December 17, 2021

A N AG E N C Y O F T H E J E W I S H F E D E R AT I O N O F O M A H A

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DECEMBER 17, 2021 | 1 3 TE V E T 578 2 | VO L. 1 02 | NO. 1 0 | CANDLELIGHTING | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 4:38 P.M.

Thank you, Alan Potash ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor n Dec. 30, the entire community is invited to show our appreciation to Alan Potash.

Alan will be stepping down as the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Chief Executive Officer Dec. 31, and we will host an appreciation and farewell reception Thursday Dec. 30 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue.

“Over the last 7 years, Alan has done a great job of guiding the JFO,” JFO President Mike Siegel said. “From the time he started, Alan has used his business and personal skills as well as his community knowledge to bring stability and growth to the organization. Over his tenure, the campaign broke records in both dollar amount and donors. His calm approach during the pandemic allowed the organization to not only survive, but kept the organization moving forward to be able to provide services to those community members in need. He also led the JFO through a community study that provided critical information and allowed the organization to expand some of its services. Alan should be

O

Wendy Goldberg named CODE Advisory Chair Page 4

Hanukkah Extravaganza Pages 8 & 9

proud that he is leaving this organization in a better place than when he started. All of these accomplishments are great, but what is best about Alan is his dedication to this community. Alan truly cares not only about the sustainability of our community, but the growth of our community. Alan has always taken the approach that if it is what is best for our community, we should do it. I have truly enjoyed working with Alan over the years and wish him the best.”

“When you are given the responsibility to lead the Jewish Federation of Omaha, you cannot do that by yourself,” past-President Bruce Friedlander said. “I was fortunate to have that honor, and most importantly, I had the right person in Alan Potash. The community we live in is important; you need to leave it better than you found it. Again, Alan did that. It is time now to honor Alan for a job well done. On behalf of my family, we thank Alan for leading the best Jewish Federation in the country. I wish Alan and his wife Amy many years to now enjoy their time together.”

In February of 2015, then-JFO President Jay Noddle announced Alan’s appointment as the Federation’s Chief See Thank you, Alan Potash page 2

Miss Universe contestant reveals that her greatgrandfather survived the Holocaust Page 16

Foundation IMPACT Grants

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

11 12 14 15

LINDA POLLARD Endowment Assistant Recognizing the ever-increasing need for financial support for Jewish organizations, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Board voted at their June 15, 2021 meeting to budget $35,000 of the Foundation’s funds to

Academy, Institute for Holocaust Education, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Pennie Z. Davis Early Learning Center. Grants will be used for a wide variety of programs and community outreach, all of which benefit Omaha’s Jewish community.

create Foundation IMPACT Grants.

The Foundation Grants Committee, chaired by Donald Goldstein, awarded Foundation IMPACT Grants to the ADL/CRC, Beth Israel Synagogue, Chabad House, Friedel Jewish

In addition to the Foundation IMPACT Grants, the Foundation Grants Committee also fully or partially funded 19 applications from Omahaarea Jewish organizations to help those organizations better meet the needs of the metro-area Jewish community.

Awards were granted for the arts, community events, programs and services benefiting children and families, technology and support for area Holocaust survivors. Below is a sampling of some of the awards granted: The Institute for Holocaust Education is bringing the Anne Frank – A See IMPACT Grants page 2

Coast-to-Coast Book Club walks the walk JOANIE JACOBSON You’re going to screw up royally.

More than once.

“I’m sorry, I wish I could say that reading this book would guarantee that you’d never leave a conversation about race feeling like you’ve gotten it all wrong and made everything worse. But I can’t. It’s going to happen....”

“So now that I’ve thoroughly bummed you out, let’s work on what we can do to lessen the number of times we screw up, minimize the damage and maximize the benefit to all involved.”

“So let’s all get a little uncomfortable. If my mom and I can do it, so can you.”

Straight from the pages of the New York Times Best Seller, So You Want To Talk About Race by award-

winning author Ijeoma Oluo. The author tells us how difficult conversations about race can be, and how we should have those conversations anyway, as she did with her white mom. Oluo is the interracial Black daughter of a Nigerian immigrant father and a white mother from Kansas.

The Miriam Initiative is proud to feature this book at the Coast-To-Coast Book Club, Tuesday, Jan. 11 from 7:308:30 p.m. via Zoom and facilitated by Susan Witkowski.

"We wanted to do our part in addressing this very important and relevant issue," said Abby Kutler, chairman of Beth El's Miriam Initiative. "And what better way than to See Miriam Initiative page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

Thank you, Alan Potash

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Continued from page 1 Executive Officer on behalf of the JFO Board of Directors. “We could not be more pleased to welcome Alan as our CEO,” Noddle said at the time. “Omaha is his hometown. He has deep roots in our community and will lead the Federation with integrity and great care. This is an exciting time for us as we embark on new leadership for the Jewish Federation.”

Potash served as Interim Chief Executive Officer since September, 2014. He was the Executive Director of the Community Relations Council and Plains States Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), based in Omaha, since 2006.

As ADL Plains States Regional Director, Alan was charged with safeguarding civil rights and combating anti-Semitism, prejudice, discrimination and bigotry of all kinds. In a unique joint relationship, he also headed the Community Relations Committee, serving as a resource and partner with state and local legislators and law enforcement when necessary. He also worked closely with the IHE and its past Director, Liz Feldstern, who has since moved back to Israel with her family.

“When I came to Omaha nine years ago, Alan took me under his wing,” Liz remembers. “He didn't have to - at the time he was still at the ADL and not officially my supervisor.

Maybe I was even foisted upon him a bit - being completely new to town and in the office right next door. But Alan never made me feel that way. He was generous with his time, encyclopedic knowledge of all things and people in Omaha, and encouragement. Before AND after he was "really" my boss, Alan was invested in my success. Because he genuinely cares about people, and he cares deeply about what's best for the community. Alan encourages everyone around him to grow their skills and knowledge, try new things, and enjoy doing it.

He is the consummate colleague, manager, and leader by example. And lucky for me - a fabulous friend!”

Recent past-JFO President Jon Meyers said: “I have known Alan for about 15 years; originally we were

just acquaintances, but we regularly ran into each other due to his position at ADL and my involvement with the Temple Board. When I joined the JFO board in 2014 or so, our relationship got much closer.”

“Alan did a lot for the community through his involvement with ADL,” he continued. “He was hired as CEO at a time of significant change in our community. The JFO had just undergone a restructuring, and Alan played an important role in all of us ‘finding our way’ under the newly created CEO Structure for the JFO and its agencies. He has had a calming effect and has brought new staff leaders to the organization under his tenure.”

Then, of course, the pandemic arrived, bringing with it many challenges for an organization such as the JFO, not to mention its CEO. “Alan is very analytical,” Jon Meyers said. “He is by nature extremely cautious and conscientious and that played a critical role for the past 20 months as we navigated new realities of a Covid world. Most especially, Alan had to focus on the decision processes relating to RBJH and everything that had to be put into place to keep our Residents safe, the PPP loan and forgiveness process, and on top of that there was the Campus Transformation project. So many things needed to be balanced. Alan is very trustworthy and as president, I felt I could rely on him to be consistent and honest with me, while at the same time being very open to my ideas, thoughts and suggestions. He is a true mensch. He has a thirst for knowledge and history about our community. He GENUINELY cares about the people he meets and deals with, both in his work as CEO and also simply as a community member.”

Please join us as we say thank you and show our appreciation to Alan for guiding us during this challenging time.

Desserts will be served; we ask that you send your RSVP to Jessi Taylor at jtaylor@jewishomaha.org or by calling 402.334.6407.

Wendy Goldberg named CODE Advisory Chair SIERRA SALGADO PIRIGYI Tri-Faith Initiative Communications Director Tri-Faith Initiative is excited to announce that Tri-Faith Executive Director Wendy Goldberg has been named the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Council Chair for Opportunity, Diversity and Equity (CODE) for 2022.

