April 22, 2005

Vol. LXXXIV No. 33 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 84 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

13 Nisan, 5765 April 22, 2005

Holocaust Commemorations Scheduled for Omaha and Lincoln Candlelighting Ceremony at Capital Rotunda by MARCIA KUSHNER capped, trade unionists, homosexuals and At sunset on the 25th of Nisan, the others who perished. During this cereinternational day of remembrance of the mony, Dan Williams, former president of Holocaust, Yom Hashoah, commences. Citizens Against Racial Discrimination, The day will be marked by the annual will light the candle in memory of those Nebraska Holocaust Commemoration at who, at their own peril, rescued potential Wednesday, May 4, 7:30 p.m., in the victims. Rotunda of the Capitol. Governor Dave In recognition of the sacrifices of those Heineman and Mayor Coleen Seng will serving in the Allied armed forces, Rev. be present. Greg Lugn, Commander of This year marks the 60th American Legion Post #3, will year since the end of World light a candle for the War II and the liberation of Liberators. Lighting the the concentration camps. The Candle of Hope will be theme of this year’s program Charles Afuh, a refugee from is “Sixty Years: What Have We Cameroon. Learned?” The keynote will Cantor Leo Fettman will be presented by Rev. John T. chant the prayer for the dead Pawlikowski, professor of and the prize-winning poems Social Ethics at the Catholic on themes of the Holocaust Theological Union at the will be read by students from University of Chicago who Rev. John T. Pawlikowski Lincoln Public Schools, folwill speak on: “The Holocaust: Its lowed by its All-City Girls Choir, directed Continuing Challenge for Public Ethics.” by Jane Harriott and Rev. Pawlikowski is President and Chair Sara Oltman. of the Theology Committee of the Lincoln’s comInternational Council of Christians and memoration of Yom Jews. President Carter and three suc- HaShoah is sponceeding Presidents appointed Rev. sored by the Office Pawlikowski to the United States of the Governor of Holocaust Memorial Council. He served Nebraska, Office of on committees responsible for the con- the Mayor of struction of the Washington Holocaust Lincoln, Harris Museum and the development of its per- Center for Judaic manent exhibition. Rev. Pawlikowski has Studies at the appeared on all the major television and University of radio networks in the U.S. as well as in Nebraska, Lincoln other countries. He has received many Interfaith Council, awards for his involvement in issues relat- C o m m u n i t y ed to the Holocaust. The long list of Relations Committee books and articles he authored attest to of the Antihis scholarship in the area of Defamation League, Jewish/Christian relations. and Lincoln Jewish In an impressive ceremony, Nebraska Federation. residents who survived the Holocaust will For more informalight candles in memory of the six million tion, contact me at Jews and five million gypsies, handi- 402.423.5959.

Liberator’s Memories to Increase Impact of Omaha’s Yom Hashoah Program by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Jewish Educational and Library Services The personal memories of a concentration camp liberator will add a powerful dimension to Omaha’s community-wide Yom HaShoah commemoration, on Wednesday, May 4, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel Synagogue. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation. Norman L. Smith, a retired teacher now 80, participated when he was barely out of his teens in the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp at Landsburg, Germany. He believes the horrors he witnessed there will stay in his mind as long as he lives. He accepts responsibility--as an American citizen and a human being-to bring the story of the results of Nazi atrocities to audiences of all ages. “Once I saw what I saw,” he said in a recent telephone interview from his

home in Albion, NE, “I vowed I’d keep telling about it.” Smith’s remarks will “come from the heart,” according to Sam Fried, an Omaha Holocaust survivor who became acquainted with Smith years ago and applauded his selection by the Yom HaShoah Commemoration Committee. The committee, chaired by Katherine Finnegan, is presenting the program with Jewish Educational and Library Services (JELS) and Omaha’s three synagogues, which alternate as hosts of the annual event. A Shoah Remembrance Service by renowned author Elie Wiesel serves as the basis for each commemoration, with the rabbi of the host synagogue providing his own perspective. This year, Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Gross “has tailored a beautiful and moving adaptation of the Continued on page 2

Record Numbers Visit Yad Vashem Since the new Yad Vashem museum opened its doors to the general public on March 27, more than 44,000 people have already visited the memorial to the Holocaust. This is 80% more than the number that came last year. The museum is extending its hours during Passover, when crowds are expected to visit. In advance of Yom HaShoah, Yad Vashem is issuing an urgent call to action to register victims’ names by Yom HaShoah on May 4, by submitting a form on-line or downloading it at: names.research@yadvashem.org.il. Credit: ISRANET

Home’s “Concierge” Rose Frankel Dies at 103

Prolific American Jewish Composer to Conduct at Temple Israel Service by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Founding Music Director of the Israel Pops Orchestra Michael Isaacson will conduct his Shabbat service, “Nishmat Chayim, The Breath of Life,” on Friday, May 13, 7:30 p.m., at Temple Israel. Isaacson enjoys a distinguished career Michael Isaacson as a composer, conductor, producer, and educator with more than 450 Jewish and secular arrangements, editions and educational works, a two-volume/500-page songbook, and more than 40 CDs and album recordings. “Nishmat Chayim” and the accompanying sermon-in-

Inside Opinion Page see page 12

song will be presented by Cantor Wendy Shermet, Tamara Field, Jonathan Rathsam, Temple’s adult choir Kol Rina a woodwind quintet, and Temple’s fifth and sixth grade students at the evening Shabbat worship service. Cantor Shermet first became familiar with Dr. Isaacson’s music while working as a soloist at Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1946, Dr. Isaacson earned his Bachelor of Science in music education from Hunter College, a Master of Arts in music composition under Robert Starer from Brooklyn College, studied keyboard at the Juilliard School with John Mehegan, and ethnomusicology with Israel Adler at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He also studied with Samuel Adler and Warren Benson at the Eastman School of Music ultimately earning his Ph.D. there in composition. Continued on page 2

by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press One of Omaha’s oldest Jewish residents died April 13. Graveside services for Rose Frankel were held at Pleasant Hill/Temple Israel Cemetery on April 17. She was 103 but served as the “concierge” at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home for more than five years, greeting residents, staff and visitors, giving directions, and yes, holding court. In the Sept. 6, 2002, New Year’s issue of the Jewish Press highlighting the 100th Anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Frankel was interviewed as one of several centenarians (the other being Honey Kulakofsky, who is three years older). When asked about her secret to living a long life, Frankel replied, “If you’re lucky, that’s it...You get up in the morning and get dressed and do the best you can with your life!” Widowed early when her husband, Harry died in 1953, Rose took over the reins of his business. There Continued on page 15

This Week: Where Are They Now Features Sheldon Krantz on Page 4 Federation’s Annual Meeting Undergoes “Facelift” Page 2

Jewish Website Column Features Passover Recipes from Abroad: Page 5

Florida University Works to Save Jewish Recordings: Page 9

Next Week: Mother’s Day Teens Visit Holocaust Museum on ADL’s Mission to Washington: Page 10

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 22, 2005

Federation Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition to Undergo Facelift

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, APRIL 22 Temple Israel “Shabbat Comes to You”, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights SATURDAY, APRIL 23 JCC CLOSED AT 7 P.M. FOR PASSOVER C Passover Seder, 6 p.m. at RBJH L Community Passover Seder, 7:30 p.m. at Chabad House I P

C L I P

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 & JCC CLOSED FOR PASSOVER

Yachad Passover Seder, 6 p.m. at Beth El S Community Second Seder, 6 p.m. at Beth El A Passover Seder, 6 p.m. at RBJH V E

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26 Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 Omaha Artists, Inc. Meeting and Awards, 2 p.m. C Bereavement Group, 6 p.m. at Beth El L NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m. I Adult Education, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel P

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

& Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m.

Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel

S Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. A L.O.V.E Auxiliary Board Meeting, 7 p.m. 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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by PAM MONSKY • The JewishTeen leadership awards will be presented Federation Communications Director on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Sunday, May 15, 3 p.m., prior to After receiving feedback from Federation leadership, the youth concert featuring Danny’s Band from Israel. • Young Leadership Award recipients will be recogagency directors, organization presidents and members nized at a Fall 2005 Young of the community, the Leadership event, date TBA. Federation Annual Meeting • Humanitarian of the Year and Volunteer Recognition and Community Service program is undergoing a Project of the Year awards major facelift this year. Zoë will be presented at a comRiekes, President of the munity event in the Fall, Jewish Federation of 2005, date TBA. Omaha, is pleased with the • Award recipients (other changes and added, “The than Jewish Teen Leadership guiding philosophy for award recipients) will be change revolves around the selected and notified of their fact that our community volawards in August 2005. unteers will be more suitably The deadline for submithonored at venues that ting nominations for attract and represent the Volunteer recognitions was peer group of the recipients. April 1 and nominations are It allows us to showcase no longer being accepted. their achievements in a more For more information celebratory way.” Moshe Shoham, Trade Commissioner and Consul for the regarding the Federation To accommodate the new Israel Trade and Investment Center, meets with Jan Annual Meeting and and improved Annual Goldstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Volunteer Recognition, Meeting, the following Omaha during a recent visit to Omaha. Shoham was here please contact me at changes have been enacted: to meet with the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Mayor 334.6431, or via e-mail at: • The June 9 Annual Mike Fahey, representatives from the Nebraska Economic pmonsky@jewishMeeting has been cancelled Development Group and executives from many Omaha omaha.org. and a Community Brunch is corporations to discuss ways to create business opportunibeing planned for late winter ties with Israel. or early spring 2006.

Israel’s Trade Commissioner Visits Omaha

Liberator’s Memories

Jewish Composer at Temple

Continued from page 1 Wiesel service,” Finnegan said. She expressed appreciation to Rabbi Gross for achieving “cohesive programming that meets the needs of our community and reflects the theme of the anniversary of the liberation.” Rabbi Gross urged members of the Omaha Jewish community to make every effort to attend the commemoration. “The goal is to make this observance an educational and meaningful experience for the entire community,” he noted. One feature of the evening will be a memorial candlelighting ceremony. Bette Kozlen, a Beth Israel member active in the Jewish community, has accepted the honor of calling up six candlelighters, each representing a category of significant individuals. These categories include survivors of the Holocaust, children of survivors, grandchildren of survivors, veterans of World War II, educators, and the general community. Liberator Norman Smith, who wrote an eyewitness account for the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., was born in 1925 in Ames, Iowa. The son of a printing press operator, he moved often, within the United States and Canada, before graduating from High School in Seattle, WA, in 1943. Smith was drafted into the Army in the closing phases of the war and trained as a parachutist. On April 28, 1945, he joined other members of the renowned 101st Airborne Division as they entered the Nazi concentration camp at Landsburg, a small town close to Munich. He recalls with bitterness the nine horrific hours they spent there, surrounded by the devastation of Nazi atrocities. “We made the citizens of the town round up the corpses,” he said. Following the war, Smith returned to Seattle where he took a few courses under the G .I. Bill. In 1951, he was left paralyzed from the waist down by polio. The experience turned his life around. He went back to college at age 30, entered the teaching profession, and married Donna Wilson, of Albion, NE. In 1973 he earned a master’s degree in the field of special education and focused on meeting the educational and vocational needs of students with physical and mental disabilities. In 1985, he was recognized as “Special Educator of the Year” by the Nebraska State Association of Directors of Special Education. Smith has spoken about the atrocities of the Holocaust to countless audiences of all ages, reaching out especially to students in their classrooms. At the 40th Commemoration of the Holocaust, he received a plaque from the Lincoln Jewish Welfare Federation, honoring him for tireless efforts toward helping Americans “remember the Holocaust so that it may never again occur.” For additional information on the Yom HaShoah program, please call the JELS office at 334.6445 or visit the Jewish Federation website at www.jewishomaha.org.

