A GREAT NOSH
SCOTT LITTKY
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT
Jewish Press Editor
Sunday March 30, over 160 Omaha Jewish women came together to celebrate and learn with Micah Siva, the author of NOSH, a plantforward cookbook with a modern take on Jewish cuisine. In front of a full room at Champions Run, Micah demonstrated three Passover-inspired recipes from her book, which included Cast-Iron Potato and Caramelized Onion Kugel, Beet Baba Ghanoush and Mo-
Yom HaShoah
Institute for Holocaust Education Executive Director
Each year it is an honor for the Institute for Holocaust Education, along with our local congregations, to plan our annual Yom HaShoah commemoration.
This year we will be holding our annual Omaha Holocaust Commemoration on Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Staenberg Jewish Community Center.
Along with participation from our Omaha clergy we are honored to have Survivors, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Generation Survivors and community members participating in the candle lighting ceremony commemorating the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
Our speaker will be Dr. Christine Erlander Beard, DMA, Kayser Professor of Flute & International Studies, Coordinator of Woodwind Studies, The University of Nebraska at Omaha. During COVID 19 Dr. Beard began researching music for flute and piccolo that was performed in the concentration camps and ghetto of German-occupied Europe during the Holocaust. Her presentation is titled, Beauty Behind Walls of Horror: The Role of Music During the Holocaust One Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. in
See Yom HaShoah page 3
roccan Spiced Carrot and Chickpea Salad. The event was a collaboration between the Jewish Federation of Omaha Women’s Philanthropy and the Spring Jewish Author’s Event.
“When we host a cookbook author who is also a great chef, registered dietician, food photographer and speaker,” JFO Director of Development Rachel Ring said, “of course we are going to ask her to show us how! Watching her in action was inspiring, and such a great way to engage our community.”
See A Great Nosh page 2
A Legacy of Kindness
On April 9, communities across the country will mark Education and Sharing Day USA, a national day dedicated to promoting the values of education, moral development, and acts of kindness. Established in 1978 and commemorated annually ever since — begin-
ning with a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter — this meaningful day honors the life and teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, leader of the worldwide Chabad movement and a passionate advocate for the role of ethical education in shaping a better future.
See A Legacy of Kindness page 3
MUSHKA TENENBAUM Chabad
Emily Schneider’s tablescape entitled Enchanted Garden Party. Credit: Mark Kirchhoff
Dr. Christine Erlander Beard
Gary Javitch, left, Rabbi Eli Tenenbaum and Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen
A GREAT NOSH
Continued from page 1
Naomi Fox, Director of Community Engagement and Education, shared, “We chose to bring Micah Siva to Omaha because of her down-to-earth approach to modern Jewish cuisine. She honors and celebrates Judaism by introducing new, plant-forward options that still respect the deep roots of our culture.”
Micah artfully and enthusiastically illustrated how Jewish food, with all its traditions, can be re-imagined and modernized, without sacrificing its history. Moving seamlessly back and forth between storytelling and detailed food prep instructions (she taught the group
how to perfectly slice an onion, how to get the excess moisture out of potatoes, and remove pomegranate seeds), Micah kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
As part of the décor, nine community members curated individual tablescapes, celebrating style and creativity. Betsy Baker, Margo Parsow, Stacey Rockman, Julie and Shiri Phillips, Jess Cohn, Emily Schneider, Ayelet Geiger, Sarah Ritchey and Annette van de Kamp-Wright contributed their talents. Their tablescapes showcased their personal style and celebrated their family’s stories. All those in attendance left with a copy of Micah’s book
Dr. Leonard GreenspoonHonoring
Wednesday, April 16 5:00 - 6:30 pm
5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University
Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Community Engagement Venue
and other gifts, allowing all to, as Micah writes in her book, “sprinkle a little bit of nosh throughout your daily life.”
In addition to Sunday’s event, Siva visited with PJ Library parents the next morning to discuss her children’s book 123 Nosh With Me and give a presentation full of specific tips and suggestions when encouraging children to try new foods.
“All parents of young children,” Heidi Heilbrunn Needleman, JFO Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Education, said, “know what it is like to offer your child food and have them refuse it. Micah offered
judgement-free solutions and gentle suggestions about how to feed young children. I’m sure those in attendance came away with lots to think about.”
These events were made possible through the generosity of the following funds at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation: Special Donor-Advised Fund, Foundation IMPACT grant, The Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund and the Ann Woskoff Schulman Memorial Fund.
Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus 333 S 132nd Street • Omaha, NE 68154 We extend our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes for his retirement! Welcome
Join the Jewish Federation of Omaha as we honor Dr. Leonard Greenspoon for nearly 30 years of dedicated service to adult Jewish education in our community.
Sunday, April 27, 2025 / 2pm-ish to 3:30pm-ish
Sponsored by THE MEYERS FAMILY LEGACY OF LAUGHTER ENDOWMENT FUND of The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
JCC Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus
Above left: Micah Siva; middle Judy Brookstein, Ozzie Nogg, and Helen Epstein; right, seder tablescape. Credit: Mark Kirchhoff
A Legacy of Kindness
Continued from page 1
In every one of the 50 states, as well as by the President of the United States, proclamations have recognized this day as a time to reflect on the power of education — not only as academic achievement, but as a path to developing compassion, civic responsibility, and shared humanity.
Representing Nebraska in this national mission are Gary Javitch, Governor Jim Pillen, and Rabbi Eli Tenenbaum, who join voices around the country to honor the Rebbe’s enduring message: that each individual has the capacity to bring light to the world through goodness and caring.
At the state proclamation ceremony, Rabbi Tenenbaum shared a heartfelt call to action: reintroducing a moment of silence in our public schools. “It’s a small step with a big impact,” he said. “When we give students a quiet moment each morning, we’re opening the door for reflection — and giving families a chance to talk at home about what really matters to them. It’s about helping kids connect with purpose and values, right from the start of their day.” It’s a message that hits home — empowering both parents and children to shape conversations around beliefs, ethics, and personal responsibility.
As part of this year’s celebration, signed April 1, 2025, each participant received a special ARK — Acts of Random Kindness coin box, a daily reminder to consider others within one’s sphere of influence. The idea is simple but powerful: drop in a coin each day, think of someone else, and use that act to amplify kindness. Once filled, the ARK can be gifted to someone in need or donated to an organization that supports those with less.
