April 18, 2003 by Jewish Press

Vol. LXXXII

No. 33

Omaha, NE

16 Nisan, 5763

April 18, 2003

SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 82 YEARS

Passover in the Persian Gulf Jewish Federation-Supported Agency Provides Passover Seder Kits to Jewish Military Personnel by GLENN ROSENCRANZ, UJC New York--Matzah balls in the Iraqi desert? For Jewish military men and women serving in the Persian Gulf region, observing Passover was possible in the form of special holiday meal kits shipped to the area with Jewish communal support. More than 1,500 Passover Solo Seder Kits were shipped overseas so that Jewish military personnel could conduct their own seder despite the daily challenges they face. Kits were also shipped throughout the United States.

Chaplain Joel D. Newman, right, United States Navy, distributes a Passover Solo Seder Kit to PFC Sam Bonsky. The kits, which contain such items as a Haggadah, matzot, grape juice and gefilte fish, were shipped overseas and throughout the United States so that Jewish military personnel can conduct their own Passover seder despite the daily challenges they face. The kits were distributed by the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council, an agency supported by United Jewish Communities (UJC) and Jewish Federations of North America. Photo courtesy of: Chaplain Joel D. Newman, United States Navy. “This is a spiritual mission that is being undertaken for the men and women in the military, who are serving G-d and serving our country,” said Rabbi David Lapp, Director of the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) Jewish Chaplains Council, an agency of the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America. “Even after Passover, we will continue on with programs that show our unwavering support and express our tremendous gratitude for their bravery.” The JWB Jewish Chaplains Council has undertaken the project with the support of United Jewish Communities (UJC), representing 156 Jewish federations throughout North America, so that Jewish military personnel can take part in the rituals, customs and traditions of the holiday though they are far from home. The kits were particularly critical for servicemen and women who are on the front lines in the Gulf, as they are constantly moving and therefore cannot attend a traditional seder, said Rabbi Lapp. The kits allowed them to observe Passover no matter where they are, and provide a meaningful connection to Judaism amidst the turmoil of war. Seven Jewish Chaplains were deployed to the Gulf to help distribute the Passover Solo Seder Kits to military personnel and to meet their needs during the holiday, according to the JWB. Military personnel not in combat zones had the opportunity to attend a seder organized by a Chaplain. To help provide the kits, the JWB Jewish (Continued on page 2)

First Known Jewish Casualty in Iraq Talked of Enlisting in the IDF by JOE BERKOFSKY NEW YORK (JTA)--As a the 9th Infantry during World young boy, Mark Evnin insisted War II. Born in Poland, Wall on wearing a yarmulke to the told his grandson stories of Boy Scouts and later talked of how he went to Belgium, enlisting in the Israel Defense France and Germany and Force. worked with displaced perEven without his body, the sons. family of the first known Jewish “We had a great time togethcasualty of the war on Iraq sat er. He loved stories about shiva, the Jewish mourning World War II. He saw my chapperiod, at their home in lain uniform, and I gave him Burlington, VT. all my medals.” On April 1, Mindy Evnin got a After meeting Israeli soldiers call from her son, a Marine when he became a Marine, his sniper scout, who was somemother said, he talked of going where south of Baghdad. to Israel one day and serving “It was the first time I’d spoin the Israeli military. ken to him since he was “I am sure it mattered to him deployed” to Kuwait from Camp that he was doing something Pendleton, CA, in February, she that is probably helping Israel said. “You can always tell his Mark Evnin of Burlington, VT, is the right now,” she said. mood by his voice, and he sound- first known Jewish casualty of When Evnin was 6, his pared good.” Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo/JTA ents separated, but his father, Two days later, Mark Evnin, Michael, of Rockville, MD, 21, a corporal with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment returned and lived with his son from the ages of 8 to of the Marines’ 1st Division, was killed in the town 12. of Kut by Iraqi machine-gun fire. His father recalled that when Evnin was born, “he “He was a macho kid with a gentle soul,” his moth- looked like an angel. He was extremely beautiful, er told JTA this week as she was preparing her almost shockingly so. He had long, blond golden house for the shiva. “He was like a sabra,” using the hair which as an infant he wore down to his shoulterm for a native-born Israeli. ders.” And like most Israeli men, Mark seemed to know Though he did not grow up deeply religious, relahe was destined for military service from a young tives said, the extended family celebrated Jewish age. holidays and Evnin had his Bar Mitzvah at the “He was always interested in the military, ever Conservative synagogue his grandfather led. since he was a child,” recalled his maternal grandMark Evnin “always would say that his zayda was father, Rabbi Max Wall, 87, of Burlington. the chief rabbi of Vermont,” Mindy Evnin said. “He had some kind of inborn feeling that he should Rabbi Joshua Chasan, who currently leads Ohavi serve his country; it was just a question of which Zedek, recalls that Evnin attended Hebrew school uniform he should wear.” in U.S. Army fatigues. Evnin and his grandfather grew very close over “There’s no doubt about it, Mark did it his own the years. way,” Chasan said. “Vermont is a pretty liberal comWall, now rabbi emeritus of Ohavi Zedek munity, and this kid went into the Marine Corps.” Synagogue in Burlington, served as a chaplain with (Continued on page 9)

Temple Israel Scholar Rabbi Elliott Dorff to Discuss “the Right and the Good” by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “Some of the old answers seem to do just fine in our modern world,” writes Rabbi Elliot Dorff in his newest book, To Do the Right and the Good, “whereas others seem to be woefully inadequate. In some cases, we are not even sure how to apply ancient wisdom to the new circumstances in which we find ourselves.” “You shall do the right and the good in the eyes of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:18). This law and other theological tenets of the Torah articulate social justice as a central Jewish principle. In his book, Rabbi Dorff explores the Jewish perspective of social justice in relation to topics such as poverty, war, intrafaith and interfaith relations, family, and privacy. He also covers Jewish social ethics as they relate to and contrast with today’s Christian and American belief systems. As a scholar-in-residence at Temple Israel the weekend of May 2-4, Rabbi Dorff, author of more than 150 articles on Jewish thought, law, and ethics as well as nine books, will discuss ethics in the business world, in issues of human intimacy and in bioethics. Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Judaism, Rabbi Dorff teaches a course on Jewish law at UCLA

School of Law as a visiting professor. Ordained a Conservative rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1970, Rabbi Dorff earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University in 1971 with a dissertation in moral theory. Since then, he has directed the rabRabbi Elliot Dorff binical and Masters programs at the University of Judaism. (Continued on page 11)

INSIDE: Insider’s View of AIPAC Conference....page 6 Moral Courage, Theme of Yom HaShoah..........................page 8 Shop Shalom Fever Building.............page 12

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 18, 2003

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by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Hol HaMoed Pesach It is no secret that the Passover sacrifice and the Festival of Matzot which follows were much older than the Exodus. We do not need anthropologists and biblical scholars to tell us this. Even the casual reader of the Bible, encouraged to give greater attention to the actual words and themes of the text, will come to understand this. But since the Exodus came in the spring month, our historians naturally latched onto these ancient festivals and adopted them. We might say they “Judaized” them. Thus we think of Pesach as the time of the Exodus. Whatever the literary background is, the importance of Pesach lies in the birth of the Jewish People. All through Genesis we were reading about the history of a family, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. But with the family established, Exodus turns to a different subject, a people, unformed and disorganized, perhaps, but a people. Now we may speak of the Children of Israel, a phrase and name that we may use until this day. It is startling to think that it was slavery that made this amorphous group into a People. But if there is one thing that can be said about the ancient Children of Israel and the Jews of all the generations since to our time, it is that we are a People. Note, of course, that we do not say “nation.” Only the people of ancient Israel and our brothers who now live in the Land of Israel constituted and constitute a Nation. The rest of us, wherever we live, are part of the people. In other words, to play on the same string a little too long, “nation” is a political concept and “people” is a cultural concept. Once we have said that, a cultural concept, we have touched on the essential reality of a people: it is its culture. Thus if Jews wish to understand themselves at Pesach time, they must understand it is not only the multitude of rituals involved in Pesach but the culture of the Jews as well. One who adheres only to the rituals of Pesach and is careful about chametz has done a great deal. But he has not entered into, at least not fully, the culture of the Jewish people. That culture includes its history, its strivings, its goals, its basic view of the world, its struggle with the idea of morality, and its wrestling with the idea of God.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS C L I P & S A V E

Sunday, April 20 Boy Scout Meeting, 5 p.m. Monday, April 21 Florence Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

Passover in the Persian Gulf C L I P & S A V E

Tuesday, April 22 BBYO Night "Breaking the Code", 6 p.m.

