August 3, 2012

Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

Dinner and a movie

August 3, 2012 15 Av 5772 Vol. 92 | No. 45

This Week

Kids have blast at Camp Gan Israel Page 5

Temple Israel family walks to cure diabetes Page 7

Despite militarized society, Israel has strict gun laws Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

This Month Real Estate Special See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

8 10 11

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Administrative Assistant, Center for Jewish Life Now in its 11th year, the annual Omaha Jewish Film Festival presented by the Center for Jewish Life will begin on Sunday, Aug. 19, with the chance to both have dinner and see a movie. A deli dinner, prepared under the supervision of Chef Mike Aparo in the kosher kitchen of the Star Deli, will feature 4 oz. turkey, corned beef and pastrami sandwiches plus coleslaw, chips and drinks. Dinner will be served in the Social Hall beginning at 6 p.m. Following dinner, the feature film A Bottle in the Gaza Sea will be shown at 7 p.m. in the JCC Theater. Cost for the deli meal is $12 and a movie ticket is $8. You may attend either or both of these events. To allow for adequate dinner planning, advanced reservations are required by calling or emailing Mark Kirchhoff, 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@jew ishomah.org by noon on Aug. 17. The Aug. 19 movie is based on the book published in 2009, titled A Bottle in the Gaza Sea. It tells the story of Tal Levine, a seventeenyear-old from Jerusalem. Tal comes from a family that always believed peace would come to the Middle East. She cried tears of joy when President Clinton and Yitzhak Rabin shook hands with Yasser Arafat in 1993 – a moment of hope that would stay with her forever.

One day a horrific terrorist attack in a café around the corner from her as she lay in bed changes her life forever. Tal decides that the only way she can deal with the pain is to reach out to

someone on the other side. She needs to know that they are not all heartless. She places a note in a bottle and asks her brother to put it in the Gaza Sea. Instead, he plants it on a beach where it is discovered by Naim. a young Palestinian man. Naim, who knows Hebrew, initiates email correspondence with Tal. Known only as Gazaman to her, they come to know each other and what life is like “on the other side.” One day Tal witnesses a terrorist bomb-

ing of a bus. Her insights into the other side are quickly challenged. Can the friendship she has formed with this stranger help her through the

by HILLARY FLETCHER Marketing Assistant, Institute for Holocaust Education On Sunday, July 8, at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library, Milton Kleinberg spoke for the first time in public about his experiences as a child during the Holocaust. Kleinberg published a book in 2011 titled, Memories of My Childhood: During and After the Holocaust 1937 – 1951. His Holocaust memoir traces Kleinberg and his family’s escape from Nazi-occupied Poland in 1939 and their subsequent capture and internment in the Soviet Union. Hosted by the Institute for Holocaust Education, more than 60 people attended this very moving testimonial.

trauma? Will she be able to find a way to be whole once more? The story weaves utter despair together with the hope that young people hold the promise of future peace. The film is recommended for those 12 years old Continued on page 2

Beth El welcomes new cantor to congregation by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator As Beth El readies for a new year, the synagogue’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the hiring of Hazzan Michael Krausman as the congregation’s new cantor and invites the entire Jewish community to a special Shabbat dinner in his honor, on Friday, Aug. 10. A native of Toronto, Hazzan Krausman received his Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Music and Diploma of Hazzan from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1995. He is also a graduate of the University of York, in Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Hazzan Krausman moves to Omaha from Temple Sinai in Hollywood, Florida. His contributions to that congregation have been

Hazzan Michael and Laurel Krausman, with sons Zev, left, and Zach. numerous: among them, he led a number of family education programs; created a Tallit and Tefillin Club for post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students, which combined prayer, fellowship and social justice themes; he also established and led “Have a Cup

Kleinberg speaks out

of Coffee with God,” a monthly alternative Shabbat Shacharit learners’ service. In addition, he produced an annual festival of Jewish music, and organized a Children’s Choral Festival with over 100 Continued on page 3

Milt Kleinberg speaking about his Holocaust experiences. Jewish community member, Marti Rosen-Atherton commented, “I expected that Milt’s story would be different than the stories of concentration camp and hidden children survivors, and I knew very little about the Jews who were sent to the Soviet Union. But what struck and humbled me, once again, was how they held on and kept holding on. That survival core in spite of all the pain, losses and horrors. I was awestruck by his mother’s strength and constancy and resiliency – she was beyond remarkable. Through all that and for more than a half century since, she created a family whose lives are a blessing. Milt was a testament to that. It was aweinspiring.” Kleinberg wrote the book as a personal legacy for his children, grandchildren and siblings who were born after the war so they could better understand how the horrors of the Holocaust affected their family and the people living in Europe and Russia during World War II. “Memories of My Childhood is a personal account of how my parents and I were swept up by the torrent of World War II and managed to survive our ordeal in the Soviet Union,” Kleinberg said in press for his book. “Our most memorable Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | August 3, 2012

Dinner and a movie Continued from page 1 and up. (2011 – France – 90 minutes – Hebrew with English subtitles). The Film Festival continues on Tuesday, Aug. 21 with the showing of Dusk. The movie presents how in the course of a single day, a car accident impacts on the lives of the protag-

until his capacity for selfless heroism is awakened. He soon finds himself fighting the good fight by keeping an eye on suspicious activities at a mosque. What is told is a World War II drama of conscience. (2011 – France – 99 minutes – French with English subtitles). All movies will be shown in the JCC Theater beginning at

onists of four separate stories: Oshri who completed his military service, traveled around South America, and is now joyfully returning home; Raffi who is facing belated circumcision at Ikolov Hospital; Dr. Ladin who has no time or patience for his estranged father; and Hava Cohen who has unexpectedly learned the name and address of her biological mother. The interwoven stories that ensue are a result of the extenuating circumstances that brought these people together at dusk one day in the hospital. The film has been described in its billing as a “fascinating, richly detailed social portrait. But it is also a story of redemption.” (2010 – Israel – 90 minutes – Hebrew with English subtitles). An old kibbutz in the Hills of Galilee is the setting of The Galilee Eskimos, a 2006 release from Israel. The kibbutz is immersed in debt and threatened with lawsuits from bankers and creditors. On the evening just prior to bailiffs arriving to enforce bankruptcy charges, an exodus of men, women, and children begins. As they depart, they are taking all possible possessions with them. When the sun rises in the morning to what is believed to be an empty town, twelve senior citizens in the kibbutz old people’s home remain, finding themselves deserted. Their initial depression moves to a sense of purpose as they organize and begin to rebuild the kibbutz. (2006 – Israel – 95 minutes – Hebrew with English subtitles). The final showing of the 2012 Film Festival series will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 29 with the presentation of Free Men. This film’s setting is Nazi-occupied Paris. While it might appear that this story will follow the themes of many others that have been produced, this one is unusual. The movie concerns the efforts by Muslim North African residents of the city to protect Jews and aid the Resistance. The protagonist, Younes, is an Algerian immigrant trading on the black market who has no interest in helping anyone –

7 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person and may be purchased at the door. Dinner reservations for Aug. 19 must be made in advance by contacting Mark Kirchhoff, 402.334.6464 or mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org. The cost for dinner is $12. Many thanks to Film Festival Committee members Gary Katz, Renee Kasner, Jill Erman, Eadie Tsbari and Eunie Denenberg for their work in selecting this year’s films. The Jewish Film Festival is presented by The Center for Jewish Life as part of its mission to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences. The Film Festival is generously sponsored by Todd and Betiana Simon with additional support from the Avy L. and Roberta L. Miller Foundation by Lindsey Miller-Lerman and The Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith. For more information please call 402.334.6462.

