Vol. LXXXVIII No. 20 Omaha, NE
Chabad presents program to encourage unity of heart, through unity of purpose by SHEVI KATZMAN In a lecture that will be be broadcast all over the world, Rabbi Adin Even Yisrael Steinsaltz, the renowned teacher, philosopher, social critic and prolific author will explain the concept of Hakhel, an event that took place every seven years when the entire Jewish nation convened in Jerusalem as one. Hailed by Time magazine as a “once-in-a-millennium scholar,” his lifelong work in Jewish education earned Steinsaltz the Israel Prize, his country’s highest honor. The lecture, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 1:30 p.m., will be followed by the graduation of Chabad’s Parsha Club at 2:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. The Parsha Club kids have been learning the Book of Genesis since the end of October; this year is a Hakhel year, a year of gathering and connection, celebrating Jewish unity of heart through unity of purpose. The graduates include Danny Stein, Emily Kirk, Feigy Katzman, Isabella Persky, Isabella Wright, Lauren Kirk, Yael Schuller, and Zalmen Katzman. Assembled at the Holy Temple, they listened as the king read the Torah and they felt the awe of G-d. Awe is a profound Rabbi Adin Yisrael Steinsaltz Credit: Erik Tisch feeling and who that
Among the Parsha Club graduates are: Danny Stein, above left, Lauren Kirk, and Isabella Persky. gathered there were inspired to regenerate their sense of purpose as a people with a task to transform themselves and the world. In this year of Hakhel -- the gathering of the people - although there is infinite value to each individual life, Judaism is not meant to be lived in isolation. Adults and children alike thrive on the dynamic excitement of being part of something greater than themselves. While forebears trekked for days and weeks to Jerusalem, the advent of technology affords a new opportunity for Jews from every corner of the globe to join as one without traveling a single mile. The Unity Lecture Series will connect hundreds of communities and thousands of individuals on every continent who will participate in a simultaneous web-cast of Torah study. Produced by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, the largest adult education network of its kind, the lectures will be presented by leading Jewish scholars. Kelly Kirk, whose daughters, Lauren and Emily, fit Parsha Club into their busy schedule, says, “Parsha Club is an amazing addition to Chabad’s educational program for kids. I know that each week not only are my girls learning more than I ever thought possible, they are doing it in an environment that makes Jewish Continued on page 2
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
Celebrating 88 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
20 Tevet, 5769
January 16, 2009
How’s the mood in Israel? Depends where you live by DINA KRAFT ASHKELON and TEL AVIV, Israel (JTA) -- In Tel Aviv, the lunch crowd suns itself at bustling sidewalk cafes. But in Ashkelon the playgrounds are deserted, municipal buses run without passengers and stores are shuttered with no customers to even see the notes taped on the doors of “We’ll be back soon.” Just as in the summer of 2006, when the northern part of the country huddled in bomb shelters during the Second Lebanon War and the rest of the country carried on with its business, a new war has come that affects Israelis -- at least in part -- according More than 100 Omahans gathered Jan. 8 for a special “Eye on Israel” with Dr. Guy Matalon, to geography. Leah Hassan, a nursery director of the Center for Jewish Education, left, and Alan Potash, director of the ADL. “Israel is a small country and we all feel that we are school teacher in Ashkelon, left her home Tuesday for the first time since the Israeli operation on Gaza began. part of this war,” Dora said. “Even if I am meeting “Everyone I see outside looks pale with the same fear friends for coffee, this is what we are talking about. We I feel,” she said. “Going out today I did not even want all have family and friends in the south and know soldiers fighting inside Gaza.” to drive I was so scared.” Nearby, behind the counter of a cafe known for its “I feel traumatized,” Hassan said. “Every time there is a siren I go into the safe room and shaking, I pray until homemade cakes and jams, two workers disagree about I hear a boom and then I wonder where it fell and my how out of touch the locals are about the fear and rocket fire in cities like Ashdod only a 45-minute drive south. imagination begins to race.” “Some really do feel close to what’s going on,” said In Tel Aviv, meanwhile, Shlomo Dora, 31, sits back on a black leather chair at a popular bistro with the sound Shani Asulin, 24, a waitress at the cafe. Asulin is worried for her best friend, who works in of a crooning jazz singer on the stereo and catches up army intelligence near the Gaza border, and her brothwith a friend. “Being out and about is not about a lack of solidarity er, a border policeman who has been doing security at because we all feel the pressure of what is going on here, demonstrations by Arab Israelis in the north. “What? We live in a bubble here,” said Anat Mazor, but we need to get on with our daily so-called ‘sane’ routine,” said Dora, who works at a company that makes the cafe’s manager. “I would expect people to feel things medical devices. In tiny Israel, he insists, far is never that more, but they don’t seem to.” Continued on page 2 far away.
Federation mission group donates EKG to Partnership in honor of Rabbi Kripke
During the 60th Anniversary Mission to Israel in November, current Federation President Bob Lepp, center, and Past Federation Presidents Jerry Slusky, left, and Norm Sheldon pose with one of two new EKG machines purchased for the
This Week: Acco Festival reschedules after riots: Page 12 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Yachad group to host art fundraiser: Page 3
Western Galilee Hospital. The participants from the 2008 Kripke Leadership Mission Group raised the funds to purchase the machines in honor of Rabbi Myer S.Kripke, who will celebrate his 95th birthday this month.
Coming Next Month: Simchas & Celebrations on Feb. 6 Jewish websites column explores “After Madoff”: Page 5
OTYGers “go green” at Cincinnati seminar: Page 7
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 16, 2009
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Continued from apge 1 Mazor, a Haifa native, said some do seem more affected and subdued by the fighting. Asulin offers that the night before, she left a dance club at 2 a.m. and the place was still packed. In Sderot, Yigal Sal, 39, who has been unemployed since a Kassam hit his clothing store two years ago, says he does not leave the house much these days. His apartment, like most Sderot homes, has no protected room, so instead the family crouches together under the dining room table. Sal is very worried about his 8-year-old son, Mike, who has known life under rocket attack since he was born and still has trouble sleeping through the night alone.
Ashkelon and is surprised to find herself a refugee from it. “It’s strange but this is our life,” she said. For Galit Sabar, 30, a Tel Aviv University student, it’s no longer possible to feel far from danger. She lives in Gadera, 20 miles from Gaza, which on Tuesday was hit with its first Grad missile. She woke up to the sound of a siren. “It’s getting closer, and there is talk they have rockets that could get to Rehovot,” she said, waiting her turn at a Tel Aviv hair salon. “In Gadera especially now, people feel the situation more, but in Tel Aviv you really hardly feel it at all. “Tel Aviv?” she said with a shrug. “It’s like being abroad.”
Damage to a house in Sderot is shown on Jan. 6, 2009, a day after being hit by a Kassam missile. Credit: Brian Hendler
Several hundred supporters of Israel demonstrate in front of the Israeli Consulate in New York on Jan. 6. Credit: Daniel Sieradski
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“People of the Book”
Most nights, and especially since the fighting began, Mike creeps into his parents’ bed. Alone in his own bed he regularly wets his sheets -- a sign in children of posttraumatic stress disorder. “Everyone stays inside and looks towards God to make sure a Kassam does not hit him or his loved ones,” Sal said. His daughter Noy, 17, fled to Eilat for the first few days of the war but has returned. Most of her friends have left the city; she spends most of the day online sending them messages. “It was hard to come back to the Kassams,” Noy said in a quiet voice. When an alert goes off, she dutifully ducks under the dining room table. “We wait to hear the boom and I feel my heart racing,” she said. Talia Levanon, the director of the Israel Trauma Coalition, says it’s been a major challenge trying to maintain the resiliency and sense of stability among children in Sderot, which until the fighting began a week and a half ago was the main target of Hamas rocket fire. “We find ourselves treating the same people over and over again, and we have to be creative and use all our resources,” she said Sunday during a visit by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to a Sderot clinic. The Israel Trauma Coalition, which is supported by the UJA-Federation of New York, is providing individual and community therapy to Sderot residents. Tel Aviv and other cities and towns also are becoming places of refuge for southern residents. Shraga Zaiger, a 45-year-old lawyer, has been hosting his mother since Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza began Dec. 27. On Tuesday he had taken her out for lunch at a crowded cafe. “We are all very worried, but it’s the personality of Israelis to go on with life as usual even during war. It was the same way when I was a soldier in Lebanon,” he said, referring to the First Lebanon War, which began in 1982. His mother, Malka, has spent most of her life in
Above: Captured Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip are held under guard for questioning by Israeli troops on Jan. 7. Credit: IDF / BPH Images. Below: Israel suspended all hostile action for three hours to allow humanitarian supplies to enter in Gaza; 78 trucks entered the Kerem Shalom terminal in the three hour time frame enabling tons of basic commodities and medical supplies to reach their destination unhindered. There were also deliveries of diesel and cooking fuel which entered the Gaza Strip via the Nahal Oz terminal. Credit: ISRANET
Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning Author
January 18, 2009 at 7:00 PM Countryside Community Church 8787 Pacific St. | 7:00 PM Suggested donation $10 Geraldine Brooks’ new novel, People of the book, tells the real-life adventures of a 14th-century Hebrew codex known as the Sarajevo Haggadah. Previously a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal in Bosnia, Somalia and the Middle East, Brooks’ Power Point presentation includes information on her research and what she learned as she travelled the path of this ancient book.