C L I P & S A V E

Thursday, April 24 B'nai B'rith Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 25 Visions Israel Travel Log and Lunch, noon at Joslyn Art Museum 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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(Continued from page 1) Chaplains Council partnered with organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Rockland County (New York). “If they don’t have access to Passover food, in addition to not being with their families to celebrate, I figured it was our role to help them observe the best way they can,” said Jonathan Feldstein, the Federation’s Campaign Director. “They should have a joyous holiday, despite fighting a war and being in the middle of the desert. We realized that when we say that Federation helps Jews around the world, this year there are thousands more, American Jews, who need our help to observe and celebrate Pesach (Passover) far from home.” The JWB Jewish Chaplains Council is the U.S. Department of Defense’s accredited agency for recruiting and endorsing rabbis to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and Reserves, as well as Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and acts on behalf of the American Jewish community by supplying religious items to the United States military.

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press office will be closed the last two days of Passover, Wednesday and Thursday, April 23-24. Deadlines for photos, copy and ads for the May 2 issue is Monday, April 21 Questions? Call 334-6448.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE

All photos used in the Passover issues of the Jewish Press can be picked up at the office before April 25.Those photos remaining will be turned over to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society archives. Photos may be picked up during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. or call 334-6448 to make other arrangements.

DEATHS YALE HALPERIN Yale Halperin died April 5 at the age of 86. Services were held April 8 at BHH/Fisher Farms Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his brother, Max Halperin, and sister, Ethel Cohen. He is survived by his wife, Ida Halperin; daughter and son-in-law, Ronna and Gene Kaplan; daughter, Diane Halperin of Manhattan Beach, CA; son and daughter-in-law. Howard and Carol Halperin; grandchildren, Corey and Stacy Kaplan of Chicago; Scott Kaplan and his fiancee, Lisa Bauer, of Chicago; Andy, Adam and Tim Halperin of Omaha; sister Sophie Schulman. Memorials to Beth Israel Synagogue. DAVE RICHTMAN Dave Richtman died April 5 at the age of 88. Services were held April 6 at Beth Israel Synagogue. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Herman, Joe and Sol. A survivor of the Holocaust, he immigrated to the United States in 1950. He and his brother, the late Joe Bucheister, operated the Nebraska Kosher Meat Market from 1963-90 in Omaha, along with their wives, Rosa and Frieda. He is survived by his wife, Rosa Richtman; son, Max Richtman of Washington, D.C.; son and daughter-in-law, Walter and Harriet Richtman of Chicago; daughter and son-in-law, Annie and Bob Kaplan of Highland Park, IL; grandchildren, Aviva and Yosi Applebaum, Yosef and Shani Richtman, Chanan Richtman, and Yael Richtman, Stephanie and Benjamin Kaplan; and brother, Roman Amster. Memorials to Beth Israel Synagogue.

Beth El Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group to Meet May 1 by OZZIE NOGG Beth El Synagogue’s Rosh Hodesh group will welcome the Hebrew month of Iyar on Thursday, May 1, 7:30 p.m. The session, co-hosted by Evie Mitchell and Helen Epstein, runs to 9p.m. at the Epstein home, 2223 No. 100 St. The theme for the evening is “A Time to Mourn, A Time To Grieve, A Time To Remember, and A Time To Live: There Is Light At the End of the Tunnel.” “We chose the theme because everyone experiences death or loss in some way or another,” Epstein said. “No one escapes it. We’ll focus on coping, adjusting, and learning to live with loss. We’ll discuss Yom Hashoah--the collective loss suffered by the Jewish people--as well as individual loss. We’ll also look at Yom Haatzmaut--Israel’s Independence Day--as a example of how sadness and despair can evolve into hope and rejuvenation.” Beth El’s monthly Rosh Hodesh program was inaugurated in March and is designed for women of all ages who are ready to share personal thoughts and experiences. “These sessions promote a genuine feeling of togetherness and trust,” Epstein continued. “We learn from one another. We really connect, and even women who don’t know one another very well come away with new understanding--and new, or deeper, friendships! It’s truly special.” The Rosh Hodesh group is free and open to all Beth El women. Reservations are a must and may be made by calling Kathy Schmitt, 492-8550, or by sending an e-mail to Helen Epstein at tuffle@aol.com.

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SYNAGOGUES

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Candlelighting Friday, April 18 .............................................. 7:49 p.m.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism

7023 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556-6536 templeisrael-ne.org

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

1502 No. 52 St., Omaha, NE. 68104 -5013 556-6288 BethIsrael@novia.net

14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492-8550 WEB--www.bethel-omaha.org

FRIDAY: Men’s Club, 11:45 a.m. All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join us for some relaxation and great conversation; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:30 p.m., Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. Rabbi Azriel will give the D’var Torah. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30 a.m., in the Milder Center. Please join us as we continue study of Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries: The Amidah; Morning service, 10:30 a.m. SITTER SERVICE Sitter Service is available at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar or bat mitzvah, as well as Sunday mornings when there is religious school. Charge is $2 per family. Please make reservations with the office. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, April 22: “Taking Leave: The Jewish Roots of Christianity”, 7-8:30 p.m. with John Dacey. THURSDAY, April 24: Adult Study with Rabbi Craig Marantz, 10-11:30 a.m. CONCLUSION OF PASSOVER Wednesday, April 23: Moments of Remembrance, 9:45 a.m.; Morning Service and Yizkor, 10:30 a.m. BAR MITZVAH Robert Reuben Friedman, son of Joan and Michael Friedman, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah at Shabbat Morning Services, Saturday, April 26.

Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; The West Minyan is at the home of Leon and Dani Shrago, at 7:30 p.m. A weekly e-mail update is now being sent out, listing synagogue events. Please e-mail the office to be on the list. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m. Free babysitting begins at 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m., A special Passover Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood. Mincha, 7:45 p.m., followed by Shalosh Suedot and Ma’ariv; Havdalah, 8:53 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m TUESDAY: Erev Yom Tov: Candlelighting, 7:53 p.m.; Mincha, 7:55 p.m. CONCLUSION OF PASSOVER Wednesday, April 23: Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.; Mincha, 8 p.m. Candle lighting no earlier than 8:58 p.m. Thursday, April 24: Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.; Yizkor, 10:30 a.m.; Mincha, 8 p.m.; Havdallah, 9 p.m. Chometz should not be used before 9:45 p.m.

Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday , 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Come join a joyous, musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. A THOUGHT FOR SHABBAT To receive Rabbi Levin’s weekly “Thought For Shabbat” e-mail message, please send your e-mail address to Exec@bethel-omaha.org. This message is free and open to the entire community. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. Rabbi Levin’s Torah Class meets at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome for the informal discussion and snack. Evening services at 8 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; weekdays at 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. PASSOVER SERVICE SCHEDULE Monday and Tuesday: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Minha-Ma’ariv, 6 p.m. Wednesday: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Minha-Maariv, 6 p.m. Thursday: Shacharit (Yizkor is recited), 9:30 a.m.; Minha-Ma’ariv, 8:05 p.m. Saturday, April 26: USY sponsored Israeli Techno Dance and Falafel Dinner, 9 p.m.-midnight at the synagogue. OTYG, NCSY, BBYO and Kadima are invited. Proceeds from $10 tickets goes to Tikun Olam. Sunday, May 4: HAZAK Eat-in or Take-out Kosher Deli Dinner, 6-7:30 p.m. Advance reservations please.