Continued from page 1 In 1973, Dr. Isaacson taught theory, composition, and orchestration and conducted the Festival Chorus at SUNY Fredonia. In 1974, he was simultaneously appointed instructor at Case Western, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and music director of Tifereth Israe Temple in Cleveland, OH. He composed new music each week for an alternative quintet and choir morning worship service exploring new modes of contemporary synagogue prayer. He also produced the Temple’s first album of Jewish music. In 1976, Dr. Isaacson married educator Susan Weisblatt, and they moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music for the media. While fulfilling adjunct teaching positions, from 1976-90, at Loyola Marymount, Cal State-Long Beach, and UCLA, Dr. Isaacson composed and conducted original scores for many well known television series, including Rich Man Poor Man II, Little Women, Bionic Woman, and Hawaii Five-O. As an arranger, orchestrator, and conductor for feature films, he has assisted composers Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, Walter Scharf, and Charles Fox. Isaacson also has made recordings, which he directed, with the Hollywood Pops. In addition, Dr. Isaacson has conducted, toured, and produced new recordings of symphonic music with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the Mexico City Philharmonic, the Tel Aviv Symphony, and the Bulgarian National Symphony. When Hebrew Union College awarded Prime Minister of Israel Yitzchak Shamir an honorary doctorate in 1991, Dr. Isaacson was selected as music director for the convocation and was commissioned to compose a musical work in Shamir’s honor. As founding artistic director of the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music, Dr. Isaacson conceived and structured the original concept for the archive and conducted and/or produced CDs of newly recorded music masterworks of late 19th and 20th century American Jewish community. The Milken Archive comprises the most extensive collection of American Jewish music ever recorded. Among the organizations that have paid tribute to Dr. Isaacson are the Academy of Television Arts & Science, Meet The Composer Inc., The Eastman School of Music, The Schubert Foundation, ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), The American Conference of Cantors, Hebrew Union College, and the Cantors Assembly which awarded him its highest honor for lifetime achievement in synagogue music: The Kavod Award. Dr. Isaacson’s visit to Omaha is sponsored by a Special Donor-Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Temple Israel welcomes the entire community to hear Dr. Isaacson on May 13.

April 22, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Jews and Other Americans Support Sharon, Moves for Peace, Polls Find by RACHEL POMERANCE NEW YORK (JTA)--Ariel Sharon’s popularity has reached a new high among Americans, and most American Jews support the Israeli prime minister’s Gaza withdrawal plan, according to new polls. It’s a “very, very good moment for the Sharon government,” said John Marttila, president of the Marttila Communications Group, which conducted the AntiDefamation League’s 2005 Survey of American Attitudes Toward Israel and the Middle East, which was released April 4. Forty-two percent of Americans have a favorable impression of Sharon, up from 36 percent two years ago. And a record 71 percent of Americans say Israel can be counted on as a loyal U.S. ally. That number had bounced between 60 percent and 64 percent in the four earlier national surveys Marttila conducted for the ADL since 1992. Israel’s Gaza withdrawal plan is seen as a bold step for peace by 67 percent of Americans, according to the ADL poll, which was conducted last month among 1,600 people and had a margin of error of 2.8 percent. The ADL survey corroborates the findings of other recent polls. A survey of American Jewry by the Ameinu organization, also released, found that 62 percent of American Jews support the disengagement plan. In the context of a peace agreement, 42 percent thought Israel should be willing to withdraw from most Jewish settlements in the West Bank--even though only 24 percent believe most Palestinians are willing to live in peace next to the Jewish state, and 70 percent believe the Palestinians will continue terrorist attacks even if a peace agreement is reached, the Ameinu survey found.

There’s divergence between overall American opinion and American Jewish opinion on the Mideast, as these 2005 surveys, by the ADL, left, and Ameinu, right, reveal. Credit: JTA “Like Israelis today, American Jews strongly support the disengagement plan out of the hope that it might produce a lasting peace,” said Hebrew University pollster Steven M. Cohen, who conducted the poll for Ameinu, formerly known as the Labor Zionist Alliance. “At the same time, they harbor no illusions about a portion of the Palestinians, believing that they are committed to pursuing terrorism, even with the disengagement and even with a signed peace agreement.” The survey was conducted among 501 American Jews and had a margin of error of 5 percent. Taken together, the polls fuel the AntiDefamation League’s longstanding initiative to galvanize support for Gaza withdrawal. One of the reasons for the ADL’s survey was to reveal the broad consensus for Israel’s withdrawal, National Director Abraham Foxman said. “I think it’s important that the Israeli public, in these difficult times ahead,

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understands and knows that the overwhelming majority of Americans support what they’re engaged in,” Foxman said. Last month, The Israel Project, a group that aims to polish Israel’s image in the media, released a survey showing that four times as many Americans support Israel as the Palestinians. But the poll found that Americans think Israel should compromise to advance the peace process. The group plans to work to promote Israel’s withdrawal plan among media outlets, such as CNN, that attract liberal viewers. Foxman argues that the organized Jewish community hasn’t done enough to reflect American Jewry’s support for the Gaza withdrawal, Foxman said. The group had balked when the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued a response on the matter that fell short of an outright endorsement last fall. During a winter mission in Israel, the

Presidents Conference publicly endorsed the disengagement plan. Foxman recommended convening “leadership assemblies,” conferences of hundreds of American Jewish officials, to show solidarity with Israel as it prepares for withdrawal. The ADL is placing ads in Jewish and general-interest newspapers and on cable television noting that many Americans see Israel’s withdrawal as a bold step for peace. “Prime Minister Sharon, we support you and so do the American people,” the ad says. “We salute your vision and your courage as you work to build a safer Israel and a more peaceful and democratic Middle East.” The group also will send its findings to members of Congress to show American support for Sharon and President Bush. Foxman noted the poll’s reflection of Sharon’s rising popularity. “Diplomatically, he became a persona grata,” Foxman said. In recent years Americans had said, “We love Israel; we don’t like Sharon,” Foxman said. Today, in light of the Gaza withdrawal plan, Americans say, “We’re comfortable: We like Israel; we like Sharon.” That change provides more leeway for the Sharon government and has boosted his credibility in Israel, Foxman said. Goodwill toward Israel has grown in part because of Israel’s loyalty to the United States, which has felt criticized by many countries in the years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Marttila said. However, they also feel the United States should reach out to Arab countries, he said. Some 40 percent said it was important for the United States to work with such countries as Egypt and Jordan.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 22, 2005

Esther K./Carolyn Kully Newman Grant Requests Due by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Foundation Public Relations Coordinator Special consideration is given to new and innovative programs by the Esther K. Newman/Carolyn Kully Newman Grants Committee which is responsible for selecting recipients for disbursements from the income of the two memorial funds. The Esther K. Newman Fund is designed for programs that serve Jewish youth from preschool through college age and young Jewish adults (under age 23 who are not attending college). Income from the Carolyn Kully Newman Fund is available to fund programs and activities for Jewish children of kindergarten age or younger. Programs designed to enhance the Jewish identity and values of youth through educational, religious, cultural, social, and recreational activities are among the criteria sought by the Grants Committee when allocating funds to community agencies, organizations, and synagogues, most of whom have been notified by email. The Grants Committee will meet next on Wednesday, May 18. The deadline, “without exception,” to submit proposals to the Grants Committee is Wednesday, May 4, 1 p.m. Twelve copies of each grant request should be submitted to the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation at 333 So. 132nd St. Suzanne Singer, chairman of the Newman Grants Committee, who knew both Esther K. Newman and Carolyn Kully Newman,

described them as “beautiful and wonderful” women to the new members of the committee. At the committee’s last meeting in November, distributions were made to Beth Israel Synagogue Sisterhood for a playground, to the Jewish Community Center for community shaliach (emissary) education presentations for Jewish youth, and to the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center to hire a summer shaliach from Omaha’s partnership with the Western Galilee. Other members of the Newman Grants Committee are Stacey Atlas, Bob Goldberg, Bonnie Bloch, Jay Gordman, Lonnie Graul, Stacey Rockman, and Susan Rothholz. They represent the Jewish Federation Board, the Federation Budget Committee, Jewish Educational and Library Services, the Jewish Community Center, Beth Israel Synagogue, Beth El Synagogue, Temple Israel, Friedel Jewish Academy, and the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization Advisory Board. The Committee also includes a Jewish high school student, a Jewish college student and a young Jewish adult under the age of 35. Questions or assistance can be directed to Singer at 333.3737 or to Janet Henthorn, endowment associate, at 334.6551, at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation which administers the Esther K. Newman/Carolyn Kully Newman grants.

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Former Omahan Specializes in White Collar Criminal Defense

I always wondered what largest firms in the world, with happened to Sheldon 2,700 attorneys. Krantz. I can still remember In a recent news release from sitting on our front porch at Washington, it noted, “DLA Piper my childhood home. Our is one of the world’s leading law street an “alley” that confirms. The firm is committing nected Davenport and Cass. 13,000 attorney hours in the first As I recall, the Abe Krantz year of the program, at a value of over $5 million, which will expand family lived in a big white the firm’s aggregate United States two-story house on the Cass Sheldon Krantz pro bono commitment in 2005 to Street end. “Mr. Krantz”, as I called him in those days, was a scrap approximately 80,000 hours or a value of metal dealer. All our parents were hard $23 million. The initiative invites lawyers working, but far from wealthy. Our mid- from across the firm’s global network to Omaha neighborhood didn’t have many provide legal support for projects of global concern, including health care, hunger, Jewish families. I remember that Edith Krantz would law reform, human rights, housing and pass through our street on her way home economic development.” His area of specialty is white-collar crimfrom the Dodge St. bus line. She was probably returning from a trip to the inal defense. Recently, he has been asked Brandeis department store and she would to direct the firm’s affiliated non-profit, greet my mother, Betty Krasne. The two New Perimeter. This part of the company homemakers would exchange pleasantries undertakes major global pro bono proabout the weather or what they were fix- grams, such as working on law reform in Kosovo. ing for Shabbat dinner. The first New Perimeter project is being I often wondered what happened to Edith’s and Abe’s son, Sheldon. I have undertaken at the request of the Global been able to keep track of his two older Fund. According to DLA Piper, “This sisters, Elaine Krasne, now living in El partnership epitomizes the kind of publicPaso, Texas, and Rita Novak, who still private initiative that delivers exceptional lives in Omaha. However, Sheldon’s efficiency and much-needed value to an organization like ours.” whereabouts remained a mystery! Sheldon’s particular areas of focus When we finally tracked Sheldon down, he recalled fond memories of his days at include environmental law, health care, Henry W. Yates School and later at FDA, export controls, civil and criminal Central High. The family belonged to RICO, legal ethics, legal malpractice, corBeth El Synagogue and Krantz was active porate compliance programs and federal in journalism and sports at Central. He sentencing guidelines. He is a former played baseball until he broke his ankle-- chair of the Criminal Justice Section of twice in one year. And breaking his wrist the American Bar Association. In 2003, pretty much ended his baseball career the District of Colombia Bar named him altogether. Sheldon remembers his high the “Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year.” Krantz is married to Laurie Robinson school buddies: Sammy Shukert, now deceased, Bill Cooper and Omahan Mike who, for seven years served as a U.S. Lazer, an attorney with whom Sheldon Assistant Attorney General under Janet Reno. Laurie is now the director of a masstill keeps in contact. He did his undergraduate work at the ters’ program in criminology at the University of Nebraska and began law University of Pennsylvania. Laurie’s son, school at the University of Minnesota, but Ted, is a senior at Columbia University, completed in law degree at UNL. After majoring in architecture. Sheldon has three children from a forgraduation, he went to work for the United States Department of Justice and mer marriage--Shari, Stuart and Stefanie, was a trial attorney with the Organized who he says, “Together, they have blessed me with seven grandchildren.” Crime and Racketeering Section. Recently, Krantz has been spending He returned to Omaha briefly to practice with a small law firm before going some time in Omaha because he has a back to Washington to serve on a state client facing criminal charges in federal commission on Massachusetts. He later district court. “Through my travels, I joined the law faculty at Boston have seen a lot of dramatic changes in University and directed its Center for Omaha--particularly in the downtown area,” he noted. Criminal Justice. “I have no retirement plans at the presSheldon then moved to Southern California to become Dean of the ent,” he added, “because I enjoy what I University of San Diego Law School, am doing too much to leave it. Laurie and before joining the law firm then called I have had the opportunity to travel all Piper and Marbury. He is now a partner in over the world for both pleasure and the firm called DLA Piper--one of the work; I anticipate this will continue.”

