March 7, 2025

Don Nogg’s joyful life

MIKE KELLY

“Hey, Don, hope you’re having a great 95thbirthday,” I voice-messaged late in the afternoon of Feb. 17. “If I don’t catch you tonight, I’ll call tomorrow morning.”

Hours later, Ozzie sent a “family and friends” email:

“At about 7:30 this evening, on his 95th birthday, we opened the window in Don’s room at the Rose Blumkin Home and his soul flew out peacefully. It was a glorious, sometimes wacky, always surprising and joyful life. A truly oneof-a-kind guy.”

Only Ozzie, the pride of Don Nogg’s life and herself a master communicator, could say so much, so well, in so few words. I knew him for the past 25 years or so, and once said to a B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers luncheon: “When I grow up, I want to be Don Nogg.”

My comment tickled him, I know, because he often mentioned it to me with glee. It certainly wasn’t a mere throwaway line on my part. Emulating his approach to life, his constant curiosity and his attitude of gratitude, is a good goal for anyone at any age.

I love Ozzie’s poetic notion of opening a window for his soul to fly out peacefully. And I’m glad that I’m one of many who benefited over the years from a window into Don’s life.

After retiring in 2018 from 48 years of writing for the Omaha World-Herald, I moved to my original hometown of Cincinnati but have See Don Nogg page 3

SCOTT LITTKY

IHE Executive Director

Each year a highlight of the Institute for Holocaust Education calendar is our annual Week of Understanding. Between March 24 and 28, IHE has arranged more than 25 speaking engagements that will reach over 7,500 Nebraska students. Some of these events will take place with local Holocaust 2nd and 3rd Generation survivors Hazzan

Michael Krausman, Dr. Steve Wees and Kelly Tichauer Kirk. To learn more about these and other local survivors, you can check out the “Survivor Stories” section on the IHE website or view their presentations on the Jewish Federation of Omaha YouTube page.

We are also honored to welcome 2nd and 3rd Generation Holocaust survivors who have agreed to travel to Omaha especially for the Week of Understanding program. The guests who will be joining us in 2025 are profiled below.

The public is invited to hear 2nd Generation speaker, Laurie Pasler, as she recounts her father’s experience as a guard at the Nuremberg Trials at the Durham Museum on Wednesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m.

To register for this presentation, See Week of Understanding page 2

JFO

Trey and Jeff Lusk’s journey together began at Oklahoma State University in 2002, where they met while pursuing their respective grad-

Samuel Bak Museum update

AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS

Foundation Executive Director

uate degrees (Jeff was earning his PhD while Trey was pursuing what would become the first of two master’s degrees). Following Jeff’s subsequent postdoctoral appointment at See South Street Temple page 4

Don Nogg

Trey and Jeffrey Lusk

Laurie Pasler

Week of Understanding

Continued from page 1

please visit the Durham Museum’s website at www.durhammuseum.org. This event is cosponsored by the Durham Museum and the Institute for Holocaust Education Meet our guests:

ROCHELLE BROWN-RAINEY

For many years, Rochelle’s mother Magda Brown would come to Omaha to speak during the Week of Understanding. Rochelle always accompanied her mother wherever she spoke. They traveled across the country and around the world, driven by a mission to share Magda’s harrowing story of surviving the Auschwitz-Birkenau and Buchenwald concentration camps and then building a new life in the United States. Magda embraced every opportunity to reach people, speaking to more than 100,000 people in person – and reaching many more online. Magda died in the summer of 2020 and now Rochelle is sharing her mother’s story and keeping her memory and message alive.

CYD GOTTLIEB

Though Cyd Gottlieb never personally met her Holocaust Survivor grandparents, as a child, she gained a deep understanding of their respective journeys through various ghettos, concentration camps, displaced persons camps, and countries from a box of documents kept on the top shelf of a closet. Inside, she found authentic primary documents of different paper types, fonts, chronological stamps, seals, and languages. By following pat-

LIVE! from

The

Theater at the J

MARCH

9th Jelly Filled Jams | Noon | Gordman Black Box Theater Daxko Ticketing - $10/Advance | $12/Day Of

13th Music Appreciation (Jazz) | 6:30 p.m. | Wiesman Room Free - Open to all community

15th J Rock with The Karma Police (Radiohead Tribute) | 7:30 p.m.

ArtsPeople Ticketing - $15/Advance | $20/Day Of

20th Jazz at the J featuring Terri Jo Jenkins | 7:30 p.m.

ArtsPeople Ticketing - $20/Advance | $25/Day Of

21st Film & Friends: Field of Dreams | 1 p.m. Free - Open to all community

23rd Spring Vendor Market | Noon - 4 p.m. | Goldstein Venue Free Entry for Shoppers!

29th/30th Anastasis Theater | 7 p.m. Saturday | 2 p.m. Sunday Registration opens in March - Free Shows!

APRIL

5th Circle Theatre’s Wizard of Oz (Youth Edition) | 7 p.m.

ArtsPeople Ticketing - $20/Advance

6th Circle Theater’s Wizard of Oz (Youth Edition) | 2 p.m.

ArtsPeople Ticketing - $20/Advance 10th Classical J: Rangbrook Ensemble | 7:30 p.m. | Gordman Black Box Theater ArtsPeople Ticketing - $15/Advance | $20/Day Of 11th Film & Friends: Bucket List | 1 p.m. Free - Open to all community

17th Rock & Roll Goes Hollywood (Lecture) | 7 p.m. | Wiesman Room Daxko Ticketing - $10/Members | $12/Non-Members

terns and details, she figured out how to understand what words could not describe.

In 2023, with this trove of information, Cyd completed 3GNY’s WEDU speaker training course to better learn how to distill her family narrative and contribute to public Holocaust education. Cyd is a first-time participant in our Week of Understanding.

SARAH KUTLER

Sarah Kutler is one of our 3rd Generation speakers. She received her Masters in Science and Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and is currently working as a hospice social worker in the greater northeast Ohio region. Sarah recounts details of her grandmother’s, Beatrice Karp, story similar to how she did for over 50 years to thousands of children in schools and others.

As she continues to carry on her grandmother’s legacy by sharing Bea’s experiences during the Holocaust, Sarah brings a social justice approach on how to combat hate and bigotry in our world.

LAURIE PASLER

Laurie Pasler, Project Director for Courtroom 600, is a first-time participant in our annual Week of Understanding. After inheriting her father’s hidden WWII memorabilia from working at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, Laurie discovered a need for education about this unexposed slice of history.

The Courtroom 600 project was born out of Laurie’s frustration in researching the trials

See Week of Understanding page 3

IHE March third Thursday Lunch & Learn

SCOTT LITTKY IHE Executive Director

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom, Dr. Jennifer Garza, Director of Archives and Collections for the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society will be our presenter. As Director of Archives and Collections for the NJHS, Dr. Garza was responsible for creating the current exhibit on the collection of Warner Frohman and his service as a Ritchie Boy during World War II on display in the Milton Mendel and Marsha Kleinberg Omaha Jewish Heritage Center at the Jewish Community Center. The exhibit includes Frohman’s medals, photos and other items relevant to his time with the Ritchie Boys. Dr. Garza will share many of the artifacts with us and explain what went into creating the exhibit. For more information or to register for the program on March 20, please email Scott Littky, IHE Executive Director at slittky@ ihene.org

Michael Krausman Steve Wees

Rochelle Brown-Rainey

Cyd Gottllieb

Kelly Kirk Sarah Kutler

Jennifer Garza

An Omaha reunion of Jewish activists in Los Angeles

Three former Omahans – Rabbi Dr. Ron Wolfson, Joel Stern and Lew Groner – gathered in Los Angeles in late February to celebrate a milestone event in their community, the retirement of Rabbi Dr. Gil Graff after 40 years of leadership at Builders of Jewish Education. While attending the event, they shared fond memories of their birthplace, including getting educated in Omaha, and regaled one another with stories of Warren Buffet, the late Rabbi Kripke of Beth El Synagogue, and the late Rabbi Benjamin Groner of Beth Israel Synagogue (Lew’s father). Pictured: Lew Groner, vice president of community relations at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, left, Joel Stern, artist and technical communications professional, and Rabbi Dr. Ron Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University.