SOUTH STREET TEMPLE

Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations

2061 S. 20th St., Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435-8004 jewishnebraska.org

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 tiferethisraellincoln.org

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

423-8569

Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY, Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach: Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv, 8:15 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. MONDAY: Torah Study, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m., Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 9:15 a.m., End of Pesach, 9:15 p.m. Thursday, May 1, Friday, May 2 and Sunday, May 4: Congregants may bring their “stuff” to the synagogue after Passover for Tifereth Israel’s Garage Sale.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: 2nd day of Passover, Services, 9 a.m., led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m., are led by Andrew Greenberg. WEDNESDAY: 7th day of Passover, Services, 9 a.m., led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet. THURSDAY: 8th day of Passover, Yizkor Memorial Service, 9 a.m., led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet. All services are held in the Herbet Goldsten Chapel and are open to the community.

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster St., Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 Phone: 322-4705 e-mail: doc jeb @aol.com FRIDAY: Evening Service, 7:30 p.m. Oneg will follow.

DEDICATION A monument in memory of Floyd Kuklin will be unveiled on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, 4000 N. 14 Street in Lincoln. All relatives and friends are invited to attend.

FRIDAY: Early shabbat services, 6 p.m. led by Barbara Straus. SATURDAY: Morning Service, led by David Williss, 9:30 a.m., Torah Study, 10:30 a.m.; Game Night, 6 p.m. SUNDAY: No Religious School. MONDAY: Hebrew class, 7 p.m. TUESDAY: Mishna with Rabbi Milder, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: AA Meeting, 7 p.m. in the Library. THURSDAY: B’nai Mitzvah class, 5 p.m. UPCOMING LINCOLN EVENTS Monday, April 28, 7 p.m.: The Israeli film, Time of Favor, will be show at the Temple. Robert Rickover and Rucard Lombardi will lead a discussion on the complex effects of terrorism, played out in a lvoe triangle. Tuesday, April 29, 7 p.m., the Lincoln Jewish Community will commemorate the Holocaust at the State Capitol Rotunda. Thursday, May 1, 7:30 a.m.: The Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will be at the Cornhusker Hotel, South Street Temple will share a table with the Lincoln Jewish Federation. Please send reservations to the Temple, attn: Stephanie Dohner, with a $15 check made out to “Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast”. Sunday, May 4, 6:30 p.m.: The Jewish federation of Lincoln kicks off its campaign with a light supper and musical entertainment.

BEYT SHALOM

An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

3012 S. 119th St., P.O. Box 241130 Omaha, NE 68124-5130 660-2395 http://welcome.to/beytshalom/ FRIDAY and SATURDAY: Passover Shabbat in the Home. SUNDAY: Religious Hebrew School, 3:30 p.m. at the JCC. Theme is Passover. TUESDAY: Religious Hebrew School, 4 p.m. at the JCC.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway, Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294-6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m..

CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of the Worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch Movement

1866 So. 120th St., Omaha, NE 68144-1646 Phone: 330-1800 E-MAIL--chabad@aol.com WEBSITE: www.nebraskajudaism.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Monday-Friday, services at 7 a.m. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:55 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, followed by Kiddush, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s program, 10:30 a.m.; Mincha, 7:50 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 8:50 p.m. TUESDAY: Erev Yom Tov: Candlelighting, 7:53 p.m.; Mincha, 7:55 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s program, 10:30 a.m.; Mincha, 8 p.m.; Candle lighting no earlier than 8:58 p.m. THURSDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s program, 10:30 a.m.; Yizkor, 11 a.m.; Traditional Moshiach seudah, 7 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdallah, 9 p.m. Chometz should not be used before 9:45 p.m.

@@@@@@@@ BAR MITZVAH Michael Friedman, son of Morris Friedman and Beth Friedman, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 26, at Beth El Synagogue. A seventh grade student at Kiewit Middle School, Michael enjoys tennis, basketball and football, and is the sole proprietor of Mike’s Mowing and Snowblowing. For his Mitzvah Project he is collecting “Buckets, Blankets and Bonz” for the animals at the Humane Society. Please e-mail jamaicamon1@aol.com to participate. Michael has a brother, Alan. Grandparents are Mania Friedman and the late Zalman Friedman, Charlotte Casten and the late Alfred Romagnano.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 18, 2003

Syria & the Palestinians: Fools to the End

EDITORIAL What is Bashar Assad thinking? Why in the world would he back the brutal regime of Iraq’s (former) leader Saddam Hussein? And why would he open Syria’s borders to the Ba’ath Party thugs, the murderous feydaeen and the other bullies trying to escape from the coalition forces in Iraq? Bashar must assume that Saddam will be back in power, selling oiling to Syria at reduced rates (which Syria then sells on the open market) and in return, running arms into Iraq. He’s a fool. As are the Palestinians dancing in the street in support of Saddam. According to JTA, “Palestinian Authority newspapers are lamenting the fall of Saddam Hussein, according to Palestinian Media Watch. The daily Al Ayyam published an April 10 headline of the fall of Baghdad with a black frame of mourning. The official P.A. daily, Al Hayat Al Jadida, published a political cartoon saying the entire “Arab Nation” is mourning Baghdad. Its editorial page advised the Iraqi people to act against the American ‘occupation’ by taking ‘the Palestinian experience as an example.’” According to Mideast expert Barry Rubin, writing in The Jerusalem Post, “The Iraqi armed forces did collapse

quickly. The people did not love their dictator nor did they fight to keep on their chains. The terrorist training camps and torture chambers stand revealed to the world, just as the unconventional weapons will be in the days to come. “The masses did greet the British and American forces. The stories of U.S. plans gone wrong, heavy resistance, American defeats, deliberate Western brutality, nationalist devotion to the tyrant, and far more were wrong, wrong, wrong.” Khaled Abu Toameh wrote in that same issue, “There was shock and disbelief in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Wednesday as Palestinians gathered around tv sets to watch U.S .Marines and Iraqi residents knock down a giant statute of Saddam Hussein in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad. “‘I’m stunned and appalled. I can’t understand what is happening,’ said Rustum Abu Ghazalah, a 30-year-old shopkeeper in the center of Ramallah. “He and grim-faced fellow shopkeepers zapped from one Arab tv station to another with the hope of discovering that what they were hearing and watching was nothing more than

BEHIND THE HEADLINES by MATTHEW E. BERGER WASHINGTON (JTA)--The mission of rebuilding Iraq after the war has fallen to a general who has visited Israel and is being portrayed in the Arab world as biased in favor of the Jewish state. The Bush administration has selected retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner to direct the Pentagon’s Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Post-War Iraq. He will coordinate the civil administration and will aid the transition to new leadership. A former assistant chief of staff in the Army, Garner, 64, traveled to Israel in 1998 with the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. Two years later he signed on to an October 2000 letter that praised Israeli restraint in the face of Palestinian violence and urged the United States not to let its role as a peace facilitator hamper its responsibilities as a friend to Israel. “Friends don’t leave friends on the battlefield,” the statement read. The appointment of Garner has enraged some Arab leaders, who claim that putting a “pro-Israel” leader in charge of the reconstruction of Iraq will only feed accusations that the war is being fought for Israel’s benefit. “People in the Arab world are completely amazed by the Iraq policy, they don’t get it, and the view that Israel is behind it all is one that is gaining strength,” said Hussein Ibish, director of communications for the American-

a U.S.-produced Hollywood film. “‘This can’t be true,’ grumbled Abu Ghazalah. ‘Where are the suicide bombers? Where are the Fedayeen of Saddam? Where are the heroic Republican Guards?’” Where indeed? Perhaps they’re hiding in Syria under the protection of a man who, like the Palestinians, once again backed the wrong team. Editor’s note: A few weeks ago in this column, we noted the CNN crawl

regarding the “Zionist Oil Mafia.” Thanks to the Shambergs of Grand Island, (whose daughter is married to the head of CNN’s Standards and Practices), Rick Davis called us from Atlanta after receiving the Press from his mother-in-law and requested correct attribution. CNN did not invent the quote; (soon-to-be former) Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammed Al-Douri, is the originator. We stand corrected.