Celebrated Chef Demonstrates Passover Cooking with Flair

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Members of YJO and the community at Beth Israel Synagogue last week for a menu of Ancho Chocolate Cake, Passover Sea Bass, Passover Orange Tart and Passover Pesto Kugel. Photos from left: Jaime Nogg, left, Lori Epstein, Melissa Shapiro and Esther Katz pay rapt attention as, right: Teresa Kramer prepares the chocolate for the Ancho Chocolate Cake and Gail Kogan, Penny Endelman and Jeanne Tsyrlin observe. For more information about Young Jewish Omaha (YJO) please contact Sharon Kirshenbaum, Federation Young Leadership Director, at 334.6485 or skirshenbaum@jewishomaha.org. To see more photos, log on to www.jewishomaha.org and click on “YJO Cooks!”

April 22, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Remembering Seders Past by GLORIA SHUKERT JONES I fondly recall the seders at the home of my grandparents, Jacob and Mirel Shukert, when I was a small child. This was an event eagerly anticipated, as the family gathered to celebrate Pesach. My bubbe always kept a spotless house, redolent with room sachets and cooking aromas. She would greet us the door, with hugs, kisses and the usual, “Hello, darlings”, which in her Yiddish accent sounded more like, “Hello, dollies”. We would first head to Zayde’s library, where he would be poring over his Bible and many books written in Hebrew. Zayde was very devout, and would daven (pray) and recite blessings throughout the day. Only a formal education precluded his becoming a rabbi; however, he was a shochet, a ritual slaughterer of animals designated for kosher consumption. Zayde frequently burned incense, probably to rid his library of the smell of cigarette smoke. He was a smoker back in the days when it was considered stylish, and long before health issues of smoking came into public awareness. Nevertheless, Bubbe hated the smell of smoke, so in deference to her, Zayde did his best to disguise it. He would also partake of Sen-Sens, little packets containing tiny black squares of licorice that were supposed to sweeten the breath. On some occasions, he would give each of us grandchildren our own individual packet of this long-forgotten treat. He would caution us not to chew the little squares, but just to hold them in our mouth, one at a time, until they dissolved. After hugs and greetings from our grandfather, we would assemble around the table, beautifully set with fine linens, china, crystal and silver, used only on Passover. In the center was a bottle of Manischewitz wine, a tray of matzas, and the seder plate with the symbolic roasted egg, a stalk of celery, parsley, shank bone, charoses and bitter herbs. There was always a little bowl of salted water in the center of the plate, my grandparents called “saltz vasser”, in which to dip the vegetables. Bubbe made her own horseradish, and believe me, if you had sinus trouble

before tasting it, you wouldn’t, afterward! We were familiar with the story of Passover from Sunday School, but Zayde told it in Hebrew, which none of us kids understood. Then he went through the Haggadah, and asked the four questions: “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The adults would answer in Hebrew. The fun part was hiding the Afikoman, and there was always a place set for the Prophet Elijah, whom I pictured at the time, as the invisible man. One of the kids would open the door momentarily, to let him in. Though I couldn’t see him, I could feel his benevolent presence. Then before the meal began, we all got to take a sip of wine. I remember how I hated the taste of it, but it made me feel very grown up. By this time, we were ravenously hungry, and Bubbe brought out the food. There was gefilte fish, matza-ball soup, either roast chicken or brisket, matza meal kugel, mashed potatoes, tzimmis, and Passover sponge cake with fruit compote for dessert. During the meal, conversation centered around family matters, business and World War II. In the 1940s, food, fuel and other commodities were rationed because of the war. We made certain we ate everything on our plates so the children in Europe and Asia wouldn’t starve. I never quite figured out at the time how cleaning our plates would assuage their hunger. But what the adults said was law and we never asked them to elaborate. After the meal, the women and girls would help Bubbe wash dishes, while the men gathered in Zayde’s library. By this time, we all were pretty tired, having sat through the long Seder service and heavy meal. Since my parents, grandparents, and most of my aunts and uncles are no longer living, Passover seders are not quite the same. I try my best to recreate what I fondly remember, but the savoir-faire and flavor of yesteryear are missing. However, each generation tries to preserve old traditions. For me, it is letting my grandkids open the door for the “invisible” prophet, and to hear them laugh when I turn to the empty chair at dinner, and say, “Elijah, will you pass the tzimmis, please?”

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PEOPLE OF THE

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by MARK MIETKIEWICZ

Matza balls, again? Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against matza balls. But if your Seders have become somewhat repetitive, then it may be time to widen your Pesach culinary repertoire. And where better to search than in the collective Jewish cookbook thanks to the wandering of Jews throughout the world? Before we get to the recipes, please note that not only do Passover food traditions vary around the world but so do the restrictions. For example, while Ashkenazi Jews do not eat rice, beans (or in most cases) egg matzas, these foods are quite permissible for most Sephardic Jews. The Jerusalem Post has a good overview about how these different customs evolved [http://tinyurl.com/5h296] but when in doubt about a food, always check with a rabbi. The RFCJ Archive is the work of hundreds of people from around the world who have a Jewish recipe to share. Delving into the Passover section can be a bit daunting because the holiday only lasts eight days (seven in Israel). Here a small sample of what you’ll find: Fried Mexican Gefilte Fish, Sopa di Galina (Curaçao Chicken Soup With Tomatoes), Khoresht Garch (Persian Veal and Mushroom Stew), Masa Tiganitas (Sephardic Matzah Brei), Greek Lamb Stew with Romaine Lettuce & Dill and Hungarian Dobostorte. [www.cyberkitchen.com/rfcj/] In his book Mangiare alla Giudia (Eating the Jewish Way) Ariel Toaff, a professor at Bar-Ilan University, traces Italian Jewry’s culinary history. Although his book doesn’t contain recipes, you could use its research to reconstruct a historic Italian Seder. How about sitting down to some “scacchi” (checkers), squares of matza soaked in capon broth, browned in goose fat and baked in alternating layers with cooked greens or poultry giblets. The menu for a Seder in the central Italian city of Urbino in April 1892 included scacchi, boiled meat served with goose salami, salad and desserts made from marzipan, matzah meal and quince preserves. [http://tinyurl.com/5pyzm] If you’re looking for some contemporary Italian Pesach recipes, you’ll find

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Passover Recipes from Abroad directions for two Seders’ worth at Italianfood.about.com. [http://tinyurl.com/3l7hv] From Italy, travel south to Ethiopia to see how Jews there would mark the holiday with a very different kind of Seder. “The ritual meal took place outdoors, by moonlight. The Jews sat on the ground, separated by age and gender. The sparse meal, of kita (Ethiopian matza) and meat (ritually slaughtered cow or sheep), was eaten rapidly, as if indeed they were fleeing from Egypt.” [http://tinyurl.com/3jenc] Although “Passover in Poland” may not sound too exotic when you have a name like mine, Polish-Jewish food could very well be glamorous if your family hails from Yemen or Morocco. You’ll find suggestions for standards like Roast Chicken, Matzo Stuffing, and Apple and Carrot Tsimmes. [http://tinyurl.com/3uok2] I don’t think this particular Jewish community has been around quite as long as Italy’s or Ethiopia’s but I was intrigued to see that Jews in Alaska have begun to develop their own local holiday fare. Ellyn Goodrich is one of Alaska’s 5,000 Jews, the so-called “Frozen Chosen.” Her Alaskan Halibut and Salmon Gefilte Fish Terrine is baked in a bundt pan and unmolded, for a festive look. [http://tinyurl.com/7ytxz] Aside from the matza and maror, perhaps the most distinctive food at the seder is the charoset (also known as “charoses”), often a blend of walnuts, wine and apples that is reminiscent of the mortar used by the Israelites during their forced labor in Egypt. The Jewish Food Archives [www.jewish-food.org/catindex] and MyJewishLearning.com [http://tinyurl.com/3j476] have collected over 40 variations including those from Morocco (dates, cinnamon, cloves), Piedmont (chestnuts, orange zest and hard boiled eggs) and California (prunes, dates and avocado). But given the nature of the holiday, what could be more appropriate than Charoset from Egypt (dates, sultana raisins and walnuts)? Which brings me to the last word on Charoset, thanks to the folks at JewishLearning.com. [http://tinyurl. com/6le68] It seems that a group of leading medical researchers has published data indicating that Seder participants should not partake of both chopped liver and charoses. It seems that this combination can lead to “Charoses of the Liver.” Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Internet producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be reached at: highway@rogers.com.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 22, 2005

IN THE NEWS Barbara Stanny, the daughter of H&R Block founder Richard Bloch, and national speaker and author will be in Omaha on April 28, 11:30 a.m., The event, sponsored by the Women’s Fund of Greater Omaha, will be held at Cinema Center Theater, 82nd and Center. The event is being underwritten by Wells Fargo and Clear Channel. Stanny will speak about her personal story of near financial ruin and her road to success. Author of Prince Charming Isn’t Coming: How Women Get Smart About Money and Secrets of Six Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life, Stanny’s research on high earning women and their specific traits and characteristics provide groundbreaking insight into women’s earning potential. For ticket information, call 827.9280. The annual meeting of the Association of Jewish Aging Services was held in San Francisco with more than 250 registered attendees--an all time high for AJAS. Sessions focused on “Balancing Jewish Senior Care Needs” and additional information can be found on the AJAS website at www.ajas.org. Michael Silverman, Executive Director of Jewish Senior Services and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, was installed as a new board member. Throughout the course of the year at Grinnell College in Iowa, first-year point guard Hannah Wolf developed into one of the top players in the league and one of the most talented first-year players in the country. In just her first year of collegiate competition, Wolf was named Second Team All-Midwest Conference after leading the league in scoring (16.6 ppg). The daughter of Phil and Nancy Wolf, Hannah also led the nation in three-point makes per game with an average of 4.3 three-pointers per game. Based on the current NCAA Record Book, her mark is the best in NCAA Division III history by a freshman and the fourth-best single-season effort in NCAA history across all playing levels. In addition to making 4.3 threes per contest, she also made an impressive 41 percent (99 of 242) of her threepoint tries this past season, ranking 21st nationally in three-point accuracy. Her 99 made three-pointers were also a new single-season school-record.

