Vol. LXXXII
No. 34
Omaha, NE
23 Nisan, 5763
April 25, 2003
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 82 YEARS
JCC Continues to Upgrade Security, Customer Service by LISA SHKOLNICK, JCC Assistant Director Creating a safe and welcoming environment at the Jewish Community Center has always been a top priority. Over the years the Center has implemented several new plans that improve both customer service as well as developing workable security measures. This has included the creation of the Member Services Department, installation of bar code readers at the South “Canteen” Entrance, the Member Services Desk, and the Child Development Center, and the staffing of the front desk in the main lobby. As the JCC Campus continues to grow in size, memberships, and community accessibility, so must plans for security and customer service. Beginning this spring, an additional measure to upgrade campus security will commence in the main lobby of the JCC. Current members will be asked to scan their membership card at the Front Desk. Visitors and guests coming to the Center who are not current members will be asked to show a photo identification and sign in at the desk. The front desk receptionist will continue to assist all members and guest with questions or information they may need. “We anticipate very little disruption to the traffic flow, and ask that JCC members carry their cards with them,” said Jeff Aizenberg, JCC Executive Director, “and all other visitors and guests cooperate by taking a moment to show a photo id and sign in.” Knowing who is in our building at all times is a basic premise of security at JCCs, Jewish organizations, and businesses nationwide. This additional measure of checking in all traffic that enters through the main lobby is a key step in the right direction. “The Federation, JCC, and all the Centers of Excellence housed on this campus are enthusiastic about this new procedure,” Aizenberg added.
Press Wins Three Awards in Nebraska Contest, Will Receive Three More at AJPA Meeting by JEWISH PRESS News Service At its annual meeting earlier this month, the Nebraska Press Association recognized the Jewish Press in three categories: in Feature Writing, freelancer Leo Adam Big won third place for “A Rescuer’s Story,” about Carl Lutz, the Swedish diplomat who helped 62,000 Jews escape the clutches of the Nazis. The monthly series featuring teens in the community, TeenAge, won third place in the Youth in Community Category, and the 2002 Passover issue: Jews in Sports: Omaha Hosts the 2002 Maccabi Games, won second place for Special Edition or Insert. In addition, the Press learned shortly before Passover that three Rockower Awards have been won as well. The Rockowers will be presented at the annual meeting of the American
Jewish Press Association in Los Angeles at the end of June, when the categories and placements will be made known. “This is the highest number of awards our 82-year-old newspaper has ever won in a single year!” noted Jewish Press Editor, Carol Katzman. “We’re honored that our colleagues in both the Nebraska Press and the American Jewish Press Associations have recognized the ever-increasing quality of our work.”
If You Missed an ARTZA Trip to Israel, Catch Birthright Israel by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director For many years, the ARTZA Israel trip has been a trip providers for their Israel experience. This past rite of passage for Omaha’s Jewish high school stu- winter, more than 8,000 young Jewish adults pardents. Although the recent intifada has temporari- ticipated and organizers emphasize to all applicants ly derailed this important Israel experience for that the trips are meticulously planned to ensure young adults, there is another option available to maximum safety and security. Jewish youth ages 18-26. Birthright Israel is a proRabbi Aryeh Azriel of Temple Israel, Rabbi Howard gram of United Jewish Communities (UJC) and the Kutner of Beth Israel Synagogue and Rabbi Jewish Federation of Omaha that sends thousands Mordechai Levin of Beth El Synagogue have joined of young Jewish adults on a 10-day educational with the Jewish Federation in encouraging Omaha’s peer group trip to Israel…and it’s free. Jewish young adults to consider a Birthright Israel The Birthright Israel gift includes complimentary experience until ARTZA trips resume. Because roundtrip airfare from gateway cities, all accommo- ARTZA is only for high school students, Birthright dations and 10 days worth of exciting adventures in Israel is a wonderful opportunity for those who’ve Israel. Eligible applicants are those who have not graduated up to age 26 and didn’t go on an ARTZA or participated in an educational peer-group Israel other peer teen trips to Israel. For more information, trip (such as ARTZA). visit: www.birthrightisrael.com or call Rachel Birthright Israel offers a variety of established Blum, JCC Jewish Program Director, 334-6404.
Temple Artists to Present Stories and Songs from the Jewish Tradition by CLAUDIA SHERMAN, Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Mark Novak and Renée Brachfeld artist-in-residence for the have been performing together for 12 Georgia Council for the years--two years longer than they’ve Arts. She worked extenbeen married. The husband and wife sively in elementary and storytelling team draw their material middle schools, performfrom the warmth and richness of ing and teaching storyJewish tradition. Renée is a storytelling to both students teller and a juggler; Mark is a cantor and teachers. She speaks and plays piano and guitar. several languages and has After meeting at a CAJE (Coalition collected her stories on for the Advancement of Jewish trips to Israel, Spain, and Education) Conference in 1991, Latin America. Novak and Brachfeld began a twoHer original story, “The year long distance relationship which Light in the Wall,” frequently involved finding venues at appears in Peninnah which they could perform together. Schram’s book, Chosen The couple married in 1993 and Tales, which was pubRenée moved to Washington, D.C. to lished in 1995. As the Mark Novak and Renée Brachfeld recipient of the Janice join Mark. Since then, they’ve performed at synagogues, Goldsten Jewish Community Artists Grant by the schools, churches, festivals, and community events Jewish Federation of Greater Washington in 2000, from coast to coast . They’ll be artists-in-residence Brachfeld coordinated and directed intergeneraat Temple Israel the weekend of May 9-11. Novak tional storytelling programs. and Brachfeld derive their stories and music from Novak began his musical career as a child singing Jewish folk tales, Midrash, Hasidic sources, and with a professional Jewish choir and appearing on contemporary composers to bring a community clos- Broadway in the musical Oliver. From 1977-86, he er together, deepening its connection to Judaism served as the music director of the Living Stage and faith. Theater Company of Arena Stage in Washington, Brachfeld’s performing career began in 1987 as a D.C. He has performed his original theater pieces at storyteller in Atlanta, GA, where she served as the Smithsonian Institute’s Discovery Theater, the
Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia, and the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Featured in Shofar Magazine, Novak sings at many Washington area congregations. The Mark Novak Band has been playing at Jewish wedding celebrations since 1993. Novak and Brachfeld’s recording, “King Solomon’s Daughter,” was honored with the 1996 Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Sponsored by the Janis Yale Enrichment Fund, Novak and Brachfeld will give the D’var Torah at the family Shabbat worship service on Friday, May 9, at Temple Israel. They’ll also be at Temple Saturday morning, May 10, 9 a.m. and Sunday morning, May 11, 11 a.m. The pair will perform again Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center Theater. Reservations are needed only for the program at the JCC. Call Maggie Conti at 3346521 by Monday, May 5. The entire community is welcome to attend all of the artists’ performances at no charge.
INSIDE: A Quick Visit to Israel .................................. page 8 Nebraskans Journey to Sephardic World in Spain ........................................................... page 10 Jewish Website: Righteous Gentiles ...... page 12
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 25, 2003
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SPARKS FROM THE WORD A Guide to Repentance by STEVE STIEL Aharei Mot In Aharei Mot, the early Israelite Yom Kippur rituals of cleansing, self-scrutiny, and self-renewal are described. It is important to note that before the High Priest can atone for anyone else’s sins, he must first atone for his own wrongdoing and for the sins of his family. What a great teaching. It is so easy to find the faults of others. Yet the faults that we need to address first and can best affect are our own. When the High Priest does turn to the act of getting rid of the sins of the community, the text says, “Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites…and it shall be sent off to the wilderness.” This is the first time we hear of the goat that becomes known throughout the ages as the ‘scapegoat’. Would that today and throughout the centuries the goat had remained a goat! Instead people have used other individuals and other groups of people as the means to get rid of their sins or whatever they did not like. How often do we hear people say “religion is responsible for the evils of the world” or “the Jews are responsible for the wrongs in our world.” There is such a strong temptation to put our sins on others rather than look for our own contributions to the problems at hand. As we know, often this has led to disastrous results for “the other.” So what can we do to get rid of our misdeeds in a healthy way? Today we Jews no longer make atonement for our faults through animal sacrifice to G-d. Still finding some way to atone can help us to face our faults, correct our errors, and start anew with a clean conscience. Judaism emphasizes three ways to atone today: tefillah (prayer), tzedakah, and teshuvah (repentance or return from our wrongdoing). Prayer, our conversation with G-d, provides the means for us to move beyond ourselves. It is a time to ask God for forgiveness and the strength to be a better person. Probably the most common form of atonement for Jews today is the giving of tzedakah. When we do something wrong our conscience lets us know. It is an uncomfortable feeling to be reminded by that “voice from within” that what you did was not right. It is not always possible to right the wrong we committed. So what we do instead is atone for our transgression through tzedakah. By giving money to the needy or by performing acts of loving-kindness we try to make the world a better place. One of the most difficult methods of atonement is a verbal confession. Judaism teaches us that before we can receive forgiveness for doing wrong we must first go and make amends with the person we have wronged, if possible. Apologizing to someone is not an easy thing to do. We do not want to admit to our faults or have others think less of us for showing weakness. Paradoxically, being vulnerable by owning up to our faults actually makes us stronger. Not only will others gain a higher level of respect for us, we will also develop a greater level of respect for ourselves. Rabbi Soloveitchik says, “as long as ideas are bottled up in one’s mind, they are unclear.…A confession which is not just lip service, one that emanates from an anguished soul and an aching heart is counted as an offering on the altar.” In addition to the confession, true teshuvah or return is shown when we are in the same situation again, and we do not make the mistake. Interestingly, Aharei Mot is read in the spring, six months from Yom Kippur. The rabbis suggest this teaches us that any season is an appropriate time for self-scrutiny and atonement. May we be careful to examine our deeds often and to right the wrongs we commit. Steve Stiel is the Executive Director of Jewish Family Service.
