Vol. LXXXIX No. 38 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
that Israel should ease the Gaza blockade for humaniby RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Vice President Joe Biden tarian reasons, and should investigate the incident. He also emphasized that he understood Israeli condefended Israel’s handling of the raid on a Gaza aid flotilla, departing from the Obama administration’s cerns. posture of wait and see. Biden said Israel has an “absolute right” to defend its security interests, according to a transcript Politico obtained of an interview that was to be Wednesday broadcast evening on the Charlie Rose show on Bloomberg TV. “It’s legitimate for Israel to say, ‘I don’t know what’s on that ship. These guys are dropping eight -- 3,000 rockets on my people,” Biden said. The flotilla of six ships, loaded with assistance for the Gaza Strip’s 1.5 million residents and aimed at An Israeli student brandishes her identity card in a demonstration outside Jerusalem's breaching Israel’s blockade Hebrew University in support of the Israeli Navy raid on ships bound for Gaza. Credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash 90/JTA of the strip, was organized “As we put pressure, and the world put pressure on Israel to let material go into Gaza to help those people who are suffering, the ordinary Palestinians there, what happened?” he asked. “Hamas would confiscate it, put it in a warehouse, sell it.” Biden’s defense of Israel differed in tone from other Obama administration statements that reserved comment until an investigation uncovers the facts. Some pro-Israel groups had said they have Continued on page 2
Temple’s new Presidential Discretionary Fund to honor Lehrs by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Joanie and Marty Lehr’s enduring love and commitment Temple Israel Communications Coordinator for each other and their Temple. In honor of their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary “Temple Israel has been such an important part of our on June 5th, Joanie and Marty Lehr’s children have cre- family’s history - it just seemed right that on this occaated the Joanie and Marty Lehr Presidential sion we honor our parents in this way. They were really Discretionary Fund at touched by this gift, Temple Israel. The and by the fact that it fund’s income, and if will benefit others as necessary, its principal, well -- how perfect!” will be used at the disSusan Lehr said. cretion of Temple’s Cindy Goldberg menboard president for any tioned that she remempurpose consistent with bers her mother “at her Temple Israel’s mission. happiest when, as presiJoanie’s father, Al dent, she sat at her desk Mayer, was a Temple and spent an evening president, Joanie Lehr talking Temple.” later became Omaha’s In contrast, John first female congregaLehr thought Marty tional president, and “seemed happiest as Marty Lehr served two immediate past presiyears. The Lehr family, Scott, left, Bruce, Cindy, Adam, in front, Mat dent!” Each expressed presidential Their son John was Goldberg, Sandy, Avery, Jacob, John, Joanie, Marty, and Susan Lehr, not only the joy the installed May 25 as has created a legacy of Temple Israel presidents. fund’s creation brought Temple’s 62nd president. Joanie and Marty’s children, their parents but how good it made them feel to give it. Susan Lehr, Cindy and Bruce Goldberg, and Sandy and Temple Israel’s named funds can be created beginning John Lehr, have therefore provided future board presi- at $10,000. More information is available by calling dents an unencumbered way to benefit Temple Israel. Executive Director Dennis DePorte at Temple Israel The fund is being established as a fitting reflection of 402.556.6536.
Inside Op-Ed Page: see page 12
This Week: Salute to Graduates pages 8 & 9 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press’
Welcome to Obama’s Jewish America Page 3
June 11, 2010
A man of quality and character
Biden speaks his mind and comes to Israel’s defense
in part by a Turkish group that has ties to Hamas, the terrorist group that controls Gaza. Israel’s raid before dawn Monday on the largest ship ended in bloodshed when passengers clashed with commandos. Nine passengers were killed, six Israeli soldiers were injured, and Israel’s relations with Turkey, which flagged the ship, were at an all-time low. Israeli troops boarded and commandeered the five smaller ships without incident. Biden repeated the Obama administration’s position
29 Sivan 5770
by JOAN MARCUS AND ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Omaha businessman, philanthropist and art collector, Phillip G. Schrager, passed away on Monday June 7 at the age of 72. Funeral services were held at Temple Israel, Thursday, June 10. He was chairman of the board of Pacesetter Corporation, a longtime Omaha company that sold home improvement products. He was the oldest of three children born to Sonia and Jack Schrager, longtime Omahans. Schrager amassed a collection of masterpieces that some critics called one of the most outstanding collections in The United States. Jan Executive Goldstein, Director of the Jewish Phillip G. Schrager Federation of Omaha said, “He approached his passion for art, his business career, and his Jewish philanthropic work all in the same fashion. He absolutely set the standard for philanthropic giving and for creating community. I cannot imagine how many lives Phil has touched.” In addition to what he did for greater Omaha, Schrager gave and raised money for The Jewish Federation of Omaha, the area synagogues, the Chabad House, The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and “just about every other segment of our Jewish Community,” Goldstein said, “the list is endless.” The Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund has funded scholarships through the Center for Jewish Education-its programs on special needs and disabilities and the Jewish Federation of Omaha's Young Leadership Award. In 1993, Schrager served as general chairman of the Federation Annual Campaign, and in 1992, he served as chairman of the Pacesetter Division of the Federation Annual Campaign. In 1998, for the Israel Emergency Campaign, and again in 2006 for the Second War with Lebanon, Phil set the bar for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Israel within the Omaha Jewish Community. He helped high school students to visit Israel on the ARTZA teen program and helped to fund scholar in residence programs, Soviet resettlement education and dozens of other Jewish and community programs. Schrager was honored by The Nebraska Chapter of the Society to Prevent Blindness and, in 1993, he received The Humanitarian of the Year Award from The Jewish Federation. “Phil personally charged every one of us to take responsibility as individuals,” Goldstein said, “ and he had such an impact on the quality and character of what our Jewish community is today. There are no words to express how much he will be missed.” More recently, his family funded the building of The Schrager Memorial Chapel on the grounds of Temple Israel Cemetery. The much needed chapel provides convenience and solace to families during their time of grief. Schrager was preceded in death by his first wife, Lois Jeanne in 1978. He always considered his role as a loving husband and father to his children as his greatest accomplishment, and prided himself as a family man who provided encouragement and suggestions. He is survived by his wife, Terri, son and daughter-inlaw, Jeffrey Schrager and Anne York; son and daughterin-law, Timothy and Lauren Schrager of Atlanta; son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Laura Schrager; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Aaron Goldman of Atlanta; and son, Jack. Continued on page 15
Coming Next Month: Sports and Recreation Students pay homage to history’s heros through contest Page 5
Touching scenes as hospital saves lives in Hati Page 7
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
June 11, 2010
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Biden defends Israel on flotilla raid said the administration and Congress would protect Continued from page 1 appreciated the Obama administration’s efforts to pro- Israel from condemnation by the U.N. Security Council. Republican leaders also defended Israel. “The United tect Israel from condemnation in international forums, States stands with but were also seeking a specific defense Jerusalem in its of Israel’s actions of the kind Biden effort to ensure delivered. the safety and President Obama’s stand-back possecurity of its cititure was reflected in a short statement zenry,” said Rep. issued by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (DEric Cantor (RCalif.), the speaker of the U.S. House Va.), the minority of Representa-tives: “I regret the loss whip in the of life and look forward to learning the House. “We can’t facts from a credible and transparent forget why the investigation. This event underscores blockade exists in the urgent need for negotiations the first place: to designed to achieve an enduring and deny Hamas the comprehensive regional peace.” In remarks Wednesday, however, The Israeli Navy, seen here approaching one of a flotilla of weaponry and raw Pelosi refused to condemn Israel’s Gaza-bound ships, clashed with Turkish activists aboard one materials it needs blockade, and reaffirmed the “close of the ships. Credit: Moti Milrod/Pool/Flash90/JTA to continue its rocket attacks in friendship” with Israel. killing Israel, “We all -- many of us innocent people.” here -- are striving for a The American two-state solution,” by JTA NEWS STAFF Israel Public Afshe told bloggers in a JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel is facing “international hypocrisy” over its intercall reported by The ception of a Gaza-bound flotilla, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the fairs Committee the welcomed Huffington Post. “But Israeli public. statements from it has to be a solution “Israel is told it has the right to defend itself, but when we exercise that right where there is security we’re condemned for it,” Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address Biden, Hoyer and Cantor. for both sides. And Wednesday evening. “Israel should not be held to a double standard.” “Vice President hopefully President Netanyahu said that Israel regrets the death of nine activists on a Turkish Obama will be able to ship, where passengers with metal rods, knives and guns taken from Israeli Joe Biden, Majority Leader Steny use his good offices to soldiers attacked Israeli forces as they boarded early Monday morning. achieve such a goal that “Of course we regret the loss of life, but I ask the international community Hoyer and GOP has been bipartisan in what would you do instead? We’ll continue to defend our citizens and assert Whip Eric Cantor support in Congress. our right for self-defense, which is my first duty as prime minister,” he said, have it right,” But again, I believe adding, “It is important that we stay united on this issue, which is a matter of AIPAC spokesman Josh Block said in that the specialness of life and death.” our relationship with Netanyahu asserted that if the blockade had been broken, hundreds of a statement. “The States Israel has as much to ships would have followed, bringing massive amounts of weapons into Gaza. United do with our own The prime minister recalled the Francop and Karine-A ships, which he said stands shoulder to with national security as it were carrying hundreds of tons of weapons for use against Israel when they shoulder Israel and simply does with theirs.” were intercepted in recent years. Pelosi’s deputy, Netanyahu said the flotilla’s intention was to break the blockade, not pro- will not allow Israel to be isolatHouse Majority Leader vide humanitarian aid to Gaza. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D“This wasn’t the ‘Love Boat,’ this was a flotilla of terror supporters,” ed and falsely accused.” Md.), defended Israel Netanyahu said. in his statement and
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Israel began calling to the ship last Friday asking that by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel peacefully intercepted a it go to the Ashdod port and allow a nongovernmental seventh Gaza-bound ship and brought it to Ashdod agency to inspect its contacts and take its cargo, including the cement, to Gaza. Cement has been barred port. from Gaza by Israel’s blockade out of fear that it Israeli Navy forces boarded would be used to build bunkers for Hamas terrorthe Irish-owned ship named ists. the Rachel Corrie, in memo“It has been brought to my attention that ry of an American proshould it result in the way I proposed, of you comPalestinian activist who was ing into Ashdod under escort and offloading the killed by an Israeli military cargo in Ashdod Port, the cement that you said is bulldozer in Gaza in 2003, the bulk of your cargo will be transferred to on Saturday 22 miles off the Gaza,” a Navy officer said during a radio exchange coast of Gaza. They boarded on Saturday. “That’s the assurance I have just the ship from the sea rather been given by my superiors. To the best of my than by helicopters, as six knowledge that would be precedent setting. It flotilla ships were last week would something you could take back to your when nine activists on a supporters, to your fellow passengers, to the peoTurkish-owned ship were ple you say you want to support, and to the govkilled during clashes with ernment you say you are rebuking for not doing Navy commandos. more for Gaza,” The 19 activists on the boat, including Irish Nobel Peace activist leaving the 'Rachel The Rachel Corrie suggested to the officer that his boat “stop, have a cup of tea and we’ll continPeace laureate Mairead Corrie' at Ashdod port. Credit: ISRANET ue on to Gaza.” Corrigan Maguire and a “Yesterday, the entire world saw the difference Malaysian lawmaker, all agreed to be deported and were set to leave the country by Sunday evening, according to between a humanitarian flotilla and a hate flotilla by violent, terrorism-supporting extremists,” Israeli Prime the Israeli Interior Ministry. The ship was carrying hundreds of tons of concrete, as Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of the regular Cabinet meeting. well as tons of paper and wheelchairs.