Beth El Teens Travel to Washington, D.C. for Panim el Panim Institute by JILL BELMONT ing to homeless individuals at McPherson Square, but to Beth El Publicity Coordinator also make a personal connection with them, Christensen Politics with a Jewish twist were on the agenda for four said. “They were charged with going out and doing what Beth El teens during their recent trek to Washington D.C. the Torah teaches us to do, and I was very impressed with to attend the Panim el Panim Institute. Panim el Panim how our kids handled themselves during this time. They (Face to Face) is a national seminar for high school stu- were able to engage these people in conversation and find dents in grades 10-12, which integrates Jewish values with out about each one of their stories.” social activism and public policy. During the four-day In addition to attending workshops and meetings, “just seminar held in mid-March, participants from around the being in the Capitol felt good,” said Rich, who is considcountry had the opportunity to meet with their congres- ering a pre-law or political science major in college and sional representatives or staff, and hear guest speakers dis- expressed the desire to someday live in Washington, D.C. cuss public policy and social One of the trip’s highlights activism from a Jewish perfor Kudym was the “World spective. Topics discussed Poverty Activity,” an exercise included the environment, in learning about the haves gay marriage, Israel, poverty and have-nots within our sociand the U.S. Patriot Act. ety. Each student was placed The trip was sponsored by into a different socio-economBeth El Synagogue Talmud ic group and given a daily Torah’s (BESTT) High “paycheck,” which correlated School; Omaha’s delegation with his or her economic staincluded seniors Shayna tus, he explained. Money was Kurland, Jason Rich, Shira to be used to food, shelter and Kronick, and sophomore, transportation; those with Seth Kudym, and the stu- Participants include, back row: Jason Rich and BESTT fac- extra money were afforded dents were accompanied by ulty member, Daniel Christensen; front row: Seth Kudym, health insurance, electronic BESTT faculty member, Shira Kronick, and Shayna Kurland. devices and iPods. Daniel Christensen. Kurland pronounced the trip “The amount of money you were given determined “nothing short of incredible,” and said she came away what things you could buy,” Kudym said. “The majority with the message that “students can--and should--make of us received a mere $20 a day, symbolizing the people just as much change as anyone else in the world.” who are living below the poverty line. This was barely Kronick agreed, saying that “I left there feeling very enough to make it day to day, let alone buy an iPod.” empowered. We were told that you’re never too young The next Panim el Panim trip for Beth El students will to make a difference.” be in 2007, and Rich said he encourages high school stuDuring their stay, the Omahans met with Congressman dents to take advantage of “meeting new friends, becomLee Terry and one of his staff members; afterward, ing more well-informed and learning to make good politChristensen praised the youths for “holding their own ical decisions using core Jewish values as a guide.” and communicating their convictions when they met with Kurland added that the seminar “makes you change the our congressman.” way you look at life, for the better. It makes you realize The students all cited “Street Torah” as a particularly that it is our responsibility as Jews and as humans to powerful part of their visit. The Panim participants were make the world a better place and that one person realassigned to not only hand out toiletries, gloves and cloth- ly can make a difference.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Annelise Ocanto, a vocal performance student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, had her Junior Vocal Recital on April 14 at the Strauss Performing Arts Center on campus. She sang works from Schubert, Haydn, Handel, Mozart, and a special rendition of the Amidah’s “Modim” prayer.

The 2005 Omaha Symphony ASID Designer Showhouse presents a Monte Carlo evening of food, drink and decor on April 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Potter’s House, 428 So. 38 St. Catered by Prestige Spirits and Catering, the cost is $75 per person of which $25 is taxdeductible. Call 933-6600 for ticket information.

Seth Rich, son of Mary and Joel Rich, has qualified to compete in the John C. Stennis National Student Senate. A sophomore at Central High School, Seth will participate during the National Forensic League National Tournament in Philadelphia, PA, June 12-17.

UNO’s Chamber Orchestra performs a program with Anne Nagosky--a member of the Omaha Symphony and violin instructor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha--on Tuesday, April 26, 7:30 p.m., in the Strauss Performing Arts Center on the UNO campus. On Sunday, May 1, 7:30 p.m., Nagosky will per-

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form with the Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra, also in the Strauss Recital Hall. For ticket information, call 554.3427. Opera Omaha brings on of the great classics of the Italian repertory--La Traviata--to the Orpheum on May 4, 6 and 8. Led by Maestro Hal France in his final performance as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, the opera is considered the ultimate “date opera” with its great love story and untimely death of the heroine. Tickets are priced from $13 to $84 and are available by calling 34-OPERA or online at: www.operaomaha.org.

April 22, 2005

Henry Monsky Lodge Announces Top Scholar Athetes by HOWARD BORDEN The names of the Metro area’s top male and female high school scholar/athletes are no surprise to Omahans who follow local athletics. Zach Potter of Creighton Prep and Kyla Roehrig from PapillionLaVista High School were selected by 58 local media representatives, athletic directors, and coaches from metro area high schools. The two students will be honored at the 51st Annual B’nai B’rith Sports Banquet, according to Gil Cohen, event Chairman. Popular ESPN Pro Football Analyst, Ron Jaworski is the featured speaker at the annual dinner at the Holiday Inn Convention Center Wednesday, May 11, 6 p.m. Otis XII will reprise his humorous role as emcee. Potter will receive the Bert Render Award as the top male athlete. Roehrig will accept the Earl Siegel plaque, the counter-part award. Each school of the recipients will receive $250 for its scholarship fund. 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. Patron tickets are $150; a VIP ticket for a private reception with Jaworski is $150 Potter, the son of Karen Sanden and Dave and Lynne Potter, lettered in two sports, receiving accolades for his superior play in football and basketball. In the fall, he will attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln on a football scholarship. Roehrig earned great acclaim for her accomplishments in volleyball, basketball and track. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota on an athletic scholarship to play volleyball. She is the daughter of Pat and Kathy Roehrig.

Beth Israel NCSY to Attend Regional Junior and Senior Conventions by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) is making plans for the final regional Shabbatonim of the school year. The Junior NCSY Regional Shabbaton, for sixth-eighth graders, is May 12-15. Senior NCSYers, grades nine-12, will meet May 26-30. Both Shabbatons will be held at Camp Chi in Lake Delton, WI. Beth Israel’s NCSY Advisor, Joey Shyken, is accepting registrations and making travel arrangements for all Omaha youth who would like to attend either convention. Shyken emphasized, “Junior and Senior NCSY activities are open to all young people in our community. Everyone is welcome to register for these Shabbatons; synagogue affiliation is not a requirement.” According to Shyken, “This is the biggest Shabbaton of the year for both Junior and Senior NCSY. Everyone in the region goes to Camp Chi.” Omaha youth join with hundreds of other young Jews who travel from places like Chicago, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Winnipeg. “Camp Chi is near the Wisconsin Dells and offers plenty of things to do during each Shabbaton. There will be exciting activities and games, and a live band performing at both the Junior and Senior events. And, with the Seniors’ convention happening during Memorial weekend, they get the chance to enjoy a formal banquet on Sunday night.” Daniel Grossman, an eighth-grader, has attended the Junior NCSY Shabbaton at Camp Chi in previous years and plans to go again this year. When asked what he liked about Camp Chi, Grossman said, “It’s going to be great! The people are really nice and you make a lot of friends. They hold sessions that teach different aspects of the Torah in a way that is really meaningful.” Grossman strongly encouraged other Jewish youth to attend. “If you don’t go, you’re missing out on an amazing opportunity! It’s a fun time.” Registration fees for both Shabbatons are reasonably priced and include all meals. If this is the first time attending an out-of-town NCSY Shabbaton, registration is free. And in order to make the trip more affordable, Beth Israel also covers the travel expenses for all Omaha attendees, regardless of synagogue affiliation. Anyone planning to attend either convention must complete a registration form. Registration for the Junior Shabbaton, May 12-15, is $119 if paid before May 5 or $135 after that date. Registration options for the May 26-30 Senior Shabbaton, which lasts one day longer, is $129 if paid before May 7; $149 if paid May 7-20; or $165 after May 20. To register or for more information, please contact Shyken at 556.6288 or NCSY@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

ENGAGEMENTS KRAMER/RUBACK Teresa Kramer, daughter of Hilda Kramer and the late Larry A. Kramer, and Andrew Ruback, son of Jayne and Altan Ruback, announce their engagement. The bride-to-be is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, and is currently a culinary consultant and owner of Kramer Catering. She is the grand-daughter of Margarita de Jaen of the Republic of Panana. Her fiancé is a partner in City Weekly Newspaper, LLC and the grandson of Shirley and Max Kirshenbaum and Paul Ruback and the late Francis Ruback. An Aug. 7 wedding is planned at Temple Israel. EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press office will be closed Monday, April 25 for Passover; the deadline for the May 6 issue is Wednesday, April 27. Photos used in the Passover issue may be picked up in the Press office during regular business hours.

SPARKS/GONSHER Lara Yosefa Sparks, daughter of Sarah and Larry Sparks of Chesterfield, MO, and Zachary Emil Gonsher, son of Rini and Allan Gonsher, have announced their engagement. The bride-to-be graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a degree in elementary education. She teaches in the St. Charles school district. Her grandparents are Florence Silverstone of St. Louis and the late Harold Silverstone and the late Toby and Leo Seifman. Her fiancé graduated from Neveh Zion and Shaarey Yerushalayim in Israel with a bachelor’s of Talmudic Law. He is pursuing a master’s in social work from St. Louis University and currently teaches at B’nai Emunah Synagogue Preschool and Torah Prep Academy. He is the grandson of Juanita and Harvey Egherman of Cincinnati, OH, Dorothy and Sol Furman of Scottsdale, AZ, and the late Charles Gonsher. A wedding is planned in St. Louis for early 2006.

ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Mayor Mike Fahey, who is running for re-election, will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, April 29, noon, at the Park Inn Regency. according to Chairman, Gary Javitch. A “Passover-style” lunch will be served. Cost is $11 for a full lunch and $2 for beverage service only. WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on Thursday to the Bluffs Run Casino, please meet at the JCC main entrance at 8:45 a.m. For transportation call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Lomir Redn Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. VISIONS Visions Membership Luncheon is Friday, May 20, 12:30 p.m., Caniglia’s Venice Inn. Cost is $9.50 per person. Talented entertainers from the Omaha Community Playhouse will perform highlights from the musical Annie. Send reservations with payment to:

Harry Alloy, 11317 Harney Plz. Cir., Omaha, NE 68154 by May 13. Make check payable to Visions. Join us for the tour to the Tulip Festival in Orange City on Thursday, May 19. Cost is $53 per person. Depart from the JCC at 7 a.m. and return by approximately 7 p.m. Send reservations to Anne Skolkin, 1010 Regency Parkway #302, Omaha, NE 68114 by April 25. Make check payable to Visions. The Branson Show Extravaganza is Sept. 19-23. Cost is $454 per person and includes six Branson shows. For information call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. TORAH LEARNING CENTER All classes are taught by Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman. Please call him at 981.0569 for more information. Next week’s classes are cancelled due to the Passover holiday; classes will resume the week of May 2 and include: Mondays, 7:30 p.m.: “The Siddur: The best selling book of Kaballah” in the Omaha Room of the JCC. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.: “Growth Through Torah” at a private residence. Thursdays, 1 p.m.: “Meaning of Life & Other Business” based on The Way of G-d by Rabbi Chaim Luzatto, also in the Omaha Room of the JCC.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 22, 2005

Israeli Institute Helps Heal Kids Affected by Terrorism

MARRIAGE

by EDGAR ASHER port organizafor ISRANET tion, Ezer B’nai Brak, Israel--To Mizion. The meet today with 11-yearorganization’s old Almog Gilad from Terror Orphan Elon Moreh, a Jewish setProgram (TOP) tlement on the West Bank has been near Nablus, one would designed to never believe to talk to introduce to him that while on his way these young vicback home from school, tims experienced, he was stabbed several caring health times by a Palestinian terprofessionals rorist and left for dead by who take on the the road side. difficult task of Two Palestinians were bringing these in a yard adjoining his children back home when one of them into the commuattacked him with a knife nity after their and then they both fled. lives have been Above: Youngster Almog Gilad explains his drawings to Rabbi Chananya Almog fainted from torn apart. Chollak, Ezer Mizion’s founder and international chairman. Below: the shock, thus his attackers Each child almost complete new national headquarters of Ezer Mizion in B’nai Brak. thought that they had has his own Credit: ISRANET killed him. Thankfully, his mentor who is in wounds were not life constant contact with the youngster and threatening and he was his family to assist in helping him to hastily removed to hospireturn to becoming a well balanced, tal for treatment. happy and constructive individual. That was in January It was found that one way to reach 2002. His physical into the deepest depths of a child's torwounds healed quickly, tured mind was to encourage him to but like so many children draw, or create models, and express his who have been victims of feeling through that medium. terror themselves, or chilToday in Ezer Mizion’s new headdren of adult victims of quarters in B’nai Brak, many child vicPalestinian terror, the tims of terror came together to see trauma takes a lot longer exhibited scores of drawings and models to disappear from their that they had completed for their menmemory. In many cases it tors over the past few years. remains for ever. It was far from being a solemn occaThese children become sion, there was the urgent chatter and a statistic of the intifada's laughter of children who once again dead and injured, but not were learning and experiencing what it to the Israel health supis to be a happy child again.

