Issuu

A N AG E N C Y O F T H E J E W I S H F E D E R AT I O N O F O M A H A

The Jewish Press WWW.O M A H A J E W I S H P R E SS .CO M

INSIDE

WWW. J E W I S H O M A H A .O R G

SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND

The new B’nai Israel Part 2: The Present Monuments honoring fascists, Nazis and murderers of Jews? Page 5

Additions to the Kripke-Veret Collection SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist February is Black History and Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.

The JFO welcomes author Jean Rochelle Meltzer Page 6

“It is our hope that as a living history and working synagogue, B’nai Israel can add context and understanding to the present while helping us appreciate our past, culture, ideas and traditions into the future.” - MARY-BETH MUSKIN GABBY BLAIR Jewish Press Staff Writer esilience is perhaps the best word to describe B’nai Israel. From its humble grassroots beginnings in the 1880s through today, B’nai Israel’s resilience has been illustrated time and again, a true testament to the pure grit, heart and soul of its congregants.

Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Winter Carnival Page 12

In the previous installment of this series, we learned that B’nai Israel was originally called Chevra B’nai Israel. Thanks to the vision and dedication of its first congregants, a group of 14 men and their families, the cornerstone for B’nai Israel was laid in 1904 after receiving the donation of a Sefer Torah and $900 from Temple Emanuel, a small shul that closed its doors that same year. See The new B’nai Israel page 2

Join Clean Speech Nebraska!

REGULARS Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

7 8 10 11

PAM MONSKY JCRC Assistant Director Clean Speech Nebraska is a community-wide, monthlong campaign to clean up our conversations, one word at a time. By encouraging mindfulness and personal awareness, we can create a more peaceful and respectful world, where our communities are united and connected. Presented by the Jewish Community Relation Council ( JCRC) Clean Speech Nebraska will kick off in February 2023 with a month of videos and a workbook focused on being mindful of how we speak to each other when we disagree, inspired by Jewish values. Just as Jewish tradition offers guidelines for respectful, community-oriented speech, Clean Speech Nebraska encourages people of all faiths to cleanse their speech and be more mindful of the language they use. In fact, Clean Speech Nebraska will be

the first local initiative to focus specifically on respectful, communitybuilding speech. There is no cost to participate. During the month of February 2023, you’ll receive a daily lesson featuring community members and Jewish organizations to watch or read. There are also weekly challenges to try out, and inspiring memes, too. Participating organizations include: BBYO, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, B’nai Israel Synagogue, Boomer Radio, Friedel Jewish Academy, Institute for Holocaust Education, JCC Performing Arts, Jewish Community Relations Council ( JCRC), Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation of Omaha, Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, Jewish Press, Jewish Social Services, Kohll’s Pharmacy, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, Omaha ForUs, See Join Clean Speech page 3

JUVENILE: A Fist for Joe Louis and Me by Trinka Hakes Noble Gordy and his family live in Detroit, Michigan, the heart of the United States automobile industry. Every night after coming home from work at one of the plants, Gordy’s father teaches him how to box. Their hero is the famous American boxer Joe Louis, who grew up in Detroit. But the Great Depression has come down hard on the economy. Detroit’s auto industry is affected and thousands of people lose their jobs, including Gordy’s father. When his mother takes on work with a Jewish tailor, Gordy becomes friends with Ira, the tailor’s son, bonding over their shared interest in boxing and Joe Louis. As the boys’ friendship grows, Gordy feels protective of Ira, wanting to help the new boy fit in. At the same time, America is gearing up for the rematch between Joe Louis and the German boxer, Max Schmeling. For many Americans this fight is about good versus evil (US against Nazi Germany). Against the backdrop of the 1938 Fight of the Century, a young boy learns what it means to make a stand for a friend. Itzhak: A Boy Who Loved the Violin by Tracy Newman Before becoming one of the greatest violinists of all time, Itzhak Perlman was simply a boy who loved music. Raised by a poor immigrant family in a tiny Tel Aviv apartment, baby Itzhak was transformed by the sounds from his family’s kitchen radio — graceful classical symphonies, lively klezmer tunes, and soulful cantorial chants. The rich melodies and vibrant rhythms spoke to him like magic, See Kripke-Veret page 3