Vol. LXXXIII No. 33 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Celebrate Israel!
25 Nisan, 5764 April 16, 2004
Holocaust Institute Provides Community Programming
by RACHEL BLUM JCC Program DIrector Word has it that the entire Jewish community is excited about this year’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) Celebration, and members of a variety of Jewish organizations in Omaha have come together to plan what truly has become a collaborative project. This year marks the 56th year of Independence for Israel, and the community wide celebration is scheduled for Sunday, April 25, 12:30-3 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. The afternoon will begin with a moment of silence for Israel’s fallen soldiers, followed by Cantor Wendy Shermet singing “Hatikvah” to commemorate Yom HaZikaron, which begins at sundown. Festivities to celebrate Israel’s independence will follow immediately after, with Israeli food, crafts, dancing, and much more. With a new committee of representatives comes new programming, and this year, we are running activities for people of all ages and interests, including the Beth El “Come and Dance” group, Roses from Israel sales, storytelling and drama workshops with instructors from the Rose Theater, a cooking class, and a song session with Cantor Gastón Bogomolni. The Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith will once again host their Trivia Quiz Contest, and this year they are adding a $50 prize to the top scoring high school team. We’re also bringing the hottest new thing in Omaha to our gymnasium--remote control stock car racing--where participants can race remote controlled cars around a 28-foot track! And what’s a celebration of Israel without our
Partnership With Israel programming? Omaha and the Western Galilee, our partnered community in Israel, have been engaged in cooperative activities for more than five years, with great success. Jan Schneiderman, Partnership With Israel CoChairman, has been actively involved with the Partnership since its inception. “Our Partnership with the Western Galilee brings American and Israeli Jews together,” Schneiderman explained. “In fact, many members of the Omaha Jewish community have made dear friends with people in the Western Galilee region. Establishing and nurturing these people-to-people relationships is really what the Partnership with Israel is all about. “Who can forget the team of young athletes who came from the Western Galilee to participate side-byside with our own athletes during Omaha’s JCC Maccabi Games? I encourage everyone to stop by our booth and see some of the amazing ways we are impacting the lives of the people in our region,” Schneiderman added. Partnership activities planned for Yom Ha’Atzmaut include “E-Pals”, which will allow Omaha families to connect with families in the Western Galilee through email. We will also be selling jewelry and art pieces from Israeli artists. Alex Fleischer, Omaha’s tour guide in Israel, will have his own original artwork displayed in the JCC Gallery at this time, as well. Of course, we will have a moonwalk and super slide as well as Judaic arts and crafts projects…it just wouldn’t be Yom Ha’Atzmaut without them! For more information, contact me at 334.6404.
Israeli Guide Also Accomplished Artist; Exhibit Opens for Yom Ha’atzmaut
Jewish Press Launches ‘jBay’
by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director Many Omahans know Alex Fleischer as Omaha’s Israeli Missions Guide, but not many people know that he is an artist with extraordinary talent. Fleischer brings an exhibit of his work to Omaha for a limited engagement show and sale beginning with an Artist’s Reception on Thursday, April 22, 7-9 p.m. at the Gallery in the Jewish Community Center. The show and sale continue through May 2. Fleischer interprets the unique landscapes of Israel through diverse mediums including oils, watercolors and India ink. “Mea Shearim” by Alex Fleischer, India ink In addition to original pieces, Fleischer is bringing a selection of limited edition lithographs. In describing the inspiration for his artwork, Fleischer explained, “I try to eternalize the land and seascapes of Israel. Some of them are vanishing and some have already vanished. These I do from memory, but I have seen all of them at some time in my life.” The show is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. For more information, please contact me at 334-6431 or pmonsky@jewishomaha.org.
Inside
by CAROL KATZMAN Editor, The Jewish Press Got season tickets to the Huskers football games to sell? What about a used car in great condition? Are you a teenager offering your services as a babysitter or to mow lawns? Do you tutor for the SATs, Hebrew school or middle-school math? Need a ride to Kansas City, Des Moines, or to Lincoln? If you’ve got goods or services to sell, “jBay classifieds”--a new advertising feature of the Jewish Press is where you’ll want to place your ad! “You don’t have to be in business to advertise here,” explained Joanie Jacobson, Chairman of the Jewish Press Committee. “In fact, ‘jBay’ is reserved strictly for individuals.” The brainchild of Jewish Press Finance Chairman Scott Meyerson, “jBay” has already been approved by the Press Committee and registered as a service mark with the State of Nebraska. “Because businesses and corporations have the opportunity to place larger ads in the Press to market their goods and services, the Press Committee chose to launch ‘jBay’ to attract people who don’t necessarily need a long-term advertising contract, but still have something to sell,” he said. As part of the launch, the Press is offering a special rate for any individual’s first ad of $18 for up to 36
This Week: Hungary 51 Years Later: Page 5 Lincoln Center: Krivosha Lecture: Page 3
Friedel Students Win Speech Contest: Page 6
by BETH SELDIN DOTAN Director, Institute for Holocaust Education The Institute for Holocaust Education has kept staff and volunteers very busy for the past eight months. Schools, teachers and individuals have benefited from a variety of programming focused on raising Holocaust awareness and education on many levels. The message: to understand that Holocaust issues do not exclusively belong to Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), but should be a means to better comprehend this important commemoration. As we search to find a way to pass on the legacy of those tragic years in Jewish history, the Institute strives to find avenues to collaborate with Jewish organizations Lincoln: Sunday, April 18, 4 p.m. and with the at the State Capitol general pop- Sioux City: Sunday, April 18, 7 p.m. ulation. at Congregation Beth Shalom. Grants in Omaha: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 from 7 p.m. at Temple Israel the Federation Foundation, the Nebraska Humanities Council, the Cooper Foundation of Lincoln and other private sources, have assisted the Institute in bringing a variety of successful educational programs to the area. A series of lessons at the Friedel Jewish Academy has brought the day school students to the Pennie Z. Davis Gallery for Education. The exhibit “Triumph of Life: Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto” provided the background to talk about Jewish spiritual and physical Continued on page 2
Yom HaShoah Commemorations
words. This offer is good until the end of June, when the rate will be $22.50 (30¢ for each additional word). “Each ad in ‘jBay’ is a separate boxed ad under the ‘jBay’ header’ and will be prominent enough to attract the attention of our readers and buyers,” Meyerson added. “You’ll get more than double the words and larger print for less money than in our local daily newspaper!” “We’re hoping to attract individuals, families, college students, and teens who have something to sell--either a welcome service like tutoring, babysitting, running errands or performing odd jobs--or unique items like College World Series baseball tickets, a fur coat, or baby furniture that’s no longer needed but still in good condition,” Jacobson continued, noting that advertisers may place more than one ad in an issue--or run the ad more than once, for an additional 10% discount. “Just call the Press office at 334.6448 and any staff member can help you write your ad. Just remember, it’s $18 for 36 words--so be concise-and don’t forget to include your name and phone number so buyers can reach you directly!” Next month, the Jewish Press will launch a special Real Estate Section and later in spring, a Restaurant Menu Guide. “These are all features requested by our readers,” Jacobson added. “We’re pleased we can respond to our readers’ and advertisers’ needs!”
Coming This Month: Mother’s Day Gift Guide on April 30 Read It & Eat Column Features Cooking for Mom: Page 7
Omaha to Host AJHSA Symposium: Page 12
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 16, 2004
Holocaust Institute
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, APRIL 16 Tot Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, APRIL 17 Temple Israel OTY Regional Conclave, 8:30 a.m. HAZAK Shabbat, noon at Beth El
C SUNDAY, APRIL 18 L Bible Study Group, 11 a.m. at Beth El I Visions at Mahoney State Park, 11 a.m. P
C L I P
MONDAY, APRIL 19
& YES Program, 10 a.m.