KRIGSTEN/SAYLAN Marcy Beth Krigsten and Kevin Aaron Saylan were married Sept. 5, 2004, at Congregation Beth Shalom in Sioux City, IA. The 5:30 p.m. ceremony was followed by a reception at the Sioux City Country Club. The bride is the daughter of Barbara and Ray Krigsten of Sioux City and the granddaughter of Ida and Leonard Hall and Molly and Joe Krigsten. She graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in criminal justice and is employed at U.S. Bank in Kansas City. The groom, son of Jacki and Steve Saylan, is the grandson of Edythe Friedman of St. Louis, MO, and the late Arthur Friedman, and Rosalie and Milton Saylan. He earned a degree in marketing and management from Indiana University and is employed by Toyota Motor Sales in Kansas City. The wedding party included Lisa Krigsten as maid of honor, and bridesmaids Amy Saylan and Andrea Saylan, along with David Saylan as best man and groomsmen Scott Saylan and Marc Pector. Ushers were Michael Cooper and David Kricsfeld. Following a honeymoon in Maui, the couple makes their home in Lenexa, KS.

Puppeteers Bring Music to Life for Yachad Members by DUANE J. PIEPER Camille Saint Saens’ Carnival of the Animals performed by the Omaha Symphony filled the concert hall at the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center earlier this month. The Paul Mesner Puppeteers from Kansas City,working in consort with the music and musicians, brought to life the animals depicted in this classic composition.

Spring is in the Air in Israel The 20 acre Ramat Hanadiv memorial garden in Zichron Ya’acov is set in the center of a 1,100 acre nature reserve. In the center of the garden are the graves of Baron Edmund de Rothschild (1845–1934) and his wife Adelaide (1853 –1935). The family was one of Israel’s greatest benefactors, establishing agricultural settlements and wine production. The gardens were bought for the nation by the Rothschild family on condition that the public always has free access. It is expected that many visitors will come to Ramat Hanadiv during the upcoming Passover holiday. Credit: ISRANET

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As a prelude to the event, Yachad observed and dialogued with a puppeteer who demonstrated his skills to the members. Omaha Symphony conductor, Ernest Richardson, then explained to the group the dynamics of the concert and the process of integrating instruments and puppets to create the illusion of animal sounds and individual and unique movements. Finally, Jennifer Boomgaarden, the Director of Education and Community Partnerships for the Omaha Symphony, offered the group an opportunity to hold and play a violin. The ambiance of the theater along with the skills of the conductor, musicians and puppeteers made this a memorable experience. The Yachad members gained a greater appreciation and insight into the choreographing of this type of musical production. Call 334.6491 for further details of future events.

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April 22, 2005

Temple Israel Friendship Tea Serves Up Answers About Jewish Holidays and Customs by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator About 125 members of churches from Nebraska and Iowa attended the Rabbi Sidney H. and Jane Brooks Annual Friendship Tea at Temple Israel on April 10.

Gary Kaplan, President of Temple’s Board of Trustees; Nancy Nogg, President of Women of Reform Judaism; Rabbi Craig Marantz; Cantor Wendy Shermet; Stephanie Grossman; Cindy Goldberg; Stacey Rockman; and Wendy Goldberg spoke to the visitors in the sanctuary before they took a tour of the holiday and life cycle tables set up in the Friedman Social Hall and the Milder Center. Iantha and Hank Wessel from St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Blair commented that the Friendship Tea “is extraordinary. It’s a great opportunity to find out what our neighbors believe.” Other visitors including Michaele Scott, Heidi Bart, and Sandy Smith brought the confirmation class from the Methodist Church in Villisca, Iowa. “We learned the answers to many of the questions that we had like what is Shabbat and Hanukkah.” They added that they brought their curiosity and took home some clarity.

At left: Gretchen Radler, one of the holiday table hostesses, serves some charoset to a Friendship Tea guest at the Passover table. Other table hostesses were Dora Goldstrom, Ducky Milder, Deb Marburg, and Rini Gonsher. Patsy Wallace and Andie Gordman talked about Jewish wedding rituals. Sandy Nogg opened the gift shop for the guests. Karli Newman, Michelle Bucher, and Ellen Long were greeters. Hillary Fletcher chaired the Tea.

Florida University Archives House American-Jewish Recorded History by MICHAEL SHAPIRO Orchestra. Tinanoff can play them on a donated vintage WEST PALM BEACH, FL (JTA--One by one, the 1926 Victrola Credenza record player. Jewish sounds of yesteryear are being rescued from the Florida Atlantic is well positioned to look for donadusty basements, attics and garages of today. tions of records because it is “geographically blessed,” Working on the fifth floor of Florida Atlantic Tinanoff said. Because it is in South Florida, the project University's main library in Boca Raton, FL, a team of can tap into the region’s huge pool of Jewish retirees, mostly volunteers is meticulously cleaning, digitalizing, many of whom speak Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, indexing and preserving thousands of vintage records in German and other languages heard on the records. a unique effort to rescue the voices and music that In addition to nearly three dozen local volunteers who flowed from the immigrant neighborhoods of the come to the library to help clean records, enter inforUnited States in the first half of the 20th century. mation into the database or scan the colorful record The effort is a race against time. labels, the project has a network of zamlers, Yiddish for As members of the older generation die, their baby- collectors, who scour the United States, Canada and boomer sons and daughters--raised on the sounds of the Israel for records to be donated. Beatles rather than the Yiddish or cantorial numbers of The rescue effort not only receives donations from the an earlier era--often throw out the records they stumble zamlers and other individuals, including Art Raymond, across as they clean out their parents’ homes. who had a popular Jewish music program on WEVD “The most important thing is to rescue the records radio station in New York, but from major organizations before they are thrown in the trash,” said Nathan as well. The National Yiddish Book Center, which led Tinanoff, Director of the newly created Judaica Sound the way in saving Yiddish books from being discarded, Archives at Florida Atlantic University Libraries. has donated more than 6,000 78s during the past two Maxine Schackman, the archive’s Assistant Director, years and has agreed to steer any future donation to the said she threw out her parents’ records before first archive. becoming involved with the project as a volunteer. “The With the backing of library officials at the university, whole idea is of rescuing a the archive is now putting portion of the past and maktogether a committee of ing sure it never disappears,” experts specializing in she said. Jewish studies and ethnomuHoping to prevent just sicology, they have decided that, Tinanoff, an engineer to apply for larger grants and by training who retired from the are working toward the IBM after a 30-year career, establishment of an endowlaunched the Judaica Music ment to ensure that the Rescue Project in the sumwork can continue into the mer of 2002 after volunteer- Labels from vintage 78-rpm Jewish music records. future. Courtesy: Judaica Sound Archives As part of this effort to creing his technical expertise to at Florida Atlantic University Libraries ate “the Library of Congress help a retired New York cantor preserve the 750 78-rpm of Jewish music,” as records that were a part of the university’s Molly Schackman described it, the archive has just finalized an Fraiberg Judaica Collection. When the cantor, Asher agreement with the Feher Jewish Music Center of the Herman, died, Tinanoff, who did not know anything Museum of the Jewish Diaspora in Tel Aviv, the Robert about the music he was helping preserve, decided to and Molly Freedman Jewish Sound Archives at the continue the project. University of Pennsylvania and the Dartmouth Jewish “The more you listen to the music--you can’t not love Sound Archive to establish the Alliance for the it,” Tinanoff said. “It touches your heart.” Preservation of Jewish Sound, which would create the Today, the archive at Florida Atlantic has more than largest indexed and publicly accessible collection of 3,300 unique 78s, representing nearly 6,500 different Jewish music in the world. music or spoken-word pieces. In total, including dupliBeyond creating a resource for researchers, Tinanoff cates, the collection has more than 15,000 78s, most of said the goal of the effort is to have the music available which were produced in the United States. for people to use and enjoy. With funding from a small The collection holds music recorded in many formats. grant, work is now being done on a compilation of It includes 2,500 LP albums, 700 cassette tapes and 300 Hebrew holiday music that will be available on the 45s. Altogether it has more than 40,000 songs, instru- Internet for Jewish educators. mentals and spoken-word pieces--comedy, poetry and To learn more about the archives, including how to theatrical recordings. The collection has more than 50 donate records or become a zamler, go to copies of the 1941 Columbia release of Roumania, www.fau.edu/jsa or call 561.297.2207. Roumania by Aaron Lebedeff and the Sholom Secunda

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 22, 2005

ADL’s Youth Leadership Mission Returns to U.S. Holocaust Museum by JORDANA GLAZER for the Anti-Defamation League They Came For In Germany, the Nazis came for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, And I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Catholic Then they came for me. And by that time, there was no one left to speak for me. Martin Niemoller Choral Reader Protestant Minister One person can make a difference. Just listen to those who were saved by the efforts of Raoul Wallenberg. In WWII, would I have been a bystander or a rescuer? Examining one’s own biases and the danger of stereotypes prompts difficult questions. These are just some of the questions that 40 high school students pondered during last month’s ADL Youth Leadership Mission to Washington, D.C. In March, the cherry blossoms were still dormant, but many themes blossomed during the ADL’s Annual Robert B. Sturm Youth Leadership Mission to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C, where 20 Omaha area high school students joined togeth-

er with 20 on society. students Throughof Denver, out the CO. curricuThe 40 lum stuparticidents are pants were forced to selected identify from about their own 200 essays and othsubmitted ers’ biases examining and to personal take perexperis o n a l ences of responsibias, prejubility for dice or combating bigotry in prejudice, t h e i r Omaha and Denver teens participated in the ADL Youth d i s c r i m i e v e r y d a y Leadership Mission and heard from Omahan Bea Karp, center, a nation. lives. The “hidden child” during the Holocaust. The candidates were also asked to apply the ADL’s World of Difference Institute lessons of the Holocaust to today’s com- provides techniques and resources for plicated political and social issues. combating prejudice and discrimination Upon their arrival in D.C., in addition through interactive dialogue and roleto stowing their luggage, students were playing. asked to “store” their prejudice. Debbi The program is based on several Zweiback, ADL’s Assistant Director assumptions; prejudice is learned and announced, “This isn’t your school can be unlearned; individuals have the lunch room where the jocks sit with the power to change things; people share jocks and preps sits with the preps. We common values, feelings, hopes and begin tonight by moving out of our dreams; finally, people are different and comfort zones to really get to know one differences should be recognized and another.” respected. The Youth Leadership Mission (YLM) Three-and-a-half days were packed is based on the ADL’s World of with activities, tours, discussions and old Difference Institute. It is designed to fashion fun. The main focus, however, promote an understanding of prejudice was the students’ day at the U.S. and discrimination, both personal and Holocaust Memorial Museum. The lens institutional, and the harm they inflict of the Holocaust is one of the most

powerful tools of understanding how prejudice and discrimination left unchecked inflict harm on society. During their journey, participants are given notebooks specifically for recording their emotions and experiences. This information is particularly important upon their return to Omaha when the students are required to create a project inspired by the trip. Omaha’s Bea Karp closed the trip by presenting her powerful story of hope and survival as a hidden child during the Holocaust. Unfortunately the recent incident of the Minnesota school shooter with neoNazi connections reminds us that we can never forget what happened during World War II and that we need to be vigilant in making sure it does not happen again. “Attending this event always gives me hope,” said Katherine Finnegan, Cochairman of the Plains States Education Committee and YLM chaperone. “The kids involved in this trip are tomorrow’s leaders; they are fired up to make a difference in the world during their lifetimes. Bob Sturm’s generosity is instrumental in giving 40 young adults a life changing experience at a critical time in their lives. I’m so thankful to him and the ADL for making this type of education a priority.” This YLM group will continue to meet throughout the year to discuss current events and decide on a group project to help spread the ADL’s message of “fighting hate and building hope.” Next year's applications will be available in the late fall.