DEATH FREDA BLEICHER Longtime Council Bluffs resident Freda Bleicher died April 15 at the age of 81. Burial took place at Temple Israel Cemetery She is survived by her husband, Jerome “Doc” Bleicher of Council Bluffs, IA; children and spouses, Norm and Julie Bleicher, Joel and Sandra Bleicher, Dan and Line Bleicher, Paul and Sermsri Bleicher, Bob and Stacie Bleicher, Jon and Helen Bleicher, Rebecca and Brent Bloom; and grandchildren, Zachary, Noah, Alison, Kate, Sarah, Aaron, Jonas, David, Sonny, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Jacob, and Joshua Bleicher and Alexander and Elias Bloom. Memorials to: Iowa Western Community College, Nursing Scholarships, 2700 College Rd.,Council Bluffs, IA 51503, or charity of choice.
Interactive Current Events Sessions Continue Weekly by DIANE AXLER BAUM The war in Iraq has created a growing need to stay totally informed, according to ADL director Bob Wolfson and JELS director Guy Matalon, who continue to present their stimulating lunchtime sessions on News and Views every Tuesday at noon, in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library at the JCC. All members of the community are invited to participate whenever their schedules permit. Co-sponsors of the “brown bag” series on current events are the College of Jewish Learning of Jewish Educational and Library Services, the AntiDefamation League-Community Relations Council, and the Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith.Additional information is available from Kathy Hirshman in the JELS office, 334-6445 or khirshman@jewishomaha.org.
Henry Monsky Lodge Announces Top Scholar/Athletes by HOWARD BORDEN The Metro area’s top male and female high school scholar/athlete were announced by Gil Cohen, Chairman of the 49th B’nai B’rith Charity Sports Banquet. A total of 59 local media representatives, athletic directors, and coaches from metro area high schools selected seniors John McCardle, from Millard North High School and Haley Fries from Westside High School. The two students will be honored at the organization’s annual dinner on May 7 at The Holiday Inn Convention Center. McCardle will receive the Bert Render Award as the top male athlete. Fries will accept the Earl Siegel plaque, the counter-part award. Each scholar/athlete’s school will also receive a $250 donation to its scholarship fund. ESPN television and radio broadcast personality; Dan Patrick will be the featured speaker at the $95 per plate charity event. Otis XII will reprise his role again this year as the banquet’s Master of Ceremonies. Tickets for the banquet, annually among Omaha’s largest and most popular, can be obtained by calling Lois Epstein at 334-6443. A special VIP ticket for a private reception with Mr. Patrick is $150. McCardle, the son of Paul and Pam McCardle, lettered in two sports, receiving accolades for his superior play in football and track. In the fall, he will attend Kansas State University in Manhattan on a football scholarship. Fries, a senior at Omaha Westside High School, earned great acclaim for her accomplishments in basketball and soccer. Haley plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha on an athletic scholarship to play those sports. She is the daughter of Gary and Karen Fries.
JEWISH PRESS NOTICE All photos used in the Passover issues of the Jewish Press can be picked up at the office before May 2. Those photos remaining will be turned over to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society archives. Photos may be picked up during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. or call 334-6448 to make other arrangements.
April 25, 2003
SYNAGOGUES
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Candlelighting Friday, April 25 .............................................. 7:56 p.m.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism
7023 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556-6536 templeisrael-ne.org
Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
1502 No. 52 St., Omaha, NE. 68104 -5013 556-6288 BethIsrael@novia.net
14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492-8550 WEB--www.bethel-omaha.org
FRIDAY: Men’s Club, 11:45 a.m. All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join us for some relaxation and great conversation; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:30 p.m., Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. Torah readers are Betsy Marantz and Kim Schwartz. Oneg sponsored by WRJ. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30 a.m., in the Milder Cente; Morning service, 10:30 a.m., Robert Reuben Friedman, son of Joan and Michael Friedman, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, April 29: “Taking Leave: The Jewish Roots of Christianity”, 7-8:30 p.m. with John Dacey. WEDNESDAY: 8:30-10 a.m., A Guide to the Perplexed: Reading the Writings of Maimonides with Rabbi Aryeh Azriel THURSDAY, May 1: Adult Study with Rabbi Azriel, 10-11:30 a.m. TOT SHABBAT Friday, May 2, 7 p.m.: Tot Shabbat--a short service of song and prayer with Rabbi Marantz, followed by cookies and juice for toddlers through children in primary grades.
Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; The West Minyan is at the home of David and Janet Kohll, at 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m. Free babysitting begins at 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m., Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood. Mincha, 7:50 p.m., followed by Shalosh Suedot and Ma’ariv; Havdalah, 9:01 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. Annual Election Meeting, 11 a.m. Evening services, 6:30 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m
FRIDAY: Kaballat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m., at the synagogue, 3012 So. 119 St. SUNDAY: Planning Meeting at the JCC, 2 p.m.; Religious Hebrew School, 3:30 p.m. at the JCC. TUESDAY: Religious Hebrew School, 4 p.m. at the JCC.
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday , 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Come join a joyous, musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. A THOUGHT FOR SHABBAT To receive Rabbi Levin’s weekly “Thought For Shabbat” e-mail message, please send your e-mail address to Exec@bethel-omaha.org. This message is free and open to the entire community. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. Bar Mitzvah of Michael Friedman, son of Beth Firedman and Morris Friedman, who will host kiddish following servicesRabbi Levin’s Torah Class meets at 7:40 p.m. Evening services at 8:10 p.m.; USY sponsored Israeli Techno Dance and Falafel Dinner, 9 p.m.-midnight. Proceeds from $10 tickets goes to Tikkun Olam. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; weekdays at 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, noon: Introduction to Judaism class with Rabbi Levin; topic is “Uncovering the Deep Messages of the Jewish Holidays: Hanukkah and Purim.” Rosh Hodesh Group, meets at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Helen Epstein. For reservations, call 492-8550. Sunday, May 4: HAZAK Eat-in or Take-out Kosher Deli Dinner, 6-7:30 p.m. Advance reservations please.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME
TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 tiferethisraellincoln.org
BEYT SHALOM
An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
3012 S. 119th St., P.O. Box 241130 Omaha, NE 68124-5130 660-2395 http://welcome.to/beytshalom/
SOUTH STREET TEMPLE
423-8569
Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY, Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv, 8:15 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Pirke Avot, 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, Friday, May 2 and Sunday, May 4: Congregants may bring their “stuff” to the synagogue after Passover for Tifereth Israel’s Garage Sale.
CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of the Worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch Movement
1866 So. 120th St., Omaha, NE 68144-1646 Phone: 330-1800 E-MAIL--chabad@aol.com WEBSITE: www.nebraskajudaism.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Monday-Friday, services at 7 a.m. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:55 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, followed by Kiddush, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s program, 10:30 a.m.; Mincha, 7:50 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 8:50 p.m.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway, Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294-6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m..