&
S A V E
S A V E
“Soul of the Text” Class, 11 a.m. BEAM Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m. JELS Teacher Training Program, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, APRIL 20 Adult Education, noon at Temple Israel JELS/ADL Lunch & Learn, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Sisterhood Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El JSS Program, 7 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 Hadassah Board Meeting, 10 a.m. “PATTER” Program, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Crash Course in Hebrew Reading, noon Rabbis’ and Presidents’ Meeting, noon Rabbinic Council Meeting, 1:30 p.m. Adult B’nai Mitzvah Classes, 7 p.m. at Beth El Yom HaShoah Community Service, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El
Second Generation Holocaust Survivor to Highlight Yom HaShoah Sunday at Temple Israel
THURSDAY, APRIL 22 C L USY Spring Kallah, Cedar Rapids Iowa, April 22-25 I Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. P Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel
C L I P
& JFS Event, noon
&
Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century with Rabbi Levin,noon at Beth El
S A V E
Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. JFS “Becoming a Love and Logic Parent”, 6 p.m. LOVE Auxiliary Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Adult Education, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel JOLT II, 7 p.m. Israeli Dancing, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El
S A V E
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)
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7 Locations
Continued from page 1 forged between our Israeli guests and their community resistance during the war years. Through an activity hosts. Host families--Phillips, Hoffmans, Ricks and our using different kinds of boxes, the students wrote let- family--developed strong ties with their guests. These ters to each other about what they thought to be the relationships are the basis for long-lasting successes of dreams of those people living in the Nazi ghettos. They Partnership 2000. spoke about freedom and butterflies and imagery School outreach has been the stronghold of the beyond the closed walls. Institute for Holocaust Education since its inception in Further discussions with Friedel students and staff 2000. Refusing to let snow, ice and school closings about issues of the Holocaust, have also resulted in deter her, Judith Meisel, Holocaust survivor and civil understanding the importance of acceptance and com- rights activist from Santa Barbara, CA, braved the bating prejudice. Nebraska winter during the last week of January 2004 The musical group “Kolit: Voices of the Generations”, to speak to nearly 5,000 Omaha and Lincoln high second generation musicians from the Ghetto Fighters’ school students, students at Creighton University and Kibbutz, came to the Midwest during mid-winter, to visit the Jewish Community of Lincoln. Meisel’s message and entertain three Partnership 2000 consortium commu- was clear and understood by the students: “Hate takes nities: Omaha, Des Moines and Dayton. up space.” Students and community members were The concept of the visit was to bring the music from enlightened and inspired by Meisel’s attitude that “each the ghettos of Europe and the songs of Eretz Israel to of us can make a difference in this world.” our communities in order to share the history and lesThe Institute for Holocaust Education is a developing sons of their origin with young and old alike. More than a simple performing art program, Kolit’s concerts resonated with the message of the land of Israel that is still the root of the Ghetto Fighters’ Kibbutz and those who live there. A carefully planned itinerary was the ultimate success of the Kolit visit. Each community hosted Kolit concerts during their tour. More than 200 guests attended the concert in Omaha at the JCC theatre. To educate and connect to the far-reaching communities of our Partnership 2000 consortium, professional and lay leaders planned public school and Jewish school visits, sharing prepared curriculum long before Kolit’s arrival. This educational piece provided lessons about the lyrics of the songs to teachers who, in turn, prepared their students prior to the visits. During the tour, the group had the opportunity interact with smaller school classes and share information. In addition to these school visits, Kolit met with members of the host communities who shared common vocations. In Omaha each member of Kolit visited a business or professional setting and enjoyed tours and Top left photo: Fred Meisel, left, educator and speaker Judith Meisel, and Eli and meetings with directors of organizaAnn Modenstein discovered at an event in Lincoln that the women both lived in the tions including: Jewish Family Kovno Ghetto during World War II and were both sent to the Stutthof Concentration Services, the Omaha Public Library, Camp at about the same time. Right: Friedel student Jesse Reno observes the Millard West High School Music “Triumph of Life” exhibit at the Pennie Z. Davis Gallery for Holocaust Education. Department, South High School Art Right: Kolit musicians joined South High staff following short concerts and discusDepartment, the Omaha Children’s sions with students. Museum and One Drake Place. These meetings helped open a new dialogue for the organization whose objective is to teach students, Partnership with the hope that the connections will teachers and all people the lessons of the Holocaust, grow and develop into greater interest and under- while offering avenues to apply these lessons to life standing between Israeli and American communities. and society, thus making the world a better place. For Finally, the most satisfying outcome of the more information about upcoming programs, call me Partnership concept are the friendships that have been at: 330.1303.
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “As a Second Generation Survivor,” wrote Julie Kohner in the foreword of the book written by her mother Hanna which records her experiences before, during and immediately following the Holocaust, “ I have struggled with the questions: Who will bear witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust in the future? How will we teach children about this historical period without the immediacy of personal experience?” “Some years ago, I realized that my parents left me a unique legacy when they wrote and published their story,” Kohner continued. “I carefully preserved all artifacts and letters that documented their history.” Through her parents’ book, she began to teach children and adults about the Holocaust. “I developed a program called ‘Voices of the Generations’ that enables me, using memorabilia and a unique video, to share my parents’ story firsthand with people of all ages and faiths.” She will share it with the Omaha Jewish community on Wednesday, April 21, 7 p.m., at Temple Israel. The annual Yom HaShoah observance, sponsored by
Jewish Educational and Library Services (JELS), Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue, and Temple Israel, will include a candle lighting ceremony and singing by Kol Rina, Temple’s adult choir. “Shoah is part of all of us,” said Guy Matalon, executive director of JELS. “We are all shaped by what happened, and it affects our Jewish life. The whole Jewish world was affected by it, and hence, we come together as a people, as a community to remember and to reflect.” Ann Kibel Schwartz, former director of education at Temple Israel, has seen “Voices of the Generations.” She said, “As a child of Holocaust survivors and as a Jewish educator, I thought that I had heard it all; but Julie’s ‘Voices of the Generations’ spoke to me in a different way, especially attuned to my American ears.” A writer for the Los Angeles Times described Kohner’s presentation as “unforgettable.” Hanna Kohner’s book, Hanna and Walter, A Love Story, is for sale at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library for $7. Although the book will not be for sale at Temple Israel on the night of the presentation, book order forms will be available that evening.
April 16, 2004
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Temple Scholar to Reflect on Finding Meaning in Living the American Dream
LINCOLN CENTER John Felstiner Speaks Next Week for Annual Krivosha Lecture by CHERYL KRUID Project Assistant, Harris Center for Judaic Studies Given the words, images and music that somehow emerged from the era of the Holocaust, how does art bear on history? Does an imaginative response amount to creative, cultural, spiritual resistance? Those questions--and others-- will be addressed by Professor John Felstiner at the annual Norman and Helene Krivosha Lecture on Thursday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., at the Great Plains Art Collection, 1155 ‘Q’ St. in Lincoln. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is entitled, “Still Songs to Sing: Poetry, Art and Music from the Holocaust.” Felstiner is professor of English at Stanford University. In a distinguished career devoted mainly to Jewish Studies and to literary translation, Prof. Felstiner has published a number of books, including Translating Neruda: the Way to Macchu Pichu, which won the Commonweatlh Gold Medal. He is also the author of Selected Poems and Prose of Paul Celan, which won translation prices from the Modern Language Association, American Translators’ Association and PEN West, and Paul Celan: Poet, Survivor, Jew, winner of the Truman Capote Prize for Literary Criticism. Prof. Felstiner has held Guggenheim, Rockefeller, NEH and NEA Fellowships and has been a finalist for the National Book critics Award, the MLA’s James Russell Lowell Prize and the Helen and Kurt Wolff Prize. The lecture is sponsored by the Norman and Helene Krivosha Lectureship Fund, the Norm and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies and the University of Nebraska’s Program in International Affairs. For more information, contact me at: 402.472.9561.
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “In this world of 2004, Americans enjoy the rewards of freedom and democracy, but we are also facing a multitude of challenges, problems and pressures,” said Rabbi Lee T. Bycel who will be the Samuel and Ida Kaiman Memorial Fund Scholar-in-Residence, April 30May 2 at Temple Israel. Rabbi Bycel, former president of The Brandeis-Bardin Institute, a national conference and retreat center for Jewish learning and culture in California, was also dean of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. He will give the D’var Torah at Shabbat worship services on Friday, April 30, 7:30 p.m., at Temple as he begins to expand on his overall weekend topic, “Living as a Jew in the Modern World: Challenges and Opportunities.” On Friday night, Rabbi Bycel will address “Living Out the American Dream: Why Remain Jewish?” Sept. 11 “reflects a major transition in American history,” according to Rabbi Bycel. “No longer can we feel safe on our own soil. The war over there has come over here. What will the impact of terrorism be on this country? This threat adds to a long list of contemporary problems,” he mentioned, including “illness, addictions, the dismantling of the conventional family unit, great demands in the workplace, uncertainty about the future, concerns about our children, etc. Although some of these issues have taken on new form in the modern world, the roots of these problems have been around since the beginning of humanity.” Temple Israel’s Caring Committee will once again sponsor the Shul Shuttle which will transport seniors from their own homes, apartments, or retirement centers to Temple for Shabbat services on April 30 and then back home again after services. There is no cost to ride the shuttle bus which is being loaned by Jewish Senior Services for the evening. Please call the Temple office at 556.6536 by Thursday, April 29, to make a reservation.
“For thousands of years,” continued Rabbi Bycel, “Judaism has provided people with an ethical and compelling guide on how to make life meaningful.” He will discuss “Finding Meaning in Life: Insights from our Tradition,” on Saturday, May 1, 4:30 p.m., in the Milder Center at Temple. There will be a cheese and fruit reception, and Shabbat will be concluded with a havdalah ceremony. “Judaism deals with all aspects of life and offers a guide on how to deal with personal relations, business issues, ethical problems, fear, and loss, building a just and compassionate society, to name but a few, as well as how to make life meaningful and how to sanctify each and every day. By interacting with our history, theology, philosophy, ethical mandates, social commitments, rituals and holidays -- one can discover many insightful and helpful ways to navigate through the turbulent waters of life.” On Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m., Rabbi Bycel will conclude his residency when he talks about “Transforming the Ordinary into the Sacred: Creating a Life of Meaning…the Insights of Abraham Joshua Heschel” at a bagel brunch in the Milder Center. Heschel, born in Poland, came to the United States in 1940. “He is primarily known for his thoughtful, insightful, and accessible writings,” explained Rabbi Bycel. Heschel “is willing to take on the most challenging issues of life. His work has long been greatly valued by the Christian community. A social activist, who marched with Martin Luther King, Heschel played a role in shaping the Nostra Aetate, the Vatican’s statement concerning relations with non-Catholic religions.” “In a compelling and poetic way, Heschel writes about the relevance of the seventh day and why we need this day to refresh our souls,” said Rabbi Bycel. As for daily living, Heschel asks, “What have I done today to alleviate the anguish, to mitigate the evil, to prevent humiliation?” Everyone is welcome to attend all sessions at no charge.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 16, 2004
Sun, Sun, Sun, Here We Come Snowbirds Please let the Jewish Press know in advance when you are leaving and when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to your “old” address before we are notified by the Post Office. Every time they return a paper to us, you miss the Jewish Press and we are charged 70¢! Use the form on page 11 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org.