Don Nogg

Continued from page 1

continued to visit Omaha, my adopted hometown. I’ve visited Don and we’ve stayed in touch by phone and emails.

I got to know the outlines of the Don and Ozzie story, including their 1954 marriage when she was 19.

Don had graduated from Central High in 1947 and attended the University of Colorado before returning to work for the Nogg Paper Company, founded by his father and uncle. Ozzie Katz, a 1953 Central graduate, played the lead in the school’s operetta and headed to Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., continuing to perform with an eye on Broadway.

As Don once told me: “Luckily, she met an older man who had been out of college working for three years and got her out of that atmosphere.”

Ha, but then the Omaha atmosphere benefited from Ozzie’s stratospheric talents. She soon performed as a soloist at a Hadassah event. And for years, she starred onstage at the Omaha Community Playhouse, the Chanticleer Theater in Council Bluffs, the Jewish Community Center and in other venues.

of 97 after a great overhand.”

After retirement, he delivered flowers for Hy-Vee and said it was the most enjoyable job of his life. He quipped: “It’s been a long time since I’ve made this many women happy.”

Don was so proud of her skills. Her resume included The Pajama Game, Toys in the Attic, Barefoot in the Park, A Delicate Balance, Sweet Charity, Bye-Bye Birdie, MacBeth and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. She won many awards, including for The Apple Tree, in which she played three “leading ladies” – Eve, Princess Barbara and Ella, a chimney sweep who turns into a glamorous movie star.

A reviewer praised Ozzie’s “graceful facility for comedy” that “has stood her in good stead in past Playhouse performances.” Don not only enjoyed her from the audience but also supported her work by volunteering in local theater organizations. Meanwhile, the couple raised four children and traveled the world. They eventually saw all 50 states and at one point had visited 57 countries. Asked what else he’d like to see, Don replied: “The other 200.”

Donald I. Nogg’s lifelong interest in geography started early. In his youth, he studied maps of World War II battles. As a young man, he drew a 1952 map showing the five-county Omaha area’s highways, streams, power and gas lines and railroads, which a civic committee said would be used to attract industrial expansion. Even the Army Corps of Engineers asked for copies.

Many years later, I wrote that while Don Nogg was neither a professor nor a cartographer, his mind was surely an atlas. Name a world city, and he’d tell you its suburbs. His license plate was MAPS.

Upon meeting a Creighton professor from Cluj, Romania, Don said he and Ozzie had spent two nights there. The professor replied: “You’re the first people I’ve met in Omaha who know where Cluj is, let alone stayed there!” On a return from New Zealand, which has a town named Omaha, Don said natives told him the Maori name “Omaha” means “place of contentment.”

Don served as president of Nogg Paper Co., whose Jobber’s Canyon warehouse in the late 1980s was taken as the site for a ConAgra, Inc., headquarters. (Now in Chicago.) Nogg Paper moved to a site west of Eppley Airfield and later was sold. Don suffered a heart attack in 1992, noting that he had smoked two packs of cigarettes daily for 46 years. He then walked a treadmill three days a week and lost 30 pounds. He and Ozzie played tennis, and Don once told a World-Herald sportswriter: “My great desire is to leave this earth at the age

Ozzie surely made Don happy. For Seder, he said, her questions came not from the Haggadah but from the “Noggadah.” He once ended an email with: “Your elderly (but Ozzie says cute) old friend.”

Ozzie has continued to stay busy with artwork, photography and writing. For two decades, she and fellow actress Eunice Denenberg operated the cleverly named “Gemini Advertising Ink.” Ozzie also became a storyteller, part of a group called “Five Bright Chicks.” She authored an award-winning book, Joseph’s Bones, and still writes a blog, The Rabbi’s Daughter.

On a recent one, she noted that Feb. 28 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of their daughter, Shelly, from cancer. ”She was only 52, and her loss was, and remains, incomprehensible. Still, as the Viennese author Eva Wiesner Ibbotson put it, ‘You cannot stop the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can stop them from nesting in your hair.’ “

Don wrote to me in 2020: “When I think of tragedies of young people, I can't help thinking of our daughter who has been gone for five years now and it still hurts so very much.”

Last August hundreds attended Don and Ozzie’s 70th wedding anniversary at Beth El Synagogue, where his father and Don had served as presidents. He was quick to remind me, though, that Ozzie was the first woman to serve as Beth El president. And I reminded him that I have a Catholic sisterin-law who grew up at Beth Ell.

I last saw Don in person for an hour on Dec. 18 after he checked into Methodist Hospital. He was in strong voice and good spirit, as always, in spite of his failed eyesight. He soon returned to the Blumkin Home. On Jan. 31, we spoke by phone for a half hour and he said, “Do you realize that on Feb. 17, I’ll turn 95?”

I surely did. He didn’t make it to 97 with a great tennis overhand, but what a life he and Ozzie shared – as she put it, wacky, surprising and joyful. And how appropriate that she opened a window to let his soul fly away in peace. I’ll always remember Don Nogg as a breath of fresh air.

Week of Understanding

Continued from page 2 through available online resources—and hundreds of books. In 2016 she founded Descendants Media Group NFP to preserve the legacy of Nuremberg and teach its lessons to future generations in a new way.

Now, in partnership with educators, historians, and digital media experts, she is actively bringing the Courtroom 600 project to life.

The Week of Understanding is an effort to maximize the opportunity for Nebraskans to hear about Holocaust survivors and liberators testimonies now told by their children and grandchildren. The program is made possible by generous support from The Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Institute for Holocaust Education, the Omaha Public Schools Foundation, and the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation (of the JFOF).

Don Nogg

Jewish Women’s Leadership Summit

HONEYMAN RENT-ALL

JACOB SCHEER

Chabad.org

From February 19-23, some 4,000 Chabad-Lubavitch women emissaries and lay leaders from around the globe gathered in New York for the 35th annual International Conference of Chabad Women Emissaries, the largest Jewish women’s leadership gathering in the world.

Chabad-Lubavitch women emissaries, known as shluchos, are dedicated leaders who manage and grow Jewish communities worldwide, often in remote locations with minimal Jewish infrastructure. They serve both affiliated and unaffiliated Jews, welcoming all regardless of background or observance level. From bustling urban centers to quiet towns, Chabad women create not just spiritual homes but vibrant focal points of Jewish life.

The conference, known as Kinus Hashluchos, united women leaders from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries for five days of workshops, networking, and spiritual renewal. The conference is annually timed to coincide with the anniversary of the passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, of righteous memory, the wife of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

Emissaries visited the Ohel in Queens, N.Y., the resting place of the Rebbe, as well as the nearby grave of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. The women came to pray for their families, communities, and humanity at large, carrying countless prayer requests from people around the world.

Friday, Feb. 21 featured the iconic “class picture” with thousands of women gathered in front of 770 Eastern Parkway, the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Brooklyn, N.Y. Despite cold weather, the women—representing Jew-

South Street Temple

Continued from page 1 Purdue University, Jeff’s career then brought them to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he jointly served as an adjunct professor and ecological researcher in the School of Natural Resources and as a biometrician for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. With a PhD in Zoology and Wildlife Ecology, Jeff’s work was dedicated to understanding and preserving the natural world.