Special Evening “Eye on Israel” session on June 15 by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Director of Operations and Programming, Center for Jewish Education The Center for Jewish Education is delighted to welcome Dr. Moshe Gershovich to a special evening session of “Eye on Israel” on Tuesday, June 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation
Library. Gershovich, who has been in Israel for the past several months on sabbatical, will join Dr. Guy Matalon in discussing the current situation in Israel and what’s on the horizon. Politics, economics and of course the infamous flotilla incident will all be up for debate. The program is open to the community, free of charge. For more information, please call 334.6445.
June 11, 2010
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Welcome to Obama’s Jewish America
by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The athletes, the astronauts, the alternative music, the black rabbi, the white dress uniforms and, above all, the left-handed baseball giant: Welcome to Barack Obama’s Jewish America. The first-ever Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at the White House on Thursday underscored the Obama administration’s determination not to be locked into Washington’s conventional notions of Jewish leadership. President Obama did not exactly snub the usual suspects who have peopled similar events for decades. There was Lee Rosenberg, the president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and there was Alan Solow, the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Both also happen to have been major fund-raisers for Obama’s campaign, as were several others among the 250 or so in attendance. But the image that the White House sought to convey was one of Jewish America not necessarily bound to the alphabet soup of the Jewish organizational world and of pro-Israelism. Instead, Obama presented an array of Jewish heroes and celebrities who pronouncedly defied Jewish stereotypes. In addition to the major givers, the entrepreneurs and the communal leaders, there were also sports heroes -- including Sandy Koufax - veterans, non-profit innovators, journalists, actors and organizers. Obama referred also to “the countless names that we don’t know -- the teachers, the small business owners, the doctors and nurses, the people who seek only to live honestly and faithfully and to give
is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin raiser for the Jewish Primary Day School their children more than they had.” The reception was in the works for Netanyahu next Tuesday, and the signs of the Nation’s Capital to delicately months, and planning predated the ten- are that it will be a higher-profile recep- advance a subtle but substantial shift in U.S. policy. Mitchell, who sions between Israel and the United rarely addresses such States precipitated in early March when forums, likened Hamas, Israel announced a major housing start the terrorist group conin eastern Jerusalem during an official trolling the Gaza Strip, to visit there by Vice President Joe Biden, Irish Republican hardlinwho also was at Thursday’s reception. ers during his five years Still, the White House’s message was negotiating the Northern timely: Obama would not be secondpeace. Like Ireland guessed by his pro-Israel critics on his Hamas, the hardliners did friendship to the Jewish community and not accept the fundamento Israel. The reception included a tradital principles of the peace tional reference to the “unbreakable” talks, but Mitchell evenIsrael-U.S. alliance dating back to within tually broke down their minutes of Israel’s establishment. resistance through incenJewish values, Obama said, “helped tives. lead America to recognize and support “Everyone is welcome as Israel as a Jewish homeland and a beacon long as they are prepared for democratic values -- beginning mere to accept” the principles minutes after its independence was of recognizing Israel and declared. In fact, we have the original swearing off terrorism, statement by President Harry Truman Mitchell said. He did not on display here today.” say what incentives, if any, Obama also made it clear, however, that he sees the alliance as part of Rabbi Alysa Stanton talks with Gail Reimer of the Jewish Women’s he had to offer Hamas, America’s strategy of outreach to the Archive at the Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at the but the expectation that White House, May 27, 2010. Credit: Jewish Women’s Archive he could wear Hamas world. than the thief-in-the-night down is new. Bush administration policy “My administration is renewing tion American leadership around the world -- encounter the two had when tensions was to theorize that Hamas would be welcome if it changed colors, but to operstrengthening old alliances and forging were at their highest in March. But the president is also hosting ate on the practical assumption that it was new ones, defending universal values Authority President incapable of doing so and to instead while ensuring that we uphold our values Palestinian here at home,” he said. “In fact, it’s our Mahmoud Abbas on June 9, and in both machinate Hamas’ replacement with common values that leads us to stand cases Obama has made it clear that he Palestinian moderates. Mitchell was just part of what seems a with allies and friends, including the State wants to advance the “proximity” talks currently underway to direct Israeli- never-ending effort in recent weeks to of Israel.” simultaneously stay on message but to The dual message -- closeness to Israel Palestinian talks. It’s a message that his administration is win over the Jewish community. Laura coupled with global outreach -- has characterized the recent “charm offensive” taking to Jewish audiences, and aggres- Rozen of Politico this week reported that launched by the White House in the wake sively. His top Middle East negotiator, Robert Wexler, a former Florida of the recent tensions with Israel. Obama George Mitchell, this week chose a fund- Continued on page 4
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
June 11, 2010
Welcome to Obama’s Jewish America
Spektor had to breathe deeply before starting. Continued from page 3 congressman who has a high Jewish establishment pro- Prodded by a nod and a grin from Michelle Obama, she file and whose views on peace coincide with Obama’s, is attacked her first song, “Us,” with lyrics suggestive of under consideration to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Jewish frustration at coping with how others define Jewish federation leaders who flew in from across the Jews: “They made a statue of us and put it on a mouncountry for a Jewish Federations of North America brief- taintop/ Now tourists come and stare at us, blow bubing got meetings with some of Obama’s closest advisers, bles with their gum, take photographs for fun.” There were military veterans, guided to their seats by including Mitchell and Dennis Ross, the top Iran policy servicemen in white dress uniforms. There were athletes, official at the White House. The administration’s Jewish Heritage Month festivities including Darra Torres, the five-time Olympic gold amounted to a bald emotional appeal to Jewish soft medalist swimmer whose son snapped a photo of her with Obama. (“Can spots: The National you beat your mom Archives ran a session yet?” Obama shouted on stereotype-defying the strapping at Jews in the military teenager, who murduring the Civil War. mured “No.”) The Library of Jewish astronauts Congress celebrated were invited, a White Jewish comediennes. House official said, Nowhere were the but none could make emotions more evident it -- although one, -- yet more controlled Garrett Reisman, car-- than at the White ried Obama’s proclaHouse reception. mation into space The Heritage Month aboard the last miswas established after sion of space shuttle legislation passed in Atlantis, which 2006 by Rep. Debbie returned to Earth this Wasserman Schultz week. (D-Fla.), then a freshThere were man in Congress. In Regina Spektor performs on a grand piano at the Jewish American establishment journalyears, Heritage Month celebration at the White House, May 27, 2010. subsequent Credit: The Jewish Channel ists, like Roger Cohen Jewish Democrats fumed that President George W. Bush did nothing more and Thomas Friedman of The New York Times, but to mark the month than issue a proclamation. After such there was also Heeb publisher Josh Newman, and Doug griping, it raised eyebrows last year when Obama did not Bloomfield, an irreverent Democrat who has for years mark the month, so Thursday’s reception was seen as been excoriating conservatives in Jewish weeklies. There inevitable. When Obama pronounced this the “first- was Michael Adler, the Florida philanthropist and vice ever” such reception, Wasserman Schultz leaned back in chairman of the board of trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America, but there was also Eli her chair and beamed at her congressional colleagues. Rabbi Alysa Stanton of Greenville, N.C., the first black Winkelman, the college student who founded Challah woman rabbi, read the poem by Emma Lazarus for Hunger, which brings students together to bake inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. When she smiled and challahs which are sold to raise funds for Darfur. The star of the afternoon was Koufax, the legendary raised her arm to pronounce, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free,” there Dodger southpaw who made baseball history by pitchwas a gasp: A descendant of immigrants brought to ing four no-hitters and who made Jewish history by bailAmerica in chains was celebrating those who fled ing on a World Series game because it fell on Yom Kippur. bondage and sought its freedom. “We’ve got senators and representatives, we’ve got Regina Spektor, the “anti-folk” singer who performed on a grand piano, presented a similar contrast: An alter- Supreme Court justices and successful entrepreneurs, native music favorite of New York cosmopolitans who rabbinical scholars, Olympic athletes -- and Sandy refuses to shake off her provincial roots as the little 9- Koufax,” Obama said. “Sandy and I actually have someyear old refusenik who came here in 1989 and who thing in common -- we are both lefties. He can’t pitch famously told New York magazine when her career was on Yom Kippur; I can’t pitch.” taking off: “The Jewish question -- it still exists.”
Dads and teddy bears wanted for great time at the Kripke Library!
by SHERRIE SAAG Center for Jewish Education The Kripke Library’s Family Fun Series comes to a close with its final event on Sunday, June 13, 2-3 pm. In a move away from its traditional Jewish and holiday- themed programming, the library will celebrate Father’s Day one week early with a special program just for Dads. “Kids of all ages should make a date with Dad and a favorite teddy bear and join us at the library for a wonderful picnic story time,” said Gary Katz, Library Administrator. “In honor of summer and Dad’s everywhere, let’s have great fun in the library.” Expect to be inundated with all things “bear”. Games, stories, bear hunts, and even the picnic food will all be bear-related. So bring along your favorite teddy bear and expect some beary-good fun on June 13. This event is free and open to all members of the community. For more information on this event, contact Gary Katz at 334.6463 or gkatz@jewishomaha.org.