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Second-Chance Prom Planned for Blumkin Home Residents by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home will get a second chance to attend their Senior Prom on Sunday, April 25, thanks to Temple Israel Middle and High School students. “We had a meeting last summer with Mike Silverman,” Executive Director of the Blumkin Home, explained Elyce Azriel, director of the Middle/High School at Temple Israel. “He came up with all kinds of ideas” for student interaction at the Home. “I think there’s something special about the relationship with seniors,” she said. “Our kids need to know how to treat the elderly--not just their grandparents.” Every lady at this second-chance Senior Prom, which will be at the Blumkin Home, will receive a rose, and the men will wear boutonnières. Streamers and a suspended rotating mirror ball will add to the festive atmosphere. A band will provide music for dancing, a magician will be on hand for additional entertainment,
and ARA is catering a dessert reception. Scheduled for 7 p.m, “This Senior Prom emphasizes the importance of the Jewish value of showing respect and honor for the older generation,” pointed out Azriel. She said the teenagers will get dressed up and spend the evening talking and dancing with the residents. Black Tie, a rhythm and blues band, featuring Margaret Thoendel on keyboards, William Kearney on keyboard and horns, and Fred Sutton, III playing drums will perform. They’ve entertained previously in the Music in the Park series, in the Old Market, at weddings, at the Marriott Hotel and Johnny’s Café, and at corporate functions. “Black Tie is awesome,” according to Anne Joseph, activities director at the Blumkin Home. “It’s going to be fun!” she declared. “Senior Prom gives the kids an opportunity to really react and interact with the elders.” She expects the evening to provide “a good feeling and a good time for both groups.” Temple Israel Middle/High School and the Blumkin Home are providing financial support for the Senior Prom.
Tour to Take a Ride Along Jewish Memory Lane by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Kevee Kirshenbaum and Louise Abrahamson will be the guides on a Saturday, April 24, trip down Jewish Memory Lane which begins at 3 p.m. from the Jewish Community Center (JCC). Both Kirshenbaum and Abrahamson grew up along the route that the bus will tour. First stop will be Mount Sinai Cemetery, “the prettiest cemetery in Omaha,” according to Kirshenbaum. From there, the bus will continue on to the Dr. Philip Sher Home, the predecessor of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Other stops include Beth Israel Synagogue on 52nd and Charles, the Louis Friedman Funeral Home, Golden Hill Cemetery, and Temple Israel and Pleasant Hill Cemeteries. Then, along with sight seeing, snacking, and schmoozing, the tour proceeds on North 24th Street to 25th and Seward where the old Adas Yeshurun Synagogue is located. “I lived right next door” to the synagogue when growing up, said Kirshenbaum. His grandfather was a charter member of the congregation. “Seeing the North Side where most of the early Jewish settlers lived and shopped,” will be a highlight of the tour, said Abrahamson. “This area was the 72nd and Dodge of the late 1920s and the ‘30s,” added Kirshenbaum. “There were Jewish bakeries, Jewish butcher shops, and grocery stores there.”
Other points of interest along the route will be the Old Kapulier Shul and Labor Lyceum at 32nd and Cuming Streets, the site of the old JCC on 20th Street, the old South Omaha Synagogue at South 25th and J Streets, and the former Temple Israel, now a Greek Orthodox Church, at Park Avenue and St. Mary’s. Heading back to the present JCC, the bus will stop at the new Beth Israel Synagogue at 126th and Pacific Streets. Upon returning to the JCC, the group will conclude with a havdalah service in the life-size replica of the Kapulier Shul sanctuary located in the Henry and Dorothy Riekes Museum. “Mary Fellman initiated these tours,” explained Abrahamson who took the tour when Fellman led it. Abrahamson helped put Fellman’s tour notes together. Kirshenbaum promised to share “lots of stories” from his days of old Jewish Omaha throughout the guided tour. Rosie Zweiback, program director at Temple Israel, said, “Whether you are new Omaha or old Omaha or somewhere in between, you will love this historical journey with our expert guides!” Sponsored by Temple’s Outreach Committee and arranged by Renee Corcoran, executive director of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, the two-hour tour is free of charge. Call the Temple office at 556.6536 or email tisrael@templeisraelomaha.com to reserve a seat on the bus.
Henry Monsky Lodge Announces Top Scholar/Athletes
“The ‘Age of Solomon’--History or Myth? The Archaeological Picture” Lecture at Joslyn
by GARY JAVITCH for B’nai B’rith The names of the Metro area’s top male and female high school scholar/athletes are no surprise to Omahans who follow local athletics. Cortney Grixby from Central and Carolyn Decker from Bellevue West High Schools were selected by 55 local media representatives, athletic directors, and coaches from metro area high schools. The two students will be honored at the 50th Annual B’nai B’rith Sports Banquet, according to Gil Cohen, event chairman. Popular ESPN College and Pro Gameday Host, Trev Alberts will be the featured speaker at the May 12 dinner at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. Otis XII will reprise his humorous role as emcee. Grixby will receive the Bert Render Award as the top male athlete. Decker will accept the Earl Siegel plaque, the counter-part award. The school of the award recipients will receive a $250 donation to its scholarship fund. New this Golden Anniversary year, each scholar/athlete will receive a $1500 scholarship provided by Waitt Radio. Tickets for the banquet, annually among Omaha’s largest and most popular, can be obtained by calling Lois Epstein at 334.6443. A special VIP ticket for a private reception with Alberts is $150. Grixby, the son of Ron and Evelyn Grixby, lettered in three sports, receiving accolades for his superior play in football, basketball and track. He will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a football scholarship. The daughter of John and Diane Decker, Carolyn earned great acclaim for her accomplishments in volleyball and tennis. She plans to attend Creighton University on an athletic scholarship.
by WENDI CHIARBOS JENSEN Bethsaida Excavations Project Coordinator The Archaeological Institute of America, LincolnOmaha Society, and the Bethsaida Excavations Project at the University of Nebraska-Omaha welcome Dr. William G. Dever to Omaha this week. Dr. Dever will speak at the Joslyn Art Museum on Thursday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. His presentation is “The ‘Age of Solomon,’ History or Myth? The Archaeological Picture.” Admission is free, and the lecture is open to the entire community. Professor Dever has conducted excavations in Israel for over 30 years, including Gezer, Shechem, and Be’er Resisim. He is the author of more than 25 books and 300 scholarly articles on the archaeology of ancient Israel. He is a past recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and is a former director of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem. This lecture will present and illustrate archaeological evidence that demonstrates that there was a true “state” in 10th century B.C.E. Israel. The evidence includes monumental royal architecture at several administrative centers; indications of literacy, and even recent nonbiblical texts mentioning “kings of Israel” and a “Dynasty of David,” and finally comparative evidence to illustrate Solomon’s famous temple in Jerusalem. For more information, contact me, at 554-2902 or wchiarbos@mail.unomaha.edu.
Pictures from the Passover issue of the Jewish Press may be picked up at the office during regular business hours.
April 16, 2004
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Budapest 51 Years Later by RAMI ARAV (Editor’s note: Dr. Arav, a professor of at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Director of the Bethsaida Excavations, was inspired to write his family’s story after reading in the Passover issue of the Press about Ellie Greenspoon, an artist whose Hungarian family survived the Holocaust.) I still ponder how I should tell a story like this. I am what people now call “a second generation holocaust survivor” but for most of my life, I thought that there was no such thing. We, second generation, and in particular those of us who were born and raised in Israel, consider ourselves ‘immune’ from the traumas our parents experienced. Perhaps we are different, but not exactly. A visit with my parents to Budapest in the summer of 1995 completely altered my understanding. When I look back at this visit today, it seems to me that the summer of 1995 was an entirely different summer, although at its onset, it had promised to be a peaceful relaxing one. Occasionally we travel to Europe to attend a professional conference and to visit the country. The professional organization with which I am affiliated had its international meeting in Budapest in July of that year. Since my mother had spent most of her childhood and survived the war in this city I suggested to both my parents to come along with my wife and me to Budapest for the conference and to visit the places where she grew up. I found Budapest to be a beautiful town much like I expected it to be. The city seemed to be a kind of a familiar place. No surprise, I had grown up on stories about this city, the Danube River,
the opera, the great synagogue, the gardens and so on. During the time that we were there, the skies were a beautiful blue, the sun was shining, flowers flourished everywhere, it was not too warm and not too cold, simply perfect, wonderful days. Our visit was only a few years after the communist regime had come to its end. There was a spirit of hope and revival everywhere we went. Coffee shops along the Danube River were packed with people and in some of the restaurants small groups of musicians played Gypsy music, Franz Liszt and the Blue Danube. The shops were full of visitors; simply crystal clear beautiful summer days. The conference took place at one of the prettiest sites in the town, a section called Pest which is the older part of the twin towns Buda and Pest in combination they make Budapest. The jewel of Pest, is the old castle of the Hungarian kings situated on a hill and overlooking the river, the bridges, the boats and hustle bustle of the city. The old castle, which has since been converted into a ‘cultural center’, hosted the conference. I was the first speaker in the kickoff session of the conference. We all convened in an elegant renaissance style hall, reminiscence of the glamour of the old Hungarian kings. Nothing could have looked nicer. The hall was quickly filled by university professors, scholars, visitors and the Hungarian radio and television people who had come to cover the event. The presider of the session introduced me and my topic, the Director of the Bethsaida Excavations, I was supposed
Bea Karp to Speak to Home School Families by Jewish Press News Service In commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day, Bea Karp will speak about her childhood experiences during the Holocaust to families of homeschooled children on Monday, April 26, 10 a.m., at the Heritage Church of the Nazarene in Papillion. Karp was a Jewish child whose family was involved with the Jewish underground, sent to concentration camps and who was hidden by Catholic Nuns for two years during World War II. She speaks to groups often and has been
honored by the Anti-Defamation League for her volunteer work. According to organizer Janita Pavelka, “It is very important to Bea for people, especially children to hear the stories from survivors first-hand.” Karp tells her story from a child’s point of view, but requests that children are in fifth grade and older in order to fully understand the Holocaust. She will speak for 30-45 minutes and then will host a question-and-answer session. For more information, contact Pavelka at tjpav@juno.com.
