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Tentative ceasefire near Eilat
September 2, 2011 3 Elul 5771 Vol. 90 | No. 51
This Week
Beth El to celebrate 20 years at “new” building Page 6
Temple Israel student living up to a man’s obligations Page 7
by MARCY OSTER the Washington Times reportJERUSALEM (JTA) -- For ed that a previously unknown now, it seems, a tentative group affiliated with al-Qaida ceasefire is holding. based in the Sinai may have But after five days of viocarried out the attacks. lence that saw a deadly terrorAll the while, rocket crews ist attack near Eilat, intense in Gaza fired barrages at rocket fire from Hamas-consouthern Israel, hitting homes trolled Gaza into southern and a yeshiva and killing an Israel and new tremors in the Israeli man in Beersheba. In Egypt-Israel relationship, all, more than 100 rockets Israeli leaders are keeping an were fired at Israel. anxious eye on the state’s Facing escalation, all sides southern borders. tried to tamp things down by It is still unclear who exactearly this week. ly was behind the Aug. 18 Israeli Defense Minister attacks that left eight Israelis Ehud Barak, who immediately dead when terrorists after the Aug. 18 attacks said ambushed two buses and two they “demonstrate the weakcars on Israeli roads near the ening of Egypt’s control over southern resort town of Eilat, the Sinai Peninsula and the Eight Israelis were killed when Palestinian gunmen fired at Israeli vehicles, including this on the Egyptian border. Three expansion of terrorist activity bus, near the Egyptian border on Aug. 18, 2011. Egyptian soldiers were inadthere,” issued a rare ShabbatCredit: Ariel Hermoni/Israeli Defense Ministry vertently killed in the chaos as day statement apologizing for some of the assailants fled into Forces said the gunmen came from ing targets in Gaza, killing leaders of the Egyptian soldiers’ deaths. Gaza but traveled through Egypt’s the group and blowing up their infraEgyptian territory. On Sunday, Egypt helped broker a The Egyptian soldiers’ deaths poorly guarded Sinai Peninsula to structure. The IDF carried out more ceasefire between Israel and Hamas sparked angry demonstrations in reach their target some 150 miles than 15 strikes in Gaza, and several in Gaza, and on Monday Egyptian Cairo, where crowds converged on away, near Eilat. The Gaza terrorist Palestinians were reported killed. Foreign Minister Mohammed But the Popular Resistance Kamel Amr made clear that recallthe Israeli Embassy, ripping down group, the Popular Resistance the Israeli flag and calling on Egypt’s Committee, which works closely Committees denied involvement, as ing Egypt’s ambassador from Israel leaders to recall their ambassador to with Hamas, originally was identi- did Hamas -- rare for terrorist groups was never on the table. fied as responsible for the attacks, normally eager to take credit for Israel. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Meanwhile, the Israel Defense and Israeli jets responded by pound- attacks against Israelis. On Tuesday, Continued on page 2
The Partnership Revolution by KIM GOLDBERG P2G Arts Taskforce Chair The Jewish Agency for Israel's Partnership Unit officially launched the new ‘Partnership2Gether’ (P2G) brand during the 5th Partnerships
Along with this new brand, dynamic changes are taking place in the Western Galilee/US Central Area Consortium Partnership. P2G Co-Chairs, Zoe Riekes (returning U.S. Central Area Consortium
9/11 attack was a call to service and tragic destiny Page 12
A common bond by GLORIA SHUKERT JONES You’ve heard the expression, “Truth is Stranger than Fiction,” which often defies the imaginations of even the most prolific best-seller novelists. Every day in the media, we hear accounts about
their activities, one of which is visiting with an assigned resident. When Wine paired resident Milt Saylan with Trey Payne, a Senior at Millard South, she had no idea she was laying the groundwork for one of those rare happenings.
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
This Month Rosh Hashanah See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
8 10 11
The new ‘Partnership2Gether’ logo was officially unveiled in Jerusalem Conference in Tel Aviv this summer. The new name replaces Partnership 2000/Partnership with Israel, which had been in use for the past 15 years in 550 communities and 45 Partnerships.
