Vol. LXXXIII No. 26 Omaha, NE
Temple Israel Scholar to Use Poetry to Explore Israeli Life by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator From music, literature, politics, and history, adult education students at Temple Israel have immersed themselves in a serious study of Israel this year. Visiting scholars have presented topics ranging from the Bible to what the future holds for the Jewish state. During the third weekend of March, Rabbi William Cutter, director of the Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health, will use poetry to illuminate themes in modern Israeli life. As a scholar-in-residence, March 1921, he will bring to light how Israeli politics and issues Rabbi William Cutter of war and peace affect Israeli culture, particularly poetry and pop culture. The general theme of his residency will be “Israel: Realizing the Ideal and Idealizing the Real.” Originally from St. Louis, MO, Rabbi Cutter is a graduate of Yale University. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 1965. In 1971, he earned his doctorate at UCLA in modern Hebrew literature and comparative literature. At UCLA, “I studied novels in which the protagonist was a kind of ‘counter hero’ as we used to call them,” Rabbi Cutter recalled. They were called ‘the uprooted,’ characters who neither belonged to the Jewish community nor could adapt to the general community.” Since 1965, Rabbi Cutter has taught at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles, CA. He is the Paul and Trudy Steinberg Professor of Human Relations, professor of education and modern Hebrew literature, and lecturer in chaplaincy, helping students learn how to work with people who are ill. Part of HUC-JIR, the Kalsman Institute serves as an educational and training center for HUC-JIR students and alumni and for all people who are committed to spirituality and healing. The Kalsman Institute provides a meeting ground of dialogue, interpretation, and progressive practice, and embodies the deepest values of Judaism and the Reform Movement. In 1970, Rabbi Cutter helped found the Rhea Hirsch School of Education where he has served as the assistant dean and director. The Hirsch School offers fulltime degree programs in Jewish education and a joint degree program with the Irwin Daniels School of Jewish Communal Service. In selected areas, the school provides undergraduate courses for practicing teachers and educators. Rabbi Cutter also serves on the advisory board to the UCLA Medical Center Department of Spiritual Care. Concentrating his current research on the development of modern Hebrew literature at the turn of the twentieth century, Rabbi Cutter also studies the ideological place of the Hebrew language in modern Judaism. While he is here, Rabbi Cutter will explore the tension Israel has experienced accelerating into the modern world and how Israel has developed into a modern secular culture when Jewish identity and expression had always been grounded in religious tradition. Rabbi Cutter’s scholar-in-residency, open to the community, is sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning.
Inside
Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center Earns NAEYC Accreditation by COREY KIRSHENBAUM Accreditation,” said Mark CDC Director Ginsberg, Ph.D., The JCC Pennie Z. Executive Director of Davis Child DevelopNAEYC. “By earning ment Center has recently accreditation, the Pennie earned accreditation Z. Davis Child Developfrom the National ment Center of Omaha Association for the has become a leader in a Education of Young national effort to raise the Children, the nation’s quality of early childleading organization of hood education, and to early childhood profeshelp give all children a sionals. better start.” “We are proud to be NAEYC accredited proaccredited by NAEYC,” grams demonstrate a said Jeffrey Aizenberg, commitment to providing Executive Director of the a high quality program Jewish Community for young children and Center, “and recognized their families. While the for our commitment to NAEYC accreditation reaching the highest pro- Above: CDC teacher Barb Giller works with preschoolers Reid process examines the fessional standards. Gates and Andrew Wine on a project. total program, greatest NAEYC Accreditation lets families in Omaha know that emphasis is placed on the quality of interactions among children in our program are getting the best care and staff and children, and the appropriateness of the curearly learning experiences.” riculum--what really happens to the children. Approximately 10% of the country’s early childhood Health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, physprograms are accredited by NAEYC, and the CDC is ical environment, and administration are all reviewed one of only 26 facilities certified in Omaha. during accreditation, but primary consideration is given “In recent years, we’ve seen a growing number of to the nature of the child’s experience. child care and preschool programs earning NAEYC Continued on page 3
Beth El to Present “Pop! Goes the Cantor” by JOANIE JACOBSON for Beth El Synagogue Looking for a whole lot of fun? Feel like a little flamenco, country, rock ‘n roll, samba, folk, Broadway and American pop Jewish music? Want to help kids at Beth El? If you answered “yes” to any or all of the above, you’re going to love “Pop! Goes the Cantor!, the 2004 Cantor’s Youth Scholarship Concert, to be presented on Sunday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. The concert is rated “G”-“great” for general audiences! All proceeds from the concert benefit the Youth Scholarship Fund and provides young people the opportunity to attend Jewish summer camp, visit Israel or participate in a youth group conclave or convention. We’ll “sweeten” the evening with a delicious dessert reception featuring the best from the Best Little Bakers at Beth El, and as the saying goes, “It doesn’t get any better than that!” “Pop! Goes the Cantor!” will star our very own Popular cantor Gastón Bogomolni, singing his way into your heart with Jewish Pop hits from Morocco, Israel, South America and the United States. The cantor will
This Week: Monthly Calendar: Pages 6-7 Demonstrators Outside The Hague: Page 2
5 Adar, 5764 February 27, 2004
Federation‘s Community Connection Column: Page 3
share the stage with vocalists Ozzie Nogg and Nancy Rips; Mark Sanford; The Bocher Boys: Steve Denenberg, Jim Fried and Gary Nachman; and soloist Dacia Jabenis. Also featured will be Beth El’s “Pop Top Chorus” (David Adler, Andy Greenberg, M’Lee Hasslinger, Jerry Katskee, Susi Levin, Ozzie Nogg, Annelise Ocanto, Nancy Rips, Eadie Tsabari and Holly Weill); the “Junior POP Tops” (a group of over 25 spirited young singers); Beth El musicians Jill Belmont, and Liatte Dotan; a ninepiece band from the professional musician population; our own” band of merrymakers” from USY, and one or two other surprises... “I love to surprise people,” said Bogomolni. “ I love to break the mold and do something a little different. “A lot of times, people get a certain idea in their minds when they think of a cantor’s concert. Of course, cantorial music is very beautiful, but Jewish music has many expressions that are very rich in variety, mood, rhythm, rhyme, melody and history. So I asked myself, ‘What should I do for my first cantor ‘s concert at Beth El?’ Continued on page 4
Next Week: Salute to Beth Israel’s New Building Homemade Treats for “Esther’s Holiday”: Page 5
Two Views on The Passion: Pages 8-9
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 27, 2004
Demonstrators Outside The Hague Mirror Opposing Sides in Middle East by TOBY AXELROD THE HAGUE (JTA)-Holland turned into a staging ground for the IsraeliPalestinian conflict this week, but the streets here were far safer than in the Middle East--and far less volatile than some had feared. Monday was a day of anger and tears as the International Court of Justice began its hearings on Israel’s security barrier. For some Israel supporters, it also was a day of dancing in the streets, as demonstrators from across Europe, Israel and the United States joined hands and danced in their A group of protesters from the Christians for Israel movement hold up photos of Israelis rally for Israel. Later, the same square killed by Palestinian suicide bombers during a pro-Israel demonstration on Monday at The Credit: Jaime Halegua/JTA. used by 2,500 pro-Israel Hague in the Netherlands. Yaron Hyrowski, 30, a paramedic, was one of 12 demonstrators became the site of a pro-Palestinian Magen David Adom workers who came to The Hague. demonstration of slightly smaller size. For the most “It is not our place to talk about politics,” he told JTA. part, Dutch police managed to keep the two groups “We are here to be with the families” of Israeli terrorapart, but the police’s efforts did not temper demonism victims. strators’ vehemence toward each other--and for their Miri Avitan came to the demonstration at The Hague cause. with a photo of her son Assaf, who was killed at his While inside The Hague’s Peace Palace representa15th birthday party in a suicide bombing in December tives of the Palestinians were testifying against Israel’s 2001. “He was celebrating his birthday with his friends security fence before a 15-judge panel, outside the proand all his friends died,” Avitan said. Israeli demonstrators spoke of Israel’s need for a secuAround noon, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rity barrier in the face of Palestinian terrorism. began assembling, many bearing Palestinian flags, signs To make their argument more poignant, the demoncalling for the “end of occupation” and pictures of strators brought with them an Israeli bus mangled in Palestinians killed during the current intifada. Ahmed the Jan. 29 Jerusalem suicide bombing, in which 11 Tibi, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset who is people were killed just around the corner from the close to Yasser Arafat, spoke at the Palestinian demonIsraeli prime minister’s official residence. stration. “People who are here are putting the occupaDemonstrators said a hush fell over the crowd when tion into the important international scene,” he said. “If the flatbed truck bearing the shattered bus rolled in. In a disturbingly familiar image, 10 members of Zaka, you are against the wall, you are pro-life.” The Palestinian demonstration was disbursed premathe Orthodox rescue and recovery service that collects turely by Dutch police. An Israeli television reporter victims’ body parts after terrorist attacks in Israel, stood said he saw some Palestinian participants trying to around the bus in their yellow work suits. physically attack nearby pro-Israel demonstrators. Iris Boker, director of Zaka in Europe, said the bus According to Ronny Naftaniel, director of the Center for had such a strong effect that it would probably be sent Information and Documentation on Israel, a pro-Israel to other demonstrations rather than be returned to Dutch group, said Dutch police reported that several Israel. She said there were several requests from U.S. demonstrators were carrying signs comparing the Star groups to use the bus. of David to the swastika, which is illegal in Holland. On Monday, unlike on Sunday--when Zaka volunShelley Klein, director of advocacy at Hadassah, the teers in Jerusalem had to clean up after another suicide women’s Zionist organization of America, said the bombing in the Israeli capital killed eight--the Zaka voldemonstrators outside the Peace Palace were not as unteers at The Hague served a purely cosmetic purbad as during the U.N. conference against racism in pose: They came to Europe to help convey a graphic Durban, South Africa, in the summer of 2001, which understanding of the impact of terrorism in Israel. turned into an occasion for unrestrained Israel-bashing. Eli Pachter, 24, who has worked with Zaka for three The United States and Israel boycotted that event in years, talked about how he arrived at a recent bombprotest. They did not attend Monday’s hearing either. ing site in Tel Aviv with a friend from Magen David The United States said the international court was not Adom, Israel’s emergency ambulance service. the right forum to decide a political issue, and Israel “We started evacuating bodies in the most honorable way,” he said. “On the scene you become like a robot. said it would not attend because it does not the recognize the court’s jurisdiction in the matter of the fence. Seeing a killed baby--you never get used to it.”