These ARKs are more than coin boxes — they’re tiny treasure chests of empathy. They represent the Chabad mission to inspire compassion and kindness in every corner of society, one small act at a time.
This beautiful added initiative was sponsored in part by the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation at the Jewish Federation of Omaha, whose generosity helps bring the message of Education and Sharing Day to life in our state.
As we observe Education and Sharing Day USA on April 9, may we each take a moment to recommit to education that uplifts, and to actions that inspire. In the words of the Rebbe, “Even a little light can push away a lot of darkness.” Let us be that light — for our neighbors, our children, and our shared future.
Join us for Sunday Pod at Chabad!
SARA SLATKIN
We welcome all kids, newborns to age five, to join us on Sunday mornings monthly for Montessori-inspired play, with your parent. We are embarking on a journey to explore all five senses through open-ended play, themed after the upcoming Jewish holiday. We started in the summer of 2024; we have since built great friendships and memories with each other. We welcome new families to join us and enjoy themed, ageappropriate activities, new friendships, and adult conversation. Please see our upcoming schedule and contact information as well.
Yom HaShoah
Continued from page 1
Lincoln, Nebraska, at the State Capitol in the Rotunda, our annual state commemoration will be held. Included in the program will be artwork and poetry from the Lincoln Public Schools. The keynote speaker will be Lillian Cohen, a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. For this commemoration, Senator Brad von Gillern will be serving as our legislative sponsor.
This year’s Yom HaShoah commemoration is supported by Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, Temple Israel, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, and The Chesed Fund. For more information on this year’s commemoration, please contact, Scott Littky at slittky@ihene.org
Tax-Advantaged IRA Gifts
AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS
JFO Foundation Executive Director
We are thrilled to announce that the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation has been reclassified by the IRS, allowing us to accept IRA charitable gifts from donors!
This exciting opportunity means that if you’re 70½ or older, you can now make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to support the causes that matter most to you — all while reducing your taxable income and fulfilling your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).
Why Consider an IRA Gift?
Reduce Your Taxable Income – QCDs lower your adjusted gross income, which may reduce your overall tax burden.
Fulfill Your Philanthropic Goals – Support your favorite Jewish organizations in a tax-efficient way.
Create a Lasting Legacy – Establish an endowment that ensures the strength of our community for future generations.
How It Works
• If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can transfer up to $108,000 annually from your IRA directly to a qualified 501(c)(3) organization, such as the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.
• For married couples, each spouse with an IRA can transfer up to $108,000, allowing for a combined tax-free contribution of up to $216,000 per year.
• These distributions are tax-free as long as the funds go di-
rectly from your IRA to the charity — they won’t count as taxable income, and you won’t receive a deduction. Who Can Benefit?
• IRA owners who are 73 and older can use a QCD to satisfy their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) while supporting their community.
• Individuals looking to maximize their charitable impact while reducing their taxable income.
Please note that Donor-Advised Funds cannot receive QCDs during your lifetime. However, IRA assets can be directed to a DAF after your lifetime as part of your estate plan.
IRA Giving at a Glance
Over $15 trillion is held in IRAs across the United States, and many individuals are unaware of the powerful opportunity to turn these retirement savings into impactful charitable gifts.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, U.S. retirement plans and accounts held an estimated $43.4 trillion, making this an ideal time to explore how your IRA can help shape the future of the Jewish community.
We are here to guide you through the process and answer any questions. To learn more about making an IRA gift or establishing an endowment, please contact me at ashivvers@ jewishomaha.org or call 402.334.6466.
Thank you for your generosity and commitment to securing our community’s future!
Please Support JCRC Empowering a more inclusive future
MORGAN GRONINGER
JCRC Program and Communications Manager
In times when our values and responsibilities are more important than ever, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Omaha continues its vital work advocating for the Jewish community and fostering connections across Omaha. We are reaching out to ask for your support to ensure the JCRC can continue its mission of protecting Jewish rights, fighting antisemitism, and promoting justice for all.
When you donate to the JCRC, you’re investing in a future of security and unity. Your contribution empowers the JCRC to respond swiftly to emerging challenges, build important alliances, and protect the civil rights of everyone.
From anti-bias training to community dialogues, your support directly impacts initiatives that bridge divides and strengthen our society.
As Passover approaches, let your donation be a symbol of your commitment to a more inclusive, compassionate, and tolerant society. With your help, the JCRC can continue its mission of standing up to hatred and discrimination, ensuring that Omaha remains a community where justice and respect thrive. Make your gift today by visiting bit.ly/Sup portJCRC code for online donations. You can also mail your donation to the JCRC, 333 S. 132nd St, Omaha, NE 68154.
Thank you for helping to build a better tomorrow—together, we can create lasting change.
Rabbi Geiger’s Weekly Torah Expedition
It was April of 1945, shortly after the Second World War, and the Jews of Chernivtsi were wondering how they would celebrate Passover with matzah. Chernivtsi is a city in southwestern Ukraine on the upper course of the Prut River. Formerly, the capital of Bukovina was divided between Romania and Ukraine. Many Jews from Ukrainian ghettos and war camps had ended up in Chernivtsi. So the Chassidic master Rabbi Eliezer Portugal asked his beloved student to procure the ingredients and tools necessary to bake matzah. The student, Fishel, managed to find the necessary wheat and millstone. But as they began baking, it became clear that far more homes wanted matzah than they could possibly bake. And so Rabbi
Portugal began giving out the matzah, a maximum of three (as is customary for seder night).
Then in walks a 10-year-old boy, and he says my father is the great Rabbi Hager, he sent me requesting six matzahs! Rabbi Portugal was in shock, how could such a pious Rabbi ignore the needs of others and demand more than the rest? But in the end he decided to send six in respect of Rabbi Hager. Then, on the day before Passover, the young boy returns, and he says here, my father sent back 3 matzos. Rabbi Portugal could not understand, so he asked, why would your father request six only to give back three? The boy answered with a question. Tell me, great rabbi, did you save any matzos for yourself? These three my father took for you. And so it was Rabbi Portugal who had matzah for Passover that year. This beautiful story is exactly what we celebrate on Passover. Becoming a nation is not about our traditions. It is about being a people who raise others about themselves.
Chag Sanmeach!
