February 18, 2005

Vol. LXXXIV No. 24 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 84 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

9 Adar, 5765 February 18, 2005

Omaha’s Jewish JSS Volunteers Make a Difference Jewelers “Bling” in Their Own Lives and in Others’ It On for 125 Years

imchas S

A celebration of life.

Debby Baker, daughter of Bob Malashock, displays some of the colored gemstones at Malashock Jewelers, a business founded by her grandfather at the turn of the last century.

Inside Opinion Page see page 20

ADL’s Foxman in Omaha “Live from the 92nd St. Y” by RACHEL BLUM JCC Program Director The spring season of the “Live from NY’s 92 St Y” series continues next week with two more events: “The DaVinci Code: Facts and Fallacies,” on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. and Abe Foxman, Executive Director of the Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m. The DaVinci Code broadcast is co-sponsored by Young Jewish Omaha, a Abraham Foxman program of the Jewish Federation of Omaha for members of the Jewish community ages 25-45. Tickets to this broadcast are free for YJO members and a dessert reception for YJO members will follow the program. Scholars Dan Burstein, Bart D. Ehrman and Dr. Jenny Driver will gather to discuss Dan Brown’s best selling novel, The DaVinci Code, and the implications for religion and private faith when God talk moves into pop culture, and popular entertainment becomes a mode of education. Continued on page 11

This Week: Simchas Issue Starts on Page 13 Book Group Discusses Prof. Shapiro’s Film: Page 4

ADL Distributes Guide-No Place for Hate: Page 6

M ET A Z

ER

Today, of course, a Jew in America has little fear of pogroms or Nuremberg-type laws, but there still seems to be an abundance of Jewish names connected with the jewelry industry. Though some--Zale’s, for example--are now public companies, others are being run by fourth and even fifth-generations of the same family. And you’ll find some of those great-great-grandsons of company founders right here in Omaha! It seems appropriate, then, to hear from members of the Brodkey, Bergman, and Gilinsky families, as well as Marvin Cohn speaking on behalf of the Friedman family--purveyors of the “bling, bling” to use a contemporary expression for these beautiful baubles. After all, this week is our Simchas issue--which features weddings, anniversaries, B’nai Mitzvah, births and other happy events in our lives. Can you think of a better way to celebrate? Sherm and Marc Brodkey can’t. Standing in their flagship Westroads store, one of 11 now owned and operated by this father-and-son team, Sherman speaks about his grandfather, Morris, who founded the comContinued on page 12

share their time and talents at the Blumkin Home, according to Lois Wine, Rose Blumkin Home and Jewish Senior Services director of volunteers. These volunteers answer phones, give manicures, help with religious services and light Shabbos candles. They provide entertainment and ride along in the Blumkin Home van with Residents to appointments. They pour coffee during meals and help in the kitchen. They crochet afghans, preside over Bingo and Pokeno, staff the gift shop, help with special events, hem trousers, sew on buttons and translate for Residents whose first language is Russian. Blumkin Home and Jewish Senior Services volunteers commit as little as an hour at a time. They help once a year or once a week. All, Wine said, leave richer than they were before they came. They become part of an extended family of people of all ages and generations in which some remember voting for Eisenhower and others aren’t old enough to vote. Some taught themselves to drive when 72nd Street in Omaha was a dirt road, but Joe Cherek plays piano once a week at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Cherek said enter- all still look forward to staytaining residents and getting to know them provides “peace the world can’t give and money ing connected to the pace can’t buy.” Blumkin resident Mollie Franklin enjoys hearing songs that are familiar to her. of the world as they know it of Cherek’s audiences at the Rose Blumkin Jewish today. Volunteers have learned their lives simply aren’t Home. On Wednesdays, when his friends gather complete without connections to people of all ages. around to hear Cherek play the old songs-Blue Skies, “I’ve been a volunteer at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’ll be Seeing You in All Home since 1986, when my parents were Residents,” the Old Familiar Places-it’s hard to say who’s enjoying Gerri Phillips said. “Volunteering at the Home has themselves more, the entertainer or the entertained. always given me a good, warm feeling because all the “The pay is zero, but the benefits are out of this Residents are so very appreciative of everything the world,” Cherek said. “I have been blessed beyond volunteers do. It’s an extremely rewarding experience belief.” and one I highly recommend to others.” Cherek is part of a small army of volunteers who Continued on page 6

PIZ

by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press Why are Jews and jewelry so historically connected? Some will say it’s because precious stones are portable, and Jews, who were ever alert to changing political fortunes, needed a ready source of cash when forced to flee. Others note the linguistic ability of the Jewish people dispersed among hundreds of countries. Traveling to India to purchase emeralds and silver was certainly easier for a European Jew who spoke Hindi, Persian, and a number of romance languages. And still others note that in medieval times, Christians were barred from lending money while Jews were barred from owning land--buying and selling jewels became a way both could do business. The great Talmudic scholar and author, the Rambam-Moshe ben Maimon--Maimonides, achieved the level of court physician for the caliphate of Egypt and was recognized for his great legal mind. But he also salvaged his family’s fortune when his brother David drowned in a shipwreck, along with the precious gems he was carrying. In fact, 20 years ago, the Jewish Press featured attorneys, doctors, rabbis--and yes, jewelers, in its New Year’s issue of 1985, which commemorated 850 years since Maimonides’ death.

by RITA SHELLEY JSS Publicity Coordinator As a two-year-old, Joe Cherek rested his chin on the family’s upright piano while watching his sister’s fingers on the keys. By age four, he was ready to apply what he had learned. He played “Don’t Fence Me In” by ear and has been enjoying playing the piano ever since. But the joy he gained from being able to mimic his older sister pales in comparison to the joy in the eyes

$3,087,500 million pledged to The 2005 Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Campaign! 872 increased gifts & 95% Goal!

RAISE YOUR PLEDGE, SEND A PIZZA! Show your support and boost the morale of Israel Defense Forces troops! In honor of YOUR increased gift to the 2005 Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Campaign, a private donor will sponsor the delivery of hot, kosher pizza to active-duty IDF soldiers with an acknowledgement from the Omaha Jewish community. Pizzas provided by a generous donor. Pledge increases will NOT be used to pay for the pizzas. The Federation is working through Pizza IDF (www.pizzaidf), a non-profit website that lets supporters send pizza to active duty soldiers on the front lines.

Coming Next Month: Spring Home & Garden Issue: March 11 Where Are They Now? Features Steve Marantz: Page 9

Ten Steps to Family History: Page 19

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

Beth El “Pour’em Shpiel” Promises an Evening of Rip-Roarin’ Fun!

Gary Kuklin

Parents

by JILL BELMONT -- it’s for a good cause Beth El Publicity Coordinator PRIZES! In keeping with Beth El will be the the theme of the evening, place to be on Saturday, everyone will be able to March 19, as the synacast their lot for the top gogue’s first-ever “Pourthree costumes, and the ’em Shpiel” (for adults winners will walk away only) will entertain Purim with prizes.” revelers with “one wacko When asked to elabonight of mishegas!” Part rate on the Shpiel’s enterof Beth El’s yearlong tainment, Gutnik jokingly 75th anniversary celebradeclined to share details, tion, the rollicking festivsaying “while some of ities will commence at 8 the evening simply canp.m., complete with not be divulged due to entertainment, cockthe traditionally highly tails/mocktails, delicious classified and secret nosherai, outrageous cosnature of such events as tumes and shenanigans Let’s Get This Party Started! Martini glasses in hand and adorned Pour ‘em Shpiels, we can worthy of every Shushan in party hats and gloves, co-chairwomen Roxanne Kahn and tell you that there will be Margie Gutnik are preparing for a rollicking evening of fun at Beth a musical revue starring party-goer. “For this milestone El Synagogue’s first-ever adults-only Pour’-em Shpiel on March 19. some of the finest enteranniversary, we decided to create something a little tainers from Beth El, Omaha and Shushan! irreverent, a little different and a lot of fun,” said But that’s not all: preceding and following the show, Margie Gutnik, who is chairing the Shpiel along with there will also be several surprises in keeping with the Roxanne Kahn. “This party is designed for adults only wackiness and ‘adult-ness’ of the evening. You’ll just and capitalizes on the idea of merriment and mishegas. have to be there!” What better way to celebrate Purim than to ‘pour-’em’ The entire community is invited to attend the Shpiel. for Purim?” While not mandatory, party garb and cos- Reservations are needed by March 11; cost is $25 per tumes are encouraged for the evening, Gutnik said, person. Checks--made payable to Beth El Synagogue/ noting that “Here’s where your creativity can shine. Pour ‘em Shpie--may be sent to Nancy Skid, 14964 Whatever you can think of, put it together: sew, glue, Farnam Cir., Omaha NE 68154. staple, rent or make -- anything lying around your A delightful evening of nonsense, fun and rock ‘n’ house will do! “Raid your closet, raid your kids’ closets roll awaits you--don’t miss it!

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Temple Scholar to Focus on 350 Years of Making a Haven into a Home

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18 OTYG NFTY National Chavurah, Feb. 18-22 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Inter-generational Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El

C L I P

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Red Cross WSI Training, 8 a.m. Jewish Potpouri, 10:00 a.m. at Beth El Bible Study with Leonard Greenspoon, 11 a.m. at Beth El Hebrew Crash Course, 11 a.m. at Beth El PACMAN, 4 p.m. at Beth El

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 JSS Senior Luncheon, 10 a.m. Hadassah Board Meeting, 1 p.m. S BEAM, 7 p.m. at Beth El A V TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 E Lunch & Learn “The Guy and Bob Show”, noon ADL’s Manhigim Institute, 4:30 p.m. Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. JSS Concert, 7 p.m. TLC “Growth Through Torah”, 7:30 p.m. at private residence

&

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 PATTER, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Visions Joslyn Tour, 11:30 a.m. Middle/High School Teacher Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel Jewish Academy NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

C L THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24 I USY Kadimah Kinnus in Lake Delton, WI, Feb. 24-28 P COE Directors Meeting, 9 a.m. Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. & Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Jewish Parenting 101, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El S Rabbi Levin’s Class, noon at Beth El A Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. V TLC “Meaning of Life” Class, 1 p.m. E L.O.V.E Auxiliary Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Rabbi Gross’ Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel JELS/Beth El Class, 7 p.m.

All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING, VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

This Space For Rent Call Allan Handleman 334-6451

C L I P & S A V E

C L I P & S A V E

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Jewish-American celebrations in the past had national components, according to Pamela A. Nadell, professor of history and director of the Jewish Studies Program at American University in Washington, D.C. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower recognized the 250th and 300th anniversaries of Jews in America, she pointed out. Roosevelt sent a letter to Jacob Schiff, chair of the “Committee on the Celebration of the 250th,” praising American Jews for their contributions to the United States. He noted that, “while the Jews of the United States have remained loyal to their faith traditions, they have become indissolubly incorporated into the great army of American citizenship.” Eisenhower, attending the tercentenary dinner in New York, related, in part, that the 23 people who came ashore in 1654 had, “through the Old Testament, given new dimensions of meaning to the concepts of freedom and justice, of mercy and righteousness, kindness and understanding.” Professor Nadell, who will be Temple Israel’s scholar-in-residence, will bring more details to light about her topic, “From Haven to Home: Celebrating 350 Years of Jewish Life in America” when she is here March 4-6. Chairman of the Academic Council of the American Jewish Historical Society, Prof. Nadell will talk about Jews seeking haven in America and discovering there was a price to pay for freedom and abundance. Sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning, Nadell is one of several speakers, classes, and special events this year highlighting the 350th anniversary of Jews in America, the topic selected by Temple Israel’s Adult Education Committee. At the Friday night, March 4, 7:30 p.m., Shabbat worship service, Prof. Nadell will remember the celebrations of the past as she leads up to this year’s 350th celebration. She’ll examine how American Jews celebrated the 250th and 300th anniversaries and how those commemorations reflected their day and age. “We’ll see how much their communal celebrations revealed about their moment in time. The national component this time,” she said, “is even broader (than

100 and even 50 years ago). Congress passed a resolution, for which I lobbied, recognizing the anniversary and naming September 2004 American Jewish history month.” At the Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m., Bagels and Sacred Books weekly study session, Nadell will explore the subject “Seeking Haven and Making Lives.” She noted that “for 350 years, Jews have sought haven in America. Over the centuries, they came--to build homes in the new promised land. They found that America pledged freedoms and abundance, but that the bounty exacted a price. The most obvious examples are the challenges to Jewish identity,” she said. “In some cases, Jews have either converted out of Judaism or utterly assimilated, abandoning their Jewish distinctiveness. But at the same time, a creative synergy marks the intersection of Jewish religious, cultural, and secular identity and America. Each of the denominations of American Judaism reveals that creative synergy,” she added. Shabbat morning worship services at 10:30 follow Bagel and Sacred Books. At her concluding discussion, on Sunday, March 6, 10 a.m., bagel brunch, Professor Nadell, author or co-editor of at least three books on the history of American Jewish women, will address “America’s Jewish Women.” As early as 1654, when Jewish refugees, expelled from Recife, Brazil, “established the first North American Jewish community in New Amsterdam, women, according to one account, out-numbered men six to four. Thereafter women continued to play vital roles in American Judaism, a generalization that covers both colonial Sephardic women and their later Ashkenazic counterparts” (from Women and American Judaism edited by Nadell and Jonathan D. Sarna). “A tapestry of diverse colors woven across time and space, that is the history of America’s Jewish women. Stitched onto the canvas are homemakers and shirtwaist makers, ladies of the sisterhood and female rabbis, Lubavitcher brides and even the inventor of the Barbie doll. Understanding how the promises of America made possible this diversity will be our theme,” indicated Prof. Nadell. All of Prof. Nadell’s discussions throughout the weekend are open to the community.

February 18, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Relative Silence on Social Security Reflects Divisions in Jewish Community by MATTHEW E. BERGER income comes to fruition. WASHINGTON (JTA)-While Jewish concerns Several American Jewish about poverty could lead to policy groups are considerskepticism about overhauling remaining uncharactering the Social Security sysistically quiet during one of tem, many younger Jews, this year’s most contentious and financially savvy ones, domestic political debates. are interested in the potenThe United Jewish tial market gains from priCommunities, the umbrella vate investment of Social organization of the federaSecurity income, insiders tion system, is expected not say. to dive into this year’s disOther Jewish officials say cussion about overhauling groups that might be the federal program, relying President Bush talks with Bob McFadden during a discus- inclined to take on the issue instead on an old statement sion about Social Security reform in Washington, Jan. 11. are reluctant to exert much of support for Social Credit: Paul Morse/White House energy on a question that Security programs. already is being fought by And the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the umbrel- so many outside the Jewish community, including some la group of local community relations councils and prominent Republicans who have spoken out against national organizations, does not plan to make it a top major reforms. issue at its annual plenum here next month. They say they would rather expend their energy on With Congress and a second Bush administration other items of potential concern, including expected back in action, the issue of Social Security reform budget cuts for social services and judicial nominees. already is shaping up to be a hot one. President Bush The UJC, in listing its top domestic policy priorities, has made it clear that such reform tops his domestic excluded Social Security reform. Instead, the organization policy agenda. But he has not yet detailed his proposed plans to focus on proposed reforms governing nonprofit reforms, leaving Jewish organizations with no specifics. institutions; increased homeland security funding for The issue is important to the Jewish communal sys- high-risk institutions, which includes Jewish institutions; tem because a disproportionately high percentage of and several issues relating to seniors, including pressing Jews are seniors--19% of the Jewish population is over for funding for retirement communities and senior trans65 years old, compared to 12% of the general popula- portation and blocking Medicaid cuts. tion. If seniors, especially poorer seniors, end up losAt the end of the document, the organization cited a ing benefits under a new Social Security system, local resolution the group passed in 1999, which called for federations could find themselves forced to devote Social Security to retain its original purpose as a “unimore resources to that population. versal system” to benefit retirees and their heirs. But the reluctance to jump into the debate reflects But the 1999 resolution suggests concerns about what larger political and economic divisions in the Jewish changes could mean for the system, and encouraged community, say those involved in domestic policy local communities at the time to assess that impact. The issues. Organizational officials attribute the groups’ ret- UJC resolution also calls for no significant increase in icence to pressure from the financial sectors as well as administrative charges to the system, out of concern from major Jewish donors with ties to financial indus- that such increases would lead to cuts to the beneficitries that could benefit greatly if Bush’s initiative to cre- aries. Insiders say the pressure to stay out of the debate ate personal accounts for investing Social Security is coming in part from UJA-Federation of New York,

which has many donors and activists tied to the financial sector. Ronald Soloway, Managing Director of Government and external relations at the NY Federation, said his federation is not exerting pressure, but there is an interest in having all voices heard before the national Jewish organizations weigh in on the issue. “We think there ought to be a conversation about this when there is something on the table,” he said, suggesting the 1999 resolution should reflect the community’s views until then. The JCPA also enacted a resolution on Social Security in 1999, similar to UJC’s, and is relying on that as it plots its next move. No resolutions on the issue have been drafted for this month’s plenum, and it will not be the focus of any major panels. Instead, JCPA officials said they plan to include Social Security reform in a broader discussion of poverty. They note that Social Security is used to keep more than 50% of the elderly above the poverty line. The merits of Bush’s reform plan are not expected to be broached. Beyond the umbrella organizations, the nation’s two major women’s groups Hadassah and the National Council of Jewish Women are planning to take on Social Security in their advocacy. Both groups say they see it as a woman’s issue, because of the number of senior women who rely on Social Security income. They stress the importance of including their opposition to personal accounts, in addition to such hot topics as abortion, judicial nominations and stem cell research. “Although you have to prioritize and worry about being spread too thin, you can chew gum and walk at the same time,” said Sammie Moshenberg, NCJW’s Washington director. “It remains to be seen how much time it takes up, and that is based on how the debate is going.” Meanwhile, underscoring the economic and political divide on the issue, the Republican Jewish Coalition has launched a print advertising campaign in Jewish newspapers, advocating private accounts for Social Security. Officials at the National Jewish Democratic Council say they expect to weigh in on the issue when warranted but do not have any campaign planned on the issue.

Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

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with UNL Creative Writing Professor by CLAUDIA SHERMAN in Short Fiction. He is also the author of the short story Temple Israel Communications Coordinator collection, From Hunger, winner of the Edward Lewis Book lovers, ardent readers, and fans of Jewish- Wallant Award for Jewish Fiction, and Bad Jews and themed literature will have a unique opportunity to Other Stories, a finalist for the 2000 National Jewish study some of the finest short stories by up-and-com- Book Award for Fiction. ing American Jewish writers at a three-part book disAccording to a review in The Forward, Professor cussion group at Temple Israel. Facilitated by the Shapiro writes “in the great tradition of Jewish award-winning fiction writer Gerald American fiction.� His “peculiarly Jewish, Shapiro, a professor of creative writing peculiarly human predicament springs and literature at the University of forth.with comic, sometimes wildly Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL), the miniabsurd, force,� describes the review, “but course will be on three succeeding always with some saving sympathy, Wednesdays: March 2 and 9, 6:30-8 never mere satire or contempt -- at least p.m.; and on March 16, 5:30-7 p.m. not for (Shapiro’s) main characters.� “Lost Tribe: Jewish Fiction from the Shapiro’s course on Jewish-American Edge,� the title of the book discussion fiction continues to be one of the more group, takes its name from Lost Tribe popular ethnic literature courses offered which “is a great anthology with some by the UNL English Department. very provocative and brilliantly written Director of the Harris Center for Judaic stories in it,� said Professor Shapiro. Studies at UNL from 2002 to 2004, For the first class on March 2, he Professor Shapiro was invited to the requests that everyone read Tova Mirvis’s Centre Regional des Lettres in Normandy, Gerald Shapiro story, “A Poland, a Lithuania, a Galicia,� France, last summer. He and his wife, and be ready to discuss the issues raised in the tale. “I Judy Slater, also a fiction writer, participated in the litanticipate we’ll spend almost all of our time talking erary festival which celebrated American writing in about the stories we’ve read, hashing out their mean- commemoration of the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Two ing, exchanging opinions, making connections of Shapiro’s books have been translated into French. between stories, searching for patterns, and trying to His class is one of the offerings sponsored by the link the stories we’ve read with issues that are relevant Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish to the world we’re living in,� Professor Shapiro said. Learning. Anyone in the community can register by There is no fee for this class, but participants should calling Zweiback at 556.6536 or by sending her an epurchase Lost Tribe. Copies are available for purchase mail at rzweiback@templeisraelomaha.com. in the Temple office for $14. In addition to Professor Shapiro’s book discussion Temple Program Director Rosie Zweiback said, “The group, Temple Israel is organizing a trip to Lincoln to last session of the discussion group starts early� (at 5:30 see the film version of his book, Bad Jews and Other p.m.) so the class can go out for dinner together after- Stories, on Saturday evening, March 12. Professor wards to celebrate “great fiction, great conversation, Shapiro co-wrote the screenplay, entitled King of the and great fellowship. We are very fortunate to have this Corner, an independent film starring Director Peter extremely talented writer and teacher who is willing to Riegert (Crossing Delancey), Isabella Rossellini, Eli drive to Omaha from Lincoln to share his love of liter- Wallach, Rita Moreno, and Beverly D’Angelo. ature with us. Professor Shapiro has selected a wonThe film, which has been receiving good reviews derful collection to read with us. I’ve been reading from audiences at film festivals, will show for two ahead and am completely taken with this book. ‘The weeks at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. Argument’ by Rachel Kadish absolutely floored me,� According to reviewer Dennis Harvey, the movie porZweiback emphasized. trays “deadpan humor, naturalism, modesty.in a tale After growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Shapiro about an aging corporate product-tester.� earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the “It’s exciting to have a Jewish author and teacher in University of Kansas. His master of fine arts degree in Temple’s adult education program celebrate a major creative writing is from the University of Massachusetts debut in the film industry!� declared Zweiback. in Amherst. He has been teaching at UNL since 1987 “Alexander Payne isn’t the only Nebraskan earning and writing fiction for more than 30 years. accolades for his screenplays. Gerry Shapiro is a gem in Professor Shapiro’s long telling stories about Jewish The Jewish Federation of Lincoln will present King of the American life.� comic story, “All There Is,� was published in an issue of Corner, a new film based on a book of short stories by Prof. A no-host dinner at Dish Witness devoted to ethnic Gerald Shapiro, former head of the Harris Center for Jewish with the screenwriter and America. He won the Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The film, star- his wife will also be part of Sandstone Prize sponsored ring Peter Reigert of Crossing Delancy and “The Sopranos�, the evening’s fare. To attend by Ohio State University also features Eli Wallach, Isabella Rosselini and Rita Moreno. and sign up to carpool to which published Shapiro’s It will premier in Lincoln at the Ross Film Theater on the cam- Lincoln, call Zweiback at collection of novellas and pus of UNL, on Saturday, March 5, 7:30 p.m. 556.6536 or sign up online Current donors to the Lincoln Federation’s 2004 or 2005 at rzweiback@templeisstories, Little Men, last spring. The work won the annual campaigns are eligible for free tickets and may do so relomaha.com. Ohio State University Prize by calling Helen Sweet at 488.4759.

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February 18, 2005

Friedel Principal Attends Jewish Education Conference by JORDANA L. KURTZMAN Friedel principal Cookie Katskee recently attended the annual conference of RAVSAK, the Jewish Community Day School Network, in Irvine, CA. RAVSAK is the largest association of Jewish day schools outside of the Orthodox world, to which Omaha’s Friedel Jewish Academy belongs. This year’s theme, “Yad B’Yad: The Lay and Professional Partnership in Strengthening Our Schools” focused on several key issues facing Jewish day schools today, including board development, fund raising, the lay-professional partnership, Hebrew language acquisition, and Judaic leadership. According to Lynn Raviv, President of RAVSAK’s Executive Committee, “The conference was a huge success, in part due to the breadth and depth of the topics, and in part, due to the rich participation of the conference attendees.” RAVSAK serves member schools as they strive to meet the increased demand for excellence in Judaic and secular education. Whereas once “community” day schools were few and loosely organized, today, RAVSAK has become the fastest growing network of Jewish day schools in North America. Attending to the leadership and management needs of over 90 schools, 300 administrators, 3,000 teachers, and 30,000 students, RAVSAK stands at the threshold and cutting edge of Jewish day school education and leadership. Principal Katskee came back from the conference “simply amazed at how many Jewish community days schools

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

Jammin’ with “The All Star Beth Israel Band”

there are in the United States.” Moreover, she was astonished to learn that these other schools faced the same kinds of political debates as we do here in Omaha. “Many communities struggle with finding the right balance to make a Jewish day school successful because there are people who find their community’s school ‘too Jewish’ and there are those who feel they are not ‘Jewish enough.’” Katskee also learned that Friedel Jewish Academy is not alone in the challenging task of creating class schedules that fulfill state requirements, enhance Jewish learning and experiences, and incorporate fine arts programs. One area where Friedel does stand out, however, is in its state accreditation. While several Jewish community days schools in the United States possess this coveted state endorsement, most do not. Katskee also learned that Friedel has one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation, although it is one of the very few that provides benefits to its full-time teachers, while paying them some of the highest salary rates for day school teachers. “Treating our teachers well is one of the cornerstones of Friedel’s commitment to providing excellence in education. Our teachers treat their students like their own children--they certainly deserve the benefits we can provide to them.” For more information about Friedel Jewish Academy or RAVSAK, please contact Cookie Katskee at 334.0517. Marc Kramer, the Executive Director of RAVSAK, contributed to this article.

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue A “Melavah Malka” was the final activity of the musical Shabbat at Beth Israel Synaogogue Jan. 28 and 29. Rabbi Ari

Dembitzer, High Holiday Chazzan, was returned to Omaha to lead the congregation in a music-filled celebration. Coincidentally, Jan. 29 was also the birthday of Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

Above left: Mary Sue Grossman and Bette Kozlen sing with the “All-Star Beth Israel Band.” Singing a parody written by Bette Kozlen in celebration of Rabbi Jonathan Gross’ birthday, members of the band include: Donald Gerber, Alan Kricsfeld, Dik Weiner, Josh Grossman, Josh and Max

Polack, Brent Saltzman, Rabbi Gross and Rabbi Ari Dembitzer. Credit: Lynne Saltzman Above right: The evening was enjoyed by people of all ages, including Morris Bresel and his great grand-daughter Leah Gurock, daughter of Josh and Amanda Gurock. Credit: Sara Gross

Beth Israel’s February Lecture Series Concludes with “The Simpsons” by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Rabbi Jonathan Gross will present his final February lecture, “The Simpsons and Halacha: Serious Issues Learned from a Not-So-Serious Media,” on Thursday, Feb. 24, 7 - 8 p.m. By special arrangement with KXVO WB 15 (Cox Cable Channel 11), the episode of “The Simpsons” that Rabbi Gross plans to discuss, “Lisa The Vegetarian,” will be aired on Monday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m. Excerpts from the episode will also be shown during the rabbi’s lecture on Feb. 24. Rabbi Gross indicated that his first February lecture was well-received, not-

ing that “there were about 30 people who enjoyed the ‘Encounters of Great Rabbi’s and U.S. Presidents’ lecture. And it was terrific to see people from throughout the community in attendance.” Rabbi Gross looks forward to presenting his Feb. 24 lecture about “The Simpsons,’ that will be a fun and educational experience for all. The free lecture will be held at Beth Israel Synagogue and the community is invited to attend. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion, following the lecture. Free baby-sitting will be provided. For more information, please call 556.6288.

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Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

No Place for Hate Brochure Available Through ADL Office by SHARON BRODKEY The Anti-Defamation League’s Plains States Region announced the publication and distribution of the first edition of a community resource guide, “Making our World No Place for Hate(s).” This colorful brochure was circulated across eastern Iowa and the state of Nebraska in the Feb. 6 issue of the Omaha World-Herald. “We are very proud of this community resource guide,” said ADL Regional Director Bob Wolfson. “There has been an alarming increase in recruitment activity among competing white supremacist and extremist groups in the Midwest in recent months. “We have seen a very bold and a highly visible push on the part of groups like the National Alliance, the National Socialist Movement and Panzerfaust Records in our communities,” Wolfson explained. “Their vulgar efforts to increase their ranks and spread their messages of hate and fear are offensive and have left many people angry, wondering if there is anything that can be done. The community-based ‘No Place for Hate’ campaign is a powerful, proactive response that unifies communities and individuals.” The guide offers suggestions and proven activities and programs that can be used by families, businesses, houses of worship, schools and community groups. It also offers a glossary and calendar of observances, responses

Mission Imagination’s Mission Accomplished

Omaha Symphony violinist Anne Nagosky captivated toddlers from Beth El Synagogue’s PATTER class with a musical serenade following the symphony’s recent “Mission: Imagination” concert at the JCC. Joining the group, far left, is Ernest Richardson, the symphony’s resident conductor. The PATTER (Parent and Toddler Torah, Exercise and Recreation) field trip was made possible by the Goldsten Foundation.

to bullying and hate in schools as well as definitions and information on how to identify hate crimes and hate incidents and who to contact. Community groups or individuals simply need to read the guide’s suggested activities, identify three activities or projects they are adopting for the year and sign and return the Resolution of Respect. The guide is enhanced by an interactive website, www.noplaceforhate.com, which features more information, a printable version of the guide and encourages individual and community action involvement. “We hope that people will not only read the guide, but that they will take action as well.” Wolfson added. “This community-based initiative sends a strong message to those people who wish to divide our community and propagate their messages of hate. “There is so much we can do to demonstrate that we reject bigotry, respect differences and celebrate our diverse community. This is an opportunity for everyone to fight hate, build hope and work toward making our community ‘No Place for Hate’,” he added. Additional copies can be obtained for businesses, schools and community organizations by contacting the ADL. For more information or to become a “No Place for Hate” community partner, please contact the ADL at 402-.333.1303 or e-mail us at Omaha@adl.org.

Bam, Crack, Wins and Dots at Mah Jongg Day

JSS Volunteers Continued from page 1 Wine’s ideas for additional volunteers include helping residents use e-mail to stay in touch with out-oftown friends and relatives. Several residents have taught themselves how to use the computer, but could use some tips to make it easier for them. Activities staff could use additional help with ceramics classes. More volunteers to help with activities and appointments would be welcome. There’s also an opportunity for

Gerri Phillips, left, and Lois Wine, Blumkin Home and Jewish Senior Services director of volunteers, first became acquainted when Phillips’ parents were residents of the Home more than 20 years ago. Phillips continues to volunteer each week at the Home. “caring friends” to regularly visit assigned residents for conversation, card playing, reading, and writing letters. “We’re selective, but not exclusive,” Wine said. “If you have time or talent to share, we’d like to hear from you. Whether you are available for a particular event, or to participate in an ongoing program, we are happy to work with you to create a meaningful volunteer experience.” And if you happen to be around during one of Cherek’s piano performances, you may find yourself agreeing with Lillian Greenspan, a Blumkin resident who likely will be there, too. “You’re making someone happy, kid,” Greenspan told Cherek after he played one of her favorite songs. “That’s all that matters.”

The tiles will be flyin’ on Sunday, Feb. 27, 1 p.m., as Beth El’s Sisterhood hosts its fun-filled Mah Jongg Game Day in the synagogue’s West Court. Participants may bring their own groups or join groups already attending the event, according to Caryn Rifkin, who added that if there is enough interest, some groups may play Mah Jongg using traditional Chinese rules. Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to contact Rifkin at 334.7216, or via e-mail at crgr6175@aol.com. Above, joining Rifkin (second from the right) in a friendly game are Cindy Shulewitz, Carol Nathan and Cathy Christensen.

Irving Forbes is one of several volunteers who help out at the Blumkin Home switchboard one day each week during the receptionist’s lunch breaks. Forbes also helps with Shabbos observances.

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Grief Support Group Meets at Beth El by RITA SHELLEY JSS Publicity Coordinator The second monthly meeting of “Comfort and Conversations,” a grief support group at Beth El Synagogue, will be Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. According to Harriet Einziger, Beth El program director, the group is open to anyone in the Jewish community. Discussions are facilitated by Shane Kotok, director of community outreach for Jewish Senior Services and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, and Shelly Fox, a social worker for JSS and the Home. “Wherever we see a need in the community, we try to fill it,” Einziger said. “When we became aware of a need for a grief support group, I contacted Shane. We brainstormed and came up with an approach that is flexible. People can attend only once or every month. Some are already at the synagogue for Minyan and stay for the support group. Others come directly from work.” There is no charge for attending. As a convenience, dinner is available for $5. “Each loss is unique. And sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to talk about your grief,” Kotok said. “But sharing with others in a supportive environment like ‘Comfort and Conversations’ can really be helpful.”

February 18, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Join the Federation Family The following people have made a gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s 2005 Annual Campaign. Pacesetter, Lion of Judah and donors who increase their gift are listed in bold print. Donors who have maintained their gift are listed in regular print. Pacesetters

Lion of Judah

(Men making annual gift of Deborah Greene Rose Gross $6,000 or more)

Joel Alperson ● Harvey Aronson ❏ Baker Family ❍ Robert Belgrade Harold Bernstein Steven Bloch ❏ Irv Blumkin Ronald Blumkin ❏ Marc Brodkey Sherman Brodkey Jack Cohen Harold Cooperman ❏ Henry Davis ■ Steve Denenberg Gary Epstein ❏ Harold Epstein ❏ Paul Epstein ❏ Robert Epstein Joseph Erman ❍ Michael Erman ❍ Tom Fellman ❍ David Friedland ❍ Friedman Family ● Sandy Friedman Willard Friedman Lawrence Gilinsky Morton Glass ❏ Richard Glazer ❏ Donald Goldstein ❏ Leonard Goldstein ❏ Jeff Gordman * Jerry Gordman Herbert Goldsten Trust ❍ Nelson Gordman ❏ Don Greenberg David Gross ❏ Paul Grossman Gary Javitch Arnold Joffe ❏ Howard Kaslow ■ Maurice Katzman Kavich Family Charitable Foundation Kevee Kirshenbaum Howard Kooper ❍ Howard Krantz * Forrest Krutter ❏ Martin Lehr ❏ Jay Lerner ❏ Leonard Lewis Livingston Foundation ❍ Lynn Roberts Int Edward Malashock Bernie Meyers David Meyers Jerome J. Milder ❏ N. Pitlor & Sons ❏ Murray Newman ❍ Robert Newman ❍ Noddle Development ❍ Harlan Noddle Joe Kirshenbaum Allan Noddle Jay Noddle ❏ Steven Nogg Omaha Steaks ● Ann and Alan Simon Eve and Fred Simon Kathryn and Steve Simon Stacy and Bruce Simon Todd Simon Alan Parsow Sol Parsow Michael Platt Carl Riekes ❏ Henry & Dorothy Riekes Endowment Fund Steven Riekes Larry Roffman Andrew Robinson ❏ Blaine Roffman Charles Schneider Les Schneiderman Harley Schrager ❏ Phillip Schrager ❍ Millard Seldin ❍ Ted Seldin ❍ Bruce Shackman Norman Sheldon Dan Sherman * Jack Shrago Steven Silver ❏ Stuart Simon Gerald Simons ❏ Milton Simons Slosburg Family Charitable Trust ❍ Jerry Slusky Phil & Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Fund at the JFO Foundation ❍ Swartzbaugh Farber Associates, Inc. Isidore Tretiak Maurice Udes ❏ John Waldbaum ❏ Arnie Weitz Eugene Zweiback ❏ Anonymous

In blessed memory ◆ Karen Javitch * Andi Kavich Maxine Kirshenbaum Sharon Kooper ◆ Joan Lehr Bobbi Leibowitz Susie Levine * Frances Milder Lyra Ann Monasee Jeanie Neff Phyllis Newman Sharee Newman ♥ Nancy Noddle Patty Nogg Carol Parsow Marcia Pitlor * Dorothy Riekes Zoë Riekes Kimberly Robinson Julie Rochman * Cynthia Schneider Jan Schneiderman Beth Schrager Terri Schrager Bev Seldin ◆ Sarah Seldin Anne Shackman Phyllis Sherman * Ellen Slosburg Martha Slosburg * Gail Veitzer Joodi Veitzer Anonymous Anonymous

Ben Gurion Society

Men’s Campaign Men’s Campaign Men’s Campaign Rabin Society

Trenton Magid Mike Norton Joseph Meyers * Lori Miller Michael Miller Jonathan Rockman Stacey Rockman Rick Schrager Dan Schuller * Michael Siegel * Melissa Steiner Charlie Sullivan Steven Zalkin * Amee Zetzman Anonymous

