Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Spirit of Federation
May 2, 2014 2 Iyar 5774 Vol. 94 | No. 33
This Week 2014 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN Help Us Reach Our Goal
$3.15M
$3,135,621 (as of 4/22/14)
NUMBER OF GIFTS
GIFT FOR GIFT % INCREASE
NEW OR RE-ENGAGED GIFTS
1,455 6% 104 Thank you for supporting our mission.
The 2014 Annual Campaign totals
Holy smokes! Page 6
by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press The Phil and Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation Award is given on an annual basis to those community members who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to build community. Its recipients have demonstrated personal commitment, dedication and leadership to the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies. It’s a way to recognize leadership and put a spotlight on those who have gone the extra mile. Robust community engagement is the backbone of a Federation that not only functions, but also thrives. For that to happen, professionals need the support of lay leaders who are dedicated and passionate, and who are all in. This year’s recipients, Toba CohenDunning and Rabbi Jonathan Gross have, each in their own ways, contributed to a successful Jewish Omaha. Toba currently chairs the Planning and Community Engagement Committee. Its purpose is to provide strategic and long-range planning for our Federation. Before that, she was President of the Board of Directors of the Center for Jewish Life, was part
Toba Cohen-Dunning
Rabbi Jonathan Gross
of a JFO strategic planning group, and chaired the committee that organized the Jewish High School. She serves on the JFO Board, and the JSS Board of Directors. In addition, she serves on the Board of the Omaha Home for Boys. However, there is more to Toba than her list of accomplishments, and it has to do with the way she embodies that “spirit” the Schrager Award was named for. She gets that, by sharing her time and expertise, she receives something even bigger in
return: a thriving Jewish community. Toba Cohen-Dunning is a classic lay leader; she has tremendous professional leadership qualities, such as organizational skills, the ability to process information quickly, decide where the problems are and recognize what needs to be done. In addition, Toba has built effective relationships. She has translated those skills to her work in the Jewish community. According to Toba, it goes both ways: “Professionally, I feel fortunate to be the Executive Director of the
Omaha Schools Foundation,” she says. “We not only support the 50,000 OPS students, but we help make changes in the community. It makes me a better administrator as I serve the directors of my agency’s board. In turn, it makes me a more conscientious volunteer. Sometimes we forget about the importance of what both the professional staff and the lay leadership bring to the table.” Rabbi Jonathan Gross came to Omaha as Beth Israel’s rabbi in 2004; and from the very beginning, he was engaged with our community as a whole. “In the last ten years I have learned that building community is all about supporting one another,” says Rabbi Gross. “According to the Talmud, every individual represents an entire world. A community is when we can simultaneously play a leading role in our own world while playing a strong supporting role in the world of our neighbor. That means showing up and helping out, and it goes beyond the walls of one single building. It means handing out diplomas at our day school’s graduation, and it means Continued on page 2
Mainstreeters Sokolof Outstanding merry month of May Jewish Teacher Award
Alan Gross’ backers call for U.S. action Page 12
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
This Month Home+Garden See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
8 10 11 by OZZIE NOGG Join Us at the Movies: Saving Mr. Banks. Friday, May 9, 1 p.m. in the JCC Theater. No charge for the film or for unlimited bags of warm, delicious popcorn. No reservations necessary. Invite a friend. Two-time Academy Award-winner Emma Thompson and fellow double Oscarwinner Tom Hanks star in Disney’s
Saving Mr. Banks. When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins, he made them a promise -- one that he didn’t realize would take twenty years to keep. Inspired by true events, the film tells the extraordinary story of how the project was almost derailed by the testy relationship that the legendary Walt Disney had with the prickly author, P.L. Travers. It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the truth about the ghosts that haunt Travers, and together they set Mary Poppins free to ultimately make one of the most endearing films in cinematic history. If you want to have lunch at the Star Deli at the Blumkin Home before the show, call Maggie Conti at Continued on page 4
Melissa Stern and a few of her students at Lewis and Clark Middle School. by MARY BORT Sokolof Outstanding Jewish Teacher Endowment Assistant/Staff Writer Award. The late Phil Sokolof created Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation this $10,000 award to recognize an When Melissa Stern was a little Omaha metro area educator, prefergirl, she enjoyed going to school ably K-12, who has made an outand admired her teachers. “I liked standing contribution as a teacher to play ‘school’ and create my own and mentor to his or her students. worksheets,” she recalled. “My third Steven Kinkead, a former educagrade teacher, in particular, made tor, noted that his son was taught by such an impression on me. She had Stern and his daughter is currently such a love of teaching and treated in Stern’s class. “Ms. Stern goes out us like kings and queens. I knew I of her way to make sure every stuwanted to do what she was doing.” dent in her class succeeds,” said Stern accomplished her goal. She Kinkead. “She meets them at their has been teaching Language Arts for level and designs an educational 22 years at Lewis and Clark Middle program that fosters a positive School for Omaha Public Schools learning environment. Ms. Stern (OPS). For the past five years, she cares deeply about her students and has been teaching Honor’s Lan- is an excellent role model.” Stern was born and raised in guage Arts to 7th and 8th graders, and is the school’s Gifted Facilitator. Omaha and graduated from Burke Stern has been selected to receive High School. She earned her B.S. in the 9th annual Phil and Ruth Continued on page 3
2 | The Jewish Press | May 2, 2014
The Friedel seder
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN for Friedel Jewish Academy Led by Jewish Studies teachers Naama Artzi and Sara benShushan, Friedel Jewish Academy students and staff participated in the school’s annual learning seder in April on the last day of school before spring break. Various grade levels were assigned assorted parts of the seder to read or even perform in some fashion. For example, the kindergartners read the Four Questions, and the fourth graders performed in a play about Passover.
Spirit of Federation
Top: Becca Denenberg, left; Ron Giller, former Friedel principal; Jacob Lucoff, and Jack Cohen took a moment out from their seder meal, prepared by the students and Principal Pam Cohn, for a photograph. Above left: Gavin Smith and Ashley Barrow, fourth grade teacher, also attended the seder. Above right: Getting ready for a crunchy bite of matzo are David Kay and Maayan Zinman. Friedel’s PTO and the Schrago family helped make the learning seder possible through their donations of food.
Continued from page 1 keeping the dialogue going between different synagogues and organizations, and it means showing up at the monthly rabbis’ and presidents’ meeting. It also means putting up “welcome to the neighborhood” signs when another synagogue moves in right across the street from your own. For a functioning Federation such as ours, having rabbis who are engaged on many different levels is essential.” Jay Noddle, JFO president says: “I think Rabbi Gross has been an enormous asset to our community, and he will be sorely missed when he moves to Baltimore later this month. I am excited about the opportunity to say thank you to both Toba Cohen-Dunning and Rabbi Gross. The Phil and Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation Award enables us to show our appreciation appropriately. Toba and Rabbi Gross have shown a level of community engagement that we should all aspire to.” Cohen-Dunning added: “I am not only deeply honored to receive this award, but I am humbled by the fact that I get to share the moment with Rabbi Gross. He has meant so much to my entire family and to our community. I value the opportunity to be part of a dedicated group of people who want to ensure growth and longevity for the Federation and the Jewish community. It takes a village, and this is a GREAT village. Everyone is busy these days with work, family, etc. Take a minute and give a minute; it really is life changing.” This year’s Phil and Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation awards will be handed out during the JFO Annual Meeting. This year’s event will be held Monday, June 2 at 7 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center’s Theater. Several years ago, the Federation combined its annual meeting with its recogniztion of community leaders and volunteers. Since instituting this new format, the Federation has received positive feedback for creating a gathering that celebrates our Jewish community, and, in the words of JFO President Jay Noddle, “is a focused, efficient and productive meeting.” A dessert reception will immediately follow the event; the entire community is invited to attend.
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May 2, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 3
NCJW-Omaha Section member receives award by ALICE KLEIN NCJW Vice-President of Public Relations NCJW-Omaha Section is very proud to congratulate member Julie Martin for receiving an award from Reading-Pups representing NCJW. The award reads “Julie Martin: For your Continuous Dedication and Support of the Reading-Pups Program and the Students it Serves”. Reading-Pups, a DomestiJulie Martin Pups program, takes trained therapy dogs to elementary schools to help build confidence and improve the reading skills of children. Research with
therapy animals indicates that children with low self-esteem are often more willing to interact with an animal than another person. One key to the success of the Reading-Pups Program experience is a shift away from readers viewing themselves as the target of yet another remedial program, and toward their seeing themselves as tutors and helpers for the dog. Children improve their reading skills in this unique and fun environment.