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by RABBI B.P. SIMON for Beth Israel Synagogue If you’re wondering how to spend your evening on Purim, Sunday March 7, look no further than the recently constructed Beth Israel Synagogue. Continuing in the tradition of several years, Beth Israel and Chabad jointly sponsor this year’s Community Purim Party. It’s Purim, and that means… party time! We’re going to read the Megillah, enjoy hamantashen, and share good times with others. Join us for exhilarating Purim festivities as we celebrate the ancient triumph of Jewish survival. You’ll have an opportunity to put a prayer in our very own Western Wall. The wall is being constructed by the students of Friedel Jewish Academy with their art teacher, Julie Phillips. All prayers will be sent to Jerusalem to be inserted in the “real” Western Wall. Spearheaded by Rabbi Gideon Menachem of the Chabad House, the Planning Committee includes Bonnie Bloch, Ross Davidson, Bette Kozlen, and Susan Polack. Everyone is strongly encouraged to come with their own costume. However, make a costume reservation when you call to RSVP and the committee will see to it that a costume is waiting for you when you come to Beth Israel. If you are Notes in the Wall. Credit: Jack Hazut hesitant about wearing a costume, consider this--cash prizes for winners in the men’s, women’s and children’s categories! This committee, led by Sandy Kohll, guarantees great costumes, prizes, and games for the kids. An educational CDROM on Purim will be given to each family. Devra Bram’s Youth Activities Committee is coordinating with Omaha NCSY and the Youth departments of Beth Israel and the Chabad House. NCSYers will assist Susie Shyken and the Decorating Committee. Lynne Saltzman’s Menu Committee is ensuring that not only will your experience be fun, it will be savory and will include Israeli foods. When asked for a synopsis of why we celebrate Purim, Rabbi Mendel Katzman of the Chabad House said, “Purim is a special day when the entire Jewish People were saved from destruction (G-d forbid) at the hands of the wicked Haman. It’s interesting to note that the festival is named Purim, the Persian word for lottery, because the wicked Haman used a lottery to determine on which day he would attempt to carry out his evil plan. The Talmud refers to Yom Kippur as Yom K’Purim--i.e. a day that is like Purim. On both of these days, we tap into a special bond with G-d. This bond is eternal and exists at all levels and all times. On Yom Kippur, we do this through fasting, and solemn Prayer. On Purim, we achieve the same exalted level through feasting and celebrating joyously! “With this event, we are once again looking forward to joining with Beth Israel in their beautiful new building in sharing this celebration with the entire community,” Rabbi Katzman continued. The Megillah reading is at 5 p.m.; the meal & festivities start at 5:45 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Gold Patron is $180, and children under age 12 are free. RSVP to 556.6288 or online: www.nebraskajudaism.com.
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Temple’s Purim Spiel Closely Guarded Secret by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator For the third year in a row, Cantor Wendy Shermet and Stephanie Grossman, Temple Israel director of youth and informal education, are writing another one of their “(very far) off Broadway” caliber musicals for the Saturday night, March 6th reading of the Megillah of Esther. The Purim spiel theme is so secret that the scriptwriters have not even told other Temple staff members, who will be the players in the parody, what it is. The only way to find out what Cantor Shermet and Grossman have up their costume, is to come to Temple at 6 p.m. on Erev Purim. Bring your own box dinner and then take some time to create your own mask. Reservations, which can be made by calling Temple at 5566536, are requested by Tuesday, March 2. Temple will provide beverages. The Purim Spiel begins at 7 p.m. followed by the costume parade and an Oneg sponsored by Women of Reform Judaism who promise to provide plenty of hamantashen. Everyone, “and that does mean adults too -- not just the kids,” Cantor Shermet advised, is urged to wear a costume. In fact, there will be prizes for everyone who wears “the proper Purim attire.” On the following day, Sunday, March 7, from noon until 1:30 p.m., Omaha Temple Youth Group will sponsor the annual Purim Carnival at Temple featuring the return of the giant caterpillar, face painting, a cake walk, a coke toss, a clown, and balloon animals. Just in time for lunch, the carnival will feature pizza, beef hot dogs, chips, and homemade hamantashen, which will be sold along with popcorn and cotton candy. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children will be given a special sneak preview of the carnival at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are four for one dollar and will be on sale before and during Religious School that Sunday beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Argentinian Resettlement
COMMUNITY C ONNECTION by JANIE MUROW Recently, the Federation’s Executive Committee approved a plan to move forward with an Argentina Project. This project focuses on bringing Jews from Argentina to Omaha to work in professional positions that match their education and work experience. Unlike the Russian Resettlement of the 1980s, the Argentineans must have jobs before they arrive, consequently, we will be handling this on a case by case basis. Since Javier Neiman, the Argentinean Project manager from HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) was here in the fall, there has been a lot of interest in bringing people to Omaha. We are excited about the prospects of having Jews from Argentina, and from other cities in the US move to Omaha and we are excited to keep life long residents here in our city. The Jewish Federation of Omaha is committed to offering services to both of these groups. I currently have more than 20 resumes of qualified, college educated candidates looking for positions in business, information technology, education and law. I have begun to network with professionals in recruiting and human resources in an effort to create a system for finding jobs for these individuals. But I need your help. If you have jobs available in your company or business, or you know of suppliers or clients that are look-
ing for qualified employees, please contact me at 334.6566 or jmurow@jewisomaha.org. We are still welcoming newcomers. In the past several months, we’ve identified 10 more families! As promised in the last column, I’ll be introducing new community members. This month I’d like you to meet Dr. Susan Scherl. Susan is a native New Yorker who received her bachelors and medical degrees from Boston University. She spent two years in a general surgery residency at St. Lukes Roosevelt in New York, went on to complete an orthopedic surgery residency at SUNY Downstate and finished her training in Cleveland at Case Western doing a pediatric orthopedic fellowship. Susan was most recently on staff at the University of Chicago but came to Omaha one year ago to join the practice of Huurman, Esposito, and Ginsburg. The move for Susan was an easy one, she likes the quality of life here and appreciates Midwestern people and values. When Susan isn’t at Dr. Susan Scherl Children’s Hospital or the Medical Center, she’s playing in a flute choir at UNO or enjoying an Omaha Symphony concert. I hope you’ll take some time to meet Susan and some of the other new families who have joined our Jewish community. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me regarding questions, concerns or ideas for the Federation’s Community Development Department.