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April 22, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

IRWIN “IRV” SCHWARTZ

Irwin Schwartz dies April 11 in Scottsdale, AZ at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Jerry Hoffman, grandsons, David and Adam of Maple Grove, MN; son, Jeff Schwartz of Scottsdale, AZ; sister and brother-in-law, Jackie, and Phil Korbholz of Stockton, CA; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends. Mr. Schwartz was born in Fresno, CA on March 18, 1935. After graduating from Fresno High School, Irv enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at SAC Headquarters in Omaha, NE. During his tour of duty, Mr. Schwartz met his wife. They were married and lived in Omaha several years before returning to San Jose, CA, where he was involved in his family clothing business, Schwartz & Son Clothiers. In 1972 the family returned to Omaha where he was involved in the trucking industry. In 2002, Irv was honored by the Diabetes Foundation and was the recipient of the “Father of the Year Award.” Shortly before his 50th birthday Irv had a massive heart attack, his second. After evaluating his condition, doctors told him his only option was to have a heart transplant, which, at the time, was experimental. With only days left to live, a donor heart became available and transplant surgery was performed at the University of Minnesota. At that time (20 years ago), he was given only 5 years to live. Along with the transplant experience, many other medical issues arose and were, to him, only minor setbacks. He spent a lot of time sharing his experience with other patients to help them through their trying times and encourage them to undergo transplant surgeries. Irv was an amazing man with a zest for life. He loved all the people around him whether they were people he’d just met on the street or long-time family friends. He will be sadly missed.

WE LOVE YOU! Graveside services were held Thursday, April 14th at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Sarver Heart Center, P.O. Box 245046, Tucson, AZ 85724. Please make checks payable to “U of A Foundation - SHC.”

Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 22, 2005

The Cost of Expressing an Opinion in Britain Several years ago, noted academic and author Dr. Deborah Lipstadt was sued by Holocaust denier David Irving in British court. While she defeated Irving’s libel suit and grab for publicity, it cost her--in time away from her students at Emory University and from her own pursuit of the truth, and in the thousands of dollars raised by her supports to defend her book, Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault Against Memory and Truth. Irving realized he wouldn’t be able to private libel in an American court, where the burden of proof is on the accuser. So he took the easy route and made his charges in London after Penguin Books published Lipstadt’s book there in 1995. She remained silent during the five years of the trial, but has since published History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving. As Michael Berenbaum, the Director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust and an adjunct professor of theology at the University of Judaism, says in a recent book review in the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, “good scholarship can beat bad scholarship, and that even in our age of relativism and deconstructionism, there is a difference between good history and fraud.” One could assume that Lipstadt beat Irving at his own game and that the British courts will no longer entertain these kinds of frivolous suits. But Dr Rachel Ehrenfeld seems to be its latest victim. Thanks to reader Alex Dobin (and a review copy of her book which arrived two days later), the Jewish Press has been alerted to yet another attempt to quash the truth. Director of the American Center for Democracy, Ehrenfeld has written articles have in the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. Her book, Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It, has

(Founded in 1920)

since been published in paperback with an explanation about Khalid bin Mahfouz, the Saudi billionaire, accused of financing terror has--you guessed it--sued her in British court-to try to get her book off the market. In his forward to the book, James Woolsey, a former Director of the CIA, states, “In this meticulous and most readable work...you will find substantial evidence...that there is close cooperation on terrorism and its funding across both the religious-secular and religiousreligious divides.” Ehrenfeld challenges all the myths we’ve been lead to believe--that Saddam Hussein’s Baathist Party would never work with the fanatic jihadists of Osama bin Ladin’s network or that charitable institutions in the U.S. that funnel donations to Hamas and Hezbollah only fund “humanitarian” relief or that the Saudis are doing everything they can to assist America in the war on terrorism. Woolsey adds that not only does Ehrenfeld decimate all these myths, she offers some prescriptions to stop funding terror--something that should be read by our congressional delegation and all policy makers. Obviously, regime change (like that in Iraq) is one of the solutions she proposes. But short of that, Ehrenfeld insists that the United States government make a marked improvement with stopping drugs from entering this country--and from the money its sales generate from leaving the U.S. According to the American Center for Democracy, “she wrote about Mahfouz’s widely-reported financial links to Al-Qaeda and HAMAS. Bin

Mahfouz, through his Muwafaq Foundation, which he founded and funded, supported AlQaeda, HAMAS, and other Islamist organizations, and used his National Commercial Bank to transfer funds to terrorist organizations.” Ehrenfeld is now countersuing Mahfouz in federal court in New York, “to put on public record documents showing that KBM’s Muwafaq Foundation and The National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia financed designated terror organizations.” Ehrenfeld can certainly get advice from Dr. Lipstadt on fighting libel charges, but she’ll need more than advice to beat bin Mahfouz-a man with unlimited financial resources. To reach her directly, e-mail: Ehrenfeld@att.net. Her book is available in the Kripke Library.

And so, the hours and the days pass in our different world. We reach for reality through our hospital room mates, but contact with them is not always easy. The predominant language becomes not Hebrew, but more often Russian, Arabic, German and to a much lesser degree, English. One is filled with admiration for the patient nurses who among them, are able to establish lingual contact. Of the food the less said the better, but who can experience taste when the physical pains dominate.

not encouraging. The prospects for Israel’s future seem bleak and dismal. Muslim extremists repeat their calls for the elimination of Israel from the map. World public opinion appears to be influenced by the lies being spread about this country. What will it take to change the trend? We retain hope, and as we return to our editorial routine we shall seek to keep our readers informed of those aspects of the Jewish state that we consider more true to life here than the black news. We may be tempted from time to time to splash some mud, but hope to remain true to our upbeat philosophy, remembering that the readers are daily exposed to the negative news reports But wait. Here is a report which has just reached me. Educational authorities at the Technion and at the Haifa municipality have come up with an idea to incorporate into the educational program of very young children, say, about age three and kindergarten level, a series of courses based on fundamental science and technology. Experience has shown that the mental capacity is there in many cases. Present experiments in this area have thus far begun at junior high school age. Teachers will be Technion students who will in this way express thanks for scholarships they have received. The basic curriculum will deal with the most elementary aspects of the human body, the environment and nutrition. First thought was to conduct the program at a large local shopping mall, where parents would bring the youngsters. If successful, the undertaking would serve as an experimental pilot project for other cities. Interest is high, but the program is awaiting sufficient funding. Hopefully, we may one day learn of establishment of a Department of Beginning Scientists. To send get well greetings, e-mail Carl Alpert at: alpert@techunix.technion.ac.il.

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.

Making a Comeback

OUR MAN IN ISRAEL by CARL ALPERT (Editor’s note: Due to illness, Carl Alpert will no longer be sending his columns from Israel. An insightful writer who often observes a quality of life in Israel usually now shown on CNN and other media, Alpert made aliyah more than three decades ago after an illustrious career as Editor of the Boston Jewish Advocate. With many columns on hand, the Jewish Press plans to continue running his column as space allows.) Haifa--The perspective from a hospital bed is quite different from what one gets from a comfortable living room chair, freely exposed to television and e-mail, and surrounded by a wide variety of the printed daily press. All of a sudden one is in an entirely different world. The terrible earthquake and tidal wave catastrophe of southeast Asia, the terrorist attacks on Israel’s borders, the threat of the Gaza Strip settlers to resist the program to oust them, the uncertainty of the stability of Sharon’s government, the jockeying of the religious parties to gain a post of power, the selection of a Palestinian leader whose policies are uncertain, all vanish into thin air. The world is new and empty. A greater power takes over, expressing itself through doctors and nurses, whose rulings are not subject to question. Instructions are given and specific steps taken. Expected results are awaited impatiently, but much remains unknown. Information is sparse. Time passes slowly, and one struggles to maintain an independent feeling of self-control. Close family ties help maintain contact with reality.

There is much more to life here that is cheerful and encouraging, that makes life in Israel so fulfilling and rewarding. Gradually, as medical science and nature’s physical reactions assert themselves, we begin to re-assume our own personality and begin to take an interest in what is going on in the outside world. Our first glimpses are not encouraging. In reporting to our readers on what is going on in Israel we have, to a large degree (though not always) sought to steer clear of the political conflicts. They monopolize the headlines, and the picture they present is usually not encouraging. They receive very ample coverage, almost to the extent of blocking out the larger, brighter picture. There is much more to life here that is cheerful and encouraging, that makes life in Israel so fulfilling and rewarding. We have sought to give our readers that other perspective. As we emerge from our medically imposed “vacation”, the scene we find, as indicated, is

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

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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April 22, 2005

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: I thought your March 25 editorial was excellent and your April 8 editorial was graciously accommodating to those whose opinions differed in the April 8 Letters to the editor. Ronald A. Mortensen To the Editor: With all due respect to your local Jewish Federation and to the letter writers in your April 8 issue, Jewish law is unequivocal about a state like the one Mrs. Schiavo was in before she was deprived of nutrition and water. According to every recognized Jewish legal source through the ages, a person who is not in the throes of death but simply unconscious and unable to feed himself or herself is considered fully alive, and requires our care no less than does an infant. That may not reflect the position of American law, which permits what occurred to Mrs. Schiavo, but it is the unarguable Jewish religious position as evident from the sources; there are no “many different ways” to interpret this particular law (unless one considers ignoring it to be an “interpretation”). Rabbi Avi Shafran Director of Public Affairs Agudath Israel of America To the Editor: I was deeply moved reading Claudia Sherman’s article on “Losing Grandmother” in the April 8 issue. I have empathy for Isaac and Becki Frishman who lost a beloved grandmother. Many years ago, I, too, lost my beloved grandmother under vastly different circumstances. She became a victim of the Holocaust and presumably died in the Belzec concentration camp close to the end of World War II. I was the only grandchild. My grandmother and I had a special relationship from the time she used to visit us to the time she moved to our town. I was fortunate to escape the Holocast. In late 1940, my parents and I arrived in America, thanks to a relative of my father’s who sponsored us. Unfortunately, my grandmother (on my mother’s side) was unable to locate any blood relatives in the United States; as a result, the U.S. government denied her entry into America. The last time I saw her was on Sept. 15, 1940, when she bade us a teafrul farewell at the railroad station. At least the Frishman children know when and where their grandmother died. I did not have that privilege. Hanne Wolf Albion, NE To the Editor: Susan Polack’s March 25 letter raised some important points, especially in regards to the cost of summer camp. The editor’s YMCA costs seemed a bit high, so I did some checking; my YMCA figures are from Katie at the West location. I’ve created a table for ease of reading: JCC JCC + before/after care YMCA (1 member child) YMCA (2 member children)

$140 9am to 4pm $180 7am to 6pm $97 7am to 6pm $184 ($87 for the 2nd child) 7am to 6pm UNO (1 child – general public) $120 7:30am to 5:30pm Omaha Public Schools $80 8:30am to 3:45pm

The JCC camps seem to be geared for families such as mine, where one parent is able to stay home. The short hours seem to be designed either to complement those at the CDC so that parents do not have to make up to four trips daily or to enrich the Kidz Inn program. The cost per hour of Kidz Inn is comparable to OPS. OPS, however, charges for hours used (two hours minimum), not for all hours available whether used or not. Unlike Kidz Inn, they also do not charge for any time that the child is not physically on the premises (school breaks). La Petite Academy’s $89 fee includes transportation to and from school; when round-trip transportation is included in the Kidz Inn fee ($60 p/week additional) the actual weekly cost increases to $115. Another point is that children can be on their own at eight years old (and caring for younger school-age siblings) at the YMCA thereby negating the need for care for children who can get to and from school on their own. My understanding is that the JCC’s age limit was recently raised from age seven to 10. The cost differential between the JCC and comparable programs is actually quite daunting. Rhonda Hayward (Editor’s note: We repeat what we stated on March 25...parents should investigate the costs of schools, child care and summer camp and compare “apples to apples”.)