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June 11, 2010
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Students pay homage to history’s heroes through contest
by THERESE VAUGHN In America, abolitionist, humanitarian and suffragist Harriet Tubman conducted slaves to freedom, earning the title “Moses” … In Nazi-occupied Poland, Irena Sendler faced imprisonment, torture and death for smuggling children out of the Warsaw Ghetto … In Rwanda, Forensic anthropologist Clea Koff worked to identify victims of genocide and prosecute perpetrators, giv-
Saint Clair High School, Pittsburgh, PA; Finalists: Be the One to Cause a Storm, Alexis Schinco, Skutt Catholic High School; From Journalist to Moral Hero, Jessica Ahrens, Burke High School; Cowardly? Not the Lion From Panjshir, Robia Qasimyar, Burke High School. ADL Education Director Jessica Gall, who coordinates the essay contest, remarked on the exceptional quality of the students’ efforts. “This year’s decision was especially difficult because the stu-
Local contest winners and honorable mention students accept their awards with Naomi Hageman, left, Jessica Ahrens, Robia Qasimyar, Alie Kloefkorn, Greg Willcockson, Deb Suttle, Bea Karp, Rachel Soukup, Lauren Meyer, Alexis Schinco, Linda Mann, and Harold Mann. ing “voice to people silenced by their own dents really worked hard to connect the theme of moral courage to their own pergovernment” … These are just a few of the morally sonal struggles.” All participants were celebrated at an courageous examples regional high school students honored in their winning essays Awards Ceremony this month in the for the 2010 Tribute to the Rescuers Legislative Chambers of the Omaha Essay Contest. Offered through the Building. Former Nebraska State Senator Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE) Deb Suttle, trustees of the Frohm and Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Foundation Linda and Harold Mann and annual essay contest uses the lens of the Chair of the Governance Board for the Shoah to explore issues of humanity, Institute for Holocaust Education Gloria moral courage and social justice. Kaslow were in attendance to recognize “We’re pleased to be able to offer this the students. First place winners read opportunity,” IHE Executive Director their inspiring essays and local Holocaust Beth Seldin Dotan said. “The contest has survivor Bea Karp was the honored run for eight years now, and to see today’s keynote speaker. young people make connections between Bea Karp, born in Lauterbach, West the Holocaust and contemporary issues Germany in 1932, is a child survivor of of prejudice is very moving, but proves the Holocaust. Bea’s family witnessed the we still have a lot to learn and to teach.” horrific Kristallnacht (Night of Broken With subjects spanning continents and Glass) pogrom of November 9, 1938 and epochs, the essays all attest to the power of was ultimately taken from their home to a Holocaust education to help young people work camp in Gurs, France. Bea and her learn about individuals who have stood up sister were rescued from the camps by the against the dark forces of history and what French Jewish Underground, the OSE. that has meant for future generations. She was moved 14 times until she and her This spring, as in past years, a group of sister were placed in a convent in nearly 30 volunteers from Omaha busi- Milleaux, France. nesses and schools gathered at the Jewish Feeling a special connection to the essay Community Center to read the nearly 500 contest, Bea spoke on the moral courage entries from area high schools including of rescuers in her own life. “If my mother Omaha, Fremont, Westside and Lincoln had not had the strength to send my sister public and private districts as well as entries and I with the OSE, if the members of the from California, Georgia, Maryland, Minn- OSE had not risked their own lives numeresota, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. ous times to take us to safety and if the sisThe judges selected six winning essays and ters in the Milleaux convent had not ultifour honorable mention essays in the 9- mately protected us, neither I, my sister or 10th and 11-12th grade categories. children would be here today,” she said. Top winners 11-12th Grade Category: About the Institute for Holocaust First Place: Moral Courage in Good Times Education: IHE has served the communiand Bad, Alie Kloefkorn, Lincoln ty for nearly a decade bringing Holocaust Southwest High School; Second Place: educational resources, workshops and 175, Lauren Meyer, Burke High School; community events to Nebraska and the Third Place: Talking Bones, Rachel surrounding area. Hundreds of teachers Soukup, Burke High School; Finalists: have participated in trainings and close to The North Star, Sara Bower, JLM Great 100,000 students in Nebraska, Iowa and Neck North High School, Great Neck, Kansas have been impacted through IHE. NY; Tadeusz Borowski: Recounting to For more information, call 334.6575 or Avoid Repeating, Jordana Schelberg, go to www.ihene.org. JLM Great Neck North High School, About the Anti-Defamation League: Great Neck, NY; Father Pierre Benoit: A For nearly 100 years, the AntiModel in Courage, Doreen Xu, Baylor Defamation League has led the fight School, Powder Springs, GA. against anti-Semitism, bigotry and disTop winners 9th-10th Grade Category: crimination. Today, the ADL is the First Place: Harriet Tubman, Greg world’s premier human relations/civil Willcockson, Burke High School; Second rights organization and the market leader Place: Irena Sendler: Voice for the in anti-bias education and diversity proChildren, Naomi Hageman, Duchesne gramming. For more information on Academy; Third Place: The Death March ADL Plains States, call 333.1303 or go to of Janusz Korczak, Chris Besser, Upper www.regions.adl.org/plains-states.
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June 11, 2010
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Rabbi Azriel to spend summer sabbatical abroad by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will spend the summer months on sabbatical studying in Jerusalem and teaching in Kosovo where a former Temple Israel Religious School student invited the rabbi to spend a couple of weeks. In July, Rabbi Azriel will attend the Rabbinic Torah Study Seminar (RTS), an annual ten-day study program at the Shalom Hartman Institute. The seminar enriches rabbis of all denominations and nurtures their capacity to inspire their communities, excite them by the Jewish tradition, and motivate them in their quest for meaning, according to the RTS website. The program brings together 100 rabbis from around the world each summer to study in a thought-provoking pluralistic framework. Under the guidance of renowned contemporary thinkers, participants explore Jewish texts, teachings, and traditions, and work with colleagues to integrate their learning into the context of their own rabbinic practices. This summer’s RTS theme is “Engaging Israel: Jewish Values and the Dilemmas of Nationhood.” While in Israel, Rabbi Azriel also plans to visit Omaha’s Partnership 2000 area in the Western Galilee. In August, he’ll head northwest to Kosovo where Rand Engel, who grew up in Omaha, has lived since 1999. He’s the director of Balkan Sunflowers, an international grassroots organization that aids
Kosovo refugees. He originally went to Kosovo after seeing trains packed with people who were victims of ethnic cleansing campaigns aimed at Albanians in 1999. The train images reminded him of the Holocaust. Since that time, Balkan Sunflowers has built city parks, run Kosovo-wide environmental campaigns, and sponsored youth video programs resulting in opportunities for young people to work as filmmakers and show their films at the Sundance and the Cannes Film Festivals. Engel said some of the possibilities for Rabbi Azriel in Kosovo include exchanges of views, wisdom, and experiences while meeting with youth staff in Balkan Sunflowers’ learning centers, holding informal dialogues with members of other faith groups, visiting with Sufis, who, Engel said, “are often considered a mystical stream in Islam…with traditions going back at least four centuries.” Some other possible exchanges could be chatting with youth who participate in an annual film festival in Prizren, visiting and sharing Shabbat with members of the Jewish community in Prizren and in Skopje, Macedonia. Engel emphasized, “It is just a great delight to me that Rabbi Azriel is interested to visit Kosovo and would use some of his precious time of sabbatical for the visit.” Until Rabbi Azriel’s return Sept. 1, Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet will be at Temple Israel and can be contacted at 556.6536.
ORGANIZATIONS NEBRASKA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, July 18 at 3 p.m. in the JCC auditorium. On the agenda is the installation of the new board of directors and a new oral history documentary by Dr. Ben Nachman. Also on the schedule will be the presentation of the Mary Fellman Award and the Shirley Berman Volunteer Award. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS One of the country’s best zoos has gotten even better. Calvin Sisson, Development Director of the Henry
Doorly Zoo Foundation will tell us about the new 10.6 million dollar Madagascar building on Wednesday, June 16, noon at the Blumkin Home. The program is FREE. An optional buffet lunch costs $13; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list contact Jenny a 334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.
LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us every Thursday afternoon from 1-3 p.m. in the social hall of the JCC. For information call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.
U.S. Muslim-Jewish engagement growing COMING 07.16.10 SPACE RESERVATION 07.05.10 CAMERA READY DEADLINE 07.07.10 Contact your advertising representative to advertise in this very special edition.
ALLAN Handleman 402.334.6451 ahandleman@jewishomaha.org
by JTA NEWS STAFF SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) -- MuslimJewish engagement is growing in the United States, with the greatest expansion during the past two years, a new report found. Even as the political situation in the Middle East continues to heat up, more groups dedicated to Muslim-Jewish education, dialogue and joint social action are being formed, according to the report issued by the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement in Los Angeles, a partnership between Hebrew Union College, Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation and the University of Southern California. The data were collected from two surveys conducted in November 2009. More than 70 percent of these groups have emerged since 9/11. Of those, half were created in the past 24 months. Half of the groups have no staff or budget, demonstrating a heavy reliance on volunteerism. Fifty percent of existing
groups raise less than $250 a year, according to the report. The major focus of these MuslimJewish initiatives is religious and social dialogue, followed by social action work and participating in each other’s rituals. A minority reported focusing on political dialogue. Many of the newest groups emerged from the Weekend of Twinning, a twoyear-old project of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding that has brought together more than 200 mosques and synagogues for weekends of joint activity. Seventy percent of the mosques and synagogues that took part in the 2009 weekend say they have developed ongoing relationships. The Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement is the only academic think tank and resource center in North America specifically dedicated to MuslimJewish relations.
DEADLINE NOTICE Please send all articles, photos and ads to the Press by Thursdays, 9 a.m., for all regular issues. Early deadlines will be announced in advance. Questions? Call 334.6448.