Unity of heart, unity of purpose Continued from page 1 learning fun and exciting. Nothing makes me happier than knowing my children are proud to be Jewish!” The weekly Torah portion is a fundamental theme in Jewish life. Shani Katzman, co-director of the Chabad House, notes that, “Universally, all Jews ‘live’ with the parsha of the week. The parsha is the road map for Jewish living and inspiration each day. I love this unique opportunity that young children are offered here and that they are trained to be tuned in to what the Torah is telling them each week. They know that in each day and in every circumstance they can look to the Torah for meaning and relevance. And that is a fabulous thing!” “Join us in congratulating these outstanding children and to encourage them to continue their studies, said
Rabbi Mendel Katzman, co-director of the Chabad House. “Participants will be invited to question the children on topics they studied and to hear their scholarly responses,” adds Mushka Katzman, a facilitator of the club.”The children will be very well prepared.” “Let us find strength in one another, allied by our love for our families, for our communities, and for our shared Jewish heritage. Join hundreds of cities around the world on January 25 as Rabbi Steinsaltz shares words of kinship and inspiration,” concludes Rabbi Katzman. For more information, visit www.UnityLecture.com. To reserve, call Carol at 330.1800 or email RSVP@OChabad.com.
January 16, 2009
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Meet the Artists
Beth El and Lauritzen Gardens All proceeds to benefit Yachad programs to present community-wide According to Karen Gustafson, JFS by OZZIE NOGG When Yachad hosts its Meet the Artists Director, “Our commitment is to Tu B’Shevat celebration Exhibit and Sale on Sunday, Jan. 25, enhance life opportunities and integrate
potential buyers will have a chance to pur- Yachad members into their community. chase one-of-a- kind work inspired, at This art show and sale advances our misleast in part, by celebrated abstract sion and gives Yachad members the opportunity to create their own masterpainters. “We decided to use Jackson Pollock pieces, show off their creativity and interand Wassily Kandinsky as our starting act with the public. Yachad members are points,” explained Carole Greenberg, eager to introduce themselves to visitors, who is guiding the Yachad members in talk about their work, discuss their likes their individual projects. “Pollock’s drip canvases are organized chaos, and Kandinsky’s work is very colorful and geometric. Our Yachad artists are free to mix, match, or completely disregard these models. We’ll supply a selection of paint and brushes, but if an artist wants to use unconventional tools like sticks or even their fingers, that’s fine. The goal is to remove Jeff Steinberg, left, Alan Friedman and Lisa Salomon create boundaries and give Yachad art to be sold at Yachad’s fundraiser. members the freedom and permission to and dislikes and ask for feedback from the people who attend the show.” be creative and find their own style.” All proceeds from the sale will go Yachad’s Meet the Artists Exhibit and Sale runs from 1-3 p.m. in the Jewish directly back into the Yachad program to Community Center Gallery. The event help fund their monthly activities. “We invite the entire community to includes a dessert reception sponsored by National Council of Jewish Women and join us for this special open house afterHadassah. In addition to the sale day, the noon,” Greenberg said. “Yes, we want to exhibit will be on view from Jan. 20-29. showcase the art, but the most important A department of Jewish Family Service, part of the project is to make sure Yachad Yachad provides social, cultural and reli- members have expressed themselves and gious activities plus advocacy, referral are satisfied with the results. Artists don’t services and general support for Omaha create for others. They create for themJews with developmental disabilities and selves. The work is for them, no one their families. else.”
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Schlossberg and guest performers. by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Admission is free for this fun-filled It may be cold outside, but spring will event, generously underwritten by an be in the air at Lauritzen Gardens on anonymous donor. Activities and crafts Sunday, Feb. 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m., as Beth will be underwritten by Beth El. “This event is such a wonderful way to El Synagogue and the botanical center team up for the fourth year to co-sponsor celebrate the holiday which reminds us of a special community-wide Tu B’Shevat our connection to earth,” said Beth El’s celebration. This one-of-akind, family friendly event -which has drawn several hundred people each year from throughout the metro area -will be held at the Gardens’ visitor and education center, located at 100 Bancroft Street. Tu B’Shevat marks the beginning of spring in Israel, and is also known as the New Year for Trees. This holiday, which celebrates the gifts of nature, is the perfect time to discuss the An entertaining puppet show was performed by Rivkah importance of preserving the Sass and her husband, Abe, center. This year’s event, environment and becoming scheduled for Feb. 1, will feature children’s activities, musical entertainment, and speakers offering tips on how more “green-friendly.” An enthusiastic group of vol- to live our lives in a more environmentally-friendly way. unteers will lead the afternoon’s festivi- Rabbi Mordechai Levin. “In this era of ties, which will include presentations by global environmental threats, Tu representatives from several local agencies B’Shevat reminds us how fragile and about reducing, recycling, re-using and complex our ecosystem really is. Judaism ways to “go green”; in addition, through- sees nature as a product of the Divine. We out the afternoon, children will be treat- are the custodians of the earth, and we are ed to fun hands-on activities, storytelling, commanded to respect and care for our a film about Israel, and seed planting in world. “A fun, educational and unique afterthe visitor center’s classrooms. Another highlight will be a special 2:30 noon has been planned for everyone,” he p.m. musical presentation in the Great added, “and we invite everyone to join us Hall, performed by Beth El’s Cantor Beth for this festive Tu B’Shevat celebration.”
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 16, 2009
BBYO spends winter break in St. Louis!
by ANNE MUSKIN BBYO Teen Director More than 120 teens from Kansas City, St. Louis, and Omaha gathered at the Double Tree Hotel in St. Louis during winter break for the Mid-America Region BBYO Winter Regional Convention, or WRC. Planned by St. Louis BBYO teenagers, the weekend was themed around “Through the Looking Glass” -- a take on Alice and Wonderland. Packed with a variety of programming, including a Mad Hatter tea party, services by Zeda’s beat box, an interfaith rock band that sets ancient Hebrew text to reggae and modern dance music, and a Hanukkah celebration -- and that was just Friday - Omaha’s 30 plus teens had an extraordinary weekend!