Members of the Greater Omaha Chamber Board of Directors invest their time, resources and expertise to support the Chamber, its members and mission – to increase business, investment and employment in Greater Omaha. The Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity and Equity (CODE) was created to help the Omaha business community achieve sustainable growth in the areas of diversity, inclusivity, equity and opportunity through the CODE Employer Coalition and CEOs for CODE. Goldberg is replacing Carmen Tapio, President and CEO North End Teleservices, and the Greater Omaha Chamber’s inaugural Council Chair for Opportunity, Diversity and Equity.

“I can think of no one better than Wendy Goldberg to succeed me as Greater Omaha Chamber Board of Directors’ Council Chair for Opportunity, Diversity and Equity. Wendy is as compassionate as she is strategic. She champions for

DEI and creates places where all people’s voices can be heard and the full expression of themselves is honored and accepted. Wendy is a well-respected leader who inspires others, and she takes the helm at a pivotal point in our work. I look forward to the important work I already know Wendy and our community will continue to accomplish. She has my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude,” said Tapio.

A fourth-generation Omahan, Wendy Goldberg has worked with clergy, lay leaders, social sector and nonprofit organizations, community leaders and local educators to make interfaith cooperation a social norm for more than 15 years. She leads Tri-Faith Initiative’s vision and strategy and is a thought leader and regional advisor on bridging differences, our shifting religious landscape, religious pluralism and cultivating inclusive environments.

“I am honored and delighted to serve as the Greater Omaha Chamber’s next CODE Advisory Council Chair for 2022,” says Goldberg. “Through this role, I hope to assist Omaha’s business leaders in understanding ourselves and our neighbors better, so we can all adapt to meet the everevolving needs of our community.”

IMPACT Grants Continued from page 1 History for Today Traveling Exhibit to Nebraska for a full year.

The exhibit is a collaboration between the Anne Frank House in the Netherlands and the University of South Carolina. The 30-panel exhibit will travel the state and will remain in a school for two to three weeks with two-day peer training for up to ten students at each school. IMPACT funds will help with staff and peer training and travel-related expenses.

The children of Beth Israel Synagogue will benefit from a renovation of the current playground. Beth Israel was awarded an IMPACT Grant for replacement of playground equipment, ground leveling and replacement of ground material.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha plans to expand the popular PJ Library programming. Currently, PJ Library delivers free pre-selected books on a monthly basis to families with children 0 to 8 years old. They plan to add PJ Our Way, a program designed for children 9-12 years of age, with this age group selecting their own books.

Friedel Jewish Academy will be able to provide a daily breakfast, snack and hot lunch to students who are at risk for food insecurity based on family income. They will also be able to

offer transportation to and from school for students who need transportation in order to attend Friedel.

A sampling of the other grants awarded are: The annual community-wide Yom HaShoah Commemoration and Youth Program and the yearly Yom Ha’atzmaut program; Jazz at the J will have four performances from groups from around the area throughout the 2021-2022 season; the JCC wants to bring a national-level Jewish comedian to Omaha for a performance, spotlighting the new Alan J. Levine Theater; the Community Philanthropy and Engagement Department is planning a trip to Israel for people who have never visited Israel before and are 60 years of age and older. The grant will be used to subsidize a portion of their trip.

All other grants not listed will benefit areas of the Jewish community and aspects of Jewish life in Omaha.

The Foundation IMPACT grants are helping Omaha-area Jewish organizations offer diverse, varied and significant programming and support to the area’s Jewish community. The Foundation Grants Committee is pleased to be able to offer these grants and the opportunities that will be offered by those organizations who received them.

The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021 | 3

Miriam Initiative of discomfort are when we start learning. We Continued from page 1 invite every woman in the community and are actually in a moment of potential growth.” across the country to attend. Thanks to Witkowski was quick to point out that acZoom, you can bring your mother, sister, knowledging racism in this country in no cousin or friend living anywhere in the world!" way diminishes the seriousness or the dan“Oluo has a brilliant way ger of antisemitism. of explaining the issues in “We need to work on a conversational way that both,” she added, “bemakes you feel like you’re cause they come from talking to someone you althe same place. The difready know,” Witkowski ference is how quickly explained. “It’s like she’s people are identified saying, ‘Let’s sit down and and judged simply by talk. How will we learn the way they look. Many and how will we know Jewish people can go what needs to be done if into a restaurant or dewe’re not willing to talk partment store and not about it? Looking at ourbe instantly identified Ijeoma Oluo Credit: Smith College selves is difficult, I know, as Jewish unless they but I can help.’ No blaming here. Just honest, choose to be visible as Jewish. That’s not kind and respectful conversation from one meant to deny the great harm that Jewish person to another with the only expectation people have suffered due to antisemitism, being that we read with an open heart. It’s a but to identify the difference between our exshort read with a big impact. You come away perience and the experience of discriminafrom the book with a far greater understand- tion that black and brown people in this ing of what you never knew.” country experience daily.”

Oluo’s tone is always gentle but firm. “She “Sometimes it’s difficult to get into a book poses all the right questions, gives explicit because of the style. It’s too academic, too esanswers and then gives us the language we oteric, too slow-moving or just too difficult can use to take a conversation about race to to grasp the concepts. What sets Oluo’s book higher ground. It’s one small awareness at a apart from many other books is her gentle time, but each awareness is mind-blowing.” but smart conversational style and the way Witkowski acknowledged that readers can she guides us through the learning process. often feel defensive at first, even uncomfort- She reminds us always, ‘You didn’t know able. “Take a deep breath and let it go,” she ad- what you didn’t know.’ But once we know vised, “because we are all part of a culture better, we can do better.” that lets racism happen, we just didn’t know So You Want To Talk About Race is available the extent of it, until we learned. So, if you’re in print, as an e-book, or as an audio book. feeling a little uncomfortable, put the book All formats can also be found at the Omaha down for a few minutes, get yourself a cup of Public Library. To make a reservation for the coffee and think about what you’ve just read Jan. 11 Coast-To-Coast Book Club, contact and how it makes you feel. Those moments rerlich@bethel-omaha.org.

News LOCA L | N ATION AL | WORLD

Upcoming BBYO Connect programs JACOB GELTZER BBYO/Teen Program Director If you have a Jewish middle schooler in your family and they are looking to participate in some fun and engaging activities with other Jewish youth their age, then look no further!

BBYO Connect is the program for them. BBYO Connect is a program for 6th-8th graders designed to introduce them to pre-high school programming with other Jewish youth in the community.

Save the date for these upcoming programs.

Sunday Jan. 16 from 1-3 p.m.: Come hang with your friends as we eat, bowl and play laser tag at The Mark to kick off our first BBYO Connect event of the semester.

Sunday, March 6 from 1-3 p.m.: Spend the afternoon in the world of virtual reality when we go to Infinite Loop VR. You and your friends will get the chance to immerse yourselves into a variety of VR experiences.

Sunday, April 3: J-serve is the international day of Jewish teen service. This program will be open to any and all Jewish teens in grades 6-12 in the Omaha and Lincoln area and is a day to give back to the community.

More information and timing will be announced closer to the event.

Sunday, May 15 from 1-3 p.m.: One of the most attended programs from our BBYO members is coming to our BBYO Connect program. Spend the afternoon at Top Golf Omaha

with your friends, get some swings in and enjoy some delicious food.

These programs are available to any Jewish 6th-8th grader, regardless of religious/synagogue affiliation and are FREE of charge! To attend any of these programs, please register at www.tinyurl.com/omahaconnect22.

If you are in 8th grade, you are eligible to attend both BBYO Connect and a majority of BBYO specific programs. For upcoming BBYO programs, go to www.tinyurl.com/omaha bbyo. If your teen(s) are interested in becoming a member of BBYO, head over to www. bbyo.org/join to learn more.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Jacob Geltzer, BBYO/Teen Program Director, at jgeltzer@jccomaha.org, or call at 402.334.6404.

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4 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

News

“It’s about Hanukkah”

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

New exhibit in the JCC Gallery

RON KAMPEAS JTA For one thing, Hanukkah is over. For another, you mark the holiday by burning candles, not entire fir trees.

Maybe that was what Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt was getting at when she said that the man arrested for allegedly burning down the Christmas tree outside Fox News Channel headquarters in New York was attacking, among other things, Hanukkah.