June 11, 2010
Touching scenes as hospital saves lives in Haiti; U.N. officials praise Israeli effort
thought of--or had heard about—the Israeli hospital operby GEORGE BAUMGARTEN United Nations Correspondent ation. He told me, movingly, that, “It is quite unique that The great tremor (later rated at 7.0 on the Richter the Israeli government had dispatched this medical team Scale) hit Port-au-Prince at 4:53 p.m. on January 12. to the disaster area—that we very much appreciate. This is Within days, aid missions from around the world and a demonstration of their commitment to humanity”. Such praise has been rare from the U.N., which often whole flotillas of ships and planes were headed toward the stricken city. But few could match the speed and seems bent on accusing the Jewish state of deeds ranging scope of the effort mounted by Israel. And few have gar- from oppression to war crimes (Although there are varinered the praise…most rare at the U.N. for an Israeli ous Jewish senior officials of all nationalities, and former Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman was elected a few effort, especially from its very highest officials. By Thursday evening on January 14, Israel time, the years ago as a Vice-President of the General Assembly— Israel medical mission for Haiti was ready to depart. It the first Israeli so elected since Abba Eban in 1952.) The now-renowned Israeli field hospital operation in consisted of two Boeing 747 jumbo jets and 220 medical personnel, to fly directly to the stricken Haitian cap- Port-au-Prince lasted a scant two weeks. At the end of ital and operate a field hospital built by the Norwegians. that period, the Israeli medical team departed, leaving We journalists began to get reports and briefings the the operation of the facility to others. They did, however, take with them several very next day, a scant 15 “guests”, six Haitian chilhours or so after the earthdren were being taken back quake struck. The Secretaryto Israel (one immediately, General spoke to us in the the others to follow), for Secretariat lobby, briefing us highly-specialized treatment on the situation. There were by the organization “Save A scores of U.N. personnel Child’s Heart”, based at missing, especially in the colWolfson Medical Center in lapse of their headquarters at Holon, outside Tel Aviv. the Roi Christophe Hotel. Fully three months after the The final tally would be 101 disaster, Ban ki-moon’s lost, the greatest single day’s loss of personnel in the Within hours after the quake, the Israeli mission was under- deputy, Asha-Rose Migiro of U.N.’s history. They includ- way. The operation lasted two weeks.Credit: Dr. Tsvi Sheleg Tanzania, went to see for hered one staffer well known to this correspondent. A strik- self the scope of the damage, and the extent of the recovingly beautiful woman of just 31 from Quebec City, she ery so far. Migiro, a highly experienced and articulate forhad accepted a two-year assignment as spokesperson for mer Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs, had been MINUSTAH (the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti). picked by Mr. Ban to be his second-in-command. She said A few days after the earthquake, we began to get live of the Israeli hospital, “…the existence of this hospital was reports from the temporary U.N. headquarters (located really, really highly appreciated. And I think we saw that at the airport) by videophone. It was revealed that Port- maybe a kid or two were named after…you know, recogau-Prince was a city of some 2,000,000 people, on or nizing the role of this hospital. I think that one of the near a known fault line, with absolutely no building babies was called ‘Israel’, in recognition of this”. The U.N.’s Department of Public Information (DPI, codes whatsoever. But already then there were reports of the incredible work and often-miraculous surgeries done whose first chief was a Chilean Jew, Benjamin Cohen) by Israeli doctors in their temporary field hospital, and even featured the Israeli medical team, in a Haiti proof surgeons, nurses and their efforts working around the gram on its television station (UNTV), noting that clock to save lives, many, many of them young children. “…five patients died in the hospital, but -- as a sign of Needless to say, there were frightful numbers of ampu- hope -- three new babies were born”. tations, crush wounds and other heartbreaking cases. George Baumgarten has been an accredited correBut there were occasional miracles—children’s legs saved spondent at the United Nations for over ten years, and from amputation, adults kept alive despite horrible chest has served as Treasurer of the U.N. Correspondents’ injuries, and other stories far too numerous to retell. Association. A former travel agent, he has visited 133 Two weeks later, just as the Israeli medical team was countries outside the United States, and has personally about to depart for home, Secretary-General Ban made a survived—among other “episodes”—police riots in lightning visit to Port-au-Prince, to see for himself the suf- Chicago, an earthquake in Pago Pago, and a terrorist fering, heartbreak and salvation. I asked Ban what he bombing in Manila. He lives in New York City.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Beth El rabbi honored by Jewish Theological Seminary by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator
Rabbi Levin, center, is presented with a doctorate by Dr. Arnold M. Eisen, Chancellor of JTS, left, and Rabbi Daniel Nevins, Dean of the JTS Rabbinical School; also in attendance was Rabbi Gilah Dror, President of the Rabbinical Assembly, seated behind and to the left of Rabbi Levin. Beth El Synagogue’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin was honored last month by the Jewish Theological Seminary, which bestowed on him an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. Rabbi Levin, who received the honor during a special academic convocation in New York City, was among a distinguished cadre of Conservative rabbis noted for their service as spiritual leaders for at least 25 years. During the event, Rabbi Levin was celebrated for his achievements and for his dedication and religious leadership in the cause of Conservative Judaism and the Jewish people. He was lauded for helping to “strengthen the work of Conservative congregations” in both the United States and Latin America; he was also recognized for his work with interfaith activities, and for having “touched and shaped countless Jewish lives.”
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June 22-27
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
June 11, 2010
Salutes... the Class of 2010!!! Jaime Abramson
Brittany Baines
Colin Joseph Belmont
Haleigh Brockman
Dayna Cohen
Dayna Michelle Epstein
Chloe Ann Ginsburg
Molly Goldberg
Scott Goldberg
Benjamin David Gordon
Rebecca Ann Gordon
Anna Grossman
Hannah Grossman
Sarah M. Hoberman
Steffany Hutchings
Whittany Hutchings
Justin Idelman
Caroline Juster
Devorah Katzman
Zachariah Knecht
Anna Kohll
Jeffrey Libov
Rachel Lundholm
Ben Merliss
Rachel Meyer
Lev Nachman
Aviva Rose Oberst-Marshall
Daniel Pachman
JAIME ABRAMSON Sheri and Mike Abramson
BRITTANY BAINES Brigitte and Kenny Baines
Millard North Indiana University
REBECCA ANN GORDON
Elkhorn High School University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ANNA GROSSMAN
Sandy and Bruce Gordon
Andrea and Cary Grossman
Millard North University of Kansas-Lawrence Millard North University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ZACHARIAH KNECHT Jennifer Rosenblatt and Kurt Knecht
ANNA KOHLL Janet and David Kohll
COLIN JOSEPH BELMONT Jill and Mark Belmont
Millard North University of Kansas-Lawrence
HANNAH GROSSMAN Stephanie and Barry Grossman
Central Colorado State University
JEFFREY LIBOV Marina and Dmitriy Libov
HALEIGH BROCKMAN Julie and Dr. David Brockman
DAYNA COHEN Karla and David Cohen
Lincoln Southeast Brandeis University Millard West University of Minnesota
SARAH M. HOBERMAN Tiffany and the late Michael Hoberman
STEFFANY HUTCHINGS Lisa and Kyle Hutchings
DAYNA MICHELLE EPSTEIN Jodi and Gary Epstein
Millard North University of Missouri
WHITTANY HUTCHINGS Lisa and Kyle Hutchings
CHLOE ANN GINSBURG Cheri and Larry Ginsburg
Millard North Drake University
JUSTIN IDELMAN Jill and George Idelman
MOLLY GOLDBERG Wendy and David Goldberg
Westside Williams College
CAROLINE JUSTER Sara Juster and Sorin Juster
SCOTT GOLDBERG Cindy and Bruce Goldberg
Westside Middlebury College
BENJAMIN DAVID GORDON Millard North Sandy and Bruce Gordon University of Nebraska-Lincoln
DEVORAH KATZMAN Shani and Rabbi Mendel Katzman
Millard North University of Nebraska-Omaha
RACHEL LUNDHOLM Janet Lundholm
Millard North University of Nebraska-Omaha
BEN MERLISS
Millard North University of Nebraska-Omaha
RACHEL MEYER
Burke University of Nebraska-Omaha
LEV NACHMAN
Westside Northwestern University Beth Rivkah Beis Chaya Mushka Seminary in Tzfat, Israel
Lincoln Southeast University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Skutt University of Arizona-Tucson Millard North University of South Dakota Lincoln North Star College of St. Mary Lincoln Southeast
Lori Raphael and Andrew Merliss Johns Hopkins University
Marcie and Michael Meyer
Beth Staenberg and Gary Nachman
Millard North University of Kansas-Lawrence Westside University of Kansas-Lawrence
AVIVA ROSE OBERST-MARSHALL Millard North Ilka Oberst and Gary Marshall Loyola University-Chicago DANIEL PACHMAN Allison Latenser and Louis Pachman
Central University of Wisconsin
June 11, 2010
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 9
Shir Palmon
Aaron Michael Placzek
Brenna Robinson
Brianna Sadofsky
Julie Sadofsky
Josh Sideris
Marlee Skolkin
Joseph Slosburg
Jordan Jeffrey Slutzky
Rachel Stein
Zoe Vann
Harison S. Wiesman
NOT PICTURED ALEX TERRY Michele Marsh and John Terry
Brownell-Talbot University of Chicago
The Jewish Press is not responsible for those graduating seniors not included. If parents would like to submit an announcement for ‘In the News’, we will run it when space is available. Please send via e-mail (with photo of at least 100K, attached as a .jpg) to jpress@jewishomaha.org, or to the office at: Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Include: name of graduating senior, name(s) of parent(s), high school from which student graduated and college which the student will attend.
Katy Williss
SHIR PALMON Roni Reiter-Palmon and Ophir Palmon
Ralston University of Nebraska-Lincoln
JOSH SIDERIS Jill and Gus Sideris
MARLEE SKOLKIN Westside Kimberly and Matthew Placzek Indiana University Westside
Kimberly and Andrew Robinson University of Texas-Austin
BRIANNA SADOFSKY Kelli and Paul Sadofsky
JULIE SADOFSKY Linda and Rod Sadofsky
the Class of 2010!!!
TeenAge Editor: Lori Kooper-Schwarz
AARON MICHAEL PLACZEK
BRENNA ROBINSON
Salutes...
Papillion-LaVista University of Nebraska-Omaha Westside University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Andrea and Michael Skolkin
JOSEPH SLOSBURG Martha and David Slosburg
JORDAN JEFFREY SLUTZKY Lesley and Jeff Slutzky
Elkhorn University of Nebraska-Omaha
RACHEL STEIN
Millard North Northwest Missouri State or University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ZOE VANN
Westside University of Pennsylvania
HARISON S. WIESMAN
Papillion-LaVista Metro Community College
KATY WILLISS
Mazal Tov, Dayna!
Diane and Richard Stein
Tom and Shohreh Vann and Leslie Vann
Millard North University of Nebraska-Lincoln Westside University of Colorado-Boulder
Westside
Cynthia Epstein and David Wiesman Washington University-St. Louis
Jennifer and David Williss
Lincoln HS Southeast Community College
Mazal Tov Ben & Becca! Having the 2 of you has been a double dose of everything: fun, excitement and craziness! We loved it all and love you both!
You are a source of comfort and joy. Weare proud to call you our daughter and sister. Love, Mom, Dad, Marc and Alyssa
Mom, Dad, Rachel, Russell, Shannon (Jameson & Delilah)
Mazal Tov, Josh!
Grow YOUR BUSINESS Advertise For advertising opportunities in the Jewish Press, call Allan Handleman at 402.334.6451 or email: ahandleman@jewishomaha.org
We are so proud of you! Thank you for being a wonderful son. With love, Mom and Dad
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
June 11, 2010
A distinguished group of lucky men BERT’S EYE VIEW by BERT LEWIS
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I’ve told you so much about my Dad throughout the years, I can’t think of much that would be new to you. You already know he loved doughnuts, blintzes, gefilte fish and babies -- oh yes, and baseball. I mean, when you know that about the man, what else can I say? So let’s do a different take on the old topic this time. Let me borrow, from myself, an idea I had when I wrote the Mother’s Day column 23 years ago. I guess it isn’t plagiarizing when you use your own words, is it? Ok. So we’ll change the gender, and see how that works. Let me address my message to the men who will celebrate their very first Father’s Day this year. As a father, that is. May I tell you a few simple facts? First of all, you’re going to deserve every one of those neckties you’ll receive, and each and every one of those linen handkerchiefs, to say nothing of every bottle of “after shave” and other men’s fragrances. Oh yeah. You’re going to earn every one of those gifts that wlll arrive on the third Sunday of every June. They will represent a lot of time, staring into space, wondering how you’re going to make ends meet when you get that addition to the family. Or times when you leave the pediatricians’s office, worrying about the possible test results, or even
when the kid gets older, the hours you don’t sleep trying to think: he could not possibly be this late! Those gifts could also be a form of payment for having to leave work in the middle of the day, because “both parents” are requested to meet with some school authority. Oh lord, you’ll feel like it’s you being summoned to the principal’s office! Now and then, one of the gifts might be to say “I’m sorry Dad”, about that dent in the fender of the new car. The NEW car! Then again, you’ll receive gifts that weren’t wrapped with a ribbon, but were among the best treasures anyone could have. Like sitting in the school auditorium and hearing the kid’s name announced with the other high honors students. Man, that’s kvell time. And are you the one called to help with the Triganometry homework? If you are, I hope that child excels in his class because then you get bragging rights. Hey, that’s only fair! Listen, if you’re a brand new father, you’re probably young enough to remember all the things you did between babyhood and adulthood that made your poor Dad go bald. You can think back and probably understand what I’m trying to tell you. In the meantime, if this is your first Father’s Day, welcome to the club. It’s a very distinguished group of very lucky men who make up this club. Oh, it’s true - you’ll pay for your thrills, but trust me. It’s worth everything it costs. There’s no fraternity on the planet with greater reason for its collective pride. Which brings me to my final thought on the subject. HAPPY FATHER’S DAY. Bert Lewis can be reached at BertLewis39@aol.com.