PARSHA TZAV
IHE April Third Thursday Lunch & Learn
SCOTT LITTKY
IHE Executive Director
The Institute for Holocaust Education invites you to hear from Avenues For Change Holocaust and Genocide Education representatives about the remarkable history of the Kitchener Camp on the IHE Third Thursday Lunch & Learn on Thursday, April 17 at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.
The Kitchener Camp largely forgotten about today, was a derelict army base on the
Kent coast that became the scene of an extraordinary rescue, saving 4,000 men from the Holocaust.
In April a special visiting exhibit will be displayed at the College of Saint Mary. This exhibit is sourced from London’s Wiener Library which explores the camp’s historical significance.
For more information or to register to receive the Zoom link, please contact, Scott Littky at slittky@ihene.org
Giving
BRAD ABRAMSON
JFO Foundation Devlopment Manager
“My reason for donating to Life & Legacy was twofold. I was very impressed with the IHE right from the start with Beth Dotan and how it has evolved and expanded through the years. I am personally involved with B’nai Israel and its mission to keep an active and progressive Jewish site in Western Iowa. Also, giving while I am still around makes sense to me!”
CAROLE LAINOF
Carole Lainof’s commitment to Life & Legacy reflects a deep appreciation for the institutions and programs that shape Jewish life today—and her desire to ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come.
Her passion for the Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE) stems from witnessing its growth and evolution over the years, reinforc-
ing the importance of Holocaust education and remembrance. At the same time, her dedication to B’nai Israel in Western Iowa highlights her belief in maintaining a vibrant Jewish presence beyond Omaha’s city limits. Through a Life & Legacy Letter of Intent, Carole has chosen to make a lasting impact while she is still here to see the benefits. Her generosity ensures that the values, traditions, and institutions she cares about remain strong for future generations. You, too, can build a legacy. Join Carole and others in making a meaningful commitment to our Jewish future.
To learn more about how you can participate in our after-lifetime initiative, contact Brad Abramson, Life & Legacy Coordinator, at babramson@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6485.
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
Above and below: Purim at the ELC means amazing costumes and a fantastic parade!
Above: We bow to this year’s Purim King and Queen: Maxine and Jack Noodell were royally crowned at our RBJH.
Above and below: Lincoln Jewish Community School (LJCS) Purim Spiel.
Below: An inspiring evening at Chabad with Amanda Spiro.Thank you to everyone who joined us in this enlightening journey and to the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Supporting Foundation for making this event possible.
Above, left, and below: Purim at Beth El
The Untested Cookbook
MARINATED ARTICHOKES AND MUSHROOMS
Rocky Stern
Ingredients:
1 16 oz. can jumbo black olives, pitted
1 14 oz. can artichoke hearts, quartered
2 Lbs. fresh mushrooms caps
1 1/2 cup water
1 cup cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 cup vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, on a toothpick
1 1/2 Tbsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. thyme
Directions: Combine all ingredients and refrigerate overnight. Stir often. Drain and remove garlic before serving.
SALMON WITH MANGO SAUCE
Karen Pollak
Salmon Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb. salmon fillets
1/8 cup olive oil
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp. tarragon
salt and pepper, to taste
1 Tbsp. Juniper berries, lightly crushed
For Sauce:
1 large mango, peeled
3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. chopped ginger
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. cayenne
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. garam masala
1 green onion, chopped 1/4 cup water
Directions:
Broil 500 degrees. Using a whisk blend oil, juice, and tarragon. Salt and pepper dish then press crushed berries in fish. Place on an oiled pan. Spread oil mixture over fish. Broil at 500 degrees for 5-6 minutes or until the fish is done and brown on top. For sauce: blend all ingredients adding onion and water last. Drizzle sauce on cooked salmon and serve extra with fish. Serves 4.
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE NUT TORTE
Cook’s name
Ingredients: 8 oz. semi sweet chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup sugar, divided 1/2 cup chopped almonds 1 stick margarine, room temperature 2 Tbsp. coffee 1/3 cup potato starch 4 eggs, separated and room temperature
Glaze: 6 oz. semi sweet chocolate, and 6 Tbsp. margarine 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate, margarine and coffee. Stir until smooth. In a food processor pulse nuts with 1/4 cup sugar. Pulse in potato starch. Add chocolate mixture and pulse. Mix in egg yolks. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/4 cup sugar until stiff peaks but not dry peaks form. Add chocolate mixture. Pour into a greased springform 9” pan. Bake for 20 min. When cool, remove pan sides and invert. Torte may be wrapped in foil and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Frozen if desired. For glaze: Melt chocolate and margarine. Stir until smooth and cool slightly until thick enough to glaze. Pour over the cake. May be decorated with nuts around the edge of the cake.
Voices
The Jewish Press
(Founded in 1920)
David Finkelstein
President
Annette van de Kamp-Wright
Editor
Richard Busse
Will Fischer
Creative Director
Claire Endelman
Sales Director
Lori Kooper-Schwarz
Assistant Editor
Sam Kricsfeld
Digital support
Mary Bachteler
Accounting
Jewish Press Board
David Finkelstein, President; Margie Gutnik, Ex-Officio; Helen Epstein, Andrea Erlich, Ally Freeman, Dana Gonzales, Mary Sue Grossman, Hailey Krueger, Chuck Lucoff, Larry Ring, Melissa Shrago, Suzy Sheldon and Stewart Winograd.
The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the JFO are: Institute for Holocaust Education, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Social Services, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Press Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.
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The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.
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Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org
Shabbat
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT
Jewish Press Editor
Palestinian director of the Oscar winning film No Other Land Hamdan Ballal was beaten by settlers and arrested, according to several news outlets. Not so, others say; he was throwing rocks at Israeli citizens, unprovoked, and the IDF stepped in. Gazans are protesting in Khan Younis and Gaza city; they want Hamas out and the hostages freed. “Don’t believe it,” hundreds of commenters say. “It’s a publicity stunt.” Poor Americans, the world tells us, having Trump as president. “I am here because of Trump,” freed hostage Yarden Bibas tells 60 minutes. “I am here only because of him. He is the only one who can stop this war.”
While we’re all aware the post October 7 world is even less black-or-white than it was before, it seems these days most news stories only ask one question: who do you believe? Who tells the most convincing narrative? Look at this good writer, no, this great writer. They use all the pretty words. Believe. Because if you don’t, you’ll be an outcast. Do you ever read a news story, only to check the comments to see whether others fall for it? Do you ever change your mind because of what some journalist or anchor tells you? The sheer amount of news plus opinions about that news at the moment is enough to give us whiplash. The old adage of two Jews, three opinions is a fantasy. Try a hundred opinions. Add non-Jews in the mix, and there is no end in sight.