S • P • E • C • I • A • L
Wide Selection of Judaica
Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations
2061 S. 20th St., Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435-8004 jewishnebraska.org FRIDAY: Early Shabbat services, 7:45 p.m., Gary Hill will speak about his trip to Israel. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Hebrew school, 9 a.m.; Religious School, 10 a.m. MONDAY: 7 p.m.: The Israeli film, Time of Favor, will be shown at the Temple. Robert Rickover and Rucard Lombardi will lead a discussion. TUESDAY, 7 p.m., the Lincoln Jewish Community will commemorate the Holocaust at the State Capitol Rotunda. WEDNESDAY: AA Meeting, 7 p.m. in the Library. UPCOMING LINCOLN EVENTS Thursday, May 1, 7:30 a.m.: The Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will be at the Cornhusker Hotel, South Street Temple will share a table with the Lincoln Jewish Federation. Please send reservations to the Temple, attn: Stephanie Dohner, with a $15 check to “Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast”. Sunday, May 4, 6:30 p.m.: The Jewish Federation of Lincoln kicks off its campaign with a light supper and musical entertainment.
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster St., Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 Phone: 322-4705 e-mail: doc jeb @aol.com FRIDAY: Evening Service, 7:30 p.m. Oneg will follow. DEDICATION A monument in memory of Floyd Kuklin will be unveiled on Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, 4000 N. 14 Street in Lincoln. All relatives and friends are invited to attend. PERSONAL Thank you to all our friends and family, Cantor Fettman, Allan Gonsher and Rabbi Kutner, for all their help and support after the death of our husband, father & grandfather. The family of Dave Richtman
SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m., are led by Andrew Greenberg. All services are held in the Herbet Goldsten Chapel and are open to the community.
B’NAI MITZVAH David Joseph Anderson, son of Magda Peck and Jim Anderson, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah Saturday, May 3, at Temple Israel. David is a seventh-grade honors student at Lewis and Clark Middle School, where he participates in the special chorus, the math team and bowling club. He was recognized on the Nebraska State level by the Duke Talent Identification Program. For his Mitzvah project, David is supporting and learning from “other-abled” children as a weekly visitor and homework partner to a youngster left a quadreplegic after an accident. David’s other interests include lacrosse, circus arts and playing bass. David has an older brother, Sam, age 15. His grandparents are Thelma Peck of California and the late Morton Peck and Dorothy and James Anderson of Florida. Arielle Rachel Levine, daughter of Mike and Karin Levine, will become a Bat Mitzvah of Saturday, May 3, at Beth El Synagogue. A seventh-grade superior honor roll student at Kiewit Middle School, Arielle enjoys being with her firends, doing agility training with her dog-Jack, playing the piano and traveling. For her mitzvah project, she has been quilting blankets for the cats at the Nebraska Humane Society, collecing dictionaries for NCJW’s Dictionary Day, and collecting donations for Heifer International; a portion of her Bat Mitzvah celebration budget will go to MAZON. Grandparents are Nancy and Sydney Levine of Columbus, OH, and the late Kitty and Donald Amick.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 25, 2003
EDITORIAL The Problem of Jewish Continuity Yaakov Kirshen--creator of the Dry Bones editorial cartoons--takes a lighthearted stab at the weighty issue of Jewish continuity. Unfortunately, it’s not so funny. Even though United Jewish Communities is “reviewing” the data from its multi-million-dollar survey of North American Jewry, it’s not likely its results will be forthcoming soon. And when the final results really are final (that is, accurate), preliminary findings already offer little encouragement. A startling find in the last major Jewish communal survey in 1990 was the 52% intermarriage rate (which some now say was inaccurate and should have been reported at 39%). Many professionals were hoping to see some signs that all the funds poured into attracting interfaith families to the Jewish community is working, but, according to the latest data, the Jewish population is down 5%--to 5.2 million-since 1990. That’s due to three more factors--a rising median age (the Jewish community is getting older--and living longer), young Jews getting married later--and having fewer children. We don’t have accurate data on the
numbers of interfaith relationships, but we know from our own experiences in Omaha that there’s good news and bad news for each factor: • We’re living longer. That’s wonderful if you’re healthy. It’s a drain on personal and communal resources if you’re not. Crass as that sounds, it’s a challenge we have to face--and Jewish Senior Services is already trying to address that in determining the changing needs of our elderly. • Jewish couples are getting married later and having fewer children. That means fewer children in the JCC’s Child Development Center, our religious schools, B’nai Mitzvah classes, and in Friedel--a serious financial, as well as spiritual impact. What are we, as a community, doing to bring young people together and to create financial incentives for larger families? • Are non-Jewish partners converting to Judaism? Are interfaith families raising Jewish children? And what will it mean a generation from now? Will there be enough Jews committed to this community to support its institutions? Jewish continuity is a problem--we have to talk about it together and find workable, realistic solutions--now!
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by RACHEL POMERANCE NEW YORK (JTA)-- Stanley Epstein once pulled in more than $60,000 from his small accounting outfit in Los Angeles. But business dried up about a year-and-a-half ago as his clients opted to cut their costs by reducing his services and buying accounting software. “I’ve been at this quite a while, and I haven’t even had a bite yet,” the 56year-old Epstein said of his quest to find new work ever since. “There are really too few positions to go around.” Surviving on a meager income from what’s left of his business--under $500 a month from one remaining client-Epstein has relied on loans from friends and family. Now he's considering jobs in retail--the same ones that put him through college more than 30 years ago--just to get by. Epstein, one of many Jews engulfed in the two-year job slump that has saddled the country, is also one of many who has turned to Jewish social-service agencies for help. Though the numbers of the Jewish unemployed are not documented, Jewish vocational services across the country have seen a huge increase in clients seeking job counseling (including Omaha’s own Jewish family Service, according to its Director Steve Stiel). And Jewish social-service agencies are finding themselves inundated with new demands, from requests for psychological counseling to assistance for basic needs. But the agencies are facing a double challenge--serving a
Jewish Agencies Straining to Serve a Different Clientele
larger, higher-skilled clientele at the same time that government funding has been slashed. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than two million jobs were lost in the last two years. That amounts to a greater job loss than any experienced during the recession of the early 1990s, when not much more than one million jobs were ever cut. The recent release of U.S. unemployment figures--108,000 jobs were cut in March--signaled the continuing trend. Unemployment hovers at 5.8 percent, where it has essentially been since November 2001. That percentage does not account for the reported rise of people no longer looking for work. Many of the newly unemployed are highly skilled and formerly highincome earners. “Now you’re seeing high-level, former six-figure earners, many who were former donors and employers of ours walking through our doors,” said Vivian Seigel, Chief Executive Officer of L.A.’s Jewish Vocational Service. But with labor supply outpacing demand, the jobless face long stretches of scouting for work. “It’s a dreary state right now,” said Genie Cohen, Executive Director of the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services in Philadelphia, whose agencies serve both Jews and non-Jews. Although Cohen could not quantify the impact of the economy on the Jewish community, she summed up
what is being reported everywhere: “Caseloads are higher than in the past.” In addition to the challenge of serving this new kind of client, many Jewish agencies face budget cuts from a significant source of revenue, the state and federal government. “States are facing an unprecedented budget crisis” with the largest deficits since the Great Depression, said Diana Aviv, Vice-president for public policy of the United Jewish Communities, the umbrella of the federation movement in Washington, D.C. Aviv ascribed the problem to the poor economy, the failure of states to plan “rainy-day funds” and rocketing health care costs. With federal relief unlikely and states forced to cut their budgets, she said, “the outlook is not likely to improve over the next 10 years.” The impact on Jewish social-service agencies is severe. In Los Angeles, for example, Seigel said her vocational agency’s $5.5 million budget could face as much as a $750,000 cut from the state. California suffers the largest state budget deficit in the country-nearly $35 billion--and one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, due, in part, to the demise of the hightech industry and an energy crisis. What that means for Jewish vocational agencies, Cohen said, is that “while dollars are going down, the need for services continues to increase. But with every threat comes
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opportunities, and so maybe we’ll look at new ways to secure funding and find new solutions,” she said. Indeed, Jewish social-service agencies are devising new approaches to aid their clients. In several cities, including Los Angeles and Baltimore, Jewish vocational agencies have launched networking programs for previously high-income earners. In Los Angeles, a “Breakfast with a CEO series” brings together unemployed professionals with area company executives. “Somebody at that kind of salary range is not going to open up the L.A. Times and find a job,” Seigel said. “They’re going to find it through contacts.” The strain on the agencies is taking its toll on--and in some cases, scaring away--the clients. In Los Angeles, Seigel said, waiting lists show that “we just aren’t able to handle the volume.” In New York, one unemployed man said he is not turning to socialservice agencies because he feels he’ll get “lost in the shuffle.” Career counselors note the emotional instability and depression that accompanies joblessness. And several Jewish vocational agencies offer psychological counseling in addition to job support and training. “I feel such embarrassment, that’s the worst part,” said Epstein, the California accountant. “As you go through this process, one begins to doubt one’s own ability.”