Exchanging gifts on Yom Ha’Dad by EDMON J. RODMAN LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- Does it take a special gift to be a Jewish father? Father’s Day is coming, Yom HaDad, and it’s a good time while we are unwrapping the heartfelt gifts made by our school-age children, or opening the card or tie from our wives, to think about what it means to be a Jewish father. I mean a real Jewish mensch dad. Not a Coen brothers black comedy “Serious Man” Jewish dad, or a Krusty the clown Jewish caricature rabbi dad on “The Simpsons,” but a real life, change-the-diaper to off-to-college kind of Jewish dad. What does it mean to be one of those? A Jewish dad, an abba, being a fraternal member of an order that has survived by questioning everything, turns the gift ritual around and asks: What gifts have I given? According to the Talmud (Kiddushin 29a), “A father is obligated to do the following for his son: to circumcise him, to redeem him if he is a first born, to teach him Torah, to find him a wife, and to teach him a trade. Others say: teaching him how to swim as well.” For a daughter, modern obligations for most Jews include most of the above minus the “redeeming” and a simchat bat, or baby naming, instead of a brit. And don’t forget the Code of Jewish Law’s “A father must provide his daughter with appropriate clothing and a dowry.” For a Jewish man contemplating fatherhood, or already there, this is a daunting gift list. So, considering my three sons, and taking the Talmud as a Jewish father’s gift list, I am going to review past purchases to see how I have done. Have there been any bargains or returns? Besides my eternal wisdom that black cherry soda goes great with latkes, what Jewish gifts have I given? Gift No. 1: the bris. There was shaky moment of indecision when the mohel asked me, “Would you like to perform the mitzvah yourself?” Now there’s a gift. At the time I was working extensively with creating the paper mechanical workings of children’s pop–up books. It was exacting work, requiring dexterity with very sharp cutting blades. In a morning full of great expectations and Jewish life-cycle buzz I remember thinking: How hard could this be? Fortunately I listened to a still small voice that said something like, “Get real. Set up a college fund instead.” Gift No. 2: the redeeming. Our firstborn was one half of a duo of fraternal twins. He is proudly six minutes older than his brother. At the pidyon ha’ben, the redemption of the firstborn, I get asked another question, this time by the rabbi: “Which do you prefer, to give me your firstborn or to redeem him?” Though asked rhetorically, I briefly consider the proposition, and then hand over five silver dollars. One month in, I am a much invested Jewish dad. Gift No. 3: “Teaching him Torah.” Here’s where the long journey into the heart of abba-ness begins. Sending our kids to preschool at the local JCC was the first step.
We still use the menorahs they made from large metal hex nuts. Later we decided to send our sons to an afterschool Hebrew program at a nearby synagogue. The gift included occasional chats with the principal on their progress and “exuberance,” as well as occasional “groan and moan” commentary from my kids. But they learned, and all three had bar mitzvahs in a smaller, minyan setting, where things like the importance of showing up, listening and leading are much more pronounced. They graduated to a unique citywide Los Angeles Hebrew high school program where students examine Jewish values, study Jewish stereotypes in the media, and are encouraged to learn and lead services; all gifts with a lifetime guarantee. Gift No. 4: “Find him a wife.” For anyone who has helped someone to find a wife or husband, this is a true gift. Though I don’t plan on finding any of my sons a wife, I have supplied a certain amount of commentary on what religion that wife should be. What’s my argument? Basically that sharing my life with a Jewish woman has brought compassion and a sense of “shalom bayit,” peacefulness, into my life. For my kids, only time will tell if this is a gift that will keep on giving. Gift No. 5: “Teach him a trade.” Colleges, trade schools and the armed services already do much of the work here. That leaves the Jewish dad with giving his children, I think, the greater gift: teaching them once a week not to punch the clock. Call the gift “applied slackeristics.” On Shabbat, our kids saw us stop for a day, not answer the phone and just hang out. The “trade” here is learning to leave time not just for the sayings of the fathers, but the mothers, daughters, and sons, too. As for that last item, “Teaching him how to swim,” a JCC swimming instructor performed those duties. As for me, the Jewish dad, swimming against the cultural tide -- I’m still taking lessons. Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT On Saturday, June 12, from 7-10 p.m., the public is invited to Aksarben Village, at 67th and Center, for entertainment in the Park. There will be face painting, a playground and water feature for the kids, a beer garden hosted by Jones Bros, food from Godfather’s Pizza and Wohlner’s, and a performance by the Cowboy Dave Band.
Catch Beauty and the Beast: the musical at the Orpheum Theater from June 22 through June 27. Tickets begin at $25 and are available at the Holland Performing Arts Center, online at TicketOmaha.com, or call 402.345.0606 for more information.
June 11, 2010
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
Temple Dad’s Involved, because “every kid needs a father”
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “I think it’s essential that children have a father figure, because every kid loves Mom, but every kid needs a father,” philosophized Jeff Slutzky, father of three. “My parents were very active in my life growing up which was irritating at the time, but only after having your own children, do you realize that being part of your child’s life is gratifying.”
kitchen for the past few years.” “Jeff is a pleasure to partner with on projects,” emphasized OTYG Advisor Amy Katz. “He’s the epitome of a perfect ‘silent partner!’ As food chair for our spaghetti dinner fund raiser, he just calmly made all the arrangements for food and cooking, and then did it!” Dennis DePorte, Temple executive director, agreed that “Jeff is a huge asset to the kitchen team. His help, whether it’s serving dinner on Religious School nights or on deli night, is much appreciated.” Temple Religious School Coordinator Lori Bennett added that Slutzky “is always here with his kids. The Slutzkys are really an involved family. They’re always willing to help out with anything involving their kids like driving and chaperoning.” As a family, the Slutzkys attend all major holiday services, life cycle events, Religious School, and “whenever we can make it,” to Temple. “I’m always trying to figure out how to get to more Shabbat services -- at least once a month,” Jeff added. “We’re always with family for the
High Holy Days and others. If we’re hosting, I’m generally doing the majority of the cooking, and Lesley coordinates everything else.” Another Slutzky family interest is sports which are “very important to all three kids,” said Jeff. “I have coached them for many years for multiple sports which gave me a chance to pass on knowledge and spend time with them. Frankly, my kids are getting older and trying to get everyone together at any given time is like waiting for Haley’s Comet, but I try to spend time with each of them.” Jeff and Jordan got together as teammates, as they always do, just last month on the Temple Men’s Club softball team. Jeff confided that he isn’t “exactly sure” from where his sense of parenting comes. “I’m still trying to figure out what I’m doing. I suppose I’m the typical father: strong, stern, and sympathetic when needed. I have always aspired to be the type of parents my mother and father were, but some things are just impossible to attain.” His kids might disagree.
Berlin Jews rally support for Israel on Facebook
The Slutzky family: Jordan, left, Jeff, Justin, front: Lesley, left, and Alexis. His parents were Charles and Adele Slutzky. Jeff grew up in Dundee and attended Central High School. He and wife Lesley are parents of Justin, 21, Jordan, 17, and Alexis, 15. Justin works for InfoUSA fulltime and attends Metropolitan Community College. Jordan just graduated from Papillion La Vista South High School, works part-time for Baker’s and will follow his brother to Metro. Alexis will be a junior at Papillion La Vista South. “I work from home quite a bit,” explained Jeff who is an information technologies manager at Affinitas Corporation. “While I work quite a few hours, Affinitas is certainly ‘family friendly.’ They were extremely accommodating while my mother was deteriorating and in hospice as well as when my father was deathly ill.” Jeff and Lesley joined Temple Israel 18 years ago, “because Temple was very welcoming. Lesley converted a few years later, and we have nothing but fond memories of Temple. Justin and Jordan have both graduated from Religious School at Temple, and Alexis certainly will.” The Slutzky kids have traveled on high school trips sponsored by Temple Israel and OTYG and been active “at one time or another” in BBYO and Temple youth groups. Jeff is likely to be found in the kitchen at Temple. “I volunteer for any activity that has to do with the kitchen. My true love is cooking and baking desserts.” Check out his cheesecakes! “I help with serving dinner for Religious School, have been food chairman for the annual OTYG Spaghetti Dinner, and have worked at deli night in the
by JTA NEWS STAFF BERLIN (JTA) -- Young Jews in Berlin are trying to rally support for Israel among their friends by using Facebook. Dima Kletsel, 28, of Berlin, launched the campaign with several friends on May 31, encouraging Facebook contacts to change their profile image to a logo featuring the Israeli flag and the words “We Stand with Israel, now and forever.” According to Kletsel, the campaign has taken off fast, spreading among friends of friends, from Germany to the former Soviet Union, to England and elsewhere. Though he could not determine how many had permanently or temporarily changed their profile image,
Kletsel said he had received numerous responses, both positive and negative. “A few non-Jewish friends called and said ‘You are crazy, do you think Israel is right?’ I said of course, and it started a discussion,” he told JTA Kletsel said he was inspired by a “nonsense” Facebook campaign last year in which girls shared the color of their underwear with each other. The media picked up the story, he said. “If even nonsense can make waves, then what if we start something that is not nonsense?” he said. “I am very pro-Israel and I cannot do a lot, and this is really almost nothing. But if everyone would do this almost nothing, it would be great.”
IN THE NEWS Dr. Ali Doyle, daughter of Dick and Martha Lerner, grand-daughter of Ruth and Irwin Goldenberg and the late Helen and Joe Lerner, will receive an award for “Humanism and Excellence in Teaching,” at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, from SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, where she is a resident. According to Dr. Lynn M. Cleary, Senior Associate Dean for Education, “The Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Awards recognizes residents who excel in humanistic skills both at the bedside of the patient and with the learners under their supervision. Sponsored by
the Arnold Gold Foundation, the awardees are nominated by students, faculty, and/or residents, and chosen by the third year class.” Dr. Doyle is one of six residents to receive this award.
Evan Saltzman of Riverdale, NY received his MBA in Information Systems and Strategic Managemement from Pace University in New York City last month. He currently works for The Rockefeller Group as the IT Manager of Client Support and Business Continuity Coordinator. He has been with the company for 8 years. He is the son of Lynne and Errol Saltzman of Omaha.