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Sokolof Outstanding Jewish Teacher Award Continued from page 1 Education, majoring in Secondary Language Arts, and an M.S. from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Reading Education. “I chose to go into Language Arts because I loved to write,” explained Stern. “During my senior year in high school, my English teacher really sparked my love to write. I work with my kids to do the same. I want to help my students become good writers.” Stern enjoys teaching middle school students. “I feel like I can make a difference with them. A key ingredient is to build relationships. If you can build a relationship with a student, then the student will be more willing to do what you ask.” “You have to keep them motivated,” she continued. “I have to be excited about what we’re doing and show my passion for language arts. Students need to see that.” During the eight-period school day, Stern teaches six Honors Language Arts classes. Three classes are 7th grade and three are 8th grade. Her other two periods are used for her Gifted Facilitator responsibilities, as well as for grading and planning for her classes. “My students are reading and writing above average. They already know the basics, so I try to take them above the norm. We read novels and delve deeper, and we explore ‘what would you do?’ The students analyze and apply what they are reading about.” Her role as Gifted Facilitator requires Stern to coordinate several gifted student activities for the district and make sure that high-achieving students are being challenged by curriculum that is more rigorous than the standard curriculum. All of Stern’s students are required to prepare a project for History Day. This is a competition that occurs at the local, state and national levels. “My students have the option to compete, but all of them must pick a topic associated with the designated theme,” she explained. “Over a number of months, they do research, obtain sources, analyze information and then they create their final project which can be a website, drama, documentary or an exhibit. All students share their projects at an open house, and then some choose to participate in the competition. In the past five years, we’ve had at least one student make it to national competition.” Described by colleagues and parents as an energetic, enthusiastic and dedicated educator, Stern is known for going “above and beyond” for her students. According to one of her colleagues, “Melissa touches the lives of students, staff, and families, and we are blessed to have her in the profession. She ‘walks the walk’ in terms of her character and the type of individual she is. As a leader within her building, she dedicates time not only to her students, but to other staff as well. She collaborates with other educators to truly make a difference for OPS students.” For over 15 years, Stern has been the teacher representative for the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization.
Since Stern is the only Honors Language Arts teacher at her school, she works with the same students for two years. “You get to know them through their writing and you build a relationship,” stated Stern. “Students stay in touch. For example, I have a former student who graduated from college, and she still sends me notes telling me how she continues to use the writing techniques that I taught her in middle school. It’s rewarding to know I’m able to make a difference.” Stern also makes a point to attend students’ school events and, occasionally, outside events. “If one of my students asks me to go to one of their events, I really try to go,” she said. Stern’s devotion to supporting her students is noticed by students, parents, and colleagues. According to a colleague, “While all teachers are required to volunteer at school activities, Ms. Stern will attend an away football game or crosscountry meet. You’ll also find her at a school play, concert or sporting event. She loves her students and wants to show them her support by cheering loudly.” Stern has coached a variety of sports at Lewis and Clark Middle School, including basketball, gymnastics, swimming, and track. Now that she is the school’s Gifted Coordinator, she doesn’t have time to coach. However, Stern serves as an athletic supervisor, overseeing students who attend school sporting events. Helen Epstein, a retired Early Childhood and ESL Teacher, taught Stern when she was a preschool student at the Jewish Community Center. “Melissa shares her love of Judaism freely with her students to keep them aware of differences and diversity of people,” said Epstein. “Letting my students know that I’m Jewish helps them get to know me,” explained Stern. “In 7th grade Humanities, they learn about Judaism, and in 8th grade, they read the Diary of Ann Frank. When it lends itself, you bring it up. And it’s important to explain why I’m gone, when it’s for Jewish holidays.” In her letter of recommendation, Jen Goodman wrote, “It’s nice to have a Jewish teacher as a role model for my Jewish girls... Just knowing there was a teacher there who was also going to be absent during Yom Kippur, or someone who would wish them a Happy Hanukkah, made them feel good.” “I’m honored to receive the Sokolof Teacher Award, particularly when you see the people who previously were selected,” said Stern. “I’m appreciative to the Sokolof family for recognizing teachers and what we do.” Stern is engaged to Michael Shrago and their wedding will be held later this month at Beth El Synagogue. When she isn’t preparing for her wedding, she enjoys reading, finding good deals when she shops, and spending time with family and friends. Her parents are Shelley and Skip Stern. Stern will be honored along with the winners of the Sokolof Honor Roll Merit Scholarships and the Sokolof Javitch Merit Music Scholarships at a reception on Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium. The community is invited to attend.
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Join us for Yom Ha’atzmaut! by ESTHER KATZ JCC Dance and Cultural Arts Director Join us at the JCC on Tuesday, May 6 as we celebrate Israel's Independence Day! From the children's carnival to the live music concert, there is something for everyone. All events are FREE and open to the community. This program was made possible with the support of the following Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds: Herbert Goldsten Trust, Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Foundation, Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation, and Special Donor Advised Fund. From 5:30 until 7 p.m., The Children’s Carnival at the JCC Pavilion offers games, obstacle courses, balloon art,
inflatables, face painting and more. Star Catering food will be available for purchase. At 6:15 p.m., the B‘nai B’rith Trivia Quiz will be held in the JCC Auditorium. For more information, register a team and earn money for your organization, email bnai brith@jewishomaha.org or call 402.334.6443. From 7:15 until 8:15 p.m. Partnership2Gether proudly presents Omaha's Community Shaliach, Eliad Eliyahu ben Shushan in concert. Partnership2Gether is a program of the Center for Jewish Life promoting people-to-people relationships between Israel and communities throughout the world. Call 402.334.6445 for info. After the concert, relax with Kosher Israeli wines and Israeli hors d’oeuvres.
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The entire community is invited to join Beth Israel Synagogue at Rabbi and Miriam Gross’ Farewell dinner, May 16, at 8 PM.. Buffet dinner menu includes: Prime Rib, Roasted Potatoes, Carrot Soufflé, Kale Salad, and Chocolate Cake with fresh berries. Cost is $36 for adults and $12 for
children 12 and younger. Please make your reservation by May 9. For more information or to RSVP, please contact the Beth Israel office at 402.556.6288 or tmcclun@orthodoxomaha.org. Credit: Zach Jones, www.zipaintings.com
The merry month of May Continued from page 1 402.334.6521 to reserve a table. Lunch is on your own. The Star Deli opens for business at 11:30 a.m. What You Should Know About Vitamins: Thursday, May 15, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Board Room. Sponsored by Jewish
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To apply, send resume and cover letter to: The Jewish Press, c/o Annette van de Kamp-Wright 333 South 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154 Email to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org or call 402.334.6450
make a reservation, call Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521 or email mconti@rbjh.com. Elaine Jabenis and Georgia’s Secret: Monday, May 19, 12:30 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium. Elaine Jabenis, award-winning local theater legend and fashion icon, recently published her first novel, Georgia’s Secret. The story melds two of Elaine’s favorite things -- her home town of Omaha and fashion. Set in an upscale department store, Georgia’s Secret is ripe with romance, suspense and humor. Tune in to learn more about Elaine’s book and her personal journey as a first-time novelist. Entrees include a bowl of hearty Matzo ball soup, your Mandy Chapman, left, VNA registered clinical dietician, and choice of 1/2 fried fish or Barbara Belt, VNA registered pharmacist, will explain the corned beef sandwich, cole nuts and bolts of nutritional status at the What You Should slaw, pickle, cookies and bevKnow About Vitamins presentation on May 15. erage. Cost: $10 per plate. Social Services and The Visiting Nurses Reservations must be received by Monday, Association. The VNA has always taken an May 12. Make check payable to Jewish active role in promoting good health prac- Social Services and send reservation with tices, and many of their educational pro- full payment to Mainstreeters, c/o Maggie grams are of specific interest to seniors. In Conti, 323 South 132nd Street, Omaha, NE this session, led by Mandy Chapman, VNA 68154. For transportation call Maggie Conti registered clinical dietician, and Barbara at 402.334.6521. Belt, VNA registered pharmacist, attendees Mainstreeters activities are geared to area will learn ways to maintain brain function residents age 60-plus. Its programs give parby improving their nutritional status. Areas ticipants the chance to meet new people, of discussion include the cognitive effects of exercise their brains, learn new skills and vitamin deficiencies, as well as the effects of enjoy life to the fullest. Conti, Director of vitamin supplements on attention, memory, Activities and Outreach Programs at the mood, and age-related cognitive decline. Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, said, Learn why: vitamin deficiencies may not be “Mainstreeters continues to offer diverse obvious in many older people; medications programs every month, and we invite commay interfere with many vitamins; eating munity members to join the May excitement. nutrient-dense foods becomes increasingly Mainstreeters programs are supported in important as we age, as does the need for the part by grants from the United Way of the proper vitamins and minerals. The class is Midlands and the Jewish Federation of offered free of charge. Seating is limited. To Omaha.
Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Speaker to be announced for Wednesday, May 7, noon, at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha. org.
LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Guess what? Spring is Here!! We’ve resumed our meetings on Thursdays from 1-3 p.m., at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s boardroom. We welcome all who would like to attend. For information call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.
May 2, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 5
Where are they now: David Forbes by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT part of everything at the movie level and the corporate level. Can you tell me a little bit about where you were born, grew Eager to start my own company I left to represent George up, and what it was like going to Central? Lucas in the marketing and distribution for the third movie I was born in Omaha, raised in the Dundee area and, of in the Star Wars trilogy. That led to a client base of Francis course, attended Central High. I was the second child in a Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Warren Beatty, Taylor family of four children so I knew that Central was an aca- Hackford, Bill Murray and others. demic powerhouse as well as having a national reputation in sports. I loved attending Central. The expanded community gave us the opportunity to learn about many other backgrounds than we had seen at Dundee Grade School. There were no limits to what could be discovered there. Regardless of what one brought to the table, there were few boundaries in the chase for personal growth. J. Arthur Nelson was the principal at the time and bringing him donuts from Forbes Bakery a couple times a week earned me some freedoms that otherwise might not have been available. I had a plethora of fun at Central, but I also got the basic college prep education that has served me well throughout my life. Learning grammar and the use of Friends Marty Ricks and David Forbes the English language is something that I discovered in my career is not done in most schools. I Several years of The David Forbes Company then brought am forever grateful for having the ability to construct a sen- a new offer from MGM/UA to return as President of tence, a paragraph and an entire document. MGM/UA Distribution Company. I moved from MGM/UA What did you do after graduation? to Orion Pictures as President of Marketing and I did not think much about what was after high school Distribution and Executive Vice President of the when I was there, so I defaulted to Omaha University. I was Corporation. an average student with a penchant for all types of political After Orion, there were a couple years of volunteering activism. This included campus politics, County, State, Civil with some non-profits and then a return to the industry at Rights and Viet Nam politics. I became a very active Young IMAX where I was part of the senior management team. I Democrat which gave me the opportunity to be in Lt. left to partner in an animation company based in the Governor Phil Sorenson’s inner circle, when he ran for Philippines. We did work for various companies around the Governor and Frank Morrison’s when he ran for the Senate. world, mostly from Manila, and from Los Angeles. We were I think my Central and OU years were more about those a lead provider of visual effects on Matrix 2 and Matrix 3. politics than about academics. Since that time, I have worked on my own film and televiMy political activity and my evening job at a movie theater sion projects and I am a partner in a fund that invests in the got me an introduction to the world of Hollywood. This is a marketing of movies. long story; but if you want to hear it, I will tell it to you. The How often do you come back to Omaha? short version is that I got an interview with MGM in New I return to Omaha less than I would like. I am a partner in York, and it turned out that the executive with whom I met an active farm near Elkhorn, which I visit occasionally. I was connected to the Kennedy clan, thus my interview was have also come back to ride RAGBRAI many times and I about people that we both knew in campaign circles. I got a usually spend some time in Omaha around that trip. Since job in marketing and headed to NY, followed by travel my siblings and many other relatives have moved away or throughout the country because, in those days, the business died, I don’t make it as often as I once did. I remain conwas somewhat decentralized. Two years into the job I was nected to Omaha, especially the Jewish community, since moved to Hollywood, more accurately, Culver City, and that is how I grew up and that is what my parents and grandbegan a career at the studio. parents represented. Two years into studio life, I started what would become How did the accidental wine come into the picture? the home video division of the company. The Accidental Wine Company was exactly that, an acciI left MGM for an opportunity at Twentieth Century Fox. dent. I have a friend who owned both a chocolate factory At Fox I held several positions in both marketing and cor- and a wine distribution company. I often visited the candy porate strategy. I left to work for Ray Stark, a movie produc- factory to load up on chocolate to keep in the house. He er and major shareholder at Columbia Pictures. Here I was a stored all the wines that had blemished labels at the candy
factory and my son, Micah, and I would rummage through those wines for interesting things. One day we visited and the place was under new ownership. My friend sold on the previous Friday and left. At lunch with him one day, Micah asked what would happen to those wines and shortly after that lunch, we had a license and a plan for an internet wine sales company. My partners are my daughter, Kelly, and Micah. We work part time at this and have some fun finding excellent wines at great prices. Our premise is to give people great deals on these wines. What do you like about Omaha, and what do you not miss at all? I love the community that Omaha has, especially the close Jewish community. We are more scattered in LA and the connections are different. Things in Omaha are well paced and less stressful than Los Angeles. The traffic is easy, the city is quite beautiful compared to what I saw as a child. Omaha is much more friendly than many other big cities. Weather is a drawback after living in California. I live in a place where humidity and cold are not a factor in my life. Yes; the seasons are great, but I have learned to live without them. You graduated with Marty Ricks, right? What was he like in high school? We’d all like to know. Marty was in my older brother’s class at Central, but as they were friends, I had a lot of contact with him. He came from a class where nearly every one was exceptionally bright and an overachiever. Marty hung out with my brother Harold; so I saw a lot of him, and he was a genuinely decent guy even then. What would you say is the biggest difference between who you were then and who you are now? When I lived in Omaha, I had big dreams, but I was average at everything. I did not understand yet that perseverance, hard work and focus could make a difference. I pushed the edges in different ways from most kids and learned from being active in the civil rights movement that we can all make things happen. My interest in politics gave me a base for my choices in college. While still in Omaha and still an average student, I became more of an activist and reconfirmed that we can all encourage change in the world and in ourselves, and therefore continually reinvent ourselves. The difference now is in confidence, wisdom and being comfortable with who I have become. During the years in Omaha, I did not know who I was and did not know how to find out. Along the way I became more introspective and curious. That is the normal path of life, and over time I think we try harder to know who we are and to embrace that. Are you Jewishly active these days? Los Angeles is very different than Omaha. Jews in the “industry” are definitely more cohesive than in other areas; but being actively Jewish or, for that matter Christian, is not the kind of community this is or at least as I perceive it. I belonged to a synagogue when my children were growing up and was moderately active; but it was an industry synagogue and the people there were friends and acquaintances from the industry. What would you like to share about your family? I have two children, two grandchildren. All Californians, which is different from my sibling Forbes’ who went east and south. As I said, both kids are in the wine business and each has their own business separately.
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Midwest memories by RENEE RATNER CORCORAN Executive Director, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society Do you remember the businesses up and down Broadway, shopping at the People’s Store, Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson High Schools or perhaps attending services at Chevra B’nai Yisroel Synagogue? The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is working on an edition of Memories of the Jewish Midwest, devoted to the Jewish community of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The book will contain photographs and stories pertaining to the families, synagogues, businesses and organizations of Council Bluffs. The NJHS is very committed to preserving the stories of the once thriving and active Jewish community. We would like your help in telling these stories. The Society is looking for personal recollections and memories of the community just across the bridge. Please contact the NJHS at njhs@jewishomaha.org or 402.334.6442 for more information.
Kansas JFS news by RUTH BAUM BIGUS The Jewish Community Chaplaincy program of Jewish Family Services is offering a new Community-Based Clinical Pastoral Education Program, starting in August. This is a new initiative of JFS, in partnership with The Midwest CPE Program, centered at Research Medical Center in Kansas City. This continuing education opportunity is designed for Jewish clergy engaged in congregational and Jewish communal service in various contexts, as well as Seminary students preparing for professional service in the Jewish community. For more information about the new
CPE program offered by JFS or for those interested in applying for the fall CPE course, please contact Nicky Hall at JFS (nhall@jfskc.org); or by phone at 913.327.8246) or Rabbi Rudnick directly at email address: rabbi@jfskc.org, or by cell phone at 913.915.7730. Applications and written materials requested are due by June 1 and should be sent to: Jewish Family Services/Attn: Chaplaincy Program, 5801 W. 115th St., Ste. 103, Overland Park, KS 6621. In addition, a non-refundable application fee of $35 should be paid to JFS upon submission of application.