“It’s a tree that unites us that brings us together, it is about the Christmas spirit, it is about the holiday season, it is about Jesus, it is about Hanukkah,” Earhardt said on Fox & Friends, the morning show she co-hosts. “It is about everything we stand for as a country and being able to worship the way you want to worship, it makes me so mad.”

Local artists Jill Rizzo and Brian Wetjen stand in the JCC Gallery, where their artwork is on display through Dec. 30. Credit: Debra S. Kaplan

LYNN BATTEN JFO Publicity and Gallery Manager “LET’S BE ALONE TOGETHER” an exhibit of new work by Jill Rizzo and Brian Wetjen will be on display in the JCC Gallery through Dec. 30. The pair created this artwork in response to the pandemic - during which they found themselves together, yet still feeling alone.

“The last couple years have been unlike anything we - as individuals and as a society - have ever experienced,” they said. “We went from a frenetic “normal” to months of relative isolation at a moment’s notice. Friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family were physically out of reach. Being so isolated was challenging. Our increasingly online discourse reflected the disconnect we were feeling from “real life.” Our new work is a reaction to those feelings and experiences. It is an exploration of those connections we missed and remembered; of the human relationship with the world we

live in, and of each other.”

Jill Rizzo was formally schooled at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design), and completed a B.F.A. at Creighton University with a major in Printmaking/Painting, and minors in Art History and Graphic Design. Her artwork is inspired by symbols representing journeys, perseverance and the human spirit. These stories come from a fusion of memory and current experience with the subconscious as the filter. She is also influenced by aspects of personality and identity, the shadow self, memory, loss, growth, denial of the self … and how the mind processes and makes sense of it all. She has exhibited at the Antiquarium Gallery, 13th Street Gallery, Avenue Gallery, Dundee Gallery, Heller Art Images, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Bemis Underground, Dark Room Gallery, Split Gallery, Jackson Artworks, Creighton University, and more.

Brian Wetjen studied Printmaking at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and at the Karel de Grote Hogeschool in Antwerp, Belgium. His artwork is inspired heavily by nature and the deep connection he feels with the great outdoors. That connection drives his need to create. Through his work, he hopes to share the sense of peace, calm and wonder that can be experienced when one slows down and takes the time to be still and appreciate the beauty and brilliance of the world around us. He has exhibited work at the Michael Phipps Gallery, Gallery 1516, Kaneko, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Citylights Art Project, Petshop Gallery, Split Gallery, University of Nebraska Omaha and more.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Gallery is open during JCC business hours: Mondays-Thursdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Jewish temple several centuries before the birth of Jesus. The two holidays, Christmas and Hanukkah, are coincidental in their midwinter timings, but in little else.

There is suggestive evidence in the New Testament that Jesus attended a Hanukkah event. The party, described in John 10:22, was not the most successful of mixers: Some angry Jews confronted Jesus about his claim to messiahhood, and it almost ended in a stoning. The apostle does not report any tree-burnings, however.

One man has been arrested in the Fox News tree-burning, which fully engulfed the 50-foot structure shortly after midnight Wednesday. The right-wing network had dedicated its “All-American Tree,” which had been decorated with red, white and blue ornaments, over the weekend.

The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021 | 5

Chabad on the Plaza burglarized SAM KRICSFELD Kansas City Chronicle Editor Chabad on the Plaza, Kansas City, was broken into and damaged on the third night of Hanukkah.

Local news station KSHB 41 reported that a prowler had been spotted near Chabad on the Plaza around 1:20 a.m. Police officers found a broken window but no burglar. A black SUV was parked nearby; police tried to contact the driver and passengers of the SUV, but it sped away.

KSHB reported emptied drawers and cabinets, books and sheets of paper on the ground, broken cabinet doors, damage to the electrical box, and missing copper plumbing leading to water leakage. The Torah was left untouched.

“There is nothing more disturbing than walking into the Chabad house for an early morning Torah class and finding the place torn up. Papers and books everywhere, electric wires ripped out, plumbing cut with water pouring everywhere. That was my reality this week,” Chabad on the Plaza’s Rabbi Yitzchak Itkin wrote on Facebook. “This was the reality of the Jews when they entered the Temple during the story of Hanukkah. They found a Temple destroyed and defiled and instead of sulking they went right to work to find the jug of oil. They found the jug of oil and lit the menorah and the rest is history. We are going to find the oil and rekindle our Menorah.”

Chabad on the Plaza launched a 54-hour fundraising campaign to raise $54,000 to secure a temporary location. The campaign reached its goal the evening of Dec. 4 and has since surpassed $90,000 in donations. Donations were matched by the Loeffler family and the Gortenberg family.

According to Rabbi Itkin, police do not believe this was a hate crime, but “nevertheless, [a] sacred space has been desecrated, and our community has been rendered homeless.”

With that in mind, the Jewish Real Estate Professionals group, organized by the Jewish Federation, is working to help Chabad on the Plaza find both a temporary as well as a permanent new home.

Burglars broke into Chabad at the Plaza, strewing books and papers around, breaking cabinets and causing damage to plumbing and electrical systems. Screenshots from Facebook

“We are looking forward to a bigger and brighter place so that we can continue to host the growing crowds of people – of all Jewish backgrounds – who choose to participate in Chabad’s programs,” Rabbi Itkin said. “We are truly grateful for

the outpouring of support from the community and from friends around the world. As of now our community and center is homeless. We need a new space, and we welcome all suggestions.”

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Stabbing in Old City SHIRA HANAU JTA A Palestinian man was killed by Israel’s border police after he stabbed an Orthodox Jew near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City Dec. 4.

The stabbing was the second incident of suspected terrorism in Jerusalem in less than two weeks. A gunman opened fire in the Old City on Nov. 21, killing an Israeli man, Eliyahu Kay, and wounding several others.

Video of the incident released by the police shows the assailant, identified as Muhammad Salima, crossing the street before attacking a man who had been walking behind him. Salima then starts to run towards two Israeli police officers stationed nearby, who shot him, causing him to fall to the ground. The officers shot Salima again while he lay on the ground, where he died.

The victim in Saturday’s attack, a young Orthodox man, was taken to the hospital with what news accounts said were moderate-to-severe wounds.

The 25-year-old assailant was from the town of Salfit in the West Bank and had entered Israel illegally. The Arab cab driver who drove him to the site of the attack was taken into custody by Israeli police, who suspect he may have assisted Salima, according to The Times of Israel. Several Arab leaders in Israel criticized the officers for shooting at Salima while he lay on the ground.

“There was once talk of ‘neutralization.’ He’s on the ground and a homicide video is being made of him. Execution of a person who no longer poses a threat is a horrible and terrible crime. This is the reality that the occupation produces,” Aida Touma-Sliman, a member of the Israeli Knesset from the Hadash party, wrote in a tweet along with a video that shows Israeli police shooting Salima.

Other accounts that shared the truncated video online did not acknowledge that the shooting by police took place after a stabbing. “Field executions, no matter the context, are unjustified,” tweeted Mohammed El-Kurd, a prominent Palestinian commentator who lives in Jerusalem, in response to questions about why.

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 Gary Javitch at breadbreakersomaha@ gmail.com or leave a message at the B’nai B’rith JCC office 402.334.6443.

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6 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

A Jewish artist’s tarot deck

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and is what most people think of when they MAYA MIRSKY J. The Jewish News of Northern California think of tarot cards). She let that be a guide for the inspiration and interpretation needed via JTA A forest fire, racing up a mountain. A tor- to make a version of her own. toise, deep inside the earth. A dark sea, rough Thinking through the traditional interpreon the surface and still beneath it. tations of each card, she would find a related These images, carved on blocks and printed nature concept and create a description with by artist Ava Sayaka Rosen, are part of a deck “writing prompts for self-reflection quesof cards that is simultaneously an art piece, a tions,” she said. spiritual tool and a call to connect with nature.

For the Moon card, which shows a glowing “I was looking for a way to educate people about ecology, but also make that connection between taking care of the Earth and taking care of yourself, and human relationships,” Rosen said. “I felt like tarot was a good way to bridge all of those things.”

