Life cycles

IN MEMORIAM

ARNOLD “TUFFY’ EPSTEIN Continued from page 1

That’s where he met freshman Helen Cook, the woman he would marry in 1957 and who brought him into synagogue life. “Let’s give Helen credit for that,” he said in 2018. His ascent continued, with graduation from UNL in 1958 with a degree in music education, military service in the Air Force Band of the Rockies, a master’s degree from UNL, several decades as an Omaha-area public school music teacher and teaching instrumental music at Friedel Jewish Academy. He also taught privately, worked as a sideman for touring shows and AkSar-Ben shows, spent 12 years with the Omaha Symphony and performed in other groups including the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, plus thousands of small-group gigs at weddings, b’nai mitzvot and other events. But through it all, he was a stalwart musical presence at Beth El. Though known for his instrumental work, starting in the mid1970s he branched out to lead the Beth El Choir. Fellow congregant Martin Shukert sang tenor during Epstein’s leadership. “Tuffy added immeasurably to the musical life at Beth El,” Shukert said. “His musicianship, personality, demonstrable love for the music, and – most of the time – Jobean patience with the choir made better singers of all of us, whatever our capabilities. From a personal perspective, I learned much about music from him and greatly appreciated his energy, knowledge and friendship.” Shukert added that Epstein introduced new and classic liturgical compositions, including a Friday night service written by his daughter Marti, who has since become a composer and music educator. During her father’s Dec. 12 memorial service, Marti Epstein offered some reflections. “My dad was not raised in an observant Jewish household, but my mom was,” she said. “Jewish identity became very important to my dad, even though he was not religious in a conventional sense. Synagogue life and community were vital to him. “I recently recorded some interviews with him about his early performing days in Omaha, and I asked him when he decided to become a musician. He said to me something that I say all the time: ‘I didn’t decide to become a musician. I just am one.’ “ In recent years, Tuffy Epstein and pianist Anna Mosenkis played during Kabbalat Shabbat services. “From before I arrived in Omaha, Tuffy could be found every week at Friday-evening services helping to bring our beautiful liturgy alive with music,” said Rabbi Steven Abraham. “Tuffy will be missed in so many circles, but the music and our services will not be the same without him.” Hazzan Michael Krausman said Epstein was one of the first people he met after coming to Beth El 11 years ago. “I was immediately impressed by his musical creativity and great skill,” he said. “As I came to know him, I realized that Tuffy was also a repository of the musical history and culture of our synagogue community. Whether it was discussing which settings to use for a particular prayer or just commenting on the state of the world, Tuffy always had an amazing joke or pun that was perfect for the occasion. “I increasingly came to realize that Tuffy was actually an icon in the overall musical scene in Omaha. In fact, it was only a few weeks ago, when he was among the outstanding musicians honored by the musicians’ union, did I realize how important he really was and how privileged I was to work with him,” Krausman said. “It has been a great honor to have worked with and gotten to know Tuffy over these years – his beautiful playing will always resonate in the halls of Beth El and throughout the community.” Epstein was preceded by his parents, Harry and Jennie Epstein; a brother, Ira Epstein; and son, Michael Andrew Epstein. Tuffy Epstein is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen Epstein; daughters Marti Epstein and Danielle (Epstein) Sherman; brother, Allen Epstein; sister, Gloria Hyman (née Epstein); son-in-law, Drew Sherman; and grandsons: Gideon Katz and Michael Sherman. Memorials to the Milton Marcus Instrumental Music Endowment Fund at Beth El Synagogue, the Omaha Musicians’ Association, the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha or Prairie STEM.

Afternoon with Shayna Maydele

LISA KEYS

New York Jewish Week via JTA In my decades as a journalist, I’ve interviewed some pretty powerful, important and, yes, even famous people. But never before have I been so excited — starstruck, even — to meet a subject, and this one wasn’t even human. I was positively giddy to visit the Upper East Side home last week of Shayna Maydele, a small, white dog who has captured the hearts of thousands of adoring fans on Instagram. Shayna Maydele’s popularity isn’t just owing to her adorable punim — though her punim is 100% adorable, as as this committed fluffy-dog lover can attest. It’s also because her Instagram is filled with charming, authentic expressions of Jewish pride, as well as humorous takes on life in New York City. Leaving aside the big question of whether or not a dog can be Jewish (I say yes!) — or even if owning a pet is a Jewish thing to do — every Friday, Shayna Maydele’s account features a heartwarming “Shabbat shalom” message. The Shabbat photos often include homemade challah, other times they might feature her “Papa,” or her owner’s dad. I always let out a squeal of delight when I see the posts, and I’m hardly alone: “I wake up each a [sic] Friday and await such good posts,” wrote one commenter on a Shabbat post earlier this month. “Shabbat Shalom, Shayna!”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Let’s try to be better

Without trying to be foolish or seem like I just want to make a joke, one of my favorite quotes comes from the old television show MASH! Frank Burns say, “it’s nice to be nice to the nice!’ When one hears this out of Frank Burns’ mouth, you simply begin to laugh, but if you really think about it, I must say that I truly agree with Frank Burns. I think that too often in today’s world, we often seize the opportunity to knock a person down, instead of looking to educate. Recently, the Mayor of Omaha posted a Hanukkah greeting on Facebook. Very nice, and thank you for the good wishes, Mayor Stothert. There was one problem with the post. Instead of using a Hanukkiah with eight spots for candles, representing the eight nights of Hanukkah, the image contained a menorah with seven arms. Truly, an innocent mistake. There was no ill intention. I was personally bothered by posts on Facebook calling the Mayor out on this simple mistake. Is this really the message we wish to send to our community? We all make mistakes, and I hope we learn from them. Why not just call the Mayor’s Hotline and let them they made a mistake? There really was no need to issue negative comments. Let’s learn from this. The next time there is an error, call the person privately and don’t turn it into more than it really was, a simple mistake.