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

Ariel Sharon’s Folly forming a coalition government with Mitzna failed because Sharon so heavily emphasized the “strategic importance” of Israelis living in Gaza. By December 2003, however, Sharon himself endorsed Mitzna’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. While he did so in a spirit very different from the prior Oslo diplomacy, his by DANIEL PIPES decision has the same two main characteristics. First, because the decision to retreat from Gaza took With the passage last week of a budget bill in Israel, the government of Ariel Sharon place in the context of heightened violence against Israelis, appears to be ready to remove over 8,000 Israelis living it vindicates those Palestinian voices arguing for terrorism. The Gaza retreat is, in plain words, a military defeat. It folin Gaza, if necessary with force. In addition to the legal dubiousness of this step and its lows on the ignominious Israeli abandonment of its posihistorical unprecedented nature (challenge to the read- tions and its allies in Lebanon in May 2000, a move which er: name another democracy that has forcibly removed much eroded Arab respect for Israeli strength, with dire thousands its own citizens from their lawful homes), the consequences. The Gaza withdrawal will almost certainly planned withdrawal of all Israeli installations from Gaza increase Palestinian reliance on terrorism. Second, the retreat is heating up the political climate amounts to an act of monumental political folly. within Israel, bringing back the It also comes as an astounding ...because the decision to retreat from dangerous mood of exaggerasurprise. After the Oslo round of tion, incivility, hostility, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations Gaza took place in the context of even lawlessness. The prospect (1993-2001) ended in disaster, heightened violence against Israelis, it of thousands of Israelis evicted many Israelis looked back on Oslo’s faulty assumptions, their vindicates those Palestinian voices arguing from their homes under threat of force is rudely interrupting own naïveté, and resolved not to for terrorism. The Gaza retreat is, in plain what had been a trend toward a repeat that bitter experience. words, a military defeat. more healthy atmosphere durIsraelis awoke from the delusion that giving the Palestinians land, money, and arms in return ing the relative calm of 2001-03. Sharon’s plans at least have a disillusioned quality to for airy-fairy and fraudulent promises would lessen Palestinian hostility. They realized that, to the contrary, this them, sparing Israel the wooly notions of a “new Middle imbalance enhanced Palestinian rejection of the very exis- East” that so harmed the country a decade ago. But in another way, Sharon’s plans are worse than Oslo; at least tence of the Jewish state. By early 2001, a riven Israeli electorate had largely re- that disaster was carried out by the clueless Left. A Right unified. When Ariel Sharon became prime minister in --led by Ariel Sharon--valiantly and staunchly opposed February 2001, a wiser leadership had apparently taken it. This time, it is the Right’s hero who, allied with the over in Jerusalem, one that recognized the need for far-Left, is himself leading the charge, reducing the opposition to marginality. Israel to return to toughness and deterrence. There are many theories for what reversed Sharon’s These optimistic expectations were indeed fulfilled for nearly three years, 2001-03. Sharon engaged in a quite views on the matter of a unilateral Gaza withdrawal in masterful double diplomacy in which he simultaneously the ten months between February and December 2003 showed a cheery face (toward the American government --I have my own ideas about the hubris of elected Israeli and his leftist coalition partners) and a tough one prime ministers--but whatever the reason, its conse(toward his Likud constituents and the Palestinians). quences are clear. Sharon betrayed the voters who supported him, The purposefulness and underlying consistency of his premiership from the start impressed many observers, wounding Israeli democracy. He divided Israeli society including this one; I assessed Sharon’s record to be “a in ways that may poison the body politic for decades virtuoso performance of quietly tough actions mixed hence. He aborted his own successful policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians. He delivered Palestinian, Arab, and with voluble concessions.” Sharon decisively won re-election in January 2003 Muslim rejectionists their greatest boost ever. And he over Amram Mitzna, a Labor opponent who advocated an failed his American ally by delivering a major victory to Oslo-style unilateral retreat from Gaza. Sharon unambigu- the forces of terrorism. Daniel Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum ously condemned this idea back then: “A unilateral withdrawal is not a recipe for peace. It is a recipe for war.” After and author of Miniatures (Transaction Publishers). He winning the election, his talks in February 2003 about can be reached at: www.DanielPipes.org.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES

The Pope’s Visit to Israel

JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL by TEDDY WEINBERGER Pope John Paul II called for “a new and profound understanding between the Church and Judaism everywhere, in every country, for the benefit of all.” The two most significant initiatives that the Pope himself undertook toward this end were his visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome in 1986 and his visit to Israel in March of 2000. Thankfully the Pope’s visit here came several months before the start of the intifada in the Fall of 2000 (else it probably would not have occurred at all). In the wake of the Pope’s death, it’s worth looking back upon his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. At the time, just before the Pope’s visit, a lot of the Israeli media attention had to do with the Holocaust. “Would he or wouldn’t he” was the speculation in the days leading up to the Pope’s visit to Yad Vashem: Would Pope John Paul II apologize for Pope Pious XII’s silence during the Holocaust? In fact, I wasn’t particularly disappointed that John Paul II didn’t mention Pious XII when he visited Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Museum. As far as Jews are concerned, the real test for Catholics will lie in how they respond to any future catastrophe facing the Jewish people. The Pope stressed at Yad Vashem the Church’s commitment to combating evil wherever it rears its head. This is the universalistic lesson of the Holocaust: the Holocaust was a crime against humanity, and all human beings have a stake in learning from it in order to prevent and fight future occurrences of evil in the world.

(By coincidence, the day before Pope John Paul II arrived in Israel, I went with my children to apply for our first Israeli passports. In doing so, we were actualizing the Zionist response to the Holocaust. A strong Jewish state means that never again can a Jew become state-less, never again can there be a lack of refuge for a persecuted Jew. And the physical proof of all of this is an Israeli passport.) The Pope’s visit was exciting in terms of the tens of thousands of pilgrims and the 2,000-strong press corps that it brought to Israel. And the Pope himself deeply impressed people with his honest spirituality; a rabbi friend of mine remarked to me then that “the Pope is the holiest person we’ve had around here for a long time.” In the Ha’aretz newspaper on the day after the Pope died, David Rosen wrote that “the Pope’s visit to Israel opened the eyes of Israelis to a new reality. Not only was the Church no longer an enemy, its head was a true friend!” Still, I sensed a lost opportunity five years ago with the Pope’s visit. Here was a pope coming not in the spirit of Christian triumphalism but in the spirit of religious brotherhood. And I don’t think Jews were willing to consider just what exactly this might mean. For example, here was a chance for Jews to really think about what it means that Christians consider Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Rebecca as their foreparents. This was also a chance for Jews to wonder whether, since they worship one God and Christians worship one God, whether in fact Jews and Christians worship the same One God. These are the sort of topics that should have occupied Israelis during the Pope’s visit but didn’t. Now, in the wake of the Pope’s death perhaps Jews and Christians everywhere will take up the Pope’s challenge for a “new and profound understanding” between the two religions. Im yirtzeh hashem, Inshallah, God willing.

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 22, 2005

Candlelighting Friday, April 22, 7:54 p.m. First seder, Saturday, April 23, 8:58 p.m. Second Seder, Sunday, April 24, 8:59 p.m.

Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, April 29: Passover Celebration--A Passover Potluck will follow services, 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 323.8885.

Office Hours: Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Chametz to be burned no later than 12:15 p.m. Burning of chametz can be done at the synagogue at 11:30 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m. SATURDAY, April 23: Shacharit, 8 a.m. (please note special time for Pre-Pesach Shabbat); Free Babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; Recite Kol Chamira, nullification of chametz, by 11:06 a.m. Mincha, 8 p.m. Candlelighting and earliest time to start seder is 8:58 p.m. SUNDAY, First Day of Pesach: Shacharit, 9 a.m. Mincha, 8 p.m. Candlelighting and earliest time to start seder is 8:59 p.m.; Second Seder, 9 p.m., at the synagogue. MONDAY, Second Day of Pesach: The synagogue office is closed for Pesach. Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 8 p.m.; Havdalah, 9 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 6:45 a.m. (please note early time for Chol Hamoed Pesach); Call the synagogue office for Mincha/ Ma’ariv service time.

Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

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

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 jewishnebraska.org

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

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org

The Neighborhood Minyan Torah Learning Center 1313 No. 58 St. Omaha, NE 68132 553.5397

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

PERSONAL Thank you for your many cards, calls and concern during my recent illness. Knowing that others care is what I needed to get through this difficult time. God bless you all. Visits from our rabbis at Beth El and Beth Israel were so appreciated, as well as the visit from Beth El’s cantor which helped me so much---more than words can express---to give me courage to get better and fight harder. Thank you one and all for your blessings. Louis Abrahamson

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Beth El; Evening Service, 5:30 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 is available during Friday night and Saturday morning services, on a drop-in basis, at no charge. SUNDAY: Due to Passover, classes will not be held on April 24 and May 1. WEDNESDAYS: PATTER (Parents & Toddlers, Torah, Exercise, Recreation) with Helen Epstein, 10:45 a.m. THURSDAY, noon: The Most Important People and Ideas of the Hebrew Bible, with Rabbi Levin. Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah (BESTT): Religious school will be in session on April 26, 27 and 28. COMFORT AND CONVERSATION Established to provide support for individuals mourning the recent or past loss of a loved one, Beth El’s “Comfort and Conversation” group will meet on Wednesday, April 27, 6 p.m.; a light dinner will be served, followed by the informal get-together, facilitated by Shane Kotok and Shelly Fox, Jewish Senior Services outreach representatives, with expertise in bereavement issues. CONGREGATIONAL PASSOVER SEDER In keeping with the generationsold tradition of joining loved ones to celebrate Pesach, Beth El will host its annual congregational Seder on the second night of Passover, Sunday, April 24, 6 p.m. PASSOVER SCHEDULE Sunday, April 24, first day: Shaharit, 9:30 a.m.; MinhaMa'ariv, 5:30 p.m.; Second Seder, 6 p.m. Monday, Second Day: Shaharit, 9:30 a.m.; Minha-Ma'ariv, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Hol HaMoed): Shaharit, 6:45 a.m.; Minha-Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 29--Hol HaMoed: Shaharit, 6:45 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. Saturday, April 30 (Shabbat and seventh day): Shaharit, 9:30 a.m.; Minha-Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m. Sunday, May 1 (eighth day): Shaharit (Yizkor is said), 9:30 a.m.; Minha-Ma'ariv, 8:15 p.m.; Passover ends no earlier than 8:42 p.m.