Trey, originally from North Central Texas, grew up immersed in music, the arts, and volunteerism. As a result, Trey’s professional career included respective tenures as executive director of a nonprofit social services organization and as executive director of a nonprofit fine arts organization. Trey served two terms as a governor-appointed member of the Nebraska Commission on Housing and Homelessness, and while working full-time, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in public administration with a focus in nonprofit management. One of Trey’s passions is volunteer board service, and he currently serves on the board of Voices of Hope in Lincoln and on the national board of the Religious Community for Reproductive Choice.

As they planned for the next chapter of their lives, Trey and Jeff also began discussing how they could leave a lasting impact on the Jewish community. Their shared love for culture, nature, and community are leading them to Bloomington, Indiana—a progressive haven in the Midwest—where they will settle in their early retirement in the coming months.

A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Four years ago, Trey formally converted to Judaism—a decision deeply rooted in his lifelong connection to the Jewish people and a profound spiritual calling. During the height of the pandemic, he felt Judaism in his heart as his chosen faith. Jeff, who attended Catholic schools growing up in suburban Chicago, did not join Trey in the conversion process, but he fully and lovingly supported Trey’s journey. Under the guidance of Rabbi Alex Felch, Trey found deep meaning in his studies and he continues to engage in Jewish learning and community. Reflecting his pride in his Jewish faith, Trey says that his ritual immersion in the mikveh at Omaha JCC, which was a key part of his conversion process, remains the most spiritually significant moment of his life.

For the past four years, Trey and Jeff have been active members of South Street Temple, where Trey now serves on the board. Their dedication to Jewish life and education continues to shape their path, and they are passionate about supporting the future of their faith and community. Trey and Jeff are also active members of the Unitarian Church of Lincoln; Unitarian

ish communities from 111 countries worldwide—stood proudly together, a powerful portrait of Jewish women’s leadership and unity.

The capstone of the conference was the gala banquet, held at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, N.J. This year’s theme, “connection,” highlighted the bonds that unite Jewish people worldwide with each other and with their Creator.

The keynote address was delivered by Elisheva Martinetti, whose remarkable Jewish journey began in Jixi, northeast China. When she was 11, her mother discovered a book about Judaism and began exploring the faith. At 15, Elisheva was sent to Singapore to learn more, beginning a journey that would take her to Sydney, Melbourne, Safed, and London.

“It feels like a dream to be standing here,” she said through tears, as the audience rose to their feet in a moment of heartfelt emotion. Today, she and her husband, Rabbi Dovid Martinetti, serve as Chabad emissaries in Milan, Italy.

Tzipi Hatovely, Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, followed, noting that while she had broken ground as the first woman in her position, “the Rebbe had sent female ambassadors decades earlier than anyone else.”

A special video presentation brought stories from women serving as Chabad emissaries at the literal ends of the earth.

The evening concluded with the iconic Roll Call, representing generations of Chabad emissaries.

“Feel the power in this room,” Yurkowicz called out as the Roll Call concluded. “It radiates outward, far beyond these walls, the entire world is represented right here, right now. Let’s channel this energy into action and finish the mission of bringing Moshiach now!”

Universalism is a faith they have shared together for over two decades (indeed, they were wed in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stillwater, OK in 2004). In addition to being a proud member of South Street Temple, Trey is also a member of the Society for Humanistic Judaism.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

OF SOUTH STREET TEMPLE

Philanthropy has always been a guiding principle for Trey and Jeff. Neither grew up with great wealth, but both benefited from community support and nonprofit programs that provided them with opportunities. As they grew older, they became more conscious of the generosity that made those opportunities possible—and they felt a deep responsibility to give back.

To wit, they established an endowed scholarship in music studies at Trey’s undergraduate alma mater, and they find great joy in hearing from student recipients about the scholarship’s impact every year. Trey and Jeff also established endowed funds at the Lincoln Community Foundation to support Fresh Start Home and Voices of Hope, respectively, which are Lincoln nonprofits that provide vital services to women experiencing homelessness as well as survivors of domestic and sexual assault. From a Jewish perspective, Trey and Jeff see philanthropy as an essential way to sustain and strengthen the community.

The Trey & Dr. Jeffrey J. Lusk Congregation B’nai Jeshurun/South Street Temple Endowment at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, is a continuation of this commitment. This unrestricted endowment will provide long-term financial stability for the Temple, helping to sustain operations during lean budget years, expand outreach efforts, and strengthen South Street Temple’s role in Lincoln’s Jewish and interfaith communities.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF GIVING

For Trey and Jeff, philanthropy is like a stone cast into water—the impact ripples outward, touching lives far beyond their own. They encourage others to consider the lasting power of endowment giving, knowing that their contribution will continue to support South Street Temple and the Jewish community for generations to come.

"Supporting our community isn’t just about today—it’s about ensuring a future where Jewish life in Lincoln can thrive. The world needs more of that right now," Trey reflects. Through their generosity, Trey and Jeff Lusk are making an enduring investment not just in South Street Temple, but in the values, traditions, and future of Jewish life in Nebraska. If you would like to pay it forward or play a part in repairing the world, please contact the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, where your priorities become ours.

Iconic Portrait of 4,000 Chabad Women Emissaries “Shluchos” in front of Chabad Int’l Headquarters “770”

Purim for little readers

Just in time for Purim, Ten Purim Bears by Ron Atlas invites young readers and families to experience the joyous holiday through a heartwarming and educational counting story. With illustrations by Zach Horvath, the book explores rhymes, numbers and Jewish traditions.

Once, a bear sat on a chair (in costume, of course). Soon, he is joined by a second, a third, and so on. Why do they all sit down, and what are they waiting for? What are those snacks they are sharing? Young readers will enjoy counting along, exploring the colorful costumes, and perhaps even get some inspiration for their own outfits this year. In addition, children can identify groggers, hamantaschen, and the main characters in the Purim story, through which they will become more familiar with the holiday.

Staenberg Omaha JCC continues 100 Year Celebration

LYNN BATTEN

JFO Content Coordinator

One of the ways the Staenberg Omaha JCC is celebrating their 100th year anniversary is with a series of free and low cost “pop up” classes. Classes are one-time events and, unless noted otherwise, open to the entire community. Those planning to attend must register using the links provided on the 100th Anniversary page of the JCC’s website. https: //www.jccomaha.org/100th-anniversary -events/. Registration can also be taken over the phone by calling JCC Member Services at 402.334.6426. All classes will be held at the Staenberg Omaha JCC.

March 13 – Jazz Music Appreciation

Classes continue on Thursday, March 13, with a Jazz Music Appreciation class held at 6:30 p.m. Class will be taught by Scott Shinbara, JCC Director of Theater, Special Events & Rentals. Scott has taught music courses for 15 years. His specialty is in popular, contemporary classical, and non-western music. The March 13th event will present Jazz from the perspective of the original time period 100 years ago! Topics covered will include early Jazz greats like “Jelly Roll” (the original) Morton, Scott Joplin, the history of New Orleans music and more. No previous knowledge of Jazz needed. This is a free event. All attendees are asked to please register if they plan on attending.

March 18 – Counteracting Active Threat

Training (CATT)

On Tuesday, March 18, Counteracting Active Threat Training (CATT) will be held at 6 p.m. This training will provide participants with a better understanding of active threats and potential response options. Participants will learn concise protection strategies for unexpected acts of violence. The course subscribes to the national model of “Run, Hide, Fight” while also discussing additional measures such as situational awareness and first aid. This training is free and open to the public. All attendees are asked to please RSVP in advance.

March 20 – Aging in the Modern World Presentation

On Thursday, March 20, there will be a special presentation by Dr. Julie Masters titled, From 3 Million to 62 Million: 100 Years of Growth and Contributions of an Aging Population. This entertaining and insightful presentation will be held at 10:15 a.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. This event is free and open to the public. We ask that you please RSVP if you plan on attending.

Dr. Julie Masters, PhD is a professor of gerontology at the University of Nebraska Omaha who teaches on the UNL campus. She holds the distinguished Terry Haney Chair of Gerontology. Dr.