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Page 12
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
June 11, 2010
An extremely un-kosher story
by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press There were loud, violent threats; there was backstabbing, name-calling, and there were lawyers. Bickering back and forth, scandalous behavior, and big headlines. Most of all, there was trayf. Basically, it was everything you would expect from an average soap opera, minus the trayf. Except, this was no soap opera: this was the Bar Mitzvah of Zach Emanuel, son of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. The contributors of Y-net, the online arm of Israeli paper Yediot Ahronot, had a field day with it all. The first thing that happened was the by now infamous visit to a restaurant in Eilat, where, according to that newspaper, the Emanuels enjoyed the calamari, and stuck the Israeli Tourism Ministry with the bill. This turned out to be not quite true, or maybe was a little true, but also a complete fabrication…oh, who knows. Once it’s out in the world, it doesn’t matter whether the Tourism representative vehemently denies it on the pages of the Jerusalem Post. That calamari took on a life of its own in the blogosphere. Then, extreme right wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir allegedly got the Jerusalem District Court involved in his attempt to call off the event. Ben-Gvir, according to Y-net, claimed the Davidson center (planned site of the Bar Mitzvah) didn’t have “the necessary permits”. It didn’t work. Next, Ben-Gvir was warned by Police to not verbally attack the Emanuels during the ceremony, or he would face arrest. Ben-Gvir replied: “Jerusalem Police will not shut me up”, thereby proving that he had apparently never met the Jerusalem Police. Once Rahm Emanuel and his family arrived in Jerusalem, much was said about the heavy security, which, if one had to believe the article published on May 27, was there for the sole reason of protecting the family against BenGvir and his fellow activists. They, in turn, had now moved on to calling Rahm Emanuel an anti-Semite. While they were at it, they also
verbally attacked President Obama. Why, nobody really knows. Maybe it seemed relevant at the time. At the very least people paid attention, and while Ben-Gvir was clashing, quite physically, with those aforementioned police officers, the Emanuels were meeting (and joking!) with Bibi Netanyahu. The next day, they met with President Peres, who gave young Zach a present, which reminded everybody that he was actually supposed to be the center of attention. Ben-Gvir received a present too: a restraining order, warning him to stay at least 500 feet away from the Emanuels (in case you’re wondering, that’s still within yelling distance. We actually tried this out at home). But wait, there’s more. On May 30, Y-net reported that Ben-Gvir said: “I am happy to spoil Rahm Emanuel’s celebration. As far as we are concerned, it’s important that he understands he is not welcome in Israel”. He then offered to host an alternative party for Zach, with “catering service and music, but without his father.” Oddly enough, young Zach did not take him up on his offer. The Bar Mitzvah itself went off without any trouble. The m e d i a reports sounded almost disappointed about that, but hey, you can’t always win. It was a good thing t o o , because the very next day –
and every day since – the newspapers really had something to talk about. All joking aside; since when is it appropriate to threaten to ruin a boy’s Bar Mitzvah ceremony because you don’t like his father’s policies? It’s not the first time, either: Richard Goldstone almost missed his grandson’s Bar Mitzvah in South Africa because people somehow confused the issue. We all make mistakes, we all make choices; it is impossible to live a full and meaningful life without making someone angry. As parents and grandparents, the idea that anybody, anywhere, could choose to take that out on our children and grandchildren is positively heinous. Where politicians are concerned, we sometimes forget that they are still human. It’s easier that way; we can complain, make fun of, and write mean things about them. But dehumanizing the politician – no matter how vehemently one may disagree with his or her policies – is not really the answer, and trying to get him to change his mind by ruining his kid’s bar Mitzvah is just not kosher. Kind of like that calamari.
FOCUS ON ISSUES by ALAN POTASH, ADL/CRC Regional Director Deciphering the news coverage on the flotilla incident has been one of the more challenging tasks of my work. It has not been so much the content nor the volume of information but the various media streams which we have available today. While mainstream outlets can be overly slow, the instantaneous and subjective nature of social media can lead to troubling inaccuracies. When I first learned the plans of the flotilla, I followed the mainstream news as I usually do and waited for updates. I soon realized that the world has turned into its own news outlet. Recalling the tragic attack in Mumbai, India, I remembered how I had followed events unfolding at the hotel and the Jewish center through Twitter—still in its infancy as a social networking tool but common amongst travelers to stay in touch with friends and family. During that tragic event, Twitter become the tool for instantaneous updates. And, we learned that those updates were not always accurate. While mainstream news of the flotilla was sluggish (by current standards), Jerusalem Post executive editor Amir Mizroch remarked on the widespread use of tweets, live streaming video, Facebook, blogs and websites in following the “peace activists.” Mizroch addressed
Jewish Press Board Andy Ruback, Vice President; Eric Dunning, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Past President; Daphne Pollak Alperson, Marc Brodkey; Phyllis Brown; Jason Epstein; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Jamie Meyerson; Michael Sigmond; Jim Simon; Dorothy Spizman; Nancy Wolf. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press . Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: editor@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org.
Social media and the flotilla the impact these sources were having on telling the narrative of this mission. So, I decided to search the social media sites to get updates. While I wasn’t surprised by what I read, I was shocked by how many people were following the story through electronic media. Millions of followers were receiving information that was extremely one sided and not friendly to Israel. I also knew that the Israeli army would not be updating via Twitter or Youtube but would rely on their spokespeople after the fact. Although, the IDF learned during the last Gaza war the power of Youtube and they were quick to upload videos of what happened on board the Mavi Marmara. The challenge for Israel and the army was these videos were used to defend their actions not inform or explain. It didn’t take long for the news of what took place aboard the Mavi Marmara to reach all corners of the world. This might explain how demonstrations in Europe and other parts of the world drew so much attention—millions had been following the news via social media and were prepared to demonstrate. Signs, posters, banners and Israeli flags for burning were at the ready. According to Mizroch, Turkish TV was streaming live from one of the ships in anticipation of a conflict by Israeli forces. Several other flotillas had made the voyage but did not gain any attention. The “peace activists” on this voyage knew that if they had arrived to the blockade and were directed to Ashdod, no one would pay attention.
(Founded in 1920) Bobbi Leibowitz President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper Emily Giller Press Intern
Armed with social media and prepared for a provocation, the organizers knew they were going to get the attention they wanted. According to an interview by NY Times reporters Sabrina Tavernise and Ethan Bronner, one of the activists on board was angry with the young men who fought the commandos. “I told him, just because you wanted to flex your muscles and drag three soldiers down, nine people ended up dead,” he said. So what was the challenge of all this information? The facts. In today’s very immediate release of information, there is a lack of factual information being transmitted and the reader/listener needs to interpret what is actually being conveyed. As I watched video after video from multiple sources and watched how the mainstream media interpreted it, often times getting it completely wrong and other times getting it right. But the difference is they used feeds and footage from people on site that were, in my opinion, trained to transmit their perspective not report on the event. What Mizroch addresses in his article is that the “peace activists” were able to transform the flotilla incident into a “flash” event. A flash event can occur when a person launches a request on a social networking site to their friends list about a happening and then the friends send to their friends and so on. This is how the story spread from one perspective without the facts being checked or sources considered, making it an international incident.
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Page 13
Obama and Netanyahu: a few unfortunate incidents, or a clash of worldviews? BEHIND THE H EADLINES by RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Obama’s Cairo speech and its equivalent invocations of Palestinian and Jewish sufferings. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s call for an unequivocal freeze: “Not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions.” The Joe Biden fiasco. And now the Obama administration’s venture into a nuclear-free Middle East. These are some of the snapshots of U.S.-Israel tensions. Like any album it has a corollary in the “good” photos: the first, friendly Netanyahu-Obama summit as leaders; the joint military exercises; the increased defense assistance; Obama’s nod last week to the centrality of Israel in celebrating Jewish America; and this week, the U.S.led efforts to keep Israel from taking the brunt of the blame for the clash aboard a Gaza aid boat that left nine dead. Which photo album tells the truth? That depends on the bigger picture: Are the foreign policies of the Netanyahu and Obama governments fundamentally at odds? The question, once posed at the conservative margins of foreign policy analysis, is moving into the mainstream and has rattled the upper echelons of Israel’s defense establishment. “Israel is gradually turning from an asset to the United States to a burden,” Meir Dagan, the chief of Israel’s Mossad spy service, reportedly told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday. The U.S. decision last week to back -albeit with a stack of qualifications -- an agreement among nations signed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to sponsor a Middle East conference in 2012 aimed at ridding the region of nuclear weapons raised alarms among conservatives and mainstream pro-Israel groups about the Obama administration’s overarching foreign policy and how it accommodates Israel’s security aims. Israel opposed the resolution because of its longstanding policy of delaying consideration of regional nuclear capabilities until a regional peace prevails. Raising the issue now -- and with it, Israel’s reputed nuclear arsenal -- distracts attention from Iran’s suspected effort to obtain a bomb. “What the U.S.’s vote in favor of the NPT review conference’s final anti-Israel
(and by default pro-Iranian) resolution makes clear is that under Obama, the U.S. is no longer Israel’s reliable ally,” wrote Caroline Glick, a conservative Jerusalem Post columnist. Such views are commonplace among conservatives who have launched broadsides against Obama’s foreign policy since before he was inaugurated, but are no longer limited to them. Foxman, the AntiAbraham Defamation League’s national director, framed his treatment of the same issue in a Jerusalem Post blog post titled “The U.S. vs. Israel.” “Another element in the historic relationship between the two countries has been eviscerated,” Foxman wrote, referring to U.S. policy dating back to the 1960s that made any mention of Israel’s reported nuclear arsenal off-limits. “What is becoming a pattern is that when the administration looks at America’s broader interests, it too often chooses to see the Israeli position as undermining those interests.” In an interview, Foxman spoke of difference in worldviews, and he said there was concern over whether the Obama administration’s foreign policy and worldview would include a special relationship between Israel and the United States. Peter Beinart, whose book The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris is being published this week, said the differences are not simply circumstantial but stem from fundamentally different outlooks. “You obviously have in” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Netanyahu and Obama two people who come at the world in fundamentally different ways,” said Beinart, who recently sparked much controversy with an essay criticizing U.S. Jewish groups for lending what he described as unconditional support for Israeli policies. “Obama is a Wilsonian in the sense that for countries to be prosperous and secure there needs to be cooperation, we’re all in it together -- as an American liberal he comes to it from that sense. Netanyahu is a classic conservative. He sees foreign policy as a never-ending struggle between good and evil, a Manichaean struggle in which the good guys would always have more power than the bad guys and little common interest.”