that shows solidarity. The new freshman joined in, too. Sunday brought the business meetings our teen leaders had been waiting for. With the presentation Omaha’s Amanda Bucher and Zach Spooner joined a long line of Omaha Jews to give their mid-state of the council addresses. They both discussed all the great things that have been coming out of Omaha BBYO, and offered advice and ideas for the future. Participants had a wild and loud cheering lunch, followed by more business meetings, which allow the teens to draft issues of importance to them, present them, and then vote on them as a council. Some motions are accepted and become a part of the regional constitution, while others are rejected and have to be reworked or
BBG’s cheering is lead by Amanda Bucher. Joining the Omaha staff were Andrew Shefren, Emily Muskin, and Amy Saylan. These brave volunteers really brought the fun! On Saturday, we all awoke to a relaxing meditation session to kick off the day. Tamar Halevy, Omaha Community Shlicha, lead one of three Shabbat service options. She took the weekly parsha, Miketz, and helped the teens dissect the meaning of the Joseph story through teen-friendly dilemmas that resulted in great meaningful conversation. Later in the day BBYO teens participated in a program planned by the presidents of each council. Omaha’s presidents who helped were Zach Spooner and Amanda Bucher. They decided to address the terrible tragedy in Mumbai and how it effects Jewish teens in the Midwest. After lunch, teens were treated to an ADL speaker who helped them assess where we all fit in, in a multicultural workshop. The evening was then finished up with a great Havdallah/Hanukkah program planned by members of Kansas City Council, and a workshop on breaking the stigmas about sex. The ending of Shabbat meant that cheering could finally begin. Members of both Omaha girls’ chapters had a blast with the theme and showed their spirit in other ways during Shabbat. Ediar dressed up as rabbits one day, a la the White Rabbit, and MZ made t-shirts with the Cheshire cat the next! Once the cheering began the hotel really started to rock! It was an all out yell fest, boys versus girls, and chapters versus councils versus regions. Jumping and yelling and showing ruach has always been a bonding activity
Members of AZA # 1 hang out with volunteer staff member Andrew Shefren. delayed for Spring Regional Convention. Some motions are formalities, while others are changing long standing rules that might not have the same relevance today. Once the motions were presented and passed, teens had the opportunity to participate in shuk. All the chapters bring t-shirts, and chapter party favors to sell to one another in what turns out to be a really fun and profitable exchange among the councils. During dinner, awards were given out that chapters applied for in advance of the convention. Omaha’s fourchapters took home the membership retention award and best video. Following the awards, Omaha teens led a Hanukkah program with the help of Tamar Halevy. With a fun twist on trivia, they ended the program lighting the Hanukkah candles for the final night of the holiday. The last evening of the convention ended with quite a finale. As the dance came to an end, all freshman and sophomores were sent to bed, while the juniors and seniors were treated to a hotel pool party. By Monday morning, it was time for a friendship circle and millions of hugs. We stepped onto that big black coach bus each of us with one more new friend made, one more convention neatly placed on the shelf of experiences, and one more eight-hour bus ride home to round out 2008. The next BBYO Convention is Spring Regional Convention, on March 26-29 in Omaha. BBYO meets weekly, every Tuesday, 6 p.m. For more information about BBYO, contact me at 334.6404.
A new year and a new class: the Prophets
by SHERRIE SAAG Center for Jewish Education To learn more about Elijah, Amos and Hoseah during the earliest period of Israeli history, join Dr. Guy Matalon for “Prophecy, Prophets, and Politics Before the Exile: Amos, Hoseah and Elijah.” Offered by the Center for Jewish Education and designed as a two-part class, the first course covers the lives and teachings of these three revered prophets. Dr. Matalon will explore the political and social backgrounds of their prophecies and the different interpretations of their messages. Elijah, arguably the most well known prophet, with his connection to the Passover holiday, appeared in the Land of Israel at a most crucial time. Israel was divided into two kingdoms and idol worship was commonplace. Along with Amos and Hoseah, he warned of idolatry’s dangers and wanted a return of all Israel to God. “The prophets were more than just social commentators. They were also extraordinary poets, theologians and public educators,” said Matalon. “We will uncover ways in which their teachings can inspire and challenge us today.” The second part of the series is “Prophecy, Prophets and Politics After the Exile: Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Haggai.” This class begins with the political and social upheaval that occurred in Judah just before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and will follow Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Haggai as they offer hope and redemption to the exiled community. The course finishes with the Israelites returning to Jerusalem from Babylon and the political situation that existed during the Second Temple period. The first class will meet at Beth El Synagogue Thursday evenings Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26, 7:30-8:30 p.m. The second class will meet at Temple Israel on Friday afternoons March 6, 13, 27 and April 3, noon1 p.m. Although designed as a two-part course, each part can be taken independently. “This is the fourth year our agency has partnered with Beth El and Temple Israel in presenting classes,” said Toba Cohen, president of the CJE. “It’s great to offer our classes in different venues. It enhances our mission of providing educational opportunities to the community.” Tuition for each class is $35, discounted to $27 for donors to the Federation Campaign. Pre-registration is required by calling 334.6445 or email mgrossman@ jewishomaha.org.
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The fallout from the Bernard Madoff affair is well known. Scores of investors including major Jewish organizations like Yeshiva University, The American Technion Society and Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organi-zation of America, have lost tens of millions of dollars. [tinyurl.com/madoff12] The question many charities and donors are now asking is “What’s next for Jewish fundraising?” Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Lucette Lagnado asks “When the Big Spenders Fail, Who Will Save Jewish Charity?” She looks at how in recent years, Jewish Federations in the U.S. have focused on “top end” donors because it seemed more cost effective than going after small donors. In 1988, the Federations had 814,000 donors. By 2007, donors dropped below half a million. Lagnado suggests that this scandal presents an opportunity to strengthen community ties -- and bring back once ubiquitous pushkes into our homes. [tiny url.com/madoff13] Rebecca Spence continues that theme in Forward.com. “Now, observers predict, Jewish groups will increasingly take their cue from the more grass roots, Webbased fundraising efforts that proved so successful in the campaign of Presidentelect Barack Obama. ‘People are going to pay a lot of attention to the way Mr. Obama raised money, and that ability to aggregate donors,’ said Jonathan Sarna, a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, ‘…some of whom have felt that they were perhaps not as welcomed by these charities, which paid more attention to older donors they could depend on.’” [tiny url.com/madoff03] Rabbi Marc Gellman focuses on the toll the scandal has taken on the organizations and the community-at-large in an open letter to Madoff in Newsweek. “There must be some new word invented to describe the way you have redefined betrayal. The Bible calls such things a toevah, ‘an abomination’. It means an act so alien to our values and our natures that it cannot be understood or explained. You have committed an abomination. This is what you have done.” [tinyurl.com/ madoff18] Bradley Burston writes in Ha’aretz that Madoff “has managed to harm contemporary Jewry in ways anti-Semites could
only dream about.” [tinyurl.com/ madoff10] In fact, the AntiDefamation League says that hateful comments have been appearing on popular newspaper sites, blogs and message boards on the Internet. The ADL has reprinted a handful of them on its website including this user comment which appeared in the Palm Beach Post website: “Just another jew money changer thief. It’s been happening for 3,000 years. Trust a jew and this is what will happen. History has proven it over and over and over. Jews have only one god -- money.” [tiny url.com/madoff16] Andrew Silow-Carroll, editor-in-chief of the New Jersey Jewish News, warns about wasting a lot of communal energy “if we spend much time worrying what they think.” Rather, Jewish leaders “should take a long, hard look at the overlapping, and even redundant, agencies and projects in Jewish life” and they “should be grateful for the generosity of the very wealthy, but without allowing the machers’ riches to place them above scrutiny.” [tinyurl.com/madoff15] The Madoff scandal is changing daily. To follow the story, I recommend checking out Forward.com and ejewishphilanthropy.com along with the New York Times Topic devoted to Madoff. [tiny url.com/madoff08] Forward.com has published a list tallying Jewish communal losses [tinyurl.com/madoff07] and the Wall Street Journal has been updating its list of all investors. [tiny url.com/madoff09] Although he has suffered no direct losses, I came upon one other person whose life has been changed by the scandal: Chicago lawyer, Ari “no-relation-toBernard” Madoff. As this particular Madoff explained to NPR, “My wife and I are expecting our first kid in March. So my wife sits up at night reading the baby name book, thinking of what would be the most appropriate first name for our coming child,” he says. “At the same time, I’m toiling over what would be the best last name to pick for our coming young one.” [tinyurl.com/madoff02] Actually, Ari Madoff IS related to a Bernard Madoff – his 94-year-old Zaide who is living in a Windsor, Ontario nursing home. So the grandson has elongated his introduction to “Ari no-relation-tothe-Bernard Madoff you’re about to ask me about.” Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Web site producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be contacted at highway@rogers. com.