Masters works with undergraduate and graduate students on independent research topics, honors theses, and doctoral studies. In addition to teaching, she engages in research related to end-of-life planning, older adults and their sense of meaning, and the role of gerontology and geriatric programming in the US. March 21 – Film & Friends presents Field of Dreams

The final event of the month will be on Friday, March 21. In partnership with Jewish Family Service, the JCC will host the Film & Friends movie day. The featured film will be Field of Dreams. Film & Friends movie days are held in the Alan J. Levine Theater at the J at 1 p.m. and are geared towards those age 55+. Film & Friends is free and open to the public. Concessions will be available for purchase. Those who plan on attending are asked to RSVP online. Film & Friends is made possible by a grant from the Milton S. & Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund and partnerships with the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Staenberg Omaha JCC.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

PARENTS & SENIORS

We will be publishing our annual High School Graduation Class pages on May 23, 2025.To be included, email student and parents’ names, current high school and college you will attend with a photo to: jpress@jewishomaha.org by May 5, 2025.

The Jewish Press 2025

Friedel

Above and below: RBJH felt the love this February with a host of sweet gestures. Thank you to the LOVE (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly), who supplied the tasty teatime treats for the Residents, Baker’s Supermarket, who donated red roses to all the Residents and staff, and a generous friend of RBJH, who donated individual Russel Stover’s heart chocolates for the staff. A first-grade teacher who volunteers with the Love on a Leash pet therapy program at RBJH had her students make homemade cards and placemats for each Resident. Thank you all for your kindness!

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

Academy’s Science Fair

their own experiments,

Above, right and below: Residents of RBJH decorated little mason jars filled with goodies—sweet, salty, or sweet and salty snacks—to thank the hardworking and dedicated RBJH staff. Your work is motivating and meaningful! “Maybe others haven’t noticed your hard work. But I have. And I just wanted to thank all the RBJH employees.” ~a Resident. We want to give special thanks to the generous donation of the Staenberg Family Foundation Anything Grant of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation for this marvelous AHA Art experience.

Top, above and below left: Beth El’s Ruach Repairing the Environment Tu B Shvat event.

Above right, below and bottom:

Jewish

took place on February 20. Students designed

applied the scientific method, and presented their results to judges.

Samuel Bak Museum update

HILLARY NATHER DETISH

The Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center is a space where art becomes the preface to conversations around Human Rights, genocide and the Holocaust. The current exhibition, titled War Games, is part of an ongoing series, designed to present the artists and Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak’s gift of 512 paintings to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. War Games explores how Bak relates his childhood experiences, from his direct renderings of the Holocaust in his watercolors during his time in a Displaced Persons’ camp from 1945-1948, to a selection of his contemporary paintings and drawings. The exhibit runs through June 29

Included in this exhibit is the lecture series, starting with Archives versus Experiences: Native American Children in the Boarding School System by speaker Susan Geliga, PhD on Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m.

braska Omaha

Thursday, April 10, also at 6 p.m., Mark Gilbert, PhD will present The Healing Power of Art Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m., it is time for Christine Bear PhD., whose lecture is titled Music of Lullabies, Nightmares and Child’s Play. Our final lecture is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m.: An Afternoon with Samuel Bak, with the artist himself.

Starting in April, the Museum will host Bak to Basics: Chess for all Ages. Samuel Bak explores chess as a metaphor and recurring motif in the paintings on display in the War Games exhibition. Besides being a recreational hobby, chess can also help develop planning and decision-making skills, teach fair play, empathy and improve critical thinking, spatial reasoning and memory. Join us for a family-friendly introductory chess program from 1-2 p.m. on April 13, May 4, June 8 and June 29. This youth program is designed for beginning players age 10 and above, and seasoned chess players who enjoy helping others learn. Participants will engage in a brief history of chess, followed by a lesson on how to play. We ask you to RSVP in pairs; each session is limited to 12 attendees and youth participants must have an adult partner in attendance. For more information and to reserve your spot, please email unobakinfo@ unomaha.edu

The War Games exhibit is generously sponsored by Douglas County Nebraska Dedicated Service Community Involvement, the Sherwood Foundation, Omaha Steaks, the Harley & Beth Schrager Foundation, Valmont, the Milton and Connie N. Livingston Foundation Fund, Cynthia Epstein and David Wiesman and Mutual of Omaha.

B’nai Israel monthly speaker series

Kyle Knapp

On Friday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m., please join us for Shabbat and Purim services at B’nai Israel Living History Synagogue. Musician and speaker Kyle Knapp will be performing after services, and of course we invite you to stay for the oneg! Kyle grew up in a variety of small Midwest and Northeast small towns, but calls Omaha home. A guitarist, singer, and storyteller, he regularly plays his solo act in a variety of venues, but also at times joins an ensemble.

JCC

at 100: The Cornerstone

Public Invited to Cornerstone Laying Celebration July 19 —COMPLETE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PLANNED FOR OCCASION.

The laying of the cornerstone for the Jewish Community Center building will be held Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at 20th and Dodge streets.

Every subscriber to the Jewish Community Center Fund and their friends are invited to attend this public celebration. The principal speaker of the day will be Rabbi Benjamin Frankel of Champaign, Illinois. Rabbi Frankel is head of the Hillel Foundation of America and is considered one of the best orators in the central west.

Besides Rabbi Frankel there will be a number of other speakers including city and state officials.

Rabbi Frederick Cohn will give the invocation and Rabbi J. M. Charlop will give the benediction. Addresses will be made by Mayor James C. Dahlman, Governor Adam McMullen, Henry Monsky, Harry B. Zimman, and David Sher. Harry H. Lapidus will preside as chairman.

He has a robust repertoire of songs both popular and obscure, from a diversity of styles and genres, as well as many originals. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, he selects his setlists to suit the venue. You might hear his interpretations of songs by John Denver, The Beatles, Elton John, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and The Eagles, for example, and sometimes he takes requests. Kyle’s folk/Americana style embodies a diversity that defies consistent comparison and he delivers a unique musical experience.

We look forward to welcoming you to B’nai Israel! Our shul is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and has been continuously active since 1904. For more information about B’nai Israel Synagogue, please visit https://www. cblhs.org or call us at 712.322.4705.

Following the speaking the cornerstone ceremonies will start. In the next issue of the Jewish Press, the committee will announce who will lay the cornerstone.

The work on the building is progressing very rapidly and the long sought-for home for the Jewish community of Omaha will soon be realized. The building will be completed in 1925 and will house all Jewish organizations.

This story was originally published in the Jewish Press of July 9, 1925. Past issues can be found at www.omaha jewishpress.com through the E-edition/issuu link.

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The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com

Samuel Bak, Unknown, 2007, Oil on Canvas. Collection of Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, University of Ne-

Voices

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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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Lessons in self-defense

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT

Jewish Press Editor

In early 2024, police officers in Lod, Israel, arrested a man who hid marijuana in mishloach manot bags. While it is customary to hand out mishloah manot packages containing snacks during Purim, this was perhaps the first instance of someone being caught making their drug drop this festive.

You’re allowed to laugh: “According to Jewish kabbalistic tradition (Sefer Yetzira Chapter 8), the 12 months of the year correspond to other systems of 12, including what the kabbalists call “the 12 powers of the soul.” The power of the soul that corresponds to the month of Adar is laughter. (Source: Aish.com)

At first, the story of Purim doesn’t seem all that funny. However, this holiday calls for what Yehuda Fogel calls ‘radical laughter’ (18forty.org). We celebrate our freedom to listen to the Megillah, we eat and drink, dress in crazy costumes and make a lot of noise. It’s not just the children, either. Who doesn’t love a good grogger? We all, especially in this day and age, need to let out a few screams when the bad guy’s name is mentioned. Celebrating Purim and remembering that evil does not prevail is something we have to do for ourselves, and the louder we are, the better.