“You obviously have in” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Obama two people who come at the world in fundamentally different ways”
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If one accepts this paradigm, it could be used to explain differences on the nuclear issue: Obama has pushed a policy of reaching out to the Iranian regime diplomatically even while continuing apace with plans for sanctions to force the Islamic Republic to stand down from its nuclear plans. Israel prefers aggressive isolation, and its officials in recent weeks have suggested that the policy of outreach has failed. It also could apply to Palestinian peace talks. Netanyahu, for instance, has an allor-nothing approach to the issue of Palestinian incitement, seeking its utter eradication. White House officials have made it clear that they would like Israel to note some of the strides made by the Palestinian Authority in addressing the issue. George Mitchell, Obama’s chief envoy to talks in the region, has suggested that he might offer incentives to Hamas, the terrorist group, to join the talks if it renounces terrorism and accepts Israel’s right to exist. The question for Netanyahu’s government is whether it has the capacity to defer to the strategic vision of the world’s remaining superpower, said Ori Nir, the spokesman for Americans for Peace Now. The Obama administration sees advancing the peace process as a critical element of securing U.S. interests in the region, and Netanyahu’s cooperation -- particularly on settlement policy -- has been halting, Nir said. He added, “There’s a message being sent by the Obama administration, ‘Come on, you are our ally, you are our friend, we perceive you as an ally, we act toward you as an ally, and when we assert over and over again that Middle East peace is in our overall interest, you are not doing your utmost to cooperate with that policy.’” It would not be the first time that Israel has deferred to discomfiting U.S. policies. In the early 1950s, David Ben-Gurion adopted President Truman’s tough anticommunism stance, although it cost him the entree he longed for into the nonaligned movement. In the first Gulf War, Israel sacrificed a degree of deterrence, heeding the first President Bush’s demand that it not retaliate against Saddam Hussein’s Scud missile attacks. Some Israeli officials now say they downplayed concerns about what the second
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President Bush’s Iraq War would cost U.S. deterrence in the region. Foxman told JTA that Israel would accommodate Obama’s policies -- as long as it had the reassurance of unwavering U.S. support. “Israel will accommodate America’s interest, but will do so only where there’s a sense of trust and closeness,” he said. Foxman noted that it was under Bush in 2003 that the two-state solution was launched. “Ariel Sharon felt the closeness, so much so that he left his party,” the Likud. There were signs of that reassurance in successful U.S. efforts to keep a U.N. Security Council resolution from blaming Israel for the violence aboard a Turkishflagged ship attempting to break an Israeli blockade and deliver assistance to the Gaza Strip. Nine people among those aboard the ship died in the melee, and six Israeli soldiers were injured. The resolution blamed “acts” for leading to the violence, leaving ambiguous whether such acts referred to Israel’s raid or to the violent resistance it encountered. “The incident -- to the extent that the details are known -- has shown that U.S.Israel relations have proven resilient in the face of the first major international incident since the two parties worked to mend relations following the Jerusalem buildingpermit crisis in March,” said an analysis published by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a pro-Israel think tank. It was referring to the March announcement of building starts in Jerusalem during a visit by Vice President Biden that triggered weeks of U.S.-Israel tensions. There may yet be room for disagreements between the Obama and Netanyahu governments arising from the flotilla incident: The Obama administration has demanded of Israel a “full and credible” investigation. In a conference call Tuesday with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Yuli Edelstein, Israel’s information minister, scoffed at the idea, saying that Israel had done nothing wrong. Ultimately, Beinart suggested, Israel might have no choice except to defer to U.S. foreign policy aims. Its handling of the flotilla incident was typical, he said, of how Netanyahu had alienated the very powers that might offset the need for Israel’s dependence on the United States. “Strategically it makes more sense for Israel to have a broader set of strong relationships, but this government is particularly bad at cultivating these relations,” he said. “The relationship with Turkey has been frittered away.”
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
June 11, 2010
Candlelighting Friday, June 11, 8:40 p.m.
Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org
Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 www.OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org
Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244
Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, June 25: Services 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Toni Goodman, on Charity and Loving-kindness followed by an Oneg sponsored by Toni and Steve Goodman. The community is invited.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg. FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Alec Epstein, son of Eleanor and Alexander Fields and Laurie and Jeffrey Epstein will become Bar Mitzvah; Minha/ Ma’ariv, 8:50 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Bible Study SUNDAY: Discussion Group, 10 a.m. ANNUAL MEETING: Sunday, June 13, 1 p.m. New officers and board members will be installed; outgoing board members will be recognized; congregational awards will be presented. WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP: Meets on Sunday, June 13, 3 p.m. at the JCC for the film, Four Seasons Lodge. All Beth El classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
Temple Israel
Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org
The Neighborhood Prayer Group 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org
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Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush by Susan and Jim Polack in honor of Max’s Bar Mitzvah; “Guard Your Tongue,” “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up), one hour prior to Mincha every Shabbat; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit, sponsored by Ann Moskovits in honor of Max Polack’s Bar Mitzvah; Havdalah, 9:50 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.; Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m. Follow the Kollel at www.omahakollel.blog spot.com. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbis Around the World, 7:30 p.m.
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Minyan, 10 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. Mini-Mensch title will be awarded. Kiddush lunch follows. Join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.; W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 12:45 p.m. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.
MONDAY: JLI class, Beyond Never Again, How the Holocaust Speaks to Us Today, 7 p.m. Visit www.OChabad.com for more details or to register. THURSDAY: The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:50 p.m. Please contact Shevi@ochabad.com with any questions or to receive a guest pass. All programs are open to the entire community.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of Alexandra Murray, with oneg following hosted by the Murray family in her honor. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel. TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, 11:30 a.m. at China Buffet/ Mongolian Grill, 120 N. 66th St. Questions? Contact Stephanie Dohner. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Hebrew, led by Rabbi Emanuel starting July 6 for a four-week session. Please contact the Temple office, 402.435.8004 if you are interested in attending. There is no charge for the classes, but a $5 donation per session is appreciated to cover the costs of materials.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. led by Mainstreeters; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. led by Nancy Rips and Andy Greenberg. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg. THURSDAY: LOVE Board of Directors meeting, 7 p.m.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m. led by Cantor Shermet; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Cantor Shermet. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. TUESDAY: Executive Meeting, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: CSA delivery for shareholders, 4:30 p.m. at South entrance; WRJ Meeting, 7 p.m. at the home of Susie Norton.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP FRIDAY: Minyan, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study. TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch, 11:30 a.m. at China Buffet/ Mongolian Grill, 120 N. 66th St.
FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
Ask the Expert: Sunday Shabbat by: MYJEWISHLEARNING.COM Question: When did Reform Temples begin holding worship on Sundays, and what caused the shift from Saturday, which is the regular Jewish Sabbath? --Keith, CA Answer: So many of us are accustomed to our synagogues and temples holding their main services on Saturday that a lot of people don’t realize that wasn’t always the case. How did this happen? The story begins in Germany in the early 19th century, when Reform Judaism was just beginning to develop. Rabbi Samuel Holdheim was the head of a group of Reform rabbis in Berlin who were making many changes to Jewish practice. Among the changes he instituted was moving the main weekly service to Sunday at the synagogue where he worked. Germany at the time was observing a six-day work week, with Sunday as the day off. This meant it was nearly impossible for many people to attend services on Saturday because they had to be at work. Holdheim concluded that it was better to preserve the Jewish religion than to maintain the importance of a specific day. Observing Shabbat by attending services was
very important, he held -- so much so that it should happen even if that meant holding Shabbat services on a different day of the week. It’s important to note, however, that Holdheim only advocated the move to Sunday in places where Saturday services had outlived their sphere of usefulness and “succumbed in the struggle against the demands of life.” He treated his Sunday service as if it were Saturday in terms of liturgy, ritual and sermon. Holdheim’s policy was slowly adopted by a handful of Reform institutions in Germany, and when Reform Judaism made its way to America, the Sunday service came along. In 1885, the Reform rabbinical conference in Pittsburgh unanimously agreed that Shabbat was too important to be limited to Saturday. They wrote, “It cannot be denied that there is a very large number of Jews who, owing to economic and industrial conditions, are not able to attend services on our sacred day of rest; be it resolved that in the judgment of this conference there is nothing in the spirit of Judaism to prevent the holding of divine services on Sunday, or any other day of the week, where the necessity of such
services is felt.” Essentially, if people could not get off from work to attend services on Saturday, they should still strive to attend a service at a synagogue or temple, even if it meant doing so on Sunday. In contrast with the practice begun by Rabbi Holdheim, Reform rabbis in America weren’t advocating transferring Shabbat services to Sunday altogether. Rather they were offering a supplementary service and sermon on Sunday for those who could not attend on Saturday. In practice only about 15 percent of Reform synagogues in America ended up adding a Sunday service, and all but two of those congregations still held services on Friday night and/or Saturday. Still, the communities that held services on Sundays were large and powerful ones within the Reform movement. Meanwhile, the Orthodox community in America was becoming increasingly frustrated about the six-day work week. In many states, blue laws made it illegal to do business on Sunday, so Jews who owned businesses and observed Shabbat were forced to be closed on both Saturday and Sunday. Many Jewish families became accustomed to attending syna-
gogue early Saturday morning and then going to work. In order to combat what they saw as a real divestment from Jewish tradition, Orthodox rabbis joined in a campaign with labor unions to shorten the work week to five days. Over the next 15 years more and more industries moved to the five-day work week, and by the end of World War II, the five-day work week was standard across most industries. Once the work week had been shortened and people were no longer obligated to be at their jobs on Saturday morning, many Reform Temples began moving their main weekly services to Friday night, and eventually to Saturday morning. Only a few Reform synagogues continue to hold services on Sunday morning. The shift to services on Sunday was a gradual one, and the shift back away from it has been gradual, too. But at Chicago Sinai and a few other American Reform congregations, you can still get a taste of what it used to be like when most worshipers attended synagogue on Sunday, not Saturday. For more information about Judaism and Jewish life, visit MyJewishLearning.com.
Pulverent e
June 11, 2010
Leadership and Loyalty, tyranny and rebellion
SPARKS FROM THE WORD RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE by
Korah The American Revolutionary War and the subsequent independence of the United States of America need no justification in American eyes. The right to rebellion against tyranny is a datum in American history and thought. It does not need to be defended in logical terms. July Fourth is a Holy Day. But where strong leadership ends and tyranny begins is a line that cannot easily be drawn. Our Sidrah tells us about Korah, leader of a major rebellion against the leadership of Moses. Moses is accused of being a demagogue and a false leader—by demagogues! Who is tarred with this unenviable epithet—“demagogues”—depends on who the speaker is and the angle of satisfaction or dissatisfaction from which he is coming. As a matter of fact, Moses, the self-sacrificing leader of the Israelite generation, suffered more than one rebellion and many periods of dissatisfaction with his leadership. Where will we get food? Where is water? Why have you brought us out to this wilderness to die? Were there not enough graves in Egypt? And who appointed you, anyway? We’re all as good as you! In later Israelite life there is an astonishing discrepancy between the ways two prophets, contemporaries, interpreted Israel’s wilderness history. Jeremiah, thinking of the early days as the Golden Past, spoke longingly of the wilderness days as though Israel followed (Moses and) the Lord unquestioningly, lovingly, faithfully through the wilderness, offering no complaints, like a love-struck bride adoringly following her husband. Ezekiel, a younger contemporary of Jeremiah, trying to interpret the destruction of Judah in 587 and the bitter exile that followed, attributed it to the constant, never-ending rebellion against (Moses and) the Lord. He could see no single period of decency and loyalty. No wonder we have been punished with defeat and exile! In all of this we ought to notice one constant: It is the truthfulness of the Biblical story. David, who in later centuries came to be thought of as an ideal king, ancestor of the Messiah, composer of psalm and song, founder of the Temple, is described without apology in the Book of Samuel as a man of controversy who suffered two major rebellions, led by his own sons. And in the Torah, Moses, who in later centuries came to be thought of as the ideal leader, the lawgiver and teacher, the prophet par excellence and the confident of the Lord Himself—Moses is pilloried in rebellions against his leadership as selfish and shortsighted, a faulty leader indeed. It would have been easy for the final editor-redactor of the Torah to lift these stories and bury them. In the histories of other ancient peoples this would have been natural to do. But not so the Bible. Whether these stories are given in exact, “historical” narrative or not, we cannot tell. But this we do know: The editor-redactor refused to bury criticism. If his sources included these traditions, he would give Korah, rebel-in-chief, his place in history and in Scripture. Editors Note: this column was reprinted from Rabbi Kripke’s 1988 book, Insight and Interpretation.