42nd
OF THE
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WEDDING KOPP/RUBIN Lauren Ariel Kopp and Jason David Rubin, both of Tampa, FL, were married on Nov. 2, 2008, at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL. Cantor Marci Vitkus officiated at the ceremony. A reception followed at the hotel. The bride, daughter of Ellen and Henry Kopp of Jacksonville, FL, graduated from the University of Florida at Gainesville with a degree in Telecommunication. She is the granddaughter of Phyllis Fried of Jacksonville, FL the late Stuart Fried, Charlotte Kopp, Silver Spring, MD, and the late Robert Kopp. The maid of honor was Jessica Kopp of Savannah, GA, sister of the bride. The groom, son of Stephen and Monica Rubin of Tampa, attended the University of South Florida at Tampa. He is the grandson of Anneliese Conley of Cleveland, OH, the late Luther Conley, Burton Rubin of Stowe, VT, and the late Marjorie Rubin. The best man was Ryan Rubin of Tampa, brother of the groom. The couple plans a January 2009 honeymoon to St. Lucia.
ORGANIZATIONS NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN NCJW-Omaha Section will host a fundraiser at California Pizza Kitchen at 10317 Pacific on Tuesday, Jan. 20, when patrons can help NCJW by eating lunch, dinner or both at CPK. Just bring in the NCJW flier and 20% will go back to the organization to support community service projects. To obtain a flyer, contact Nikki Kirshenbaum at nrkirshe@cox.net. YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday at the JCC with a special musical program with “The Chaz Singer” with Charlie Glasgow, singing hits from Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. Glasgow is a vocalist/multi-instrumentalist and has worked casinos, concerts and corporate shows in 25 states and Canada. The program begins at 12:30 p.m. and lunch is served at noon for $7 per person. Join us for Bingo with Miles Remer at 10 a.m. Call Teresa at 330.4272 for transportation. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us every Thursday, 1-3 p.m., at the JCC. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. VISIONS Reminder: Visions luncheon meeting is Friday, Jan. 16, 12:30 p.m. at the Venice Inn. Take a musical journey with Temple Israel’s Cantor Wendy Shermet. For information, call Harry Alloy at 697.8709 or Tootie Simon at 397,3616. If you need a ride, call Florence Hauss at 571.4583. Membership dues for 2009 are due. Please mail your check, payable to Visions for $7.50 to: Phyllis Schwartz, 1212 So. 137 Ave., Omaha, NE 68144 by Jan. 31. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS David Kotok, managing editor of the Omaha WorldHerald will talk about the many changes the newspaper has been making, the upcoming new administration and other topics on Wednesday, Jan. 21, noon at Regency Lodge. Cost is $13 for optional buffet lunch and $3 for beverage service. The free program is open to the community. To be added to the e-mail list, call 334.6443 or e-mail lepstein@jewishomaha.org.
IN THE NEWS
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program is offering 550 full scholarships to U.S. high school students to study abroad and learn languages that most students do not have opportunities to learn, but are rapidly becoming critical to know. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Youth Programs Division, NSLI-Y is designed to increase American citizens’ capacity to engage foreign governments and peoples through the critical languages of Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Russian, and Turkish. The program is administered by a team of organizations including AFS-USA, American Councils for International Education, Concordia Language Villages, and iEARN-USA. Together, they will award U.S. government funding in the form of full scholarships to 550 U.S. high school and just-graduated students (ages 15–18) to participate in summer (6-8 weeks), onesemester, and full-year language programs in countries where these languages are widely spoken. “Recent years have demonstrated how important it is that Americans learn languages of countries that will be prominent in the 21st century,” noted Lisa Choate, Vice President of the American Councils for International Education. “Students in this scholarship program will be well-positioned for careers in a wide range of fields.” Programs immerse participants in language acquisition courses throughout their stay in the host country. Students live with a host family, gaining invaluable formal and informal language practice and sparking a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures. Students will attend school and interact with international students in person and through online technologies. Students must: be U.S. citizens, be 15-18 years of age and enrolled in high school at the time of application, and have at least a 2.5 GPA. Students may participate in the program during high school or during the “gap year” between high school and college. Beginning language students are invited to participate, although all levels of instruction are available. Fluency is not required, but students with oral and written experience in the program languages are especially valued for their experience. For more information and to apply online, visit www.NSLIforyouth.org.
Prevent Blindness Nebraska and Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, announced that Elaine Jabenis has been selected as a delegate for the fourth annual “Eyes on Capitol Hill” campaign to be held in Washington, DC. Jabenis will join more than 70 other participants from across the country to meet with Congressional and Senate members and their staff to discuss vision care issues. The event will be held March 2-4. “We are thrilled to be able to have members of our own community represent our state in this important event,” said Kathy Byrnes, executive director, Prevent Blindness Nebraska. “We want our policymakers to see first-hand how the decisions they make about vision care funding and programs impact their own constituents.” Jabenis, an active board member of Prevent Blindness Nebraska, has twice served as a delegate for previous Eyes on Capitol Hill campaigns. She plans to share how her life has been affected by vision loss with Congressional and Senate members, and encourage continued support for preventative vision services.
The film Bride Wars opened in Omaha, starring former Omahan Bryan Greenberg in the role of Nate, fiancé of bride Kate Hudson’s character. He also had a starring role in Nobel Son, playing the son of a Nobel prize winner, played by Alan Rickman. Two other films: The Good Guy and How to Make it in America, are in post-production. Greenberg, who starred in the television program, “October Road”, also had a lead role in Prime, with Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman.
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An upside down world Three OTYGers “go green” print. And to find it in prison.” In this unique hint of foreshadowing, Kahn will at HUC/RAC seminar in Cincinnati BOOK REVIEW ultimately realize that prison should be by GARY KATZ Kripke Library Administrator
Three Balconies: Stories and a Novella, Bruce Jay Friedman’s new collection comprises of 16 topsy-turvy stories and one novella. In the main story, “Three Balconies”, main character Harry tries to come to terms with the meaning of his womanizing. When he goes to Florida in anticipation of a script writing deal, thoughts of leaping off his condo balcony enter his mind. But as before in life, Harry cannot commit to anyone or anything, including his own demise. “The Investigate Reporter” follows the bleak existence of Alexander Kahn, a failed novelist, fumbling through life. When Kahn gets a call to investigate a southern penitentiary, he finds prison “a clean, inviting place where proud prison chefs in great white hats stood beaming over vats of” fresh vegetables. Kahn is even more shocked when he finds his futile novel in the stacks of the prison library: “This is really something ... I didn’t even know there were any copies in
his new home and where his failed literary legacy will be truly appreciated. In the short novella “The Great Beau LeVyne,” upcoming playwright Cliff meets powerful Beau LeVyne, producer and socialite. Cliff’s interactions with Beau’s days of infamous friends’ story strangely echo “The Great Gatsby,” themes of lost innocence and hero worship linger just beneath the story’s surface. Cliff and Beau eventually part ways, with Beau ending in prison. They meet a final time, after his release with the diminished Beau “aged dramatically ... His eyes were watery and subdued as if he had undergone a religious conversion.” Friedman’s stories are fractured tales full of failed writers, playwrights, and producers. His sharp language and ironic metaphors make them well worth reading. Gary Katz received an M.A. in English from the University of NebraskaOmaha. He is Library Administrator for the Kripke Jewish Federation Library.
Learn how to host Shabbat dinners at interactive program by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue In December, Beth Israel held the first of a two-part program aimed at teaching people how to host an interactive, engaging and exciting Shabbat dinner for the entire family. The second part of this program will be held on Friday, Jan. 23, 5:11 p.m., and the community is invited to attend. “We will continue our focus on the Friday night experience,” said Executive Director Beth Cohen. “Our December program was well-attended and people came away with some tangible ideas that they can implement at home. The program on the 23rd will continue the discussion and help people create an interesting and fun Shabbat meal each week
that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.” The event begins with Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:11 p.m. A concurrent, special Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat, led by Ilana Weiss, will be held at the same time. The program will begin at 6:15 p.m. and dinner will follow at 7 p.m. Cost for dinner is $12 for adults and free for children ages 12 and younger. Babysitting will be available at no charge. The program is part of Beth Israel’s “Lev Banim al Avotam -- Hearts of Children Upon Their Parents,” and is supported by a grant from the Legacy Heritage Innovation Project. For more information or to make dinner reservations, please call the synagogue office at 556.6288.