Arabs Incensed that Bush Choice to Rebuild Iraq Seen as ‘Pro-Israel’

Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. The concern over Garner’s relationship with Israel highlights the politically sensitive nature of regime change in Iraq, a country that has threatened Israel for decades and launched 39 missiles at Israel during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. It also shows growing concern about the Bush administration’s plans for the broader Middle East, specifically calls for democratization of the region. Ibish says bringing in an administrator who some Arabs see as proIsrael hurts the chances for a successful regime change. Ibish said Garner’s appointment is a sign that the Bush administration either does not understand Arab public opinion or does not care. “It’s incredible that the administration would not be sensitive to what impression that would lend to other Arabs and Iraqis themselves about what sort of occupation this would be,” he said. But Jewish leaders are rejecting the charge that visiting or supporting Israel should disqualify Garner from any service in the Middle East. “If I were Jay Garner, I would be enormously offended that for visiting Israel for 10 days, I was disqualified from serving the American government in some capacity in an Arab country,” said Shoshana Bryen, Director of special projects for JINSA. She noted the large number of former military leaders that visit Israel each

year. Bryen says Garner “has never failed to do anything I’ve asked of him,” including signing letters and advising JINSA on military matters. But, she added, Garner has not been active in JINSA since his 1998 trip, and is not among the organization’s core group of military liaisons. Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, called Garner’s support of Israel “irrelevant.” “Should this administration look for someone who is anti-Israel?” Hoenlein asked. “The fact that he supports a close ally of the United States is natural.” A State Department spokesman said Garner was an excellent choice for the job because of extensive experience with reconstruction issues in the former Yugoslavia. “That’s what his detractors should be focused on,” Gregg Sullivan said. “That’s the criteria for which he was chosen.” Still, Ibish said, “There are lots of other people in the United States who could do this that aren’t in the pro-Israel lobby, which JINSA is a member of.” Arabs are concerned that Garner will push new leadership in Iraq that would foster a relationship with Israel, a state they see as an occupier and enemy of Arabs, Ibish said. Leaders of the Iraqi National Congress, which operates out of London and has close ties to the Bush administration, have been working with American Jewish groups in the

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past few months, expressing an interest in building relationships with the Israeli government. Entifadah Qanbar, the INC’s Washington office director, told JTA last October that he believes that good relations with Israel are possible under a new regime because, he said, Saddam is the one who has a problem with Israel, not the Iraqi people. Others dispute that analysis, saying that decades of fiercely anti-Israel indoctrination mean it will take time before the Iraqi public, under any government, would be willing to accept Israel. In any case, the INC is just one of several groups seeking a share of power now that Saddam no longer in charge of Iraq. The group does not have a large following in Iraq, and it’s unclear how prominent a role it will play. Bryen says it’s too early to speculate on whether Garner’s job will even give him an opportunity to work on IraqiIsraeli relations. If so, it would mean his role would move beyond humanitarian concerns and into political matters, and would require an Iraqi leadership interested in improving ties. “If he has a political mission, it’s better for people with a political mission to have good feelings about Israel,” she said. Garner retired in 1997 and became president of SY Technology, a Virginia company that provides communication and targeting systems for missiles. It was bought last year by L-3 Communications, from which Garner has taken a leave of absence.

JEWISH PRESS COMMITTEE Joanie Jacobson, Vice-Chairman; Penny Endelman, Secretary; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Jean Duitch; Kip Gordman; Bobbi Leibowitz; Howard K. Marcus; Scott Meyerson; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Melanie Weinstein; Amee Zetzman; George Schapiro (Honorary Committee Member). 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.

April 18, 2003

BEHIND THE HEADLINES by JOE BERKOFSKY NEW YORK (JTA)--The release of the latest national Jewish population study, already beset by technical woes and delays, will be postponed once again pending an independent review, according to its sponsors. The United Jewish Communities, which is bankrolling the $6 million study of American Jewry that has been billed as the most comprehensive ever, said it has appointed an independent panel to review the study. The National Jewish Population Survey 20002001, which was originally scheduled for release last November, is now not expected to be made public for at least another four to six weeks--and possibly longer, according to those involved. “We wanted to make sure the data [were] in good shape and that we do whatever we could” to ensure its validity, said Bernard Shapiro, who led an earlier internal UJC inquiry into problems plaguing the study. Heading the new review will be Mark Schulman, president of the polling and research firm Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas Inc. Shapiro and UJC officials said such independent reviews were “not uncommon” in major demographic studies such as the U.S. Census. The decision to appoint another review was criticized by some of the original experts involved with the study, one of whom called it a “strange” move. Anticipation has built around the NJPS ever since the previous study in 1990 found that 52 percent of Jews married in the previous five years had married non-Jews. Many observers were waiting to see how the intermarriage numbers changed. In the years since, many Jewish institutions have launched efforts to reach out to the intermarried, while others focused on strengthening the identity of affiliated Jews. The new survey included many questions related to identity and affiliation. Last October, the central federation body released some population statistics from the latest NJPS, then pulled the full study from its annual General Assembly in November amid reports of technical problems that may have affected the population figures. According to the initial findings, there were 5.2 million Jews in the United States, down five percent from the 1990 NJPS, due largely to a rising median age and falling birth rates. Between the release of those findings and the scheduled release of the full report, the UJC revealed that the firm Roper Audits & Surveys Worldwide, which conducted the study’s field research, lost codes used to screen many of the 175,000 people telephoned for the survey to determine if they qualified to be the 4,500 Jews ultimately surveyed. That and other glitches meant the overall population was likely undercounted by one percent, while

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Population Survey Delayed Again as UJC Appoints New Review Panel several subgroups such as non-Jews living with Jews were overestimated, those involved with the study said. After these problems surfaced, the UJC named Shapiro, Vice-chancellor of McGill University in Montreal, to lead an internal inquiry into what went wrong. In January, Shapiro and a six-member investigative panel issued its findings, castigating Roper ASW for the technical problems and citing “a range of serious issues of conception, of data collection and of analysis” in the project. At the time, Shapiro said none of the problems appeared serious enough to block the study and that it would likely be made public around Passover. But last week, Shapiro said he and UJC decided to appoint a new committee of demographic experts to conduct an independent review of “the technical aspects of the project, the execution of the project, what was actually done and how.” The review, which Shapiro said was to “give the NJPS one more look,” will include examining the study’s statistical sample, the weights used to calibrate the results and a comparison of the data with similar studies. Shapiro said he was never brought on to the project to conduct such technical work. He said the technical advisers originally involved with the study were “not appropriate” choices to conduct a final, independent review because they were already involved with NJPS. Ironically, Schulman, who will lead the new review, heads the firm that was among the losing bidders to conduct the latest NJPS. Other members of the panel include Stanley Presser of the University of Maryland, Eugene Ericksen of Temple University and Tom Smith of the National Opinion Research Center. For his part, Schulman said his objective is “not to point fingers” but to determine if “the estimates are as good as they can be. Our committee is just a fresh pair of eyes.” The review will also explore the “strengths and limitations” of the NJPS data and make recommendations about the methods used to gather the data for future studies, said Schulman, who is president of the American Association of Public Opinion Research. Schulman said he was not sure how long the review would last, but said, “It’s not weeks, it’s months, but no more than that. I do think we can bring this process to a closure.” Lorraine Blass, a senior planner for UJC who has worked on the population study, said the independent review was necessary in order to clear up any questions lingering about NJPS: “We are fully committed to having a fully transparent report that will address all of these issues that have come up in the last couple of months, including missing data.”