Rosen, 33, created the tarot deck as a 2021 fellow with LABA East Bay, the yearlong Jewish artists’ fellowship hosted by the JCC East Bay in Berkeley, California. It’s a project that fuses her passion for nature and text-based art with her Jewish roots.

“My Jewish upbringing, combined with my parents’ love for nature, really instilled a deep Ava Sayaka Rosen is the artist behind the sense of belonging and con- “TARO::TORA” tarot deck. Credit: Ava Sayaka Rosen nection in nature,” said Rosen, who is biracial full moon lightly wreathed with clouds, the (her mother is Japanese and her father is questions included: What do you know?

Ashkenazi Jewish). “And that was really the in- What are you being pulled towards? The spiration to make this deck.” guide for the Compost card, which shows Rosen, who lives in Oakland, grew up in San bright mushrooms sprouting from a log, has Francisco and has an MFA in creative writing a well-known section from Genesis: “For dust and book art from Mills College. Her first art you are, And to dust you shall return.” job was at Congregation Emanu-El as a teen “Working with other Jewish artists really assistant in the art room, helping the art opened up my ideas about what Jewish art is,” teacher. Now she’s an artist and an art teacher Rosen said. herself at the San Francisco synagogue — with She called the project “TARO::TORA” after her own Jewish high school-age assistants. two images from the traditional Rider-Waite “That was my first job, and I really liked it,” deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. she said. “And it’s just hilarious to me that I’m “The connection between tarot and Torah, full circle. I’m back there as the art teacher which the title references, is mysterious but with teen helpers.” very much present within the traditional arWhile her study of art was in a school set- chetypes of the cards,” she said. ting, her background in tarot was personal.

Rosen was able to see the power of “I was initially drawn to the imagery. I didn’t “TARO::TORA” in person at a live LABA event know anything about what the cards meant, on Nov. 7 at the JCC East Bay. Her corner, or the history of it,” she said. “As I started to where she did readings with her deck, was learn more about it, I got really into tarot more popular than she expected. reading practice as a way to investigate myself “I didn’t think that a big line would form,” and my relationships.”

Rosen said with a laugh.

Tarot cards date back to 15th-century Italy.

Musician David Israel Katz was one of They were adapted for mystical purposes, in- those who got a reading. He said he was cluding as a fortunetelling tool, in 18th-cen- drawn to the project for the way it combined tury France, and social media has brought new “the visual language of liberty and playfulness interest to the practice. During a tarot reading, on the one hand, and of aesthetic cohesion cards with evocative images are drawn from a and deep inquiry on the other hand.” deck and interpreted through a particular lens.

“As minimal as the reading was in its outSome draw on Kabbalah in their readings; ward format, it was intimately illuminating other modern Jewish artists have also blended inwardly,” he said in an email. “The card I tarot with Jewish mysticism. drew spoke to me immediately, and Ava was As an artist, Rosen said creating her own able to describe accurately and concisely the deck was a natural step. The deck she de- different facets contained in the image.” signed as a LABA fellow is not a particularly Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud, director of pubJewish artwork, although it contains some lic programs at the JCC East Bay, said the JCC Jewish texts to help deepen the understand- was eager to have Rosen in the fellowship not ing of each image. But the LABA fellowship only because of her talent and her connecallowed her to take an existing concept and tions in the art and Jewish worlds, but also bedevelop it. It also gave her deadlines to meet. cause of her experience teaching children. The “It’s a very ambitious project to create orig- JCC has plans to expand on LABA by bringing inal concepts and carve them, print them, artists into the preschool and afterschool prowrite them — write the descriptions for them grams, and Wolfman-Robichaud said Rosen — so I knew I was going to need some ac- was an obvious choice for that, as well. countability help, in a major way,” she said.

For Rosen, LABA was a unique opportunity Of the 78 cards that make up a tarot deck, for her to participate in a group with others Rosen has finished 39, mostly during the like herself: Jewish artists who together could LABA fellowship. She plans to look for a pub- explore the concepts of Jewishness, art and lisher once the deck is completed.

Jewish art.

“This LABA fellowship really put a fire “The text study paired with art making was under my butt and gave me a deadline, and I really appealing to me, and felt unique,” she just worked really, really hard to produce said. “It really allowed us to have deep converabout half the deck now,” she said. sations around these ideas and really form Rosen started each design by pulling a card community.” from her copy of the Rider-Waite deck, the This story originally appeared in J. The Jewmost well-known tarot deck ( first published ish News of Northern California and is repubin 1909, it is famous for its esoteric imagery lished with permission.

The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021 | 7

Israeli officials expected to attend Beijing Olympics, the US plans to boycott

SHIRA HANAU JTA Israeli officials are expected to attend the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing next year, unlike their American counterparts who will boycott the game to protest China’s human rights abuses against the Uighur Muslim minority.

Haaretz reported the news, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official who called the Americans’ decision to boycott “bizarre.”

Earlier this week, the United States announced that no American officials would attend the games.

The boycott only applies to diplomatic officials and does not impact the American athletes who will compete in the games. Australia has also said it would boycott the games due to China’s human rights abuses.

Even with its close ties to the United States, Israel has grown closer to China in recent years due to trade ties between the countries.

In October, Israel chose not to sign a United Nations statement expressing concern about welfare of the Uighurs, a Muslim minority group in China that has been forced into “re-education camps,” which some have likened to concentration camps.

The statement was signed by 43 countries, including the United States and several allies, among them the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. At the time, an Israeli diplomatic official told The Times of Israel that the

Israeli government had “other interests that it has to balance” in its relationship with China.

Concern over China’s treatment of the Uighur minority — and comparisons of its “re-education camps” to concentration camps during the Holocaust — have been

growing within the global Jewish community for years.

Activists in the United States have tried to mobilize the Jewish community behind the Uighurs’ cause as in the case of the genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s, while British Jews have led the fight against the abuses of the Uighurs in the United Kingdom.

HEALTH+WELLNESS

News LO CA L | NAT IO NAL | WO RLD

11 BDS resolutions passed at US colleges last year, per ADL report SHIRA HANAU JTA Student governments considered resolutions to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel at 17 college campuses in the United States during the 2020-2021 school year, according to a new report from the AntiDefamation League.

The watchdog group called the BDS resolutions a “cornerstone of anti-Israel campus activity during the last year.”

During a school year in which a May conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was accompanied by widespread criticism of Israel, the number of student governments entertaining BDS resolutions was not dramatically higher than in the recent past.

Of the bills supporting the Israel boycott, 11 passed. That was fewer than in the 2015-2016 school year, according to the ADL’s report about that year, when it documented 23 BDS resolutions, of which 14 passed. The following year, student governments considered 14 BDS resolutions, passing six; the year after that, five of 12 resolutions passed.

In the 2019-2020 school year, just four BDS resolutions came before student governments; the lower number is likely explained by the pandemic’s abrupt school closures.

According to the U.S. Education Department, there are nearly 4,000 “degree-granting

postsecondary institutions” in the United States, meaning that BDS resolutions were introduced at .425% of college campuses and passed at .275% of campuses last year.

None has been implemented, noted the ADL; in some cases university presidents rejected the student government resolutions.

The ADL’s position is that not all criticism of Israel is antisemitic, but that the BDS movement is. Its report concludes that antiIsrael activity on campus last year continued to “span from legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies to expressions of antisemitism from some activists.”

Student leaders at at least two universities, the report notes, faced “exclusionary calls because of their expressions of support for Israel and Zionism” and one of them resigned over it.

“As we saw acutely during the May conflict with Hamas, the anti-Israel movement’s drumbeat of rhetorical attacks on Zionism and Zionists can truly hurt and offend many Jewish students, leaving them feeling ostracized and alienated,” the ADL’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, said in a statement accompanying the report.

In a different report released this fall, the ADL found that one-third of Jewish college students said they had personally experienced antisemitism in the last year.