Birth Tally and Zach Jacobson of Chicago, IL announce the March 10 birth of their son, Dylan Oz. He is named for his maternal great-grandfather, Isaac Nisenhouse. Grandparents are Rachel and Sam Oz of
Parkland, FL, Sheila and Richard Lee of Sun City West, AZ and Mark Jacobson of Omaha. Great-grandparents are Wanda and Don Loseke of Sun City West, AZ, Leonard and Eileen Jacobson of Omaha and the late Esther Jacobson.
Holy smokes! by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer On Tuesday, May 6, Temple Israel is hosting “Holy Smokes!,” a men’s only night of cigars, wine and camaraderie. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will even be on hand to share a little Torah study. This event, sponsored by the Men of Reform Judaism, is meant to be “relaxing and informal,” according to Spencer Brookstein, who has helped plan the evening. “It’s going to be a great night of fun, philosophical camaraderie,” said Jon Meyers, who has also been involved in the planning. “We’re going to sit outside, enjoy the weather, enjoy each others’ company and have philosophical discussions about the Torah,” Meyers said. “We’d like it to have the same sort of vibe as the last few minutes of episodes of Boston Legal, when William Shatner and James Spader would sit at the end of the day and philosophize.” Rabbi Azriel will introduce a topic for discussion with a study session titled, “Love, Sex and...” “Holy Smokes!”, which is from 7-9 p.m. on May 6, is a free event, courtesy of MRJ, though reservations are required by Friday, May 2. Contact the Temple Israel office to RSVP, 402.556.6536 or RSVP@temple israelomaha.com. The cigars are being provided by Safari Cigars and Lounge.
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May 2, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 7
Through the eyes of Karen Gustafson by OZZIE NOGG Over the past weeks, we have focused on three of the four pillars of Jewish Family Service -- caring, compassion and connection. In this issue we discuss the agency’s fourth pillar -- commitment -- with Karen Gustafson, Jewish Family Service Executive Director: Karen, would you please name the team members who work with you at JFS. Our full-time staff includes Melissa Whetzal, Assistant to the Director; Teresa Drelicharz, JFS Mental Health Therapist; and Sandy Nogg, JFS Assistance Coordinator. Our JFS part-time staff is made up of Jan McCarthy, Coordinator of the Yachad Program; Mark Kazor, Assistant Coordinator for Karen Gustafson Yachad; and Sally Kaplan and Nate Bock, both of whom are part-time therapists. Melissa has been with the agency for two years, and others of us have worked at Jewish Family Service for 13 or 14 years. I’m proud to say that we’re a very stable and happy staff, all licensed professionals, and fully committed to providing the services that individuals, couples and families need when facing challenges in their lives. What is your key to success at JFS? First and foremost, it’s essential to have the right people in place to do the work -- and we have the best group possible. Next is our ability to work together harmoniously. Each of our positions can be stressful at times, so we need to be able to rely on each other for support and encouragement. A few years ago at Hanukkah, I gave each staff member a pin that looks like a jig-saw puzzle piece to show that we all need to fit together to make the Jewish Family Service picture complete. And finally, I think we’re successful because each of us loves what we do. Coming to work every day at JFS is a pleasure. Today you’re JFS Executive Director, but you started in the agency as a therapist. Is that role still part of your job description? Yes. I carry a smaller caseload than our other full-time therapists because of my administrative duties, but I feel I’m a better administrator because of it. I enjoy the variety of seeing a client, then writing a grant, then working on an employee evaluation or planning for a parenting class. By wearing different hats, I’m able to help provide income to the agency and stay current with what my colleagues are doing. Some days, when I try to juggle so many different things, it can get a little crazy. But I love it. Is there a place for volunteers at Jewish Family Service? That’s one of those “Yes, but...” questions. We constantly struggle to let people know the work JFS staff does for the less fortunate in the community -- and enlist their volunteer aid -- but since our clients often prefer to remain anonymous, it’s not easy to mesh the need for client confidentiality with volunteer help. During the High Holidays, Hanukkah and Passover, Jewish Family Service volunteers do buy and deliver food to those who will be alone for the holidays, and that works out well. But in many cases, people are embarrassed to find themselves on the ‘receiving’ end. If someone can receive assistance from their own community -- but at the same time ‘save face’ so to speak -- then that’s what we aim to do. Our language at JFS focuses on how to set appropriate boundaries for our clients in order to maintain their confidentiality. Some people may think we go overboard, but if our sensitivity allows someone to walk in our door without feeling ashamed, then every other decision we’ve made is worth it. Does JFS still facilitate adoptions? We’re still licensed by the State of Nebraska as a Nebraska Child and Placement Agency, but we no longer have children relinquished into our care. We currently offer families
their required Domestic or International Home Study court report; Post-Placement visits and report; Home Study updates, if they are expired; and Adoption Searches for families who adopted their child through Jewish Family Service. We’re affiliated with the Nebraska Adoption Agencies
In Judaism, each of us is supposed to think of ourselves as having more than we need. Giving to others is a way to acknowledge the blessings of abundance and to express gratitude for what we have. Furthermore, Judaism teaches: It is not what we have, but what we do that makes for a meaningful life.
Association (NAAA), and one of our staff is the current Past-President of the Association. Adoption can be a complex process, and our professional staff is skilled in acting as a liaison and personal representative for families who call our office. If you could talk, personally, to each member of the Omaha Jewish community and share something with them about JFS and its work, what would that be? There are so many things. I would remind everyone that for over a century, Jewish Family Service of Omaha has provided programs that support individuals and families in the Jewish community, without regard for a client’s ability to pay. Every day, the JFS staff responds to the personal crises and challenges faced by people of all ages -- kids-at-risk, the chronically ill, the unemployed and those in need of mental health counseling -- with or without insurance. I would want everyone to know that the agency provides emergency financial assistance to qualifying individuals and families who, through an unexpected crisis, need help with rent, medications or food -- and that the JFS Crisis Intervention Team is available for community members confronted with tragedy or sudden difficulties. I would tell people that JFS maintains a Food Pantry which is available to Jewish community members to help supplement their current food expenses so they don’t go hungry, and that we deliver food baskets during the High Holidays and gifts for children during Hanukkah. I would make sure everyone knew that JFS offers Family Life Education Classes for parents and teachers to help families meet the challenges of bullying, drug prevention and sexual behaviors. I’d point out that through Yachad, we bring programming to our adult population with developmental disabilities that lets them gain independence and participate fully in the life of the Jewish community. With all that said, the overriding goal of JFS is to restore dignity, hope and meaning to people’s lives, to participate in Tikkun Olam -- to help repair the world through acts of lovingkindness that reflect the caring, compassion and connection we feel towards this community. I can honestly say that we are committed to that goal every day. When you become a Friend of Jewish Family Service, you demonstrate your commitment to support the agency’s mission to bring hope and help to children and adults in our community who face personal challenges. Please join our efforts. Our community grows stronger when we reach out to others. To learn how you can become a Friend of Jewish Family Service and support the agency’s work, call 402.330.2024.