Talya Gordon wrote: “The trauma that is deeply ingrained in the fiber of the Jewish people has been
Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.
activated, and we have been mobilized into a fightor-flight response. I want every Jew who is reading this to recognize we are in an activated and traumatized place right now. None of this is okay. We are not okay.”(thebluedovefoundation.org)
What are we to do? If we stop reading and watching news stories, then we are really out of the loop. While tempting, I don’t think that is the answer. And anyway, we are all much too used to getting massive amounts of information thrown at us constantly; there really is no way back now. Of course, because of my job, I am probably the worst person to give anyone advice about how much news to consume.
I do, however, have my own favorite medicine. It’s very simple, and it’s something most of us already do: it’s Shabbat. G-d tells me to take a break, and
so I take a break. My family and I are not shomer Shabbos; we drive and shop and turn the lights on and off. We watch TV and play games on our phones. We take photographs, go to the movies, the zoo, the theater. We take naps and cook big Friday night dinners and heat up leftovers on Saturday. But: the news stays off. I ignore any updates, and if you email me on Shabbat, you won’t get an answer. Is this a traditional Shabbat? No, it is not, and yet, it’s my own very special type of rest. A chance to temporarily silence the arguments inside my head, a pause from the anger over misinformation, and an opportunity to quiet the constant reminders of the hate and bias that we contend with. All the bad news will still be waiting for me Sunday morning—seeing it, knowing it 25 hours later, it doesn’t make the world any different. It’s just my head that feels a little clearer.
A funny thing happens when you walk away for one day. You discover that the world still turns without you-and maybe that is also true when you take a two-week vacation. I’m contemplating it. I am enough of a workaholic that when I drive to the J in the morning, I am actually excited about another day at the office. This Jewish Press thing, I never get tired of it. But I also think I miss out on a lot when I take a longer break, and then I feel guilty because surely it means other people have to pick up my slack. Also, the hostages don’t get a day off; why should I? A weekly reminder that I am not that important, and that I am a small part of a bigger story, is healthy for me.
I imagine I am not the only one.
‘Resounding no’ to ‘strongly support’: JTA readers weigh in
ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL JTA
The Trump White House is using the immigration system to punish a leader of the pro-Palestinian movement that rocked the Columbia University campus after Oct. 7. Immigration officials have detained and are seeking to deport Syrian-born Mahmoud Kahlil, a green card holder who led demonstrations at the Ivy League university, saying he sided with Hamas terrorists and spread antisemitism.
Civil libertarians say that campus protests are protected by the First Amendment, and in the absence of charging him with a crime, efforts to deport Khalil are a violation of the Constitution. His arrest led to widespread demonstrations, giving oxygen to the very movement the administration says it is trying to suppress.
Khalil’s arrest — and Trump’s threat to pull funding from campuses that allow “illegal protests” — have divided Jews, including those who have been frustrated with campus anti-Israel protests that have shaded into antisemitism. For many, the aggressive moves by the administration are long overdue, and will send the message that antisemitism and support for terrorism will not be tolerated. Others say Jews depend on the First Amendment for their own security, and that challenging the tenets of free speech in the name of fighting antisemitism recruits a largely liberal community into a White House agenda they don’t support.
As we put it in an article about the administration’s critics, “As ICE targets a Palestinian activist, some Jews are asking if this is the fight against antisemitism they signed up for.”
In our weekly Ideas newsletter, we put the question to our readers: Do they approve of the administration’s response to antisemitism, or are they worried that Trump’s polarizing motivations taint Jewish advocacy and leave Jews even more vulnerable? Maybe both?
Below is a sampling of the more than 70 responses that we received; supporters of the administration held a slight advantage in our extremely unscientific poll.
Having read the article asking “Is this the fight against antisemitism Jews signed up for?” — a resounding no: I did not sign up for this. I believe in free, nonvi-
olent speech for everyone. I am scared of the president. Cynthia Pastern, Fredericksburg, VA Yes, this is the antisemitism fight we have signed up for. We should not shy away from any fight against this growing danger. We should respond to every situation. The fact that we haven’t had probably contributed to where we are today. As for those who question this action, they seem to be the same kinds of thinkers who have been unable for years to push back in a meaningful way, such as the legacy organizations that have not fought back for years.
Lois Weiner, Syracuse, NY
Trump is a toxic figure. Even though he’s a big supporter of Israel, he can wind up making Israel a partisan issue, which would be bad.
Ben Z. Katz, Skokie, Illinois I do not believe for one second that Trump’s motivation is fighting antisemitism. I do not support any of Mahmoud Khalil’s ideas or anti-Israel demonstrations in general. However, I do support freedom of speech and assembly, and the rule of law. The president can’t claim to be fighting antisemitism while allowing expressions of Nazism by administration officials to go unchecked. Until he speaks out against right-wing conspiracy theories, open expressions of Nazi ideology and Nazi salutes, he has no credibility as a fighter against antisemitism.
Ilisia Kissner, South Orange, NJ
Arresting people without evidence and denying them due process, curtailing freedom of speech, controlling universities and other institutions by with-
holding money and whatever dysfunctional act they think up next will not benefit American Jews or curb antisemitism. And if tolerated, it will eventually be used against us.
Eileen S. Sklaroff, Philadelphia, PA
Had this been done by the last administration, which it should have been, Jews everywhere would be applauding the stand he made against antisemitism.
Even as a Democrat myself, I was appalled at the lack of any response to the constant harassment and abuse that Jewish students had to endure. The problem in the eyes of anyone decrying this now is who the punisher is. And as usual, when it comes to Jews, people are far more concerned with the “rights” of the abusers instead of their victims.
Jonathan Rosen, Cold Springs, FL
This is a time when Jews should just shut up. Of course many are conflicted about this — and the best thing we can do about this issue is to stay out of it.
Mark Lavie, Rehovot, Israel Trump will fabricate any rationale to support his authoritarian programs.
Michael Leffak, Dayton, OH
I want to see the mainstream and conservative media report on just what crimes [Khalil] may have committed. For better or worse, speaking out for Hamas is not a crime in the U.S., but obstructing free access to campus buildings in support of Hamas, as many “activist” “protesters” have done, [can be] a crime. If the government has a legal case against him or any other foreigner, including the mere fact of illegal presence in the U.S., out they should go.