to talk about the discoveries of the biblical city of Bethsaida. I stood up, approached the podium, looked around and smiled at my family who were seated in the audience. My mother looked at me and I could recognize that look of pride, satisfaction and happiness that followed each of my steps since childhood like mothers usually do. I realized that it was a very special moment for her. Then, I do not know why, but I heard myself saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin the professional meeting… I wish to express a few personal words… Fifty years ago my mother was forced out of this town…in fear and anxiety… running for her life… I am proud and happy to see her now in the audience sitting right there…” The audience was struck numb for a moment. I felt I had to say it. Then after a few seconds of silence I proceeded with the regular professional meeting. I did not want to elaborate on this. I assumed everybody knew what 50 years back meant. As soon as the session ended my mother became the focus of the audience. She was on the Hungarian television and radio and in the newspapers. Another story of a survivor had unfolded. The next day we planned to see the house where she lived during the war. My parents, my wife and myself, headed to the house. It was a large gray three story apartment building, built at the end of the 19th century, one of the many that were constructed during that period. A heavy door blocked the entrance to the building and we waited outside reading the names of the residents. None
were familiar. Then the door opened and someone walked outside. We took the opportunity went in to a large gray courtyard, paved with large slabs that were smoothed by a century of walking. A wide staircase led to the second and third floors and long balconies. A green grill marked the floors and connected the apartments. My mother slowly surveyed the courtyard. “Here one day the Gestapo executed a whole family.” She pointed out to a corner of the courtyard, “It was horrific”. A few moments later a lady who identified herself as the house keeper walked towards us. “May I help you please?” she said in Hungarian “I lived here 50 years ago and I came to visit the place” my mother replied. “I do not know if I can help you I work here only for the last 35 years” “What apartment did you live in?” I asked my mother. “Here on the second floor” “Let’s go and see it” I suggested My mother and I went upstairs and my wife and father stayed in the courtyard. Pretty soon we stood in front of a green door. “I wonder who is there today” my mother said and knocked on the door. A lady opened the door. “Excuse us for this,” my mother said, “I lived here in this apartment 50 years ago and I just wanted to visit.” The lady stared at my mother for a moment and then she nodded her head slowly and said, emphasizing each word, “I think I know who you are, please come in”. Part II will appear in next week’s Jewish Press
GAUCHER DISEASE Approximately 1 out of every 450 within the Ashkenazi Jewish population has Gaucher disease
SIOUX CITY CENTER Creighton Professor to Headline Yom HaShoah Commemoration by SUE CONNOR for the Sioux City Jewish Federation In conjunction with Morningside College of Sioux City, the Jewish Federation has invited Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, holder of the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University, to speak Sunday, April 18, 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom. As the scholar-in-residence for the 2004 Harold and Bernice Goldstein Lecture Series, Dr. Greenspoon will speak on “Heroes and Villians: How the Jewish Bible was Read and Misread During the Holocaust.” He’ll discuss the question of why some people draw messages of hope, help and humanity from
biblical texts, while others have found their own hatreds and criminal activities. Dr. Greenspoon has been a member of the Creighton faculty since 1995 and is professor of Classical and Near Eastern Studies and Theology. He is recognized internationally as an expert on the history of Jewish Bible translations and has been involved in two translation projects as either editor or as a consultant. The Morningside College lecture is scheduled for Monday, April 19, 10 a.m., in the UPS Auditorium. Dr. Greenspoon will present additional insights in his lecture, “Heroes and Villians: Reading and Misreading the Bible in Tough Times.”
Sisterhood Hosts Art Auction by Jewish Press News Service Congregation Beth Shalom’s Sisterhood will host an Art Auction open to the entire community on Saturday,
April 24, 8 p.m., at the synagogue. The event begins with a preview of items to be auctioned at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $10 at the door.
The symptoms may become apparent at any age and they include:
EASY BRUISING AND BLEEDING BONE PAIN ●
FATIGUE EASILY FRACTURED BONES ●
DELAYED GROWTH ENLARGED SPLEEN AND LIVER ●
The consequences of this disorder can be debilitating. For more information on Gaucher disease, treatment, and testing, contact your doctor or please call and ask for Information Packet 9. RGD/US/P145/01/04
1-800-745-4447 www.genzyme.com
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 16, 2004
ORGANIZATIONS
MARRIAGE
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” discussion group at 11 a.m. Following lunch at noon, The Omaha Theater Company presents Broadway Town staring Sue Booton and Earl Bates. For transportation call Dee Dee at 330.4272. Call Maggie for all reservations at 334.6521 for Bluffs Run Casino on April 29. WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on the Mystery Trip on Thursday, meet at the JCC main entrance at 10 a.m. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Want to have a “Freylichen Tog”? Come to the Lomir Redn Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638 for information. VISIONS The Omaha Community Playhouse presents Stepping Out in the Howard Drew Theatre on Thursday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. Cost is $13 per person. Dinner at 5 p.m. (on your own and optional) before the show is at the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. Send reservations to: Ethel Goldston at 1108 No. 92 Plaza, #101, Omaha, NE 68114. Make check payable to Visions. Deadline is April 19. Visions and Diamond Tours present a Chicago Trip on Oct. 11-15. The cost is $400 per person and includes guided tour of Chicago, two shows, concert at the Rialto Square Theater, cruise on Lake Michigan, Art Institute of Chicago, coach transportation, four nights accommodations, eight meals and more. Travelers insurance is $35 per person. Deadline is June 4. Please pay with two checks--the first payable to Visions for $75 and the second payable to Travel Insured International for $35. Send to: Anne Skolkin, 1010 Regency Parkway #302, Omaha, NE 68114. BREADBREAKERS Mayor Mike Fahey will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, April 21, noon, at the Park In Regency, according to Gary Javitch, April Chairman. Fahey, will talk about his low-key approach to governing the city. Cost is $9 for lunch and $2 for beverage service only. Breadbreakers is open to the community.
JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES It’s “Tuesday Night Live” on April 20, 7 p.m. in the JCC auditorium. The Omaha Municipal Orchestra presents “Mazel Tov”--a Celebration of Music by Jewish Composers, featuring Anne Nagosky, a full-time violinist with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. Musical Director is Christopher Stanichar. Call Maggie Conti at 334.6521 for reservations. This program is sponsored by the Noddle Family in memory of Edith Noddle.
BIRTH Gary and Monica Katz announce the arrival of their son, Joseph Charles. Grandparents are Richard and Marsha Parry and former Omahans Martin and Eleana Katz of Wilmington, DE.
ENGAGEMENT WOLLEN/SHAPIRO Angelyn Wollen, daughter of Nancy and Darrell Fager and Gary Wollen, and Jeffrey Shapiro, son of Larry and Sherry Shapiro, announce their engagement. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and works in Washington, D.C., as communications director to Congressman John Kline of Minnesota. Her fiancé, a graduate of the University of Illinois, works in government relations for General Mills, Inc. He is the grandson of Ben and Betty Shapiro of Sioux City, IA, and the late Robert Dessauer. Following an October wedding in Omaha, the couple will reside in Washington, D.C.
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GABRIELSON/SLUSKY Jerry Slusky and Janet Gabrielson were married April 10 in Las Vegas. Rabbi Levin officiated. The bride, daughter of Glen and Katie Gabrielson, is a graduate of the University of NebraskaOmaha and is a professional interior designer at Elan Contemporary Furniture. She is a member of the ASID. The groom is a graduate of UNO and Creighton University School of Law. He also earned a Masters in Tax Law and was admitted to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in May, 2003. He is a partner with the Gross and Welch law firm. The bride’s mother served as matron of honor; the groom’s son, Jay Slusky, served as best man. The couple, who will continue to reside in Omaha, will take a wedding trip later this summer.
IN THE NEWS Kids, Inc., a team of mental health professionals and educators, presents a workshop on “Getting Effective Mental Health and Community Services for Young People” on Friday, April 23, 8:30 a.m. at the Milo Bail Student Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Presenters include Kids, Inc. staff: Dr. Paul Fine, Allan Gonsher, Sherry Bauer, Bryce Thull, Mary Ann Green-Walsh, Sally Fine; Fred Schott, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs, and David K. Carter, Assistant Professor at UNO. Cost is $50 for all day or $25 for either the morning or the afternoon sessions. CEU crediuts are available. For more information, call 330.4014 or e-mail kidsinc@juno.com.