JEWISH PRESS COMMITTEE Joanie Jacobson, Vice-Chairman; Penny Endelman, Secretary; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Jean Duitch; Kip Gordman; Bobbi Leibowitz; Howard K. Marcus; Scott Meyerson; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Melanie Weinstein; Amee Zetzman; George Schapiro (Honorary Committee Member). Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish Community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.
April 25, 2003
Washington cried “liberation,” many in the Arab world were shaking their heads in shame and disapproval, cringing at the sight of U.S. soldiers conquering an Arab capital. “Is it only Baghdad that fell?” Saudi writer Khaled Dakhil wrote in an April 13 column in the Lebanese daily AlHayat. “Baghdad’s fall is the final indication that with it the Arab regional political order also has fallen.” According to a recent public-opinion survey conducted by the Arab Center for Applied Social Studies, 82 percent of Israeli Arabs said Saddam’s regime was “legitimate,” and 83 percent said Arab regimes did not do enough to stop the U.S.-led war. Such reactions are reminiscent of similar events in modern Middle Eastern history: When things have gone wrong--such as after the 1967 Six-Day War, the 1982 Lebanon war and the two Palestinian intifadas-Arab analysts have not looked for deeper causes but have blamed the debacles on a lack of Arab solidarity and steadfastness. More constructive lessons--which might help the Arab states to build representative governments, open societies and stronger economic and political foundations--are ignored. Frustrations over the absence of change in the Arab world may not have an immediate effect on the regimes, but the leaders are wary. That’s one of the reasons that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak rushed to Syria this week to make sure that Bashar Assad, the Syrian leader, does not go too far in provoking the United States. What the Egyptians, Saudis, Jordanians and the rest of the conservatives in the Arab world want more than anything else is stability. They won't tolerate a Syrian adventure, and they are anxiously watching the power struggle between Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and his prime minister-designate, Mahmoud Abbas. A crisis in the Palestinian Authority will mean further delays in the presentation of the “road map” toward Israeli-Palestinian peace, prolonging instability in the region. Some predict that nascent democratization in the Middle East--which has made considerable gains in recent years thanks to the ability of media such as Al-Jazeera to overcome Arab rulers’ stranglehold on information-may gain a boost from the postwar reconstruction of Iraq, against the
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where fundamentalists are beginning to rally support among the Iraqi people for the establishment of an Iranian-style Islamic republic. Preliminary signs are there. For example, radical Shi’ites, with their leader Sheik Sayyed Abbas, took over the municipality of Kut, south of Baghdad, and are gaining strength. During last Friday’s prayers, Sheik Ahmad Kubaissi, preacher at the great Sunni mosque in Baghdad, warned the Americans, “Get out before we will force you to get out.” Differing perceptions are evident even in matters that seemingly would be straightforward, such as Saddam’s information minister, Mohammad Sa’id Sahhaf. His daily briefings for reporters became a thing of ridicule in Western eyes, a poignant symbol of Arab self-deception: Until the day Baghdad fell, he insisted that reporters who saw American troops and tanks in the heart of Baghdad must be hallucinating. To much of the Arab world, however, Sahhaf ’s defiance--if only rhetorical-reportedly has made him a hero.
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conservatives’ interests. For example, a few days after a March 19 Mubarak speech blaming Saddam Hussein for the Iraqi crisis, 29 prominent Egyptian intellectuals of diverse political backgrounds issued a statement disagreeing with Mubarak’s position. The existence of such unaccustomed civic debate might gladden the hearts of U.S. policymakers, but the message would not: U.S. “aggression” against Iraq was an “imperialist one” designed to “use and enslave” Iraq and the Arab world, the intellectuals said. Egyptian analysts compared the fall of Baghdad to the supposedly negative results of the peace treaty with Israel. “The fall of Baghdad began with the fall of Cairo, when President Anwar Sadat broke the constants of history and geography and visited Israel,” said Amin Youssry, a former diplomat who served in several Arab capitals, including Baghdad. Democracy-oriented elements in the Arab world will face stiff opposition not only from the conservatives in power, but also from within Iraq--
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After Fall of Baghdad, Arab World Takes Stock--and Places Blame
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by GIL SEDAN JERUSALEM (JTA)--Arab analysts are looking to assign blame for the quick defeat of a regime whose defiance of the United States had become a point of pride throughout the Arab world. Beside the perennial candidates for blame--America, the “Zionists” and their Western allies-analysts are directing their barbs at Arab regimes that they feel stood idly by while the U.S.-led coalition brought a fabled Arab capital to its knees in a matter of weeks. In a recent editorial, Zuheir Andreus, editor of Kul Al-Arab, an Arabic-language daily published in Nazareth, asked Arab leaders “who rule their countries by power of intelligence services and suppression, What did they feel when they saw the statues of Saddam Hussein smash? Have they learned the lesson?” Likewise, Lutfi Mashur, editor of another Israeli Arab daily, A-Sinara, recommended in a recent editorial that Arab leaders adopt democracy to “spare themselves the fate of Saddam.” More than a victory for President Bush, the fall of Baghdad was the “defeat of the Arab world,” Mashur wrote. Saddam’s ouster is sending shock waves through the Arab world, but it’s not yet clear where the reverberations will stop. U.S. officials believe Saddam’s overthrow will encourage pro-democracy, pro-Western forces throughout the region. They also believe it will create new opportunities to reform the Palestinian Authority and push for Israeli-Palestinian peace and will scare other states that support terrorism--such as Syria--into mending their ways. But a contrary opinion holds that the war will open a Pandora’s box whose ill effects will be difficult to contain. Restive Shi'’ites--the majority in Iraq-could work toward a fundamentalist state on the model of Iran. Others could exploit anti-American feeling to discredit any American-led rebuilding initiative and prevent the spread of democracy, further insulating the Muslim states from the modern world and playing into the hands of nihilistic terror groups such as Al-Qaida. In addition, greater freedom of expression might not result in proWestern policies, as demagogues could play on anti-American sentiment. The gulf in perceptions is illustrated by reaction to television images of jubilant Iraqis dragging Saddam statues through Baghdad streets. While
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April 25, 2003
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MONDAY, MAY 5 YES Program, 10 a.m. Florence Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. Federation Mission to Israel Guide Visit, 4:30 p.m. NCJW Open Board Meeting, noon, at Parkwood Terrace Apartment Clubhouse Florence Melton Adult Mini School, 7 p.m. Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Foundations in Drawing, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25 Visions Israel Travel Log and Lunch, noon at Joslyn Art Museum
TUESDAY, MAY 6 Lunch & Learn, noon, at Kripke Federation Library BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Friedel Jewish Academy Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29 Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 AIPAC Council Meeting, 11:30 a.m. at Ironwood Country Club B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon, at the Park Inn Regency Lodge Community Yom Hashoah Commemoration, 7 p.m. at Beth El Federation Planning & Evaluation Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. THURSDAY, MAY 1 Walk-in Drop-in Activity, 10 a.m. Shop Shalom, 10 a.m. at Park Inn Regency Lodge Yiddish Group Meeting, 1 p.m. Women's Rosh Chodesh, 7 p.m. at Beth El
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SATURDAY, MAY 10 Out of Sight Saturday Night, 6:30 p.m. SUNDAY, MAY 11 JSS This Ain’t Your Bubbe’s Yiddish Theatre, 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, MAY 4 Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration, 10 a.m. Federation Mission Program, 10 a.m. Kids’ Snack and Learn, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El Shop Shalom 12 p.m. Haimishe Deli Night, 6 p.m.at Beth El RBJH Associates of Jewish Homes & Services Seminar, 7:30 p.m. location tba
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 Federation/Synagogue Presidents & Rabbis Meeting, noon B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon, at the Park Inn Regency Lodge BESTT High School Dinner, 6 p.m. Nebraska Jewish Historical Society Board Meeting, 7 p.m. JCC Dance Recital, 7 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting, 7:30 p.m.at Beth Israel THURSDAY, MAY 15 Walk-in Drop-in Activity, 10 a.m. Yiddish Group Meeting, 1 p.m. Kripke Library Monthly Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. Visions at the Lied for Aida, 2 p.m. JCC Dance Recital, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 16 Visions Luncheon, 12:30 p.m. at Venice Inn Rabbi Moshe Ungar, Scholar in Residence, 8 p.m. at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. SATURDAY, MAY 17 Rabbi Moshe Ungar, Scholar in Residence, 12:30 p.m. at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. Debbie Ungar, Women’s Shalosh Seudah, 6 p.m. at the OCTL House SUNDAY, MAY 18 BESTT Last Day, 10 a.m. American Dinner, 5 p.m. at Beth Israel MONDAY, MAY 19 YES Program, 10 a.m. Florence Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Foundations in Drawing, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, MAY 20 Lunch & Learn, noon, at Kripke Federation Library Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m. BBYO Pledge Night, 6 p.m. NCJW Dinner, 6 p.m. at Happy Hollow Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 Hadassah Board Meeting, 10 a.m. Jewish Educational & Library Services Board Meeting, noon B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon, at the Park Inn Regency Lodge Federation Planning & Evaluation Committee Meeting, 7 p.m.