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8 | The Jewish Press | May 2, 2014
Point of view
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by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Don’t you hate it when you read a story about your favorite artists boycotting Israel? Sure, they have every right to form their own opinion, but it can nonetheless be disappointing when they use that opinion to write off an entire country, and all the people in it. What the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has been missing from the very beginning is nuance. At the same time, when musicians, actors, authors or playwrights don’t blindly adopt the BDS rhetoric, it gives us hope. They are public figures; what they say can sway many people -- or at the very least cause them to think again. A thousand pro-Israel editorials can’t compete with one Lady Gaga visiting the Kotel. The same holds true for household names, companies whose owners invest in and do business with Israel. Apple, Starbucks, Coca Cola and Pepsi, Boeing, Cisco, Culligan and Domino’s are all on the list. There’s Donna Karan, E-trade and Fidelity, Franklin Templeton and G.E., General Motors and Haagen Dazs, as well as Hasbro, Heinz and Hewlett Packard. IBM, Hyatt and Hilton, Burger King and MacDonald’s, L’Oreal and Kentucky Fried Chicken, AT&T, Ben & Jerry’s and Microsoft. And, of course, we can’t forget Warren Buffett. The list is long, and it grows by the day, to the chagrin of the BDS movement. Focusing on those who continue to do business with Israel allows for populist speeches and protest marches with fun,
brightly colored signs, but it doesn’t really accomplish anything. Not that I want to give the BDS enthusiasts any tips; it just seems their methods are not very effective. Case in point: when Ellen Degenerous celebrated Earth Day on her show by giving away free SodaStream machines to her audience, the BDS people threw a hissy fit. How dare she give away an “apartheid product?” Ellen was vilified for her actions, which, according to BDS, was proof of her “contempt for human rights.” Much like Scarlett Johansson before her, the boycott movement made it instantly personal, foregoing an intelligent and honest debate in favor of some good old-fashioned name-calling. One of those names thrown at Ellen was “defender of Israel.” First off, buying a certain product does not automatically mean we, as consumers, support the government of the producing country. If that were the case, we should all, right now, yank everything out of our closets that says, “made in China.” We all know that the Chinese government systematically struggles with human rights. Yet, I bet we would be hard pressed to find many people who don’t own a single Chinese produced item. Why? Because we may not approve of the Chinese government, but we don’t hold that against the Chinese population. We are aware that governments and people are two separate entities. And that doesn’t only go for China; there are many countries where we see terrible things happen, and yet there is no mass movement that calls for a boycott or vilifies anyone who buys something that was pro-
duced there. Second, Israel is not the boogey man. It is a democracy. Maybe it is not a perfect one, but it is light years ahead of its neighbors. Palestinians have it worse in every other Middle Eastern country, no exception. So show me a BDS movement that focuses on Egypt, or on Jordan, on Lebanon, on Syria or on Kuwait, and we might get closer to a level playing field. But don’t single Israel out, and expect me to take you seriously. Finally, you’re calling Ellen a “defender of Israel,” implying that that’s a bad thing, and this is the best you’ve got? Careful; your anti-Semitism is showing. Tzvi Ben-Gedalyahu in the other Jewish Press (the one in Brooklyn) optimistically wrote: “The confirmation of a reported 10 percent purchase of Israeli-based SodaStream by Starbucks would be another blow, if not a knock-out punch, to the Boycott Israel Movement. The more the Big Lie of Mahmoud Abbas as a peace partner disintegrates, the more people throw in the towel and go back to fighting for animal rights or against global warming, assuming they have thawed out from this winter’s brutal snowfalls.” I do think there’s something to what Ben-Gedalyahu writes. Here’s why the BDS movement may be on its way out: it’s built on lies, hypocrisy, misconceptions and a misguided vocabulary. Any business that looks to invest in Israel will do an enormous amount of research and send people to Israel, who will come back with a much better understanding of Israeli society and politics than the average BDS nincompoop. Places like Starbucks and SodaStream don’t go into business together because they don’t care about human rights. They go into business because they know they can help improve the economy, create jobs, send people home with a paycheck, and actually make a difference. Now that is something you’ll never achieve by refusing to watch Ellen ever again.
The RCA breaks its word on conversion
Focus on issues SHMUEL HERZFELD WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Questions of personal status are among the most sensitive issues in Judaism and thus require responsible rabbinic leadership. That is one reason why there was such an outcry last year when Israel’s Chief Rabbinate refused to allow my teacher, Rabbi Avi Weiss, to vouch for the Jewishness of a couple marrying in Israel. While the Chief Rabbinate ultimately backed down and agreed to accept Rabbi Weiss’ word, there are still unanswered questions regarding this episode. On Jan. 4, the Rabbinical Council of America -- a leading Orthodox rabbinic association -- issued this statement: “Recent assertions that the Rabbinical Council of America advised the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to reject the testimony of RCA member Rabbi Avi Weiss are categorically untrue.” The problem with this statement is that when I visited the chief rabbi’s office with Weiss’ attorney, we were told directly that the chief rabbinate was acting upon the recommendation of RCA officials. We may not know who is telling the truth in this case, but we do know that the RCA has not been candid about its recent approach to conversion. In 2007 the RCA drafted a new centralized policy on conversions. This policy brought conversions under the auspices of a new and more stringent approach. At the time, there were some who warned that this new policy could lead to retroactive annulments of previously accepted conversions. But the RCA protested loudly that it would never retroactively reject conversions and that to do so would be a blatant
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Torah violation. In 2008, the RCA’s Rabbi Steven Pruzansky dismissed suggestions that the new policy would lead to the reevaluation of all past conversions by RCA rabbis as “an especially despicable falsehood, as it serves only to make generations of converts in the Jewish community anxious about their status and acceptance in the community at large.” “The reality is that not one past geirus is being reviewed by the RCA or the Beth Din of America, and such was never contemplated,” he wrote, using a term for conversion. “To even suggest otherwise is to blatantly violate the Torah’s numerous admonitions against tormenting the ger.” Yet we now know that the RCA is casting aspersions on prior conversions by its own members. We know this, thanks to Karen Brunwasser, who last month wrote about her personal ordeal in The Washington Jewish Week. Brunwasser spelled out how, despite her Orthodox conversion nearly 35 years ago, she was rejected by the Israeli chief rabbi’s office in her initial attempts to establish her Judaism and thereby marry her beloved fiancé. She wrote movingly of the emotional turmoil she went through and how she was concerned that it might affect forever her relationship with the new family she was hoping to join. The RCA, through its Beth Din of America, played a crucial role in actively hindering Brunwasser’s effort to marry. Brunwasser converted as an infant with a beit din made up of Orthodox rabbis who were graduates of Yeshiva University’s rabbinical school, and RCA members. Rabbi Bernard Rothman, a former RCA vice president, wrote a letter to the chief rabbi’s office vouching for Brunwasser’s conversion. In this letter, Rothman praised the head of the beit din that converted Brunwasser, Rabbi David Wachtfogel, as an Orthodox rabbi of the highest standards.
However, as was the case with many RCA rabbis of that era, he was for a time a rabbi in a synagogue in which men and women sat together. Many of these rabbis took jobs at synagogues with mixed seating after receiving explicit guidance on the matter from Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, mainstream American Orthodoxy’s leading authority. In the past, conversions by Orthodox rabbis who had served in mixed-seating congregations were routinely accepted in the Jewish community. But now, thanks to the direction of the current leadership of the RCA, such decades-old conversions are being rejected. Thus, last Aug. 11, Rabbi Michoel Zylberman of the RCA’s Beth Din of America wrote the following in an email to the Israeli chief rabbi’s office regarding Brunwasser’s conversion: “We are unable to approve the conversions done by a rabbi who serves in a synagogue without a mechitza.” Zylberman continues: “Of course, one can argue with this position and if you want to be lenient here on the basis of other authorities you can do that which is right in your eyes.” Responding to apparent confusion on the part of the chief rabbi’s office regarding Rothman’s current status with the RCA, Zylberman concludes: “With respect to the letter of Rabbi Rothman in which he is signed as a ‘former VicePresident of the RCA,’ that was twenty years ago and he did not sign in the name of the organization.” Despite what the RCA promised in 2008, it is retroactively negating and rooting out converts who were for decades fully integrated into the Orthodox Jewish community. In doing so, it has set a dangerous precedent that should make every convert afraid and all of us angry and disappointed in its leadership. Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld is the rabbi of Ohev Sholom: The National Synagogue in Washington.
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and space restrictions. 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. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. 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
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material and photos to: avandekamp @jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jew ishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced 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
professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 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. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.
