — a future. (Next year in Jerusalem!) Indeed, attendance at a Passover Seder is one of the most widely practiced Jewish observances among American Jews. Yes, some families may make amendments to the Seder plate that would vex some of their fellow Jews, but like turkey at Thanksgiving, you can safely assume that you will find familiar items on any Seder table. And while we might use different haggadot — ranging from traditional to liberal to nontheistic to social justicethemed — Jews of all backgrounds find a common touchstone in our ancestors’ Exodus from Egypt.
While Passover is the origin story of the Jewish what is known about that small celebration at Plypeople, Thanksgiving brings us back to the begin- mouth. Amid our current culture wars over the nings of America. Both holidays recount mythically American past, perhaps we can find a better balpowerful moments at the dawn of a new nation, re- ance between history and narrative when it comes calling how, with the help of Providence, a people to Thanksgiving. Grappling honestly with history was delivered from a narrow place. For Passover, it as it actually unfolded, and reckoning with the perwas the redemption from slavery in Egypt; for spectives of Native Americans — who have strugThanksgiving, a bountiful harvest that averted the gled with what Thanksgiving should mean to them threat of famine in an unforgiving new land. Free- — need not diminish, and could indeed enrich, our dom from bondage, and freedom from want and fear. observance of the holiday. The parallels don’t stop once the tables are Just as Jews argue around the Seder table about cleared: What did the ancient Israelites do with Passover’s themes, Americans are unlikely to reach their newfound, God-given freedom? They worshipped a golden calf. And what is our national ritual after our day of giving thanks? Black Friday sales. (Moments of transcendence are, as ever, ephemeral.) Thanksgiving has been a special gift to American Jews. It is a secular national holiday that, in a predominantly Christian country, Jews (and other religious minorities) could embrace with enthusiasm and, in doing so, feel fully American. Yet for all that we have gained from Thanksgiving, American Jews are also A Thanksgiving table is set with the traditional holiday favorites -- and some wine to wash them down. Credit: Getty Images well-positioned to give something back. Historians point out that the popular Thanksgiv- a consensus as to what Thanksgiving should mean. ing story that many of us learned as children is not But it is still our common heritage, one that each exactly how things happened back at that “First year we share, appreciate and wrestle with. Thanksgiving” in 1621. Many would also note that This year, Thanksgiving presents unique chalthe traditional Thanksgiving story elides the larger lenges. In the midst of a deadly pandemic, we are context of horrors inflicted upon Native Americans not able to gather as usual with family and friends. by European settlers. Large, non-socially distanced gatherings of the sort American Jews are no strangers to navigating the that the Pilgrims hosted at Plymouth or the Istension between history and memory. In 2001, the raelites had at Sinai are out of the question. eminent Conservative Rabbi David Wolpe stirred But as we wander through the wilderness of postcontroversy when he spoke to his Los Angeles syn- election acrimony, this Thanksgiving has a special agogue about how the biblical account of the Exo- importance: Whether in small groups around our dus is not supported by the archaeological record. dining room tables or in continent-spanning But as Wolpe has noted, Jews should not fear his- Zooms, we would do well to remember the many torical knowledge. blessings that we as Americans enjoy together. “The Torah is not a book we turn to for historical Daniel Treiman is a former managing editor accuracy, but rather for truth,” he would later write. of JTA. “The story of the Exodus lives in us.” The views and opinions expressed in this article are Similarly, Thanksgiving over the centuries has ac- those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the crued rich meanings that we carry with us beyond views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
Synagogues
6 | The Jewish Press | November 27, 2020
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
CHABAD HOUSE
An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN
South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org
B’NAI ISRAEL For information on our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Mary-Beth Muskin and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. VIRTUAL MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9 a.m. and Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Office Closed — Thanksgiving Day; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 5:35 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.; No BESTT — Thanksgiving Break. MONDAY: Jewish Law with Rabbi Abraham, 8 p.m. TUESDAY: Biblical Literacy with Rabbi Abraham, 11:30 a.m.; BESTT Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Coffee and Conversations with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4:30 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 7 p.m.; Beit Midrash — The Future is Now, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Chug Chamishi (Grades 3-7), 4:30 p.m.; Shul Music with Hazzan Krausman, 7 p.m. FRIDAY-Dec. 4: Shabbat Lunch To-Go Pick Up, 10 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY-Dec. 5: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Guest Speaker — Kyra Shuster, 11:15 a.m.; Virtual Kiddush lunch following services and speaker, 11:45 a.m.; Havdalah, 5:35 p.m. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
BETH ISRAEL
MONDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:40 p.m. TUESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:40 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:40 p.m. THURSDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Shacharit, 9 am.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. FRIDAY-Dec. 4: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:37 p.m. SATURDAY-Dec. 5: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 4:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:41 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