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THURSDAY, MAY 22 Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Yiddish Group Meeting, 1 p.m. Live from the 92nd Street Y featuring Bernard Lewis, 6 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 23 CDC Graduation, 8 a.m. CDC Graduation Reception, 11 a.m. Beth Israel Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Jonathan Adelman, 7 p.m. SATURDAY, MAY 24 Beth Israel Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Jonathan Adelman, 10 a.m. SUNDAY, MAY 25 Beth El HAZAK Sponsors Options for Senior Housing, noon MONDAY, MAY 26 YES Program, 10 a.m. Florence Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel TUESDAY, MAY 27 Visions Lecture and Lunch, noon, at Joslyn Art Museum Federation Partnership 2000 Consortium Meeting, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 Federation Partnership 2000 Consortium Meeting, 8 a.m. Hadassah HIES Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon, at the Park Inn Regency Lodge NCJW Book Club, 7 p.m. THURSDAY, MAY 29 Federation Partnership 2000 Consortium Meeting, 8 a.m. Walk-in Drop-in Activity, 10 a.m. Yiddish Group Meeting, 1 p.m. Friedel Jewish Academy Graduation, 7 p.m. AIPAC Annual Event, 7 p.m. at the home of Nancy & David Friedland
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All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers, noon, at the Park Inn Regency Lodge 49th Annual B’nai B’rith Charity Sports Banquet, 5:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn Convention Center Spring Dance Recital, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 9 Temple Israel Artists in Residence Renee Brachfeld and Mark Novak 9-10-11, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 2 Visions Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m. Shop Shalom, 10 a.m. at Park Inn Regency Lodge Kaiman Scholar in Residence Weekend, May 2-4 at Temple Israel
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A Quick Visit to Israel Terrorism, Iraq War and Speculation over the U.S./British “Road Map” by GARY HILL I just returned from Israel after spending three their long road to recovery. days receiving briefings from government officials When one thinks of sniper and bomb victims, the and visiting victims of terrorist attacks and with picture is usually one of doctors and operations. U.S. soldiers. However, most of us know that the recovery process Concerned for the effect the war with Iraq is hav- is just beginning when the person leaves the hospiing on Israel, its citizens and the peace process, I tal. For as long as it takes, which is usually severtraveled with 30 leaders al years, each victim and of Jewish organizations their family will have both from across the United a support group and a speStates to assess the situacific individual who will tion and show support for be there to help them the American soldiers stathrough the bureaucracy tioned there. and doubts and the times With only five days they do not want to be notice, the group left the alone. United States on March 24 This trip reminded me and returned on March 28. of how much the probOrganized primarily by Lincolnite Gary Hill, right, visits with mem- lems of the past have the Jewish National Fund bers of a U.S. Army Patriot missile battery in helped Israel become one and supported by 11 other Tel Aviv during his trip there last month. of the world leaders in U.S. Jewish organizations, we were greeted by the preparations for disasters of the future. Mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupoliansky, shortly after No where is that more clear than at Hadassah our arrival. Both the fact of that meeting and reason Hospital in Ein Kerem where the children’s unit is for it defined much of what we heard from all we met. one of three sections set up to handle victims if The non-political message from the Mayor and just there is a biological, chemical or nuclear attack. about everyone else was, “Thank you for coming.” Triage is set up outside to handle decontamination Though a few Christian groups were in Israel, as before moving victims into the hospital proper. far as anyone knew, we were the only organized Medical teams are trained to handle up to 600 vicJewish group to have come at this time. What the tims within the first 10-24 hours after an attack. 21/2 years of suicide bombings have not destroyed in Also at that hospital is the doctor who headed up terms of business and tourism, the fear is that the the medical team that flew to Mombasa, Kenya, to Iraq war will. People not traveling to Israel has take care of the victims of the terrorist attack on the caused the Israeli economy to drop by nearly 10%-- resort filled with Israelis on vacation. Within hours and for the Palestinian economy the drop has been of receiving news of the bombing, he and a team of over 40%. doctors were on a private jet headed for Kenya. A few During the three days in Israel, each of which hours later the Prime Minister’s plane was carrying began at 7 a.m. and ended close to midnight, I was more help and they were quickly followed by four, with the political leadership from all sides of the fully equipped Hercules military hospital planes. “Palestinian” issue. We met with victims of terror We visited the memorial to Israeli astronaut Ilan and the people who work with the victims; we saw, Ramon who, during his flight, called upon each of first-hand, the preparations in case of a chemical, us to plant 13 million trees in Israel during 2003-biological or nuclear attack geared to handle 600 one for about each Jew on earth. Between JNF and casualties in a 10-24 hour period, and I spent time Hadassah and a few other groups, there is no doubt in person with relatives on the streets and in the in my mind that this is one goal we will collectively shops of Tel Aviv and I talked to a dozen friends. reach this year. I am ready to play Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof As our last day in Israel drew to a close, we had the because everyone I heard sounded “right”. wonderful honor of having nine American soldiers If nothing else, the passion of belief and the prac- join us for dinner. They were part of the 600 U.S. tice of shouting at each other in the Knesset has men and women staffing Patriot missiles in Israel produced a plethora of articulate politicians. With who did not get much of a chance to leave their base a group as small as ours, we did not hear speeches; due to security concerns and constant alerts. we had short briefings and long conversations. They are a marvelous group--highly motivated, Only a few times did I feel the pattern of the party knowledgeable about their mission and why they were line or the standard phrases of often-given speech- in Israel. The Israelis with us praised and thanked es creep into conversations. the soldiers and JNF told them that all the U.S. troops Whether it was Amram Mitzna, chair of the Labor there would be treated to tours of Israel with special Party, or advisor to the Prime Minister, Ranaan guides. Also, each will be asked to provide the name Gissim, the words were sincere and the reasoning of someone back home and a tree for each of the 600 sound. Abu Vilan of the Meretz party, who calls for soldiers will be planted in their names. withdrawal to the 1967 borders, made as much We gave our cell phones to the soldiers so they sense as others who thought the Jordan River was could call home. Needless to say, it was a great way already the border. to end a wonderful trip. I would find myself in agreement with governWe went to Israel to show our solidarity with the ment ministers who presented perfect logic of why Israeli people--both as Jews and as Americans. We no talks until all violence stops and then an hour found they knew of our support and love and apprelater would shake my head in agreement with a ciated and returned it. reasoned presentation on why unilateral action by Now, and especially as the war with Iraq ends, Israel was the only course of action available. more of us must visit Israel. We don’t need to wait Of course, I have my own opinion and I strongly for special missions or large groups--a tour of one or believe it. However, my point is that both sides of two is enough. the issue have thought out their positions and want To the question of personal safety, I can only the same things--a safe and prosperous homeland repeat what I have stated before. The government for the Jews. and citizens of Israel know about terrorism and The positions seem far apart when heard on tele- even more important know how to prevent it. More vision or from a podium, but up close and personal bad things will happen, but not very likely where it is obvious that compromise is not only possible, it tourists will venture. is happening. I came away from the individually If kids are thinking about going to Israel this given but collective input from 10 of Israel’s top summer or if adults are looking for a wonderful and politicians with a sense that as the Iraq war winds safe vacation--this is the year for Israel. The accomdown the direction of the peace process will become modations come in all prices and types but the hosclear and it will come from Israel, not the U.S. and pitality is only top-of-the-line. The sites in Israel Great Britain and not even from the Palestinian exist nowhere else on earth and the guides are Authority. trained, certified and plentiful. The latest bombing in Netanya was a day after I So what did I really learn on this short but excitleft, but my visit with a group called One Family ing visit? All of us should contact JNF or Hadassah reminded me that the victims will not be alone. and plant a tree in Israel now, wait a few weeks and One Family is a group of some 400 volunteers who then go visit it. have helped 1,500 victims and families of terror in This year in Jerusalem!