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Three Omaha Temple Youth Group (OTYG) members spent a weekend in Cincinnati in the fall learning about “global climate change and why we, as Jews, should do something to help,” explained Grace Hack, 15, OTYG Religious and Cultural Vice President. She attended the Lech L’Yarok: Going Green the Jewish Way with Emily Katz, 16, OTYG Social Action Vice President, and Haley Burns, 15, programming vice president. The seminar was sponsored by Hebrew Union College (HUC)-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Investigating the legal, ethical, and religious aspects of challenges that face the environment, the girls gathered ideas at the seminar to bring back to share with other members of OTYG which is promoting a year of “going green” at Temple Israel. As shomrei adamah (guardians of the Earth), the three explored environmental issues from the Talmud through current legislation. Professionals from the RAC worked in partnership with HUC faculty to engage the students at the seminar in discussions about environmental impact and how to fulfill the responsibility of safeguarding the earth. About a dozen other students from Seattle, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and Houston, all members of the North American Federation of Temple Youth, were nominated by their youth Religious School directors to attend the seminar. A sophomore at Westside High School, Grace was interested in attending, because “this weekend would help our efforts” of “going green” at Temple Israel. “The focus of the weekend was Judaism and the environment, and we learned about global climate change and why we, as Jews, should do something to help. We had discussions and went on a field trip to an exotic greenhouse.” Grace added, “My favorite program idea was a game. We split up into teams and were each given 30 hours and $500 to spend. We were given a list of things we could do. Some of the things saved
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money or time. But each saved a certain amount of carbon emissions. The goal of the game was to spend your time and money on the things so that you would save the most carbon. It was really cool, and I can’t wait to try it with OTYG.” Emily, also a sophomore at Westside High School, had similar reasons for attending the seminar. “I wanted to attend to learn how to further Temple’s acts to become more ‘green,’” she explained. “Many programs, which we can use to educate other youth groupers, informed us on the issues around the globe and how we can fix them.”
Going green the Jewish way at Hebrew Union College are OTYG members, standing, in the middle row, second from left: Emily Katz, Haley Burns, and Grace Hack. Haley noted, “I learned many things about certain stories in the Torah.” A sophomore at Central High School, she added, “The Torah teaches us lessons on how we are responsible for keeping the Earth clean. Dr. (Richard) Sarason, who helped to write the new prayer books at Temple, gave us a lecture on ‘Going Green the Jewish Way.’ We visited the oldest Reform synagogue in the U.S. and a nature conservatory. I brought back an entire notebook full of ideas.” Like Grace, Haley’s anxious to share the game based on reducing “your carbon footprint with $500 and 30 hours.” Describing the weekend as “stellar” and “a very fun, new experience,” the girls also took time to sample Gaylor’s ice cream, “a Cincinnati specialty,” noted Haley. HUC also sponsored an institute for Religious School teaching assistants and is planning a high school leadership conference in the spring.
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January 16, 2009
Just the facts ... Too bad the world doesn’t want to hear the real story of what’s going on in Gaza. Is it any wonder that every day there are new reports of daily newspapers are up for sale or declaring Chapter 11? When readers no longer believe that reporting is accurate, they stop purchasing newspapers and change the tv channel! Case in point: the media blamed Israelis when a United Nations spokesman asserted that the Israel Defense Force had killed a truck driver with a missle on Jan. 8. The driver was part of a convoy bringing in humanitarian supplies. The IDF immediately investigated. The Jerusalem Post reported two days later that the story was incorrect. In fact, the truck driver was rescued by the IDF and brought to Ashkelon’s Barzilai Hospital, along with several other wounded aid workers! According to IMRA (Independent Media Review and Analysis, which can be found at www.imra.org.il), “the Post reported that contrary to foreign press reports, it was not certain that an IDF tank shell hit the aid truck, and that in all probability, the aid workers were hit by Hamas gunfire. The foreign press reports were based on UN sources, who later admitted to the Post that they were not sure in which direction the truck was headed when it was hit, and could also not say with certainty that tank shells were responsible. Foreign press reports said the dead Palestinian and two others were hit by tank shells.” Have you seen this anywhere but the Jerusalem Post? Have any western media sources -- NBC, CNN, The NY Times, the LA
Times, the soon-to-be-gone Seattle PostIntelligencer -- anyone? Luckily, there are credible sources available to anyone with a computer. We’ve promoted many of them in the past, but now seems an especially good time for news junkies to bookmark these pages on the web and check them frequently. In addition to IMRA, here are some favorites, often cited in these pages, and many times used for background information for editorials: 1. MEMRI, The Middle East Media Research Institute, an independent, nonprofit organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle East, is often used by such mainstream papers as the Wall Street Journal. You can subscribe for updates at www.memri.org. 2. HonestReporting.com searches all media for errors, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic comments or biases. Sign up for updates at: www.HonestReporting.com. 3. A site that focues on independent investigative journalism of genocide and hate, corporate criminality and corruption, governmental misconduct, academic fraud, philanthropy abuse, oil addiction, alternative energy and historical investigation is www.thecuttingedgenews.com. Run by Edwin Black, who wrote several JTA series, including how the Ford Foundation has been funding anti-Israel groups, and the relationship between IBM and the Nazis during World War II, the Cutting Edge News has lenghty stories abut the conflict.
And then there’s the blogosphere. One source is Pajamas Media, which began in 2005 as an affiliation of 90 influential weblogs. Sources for Jewish bloggers include www.jewishblogging.com and http://www.israelforum.com/blog_home.php. You’ll have to search among the blogs, as well as the IDF sites: http://idfspokesperson.com, and http://www.you-tube.com/idfnadesk, but at least you’ll have truthful sources, not the fake stuff being peddled as news these days.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by NOAM NEUSNER WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush watched last month as the grandsons of Harry Truman and David Ben-Gurion lit a menorah on the State Floor of the White House. It was be the eighth year the president devoted an evening to celebrate Hanukkah, and more than 600 Jewish friends and guests celebrated with him. The White House served kosher food and the Marine Band played Hanukkah favorites. Cynics say it’s easy for presidents to do these kinds of events -- that’s what all presidents do, after all. They hold nice parties and make people feel good and important. But with this president, the Jews are different -- they really do matter to him. I know because I saw it firsthand on his staff and as his liaison to the Jewish community. I saw his eyes well up while watching the Holocaust-themed movie Paper Clips in the family theater. I know how moved he was by meeting with Soviet Jewish refuseniks, Holocaust survivors and the parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl. There was one meeting in particular -- with Jews from around the world, Jews who had made their home in America after years of suffering at the hands of tyrants in Cuba, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Iran and some of the other recent or current bastions of anti-Semitism. One by one they recalled their struggles to simply live and pray as Jews, and how America alone gave them that right. The president walked out of the meeting shaking his head, appalled by the special hatred tyrants have reserved for the Jews. Always the Jews. At one meeting, before the president could open his mouth, an elderly rabbi, the head of a major yeshiva, spoke up. “Mr. President,” he said, in a high and raspy
Jewish Press Board Michael Sigmond, Vice President; Stan Mitchell, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Marc Brodkey; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Susan Lehr; Jamie Meyerson; Andy Ruback; Jim Simon; Nancy Skid; and Dorothy Spizman. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, 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.
The Bush I know voice. “I believe that had history placed you in your special position during World War II, there would not have been a Holocaust.” The president was clearly moved. Presidents may grow accustomed to praise, but this was more than even he had heard. Yet Bush tried his best to be equal to it. The president famously hated hypothetical questions, but there was one he would entertain: If he had been president, would he have stopped Auschwitz? Some will say the question is historically unserious. Perhaps the Allies had the capability to drop bombs on the death camps or the rails, but the Nazis surely would have found other ways to kill the Jews. Yet he did not view the issue that way -- certainly President Roosevelt could have slowed the Nazi death machinery. Bush pressed the question to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when he visited Yad Vashem. References to Auschwitz, which he also visited, routinely dropped into his conversations with Jewish friends. “Now I understand,” he would say. “Auschwitz changed everything.” His critics said he was morally absolute -“you’re either with us or against us” was not one of their favorite phrases. But that moral clarity could be an incredibly powerful force, and Jews above all should have known it. I recall sitting in a meeting where a high-level aide was trying to excuse the antics of Yasser Arafat. The president cut him off, saying clearly, “The guy’s a bust.” End of discussion. Here was a president who would buttonhole leaders of other nations over anti-Semitism in their own countries. In one incident, the president complained to the leader of Estonia about a statue erected to a nationalist guilty of Holocaust war crimes. “Get rid of it,” Bush said. Imagine, amid the happy and polite talk of diplomatic meetings, a leader actually confronting another over some meaningless Jew haters.