BOB NELSON, CLU

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 18, 2003

AIPAC Journal: Top Politicians Pledge Support For Israel by GARY JAVITCH I was a “first-timer!” My ID badge identified me so. Furthermore, I was promised that my initial experience at the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference would be an awesome experience. I was not disappointed. It was fantastic and eye opening. Here is a quick overview: Amidst extremely tight security, the well-planned event brought huge players on the world stage, like Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice to share their thoughts. Other major guest speakers included the top congressional leaders: the Republican Speaker of the House, the Senate Majority Leader and their Democratic counterparts. Also speaking were several Israeli generals, several ambassadors, many experts on terrorism, Islam and the Middle East. Among the special guests were former Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Mrs. Ilan Ramon, the widow of the hero-astronaut. At their grand banquet, AIPAC demonstrated their extraordinary political clout. They welcomed and introduced individually more than half the U.S. Senate and nearly half of the members of the House of Representatives. AIPAC can attract that kind of political turnout because it is largely regarded as one of the most influential lobbying groups in the nation. Our Nebraska delegation enjoyed dinner with Rep. Lee Terry, a staunch supporter of Israel. He indicated he was going to vote for the major appropriations bill that would provide Israel with $1 billion in direct military aid and $9 billion in loan guarantees. Harlan Noddle had dinner with Sen. Ben Nelson at another table and lobbied him for his support for the bill. (Sen. Chuck Hagel did not attend the dinner.) With more than 4,000 attending the conference and about a thousand more joining them at the banquet, the evening meal was one of the few occasions all the Nebraskans could get together. The start of Gulf War II, a little over a week earlier, greatly enhanced the interest and enthusiasm of all the participants. That excitement was immediately evident when the lights were dimmed for the entrance to the hall of Colin Powell. Immediately, the largest crowd ever to attend the conference jumped to their feet. The warm applause he

received was sustained and prolonged. In an address frequently interrupted by ovations, Powell outlined the effort that were made to prevent the Gulf War and then described the steps that followed after the coalition forces (at that time consisting of 45 nation and now nearly 50 countries strong) launched their strikes. His loudest applause came when he said, “Israelis should not just cope. They should thrive and survive! And with our help, they will!” The chief U.S. diplomat looked ahead to the peace process that would follow the Gulf war. “Peace will take courage,” Powell con- Attending the AIPAC conference were: Mort Glass, seattinued. But the president’s vision is clear, ed left, Rep. Lee Terry, Tom Fellman and his niece, for“The terror must end!” (More applause) mer Omahan Wendy Katzman; back row: Dr. Larry He stated that Israel would also have to Roffman, Michael Newman of Topeka KS and his father, shoulder some of the responsibilities as Murray Newman, Gary Javitch, Jerry Kohll. well by giving up the territories, according to the ment by President Bush. When the secretary hint“road map” plan outlined in a June 24, 2002 state- ed that there might be more concessions required, he garnered a few scattered and restrained boos. Undaunted, he pressed on, discussing other topics. He concluded his remarks to thunderous applause and loud cheering when he said, “Hope for Israel depends on security. America is totally comThe Nebraska AIPAC Council will meet on mitted to Israel’s security and well-being. The U.S. Wednesday, April 30, 11:45 a.m., at Ironwood and AIPAC have always been there and always will Country Club, featuring speaker Jeffrey Colman, be!” AIPAC’s Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs. His An hour before her meeting with President Bush, topic is “War, Democracy, and Peace in the Middle National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice arrived. East--Insiders’ Perspectives on U.S. Foreign Policy Like Colin Powell, the former Stanford University Towards the Region and a Legislative Update on chancellor received a warm and tumultuous U.S. Support for Israel.” applause. She spoke “off the record”--nevertheless, Coleman has worked for the past 12 years as one what was most gratifying was the strong support of AIPAC’s seven lobbyists on Capitol Hill promoting voiced by the top leaders of our government. aid to Israel, foreign aid and other legislation to From conservative to liberal, from Senate strengthen cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. Majority Leader Bill Frist and Speaker Hastert to Mr. Coleman came to AIPAC after many years of Sen. Minority Leader Tom Daschle and Rep. Nancy experience in legislative and public policy positions. Pelosi, all supported the President in the war effort He also served as Senior Analyst for the Senate and all expressed even greater support for Israel. Budget Committee. There was so much information disseminated that Advanced reservations are mandatory. Send it was almost overwhelming. I want to mention two your check for $20 for lunch to: Pam Friedlander, breakout sessions I attended in between major NCJW-Omaha Section Public Affairs/Education guest speakers. They really stuck out in my mind. Vice-president, 1376 So. 137 Ave., Omaha, NE (Continued on page 7) 68144, by April 23.

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AIPAC Journal (Continued from page 6) The first was one on Hezbollah, the ence on their feet with ovation after terrorist group that is supported by ovation with comments like the folSyria and unrelenting in its opposi- lowing: â€œWhen that tragic event on tion to the state of Israel. The speak- Sept. 11 took place, we looked to the ers expressed hope that with a posi- Middle East and we saw the tive outcome of the Iraq war, more Palestinians dancing in the street. pressure could be put on the other When we looked at Israel, we saw parts of the triangle of terror: Syria, their flags were at half-staff. We saw Iran and the Hezbollah. that they were crying with us. We The second session of interest know who our friends are,â€? he revolved around the growing amount exclaimed. â€œAnd let me tell you,â€? he of anti-Semitism on campus, by the yelled, â€œ We will never forget them!â€? liberal and further left wing elements On the last day of the conference, that did not support Americaâ€™s posi- AIPAC organizers wanted the deletion on the Gulf War. These groups gates to lobby all our congressional were also anti-Israel and were sweep- representatives to support the multiing up young impressionable Jewish billion dollar aid package mentioned kids because many of the Jewish stu- earlier. dents attending college tend to be libThe big names, the current hot toperal. The speakers said they need to ics, the decision-makers and opinion be armed with information and molders--the AIPAC conference had it knowledge to combat the misinforma- all. I canâ€™t wait to attend next year. tion being spewed out. Of all the guest speakers, that one that stood out the most was Gary Bauer, the former presidential candidate of the religious right and an articulate spokesman for prayer in the schools and pro-life positions. At first glance you would have expected the crowd to turn a deaf ear to his impassioned thoughts. To the surprise of a great many delegates, Bauer was an eloquent supporter Harlan Noddle, right, a member of AIPACâ€™s of Israel. A dynamic Executive Committee, takes a minute with speaker, he had his audi- Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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ORGANIZATIONS OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Rabbi Aryeh and Shari Blum will be out of town during Pesach. Classes are cancelled through Thursday, May 2. Mark your calendar for Friday and Saturday, May 16-17, when Rabbi Moshe and Debbie Ungar will serve as scholars-in-residence for OCTL. Rabbi Ungar will speak during Shabbat dinner and following Shabbat lunch; Mrs. Ungar will speak during a special Womenâ€™s Shalosh Seudah on Shabbat afternoon. For more information about OCTL or to arrange one-on-one learning or small group sessions, call Rabbi Blum at 320-8055. Y.E.S. WALK-IN, DROP-IN LOMIR REDN YIDDISH There are no meetings on Monday and Thursday due to Passover. Call Maggie Conti at 334-6521 for reservations for the Musical Extravaganza on April 28 with Stan Widman; deadline is April 21.