April 25, 2003
ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN On Wednesday, April 30, noon, the Consul General of Israel will join AIPAC leader Jeff Colman from Washington D.C. to give us the latest updates on the war. The event is co-sponsored by B’nai B’rith, ADL, the National Council of Jewish Women and American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The luncheon will be held--this week only--at the Ironwood Country Club. The cost for Lodge members is $15; non-members will be charged $20. Please RSVP to Lois at 334-6443 or e-mail: lepstein@jewishomaha.org by Monday, April 28. OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Rabbi Aryeh and Shari Blum are out of town during Pesach. Classes are cancelled through Thursday, May 1. The Wednesday Girls’ Teen Class is cancelled so participants can attend the Yom HaShoah Memorial Service at Beth El, Wednesday, April 30, 7 p.m. Mark your calendar for Friday and Saturday, May 16-17, when Rabbi Moshe and Debbie Ungar will serve as scholars-in-residence for OCTL. Rabbi Ungar will speak during Shabbat dinner and following Shabbat lunch; Mrs. Ungar will speak during a Women’s Shalosh Seudah on Shabbat afternoon. For more information, call Rabbi Blum, 320-8055. Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday at the JCC. Play bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Stacey Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share for “YES Talk” at 11 a.m. Following lunch at noon, join us for the Musical Extravaganza Concert with Stan Widman and Esther Wax. For transportation call Dee Dee at 330-4272. Call Maggie Conti at 334-6521 for reservations: deadline for Bunch to Lunch to Famous Dave’s BarB-Que on May 1 is April 28; deadline for Mother’s Day Party on May 12 is May 5; deadline for Movie & Popcorn with lunch from the Bagel Bin on May 22 is May 15; deadline for Bluffs Run Casino on May 29 is May 22. WALK-IN, DROP For those members going on the Bunch to Lunch day trip on Thursday, please meet at the JCC main entrance at 11 a.m. Exercise will begin at 10 a.m. in the social hall. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH The Yiddish Conversation Group will meet on Thursday, 1-3 p.m. in the Social Hall of the JCC. Call Anne Skolkin for information at 343-1638. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES A unique theatrical event you will long remember-This Ain’t Your Bubbe’s Yiddish Theater--comes to the JCC Theater on Sunday, May 11, 2 p.m. featuring Mark Novak and Renee Brachfeld. Celebrate the warmth and richness of Jewish culture. This program is in English; it isn’t necessary to understand yiddish to enjoy! There is no admission fee. VISIONS Reminder: Visions board meeting is Friday, May 2, 9:30 a.m. in the Blumkin Home auditorium. Spring Luncheon Meeting is Friday, May 16, 12:30 p.m., at the Venice Inn. Cost is $9 per person. Visions members will be entertained by a sensational preview of The Sound of Music by the Omaha Community Playhouse leading performers, along with the MusicalDirector, Jim Boggus. Send reservations to: Mickey and Tootie Simon, 8725 Izard, Omaha, NE 68114. Deadline is May 9. Visions Minneapolis Getaway is July 8-10. Cost is $172. Send reservations with $50 deposit by May I to: Betty Sanford, 9205 Western Ave, #127, Omaha, NE 68114. Make check payable to Visions.
IN THE NEWS Dick Zacharia has been appointed to the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy by Governor Mike Johanns. Zacharia is the Managing Partner at Frankel, Zacharia, Arnold, Nissen, Stamp & Reinsch, LLC. Benton Kutler, DDS, was recently honored as a recipient of the “Champions of Hope Award” by the Hope Medical outreach Coalition. More than 500 health care professionals participate in Hope’s locla programs of providing medical and dental assistance to those in need. Andrea Skolkin is the Executive Director of the Hope Coalition. Morley Zipursky, Chairman Emeritus, was honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the recent CFAW 46th Annual International Conference in Phoenix, AZ. Zipursky wasChairman of CFAW from 1996 to 2002. Zipursky continues in his role of CFA-Nebraska/Iowa. Based in Omaha with regional offices in Columbus, Nebraska and Cedar Falls,Iowa, CFANebraska/Iowa is a mergers & acquisitions advisory firm focused on representing sellers and buyers of middle market (revenues of $5 million to$100 million) companies in the Central Midwest. Morley Zipursky founded theOmaha offices in 1980. His son, Jim Zipursky, currently manages day-to-day operations for CFA-Nebraska/Iowa. Jim Zipursky, Managing Director of CFANebraska/Iowa recently returned from Salzburg, Austria where he was a featured speaker at a threeday seminar organized by the Center for International Legal Studies (CILS) on “Current Trends in Mergers, Acquisitions & Security Law.” More than 225 attorneys from around the world attended the seminar. Zipursky delivered a presentation titled, “Getting M&A Deals Done In Difficult Economic Times.” His presentation had the highest attendance of any presentation during the 3-day conference. Under Morley Zipursky’s direction, CFANebraska/Iowa has won CFAW’s coveted “Office Of The Year” award 10 times in the last 21 years.
More than a decade after hitting his last high note on “The Tonight Show,” Doc Severinsen is still going strong on the symphony scene. Omaha audiences get set for an Omaha Symphony SuperPops show as the big band conductor and trumpeter takes the stage Friday and Saturday, May 2 and
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District 66, Avery Lehr, left, (Swanson Elementary), Effie Tsabari (Oakdale Elementary) and Talia Tene (Prairie Lane Elementary) were the winners at their schools. Each student wrote a speech and the topic was “Before and After.” The top three winners were invited to a luncheon in their honor and spoke before the members of the Kiwanis--Effie placed first in the District and Avery, third. Each girl did their speeches on the Holocaust, not knowing that the others girls were doing the same thing!