NAEYC Accreditation Continued from page 1 The Pennie Z. Davis staff, teachers, families and lay leadership were extremely focused and dedicated to completing the accreditation process which began in the fall of 2002. To earn NAEYC’s accreditation, a program conducts a self-study to determine how well it meets the standards. After necessary improvements are made, the program is observed by independent, professional validators, and then reviewed by a national
panel composed of recognized experts in early childhood education. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period. “The foresight of key lay leadership and Center staff to actively pursue this accreditation speaks volumes of the high standards we expect for our children and programs at the JCC and for our community,” Aizenberg added. “This NAEYC Accreditation is an achievement of which our entire community can be proud.”
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Passover2004
A Jewish Adventure in the Arts Issue Information Publishing Date: April 2, 2004 Space Reservation: February 29, 2004 Camera Ready Deadline: March 5, 2004 Call Allan Handleman, 402/334-6451, or Ray Pred, 402/334-6559, to be included in this special edition.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 27, 2004
IN THE NEWS Brenda Friedman Ingraham, Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of NebraskaLincoln and member of the Harris Center for Judaic Studies, has received the 2004 Ruth Crymes TESOL Academy Fellowship. This highly competitive fellowship will allow Brenda to study and engage in cooperative research at the summer Academy offered by TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). This summer, the Academy will be held on the campus of Alliant International University outside San Diego, CA. The advertising/public relations firm of Blumenthal Cady and Associates has won two Telly awards at the 25th annual competition, announced Bob Blumenthal, one of the principals. The prestigious awards were for a television commercial for a local law firm and a video promoting auto safety. Justin Jacobson, son of Nancy and David Jacobson, and Alex Epstein, son of Lisa and Gary Epstein, led the Burke freshman A team to a 60-55 win over Central High School on Feb. 9. Jacobson, who scored 23 points, and Epstein, who scored 22 points, also combined for 30 rebounds and 12 assists. The boys formerly played for the JCC Select Basketball Team and plan to try out for the USA Maccabiah Junior Basketball Team for the 2005 Maccabiah Games in Israel. Ben Jacobson, Justin’s older brother, a gold-medal winner and leading scorer on the 2001 USA Maccabiah Basketball Team, scored 12 points on five-for-five shooting and had five rebounds to lead his Division One Tennessee Tech team to a 101-86 win over Jacksonville. Earlier this year, Jacobson played before 24,000 fans in the Rupp Arena on national television against Kentucky. Sandra McCreight, who teaches AP Biology and Chemistry at Central High School, took two teams of five students to the 10th Nebraska Regional Science Bowl in Lincoln. Forty-two teams competed in a Jeopardy-like format, answering questions from all areas of science and math. One of McCreight’s teams finished fourth and also received the Civility Award, given to the team that shows the most respect and courtesy to the other teams and judges. This team was the only one to receive three nominations. McCreight’s second team went undefeated throughout the day and took first place. The team will compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C., April 29-May 4. Alex Bloom, son of Rebecca and Brent Bloom, is a member of the winning team and will make the trip to the nation’s capital with McCreight.
ORGANIZATIONS Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday at the JCC. Play bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Stacey Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share for “YES Talk” at 11 a.m. Following lunch at noon, members of the Red Hat Society will join us for a fun and crazy lunch; don’t forget to wear purple and a red hat. For transportation, call Dee Dee at 330.4272. Call Maggie for all reservations at 334.6521: Mystery Trip on March 11; Venezuelan lunch and Under the Tucson Sun on March 18; Bluffs Run Casino on March 25; Ventriloquist Vern Wirka on March 22; and the Spring Party with Michael Walker on March 29. WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on the Bunch to Lunch day trip on Thursday, please meet at the JCC main entrance at 11 a.m. Exercise will begin at 10 a.m. For transportation call, Maggie Conti at 334.6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Want to have a “Freylichen Tog”? Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC in the Social Hall on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin, 343.1638, for information. VISIONS Reminder: Visions Board Meeting is Friday, March 5, 9:30 a.m. in the Blumkin Home conference room. The place to be is at the Caniglia’s Venice Inn for our Membership Luncheon on Friday, March 19, 12:30 p.m. Cost is $9 and includes musical entertainment with John Rathsam and Esther Wax. Send reservations with payment to: Mickey and Tootie Simon, 8725 Izard St., Omaha, NE 68114. For information, call Harry Alloy at 697.8709. Make check payable to Visions. Deadline is March 12. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES The Scarlet and Cream Singers from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln will perform a jazz and blues review and a 50s show on Wednesday, March 31, 7 p.m. at the JCC. There is no admission fee. The 14member show choir is accompanied by a five-piece band. Call Maggie Conti at 334.6521 for reservations. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Dr. Ken Cowan will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, March 3, noon, at Park Inn Regency, according to Marty Ricks. Dr. Cowan is Director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. Cost is $9 for lunch; $2 for beverage service only. Breadbreakers is open to the community. OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING A crash course in Hebrew Reading with Rabbi Hoffman meets Wednesdays at noon in the Federation Conference Room; Advanced Hebrew Comprehension meets at 7 p.m. at the OCTL Beis Midrash. For upcoming classes and programs, call 981.0569.
ENGAGEMENT LEVY/HERZOG Ian “Buddy Herzog and Amy Ardell of Venice, CA, Herzog and the late Milton and Sylvia Greene, Rebecca and Carol Greene Herzog of Los Angeles, CA, Levy of Great Neck and the late Herbert Levy, and the announce the engagement of their son, Alexander I. late William and Esther Cowen. Herzog, to Deborah K. Levy, daughter of Donald and The bride-to-be and her fiancé live in Jerusalem. A Susan Levy of Randolph, MA. March 21 wedding is planned there. Grandparents are Pearl Herzog and the late Irving
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BIRTHS Janet and David Kohll announce the Jan. 20 birth of their son, Leo Joseph, named in memory of his paternal great-grandmother, the late Leona Kohll Cohn. He has a sister, Anna, age 11, and three brothers, Sam, age 9, Max, age 3 and Jack, 22 months. Grandparents are Sandra and Marvin Kohll, and Virginia and Chester Stefanski, all of Omaha. Nava Levine-Coren and Yehoshua Coren announce the Feb. 1 birth of their daughter, Orli Bina Malka. Malka is named after Nava’s great aunt, Marge Mirkin. Grandparents are Dr. Charles and Nancy Coren of Lincoln, NE, and Rena Meriash-Levine and Steve Levine of Far Rockaway, NY. Great-grandparents are Dr. Leon and Esther Rae Chesnin of Lincoln, NE, and Carolyn Levine of Springfield, MA. Dena and Benjamin Yosfan of Bellevue, NE, announce the Dec. 14, 2003, birth of their daughter, Leah Sarai. She has a big brother, Joshua Cory, age 2. Grandparents are Julie and Scott Lookholder of Santa Clarita, CA, and Hollis and Ezra Yosfan of Northridge, CA.