VISIONS Enjoy the rich rewards of travel the easy way. The Walters Professional Travel Film Series present Israel Today on Friday, April 25. Cost is $7 per person. At 11:30 a.m., dine at Joslynâ€™s Le Cafe Durham (on your own) and 2 p.m. enjoy the travellogue on Israel. Send reservations to: Fred and Sandy Bromley, 13419 Marinda St., Omaha, NE 68144. Make checks payable to Jewish Senior Services. Visions Minneapolis Getaway is July 8-10. Cost is $172 per person based on double occupancy ($252 single occupancy). Send reservations with $50 deposit by May 1 to: Betty Sanford, 9205 Western Ave, #127, Omaha, NE 68114. Make check payable to Visions. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES This Ainâ€™t Your Bubbeâ€™s Yiddish Theater comes to Omaha on Sunday, May 11, 2 p.m., featuring Mark Novak and Renee Brachfeld. Sponsored by Temple Israel, this program is free and open to the public.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 18, 2003

Theme of Moral Courage Reflected at Yom Hashoah Memorial Service by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director The concept of moral courage will be and her citizens in their defiance of evident throughout the Community Hitler’s commands and decrees. The Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remem- Danes’ courage can serve as a model of brance Day, Memorial Service on personal triumph over adversity. The Wednesday, April 30, 7 p.m., at students were asked to choose an hisBeth El Synagogue. torical event that exemplifies moral The readings from the rabbis and courage and relate it to a personal cantors, as well as the story from the experience in which morals and valkeynote speaker, Walter Reed, who ues helped guide their actions and was a hidden child of the Holocaust, behaviors in the face of perceived or will all center around hidden children real danger. and the righteous people who exhibitJordana Glazer is the ADL’s Essay ed moral courage to save them during Contest Coordinator and says the the Holocaust. essay contest was successful in a numThe question of moral courage was ber of ways. “First, it was another also put to Omaha area high school chance to get the ADL and our work in students in the form of an essay con- the public eye. Secondly, the contest test sponsored by the Anti- focused on the behavior of people durDefamation League. The National ing the Holocaust and asked students ADL selected the Omaha office to pilot to take the lessons from (that event) the First Annual National “Tribute to and show how they can transcend the the Danes and Other Rescuers Essay facts and figures and make it real and Contest” with the theme of this year’s relevant to today,” said Glazer. contest being “moral courage.” In More than 300 essays were submitaddition to the ADL, the essay contest ted by students from Omaha, Millard, is co-sponsored by Dana College in Blair and Westside Public Schools as Blair, Nebraska and the Danish well as from Omaha Catholic Schools. Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, IA. As an extra incentive, the ADL offered Moral courage is defined as the ability generous prizes to the top six essays: to take a strong stance on a specific one first place prize of $1,500, two secissue and to defend it based on one’s per- ond place awards of $750 and three sonal beliefs or convictions, regardless third place winners at $500. Prize of danger or threats to personal safety. money was provided by the Herbert In Denmark, during World War II, Goldsten Trust. Danish citizens provided a unique Bruce Lauritzen, Chairman of First example of courage and concern by National Bank will present the checks jeopardizing their own lives to spare to the winners at the Yom Hashoah those of 7,200 Jewish Danes. Moral Memorial Service. Lauritzen became values and beliefs united Denmark involved through Dana College and

Imagine a world where all who are hungry can enter and eat.

his own Danish heritage. The grand prize contest winner is Alicia Gunnels, a senior at Marian High School (whose essay was reprinted in the April 4 TeenAge page of this newspaper). “I never knew about the courageous acts of the Danes during World War II. If I had just learned about the Holocaust and Danes through typical lectures and classroom reading, I would not have learned as much as I did and I definitely will remember what I learned because I got involved with the essay contest,” said Gunnels, who will use her prize money towards tuition to Nursing School next year. Added Glazer, “I have a favorite quote attributed to Ben Franklin that Alicia exemplifies. ‘Tell a child and he forgets; teach a child and he remembers; involve a child and he learns.’ The message of Alicia’s essay was for teens to search within themselves and find the moral courage to stand up to modern day bias, prejudice and segregation. Alicia, along with the other contest winners and entrants, did a wonderful job of involving themselves in the subject

matter and applying the lessons of the Holocaust to themselves.” The other essay contest winners are: Second Place: Jill Glissmann, senior, Omaha Central High School, and Dallas Flynn, senior, Blair High School; Third Place: Amy Gilpin, sophomore, Westside High School, Jessica Conroy, junior, Northwest High School, and Stefan Hayne, freshman, Creighton Preparatory School. In addition to the presentation of awards to the Essay Contest winners, the Yom Hashoah service includes readings and prayers from the rabbis and cantors and local Holocaust survivors will participate in the memorial candle lighting ceremony. Mike Fahey, Mayor of Omaha is expected to meet with the students who won the essay contest at Beth El prior to the service. For more information about the ADL Essay Contest, please contact Jordana Glazer at 334-6576. For more information about the Yom Hashoah Memorial Service, please contact Kathy McGauvran at 334-6427, or email her at kmcgauvran@jewishomaha.org.

Beth El Men’s Club Part of Yellow Candle Program by OZZIE NOGG As part of their mission to involve Jewish men in Jewish life, members of Beth El Synagogue’s Men’s Club will once again take part in the Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle Program. Developed by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC), the program is implemented in cooperation with the United Synagogue of

Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and the North American Federation of Temple Brotherhoods (NAFTB). The program helps communities across the country preserve the memory of the six million victims of the Holocaust. The memory is important because (Continued on page 9)

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April 18, 2003

Yellow Candle Program (Continued from page 8) Holocaust survivors are dwindling in number,” said Glen Fineman, Men’s Club President. “They are passing on and taking our first-person link with history. And as we lose this precious link, those who deny that the Holocaust ever happened are poised to revise history. “Sadly, 20% of all high school students have no knowledge of the Holocaust. They are ripe for the revisionist history we want to avoid,” Fineman added. “The Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle is a highly visible symbol of what really happened and a highly visible symbol for keeping the flame alive. Their color recalls the badges Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe, but their flame inspires hope that we can make our world a more tolerant place.” Every member family of Beth El will receive special Yellow Candles, along with instructions on how

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First Jewish Casualty in Iraq War When he joined the Boy Scouts as a young boy, his mother said, he insisted on wearing a yarmulke even though he was not observant. When a fellow scout said the blond-haired, blueeyed Evnin did not look Jewish, his mother recalled, “He turned around and said, ‘You don’t look Christian!’” As he grew older Evnin developed a wonderfully sarcastic sense of humor, his mother said, and loved The Simpsons, Seinfeld and the British claymation characters Wallace and Gromit. At South Burlington High School, Evnin became active in sports, playing lacrosse and football, as well as snow boarding and cross-country skiing. He also spent a good deal of time at the school’s computer imaging lab. Evnin graduated in 1999 before attending basic training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. “Before he was deployed, he and his Marine buddies were reading the Harry Potter books,” Mindy Evnin said. “I love that they were reading all this sweet stuff, because they look like such killers.” His father and others said it was the Marines who gave Mark Evnin a sense of direction in life “`He metamorphisized from a gentle, loving kind of child to a hard, serious, focused man,” his father said. His family also called him a natural leader, and Chasan saw that side of the young man last summer, when his 13-year-old cousin, Sarah Antonoff, died of a brain tumor. When the extended family gathered for shiva, “Mark had really come into his own. He helped the little kids be at ease, playing with them,” Chasan said. He apparently took those qualities into the