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Hanukkah Extravaganza

8 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

FIRST ROW Rabbi Yoni Dreyer left, with wife Shiran and children Tchiya, Eitan, Lavi and Ori; Talia, left, Judah, Daniel and Micah Kohen; Annalise Hoffman; Ian, left, Ryan, Miles and Amanda Baker; Rabbi Aryeh Azriel – Rabbi Emeritus Temple Israel and granddaughter Mia Werner.

SECOND ROW Naama Abraham and Hazel Hoffman; Rabbi Eli and Mushka Tenenbaum; Hanukkah Extravaganza crowd; Sam and Shane Cohn; Evie and Renee Zacharia, with friend.

THIRD ROW Adam Rosen; Andi Blumkin and Vivian Hoffman; Emily Ray and Amanda Blumkin, Hannah and Brad Haussler with Sivan Cohen; Leora and Mia Werner; Zalmen Katzman lighting menorah; BBYO volunteers Evan Kugler, left, Rachel Dowd, Abby Kaufman and Jacob Geltzer; Ezra and Mandi Mara; Esther Cohen, left, Shay Sarachan and Addison Blumkin; Gabby Cohen-Blair and Ezra Blair; Matthew and Alex Scheer; Ted Friedland, left, Dick Zacharia, Jamie Friedland, Terri Zacharia and Sam Friedland.

FOURTH ROW Frankie Friedman, left, Ian Baker, Miles Baker, Ansel Moshman, Sivan Cohen, Sophy Silverstein, Addison Blumkin, Emma Katzir, Ethan, Hayley, and Andi Blumkin; Cherie, left, Shay, Edison and David Sarachan; CJ Novak and Maeve Yellin; Frankie and Candice Friedman; Jay Scribner and Parker Hagemoser.

FIFTH ROW Mandi and Ezra Mara; Brandon and Preston Rich; Kalli, left, Matt, Golda and Ezekiel Taub; Mara Cohn; Hanukkah Extravaganza crowd; Hazel and Mark Hoffman; Ally Freeman, left, Simon, Geoff and Sophy Silverstein; Vivian, left, Katrina and Jay Katelman.

The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021 | 9

10 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

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Israeli minister promises progress on Kotel’s non-Orthodox prayer space

to do in the future, whether to live in this country or to return BEN SALES to Israel. It’s their choice. I don’t interfere, but the very fact [is] New York Jewish Week via JTA Israel will set plans in motion to renovate the non-Orthodox that hundreds of thousands of them live in this country, and prayer space at the Western Wall, an Israeli official said Tues- finally, they are organized.” day in New York.

Shai also said that he feels Israelis need to take more of an The current Israeli government is expected to implement interest in Diaspora Jews, after a history of disregarding the an agreement, shelved under former Prime Minister Benjamin experiences of Jews outside of Israel.

Netanyahu, that would expand an area of the holy site where “We don’t teach the Diaspora in school, we were ashamed men and women could pray as they please. of the Diaspora for many years,” he said. “We tried to cut the But speaking to journalists at the Israeli consulate in New roots of the Jewish people: You live in the diaspora, you did York City, Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai said that not belong to us. We built a new Jew, we built a new state, we before it formally implements the 2016 agreement, the government plans to do more modest physical upgrades to the site. They include expanding physical access to the Western Wall itself (most of the area is close to the wall but not adjacent to it) and repairing some physical damage to the prayer area.

The non-Orthodox section was temporarily closed in 2018 when it was struck by a 400-pound boulder that broke off from what is a 2,000-year-old retaining Nachman Shai, Israel’s minister of diaspora affairs, second from left, takes part in a panel discuswall surrounding the Tem- sion at Manhattan's Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, with, from left, Elliot Cosgrove, senior rabbi at Park Avenue Synagogue; Lori Koffman, director of content and innovation at Park Avenue Synple Mount complex.

The government “will agogue; Ammiel Hirsch, senior rabbi at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, and Chaim Steinmetz, rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, Dec. 6, 2021. Credit: Via Shai's Twitter continue the construction” that was initiated in 2016, Shai said. “There are a few stones built a new language. It’s all true, but still, there’s no present there that they have to remove.” without [the] past, and there’s no future without the present.

The 2016 Western Wall agreement was raised as part of a So it’s time to learn the roots, and it’s time to learn [about] broader update Shai gave on his work, which is focused on Jewish communities all around the globe.” strengthening ties between global Jewry and Israel. Israel’s reShai joined the government after Israeli Prime Minister Nafcently passed state budget doubled his ministry’s budget, in- tali Bennett unseated Netanyahu in June. cluding funding earmarked for non-Orthodox groups. Prayer The non-Orthodox prayer space, a compromise that would arrangements at the Western Wall, and ensuring the rights of allow, for example, women to pray with a Torah scroll without non-Orthodox groups, have historically been of interest to harassment from Orthodox authorities, has been a hot-button American Jewish leaders, especially non-Orthodox leaders frus- issue in Israeli politics for years. In 2016, Netanyahu brokered trated with the Orthodox control of religious affairs in Israel. the compromise that would have expanded the non-Orthodox Shai is in the United States to speak at the annual confer- section, which is to the south of the main, Orthodox-conence of the Israeli-American Council, which begins Thursday. trolled plaza, and created a shared entrance for both areas. In Shai said one of his top priorities is engaging Israelis living in 2017, he suspended the compromise under pressure from his America — regardless of whether they’re thinking of moving haredi Orthodox allies. back.

The current government does not include haredi Orthodox “We have to open channels of communication between parties. them and us,” he said. “They may decide what they would like

The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021 | 11

Above: The Ballet IV’s: Lindsay Stoller, Madi Eichele, and McKenzie Dunn.

Above, below and bottom: This year the staff of JSO (Jewish Senior Outreach) delivered Hanukkah care packages for community seniors to wish all a joyous Hanukkah. The bags included Matzoh ball soup, rugalach, and a little bag of goodies made with love by the Blumkin Home Residents.

Above and left: Because of the crazy wind, the Chabad menorah in front of the JCC had to be refitted with electric bulbs, rather than the original oil cups. It was a success, though!

Above, below and left: Hanukkah was celebrated in style at Beth Israel with balloons and a variety of games. Of course, there was also good food.

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

Below: Our JCC Pre-Ballet dancers created a living menorah! We love this so much!!!

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12 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

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Lone wolves

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor “An Israeli woman was stabbed by a Palestinian teenage girl near the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah Wednesday morning in the latest suspected “lone wolf ” terror attack in recent weeks,” Shira Hanau wrote for JTA last week.

Earlier last week, a Palestinian teenager rammed a car into a guard station at a West Bank checkpoint and injured a guard before being shot dead

by Israeli officers. On Saturday, an Israeli man was stabbed by a Palestinian assailant in the Old City.

The attacker was shot and killed at the scene. Last month, a Hamas gunman killed Eliyahu Kay, a 25year-old Israeli, also in Jerusalem’s Old City.”

Can we still consider it a “lone wolf ” attack if it keeps happening? It’s not like these types of attacks are, or ever have been, outliers.

We do this in America too. When a 16-year-old goes into a high school and shoots his classmates, the media treats it as isolated. The perpetrator was ‘acting alone,’ ‘not part of any organization,’ and we use terms like ‘single gunman’ and ‘personal grievances.’

What we forget is that, within the framework of the middle east, there is no such thing as a ‘lone wolf.’ It is impossible to live there and not be affected by your location, regardless of what side of the arguments you find yourself. A teenager, no matter her background, is not going to be able to develop her own ideology apart from the world in which she lives. Whatever brought this particular 14-year-old to the brink, she did not create those circumstances by herself. The same goes for the

teenager who rammed his car into the guard sta- tack another human being, what have you been tion. They are products of where they live, who they taught about what your own life means? These were born to and what they’ve been taught. kids have probably been taught Israel doesn’t value That doesn’t mean they are not culpable for them. But those doing the teaching, do they in turn what they did. What it does mean is that the ten- value the lives of their own children? sion in Israel has always been about much more than borders. It’s also about historical perspective, what the kids are taught in different parts of the country. When the younger generation is taught completely different narratives without opportunities to compare notes, the rift widens ever more.