CHABAD HOUSE Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Due to Coronavirus, all services and classes have moved online. For schedules and more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.org or call the office at 402.330.1800 FRIDAY: Lechayim, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi Blotner; Candlelighting, 4:39 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Ends, 5:41 p.m. MONDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani Katzman; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Professor David Cohen. WEDNESDAY: Mystical Thinking, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Professor David Cohen; Introduction to Hebrew Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Professor David Cohen. THURSDAY: Advanced Hebrew Class, 11 a.m. with Professor David Cohen; Talmud Class, noon with Rabbi Katzman; Fun with Yiddish, 1 p.m. with Shani Katzman; Kids in the Kitchen, 4 p.m. with Mushka B. and Bubby. FRIDAY-Dec. 4: Lechayim, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi Blotner; Candlelighting, 4:37 p.m. SATURDAY-Dec. 5: Shabbat Ends, 5:40 p.m.
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL
Virtual services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. FRIDAY: Offices Closed; Candlelighting, 4:40 p.m.; Erev Shabbat Service, service leaders/ music: Rabbi Alex/TBD, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex via Zoom; Torah Study on Parashat Vayetzei, 11:30 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 5:45 p.m. SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes. MONDAY: Makers of Jewish Things, 7 p.m. via Zoom. TUESDAY: Synagogue Staff Meeting, 10 a.m.; Tea & Coffee with Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom; Adult Ed: The Whys (Wise) of Jewish Prayer, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Alex via Zoom. WEDNESDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. FRIDAY-Dec. 4: Candlelighting, 4:41 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex, Steve and Nathaniel Kaup, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. SATURDAY-Dec. 5: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Felch via Zoom; Torah Study on Parashat Vayishlach, 11:30 a.m. via Zoom; Havdalah (72 minutes), 5:44 p.m.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE All services canceled until further notice.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is currently closed to visitors.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander. DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. SUNDAY: Fifth Sunday Breakfast Service, 8 a.m. at Stephen Center. MONDAY: Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, 11 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Mindful Meditation with Margot, 9 a.m.; Community Beit Midrash, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Discussion, 9:30 a.m. with Cantor Alexander. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. Classes, Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah on Zoom, Whatsapp or Facebook Live. On site services held outside in Sukkah, weather permitting. Physical distancing and masks required. FRIDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 am.; Deepening Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Laws of Shabbos, 8 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:39 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 4:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:42 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Jewish Law in Depth, 9:45 a.m. with Rabbi Moshe; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:40 p.m.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Palestinian Authority resumes ties with Israeli government
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Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com
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Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
RON KAMPEAS JTA The Palestinian Authority has resumed security and financial ties with Israel, in part because its leaders believe a Biden presidency will bring Palestinians back into the peacemaking fold. Israel will now resume funneling taxes to the Palestinian Authority and security cooperation. According to reports, the preeminent reason that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas resumed the ties was because Palestinian areas were suffering a cash crunch. Hussein Al Sheikh, a senior official of Abbas’ ruling Fatah Party, announced the change Monday in a Twitter post of his appearance on a Palestinian news program. In the appearance, Al Sheikh cited the election of Joe Biden as president, saying that Biden’s announced changes to U.S. policy on the Palestinians facilitated the change. Biden has said he will resume diplomatic ties with the Palestinians ended by President Donald Trump and resume U.S. assistance. Biden also is adamantly opposed to Israel’s annexation of any part of the West Bank and emphasizes a two-state outcome as a means of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Al Sheikh also said that communications from Israel recommitting the country to prior agreements were a factor. He said the prior commitments nullify the peace proposal Trump unveiled
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, center, attends the Arab League's foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, Feb. 1, 2020. Credit: Mohamed Mostafa/NurPhoto via Getty Images
in January, which the Palestinians revile because in the long run it would allow Israel to annex parts of the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority cut ties with Israel in May partly because of plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of the West Bank. Netanyahu cited the Trump peace proposal as a pretext, although Trump administration officials made clear that no annexation could take place for
at least four years unless the Palestinians were in agreement. Annexation came off the table in August as the Trump administration brokered the normalization deal among Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The UAE would not enter the deal, which was signed in September, unless Israel agreed to suspend plans for annexation.