Dave Sherman, Needham, MA
I revile the violence and repression urged by the socalled “pro-Palestinian” movement and believe that their true colors have been repeatedly demonstrated, I am embarrassed that the sweeping unconstitutional measures taken by the Trump administration claim to be done in my behalf. They are not.
James Bloom, Ashburn, VA
I believe that Pres. Trump is weaponizing the battle against antisemitism to further weaken the Left. Intimidating dissent is very dangerous to democracy. If no actual crimes are documented, Kalhil has to be allowed to remain.
Steven Greenfieldm, Baldwin, NY See JTA readers weigh in page 9
A demonstrator holds a sign during protests in Thomas Paine Park in Lower Manhattan against the detention of pro-Palestinian activist and former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, March 11, 2025. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Olaf Herfurth, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
How the Yiddish writer Chaim Grade’s last novel was rescued
ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL
JTA
Sixty years after he first began serializing it in the Yiddish press, and 42 years after publisher Alfred A. Knopf acquired the book, Sons and Daughters, the last novel by the late, great Yiddish novelist Chaim Grade, is landing in bookstores.
The result, a sprawling 600-plus-page book about a rabbi in 1930s Lithuania and the different paths taken by his children, is “quite probably the last great Yiddish novel,” the critic Adam Kirsch writes in an introduction. Dwight Garner, in a New York Times review, calls it “a melancholy book that also happens to be hopelessly, miraculously, unremittingly funny.”
“We could not have let this die. It had to be out there,” said the book’s translator, Rose Waldman, in an interview. “It had to be available to the English speaker.”
Waldman was hired in 2015 to translate a manuscript that had already taken a circuitous route from Grade’s typewriter to the cluttered rooms of his Bronx apartment to the limbo of probate law. Grade, who died in 1982 at 74, was highly regarded — although never as widely known to English readers as Isaac Bashevis Singer. What was perhaps his best-known book — Rabbis and Wives, drawing on his memories of the pious, Jewish, vanished Vilna of his youth — appeared in English only the year he died. A memoir, My Mother’s Sabbath Days, was published four years later.
In 1983, Knopf signed a contract with Grade’s widow, Inna Hecker Grade, for what was then called The Rabbi’s House. Inna, notoriously protective of her husband’s legacy, worked with a translator and editors on a few chapters of the book but then retreated into obstinate silence. Until her death in 2010, she rebuffed publishers and scholars who sought access to Grade’s manuscripts, correspondence and works in progress.
The Grades left no heirs, and in 2013 the Bronx public administrator named the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the National Library of Israel as executors of the Grade estate, and YIVO inherited his papers. The ensuing treasure hunt led to the discovery, in 2014, of a 148-page Yiddish galley that Waldman assumed was the finished novel later to be called “Sons and Daughters.” Instead, as she realized after a year’s work on the translation, the novel was incomplete. According to material uncovered by Yehuda Zirkind, a graduate student at Tel Aviv University, she had been working on what Grade had planned as the first volume of a two-volume work.
Piecing together the second volume involved a dive into the YIVO archive, where Waldman found more chapters that Grade had serialized in the Yiddish newspapers Tag-Morgn Zhurnal and Forverts between 1965 and 1976. Waldman got to work translating these installments and knit them together into the just-published opus.
A happy ending? Not quite – in fact, Sons and Daughters had no ending at all. Grade had left the saga unfinished at his death. Eight years after first seeing the original manuscript, Waldman was poring through YIVO’s digitized archive when she found a typed outline by Grade sketching his ideas for a conclusion. She includes those pages in a translator’s note. Finished or not, Sons and Daughters is a vivid, Tolstoyan examination of what Kirsch calls “a family struggling with the meaning of Jewishness in the twentieth century.” The pious small-town rabbi, Sholem Shachne Katzenellenbogen, is tormented by his children’s choices: One son has fled to Switzerland where he studies secular philosophy and marries a Christian woman; another son yearns to join the Zionist, secular “halutzim” settling the land of Israel. His daughters too seem to have inhaled the fumes of modernity, and struggle under the expectations of arranged marriages and circumscribed lives as the wives of rabbis.
Grade (pronounced GRAH-duh), whose mother and first wife were killed by the Nazis, fled his native Vilna in 1941 and eventually made it to Moscow, where he met Inna. The two arrived in New York in 1948. Although Grade had left Orthodoxy to pursue a literary career, he couldn’t help but circle back to a world that was obliterated during the Holocaust. In recreating that world — and showing how it was under pressure from modernity and antisemitism even before the rise of Nazism — Grade was determined to, as he wrote a friend, “immortalize the great generation that I knew.”
I spoke with Waldman and the book’s editor, Todd Portnowitz about the challenges of translating an admired stylist, how Grade’s memories shaped his writing, and why the story of a Jewish family fractured by faith and possibility still resonates today.
The interview was edited for length and clarity. How did you come to be a Yiddish translator?
Rose Waldman: I’m a native Yiddish speaker, because I was born Hasidic. Yiddish is my first language. I started doing translating in grad school, and I loved it, and I just got into it. Translating the work of Chaim Grade was kind of a dream. When they offered this to me, I couldn’t believe it. I had actually been running after Jonathan Brent [the executive director of the YIVO Institute], asking, “What’s happening with the estate?” And then, out of the blue, they just offered this to me. I
feel very privileged. Are there particular challenges in trying to capture Grade’s voice?
Waldman: This is not just with Grade, but with every Yiddish writer, the loshn-koydesh, the Hebrew words, are used very often interchangeably. And then how do you show that in English? Grade was very learned. He had the yeshiva background, and he uses a lot of these words and Biblical verses. I tried to retain the flavor and, in some cases, we ended up using the Hebrew words, transliterated.
Chaim Grade’s Sons and Daughters was originally serialized in the 1960s and '70s, in New York–based Yiddish newspapers. Credit: YIVO; Alfred. A. Knopf
But I will say that Grade’s Yiddish is very familiar to me. He has what we would call in our community a haimish Yiddish, homie or like one of us. Even if he was not Hasidic — he was a Litvak — his Yiddish felt very, very comfortable to me. What’s the challenge in editing a book like this?