“Pop! Goes the Cantor” Continued from page 1 “I’m not an American...not an Omahan...maybe I will form a creative committee--consult with some members of the congregation and use them as a guideline for choosing the material. E-mails, meetings, phone calls, ideas, feedback-- my question was always the same--‘What will it take to fill the sanctuary with 500 people?!’ “Joanie Jacobson asked me, ‘What would you love to do?’ I told her, ‘I would love to give people something different, something modern and a lot of variety.’ “I am excited about the result. Pop Jewish music offers many, many creative possibilities, and I have to say, each number is very different from the others. The audience will hear new music from around the world and familiar music from Debbie Friedman, Rick Recht, Shlock Rock and the Kol B’Seder. It’s all about ‘changes’... different moments, different emotions. “I know that cantor’s concerts at Beth El have been outstanding, and I have a big responsibility to keep things at that level. It will be a wonderful experience, and I am honored to have this special opportunity to perform and, of course, to raise money for our kids. The concert is for everyone in the family, everyone in the community and everyone who just wants to have a good time!” Judy Finkle is Concert Chairman, Steve Riekes is Scholarship Chairman; Cheryl Lerner is the choreographer, and Joanie Jacobson is the concert’s Creative Director. All donations are tax-deductible: Patron ($36), Agent ($50), Manager ($75), Investor ($100), and Executive Producer ($500). Contributions include four concert tickets for Executive Producers and two for all other categories. Bring the kids: Prodigy, ages 13-19 ($3), and Apprentice, ages 12 and under ($1). Supporters’ names will be listed in the program if payment is received by March 15. Please mail checks to Beth El’s Cantor’s Concert, P.O.Box 540430, Omaha, NE 68154-0430.
February 27, 2004
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 5
Homemade Treats for Esther’s Holiday Certainly Make the Holiday Oh-So-Sweet by LINDA MOREL NEW YORK (JTA)--Why bother baking this Purim when you can buy mishloach manot gifts from one of those companies that assemble dazzling assortments of goodies? Covering all the bases, these gifts arrive in baskets layered with hamantashen, bitter-sweet and milk chocolates, dried fruit, kosher wine, Israeli music on CDs, noisemakers and masks. But like the Golem of 19th century Prague, that clay Goliath who, according to legend toiled for the Jews, mass produced mishloach manot baskets lack a soul. There is nothing of the sender’s personality among cellophane wrappers, nothing to connect baskets bursting with treats to the electronically printed names on gift cards. Purchased by phone or online, these elaborate baskets pale in comparison to the cookies and small cakes Jewish women once baked at Purim, confections they exchanged with loved ones on small silver plates engraved with scenes from the Megillah of Esther. These engravings depicted how Mordecai, the leader of ancient Persia’s Jewish community, overheard the king's vizier Haman planning to annihilate his people. To avert disaster, Mordecai convinced his niece Esther, who had married the king some time before, to save her people from death by waiting to reveal her religion and Haman’s wicked plot to the king. At the celebration that followed, Mordecai called this joyous day Purim. He implored Jews to remember it as a time of thanksgiving and feasting, to send money to the poor and mishloach manot, portions of baked goods to friends. In America, land of super-sized portions, the concept of mishloach manot has grown larger by the decade, along with television screens. Quantities are up, but the personal touch is down. Although modern Jewish families juggle kids and careers, no one can deny that the taste of homemade confections, even if lopsided and imperfect, are far superior to anything mass produced. Pastries in shrink wrap not only lack air but a story connected to the baker. “I learned my hamantashen recipe from the rabbi’s wife at Temple Shalom in Dallas,” says Mara Levi, now the chef and owner of Mara’s Homemade, a Manhattan restaurant specializing in new American cuisine and Jewish food with a Southern twist. “He was the rabbi who introduced me to my husband.” An active member of the sisterhood, Levi baked for the kiddush with other women. “Each year, we prepared hamantashen for Purim in the Temple kitchen. My kids grew up in that kitchen.” With a unique texture, her hamantashen are as soft as a pillow, more like Danish pastry than cookies. From the first flaky bite, people know they’re tasting hand rolled dough, rather than commercially produced hamantashen. Among Ashkenazi Jews, hamantashen are the most popular pastry for Purim. But in the Sephardic world, recipes abound for phyllo confections. Because Purim is a story of duplicity, a story within a story, sweets filled with fruit and nuts are associated with the holiday. However, baking any favorite dessert is appropriate, especially if you have memories attached to recipes. “My mother used to make Raspberry
Almond Buttons every Purim and Hanukkah,” says David Glickman, a chef who has cooked in kitchens such as the renowned Union Square Cafe and Park Bistro in Manhattan. “She made up the recipe for these snappy cookies, which I feel are even richer than hamantashen. As a kid, I looked forward to them. I furtively popped a few in my mouth when my mother wasn’t looking. But I think she figured it out pretty quickly.” Glickman is the owner of Whisk.com, an online service that teaches people to prepare meals at home using secrets from professional chefs, making cooking less stressful and time consuming, and ultimately more fun. While Glickman got his start at age 11 from a neighborhood woman who gave cooking lessons, Levi acquired her skills from relatives. “When I was in fourth grade, my parents had to sell their house,” says Levi. “We moved in with my grandparents. In this multi-generation setting, my grandmother did all the cooking; my Aunt Frances did all the baking.” Rivaling the richness of ganache, Aunt Frances’ brownies contain a secret ingredient--mini marshmallows, which contribute to their gooey soft centers. In a country where home baking is a dying art, many people are terrified of electric mixers, let alone rolling dough. But both Levi and Glickman teach hands-on classes at the culinary studio of the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, where they expose beginners and more experienced cooks to recipes they can easily reproduce at home. Last summer, the studio’s innovative director, Julie Negrin, renovated the kosher, yet fully equipped, professional kitchen. Inviting restaurant chefs and cookbook authors to share their skills, she offers courses on Thai, Mediterranean, Moroccan and Indonesian cuisine. Not to mention a sushi class and one called Mex in the City. If pressed for time, consider making a few treats for special people. Touched by this delicious gesture, they will sense your spirit inside every sweet bite. RASPBERRY ALMOND BUTTONS 1/2 cup soft butter 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 egg separated 1 cup flour 3/4 cup blanched almonds, toasted and chopped 8 ounces seedless raspberry jam Makes about three dozen cookies. Get ahead: Cookie sheet or sheet pan. Cool and store in airtight container. Cookies will keep for up to one week stored at room temperature and up to two months stored in the freezer. In a large mixing bowl with paddle attachment, cream butter well. Add sugar, salt and vanilla extract and blend together. Add egg yolk and beat until light in color, about 1-2 minutes. Add flour and stir well. Wrap dough in parchment paper and chill for at least 1 hour. To complete, preheat oven to 300º. Divide dough into thirds, and on lightly floured parchment paper, shape into three rolls that are about 1-inch thick in diameter. Cut rolls into 3/4-inch rounds. Dip each round into reserved egg white that has had a little water added to it. Dip into almonds to coat and press cen-
ters with your thumb. Warm raspberry jam slightly, making it easier to handle. Spoon a small amount of jam into each thumbprint. Bake on un-greased cookie sheet for about 20 minutes, until set and barely golden. WALNUT CRUNCH 1/2 cup walnuts 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon salt Makes about 1/2 cup. The nuts can be made up to three days ahead, cooled and covered tightly. Get Ahead: sheet pan, 3quart saucepan, wooden spoon, parchment paper or silpat. Preheat oven to 325º. Toast walnuts on a sheet pan for 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden. Combine sugar, water and salt in saute pan. Bring to a boil and simmer over low to medium heat until mixture begins to caramelize and turn medium brown (about 10 minutes). Add the nuts to the saute pan and quickly toss and fold with the spoon and spread out onto a waiting sheet pan lined with parchment paper or silpat (take care as the mixture is scorching hot!). To complete: Allow to cool completely and roughly chop with a sharp knife. Recipes from Mara Levi HAMANTASHEN Sift into bowl: 11/2 cups sugar 4 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Using dough hook, mix in: 1 cup butter Add: 2 eggs 1/4 cup orange juice Mix until firm dough is made (tight ball). Chill. Use a thick, firm filling. Preferred fillings include poppy butter, prune (lekvar), apricot and raspberry
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jams. Preheat oven to 375. Roll dough out 1/4'' thick. Cut into circles by pressing an upside down glass into dough. Carefully place 1 teaspoon filling into center of circle. Bring together two sides, pinching together. Bring up third side and pinch to other two sides forming a triangle. Be sure to leave an opening in center so you can see the filling. Repeat with remaining circles. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until dough is golden. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. FUDGY DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES 1 cup Crisco 4 squares bakers unsweetened chocolate 4 eggs 2 cups granulated sugar 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 cup sifted cake flour 2 cups mini-marshmallows or 16 oz. marshmallow fluff 2 cups regular chocolate chips Pam Melt Crisco and chocolate in microwave for one minute. Stir with a whisk or rubber spatula. Microwave again for one minute. In another bowl, mix eggs and sugar until thick. Gradually add melted mixture to sugared eggs. Blend well. Add Vanilla and flour. Mix until well blended. Fold in marshmallows and chocolate chips. Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 inch cake pan with Pam. Pour batter inside evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Rotate pan and bake 5 more minutes. Cracks will be apparent throughout. Toothpick may not come out clean. The texture will be moist and fudgy. Cut into squares and store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Yield: 32 brownies.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 27, 2004