Jesse Reno Wins Friedel Speech Contest by JORDANA L. KURTZMAN Jesse Reno took home first place for his for Friedel Jewish Academy speech about Thomas Jefferson’s invenGreat speakers may not be born, but tion of the swivel chair. Clearly oftentimes they develop their talents very impressed with Jefferson’s multiple innoearly. Case in point: Friedel Jewish vations, Jesse chose his unusual topic Academy’s Jesse Reno and Noam Margalit because he thought “all the other people became the first and second place win- would choose things like the light bulb,” ners of the Modern Woodmen of America adding that Jefferson had “also invented School Speech Contest last month. the Macaroni Making Machine!” Since she began teaching at Friedel Noam Margalit, who won second place, Jewish Academy 16 spoke on the invenyears ago, Denise tion of the game of Bennett has organbasketball. Noam ized and prepared had initially planned students for the to talk about the speech contest, a invention of the way of building selfrefrigerator, but esteem in students. could not find adeThe first students quate background from Friedel to presinformation to suit ent speeches on a her needs. district level were While browsing first and second Seated are the winners: Jesse Reno, left, through a book of place winners Josh Noam Margalit and Sophie Cemaj; other par- inventions, she came Gonsher and ticipants, standing, include: Cleo Rogers- across basketball and Heather Goldstein in Marcovitz, Lilly Phillips, Dylan Wertheim, Anna quickly became Kohll, Alena Senik and Uriah Wertheim. 1989. interested. Besides Bennett finds the contest an exciting learning about this American game, and interactive way to avoid student Noam said that “the most interesting thing developing a fear of public speaking. I learned was how to give a speech and “Studies have shown it’s the number be confident with it.” one fear that most adults have,” she said. Third place went to Sophie Cemaj for Students in grades three through six her speech about Thomas Edison’s invenprepared and gave speeches on the topic, tion of the light bulb. Sophie told the “An American Invention.” Three guest audience that Edison had created more judges, William Stibor, a producer and than 2000 inventions, more than any announcer for Nebraska Public Radio; other person before or since. Trevor Gerson, a former Friedel student Each year, nearly 100,000 students take and current student at Creighton part in the Modern Woodmen of America University; and Joanie Jacobsen, a voice- School Speech Contest. As first and secover announcer, judged the competition. ond place winners of Friedel’s speech They assessed points for material organi- contest, Jesse and Noam will present their zation, delivery and presentation, and speeches at the district level of the comoverall effectiveness. petition later this month.
April 16, 2004
Ripe for Dessert by David Lebovitz (HarperCollins, $34.95)
R EAD IT AND EAT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN Surprise Mom with a cookbook this Mother’s Day! Ripe for Dessert is all about Lebowitz’s passion for fruit. Years of baking experience at Chez Panisse in California and teaching cooking preceded this cookbook. First off are “Things you Should Know Before You Bake” which is a helpful guide and explanation of ingredients, techniques, and equipment. Selection and Storing Fruit for peak flavor and clues to solve the mystery of picking fruit at the grocery or local fruit stand helpfully follow. Go for flavor when you pick ‘em. Added helpful suggestions are included like-carefully ripen apricots on a towel so they won’t bruise. From apples to strawberries to
lemons, the fruits are grouped in chapters in delicious combinations...Figs, Grapes, Melon and Pomegranates. The recipes are listed in the chapter heading, by type and in the alphabetical index. You can almost smell the aroma and taste the flavor of the fruit dishes featured in the luscious color photographs. The recipes have clear and detailed numerical instructions, anywhere from three to eight to a dozen or more paragraphs. Variations and notes accompany many recipes, websites and 800 numbers and tips are part of more than 130 recipes from easy for the novice to more complicated for the dessert lover in all of us. Make this recipe, Mom’ll love it. Add a splash of the optional cranberry or red grape juice and create pink lemonade for her special day. GINGERY LEMONADE 2 to 3 ounces fresh ginger, unpeeled and cut into thin slices 3 cups water 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup strained freshly squeezed lemon juice (6 to 8 lemons) Optional: 1/4 to 1/2 cup cranberry or red grape juice In a small saucepan, bring the ginger slices, water, and sugar to a boil. Remove from the heat and cover. Let steep for 30 minutes. Strain the sugar syrup into a pitcher and stir in the lemon juice and the cranberry or grape juice, if desired. Discard the ginger slices. Chill the lemonade thoroughly. Serve over lots of ice. Makes 1 quart, about four servings.
Building on Beth El’s Tradition of Tikkun Olam, B.E.A.M. Inspires Community Outreach by JILL BELMONT by lining up families to host Shabbat dinners for newBeth El Publicity Coordinator comers, and through the creation of the Caring and Call it ‘good-will fever’ or ‘mitzvah mania:’ Beth El Comfort Committee, which aids members after the loss Synagogue’s long-held tradition of community service of a loved one. Committee members make shiva calls has been enhanced with exciting new opportunities, on behalf of the synagogue, and, if needed, arrange for thanks to congregant Toby Schonfeld and her recently- meals to be prepared and sent to mourners’ homes. A formed Beth El Association for Mitzvot (B.E.A.M.). “Mitzvah Meal Fund” has also been established to supThe group was established after Schonfeld, an assis- port the preparation and storage of meals at the synatant professor at the University of Nebraska Medical gogue for times of need, Schonfeld noted. Center, said she wanted to enhance volunteerism in her Also in the works are a “Minyan 101,” course to help own life and in the community. “I realized that I had a congregants familiarize themselves with the daily mingood job, a good life, and the one thing yan service; volunteer mentoring for that was missing was my volunteer life. Bar/Bat Mitzvah students planning their What better place than my synagogue to mitzvah projects; updated and detailed create that opportunity?” ‘welcome’ materials for newcomers, and a B.E.A.M. was conceived to answer the human resources interest inventory to tap call of tikkun olam, or repairing the into the congregation’s needs. world, and Schonfeld said the group and Schonfeld said she is especially excitits mission have been enthusiastically ed to announce the creation of the embraced by Beth El’s congregants. “Mitzvah Mensch” program, a support net“The response has been overwhelmwork to aid elderly, disabled, ill or recuing,” she said. “We have a wonderful perating congregants with daily housecross-section of people helping out who hold tasks, meals and transportation. Toby Schonfeld want to make a connection with others, “This service is about companionship, and who know that face-to-face volunteer work can kindness and compassion. From changing a lightbulb really transform you.” or picking up groceries to bringing someone home Volunteers have collected and delivered much-need- from the hospital or offering a new mother an hour to ed toiletry items to the Siena-Francis House, and herself, we want to assist members of our congregation recently worked at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home when they need a little extra help,” she said. during “Switch Day,” so that its employees could spend Volunteers are being asked to sign-up for specific Easter Sunday with their loved ones. This summer, tasks; anyone interested in helping out or wanting plans have been made to cook and serve meals at the more information about B.E.A.M. is encouraged to conStephen Center homeless shelter, Schonfeld said. tact Schonfeld at 861.1811, or via e-mail at tschonB.E.A.M. is also connecting with Beth El congregants feld@unmc.edu.
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April 16, 2004
Opinion The Road to Peace...or More Terror? To the consternation of both Palestinians and Jewish residents of the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime monitor Ariel Sharon is ready to evacuate all troops and dismantle settlements there. We can understand the frustration of the Jews of Gaza; after all there are references to Gaza in the Talmud and we know Jews lived there prior to 1949. But why aren’t the Palestinians jumping for joy? Isn’t this what they what--a Judenrein Gaza, free of Jews? Perhaps the explanation is far simpler--as Stuart Goldman’s cartoon demonstrates. Without Jews to blame for their miserable conditions, the Palestinians of Gaza will be forced to look inward. They won’t be able to avoid the corruption that for too long has taken funding from the European Union, the United States, Arab countries and elsewhere and used it to construct ostentatious mansions on the beaches of Gaza for the insiders who run the Palestinian Authority. The void created by the P.A. by not providing basic humanitarian services like clean water, sewers, paved streets, modest housing, schools, hospitals, libraries and the like, opened the door to terrorist organizations like Hamas. Under the guise of humanitarian
(Founded in 1920)
relief, Hamas filled that void and used that cover to recruit and train terrorists from among the disaffected. While other relief organizations, like the United Nations, ignored this growing phenomenon, Hamas created an alternative pseudo-government that will, when the Israel Defense Forces pull out, fight against the P.A. to become the “legitimate” authority--despite the meetings among Palestinian factions and their “calls for unity.” So while some praise Sharon for taking these steps, others--in his own government-- also recognize that Gaza could become more than just an armed camp; it could be the base of operations used to indiscriminately attack Israel. Of course, others say that terrorists from Gaza already are doing that, but even the new retreat plan does not cover how Israel will monitor Gaza’s coastline and its border with Egypt.
There’s also the question of who will pay to uproot the 8000 or so Jews from settlements in Gaza. And what about the greenhouses, factories, farms and the rest of the infrastructure? Destroyed or handed over to the P.A.? Sharon is in Washington this week to meet with President Bush. The Likud Party will hold a referendum on the Gaza retreat on April 28. Let’s hope these two men have the guidance from above they need to make wise decisions. Otherwise...there will be hell to pay.