ADL condemns apparent homophobic hate crime in Lincoln by LIZZY GILBERT Corporate & Community Development, ADL Plains States Region The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the horrific assault of a Lincoln woman who was allegedly targeted because she is a lesbian. According to reports, the woman was attacked early Sunday morning by three masked men who broke into her house, bound her wrists with zip ties, and carved anti-gay slurs into her skin with a knife before setting fire to her house. Alan Potash, ADL Plains States Regional Director, issued the following statement: “We are outraged by this apparently bias-motivated, heinous attack, and we applaud law enforcement for investigating it as a potential hate crime. Hate crimes have an impact far beyond the individual victim of the crime. When a victim is chosen because of his or her sexual orientation, other members of that community feel unsafe and unwelcome. Law enforcement’s swift response to this crime helps to send a clear message that hate crimes will not be tolerated.” ADL has long been at the forefront of national and state efforts to deter and counteract hate crimes. In 1981, ADL drafted a model hate crime statute that provides for increased penalties for criminals who target their victims because of their personal characteristics, such as race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation. Fortyfive states -- including Nebraska -- and the District of Columbia have since enacted laws based on, or similar to, the model. The League also led a broad coalition effort in support of the 2009 enactment of the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Milt Kleinberg Continued from page 1 experience was a three-month journey, in cattle cars, on the Trans-Siberian rail line across Russia from Arkhengelsk to Samarkand, Uzbekistan.” Chad Carstensen, who assisted Kleinberg with his book, said, “I have been working with Milt on his book for nearly 2 years now, and after listening to his talk on Sunday I felt especially proud of our efforts. Hearing Milt recount his journey is always somewhat a jarring experience. What I found to be most profound were the follow-up questions from attendees; it is apparent that people are interested not only in the story, but the understanding of how Milt’s fate and these events affected our lives. I hope to see many

more of these events in the future.” Beth Dotan, Executive Director of the IHE said, “It was such an honor to bear witness to this testimony. It was honestly one of the most moving experiences I remember for an individual who was addressing an audience for the first time. It was so honest and touching.” Milton M. Kleinberg was born in Pabianice, Poland, in January, 1937. After escaping the Nazis in 1939, Milton and his family embarked on a 10,000-mile journey that would take them to Arkhengelsk, Russia, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Germany and finally the United States, where they set about rebuilding their lives and the family the Holocaust almost destroyed.

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Construction progresses for new Temple Israel by DAVID GOLBITZ While construction continues at Sterling Ridge, the Temple Israel staff writer Coordinating Committee has been in constant communicaAs anyone who has driven along Pacific Street between tion with not only the Building Council, but also the con120th and 132nd Streets can attest, construction in the struction management firm Project Advocates and the Sterling Ridge development is progressing rapidly, including architects from Finegold Alexander + Associates. that of the new Temple Israel building, scheduled to be “Each day the members of the team are helping to coordiready for the high holidays in 2013. nate the approval of design choices, material selections and While the site may not look like much right now, there are acquisition, budgeting and project funding with the input of still hints of what is to come: a paved road turning off of the members of the appropriate committees,” Waldbaum Pacific Street and leading to the parking lot; foundation walls enclosing the lower level along the east perimeter have been erected; and the storm and sanitary sewer system has been installed. With much of the subterranean infrastructure in place, above-ground construction will soon begin in earnest. “Steel will start to arrive at the site shortly, and it will not be long before we start to see a building rise out of the ground,” said John Waldbaum, chair of the Coordinating Committee. In fact, “the stone for the exterior of the sanctuary The new Temple Israel is on schedule to be ready for the high holidays next year. and exterior of the building has been ordered and some of it is already on its way from said. “If there is a question about the project, the Israel,” Waldbaum continued. “The first delivery will Coordinating Committee is responsible for finding the include enough stone to build a small mockup of the wall answer.” system on the site.” For instance, the interior designer from Finegold As exciting as that sounds, Waldbaum also stresses that it’s Alexander was in town last week to discuss fabrics, furniture too early in the construction process for eager Temple Israel and color scheme with Temple Israel members on the members to tour the site. Interiors and Community spaces design teams, and the “It’s still not a clean, safe environment,” he said. “There are Building Council also met to go over the construction status open trenches around the foundation walls and steel bars report and discuss any schedule or budgetary changes. stored across the site.” As construction continues over the coming months, be Members of the congregation will be invited in the fall to sure to check out the newly-redesigned Temple Israel weban open house event to see the progress firsthand. site for photos and regular progress updates.

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big gang of dear friends” whom he’s known since his days in USY, and enjoys a single-malt scotch every now and then. The Krausmans had never visited Omaha prior to this spring, and the hazzan shared his family’s excitement about moving to their new home. “My interview [at Beth El] was the first time I had ever been to Omaha,” he said. “Laurel and I were blown away by the warmth, generosity of spirit and enthusiasm of each member of Beth El that we encountered. We were also deeply impressed by the Jewish community of Omaha at large. We are extremely excited about moving to Omaha -we had been searching for a long time for a synagogue family of which our family can become a part. Also, my kids are very excited to see leaves change, and snow.” Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin said he looks forward to working with his new colleague, commenting that, “We are very pleased to welcome Cantor Krausman, his wife and sons to our synagogue. He is a talented and experienced cantor with a love and passion for Judaism, warm and welcoming, who will serve in many roles and will bring added joy to our services.” Lloyd Roitstein, Beth El’s Board of Trustees president, also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Those of us who met Hazzan Krausman and his wife, Laurel, during the interview process are so excited to welcome them to Omaha. Their enthusiasm, vivaciousness, and charismatic, outgoing personalities will help the Beth El family enjoy our synagogue as we pray and enjoy synagogue activities. “Please join us on August 10, following Shabbat services, for our special dinner honoring Hazzan Krausman, and again the next morning, for services and a Kiddush honoring our new cantor and his family. We want to welcome them and show off our family to them!” The August 10 Shabbat dinner will begin at 7 p.m., following 6 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat services. Dinner cost is $7.50 for Beth El members, and $12.50 for non-members; $25 maximum per family. There is no charge for children ages five and younger. Reservations are needed by Aug. 6, and may be made by sending a check – made out to Beth El – to the synagogue, c/o “Krausman Shabbat Dinner.” Reservations and payment may also be made online at www.bethel-omaha.org. For more information about the evening, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 402.492.8550, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org.

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New cantor Continued from page 1 children from five different synagogues in his area. He and his wife, Laurel, are the parents of sons Zev, 14, and Zach, 11. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Hazzan Krausman spent his growing-up years in Kitchener, Ontario, and in Toronto. Joining the cantorate always seemed to be in the cards for the hazzan, who said that even as a child, he was drawn to his future livelihood. “While all the other kids wanted to be firemen or doctors or dentists, I wanted to be a hazzan,” he said. “I was very positively influenced by my Bar Mitzvah teacher, who showed an abiding love for each student and a sincere passion for Yiddishkeit. Whether it was Junior Congregation or USY or Camp Ramah, I was always the one who led services, so I guess I am living my childhood dream.” Music also played an important role during his youth: from an early age, he sang in choirs; he took up the violin for a short period (“which was not such a good idea,” he joked), and played band instruments in middle- and high school. After moving to Toronto at age 15, Hazzan Krausman recalled that, “I immediately joined the Beth Emeth Synagogue choir, under the internationally-renowned Hazzan Louis Danto. Hazzan Danto (of blessed memory) continues to be great influence on my career.” After over 25 years, his passion for the cantorate is as strong as ever, and he looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm with his new congregation in Omaha. “I have often said that my mission as a hazzan is not only to represent the congregation in prayer, but to represent the prayers to the congregation,” he said. “My goal at Beth El is to find a way for each member of the community to feel closer to their Jewish heritage. I will accomplish this through teaching Torah reading to anyone I can, enhancing the Bar/ Bat Mitzvah experience, making services warm and engaging, offering opportunities to learn about our liturgy and how to lead it and through personal connections with families and individuals. “The parts of my job that I love the most are opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives.” In his free time, Hazzan Krausman said he enjoys being with his family, participating in such activities as bike riding, going to the zoo and studying karate. He is a dedicated Florida Panthers hockey fan, maintains special relationships with “a

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by MARK KIRCHHOFF Administrative Assistant, Center for Jewish Life Kripke Jewish Federation Library has books. These books have been given a good home for a number of years. They have gone out, they have come back. No matter how many times they have been borrowed, they are ready for the next patron to read. They have been loyal and faithful servants. Now, some of them are looking for a new home. Every good library has a responsibility to review its collection and evaluate usage, duplication, and continued viability for a book to remain on the shelves. Some books have lasting value and will always remain. Others have done their duty and are ready to move on. Without a systematic review, it would be impossible to find room for new books. Now, with the excitement of library remodeling to make room for the Riekes Museum, the Center for Jewish Life has an increased motivation to conduct its due diligence in evaluating the collection. Those books that are leaving will not be left to flounder on their own. An “Adopt a Book” event has been scheduled. This event can benefit you. It is your opportunity to add to your personal library by adopting a book. There is something special about acquiring a new book – you’ve likely experienced it from the time you began reading. No matter what you were reading at the time, once you obtained a new book you became excited to discover what it had to offer. You will have the same experience when you adopt a used book. Books from the library are in very good to excellent

condition and will continue to delight and inform. The Kripke Jewish Federation Library‘s “Adopt a Book” event will be from Aug. 6 – 9 in the JCC Auditorium between the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. That’s right: for your convenience the adoption process will take place into the early evening on four of these days. No background check is required. Your willingness to adopt is sufficient verification for The Center for Jewish Life to accept you as a worthy parent for the adoptee. There is no age requirement to become the parent of a book. In fact, many children’s books are included. All ages are welcome. Free will donations are encouraged and accepted. New books cost money, and the library can use donation money to acquire them. It’s a good deal all around. You set your own donation level and whatever you give benefits the library. The books will be displayed on tables and arranged in an order that will allow you to focus on an area of your interest. Every effort is being made to help you with your adoption and to ensure that would-be parents are able to locate the perfectly motivated adoptees. The size of your family doesn’t matter. The more the merrier when it comes to being book parents. Bring a bag, a box, a two-wheel cart and a truck if you’d like. We want book and parent to leave together. There is no desire to have orphans left after 5 p.m. on Aug. 10th. Adopt a Book – give it a loving home. Shop early and shop often! Aug. 6 – 9, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the JCC Auditorium.