Men’s Campaign

Harold Abrahamson Steve Abrahamson Alvin Abramson Tony Adelson Jeffrey Aizenberg Lawrence Albert David Alloy Harry Alloy Bernie Altsuler James Anderson Rami Arav Izrail Aronchik John Atherton Brett Atlas * Rabbi Aryeh Azriel Hubert Ban Mikhail Basov Donald Baum Robert Beber Jr. Pacesetter Gene Beckerman (Men under the age of 45 Bruce Belgrade making an annual gift of Lenny Bergman $3,600-$5,999) David Berman Jeff Kirshenbaum Harry Berman Bennett Ginsberg * Thomas Bernstein John Lehr Morris Birenbaum Allan Murow Marvin Bittner Eric Phillips Fred Blank Mark Robinson Larry Blass Albert Bloch Aron Blyakher Cantor Gaston Bogomolni Double Chai Howard Borden New Category Bob Boumstein (Women making an annual Morris Bresel gift of $3,600-$4,999) David Brezack Alfred Brody Susie Blumkin Jack Brody Pearl Richman Giventer Bruce Brodkey Phyllis Glazer Peter Brodkey Fran Juro Ronald Brodkey Gloria Kaslow Sanford Brophy Shirley Kulakofsky Terry Brown Kim Noddle David Bucksner Suzanne Singer Larry Budwig Mimi Waldbaum Sam Bukenholts John Burns Jeffrey Cannon Pomegranate David Chait (Women making an annual Jay Chasen gift of $1,800-$3,599) Bob Chenoweth Jerry Chesen Bess Brodkey Bill Christensen Esther Canar Irving Chudacoff Anne Cohen Kevin Clark Babe Cohn Alan Cohen Cheryl Cooper Bob Cohen Eunie Denenberg Carl Cohen Elaine Feldman Gilbert Cohen Deanna Gilinsky Michael Cohen Ann Goldstein Sheldon Cohen Linda Gordman William Cohen Caryl Greenberg Gerald Cohn Joanie Jacobson Marc Cohn Joanie Kaiman Stephen Cohn Susie Kaplan David Cooper Renee Kasner Jeff Cooper Carol Katzman Justin Cooper Madeline Katzman Ron Cooper Sharon Kirshenbaum * Sam Cooper Sandy Kutler Meyer Coren Sandy Lehr * Sheldon Coren Bert Lewis Jerry Dann Deana Liddy John Dacey Thelma Lustgarten Arthur Davidson Jody Malashock * Doug Davidson Linda Mann Ross Davidson Sue Meyers Manuel Delgadillo Ducky Milder Jack Diamond Pam Monsky Gary Doty Ramona Pepper William Dreyfus Barb Platt David Dvorkin Arlene Richman Rick Eirenberg Iris Ricks * Iosif Elkin Barbara Rips Gary Emenitove Jane Rips Bob Endelman Hannah Schwalb Randy Endelman Helene Shrago Richard Engel Esther Simon Robert Engel Eve Simon Arnold “Tuffy” Epstein Audrey Sophir Gary Epstein Muriel Steinberg Howard Epstein Louri Sullivan Irv Epstein Selma Tretiak Jack Epstein Nancy Wolf * Lion of Judah Jason Epstein * (Women making an annual Mel Epstein gift of $5,000 or more) Richard Epstein Ben Gurion Ron Epstein Margie Alperson ◆ Sam Epstein Society Phyllis Aronson (Men or women under the Abram Erlich Judy Baker Frances Batt ◆ age of 45 making an annu- Richard Erlich Abraham Faier Sandra Belgrade al gift of $1,000 or more) Lou Fedman Carol Bloch Michael Abramson Sam Fedman Marcia Cohen Tom Baker ✡ Ted Feidman Susie Cohn Bruce Baron Ronald Feldman Bobbie Epstein Paula Boggust Richard Fellman Sandy Epstein Samuel Cemaj * Stanley Feltman Ruth Erman Martin Cohen * W.H. Ferer Darlynn Fellman Toba Cohen Cantor Leo Fettman Frances Fried Jeff Epstein * Paul Fine Nancy Friedland Ted Friedland ▲ Glen Fineman Roz Friedman David Gilinsky Steve Fingold Tham Friedman Jim Glazer Joel Finkel Margaret Gerber John Glazer Doug Finnicum Janet Glass Bruce Goldberg Stephen Fischer Jan Goldstein Danielle Gordman * Brian Fisher * Shirley Goldstein Kip Gordman * Kevin Flatowicz-Farmer Linda K. Gordman Susan Lehr * Pierre Flatowicz Nancy Greenberg

● ❏

Jim Folsom Irving Forbes Harold Fox Joe Frank Joseph Frank Thomas Frank Alan Fredricks John Freeman Melvin Freeman Robert Freeman Jim Fried Samuel Fried Stuart Fried Bruce Friedlander Walter Friedlander Arthur Friedman Lloyd Friedman Michael Friedman Morris Friedman Scott Friedman Steven Friedman Robert Fromkin Julius Froom Harry Gates Andrew Gelbman Leonard Gelbman Hymie Gendler Larry Gendler Donald Gerber Paul Gerber Ron Giller Stu Giller Lawrence Ginsburg Arkadiy Ginzburg Pete Godwin Sherman Golbitz David Goldberg Frank Goldberg Richard Goldberg Gene Goldman John Goldner David Goldstein Herman Goldstein Howard Goldstein Brad Goldstrom Larry Goldstrom Mark Goldstrom Rabbi Allan Gonsher Alan Goodman Harold Goodman Robert Goodman Thomas Goodman Peter Gordon Gary Gotsdiner Steven Gottlieb Jon Gordon * Eddie Gorelick Saul Graetz Richard Grant Lonnie Graul Gary Green Andrew Greenberg Barton Greenberg Bud Greenspan Gerald Gross Rabbi Jonathan Gross Alex Grossman Barry Grossman Joe Guss Victor Gutman Bruce Gutnik Mace Hack Jeff Halev * Michael Halsted Marc Hamburg Allan Handleman Sheldon Harris Larry Herman Donald Hoberman Jerry Hoberman Kenneth Hoberman Michael Hoberman David Hoffman Todd J. Hutton Ron Ipock Philip Itkin Richard Ivers Lewis Izenstat Mace Jabenis Adam Jacobs David Jacobs Marshall Jacobs Art Jacobson Leonard Jacobson Richard Jacobson Fred Kader Allen Kahn Marcel Kahn Herbert Kaiman Howard Kaiman Jerome Kaiman Leo Kamisar Gary Kaplan Lazar Kaplan Myron Kaplan Robert Kaplan Yale Kaplan Sandy Kasin Richard Katelman Robert Katleman Jerry Katskee Milton Katskee Ralph Katz Michael Katzman Lawrence Kelberg Adam Kirshenbaum Corey Kirshenbaum Joseph Kirshenbaum Kevee Kirshenbaum Max Kirshenbaum Tom Kirshenbaum Bruce Klein Donald Klein Milton Kleinberg Alexander Kogan Gregory Kogan John Kolm Igor Konfisakhar Leonid Konfisakhar Joseph Kosinovsky Harold Kosowsky David Kotok Jack Kozlen Marc Kraft Abe Krasne Leonard Krasne Lloyd Krasne Manfred Kreitstein Stanley Krieger

Rabbi Myer Kripke Abram Kukawka Gary Kuklin * Eugene Kulik Greg Kulik Robert Kully Allen Kurland David Kutler Howard Kutler Sol Kutler Stuart Kutler Paul Landow Wayne Lainof Morey Landman Alan Langnas Jeffrey Laudin Lewis Lavine David Lercher Ben Lebowich Michael Leibowitz Martin Leiserowitz Robert Lepp Richard Lerner Hugh Levin Roland Lewis Rabbi Mordechai Levin Michael Levine Steve Levinger Josh Levitsky * Jason Levy Dmitriy Libov Mark Libov Michael Liddy Eugene Linde Ruben Lippett Harvey Lipsman Boris Litvin John McGauvran Jerry Mack Mark Magalnik Bernard Magid Ben Magzamin Ben H. Magzamin Michael Makoid Larry Malashock Neal Malashock Robert Malashock Stanley Mandler Harold Mann Justin Manvitz Todd Manvitz Dan Marburg Gerald Marburg Eyal Margalit Myron Marko Irv Marcus Milton Marcus Howard Martin Victor Mashbein Yuriy Mashinson Sheldon Masnek Harold Maurer Boris May Dan Meiches Maurice Meiches Gennadiy Menkov Gerald Meyer Bruce Meyers Jon Meyers Larry Meyerson Leo Meyerson Troy Meyerson Carl Milder Mike Milder Paul Militzer Ben Miller Sidney Mirvish Stanley Mitchell Henry Monsky Gordon Moshman Jack Moskovitz Howard Mulnick Stuart Muskin Leonid Nakhimovich Steve Neesman Simon Noel * Alan Nogg Alvin Nogg Anthony Nogg Brian Nogg * Steven Noodell Mark Ocheretyanskiy Bob Olesh Fred Ostrow Louis Pachman Dennis Paley Ophir Palmon Marvin Parilman Steve Parsow Gary Paskar Jeffrey Passer Stanley Passer Dick Pellman Steve Perelman Harvey Pickel Eric Pisetsky Matt Placzek Merle Potash Norman Pred Ira Priluck Dave Radler Leonid Raksin Matthew Ray Steve Redler Rob Reiss Stephen Rennard Don Rice James Rice Tom Rice Jonathan Rich Phil Rich Harry Richman Martin Ricks Gary Rifkin Stuart Rochman Normand Roffman Marc Romanik Bill Rosen Brian Rosen Kenneth Rosen Steve Rosen Jacob Rosenberg Gerald Rosenblatt Sidney Rosenblatt Thor Rosenquist Lee Ross Steven Rothenberg David Ruback Howard Ruback

Mark Rubezhin Herman Rubin Ron Rubin Michael Sadofsky Rodney Sadofsky Mark Saferstein Michael Salkin Ernie Saltzman Errol Saltzman Evan Saltzman Kevin Saltzman Mark Sanford Milton Saylan Abe Schloff Michael Schop Ben Schneider Seymour Schneider Edward Schneider Scott Schneiderman Julius Schreiber Harry Schulman Natan Schwalb Michael Schwartz Sidney Schwartz Jeffrey Schweid Charles Scudder Greg Searson George Shafer Howard Shandell Boris Shapiro Larry Shapiro Morris Shapiro Rabbi Maximo Shechet Leonard Shefren Jack Sherman Marc Sherman Marc Sherman Mark Sherman Michael Sherman Simon Sherman Dave Shkolnick Rodney Shkolnick Leon Shrago Howard Shrier Marty Shukert Alan Shulewitz Paul Shyken Wayne Siegal Howard Silber James Silverman Michael Silverman Stanley Silverman Michael Simon Mickey Simon Scott Simon * Steven Simon Harold Siporin Larry Siref Steve Siref Stephen Skulsky Harold Slosburg Norman Smeerin Edward Smith Michael Snyder Ramon Somberg James Sophir Albert Sorkin Nicholas Spellman Richard Spiegal Jim Spooner Arthur Stein Mark Stein Robert Stein Robert E. Stein John Stern Walter Sternberg Alan Stole Eli Stone Bud Studna Leon Summer John Sutin Marvin Suvalsky Mark Sweet Melvin Tatelman Scott Tatelman Jeff Taxman Marvin Taxman Fred Tichauer Steven Tipp Max Tomchin Ira Trachtenbarg Gregory Tysrlin Stewart Tully Lazar Turetsky Ruvin Turetsky Jerald Venger Bennett Wagner Keith Wagner Martin Warren Jerome Wasserman James Wax Aaron Weiner Gary Weiss * Norman Whitman David Willensky Bryan Wine Norman Wine Stewart Winograd Ernest Wintroub Leon Wintroub Philip Wolf Warren Wolpa Doug Wolfson Harry Wolfson Robert Wolfson Jeremy Wright * Irvin Yaffe Harold Zabin Jeff Zacharia Laurence Zacharia Richard Zacharia Ted Zetzman Mikhail Zevakin Norman Zevitz Igor Zinkov Michael Zinkov James Zipursky Barry Zoob Mort Zuber

Rabin Society New Category (Men under the age of 45 making an annual gift of $500-$999)

Jim Belgrade Robert Goldberg

Jay Gordman Rabbi Mendel Katzman Gary Kudym Harry Klein Guy Matalon Scott Meyerson Joel Schlessinger Jeff Schrier

Women’s Campaign Gaylene Abrahamson Helen Abrahamson Holly Abrahamson Louise Abrahamson Edith Abrams Doris Abramson Sheri Abramson Bettie Adams Arlene Adelson Bernice Adler Charlotte Adler Susan Aizenberg Eleanor Alexander Doris Alloy Millie Altman Phyllis Angrisane Bea Appel Alexandra Aronchik Joyce Ashley Shura Astor Stacey Atlas * Elyce Azriel Debra Baack Ruth Babendure Sally Barenbaum Celia Barron Jill Baron Diane Axler Baum Genevieve Bernstein Kathryn Beauchaine Dana Becher Robyn Belgrade Diane Berger Marilyn Berman Joanie Bernstein Mary Bernstein Anna Besser * Shirley Bittner Judy Blank Claire Blass Juni Bloch Margaret Block Rachel Blum Chris Blumkin Lyubov Blyakher Claudia Boehm Fanny Bohbot Cindy Bogdanoff Lena Bogomolni * Marian Bookey Natalie Borovski Midge Bowers Becki Brenner * Susan Brezack Beth Brodkey Carol Brodkey Sharon Brodkey Stacie Brodkey Florence Brody Shirley Brody Sandy Bromley Karina Brown Phyllis Brown Lisa Brunkhorst Freda Bucheister Michelle Bucher Elaine Bukenholts Heather Bucksner Helen Burns Maralyn Burr Marian Cackin Sandra Canfield Sharon Cannon Molline Cassman Theresa Cervantes Reva Chapman Debra Chasen Peggy Chasen Susan Chenoweth Edith Chesen Vicki Chesen Cathy Christensen Helen Rifkin Chorney Patty Chorney Kimara Clark Sally Clayman Penny Cody-Cox Arlene Cohen Audrey Cohen Beth Cohen Doris Cohen Elberta Cohen Eleanor Cohen * Elizabeth Cohen Doris Cohen Joyce Cohen Marla Cohen Rose Cohen Anna Cohn Doris Cohn Helene Cohn Linda Cohn Naomi Cohn Pam Cohn Soralee Cohn Sandra Cole Edith Comisar Judy Cooper Melinda Cooper Sarita Cooper Renee Corcoran Fran Coren Rae Coren Betty Cutler Suzan Crabb Janey Dann Veronica Dann Betsy Davidson Juanita Davidson Rose Davis Sylvia Davis Karen Delgadillo Peggy DeLand Pam DePorte Minde Diamond Jane Winston Doman *

Women’s Campaign

Women’s Campaign

Women’s Campaign

Women’s Campaign

Mary Doty Jean Duitch Harriet Einziger Klara Elkin Lois Endelman Penny Endelman Renee Engel Audrey Epstein Edith Epstein Etta Epstein Geri Epstein Harriet Epstein Helen Epstein Laurie Epstein * Lisa Epstein Lois Epstein Lucille Epstein Nancy Epstein Rosaline Epstein Sharon Epstein Esther Erlich Mary Etus Mira Etus Bette Evans Betty Falk Estelle Faier Judy Farber Mildred Feidman Nancy Feidman Judith Feigin Lillian Feldman Marla Feldman Bev Fellman Mary Fellman Mary Ferer Annette Fettman Ellie Fields Hollie Fineman Carrie Fingold Helen Finkel Lois Finkel Barbara Finkle Deborah Finnicum Janis Fischer Betty Fisher Patricia Fisher * Cheryl Flatowicz Claire Flatowicz Paulette Flatowicz Shayna Flatowicz-Farmer Shirley Fogel-Greenberg Amy Forss Jill Folsom Sonia Forbes Dee Fox Frances Fox Ruth Fox Beverly Frank Joanne Freeman Robyn Freeman Beverly Freiden Alison Freifeld Lindy Fried Norma Fried Phyllis Fried Susie Friedberg * Doris Friedland Jamie Friedland Pam Friedlander Amy Friedman Beth Friedman Debbie Friedman Gail Friedman Gloria Friedman Lois Friedman Mania Friedman Merriam Friedman Sheryl Friedman Lucille Frohm Barbara Frohman Beverlee Fromkin Marlen Frost Mandy Frost-Becker Susana Frydman-Levin Idella Gaer Marcia Gallner Linda Gates Julie Gelbman Jean Gendler Anne Gerbe Bernice Gerber Joell Gerber Orly Gilat Bev Gilinsky Barb Giller Beth Gaynes Ginsberg Julie Ginsberg Cheri Ginsburg Elizabeth Ginsburg Larisa Ginzburg Donna Givner Hollis Glaser Darlene Golbitz Cindy Goldberg Leanne Goldberg Sandra Goldberg Wendy Goldberg Barbara Goldstein Judi Goldstein Ethel Goldston Dora Goldstrom June Goodbinder Mildred Goodbinder Dee Goodman Shirley Goodman Allison Gordman Andrea Gordman Bridget Gordman JoAnne Gordon * Esther Graetz Sherri Green Carole Greenberg Marsha Greenhill Rosalie Greenspan Linda Gross Pearl Gross Ethel Grossman Mary Sue Grossman Diane Graul Pauline Guss Margie Gutnik Wendy Hahn Debbie Hale Elyza Richmon Halev Ida Halperin Mendy Halsted Andrea Hamburg Sara Harding

Janice Harris Kathy Helm Shari Hess Bonnie Hines Cookie Hoberman Jennifer Hoberman Nancy Hoberman Pauline Hoberman Tiffany Hoberman Phyllis Hoffman Lorraine Hopson Adele Hornstein Bonnie Horwich Denise Ipock Marilyn Ivers Doris Izenstat Marsha Itkin Elaine Jabenis Linda Jacobs Sara Jacobs Nancy Jacobson Ronnie Jacobson Lynne Jensen Linda Jess Sylvia Jess Sheryn Joffe Sara Juster Ilse Kahn Roxanne Kahn Ann Kaiman Judy Kaiman Sylvia Kaiman Babe Kaplan Charlotte Kaplan Dorothy Kaplan Marilyn Kaplan Rose Kaplan Bea Karp Frankie Kasin Lucille Katelman Myllee Katelman Esther Katleman Eve Katskee Sindie Katskee Evelyn Katz Frances Katz Marilyn Katz Mary Katz Nan Katz Julee Katzman Rose Katzman Shani Katzman Dana Kaufman Nanci Kavich Betty Kelberg Gail Kenkel Sharon Kerr Hedy Kirke Jenn Kirshenbaum Kate Kirshenbaum Myrna Kirshenbaum Shirley Kirshenbaum Jackie Klein Janet Klein Ruth Klein Marsha Kleinberg Harriet Klopper T. Klotz Galina Kogan Roza Kogan Diane Kohler Janet Kohll Sandy Kohll Betty Kolnick Marina Konisakhar Robyn Kooper Dorothy Kotok Leah Kosinovsky Alice Kosowsky Betty Kozlen Ruth Kraft Edythe Krasne Peggy Krasne Cheryl Kricsfeld Florence Kricsfeld Deborah Kronick Robbi Kudym Traci Kugler Rita Kulik Connie Kully Denise Kully * Leslie Kully Sandra Kurland Jordana Kurtzman Debi Kutler * Harriet Kutler Nancy Kutler Carole Lainof Pauline Landman Geraldine LaPierre Barbara Lashinsky Allison Latenser Nancy Milder Lazer Nancy Lazer Grace Lebowich Cheryl Lerner Martha Lerner Corinne Levin Judith Levin Bonnie Levinger Lina Levit * Barb Levitan Rachel Levitsky * Lisa Lewis Rocky Lewis Vera Lewis Margarita Libov Marina Libov Libby Lincoln Lydia Linde Louise Lippett Marcia Lipsman Anna Litvin Bonnie London Doris Lubman Fritzi Luefshuetz Ruth Luttbeg Candee Mack Liza Magalnik Carolyn Magid Diane Malashock Norma Malashock Paula Mandell Inessa Manevich Helen Manheimer Marilyn Manvitz Wendy Manvitz Deb Marburg