For a 14-year-old to stab a stranger, a few things have to happen first. That teenager has to be angry, angry enough to stab someone. For those of us living very differ- Police officers at the scene of a stabbing attack in East Jerusalem ent lives in the US, it’s practically on Dec. 8, 2021. Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 impossible to identify with that. When have you I’ve always thought Golda Meir’s comment, “We ever been angry enough that you could stick a knife will only have peace with the Arabs when they love in someone’s back? Second, she would have most their children more than they hate us." was harsh likely been aware that in committing this act, she and racist. This is not true for all Arabs, or any risked her own life. The teenager who rammed his group. Instead, we have to ask: when a child of 14 car mere days before was shot and killed, and he feels driven to commit such an act, how can we wasn’t the first. “From criminal to victim in one teach them to value their own life? step,” someone suggested on Twitter, and they’re When hatred exists between ‘us’ and ‘them,’ it is not wrong. Which brings up my final thought (be- worth our time to ask the question. We know what cause there’s not enough space, we can be here all you think of us, but what do you think about yourday). self? Do you deserve life, do you deserve happiness, If you are only 14, but you are this angry, while at or do you deserve sorrow and death? the same time you think it’s worth your life to at-

Larry David has never been more Jewish than in this season’s Curb ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL JTA Curb Your Enthusiasm has always been a Jewy show, but this season it is downright Jewish.

On the HBO sitcom, now in its 11th season, Larry David has never been shy about surfacing, and lampooning, Judaism and Jewishness. He has contemplated the dilemmas of Holocaust survival, waded into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (via a local chicken restaurant) and gotten stranded on a ski lift with an Orthodox Jew on Shabbat.

This season, it’s not just the occasional matzoh ball joke, or the Yiddish lesson he gave Jon Hamm in the season premiere. David is plunging into questions of Jewish pride and belief, and if he isn’t exactly Abraham Joshua Heschel, he could provide a Jewish educator with a semester of lively classroom debate.

In the latest episode, for example, a Jew for Jesus joins the cast of the show that Larry’s character is developing for Hulu. Although neither Larry nor his Jewish friends are remotely religious, they seem genuinely upset by the actor’s apostasy, and Larry gives him a rather sober warning that he shouldn’t proselytize on set.

A week earlier, a member of his golf club (played

by Rob Morrow) asks Larry to pray for his ailing father. Larry declines, saying prayer is useless. He also wonders why God would need, or heed, the prayer of a random atheist like himself instead of the distressed son who wants his father to live.

For anyone who has gone to Hebrew school, it’s a familiar challenge, usually aired by the wiseacre in the back row who the teacher suspects is perhaps the most engaged student in the classroom.

And it is not just atheists posing the question, “Why pray?” The Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz, a devout Orthodox Jew, believed that “worship of God must be totally devoid of instrumental considerations.”

In addition to a Jewish funeral, the episode has a bonus theological theme: “Middah k’neged Middah,” or as Morrow’s character puts it, “what goes around comes around.” Morrow warns Larry that his actions will have consequences, which actually gives Larry pause. If anything, the entire Curb enterprise is an exercise in Jewish karma. Larry is

constantly being punished in ways large and small acter is a deeply principled person: Most of the for his actions, inactions, meddling and slights. As nonsense he gets himself into is the result of his enthe old theater expression has it, if Larry opens a forcing unspoken social rules that others appear to donut shop to drive a rival out of business in act be flouting, whether it is taking too many samples one, his own shop will burn to the ground in act at the ice cream counter or dominating the converthree. sation (poorly) at A prior episode the dinner table. was even more selfLarry is rude and consciously Jewish: inconsiderate, but Larry attends High he is seldom wrong.

Holiday services He is what Rabbi only because he lost Joseph Soloveitchik a golf bet to the might have called a rabbi, and he literally “Halachic Man” — bumps into a Klansan actualizer of “the man coming out of a ideals of justice and coffee shop. The latrighteousness,” even ter sets off a string of when the rest of the plot twists, as he and world resents it. the KKK guy trade a If you think I am series of favors and In a recent episode of the 11th season of Curb Your Enthusi- overdoing it, reobligations that will asm, Larry David feels obligated to clean a Klansman's robe. member that there have disastrous con- Credit: John P. Johnson/HBO is an actual discussequences for both. Larry’s salvation comes at the sion in Talmud about the right and wrong way of end, when he blares a shofar from his balcony, lit- putting on a pair of shoes. erally raising the alarm on antisemitism and wakAnd just as in the Talmud, there are no easy aning his neighbors to the threat of white supremacy. swers in David’s moral universe: If a friend lends The episode suggests the failure of good inten- you his favorite, one-of-a-kind shirt, and you ruin tions. Larry spills coffee on the Klansman’s robe it, what are your obligations to him? (See: Bava Metand offers to have it dry-cleaned. Good liberal Jew zia 96b) If a thief breaks into your house and then that he is, Larry appears genuine in his belief that drowns in your swimming pool, which wasn’t proempathy is a better response to hate than con- tected by the required fence, who is owed damages frontation, and that if he turns the other cheek it and how much? (See: Ibn Ezra on Exodus 22:1-2) might lower the temperature in a post-Trump In last week’s episode, Larry even touched on — America. Of course, it doesn’t work out that way, consciously or not — a classic debate in the Talmud: and the last word goes to his friend Susie Green, If you and a friend are stranded in the desert, and who performs a pointed act of Jewish sabotage that your canteen has only enough water for one of you gets the Klansman pummeled by his fellow racists. to survive, must you share it or save your own life?

Give David credit for embedding within a preposYes, Larry was talking about sharing a phone terous half-hour of television a debate about charger, but if the Sages had cell phones, what do vengeance and resistance that engaged the follow- you think they’d be talking about? ers of Jews as different as Jesus and Jabotinsky.

Andrew Silow-Carroll is the editor in chief of Make no mistake: The Larry David character is The New York Jewish Week and senior editor of sacrilegious and heretical, and Curb is no friend of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (@SilowCarroll). the religious mindset. But to dismiss him as “selfThe views and opinions expressed in this article are hating” is to miss out on the unmistakably Jewish those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the conversation at the heart of the show. David’s char- views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021 | 13

Z3 2021: Developing an evolved Zionist ideology for the 21st century ZACK BODNER AND AMITAI FRAIMAN This series is sponsored by the Z3 2021 Futures Workshop.

Featuring lively debates on future Diaspora-Israel relations with Natan Sharansky, Rachel Azaria, Bethamie Horowitz, Bret Stephens and many more.

In the fall of 2015, the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto hosted the first Zionism 3.0 Conference. It was a conference where we set out to bring together left and right, Orthodox and secular, Israelis and Americans, settlers and Tel Avivniks.

We wanted to bring speakers from the left that the Zionist Organization of America would never bring to its conference, like Peter Beinart, and speakers on the right that J Street would never bring, like Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely. And it worked. We sold out the conference with over 800 attendees and went on to host even more successful conferences since.

Our effort is an exciting and effective example of how we can bridge the divide between world Jewry and Israel. It is a testament to the power of Jewish peoplehood.

We call this effort Z3, as a shorthand for Zionism 3.0. We believe we are in the third iteration of Zionist ideology. Zionism 1.0 was the pre-1948 Zionism of theory, of the pioneers, of Zionist thinkers and statesmen including Theodor Herzl, Ahad Ha’am, and Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. It was the Zionism of creating a sovereign Jewish state where Jews could be safe and live a Jewish life without fear of pogroms or Nazis.

Then, in 1948, Zionism evolved to its next phase: the Zionism of reality, of the builders like prime ministers David Ben Gurion, Menachem Begin, Golda Meir, and Yitzhak Rabin. Israel’s existence was threatened by its neighbors every decade for the first 60 years of its life, and a vital piece of its survival was Diaspora support. Zionism 2.0 was the Zionism defined by the notion that those of us in the Diaspora who didn’t make aliyah must support those who did.

It was the Zionism of Diaspora negation; the thinking that the Jewish future lies only in Israel, and those of us living in the Diaspora were somehow lesser Jews.

But now Israel is strong, and American Jewry is also strong.

We have different characteristics, to be sure, but we are both flourishing. We now depend on each other in new ways, and we can enrich each other in new ways.