Todd Portnowitz: You know, many editors touched this over the years. Ash Green bought it back in the ’80s. It migrated over to Altie Karper, who was running Schocken, and then came to me in about 2022, when Rose had already produced a full translation. They reached out to me because I had done lots of translation work. I don’t know Yiddish, but they thought maybe I can take a look at this draft with Rose and just polish it up.
Can you explain the editing process?
Portnowitz: Rose and I kept in close touch over the last two years, working on the pages together. I approached it the way I’d approach what I call the third draft of a translation.
JTA readers weigh in
Continued from page 8
Trump’s stance against antisemitism and his push to withdraw government funding from colleges that allow antisemitic protest is a strong moral and political position. Holding the universities accountable is long overdue; hate speech and other forms of discrimination especially antisemitic rhetoric should never be allowed to flourish. Trump is upholding American values condemning antisemitism protests. Stopping this extremism of the left from spreading by going unchecked in college campuses should have consequences.
Sunny Busch, Miami, FL
How long are we Jews going to play nice to those who are bent on our destruction? How long are we Jews going to protect the perceived rights of those who break the law and want us dead? Jews should stop playing nice. Stop being a part of the cohort of “useful idiots.”
Jack Krepel, Toronto, Ontario
Free speech doesn’t include threats to Jewish students. Wake up, and stop trying to find liberal reasons to defend those who would love to kill all Jews.
Melvyn Libma, Conroe, TX
We Americans fear for our own safety and for other Jews but that alone is not a reason to support draconian measures for showmanship as performed by Trump’s marauders. It is an egregious assault on Constitutional rights to threaten deportation on those who speak for their beliefs. Extrajudicial actions by our government should not be supported by Jews on either side of the debate. I say this as an American Jew who was turned conservative by Oct. 7.
John L. Ghertner, Sodus, NY
I strongly support President Trump’s policy and actions for countering antisemitism. It is a time for action. The nice words of the Biden administration policy on countering antisemitism accomplished nothing. The IHRA definition of antisemitism should be adopted by all states. Title VI must be enforced by the Department of Justice. Deporting aliens who support terrorists is vital. I feel these actions will support and protect the civil rights of Jewish-Americans.
Rosalind Shorenstein, Watsonville, CA
There is something seriously not kosher about this sort of extreme authoritarian response by the Administration. I agree that Americans and non-citizens alike who openly commit violence against Jewish students or ordinary civilians in this case certainly deserve the fullest extent of our criminal justice system. There is a clear line between protected speech and when people
You’ve got that first draft where you’re sticking with the original and just kind of getting it on the page. The second draft is where you’re reworking the language, but keeping the original present so that you can make sure everything’s accurate. And then the third draft is where you cut the umbilical cord with the original text and make sure it really works in English. I just gave Rose as many suggestions as possible about how to turn sentences around, to keep it flowing.
It was really just a pleasure to become part of the Grade story. I went in as a novice and came out really embracing him, his literature, his whole project.
Waldman: I will say that without Todd’s editing, there is no way it would have looked close to this. It became so much more smooth and so much more beautiful.
Why would you suggest a reader in 2025 read this book?
Waldman: All the stuff that he writes about is still really relevant today — specifically, of course, for the religious Jewish community, because they’re struggling with the exact same issues that the characters and his stories are struggling with. But it’s also all about family, and when your kids go off in different directions, or when things happen that you didn’t expect, and then just the typical universal issues: sicknesses and sibling rivalry and the uncle you don’t like.
Of course, the antisemitism trope is still relevant. You think, okay, so that was the 1930s and we’re living in a whole different world. We’re not really.
Portnowitz: Strip away Lithuania, Judaism at that time, take away all the context, and you’d still have a book about human relations, interpersonal relations, children going in their own directions, trying to make a buck and trying to find spiritual answers. I think they’re all kind of looking for fulfillment in their own way.
Zionism is also a big part of the book. The youngest son wants to go to Palestine. And the way it was looked at during that time before the war was very different than it is now. You know, the father is dismayed that his son is going to go there.
Waldman: I think he’s also very good at reading people and finding little things that make some people tick. His descriptions of people can be really funny. You look at it and you think, “Oh, I know someone like that.”
are openly fomenting acts of violence due to their intolerance towards others. I’m troubled by recent events in this country, and wonder whether I should move to Canada where there is still more respect for people’s differences than here in the USA. Kerry M. Berger, Aurora, CO Trump doesn’t care about Jews. Don’t tell me about Ivanka and Jared and Bibi. Trump cares about Trump. What’s happening at Columbia and with Mahmoud Khalil is a smokescreen. I am not pro-Hamas or pro-Palestinian, but I do believe in the 1st Amendment. Bye, bye 1st Amendment, along with everything else Jews and all Americans should hold dear.
Linda G. Miller, New York, NY I have never ever liked Donald Trump or the MAGA movement. Also I am concerned that some of what Trump is doing with Jews and Israel may backfire against both American Jews and Israel. However, I do believe that foreign nationals who are sent here to get green cards to try to overthrow our institutions, cause chaos and feed antisemitism need to be sent back to where they may be more happy. To live here with a green card or a visa is a privilege, not a right.
Edward S. Beck, Huntingdon Valley, PA I totally approve of the steps Trump is taking. He is making it very clear that Jew hatred will not be rewarded. The fact that doing nothing during the previous administration allowed the disgusting treatment of Jews to proliferate, proves that. The fact that following the barbarism of Oct. 7 Jew hatred only grew proves that. Sadly most people only understand pressure that affects them. If enough terrorist supporters get deported and enough antisemitic schools get their funding reduced, things will change. It’s a shame that many Jews trying to prove that they are so superior in their liberalism actually hurt the fight against Jew hatred.
Dr. Doris Steinberg, Montreal, Canada
No, I do not agree with Trump’s so-called approach to antisemitism or to anything else whatsoever he is doing to undermine our universities, free speech, the fabric of our democracy and the rights of minorities including ours. Jews support him at our peril.
Dr. Lynda Mandlawitz, New York, NY
Andrew Silow-Carroll is editor at large of the New York Jewish Week and managing editor for Ideas for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
Synagogues
618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766
712.322.4705 www.cblhs.org
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
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
Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!
For information about our historic synagogue, please visit our website at www.cblhs.org or contact any of our other board members: Renee Corcoran, Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Ann Moshman, MaryBeth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.
Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.