February 27, 2004
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Bible Study Group, 11 a.m. at Beth El Kids Snack and Learn, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El Club 56 Event, noon at Temple Israel Beth Israel Burying of Shaimos at Beth Israel Cemetery, 78th & Crown Point, 2 p.m. MONDAY, MARCH 1 YES Program, 10 a.m. “Soul of the Text� Class, 11 a.m. JELS Teacher Training Program, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 2 Adult Education, 8:30 a.m. at Temple Israel JELS/ADL Lunch & Learn, noon BBYO Chapter Elections, 6 p.m. Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel Jewish Academy Sisterhood Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 JELS “Jewish Thinkers on Jewish Subjects�, 10 a.m. “Patter� Program, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Crash Course in Hebrew Reading, noon Adult B’nai Mitzvah Classes, 7 p.m. at Beth El OCTL “Everything You Need to Know About Purim�, 7:30 p.m.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5 Visions Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 6 OTYG Event, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Purim Family Box Dinner & Service, 6 p.m., followed by Megillah Reading and Beatles Megillah, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Megillah Reading, 7:30 p.m., followed by a dairy dinner at Beth Israel SUNDAY, MARCH 7 Social Justice Forum, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Hebrew Crash Course, 10 a.m. at Beth El Bible Study Group, 11 a.m. at Beth El Purim Carnival, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El Visions at the Lied Center in Lincoln for Fame, noon Purim Carnival, noon at Temple Israel Community Purim Seudah, co-sponsored by Beth Israel and Chabad House, 5 p.m. at Beth Israel MONDAY, MARCH 8 YES Program, 10 a.m. NCJW Bookclub, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 9 BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Executive Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El Susan Aizenberg class, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Sisterhood Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El Sisterhood Meeting featuring gemologist Lois Wohlner, “Gemstones of the Bible,� 7:30 p.m., at Beth Israel
THURSDAY, MARCH 11 Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 12 Kadimah Kinnus, Excelsior Springs, MO, March 12-14 Shabbat Across America with NCSY, OTYG, USY and BBYO, 5:30 p.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 13 BELLS Luncheon, noon at Beth El Club 56 Event, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Young Omaha Jewish Singles Bowling, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, MARCH 14 Fitness Conference, 10 a.m. 39 Forever at Bluffs Run, 4 p.m. JELS Jewish Film Festival, 7 p.m. MONDAY, MARCH 15 Open House, 10 a.m. at Friedel Jewish Academy YES Program, 10 a.m. NCJW Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 16 JFS Board of Directors Meeting, 11 a.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. “Live from the 92nd Street Y�, 7 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel
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March WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 Hadassah Board Meeting, 10 a.m. Community Women’s Seder, 7 p.m. at the JCC Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, MARCH 18 Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. JELS Jewish Film Festival, 7 p.m. JOLT II, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 19 Visions Luncheon Meeting at Venice Inn, 12:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. at Beth El Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Bill Cutter, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, MARCH 20 Rabbi Cutter, 9 a.m. at Temple Israel Men’s Club Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El JELS Jewish Film Festival, 7 p.m. ESP Event, 7 p.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, MARCH 21 Rabbi Cutter, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Kids Snack and Learn, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El JYG Event, noon at Temple Israel Boy Scouts Pine Wood Derby, 1 p.m. JELS Jewish Film Festival, 2 p.m. Girl Scout Troop Meeting, 3 p.m. BBG Mr. AZA Program, 3 p.m. OTYG Board Meeting, 4 p.m. at Temple Israel Sunday Funday, 4 p.m., at Beth El MONDAY, MARCH 22 YES Program, 10 a.m. BEAM Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El TUESDAY, MARCH 23 Federation Campaign Leadership Team Meeting, 4 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Jr. NCSY Game Night, 6 p.m., at Beth Israel Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 Rabbis and Presidents Meeting, noon Rabbinic Council Meeting, 1:30 p.m. Grade 9-11 Girls’ Tikkun Olam Event, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Grade 6-8 Girls’ Workshop, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Grade 6-12 Boys’ Workshop, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel
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All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4 Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Adult Education, 10, a.m. at Temple Israel Jewish Perspective on Jesus, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. NCSY Juniors go to “Disney on Ice�, 7 p.m. Israeli Dancing, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El
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Page 8
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 27, 2004
Opinion Reacting Without Overreacting The long awaited (and much hyped) film The Passion of the Christ opened Wednesday to throngs of advanced-sale ticket holders. Now that it’s here, what should the reaction of the Jewish community be? For those old enough to remember (or live through) World War II, the Nuremberg laws, the death camps, the millions slaughtered and the world turning a blind eye, it should be easy to understand why some (many?) in the Jewish community flinch a little when a film like this is released. Last century, it took much less than a film to incite hatred in Europe and the Middle East. So it is hoped that the pundits will forgive Jews for being a tad sensitive when yet another movie appears to blame the Jews for the death of Jesus. Our ancestors know the aftermath of the blame game; to them--and to us--it is and was no game. It meant beatings, shops set on fire, Torahs being torn away from sobbing rabbis, and sometimes (oftentimes) even death. So, yes, we Jews are a little wary when a producer with the worldwide reputation of Mel Gibson dismisses the Holocaust with a throwaway line, “Atrocities happen.” But by condemning the whole project months before the film’s appearance, the Jewish community also gave Gibson the kind of publicity even a movie mogul like him can’t buy--the cover of Newsweek, Time and Vanity Fair; interviews with Diane Sawyer and Bill O’Reilly, op-eds in every major newspaper and of course, in nearly every Jewish newspaper. Maybe if we Jews hadn’t gotten so worked up about this film, it would have played on a few screens for a week or two
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by BENYAMIN COHEN Editor, Jewsweek Magazine Mel Gibson has done the unthinkable. He’s made a nonEnglish film that is poised to become the most popular film in America. Oh yeah, and it’s about some guy named Jesus. At the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s grand opening event, there were celebrities galore. Whoopi Goldberg acted as honorary race starter. Ben Affleck was seen hanging out with some of the pitchers from the Boston Red Sox. But the one celebrity everyone wanted to see was 35-yearold actor James Caviezel. Caviezel, whose claim to fame up until this point was starring in such mediocre fare as Frequency and The Count of Monte Cristo, was being hounded by reporters and fans. And he owed all this attention to one thing. This week, on Ash Wednesday, he became the star of the most popular movie in America. Caviezel, who portrays Jesus in Mel Gibson’s controversial new film The Passion of the Christ, spent the day with NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte who showed his mutual admiration by advertising The Passion on the hood of his racecar. It seems you can’t go anywhere these days without hearing something about Gibson’s new Jesus biopic. The controversy surrounding the film has spurred countless new articles, online
(Founded in 1920)
and then been relegated to late night showings in church basements. Notwithstanding last week’s rantings about Jews by Gibson’s father, Mel has come across in this free publicity as a sincere, believing (if somewhat intense) Christian. And so has the film’s star, Jim Caviezel, who insisted that his faith was solidified by working on this project. So, now what? Do we put more money in Gibson’s pockets by seeing The Passion and deciding for ourselves? Do we bar the door and hide, waiting in fear for attacks that may never come? Or do we aknowledge, as someone dryly remarked, that “this is just a film” ? Here are a few suggestions:
• As Bob Wolfson offered in last week’s Press, call the ADL at 330.1303 if you encounter a situation you believe is antiSemitic. Don’t react by overreacting. • Educate yourself about Judaism; it’s hard to defend our religion and history when most of us know so little. • Don’t be afraid to have civilized discussions with non-Jews about this film, Judaism, Christianity, or other world religions. Talking to one another is good; it’s when we stop talking that we really have to worry. Thank G-d we live in America--where Gibson has a right to make his film, but we also have a right to criticize it.