So the model must evolve to Zionism 3.0, the next phase of Zionist ideology.

Today, two major centers of Jewish life, in Israel and in North America, are blossoming, and we must create a new paradigm for how we engage with each other, a way that takes us beyond our political and religious differences. We must find a way to work together, to share what’s special, and to fix what frustrates us about the other through a consultative relationship, not an old, paternalistic, finger-wagging relationship.

We must recognize that Jews in both places add to the

Credit: https://z3project.virtualjcc.com/

other, not just for security, but also with each other’s spiritual and cultural contributions.

We are under no delusions that we are going to iron out all our differences. The Jewish people have never agreed on everything, and we never will. But that’s not the point.

Throughout our history, we have remained siblings. Brothers and sisters. Siblinghood is even stronger than marriage. You can’t divorce your brother. Yes, you can fight with each other.

And, as we’ve seen, you can go to war with each other. But siblings are still siblings till the end. Just as we rescued Jews from the former Soviet Union without asking about their politics or their level of religious observance, so too must we embrace each other today, Israeli Jews and Diaspora Jews, beyond our political or religious differences.

We are family. We share a legacy and a destiny, and we must find a new way to engage with each other. The Z3 Project attempts to do that by embracing three central principles: 1. Unity, not uniformity: We aim to honor our differences while working for the oneness of the Jewish people.

2. Engaging as equal partners: We bring together Israelis and Diaspora Jews to build our common future.

3. Diversity of voices: We convene Zionists of differing backgrounds and perspectives across the political and religious spectrums.

For the last seven years, the OFJCC has hosted a full-day conference at our facility in Palo Alto that has attracted over 1,000 people at a time to engage in this conversation. In 2020,

due to COVID, the experience was available to people all over the world through a fully virtual experience over the week of Hanukkah.

Z3 2021 was recently held on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, as a Futures Workshop, during which we engaged our audience to work through a plausible future scenario when the DiasporaIsrael relationship was brought to the breaking point.

Our renowned master game designer, acclaimed in the field, guided us through a vivid scenario and then we broke into six in-person groups and four more virtual ones where offshoot scenarios snowballed out of the main one. In each of these breakouts, two thought leaders: one Israeli and one American led the participants through ways to intervene so we can help the Jewish people avoid a major oncoming challenge.

If we really want to move the needle on Israel-Diaspora relations, it is important to focus on proactive conversations. Zionism is about taking ownership of our own destiny. We are well-served by anticipating the coming challenges and planning a response collaboratively, as opposed to taking a reactive stance that addresses old challenges. We should anticipate what is coming next.

For Jewish peoplehood to remain meaningful, relevant and joyous in the 21st century, we need to reimagine Diaspora-Israel relations. We need to find a new way to engage with each other.

Natan Sharanksy and Gil Troy make this plea in their book Never Alone when recounting the rift between Diaspora Jewry and Israel over the struggle to incorporate new Ethiopian Jewish immigrants into Israeli society. They highlight the need for a third era in Zionist ideology as they look back and recollect on that moment, remembering, “The road to the third stage of mutual dependence, when we realize that we needed one another as equal partners, remained to be paved.”

It’s time to pave that road, the third road, that will lead the Jewish people into the 21st century together as one.

Part of this piece was adapted from a section of the new book

by Zack Bodner, Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood, published by Gefen Publishing. A portion of this article appeared previously in j. The Jewish News of Northern California.

Zack Bodner is the president and CEO of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto. Rabbi Amitai Fraiman is the director of the Z3 Project at the Oshman Family JCC.

THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO AN

$SĹHFLDWLRQ DQG )įHZHģ 5HFHSWLRQ FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

$ODQ 3RWDVK THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 • 2:30 - 3:30 P.M. Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue 333 South 132nd Street • Omaha, NE

Please join us as we thank Alan for his years of service and wish him well in his future endeavors.

RSVP by December 16th to Jessi Taylor at 402-334-6407 or jtaylor@jewishomaha.org

Synagogues

14 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

CHABAD HOUSE

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154 rbjh.com

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL Join us In-Person on Friday, Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m. for evening services with a guest speaker. The service will be led by the members of the congregation. Everyone is always welcome at 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, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber.

Handicap Accessible.

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

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

FRIDAY: Nebraska AIDS Coalition Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 5:35 p.m. Zoom only.

SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY: Operation Grateful Goodies Drop Off, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Temple Israel; Mussar, 11:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham at Beth El & Zoom.

WEDNESDAY: Operation Grateful Goodies Drop Off, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Temple Israel.

THURSDAY: Operation Grateful Goodies Drop Off, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Temple Israel; Operation Grateful Goodies Sorting, Shift 1: 6-7 p.m. and Shift 2: 7-8 p.m. at Temple Israel.

FRIDAY-Dec. 24: Operation Grateful Goodies PickUp Boxes for Delivery, noon-1 p.m. at Temple Israel; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-Dec. 25: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 5:35 p.m.

Zoom only.

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

BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

Classes, Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah on Zoom, WhatsApp or Facebook Live. On site services held outside in pergola, weather permitting. Physical distancing and masks required.

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 4:39 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Torah Class/Kids Class, 10:30 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Kiddush, 11:30 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 4 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha, 4:30 p.m.; Shalosh Seudos/Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 4:50 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 5:44 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 3:50 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 3:50 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Kids Class, 3:45 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv,

4:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 3:50 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Character Development, 9:30 am. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Daf Yomi, 3:50 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY-Dec. 24: Nach Yomi — Daily Prophets, 6:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (WhatsApp); Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Deeping Our Prayer, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Ari (Zoom); Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Candlelighting, 4:42 p.m.

SATURDAY-Dec. 25: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Torah Class/Kids Class, 10:30 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m. with Shiran Dreyer; Kiddush, 11:30 a.m.; Daf Yomi, 4 p.m. with Rabbi Yoni; Mincha, 4:40 p.m.; Shalosh Seudos/Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 5 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 5:47 p.m.

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

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

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/Le chayim; Candlelighting, 4:38 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 5:43 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Parsha and Coffee, 9:45 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha Class, 9:30 a.m. with Shani Katzman; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Virtual Pirkei Avot Women’s Class, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Katzman; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Introduction to Hebrew Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Advanced Hebrew Class, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 18 — No advance experience necessary), noon with Rabbi Katzman.

FRIDAY-Dec. 24: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 4:30 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochab ad.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 4:42 p.m.

SATURDAY-Dec. 25: Shacharit, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 5:46 p.m.

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

Note: Some of our services, but not all, are now being offered in person.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex, Leslie Delserone and Peter Mullin, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 4:42 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.

with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study on Parashat Vayechi, noon; Havdalah, 5:48 p.m.

SUNDAY: LJCS Family Engagement Activity (Grades Gan-4) with Rabbi Alex, 10 a.m. All LJCS Families are welcome; Men's Jewish Bike Group of Lincoln meets Sundays at 10 a.m. rain or shine to ride to one of The Mill locations from Hanson Ct. (except we drive if its too wet, cold, cloudy, windy, hot or humid) followed by coffee and spirited discussions. No fee to join, no dues, no president, no board or minutes taken. If interested please email Al Weiss at albertw 801@gmail.com to find out where to meet each week; Intro to Judaism Class, noon at TI; Jewish Book Club, 1:30 p.m. wil discuss Mazel by Maggie Anton via Zoom; Come learn and play Pickleball, 7-9 p.m. at Peterson Park. Everyone is welcome; just wear comfortable clothes and tennis or gym shoes. If you need a paddle, contact Miriam Wallick by email at Miriam57 @aol.com or by text at 402.470.2393 before Sunday.

TUESDAY: Tea & Coffee with Pals, 1:30 p.m. via Zoom; Jewish Ethical Teachings Class, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Alex.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS Classes.

FRIDAY-Dec. 24: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, service leaders/music: Rabbi Alex and Elaine Monnier, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 4:46 p.m.

SATURDAY-Dec. 25: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study on Parashat Shermot, noon; Havdalah, 5:50 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

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

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin and Cantor Joanna Alexander.

DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. via Zoom.