IN-PERSON AND ZOOM MINYAN SCHEDULE:
Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.; Mondays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K12), 10 a.m.
SUNDAY: Passover Day One Morning Service, 10
a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Passover Seder, 6 p.m.
MONDAY: Passover Day Two Morning Service, 10
a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.
THURSDAY: BESTT Passover Spring Break Special, 9 a.m.
FRIDAY-Apr. 18: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.
SATURDAY-Apr. 19: Passover Day Seven/Shabbat
Morning Service with Yizkor, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.
FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:42 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class 10:45 a.m.; Mincha, 7:30 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos 8 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:43 p.m.
SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:50
p.m.; Beth Israel Community Seder, 8:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:44 p.m.
MONDAY: Office Closed; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:50 p.m.; Havdalah 8:47 p.m.
TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45
a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m.
THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45
a.m.; Character Development, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 7:50 p.m.
FRIDAY-Apr. 18: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:50 p.m.
SATURDAY-Apr. 12: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Bar Mitzvah of Oren Feldman; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 6:55 p.m.; Mincha 7:40 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos, 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:51 p.m.
Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.
All services are in-person. All classes are being offered in-person and via Zoom (ochabad.com/academy). 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.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 7:342 p.m.
SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9 a.m.; Pesach Seder, 8:30 p.m. RSVP at ochabad.com/seder; Holiday Candlelighting after, 8:44 p.m.
SUNDAY: Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Holiday Candlelighting after 8:45 p.m.
MONDAY: Morning Services, 10 a.m.
TUESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Translating Words of Prayer, 11 a.m. with David Cohen; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen
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; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.
THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 10 a.m.; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study, noon-1 p.m.; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m.; Code of Jewish Law Class, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY-Apr. 18: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Lechayim, 5:30 p.m., go to ochabad.com/lechayim to join; Shabbat/ Holiday Candlelighting, 7:50 p.m.
SATURDAY-Apr. 19: Morning Services 10 a.m.; Holiday Candlelighting after, 8:52 p.m.
LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH
Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options.
FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:44 p.m.
SATURDAY: Shabbat Service, 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; No Torah Study this week; Havdalah, 8:46 p.m.
SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes this week; Passover Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group, 10:30 a.m. at The Mill on the Innovation Campus. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail.com; Lincoln Jewish
From our Archives: JCC Membership
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor
The June 24, 1926 edition of the Jewish Press announced a Jewish Community Center membership meeting, with both a front page article and an open letter to the Jewish community.
Dear member,
The first General Meeting of the members of the Jewish Community Center will be held in the Lodge Room of the Jewish Community Center, Monday evening, June 28, 1926, at 8:30 p.m. This meeting is very important as reports of committees and of the membership campaign will be presented.
We want each and every member of the Jewish Community Center to feel that they are a part of the institution and we urge your moral as well as financial cooperation for the success of the Jewish Community Center. The responsibility does not belong to any one group of men but to the entire membership. You are wanted and needed at the meeting. Please show your interest by your attendance and make your desire to have the Jewish Community Center a success known to all and felt by all in Omaha.
REMEMBER, WE ARE EXPECTING YOU AT
THE FIRST GENERAL MEETING, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 28, 1926, AT 8:30 P.M. Very sincerely, Harry Lapidus, President Joe L. Wolf, Secretary.
The accompanying article asks: Will 1,000 members attend the meeting? The committees have been working continuously on the campaign in order to secure this number, and to date they have secured more than 600 members, and are out to complete the goal set.
The workers have been divided into two teams, headed by Sam Beber and Abner Kaimen. The team obtaining the most members will be treated to a dinner by the losing team on Monday evening at 6:30, at the Jewish Community Center Restaurant.
Community Seder, 6 p.m. at TI.
MONDAY: Offices Closed; Havdalah, 8:48 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group, 12:15 p.m. at HoriSun, 8055 O St. We meet every other Wednesday. Contact albertw801@gmail.com to join and receive updates. Bring your own lunch and beverage; LJCS Hebrew School, 4:30-6 p.m. at TI.
FRIDAY-Apr. 18: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:307:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:51 p.m.
SATURDAY-Apr. 19: Shabbat Service, 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; No Torah Study this week; Potluck Dinner and Family Game Night, 6 p.m. at SST. Please bring a dish to share. All ages are welcome; Havdalah, 8:54 p.m.
FRIDAYS: 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.
In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander.
FRIDAY: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat Byachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.
SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.
SUNDAY: No Youth Learning Program this week; Temple Israel Office Closed; Temple Israel Passover Second Night Seder, 5 p.m. In-Person.
WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person; Grades 36, 4:30 p.m. In-Person; Hebrew High: Grades 8-12, 6 p.m. In-Person; How the Israelites Became the Jews, 6:30 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.
THURSDAY: The Zohar: Thursday Morning Class 11 a.m. with Rabbi Sharff — In-Person & Zoom.
FRIDAY-Apr. 18: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Classic Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.
SATURDAY-Apr. 19: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Conclusion of Passover Service and Yizkor, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom. Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.
OBITUARY CHANGES
As of January 1, 2025, the Jewish Press will charge $180 for the inclusion of standard obituaries, up to 400 words. Photos may be included if the family so wishes. For many years, we have held off on making this decision. However, it is no longer financially responsible for us to include obituaries at no charge. For questions, please email avandekamp@ jewishomaha.org. Obituaries in the Jewish Press are included in our print edition as well as our website at www.omahajewishpress.com
support it,” said Harry Lapidus, president. During the past week many appplications have been secured voluntarily at the office from men and women who have viewed the new building and witnessed the possibilities of the Center and what
“We want 1,000 members at the meeting Monday night. If you have not already joined, you can enroll now. This great institution belongs to every Jew in Omaha, therefore it is everyone’s duty to help
it has to offer. Activities in the building are in full bloom, the swimming classes are being organized, the handball courts and gymnasium are ready for action. Persons desiring to partake in these activities should enroll immediately.
B’NAI ISRAEL
BETH EL BETH ISRAEL
CHABAD HOUSE
ISRAEL
TEMPLE ISRAEL
The JCC pool in 1926
Life cycles
IN MEMORIAM
PAUL R. KAIMAN
Paul R. Kaiman passed away on March, 21, 2025, in Omaha. Services were held on March 23, 2025, at Beth El Cemetery and were officiated by Cantor Joanna Alexander of Temple Israel.