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by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Mitt Romney at a policy speech in Jerusalem addressed the alleged Iranian nuclear weapons program and changes in the Arab world. Most of all, however, the 15-minute address focused on what Romney called the “enduring shared values” of the United States and Israel. “The security of Israel is in the vital national security interest of the United States,” Romney said. “We serve the same cause and we provoke the same hatreds in the same enemies.” He never mentioned the Palestinians or the IsraeliPalestinian peace process. The first section of the speech focused on the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, which has been a major theme of Romney’s foreign policy statements. Preventing a nuclear Iran is America's "highest national security priority,” he said. “It would be foolish not to take the leaders of Iran at their word. We have a moral imperative to deny Iran's leaders the means to follow through on their malevolent intent.” Romney invoked the fast day of the ninth of Av, which was ending that day, as he spoke about Iran. He also quoted former Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin twice and mentioned the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches murdered at the

Munich Olympics in 1972. In the second half of the speech, Romney addressed changes in the region, which he called “tumult.” He called on Egypt’s new president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, to keep Israel’s peace treaty with Egypt and admonished Syrian President Bashar Assad, whom he called “no friend to Israel and no friend to America,” for killing his own citizens. The speech came near the end of a day in which Romney met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and other leaders. Hours before Romney’s speech, his liaison to the Jewish community, Dan Senor, said that Romney if elected would support a unilateral Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. “If Israel has to take action on its own, in order to stop Iran from developing the capability, the governor would respect that decision,” Senor said in a news briefing, according to The Associated Press. Romney said he saw significance in visiting Israel on the fast of the ninth of Av. He called the day “a time of remembrance of many lives that have been lost to tragedy and terror.”

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In the news The JCC/Omaha ATA Black Belt Academy is proud to announce this years State Standing. To qualify in State Standings you must compete in any sanctioned ATA tournament and be a member of our Leadership Training Program. In the Color Belt Division for boys up to age 8, Phoenix Mavropoulos made State Champ in form and sparring, and Ethan Finkelstein received 2nd place in sparring. In the Color Belt Division for 9-11 year old boys, Wyatt Janicek earned 3rd place in form and 5th place in sparring In the Adult Women’s 1st Degree Black Belt Division, instructor Sandy Gordon received the Triple Crown State Champ for the second year in a row: 1st place form, 1st place sparring, 1st place weapons. Gordon then went on to qualify for Worlds with a ranking of 5th in form, 9th in sparring and 4th in weapons in the world in her age division. She competed at Worlds in Little Rock and came home with a 2nd place medal in traditional weapons.

August 3, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 5

Kids have blast at Camp Gan Israel by RABBI LEIBEL BAUMGARTEN for Chabad Center The recently concluded Camp Gan Israel at the Chabad Center had dozens of Omaha kids and parents buzzing with excitement. The week-long day camp featured unique activities and trips, all infused with the renowned Camp Gan Israel spirit. Kelly Kirk, mother of three Gan Israel campers, says the Chabad camp is always a summer event her kids look forward to. “They have such a great time with all of the fun activities and field trips, but most importantly, they are completely immersed in Judaism which couldn’t make me happier.” This year, the theme “Experience Shabbat” was brought to life with hands-on activities depicting the various activities our ancestors did in the desert from which we rest on Shabbat, including plowing, weaving, planting and juicing. A weaving expert showed campers how to use a loom, and each child went home with their own handmade tapestry. Campers enjoyed planting various vegetables, juicing fruits and singing many a Shabbat tune in front of the giant camp mascot, Big Gedalya Goomber, the famed character from a Shabbat camp song.

Birth

“I love hearing about the ethics and morals embedded in songs and activities without [my daughter] realizing that she’s actually learning about Jewishness in a fun way,” said

Sonia Tipp. “While we incorporate sports, swimming, arts and crafts and field trips,” says Camp Director Shani

UNO biblical archeology project celebrates 25 years

Ali Sherman announced the June 30 birth of her son, Isaac Aaron. He is named after his great-grandfather, Irvin Aaron Sherman, and his great-great-grandfather, Isadore Shafer. Grandparents are Michael and Patty Sherman. Great-grandparents are Phyllis Sherman and George Shafer.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Josh Bleicher, doctoral student who recently visited the very volatile E. Timor, near the Philippine islands, will discuss the war-torn and impoverished nation, and what he did there during the first part of the summer on Wednesday, Aug. 8, noon at the Blumkin Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH It has been said that Yiddish doesn’t only have words, it also has an attitude. Leo Rosten wrote “Yiddish never takes its tongue out of its cheeks!” Come join us at the Rose Bumkin home’s Boardroom, at 1-3 p.m., every Thursday.

by SHANE PEKNY University of Nebraska at Omaha This fall, the University of Nebraska at Omaha will celebrate 25 years of archeological excavations at Bethsaida, an important city in biblical history located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Dr. Rami Arav, professor of religion and philosophy at UNO, re-discovered the site and identified it as Bethsaida in 1987. Since 1990, UNO has led a consortium of institutions in uncovering and studying artifacts. Their work has shed new light on the times of Jesus and David. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, the UNO Art Gallery will host an exhibition of photography from the site taken by longtime Bethsaida photographer Hanan Shafir. The images capture both archeological discoveries and the sense of wonder they inspire among student excavators. On Aug. 23 at 6 p.m., an opening reception will feature remarks by Dr. Arav and other excavators, including an update on the recently completed 2012 summer dig. Several gift items, including commemorative pottery

Send a check for $25, made out to the Jewish Press and prorated for the year, to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. For more information on how to connect your out-of-town relatives and friends, call 402.334.6448.

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shards from Bethsaida, will be raffled. Photography will be for sale by silent auction. Anyone can attend the reception. Tickets are $50 at the door and $40 in advance. Proceeds from the event will support continued excavation and study of Bethsaida. The photography exhibition will remain open to the public from Aug. 23 - Sept. 27. Hours are 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Student groups and others can contact the gallery to make special appointments. The Art Gallery is located in the Weber Fine Arts Building on the west side of UNO’s main campus, 67th and Dodge Streets. Bethsaida is a uniquely well preserved site which has generated numerous academic and popular publications. To learn more about Bethsaida Biblical Archeology, check out http://www.unomaha.edu/bethsaida. For more information or to purchase advance tickets for the reception, contact Kristy Leahy, Bethsaida Excavations Coordinator at 402.554.3108 or email kristyleahy@unomaha.edu.

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Katzman, “everything is imbued with a sense of Jewish pride and identity.” CGI - as it is lovingly called - is the largest and fastest growing network of Jewish camps worldwide. It’s no surprise kids so anticipate it year round, it’s just that much fun. While each CGI branch is independently run, the scene is always the same; incredible spirit, happy campers and a heavy dose of Jewish pride. A family dinner barbecue included parents in the fun as well. According to head counselor, Rochi Katzman, the secret is the love and care shown to each camper. “Instead of just handing kids a soccer ball, we are active participants in each and every activity. Many hours are spent preparing unique, exciting activities that create lifelong memories for kids.” Healthful snacks and lunches, which are included, make the program even more wholesome. Suzi Mogil volunteered to help cook and serve lunch. “It was the most amazing first camp experience for my youngest daughter, Sima,” said Tippi Denenberg, whose older kids are already CGI veterans. “We are all eagerly awaiting the Gan Israel winter camp this December.” The program was funded in part by a grant from the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Foundation, legendary patrons of many educational and chessed programs.

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6 | The Jewish Press | August 3, 2012

Partnership meeting Ledbetter’s story shows why courts matter attendees remember students killed in attack by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Associate Executive Director, The Center for Jewish Life The recent terrorist attack in Bulgaria took on a personal meaning to attendees at the recent Steering Committee meeting of the Partnership2Gether Central Consortium. Hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, July 22-24, over 60 people representing ten of the 12 Consortium communities attended. Leading the meeting was Zoë Riekes of Omaha, the U.S. chairman for the Consortium.

