January 14, 2011

Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

Traveling off the beaten path

January 14, 2011 9 Shevat 5771 Vol. 90 | No. 19

This Week

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Eunie Denenberg wanted to go to Vietnam last year. When that didn’t work out, her friends, Susan Rothholz and Suzanne Singer, convinced her to travel to South America instead. Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, to be precise. “Traveling is a great way to learn about your surroundings,” Eunie said, “but it also teaches you so much about yourself. When you break out of the mold, get off the beaten path, you find real everyday life. Not the touristy “safe” stuff, but the reality of what happens in other places.” The three women, accompanied by another friend, Sharon Rowe, left for two weeks in early December. They took part in a group tour that provided them abundant time on their own to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. “Rio was settled by Italians, and you can tell,” Eunie said. “There is a warm, beach-like personality that characterizes the city; it’s very playful and Mediterranean. Buenos Aires on the other hand is all about high fashion and sophistication.” “Everybody always talks about

Shabbat in Liverpool: CD adapts Beatles’ tunes for services Page 4

Beth El Tu B’Shevat celebration at Lauritzen Gardens Page 7

Inside This Week Special focus on travel See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

America.” Santiago, the capital of Chile, has an impressive five-and-a-half million residents. It is located in Chile’s

Eunie Denenberg, left, Suzanne Singer, Susan Rothholz, and Sharon Rowe. able, modern and clean city. You literally see no trash anywhere.” Eunie agreed: “Santiago is almost haimish. It is extremely easy to get around. It’s isolated by the Andes, which immediately sets it apart from other cities. Its economy is more stable than people might think, and it is the financial center of South

Central Valley, approximately 1,700 ft. above sea level. Founded in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, it has a heavy Catholic presence. Nonetheless, it does have a small Jewish community: 12,500 of Chile’s 15,000 Jews live in Santiago. In addition, a small group of Indigenous people in the South of

Chile, the Iglesia Israelita, observe many Jewish customs and consider themselves Jewish as well. “In Rio, I wanted to see more than beaches and bikinis,” said Susan. “The city has such an enormous population. Millions of people live there, and I was very interested to see how the poorer side lived. To be honest, I have seen worse poverty in Calcutta or Cape Town, but I was never able to get such a close-up look as in the poor sections of Rio.” With over six million residents, Rio is Brazil’s second largest city. Famous for the great division between rich and poor, Rio is home to approximately 600 highly visible shantytowns, or Favelas, ruled by drug lords. One in five residents of Rio lives in the Favelas; in the country overall, that number is as high as 26%. To tourists, these poor neighborhoods are accessible via specially organized tours. “The Favelas were my main reason for coming to Rio,” Susan said. “Of course the beaches are gorgeous, but to see these people, and to be able to interact with some of them was such an experience. One man showed us his living space, which was nothing more than Continued on page 2

Giffords known for her Tu B’Shevat in a new way openness and Judaism

Capetown, South Africa offers a perfect view Page 12

Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

how they love Buenos Aires more than Santiago,” Susan said, “but I disagree. Public transportation is privatized, and it is a very comfort-

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by RON KAMPEAS as he walked away from a prayer WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The service Saturday night at Temple event was typical Gabrielle Giffords: Emanuel in Tucson, one of the southno barriers, all comers -- Democrats, eastern Arizona cities that Giffords Republicans and inderepresents in pendents welcome to talk Congress. about what was on their “Everyone calls minds and in their hearts. her Gabby, and While she was deep in a she will give a hug and rememconversation with an older ber your name.” couple about health care -Giffords was the issue for which she was the president of willing to risk her career -the tire company a gunman strode up to the founded by her Arizona congresswoman grandfather and shot her point blank in the head. when she was The critical wounding propelled into Gabrielle Giffords Jan. 8 of Giffords and the state politics in slaughter of six people Credit: giffordsforcongress.com part because of standing near her -- including a fed- her concerns about the availability of eral judge, her chief of community health care. She switched her regisoutreach and a 9-year-old girl inter- tration from Republican to ested in politics -- brought to a Democrat and in 2001, at 30, she was screeching halt the easy, open ambi- elected to the Arizona Legislature. She gained prominence quickly in ence that typified Giffords’ politics, friends and associates said. that body and in 2006, at 36, she “She’s a warm person,” Stuart became the first Jewish woman Mellan, the president of the Jewish elected to Congress from her state. Federation of Southern Arizona, said At the same time, her Judaism was becoming more central to her identity. The turning point came in 2001 following a tour of Israel with the American Jewish Committee, she told The Arizona Star in 2007. “It just cemented the fact that I wanted to spend more time with my own personal, spiritual growth. I felt very committed to Judaism,” she said. “Religion means different things to different people. It Continued on page 2

by SHERRIE SAAG Development Associate, Jewish Federation of Omaha On Sunday, Jan. 23, from 1-3 p.m., the Omaha Jewish community will celebrate the Tu B’Shevat

Jewry’s current fundraising efforts to help in the reforestation, it seemed appropriate this year to recognize Tu B’Shevat in a new way, said Julee Katzman, Assistant Executive Director, Jewish

Local artist Calli Cohn has many talents, including creating desserts. holiday in a new way, with a special family art event on the JCC campus. Designed for kids 3rd grade and older with help from a parent or grandparent, those in attendance will be crafting mosaic tile flowerpots. With the help of local artist Calli Cohn, each piece will be unique, one of a kind and ready for planting in honor of the Tu B’Shevat holiday. Pre-registration is required. The event costs $10 per child and includes all art materials and a special Tu B’Shevat-themed snack. “With the recent, devastating fire in Israel’s Carmel Forest still fresh in our minds and American

Federation of Omaha. To further our community’s commitment and fundraising efforts in the wake of the terrible fire and its aftermath, the Federation will be donating a portion of the afternoon’s proceeds to fire relief efforts in our Partnership region. “We are so fortunate to have professional artist and ceramicist Calli Cohn with us for the afternoon. It will be a real art experience for all who join us,” Katzman added. Calli just recently returned to Omaha, having grown up here the daughter of Susie and Marvin Cohn and granddaughter of Continued on page 3