The story of Esther rings true. It’s actually a little too realistic; Shushan is a world in which we can insert ourselves. Just like it happened yesterday, minus the sort-of happy ending.

In 2020, Irene Greenwald Plotzker wrote: “I heard

one comment that you can tell it’s fiction because the Jews are given permission to defend themselves. A fantasy, kind of like the Nazi-hunting Jewish soldiers in the film Inglourious Basterds.” (igplotzk.wordpress.com)

That’s witty, and predictably self-deprecating, but I don’t think we need permission to defend ourselves. We also don’t need a modern-day Ahashueros to save us. I mean, he let a lot of stuff happen until Esther set him straight. I just know he didn’t really have a clue about what was going on in his own court. Why would we rely on people like him, or anyone else, telling us it’s okay to keep living?

The real point of Purim, the real reason we celebrate, is that we defeat evil together. We are a worldwide community, we all eat the same cookies, don similar costumes and sit through spiels at our various schools and synagogues. We all hear the same Megillah, not so we can emulate the story itself, but so we can celebrate that we are still here. And while we do that, we get to make a lot of noise.That is how we defend ourselves, not because someone gives us permission, but because we want to. We are Jews, in spite of. We don’t need anyone to tell us it’s ok.

“Precisely because the threat was so serious, you refuse to be serious – and in that refusal you are doing something very serious indeed. You are denying your enemies a victory. You are declaring that you will not be intimidated.” (The Therapeutic Joy of Purim)Now that is something I can get behind.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once wrote:

Imagine all the haters out there, waving their flags, the keyboard warriors and tent-builders, watching us have a wild and raucuous party at one of the lowest points in our lifetime. They don’t know what we know: sometimes, the line between tragedy and comedy needs to disappear.

We couldn’t save the Bibas boys, but we can still choose life

EG KEENE JTA

This piece has been updated to reflect Israel’s announcement that Hamas did not return the body of Shiri Bibas.

For Jews, the world has stilled. In Israel the streets are lined with people holding flags and orange balloons, holding each other. In the diaspora we hold our breath, staring at our screens, frozen.

The endless conversations I have with other Jewish mothers, the connection and community that keeps us buzzing behind the scenes of raising children and running our careers and caring for our families — today it’s silenced. WhatsApp, text threads, DMs: empty.

Baruch dayan emet. May their memories be a revolution. May you have a long life. There is nothing else left to say.

Ariel and Kfir Bibas are gone. Oded Lifshitz is gone. On Friday, Israel announced that Shiri Bibas was missing, her body having not returned from Gaza. A mother, with eyes like our own. A baby. A preschooler. A great-grandfather who spent his life fighting for peace. Each a whole world, extinguished or lost. On Thursday, the bodies of the boys and of Lifshitz were handed over by their Hamas killers, in a violent mockery of our grief. Their caskets were paraded like trophies, presented in front of a bloodied banner. And Shiri has yet to be found.

And the world continues, silent and largely uncaring.

Recently, my 6th grade son had a unit on Israel. He was proud to be something of a subject matter expert — the only Jew in his class. When they had their final test, he came home in tears. He’d had one question marked wrong, and he didn’t understand why. The question was: “What is the word for Jews living outside the Jewish homeland?” His teacher wanted him to pick “diaspora,” but he chose “exile.” “I thought about it a lot,” he said. “Exile felt correct.” And today, I can see he was right. For those of us in the diaspora, it’s never felt more like galut, like exile. Our hearts are in Jerusalem, but our bodies are here.

After Oct. 7 there were mornings where I’d hear new details — I’d read about the way children were slaughtered in front of their parents, parents mas-

sacred in front of their children. I’d see images of tiny Jewish bodies incinerated. And I’d stand up from the breakfast table, smile tightly at my children, shut the door to the bathroom, and fall to the floor, dry heaving. The pain was more than my body could hold; it was poison that it wanted to purge.

But then, like every other Jewish mother, I would stand up, wash my face, and return to my kids. We had children to raise. We had babies trapped in Gaza to fight for. We had to defer our sorrow.

But in the cold light of this morning, none of our children are left in torture tunnels. The last of our babies have been returned momentarily to the light, till they are given back to the earth. And somehow we have to move forward.

was love, prayer and collective magical thinking. We had already lost them, but in our hearts and minds they were still alive.

That is the power of our tribe, unbroken for thousands of years. We have collective memories, joys and sorrows. And today, two red-headed boys become part of our history, a story we will never stop telling. Today, a nation mourns, in Israel and in exile.

For weeks Jewish mothers have asked each other, “If the Bibas children have been killed, how do we go on?” And today the answer is clear to me: We don’t. We stop.

The bodies of Ariel, Kfir and Oded have been returned to us. And there is nothing we can do but feel the agony as it rips through our bodies. Tomorrow, maybe, we can act. But today we hold still.

Jewish mothers tried to keep the Bibas family alive with the strength of our communal love and longing. We wore orange to try to get the world remember the flame-haired boys, we shared pictures of the family in Batman pajamas and the horrific video of their capture. We made sure they were not forgotten, and we tried to will them safely home.

It’s the same thing I do when I fly: I try to keep the plane aloft with the power of my mind. But a greater power is guiding the plane — the forces of aeronautics. And today we realize the same jagged truth. For all of our collective hope, we never had the power to keep Ariel and Kfir alive. What we had

Jewish mothers everywhere know that the nightmare has come round again, our deepest fears slashed across the news. But still, somehow, we choose life. We turn our eyes back towards our children, we wipe our faces, and we get up off the floor. We say “Am Yisrael Chai” like a triumphant mantra. But the reality of how the nation of Israel lives is mundane. Pouring cheerios. Teaching the Shema. Singing Hatikvah. Driving to Hebrew school. Comforting our children in the dark. And then waking up with them as dawn breaks, each and every morning.

Meg Keene is a bestselling author and novelist. She founded the groundbreaking online publication A Practical Wedding. She currently resides in Northern California, with her husband and two kids.

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.

Pictures of Shiri Bibas and her children Kfir and Ariel. Credit: Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90

Credit: Sonali Bhatnagar, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Real allies don’t disappear when times get tough

EVAN BERNSTEIN

Note: Guided by Jewish values, it is the mission of the nonpartisan JCRC to be a bridge that connects the Jewish community with other religious, racial, ethnic, and civic groups to foster a just, democratic, and pluralistic society. The JCRC advocates, educates, collaborates, and mobilizes action on issues important to the Jewish Community and greater community to fight antisemitism and hate in all its forms and promote the security of Israel and Jews everywhere, but we cannot do that vital work alone. Nor can we expect others to stand up for us if we condition our support for others based on a historical transaction or event, or social media and email lip service.

Relationships are hard. They require we ask about and listen to other points of view with which we may not fully understand or agree. To find common ground, it is on us to do the outreach and nurturing, to show up, and to do for our neigbors and community what we expect them to do for us. We are grateful to Evan Bernstein, vice president of Community relations for Jewish Federations of North America, for this poignant editorial recently featured in the Jerusalem Post --Sharon Brodkey, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council

This article was first published by the Jerusalem Post

In an increasingly interconnected world, the Jewish community finds itself at a critical juncture where building robust, sincere partnerships with non-Jewish allies is essential. These alliances must be founded not on transactional exchanges but on deeply shared values, particularly regarding Israel’s right to

exist as a Jewish state and a clear understanding of the reality posed by Hamas as a terrorist entity.

As we navigate the post-Oct. 7 landscape, the strategies for community relations must evolve, drawing lessons from past experiences where presumed allies remained silent or disengaged when their voices were needed most.

The path forward begins with dialogue. It is crucial that Jewish communities initiate conversations with faith leaders, school leaders, elected officials, business leaders, and advocates who share these core values.