“But on top of that they have learned much from the Jews in the way of new economic organization; the filth of their villages has disappeared under the influence of and through the example of adjacent Jewish settlements. The introduction of new methods of production and superior transportation has increased the orange export tenfold.” “‘The Jews have enriched us,’ says David’s friend, Reshid Bey. ‘Why should we have anything against them? They live with us like brothers, why should we not love them?’” What Herzl imagined began to take specific political form in the years that followed. King Hussein’s newspaper in Mecca extended a cordial welcome to the returning exiles, “the original sons of the country, from which their Arab brethren would benefit materially as well as spiritually.” The warm welcome home to the Jews
inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve the ways of peace and play their part in the development of the State of Israel on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its bodies and institutions.” As we look back, we may well ask: “What went wrong?” Carl Alpert can be reached at: alpert@techunix.technion.ac.il.
What Went Wrong? OUR MAN IN ISRAEL by CARL ALPERT Haifa--When the early Zionists of a hundred years ago and more planned the reestablishment of a Jewish national home in the land which their forefathers had ruled two millennia earlier, what consideration did they give to any possible existing native population? Though succeeding empires had ruled over the area, there had never been any emergence of a local loyalty to the land, or any desire for independence. On his visit to the country in 1867, Mark Twain reported that he found a desolate country, “whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds--a silent, mournful expanse... a scene of desolation and misery.... a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land.” He was echoing what other observers had been reporting for centuries. When Theodor Herzl wrote The Jewish State in 1896 there was no thought whatever of an existing population. The vision was only of a waste, and the only difficulty imagined was of wild animals. Mention of a local people appeared during the interview with the Kaiser in 1898. In his diary Herzl recorded that the German ruler responded warmly to the case for Jewish settlement, and went on: “There is room here for everyone. Only provide water and trees. The exertions of the colonists will also furnish a stimulating example to the native population. Your movement, with which I am thoroughly familiar, is based on a sound, healthy idea.” A few days earlier Herzl had recorded his ride through “an Arab-blighted countryside.” In 1902 Herzl penned Altneuland, his fictional account of the Jewish state as he imagined it in existence. Alex Bein, Herzl’s biographer, summarized the picture that emerged: “There are no race laws. The Arabs live in friendship side by side with the Jews. The incoming of the Jews has been nothing but a gain for them, first through the sale of superfluous lands and by well-paid work in the draining of swamps, a work for which they, adapted as they are to the climate, are better fitted than the Jews.
Israel’s Proclamation of Independence clearly stated...“In the midst of wanton aggression we yet call upon the Arab inhabitants...to preserve the ways of peace...on the basis of full and equal citizenship...” extended to Weizmann by Prince Feisal is well known. To Felix Frankfurter, head of the American Zionist delegation in Paris in 1919, Feisal wrote: “We are working together for a reformed and revived near east, and our two movements complement one another. The Jewish movement is national, and not imperialist.... and there is room in Syria for both of us.” Later Feisal retreated from his pro-Zionist stand. Establishment of the State of Israel met with aggressive hostility from the Arabs, but Israel’s Proclamation of Independence clearly stated that “the state of Israel.... will promote the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; will be based on the principles of liberty, justice and peace as conceived by the Prophets of Israel; will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of religion, race or sex; will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, education and culture.” And a few paragraphs later: “In the midst of wanton aggression we yet call upon the Arab
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Thanks so much for that fabulous Passover issue devoted to the arts. I was especially touched by Joan Marcus’ loving tribute to her trumpeter/artist husband, Milt. Mary Kaiman To the Editor: While in Omaha over the weekend to see my family, I had the pleasure of visiting Beth Israel on Sunday morning. I was thrilled, of course, by the new building, but was also delighted to see a quiet buzz of activity: men davening, breakfast being served, children playing, women planning social functions. Yes, a quiet buzz...for now. I am confident, however, that like the small, but growing Orthodox synagogue my family and I attend in Dallas, Beth Israel will also discover the truth to the saying, “If you build it, they will come.” Although this is not the beginning of a new synagogue, it is--perhaps more importantly--a new beginning. As a product of the old Beth Israel, I can say with certainty that I emerged from the warmth of its Torah observance, learning and traditions with an unshakable commitment to Judaism, Jewish people and the State of Israel. Thus, I would encourage the Omaha Jewish community to experience and take advantage of all that this synagogue has to offer. Finally, I commend the congregation and the board on its decision to move the synagogue to a location where it will be better able to serve the community. Chazak, chazak, venit chazake. Diane Wintroub Calmenson Dallas, TX.
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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Reforming Marriage and Kosher Laws Would Strip Israel of Its Jewish Identity
BEHIND THE H EADLINES by RABBI AVI SHAFRAN NEW YORK (JTA)-- In Israel, “personal-status” issues, such as those related to marriage and conversion, are the perennial focus of social campaigns, legislative initiatives and good old-fashioned politics. Often, though, when issues like conversion, marriage or divorce are on the agenda, what gets lost in all the heat and noise is something recently pointed out by Israel’s former chief Ashkenazi rabbi, Yisrael Meir Lau. “After 55 years,” Lau reminded an audience at a recent conference in Jerusalem, “the Knesset has not, to this day, found the time to take five days and discuss what exactly this Jewish state we have created is meant to be.” “The words ‘Jewish state,’” he went on, “are mentioned 22 times in Israel’s Declaration of Independence--not ‘state of the Jews,’ but rather ‘Jewish state.’And yet the Knesset has never found the time to define what that means.”
And so, in the dearth of such definition, what happens is that issues intricately related to that truly fundamental one are isolated and individually subjected to a tug-of-war among an assortment of Israeli social forces-- other larger ones like religious nationalists, charedim, or fervently Orthodox, and secularists, as well as smaller ones like advocates for the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements. On kashrut, for example, there are questions like: Should the Israel Defense Forces serve only kosher food? Should pork be imported to Israel? The debate on conversion focuses on what standards, if any, there should be for accepting as Jewish someone not born so. The debate on Shabbat grapples with questions like: Should public transportation run on Shabbat? Should certain roads or neighborhoods be closed to traffic on Saturdays? Usually lost in the shuffle in all these debates, however, is the import of decisions on the larger issue of the state’s Jewish identity. When it comes to marriage and divorce for Jewish Israelis, things are even more hairy--and the
stakes are even higher. Marriages, after all, can produce children, and most indeed do. So while it might seem like an innocuous and good idea to expand the marriage and divorce options of Israelis, in truth it is neither. Preserving traditional Jewish marriage and divorce standards as a common denominator is not a religious luxury but a societal necessity. A smorgasbord of standards would be a recipe for societal disaster. By rejecting the proposed legislation to authorize civil marriage in Israel, the Knesset helped ensure that the term “marriage” will continue to have uniform meaning for all Israeli Jews; that children born of Jewish marriages in Israel will in turn be able to marry one another without concern regarding issues of Jewishness or legitimacy; and that Jews in Israel will remain one people, united around a standard that lends legitimate substance to the Jewish character of the state. To be sure, Israel is not a theocracy. And in fact, Israelis--non-Jews and Jews alike--are free to live their private lives largely as they choose. But if the Jewish identity of the state is to have any meaning at all, it must reside at the very least in its communal institutions.
If a Jew, for instance, wishes to marry a non-Jew, the couple has the option of marrying outside the country or simply living together without the state’s imprimatur. Were the state to be compelled to endorse their union officially, however, it might gratify the couple, but it would tear apart the very fabric of Israel’s Jewish identity. And so it is with other Jewish laws-whether dietary laws, Sabbath laws or marriage laws. To challenge them as incompatible with Israel’s democratic nature would be to eviscerate her Jewish nature. Do Jews--of any persuasion or belief-really want to see an Israel where ham and lobsters are served to Jewish youth in military mess halls, or where traffic is as heavy and stores as busy on Shabbat as on Thursday, or where marriage is a mere agreement between two parties, without the gravity of any religious sanction? Some might well say yes, and that is their prerogative. But it is a simplistic position, born of emotion and a myopic focus on individual issues at the expense of a larger, looming imperative: Israel’s Jewish identity. Rabbi Avi Shafran is Director of public affairs at Agudath Israel of America.