The Passion Over The Passion debates, television pundit airtime, and it even graced the cover of last week’s Newsweek. All of which is to say Gibson has done an incredible job marketing the movie. What he’s done is practically unthinkable in Hollywood--he’s taken a foreign film (yes, the film is not in English) and turned it into the hottest ticket in town. As of last week, the online/phone ticketing service Fandango reported that The Passion already was accounting for 54 percent of its total ticket sales. AMC Theaters spokesman Rick King says his chain has been selling advance Passion tickets only to groups of 25 or more, yet “our group sales department is dealing with two to three days’ worth of backlog on sales inquiries. We've pre-sold a number of auditoriums, and we will be running multiple prints.” Such demand, he adds, is unprecedented. The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King and Harry Potter are typically smaller, family-size groups whereas the predominant sales pattern here is to churches, Berney says. As Gibson told The New Yorker in its Sept. 15, 2003, profile of him: “Inadvertently, all the problems and the conflicts and stuff--
this is some of the best marketing and publicity I have ever seen.” The anticipation of Gibson’s The Passion turned Sunday sermons into movie reviews, and pastors into publicists. “I’m encouraging you to go see that motion picture,” the Rev. Don George told his Calvary Temple congregation in Irving, Texas. “Go to this R-rated movie.”
While most Catholics have adopted the Vatican’s new policies, some-like ultraconservative Gibson--are sticking with Christianity’s original doctrine. That motif, many fear, will only serve to dissolve decades of pro Christian-Jewish relations. Outreach Inc., a company working with Gibson’s Icon production company, reports to have serviced “most churches in the United States” with trailers and other materials that come on a DVD kit. Outreach’s Web site (passionoutreach.com) is topped by a banner depicting the film's logo plus the line, “Perhaps the best outreach opportunity in 2000 years.” Celluloid accounts of Biblical epics--specifically those related to the story of Jesus--have always caused controversy. Most recently, in 1988, picket lines went up at theaters showing Martin Scorsese’s The Last
Temptation of Christ. At screenings of the film, which depicted Christ being allured by Mary Magdalene, viewers had to go through metal detectors and listen to protesters telling them they were going to hell. At the core of Gibson’s film controversy, however, is the claim that the movie will fan the flames of worldwide anti-Semitism. Numerous articles have been written (many in these pages) about the potential anti-Semitic windfall that may result once the movie comes out next week. At its crux, is Gibson’s placing of blame for Jesus’ death on the Jewish community. That theory, which has rallied anti-Semites for centuries, was shot down in the 1960s when the Vatican declared that the Jews were not culpable. While most Catholics have adopted the Vatican’s new policies, some--like ultraconservative Gibson--are sticking with Christianity’s original doctrine. That motif, many fear, will only serve to dissolve decades of pro Christian-Jewish relations. Last week, Rabbi Michael J. Broyde, the Academic Director of the Law & Religion program at Emory University and the spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Atlanta, took that fear one step further. He feels that the film is only helping lead to the ongoing trend of the Christianization of America. Continued on next page
Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Ray Pred Account Executive Timothy J. Ketelsen Bookkeeper Lori Kooper-Schwarz Production Assistant 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; Nancy Skid; and Melanie Weinstein. 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 constitional committees of the Jewish Federation. 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. 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 27, 2004
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by RABBI DANIEL LAPIN Reprinted with permission from Toward Tradition (As) Mel Gibson’s Passion flashes onto two thousand screens, online ticket merchants are reporting that up to half their total sales are for advance purchases for Passion. One Dallas multiplex has reserved all 20 of its screens for The Passion. I am neither a prophet nor a movie critic. I am merely an Orthodox rabbi using ancient Jewish wisdom to make three predictions about The Passion. • One, Mel Gibson and Icon Productions will make a great deal of money. Those distributors who surrendered to pressure from Jewish organizations and passed on Passion will be kicking themselves, while Newmarket Films will laugh all the way to the bank. Theater owners are going to love this film. • Two, Passion will become famous as the most serious and substantive Biblical movie ever made. It will be one of the most talked-about entertainment events in history, it is currently on the cover of Newsweek and Vanity Fair. • My third prediction is that the faith of millions of Christians will become more fervent as Passion uplifts and inspires them. Passion will propel vast numbers of unreligous Americans to embrace Christianity. The movie will one day be seen as a harbinger of America's third great religious reawakening. Those Jewish organizations that have squandered both time and money futilely protesting Passion, ostensibly in order to prevent pogroms in Pittsburgh, can hardly be proud of their performance. They failed at everything they attempted. They were hoping to ruin Gibson rather than enrich him. They were hoping to suppress Passion rather than promote it. Finally, they were hoping to help Jews rather than harm them. Here I digress slightly to exercise the Jewish value of “giving the benefit of the doubt” by discounting cynical suggestions growing in popularity, that the very public nature of their attack on Gibson
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Why Mel Owes One to The Jews
exposed their real purpose-fundraising. Apparently, frightening wealthy widows in Florida about anti-Semitic thugs prowling the streets of America causes them to open their pocketbooks and refill the coffers of groups with little other raison d’être. But let’s assume they were hoping to help Jews. However, instead of helping the Jewish community, they have inflicted lasting harm. By selectively unleashing their fury only on wholesome entertainment that depicts Christianity, in a positive light, they have triggered anger, hurt, and resentment. Hosting the T o w a r d Tradition Radio Show and speaking before many audiences nationwide, I enjoy extensive communication with Christian America and what I hear is troubling. Fearful of attracting the ire of Jewish groups that are so quick to hurl the “anti-Semite” epithet, some Christians are reluctant to speak out. Although one can bludgeon resentful people into silence, behind closed doors emotions continue to simmer. I consider it crucially important for Christians to know that not all Jews are in agreement with their self-appointed spokesmen. Most American Jews, experiencing warm and gracious interactions each day with their Christian fellow-citizens, would feel awkward trying to explain why so many Jewish organizations seem focused on an agenda hostile to Judeo-Christian values. Many individual Jews have shared with me their embarrassment that groups, ostensibly representing them, attack Passion but are silent about depraved entertainment that encourages killing cops and brutalizing women. Citing artistic freedom, Jewish groups
helped protect sacrilegious exhibits such as the anti-Christian feces extravaganza presented by the Brooklyn Museum four years ago. One can hardly blame Christians for assuming that Jews feel artistic freedom is important only when exercised by those hostile toward Christianity. However, this is not how all Jews feel.From audiences around America, I am encountering bitterness at Jewish organizations insisting that belief in the N e w Testament is de facto evidence of antiSemitism. Christians heard Jewish l e a d e r s denouncing Gibson for making a movie that follows Gospel accounts of the Cruci-fixion long before any of them had even seen the movie. Furthermore, Christians are hurt that Jewish groups are presuming to teach them what Christian Scripture “really means.” Listen to a rabbi whom I debated on the Fox television show hosted by Bill O’Reilly last September. This is what he said, “We have a responsibility as Jews, as thinking Jews, as people of theology, to respond to our Christian brothers and to engage them, be it Protestants, be it Catholics, and say, look, this is not your history, this is not your theology, this does not represent what you believe in.” He happens to be a respected rabbi and a good one, but he too has bought into the preposterous proposition that Jews will reeducate Christians about Christian theology and history. Is it any wonder that this breathtaking arrogance spurs bitterness? Many Christians who, with good reason, have considered themselves to be Jews’ best (and perhaps, only) friends also feel bitter at Jews believing that
Passion is revealing startling new information about the Crucifixion. They are incredulous at Jews thinking that exposure to the Gospels in visual form will instantly transform the most philo-Semitic gentiles of history into snarling, Jew-hating predators. Christians are baffled by Jews who don’t understand that President George Washington, who knew and revered every word of the Gospels, was still able to write that oft-quoted beautiful letter to the Touro Synagogue in Newport, offering friendship and full participation in America to the Jewish community. One of the directors of the AJC recently warned that Passion “could undermine the sense of community between Christians and Jews that's going on in this country. We’re not allowing the film to do that.” No sir, it isn’t the film that threatens the sense of community; it is the arrogant and intemperate response of Jewish organizations that does so. Jewish organizations, hoping to help but failing so spectacularly, refutes all myths of Jewish intelligence. How could their plans have been so misguided and the execution so inept? Ancient Jewish wisdom teaches that nothing confuses one’s thinking more than being in the grip of the two powerful emotions, love and hate. The actions of these Jewish organizations sadly suggest that they are in the grip of a hatred for Christianity that is only harming Jews. Today, peril threatens all Americans, both Jews and Christians. Many of the men and women in the front lines find great support in their Christian faith. It is strange that Jewish organizations, purporting to protect Jews, think that insulting allies is the preferred way to carry out that mandate.