This dialogue should start with a simple yet powerful question: “What do you need?” Understanding the needs and perspectives of potential partners is the foundation upon which equitable and respectful relationships are built. Only through mutual understanding can a genuine partnership be formed where both parties feel valued and committed.

Shared values are the bedrock of any meaningful alliance. While there are many areas where partnerships can flourish, it is non-negotiable that partners recognize Israel’s right to exist as both a sovereign and Jewish state. Equally, a clear stance on the nature of Hamas as a terrorist organization must be a prerequisite for any collaboration. These are not mere political statements but reflections of core beliefs that impact lives, security, and the future of Jewish communities worldwide.

This approach is not about reciprocation or quid pro quo; rather, it is about crafting a collaborative spirit that acknowledges the struggles and aspirations of each community. This partnership should not just focus on supporting the Jew-

The Bibas family embodied our hope and despair.

Where do we turn when hope is dashed?

RABBI SHARON LITWIN

On the morning of Oct. 8, 2023, I quickly made a Google slide presentation with songs for Israel. I didn’t know what else to do, but I knew that the 400 students at our northern New Jersey synagogue’s religious school were going to show up in an hour and I needed something to create a sense of community before sending them off to class.

We gathered in the sanctuary, and we sang

Am Yisrael Chai, Rick Recht’s The Hope and of course Hatikva, Israel’s national anthem. I remember saying to the children that something terrible had happened in Israel, that small children had been taken captive, and that no matter what happened, we have seen this before, we have overcome many tragedies in our long Jewish history, and no matter what, we have to have hope.

wanting to protect our children from all of the evil that could potentially happen to them.

I’ll see my students again on Sunday morning, and I will have to put the names of all of the returned hostages in the slides that we use for our weekly service, as I have done every week for the past five weeks. We have said the blessing thanking God for the good that is in the world as each hostage has come home, and we have continued to ask God to redeem all of the captives.

In the weeks and months that followed, it became my mission to ignite a sense of connection to Israel in all of my students, from the five-year-olds to the high school seniors and all of their parents. We did this by adding Hatikva to our weekly assembly and praying for the hostages. Our prayer for the State of Israel every week has included reading the names of selected hostages. We have said all of the names in rotation over the past 16 months, but we always included the Bibas family — Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, ages 9 months and 4 at the time of their abduction. Those little redheaded boys became a symbol of both hope and despair. Even though they weren’t released in the months immediately after the attacks we never gave up hope that they would return home someday.

For some reason, people think rabbis know all the answers, which led to unanswerable questions: “Do you think they’re dead?” “Were they snuck out of Gaza and they’re in Iran?” “Are they going to raise them to be anti-Israel and in 20 years from now they will just come back as terrorists?” I heard it all. And never once did I want to believe that they were really dead. Never once did I want to turn to one of my students or their parents and say, “Actually, I think in the chaos and cruelty of Oct. 7 and after, they lost their lives.” I always just believed they would come home.

Those babies are all our babies. Every mother has held onto her baby as tightly as Shiri was holding on to them in the desperate viral videos that Hamas broadcast on Oct. 7. Few of us have ever had that much fear or been in that much danger, but mothers (and fathers) all know the instinct that we have to protect our children. Not only are those babies our hope, they are the symbol of the desperation that we all have felt in

This time, we’ll have to read the names of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir and add the traditional blessing said when acknowledging a recent death: Baruch Dayan Haemet, blessed is the true judge. All the joy that we felt and the applause that rang through the room that first week when young women soldiers came home as part of the recent ceasefire deal is going to be eclipsed by the news we long dreaded and hoped would never be delivered. And I will have to explain to my students that even though we had all hoped for their return alive to Israel, God took the Bibas boys and their mother, and that while our hopes for their safety were dashed, to be Jewish is to cling to hope in the face of tragedy.

And that may mean adjusting what we hope for. As I write this, I hope that when the forensics are done, we learn that they really did die on Oct. 7 or soon thereafter, and maybe they did not suffer the way the hostages who are returning have suffered. Maybe the hope is that they had been under God‘s protective shield, and they were spared the torture of the tunnels, of the hunger, of the unknown, of the longing, of the fear.

We can hope that their father Yarden, who was abducted separately and released on Feb. 1, can find some solace in the public’s embrace of his loved ones, and that their memories will be the greatest blessing for him and all of Am Yisrael. Their smiling faces, and all those viral videos, will live on and the torment of our nation will recede as we continue to hope that the rest of the hostages will come home. And we will continue to pray and hope that one day nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.

Rabbi Sharon Litwin is director of Youth and Family Education at Temple Ner Tamid, a Reform synagogue in Bloomfield, New Jersey. She resides in Teaneck, New Jersey with her fiancé, her college-aged daughter and his two grown children.

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.

ish community but also on providing reciprocal support to our allies in their times of need. By standing shoulder to shoulder, communities can demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the principles of peace, security, and mutual respect. The silent aftermath witnessed in the wake of Oct. 7 serves as a stark reminder of the work still to be done. The silence of supposed allies should propel us to reassess and recalibrate our community relations strategies. It is a clear indication that business as usual will not suffice. New partnerships must be nurtured and existing ones reevaluated to ensure they are aligned with this new reality. This is a time for strength through unity and solidarity.

In these challenging times, I continue to hear story after painful story about partners that have disappeared. That’s why Jewish Federations across North America continue to take proactive steps toward building a future where Jewish communities thrive alongside truly supportive partners. It requires courage, patience, and a renewed focus on what truly binds us together.

By embracing this path, we can forge durable community relations alliances that transcend episodic support and reflect the enduring power of shared values. Together, we can navigate this post-October 7 reality with integrity and foresight, ensuring a more secure and prosperous future for all communities involved.

The writer is Jewish Federations of North America’s vice president of community relations.

Firestorm

BEN SALES JTA

When she posted a clip of Rabbi Meir Kahane to her 407,000 followers on Instagram, Lizzy Savetsky expected some blowback. Kahane was an American Jewish extremist who wanted to rid Israel of Arabs and was barred from Israel’s parliament after one term for inciting racism. Before posting the clip, Savetsky said in an interview, she had known Kahane was a “pretty polarizing figure” who had founded the Jewish Defense League.

But she still felt the message in the clip was worth sharing.

In the footage Kahane tells an audience that it is impossible for Israel and “the Arabs” to make peace diplomatically.

“If you’re good to them, you’re not good — you’re weak. And if you’re weak, you’re dead,” he says. “And if you’re strong, they listen to you.”

In a caption, Savetsky added, “Rabbi Meir Kahane, of blessed memory, was labeled as a violent extremist, but he was right. This is the truth right here. The only language the Arabs understand is force and fear.”

The post, as she predicted, sparked a response that was instant and largely negative: “So you do support terrorism after all, as long as the terrorist is Jewish?” one commenter asked. Savetsky’s post and the reaction to it are emblematic of how Jewish online discourse has shifted after a week in which Israel saw Hamas parade the coffins of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, across a stage in Gaza in a macabre ceremony.

It also comes after President Donald Trump repeatedly proposed depopulating Gaza and bringing it under American control. And it is happening in an era when Kahane’s followers have gained an unprecedented foothold in Israel’s government — with Itamar Ben-Gvir, who got his start in the movement, serving as national security minister until last month.

The footage of the Bibas’ coffins led some Jews to abandon hope of any accommodation with Palestinians in Gaza. And for a number of them, Trump’s plan offered a concrete way to avoid one. Taken together, those developments have led some voices to endorse people or perspectives long considered outside the bounds of mainstream American Jewish discourse.

Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor: Hen Mazzig (Voices, February 21) writes: “But the people in Gaza shouldn’t have to pay for a tyranny that rules over them with an iron fist.” Actually, the people of Gaza chose Hamas to rule over them, in a democratic election in 2006. Former President Jimmy Carter and other international observers verified that the election was fair. So let’s not treat the residents of Gaza as if they are helpless, unwitting children; that would be demeaning and maybe even a little racist. They are adults who made a choice, and now they are dealing with the consequences.