They Talk of Change, but Liberal Parties Thwart Reform of Israel’s Marriage Laws
BEHIND THE H EADLINES by JASON GITLIN NEW YORK (JTA)--Among the series of life-cycle events--birth, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, marriage and death--Jews long have recognized marriage as a special simcha, or occasion for joy. Just ask the devoted readers of Jewish and other metropolitan newspapers’ wedding sections. Unfortunately, the Jewish state seems determined to extend its blessings for these most basic and important of personal unions only so far. Last month, Israel’s Knesset defeated two bills that would have finally allowed civil marriages as well as recognized religious marriages performed by Reform and Conservative rabbis. The decision, which wasn’t even close, didn’t just severely wrong Israel’s growing number of non-Jewish and secular citizens. It also disappointed and embarrassed non-Orthodox Jews in the United States and those who support Israel’s claim as the Middle East's only democratic, enlightened nation. Under current laws, couples that wish legally to be wed in Israel must be married in a religious ceremony, and one
conducted by a state-recognized clergyman. For Jews, that means only one thing: an Orthodox rabbi. If the couple is comprised of a Jew and a nonJew--an arrangement most common among the country’s Russian immigrant population--or members of a non-recognized faith or no faith at all, it means they are completely out of luck. For many Israelis, such requirements simply are untenable. Consequently, thousands of Israelis leave their home country to get married abroad, most often flying to nearby Cyprus. They marry abroad either because they do not qualify for wedlock--the state has determined them not marriage-worthy--or because they want to bypass the religious establishment. Israel’s archaic approach to marriage can be traced back to the state’s establishment, when then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion conceded authority over religion and personal-status issues-such as birth, marriage and divorce--to the Orthodox Jewish establishment. Although evidence suggests that BenGurion believed this was a dwindling population whose power would only erode in the future, the opposite turned out to be true. Over time, Israel’s haredi, or fervently Orthodox population, not
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only failed to wither, but it grew both in size and political influence. In Israel’s last election, frustration over perceived religious coercion and the discriminatory practices of the state’s religious political parties led to a backlash. The result was that Shinui, a secularist party that campaigned on curbing the power of the Orthodox establishment, went from seven Knesset seats to 15, making it the third-largest party after Likud and Labor. In addition, advocates for a pluralistic approach to Jewish life in Israel gained widespread attention in the 1990s amid the “Who is a Jew” debate, which centered on the religious authority’s refusal to recognize Reform and Conservative conversions performed in Israel. So, in light of such developments, how did our enlightened brethren vote? As might sadly be expected, 58 Knesset members from Israel’s religious and rightwing parties voted against the bill to allow for non-Orthodox marriage. Far more distressing was that only 28 Knesset members from the secular and left-leaning parties voted in favor of the bill. The biggest disappointments were Shinui and Labor. Shinui, a partner in the current governing coalition, lamely cited a commitment by coalition ministers not to vote against the official coalition stand. Despite trampling on the party’s raison d’etre, Yosef “Tommy” Lapid,
Shinui’s party head and Israel’s Justice Minister, had the gall to gloat after the vote that nine of his party’s members-just over half -voted in favor of the bill while only seven of Labor's did. For its part, Labor performed the most dishonorably. Despite being in the Knesset at the time of the vote, most of the party’s leaders did not even show up for the session. Among those who decided to skip it were party leader Shimon Peres, Matan Vilnai, Haim Ramon and Amram Mitzna. On the one hand, Mitzna and other Labor leaders tour American Reform and Conservative synagogues peddling support for their peace plans, claiming Jews are all one people and together we can bring security and international respect to Israel. On the other hand, they do not have the time even to appear as though they care about an issue of clear importance to the entire Jewish people. The upholding of such clearly discriminatory practices, as those relating to personal-status issues, is impossible to defend. It also arms those who wish to paint Israel as a racist society, and will continue to do so even after peace eventually is made with the Palestinians. Jason Gitlin, a graduate of NYU’s Center for Near Eastern Studies, has written for the New Jersey Jewish News, The Jewish Week, and CBSNewYork.com.
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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 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
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April 16, 2004
Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. with Oneg to follow. For more information please call 323.8885.
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.; Tot Shabbat with Oneg to follow. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m., Hazak members will participate in the morning service; Kiddush sponsored by Beth El. Junior Congregation for grades four to seven, 10 a.m.; K’tantan, 10:45 a.m.; Following services, Hazak Lunch ‘n’ Learn panel discussion, “The Death Penalty: Do Religious and Legal Views Conflict?”, is in the social hall; Evening Services, 8 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Weekdays, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. SITTER SERVICE During Friday night and Saturday mornings services, on a drop-in basis, at no charge. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, 10 a.m. Hebrew Crash Course, taught by Susi Frydman Levin, 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. THURSDAYS, noon: “Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century” with Rabbi Levin. For more information, call the synagogue. FEATURED PROGRAMS PATTER (Toddlers & Parents Torah, Exercise, Recreation) session with Helen Epstein, Wednesdays, 10:45 a.m. COME & DANCE! Israeli Dance Lessons (no experience required) Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. For information, contact Cheryl Lerner, 334.8430 or cldancer@ aol.com.
WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m., meet at the home of Sylvia Wagner, 1349 S. 101 St., #106. For reservations, contact Phyllis Hoffman at 391.7795, or via email, at ezbubbe@cox.net. To receive Rabbi Levin’s weekly “Thought for Shabbat” message, please send your email address to exec@bethelomaha.org.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m-noon. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Services, 7 p.m. For those who accept Shabbos early by davening, candles should be lit by 7:25 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by the family of Harry Schulman in honor of his 90th birthday; Mincha, 7:40 p.m. and Havdalah, 8:51 p.m. SUNDAY: Morning Service, 9 a.m.; Evening Service, 6:30 p.m. Weekday Morning Service, 7 a.m.; Weekday Evening Service, 6:30 p.m.
BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Kaballat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Religious School, 3-5 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: New Member Potluck, 6 p.m. Shabbat Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Stiel, with oneg to follow. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 10:30 a.m.; Potluck Dinner and Game Night, 6 p.m. SUNDAY: Religious School, 9 a.m.-noon; Jewish Glassworks Class with artist John Kornbluh, 1:30-3 p.m.; Holocaust Commemoration at the State Capitol, 4 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAYS: Adult Hebrew, 5:45-6:45 p.m. continues until April 27. TUESDAY, April 20: “Death and Mourning in Judaism”, 78:30 p.m. Judiac Studies Lecture at UNL by Professor John Felstiner, Stanford University on Thursday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; led by Steve Riekes.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
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.
FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 6 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate together with members of Omaha Temple Youth Group. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Julianna Scheet, daughter of Lisa Scheet and Gordon Scheet, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah at the Shabbat Morning Service. SITTER SERVICE Available at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when
For his mitzvah project, he collected and delivered canned goods to the Omaha Food Bank. Daniel has three sisters, Sara, Laura and Emma and two brothers, Andrew and Jacob. His grandparents are Phyllis Schwartz and the late Maurice Schwartz, and Alice Klein of New York and the late Bernard Klein.
Charles Jeffrey Parsow, son of Margo Parsow and the late Dr. Jay Parsow, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 24 at Temple Israel. Charles is a seventh-grade honor student at Brownell Talbot School. He was selected to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. He enjoys basketball and tennis.
CHABAD HOUSE
Candlelighting Friday, April 16, 7:48 p.m. 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 THURSDAY: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Rabbi Marantz, 10-11:30 a.m. “Blame and Bloodshed: The Ethics of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict” led by Dr. Toby Schonfeld, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Law at UNMC, 7-8:30 p.m. TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Destination Jewish Omaha, with your tour guides Kevee Kirshenbaum and Louise Abrahamson on Saturday, April 24, 3 p.m. Reserve through the Temple office or mkube@templeisraelomaha.com. There is no fee for this program hosted by the Outreach Committee. (See full story on page 4.)
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY, April 18, 4 p.m: Commemorate the Holocaust at the State Capitol. TUESDAY, April 20: The Ladies Lunch Group will meet at Olive Garden. If you need a ride, call the office at 423.8569 and leave a message. WEDNESDAY: The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. THURSDAY, April 22, 7:30 p.m.: Norman and Helene Krivosha Lecture. “Still Songs to Sing”; Poetry, Art and Music from the Holocaust with John Felstiner of Stanford University at the Great Plains Art Collection Center, 1155 “Q” Street, Hewit Place, University of NebraskaLincoln.(see full story on page 3).
B’NAI MITZVAH Daniel Klein, son of Janet and Harry Klein, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 24 at Beth El Synagogue. Daniel is a seventhgrade honor roll student at Beveridge Middle School. He recently participated in the Duke Talent Identification Program. He also played on the flag football team at Beveridge. He enjoys football, golf, movies, video games, and spending time with friends.
UNVEILING A stone setting for the late Milton Parker will be held Sunday, April 25, at Temple Israel Cemetery.
For his mitzvah project, he assisted with the basketball program at the JCC. Charles has a brother, Aaron. His grandparents are Barbara Frohman and the late Warner Frohman, and Sol Parsow and the late Lee Jane Parsow.
PERSONAL Leelo Sommerhauser will be joined by her entire family on Sunday, May 2, 1-3 p.m., for an Open House at the Legacy (5600 Pioneers Blvd.) and invites all her friends. Leelo’s family from Seattle and Milwaukee will be with her to celebrate her 90th birthday. From Milwaukee: Leelo's son, Peter and his wife, Betty; their children Brian of Chicago, IL; Lisa, and her fiance, Al Eickberg will attend. From Seattle: Leelo's daughter, Eileen and her husband, Howard, and their children: Rachel and Tom Lazar, Abigail and Cameron Rogers, and Adam Putter of Tucson, AZ, will attend. Happy 90th, Leelo; we wish you good health and many more!
April 16, 2004
Reflections on the Dietary Laws
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Shemini The laws of kashrut continue to be a mystery to Jews (at least some Jews) and gentiles alike. You can still get from many Jews an insistent opinion that these laws are, in the main, laws for the protection for the health of people. There is no truth to this. I remember the opinion of the brilliant 12th century leader of the Jewish community, who had many important relations as the leader of the Spanish community and its royalty, who pointed out the simple fact that Jews are not healthier than non-Jews. (One remembers with chagrin that when the Black Death scourged Europe in the 14th century, the fact that Jews were not quite as smitten as the non-Jewish community, largely because they washed their hands before eating, turned ironically into an excuse for pogroms, the general population slandering Jews as poisoners of the wells.)
given a packet about a different person involved in a separate scenario. “We had to calculate how much money we had to spend on the necessities of life,” he said. Each teen visited four stations including emergency services, a welfare office, a food stamps office, and a local market. Sam’s imaginary circumstance was a single mother of six children living with the woman’s sister and her boyfriend. “The goal of the activity was to go to three stations to get enough money to buy a nutritious meal,” Sam said. “There Anderson were all kinds of roadblocks set up to frustrate us. I had $9 left to spend. Most of the others had only $1.” Sam admitted he felt frustrated by the activity, but it was enlightening. He and the other students also had an option to help make about 800 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or sew mitten halves together. For fun, the teens enjoyed Graeters ice cream, well known in Cincinnati, and were entertained by a hypnotist. Some of the concepts introduced were the same as he learned at Hineni, noted Sam, who is the state Academic Decathlon bronze medal winner in the interview category and the only sophomore on North High School’s team which placed third in the state competition. But he also learned some new things and met new people at the Social Justice Weekend. It “opened a lot of their eyes,” Sam said.