May 2, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 9
Samuel Lewis and Israel’s dream of peace
Behind the headlines ABRAHAM H. FOXMAN, National Director of ADL NEW YORK (JTA) -- The last time Ambassador Samuel Lewis was at an Anti-Defamation League podium was in April 2008 as part of a roundtable celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary. The speakers were each asked to share their most vivid and representative recollections of Israel. Sam, a distinguished State Department veteran, served as the U.S. ambassador to Israel from 1977 to 1985, and had engaged in tough battles with Israel’s leaders over the negotiations with Egypt and particularly over the Lebanon War. Yet, what he chose to recall, so poignantly, was what it was like to stand on the tarmac alongside Israel’s political and security elite waiting for Anwar Sadat’s plane to land for the Egyptian president’s breakthrough visit to Jerusalem on Nov. 19, 1977. Sam described that Saturday evening, standing on a red carpet alongside Menachem Begin, Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon and dozens of others, all figures who had been present at Israel’s creation, who had dedicated their lives to the survival and security of the Jewish state. These political and military leaders had spent four decades
combating the menacing threat posed by the Egyptian army, and its potential to eradicate the State of Israel. On that day, no one was quite sure what Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem would mean, and there was an air of nervous excitement. In Sam’s telling, when Sadat finally emerged from the plane and began making his way to meet the assembled dignitaries, these hardened, cynical, war-weary leaders, experiencing this game-changing gesture of reconciliation from Israel’s leading Arab foe, had tears in their eyes. Sam Lewis passed away recently at the age of 83. While we didn’t always see eye-to-eye, he was an American who “got” Israel, made significant contributions to the strengthening of U.S.-Israel relations and was someone who always recognized how desperately Israel yearns for peace. As American ambassador to Israel during a critical period in Israel’s history, Sam engendered trust in Israeli leaders so that he could talk honestly with them at sensitive moments. He was the perfect example of a diplomat who, by virtue of his personality and professionalism, could ease the way through sometimes treacherous waters to make solutions possible. March 26 marked the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Israel-Egypt peace agreement -- of which Sadat’s visit to Israel was a harbinger and which Sam played an important role in helping facilitate. After decades of a “cold peace” and the insecurity brought on by the Arab Spring and the ongo-
ing turmoil in Egypt, it is easy to gloss over how historically momentous this first Arab-Israeli peace agreement was, and continues to be. Peace with an Arab neighbor was something Israelis had only dreamed of for decades, and while flawed, on the most practical level it meant that young Israeli men were no longer being killed on Egypt’s battlefields. Today, the idealism and hope of peace can seem very far away. Israelis are abuzz speculating over the details of Secretary of State John Kerry’s framework for an IsraeliPalestinian peace agreement. While poll after poll shows support for negotiations, they also demonstrate an ingrained Israeli skepticism about the Palestinian commitment to reconciliation and willingness to make hard decisions for peace. At the same time, there are renewed worries over a new wave of Gaza rockets raining down on southern Israel and persistent fears about Iran’s nuclear weapons program. And yet, amid the very legitimate doubt and uncertainty, Sam Lewis’ passing is a moment to remember that we cannot allow ourselves to lose the idealism and promise of peace -- a peace which ensures the security and well- being of the Jewish State, and whose realization will surely be difficult and imperfect. Yet, a peace whose promise, as Sam described, can bring tears to the eye of even the most hardened Israeli. Abraham H. Foxman is the national director of the AntiDefamation League.
American Jewry must reclaim Hebrew
Focus on issues ARI RUDOLPH NEW YORK (JTA) -- A key component that unifies a people or nation is a common language. The Jewish people are no exception; the Hebrew language is an essential element of what constitutes the Jewish nation. Hebrew often is the only common language in the room – the lingua franca – when Jews from different parts of the globe get together (native English-speaking Jews aside, for the most part). Conversely, the lack of a unifying language creates a great gulf between people. It leads to misunderstandings and frustrations on both sides, and ultimately lessens the fraternal bond. So for the sake of the Jewish future, the American Jewish community needs to reclaim Hebrew. Hebrew is more than simply a medium of communication. It is our heritage. It’s a Semitic language that has its roots in the Middle East, thus linking the Jewish people to the region. It’s the liturgical language of Judaism, thus connecting the Jewish people to their faith. And it’s the biblical language, thus binding the Jewish people to their history. Unfortunately, however, Hebrew is lost on the American Jewish community as a whole. Leon Wieseltier of the New Republic writes, “The American Jewish community is the first great community in the history of our people that believes that it can receive, develop, and perpetuate the Jewish tradition not in a Jewish language. By an overwhelming majority, American Jews cannot read or speak or write Hebrew, or Yiddish. This is genuinely shocking. American Jewry is quite literally unlettered.” Indeed, many Jews are averse to learning Hebrew. They are turned off when they hear it spoken or see it written in the public domain because they see it as elitist and exclusionary. This could simply be a result of not being accustomed to seeing a second language in public. Yet many societies around the world are bilingual, even trilingual. The issue of Hebrew in the American Jewish orbit may cut to a far deeper question: If one’s Americanness is paramount to an American, and speaking English is the “American thing to do,” then is promoting another language, by definition, un-
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American? By promoting Hebrew, does the Jewish community run the risk of undermining all it has done to achieve its place in general society, or is the American Jewish community finally secure enough to freely embrace its own heritage? For those who are scared of Hebrew or its elevated status outside of Israel, they need not fear; Hebrew is not going to replace English as the everyday language of the Jewish community in North America anytime soon. It could, however, be the bulwark against assimilation. A common misconception is that Hebrew is simply the Zionist language, i.e. the State of Israel’s language. In protest of Israel’s policies vis-a-vis the Palestinians, Alice Walker, an American writer, refuses to translate her Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Color Purple” into Hebrew. Walker’s is not an isolated case, as the Scottish author Iain Banks and the Swedish author Henning Mankell have similarly refused to allow their books to be translated into Hebrew. Their hypocrisy and bigotry aside, one point does come through: The writers see Hebrew as the language of the State of Israel, not of the Jewish people. This view, unfortunately, is common around the world, including within the American Jewish community, where Hebrew is no longer defined as the Jewish language but is considered to be the Zionist language. But Hebrew is not a Zionist language. It is the Jewish language, the language of the Jewish Bible, also known as the Hebrew Bible, and the only language that has any formal standing in Judaism. It also predates modern Zionism by about 3,500 years. Zionists, and by extension the State of Israel, rightly chose to use Hebrew as their language precisely because it is the Jewish language. The causality flows from Judaism to Zionism, not the other way. So how do we go about promoting Hebrew? Many will be relieved to learn that it doesn’t simply translate into mandatory, universal ulpan. It means appropriately encouraging Hebrew in a variety of formal and informal settings, supporting Hebrew literature, film and the like, and generally taking pride in the unique place Hebrew should hold within all of our communal institutions, synagogues and schools. And yes, speaking Hebrew would help. The time has come for a serious discussion of the place Hebrew should occupy in the Jewish world and, if we believe in the future of the Jewish people, how we can best leverage
Hebrew as a common and unifying force. Bringing Hebrew to the Jews of North America will be no small task, but nothing compared to the miraculous revival of Hebrew itself. Ari Rudolph is a planning executive for UJA-Federation’s Commission on the Jewish People.
Ten ideas for Shmuley Boteach’s next book by DANIEL TREIMAN (JTA) -- Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is coming out with a new book, Kosher Lust: Love Is Not the Answer. The latest tome from “America’s Rabbi” follows previous volumes like Kosher Adultery: Seduce and Sin with Your Spouse, The Kosher Sutra: Eight Sacred Secrets for Reigniting Desire and Restoring Passion for Life, Kosher Jesus and, last but not least, the book that started it all, Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy. I got my hands on Boteach’s proposal for the next 10 titles in his “Kosher” series. (Okay, no I didn’t.) Here they are: “Kosher Porn: Sexy and Tznius” “Kosher Dishes: Two Sets, Three Opinions” “The Kosher Bacon-Flavored Ritz Cracker Cookbook: 100 Recipes Using America’s Favorite Treif-Tasting, Rabbinically Certified Snack” “Kosher Kishkes?: The Truth Behind Obama and Israel” “Kosher Koran: Islam Never Seemed More Jewish “Kosher Kabbalah: Jewish Mysticism for Men With Long Beards, Not Pop Stars Named After Jesus’ Mom” “Kosher ‘Complaint’: A Literary Inquiry Into the Hashgachah of Portnoy’s Liver” “Kosher Carter: The President With Lust in His Heart, but Not for Israel” “Glatt Kosher Lust: Love Is Not the Answer, Eating Only Beef From Cows With Lesion-Free Lungs Is the Answer” “Treif Lust: The Stuff That Was Too Hot for ‘Kosher Lust’”
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Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885.
Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak. THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu. All programs are open to the entire community.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN
Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. FRIDAY: BESTT Shabbaton weekend retreat at the Gretna 4-H Camp; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; MiniMinyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8 p.m. SUNDAY: BESTT Classess for K-2 only, 9:45 a.m.; Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; Torah Tots, 10 a.m., Children going into kindergarten this fall will go from Torah Tots to visit the BESTT kindergarten class at 11:15 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Wrestling with Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham. WEDNESDAY: BESTT Classes, 4:15 p.m.; Hebrew High School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Hebrew HIgh Classes, 6:45 p.m. Torah Tots, Sunday, May 11, 10:45 a.m. USY final banquet/brunch, Sunday, May 11, 12:30 p.m. RSVP to Betsy Goodman, betsy4589@gmail.com. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. FRIDAY: Family Dinner and Early Family Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Stacy Balter. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Emor. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite, 9:45 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration, noon at Tifereth Israel. All the Jewish community is invited for lunch of falafel and other Israeli treats, following by Israeli dancing. Two volunteers are needed to help make and serve the falafel so please contact the Temple office if you can help; “To Be Certain of the Dawn,” presented by Lincoln Choral Artists, 3 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M Street. For tickets visit lincolnchoralartists.org or call 402.480.6669. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Centered Walking Workshop Class using the Alexander Technique and Up with Gravity two-part series with Robert Rickover, Thursdays, May 15 and 22, 7-9 p.m. The class costs $40. Enrollment is limited to 15 people. To reserve your place, please contact Jean at the Temple office, 402.435.8004 or office@southstreettemple.org. Make your check for $40 payable to the South Street Temple, and send it to South Street Temple, 2061 South 20 St., Lincoln, NE 68502 prior to the first class. You can learn more about the Alexander Technique at www.AlexanderTechnique.com, and find out more about Up with Gravity at www.UpWithGravity.net. Up Close with Jewish Authors – The Writing of Chaim Potok Adult Education Class, Tuesday, May 20, 6:30–8 p.m. We will learn about the life of one of the great Jewish American authors and examine passages from some of his masterpieces, including The Chosen, The Promise, and My Name is Asher Lev.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha-Ma’ariv, 8:04 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit (Barchu), 9 a.m.; Mincha, 7:45 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 9:01 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Daf Yomi: Week in Review, 7:45 a.m. with Rabbi Gross. THURSDAY: Sacred Grounds, 9:30 a.m.
CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. RSVP by calling the office. WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 10 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road | Offutt AFB, NE 68123 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by David Herzog. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.
TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: Shabbat Service with Kol Rina and St. Paul United Methodist Church Choir, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel,
Candlelighting Friday, May 2, 8:04 p.m.
Rabbi Brown and Cantor Shermet followed by an oneg; Reflections on America” Omaha Symphonic Chorus Performance featuring the Offutt Brass Band, 8 p.m. The concert is open to the public. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Closing Day for Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; Adult Hebrew Class, 11 a.m. TUESDAY: Ambassador Training, noon and Wednesday, May 14, 7 p.m. Temple Israel is often asked to host faith groups, educational groups and other visitors, and we want to prepare our members to help lead tours of our new home. There are two days of Ambassador training offered, though you need only attend one of the two. If you’d like to attend, please contact the office, RSVP@templeisraelom aha.com. If you have any questions, contact Program Director Wendy Goldberg, wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com; Adult B’nai Mitzvah: Hebrew Study with Na’ama, 6:30 p.m.; MRJ Holy Smokes, 7 p.m. (see full story on page 6.) WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; Confirmation Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.; Celebrate Adult Learning, 6:30 p.m. Join us if you have participated in any Adult Learning over the past year. All are welcome to attend; The Symbolic Relationship of Science & Religion, 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Service, Friday, May 16, 6 p.m. for our tenth graders. Everyone is welcome to attend. OTYG Board Installation, Havdalah service and S’mores, Saturday, May 17, 7:30-9 p.m. Open to all OTYG members. OTYG Board Retreat, Sunday, May 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Nikki Flatowicz’s home. High School Senior Celebration, Friday, May 23, 6 p.m. Temple Israel’s high school seniors will be given a celebratory blessing by the clergy as they prepare to begin the next phase of their lives. 143rd Annual Meeting, Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m. All members of Temple Israel are invited to attend as Sally Kaplan is honored for serving as president of the Board of Trustees for the past two years. Mike Halsted, incoming president, new Board officers and members will be installed. Outgoing Board members will be thanked for their service. Many other honors will be presented. Brunch will be served. Cost per person is $18. Please RSVP by May 27.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite, 9:45 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration with Israeli lunch, noon at Tifereth Israel. This event is open to all members of the synagogue and the South Street Temple. Come show your love and support for Israel, enjoy some good food, and shmooze with your friends. Donations will be accepted at lunch; “To Be Certain of the Dawn,” presented by Lincoln Choral Artists, 3 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.
B’nai Mitzvah Rachel Inbar Aoki and Sarah Chaya Aoki, twin daughters of Mona Aoki, will become B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, May 10, at Beth Israel. Rachel and Sarah are sixth-grade students at F r i e d e l J e w i s h Academy. Rachel Sarah Chaya Aoki received a Rachel Inbar Aoki third place Kripke Award. Her interests include reading, writing and collecting knick knacks. Sarah received third place in the speech contest, first place in the Kripke Book Report contest and first place in a Chabad Art contest. Her interests include drawing, writing stories and reading.
Emma Klein, daughter of Janet and Harry Klein, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 10, at Beth El. Emma is a seventh-grade Honor Roll student at Beveridge Magnet School. She was selected for the Duke Talent Identification Program and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Her interests include playing volleyball, traveling, reading and hanging out with friends. She volunteers with handicapped children after school at Beveridge. She has two sisters, Sara and Laura, and three brothers, Daniel, Andrew and Jacob. Grandparents are Phyllis Schwartz of Omaha and the late Maurice Schwartz, and Alice Klein of Long Beach, NY and the late Bernard Klein.
Elijah Levi Marburg, son of Debra Marburg and Daniel Marburg, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 10, at Temple Israel. Elijah is a seventh-grade Academic Honor student at Westside Middle School. He was selected for the Duke Talent Identification Program. He received the Presidential Academic Excellence Award and is a member of the WMS Excellence in Youth Program. His interests include wrestling, reading, theater, writing and cycling. For his mitzvah project, Elijah mentored students at Castelar Elementary After School program. He has a brother, Solomon. Grandparents are Judy and Jerry Marburg, Sue Schreiber of Lincoln, and Ira and Corrine Schreiber of Aurora, CO.
Pulverente MONUMENT CO.
May 2, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 11
In memoriam
Temple TED Talks
LOUIS (LINDY) PAUL Louis (Lindy) Paul, former athletic director of the Jewish Community Center in Omaha, passed away recently in Arizona. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters and sons-inlaw, Cindy Paul and Robert Fiese of Los Angeles, and Judy Paul and Chuck Farguson of Phoenix; grandchildren: Chase and Jenna; and sister, Sylvia Kushner of Lincoln. He was born in Chicago in 1926, and met his first wife, Barbara Wise of Omaha, at a JCC camp where she was a camp counselor, and he was the camp Director. He owned small businesses in Nebraska, and eventually moved his family to Marin County, California, in 1977, to enjoy warmer weather. He purchased a Swensen's Ice Cream franchise in Berkeley. Eventually, he sold it and moved to Phoenix in 1991 to be with his grandchildren. He was a volunteer with the Big Brothers Association for 20-plus years and devotedly raised money for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). He loved sports and played handball until he was 80. He played Fantasy Baseball for the San Francisco Giants and befriended Willie Mays, Lefty Gomez and other baseball players. His heroes were Jackie Robinson and Lou Gehrig. He also loved music and was a fan of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. In Phoenix, he owned a vending machine business until he was 85. In memory of her father, and to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, Judy will participate in the Chicago Marathon this fall, and the family has requested that memorials be sent to act.alz.org (click on ‘AlzStars’; then type in Judy’s name in ‘Find an Athlete.’). Memorials may also be made to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
President Barack Obama honors Yom HaShoah by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) — President Obama called Holocaust Remembrance Day an opportunity to honor survivors. In a statement posted Monday on the White House website, Obama also called on the world to oppose anti-Semitism. “On this Yom HaShoah, I join people of all faiths in the United States, in the State of Israel, and around the world in remembering the six million Jews – innocent men, women and children – who were senselessly murdered during the Holocaust, as well as all the victims of Nazi brutality and violence,� Obama wrote. “Even as we mourn those whose lives were taken, this day also provides us with an opportunity to honor those who emerged from the darkness of the Shoah to rebuild their lives in new communities around the world. I am honored to have the opportunity to address survivors of the Holocaust, along with many of those who have worked so hard to preserve their testimony and share their stories, when I speak at the Shoah Foundation next week. On this Yom HaShoah, let us recommit ourselves to the task of remembrance, and to always oppose anti-Semitism wherever it takes root. Together, we must give enduring meaning to the words ‘Never Again.’� On Monday morning, Israelis stood at attention for two minutes as a siren wailed throughout the country in memory of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The previous evening, during a ceremony at the Yad Vashem memorial, six Holocaust survivors representing the 6 million Jewish victims of the Nazis lit torches after telling their stories in a prerecorded video.