Sincerely, Moshe Phillips Americans For A Safe Israel (AFSI) National Chairman New York, NY

A person holds a poster of hostage Kfir Bibas during a rally in New York’s Central Park to mark the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel, Oct. 6, 2024. Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images

Synagogues

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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, March 14, 7:30 p.m. with our musical guest speaker, Kyle Knapp. 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 and B’nai Mitzvah of Elliot and Jaclyn Greenberg 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 6:55 p.m. Beth El and Zoom.

SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m. — Early Dismissal, 11 a.m.; Purim Carnival, 11 a.m.

TUESDAY: Mishneh Torah, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham

WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom followed by Megillah Reading and Reception.

FRIDAY-Mar. 14: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-Mar. 15: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El and Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah, 8:05 p.m. Beth El and Zoom. 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/Candlelighting, 6:04 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.; Soulful Torah, 5:05 p.m. with Rabbi Geiger; Mincha 5:50 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos 6:20 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:04 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:10 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Monday Mind Builders 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 7:10 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

THURSDAY: Fast of Esther Begins, 6:17 a.m.; Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.; Megillah Reading and Break Fast, 8:03 p.m.

FRIDAY-Mar. 14: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit and Megillah Reading, 7 a.m.; Megillah Reading, 4 p.m.; Beth Israel Purim Carnival, 4:30 p.m.;

Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 7:12 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 15: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Soulful Torah, 6:15 p.m.; Mincha, 7 p.m.; Kids Activity/Laws of Shabbos 7:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:12 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 p.m. go to ochabad.com/Lechayim to join; Candlelighting, 6:04 p.m.; Omaha Young Professionals Shabbat Dinner, contact Mushka at mushka@ochabad.com for further details.

SATURDAY: Shacharit 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent;Yoga, Soul Talk and Sourdough, 8 p.m., contact Mushka at mushka@ochabad.com for further details; Shabbat Ends, 7:04 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps, 9 a.m.; Cteen International Shabbaton.

MONDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m. with Shani Katzman; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Translating Words of Prayer, 7 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

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; Body Challenged, Soul Redeemed, 7 p.m. at Chabad, go to ochabad.com/resilience for more info and to RSVP..

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. with Rabbi Katzman; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m.; YJP Hamantash Bake, 8 p.m., at Chabad, RSVP at ochabad.com/yjpbake

FRIDAY-Mar. 14: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Family Drive by Purim, 4-6 p.m., at Chabad, go to ochabad.com/ purim for more info and to RSVP; Candlelighting, 7:12 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 15: Shacharit 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 8:12 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL

Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Candlelighting, 5:59 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:30-7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Service, 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; No Torah Study this week; Havdalah, 7:07 p.m.

SUNDAY: No LJCS Classes this week; 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

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS Hebrew School this week

FRIDAY-Mar. 14: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:307:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Alex at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:14 p.m.; YJI Purim Costume Party, 8:30–10:30 p.m. at 1867 Bar, 101 N 14th St #6, Lincoln.

SATURDAY-Mar. 15: Shabbat Service, 9:30-11 a.m. led by Rabbi Alex at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parshat Ki Tisa led by TBD via Zoom; Potluck Dinner and Family Game Night, 6 p.m. at SST. Adults and kids of all ages are welcome. Please bring a dish to share; Havdalah, 8:15 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 B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah of Cael Silverman 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SUNDAY: Purim Spiel, 9:30 a.m. In-Person; Purim Carnival, 10 a.m. In-Person.

TUESDAY: Adult Civil Rights Pre-Trip Class, 7 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. at Beth El — In-Person; How the Israelites Became The Jews, 6:30 p.m. In-Person.

THURSDAY: The Zohar: Thursday Morning Class, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Sharff and Rabbi Azriel — In-Person & Zoom; Purim: Adult Pub Quiz Night, 7 p.m. In-Person.

FRIDAY-Mar. 14: Drop-In Mah Jongg, 9 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-Mar. 15: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat Morning Service, 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

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all,’ Yarden Bibas said

PHILISSA CRAMER

JTA

Israel was awash in orange on Wednesday as the Bibas family held a private funeral for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir, the mother and young sons murdered in captivity in Gaza.

Israelis wearing orange lined a nearly 40-mile route that a funeral procession took on the way to the cemetery in southern Israel, near Nir Oz, the kibbutz from which the family was abducted when Hamas attacked on Oct. 7, 2023. Their bodies were released from Gaza last week following a grisly ceremony by the terror group and were buried together Wednesday in a single coffin.

Mothers carried orange balloons during a demonstration in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square. Both Ben-Gurion Airport and the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, shone in the color on Tuesday night, as the country prepared for yet another wrenching moment in an unrelenting national trauma.

And Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and Ariel and

Kfir’s father who himself was freed from Gaza earlier this month, wore an orange kippah as he delivered a tearful eulogy that livestreamed directly to a grieving nation.

“Mi amor,” he began as he addressed his wife in the Spanish of their families’ ancestral home in Argentina. He apologized for not being able to protect their family and recalled the last decision they made together, choosing from their safe room to fight the terrorists who had attacked them rather than surrender — a choice he said he would not make again.

“Shiri, everyone knows and loves us — you can’t imagine how surreal all this madness is,” he said, referring to the way that the family has become a national symbol. “Shiri, people tell me they’ll always be by my side, but they’re not you. So please stay close to me.” He added, “Protect me from myself. Guard me so I don’t sink into darkness.”

To his sons, whose red hair inspired the orange displays, Yarden Bibas also apologized. He also re-

called the laughter they shared and imagined them playing together in the afterlife.

“I love you ‘the most in the world, always in the world,’ just as you used to tell us,” he told Ariel, who was 4 on Oct. 7. He repeated the phrase when addressing Kfir, 9 months old at the time, before concluding, “I have so many more things to tell you all, but I’ll save them for when we’re alone.”

Other members of the family spoke as well but no representative of the Israeli government was present, in accordance with the family’s wishes. The funeral followed a ceremony Tuesday for Oded Lifshitz, who was also abducted from Nir Oz on Oct. 7 along with his wife and was murdered in captivity at age 83. His wife Yocheved, released in October 2023, eulogized him, saying that the family had been attacked by those whom they sought to help as peace activists. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also spoke at Lifshitz’s funeral, apologizing for the state’s failure on Oct. 7.

B’NAI ISRAEL

BETH EL

BETH ISRAEL

CHABAD HOUSE

Deborah Lipstadt

DEBORAH DANAN

Deborah Lipstadt, who was the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism under President Joe Biden, revealed in an essay published Sunday that she had turned down a position at Columbia University because of the school’s role in recent pro-Palestinian protests.

In the essay, published in The Free Press, Lipstadt said she was not convinced that the Ivy League university was sincere in its efforts to improve the campus climate — and that she was worried that she would face harassment while teaching.

at a conference arranged by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, May

She also said she worried that spending a semester at Columbia while on leave from her appointment at Emory University could whitewash a crisis at Columbia and its affiliated women’s college, Barnard.

“I fear that my presence would be used as a sop to convince the outside world that ‘Yes, we in the Columbia/ Barnard orbit are fighting antisemitism. We even brought in the former Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism,’ Lipstadt wrote. “I will not be used to provide cover for a completely unacceptable situation.”

Columbia has been a hotspot of protest over the IsraelHamas war since it began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The school was the birthplace of last year’s nationwide encampment movement.

Lipstadt said she had been heartened by Barnard’s decision to expel two students who interrupted an Israeli history course with a pro-Palestinian protest — and then dismayed when the school allowed student protesters who occupied a campus building last week to leave without consequences.