Judy Marburg Harriet Marcus Joan Marcus Liza Magalnik Ruit Margalit * Harriet Marko Alice Mashbein Sally Masnek Elinor Matalon Beverly Mauer Kathy McGauvran Esther Meiches Marybeth Meiches Rosalie Meiches Nelli Menkov Tina Meyers Deenie Meyerson Jamie Meyerson Jenny Meyerson Miriam Meyerson Renee Micklin Bernice Milder Rhoda Milder Harriet Miller Marian Miller Sue Millward Lynda Mirvish Evie Mitchell Susie Mogil Anna Mogilevskaya Beverly Moore Anna Mosenkis Florina Mosenkis Barbara Mueting Janie Murow Bettie Muskin Linda Muskin Jeanette Nadoff Randi Nanfito Lee Needelman Maria Neesman Patricia Newman Babe Nogg Jaime Nogg * Manya Nogg Marion Nogg Ozzie Nogg Marcy Noodell Susie Norton Linda Novak Rita Novak Donna Olesh Reva Oruch Ruth Oruch Ann Osborne Bede Ostrow Sandy Ostrow Karen Oyler Lucille Paskowitz Fefe Passer Sandy Passer Ella Patkovsky Magda Peck Betty Perelman Vicki Perlmeter Gerri Phillips Julie Phillips Shelly Pichik Ann Pickel Helen Pisetsky Kim Placzek Ellen Platt Karen Plotkin Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schuller Sheila Polikov Kini Polsky Julie Potash Ruth Potash Sheila Priluck Sharon Quittner Irina Raksin Nancy Rampey Eve Randone Jeanne Raznick Dodi Redler Amy Ref Lola Reinglas Wendy Reiss Barbara Rennard Juliana Reno Florence Rice Jeanne Rice Diane Rich Mary Rich Rosa Richtman Merilee Rimerman Nancy Rips Judy Roffman Phyllis Roffman Silvia Roffman Debbie Roitstein Cathy Rosen Margo Rosen Marjorie Rosen Rebecca Rosen Rita Rosen Rose Rosen Sheila Rosen Toni Rosen Marti Rosen-Atherton Rose Rosenberg Sue Rosenblatt * Dottie Rosenblum Julie Rosenquist Peggy Ross Bunny Rothenberg Susan Rothholz Faye Ruback Marcia Ruback Alla Rubezhin Erica Rubin * Natalie Rubin Suzy Rubin Jacque Sacks Monica Sacks Marina Sadofsky Selma Sadofsky Mary Saferstein Linda Saltzman Lynne Saltzman Rosalie Saltzman Lynn Samuel Betty Sanford Vicki Sanford Rivkah Sass * Deborah Saulsbury Rosalie Saylon Julia Schapiro

Bea Schimmel Nancy Schlessinger Jenni Schlossman Beatrice Schneider Carol Schneider Margy Schneider Melissa Schop Kathy Schmitt Beatrice Schneider Heidi Schneiderman Lillian Schrager Sarah Schreiber Sophie Katz Schulman Kim Schwartz Phyllis Schwartz Lourdes Secola Betty Segell Diane Shandell Audrey Shapiro Genya Shapiro Sherry Shapiro Jeanne Shechet Suzy Sheldon Debra Sherman Claudia Sherman Lyuba Sherman Patty Sherman Ruth Sherman Renee Shevell * Lisa Shkolnick Phoebe Shkolnick Dani Shrago Josie Shrago Aveva Shukert Cindy Shulewitz Simmy Siegel Sissy Silber Michele Silberstein * Esther Silver Mimi Silverman Norma Silverman Susie Silverman Gail Silverstein Jill Simon * Josephine Simon Tootie Simon Judy Simons Maxine Simons Mary Siref Nancy Skid Andrea Skolkin Renee Sloan Marion Slosburg Charlotte Slutzky Koom Gloria Smith Helen Soiref Susan Somberg Cari Sommer Merrian Spiegal Stacie Spies-Matz Dorothy Spizman Gayle Spooner Edith Stein Lorraine Stein Susan Stein Georgia Ann Steinberg Phyllis Steinberg Judy Stern Rocky Stern Tibe Stoler Dorothy Strauss Marlene Sukiennik Sylvia Summer Dorothy Suvalsky Jill Swanberg Susan Swartz Sylvia Swartz Lynn Sweet Barbara Taxman Sherry Taxman Elaine Tepperman Helena Tichauer Pearl Tieger Elina Tomchin Margarita Treskunova Litzie Trustin Galina Tsed Jane Tsyrlin Elizabeth Tully Judy Tully Hazel Turchen Margaret Turetsky Sally Venger Yuliya Vishnevskiy Mary Lou Walker Patsy Wallace Marilyn Warren Phyllis Wasserman Helen Weber Joye Wees Babs Weinberg Audrey Wiener Cynthia Epstein Wiesman Alice Weiss Anne Weitz Allyson Wilczewski Andi Willensky Linda Wilson Laura Wine Lois Wine Sally Wintroub Sara Wisnia Shelley Wisnia Susan Fellman Witkowski Bernice Wolfson Sara Wolfson Sibby Wolfson Annette Wright * Annette Yaffe Dorothy Yaffe Judi Yampolsky Phyllis Zabin Barb Zacharia Terri Zacharia Inna Zevakina Dorothy Zevitz Rozalya Zinkov Sally Zipursky Nora Zoob Bev Zuber Debbi Zweiback Rosie Zweiback Evelyn Zysman

Prime Ministers Circle (Individual, families, corporations: $100,000 & above) ❍ King Solomon’s Circle (Individual: $25,000-$99,999 & Corporations: $50,000-$99,999) ■ Chai Circle (Individual: $18,000-$24,999 & Corporations: $25,000-49,999) Joshua’s Circle (Individuals: $10,000-$17,000 & Corporations $18,000-$24,999) ▲ Platinum Lion ($100,000 & above) ✡ Emerald Lion ($25,000 & 99,999) ♥ Sapphire Lion ($18,000-$24,999) ◆ Ruby Lion ($10,000-$17,999) * New in category

Your gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign impacts the entire Jewish world. Locally, your ONE gift to the Campaign funds a wide variety of community services provided by the Federation and our Family of Agencies: The ADL/CRC, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Educational and Library Services and Jewish Senior Services. In Israel and overseas, your gift helps feed the hungry, rescue the oppressed and fight anti-Semitism. Your annual gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign empowers you to make a visible and measurable difference in Jewish life.

The 2005 Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Campaign 2005 General Campaign Co-Chairs: Maxine & Joe Kirshenbaum 333 South 132nd Street

Omaha, NE 68154

402/334-8200

info@jewishomaha.org

www.jewishomaha.org

Please note that this list of Federation donors is complete as of February 15, 2005. Every effort is made to ensure that the list is accurate and we sincerely apologize if any name was incorrectly printed or inadvertently omitted. To update information in this donor listing, please contact Brenda Frank at 334-6429.

Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

Great Gift Ideas For Every Occasion Art Glass • Jewelry • Artwork • Chests • Consoles Chairs • Accent Tables • Etegeres • Armoires • Lamps • Mirrors • Planters • Scarves • Floral Arrangements • Custom Framing

ORGANIZATIONS YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday at the JCC as Mike Sigmond, KETV News Watch Channel 7 reporter will talk about “Consumer Affairs for Seniors.” Lunch will be served at noon in the auditorium. The cost is $6 per person. Bingo begins at 10 a.m. in the auditorium; exercise at 10:30 a.m. and the discussion group at 11 a.m. Call Dee Dee for transportation at 330.4272. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343-1638.

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VISIONS Reminder: See “The Old Masters: Renaissance to Rococo” at the Joslyn on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Meet for lunch (on your own) at 11:15 a.m. in the Atrium of the Joslyn (Durham Café), followed by an escorted tour of the exhibit. Tour antiquities at UNO. “Silent Spectators of the Sacred” is Wednesday, March 9, 11:30 a.m. Meet at China Road (132 and Dodge) for lunch (on your own). Carpool to UNO and view the exhibit with the curator as our guide. Suggested donation is $2 single or $3 for couple. Make check payable to Visions and send with reservations by March 2 to Sandy and Fred Bromley, 13419 Marinda St.m Omaha, NE 68144. Membership dues to Visions for 2005 are due. Please mail your $5 check, payable to Visions, to: Visions, Beverly Gilinsky, 1406 No. 126 St., Omaha, NE 68154. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES Reminder: Join us for live music at its finest with The Omaha Municipal Orchestra on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. at the JCC auditorium. This concert is sponsored by the Noddle Family in memory of Edith Noddle. For reservations call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. BREADBREAKERS Jeff Kavich and Amy Kavich Zetzman will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Feb. 23, noon, at the Park Inn Regency, according to Gary Javitch. The brother and sister are the third generation to lead All Makes Office Equipment. They will talk about the history of the company and their business outlook. Cost is $11 for a full lunch and $3. for beverage service only. The community is invited to attend. TORAH LEARNING CENTER All classes are taught by Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman. Please call him at 981.0569 for more information. Mondays, 7:30 p.m.: “The Siddur: The bestselling book of Kaballah” in the Omaha Room of the JCC. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.: “Growth Through Torah” at a private residence. Thursdays, 1 p.m.: “Meaning of Life & Other Business” based on The Way of G-d by Rabbi Chaim Luzatto, also in the Omaha Room of the JCC. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN NCJW-Omaha Section will hold its monthly board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m., in the commons room of the Friedel Jewish Academy. For more information, call President Kate Kirshenbaum, 334.8451.

Let It Snow!

IN THE NEWS Grinnell freshman point guard Hannah Wolf has been named Midwest Conference Women’s Basketball Performer of the Week. Hannah, daughter of Nancy and Phil Wolf, tallied 72 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and 12 steals as Grinnell went 2-1 in MWC play. In the Pioneers’ 86-71 win over Monmouth on Tuesday, she had a game-high 25 points on nine of 17 shootings, which included seven threepointers. She also added seven steals and four assists. In Grinnell’s 76-73 loss to Beloit, she scored a gamehigh 24 points and nailed six three-pointers. As of Jan. 30, Wolf led NCAA Division III in three-point field goals made per game with 3.6 three-point makes per game. The Grinnell women’s team led NCAA Division III with 11.1 three-point field goals made per game. Leigh-Anne Brown was honored by The Texas Exes, the alumni association of the University of Texas, at Austin, with their Texas Execs Teaching Award last week. One professor and one graduate instructor from each college is given this honor based upon their teaching and personal relation having an effective, positive influence on the lives and educational experience of their students. Since 1982, the Texas Exes have honored a total of 513 faculty members and graduate instructors from all 14 schools and colleges. Coming Events sponsored by Absolutely Fresh at its 119th St location include: Tuesday, March 1: Wine Tasting/Dinner with Jay Rubin of Quail Distributing; and Tuesday, March 15: Wine Tasting/Dinner with Bill Leehy of United Distributing; and Tuesday, March 29: Wine Tasting/Dinner with Brad Straw of Finocchiaro Wines. Events are from 6-8:30 p.m. and reservations can be made by calling 827.4376. With state funding initiatives for embryonic stem cell research in the news almost daily, Hadassah is launching a major national initiative this spring to encourage state legislators across the U.S. to pass favorable stemcell research laws in their states. SOS: State of Stem Cells was organized to educate state legislators and government officials about the potential for stem cell research to help their constituents suffering from chronic and frequently incurable disease. Hadassah members in 42 states will be advocating in their state capitals for pro-stem cell research legislation and stem cell funding initiatives. Thirty of those visits to state capitals will take place on Wednesday, March 2, making SOS: State of Stem Cells the single largest advocacy day ever undertaken by Hadassah. Advocacy days will take place in another dozen states on dates throughout the spring. “The promise of stem cells to cure or alleviate chronic and catastrophic disease may be the greatest medical revolution of the 21st century and it is critically important that money is allocated for its research,” said June Walker, National President. “With the recent funding initiatives in California, New Jersey and Wisconsin, and and Connecticut and Massachusetts just over the horizon, we feel that the greatest potential for funding lies with the states. On March 2, Hadassah women across the land will have substantive and meaningful conversations with state legislators to convince them to enable this research.” Hadassah, a powerful grassroots voice for Israel, health and women’s issues, is also the founder and supporter of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem. Scientists at its Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy have been carrying out research on embryonic stem cell lines since 1998, when six lines were established, registered with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and are thus eligible to receive NIH funding. Five lines are actively distributed worldwide.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CDC kids Anna Denman, left, Jackson Clark, and Ellie Simon created snowman dioramas in Julie Shelburne’s preschool class at the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center at the Jewish Community Center.

Presented by Wearable Art LLC partners, Peggotty Christensen offers a unique collection of hand-painted, silk garments on Wednesday, March 2 and Thursday, March 3, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Anderson O’Brien Fine Art in Countryside Village.

February 18, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Former Omahan Talks About “The Passion of Words” began reporting for the Columbia Missourian, a daily run by the university, I knew that I had ‘found’ myself.” He graduated from Missouri in 1973 and was hired by the Kansas City Star. While sports were considered the “toy department,” Marantz was attracted to stories in which sports intersected with

below market mortgage money for low- went to work for ESPN Original as a film income home buyers.” researcher and story consultant. He Because of internal politics, Steve left assisted on 3, a film about the late Dale The Globe in 1992, with the vague notion Earnhardt that aired in December. He is of becoming a screenwriter. In the mean- currently working on three films and a time, he spent a year as an investigative couple of television specials. He also producer with a Boston television sta- teaches sports reporting at Emerson tion. In 1994, The Sporting News, a week- College in Boston. ly magazine based in St. Louis, hired him “I’ll never lose touch with Omaha,” he as a senior writer. insists. “I still communicate with several He covered the Central classmates--Myra (Kay Weller) major league base- Gordon, Jeff Krum, Harvey Josin, Steve ball strike and three Nogg and Gord Katz, who works for a World Series before Boston law firm. leaving in 1998. He still keeps in touch with aunt and One of his stories, uncle, Gerry and Dave Romanik who about Omaha’s love now live in Dallas. They lived in Omaha affair with the and were a big part of his life during hisCollege World teenage years. Paul Landow, chief-ofSeries, hangs on the staff to Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, and wall at Pauli’s Bar his wife, Susie, were dinner guests at on 40th and their home not too long ago. Leavenworth. “Last spring, my friend Bruce Muskin, Another story, “A visited Boston with his daughter, Emily, Man’s Appreciation a 2004 graduate of Central High,” he of Women Athletes,” adds. “She appreciates her education as was chosen for the much as her father and I do. Best American “Bruce never left the old neighborS p o r t s w r i t i n g hood. His company, Omaha Temps, isn’t Anthology. too far from Central and, occasionally, In 1999, The he helps a down-on-his-luck Central Boston Herald, a graduate find work. Bruce would make a Alex Marantz, Alison Arnett and Steve Marantz hard-hitting tabloid, great mayor--somebody ought to start a government, politics, medicine or busi- hired him as a political reporter. He cov- draft movement! His campaign slogan ness. One of his first front page stories ered City Hall and The State House as should be ‘A chicken in every pot and a was about a swimming coach who had well as the 2000 presidential election. hoop in every driveway!’” been transferred from a suburban high On Sept. 11, 2001, he was at the underSteve sums up his life so far by saying, school to an inner city high school under ground bunker of the Massachusetts “My older brother, Denny, taught me a court-ordered integration plan. State Police when acting governor Jane about sports. At a young age, he introSteve’s career accelerated in 1977 Swift pledged to find out why two of the duced me to the pleasures of the when The Boston Globe hired him. He hijacked planes took off from Boston’s Pittsburgh Pirates baseball broadcasts joined a star-studded staff that included Logan Airport. and reading the daily sports sections. He Peter Gammons, Bob Ryan, Will Throughout the 90s he developed his has set an example for scholarship that McDonough, Lesley Visser, John Powers screenwriting and wrote six unsold has helped me to develop as a writer. and Alan Richman. scripts. “Then I pitched ESPN Original “Denny died in a camping accident in “Within a couple of years, I was writ- Entertainment on a script about Pete 1971, at the age of 23. It was just a few ing long features, winning national Rose! It eventually turned into Hustle, a weeks before my first semester of jourawards for a series on black athletes in film that aired last September.” nalism school. I have carried his memoBoston and another series on aging athLast summer, he left The Herald and ry in all of my efforts.” letes and pain,” he says. “I covered two Super Bowls, two Stanley Cup finals and countless championship fights--most of them in Las Vegas.” A 1982 article on the suicide of a an NBA player was chosen for the Best When you patronize American Sports Writing Anthology and these fine another article, also in 1982, ranked establishments, Marantz among the top 20 sportswriters Specialties tell them in the country. Being a Globe sports Steak • Chicken • Seafood you saw their ad writer in those days was almost like Pasta with Sauces from Around the World in the Jewish Press. being a rock star! Catering & Carry Out Available • Full Service Bar Steve’s life took another turn when he LUNCH • DINNER • SUNDAY BRUNCH • PARTY ROOM met and married Boston Globe journalist, Alison Arnett, a Kansas native whom he had met at The Star. Arnet has been the 8727 Maple Street Globe’s restaurant critic since 1992. She A World of Great Taste Sensations also reports on agriculture and food production. “She is a great wife, mother and she is the love of my life!” he says. Due to constant travel demands in sports writing, he became a local news reporter and began covering such things as police, suburbs, education and, eventually, the Boston City Hall. Although it was less exciting, he admits that it was a good move for his family. Alison and Steve have two children. Nora, 23, is an art history graduate of the University of Maryland and works for the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Alex, 18, is a freshman at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Steve admits, “News reporting is less DIM SUM & TEA CEREMONY SERVED DAILY! glamorous than sports writing. But, it was more fulfilling in that I finally was 9821 Giles Road, writing about issues that make a differOmaha, NE 68128 ence. In 1989, I broke a story on ‘redlin(Off I-80 Exit 442) ing’ by Boston banks--their reluctance to 933-8999 grant home loans to residents of poor www.btgweb.com and black neighborhoods. My reporting resulted in the creation of a new pool of Authentic Cantonese Cuisine • Omaha’s Finest Dim Sum

W HERE ARE THEY NOW? by JOAN K. MARCUS Former Omahan Steve Marantz was born in Steubenville, OH, and spent his early childhood in Weirton, West Virginia. He came to Omaha in 1963 to live, after his mother, Mildred Rosen Marantz, died. Steve’s father, the late Robert Marantz, took a job in Omaha at Kilpatricks Department Store and Steve, his b r o t h e r Nora Marantz Denny, (now deceased) and his sister, Mindy, all went to Central High School. Soon after the Marantz family moved to Omaha, Robert met and married young widow, Harriet Shafer Katz. The combined family lived in the “Bagel” neighborhood at 1002 Sunset Trail. Denny graduated from Central in 1966, stepsisters, Susan Katz graduated in 1968, and Marilyn Katz Hirsch followed in 1970. Stepbrother David Katz also attended Central. Steve feels he is very much a product of Omaha and the late 1960s. He values the public education he got here. And, he remembers that Omaha had clean, local government, efficient public works, racial and ethnic tolerance, safe neighborhood and good, well-tended parks. “I remember tolerance, safe neighborhoods and a lively civic life that celebrates sports and the arts,” Steve recalls. “All of these things were part of Omaha when I came of age.” He went on to say that “Central High instilled in me a love of the written word and an appreciation for its power. One of the English teachers, the late John Keenan, encouraged me to feel the passion of words. I can remember him sobbing at his desk the day that Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered. Barely two months later, the scene repeated itself when Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed.” Friends remember Steve as being an above average student. He managed the basketball team, wrote for The Central High Register and was a member of Rayim, a Jewish fraternity. His column in The Register was called “Hilltopics” and was a mixture of straight reportage and tongue-in-check commentary. “I remember being thrilled when the Omaha World-Herald ran a couple of items from my column. Late in my senior year, I won a sports writing contest sponsored by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln,” he adds. “Our fathers were merchants, attorneys and accountants. Our mothers were housewives,” he explains. “As children, we were taught to make good grades, go to a good college and earn enough money to buy a membership in the Highland Country Club. I didn’t want to do any of those things. I wanted to do something different--something fun, exciting and cool! “It was the Age of Aquarius and ‘different’ was suddenly okay. Sports writing, it occurred to me, could be my meal ticket,” he insists. “Writing, sports, having a voice in public discourse, all energized me. After graduation from Central in 1969, I launched my sports writing career as a journalism major at the University of Missouri-Columbia. When I

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Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

Dining

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by DUANE J. PIEPER Yachad Program Director The cold and snow on Sunday afternoon earlier this month did not dampen the spirits or keep away 10 members from Yachad’s first event of 2005. The flurry of activity in preparation for this event meant only one thing. Yachad members were back at a favorite gathering place and ready to play. No, this was not the Superbowl. That would come later in the afternoon. This was Maplewood Lanes.