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Poland’s forgotten Jewish cemeteries dependence Day,” he said. CNAAN LIPSHIZ Before the Holocaust, Poland was home to 3.3 million Jews. JTA National Independence Day in Poland has served in recent The Nazis and their collaborators killed 3 million of them — years as a backdrop for anti-Semitic, xenophobic and violent about half the total number of Jews murdered in the Holoincidents at nationalist rallies. caust. They also killed about 3 million non-Jewish Poles. Few Last week, thousands in Warsaw flouted the coronavirus of the 300,000 Jews who survived the Holocaust in Poland reban on public gatherings and clashed with police who tried main there today, according to the London-based Institute for to disperse them. The illegal procession on Independence Day, Nov. 11, included a banner that read “no to Jewish demands” — a reference to the efforts pushing Poland to pass legislation offering restitution for property that once belonged to Jews, mostly Holocaust victims. Compared to previous years, that was relatively tame. In 2017, marchers shouted “White Europe, Europe must be white,” “Sieg Heil” and “Remove Jewry from power.” But this year in Nowe Miasto, a village situated 35 miles northwest of Warsaw, about a dozen non-Jewish teenage members of the local branch of the International Scouts movement spent their Independence Day quite differently. They Members of the Wagabunda Scouts troop haul a fallen tree out of the the Jewish were cleaning up the local Jewish ceme- cemetery of Nowe Miasto, Poland, Nov. 11, 2020. Credit: Julia Bandurska tery, beating back the overgrown vegetation from around the Jewish Policy Research. The country now has about 4,500 Jews. graveyard’s 10 surviving headstones. Laszczkowski teamed with the Foundation for the PreserAt noon, the members of the Wagabunda 426th Scout team vation of Jewish Heritage in Poland and became a driving force put down their shears and, outside the cemetery, they joined behind the Polish government’s decision in 2017 to launch a in the customary singing of the Polish anthem, “Poland Is Not $28 million investment fund with revenues devoted to restorYet Lost.” ing and maintaining the Warsaw cemetery. The symbolism of that moment was not lost on Michał “If you go now to Okopowa, it still kind of looks like a jungle,” Laszczkowski, president of the Cultural Heritage Foundation, Laszczkowski said. About 2,000 trees there still need to be a nonprofit that organized the Wagabunda cleanup and felled because they are a hazard and large swaths of the cemedozens of others like it in recent years. tery are still covered. Lockdowns and school shutdowns in Poland forced the “But when you compare it to 2017,” he said, “you can already scouts to postpone plans to clean up the cemetery last month, see a difference.” said Laszczkowski, who contacted the Nowe Miasto Scouts Okopowa is only the tip of the iceberg for the Cultural Herat the suggestion of the Mayor’s Office. itage Foundation. Poland still has some 800 Jewish cemeteries “We needed to do it on a school holiday, so we chose Inde- among the approximate 1,200 that existed before the Holocaust. pendence Day because most other events were canceled this Laszczkowski’s foundation has matched 120 of the surviving year anyway,” he said. cemeteries with entities he calls guardians – organizations, The end result is appropriate, Laszczkowski said. such as charities, associations or even schools that undertake “Looking at it now, yeah, I mean it’s symbolic” because “the maintenance and other duties connected to the cemetery. people buried there are an important part of Poland’s identity This story was edited for length. Read the full article at that doesn’t always get the attention it perhaps should on In- www.omahajewishpress.com.