“Watching Barnard capitulate to mob violence and fail to enforce its own rules and regulations led me to conclude that I could not go to Columbia University, even for a single semester,” she wrote, adding that Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, had personally called her after she conveyed her decision on Friday.

The Free Press was founded by Bari Weiss, the crusading journalist who first rose to prominence calling out anti-Israel sentiment at Columbia, from which she graduated.

SUBMIT OBITUARIES TO THE JEWISH PRESS: Email the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; mail to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; or online at online at www. omahajewishpress.com/site/forms/

Rabbi Geiger’s Weekly Torah Expedition

KI SISA

GEIGER

Beth Israel

Jacobo Shaerem lived with his wife in Mexico city. He had been very successful in real estate and architecture. His business model was to buy buildings and flip them, then use the prophet to do an even bigger project. Then he bought a very extravagant building in downtown Mexico, but no one was buying it. He was terrified that this would ruin him. Then two businessmen came in on Friday from out of the country. They were in negotiations with Jacobo for hours. Jacobo and his wife Sofia were not yet observant of Shabbat, but they had been inspired to attend services every friday night. As the hour gets late Jacobo looks at his watch and says gentleman, if we can't wrap this up in half an hour, I’m going to have to head home. They said are you crazy? We leave tomorrow morning, and there’s no way we will finish in time! A half hour later Jacobo went home, knowing he had lost the deal of a lifetime. That night, he felt terrible, feeling an incredible doubt that he may have made the wrong choice. But Sophia’s faith was firm, she reassured him that he had certainly done the right thing.

September 1985 Mexico City earthquake, 5,000 killed, 14,000 injured, all the buildings destroyed. All except one; Jacobo’s. He had built it with the most updated contingencies for earthquakes! Very soon the offices in his building were all rented out, and this building brought him more revenue than he would have ever dreamed. This week’s parsha reiterates the mitzvah of shabbat. G-d gave us a gift, a day bursting with life, growth, and blessing. A day where we can connect with Him. If we want our life work and legacy to be eternal, just as Jacobos’ building, we must connect it with the source of all blessing; Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom,

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RABBI MORDECHAI

Deborah Lipstadt speaks

26, 2022. Credit: Shahar Azran

How these US Jews got to Syria for the first time in decades

ANDREW LAPIN

JTA

Even as tensions between Israel and Syria ramped up in recent days, a small group of Syrian Jews recently celebrated a milestone that once seemed unthinkable: a return visit to their home country.

Under the auspices of the new Syrian government, a small delegation toured Jewish heritage sites in and around Damascus last week, just two months after the fall of the dictatorial Bashar al-Assad regime. The group said it was the first official Jewish delegation to visit Syria, a country that once was home to as many as 100,000 Jews, in over three decades.

Visiting historic synagogues and praying with Torah scrolls that had remained intact through the country’s brutal, 14-year civil war, these Jews were celebrating a homecoming. The visit could allow them and their descendants to imagine a potentially bright future in a place long thought lost to the many Jews who’d once called it home.

Days after the trip, Israel launched military strikes on Syria as the country’s new leader and large numbers of protesters demanded Israeli troops withdraw from the country’s southwestern region. Israel says it is occupying the area, the Syrian side of the Golan plateau, as a security measure amid instability in Syria.

Despite the overarching uncertainty — or perhaps because of it — members of the Jewish trip said anything felt possible.

“Everyone was so excited,” Rabbi Asher Lopatin, one of the Jewish delegates, told JTA about the heritage tour. “The people are so kind and really, very, very nice.”

Spearheading the trip was Rabbi Yusuf Hamra and his son Henry, Jews who left Syria during the final wave of mass Jewish emigration in the early 1990s. Henry was 15 at the time. The Hamra family resettled in New York, along with thousands of other Syrian Jews who maintain a vibrant and distinctive community, but retain dreams of returning to the Damascus of their past.

“The whole community was like one family,” Henry Hamra told the Times of Israel about his upbringing in Syria. “Then you’re changing a whole country. Especially when you go to America, you get lost in the big city.”

For more than a century Syria became increasingly inhospitable to its once-thriving Jewish population. Blood libels and other incidents targeting the country’s Jewish minority persisted from the 1800s through the 20th century.

As in countries across the Arab world, antisemitic persecution, and Jewish emigration, spiked with Israel’s establishment

in 1948, when Syria was one of a group of neighboring states to attack the nascent country.

It was the first of three wars Israel and Syria would fight over the next 25 years, including the 1967 Six Day War, when Israel captured the Golan Heights. The countries have not fought in half a century but still do not have relations, despite some attempts years ago at peace talks.

Over that time, Syria’s Jewish population has only dwindled further, to a current population estimated at fewer than a dozen who still call the country home. Graves at a historic Jewish cemetery were disinterred to build a highway decades ago. Some non-Jewish locals, by contrast, have guarded ancient Torah scrolls, preventing them from being damaged or lost.

And since the 2011 outbreak of the brutal Syrian civil war — in which Assad launched an assault on citizens and rebel factions trying to oust him from power — synagogues and other Jewish landmarks were destroyed or badly damaged as overall death tolls topped 600,000 and the Syrian refugee population skyrocketed into the millions.

After Assad fled and a new government headed by interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa — who used to belong to groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS — took control, the Hamras saw an opening to return for an official visit. (A relative of theirs had been making several unofficial trips to Syria in the intervening decades, including a Damascus “vacation” in 2021.) They contacted the Syria Emergency Task Force, a U.S.-based organization formed in 2011 to oppose the Assad regime.

“We welcome your visit and your generous initiative,” Moaz Mustafa, the group’s director, wrote to the Hamras in response

to their request to tour Damascus, in a letter translated from the Arabic and viewed by JTA.

Mustafa also assured the group that the Syrian government would provide security detail for the Jewish delegation throughout the four-day trip. The task force, which aims to lift international sanctions on Syria now that Assad is out of power, would go on to trumpet the trip as “marking a historic step toward reestablishing Jewish life in Damascus.”

For now, though, there is only a tiny trickle of Jews returning to Damascus. The Hamras were able to round up nine participants for their delegation, not enough for a minyan required for some Jewish prayers. Travel into Syria was its own logistical challenge, with much of the group flying in from Qatar, while another small contingent drove in from Lebanon, where Israel has troops stationed in response to the war with Hezbollah that followed Oct. 7.

Lopatin, who works for the Jewish Federation of Ann Arbor, Michigan, has no Syrian heritage; he joined the group at the behest of a Syrian Muslim interfaith coalition partner. Still, he said, the trip was eye-opening.

“I kept on thinking about the Jews returning to Europe, to Poland, after World War II, All over Europe, they were suspicious,” he said. By contrast, “Here, everyone was so excited.”

Local Syrians, Lopatin said, were excited to greet the Jews, who he said were welcomed everywhere they went, even with him openly sporting a kippah. “For them, the Jews coming back represents a restoration of, I think, civility to Syria, the idea that we are all one,” he said. “That’s what the government is promoting.”

One subject that did not come up much during the Jewish delegation’s trip was Israel. In recent days prior to the Israeli strikes, Syrians had begun demonstrating at the border against Israel’s military presence as Israel has demanded a complete demilitarization of the country’s south.

At a constitutional dialogue in Syria attended by Sharaa, during which the country’s leaders outlined basic freedoms for their people they hope to one day enact, national rulers also took the opportunity to denounce Israel’s incursion. Lopatin said the omission of any mention of Israel was an intentional move, and a “smart” one on behalf of the group’s Syrian handlers.

“There’ll be a time to negotiate with Israel and talk about that,” he said. “But for now it was, let’s try to bring Syrians together, let’s try to get rule of law in Syria.” In the future, he mused, “If this could be a breakthrough for Syria to recognize Israel, that would be something.”

Syrian Rabbi Yousef Hamra. Credit: Bakr Al Kasem/Anadolu via Getty Images