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Yachad bowlers are, front row: Ben Freidman, left, Grace Isler, Jill Salomon, Lisa Salomon, and Nancy Isler; back row: Jeff Steinberg, Eric Freidberg, Michael Vehling, Duane Pieper, Ron Giventer, and Avi Wolfson. Clad in appropriate footwear and ball in hand they were prepared to bowl. Let the games begin! With a variety of styles and approaches their focus was fixed on the hardwood lanes. Pins fell right and left and the points started adding up. A gallery of supporters in the background encouraged the participants with cheers and applause. Between games members replenished themselves with their favorite snacks. In the end all felt a sense of accomplishment, but most of all they appreciated being with old and new friends in an activity they enjoyed doing together. In short, they had fun! After the games we were all treated to birthday cake, compliments of Doug Wolfson. It was Avi’s 16th birthday. This was a special moment for him. You could see it in his eyes. It’s nice to celebrate benchmarks in our lives with friends. For more information about upcoming Yachad events, call me at Jewish Family Service: 330.2024.

Dr. Sam Cemaj, Dr. Michael Stein, and Dr. Dan Schuller visit prior to the Maimonides Society luncheon. Organizers were a bit concerned about attendance with the unexpected snow prior to the event, but the weather was definitely not a disappointment to Dr. Stein. “I only get to see snow once a year at home”, he said before heading outdoors with his camera! Dr. Stein and head trauma nurse, Dina Alboar, also served as faculty for workshops presented by the Creighton University Medical Center. Entitled “Dealing with Terrorism & Mass Casualty Incidents in the 21st Century”, sessions were held in Omaha and Norfolk and provided training to healthcare professionals in trauma and burn care. For information on the Maimonides Society, call Jewish Educational & Library Services at 334.6445 or visit the Jewish Federation website at www.jewishomaha.org and select Maimonides Society.

Experts Conclude: Being Married is Better for Your Health

BERT’S EYE VIEW by BERT LEWIS

I recently read an article in the paper that devoted many words to the conclusion that married men are healthier than single men. This is not to be mistaken for that bad old joke about married men living longer (it only seems longer), but it actually was based on information gathered by some busybody scientist who had nothing better to do with his/her grant money. Of course married men are healthier! Why wouldn’t they be, since they have somebody right on the premises to remind them about important things-- such as eating the right food, as opposed to indulging in unhealthy (but tasty) greasy, salty bad-for-you stuff. Hey! You wives out there...don’t we all agree the baked potato should be next to that broiled chicken and broccoli, not french fries? While we’re agreeing, we might note that at least some of our husbands will order fries if we aren’t around, no? And who does a more accurate count of egg yolks than a married woman? A wife who reads about nutrition and knows what’s good and what’s bad can almost read a cholesterol count in the whites of her husband’s eyes. And just let a guy’s ankles look a little puffy and who asks, “Are you sneaking potato chips again?” Big deal, experts are figuring out married men are healthier. Doggone right they are, and some of us know why don’t we? Do we get credit for belonging to the auxiliary food police? Not always, but we hope for the rewards of such duty. Are we the ones who say, “Let’s go for a walk...it’ll be good for us”? Okay, some of us are guilty also of asking, “Why are you parking so far away?” but for the most part, we play an important role in seeing our guys are healthier than their single counterparts.

Our current lifestyles help us wives do a better job of providing good nutrition. That is, our attention to exercise and diet add greatly to our natural instincts. Mama isn’t often heard to say anymore “there’s a few grebeness and onions on the stove if anybody wants a little nosh” these days. (What a pity; they were sooo good!) Or maybe, “take another piece of bread for that gravy still on your plate.” Maybe best of all, “Yes, you do smell cookies...I baked today. And there are cinnamon rolls too, but not too many before dinner!” No, we don’t hear those words very often anymore, if at all. We women have been in charge of keeping our guys healthier since time immemorial. I don’t remember seeing it in the fine print of the ketubah, but I’m pretty sure the admonition is there somewhere. Of course I don’t know where it’s written that you should enjoy potato latkes, but I do know how importantly oil figured into at least our folk history, so there may be some unanswered questions someplace. All of that notwithstanding however, grease and salt and sugar make things taste better, but check out the no-no list when (if you’re in charge of eating) you plan the food to feed your husband..the guy that’s healthier than his single friends. Naturally, we do our best but now and then, genetics or bad luck play a part in health, sometimes causing trouble. So if you are, or know of a guy who has been on the straight and narrow and is recovering from a heart attack anyway, well don’t blame me! I’m just reporting what the alleged experts have concluded and we all know there are exceptions to every rule. The last word on the whole megillah should still be a reminder to take good care of yourself, whether you have somebody there to tell you to, such as a wife, or just the wife of a friend. If you’re one of the married guys, think of it this way: you already have the most gorgeous and smartest grandkids in the world. You sure wouldn’t want to miss college graduation would you? Bert Lewis can be reached at: BertLewis39@aol.com.

February 18, 2005

by Sheila Lukins (Workman, $19.95)

R EAD IT AND EAT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN “Enjoy the fanciful and share the feast!” One of our favorite expressions is “Enjoy the day!” and here Lukins, author of the Silver Palate and New Basics cookbooks, shares 43 of her favorite menus for holidays, events and inspirations for celebrations...for a years worth of events to Ring in the New Year, Super Bowls, An Academy Award Bash, When Spring Has Sprung, A Run for the Roses, A Bang up Fourth of July, Old-Fashioned Halloween, and back to the New Year for a Toast to the New Year and everything in between. Sheila’s Seder and a Hanukkah celebration are featured for you to enjoy. If you’re in the mood to celebrate, Lukins brings 350 recipes for festive occasions at home--beginning in the kitchen, deciding what to make, creating a menu, the get-together and pulling out all the stops. With each of the menus there is small list of “extras” necessary to make or serve the food, table setting ideas for the theme, music and drink suggestions. Color photographs are sprinkled throughout the festive plans. The recipes have headnotes and numerical instructions. Sheila’s Seder includes a brief description of traditions, a menu for eight, Apple Walnut Haroset, Salmon Croquettes with Remoulade Sauce, Holiday Chopped Liver, Chicken Soup with Marci’s Fluffy Matzoh Balls, Rosy Pot Roast, Sheila’s Tzimmes, Asparagus with Shallots and Herbs, Flourless Chocolate Cake with Fresh Blackberry Sauce and Morning-After Matzoh Brei. The Hanukkah Festival of Lights dinner for eight features ten recipes for your holiday traditions. “According

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Continued from page 1 world leaders to discuss important issues of the day, Panelists will discuss the early Christian church, the including U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, role of women in the early church, the objectives of George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald organizations like Opus Dei and how the Christian Ford and Richard Nixon. He has had several audiences church has changed through the ages. The discussion with Pope John Paul II, and has met with the leaders will be moderated by Phyllis Tickle. of European nations, Russia, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dan Burstein is a frequent guest expert on television Jordan, China, South Africa and Argentina. programs ranging from CNBC, CNN, Fox, and Foxman has helped to focus worldwide attention on Bloomberg to Charlie Rose and Oprah. the heroic efforts of Christian rescuers of Dan’s most recent book is Secrets of the Jews and has been a leader in developing Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the education programs about the Holocaust. Mysteries Behind the DaVinci Code. Born in Poland in 1940, Foxman was saved Bart D. Ehrman chairs the department of from the Holocaust as an infant by his religious studies at the University of North Polish Catholic nanny who baptized and Carolina at Chapel Hill and wrote The raised him as a Catholic during the war Truth Behind the DaVinci Code: A years. While his parents survived the war, Historian Reveals What We Really Know he lost 14 members of his family in the About Jews, Mary Magdalene, and genocide. Constantine. After he arrived in America in 1950 with Dr. Jenny Driver is a geriatric oncologist his parents, Foxman graduated from the Phyllis Tickle and instructor at Harvard Medical School Yeshiva of Flatbush in Brooklyn, NY, and and a member of Opus Dei. Phyllis Tickle is the former earned his B.A. in political science from the City religion editor at Publisher’s Weekly, author of some College of the City University of New York, graduating two dozen books and an expert in the field of religion with honors in history. Foxman holds a law degree and popular culture. from New York University School of Law, and did gradHolocaust survivor and hidden child, Abe Foxman uate work in Jewish studies at the Jewish Theological has been at the forefront of issues ranging from the Seminary and in international economics at New York’s controversy over Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ New School for Social Research. to Middle East diplomacy. He is known throughout the Foxman’s State of World Jewry Lecture is co-sponworld as a leader in the fight against anti-Semitism, sored by the Anti-Defamation League Plains States hatred, prejudice, bigotry and discrimination. Region and the Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith. Foxman, who began working for the ADL in 1965, The lecture is funded in part by the Shirley and was named National Director in 1987. Prior to that, he Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation. worked in the League’s international affairs and civil Both satellite broadcasts--on Feb. 27 and March 2-rights divisions. His background and experience have will be shown in the JCC Theater. Tickets for the broadcontributed significantly to the development of mean- casts are $5 and can be purchased by calling Cindy ingful relationships between different groups of people Reed, Registration Associate, at 334.6419. For more both here in the United States and also internationally information about the Live from NY’s 92 ST Y Series, His career with the ADL has spanned four decades, contact me at 334.6404. and in that time, Foxman has met with national and

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to tradition, Hanukkah started shortly after the SyrianGreek King Antiochus Epiphanes made the huge mistake of installing a statue of Zeus on the altar in the holy temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish populace rose up in revolt under the leadership of Judah Maccabee and drove the profaners from the temple.”...and the rest is the miracle we celebrate. An Anytime Brunch, Summertime Bridal Shower or just Glorious Summertime and Fire Up the Grill, the Birthday Bash are some ideas to get you started. Try this recipe for a change of pace for just about any occasion or celebration. CREAMY PARSNIP MASH 21/2 pounds parsnips, peeled 3 cups Basic Chicken Broth or more if necessary 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted pareve margarine 1/2 cup pareve heavy (whipping) cream substitute Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives, for garnish Cut the parsnips in half lengthwise and then again crosswise. Place them in a heavy saucepan and add the broth and lemon juice. If the liquid doesn’t cover the parsnips, add more broth. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to mediumhigh and cook at a slow boil until very tender, 20 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the pareve margarine in the cream substitute in a small saucepan over low heat. Drain the parsnips well and place them in a large bowl. Add the margarine-cream mixture and mash until smooth (if you like, you can do this in a food processor). Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with the chives, and serve immediately. Note: This can be prepared ahead and then reheated, covered, in a 350° oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Cookbook reviewer Lois Friedman can be reached at: ReadItAndEat@yahoo.com.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

Omaha’s Jewish Jewelers Continued from page 1 pany in downtown Omaha in 1880. Like many early jewelry stores, Brodkeys began as a pawnshop, loaning cash with valuable pieces as collateral. “My grandfather wouldn’t recognize the stores today,” smiled Sherman, who can still recall sweeping the floors of one of the downtown stores when he was just 10-years-old. Now, many years later, Sherman talks about the changes in the business. “I always wanted to work at Brodkey’s,” he insists. “My father, edward, and his brothers, Fred and Dave, had two stores in the downtown area when I was a toddler, but because of all the family members in the business, Brodkey’s expanded beyond that, starting in 1949. We opened first in downtown Fremont and later in the downtown business districts of Columbus, Grand Island, Council Bluffs and South Omaha. Though opening new stores was costly, in our case, the expansion proved well worth the investment.” “Originally, we old everything, including small appliances,” Sherman explained. “We also had opticians with complete optical departments in a num-

slowed down, integrity are the foundation of the indusl e a v i n g try. Just ask Larry Gilinsky, whose greatSherman and grandfather, Sol Bergman began the his cousin, business as a watch parts and repair Ron Brodkey, shop in 1888. to run the “Sol came out from New York as a repbusiness. resentative from Hammel Riglander with Twenty $10,000 worth of watch materials for the years ago, Max Meyer Company. The family legend Sherman has it that Sol became so enamored with bought out Omaha, he decided to stay,” Larry the interests of explained. his father and It was, after all, a railroad town, which his uncles. couldn’t run without watches that kept Today, he perfect time. When Max Meyer fell on runs it with hard times, Bergman bought the busihis wife, ness--with a loan from the First National Sandy, and Bank, which makes Bergman’s one of their son, David Gilinsky, left, Susie Gilinsky Cooper, and Kevin Gilinsky manage the bank’s oldest customers. In fact, Bergman Incentives, an outgrowth of Bergman Jewelers, still operated by Bergman’s still stocked watch parts and Marc. He, like his Larry Gilinsky. The fifth generation company is 117-years-old. materials until well into the 1940s. father before him, worked at Brodkey’s Press is also a “gem” of an institution! By then, Larry’s grandfather was in the “Malashock’s is a ‘destination’ store,” business, too. Clarence had one daughweekends and summers. “We call that the ‘Brodkey apprenticeship’,” Marc explained Bob in an interview with the ter, Larry’s mother, Chickie, who married laughed. “I’ve always loved the jewelry Press. “With little walk-in traffic, we Stewart Gilinsky in 1938. He had operatbusiness. It’s fun for us to work around depend on our reputation and the refer- ed his own hat business before marrying beautiful things and fun for us to help rals our good customers make to their into the Bergman family; his retail skills our customers purchase something friends.” helped expand the watch parts business He describes Malashock’s stock as into diamonds, giftware, and the popular unique for a meaningful occasion.” Father and son know they’re carrying “high fashion,” a term that includes high-priced costume jewelry of the day. the responsibility of the Brodkey “unusual pieces you won’t find elseBy the time Larry got into the business, name on their shoulders. The jew- where.” Bob also keeps up with educa- Bergman’s had expanded to four stores elry business is, after all, based on tional courses of the American and was actually wholesaling jewelry to Gemological Society, so he’s able to spot other retailers. “We were the ones dealintegrity and trust. “I know everyone of our trends in the market, like the introduc- ing with the manufacturers,” Larry employees by their first names,” tion of colored gemstones. explained,” but eventually retailers start“You have to be very knowledgeable ed going straight to the manufacturers, Sherman said. “If we get too big, I won’t be able to do that. I’m peo- in this business,” Bob insists. “That’s why including those overseas. We had to ple-oriented--and this is a people trust and reputation is so important. How decide: did we want to be retailers or do you know the color in a stone is nat- manufacturers?” business.” Bob Malashock agrees. The sec- ural? What about the sales history of a Continued on page 15 ond generation owner of piece? And how can a Malashock Jewelers noted that consumer tell the differ“this business is about relation- ence between what’s real ships. We’re now selling jewelry to and what isn’t?” As a service to custhe grandchildren of customers who frequented my father’s store.” tomers--and to help eduMalashock’s founders were two cate them, Malashock’s brothers, Harry and J.M., who pur- installed a machine that Sherman Brodkey, left, and his son, Marc, represent chased a small pawnshop in “fingerprints” diamonds. the third and fourth generations in Brodkey’s, which Omaha sometime around the end “Each stone, like each celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The father- of the 1890s. The store moved to fingerprint, is different,” and-son team own and operate 11 stores in two states. its 16th and Farnam location in Bob explained, displayber of downtown stores. Furthermore, we 1939 and Bob worked there when he ing the imprint and regishad the largest sales of any Brunswick returned from duty in the Air Force in tration number for stones bowling ball distributor in the U.S. We 1956. By 1970, Malashock’s opened a he has catalogued with even drilled bowling balls on site! second store at 72nd and Cass, but an international registry. “But we evolved from the ‘all inclusive’ closed the downtown store five years “The diamond fingerprint environment of the downtown era to later. Today, Bob runs Malashock’s, has even held up in Borsheim’s wedding registry is probably the biggest in the focusing on sales of fine jewelry. There’s along with his daughter, Debby Baker, court,” he added. There have been many Midwest, according to Marvin Cohn. Bridal gifts from silverreally no room in mall stores to carry the and son, Jay Malashock--the third generchanges since Morris ware and china are available online, but Cohn says online sales stock of giftware you’d need to com- ation in this 111-year-old business. and J.M. in all areas have exceeded expectations. “Borsheim’s recently pete,” he added. “When we began movCoincidentally, J.M., along with a Brodkey ing into regional malls in the late 1960s, group of other prominent Jewish Malashock first opened sold a $30,000 necklace through its website,” Cohn told the I threw out everything with a plug on it!” Omahans, started this newspaper, with their stores in downtown Press. “Incredible as that sounds, internet sales are only going Morris died in 1917. In the mid 70s, the first issue published in December, Omaha--though, just like to get stronger. I have no trouble with that, if it makes our cusSherman’s two uncles died and his father 1920. Guess you could say the Jewish 100 years ago, trust and tomers more educated about their purchases.”

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February 18, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

Simchas

A celebration of life. Photos, clockwise from top: modeling bridal wear from ancient times to the present at the Chabad of Nebraska Bridal Pageant last month are, Chelsea Taxman, left, Abby Ginsburg, Becky Kahn, Stacie Brodkey, Jennifer Glazer, Arielle Levine, Jackie Neesman and Ariel Fried (photo by Lynne Saltzman); flower girls Sara Cohen, left, daughter of Bob and Marla Cohen, and Samantha Sullivan, daughter of Charlie and Louri Sullivan, attended several of the brides at the Chabad Bridal Pageant; Forrest N. Krutter and Lisa T. Stewart were married last month in Omaha by Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Gastón Bogolmoni. After the ceremony, the couple made their way from under the chuppah into the crowd of well wishers. (See the full article about the Bridal Pageant on page 14 and the wedding announcement on page 16.)