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by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer Temple TED Talks began last September as a way to bring Temple Israel members together and encourage discussion, and the group has proven so popular that the Talks will continue throughout the spring and summer months. “We have been very pleased with our core group of about 15 people who come to hang out, learn and discuss issues that are interesting,� said Dan Gilbert, who, along with Paul Rabinovitz, was one of the organizers of Temple TED Talks. TED Talks are short presentations by individuals from a variety of backgrounds, espousing on a particular thought or idea. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and national conferences are held twice a year. Smaller, regional conferences, called TEDx, give communities a chance to organize their own talks on a smaller scale. “Temple TED Talks started because Paul [Rabinovitz] and I found ourselves talking about TED one day in the halls of the old building, and we also found ourselves just chatting with an interesting group of people who would be there, usually for picking up or dropping off their kids for religious school,� Gilbert said. “We thought that in our new building there would be space for us to sit comfortably, watch a brief and provocative video and have a lightly-structured conversation around it, and it’s been great to see the group grow and flourish.� Originally scheduled to coincide with Religious School Sundays, Temple TED Talks will be scheduled for May, June, July and August, though dates have not been finalized yet. Those interested in attending are encouraged to check Temple Israel’s website and Facebook page for updates. Temple Israel congregant Joe Murphy is scheduled to present one of his favorite TED Talks in May. Temple TED Talks are held monthly at Temple Israel, Sundays at 11 a.m.
Israel formally suspends peace talks by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Israel formally suspended peace talks with the Palestinian Authority over its national unity accord signed with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. “The Cabinet today unanimously decided that Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for Israel's destruction,� said a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released Thursday afternoon. “In addition, Israel will respond to unilateral Palestinian action with a series of measures," it said, without outlining the measures. In the past, responses have included accelerated settlement building and suspending tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority. The Fatah party, led by P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas, signed an agreement with Hamas that would lead to a unity government within five weeks. Previous Hamas-Fatah accords have collapsed into a civil war. The Obama administration warned that the accord with Hamas, designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and the European Union, could scuttle attempts to revive the peace talks. Nebraskans deserve an attorney general who is a pro-life fiscal conservative, who will hold the line on spending, and who has personally represented farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses against overreaching federal regulations.
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After his hunger strike, Alan Gross’ backers ramp up calls for U.S. action by RON KAMPEAS were Cuban immigrants. “But we are very, very focused WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Alan Gross did not warn his on trying to get Alan Gross out of there. His treatment family he was launching a hunger strike, but hearing the is inhumane. And he is wrongfully imprisoned.” news, they understood why: The Jewish U.S. governGross’ family will not say what specifically they believe ment subcontractor, languishing since 2009 in a Cuban the Obama administration could do to free Gross. His prison, feels forgotten. wife, Judy, in 2011 had advocated humanitarian gestures “We’re asking that the U.S. government do whatever it for the so-called Cuban Five -- Cubans who were contakes,” Jill Zuckman, a spokeswoman for the family, told victed in the United States of spying offenses in 2001. JTA in an April 11 interview, the day Gross ended his Since then, the Obama administration has released fast after eight days. “This situation is not going to be two of the five before their sentences were complete for resolved unless President Obama takes a personal intergood behavior. One of the two was allowed, while still est in it.” on parole, to visit an ailing family member in Cuba. The intervention of his mother, Evelyn Gross, who Cuban officials have not explicitly offered Gross for the turned 92 on Tuesday, led Gross to quit his hunger strike. Cuban Five, but they have said it would be a natural “My protest fast is suspended as of today, although trade. The Miami Herald on April 9 quoted Josefina there will be further protests to come,” Gross, 64, of Vidal, the Cuban official in charge of U.S. relations as sayPotomac, Md., said in a statement. “There will be no ing that meeting the “humanitarian concerns” regarding cause for further intense protest when both govern- Supporters of Alan Gross, who has been imprisoned in Cuba since the three spies still in prison could “resolve” Gross’ case. ments show more concern for human beings and less 2009, rally outside the White House on Dec. 3, 2013. The still-imprisoned Cubans had received longer senCredit: Alex Wong/Getty Images tences than the other two. One is serving a life term malice and derision toward each other.” Efforts to win Gross’ release have faced diplomatic and He is serving a 15-year sentence for “crimes against the state.” because of his involvement in the Cuban Air Force’s fatal He launched his hunger strike on April 3, leaving a mes- 1996 downing of two planes belonging to a Cuban activist political obstacles. Cuba wants the release of its citizens who have been convicted of espionage, while anti-communist sage with his lawyer, Scott Gilbert, the next day. group. Four Americans were killed in the attack. A final straw for Gross was the revelation that the U.S. Cuban-Americans have been resistant to compromise. The Cuban government’s interests section here did not It all leaves Gross and his advocates feeling ignored and Agency for International Development had launched a bid -- respond to a request for comment, but in the past its officials seeking new ways of finding attention. Increasingly, Jewish after his arrest -- to open a Twitter-like channel of commu- have said that the situations of Gross and the Cuban Five are groups have been criticizing the U.S. government’s handling nications to promote democracy and anti-regime sentiment not comparable. They noted that Gross was allowed to see among Cubans. The initiative ended in 2011 due to a lack of his wife while in prison and the Cuban Five were not. of Gross’ case. Quoting from the statement by Gross announcing his funding. In its statement, the Presidents Conference said Gross is “Once Alan was arrested, it is shocking that USAID would “being held hostage to apparently unrelated demands and hunger strike, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the foreign policy umbrel- imperil his safety even further by running a covert operation actions.” la body for U.S. Jewish groups, issued a similar pox-on- in Cuba,” Gilbert said in a statement. Gross had been subA delicate issue for Gross’ advocates in the Jewish commucontracting for a contractor that was working for USAID. both-houses admonition. nity is that some of the fiercest opponents of accommoda“USAID has made one absurdly bad decision after another,” tion with Cuba are also some of Israel’s most prominent con“We believe that his case has not been given the urgent attention it warrants,” said the statement signed by Malcolm the attorney said. “Running this program is contrary to every- gressional allies, including Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Hoenlein, the body’s executive vice president, and Robert thing we have been told by high-level representatives of the the chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee. Sugarman, its chairman. “The U.S. government has a special Obama Administration about USAID’s activities in Cuba.” Menendez has expressed support for the Cuban Twitter U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told the Senate on April program that triggered Gross’ hunger strike. responsibility to Mr. Gross who is fasting to ‘object to mistruths, deceptions and inaction by the governments...’ and to 3 that efforts have been launched to free Gross but added he “The whole purpose of our democracy programs, whether call attention to ‘the lack of any reasonable or valid effort to could not elaborate. it be in Cuba or other parts of the world, is in part to create “We have a number of efforts underway, which I would be a free flow of information in closed societies,” Menendez resolve this shameful ordeal.’ “ Gross was arrested in December 2009 while on a mission happy to talk to you about privately,” Kerry said in response told The Associated Press, which uncovered the program’s to hook up Cuba’s small Jewish community with the Internet. to a question from Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), whose parents existence.
I AM HAPPY 2014 ANNUAL MEETING
Monday, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. JCC THEATER
HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD • The Baker Family PHIL AND TERRI SCHRAGER SPIRIT OF FEDERATION AWARD • Toba Cohen-Dunning • Rabbi Jonathan Gross BRUCE FELLMAN MEMORIAL YOUNG LEADERSHIP AWARD • Brett Atlas
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DESSERT RECEPTION TO FOLLOW
LOIS JEANNE SCHRAGER MEMORIAL YOUNG LEADERSHIP AWARD • Caryn Scheer
ROBERT AND ELLEN GORDMAN JEWISH TEEN LEADERSHIP AWARD • Rachel Saag • Tyler Siegel
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD • The Center for Jewish Life A Portrait of Jewish Americans-A Rabbinic Panel Discussion
JODY & NEAL MALASHOCK AWARD FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE • Sandy Nogg
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR • David Phillips | JFO • Dr. Leonard Greenspoon | CJL • Bea Karp | IHE • Andy Ruback | The Jewish Press • Andy Greenberg | JSS • Jason Epstein | JCC