He was preceded in death by his father, Irvin C. Kaiman and mother, Ann Rosen Kaiman.
He is survived by brothers, Barry and Frank; niece, Sarah; and nephews: Jeffrey, Daniel and Evan.
IGOR SHNAYDER
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Igor Shnayder, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, who passed away on March 20, 2025, at the age of 83. He was preceded in death by granddaughter, Dahlia Shnayder. He is survived by his wife, Sofya; his sons, Michael Moshe (An-
‘That’s Simchas Torah’
GRACE GILSON
JTA
When the world got news of Val Kilmer’s passing on Tuesday April 1, many Jews surely thought of the movie star’s iconic turn providing the voices for G-d and Moses in the 1998 animated feature The Prince of Egypt, a perennial Passover favorite.
But the late actor had a lesser-known Jewish movie moment, centered on another holiday, in his 1984 debut film — a Cold War spy spoof titled Top Secret! from ZAZ, the Jewish team behind the classic comedy Airplane!
In the movie, Kilmer plays a rockstar who is told the date of a nefarious plot by the movie’s East German antagonists. He replies, “Sunday? But that’s Simchas Torah.”
Though Kilmer was not Jewish himself, his on-point pronunciation of the relatively obscure fall Jewish holiday — which celebrates the end and beginning of the annual cycle of Torah readings — resonated with viewers.
In one comment on a YouTube clip of the dialogue, a user commented,
“A punch line designed to entertain .00025% of the audience. Lucky for me, I’m amongst the select few!”
After his entrance into the spotlight in Top Secret! Kilmer’s illustrious career included breakout roles as Iceman in Top Gun, Jim Morrison in the 1991 biopic The Doors and Batman in 1995’s Batman Forever.
The late movie star had an unusual Hollywood arc and put his mainstream projects on pause for a time in order to spend more time with his kids, according to a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter
dreea) and Boris Baruch; grandchildren, Shayna, Arielle, Orion Ori, Aidan Abraham (Elizabeth Kazor), Kayla Sarah Shileigh, Natalie Elisheva Chana. Igor was born in Russia where he began his career in dental medicine. He also met the love of his life, Sofya. The two married and shared 56 wonderful years together, raising their two sons, Michael and Boris.
In 1991, Igor and his family made the brave decision to move to America, seeking a better life and new opportunities. He was a dedicated and loving father, always prioritizing the well-being and happiness of his family.
He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but later recovered.
Kilmer died following a bout of pneumonia in Los Angeles on April 1 at age 65.
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Some Jewish teens turn anxiety into activism
SHIR LEVENSON
JTA
This article was produced as part of JTA’s Teen Journalism Fellowship, a program that works with Jewish teens around the world to report on issues that affect their lives.
Every time Gabrielle Levine opens her Instagram page she is met with a barrage of images and videos, often emotionally disturbing, featuring news updates from the war in Israel. Instead of continuing the mindless scrolling, Levine takes a moment to repost and share content regarding hostages held in captivity, war updates or news about Israeli soldiers that she said “resonates” with her.
Levine, a 17-year-old from Brooklyn, has been a proud Zionist as long as she can remember, but since the war began in October 2023, she’s turned her online scrolling into an advocacy mission to share news and information about Israel. It wasn’t always this way. When the war began, the information overload was too much. Each post and comment stressed her out and heightened her anxiety. “I didn’t know if I would open the app and see puppies and food, or claims that Israel was committing genocide,” she said. “In the end, the stressors took a toll on my overall health. It became internalized and my body felt like it was under attack.”
For the first few months after Oct. 7, she had no access to social media because she deleted Instagram from her phone. When she reinstalled the app, Levine committed to setting time limits for herself to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Today, Levine uses her “voice on social media to speak out against antisemitic and anti-Zionist hate,” she said. “My voice is not going to create peace in the Middle East, but if it resonates with one more person and allows them to see what we see, then it’s a win in my book.”
For many Jewish teens, a change in social media habits after the war provided an opportunity to re-evaluate their relation-
ship to the media — and those shifts are still shaping how teens engage online today. Barraged with posts about the war — many deeply anti-Israel and even antisemitic, others Islamophobic, with both sides sharing misinformation — teens deleted apps or avoided the news altogether. Others threw themselves into advocating for Israel.
Since Oct. 7, “Jewish teens have become much more deliberate about how they use social media,” said Aaron Bregman, the director of high school affairs at the American Jewish Committee. ”Some have stepped up their advocacy, using platforms to push back against misinformation and share their personal experience.”
This past February, when Hamas announced the deaths in captivity of the Bibas family — a mother and two young boys who had become symbols of the Israeli hostages’ plight — teen Israel advocate Misha Shteingart, who uses they/them pronouns, left Instagram. They were overwhelmed by the news and overload of posts and pictures that flooded the app.
and ask themselves the questions: ‘Am I spending the amount or time on social media that feels right to me? Should I be spending more or less time online? How do these posts make me feel?’”
When it comes to the relationship between social media and mental health, experts feel that it is important for teens to be aware of their behaviors online.
“Checking in with themselves and monitoring what is going on on the inside, their regulation and nervous system, is a really healthy habit,” said Jerusalem-based family counselor and educator Aviva Goldstein.
“Something that can be really healthy for teens on social media,” she said, “is for them to just check in with themselves
For Sofie Glassman, a 17-year-old from Long Island, the answers to those questions led her to spend more time online.
Since the war began, she spends nearly three hours a day on Instagram, a twohour increase from before Oct. 7. Glassman used her online accounts to advocate for Israel as soon as the war started, and she continues to repost content related to the hostages or antisemitism at least once daily, and often multiple times throughout each day.
The teen said she makes an effort to avoid misinformation. When accounts have biases or post false information, Glassman knows “the importance of fact checking and reading into what you’re seeing and making sure that it’s accurate.”
AJC’s Bregman credits teens who make the effort toward media literacy. “Social media platforms are flooded with misleading content, and teens often struggle to differentiate between credible news, opinion pieces and outright propaganda,” he said.
That struggle is worth it for Glassman. “Now, more than ever, it’s so important for the Jewish people to use their voice, share what [we] think, and really just spread awareness about what’s going on,” she said.
Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com
The Jewish Press Club
Jordan Bitton, a 16-year-old from Long Island, advocates for Israel through social media. Credit: Shir Levenson