FRIDAY: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. In-Person; Grades 7 & 8 Lock-in, 5 p.m.; Tot Shabbat, 6 p.m. via Zoom; Classic Shabbat: Sages of the Talmud: Personalities and Legacies, 6 p.m. via Zoom or In-Person.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom or InPerson.

SUNDAY: Youth Learning Programs, Grades PreK6, 10 a.m. In-Person; Book Club, 10:30 a.m. via Zoom or In-Person.

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

TUESDAY: Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. InPerson.

THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Class, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel via Zoom or In-Person.

FRIDAY-Dec. 24: Office Closed; Shabbat B’yachad: Sages of the Talmud: Personalities and Legacies, 6 p.m. via Zoom or In-Person.

SATURDAY-Dec. 25: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom or In-Person.

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

Philadelphia official accused of making antisemitic comments resigns SHIRA HANAU JTA A top official in Philadelphia’s city government resigned Sunday after making antisemitic remarks, including referring to the Holocaust movie Schindler’s List as “Jewish propaganda,” and creating a hostile environment for staff, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Michael Rashid had served as director of commerce for the city of Philadelphia since November 2020.

“Today I offered, and Mayor [ Jim] Kenney accepted, my resignation as Director of Commerce.

My continued service would serve as a distraction from the work of the Department, which is far too important to the City and region,” Rashid said in a statement. “I also have had the opportunity to speak with leaders of the Jewish community in

Philadelphia and apologize for my previous comments which were inappropriate and insensitive. I look forward to future engagement with the community going forward.”

Several Jewish organizations, including the American Jewish Committee and the local Jewish federation, had called on the mayor to fire Rashid after reports of his comments about Schindler’s List as well as his social media posts began to surface. In one Facebook post, Rashid quoted Mal- Skyline in autumn behind the Schuylkill River Boardwalk at colm X calling Jewish neighborhoods “Jew Sunset, Philadelphia, PA. Credit: Jumping Rocks/ UCG/Univ ersal Images Group via Getty Images town,” according to the Philly Voice.

“Kenney, earlier this week, stood side by side with Rashid should be removed from office immedileaders of the Jewish community to condemn the ately,” Michael Balaban, president and CEO of the rise of antisemitism. If there is no room in our City Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, said in for antisemitism, as Mayor Kenney said, then Mr. a statement, according to the Jewish Exponent.

Life cycles IN MEMORIAM JOSEPH “JOE” KIRSHENBAUM Joseph “Joe” Kirshenbaum passed away on Dec. 11, 2021 at age 101. Services will be held Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, noon at Temple Israel, 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. He was preceded in death by parents, Meyer and Dora Kirshenbaum; his wife of 54 years, Audrey Wolf Kirshenbaum; his partner for 15 years, Virginia Allen; and sisters, Betty Kirshenbaum and Rose Becker.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Tom and Kate and Bill and Linda; son, Dick Kirshenbaum; daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Todd Znamenacek; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Kevee Kirshenbaum; and sister, Phyliss Rifkin.

Joe was the owner of Wolf Brothers Western Store in Omaha, starting in 1949. He made this small store into one of the finest western stores in the country. He later opened Wolf Brothers Ladies Fashion Bazaar, Joey’s Girls, and Boots for Less. He also built a number of apartment buildings in Omaha. He was very active with Aksarben and the River City Rodeo, becoming President of the Aksarben Riding Club (even though he never rode a horse). He was an avid tennis player, and he and his wife Audrey played in many tournaments. Joe served as a Captain in the Army during WWII, serving under General Patton. He was stationed in France during most of the war, including the Battle of the Bulge. Family was so important to Joe, and he was a wonderful father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His wonderful caring nature and warm personality will be missed by all.

Memorials may be made to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, 323 S 132 St, Omaha NE, 68154, where he resided for the last two years of his life, or the organization of your choice.

The Maccabees’ winning streak BEN SALES New York Jewish Week via JTA The Yeshiva University men’s basketball team is on a 44game winning streak that dates back to 2019. A poll of the top teams in Division III men’s college basketball placed the Macs first, well ahead of their competitors, with 13 first-place votes. It’s the first time in the Orthodox Jewish school’s history that it’s topped the poll. The number-one ranking doesn’t mean that Y.U. is about to go up against powerhouses like Duke or Gonzaga. Those schools, and others with large athletics programs and coveted basketball scholarships, play in Division I of the NCAA. Yeshiva University plays in Division III, which includes smaller schools with more modest basketball programs.

Naftali Bennett becomes first Israeli prime minister to visit the United Arab Emirates SHIRA HANAU JTA Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Mohammed bin Zayed alNahyan, the Crown Prince and leader of the United Arab Emirates Dec. 13, marking the first Credit: Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images time an Israeli prime minister has visited the country.

The trip was announced by Bennett’s office just a few hours before he flew to the Gulf country Dec. 12. Bennett was greeted upon his arrival by the UAE’s Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and stayed overnight before meeting with the Crown Prince at his Abu Dhabi palace Dec. 13.

The two leaders were expected to discuss shared interests around Iran and economic cooperation among other issues.

The visit comes as both Israel and the Emirates have expressed concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, and over a year after the countries signed the Abraham Accords and began diplomatic relations.

According to WAM, a state news agency in the UAE, Bennet said Israelis and Emiratis were “neighbors and cousins” and “the grandchildren of Prophet Abraham.”

“The relations between the two countries have strengthened in all fields, and I am very satisfied with that, as many cooperation agreements were concluded in the fields of trade, research and development, and cyber security, health, education, aviation and more, and I look forward to the continued development and consolidation of relations,” Bennett told WAM.

CORRECTION In our Dec. 10 edition, we ran a press release that stated Robyn Freeman served as camp director for Camp CoHoLo for ten years. This information was incorrect; she held that position for five years. The Jewish Press regrets the error.

The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021 | 15

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16 | The Jewish Press | December 17, 2021

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

Miss Universe contestant reveals that her great-grandfather survived the Holocaust RON KAMPEAS JTA When she won the privilege of representing Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe contest, Michelle Marie Colon spoke of her pride in making history as the first Black woman from the territory to seize the honor.

This week in Israel, where the contest is being held, she has been touting pride in another aspect of her heritage: her Jewish greatgrandfather who escaped the Holocaust.

Last week, Colon posted a photo of her holding hands with Noa Cochva, the Israeli entrant into the contest, beneath a wall covered with portraits of victims of the Holocaust.

“My great grandfather, Rodolfo Cohn, was a survivor of the Holocaust,” Colon wrote. “He moved to the Caribbean and met Dorila Thomas, my great grandmother; an empowered Afro-Caribbean woman — descendant of slaves — who was the administrator of a farm at the time. Together, they formed a solid family full of love, built upon empathy and resilience.”

She had told the story in an impromptu talk while the contestants toured Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

Dani Dayan, the memorial’s chairman, posted a video on Twitter and it soon went viral.

“I came here to Israel knowing that I would be more connected to my family because my [great] grandfather actually escaped from the

Holocaust and all of his other family members, his sisters, his brothers, even their daughters — four daughters — were killed in the concentration camps, especially in Auschwitz,” Colon said.

Dayan said Colon, a 21-year old pre-med student, “surprised her fellow Miss Universe contestants (and also Yad Vashem staff).”

Colon’s comments come at a time when advocates are seeking to turn the pageant, scheduled for Dec. 12 in Eilat, into a political referendum on Israel.

Palestinian advocates have called for contestants to boycott the competition, but only Malaysia and Indonesia have so far committed to doing so.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s contestant is attending despite pressure from the South African government to boycott Israel.

In addition, this year’s competition will feature a contestant from the United Arab Emirates for the first time, and a contestant from Morocco for the first time in decades.

Both of those countries signed diplomatic normalization agreements with Israel in 2020.

Pictured left bottom: Contestants of the Miss Universe pageant visit the Tower of David Museum in the ancient citadel of Jerusalem near the Jaffa Gate entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, Nov. 30, 2021. Credit: Menahem Kahana/ AFP via Getty Images

Above left: Michelle Marie Colon; right: Dorila Thomas and Rodolfo Cohn. Credit: Instagram screenshots