At the Sunday opening session, it was announced that two of those killed in the terrorist attack in Bulgaria were from Akko. Akko and Matte Asher are in the Consortium’s Partnership area in northern Israel. One of the victims was a student at Western Galilee College, which is a part of Partnership programming. Yehuda Ben Simon, dean of Western Galilee College, was in attendance at the Indianapolis meeting and shared the following statement from the college. Elior Price was 26 years old when he was killed in the terrorist attack in Burgas, Bulgaria. Elior was a third year student of Economics and Business Administration at Western Galilee College. He had three exams left in order to complete his studies toward his B.A. degree. Elior decided to join his friends for a short vacation before returning to complete his exams. His friend Maor Harush was also killed and Daniel Fahima was severely injured. The three friends were all from Akko. The families of Elior and Maor said the two were childhood friends – “friends in their life and friends in their death. A moment of silence was observed and memorial candles lit for those killed, followed by a prayer for those who were injured. The victims of the attack in Colorado were also remembered. Others from Omaha attending the Indianapolis meeting were Kim Goldberg, Jan Goldstein, Beth Cohen and Mary Sue Grossman. A report with additional information on the meeting will be shared in a future issue. Partnership2Gether is a program of the Center for Jewish Life promoting people-to-people relationships between Israel and communities throughout the world. Omaha is one of 12 cities in the U.S. partnering with the city of Akko and the Matte Asher region in northern Israel, sharing cultural, social, medical, educational and economic programs. For more information on Partnership, please call the Center for Jewish Life at 402.334.6445.

by JEFF SHELDON It is the U.S. Senate’s responsibility to confirm federal Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed judges, but these nominations are being blocked, ignored, Lilly Ledbetter unknowingly lived in injustice for almost and obstructed at unprecedented levels. Many nomina20 years. But when she finally discovered she had been tions that advanced out of committee with strong bipartipaid far less than her male co-workers as a supervisor at a san support cannot get a vote. Senator Patrick Leahy, chairGoodyear tire plant in Alabama, she had to wait nearly a man of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says “these delays are as damaging as they are inexplicable.” decade for the justice system to reach a final verdict. Our federal courts are While her case went important. They are the through a federal district backbone of the justice court, appellate court, system. They decide and finally to the U.S. employment cases, Social Supreme Court, she Security appeals, immiracked up nearly $40,000 gration issues, and are in personal debt while where Americans go to her attorneys spent neardefend their constitutionly half a million dollars al rights. working on the case. On behalf of the Ledbetter shared her NCCV member organistory with a full-house zations, thank you, Ms. crowd of nearly 400 peoLedbetter, for bringing ple in Omaha Tuesday your story to Nebraska. night at an event titled We admire your courage, “How Federal Courts Affect Our Lives.” The Ledbetter, second from left, with NCCV Co-Chairs from left Jan strength, and tenacity to ensure justice and fairevent was organized by Schneiderman, Becky Gould, and Carol Bloch. ness for everyone. We the Nebraska Coalition will do our part to make of Constitutional Values sure our court system (NCCV), which works to Senator Ben Nelson serves us all. ensure a federal judiciary Member NCCV composed of individuals 202-224-6551 organizations include: who are committed to http://bennelson.senate.gov/email-issues.cfm Anti-Defamation League upholding core Constitu- Twitter @SenBenNelson #CourtsMatter – Plains States Region, tional values. American Association of The Supreme Court Senator Mike Johanns University Women in eventually ruled against 202-224-4224 Nebraska, American Lilly’s claim of pay dis- http://www.johanns.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorJohanns Civil Liberties Union – crimination, but it wasn’t Twitter @Mike_Johanns #CourtsMatter Nebraska, B’nai B’rith the decision that upset her. “You have to accept the verdict they give you,” Henry Monsky Lodge-Omaha, Business and Professional Ledbetter told the crowd Tuesday. Her frustration was that Women in Nebraska, Planned Parenthood of the the justice system, which is to give people access to a fair Heartland, Latino American Commission – Nebraska, and speedy verdict, took so long and cost so much. While League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha, National fighting her case, she went through considerable expense Council of Jewish Women, Omaha Section, Nebraska and missed out on valuable time with her husband, who Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, Nebraskans for Peace, Temple Israel Social Justice eventually passed away from cancer in 2008. Ledbetter’s story is just one of many affected by a judicial Committee, and Northeast Nebraska Family Health crisis in America. Currently there are 29 federal districts Services. As Nebraskans, we have a role to play in putting an end to that have been declared a “judicial emergency,” in which a district court is vacant or soon to become vacant when its the judicial crisis. Senators Nelson and Johanns have judge retires. The caseload per judge exceeds 600 cases. demonstrated, through the selection and confirmation of Nearly half of Americans – more than 160 million people Nebraska Federal District Court Judge John Gerrard, how judicial nominations can move forward in a bipartisan way. – live in these districts. Now we need them to lead on this issue and work with When a district goes without enough judges, cases pile up and the wheels of justice grind to a halt. Justice then their colleagues in the Senate to bring judicial nominees to becomes a waiting game, usually won by whichever side a vote. Contact their offices today and let them know our has the most money to afford waiting the longest. “A big federal courts matter, and you want to see the Senate move corporation can wait you out, and they will wear you out,” forward and vote on pending nominees. No one should Ledbetter said. This is not how our justice system is sup- have to wait years just to have their day in court, especially when there is a simple and responsible solution. posed to work.

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August 3, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 7

Temple Israel family walks to cure diabetes by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel staff writer On Saturday, Aug 11, Carter Eades and his family will participate in the JDRF’s annual Walk to Cure Diabetes for the third time. They first became aware of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in 2010 when Carter was diagnosed with juvenile, or type 1, diabetes shortly before his ninth birthday.

consumes energy. Without proper treatment, diabetics can suffer from kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage and amputations. Carter and his parents had to learn how to manage his insulin and blood sugar levels. They learned how and when to give Carter a shot or when he needed juice or food instead. And they learned about the JDRF and its decades-long mission to find a cure for this disease that affects approximately three million Americans. “Managing type 1 diabetes is really a day-to-day struggle,” Brian said. “Hour-to-hour,” Leslie interjected, adding, “we sleep with one eye open” in case Carter’s blood sugar becomes too high or too low during the night. Founded in 1970, JDRF has poured $1.6 billion into diabetes research in the hopes of finding a cure. The Walk to Cure Diabetes was established in 1992 as a way to raise Carter Eades is flanked by his grandmother, Darlene Golbitz, money and awareness of and friend Max Kushner during the 2011 JDRF Walk to Cure juvenile diabetes. Last Diabetes. year’s Walk alone raised In the weeks leading up to his diagnosis, $85.7 million. Carter, now 11, had been feeling lethargic Carter and his family became interested in and had lost about 12 pounds. His parents, the Walk when Carter’s uncle Gustavo Brian and Leslie Eades, didn’t know what to Torres visited him in the hospital and told make of it at the time. him he’d signed the family up to walk. “I thought he was just being a lazy kid,” Gustavo had participated in the Walk Brian said. before, through his company, and now that But after Brian’s father remarked that it was personal, he knew it was more imporCarter seemed to drink a lot of water during tant than ever to raise money for research. a recent visit to the SAC Museum, he and “Carter B’s Troopers,” as Carter’s family Leslie began to suspect something might and friends had dubbed themselves, have really be wrong with their son. raised about $4,500 in the past two years for The next day, when Carter woke up “feel- the Walk to Cure Diabetes, and they’re looking crummy,” Leslie took him to see their ing forward to doing even better this year. doctor and suddenly all the diabetic warn- (In the interest of full disclosure, it should ing signs--lethargy, weight loss, fruity- be noted that the author is Carter’s uncle smelling breath--fell into place. and counts himself as one of the “I remember he [the doctor] sat down, he “Troopers.”) gave mom a tissue before he said it. He said, As Carter prepares once again for the your, son’s been diagnosed with type 1 dia- Walk, it occurs to him how many people, betes. And she started crying,” Carter said. family and friends alike, have come together At the time, however, Leslie wasn’t entire- to raise funds for diabetes research, all ly sure what she was crying about. She just because of him. knew it was a disease that was afflicting her “It is pretty nice now that I think about it,” son. And when she contacted her husband, Carter said. he didn’t know what the diagnosis meant If any member of Omaha’s Jewish comeither, only that it was serious. munity would like to help fund research for “I had no clue what [it] actually meant,” a cure for juvenile diabetes, visit www. Brian said. “I don’t think either Leslie or I, JDRF.org, click on “Walk to Cure Diabetes” until we started going through the classes and enter “Carter B’s Troopers” in the “Team with the nutritionist, the classes with the Name” field. You can make a donation, sign nurses, on diabetes management, had any up as a fundraiser, or you can simply show clue on how our lives would dramatically up on Aug. 11 and walk in support of Carter change.” and the millions of others who live with this Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease life-changing disease. in which a person’s pancreas stops producFor more information about type 1 diaing insulin, which affects how your body betes and the JDRF, visit www.jdrf.org.