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3, 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m. at the Orpheum. Tickets start at $13.50. Call the Omaha Symphony Box Office at 342-3560 or visit www.omahasymphony.org for more information. Meet Doc Severinsen at a special benefit for the Omaha Symphony’s Children’s Music Fund, Sunday, May 4, 4:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel. Tickets are $65 per person or $100 per couple for the party only or $100 per person for the concert and party; $170 per couple. For tickets, call Laurie WIlson, 342-3836, ext. 125.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 25, 2003
Nebraskans Journey to Sephardic World of Medieval Spain by CLAUDIA SHERMAN, Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Usha Sherman was one of 20 from Omaha, Lincoln, and Fremont who traveled recently on Temple Israel’s Journey to Jewish Spain. The trip was one of the highlights of Temple’s yearlong exploration of Sephardic Jewry which included classes, scholars and artists-in-residence, and even a cooking demonstration and tasting party celebrating Rosie Zweiback the cuisine of Sephardic and stands besides the Mediterranean Jews. Maimonides statue in After landing in Madrid and Cordoba. Usha Sherman in Seville. getting introduced to the city on an orientation tour, the travelers attended Shabbat 1492. When the Jews were expelled from Spain, the tiny synagogue became a rabies hospital.” worship services at Beth Yaacov Synagogue. As in Madrid, the group toured “a huge mosque Sherman was most amazed by the world-renown Prado Museum where she saw masterpieces by El that the Christians turned into a cathedral,” pointGreco, Picasso, and Rubens to name a few. “It was ed out Josephson who was on her first trip to Spain. fabulous,” she said. The entire trip “was very “I thought it was so interesting that rather than enlightening. I loved it and learned a lot. You’re see- desecrating this holy space they incorporated it into ing something you never saw before such as a their own holy space. The blending of architecture styles was fascinating.” mosque from the 11th century.” “We strolled and shopped in the Jewish Quarter. I From Madrid, the group drove to Toledo. Jennifer Glazer admitted that she debated about going on tried to imagine what it must have been like hunthe trip. “But I’m so glad I went. It’s something I’ll dreds of years ago when the Jewish Quarter was never forget.” She described the experience, her filled with the sounds and smells of Jewish life.” Mimi Rogers, who had been to Spain about 10 first trip to Europe, as “awesome.” “My favorite day in Spain was the day we toured the years ago, described the buildings in Seville as ancient city of Toledo. This incredibly beautiful city is “magnificent. They really showed how Spain apprethe world’s Sephardic capital and is known as the sec- ciates architectural beauty. The trip was very eduond Jerusalem. At one time, there were many syna- cational. If the Jews had been allowed to stay (in gogues and the city was full of Jewish poets, writers, Spain), they could have added a lot to the country.” From Seville, it was on to Granada, where “the highscholars, tailors, butchers, and farmers. Now there are only two remaining synagogues. We were only light for me was visiting the El Alhambra Palace,” allowed to tour one of the synagogues which has been said Paul Fine who was accompanied by his wife, converted into a church. It was here that the Jews of Sally. “El Alhambra was the palace of the last Moorish Toledo were forced to convert to Christianity. Our kings and it was where King Ferdinand and Queen group stood inside this 11th century building and Isabella moved when they took over Granada and unified Spain. From the throne room in the palace, recited Kaddish. I was moved to tears.” After returning to Madrid, the group next headed for the edict expelling the Jews was read. They had to Cordoba via high-speed train, reported Debbi convert or leave. Rabbi (Aryeh) Azriel had the group Josephson. Cordoba, conquered by the Moors, became read the edict out loud in the throne room.” Fine said he could see the palace from his hotel their capital and “was filled with great thinkers both Jewish and Muslim” including Maimonides. “We also room. The view was “beautiful beyond description.” entered the synagogue built in 1314 and used until He added that the trip was “very memorable, very
well planned, and we kept very busy. I especially enjoyed getting to know the others on the trip,” his second one to Spain. In Barcelona, the Nebraskans visited the Gothic Quarter, La Sagrada Familia Church, and the Miro Museum before driving to Girona. “We toured the old city and saw where some of the main Jewish areas were before 1492,” recalled Travis Lewis, who made the trip with his parents, Denny and Lisa Lewis. “It really seems that there is a lot more interest in preserving the Jewish history (in Girona), one of the centers of Jewish life at the time, than in other areas of Spain. “The trip was great, more than I expected,” he added. “I enjoyed talking to everyone.” At 23, Travis, the youngest on the journey, even tried out his high-school Spanish when he “took in some night life.” Many of the travelers enrolled in “The Jews of Spain: History and Culture” a year-long class offered at Temple Israel. Guy Matalon, former assistant professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and now director of Jewish Education at the Federation, was the class instructor and resident expert on Sephardic history. He also accompanied the group to Spain. “Having spent several years studying about Jewish life in medieval Spain, reading about Cordoba, Seville, Toledo, and many other cities, the strangest aspect of the trip,” Matalon noted, “was to see these names on road signs and freeway ramps. It’s quite strange to take a train to Maimonides’ birthplace and take a bus to his house. The gap between medieval life and contemporary reality was quite strange to bridge.” “We were quite moved and shaken,” he explained, in Seville on a street “where Converso Jews were killed simply because they were committed to Judaism. It was so moving to see how the group identified with the remnants of Jewish Spain. For me,” he added, “being able to teach at the same spot Nahmanides taught and studied was powerful. I was very privileged to teach Nahmanides’ own Torah commentary at the very synagogue where he worshipped.” Also on the trip were Elyce Azriel, Penny Berger, Susan Rothholz, Suzy Rubin, Susan Schreiber, Dr. Robert and Dorothy Shapiro, Suzanne Singer, and Rosie Zweiback.
Shopping With a Purpose by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director Shop early or late. Window shop or power shop. Regency Lodge, 107th and Pacific from 10 a.m. to 5 Shop a little or shop a lot, but, make sure you Shop p.m. A voluntary donation of $5 is requested in lieu Shalom. Thursday, May 1-Sunday, May 4, Omaha of an entrance fee and all proceeds from the sales, will become a shopaholic’s paradise when Shop donations and raffle will benefit the Israeli vendors. On Saturday, May 3, 9 p.m., Shop Shalom will Shalom, a unique Israeli shopping experience sponmove to the JCC for Shop Shalom After Dark, feasored by the Jewish Federation, opens for business. Shop Shalom steering committee members Jamie turing shopping in a more intimate and upscale Friedland, Sandy Kutler, Traci Kugler and Terri atmosphere with appetizers, wine and beer includZacharia said they became involved with the event ed in the $18 cover charge, which also benefits the after learning about how the devastated Israeli Israeli vendors. Co-chairs for Shop Shalom After economy has impacted shop owners and artists who Dark are Cheryl and Gary Lerner and Vicki and rely on tourism to make a living. Since tourists are Mark Sanford. Shop Shalom After Dark is open to not visiting Israel, Shop Shalom is bringing the the entire over-21 Jewish community. Your last chance to experience Shop Shalom is Israeli shopping experience directly to them. More than 30 shop owners and artists will be sell- Sunday, May 4, 12-6 p.m. at the Jewish ing their merchandise May 1-2 at the Park Inn Community Center in conjunction with the commu-
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nity Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) celebration. In addition to the Shop Shalom Steering committee and the After Dark co-chairs, Shop Shalom committee members include Deb Marburg and Kim Schwartz, Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination, Pam Friedlander and Andee Scioli as Publicity Co-Chairs, and Penny Endelman and Jamie Meyerson working on arranging home hospitality for the Israeli vendors. Businesses that have donated goods or services include Gordman’s, Bobbi Leibowitz and her team at Prudential Ambassador Real Estate, Nebraska Wine and Liquor, United Distillers and Omaha EGifts. For information about Shop Shalom, please log on to the community website at www.jewishomaha.org, or call me at 334-6431.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
Temple Scholar to Discuss Ethics in Business, Intimacy, and Medicine by CLAUDIA SHERMAN, Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “...One of the foremost Jewish ethicists and thinkers of our day,” according to Dr. David Ellenson, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff ’s “Jewish knowledge and passion fuse seamlessly with his philosophical sophistication and human wisdom ... that address the foremost ethical and religious issues on the contemporary Jewish communal agenda.” Rabbi Dorff, rector and distinguished professor of philosophy at the University of Judaism, will be a scholar-in-residence the weekend of May 2-4 at Temple Israel. A Conservative rabbi, ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1970, Rabbi Dorff will discuss “To Do the Right and the Good,” or in other words, the Jewish approach to modern social ethics. On Friday evening, May 2, 7:30 p.m., he will deliver the sermon at Shabbat worship services on “Ethics in the Business Environment: A Jewish Approach.” “The Jewish tradition is one longstanding tradition among the six or eight major religions of the world,” writes Rabbi Dorff in his book. Judaism “has its own distinctive way of looking at the world and responding to it...that must be taken seriously by anyone interested in the major ways in which human beings have tried to
make sense of their lives and to live morally.” He adds that “the Jewish tradition has close to 4,000 years of experience in trying to understand individuals and communities and in motivating them to act rightly and aspire to the good.” In fact, he believes that “as Americans and as Jews....we owe it to America to bring Jewish concepts and values to the American marketplace of ideas.” Rabbi Dorff will continue his discussions Saturday, May 3, 4:30 p.m., at Temple when he introduces the topic, “A Sex Ethic for Our Time: Issues on Human Intimacy.” “Our sexual relations need to be guided by the same Jewish concepts and values that should shape all of our relationships including our most intimate ones,” explained Rabbi Dorff. “In this area as in all others, Judaism is not ‘an all or nothing’ religion. Therefore, even those who do not wait to have sex until they are married need to conduct their sexual lives as much as possible within the context of Jewish concepts and values.” He
FJA Puts Zing into Spring by DIANE AXLER BAUM Spring isn’t the only thing in the air at Friedel Jewish Academy: Celebration, creativity and integrated learning are also in bloom. As Pesach approached, for example, the Academy’s older students embraced fully integrated Jewish Studies and General Studies. In Jewish Studies they focused on “Forty Years in Teacher Elinor Matalon, left, and her class. the Desert” with a close to several significant observances. look at Moses and the Children of First, thanks to guidance by the ADL’s Israel making the Exodus from Egypt. Beth Dotan, students will participate Simultaneously, in General Studies in learning about Yom HaShoah, they explored geography, life sciences Holocaust Remembrance Day. On and biological sciences having to do April 29, they will remember the six with deserts. They used atlases and million Jews who were murdered in other resource material to discover the Holocaust with a moving ceremowhere deserts exist in the world, and ny in the school. they concentrated on plants, animals, Next, they will mark Yom weather and other aspects of desert life. Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Just before Pesach began and the Day, in three different ways. On May Desert Unit came to a close, the 6, they will hear from Cantor Emil fourth, fifth, and sixth graders topped Berkovits, of Beth El Synagogue, as off their learning with an exciting part of a ceremony remembering the field trip to the Desert Dome at the soldiers who gave their lives in Henry Doorly Zoo. Israel’s struggle to become an indeThe Academy’s younger students also pendent state. focused on Pesach in their recent The next day, they will celebrate Jewish Studies classes. One of their with numerous spirited activities, especially satisfying experiences was such as flag-making, singing and the preparation of haroset in large dancing to Israeli music, and eating enough quantities for everyone in the traditional Israeli foods. Friedel family to take home a container. ‘Felafel Sale’ slated Art on display The celebration will extend into A wide variety of artwork by the stu- Friday, May 9, with a full-scale dents of Friedel continues on display Felafel Sale, planned as a school fundin the JCC Gallery through the end of raiser. Featured on the menu will be April. These expressive pieces repre- felafel, pita bread, humus, and Israeli sent projects undertaken by students salad. The Parent Teacher in recent months under the direction Organization urges you to buy an of Julie Phillips, who serves as direc- individual lunch or order in bulk for tor of the Academy’s Art Room. your family. (What a terrific dinner Students to remember you could bring home!). Please place Now the Academy is looking ahead your order in advance at 334-0517.