CONGREGATION Monday- B’NAI JESHURUN

BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home SATURDAY: Passover Synagogue Seder, 5 p.m. SUNDAY: No Religious School

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m.; SATURDAY, April 23, Shabbat HaGadol: Shacharit, 8 a.m. followed by Kiddush; Chametz may be eaten no later than 11:05 a.m. Nullify Chametz by 12:13 p.m.; Mincha, 7:30 p.m.; Seder Intro, 8 p.m.; Communal Seder, 9 p.m. April 24, Pesach Day One: Shacharit, 10 a.m.; Davening followed by Kiddush; Mincha/ Maariv, 8 p.m. April 25, Peasch Day Two: Shacharit, 10 a.m.; Davening followed by Kiddush; Mincha/ Maariv, 8 p.m. April 26, April 27, and April 28, Chol HaMoed: Shacharit, 7 a.m. April 29, Chol HaMoed: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/ Kabbalat Shabbat, 8 p.m.; All night Study for Sheve’e Shel Pesach begins at Midnight. April 30, Shabbat Sheve’e Shel Pesach: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush to follow davening; Mincha/Maariv, 8 p.m. April 31, Achron Shel Pesach: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush to follow davening; Mincha, 6:30 p.m.; Moshiach feast, 7 p.m. Programs are open to the community. For information or to register, call the office or visit: www.nebraskajudaism.com.

Rabbi Debbie Stiel will be in Lincoln two weekends a month. Please call her at 402.416.2321 or e-mail: dstiel@everestkc.net to set up appointments. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Stiel, with oneg provided by Susan Poser. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. All led by Rabbi Stiel. SUNDAY, April 24: No Religious School Classes; Community Passover Seder, 6 p.m. Cost is adult members, $10; nonmembers, $15; children, ages five12, $5; and children under age five are free), using a wonderful new haggadah called, A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah. RSVP to the Temple Office at 435.8004 or stemple@neb.rr. com.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg; First Seder, 6 p.m., led by Andrew Greenberg. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Rabbi Maxmo Shechet; Second Seder, 5 p.m., led by Marti Nerenstone. MONDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Rabbi Maxmo Shechet. FRIDAY, April 29: Kabbalat Shabbat-Passover Services, 6:45 p.m. led by Nancy Rips. SATURDAY, April 30: Shabbat-Passover Services, 9 a.m. led by Marti Nerenstone and Beyt Shalom. SUNDAY, MAY 1: Passover and Yizkor Services, 9 a.m. led by Rabbi Maxmo Shechet.

TEMPLE ISRAEL SHABBAT COMES TO YOU FRIDAY: Rabbi Craig Marantz and members of the Temple Youth Group will lead a Shabbat Service, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights. Shabbat Evening Service, 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. The Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by the Women of Reform Judaism, Omaha. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. SITTER SERVICE: 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. Please make a reservation through the Temple office. Cost is $2 per family. Sorry, there are no facilities for infants. ADULT EDUCATION THURSDAY, April 28: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Rabbi Craig Marantz, 1011:30 a.m.

CARING COMMUNITY BAKE-FEST Sunday, May 1, noon to 2 p.m. in the Temple Kitchen. The Caring Committee is up and running full speed…and we’ve changed our name to reflect our new mission of serving our community in many, many more ways! To accomplish this we need you …help fill our freezers with challah and rugelach. Not a skilled baker? Come anyway and share a good time and a cup of coffee with us. Contact the Temple office, 556.6536, to signup.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN AT TLC FRIDAY: Mincha, 7:50 p.m. followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 7:40 p.m. followed by Ma’ariv. SUNDAY, Pesach Day One: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 7:50 p.m. followed by Ma’ariv. MONDAY, Pesach Day Two: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 7:50 p.m. followed by Ma’ariv. FRIDAY, April 29: Mincha, 8 p.m. followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv. SATURDAY, Pesach Day Seven: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 7:45 p.m. followed by Ma’ariv. SUNDAY, Pesach Day Eigth: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Yizkor, 10:15 a.m.; Mincha, 8 p.m. followed by Ma’ariv.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, MONDAY & THURSDAY, 9 a.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat HaGadol, 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha, First Seder, 6 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Light candles no earlier than 9 p.m.; Mincha, Second Seder, 6 p.m. MONDAY, April 25: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. THURSDAY, April 28, Chol HaMoed: Shacharit, 9 a.m. FRIDAY, April 29: Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. SATURDAY, Seventh Day: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. SUNDAY, Eighth Day: Shacharit and Yizkor, 9:15 a.m.; End of Pesach, 9:30 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION MONDAYS: Introduction to Judaism with Rabbi Stanley Rosenbaum, 7:30-9 p.m. SUNDAYS: (during Hebrew School days): Jewish Law through the Ages with Rabbi Rosenbaum, 10-11:45 a.m.

NOTICE College students: let us know when you’ll be home for the summer, so we can stop delivery of the Press to your dorm. Just e-mail us at: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

The Staff and Committee of the Jewish Press Wish the Community a Peaceful, Joyous Passover!

April 22, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Happy Birthday

NOTICE FROM THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

Pulverent e

SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE

Recently, Beth Israel Synagogue sold its building at 1502 No. 52 St. to a church called “Greater Bethlehem Temple”. The church has changed its name to “Greater Beth-el Temple”, which may cause confusion as to the church’s affiliation. Recently, the church has been reaching out to raise money for its early childhood education center also. We want to make sure that there is no confusion in the community about this institution. It is a church. Please be advised that “Greater Beth-el Temple” church is not affiliated with the Jewish Federation of Omaha or any of our Jewish organizations, agencies or synagogues.

Frank L. Ciciulla Jr.

Shabbat HaGodol It is no secret that early man celebrated festivals according to what he saw in nature. Therefore the time of the full moon of the spring season was a time that early man noted and celebrated. The origin of Passover may very well come from this early celebration. Judaism, however, was always eager to separate itself from celebrations within nature, because these tended to involve worship of nature gods. Judaism moved from nature to history, for history is the arena of human life. Although it was our honored ancestor Joseph whose hospitality lead to our ancestors coming down to Egypt, it was the liberator, Moses, who is honored for bringing them out of Egypt, out of slavery (physical or spiritual), and into freedom. It is because of that that we think of Passover, whether or not it once had an origin in nature, as the Festival of Freedom. It is thus, as it were, the birthday of the Jewish people. It is not that the Jews were not yet a people in Egypt, but their entrance into the world as a free people, B’nai Yisrael, begins with Passover. It is this fact that makes Passover the flagship of our holy days and the month of Aviv as the first of the months. Yes, I have heard about Rosh Hashanah, when the year begins. But the months begin with Nisan, Aviv, the first of the months. If that is hard to contemplate--a new year in the fall and the months beginning in the spring--is there anything about Judaism that is easy to understand?

Iowa: Heartland of Pro-Israel Student Activism by MITCHELL BARD If you want to know why pro-Israel students are now dominating campus life, you need look no further than Iowa. Pro-Israel students in Iowa? You bet! In April, students from the University of Iowa put on the first-ever statewide Iowa Israel Advocacy Conference and the organizers were the poster children for the changes that have occurred on campus because of birthright israel trips and the work of the members of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC). Several of the Iowa students were Birthright alumni who raved about their experience and returned from Israel to take leadership roles on campus. Many of us wonder if Birthright will change the future of the Jewish community, but I inevitably meet several students whose participation on Birthright stimulated them to become activists, strengthened their Jewish identity, and enhanced their commitment to Israel. The Iowa activists were also products of AIPAC’s student program, having attended the Saban leadership conference and Advanced Advocacy Israel Mission. These students ran the AIPAC play book perfectly, reaching out to non-Jews, building coalitions, and working with political figures. One Christian participant from Coe College proudly took me to the student center to show me the display he created promoting a Jewish-Christian dialogue. Organizers brought in the College Democrats and Republicans. The student body president and other members of student government attended. The students invited their congressional delegation and Rep. Jim Leech addressed the conference; officials who couldn’t attend sent letters of support. As good as the speakers were, the most impressive aspect of the conference was the quality of the students. I’ll match the knowledge and passion of those UI activists against students from anywhere. The perception remains widespread that Israel’s detractors are winning the campus wars, but the truth is quite different. While hundreds of pro-Israel students from coast to coast were becoming more educated and engaged, the detractors didn’t have a single conference and their antiSemitic divestment efforts were defeated in the few places they mustered the strength to present them. Pro-Israel students are winning the battles with their peers. Where the war on campus is being lost, however, is in the classroom, where anti-Israel faculty, often using pseudo-scholarship under the cloak of academic freedom, are poisoning thousands of young minds each year. To win that battle, we have to promote scholarship about Israel and the Middle East, and provide incentives for students with a passion for Israel to pursue academic careers. Dr. Mitchell G. Bard is Executive Director of AICE and the Israel Scholar Development Fund and can be reached at: mgbard@aol.com

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DEATHS ROSE FRANKEL Continued from page 1 were no women in the insurance business in those days, she told the Press in 2002. She worked until she was 90 and lamented the fact that she had to stop driving at age 100, because no insurers would handle the policy. In addition to being predeceased by her husband, Harry, Rose Frankel buried two sons and a daughter-inlaw: Stuart in 1973, Dean, who died Nov. 10, 2004, and his wife, Barbara, who died a month later. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Elaine Hallum of Jonesboro, AK; grandchildren, Drs. Harris and Janice Frankel, Amy and Evan Kleeberg of Chicago, IL, Hilary Frankel of Memphis, TN, and John and Kristie Frankel of Jonesboro; AK; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ida Arkin. In her memory, the family has established a fund that will deliver a single rose each week to the Home, where it will be displayed on her “concierge” desk in the lobby. Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. IRWIN “IRV” SCHWARTZ Former Omahan Irv Schwartz died in Scottsdale, AZ, April 11 at the age of 70. Services were held at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale on April 14. Schwartz was one of the first heart transplant recipients in the Midwest; he was originally told by his doctors at the University of Minnesota he would live only five more years, according to his wife, Shirley, whom he met while in the Air Force and stationed at SAC. The couple moved to San Jose, CA, but returned to Omaha in 1972, when Irv took a position in the trucking industry. Thirteen years later, at the age of 50, he suffered a massive heart attack and was offered the option of an experimental” heart transplant surgery. Both in Omaha and in Scottsdale, Schwartz used his his experience to help other transplant patients and their families understand the process. In 2002, the Diabetes Foundation of Phoenix honored him as “Father of the Year”. In addition to his wife, Schwartz is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Jerry Hoffman of Maple Grove, MN; son, Jeff Schwartz of Scottsdale; grandsons, David and Adam Hoffman, also of Maple Grove; and sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Phil Korbholz of Stockton, CA. Memorials to the Sarver Heart Center c/o U of A Foundation-SHC, PO Box 245046, Tucson, AZ 85724. FANNY GUMMERS Former Omahan Fanny Gummers died in Overland Park, KS at the age of 92. Graveside services were held April 19 at BHH/Fisher Farms Cemetery. She was active in her synagogue and many service organizations, including the South Omaha Chapter of B’nai Brith and Y.E.S. (Young Energetic Seniors) before moving to Overland Park nine years ago. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Sam Manvitz and Dick Gummers; and her brother, Phil Ostravich. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Arnie and Dorene Manvitz, and daughter, Fayna Belzer, all of Overland Park, KS; step-daughter and son-in-law, Claire and Pierre Flatowitcz; stepson and daughter-in-law, Bob and Marlene Gummers of St. Louis; sisters, Reva Oruch and Edith Abrams; five grandchildren and their spouses; three great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild. Memorials to the Heritage Center of the Jewish Community Center, 5801 West 115 St., #101, Overland Park, KS, 66211, or the American Cancer Society.

Page 15

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