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Israel has fought two wars during Bush’s eight years as president -- an interior war against terror and a war against Hezbollah -and both times the Jewish state came under intense pressure to hold back. But Israel had no friend as loyal and certain as the United States. Bush capped his friendship with Israel in May at the Knesset, delivering one of the most pro-Zionist speeches ever. “Israel’s population may be just over seven million,” he said, “but when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong because the United States of America stands with you.” Of course, the president didn’t eradicate anti-Semitism or the threats faced by Israel. Far from it; moderate and conservative critics say he didn’t do enough to confront Iran, while liberals say he was overly bellicose. Many argue that his push for Palestinian elections empowered Hamas. Fair enough. But those criticisms do not explain the president’s unpopularity among American Jews. He captured less than a quarter of the Jewish vote in 2004, and his approval ratings among Jews now is minuscule. I will grant his critics their right to dislike him. After all, he isn’t with them on federal support for embryonic stem cell research, the Iraq war, environmental regulations, abortion rights, gay marriage and civil liberties for terror suspects, to name a few. But most of all, he was a Southern evangelical Republican. Given that, I suspect there was nothing he could have done to win over the Jews. To his critics, his leadership on Israel and anti-Semitism was quaint and one-dimensional. They took it for granted. But they should not be so casual with a friend. President Bush was more Zionist than many Israelis, more mindful of Jewish history than many Jews. He was not wrong to think that way, and we American Jews can be thankful at least for that. Noam Neusner, a communications consultant, was a speechwriter and Jewish liaison for President Bush from 2002-05.
Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines 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: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be singlespaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $33 per calendar year U.S.; $72 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or e-mail to: jpress@jewishomaha. org.
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Reforms vital to Israeli political stability
FOCUS ON ISSUES by ARYE CARMON President, Israel Democracy Institute
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- As the United States looks forward to a presidential inauguration, Israel is facing another general election. The new leader of Israel’s Kadima Party, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, failed to establish a coalition government following the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The breakdown of coalition talks forces Israel into premature national elections in February, far in advance of the scheduled date in 2010. Livni’s failure stemmed primarily from her inability to appease demands by two parties, the fervently Orthodox Shas and the Pensioners Party, which posed heavy monetary and sectarian conditions for joining her government. Small, special-interest parties such as Shas, which holds 12 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, wield disproportionate power in the Israeli political system. Their rise in recent years has come at the expense of traditional big parties such as Labor and Likud, which have contracted to the point where they must combine with numerous smaller parties in order to form coalition governments. As a result, Israel’s political system has become highly unstable and is frequently held hostage to sectarian interests. Livni’s troubles are symptomatic of a larger systemic affliction that has stripped three of the last four Israeli prime ministers of their ability to govern. Under Israel’s current political structure, sectarian agendas consistently trump majority interests on issues ranging from religion and state to national security. Consequently it has become impossible to formulate coherent policy or govern effectively. The political paralysis extends to the realm of foreign policy, where it has a debilitating effect on negotiations for peace. It was not always this way. For 47 years, political stability prevailed in Israel. The average term of the Knesset between 1949 and 1996 was nearly four years. During all but the past 13 years, successive Israeli governments led the country decisively across the shifting sands of war and peace while absorbing millions of immigrants and shepherding its citizens through major economic and social change. In the early 1990s, effective governance ground to a halt with the introduction of the two-ballot system, otherwise known as “direct election of the prime minister.” According to this system, each citizen was eligible to vote twice: once for the prime minister and once for the party of the voter’s choice. Relieved of the burden of having to vote for just one Something You’ve Always Wanted to Do!
A new American president The bold newspaper headlines captured the spirit of the day: Obama overcomes, A Dream fulfilled. by SHELDON KIRSHNER Some 145 years after Canadian Jewish News President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves, and 44 years after President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act annulling Jim Crow segregationist laws, Barack Hussein Obama, a first-term U.S. senator from Illinois, defied the weight of history and was elected the first African-American president of the United States, beating his honorable but ineffectual Republican opponent, John McCain. Obama’s astonishing ascendancy to the White House closes a dark chapter in American race relations, during which the democratic rights of its downtrodden black population were all too often denied. African Americans were subjected to oppressive and humiliating restrictions and conventions, even after the seminal Civil War. Jim Crow laws -- which segregated public facilities, relegated African-Americans to second-class citizenship and made a mockery of American ideals -crushed their dignity and aspirations. It took decades of civil rights protests, impassioned speeches and judicial interventions to correct glaring injustices that condemned millions of law-abiding American citizens to hostility, ostracism, violence, dashed hopes and virtual servitude. When Obama, a 47-year-old Harvard graduate, launched his brilliant campaign to be the Democratic party’s presidential nominee, few observers gave him any
BEHIND THE HEADLINES
chance of winning. Apart from his biracial ancestry, he had a foreign-sounding name and was burdened by the maliciously false rumour that he was secretly a Muslim. Obama, a Christian, took these slurs in stride as he defeated the superbly capable front-runner, Hillary Clinton, the junior senator from New York. As he crisscrossed the country, he pledged a fundamental change in direction, bringing his “Yes we can” message of hope to an increasingly multicultural nation scarred by the spectre of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism, shaken by an economic crisis and mired in protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The outcome of last year’s election is not only a historic triumph for Obama and a repudiation of President George W. Bush’s generally dismal record, but equally a resounding victory for minority rights and a transformative event. Obama, whose inexorable march to the White House was supported by seven out of 10 American Jews, inherits a mound of problems and confronts a panoply of challenges as he readies himself for the world’s most important job. The U.S. economy is faltering. Americans are in dire need of a national health care plan. Wars in distant lands have strained America’s credibility and sapped its coffers. Washington’s relationship with a resurgent Russia is unravelling. China beckons as a superpower. The Arab-Israeli conflict still simmers. Iran -- a destabilizing influence in the Middle East and Israel's arch enemy -- is racing toward acquiring a nuclear arsenal. Obama, a cool, level-headed man of integrity, clearly has his work cut out for him. Let us hope he succeeds. In the meantime, we hail his successful run for the presidency as an encouraging and seismic turning point in American democracy.
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First, the threshold of votes required for entrance into the Knesset must be raised to facilitate the re-emergence of two large ruling parties. Second, to strengthen the capacity of elected governments to complete four-year terms in office, the leader of the biggest party should automatically be designated on election night as the prime minister. Other necessary reforms include the long-overdue enactment of a constitution, thereby establishing a set of binding ground rules for political change; the institution of a substantial increase in the size of the Knesset, so as to achieve a reasonable ratio of representatives per capita; the introduction of regional representation, in order to enhance accountability and representativeness; the adoption of measures to redress imbalances between the three branches of government; and the implementation of mechanisms to increase transparency within the public sector. By facing up to the dangers inherent in the status quo, Israel’s post-election leadership can seize a historic opportunity to strengthen the nation’s political system and prepare Israel for the tough decisions that lie ahead.
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party, voters sent dozens of small parties into the Knesset, each reflecting the whims of narrow interest groups. As a result, the major parties shattered and the political system became paralyzed. In 2003, the Knesset repealed the two-ballot system. But the scars of that experiment have yet to heal. As the Israel Democracy Institute’s annual democracy index for 2008 illustrates, the public’s confidence in the political system now stands at an all-time low, with only 15 percent of Israelis expressing trust in political parties. Faced with a new set of international crises, Israel’s leaders must act quickly to restore stability and a sense of direction to the Israeli body politic. Bold reforms are needed to bolster the parliamentary system by facilitating the emergence of large parties in the legislature and strengthening the executive branch’s ability to govern. The to-do list for Israeli political reform is lengthy and complex, but it must begin with two fundamental changes to the electoral system that will help steer the country’s democracy toward greater stability.