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

Jewish Brides Through the Centuries Staged by Chabad

Sixty Years Together

by CAROL HUTCHINSON For Chabad of Nebraska The bride--she conjures up beautiful imagery. She is a symbol of the most wonderful of life’s experiences. She is every woman, Shabbat, and the collective Jewish people. She is cause for celebration. And celebration it certainly was! More than 180 women and girls joined in an elegant celebration of brides, marriage and the special covenant shared with G-d. On a Sunday afternoon last month, the Ironwood Country Club was host to this Simcha presented by Chabad’s Women of Worth and chaired by Louri Sullivan and Kimberly Robinson. The inspiring stories of unique brides were told by Nancy Rips and Debbie Denenberg, as young women modeled authentic reproductions of the historical bridal clothing. The collaborative efforts of many talented women in our community created a memorable and meaningful ‘wedding’ replete with a beautiful chuppah. Julie Philips, Leslie Vann, and Eadie Tsabari, whose decorations produced a delightful ambience, creatively displayed many photographs of Omaha brides. “One of the most striking elements of the program was mystery and wonderment,” said one of the attendees. “I came to an event not really knowing what would take place. I was educated, enriched, and empowered through moving music, exciting drama, and stunning clothing.” A cast of eight brides with eight young attendants were magnificently directed and choreographed by Joanie Jacobson. “Joanie put her heart and soul into every

by AL BRODY Our 60th anniversary party in late November, 2003, was the highlight of this decade. Our four children and seven grandchildren, my brother’s three children and five grandchildren, Shirley’s sisters three children and two grandchildren--plus many friends and cousin type relatives--were present at our big week in Orlando, FL. At the same time, we had our big Thanksgiving and Hanukkah celebrations. We were in two gorgeous rented houses with pools, motels and homes of relatives and friends who lived close by. We made glorious dinAl and Shirley Brody ners for untold numbers, toured Orlando, visited Busch Gardens, where we went on rides like the Flying Zebra. We went to the Timbuktu movie theater, showing a film about kids lost in tunnels and the sea. We rode the train through the Congo Sinsasha, saw wildebeasts and ostriches, and got wet on the Congo River. Our big bash was held at Souzou Pearl, a place with a show, dinner and acreage to ride around and see animals. Asian men and women in beautiful costumes performed acrobatics on ribbon ropes. The delicious dinner was held in the large dining room with the food served family style. There was plenty of room for everyone to visit everyone else. What could be better than 60 years of happy married life!

detail of this wedding,” said Shani Katzman, who worked closely with Jacobson. “Her expertise, passion and love were present in every detail of the bridal pageant.” Diane Shandell was one of the hostesses and her daughter Jessica, a bridal attendant. She remarked that “any w o m a n , Jewish or not, who would have attended would have found the program very special.” She noted that “many who came

Mendel Katzman, who sought to bring an inspiring message of the wonderful qualities of Jewish women to the women of her Staten Island, NY, community. The program was so enthusiastically received that 10 years after its debut, the pageant has traveled through-

Photos from top left: Arielle Levine, daughter of Michael and Karin Levine, dressed as LaLa Suleika at Chabad’s Bridal Pageant; narrators Nancy Rips, left, and Debbie Denenberg read the script while Ariel Fried, daughter of Jim Fried and Lindy Fried, paraded as the Jewish matriarch, Rachel; at left: Kim Goldberg and her daughter, Lily, were among the 180+ women who attended the first-time event.

were really surprised. They expected a different kind of religious experience. It was very Jewish, warm, fun and comfortable. I am thrilled Jessica could experience her heritage in an unconventional way. My daughter’s horizons were broadened.” The idea for this event was conceived by Chani Katzman, sister-in-law of Rabbi

out the United States and Canada, as well as Europe, Panama, the Netherlands and Thailand. “At Chabad we seek to inspire Jews to grow Jewishly. We offer creative and innovative ways to make the teachings of our heritage relevant and meaningful,” said Rabbi Katzman at Chabad House. “This event was an outstanding, beautiful gem in the array of offerings we present to our community.”

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Omaha’s Jewish Jewelers Continued from page 12 The answer was clear: the Bergman/Gilinsky tradition was retail. But that didn’t mean just selling jewelry. The decades-old experiences of selling other items got Stewart and Larry thinking about ways to expand. “In the 1970s, we started a ‘premium’ division,� Larry continued. “It was not only a way to level the peaks and valleys of the retail jewelry business which depended on the holidays, but it was also a way to offer value-added service to our larger clients.� With a foot in the food industry, Bergman Incentives took off. Today, the successful business is run by Larry’s two sons, David and Kevin, and his sister, Susie Cooper. Moving from a three-floor brick building downtown to 94th and ‘F’ Street has also helped, Larry noted. “Having 10,000 square feet all on one level, gives us the efficiency we didn’t have downtown,� he said, pointing to the two loading bays and row after row of storage. For the later generations of the Brodkeys, the Malashocks and the Gilinskys, “Omaha was the draw,� Larry said. “A lot of my friends went away to school and never came back. But now, more than 100 years after Sol saw the opportunity Omaha had to offer, I have two sons in the business!�

family’s business, National Auto Supply. But by 1975, Borsheim’s beckoned and Marvin was happy to join Ike on the floor. “Ike had the whole inventory in his brain,� said Marvin in a recent phone interview from Scottsdale, AZ. “He was a ‘salesman’s salesman.’ Nobody had that kind of presence.� By 1986, the two realized they had outgrown Ike Friedman the 6500 square feet on two floors on 16th Street. Still growing in its current Regency Fashion Court location, the only thing that’s changed is the “family-owned� part--thanks to Warren Buffet. The financial genius of Omaha had already completed his famed handshake deal with “Mrs. B.� Rose Blumkin, coincidentally, happened to be the sister-inlaw of Ike Friedman’s parents, Rebecca and Louis Friedman. Buffet, liking what he saw in the family, turned to Borsheim’s in 1989 and made the family a deal that Marvin says “was like winning the lottery.� And that brought Borsheim’s to a whole new level, he says. “The weekend of the Berkshire Hathaway meeting is now our largest sales event of the year, beating Christmas and Valentine’s Day,� he noted. “After all, when Warren says to 15,000 stockholders, ‘Go shop at Borsheim’s,’ we’re happy to open the doors--even on a Sunday!� Buffet has a hands-off policy which allows CEO Susan Jacques, who started out on the sales floor at Borsheim’s, to run the company in a way that Ike A mural on the wall at Bergman’s represents six generations, Friedman would still approve. “We’ve got 300 salessays Larry Gilinsky, great-grandson of the original founder, Sol people in one store,� Cohn added, “and though my Bergman, pictured in the upper left framed portrait. At Larry’s daughters aren’t interested in the retail business, we right are his parents, Chickie Bergman Gilinsky and Stewart don’t look back at this wonderful opportunity to be a Gilinsky and his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Patty ,and part of the Berkshire company with any remorse.� Marvin still plays a role at Borsheim’s. In fact, when their triplets. At the left is his sister, Susie Gilinsky Cooper and he spoke to the Press last week, he was in the midst of her husband, Jeff. Not seen in this picture is Larry’s and returning phone calls to eight different customers, all Deanna’s son and daughter-in-law, David and Katherine and looking for that special piece of jewelry. their three children, and Larry’s grandfather, Clarence. Carrying on the tradition Originally, Kevin, who like of the Jewish jewelers in his father has been certified Omaha is Alfred Brodkey, by the American Gemological who established his oneInstitute, was to take over man private jewelry busiBergman Jewelers. “Then life ness, A. Brodkey, 15 years interfered,� Kevin added. “I ago. He works strictly on became the father of triplets!� word-of-mouth and referrals Triplets and retail hours from happy customers, and aren’t compatible, so Kevin wouldn’t even allow the now works with his brother, Press to publicize his West David, supplying major comOmaha location. panies like Omaha Steaks, “I offer a laid-back enviCon Agra and Union Pacific Bob Malashock stands by a photo of his father’s and uncle’s ronment,� Alfred explained. (there’s that railroad connec- store on 16th and Farnam, the location for Malashock “And because I have little tion again) with logo-imprint- Jewelers for nearly half a century. Today, Malashock’s is overhead, I can sell beautilocated at 114th Street, north of Dodge. “Future moves will ful, custom pieces at a dised merchandise. “We don’t want to just be a probably be up to my children,� he said with a smile. counted price.� phone call for a mug,� said The son of Ron Brodkey, David. “We want to be parthe, too, grew up in the businers in promotion and adverness and says he “pre-qualitising with out customers.� In fies� his customers. “I don’t fact, Bergman Incentives want them to waste my time now operates website if they’re just ‘shopping’,� he “stores� for its large clients, insists. “But I’m happy to so the Con Agra salesman educate them about diawho needs a new t-shirt monds and other facets of the before a golf outing can jewelry business, if they’re merely purchase one online serious about buying. and one of Bergman’s staff “I guess you could say I will send it out. learned by experience and The Diamond Loan Office, pictured above, is the original With the fifth generation by instinct,� he added. Brodkey Jewelry store, located at 14th and Douglas. involved in Bergman’s, the Trust, integrity, longevity, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Awarded it the beauty. Those words kept coming up in conversation Golden Spike Award for contributing to Omaha’s eco- with all of Omaha’s Jewish jewelers. Though there is overnomic vitality. lap among them, the competition is friendly and each has One could say that too about the “relative newcom- carved out its own unique niche in the market. er� to the Jewish jewelers--Borsheim’s. Since Ike Destination store, regional chain store, jewelry and comFriedman bought the downtown store in 1946 from the pany incentives, nationally known or privately-owned, Borsheim family (who founded the business in 1875), each jeweler offers the most fun a shopper can possibly Borsheim’s has evolved from a downtown store that have--buying something special for someone special. offered everything from diamonds and an enormous Whether three, four or six generations, an offshoot of wedding registry to, at one time, the largest family- a family business or the end of another, these Omaha owned jewelry store under one roof. Jewish jewelers, continue, as David Gilinsky has said, When Marvin Cohn married Susie, daughter of Ike “to rely on the satisfaction of our customers.� and Roz Friedman, in 1973, he was working in his own Bling, bling. Even Maimonides would celebrate!

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 15

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February 18, 2005

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SHYKEN/BOBROSKY Rachel Shyken and Jeffrey Bobrosky of Indio, CA, will be married this Sunday, Feb. 20, at Beth Israel Synagogue. Rabbi Jonathan Gross will officiate. The bride, daughter of late Yafa and Keva Shyken, is employed at the Nebraska Medical Center in Nursing. Her attendants are her sister, Rebecca Oregon, and friend, Penny Osburn. The flower girls are the bride’s daughter, Lior, the groom’s daughter, Celeste and the bride’s niece, Alondra. Her grandparent are Yadida Shabtai of Lod, Israel, and the late Shmuel Shabtai. The groom, son of Roberta Bobrosky of Indio, CA and Howard Bobrosky of Receda, CA, works in the automobile industry. His uncle, Joel Bobrosky, will serve as his attendant. His grandparents are Harold and Kathryn Michael of Camarillo, CA. Following a eight-day cruise wedding trip to the Mexican Riviera, the couple will residence in Indio, CA.

YABEK/POLLACK Erika Yabek, daughter of Helen and Bernard Blair of Woodland Hills, CA, and Steven Yabek of Albequerqe, NM, and Noah R. Pollak, son of Karen and Oliver Pollak, announce their engagement. The bride-to-be graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a B.A. in psychology. She also earned a master’s in education and teaching credential from Mills College, Oakland, CA. She is currently employed as a first-grade teacher. She is the granddaughter of Dora Aronowicz of Woodland Hills, CA, and the late Kalman Aronowicz. Her fiancé graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence with a B.A. in anthropology and psychology and a B.S. in education. He is a high school English teacher in Vallejo, CA. He is the grandson of Ruth Pollak of Laguna Woods, CA, and the late William Pollak, and the late Reva and Joseph Goldstein. The wedding will be held Aug. 7 in Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA.

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Lisa T. Stewart of Stamford, CT, and Forrest N. Krutter were married Sunday, Jan. 16, at the Joslyn Art Museum. Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Gastón Bogolmoni of Beth El Synagogue officiated at the ceremony, which was followed by a dinner dance at the Joslyn. The bride, daughter of Lynn Stewart Wizenick of Hilo, Hawaii, and Richard Wizenick of Palos Verdes, CA, graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She earned a juris doctor from Creighton Law School and an MBA from the University of Nebraksa-Omaha and also attended Tel Aviv University in Israel and the East China Institute for Law and Politics in Shanghai. She is a partner in Devonshire Realty and a financial planning consultant in New England. The granddaughter of Rose J. Heyden, the bride was attended by Marlene Krutter, sister of the groom; and friends, Sherryl Schrader of Vineyard Haven, MA, Susan Everett of Milton, NH, Julie Pircher of Glendale, CA, and Billie Rambo of Omaha. The wedding planner was Linda Grossman of Omaha and Tucson, AZ, and kashrut was supervised by Rabbi Jonathan Gross of Beth Israel Synagogue. The groom, son of Shirley and Irving Krutter of Brookline, MA, is a past-President of the Jewish

Federation of Omaha. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in civil engineering; he also has a bachelor’s in Jewish education from Hebrew College of Brookline, MA, and a juris doctor from the Harvard University Law School. He has served as an officer of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. and several of its insurance subsidiaries since 1992. Edward Garber of Los Angeles, CA, served as best man; chuppah holders were Bryan Kocen of Palm Springs, CA, Alan Parsow of Elkhorn, NE, Mark Rabinowitz of Deerfield, IL, and Jonathan Sarna of Newton, MA. Prof. Sarna and Rabbi Levin were the official witnesses at the signing of the ketubah.

BIRTH Leslie and Todd Mogil of Bellaire, TX, announce the Feb. 2 birth of their daughter, Blythe Austin. The couple also has a son, Eli, age two. Grandparents are Charlcie and Jim Hopkins of Taylors, SC, and Suzi and Mike Mogil. Great-grandmother is Ethel Mogil.

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by DEBBIE GILINSKY by DICK LERNER for Party Scapes Bel Air Fashions You celebrate many special occasions during your life. The Bel Air Fashions is a family owned third generation business started by my grandfather, Max Lerner, after emigrating from guests and the success of the simcha create lasting memories. Russia. My father, Joe was in the business all his life. My broth- Decorations are an important part of any successful celebraer, Shelly, and I have been in the business more than 32 years. tion. They create the atmosphere and set the mood for your We are a full line clothier that carries a full line of men’s and guests. And, they can be very simple and casual--or detailed women’s clothing and sportswear. It is one stop shopping for and elegant. Popular themes and carefully selected color off-the-rack or custom. Sizes for men include shorts, regular schemes can create successful party environments. Balloons are a favorite addition to any party and have a strong and big & tall; women’s misses sizes are stocked and petites and plus sizes by special order. We carry both men’s and impact on the space. Helium filled balloons add height to the room and can be combined with mylar balloons to create interest. women’s shoes, as well. Party Scapes concentrates on creating the total party atmosBel Air Fashions sell men’s formalwear and rent tuxes for prom, weddings and black tie events. We have huge assort- phere. Design elements are carefully considered and incorporated into the centerpieces. The centerpieces are always ments to pick from the best names in the business. Most clients are referred or come to us from workshops we unique and designed personally for your event. I previously concentrated on B’nai Mitzvah parties, but conduct. Wardrobe planning and consulting is our specialty. It’s hard to know what-goes-with-what; when done right, there is no recently added centerpieces for all other occasions. I have cremore powerful a tool to insure a clients success than his image. ated fabulous centerpieces for baby showers, bridal showers, If someone needs professional or business casual clothing, graduations, birthdays, and sport events just to mention a few. I will be glad to work with any idea you have. If a special celwe show them how to dress up…dress down and do it right! Stop in today; we’re in Miracle Hills, north of Dodge on 114 St. ebration is in your future, call me at 496.0633. PAID ADVERTISEMENTS

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Twin Cities Artist Enhances Simchas with Creative Touch by MARGARET F. DICKINSON Community News Editor, American Jewish World, Twin Cities When Minneapolis artist Kim Ford creates her little masterpieces--invitations, announcements, pottery or her latest fixation, commemorative chairs--to enhance lifecycle events, she seeks to fuse tradition and originality. Ford specializes in “taking traditional things and making them original and unique and personal.” “And beautiful,” Ford’s 11-year-old son Keenon adds to her nutshell description of her work. He joined Ford at the AJW offices where she is discussing her work, Kim Ford Designs, which specializes in graphic design or mixed media functional art that is innovative and eye-popping, as well as caters to her clients’ personal inclinations. This recent Minneapolis transplant (she has lived all over prior to moving to the Twin Cities with her husband and three children) has many more examples of fun and creative embellishments that can add a distinct flair to any celebration--of particular interest to Midwest readers are the specialized chairs that she creates. The chairs, which she refers to as Chairs By Design, are a new addition to her line, and they already have a Jewish twist. Ford, who is not Jewish, first learned about how chairs fit into the Jewish wedding while reading up on Jewish traditions when her brother became engaged to a Jewish woman and converted. When they read about the chairs, “my mother thought, what a great idea.” She then went to the bride’s parents to see if they were interested in specialized chairs, which they were. Ford first developed her interest in working with furniture when was living in Ohio and decoupaged chairs and tables with schoolchildren to auction off for a fundraiser at her children’s school. The reaction after that successful project often was: “Wow, you could do chairs for the wedding,” Ford said. So she set out on this lengthy project--in total the chairs took about three or four months to complete. She managed to find the perfect chairs--one masculine and one more feminine--at an antique flea market.

Ford worked with a wide variety of media to create the textured look. Among the items she decoupaged on the chairs were tissue paper, fabric, photographs, cutup pieces of magazines, oil pastels, cocktail napkins and paint. The chairs became collages, using these elements to create something unique to this couple. The couple used a tree as a symbol of their wedding, so a decorative tree dominates the backs of the chairs. Below the trees is the bride’s name and the groom’s, along with the date of the marriage. Above the tree in Hebrew is the line, “It is a tree of life to them that hold fast to it and all its supporters are happy,” and on the seat of the chair is the famous “I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.” “Mazel Tov” is written on the backs of the chairs. Adding the Hebrew to the chairs was a process in itself; Ford photocopied the letters to get them to the right size, then photocopied them onto an acetate sheet and cut out each of the letters, decoupaged them onto the chairs and applied an overcoat of glue and paint. She completed the job by covering the chairs in a polyurethane lacquer. The whole time she was working on the chair she was also working with the couples’ parents consulting them about everything from the Hebrew lettering to the colors. Collaborating with those who commission her work is Ford’s favorite part of the process. She loves “working with the people to design something that will serve as a heartfelt keepsake,” she says. “I think that creative expression stimulates a lot of happiness and fulfillment,” she adds. Ford’s brother and his bride were completely surprised and thrilled with their chairs--they are now sitting in their San Francisco home and one was used for their baby’s bris. The couple has already discussed how they could one day pass them down to their children, so they could add their names to the chairs and use them at their wedding. “I’m drawn to helping people find a visual expression for this very important moment in their life, whether it be a wedding, or a birth, or a birthday or an anniversary,” Ford says. To contact Kim Ford, call her at: 612-387-0441.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 17

ANNIVERSARIES Former Lincolnites Harry and Annie Allen will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today, Feb. 18, in Jerusalem, Israel. Their children: Rabbi Daniel Allen, Rabbi Morris Allen, Dr. Joel Allen, who all live in the United States, and Miriam Allen Kluska of Kibbutz Naan, will celebrate with them, along with their 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The Allens were married Feb. 18, 1945, at the old Blackstone Hotel in Omaha. Rabbi Israel Moshowitz, officiated. Coincidentally, Beit Knesset Moreshet Yisrael honored the Allens on Feb. 13 at a dinner at the Sheraton Plaza hotel in Jerusalem. Annie Allen has served as president of a number of Zionist organizations, most recently as President of the Tamar Chapter of Hadassah Israel. Prior to making aliyah, she lived in Lincoln, NE, where she was President of the Hadassah chapter there, as well as in Oak Ridge, TN. She was President of B’nai B’rith Women in Reno, NV. Harry Allen served as a combat pilot during World War II in the 15th Air Force group. Upon his return to the U.S., he helped purchase equipment for the fledgling State of Israel and served as the head of the X Zionist Emergency Council in Reno, NV, in 1947. He has been a leader in Jewish communal and university life in Lincoln, as well as with the Ben Gurion university of Beersheva and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In Israel, the Allens worked together to evaluate Israeli projects for PEF and for Moreshet Israel.