Chabad to host Chicken Soup for the Toddler’s Soul by RABBI LEIBEL BAUMGARTEN For Chabad Center Chabad will be hosting “Chicken Soup for the Toddler’s Soul” for mothers and their toddlers on Friday, Aug. 3. Participants will enjoy baking challah, singing Shabbat songs, and a delicious bowl of chicken matzah ball soup. “It’s a fun and meaningful way for mothers to spend quality time with their young ones,” says Shani Katzman. “When we think of Chicken Soup for the Soul, the need for inspiration and motivation, we

don’t normally conjure images of toddlers. However, children are the foundation of our future, and the ones we truly need to focus our energies on.” The program offers mothers a wonderful opportunity to network with like minded peers, while their children play in a safe, nurturing environment. Chicken Soup for the Toddler’s Soul will take place at the Chabad Center, 1866 S 120th St. at 4 p.m. For more information or to R.S.V.P please contact estie@ocha bad.com or 402.330.1800.

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R E P O RT E R Beth Cohen/Harry Berman Toba Cohen Dunning Eric Dunning Mel Epstein Elizabeth Gilbert Jordana Glazer Kim and Bob Goldberg Alan Goodman

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E D I TO R Sara and Ari Kohen Iris and Marty Ricks Nancy Rips

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8 | The Jewish Press | August 3, 2012

Point of view

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I know you are, but what am I?

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and U.S. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi are having a tiff, and here’s what caused it: in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Al Hunt, Pelosi commented on the Republican position on Israel by saying this about the Republican party: “You know, as many of the Republicans are using Israel as an excuse, what they really want are tax cuts for the wealthy,” she said. She continued to say that Jews in America are being exploited: “And they’re smart people. They follow these issues. But they have to know the facts. And the fact is that President Obama has been the strongest person in terms of sanctions on Iran, which is important to Israel. He’s been the strongest person on whether it’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling, any of these weapons systems and initiatives that relate to Israel. He has been there over and over again.” Cantor fired back: "It is both patronizing and deeply insulting for Nancy Pelosi to suggest any Jew is ‘exploited’ for their political beliefs or that support for Israel is somehow an 'excuse' for anything. Such thinking diminishes the importance of issues affecting Jews everywhere." And so on and so forth. If you think what those two are really sparring over is the reason for Mitt Romney’s trip to Israel (without ever saying his name out loud), you’re probably right. Romney did not go to Israel to flirt with the JewishAmerican vote, as so many headlines have stated. Those lines have been drawn; the numbers won’t change, and the Romney campaign surely knows that. It’s not to get his hands on Jewish money, as some journalists (I use the term loosely) have suggested; that idea is both preposterous and insulting. And as far as “polishing his foreign policy credentials,” I am not convinced that a few days on the road make that much of a difference in the mind of the electorate. Or that canceling a meeting with the Israeli left and snubbing

Mahmoud Abbas are either helpful or damaging. And although Mitt allegedly has a long-standing personal history with Bibi, foreign policy isn’t a cocktail party where you catch up with old friends. So, while outing his plans for a U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and sharing some tough talk on Iran, to whom was Mitt Romney really talking?

Binyamin Netanyahu, left, and Mitt Romney met in Jerusalem on July 29. Credit: Edgar Asher “Romney camp hopes Israel trip secures evangelical votes,” announced the LA Times. Ah, the evangelicals. We all kind of forgot about them a little bit, since the primaries ended. The evangelical vote will certainly count in the November elections: evangelicals make up roughly 25 % of total voters, depending on who you ask. And although plenty has been written about Mitt Romney’s real or imagined “evangelical problem,” it is extremely unlikely he will not get the vast majority of those votes, now that he is the last man standing. Showing up in Jerusalem just seals the deal.

The bottom line is, any candidate for the highest office in our country will have to reach out to Israel. Whether that is by allocating a cool $70 million in military aid (in addition to the $3 billion this administration already gives to Israel) or by making a quick trip overseas to pledge allegiance to Israel’s safety. Not to sway voters, look for more super-PAC money, or to convince anyone your foreign policy credentials are solid. The real reason both candidates have to maintain a good relationship with Israel becomes clear once one looks at the map of the Middle East. In that powder keg, it is not only Israel’s safety we have to be concerned with; it is everybody’s. Only the future can tell what will develop in Syria over the next few years, or how the Muslim Brotherhood will function in Egypt. It is impossible to guess what Iran’s timeline will look like, or how close they really are to developing a nuclear weapon. The relationship with Turkey continues to fester, while Lebanon and Jordan have been eerily quiet for a while, no doubt brewing up more trouble. The truth is: Israel has no friends in the Middle East. Sometimes it seems the best thing we can hope for is that the surrounding nations will be too busy cleaning up their own post-revolution backyards for a while. In the meantime, the rest of the world watches and judges, and boycotts Israeli products out of a misguided sense of justice. Many forget Israel is the only true democracy in the region. And against that backdrop, Pelosi and Cantor’s bickering fit suddenly seems beyond silly. These are tiresome semantics; an idiotic back-and-forth that doesn’t contribute anything to the larger discourse. Let’s get back on track, and forget about this snarky “who is more pro-Israel” high school gossip. Let’s just all agree that as far as Israel’s safety is concerned, we all, Republicans and Democrats, have to be on the same side. We really cannot afford the alternative.

Obama has helped make Israel safer

Behind the headlines EDGAR M. BRONFMAN NEW YORK (JTA) -- Throughout a half-century of international diplomatic work, I have learned to tell the politicians from the friends and the charlatans from the statesmen. Charlatans scream. They tell you what you want to hear and call other people names. Friends and leaders need not rely on rhetoric or boisterous bravado. They produce results and act on principle. President Obama is such a friend and leader. In his 3 and half years in office he has deepened and strengthened the relationship between the United States and Israel. And today, Obama continues to implement a comprehensive pro-Israel agenda that has made Israel safer and more secure. Under Obama, U.S. financial aid to Israel is at its highest levels ever. During the past four years, Israel has avoided becoming engaged in any substantial frontal military engagements, advanced its notable economic development and remains prepared for negotiating a comprehensive peace. Obama as president has led a mutually beneficial resurgence in the exchange of strategic technology, intelligence and cooperation between U.S. armed forces and the Israel Defense Forces. Standing by Israel, Obama opposed the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state and blocked its recognition at the United Nations. He supported Israel's right to defend itself and confronted head-on the now-discredited Goldstone Report that condemned Israeli defensive action off its coast. He also ordered the United States to withdraw from the Durban Review Conference, whose namesake conference

(Founded in 1920) Andrew Ruback President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Shiri Tene Advertising Executive Jessie Wees Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, Caryn Scheer, Bobbi Leibowitz, Past President; Phyllis Brown; Daniel Christensen; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Sandy Friedman; Noah Priluck; Paul Rabinowitz; Mark Senal; Nancy Wolf. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishoma

was supposed to be about racism but instead became an anti-Israel hate-fest. Obama stated unequivocally that "The United States will stand up against efforts to single Israel out at the United Nations or in any international forum." Going even further, Obama has taken the floor of the United Nations to declare that "Israel's existence must not be a subject for debate" and that "efforts to chip away at Israel's legitimacy will be met only by the unshakable opposition of the United States." When Fatah and Hamas joined political forces and pressured Israel to enter negotiations with them, Obama told the world that "No country can be expected to negotiate with a terrorist organization sworn to its destruction," concluding that "Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with Palestinians who do not recognize its right to exist." And this is also why Obama has taken such a strong stand against the Iranian nuclear program -- the single greatest threat to the State of Israel and the stability of the Middle East. After years of inaction and neglect by the Bush administration, Obama constructed an international coalition to impose the most crippling sanctions ever on the Iranian regime. These sanctions have already chocked off Iran's access to many capital markets and have had a profound effect on the way Tehran finances its nefarious operations. Covert U.S. operations targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure reportedly have also slowed their rate of progress. While his opponents can talk tough on Iran, the president is doing what is necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Nevertheless, despite clear facts and substantial evidence, political partisans and opponents of the president continue

a coordinated campaign to distort reality in a brazen attempt to fool the public. The same type of people who called Obama a closet Muslim and claimed he was not born in the United States now exercise linguistic calisthenics to obfuscate the truth and portray the president as hostile to the Jewish state. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not long ago, while sitting in the Oval Office, Obama looked me in the eye and said, "My commitment to Israel's security is bone deep." He did not have to say it. I already knew that President Obama would never forsake the Jewish state, its security and its people. His record of performance is crystal clear and the charlatans cannot change that. My father before me actively supported Jewish communities around the world and prior to 1948 closely worked with those establishing the modern State of Israel. For more than a half century, I have worked with successive Israeli governments and U.S. presidents -- Republican and Democrat -- to provide for the safety and security of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. My family has loved, worked, invested in and supported the State of Israel, its security and its people since before its founding. We have not always agreed with its policies, but we have always been there to support and defend its government and people. We are connected to every facet of Jewish life and want nothing more than Israel's peace, security, vibrancy and prosperity. I am confident that President Obama shares our values and I shall confidently vote for him in November. Edgar M. Bronfman is the former CEO of the Seagram Company Ltd. and the former president of the World Jewish Congress.