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Page 10
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 16, 2009
Candlelighting Friday, January 16, 5:03 p.m
Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org
Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 www.OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org
Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244
Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154
Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org
The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Glen Fineman, LIMHP, LCSW speaking on How Do I Know if I’m Mishugeneh or Not? The community is invited. This event, orginally scheduled for last week, was cancelled due to inclement weather.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg. FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Sharon and Jeff Kirshenbaum, in honor of their daughter, Alyssa, becoming a Bat Mitzvah; Minha/ Ma’ariv, 5 p.m.; PJ Havdallah service for young children, followed by songs, stories, a snack, art project, led by ‘Miss Patty’, 5:45–6:30 p.m. No charge, but RSVP to the office or programming@bethel-omaha.org. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Bible Study SUNDAY: Discussion Group; and Navigating our Services with Joy led by Susi Frydman-Levin, 10 a.m.; Mitzvah Club, also led by Frydman-Levin; and Synagogue skills class, led by Cantor Beth Schlossberg, 11 a.m.; Nitzanim, 10 a.m.-noon. program for three- and four-year olds and their favorite adult, celebrate Tu Bishvat. Open to all families in the Jewish community. No charge, but reservations are requested with Judy Rubin at 498.0904 or eddir@bethelomaha.org.; Hazak sack lunch and cinema series, noon. For information, call Tootie Simon at 397-3616. THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Jewish Ideals and Ethics for Everyday Living, noon SHABBAT TUNES AND TALES: Saturday, Jan. 24, 11:15-11:45 a.m. Shabbat singalong led by Patty Nogg is open to all Jewish children (up to age five), parents and grandparents. HAZAK SHABBAT: Saturday, Jan. 24, 9:30 a.m. Kiddush following services is sponsored by Hazak.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
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Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:03 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush sponsored by the Priluck family in honor of the anniversary of Aaron’s Bar Mitzvah; “Guard Your Tongue” and “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 & up)” one hour prior to Mincha, 4:45 p.m., followed by Seudah Shlishit; Havdalah, 6:08 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.;
Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Teen Class, 10 a.m.; Sunday Night Dinner, 6 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. MONDAY: Office closed for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday TUESDAY: Mishnah Club for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.
Fight for Cuba” with Tom Gjelton, a National Public Radio correspondent based in Washing-ton, DC. TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, noon at the Olive Garden, 6100 “O” Street. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION JAN. TUESDAYS, 7:30 p.m. Introduction to the Study of Religions, led by Dr. Rita Lester, Associate Professor of Religion at Nebraska Wesleyan.
CHABAD HOUSE
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Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded; Kiddush lunch follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. For more information or to register email Estie@ochabad.com. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Kabbalistic Insights for Women, 12:15 p.m. TUESDAY: W.O.W. Prayer, Prophets, and Prayer, 9:15 a.m.; Gourmet Dinner Club, 6 p.m. in commemoration of the passing of the Alter Rebbe. WEDNESDAY: Achieving Integrity, Torah Studies for the Workplace, 7 p.m. For more information call 330.1800 or email TorahStudies@ochabad. com or you can enroll at www.O Chabad.com. THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II for ages 7-9, 3:40 p.m. Please contact shevi@ochabad. com for a pass. All events and programs are open to the entire community.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Martin Luther King, Jr Freedom Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with guest speaker Sam Horowitz of the UJC, speaking on “Israel at 60.” Oneg following hosted by Lori Merliss. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m. Contact Deborah Swearingen if you have questions or need a ride. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan - Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel; Lincoln Jewish Federation Annual Meeting, 1 p.m. RSVP to Jaine Merliss at 327.2321 or email jaineevnen@msn.com; Winter Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at Unitarian Church: “Bacardi and the Long
FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Steve Riekes.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m.; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: No Religious School TUESDAY: Executive Meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 46 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Grades 712, 6 p.m.; Aleph Bet and Beyond, 6:30 p.m. with native Israelis Na’ama Artzi and Mor Sheinbein. Class fee is $18 for members; $25 for non-members; no charge for Family School parents. Contact Program Director Wendy Goldberg at wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com to register.
THURSDAY: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m. SUNDAY, Jan. 25: No Religious School; Book Club: The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey D. Sachs, 10 a.m. Chapters 1-6. Creighton Professor Tracy Leavelle will facilitate the conversation about The End of Poverty.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 5:03 p.m. SATURDAY: Srvices, 9 a.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. MONDAY and THURSDAY: Minyan, 9 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6 p.m. with a Shabbat dinner following. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m., kiddush lunch with guest speaker Sam Horowitz of the UJC, speaking on “Israel at 60,” and Talmud study. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan - Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel; Jewish Federation of Lincoln Annual Meeting, 1 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Lunch will be served. RSVP to Jaine Merliss at 327.2321 or email jaineevnen@msn.com. TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, noon at the Olive Garden, 6100 “O” Street. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at
A friendly gesture Over the past several days, the Authority for Community and Youth of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has welcomed some 100 eighth and ninth grade students from Ashkelon, Sderot and Netivot who are participating in the pre-Atidim program,designed to motivate and encourage middle and high school youngsters to further their educational prospects. Above, students from Ashkelon examine a snake at the Belmonte Science Laboratories for Youth. Schools have been closed for the past week due to the continuing rocket attacks coming from Gaza. Credit: ISRANET
To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return). Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org. Readers can also submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines prior to secular and Jewish holidays.
January 16, 2009
Names? Specific names?
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Shemot The official name of the second Book of Torah, which we open this week, is “Exodus”. Here the text differs from other examples where the name of the Sidra comes from important words in the opening sentence. The names given here, those who led the way back into Egypt, do not rise again in the pages of the Holy Text as important members of the community. It is simply a matter of accuracy, even though there is no need to know the names of these people. It seems rather difficult to understand how Israelites, who came freely into Egypt, soon found themselves slaves in a foreign land. If you are reading the text for the very first time, you will be shocked at how easy the transition was from visitor to slave. But the text must be read as it is: the
Egyptians seemed to have no problem in commandeering the visitors -- perhaps we should call them tourists -and changing their status quickly from tourists to slaves. Thus begins the long period of slavery in Egypt, from which our ancestors escaped after a long time, with the influence of slavery handicapping them for many years to come. But even the reader who is confronting these incidents for the first time is promised by the title of the book -Exodus -- to know that this slavery will not be permanent; it will lead to a glorious exodus into freedom. The freedom, as the reader soon learns, was not only physical, but intellectual and spiritual as well. The historian who left us these accounts knew how to write with a flourish. He helps us to understand the physical facts, as an account of spiritual venture. Thus, it is here in Egypt that Israel finds the source of its strength. It is not in numbers and not in physical prowess. It is in the growth of the inquiring mind and soaring spiritual goals. As we continue in the Book of Exodus, all of this will become not merely clear, but fascinating as well.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Temple Tot Shabbat combines prayers, community and fun for families available following the servby CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel ice at $5 for adults, no Communications Coordinator charge for children. Charlie Yale, two and a Sponsored by Women of Reform Judaism, Tot half, and his little brother, Shabbat is a blend of stories, Henry, ten months old, love music, and making crafts Tot Shabbat at Temple such as picture frames and Israel, declared their mother placemats, with a JEwish Sarah Yale. “Even Henry theme, and kippots as well as loves the music and the a fun and welcoming service instruments.” The Yales, with the clergy. including dad, Adam, have Kelly and Jeff Nogg also been going to the monthly try to attend once a month. tot-friendly services since Their daughter, Riley, 19 last fall. months, “definitely loves it. “Charlie loves the songs, We all love the music, and passing out the apple juice it’s a great family activity.” and the challa. And he loves Rabbi (Aryeh) Azriel. It’s Gabriella Blair and her sons, two-year-old Mo (at left) and Jeff ’s parents, Patty and really a nice program. Noah, three and a half, enjoyed dinner after attending Tot Steve Nogg, also attend sometimes. “Going to synaHaving a host family is a nice Shabbat at Temple in October. gogue and getting the children involved at a young age touch. It personalizes it,” Sarah said. “We want to be involved with our synagogue and to is something important to do with your children,” Kelly expose the children to the religion, the community, to added. Additional Tot Shabbat worship services are planned the prayers, and the fun! It’s nice to have a program that focuses on these little ones and their families,” she for Fridays, Feb. 20, March 20, April 17, and May 15. To make dinner reservations for the Jan. 30 Tot added. Danielle and Jeff Gordman, Mona Jones and Ron Shabbat, please contact the Temple office at 556.6536 Beach will host the next Tot Shabbat on Friday, Jan. or mkube@ templeisraelomaha.com. 30, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel. A home cooked dinner is