JEWISH PRESS NOTICE There will be no Jewish Press on July 2. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.
2010 Dawson County Fair July 14th - July 18th Cross Canadian Ragweed in concert
Friday, July 16, 7:00 pm Dawson County Fairgrounds, Lexington, NE 1000 Plum Creek Parkway
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Visit www.dawsoncountyfair.com for more events
DEATHS RUBIN “RALPH” BINIAMOW Rubin “Ralph” Biniamow, Nov. 16, 1924–June 3, 2010. Graveside services were held June 6 at BHH/ Fisher Farms Cemetery, 8900 S. 42nd St. He is Survived by wife of 65 years, Rita; son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Nancy Biniamow; daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Stephen Shapiro of New Jersey; grand children, Jake, Josh, Jason, and Jonathan Shapiro, Kevin Biniamow, Cari Shafer, Leslie Knobbe, September Wanzenried, and Thomas Jones; and 12 great grand children. Memorial may be made to Beth Israel Synagogue. PHILLIP G. SCHRAGER Continued from page 1 He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Harley and Beth Schrager and a sister and brother-inlaw, Cherna and Gary Gitnick of Encino, CA. He had 12 grandchildren. Editor’s note: because of time constraints related to our deadline, this article is limited in both length and scope. The Jewish Press is planning a second article about Phil Schrager, the people he impacted, and the legacy he left, to be printed in next week’s edition.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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South Africa Jewish students protesting envoy’s recall CAPE TOWN, South Africa (JTA) -- A South African Jewish student group is protesting the government’s decision to recall its ambassador to Israel following the flotilla incident. A protest letter from the South African Union of Jewish Students was to be given Tuesday to Ebrahim Ebrahim, deputy prime minister for international relations and cooperation, outside his offices in Pretoria. South Africa is the only country aside from Turkey to have engaged in such action, described by the student union as being “of an extreme nature, premature and biased.” “While we regret the deplorable loss of life that occurred during the incident -- we fully recognize Israel’s right to defend her borders and citizens,” the letter says. “We cannot remain silent in the face of such severe hypocrisy and injustice. We call on the South African Jewish community as well as all concerned citizens who disagree with the actions taken by our government to join us in protest outside the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.” Several Christian groups, among others, were expected to join the student union in solidarity. Nine Turkish nationals on a six-ship flotilla delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza were killed during clashes with Israeli Navy commandos on May 31.
CORRECTIONS In our June 4 issue, we identified the gentleman sitting next to Lloyd Roitstein at the FJA dinner as Rodney Markin. In fact, this was a photograph of Dr. Joel Schlessinger. We sincerely hope Dr. Rodney Markin of UNMC, pictured at left giving his speech at the same dinner, accepts our apologies. We would also like to extend our apologies to Dr. Schlessinger. In our June 4 edition, an article was printed stating that a JCC Maccabi Volunteer Information Session will be held June 23 at 1 p.m. This was incorrect; the article should have read, “Sunday June 13 at 1 p.m.”
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Page 16
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
June 11, 2010
Forty-eight hours in Florence
by MASADA SIEGEL What would you see if you had 48 hours in Florence, no guide book and were relying on the advice of strangers? Perhaps not the most informed way of traveling, but word of mouth is always the best way to explore a new city. That said, relying on the kindness of locals and strangers, it took me less then an hour to figure out a few key sights in Florence. Where to stay My unplanned adventure had only one thing set, a hotel reservation. In Florence, reservations are a must, especially in high season. If you are looking for a true Italian experience in taste and style, try the Lugarno Hotel’s. There are four hotels in Florence, and they are equally stunning. The hotels are elegant and the attention to detail from the bedrooms right down to the luxurious lounging areas is evident. This, however, comes as no surprise once you find out the hotel chain is owned by Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo. I stayed at Hotel Lugarno, which is right on the River Arno facing the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The view is sensational, and will inspire you to take photos at both sunrise and sunset. Upon arrival, my room had a beautiful fruit dish with huge grapes waiting for me. Breakfast was a feast, with a variety of different cheeses, yogurts, fruits, breads, pastries, coffees. Don’t be confused by the red juice, it is not tomato, its orange juice, made from the ever sweet Italian blood oranges which are red. What to see Florence is a walking city, and once you have a tourist map in hand, everything is clearly marked and easy to find. Take a stroll over the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, and check out all the high end jewelry stores which are one lined up to the next. A perfect time to go is early morning. At the end of the bridge, if you are walking towards the center of Florence, turn right and visit one of the most amazing art collections in the world, otherwise known as the Uffitzi Museum. The most efficient way to buy tickets to the Uffitzi is to ask your hotel to make a reservation, as there are always what appears to be hundreds of people in line. Booking online is also an option, although both ways you will have to pay a small fee. Don’t get discouraged, the museum is worth the wait and the line moves quickly. The Uffitzi is filled with phenomenal art, and buying a museum guidebook before you enter is wise, as most guidebooks are easy to follow and are filled with an enormous amount of information. Perhaps one of the most magnificent parts of the building is the ceiling. Although, it’s hard to know where to look first as the museum is filled with world renowned artists such as Botticelli, Correggio, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Ruben
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and Rembrant. When you leave the museum, walk toward the center of Florence where you will find the Duomo Cathedral. The huge boulevards are filled with stunning shops that are sure to tempt your pocketbook. There are also a myriad of choices of restaurants that serve tasty treats ranging from gelato served on freshly baked waffles to pizza and pasta.
The Duomo is huge, about 12,000 feet, and is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Adjoining it are Giotto’s Campanile, or bell tower, and the Baptistery. The baptistery predates the Duomo itself, as the earliest version was built in the 4th century. The design, architecture and attention to detail are spectacular. The three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the Historic Centre of Florence. Across the way from the entrance to the Duomo, is the Baptistery, where people are always lining up taking photos in front of Ghiberti’s two gilded bronze doors. These doors are actually replicas. The real ones were moved for conservation’s sake to the Museum of the Opera del Duomo, which is right by the Duomo and where one can also see The Pietà by Michelangelo. A short walk away from the Duomo is the stunning Great Synagogue of Florence, designed in a Moorish style; it is a site to behold inside and out. It was built between 1874 and 1882. There were three architects; Mariano Falcini, Professor Vincente Micheli, and Marco Treves, who was Jewish. The design is a mix of traditions of the Islamic and Italian worlds. It’s truly a masterpiece, as every inch of the synagogue is decorated with mosaics, marble, and all the internal walls are painted with intricate designs from floor to ceiling. It successfully survived World War II. The Germans tried to blow it up, but the main building withstood
their efforts. The Nazi’s then decided to use it as a warehouse and stable, bayonet marks are still visible on the doors of the Holy Ark. Also, before the fascists fled Florence they mined the synagogue with explosives. Fortunately, the partisans were able to defuse most of the bombs. However, one gallery fell, but was replaced. A wonderful way to experience the synagogue is to attend services, and times are easy to find online. The Chabad house is only mere steps away, and don’t be surprised if you run into the rabbi’s son or locals who will happily help you with directions and times. While you are there, take a few minutes to go to the second floor of the synagogue as you will find the Jewish Museum of Florence filled with Torah scrolls, ketubbah’s and a variety of silver Judaica items. Be sure to also take time to notice on your way out a stone monument with the names of 248 Jewish deportees during World War II engraved on the face. Also, in terms of sites to see, make sure not to leave Florence without spending some time with Michelangelo’s David. The real sculpture is in the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze museum. Truly a masterpiece, many tourists find themselves standing in awe for a good half an hour, just mesmerized. The Museum also has a room filled with sculptures that is worth a visit while you are in the vicinity. A museum curator will most likely be yelling, “No Photos”, but no one seems to pay attention. However, if you play by the rules and want a photo of David, there is a huge selection of postcards and books in the shop. Where to eat Right next to the synagogue is a vegetarian kosher restaurant, Ruths. If you walk in, chances are the aroma of delicious food will bring you to your knees, so grab a table and check it out. However, if you are looking for a place where the locals haunt, check out Il Cibreo Cafe which is a mere few blocks away. There is a café and restaurant. The café is more casual, has limited choices as opposed to the restaurant, which is expensive and a more elegant affair. The food they serve is not your typical Italian fare, nor is the clientele. Needless to say, I had an extremely interesting and unplanned lunch with Domenico Giorgi, Italy’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, and his family! Florence itself is work of art. At every turn, there is more to see, whether it be sculptures, buildings, boardwalks, squares and shops. Forty eight hours in Florence wasn’t enough to see it all, but 48 minutes was certainly enough time to fall in love with the city and the people, no guidebook needed. Masada Siegel lives in Scottsdale. She can be reached at Fungirlcorrespondent@gmail.com.
Maccabi Volunteers Needed! August 1st-6th
30 years of experience
402/676-9533 jokopecky@gmail.com
YOUR DAD GAVE YOU EVERYTHING. DON’T GIVE HIM A PAIR OF SLIPPERS. This Father’s Day give your Dad a gift he truly deserves—NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend tickets at Kansas Speedway.
Join us… Sunday, June 13th at 1:00 pm at the JCC to learn how you can make an impact volunteering for the JCC Maccabi Games this summer!
Hundreds of Volunteers Needed for: • Food, Ice, Water all venues! • Medical/First Aid • Arrival of Athletes • Opening Ceremonies • Closing Party • Zoo Night Chaperones
NASCAR Nationwide Series: October 2 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: October 3
We Need Everyone to Get in the Game!!
• Amazing Pizza Machine Chaperones
For the first time ever, NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend tickets are now available at kansasspeedway.com or by calling 866-460-RACE.
For more information, call Jessica Reed, Administrative Coordinator at 334-6418 or…we’ll see you there!
• Athletic Venues
Maccabi volunteer registration also available online at www.jccmacreg.org
• Day of Caring & Sharing • Israel & Judaic Activities • And more!