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material and photos to: avandekamp @jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jew ishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content

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August 3, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 9

Romney is more than a fair-weather friend of Israel

Focus on issues NORM COLEMAN WASHINGTON (JTA) -- At the end of the month, Mitt Romney will visit Jerusalem. I’ve known Mitt Romney for a long time, and what I know makes his sincerity and deep commitment to the security of the State of Israel part of his core. That commitment flows from his understanding of Israel’s society and history. Romney is a democrat, with a small “d.” Israel is a thriving democracy, living in mortal danger throughout its modern history. Romney is full of admiration not only for Israel’s democratic political order, but also for the way Israelis have defended themselves against all odds since Israel’s founding as a state in 1948. Israel’s position in the Middle East has become more precarious than at any time since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. It faces grave challenges and even existential threats. Iran has been pursuing nuclear weapons while making no secret of its hatred for Israel and its desire to wipe it off the map of the Middle East. Thanks to the revolution in Egypt, the future of the Camp David Accords and peace on Israel’s southern flanks hangs in the balance. To Israel’s north, in Syria, we see the brutality that some of Israel’s neighbors are capable of exercising even against their own people. And as we saw in Bulgaria, remorseless terrorists continue to attack Israeli civilians around the world.

Israel has always insisted, rightly, on defending itself by itself. It doesn’t want or need others to fight its battles. But it has also always looked to the United States as an ally in the same fight for freedom and the right to live in peace. Over the last three years, however, the U.S.-Israeli relationship has been troubled. President Obama has publicly castigated Israel, including at the United Nations. He was caught on a hot microphone denigrating Israel’s prime minister, and when Netanyahu came to Washington he received him with marked coolness, neglecting to hold the customary joint news conference before asking the Israeli leader to exit through a rear door. Far more significant than these indignities has been the relative passivity of the president toward the mounting threat posed by Iran. Even as the ayatollahs have pressed forward with their bomb-building project, and even as they continue directing genocidal threats toward Israel, Obama has naively sought to “engage” Iran in “dialogue.” Through this process, the Iranians have gained what they needed most: time. According to the latest intelligence reports, they are using that time to rush forward and realize their nuclear ambitions. When ordinary Iranians bravely took to the streets in 2009 to protest their country’s stolen election, the Obama administration was shamefully silent. We cannot say what would have happened had America’s moral authority been brought to bear, but we can say that with the bloody suppression of the protesters, a once-in-a-generation chance to rid the world of a vicious regime was missed. The failed record of Barack Obama’s diplomacy suggests

he does not take seriously the threatening words of the Iranians and is therefore not taking seriously the threat they present to both Israel and the United States. If Iran is permitted to acquire nuclear weapons, it will dominate the Middle East, igniting proxy wars with impunity and making nuclear terrorism a perpetual and horrific danger. We need a leader in the White House who both understands these perils and will act to avert them. We cannot afford to wait until the dangers are already upon us. As president, Obama has toured the world and toured the Middle East, choosing Cairo as the location to deliver a major address. Yet he has yet to visit Israel, our closest ally in the region. He seems to labor under the illusion that the Israeli-Palestinian dispute lies at the center of the Middle East’s problems, even as the region is wracked by war and revolution unrelated to Israel. Mitt Romney has a different view. He understands that Israel is targeted by the region’s failed states as a convenient scapegoat. He also understands that there is a worldwide campaign to demonize the Jewish state. It is for this very reason that he has pledged that his first foreign trip as president will be to Jerusalem. He intends to send a signal to the world -- and especially to Israel’s adversaries -- that the United States is not a fair-weather friend of Israel, but a partner in an abiding relationship based upon a common commitment to our most fundamental values. Norm Coleman served as a Republican U.S. senator from Minnesota from 2003 to 2009, and currently is Of Counsel at Hogan Lovells US LLP.

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Guilty, Guilty, Guilty

TO THE EDITOR

Behind the headlines KAREN GUSTAFSON, Executive Director of JFS The legal system and the NCAA have spoken. Whether you agree that Penn State should or should not be punished to the extent that was announced recently, it is clear that Jerry Sandusky is guilty of sexually abusing many at-risk boys while using Penn State football as an enticement; taking some boys on college Bowl trips and using the Penn State locker room showers as a place for his sick pleasures. Then there is Joe Paterno, better known as Joe Pa. He was also found guilty of not reporting his coach and friend, by default providing Jerry with the continued opportunities to abuse children, at penn State, and in other places. Joe may have asked him to quietly leave Penn State football, but he did not stop this monster. This is guilty behavior whether you love Joe Paterno or not. I happen to be a native of Pittsburgh with relatives who still live in “Happy Valley.” You can imagine what it would do to the state of Nebraska if something like this happened to our precious Cornhuskers. It has devastated an entire community, an entire school and now the current students of Penn State University who really had nothing to do with what happened. But: their Administration did, and for this... someone must pay the consequence. Many people have a hard time accepting consequences on a small level, and I imagine these same people may not agree with the magnitude of sanctions placed on Penn State. Here is where I will move away from the Penn State discussion

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and tell you what this all is really about. It is about protecting children, at all costs. Children are seen as a vulnerable population. The law states “We all have the obligation to protect children.” It is not okay if we turn a blind eye. We may think that we are protecting a relationship, our business, our family, but ultimately if we are even “suspicious” that abuse is occurring it is our obligation to make a report to Child Protective Services (CPS). It is the job of CPS to “prove” the abuse, not ours. However, if we do not report our suspicions... WE are guilty. One of the victims in this Penn State tragedy was asked in an interview, ‘Why did you not come forward when the abuse first happened to you?’ His answer was, ‘Who would believe a child?’ I will tell you today and every day... We believe children. Never have we had the excuse that it was okay to turn a blind eye. However, not everyone knew that “every citizen has the obligation to report abuse,” some were comfortable in believing “What I don’t know won’t hurt me.” That is no longer true. If there is a silver lining at all to this Penn State situation it is that it’s made us all aware that we do have a responsibility and ignorance is no excuse. Do the right thing. Make the call if you have a strong suspicion. Help protect our children. Almost 11 years ago now, I lost a friend over making a report that she did not agree with. Although this has been hard sometimes, I have never regretted my decision. My only regret has been that she did not understand the importance of what needed to happen. In the end, is that really a friend I need in my life? If you suspect Child Abuse of any kind (physical, sexual or emotional) call the Nebraska Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.652.1999. In Iowa, call 1.800.362.2178.