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Jeff Plumb

Marines. His crucial role, according to San Francisco Chronicle reporter John Koopman, who rode with Evnin, was both to spot Iraqi snipers and to drive a U.S. sharpshooter, a sergeant major and the journalist, as they headed toward Baghdad. It was from Koopman’s satellite phone that Evnin made his last call to his mother. At 1 p.m. on April 3, the 800 to 900 soldiers in their convoy got into a firefight with Iraqi soldiers. Koopman told The Burlington Free Press that Evnin was shooting back after coming under fire, and got hit, apparently in the abdomen. His wounds did not appear life-threatening, and the two even joked about how Evnin would get sponge baths from the nurses, Koopman said. But he died while being evacuated by helicopter. “It sounded like Mark didn’t know he was dying, which I was glad for,” Mindy Evnin said. Two days before Mark Evnin died, Rabbi Irving Elson, a chaplain with coalition forces, had contacted the family for information in the hope that he would find Evnin and bring him matzah for Passover, his mother said. But instead of preparing for the holiday here, the family decided to set Wednesday as the first day of shiva. His body was just returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware this week, but Mindy Evnin said she couldn’t wait for a funeral to start the shiva. “It’s taken so long for me to have a body,” she said. When he is buried, the funeral at Ohavi Zedek will be conducted with full military honors. And he will be interred at the Hebrew Holy Society Cemetery in Burlington with a military headstone. That’s what “he would have wanted,” Mindy Evnin said.

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More than 600 people attending…you don’t from the western have to have a huge United States attended level of level of Jewish the UJC Young involvement to attend,” Leadership conference she added, “you just in San Francisco last need the desire to month, which featured learn. No one is going speakers and programto ask you to commit ming on spirituality, your life away, just go social activism, media and have fun! It really and entertainment, rekindles your Jewish relationships, and spirit!” Israel advocacy. The next Young Louri Sullivan Leadership Conference described the conferis Washington 14, a ence as “a great oppornational conference tunity to meet young scheduled for March Jewish leaders from 21-23, 2004, in other communities and Kimberly Robinson, left, David Goldberg, former Washington, D.C. enrich your own knowl- Omahan Jon Staenberg, Louri Sullivan and Sharon Kirshenbaum, edge about becoming Sharon Kirshenbaum chat at the UJC Young Young Leadership more involved in your Leadership Conference in San Francisco. Said Director for the Jewish Jewish community. We Goldberg, the 2002 Bruce Fellman Young Federation of Omaha, attended great semi- Leadership Memorial Award winner, “The UJC encourages young nars ranging from Young Leadership conference provided a venue Jewish adults between “Raising Jewish for learning about pertinent, timely Jewish issues. the ages of 25-45 to Children in a Not So I felt proud and truly fortunate to attend as a rep- attend. “Washington 14 Jewish World,” to lis- resentative from the Omaha Jewish community.” promises to inspire and tening to an ex-CNN motivate young Jewish reporter talk about how the media reports on Israel. leaders with hands-on programming that will The entire weekend was great and I wish I’d have expose them to a range of issues, opportunities and gone 10 years ago!” Sullivan added. speakers. Ultimately, this will energize them to Kimberly Robinson, the 2002 Lois Jeanne take action and become involved in our local comSchrager Memorial Young Leadership Award munity. The conference includes an integrated Winner said, “I also wish I had gone sooner because agenda of political, social and Jewish communal it’s a great way to meet people and exchange ideas. action,” Kirshenbaum said. I’m looking forward to the Washington Conference For more information regarding Washington 14, because the numbers will be even greater! please call Sharon Kirshenbaum at 334-6485, or e“I hope more people from Omaha think about mail her at skirshenbaum@jewishomaha.org.

Beth El USY Wins Awards at Spring Kallah; Israeli Techno Dance Next Event on Schedule by OZZIE NOGG BILU USYers from Beth El Synagogue walked away with five awards during the 2003 Spring Kallah held recently in Sioux City, IA. Two programs that received top honors were Israel Army Night, which was named Best Israel Program, and Israeli Food Maps, which won the Best Israel Geography Program Award. The group was also recognized for their Substantial Tikun Brian Altman, left, and Olam Donation, The awards for Beth El BILU Largest Per Capita Sioux City. Tikun Olam Donation, and was one of six chapters designated as A Chapter of Excellence. Beth El USY members who attended the Spring Kallah were Brian Altman, Sam Edelstein, Alan Friedman, Aliya Katskee, Shayna Kurland, Sarah Linn, Robert Mosenkis, Jennifer Shkolnik, Laura Shkolnik and Josh Sweet. Staff members Jeff

Shyken and Rachel Katskee accompanied the group, which joined teens from Lincoln as well as delegates from chapters in Denver, Sioux City, Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis and St. Louis. Currently, the Beth El BILU USY group is planning an Israeli Techno Dance scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. until midnight, in the synaSam Edelstein receive gogue social hall. Other USY at Spring Kallah in local youth groups-including Kadima, OTYG, NCSY and BBYO--plus surrounding area USY chapters from Lincoln, Kansas City, Des Moines, Sioux City and Iowa City, will take part in the event. The evening, chaired by Robert Mosenkis, Brian Altman and Sam Edelstein, includes a falafel dinner. The cost is $10 per person and all proceeds are earmarked for Tikun Olam.

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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator At the next Outreach meeting at Temple Israel, the subject of “Today’s Anti-Semitism” will be discussed. The event, which is Sunday, April 27, 10 a.m., is open to anyone including intermarried couples, people considering conversion, unaffiliated members of the community, and any other interested individuals and couples. “I married a Jew. Will they hate me too?” is just one question an interfaith couple might want to address. They’ll have an opportunity to talk about

their concerns with panel members including Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Rabbi Craig Marantz; people who have encountered personal experiences with anti-Semitism; and Bob Wolfson, Executive Director of the Anti-Defamation League at the meeting. Other topics that will be brought up are “AntiSemitism in our children’s schools: How is it addressed by the administration?” and “Rising antiSemitism related to the crisis in the Middle East.”

April 18, 2003

Nominations Due Temple Israel Brings Scholar Rabbi Elliot Dorff for JCC Wall of Fame (Continued from page 1) A member of the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards and the editorial committee of the new Torah commentary for the Conservative Movement, Rabbi Dorff has written papers that formulate the Conservative Movement’s stance on infertility treatments and end-of-life issues. His Rabbinic Letters on human sexuality and on poverty have become the voice of the Conservative Movement on those topics. He has chaired two scholarly organizations, the Academy of Jewish Philosophy and the Jewish Law Association. In 1993, Rabbi Dorff served on the Ethics Committee of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Health Care Task Force. In 1997 and 1999, he testified on behalf of the Jewish tradition on the subjects of human cloning and stem cell research before the President’s National Bioethics Advisory Commission. He participated in the Surgeon General’s commission, in 1999 and 2000, to draft a Call to Action for Responsible Sexual Behavior and then, in 2000 to 2002, served on the National Human Resources Protections Advisory Commission which was charged with reviewing and revising federal guidelines for protecting human subjects in research projects. In Los Angeles, Rabbi Dorff is a Vice-president of Jewish Family Service and a member of the ethics committees at the Jewish Homes for the Aging and UCLA Medical Center. He serves as co-chair of the Priest-Rabbi Dialogue sponsored by the Los Angeles Archdiocese and the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. In addition, he is Vice-president of the Academy of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Studies. Rabbi Dorff and his wife, Marlynn, live in Beverly Hills, California, and have four children and two grandchildren. The Ida and Samuel Kaiman Memorial Fund is sponsoring Rabbi Dorff ’s weekend at Temple Israel. For more information, contact Rosie Zweiback, Temple Israel Program Director, at Temple Israel-556-6536.