added that “Judaism also has a lot to say to married couples about the meaning and conduct of their sexual lives.” In his book Matters of Life and Death, published in 1998, Rabbi Dorff describes a Jewish approach to modern medical ethics which he will discuss on Sunday, May 4, 10 a.m., at Temple. Looking to the Jewish tradition for moral guidance, Rabbi Dorff will address new issues in bioethics such as gene mapping, genetic counseling, genetic engineering, cloning, and stem cell research. “While many things have changed
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during the 20th century,” he points out in the book, “the way doctors practice medicine has undergone the most radical of changes. Questions about engendering and saving lives arise in ways today that our ancestors could not even imagine. This produces major problems of method, for how do you gain guidance from the tradition on questions it never contemplated?” he asks. Sponsored by the Ida and Samuel Kaiman Memorial Fund, all of Rabbi Dorff ’s discussions are open to the entire community at no charge. The Kaimans’ son, Howard, recalled that his parents “believed in the value of a good Jewish education for the entire family. In fact, they enrolled me in Hebrew school at the age of four. Therefore, it is a great honor to bring Rabbi Dorff to the community in their memory.”
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Page 12
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 25, 2003
PEOPLE OF THE BYTE Yom HaShoah: Righteous Gentiles by MARK MIETKIEWICZ “More than once, in Lincoln Yom HaShoah Service every generation, they have risen up against Tuesday, April 29, 7 p.m. us, to destroy us. But State Capitol Rotunda the Holy One, blessed be Cantor Leo Fettman, cantor emeritus of Beth Israel He, delivers us from the Synaoguge will speak about his experiences as a surdestroyers’ hands.” -vivor of the Holocaust. Gov. Mike Johanns and Lincoln The Hagaddah Mayor Don Wesely will also speak and the Lincoln Those remarkable Public Schools All-city Girls’ Choir will participate. lines also have special Nebraska survivors who wish to attend may arrange relevance to the next transportation by calling State Holocaust Chairman holiday on the Jewish Marcia Kushner, 1-402-489-5957. calendar, Yom HaShoah which begins Monday Community Yom HaShoah night. Memorial Service While history has Wednesday, April 30, 7 p.m. proven the quote from the Hagaddah all too Beth El Synagogue in Omaha true, there have also Keynote speaker Walter Reed describes his experibeen individuals who ence as a hidden child of the Holocaust. First National made a stand against Bank Chairman Bruce Lauritzen will present the top evil. Today I would like awards to ADL’s “Moral Courage” student essay conto focus on the many test winners. Memorial candle lighting ceremony will be Internet resources ded- led by local Holocaust survivors. The Yom HaShoah icated to the Righteous Memorial Service is open to the entire Jewish commuGentiles, the people nity. For more information, please call Kathy who risked their own McGauvran at the Jewish Federation, 334-6427. safety and the safety of their families to save pages/frontline/shtetl/righteous, Jews from certain death in the Rescuers during the Holocaust-Holocaust. www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/u One of the most famous Righteous ser/mmbt/www/rescuers.html and Gentiles was Raoul Wallenberg-- To Save a Life: Stories of Jewish www.us-israel.org/jsource/biogra- Rescue--http://humboldt.edu/~resphy/wallenberg.html. According to cuers/. the official site dedicated to the efforts One of many stories cited: Barbara of the Swedish diplomat, Wallenberg Makuch helped two Jews find protecis credited with saving the lives of at tion in the school where she was a least 30,000 people. Also of note is The teacher in Nazi-occupied Poland. She Raoul Wallenberg Interview Project. was eventually found out and sent to During the 80s and early 90s, Ravensbruck concentration camp in Sweden’s Uppsala University con- Germany. She survived her ordeal ducts nearly two hundred interviews and even managed to help save the with Nazi victims in Budapest res- lives of fellow inmates. cued by Wallenberg. You can read The most striking salute to these transcripts of over 50 first-hand heroes is the memorial forest planted accounts by people who were saved by in their honor outside Yad Vashem. Wallenberg. All interviews are in Yad Vashem was established by the English--http://rwa.bibks.uu.se. Israeli government to create a memoThanks to the efforts of author rial to the six million Jewish victims Thomas Keneally and filmmaker of the Holocaust. But it was also given Steven Spielberg, the name Oskar the legal responsibility of honoring Schindler is known around the world. “the Righteous Among the Nations” by The New Orleans’ Southern Institute recording their name at the memorifor Education and Research has creat- al’s Avenue of the Righteous Among ed the Schindler’s List Teaching the Nations--www.yadvashem.org/ Guide. This large site examines the righteous/index_righteous.html. historical basis of the movie and also As of January, 2003, over 19,000 supplies extensive background infor- men and women have been recognized m a t i o n - - w w w. t u l a n e . e d u / ~ s o - for their heroism with citizens of inst/slindex.html. Poland and the Netherlands repreAccording to a very interesting arti- senting over half that number. Aside cle from U.S. News, the post-war from the recognition, Righteous years marked a sad decline for Gentiles who choose to settle in Israel Schindler due to bad investments and receive free health care and cash bena failing marriage--http://makea- efits equal to the rate of the average shorterlink.com/?V2A412824. One wage--www.btl.gov.il/English/benehighlight for Schindler occurred in fit/right/right.htm. 1962 during the first of his 17 visits to The Jewish Foundation for the Israel, when two hundred survivors Righteous is a New York-based organiand their families gathered to Lod air- zation that raises funds for over 1,700 port to shout, “Oskar, Oskar, Oskar!” surviving Righteous Gentiles who are Also see the Holocaust and Oskar aged and needy--www.jfr.org. The Schindler Web site--http://ausch- Foundation also runs an educational witz.dk/Schindler2.htm. program that reminds us that we are Of course, many other heroes who capable of good. lived their lives in relative obscurity. “Rescuers serve as role models for us The U.S. News article mentioned and for future generations. They above details “The Other Schindlers.” teach us that, even in the hell that These are people, like Polish social was the Holocaust, each human being worker Irena Sendler, who gave near- had the capacity to act humanely. ly 2,500 children new identities and Without their example, we have only buried their real names for safekeep- the lessons of brutality, hatred and ing. French shoemaker René Raoul unspeakable suffering to teach to our sheltered more than 100 Jews who children.” had fled Nazi roundups. Mark Mietkiewicz is a Web site For more profiles of Righteous producer in Toronto with an interGentiles, see the notes to the PBS pro- est in the Internet. He can be gram Shtetl--www.pbs.org/wgbh/ reached at: highway@rogers.com.
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Reminisce about your Israel experience and hear about our next mission!
Mission Reunion with Alex Fleisher, Omaha’s Israeli Guide: Sunday, May 4 at 10-11:30 A.M. Kripke Federation Library OR Monday, May 5 at 5-6:30 P.M. JCC Social Hall • • • • • •
November 9-20, 2003 $1,500 per person from New York. Attend the General Assembly in Jerusalem with 3,000 Jews from all over the world! Join other Jewish Federations. Space is limited. Come get the details.
For more information, contact Pam Monsky in the Federation office at 334-6431 or pmonsky@jewishomaha.org
“Kadima!” (Let’s Go!)