Dear Editor, Moshe and I attended the Moroccan cooking class last night at Beth El Synagogue. Na’ama Keren and Ron Azoulay were excellent instructors who got all of the 17 students to participate in cooking and preparation of a Moroccan meal. Plus, we even got to sit down and enjoy the food we made. Believe it or not, I think I will be able to prepare one of the dishes at home! I sure hope that more cooking classes are done in the future. Thank you Na’ama and Ron! Beth Brown-Gershovich Dear Editor, In the July 20 edition of the Jewish Press, Alan van Capelle implies that all Jews should favor the health care law. Beginning in 2014, Medicare reimbursements to providers will be cut by $500 billion. Will this cause fewer providers to accept Medicare, possibly leading to long waits and rationing of care for people relying on Medicare? Will the expansion of Medicaid plus the aforementioned Medicare cuts force providers to reject Medicare and/or Medicaid patients if they are to make a profit? How much will this law cost? The estimates from the CBO have tripled since the original estimates, and most of the law has not yet been implemented. Who will make treatment decisions for patients? My understanding is that Washington bureaucrats will approve or disapprove treatments based on comparing the cost of those treatments to the patient’s “quality adjusted life years.” The health care law will completely change health care in this country. We need to specifically and intelligently address the above topics in order to determine if we are going to like these changes. David Lee

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10 | The Jewish Press | August 3, 2012

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Rabbi Steven Abraham. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. ; Y o u n g Families’ Shabbat Shira, 6 p.m. For all Jewish families with young children, at the synagogue. Kid-friendly Shabbat will be followed by a sing-along led by Rabbi Steven and Shira Abraham. Cost is $5 for Beth El members, $7.50 for nonmembers. No charge for children ages six and younger. For reservations, visit www.bethel-omaha.org (type “Shabbat Shira” in search box), or contact the office, or programming@bethel-omaha.org. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush given by Beth El; Evening Services, 8:30 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Family Fun Day, 11 a.m to 4 p.m., at the JCC outdoor pavilion. Lunch will be served; Cost to attend is $5 per person, or $18 per family. RSVPs are required and may be made by sending a check to the synagogue. For more information, contact Margie in the office, or at programming@bethel-omaha. org. MONDAY: Wrestling with Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham. Let’s Do Lunch, Friday, Aug. 10, noon. Meet Rabbi Levin at the Star Deli for a delicious meal and casual conversation. RSVP to the rabbi at rabbilevin@bethel-omaha.org, by Thursday, Aug. 9. Shabbat dinner welcoming Hazzan Krausman on Friday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m., a congregational dinner is planned to welcome Hazzan Krausman and his family, following Shabbat services. Dinner cost is $7.50 for Beth El members, $12.50 for non-members; $25 maximum per family. No charge for children ages five and younger. Reservations are needed by Aug. 6; to RSVP, send a check – made out to Beth El – to the synagogue, c/o “Krausman Shabbat Dinner.” For more information about the evening, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 402.492.8550, or at programming@bethelomaha.org. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross; Weekly Med Center Class, 1 p.m.

CHABAD CENTER An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Chicken Soup for the Toddler’s Soul, 4 p.m. SATURDAY: Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service. SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m. followed by Breakfast Bonanza. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Torah Studies: A weekly journey in the soul of Torah, noon. RSVP to 402.417.2009; A Taste of YeshivaChevruta style Beit Midrash study, 6:30 p.m. All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. FRIDAY: Oneg, 6 p.m. hosted by Tracy and Randy Gordon in honor of the Bar Mitzcah of Josh Gordon; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m. with participation by Josh Gordon. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Josh Gordon, with Kiddush luncheon following. THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7:30-9 p.m. Please contact Elaine Monnier, 402.327.9212 or emonnier@windstream. net or Holly Heffelbower, hheffel@inebraska.com with any questions. The Social Action Committee encourages you to participate in the school supply drive for Saratoga School and Community Learning Center. Saratoga School, located less than a mile from South Street Temple, is a Title 1 school in which 81% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Items most needed are notebooks, backpacks, pens and pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, kleenex and hand sanitizers.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway | Offutt AFB, NE 68113 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

Candlelighting Friday, August 3, 8:21 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Worship Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Brown and Cantor Shermet; Summer Speaker Series: “Gift Shop Lady Tells All” with Sandy Nogg. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Haftarah reader: Miles Remer. SUNDAY: Teacher Meeting and Work Day, 10 a.m.; Religious School Steering Committee Meeting, 12:15 p.m. Shabbat Worship Summer Series, “Consider the Years” with Sivi Roffman and Suzanne Singer on Friday, Aug. 10, 6 p.m. College Dinner with the Clergy for College Kids, Friday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Temple Israel Annual Golf Tournament, Monday, Aug. 13, noon at Shadow Ridge Country Club. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536 or mweidner@templeis raelomaha.com, to register.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: There will not be services at Tifereth Israel this morning; Please join us at South Street Temple as Josh Gordon is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Kiddush luncheon following in honor of Josh. Saratoga School and Community Learning Center. Saratoga School, located less than a mile from South Street Temple, is a Title 1 school in which 81% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Items most needed are notebooks, backpacks, pens and pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, kleenex and hand sanitizers. Please consider participating this year. Please drop off any items to the marked box at Tifereth Israel. Please join us at a book club meeting at Westminster Presbyterian Church (Sheridan and South) on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 1 p.m. The group is reading The Dove Keepers and Rabbi Lewis will be speaking about Masada.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting service begins at 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; Mincha, 8:30 p.m., followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:24 p.m. SUNDAY: Gemara class, 8 a.m., learning tractate Kiddushin; Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Weekly Teleconference Mishnah Class, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross. Contact the office for information on how to call-in to the conference call. TUESDAY: Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m.

To submit announcements: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return). Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing: jpress@jewishomaha.org. Readers can also submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements.

Farewell Omaha by NA’AMA KEREN Community Shlicha Wow, that was fast! Can it be the end already?! I guess it is. It seems that only yesterday I arrived in Omaha. The airplane had just landed and I was already getting to know new people, new faces and new names. Those people, faces and names immediately became part of my life -- for a lifetime. There were many people asking me “what made you make the decision to come to Omaha?” My answer was always the same - “I knew that I’m going to work with the people in the community - I felt this is a place with great people.” And I was right! It is so hard to summarize everything I have done this year. I tried my best to bring everyone “My Israel,” making a stronger connection between this amazing community and the place that we all can call home - even if we don’t have a real address there. I hope you learned new things and have made a stronger connection to Israel. This is a connection that you will take with you everywhere you go and that you can pass to your children. Keep encouraging them to pass it on and participate in programs that will deepen that connection. That connection is so important because it brings us closer to our Jewish identity, to a wide Jewish connection and makes us stronger. From the CDC to the Blumkin Home; from BBYO to the Omaha Jewish Chai School; from the synagogues to the summer camp; from the book club to the Yiddish group; from Rosh Hashanah to Shavuot and from one person to another one - I truly felt part of this community! So many families opened their houses and hearts to me

but four special families truly made me a part of their family. The Tene family - Gady, Mindy, Shiri and Talia and the Finkle family - David, Judy, Andy, Jenny and Steven - were my host families all this year. The Malashock family Larry, Diane, Andrew and Jeffrey -- plus Cheryl and Jodi Levine also adopted me into their lives. As difficult as it is for me to say goodbye it is even harder to express my appreciation to them! Thank you so much for who you are and for what you did for me this year. You now have a big part in my heart for the rest of my life. I love you so much! I also want to thank all of you that I met on the way especially to my supervisors, Mary Sue Grossman and Beth Cohen -- for the support you gave me and opening so many doors both professionally and personally. I want to thank the Jewish Federation of Omaha for bringing this amazing Shlichut program to Omaha and continuing it next year. Thank you to the synagogues, the JCC, Friedel and the Federation departments for using this platform to create a stronger connection to Israel. I had a great time and I’m sure that it’s not goodbye. It’s “Lehitraot” which means that we will see each other in the future. If you are planning to come to Israel - don’t forget to let me know - I promise to be your private tour guide or just meet with you for a coffee. Just check with Mary Sue Grossman for my contact information. Mahatma Gandhi once said - “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” I’m a big believer in this sentence and I think that it is the thing that led me to step out of my safe zone and make a difference in this world. Try it; it will make you feel much better. Na’ama Keren

Pulverent e

August 3, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 11

No more

In memoriam ALBERT SORKIN

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Va-et’chanan- (Nachamu) We are in the fifth and last book of Torah. Moses is pleading with the Kodesh Baruch Hu for the right to enter the Promised Land. The KBH, however, is unyielding: “You will go up to the mountain, and there you will die. “Only this: from the mountain you can see the Holy Land. It is a small Land and you can see it from north to south, and from east to west. That will be your taste of the Holy Land.” The Haftarah is the 40th chapter of the Book of Isaiah. “Come forth, everyone, come forth, my people,” says the KBH. “Speak to Jerusalem, directly to her heart, and tell her that her time of punishment has passed. All her sins are forgiven; she has received double punishment and her time of restoration and reinvigoration has come.” A voice calls out: “Prepare a way to the wilderness for the Lord! Prepare a straight path for our God. Every indentation in the land will be raised up, and every high place will be brought low. The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and everyone will know it is the voice of the Lord they are hearing.” The voice says: “All humanity is like grass, all his accomplishments like blades of grass in the field. All of these will fade away for a breath of the Lord has blown upon it. Now you, who will make announcements to Zion, raise your voice. Tell Jerusalem: “Fear not! Behold: here is your God, and he comes with great strength. He brings his reward with him: as a shepherd leads his flock and gathers the strays, there is no force that can resist the power of the KBH. He will bring all his children, no matter where they were scattered, no matter how far away. “For all who are loyal to me will be gathered, and the glory of Judea will be restored.”