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The Jewish hot spots for the inauguration by ERIC FINGERHUT WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Revelers in Washington will have plenty of places to celebrate Barack Obama’s swearing-in, including an event organized by some leading Jewish organizations and a trio of unofficial Jewish inaugural balls. The biggest bash of inaugural weekend will be the Jewish Community Inaugural Reception on Jan. 19 at a downtown hotel. Along with the kosher hors d’oeuvres and drinks, the event is slated to feature a visit from a top-ranking Obama administration official to be announced. A portion of tickets to the 4:30-6:30 p.m. event will be distributed to those affiliated with the nine sponsoring organizations -- the National Jewish Democratic Council, United Jewish Communities, AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organization, NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia, and the Chicago, New York and Washington federations -- as well as some Jewish activists who volunteered on the Obama campaign. The rest of the tickets to the 750-person capacity reception will be made available to the public for free on a first-come, first-served basis via registration at the Web site http://inauguralreception.eventbrite.com. William Daroff, the director of the UJC’s Washington office, said the sponsors wanted to make sure that the event was not just a gathering of Jewish leaders but was open also to those who are not connected to any organization. “It’s a celebration of the Jewish-American role” in the United States as well as “the role that Jewish
organizations play in civic life,” Daroff said. Ira Forman, the executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, stressed that the event is a nonpartisan celebration and open to all. The reception is not an official inaugural event, but prominent Obama supporters encouraged Jewish communal leaders -- as it did with leaders of other ethnic groups -- to privately sponsor such a gathering. Those unable to snag a ticket to the official Jewish event have a number of other Jewish-themed options. Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld is expecting 300 to 400 people Sunday night for what he is calling the National Jewish Inaugural Ball, which will feature klezmer music, dessert and a cash bar at his Washington synagogue, Ohev Sholom-The National Synagogue. For young adults who don’t have tickets to any of the official inaugural balls on Jan. 20, the Washington DCJCC is holding “The Inaugural Ball for the Rest of Us.” The event, geared toward 21- to 35-year-olds, will include a performance by actor/comedian Iris Bahr, who played the Orthodox Jewish woman from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” with whom Larry David got stuck on a ski lift. Other Jewish events over the weekend include a Havdalah service and panel discussion with some “Jewish Justice All-Stars” sponsored by Jews United for Justice and the American Jewish World Service-Avodah Patnership. For those who wish they were in Washington but will be in New York, the AJWS-Avodah Patnership, along with the New Israel Fund and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, is sponsoring an inauguration celebration at SOB’s in Manhattan on Jan. 20.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 16, 2009
Acco Festival resumes the stage with new mind-set
by RACHEL NEIMAN ISRAEL21c Every year at Sukkot, a wonderful event takes place in Israel that most tourists never know about. The Israel Fringe Theater Festival at Acco is a four-day encounter between audiences and the country’s alternative theater community -- actors, designers, musicians, playwrights, painters, poets, and students, along with established members of the profession wanting to try their hand at something new -- and everyone eager to discover the next big thing. The Acco Festival is a delight for its followers and an important source of creativity that feeds talent, energy and young blood into the commercial theater scene each year, including Omahans, who as partners with the Western Galilee, have brought Acco’s theater group here. But in October, for the first time in its 25 year history the Acco Festival did not take place. Ironically, a festival devoted to coexistence in one of Israel’s few true mixed Jewish-Arab cities was canceled because of riots sparked on Yom Kippur eve that spiraled out of control. Thirty people were arrested, and the city council decided to shut the festival down citing security concerns. The cancellation was a logistical nightmare for the organizers who -- as they do every year, had begun working on the 2008 festival the day after the 2007 festival closed. On Yom Kippur eve, stages were already set within the historic Crusader halls, lights hung, lines memorized -- an NIS 2.5 million expenditure gone down the drain. It was also a nightmare on an artistic level, explains Acco Festival artistic director Daniella Michaeli. “It was a great shock. Up until the night before, the municipality and the mayor said the festival was going ahead and the troupes were already on their way up to Acco. It was very disheartening,” she tells ISRAEL21c. Michaeli declined to join in the political blame game that ensued after the cancellation, but says: “The way in which the decision was made was mistaken, as neither I, the Ministry of Culture, nor the steering committee was consulted.” The good news is that at the end of November, newly re-elected Mayor of Acco Shimon Lankri announced the festival steering committee’s decision to hold the event during the Hanukah holiday break last month.
“The Acco Municipality made its utmost effort to enable the Acco Festival to go on, after concluding with creators and actors to hold the festival at a new date,” Lankri stated. “I have every hope that this important festival will continue to provide a platform to art and dialogue in Israel in general, and Acco in particular.” Nine out of the 10 plays originally in the competition were performed. The 10th play will be on tour during the time of the festival however.
Cancelled at Sukkot for the first time in its 25-year history, the Israel Fringe Theater Festival at Acco was rescheduled for the Hanukah holiday break. “The minute that the cancellation was announced, the groups had to decide what to do next,” Michaeli explains. “The creators decided they wanted the competition to go on and I’m happy about that. It brings in some prize money and also leverages a show’s chances of commercial success. Another thing I insisted on was that the artists be given assistance; we can’t ask people to work free-of-charge twice in a year -- and here the mayor and the authorities provided financial support.” Riots lead to intense soul-searching The riots and the cancellation also demanded some soul-searching on the part of the organizers, says Michaeli. “We held an internal panel about the event and a lot of important and interesting questions were raised
about the festival’s place within the city.” One issue was public perception of the festival among Acco’s different populations -- running the spectrums of Jewish and Arab, Ashkenazi and Sephardi, religious and secular, educated and not -- and to what extent it served the local audience. Michaeli, who is concluding a decadelong tenure adds, “In this sense, I think it’s good that the new artistic directors are from Acco.” The new artistic directors, Smadar Ya’aron and Moni Yosef, are co-directors of the Acco Theater Center which is committed to social action and forging alliances between Arab and Jewish artists. For 2009, “the idea is to get the festival out from behind the walls,” says Yosef. “We want to make Acco-ite theater that will happen in authentic spaces, leave the performance halls, and put on shows in the old and the new city. We’re already planning a play about the riots that will take place in the very neighborhood where they happened.” The festival’s future is yet to be written, says Michaeli. “I hope it will never become establishment and will always be a place of discovery.” Adds Yosef, “We want it to truly continue to be alternative theater, showing a different language, presenting things that can happen only in Acco.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Come along on the adventure as Maestro Thomas Wilkins and the Omaha Symphony bring music’s timeless tales to life with Symphonic Story Time this Sunday, Jan. 18, 2 p.m., at the Holland Center. Don’t forget to come early and try out the Instrument Petting Zoo. Tickets are $7 for children and $12 for adults and can be purchased by calling 402.345.0606, 402.342.3560 or online at: www.omahasymphony.org.
Omaha Performing Arts welcomes the Canadian powerhouse siblings of Leahy to the Slosburg Hall at the Orpheum Theater on Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. They’ve shared the stage with Shania Twain, and have produced three award-winning CDs. Tickets, priced from $19$35, can be purchased through www.ticketomaha.org, or by calling 402.345.0606.
Upcoming Pops & Rocks Concerts! SYMPHONY ROCKS
Michael Cavanaugh In Concert: Featuring the Music of Billy Joel & more! January 31 | Holland Center SYMPHONY POPS
The Magical Music of Walt Disney February 27-March 1 | Holland Center SYMPHONY ROCKS
Engelbert
Humperdinck
One Vision — the Music of Queen March 7 | Holland Center SYMPHONY POPS
The Beach Boys March 27-29 | Holland Center SYMPHONY POPS
Dave Bennett’s Tribute to Benny Goodman May 1-3 | Holland Center