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The Jewish Press | November 27, 2020 | 7
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8 | The Jewish Press | November 27, 2020
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The little store that could... SYBIL KAPLAN Once upon a time there was a small magical hat store right in the heart of Jerusalem, called SherlockS. It’s not hard to find. Just walk along King George Street until you see a two-foothigh teddy bear dressed in a Sherlocks deerstalker hat and Inverness cloak, holding a pipe in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other, perched on a table in the display window. You’ll know you’ve reached your destination because there’s a giant SherlockS Hat sign near the front door. SherlockS is packed with hundreds of hats for both men and women. The store specializes in hard-to-fit heads and carries famous-make hats by Stetson, Bailey’s, Kangol, Chirsty’s and many other quality hat companies. There are even Borsalinos, the kind the snazzy Italians wear. SherlockS is also the home of hand-made hats by local milliners like Danielle and Justine. And SherlockS makes their own Panama hats as well. The owner, Yaacov Peterseil, decided to create this unique hat store after his dermatologist warned him the damage the sun’s ultra violet rays were doing to his head. “You must wear a hat outside in summer and winter,” said the doctor. “I was just looking for something to do, having left publishing,” Yaacov explains. Could a hat store afford me the opportunity to help people by keeping the sun’s rays at bay and be financially rewarding as well? I wondered. I had to try. So, in 2016, I opened SherlockS Hats in my garage. Before long, people came in droves to the store which was way too small to hold both the hats, and the people. So I moved to Diskin Street, in an underground mall. But soon that store was too small, too. Finally I moved to King George Street where people could stop by, relax, get a cappuccino and a muffin, and even buy a hat.” When Yaacov needed a name for his store, he discovered Sherlock and Sherlock Holmes were already taken. “So I thought of SherlockS. SherlockS Hats has a nice ring to it. And there’s no need for an apostrophe.” Yaacov was born in 1946, after World War II, in Salzburg,
Austria, in a Displaced Persons’ Camp. His family moved to the States in 1949. Eventually, his father opened a wholesale clothing shop, selling ladies sweaters and t-tops to all the big chains in New York. “I worked with my dad for a while,” says Yaacov. “It was there I developed a love of quality clothing.”
Credit: Micha Paul
Yaacov believes that his varied business endeavors all led him to SherlockS Hats. He worked as a copywriter for Prentice-Hall, had his own byline in The Nassau Herald, taught Journalism at The University of Michigan, was a speech writer for B’nai B’rith, founded Enjoy-A-Book Club, and owned K’tonton Book Store, the largest book and party store on Long Island. He also found time to get his Rabbinic Degree, and rabbinated in the United States and Newfoundland, Canada, where he taught Jewish Studies at Memorial University. In 1986, he and his wife, Tamar (a family and sex therapist), and their (then) six children made Aliyah to Israel. Once they settled in, Yaacov kept busy as Public Relations Director for his mentor, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and developed Pitspopany Press for Children.
It was while he was busy publishing Jewish children’s books at Pitspopany that Yaacov asked me to review some of their titles. Since then our paths have crossed a number of times. “One of my first hat purchases was the Deerstalker hat,” says Yaacov. “It was made famous in 1891 when Sidney Paget illustrated one of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, putting a deerstalker hat on the detective. Today, I sell about 50 deerstalker hats a year in Israel.” When Covid19 forced him to keep his shop closed for weeks and months at a time, Yaacov took his store online. He created a website, SherlockSHats.com that features a 3-D tour of his hat-filled store, as well as hundreds of hats to choose from. “I write two kinds of blogs for the Website,” says Yaacov, “one is a story-type blog called The Adventures of the Mad Hatter. The blog tells the story of some of the strange and unusual things that happen in my hat store. The other blog gives a bit more practical information about hats and how to wear them. I’m writing one now on How To Fit The Hard-To-Fit Head.” Next time you get to Israel, you’re invited to visit SherlockS at 31 King George. It’s not as famous as 221b Baker Street yet, but it’s getting there. And if you want to talk hats with Yaacov, call him at 972.503612342. SherlockS: It’s the little store that could be the answer to all your hat needs. Sybil Kaplan is a journalist, lecturer, book reviewer, food writer and author (Witness to History: Ten Years as a Woman Journalist in Israel), nine cookbooks (including What’s Cooking at Hadassah College.) She lived in Israel from 1970-1980; she and her late husband, Barry, came to live in Jerusalem in 2008, where she works as a foreign correspondent for North American Jewish publications, lectures to senior citizen residences, leads walks in English in Machaneh Yehudah, the Jewish produce market. She has been book reviewing for 40 years.