DEATHS STEPHEN APPEL Word has been received that former Omahan Stephen Appel died in Connecticut at the age of 58. Services were held April 4 at Golden Hill Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sally and Henry Appel. He is survived by a cousin, Joan Kaiman. LEAH SIEGAL Leah Siegal died April 3 at the age of 89. Services were held April 5 at Fisher Farms Cemetery. She was an active volunteer for many organizations, but gave most of her time to Beth Israel Sisterhood. She is survived by her sister, Esther (Tibe) Stoler, nieces and nephews, Sherman Poska, Ed and Joy Siegal, Stewart Stoler, Neal and Jeannie Siegal, Alan and Kim Stoler, Bette Ann Poska, Sandy and Leonard Lokis and Sue and Jerry Wacks; 24 great-nieces and greatnephews and 21 great-great nieces and nephews. Memorials to charity of choice. MOLLY WEINER Molly Weiner died at the age of 82. Services were
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Pulverente MONUMENT CO. The Bible text itself makes clear that the purpose of the dietary laws was to create a holy community. Holiness, by definition, really means set aside, different, not ordinary. And the Holiness Code in Leviticus emphasizes that Israel is to be holy because, “I, the Lord, am Holy.” The dietary laws then are chiefly to preserve the selfrespect of the observer. I read once that the rat will eat everything that you do, plus a lot more. It is the “lot more” that is excluded by the laws of kashrut. In 1946, when I left New London, CT, to come to Omaha, the congregation had a gala departure dinner at the best hotel in town. (I think they were happy to be able to set out to find a new rabbi.) The committee in charge impressed on the hotel staff that “Even though you can’t tell us what kind of fish you’ll have available on that date, it has to be a kosher fish, that is to say, a fish with scales.” The committee made the impression so deeply, that when the people sat down to their banquet meal at the hotel, the excellent fish, carefully prepared and attractively served, was served with the scales. Your assignment now is to read the appropriate chapters of Leviticus to see why the fish must have scales!
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held April 8 at Golden Hill Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Hymie and Louis Weiner. She is survived by her sisters-in-law Caroline and Cheri Weiner.
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Sam Anderson Attends Social Justice Weekend at HUC-JIR in Cincinnati by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Sam Anderson, a sophomore at Omaha North High School and a Temple Israel Religious School student, was among approximately 80 tenth through 12th graders from throughout the United States and Canada who attended a Social Justice Weekend. The program was sponsored by Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and the Religious Action Center in February in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sam was the only participant who also attended Hineni which was offered last summer by Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Sam Institute (OSRUI) for youngsters who have a special interest in making a difference in the lives of people confronting hunger and homelessness. Thirty OSRUI campers traveled from Wisconsin to Atlanta, Georgia, where they stayed overnight at a shelter among other tikkum olam activities in Nashville, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri. During the Social Justice Weekend in Cincinnati, Sam and the other teens stayed in the dorms on the HUCJIR campus. On Friday night, they attended Shabbat worship services, a Shabbat dinner, and a song session. That evening they listened to Dr. Edward Goldman, the keynote speaker. Dr. Goldman, ordained at HUC-JIR, is the Professor Israel and Ida Bettan Professor of Midrash and Homiletics, professor of rabbinics, and editor of the Hebrew Union College Annual at the seminary. Among other activities, the students participated in a poverty simulation, Sam explained. Each student was
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MARLENE HECHTMAN Former Omahan Marlene Hechtman died April 5 in Sarasota, FL, at the age of 72. Services were held April 8 at Beth El Cemetery. She was married to Martin Staenberg and later to Elliott Hechtman. She was the co-founder of the Wolf House Transitional Living Center and served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations. She is survived by her children: Michael and Carol Staenberg of St. Louis, MO; Beth Staenberg Nachman; David and Linda Staenberg of Lincoln; Jon Staenberg of Seattle, WA; Barton and Carrie Hechtman of Palo Alto, CA; and nine grandchildren: Marty, Benny and Lev Nachman; Rachael, Hannah and Leah Staenberg of St. Louis; and Nathan, Brynna and Cole Hechtman of Palo Alto. Donations to the Marlene W. Hechtman Fund at Beth El Synagogue.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 16, 2004
Omaha Hosts AJHSA Symposium by JUDY BROOKSTEIN for AJHSA Final preparation is underway for the 29th annual symposium for the Associates of Jewish Home and Services for the Aging (AJHSA) to be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in the Old Market, May 1-4. Lois Wine, AJHSA Presidentelect, and Judy Brookstein, AJHSA Vicepresident, and their committees have been busy planning for this event which will draw approximately 75 attendees. “This is a wonderful way of showcasing the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, the Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Center and Campus, along with the Omaha community,” said Wine. “Attendance at the symposium will be made up of lay people and volunteers from Jewish nursing homes throughout the United States and Canada. During the symposium, those in attendance will have the opportunity to hear national keynote speakers, take part in intensive work-
shops, as well as be It, Do It, Have It”. a part of innovative According to programming and Wakeman, if you networking session, believe something is she added. possible or impossiKeynote speakers ble, either way you will include former are right. Belief has Omahan Mark great power. She will Zalkin, principal also lead a workshop trainer and coach of following her presZalkin Training & entation. The Omaha Development, community is invited Denver, CO; and to attend these sesCynthia “Cy” sions at no charge. Wakeman, president Also planned of Cy Wakeman, Lois Wine, left, and Judy Brookstein are plan- for the symposium Inc., Sioux City, IA. ners of the AJHSA Symposium. are four sets of Zalkin will speak Sunday morning at the workshops, allowing the attendees 12 Embassy Suites, where he will discuss different options to choose from. In the steps of volunteer development. He addition to Zalkin and Wakeman, workwill present a workshop following his shops will be led by Joe Kirshenbaum, keynote address. Anne Marie Aita, Bob Wolfson, Nancy Wakeman will speak Monday morning Nogg, Andy Greenberg, Ben Nachman, at the hotel where her theme will be “Be Geri Margolis, Diann Muhlbach and
Lesley Brandt. Darlene Golbitz and Janet Herman will also lead a workshop on the Eden Project and Shane Kotok will lead a panel discussion on “Ethics & the Quality of Life” featuring Rabbi Myer S. Kripke, Dr. Toby Shonfeld and Professor Lawrence Raful. Other conference activities include a dessert reception, havdalah services led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, luncheon at Beth El, a visit to the Blumkin Home, tours of the campus, dinner and entertainment at Ironwood Country Club, and shopping at some of Omaha’s finest centers. According to Wine, “Our committees promise a symposium filled with midwestern hospitality and we hope that many of our Omaha community will come and experience the AJHSA opportunity.” For more information or to volunteer your services, please contact Lois Wine at 334.6519 or me at 493.3642. You can also log on to www.ajhsa.org for a complete schedule of the symposium.
JTA NEWS BRIEFS • Libyan Jews are entitled to compensation for lost property, Muammar Gadhafi’s son said. The comments by Saif AlIslam Gadhafi came after several recent overtures from the Libyan regime toward Israel and the international Jewish community. In his comments this week, Gadhafi also invited Libyan Jews to return to Libya and leave their Israeli homes to the Palestinians. But Gadhafi said Libya would no longer be involved in Middle Eastern politics. “If interested parties have decided to cease the war against Israel, why should we go on with it? Should we be holier than the pope?” he asked. • The National Cancer Institute is looking for Ashkenazi Jews for a study examining genetic links to kidney cancer. Ashkenazi Jews are being studied because they are a relatively homogeneous population. Ashkenazi Jews with two or more family members who have had kidney cancer should send an e-mail to hales@mail.ncifcrf.gov or call 1.800.949.6704. • The Anti-Defamation League criticized President Carter for his remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Carter’s remarks to reporters, in which he criticized the Bush administration for a lack of progress on the conflict and cited the Palestinian issue as a “prime source of animosity toward the United States,” both “distort and oversimplify” U.S. policy in the conflict. Carter also said the U. S. has been “exclusively committed to the policies of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Israel.”
Learn How Israel is Responding to the Palestinian Conflict 2004 AIPAC Nebraska Dessert Reception AIPAC members and non-members welcome
Wednesday, April 28, 2004, 7:30 p.m. at the home of Nancy & Harlan Noddle 8415 Loveland Drive, Omaha Featuring Mark Regev Spokesman at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., who will discuss “How Israel Responds to the Palestinian Conflict.” To RSVP for the event or learn more about the 2004 AIPAC Policy Conference, please contact Melanie Pearlman at (303) 864-9464 or email mpearlman@aipac.org.
This year we are saving a seat for you. AIPAC ANNUAL POLICY CONFERENCE 2004 at the new Washington, D.C. Convention Center, May 16-18.