Esther and Stuart Simon celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Aug. 6, 2004.

Page 18

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

JNF Travel & Tours Launches New Family Bar/Bat Mitzvah Trips to Israel Bar/Bat Mitzvah Child Goes for Free New York, NY-- To keep up with a 50 percent increase in American tourism to Israel and a revived emphasis on family trips, Jewish National Fund’s Travel & Tours Department recently launched a new Bar/Bat Mitzvah tour program. At least six 13-day (with optional extensions) group trips are scheduled for Summer 2005 with guaranteed departure dates of June 5, June 19, July 3, July 17, July 31, August 14 and August 21. A winter trip is also scheduled to depart December 22. “Between over 103 years of experience as caretaker of the land of Israel and over two decades of creating customized family trips to Israel, JNF Travel & Tours has an edge in having the ability to provide the most organized, unique and content-rich experience for those wishing to celebrate their child’s Jewish rite of passage in the Jewish Homeland,” says JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson. Tour highlights feature Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies at the southern wall; cable car to the top of Massada; rabbinical tunnels beneath the Western Wall; the Dead Sea; kayaking on the Jordan River; jeep ride in the Golan Heights; hands-on archaeology dig; ice-cream party upon arrival in Israel; tree planting in a JNF forest; Israeli dancing; Israeli Ministry of Tourism certificate; school credit for community service; ceremonial signature in historical JNF Bar/Bat Mitzvah book; Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration party with dinner and entertainment and much more. Full itinerary available at www.jnf.org/travel. Along with free fare for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child, the program costs include 10 nights accommodation at hotels of choice (two nights in Tel Aviv, two nights kibbutz

hospitality in the Galilee and six nights in Jerusalem); Israeli breakfast daily; six dinners including a BBQ, Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration and a farewell; unique professional itinerary with touring by private motor coach and licensed English speaking guide (private tours also available upon request); park or other entrance fees; group photo; hotel taxes and service charges; porterage at airports and hotels; and gratuities to all maids, porters and waiters. For more information and to sign up your family to let Jewish National Fund bring you home to Israel, visit www.jnf.org/travel or contact JNF Travel & Tours at 877.359.4262/jnftravel@gamatours.com. Jewish National Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1901 to serve as caretaker of the land of Israel, on behalf of its owners--Jewish people everywhere. During the first half of the 20th century, JNF set out to achieve its goal by purchasing the land that would become the State of Israel. Following the successful establishment of the state in 1948, the organization has evolved to meet Israel’s most pressing needs, including the current security crisis, ongoing water shortage and other environmental challenges. Over the past century, the organization has planted over 240 million trees, built over 150 reservoirs and dams, developed over 250,000 acres of land, created more than 450 parks and educated students around the world about Israel and the environment. For more information on JNF or to plant trees in Israel, call 1.800.542.TREE (8733) or visit www.jnf. org. To contact your local office, please call 888.JNF.0099 or visit www.jnf.org.

Diets for Brides-To-Be (BNN) Weddings are a joyful time. So why do so many brides and grooms-tobe stress about the inevitable attention, often causing them to crash diet mere weeks, even days, before the big day? As Chief Nutritionist at eDiets.com, I see the angst-filled questions marriage goers post on our support boards. And myself having recently married, I can relate. From my experience as a nutritionist and as a bride, I’ve put together tips for people about to launch a deadlineinspired diet. The right goals: Plan to lose about 1-2 pounds a week without sacrificing health, nutrition or energy. Allow yourself enough time to lose weight at this healthful pace. Smart choices, healthy changes: Instead of fried foods, choose baked, grilled or poached. Also try unsweet-

ened apple butter or a “light” spread rather than butter or cream cheese. Portion size matters: When eating out, stop when you’re no longer hungry and take the rest home. The more often you do this, the quicker your stomach will feel full and satisfied with lesser quantities. Exercise: The best facilitator of shortterm weight loss is activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes, 4-5 times a week. Keep a journal: People who record what they eat, when they eat, and how they feel when they eat develop a real understanding about their eating habits, and they’re more likely to succeed. Drink water: Many confuse hunger with thirst. Susan Burke is Chief Nutritionist at www.eDiets.com, the leading online diet and healthy living destination.

Add Dental Visit to List Before a Simcha by SUZANNE DWORNIK Legacy Dental Spring is fast approaching, and things are growing all around us - including West Omaha. One of the most recent additions to West Omaha is Dr. Tracy Brigden’s practice, Legacy Dental. Located in Legacy Village one block South of 176th and Center, Dr. Brigden has a lot to offer the dental community. Besides recently relocating his office, Dr. Brigden has done extensive research to ensure Legacy Dental provides their patients with optimal care with the most modern digital technology and equipment available, and the option for patients to view DVD movies or observe the work being done on their individual television screen. No matter how old you are or what you are

looking for in a dentist, you will find Dr. Brigden and his staff will be able to provide care for a variety of needs. Not only is Legacy Dental great for family and general dentistry, but cosmetic work as well. Dr. Brigden also offers veneers, crowns, bridges, implant restoration, tooth colored fillings, dentures, and partials. Zoom!, as seen on the popular television show Extreme Makeover, is the lastest way to safely whiten your teeth providing noticeable results. If a more personal approach is what you want in a dental provider, you will find it at Legacy Dental. Every member of his staff makes your needs their number one priority. Don’t put off going to the dentist any longer. Let Dr. Brigden and his team take your smile from ordinary to extraordinary, call 39-SMILE today to schedule your appointment.

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February 18, 2005

Ten Steps to Family History by SCHELLY TALALAY DARDASHTI Use the opportunity of a family reunion or simcha--like a wedding or a B’nai Mitzvah--to create a family history. • Begin with what you know. For each person, record the given name, middle name, surname, nicknames, Hebrew/ Yiddish name. Record dates or approximations and places of birth, marriage, immigration, occupation, education. Record as much or as little as you know-even if only a partial name. Include spouses of children and grandchildren. For the deceased, enter a last address, death and burial information. Write dates clearly to avoid confusion about whether it is 20/12/60, 12/20/60, 1860 or 1960.

You probably have boxes of unlabeled photos in a closet or basement, or in albums. Work on labeling; store photos in archival materials. Do you have old letters, passports, documents, in any language? Have you inherited a box of “stuff” and never opened it? Bring ancestors’ pictures when interviewing seniors, see if they are recognized; also ask to see their photos. • Contact family. Write, call, e-mail to see if relatives can contribute information. Ask if they have photos of older relatives; if so, ask for labeled copies. Ask if anyone else in the family has started a genealogy project; someone may have already gathered details and records. • Food, phones, libraries. Ancestors’ travels add family favorites to the kitchen repertoire. Knowing the family food tradition is sweet or sour may point to possible origins, as will unusual foods or variant names. Check phone directories locally and internationally for uncommon names. Visit library map departments and Yizkor Book collections. • Talk about family history--to children, extended family, seniors at holGreat-great-grandson Hillel Schwab, his father, Yoni and iday gathering. Pass on grandmother Aviva, right, visited Bubie-bubie Annette traditions and stories. Fettman, left, last month, and Bubie-bubie-bubie Fannie Ask questions; speak about origins, travels, Chunovic (a resident of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home). names. Videotape holi• Preserve family stories. Family sto- day dinners. ries are likely to have been embellished • Consider a journal when you begin over the years, but there is generally a a project. Record your experiences and kernel of truth. If you cannot find the feelings on the discovery road. It may truth, perhaps someone else can. Record become part of someone’s future stories no matter how fanciful or impos- genealogical records. sible they seem. Was anyone married • Join the Nebraska Jewish Historical more than once? Any scandals? Society, attend a conference. The • Interview senior family members. Do International Association of Jewish this before everyone is gone and you Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) includes become the oldest generation. Seniors are some 85 groups, which offer networking, keepers of facts, stories, traditions, names interesting programs, expert help, referand places. If you have someone to ask-- ence libraries, beginner’s workshops. The run, do not walk--to interview them. Ask next one is July 10-15, in Las Vegas. questions before it’s too late, record • Share information. Draw charts from answers (write or tape). A passionate information; copy and share them, ask genealogist can rival any journalist in for corrections. Give them for gifts: new extracting information. Remember the babies, bar/bat mitzvah, wedding. When African proverb: “When an old person you discover new details, share them dies, it’s as if a library has burned down.” with relatives around the world. Some • Organize photos and documents. may become involved. A former New Yorker now based in Tel Document births, marriages, school graduation and military service. Locate Aviv, the author writes the Jewish photographs, documents, old letters, genealogy column, “It’s All Relative,” for the Jerusalem Post/Metro Israel weekly diaries, newspaper clippings or old relisince 1999; teaches online Jewish genealgious books (check for handwritten ogy classes and is president of Jewish notes). Ask relatives what they have. Family Research Association Israel. Make working copies of originals; store She can be reached via e-mail at: originals safely. schelly@allrelative.net.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 19

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Page 20

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005

Opinion An Omaha Family Tree Some have said that everyone in the Jewish community can trace their roots to five families: the Kulakofskys, the Friedmans, the Monskys, the Kirshenbaums, and the Fellmans. And--if you’re a newcomer, you’ll live here long enough to have a child marry in to one of these families or their relatives. But if you read the front page story in this week’s Simchas issue about our Omaha Jewish jewelers, you’ll have to add the Brodkeys, the Gilinsky family and the Malashocks! Not only have their families been around for 125 years, but they’re still in the same business. That’s not to imply that we don’t have other families who can trace their roots back to early Jewish Omaha. And, as the op-ed piece below simply states: Jewish lifecycle events are opportunities gather family history. Regardless of where a family originated, a wedding, B’nai Mitzvah or a special birthday or anniversary is a terrific opportunity to create a family tree. Who were the ancestors who made their way from the Lower East Side, Galveston or Canada to Omaha? Why did they come here? Did they only have enough train fare for the trip from New York to Nebraska? What made them stay? Who were the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To whom were their sisters and brothers married--and what are the names of their children and grandchildren? What contributions did they make? Much of the genealogical information about our ancestors has been lost--poor record keeping in Eastern Europe and the years under Soviet repression, the death of six million during the Holocaust and the demise of so many of the villages and shtetls where our families lived, and the ravages of Alzheimers and

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dementia among our elderly here in Omaha have all contributed to the loss of our past. Imagine the wealth of information one could gather from those relatives. And imagine what we’ve lost since great-grandparents and grandparents have died. But it’s not too late. Not only are there a number of websites--like the Jewish Genealogy website: www.Jewishgen.org-but information can be retrieved from the Ellis Island website as well. Think of it; you can log on to: www.ellisisland.org, type in the name of the relatives you arrived in this country from Poland, Russia, Germany and elsewhere at the turn of last century, and you’ll be able to access such items as ships’ manifests and passenger lists, from what city your ancestor started his or her journey, the date of arrival in this country and more. Another resource is Yad VaShem in Jerusalem, the memorial and museum to the six million who were killed in the Holocaust. The staff has now posted nearly three million names, with information on many of them--from the cities of birth to the dates (and concentration camp) of death. Log on to www.yadvashem.org to find out more. If your relatives came to America via other ports of entry, you might be able to find that as well. Get help from the Jewish Genealogical Society in New York at: www.jgsny.org. And, of course, don’t forget our own genealogical resource right here: the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. There’s even a group that meets regularly to help families like yours research their past. Just call NJHS Director Renee Corcoran at 334.6442 or e-mail her at:

njhs@jewishomaha.org. The NJHS has already organized such exhibits as the logos of Jewish businesses (see it on the wall between the JCC Canteen and the Friedel Jewish Academy), the 24th Street Merchants, and the Rabbis of Nebraska (in the corridor between the JCC and the Livingston Apartments). Imagine an exhibit that displays the histories of the Jewish families of Nebraska! We’d finally be able to see who is related to whom--but not if we don’t get started today. At your next simcha, ask your relatives to start talking!

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha 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.

It’s All Relative: Passing the Torch

BEHIND THE HEADLINES by SCHELLY TALALAY DARDASHTI Special to the Jewish Press A friend went off to London recently for a family wedding and got much more than she had bargained for. As keeper of the family records, she had brought some forms and self-addressed envelopes for other guests to complete at home and mail back. As soon as she told her table-mates, however, they ripped open the envelopes, scrounged for pens and immediately filled out the papers. Guests at adjacent tables also wanted in, and the caterer ran off more forms! Instead of sitting and waiting at home for envelopes to arrive in her mailbox, she went home with much new information. She’s still receiving e-mails from guests asking when they’ll have copies of updated charts. Many have said that if they had taken the envelope home, they would have forgotten to send it back. Everyone commented on what a great idea it was, sparking conversations about family history and relationships. She’s now planning a bat mitzvah and has decided to incorporate Jewish genealogy. She’ll send out forms to guests, and prepare display charts and maps based on information received. For the past few years, I’ve included a family history chart and a printout report, in addition to the traditional gift. Welcoming a new baby with its family history lasts longer than the cute clothing! Baby won’t get to it for awhile, but the parents will … and the grandparents! For a bar/bat mitzvah, just entering Jewish

adulthood, a tangible gift illustrating his or her place in the family history reinforces Jewish identity, continuity and history. A check is also nice, but after it’s spent, what remains? Gifting a newly married couple with a family history establishes their new link in the chain of generations. An attractive chart may be framed and displayed, and is always a conversation piece. Increasing numbers of families are incorporating family history into all Jewish lifecycle events. Displays include detailed genealogical charts, old family photographs, reports and even kippa collections. Charts, including scanned photographs, are easily prepared with popular genealogy software. Guests can sign them, and create an additional family history document. Ancestral photographs--the older the better --inspire conversation. Remember to use copies (valuable originals might get lost or damaged) and label them with names of people, dates, places. Don’t forget to add the relationship of those pictured to the event celebrant/s, such as “great-great-grandfather.” Family collections of colorful inscribed event kippas can be displayed. An often overlooked source of family data, these items, sometimes spanning several generations, are useful to genealogists, as well as functional. New ideas include kippas printed for family holiday dinners - many families also photograph and videotape these annual events. In Los Angeles, I’ve even seen elegant black suede kippas designed for funerals of family patriarchs, including the English and Hebrew names and dates of death. One California bat mitzvah celebration dis-

Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper Jewish Press Committee Howard K. Marcus, Vice-Chairman; Bobbi Leibowitz, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Finance Chairman; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Fred Tichauer, Immediate Past-chairman; Jean Duitch; Penny Endelman; Kip Gordman; Stanley Mitchell; George Quittner; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Michael Siegal; Nancy Skid; and Melany Weinstine. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press and the Foundation are constitutional committees of the Jewish Federation.

played a large laminated circular chart, signed by guests, along with a display of treasured old photographs (copies, of course!). A New York wedding included a display of the couple’s ancestors’ photographs and family trees. At a pre-wedding dinner, the groom’s father told the story of his mother’s silver candlesticks, rescued from wartorn Europe, taken to Israel and then to Brooklyn. Another very international family prepared historic maps to show the immigration routes of the various family branches from Eastern Europe to Western Europe, South Africa, Israel, Asia, Australia, South America, and where guests had come from. A family tree linked them all. In my own research, new information arrives in batches and spurts; charts are continually revised. Recipients may find themselves with several versions, received at birth, bar/bat mitzvah and wedding. These days, of course, information can also be provided on CDs. In my opinion, however, the “wow!” factor is much larger when holding the printed copies. My personal goal is to disseminate this hard-won information to relatives. Even if a chart is never framed or displayed, or merely stored on a closet shelf, someone will eventually find it and learn from it. These gifts inspire young family members to utilize the data when their classes study history and immigration. Cousins say the charts and reports have encouraged children to ask questions and to interact more with grandparents. They’ve even made copies and share them with other cousins. Continued on page 21

...Jewish lifecycle events are family history opportunities.

Editorial The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, noon, 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 $31 per calendar year U.S.; $35 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. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or e-mail to: jpress@jewishomaha. org.

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February 18, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 21

Life After the Party for the Centerpiece

B EHIND THE HEADLINES by JUDITH BRODER SELLNER How often have you entered the room for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah reception, and been swept away by the glorious table arrangements! You may even have won the stunning flowers at your table, only to find them gone when you return from the last dance. Since similar experiences have marred many happy occasions, a growing number of hosts overcome the “centerpiece snatch” in a sensitive and caring way. They donate the table decorations to appropriate philanthropic causes. A Boston couple hosted an elegant luncheon at an upscale hotel for their daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. “The room looked like a country garden,” recalls one guest. At the center of every table, a large vase held a profusion of flowers, each a distinct arrangement. Near the vases, small signs informed the guests that the flowers would be donated to The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged. The arrangements dressed up the Center’s dining room and cheered the residents through many mealtimes the following week. Judy Davis, president of Party Artistry with offices in New York City and Roseland, NJ, sees a growing trend toward the philanthropic recycling of centerpieces. Specializing in creative effects for special events, Davis applauds the idea of donating useful decorations after an event to those who will enjoy and benefit from them. As to flowers, she recommends flowering plants, which last longer than cut flowers. She has arranged centerpieces consisting of five or six plants attractively bound together. After the event, the separated plants have livened up nursing home residents’ rooms for many weeks. Davis says fruit and vegetable arrangements are gaining popularity, especially at Bar/Bat Mitzvah receptions. These events have become models of tzedakah in their creative approach to centerpieces and their recy-

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Disaster relief should have no politics. The tragic events in Southeast Asia cry out for a unified effort to help the tsunami victims. In a historical breakthrough Magen David Adom, Israel’s red cross society equivalent, has been included in the initial stages of developing relief plans with the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. True to form, the American Red Cross has been the staunchest of allies in MDA’s efforts to participate fully in this relief operation. Magen David Adom in Israel has already sent urgently needed medical supplies to Sri Lanka. Soon, a mission delegation will be dispatched to set up a self sufficient field clinic most likely in a remote area combining resources with other red cross societies. This week Magen David Adom volunteers spearheaded a massive drive to collect food and other supplies from the Israeli public. While Magen David Adom is referred to as Israel’s Red Cross, it is in actuality much more. As Israel’s emergency medical/disaster/ambulance and blood services, it is at the forefront of providing life saving assistance to all the people of Israel. American Red Magen David for Israel (ARMDI) has been partnering with Magen David Adom since 1940. We are it’s only authorized tax-exempt support organization in the United States. Through the dedication of the volunteers of our chapters and friends groups, and the generosity of our donors, last year alone we were able to send more than 20 million dollars to help save lives in Israel. Now, ARMDI has stepped up its commitment to once again help MDA fulfill its humanitarian work. It is our hope that Magen David Adom will continue to be treated as an equal member of rescue societies. It is time that MDA take is rightful place permanently within the family of international responders. In the Torah we learn about holiness. As Moses approaches the burning bush he is commanded to take off his shoes for he is standing on “holy ground.” We have the opportunity to stand on holy ground as well by enabling the Israelis to do such painstaking work and provide relief. To make a gift to the ARMDI Tsunami Relief Fund go to www. Armdi.org. or call the ARMDI Western Region at 800-323-2731; 100% of the designated funds will go to MDA’s Tsunami Relief Fund. Rabbi Daniel Allen, Executive Vice President. ARMDI/American Friends of Magen David Adom

cling to homeless shelters and food kitchens. At a Bar Mitzvah party with a summer camp motif, the centerpieces were gigantic, cello-wrapped campers' Care packages filled with the snacks and goodies that parents ship to their kids at sleep-away camp. The packages contained all wrapped items: chips, popcorn, candy, cookies, brownies--you name it. A few balloons topped off each colorful table arrangement creating a visually festive room. After the party, children in a shel-

Charitable contributions typically made in honor of joyful life cycle events represent the best in Jewish values, worth passing on to upcoming generations. ter snacked on the packages’ contents for days, a luxury they will long remember. Creative table decorations with inherent mitzvah potential go far beyond food. A proud uncle describes his niece’s Bat Mitzvah in Minneapolis. A new book, attractive and fresh in its crisp jacket, sat in the center of each table. A tall pole reaching up from the middle of the book was wrapped in brightly colored ribbons with streamers attached to the table around the book. Note cards on the books indicated their destination as gifts to the synagogue library after the affair. A Bar Mitzvah in Cleveland, focusing on his love of baseball, chose centerpieces comprising a range of equipment for his favorite sport. A catcher’s helmet served as the base for each table’s cello-wrapped package of bats, balls, mitts, and specially designed caps and t-shirts. The centerpieces went to youth groups for their sports programs, and the young guests also received caps and shirts as souvenirs. A young skier’s family used centerpieces of brightly colored, woolen scarves, mittens, socks, and hats. Afterwards the winter clothing went to a child welfare organization.