SCOTT LITTKY

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE

There will be no Jewish Press on Jan. 6, 2023. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

NEBRASKA STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS

ANNOUNCEMENT

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in over 150 newspapers. Reach thousands of readers for $225/25 word ad. Contact The Jewish Press or call 1-800-369-2850.

HELLO NEBRASKA! Introducing www.nepublicnotices.com, a new public notice website presented as a public service by all Nebraska newspapers. Free access, fully searchable – because democracy depends upon open government and your right to know.

AFFORDABLE PRESS Release service. Send your message to 155 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800-3692850 or www.nebpress.com for more details.

FOR SALE – CELL PHONE

SWITCH AND save up to $250/year on your talk, text and data. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time offer get $50 off on any new account. Use code GIFT50. For more information, call 1-877-7685892.

FOR SALE – INSURANCE

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-490-4149 www.dental50plus.com/81 #6258.

FOR SALE – SENIORS

PORTABLE OXYGEN Concentrator? May be covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855385-3580.

STROKE AND Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-844-893-8016.

FOR SALE – UTILITIES

THE GENERAC PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a Free, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-833-513-0190.

HOME REPAIR

DOES YOUR basement or crawl space need some attention? Call Thrasher Foundation Repair! A permanent solution for waterproofing, failing foundations, sinking concrete and nasty crawl spaces. FREE Inspection & Same Day Estimate. $250 off ANY project with code GET250. Call 1-844-958-3431.

LOCAL | NATIONAL | WORLD

JCRC Community Conversation addresses antisemitism

SHARON BRODKEY

JCRC Executive Director The JCRC is dedicated this Hanukkah to the global #ShineALight campaign, which we encourage you to follow and share on Facebook and Instagram. During this Festival of Lights, we are focused on preparations for our next Community Conversation on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m., when we focus on antisemitism. Our panel of experts features Special Agent in Charge of the Nebraska-Iowa FBI Field Office, Eugene Kowel; Felix Ungerman, representing Congressman Don Bacon’s office; the City of Omaha’s Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Keith Station; Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League, David Goldenberg; JFO’s Safety & Security Manager, James Donahue; a Nebraska State Senator (several invitations are pending at the time of this writing); and Dr. Ari Kohen. I recently read an article (to be discussed in a Community Conversation in the future, but not Jan. 11) that offered some hope in these awkward antisemitic times. It posits that “... when antisemitism reared its ugly head this past month, American society clubbed it. Ye was mocked on late night, chastised by pundits across the ideological spectrum and abandoned by his sponsors. According to the trackers, antisemitism went up. But also: Ye went down.” Celebrities of all races and political stripes, from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Def Jam, Reese Witherspoon, John Mellencamp, John Legend, and more came out to call out, condemn and cut ties with the rapper, the NBA star, and others who spew hateful and dangerous rhetoric. Many in our community called the JCRC to express concern after the ubiquitously covered, bombastic behavior of Ye, Irving, Chappelle, and the now infamous dinner at Mar-aLago. The worry was palpable. “Where are our Black allies? Why aren’t they showing up and speaking up?” “What are we in Omaha doing to respond?” The answer is complex and doesn’t often satisfy, but sometimes, the most effective responses are not necessarily high-profile, public begging or shaming of local leaders. Personally, I did receive calls and messages (private emails and DMs) from concerned friends, “Thinking of you, Dear Friend, during what must be ‘busy season’ in your line of work.” And, “Keep calm and cocktail on!” read another. But, my expectation was not that Black friends or community leaders in Omaha would jump on a soapbox and start posting anti-Ye declarations or “Kyrie doesn’t speak for me!” That’s certainly a conversation that we in the Jewish community should have to explore and unpack that sentiment further. But imagine how you would feel if and when some Jewish celebrity or person of note, let’s say, Bernie Madoff or Harvey Weinstein, says or does something absolutely unconscionable, unspeakable, and truly harmful. Then, a non-Jewish friend calls you for comment or your opinion as if, because you are Jewish, you are suddenly The Spokesperson for your community, which is assumed to be responsible for the said unconscionable act, and anything you say may be construed as being the official position of “the Jews,” a monolithic community that can’t contain its own. That call may be interpreted as accusatory. In the least, that’s awkward. At its worst, it’s misguided and unfair! Sometimes, the greatest impact can be the quiet, respectful conversations that happen with our friends and colleagues; the opportunities that arise in circumstances and times such as these to reach out to our friends of color, other faiths, and beliefs to say, “I’m scared and angry about the recent antisemitic statements made by so-and-so.” Or, “Can I talk to you about...?” “Would you lend an ear and share your thoughts about...?” Between now and our Community Conversation on Jan. 11, the JCRC is committed to sharing some pre-event reading from thought leaders and experts in antisemitism. Call it “homework” if you wish, but think of it as background that may help you frame and formulate some thoughts and questions to bring to the panel discussion. Last month, Atlantic writer Yair Rosenberg wrote an interesting piece for his Substack column Deep Shtetl. Why Fighting Conspiracy Theories Is Essential to Fighting Antisemitism is an interesting read in preparation for our upcoming Community Conversation on antisemitism (You can also find it on Rosenberg’s Facebook page.) I hope you’ll take some time to read it and know that our door and ears are always open! We’d love to know your thoughts and concerns, questions, and comments!

The Jewish Press

presents