This month at Beth Israel

Albert Sorkin passed away in Denver, CO. Services were held in Denver, CO, at Temple Sinai with interment at Mt. Nebo Memorial Park. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Sorkin. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Marc and Laurie Sorkin; granchildren: Adam, Alison and Jonathan; a brother in Bella Haber, NY Memorials may be made to Shalom Cares Hospice, 14800 E. Belleview Drive, Aurora, CO 80015 or Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe Street, Denver, CO 80237.

HARLAN “BUD” STUDNA Harlan “Bud” Studna passed away on July 20. Services were held July 26 at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles. He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Diane Studna and Mark Gottlieb, Patty and Steve Nogg, and Judy and Jim Brantz; son and daughter-in-law, Carl Studna and Cynthia James; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and long-time friend and companion Josie Shrago. Memorials may be made to Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or charity of choice.

Chagall exhibit in Moscow by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- An exhibit on artist Marc Chagall, whose works were once banned in the former Soviet Union, opened in Russia. The Moscow exhibition looks at the Jewish and folk art influences on his art. Communist Russia saw his works as “bourgeois.” Chagall was born Moishe Segal in 1887 to a poor Jewish family outside Vitebsk in modern Belarus, in the Jewish Pale of Settlement, and his paintings recall images of Vitebsk.Curator Ekaterina Selezneva said the exhibition "must help people to understand the mystery of Chagall," who always looked to popular art in his search for a distinctive figurative language. Chagall served for a short time as commissioner of art in his hometown, but following an argument with fellow painter Kazmir Malevich left for Paris.

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Six Degrees (no bacon): Jewish celebrity roundup by JTA NEWS STAFF El Al’s beauties in the sky El Al is best known for a reputation as one of the world’s most secure airlines, but the Israeli airline may now have another claim to fame: most attractive flight attendants. A website called Tourist Israel blogged last week that El Al topped the “2012 World’s 10 Most Beautiful Air Hostess Airline Company.” However, the only source cited is the Chinese website eChinacities, and the organization allegedly behind compiling the list, the World Air Stewardess Association, doesn’t seem to exist. But don’t worry, El Al, despite relying on one source from China, we still think your flight attendants are attractive. Robert Kraft helps a friend in need Robert Kraft, CEO of the Kraft Group and owner of the New England Patriots, appeared in an unusual video last week when he agreed to read the lines designated for Owen Wilson in an audition tape for an aspiring young actress named Ricki Noel Lander. In the audition tape, for a future movie featuring Wilson and Vince Vaughn, the 71-year-old Kraft appears with Lander as she wears nothing more than a leopard-print bikini.

by DR. PATRICIA NEWMAN Beth Israel's monthly activity for children centered on T'isha B'Av. Children made a mural of the Kotel and learned about Jerusalem and Israel. Educational and art activities, complete with videos, stories and snacks, are led by Dr. Patricia Newman, Rabbi Mizrahi and Kathy Weiner each month. For more information, call the synagogue office.

PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPERS ARE

Matisyahu’s new ... music Everyone talks about Matisyahu’s new look -- no beard, bleached blond hair and, at times, a conspicuously absent kipah. It seems like there are more stories and analyses of his look than of the new cover by Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe. But now Matisyahu is making news for what originally made him famous: his music. His new album, Spark Seeker, hit the market this week. The artist tweeted that the album “is dedicated to those of you who see beyond the surface.” The album, inspired by a trip Matisyahu took to Israel, features hip-hop, pop and groove. Barbra Streisand pranks (and gets pranked by) Seth Rogen’s mom Seth Rogen is working with Barbra Streisand on the new movie The Guilt Trip, where Babs plays Rogen’s overbearing mother. According to the National Enquirer, during one of the filming days Rogen made Streisand prank-call his real mother, Sandy Rogen, and tell her, “Sandy, it’s Barbra Streisand -- don’t forget to take your vitamins!” (Admit it, most of you read that with a heavy Jewish accent.) Mama Rogen, who apparently is used to being pranked by her son, replied with, “Barbra, my son told me you’re the worst diva he’s ever worked with!” Mindy Meyer, ‘Sexy’ state Senate hopeful Mindy Meyer, a 22-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman from the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, decided to run for the New York State Senate on the Republican and Conservative Party slate. Other than her age, Meyer also grabbed attention with a bedazzled pink website that has the song Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO playing in the background and the line “Mindy Meyer -- Senator and I know it” sparkling on top. It’s not clear whether or not Meyer has a shot at winning, but she’s sure to get some attention.

To Submit obituaries to the Jewish Press: Email to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; fax to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154, or online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on Jewish Press and go to Submit Announcements.

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12 | The Jewish Press | August 3, 2012

Despite militarized society, Israel has strict gun laws by BEN SALES TEL AVIV (JTA) -- First-time visitors to Israel might be taken aback to see groups of armed teenagers walking through a city plaza on a weeknight, or surprised to walk into a public bathroom and see an M-16 laying across the sinks as a soldier washes his face. But guns are ubiquitous in Israel, where most 18-year-olds are drafted into the army after high school. However, once those soldiers finish their service two or three years later, they are subject to civilian gun control regulations that are much stricter than American laws. In fact, it’s pretty much impossible for civilians who live in Israel to acquire an arsenal of weaponry of the sort used by the alleged shooter in last week’s massacre in Aurora, Colo. James E. Holmes, who is accused of killing 12 people and wounding 58 in the Aurora movie theater, legally bought the firearms he used, according to reports, including a semiautomatic rifle, a semiautomatic pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun. Leading up to the shooting, Holmes had bought thousands of bullets online. In Israel, assault rifles are banned except for special circumstances, such as communal self-defense in areas deemed to be a security risk. And while political violence in Israel is all too common and gun violence is a growing problem, random shootings of strangers -- like the Aurora massacre -- are virtually unheard of here. Unlike in the United States, where the right to bear arms is guaranteed in the Constitution’s Second Amendment, Israel’s department of public security considers gun ownership a privilege, not a right. Gun owners in Israel are limited to owning one pistol and must undergo extensive mental and physical tests before they can receive a

Young Israelis carrying M-16 and Tavor assault rifles on Jaffa Street in the center of the city of Jerusalem. Credit: Serge Attal/Flash 90/JTA weapon; gun owners are limited to 50 rounds of ammunition per year. Not all Israelis, however, may own guns. In order to own a pistol, an Israeli must for two years have been either a captain in the army or a former lieutenant colonel. Israelis with an equivalent rank in other security organizations may also own a pistol. In addition, residents of West Bank settlements, and those who work there, may own pistols for self-defense. Other groups of Israelis, such as professional hunters and sharpshooters, or people transporting dangerous goods, may also own firearms. And Israelis may keep

unloaded guns they inherited or received as a gift. Lior Nedivi, an Israeli firearms expert, said that despite Israel’s militarized society, neither soldiers nor veterans engage in extensive gun violence because 18-year-olds are tested for mental and physical fitness before being drafted. In 2008, 143 people in Israel died from firearms, according to the website gunpolicy.org. “They don’t recruit everyone,” said Nedivi, who runs a company called Advanced Forensic Science Services. “If you are a person with a record of violence, you will be

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discharged.” Nedivi favors allowing private gun ownership with tight regulations, noting that armed civilians have used their guns to stop terrorists during attacks. He said that gun massacres don’t occur in Israel because gun owners here undergo more comprehensive psychological screenings than do U.S. gun owners. “It’s not guns that kill, it’s people that kill,” Nedivi said. “If this person in Colorado will be screened now, they will say he has mental problems. In Israel, most people like this don’t get a chance to get a gun.” Gun violence does still occur in Israel, though gun control is not a sensitive political issue. “We think the society is over-armed,” said Smadar Ben-Natan, a lawyer who co-heads Gun-Free Kitchen Tables, an Israeli coalition to end domestic gun violence. “There are too many weapons going around. There is no justification that these weapons go home and are present in civilian surroundings.” Rather than lobbying for new laws, GunFree Kitchen Tables is pushing for the enforcement of current regulations, which require security guards to leave their weapons in their workplace. Ben-Natan said private security companies often do not abide by the law. “The private police companies offer an illusion of security,” Ben-Natan said. “They’re not accountable in terms of the public interest. They don’t bear the cost of the precautions that need to be in place. The people that pay this price are the women and family members who get shot.” For soldiers who take their weapons home on weekends and off-nights, the rule is they must be on their person at all times or under double-locks if left at home.

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