Jon Meacham, who penned the Newsweek cover story, thinks Gibson's film will become the most-watched Passion play in history. "This will be a hugely successful movie, if success is judged in terms of tickets sold and conversations started," he says.” But for Jews across America, who
stand in fear of rising anti-Semitism, this may just be a classic case of the book being better than the movie.
...Most American Jews, experiencing warm and gracious interactions each day with their Christian fellow-citizens, would feel awkward trying to explain why so many Jewish organizations seem focused on an agenda hostile to Judeo-Christian values.
Radio talk show host, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, is president of Toward Tradition, a bridge-building organization providing a voice for all Americans who defend the JudeoChristian values vital for our nation’s survival.
The Passion Over The Passion Continued from page 8 During his speech, which many called alarmist, he predicted that the solidification of right-wing Christian values in this country will eventually result in a discriminatory atmosphere for Jews that is similar to that of the American South in the 1930's. "I do not foresee Jewish sen-
ators and presidential candidates in thirty years," he told the gathered crowd. Also last week, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach went head-to-head in a debate with Messianic Jew Dr. Michael Brown. The event, which took place at Manhattan's swank Hilton Hotel, was standing-room only.
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Beth Israel Synagogue will be burying shaimos at the Beth Israel Cemetery, 78th & Crown Point, on Sunday, February 29th at 2:00pm. Any member of the community who has shaimos may bring it to the cemetery. In addition, volunteers are needed to help bring shaimos from Beth Israel on 52nd Street to the cemetery. Volunteers will meet at the synagogue at 1pm. Call Jean at Beth Israel if you are interested in helping, 556-6288.
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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 http://welcome.to/beytshalom/
Chabad House An Affiliate of the Worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch Movement 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com
Congregation B’nai Jeshrun 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
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org
PERSONAL The Omaha Center for Torah Learning has announced the departure of Rabbi Aryeh and Shari Blum. Their innovative programming will be missed by OCTL participants. The Blums have relocated to Florida.
February 27, 2004
Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, March 5: Purim Service with potluck oneg to follow.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Join us for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service in the Chapel, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m.; We celebrate the B’not Mitzvah of Greta and Stephanie Gross, daughters of Pam and David Gross. Kiddush hosted by the family after services. Junior Congregation for grades four to seven, 10 a.m.; K’tantan, 10:45 a.m.; Evening Services, 6 p.m. SITTER SERVICE During Friday Night and Saturday mornings 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. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, 10 a.m. Session three of eight-week Hebrew Crash Course, in the library; 11 a.m. Adult Bible Study Group, with Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, continues with The Book of Samuel, in the library. WEDNESDAY, 7 p.m.: Adult B’nai Mitzvah class with Cantor Bogomolni. COME & DANCE! Israeli Dance for everyone (no experience required) Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. For information, Cheryl Lerner, 334.8430 or cldancer@aol.com. SPECIAL PROGRAMS THURSDAY, Mar 4, 11, and 18, noon: “A Jewish Perspective on Jesus” with Rabbi Levin. A mini-course open to the entire Jewish community. To reserve a place, please call Harriet Einzinger, 492-8550. Young Omaha Jewish Singles for those ages 18-25 (our newest group) will sponsor a bowling party at Cougar Lanes, Saturday, March 13, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY, March 6: “Alternative Service,” 10 a.m. featuring spirited singing, several new English readings, and an interactive Torah discussion; Mincha, 6:10 p.m., followed by abbreviated reading of Megillah,
approximately 6:45 p.m.; “Purim a la Beatles Karioke” program, 7:30 p.m., with songs, treats and costume parade. Full reading of the Megillah, 7:30 p.m.; Purim Carnival to benefit USY, Sunday, Mar. 7, 11:30 a.m. (see article on page 11).
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday- Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Howard Gendelman and family in honor of Bonnie Bloch’s birthday. SUNDAY: Morning Service, 9 a.m.; Burying of shaimos at Beth Israel Cemetry, 2 p.m. The community is welcome to bring additional items. Evening Service, 5:55 p.m. Weekday Morning Service, 7 a.m.; Weekday Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m. MONDAY: The Megillah as explained by the Vilna Gaon. Have you ever wondered why the lottery is central to the miracle of Purim? Come discover the answer. TUESDAY: Sister-hood presents “Esther: Heroine of Shushan. A discussion group lead by Rocheyl Simon, 6:45 p.m. Sisterhood Board Meeting follows, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Tunes of Purim, 7 p.m.; Disney on Ice at the Qwest Center, a free event to see Jungle Adventures at the Qwest Center. Services will take place in the new building with the addition 52nd St. Chapel Minyan for Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat morning services.
BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home SUNDAY: Hamantachen Baking and Religious School at the Lohmans, 2 p.m. Call for details. March 6: Purim Party and Havdalah, 6 p.m. at the synagogue.Come in costume and enjoy a pizza and ice cream supper, followed by a special outing for religious school students. March 7: Religous School, Purim Party at the Blumkin Home, 1:30 p.m.
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Monday-Friday, Morning services, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Mamarim class, 9 a.m.; Services, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 a.m. Mishneh class, 9:30 a.m. MONDAY Halacha Intermediate level, 7 p.m.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Rabbi Debbie Stiel will be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, all day. You may reach her 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 416.2321 (local for Lincoln), or at rabstiel@aol.com. FRIDAY: Federation Shabbat Service, 8 p.m. at Tifereth Israel honoring the Lincoln Jewish Federation. Iris and Martin Ricks will speak about Jewish view of tzedakah and community building goals of the Federation. Oneg Shabbat will follow services with childcare provided. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 10:30 a.m.; Hamantaschen Baking, 1 p.m. Volunteer bakers are invited to sign up during Friday Oneg. Hamantaschen baked at home may be donated and brought to Temple kitchen during this time, too. Contact Marc Shkolnick for more information. SUNDAY: Megillah Reading Practice, 1-4 p.m. INTRODUCTION TO HEBREW Are you interested in a beginning Hebrew class if offered? If you are please call Temple secretary, Kristi at 435.8004.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; led by Andy Greenberg
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific. Join us for relaxation and conversation, 11:45 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. Choirs from Temple Israel and St. Paul United Methodist Church blend voices in a Psalm service.
Friday, February 27, 5:54 p.m. Jerry Brabec, Minister of Music at St. Paul, conducts. The choirs will sing Psalm 71 by Zingarelli, Adonai Ma Adam, Psalm 23 by Fromm, Psalm 98 by Braun and Psalm 1212 by M. Schlitehard. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30 -10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Zachary Harris, son of Marti and Jim Harris, celebrates his Bar Mitzvah at Shabbat Services. SITTER SERVICE Available at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar/bat mitzvah, as well as Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Please make a reservation through the office so we may plan accordingly. Cost is $2 per family. Sorry, no facilities for infants. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY: Text study with Rabbi Azriel on The Guide for the Perplexed, the writings of Maimonides, 8:30-10 a.m. THURSDAY: Adult Study with the Clergy with Rabbi Craig Marantz. PURIM BOX DINNER AND MEGILLAH READING SATURDAY, March 6: Bring your own Box Dinner, 6 p.m.; Purim Spiel, costume parade and Megillah reading, 7 p.m. For reservations: tisrael@qwest.net or call 556.6536. SUNDAY, March 7, noon: Purim Carnival, see article on page 3.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m.; Jewish Federation Shabbat, 8 p.m. Iris and Martin Ricks will speak about Jewish view of tzedakah and community building goals. Oneg follows with desserts and childcare provided. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with a Kiddush to follow afterward; Junior Congregation, 10:15 a.m.; WEDNESDAY: The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. SUNDAY, March 7: Purim Carnival. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 13, 7:30 p.m., for the third annual ARTrageous Evening of Art.