and Jewish High School Athlete of the Year by LISA SHKOLNICK, JCC Assistant Director Nominations are now being accepted for the JCC Wall of Fame and for the Jewish High School Athlete of the Year. The JCC Athletic Wall Of Fame award recognizes the achievement of Omaha’s Jewish athletes who participated in JCC sports programs in their youth and went on to make significant contributions to the Jewish, general community, and/or the JCC. To be nominated, adults must be Jewish; have participated in at least one JCC-sponsored youth sports program; lettered and excelled in a varsity sport for a high school or university; devoted at least 3-5 years of service towards the betterment of the community. Nominations for this award will be approved and judged by the JCC Health and Fitness Committee. A plaque will be added to the “Wall of Fame” at the JCC and the recipients will receive a certificate of recognition at the final JCC Board Meeting in June. Jewish High School Athlete of the Year applications are also due now. This award recognizes the achievements of Omaha’s Jewish Athletes in high school. All participants who meet the following criteria will be honored: must be Jewish; must be a senior in high school; must have lettered in a sport at the varsity level. The recipient is not required to be a current member of the JCC. Past winners include: Ben Jacobson, Matt Kutler, Brittany Epstein, Aaron Aizenberg, Dusty Friedman, Adam Nichols, and David Pitlor in 2000; Matthew Lerner, Adam Freeman, Cory Epstein, Anne Muskin, Joe Ruback, Ally Freeman, Eddie Kenkel, and Jamie Hamburg in 2001. In 2002, Sierra Gendelman, Rachel Javitch, Josh Levine, Leah Raful, and Joseph Wees were honored. Recipients will be honored with a plaque at the board meeting in June. Applications may be picked up at the Member Services Desk,from Bob Franzese, JCC Athletic Director, or from me, and are due May 1. For information about this award, please contact Bob Franzese at 334-6424 or me, at 334-6425.

Temple Israel’s Bikkur Cholim Committee Hosts Spring Fling for Blumkin Home Residents by KATHY HIRSHMAN and SHELLY FOX If you were wandering by the auditorium of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home on a Sunday afternoon in March, you know the source of the foot stomping and clapping.

Members of the Nebraska Pride Cloggers entertained at the Blumkin Home. The Nebraska Pride Clogger has dancers as young as seven, (and we didn’t ask the ages of the adults) and entertained the residents with four performances as part of Temple Israel’s Bikkur Cholim Committee’s Spring Fling Party for residents of the Blumkin Home. Bikkur Cholim is part of Temple’s Caring Committee. Members personalized and distributed stuffed bears to all the residents. After the perform-

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ance by the cloggers, Anne Joseph, RBJH Activity Director, played spring trivia with the residents. The Fling ended with root beer floats and cookies served to residents and guests in the main dining hall. Bikkur Cholim members who planned and participated included: Judi Moore, Sarah Schondelmeyer, Sheila Tomps, Marvin Gerber, Gerri Phillips, Nancy Jacobson, Lisa Brunkhorst, Beth Walts, and the two writers. The Temple Israel Caring Committee, chaired by Shelly Fox, has Bikkur Cholim members who will visit (by request) those homebound or at the Blumkin Home as a connection with their synagogue. Although sponsored by Temple, when planning events or gifts for the residents of the RBJH home, all residents are included, regardless of their affiliation. Additionally, the Caring Committee makes contact with and offers homemade meals to those returning home from lengthy hospital stays. Jewish patients, who are from out-of-town locations, staying at the Lied Transplant Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and their families, are contacted by the Caring Committee to make sure they feel connected to a congregation. Temple clergy and staff ensure that contact is made with those who are in need. For more information about the Caring Committee, call 556-6536.

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April 18, 2003

Shop Shalom Fever is Building by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director With 30 shop owners and artists starts at 9 pm on arriving to set up shop in Omaha Saturday night, May May 1-4, word of Shop Shalom, a 3. The ‘After Dark’ unique Israeli vendor fair, is event will be totally quickly spreading throughout the different from the community. Shop Shalom is regular shopping bringing Israeli merchants to events, with appeOmaha because after more than tizers, drinks, two years of terrorism, many music and a wonshop owners who made their livderful atmosing off of tourism now cannot phere!” even afford to feed their famiShop Shalom lies. All proceeds from Shop After Dark is Shalom will directly benefit chaired by Cheryl the shop owners. and Gary Lerner “We’re bringing the Israeli and Vicki and Mark shopping experience to Omaha. Sanford and tickets It’s sad, but the reality is that tourists are $18. Shop Shalom will also are not going to Israel and the econo- be open during Yom Ha’Atzmaut my is in desperate condition,” said (Israeli Independence Day) at the JCC Terri Zacharia, one of the steering on Sunday, May 4, 12-6 p.m. committee members. “Middle class Shop Shalom features a wide array Israelis, many of them just like you of merchandise with something for and I, are now in the unfathomable everyone and at every price range. position of not knowing if they will be Here is just a sampling: able to feed and clothe their children Ahava Dead Sea Beauty Products-next week. As difficult as it is to pack The Dead Sea has been known since up and come to the United States, antiquity as a place of awe and prothese merchants feel they have no found mystery, a place of magical and choice but to bring their merchandise health giving properties. Cleopatra to us.” Other members are Zacharia’s sought here the secrets of eternal daughter, Jamie Friedland, Sandy beauty, and its legendary balsam was Kutler, and her daughter, Traci highly prized by kings and queens. Kugler. Take a journey to the Dead Sea in “Our event is highly unusual,” added Israel and experience the luxury of Kutler. “We’re opening to the general beauty products manufactured with public on May 1 and 2 at the Park Inn the richest mineral deposits in the Regency Lodge on 107th and Pacific world. The Dead Sea has the most from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. concentrated and varied mineral Then we’ll move over to the JCC for deposits found anywhere in the world. ‘Shop Shalom After Dark,’ which Canaan Gallery--founded in 1992 by

Orna and Yair Mor in the artist colony of Safed, this old mountain town is the cradle of the mystical teachings of Judaism and have attracted mystics to live and study in Safed from all parts of the world. This atmosphere has greatly affected the work and designs being done at Canaan Gallery. The tapestries, wall hangings, hupot, parochet, talit, hallah and matza covers designed and woven at Canaan Gallery can be found in many homes and private collections around the world. Kakadu--Unique and stunning, Kakadu Art and Design in Wood’s funky home furnishings bring colorful interior decorating to your home or office for an unexpected level of whim-

sical beauty. Created in 1990 by husband and wife artist team Aharon and Reut Shahar--he a master carpenter, she an artist--Kakadu is a marriage of artistic talents producing functional items that are art. For more information about the vendors and products participating in Shop Shalom, please visit our community website at www.jewishomaha.org and click on the Shop Shalom bag. Volunteers are still needed to help during Shop Shalom. If you would like to work assisting shoppers and the vendors during the event, please contact our Volunteer Recruitment Co-chairs, Deb Marburg at 398-1601 or Kim Schwartz at 553-5751.

B’nai B’rith Offers $250 Prize for Trivia Quiz at Yom Ha’Atzmaut by LOIS EPSTEIN The Third Annual Jewish Trivia Quiz, sponsored by Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith, will be held on Sunday, May 4, 12:45 p.m., during the Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration. The quiz will be held at the Jewish Community Center. Twenty-five trivia questions will be asked covering such diverse topics as Jewish personalities, current events, tradition, culture, Israel and the Bible. Interested contestants can compete individually or can form a team of up to six friends or family members. Any member of the Jewish community age 13 or older can participate. The only restriction is that team members may not include members of the clergy or full

time professional religious educators. First place prize is $250; second place prize is $100. Third place prize is $50. Half of each prize will go to the team and the other half will go to a Jewish charity or a local Omaha Jewish charity or institution of the winning team’s choosing. Coordinating the event are Harris Finklestein, Leonard Greenspoon, Gloria Kaslow, Gary Javitch, Stanley Mitchell and Steve Riekes The program is open to the community without charge. Advanced registration is encouraged. Entry forms are available at the synagogues or the ‘J’ or you can just show up. For information, call me at 334-6443.

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