Other Bar/Bat Mitzvah centerpieces appropriate for sharing with needy children include bundles of toys, creatively and brightly arranged. Small wagons containing an array of colorful stuffed animals, after decorating the tables, went to a children’s cancer clinic. Along the same line, bundles of storybooks, coloring and activity books with crayons, and board games can brighten the table during the festivities and then brighten less fortunate lives in orphanages and other children's facilities. Birthday cakes decorated the tables at a recent party that Davis organized. Each table had a centerpiece unique from the others, all featuring cake. Chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake, St. Honore, fruit cakes, etc., all with artistic frosting designs, perched on pedestal serving dishes surrounded by petit fours, cookies, marzipan fruits. Guests eyed the centerpieces lasciviously only to learn that homeless women and children in a shelter would actually consume the glorious goodies. The guests did, however, enjoy a variety of sweets and birthday cake. A Fort Lauderdale Bat Mitzvah in invited her friends and relatives to gather all the toiletries they received at hotels and sample cosmetics from store promotions. Before the special day, the girls got together and filled baskets with the products, then decorated them creatively. “One was more magnificent than the other, decorated with ribbons, silk flowers, little wrapped candies, balloons, and covered with cellophane,” said the proud mother. After the party, the baskets went to a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Charitable contributions typically made in honor of joyful life cycle events represent the best in Jewish values, worth passing on to upcoming generations. Centerpieces with a social service life after the party offer a tangible example, involving the guest of honor, as well as the child's family and friends, in a true mitzvah. Judith Broder Sellner, a freelance writer in New York, specializes in Jewish lifestyle.

Passing the Torch Continued from page 20 Just last month, a young European cousin attended a family wedding in Tel Aviv, and commented on the chart and printout I had given her youngest sister several years ago at her bat mitzvah celebration. The framed chart hangs on the wall of her room. At another wedding, the data indicated that the bride and groom were actually distantly related. No one knew it until the groom’s father looked at the chart and report and discovered common names and places. In another family, with generations of good cooks, the bride received a family recipe book. Family history software, such as the popular userfriendly Family Tree Maker, makes the process relatively painless, except for the actual research. Each program offers numerous chart-printing and report options, or even an entire book. Digital cameras and scanners are also useful. The extensive information available on JewishGen, at: (www.jewishgen.org), Ancestry, (www.ancestry.com) and a host of other websites can jumpstart a family project. Online Jewish genealogy courses at www.myfamily.com include basic Jewish research and Jewish internet research. Additionally, the proliferation of Jewish genealogical societies makes it convenient to network, attend informative programs and receive expert help close to home. Last but not least, the annual summer international Jewish genealogy conferences offer intensive weeklong immersion courses on a wide range of topics for

all levels of researchers, opportunities to network with and learn from international experts, hear about new developments and meet others sharing common names and places. This year’s event is in Las Vegas, July 10-15, registration is open now (www.jgssn.com). The most important step is to begin gathering information. Once you start down discovery road, you’ll be amazed at what you can find, what is available and how important your project will become to future generations. (Editor’s note: don’t forget about the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and its resources to help you trace your family history. Call Director Renee Corcoran at 402.334.6442 or e-mail NJHS at: njhs@jewishomaha.org.) See Dardashti’s related article: “Ten Steps to Family History” on page 19. A former New Yorker now based in Tel Aviv, the author writes the Jewish genealogy column, “It’s All Relative,” for the Jerusalem Post/Metro Israel weekly (print/internet) since 1999; teaches online Jewish genealogy classes and is president of the five-branched Jewish Family Research Association Israel. She began her family research in 1989, covering Belarus, Lithuania, Spain and Iran, Ashkenazi and Sephardi lines. Shelly Dardashti can be reached via e-mail at: schelly@allrelative.net.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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

Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.org

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.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 jewishnebraska.org

Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 333 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 Torah Learning Center 1313 No. 58 St. Omaha, NE 68132 553.5397

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethlincoln.org

If you’re looking at this space, so are others! YOUR AD CAN GO HERE...

to reserve space, call Allan Handleman, 334-6451.

February 18, 2005

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

Office Hours: MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free Babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush is co-sponsored by Dr. Paul and Susie Shyken, in honor of Rachel Shyken’s upcoming marriage, and by Donald and Maggie Gerber, in honor of the anniversary of Ben’s Bar Mitzvah; Mincha, 5:45 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:46 p.m.; Ma’ariv, 7 p.m.; Jr. NCSY Movie Night, 8 p.m., at the synagogue. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Call the synagogue office for Mincha/Ma’ariv service time. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Call the synagogue office for Mincha/Ma’ariv service time. MONDAY: In preparation of Rabbi Gross’s upcoming lecture on Thursday, watch “The Simpsons” at 5 p.m. on KXVO Cox Channel 11 for the showing of “Lisa the Vegetarian.” THURSDAY: Lecture Series with Rabbi Gross, 7 p.m., “The Simpsons and Halacha, part I: Serious Issues Learned from a Not-So-Serious Media.”

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; K’tantan (K-2), 10:45 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Beth El; Evening Service, 5:50 p.m. Sitter Service is available during Friday night and Saturday morning services, on a drop-in basis, at no charge. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Weekdays, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Jewish Pot Pourri Class, 10 a.m. Bible Study Class, 11 a.m.; Hebrew Crash Course, 11:10 a.m. MONDAY, FEB. 21, 7 P.M.: BEAM (Beth El Association for Mitzvot) Meeting. WEDNESDAYS: PATTER (Parents & Toddlers, Torah, Exercise, Recreation) with Helen Epstein, 10:45 a.m. THURSDAY, noon: “The Most Important People and Ideas of the Hebrew Bible,” with Rabbi Levin. “JEWISH PARENTING 101”: Thursday, Feb. 24, Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., led by Program Director Harriet Einziger, along with guest speakers providing expertise in different areas. Babysitting will be available upon request. To register for any of the classes, please contact Einziger at 492.8550. MAIMONIDES CLASS, Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.: Beth El/JELS class, “To Be or Not to be: Maimonides on the Resurrection of the Dead,” presented by Beth El and the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Educational & Library Services. PASSOVER CANDY SALE BESTT’s PTA will be taking orders for Barton’s Passover candy through Feb. 27. Order forms are available at the BESTT office 498.0904, at the Beth El web site, www.bethelomaha.org, or through BESTT students. SISTERHOOD MAH JONGG GAME DAY Sunday, Feb. 27, 1 p.m. Come for an afternoon of games, a short meeting and snacks. Bring your own group or join one of ours. RSVP: Caryn Rifkin 3347216. LIVING HEBREW CLASS: A new, intermediate-level Hebrew course taught by Susi FrydmanLevin, begins Sunday, March 6, 11:10 a.m.-noon at the synagogue. For more information, please call Harriet Einziger at 492-8550. ADULT B’NAI MITZVAH CLASS: The year-long class begins Sunday, March 6, 11 a.m.-noon, and will be taught by Cantor Gastón, with guest lectures by Rabbi Levin.

BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home SATURDAY: Blumkin Home Shabbat SUNDAY: No Religious School

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Mamarim class, 9 a.m.; Services, 9:30 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 a.m. Mishneh class, 9:30 a.m.; Aleph Champion and Little Scholars Programs. Innovative, interactive learning for kids, 10 a.m.-noon. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Halacha, 7 p.m. TUESDAY: “W.O.W: Women of Redemption--Revisiting the Book of Exodus, with Shani Katzman, 9 a.m. Women only; babysitting available on request; Torah for Teens, 4:15 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Kabbalah:The Mitzvah of Love, 7 p.m. Programs are open to the community. For information or to register, call 330.1800.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Rabbi Debbie Stiel will be in Lincoln two weekends a month. Please call her at 402.416.2321 or e-mail: dstiel@everestkc.net to set up appointments. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Sarah Kelen, with oneg following provided by Marge and Alan Ross. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Sara Friedman. SUNDAY: Hebrew School, 9 a.m.-noon; Purim Spiel Practice,

1-3 p.m.; Winter Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 6300 ‘A’ St. The topic is “Impact of Two Centuries of Colonialism on Islam in the Middle East” with Simon Wood UNL Depts. of Classics. For information, call 483.2213. ADULT EDUCATION Sundays, Feb. 27 and March 13, 10:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Book discussion led by Rabbi Debbie Stiel on Broken Tablets: Restoring the Ten Commandments and Ourselves, Edited by Rachel Mikva.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Marti Nerenstone and Beyt Shalom.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Early Shabbat Service, 6 p.m., Rabbi Craig Marantz and Jeffrey Taxman will officiate using the Union Prayer Book. This service is especially planned so that at its conclusion, you may be home early to enjoy a Shabbat meal and evening; Family Service, 6 p.m., Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. In recognition of the National Scout Sabbath, Girl and Boy Scouts, and their leaders, are encouraged to attend and wear their troop uniforms. Molly Jo Goldberg, daughter of Wendy and David and Scott Ethan Goldberg, son of Cindy and Bruce will celebrate their B’nai Mitzvah at Shabbat Morning Services. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Feb. 20, 10:15 a.m.: Beyond the Aleph Bet. Colleen Kennealy will teach Ivrit. Class is $18, members; $25, non-members.

Candlelighting Friday, February 18, 5:44 p.m.

TUESDAY, Feb. 22, noon: It All Begins in Genesis. Congregant Katherine Finnegan will lead this Jewish Journey Group through an understanding of the stories in the first book of the Bible; 6:30-8 p.m.: Reaching Out to Interfaith Families, facilitated by congregant John Dacey. Cost is $18 per couple. THURSDAY, Feb 24: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Rabbi Marantz, 10-11:30 a.m. PANCAKE BREAKFAST WITH THE PANCAKE MAN Sunday, Feb. 20, 9-10 a.m.: Women of Reform Judaism, Omaha, sponsors a pancake breakfast featuring Jim the Pancake Man. Bring the whole family for breakfast before the children go to Religious School. Cost is $4.25 for adults and $3.50 for children 12 and under.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN AT TLC FRIDAY: Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:40 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; followed by Kiddush Luncheon and Mincha, 1:04 p.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, MONDAY & THURSDAY, 9 a.m. FRIDAY: Early Family Services, 6 p.m. includes portions by our youth preceded by a light supper. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066. ADULT EDUCATION MONDAYS: Introduction to Judaism with Rabbi Stanley Rosenbaum, 7:30-9 p.m. SUNDAYS: (during Hebrew School days): Jewish Law through the Ages with Rabbi Rosenbaum, 10-11:45 a.m.

Tifereth Israel Presents Another ARTrageous Evening of Art by BARBARA KENYON for Tifereth Israel More than 250 pieces of artwork will be available for auction Saturday, March 12, 7:30 p.m., when Tifereth Israel Synagogue will hold its fourth annual ARTrageous Evening of Art. The collection includes works of up-and-coming artists from Latin and South America, Europe, and Asia, as well as those by established masters. Agam, Behrens, Chagall, Dali, Delacroix, Kinkade, Lautrec, Miro, Neiman, Picasso, Raad, Rockwell, Scott, and Vasarely are among the artists whose works will be auctioned. Various media, such as oils, enamels, engravings, batiks, silkscreens, watercolors, drawings, and three-dimensional cast paper will be available. All of the pieces are framed and much of the collection is in

the $50-250 price range. There will be some pieces from the “Collector’s Corner”, valued at $350-5000. Two paintings will be given away that evening, one of those being a piece by the Israeli artist Patricia Govenzensky. Admission to the event is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. This includes complimentary spirits, hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Checks for reservations, payable to Tifereth Israel, can be mailed to me at: Barbara Kenyon, 6229 Barbara Lane, Lincoln, NE 68512. All guests who have reservations in by March 1 will receive two free raffle tickets for the Patricia painting. On Sunday morning, March 13, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., ‘Take a Second Look’ for those who cannot be there Saturday evening. For more information please call me at 423.2678.

February 18, 2005

Ancient Writers View of Israel’s Wilderness Religion

SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE

Parashat T’zavveh Our parasha should have a big sign at its opening: “Fundamentalists breathe deep; all others beware!” For here we are in the wilderness and our Text finds us reading about beautiful clothing for the priests, with many colored vestments, made of gold, blue, purple and crimson yarns and fine linens, and with a breastplate for the High Priest with four rows of three stones each, the stones engraved with the names of the 12 Tribes. There is lavish use of gold and precious and semi-precious stones. The breastplate of Aaron carried the names of the tribes, so that when he enters the Sanctuary, he constantly reminds the Lord about the tribes. The robe that Aaron wears is decorated with pomegranates and bells of gold. His headgear is very elaborate and there is a very detailed description of the installation of the priests, with Moses as the installing officer. It took seven days of sacrifices of animals and meal, with frequent washings of the body, and robing and anointing. All of this was to lead us to understand that these ceremonies indicated the presence of God: “And I will dwell in the midst of the Children of Israel and be their God.” At the same time, the Lord reminds them, that it is He, and no one else, Who brought them out of Egypt. It is this liberating event that qualifies the Lord to be Israel’s God. The reader will no doubt recognize that this appears both biblically and post-biblically, as a frequent qualifier for the Lord to be Israel’s God. It need not surprise us that the astonishing elaboration of both the events and the garments, and other accouterments, are in such detail in the account before us. Later generations, looking back on the ability of the people of Israel to overcome the years of homelessness in the howling wilderness, use their imagination freely in describing the vestments and the installation ceremonies for the priests. We need not hold the writer(s) to exact accounts; we may permit them total freedom in imagining how the Children of Israel, wandering in the trackless wilderness, managed to live by wilderness religion. We must be prepared to read in the Torah both passages of this kind, imagined and idealized, and passages dealing directly with the facts and realities of the experience of Israel in the wilderness. Thus we read these chapters and others like them, knowing how the literary art permits imagination, exaggeration, and embellishment, without the restraints of actuality and reality. Recognizing this, we acknowledge the Torah, not only as a special and wonderful example of religious writing, but an example, at the same time, of a high development in literary art.

To Submit an Obituary Notice: Send full name, age, date of death, location of service and burial site to the Jewish Press via e-mail: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; fax, 402.334.5422; or mail, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. For a form, visit the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s website: www.jewishomaha.org, and click on Jewish Press or call 402.334.6448 for guidelines and the form.

DEATHS JOE FELLMAN Former Omahan Joe Fellman died in Dallas, TX, on Jan. 18 at the age of 92. Services were held Jan. 21 at Shearith Israel Cemetery in Dallas. A graduate of Creighton University, Fellman gave up a career in business to pursue a master’s in English literature and found his passion as a Hebrew educator. He taught thousands of students Hebrew, its literature and liturgy at Congregation Shearith Israel for more than 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Claire Fellman of Dallas; step-son and his wife, Larry Fellman and Lynn Beattie, sons and daughters-in-law, David and Renee Fellman of Naperville, IL, Dan and Esther Fellman of Hod Hasharon, Israel; Len Fellman and Trudy Rubenstein of Berkeley, CA; daughter, Kathleen Champion of Salem, OR; three grandsons; brother, Oz Fellman; sister, Sarah, and sister-in-law, Betty, all in California; sisters-in-law, Florence Shwiff, Estelle Shwiff and Shirley Shwiff, and Marianne Lichtenstein. Memorials to the Joe and Claire Fellman Daily Minyan Fund, Congregation Shearith Israel, 9401 Douglas Ave., Dallas, TX 75225. LILLIAN LEIBEN KURZ Lillian Kurz died Feb. 14 at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home at the age of 90. Services were held at Golden Hill Cemetery on Feb. 15. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Kurz. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Alice and Harold Kosowsky; sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Yangnim Kurz and Norman and Mischa Kurz, all of New York City, six grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; sisters, Sylvia Kristal and Helen Rosenzweig, both of Houston, TX. Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

Beth El to Welcome Newest Congregants During New Members’ Shabbat Service by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator As part of Beth El Synagogue’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration, the newest members of the congregation will be honored at a special New Members’ Shabbat, scheduled for Saturday, March 5. Individuals and families who have joined the congregation within the past 18 months have been asked to help lead Shabbat services, and will join the community at a festive Kiddush luncheon following services, according to coordinator Patty Nogg. “We’re so excited to feature the newest members of Beth El during this special anniversary year,” Nogg said. “This is a great opportunity for the congregation to meet and support these wonderful families, and to show them how much we appreciate their interest in our synagogue. Without new members, we won’t grow!” She also encouraged the entire community to attend the special service, saying “there will be some new faces and some familiar faces on the bimah, and it’s going to be a wonderful morning. Our newcomers have come from all over the United States, and have ended up in Omaha for many different reasons. Each of their stories is worth knowing.” Following the service, a fun-filled, lively family singalong with Cantor Gastón and “Miss Patty” will highlight the Kiddush luncheon, and every child is invited to join in the musical festivities. Forty family units have joined Beth El during the past 18 months, Patty noted, adding that “We’d love to have every one of them participate in the service in some way. There’s room for everyone!”

Jewish Funeral Home to Undergo Renovations by MARY BORT for the Jewish Funeral Home The Jewish Funeral Home building, located at 44th and Cuming, is currently being renovated. Rick Katzman, chairman of this important Project, has assured the community that the building will remain in use during the “make over” and will not interrupt any services offered. The building is not what many might view as a “traditional” funeral home, since services aren’t held there and the administrative office is located elsewhere, at 12604 Pacific St. The primary purpose of the Jewish Funeral Home building is to provide a proper location for tahara to take place, where Chevra Kadisha volun-

teers perform the ritual washing and dressing of the deceased. As is the custom, a body is never alone between death and burial. Therefore, the building also has a small apartment for the shomers, or “watchmen,” who stay with the body until a funeral takes place. The renovations will make the building easier for Chevra Kadisha members to perform the tahara, and will make things more comfortable for anyone else visiting the building. The renovation project includes floor replacement, lighting repairs, painting interior walls and remodeling the waiting area. Work is expected to be completed by the end of February. Once the project is completed, the Jewish Funeral Home building will continue to serve the community for years to come.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 18, 2005