Religious School Sponsoring ‘Fun’draiser Sunday at Temple
BAR MITZVAH Jory Goldstrom, son of Carol and Larry Goldstrom, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, March 6 at Temple Israel. Jory is a seventhgrade honor roll student at Lewis and Clark Middle School. He is a five year veteran with the 2002 AAU National Champion Omaha Gladiators Baseball Team. He also has played four years at linebacker for the North Omaha Boy’s Club Jaguar Football Team.
Candlelighting
For his mitzvah project, he assisted elderly residents of the Masonic Manor every week with trash removal. Donations he collected were given to the Faces of Homelessness, which is art produced by homeless children in our area and raises awareness of their situation. Jory has a brother, Benjamin. His grandparents are Betty Goldstrom and the late Bernie Goldstrom, and Irene Cummings.
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Just in time for Purim costumes, National Teacher Appreciation Week in May, and even Mother’s Day, Temple Israel’s Religious School Partnership is sponsoring a FUNdraiser and bake sale on Sunday, Feb. 29, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Temple Israel. Kathy Beauchaine, chairman of the Religious School Partnership, said, there will be “a large selection of pre-owned costume jewelry including
necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. We also have some scarves and purses for sale. And we’re keeping our prices low!” Beauchaine and Deidre Evans, who is also helping on the ‘FUNdraiser’ and bake sale, are planning to use the proceeds to help pay for a color laser printer for Temple. The entire community is welcome to attend the sale. For more information or to make donations to the FUNdraiser, call Beauchaine at 397.8446.
February 27, 2004
Purim Passion
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI DEBBIE STIEL Purim Oh, isn’t life interesting! Here comes Purim at about the same time that Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ reaches the movie theaters. It is perfect timing. I believe the story of Esther has important lessons for us in reacting to this film. Megillat Esther teaches the importance of Jewish solidarity and courage in the presence of anti-Semitism. Esther, as Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz points out, is any Jewish woman. She is not one born of special status or trained for a particular mission or role in life. She is simply Esther, a Persian Jewish woman, with a Hebrew name of Hadassah. Yet life takes her in a direction she probably could not have imagined early on. Even when she tries out for the role of queen, there is no reason to believe that she sees herself as on a mission to be a lookout (let alone savior) for the Jewish people (though Mordechai may intend for her to be such). Still, when she is needed, Esther rises to the task. She does not wait for God or another person to act. Knowing that her actions could result in her swift execution, she nonetheless courageously devises a way to speak up for the Jews. In doing so, she saves us all. This story, it seems to me, offers guidance to us on the arrival of this new Passion movie. It says that we may not be a rabbi or a designated spokesperson for
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
CORRECTIONS the Jewish community, but each of us is called upon to be an Esther. That is--when we see or hear of people attacking our community, we have the responsibility to summon the courage to speak out in defense of all Jews. Undoubtedly this movie will elicit some negative remarks about Jews, it already has. When it does, we need to speak out. None of us knows yet and we may not know for years to come, whether this depiction will fan anti-Semitism. It certainly popularizes, in a very graphic and violent way, the story of Jesus’ death. And that story, as told in the Gospels, places the blame for Jesus’ death on the Jews. It is important that we know that scholars do not believe the account to be historical and that even the Catholic church (which certainly reveres the Gospel account) is careful today to teach that one cannot blame all Jews for Jesus’ death. It is also worth noting that in the story of Esther, King Ahasuerus does not hate the Jews. He just does not care enough to save them! Similarly, Mel Gibson may not be anti-Semitic. He may have truly meant no harm to the Jews in creating this film. Yet his belief that it will not be hurtful or detrimental is naïve. The Gospel account is without doubt anti-Jewish, and Gibson has not done much to temper this in his depiction. Did the writer of Esther already envision a Mel Gibson? He or she doubtlessly knew and wanted to alert us to the harm that can be caused unintentionally. I hope that today we will stand tall and proud as Jews. On Purim, let us dance and parade in costume and shout “boo Haman.” And let us make sure that we learn from the wisdom and bravery of Mordechai and Esther, who knew to be watchful and carefully responsive.
Martin Graetz’s photo was incorrectly identified in last week’s “Where Are They Now?” feature. Also Ann Moscovits was incorrectly identified as Beth Israel’s Building Committee Chairman; she is the Building Design Committee Chairman. The Jewish Press regrets the errors.
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DEATHS WILLIAM KULLY William D. Kully died Feb. 20 at the age of 58. Services were held Feb. 23 at Temple Israel with burial at Fisher Farm Cemetery. He was an executive and insurance broker with the Grace Mayer Insurance Company. He is survived by his wife, Leslie; children, Tim, Cathy, and Denese; grandchildren, Cameron, Sydney and Devlin; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Sandi Kully and Bob and Connie Kully; and father-in-law, Irving Forbes Memorials to Temple Israel or the American Cancer Society. ANN CANTOR MARGOLIN Ann Margolin died Feb. 22, four weeks shy of her 94th birthday. Services were held Feb. 25 at Beth El Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Julius Milton “Doc” Margolin.
She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Drs. Jerry and Ann Margolin; daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Joe Berfanger and Ina and Dik Weiner; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Memorials to the Young Energetic Seniors Club, c/o Maggie Conti, Jewish Senior Services. FREDA RADUZINER Former Omahan Freda Raduziner died Feb. 20 in New Hampshire at the age of 98. Services were held Feb. 24 at Beth El Cemetery. A longtime volunteer for Beth El Sisterhood, she also drove the bloodmobile van for the American Red Cross. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill. She is survived by her son, Jerry Raduziner, Phoenix, AZ; daughter and son-in-law, Doris and Milton Marks, Bedford, NH; five grandcildren; six great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Esther Singer. Memorials to Beth El Synagogue.
Susan Aizenberg to Present Beth El’s USY Promises Purim Carnival for All Poetry of the Holocaust by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Susan Aizenberg, an assistant professor at Creighton University, will present Poetry of the Holocaust on Tuesday, March 9, 7 p.m., at Temple Israel. Winner of the 2003 Distinguished Artist Award from the Nebraska Arts Susan Aizenberg Council for exemplary achievement and the Sixth Annual Larry Levis Reading Prize from the Department of English at Virginia Commonwealth University for her book-length collection, Muse, Aizenberg will introduce “poetry of witness” at Temple Israel. Written in response to the Holocaust, the poetry will primarily feature survivors including Nelly Sachs, Miklos Radnoti, Primo Levi, Tadeusz Borowsky, and Irena Klepfitz whose works will be read and discussed. Muse was also the recipient of the Crab Orchard Review Poetry Prize in 2002 and the 2003 Nebraska Book Awards Competition for poetry. Aizenberg is also co-editor of The Extraordinary Tide: New Poetry by American Women (Columbia UP 2001). She holds a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from Vermont College and has also taught at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her poetry has appeared in many journals.
by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue Beth El’s USYers have been gathering donated items from local businesses and individuals to assure a successful raffle at this year’s Purim Carnival, set for Sunday, March 7, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., in the synagogue social hall. The teens also are working on plans for new games and activities to provide entertainment for members of all ages. They will meet for a “Hype Up Night,” on Thursday to finalize their responsibilities. Our Purim Carnival is “a wonderful opportunity for the entire congregation to share,” said USY President Sam Edelstein. He pointed out that food will be on sale for everyone, regardless of age, to purchase and enjoy. In addition, there will be a sale of pareve baked goods prepared by USYers with the help of Sisterhood. The Purim Carnival planning committee includes Brian Altman, Laura Shkolnik, Shira Kronick, and Joey Kahn, representing Kadima. Michael Hoberman and Larry Novak are serving as adult chairmen. As in past years, Edelstein said, most of the Carnival proceeds will go directly to the BILU chapter’s fund for Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) activities. New this year, any additional monies will be used toward scholarships to help with convention costs and membership dues. The Purim carnival is considered a USY effort, but the teens have received assistance from the Beth El Sisterhood, Men’s Club, and Hazak. Edelstein expressed gratitude to them on behalf of his peers. For more information, call 492-8550. Raffle tickets may be purchased by contacting members of USY or Kadima.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 27, 2004
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