Chair) and David Laron (Western Galilee Chair), said to ensure a flourishing future the program will strive to expand its network, impact, awareness, and support by 10 times within the next three years. For example 500 teenagers are currently engaged, the goal is to multiply that number by ten. That would increase involvement to 5,000 teens. Quite a big multiplier! How can that type of growth happen? How can this be achieved when dealing with tightened budgets, leadership changes, and a complex system of connections, programs, and communities? Both Zoe Continued on page 2
Trey Payne and Milt Saylan siblings being reunited after a 50 year separation, or someone discovering a huge amount of money in a trunk hidden in the attic. These incidents are viewed by some as luck, karma, or mere coincidence. But whatever they may be, they certainly qualify as human interest stories. Such were the recent conclusions of Lois Wine, in charge of the volunteer program at the Home. One of her duties is to recruit teenage volunteers from local high schools to assist the residents in some of
When Saylan was a young man, he wanted to join the Navy. He completed his basic training at the Naval base, Camp Dodge, in Johnson, Iowa. During the initial introductions and small talk between Saylan and Payne, the young volunteer happened to mention that he had just completed basic training before he even graduated. That’s when Saylan remembered it was the exact same place he started his own Naval career, back in the 1930’s. Wine, Continued on page 2
2 | The Jewish Press | September 2, 2011
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Continued from page 1 and David agree this will not be an easy task. They are confident however that with a highly professional staff and lay leaders in place throughout the Consortium, the goal can – and will be executed. Based on a recent GAP analysis survey of the Central Consortium Partnership region, focus is being shifted to three critical challenges or ‘gaps’. This new focus will combine to achieve the WG/Central Area Consortium P2G x10 Goal. Challenge 1: Engage & Utilize Communication Platforms - Inform, Enlighten & Inspire Partnership is about building people-to-people connections. Obviously this means being the best at communication. David Laron reports that communication resources have been under-utilized in the past. Too many are stuck in old ways of communication. There has been a lack of initiative in exploring and using new technologies and online networks. It is critical to the Partnership’s future success to effectively communicate. A central communication platform will be launched to allow communities to be instantly connected and updated. This new platform will increase productivity, initiate collaboration, build on connections, increase dialogue, and strengthen engagement and commitment. The power of social networks will be harnessed to create a synergy of connection allowing anyone at anytime, to tap into the flowing stream of current Partnership information – to be informed, enlightened, to inspire and to be inspired. Challenge 2: Expansion of Lay Leadership & Volunteers – Involve, Network & Grow Once the new communication tools are in place, it will provide a well-oiled support system to expand people resources. Zoe comments, “Our Partnership is a model for others. We are considered pioneers of the Partnership organization and should be proud of all we’ve accomplished to this point. To continue the success and momentum of our best practices, we need to build upon the passion of our current
pool of lay leadership and volunteers and expand our people resources. This will involve creating specific programs that target recruitment initiatives. We will be actively planning and introducing new programs focused on involving and growing our team of talented and passionate people.” Challenge 3: Expansion of Financial Resources & Relationships with Partnering Organizations – Stabilize, Secure, & Strengthen During the next year, a strategic plan for fundraising in Israel will be developed. This is big news. This will build on the current funds provided from Federations Partnership allocations and begin to create additional avenues of revenue to support future P2G programs. Zoe and David speak for everyone when mentioning the tremendous appreciation for the continued support from the US communities. They agree that it is time to initiate additional creative approaches to ensure a strong financial platform for a flourishing future. Partnership’s mission is focused on creating and promoting mutually beneficial endeavors – forging relationships through programs that build Jewish identity and strengthen connections. P2G programs have proven to be successful and are lifechanging for participants. Partnership has touched over 30,000 people’s lives in the past 13 years. Just as other revolutions are taking place around the world, the P2G revolution will face the current challenges directly and with a keen focus. There is a great momentum and even more amazing potential for the future. The time is now to start the WG/Central Area Consortium P2G x10 Revolution. Join, connect and make a difference today. For more information on Partnership2Gether programs contact the Center for Jewish Education - Diane Malashock, Israel Program Coordinator, 402.334.6424 or Mary Sue Grossman, Associate Executive Director, 402.334.6445. Also please visit www.westerngalilee.org.il.
A common bond Continued from page 1 present during the introductions, immediately saw the potential for telling this story in the Jewish Press. I had a similar reaction when asked to interview the two subjects. According to Wine, “As Trey described some of the things he did at boot camp, Milt got a faraway look, as though reliving his own experiences. It must have been quite an emotional moment for him because he got a little bit teary-eyed.” I had the pleasure of meeting with Milt Saylan, who was given a thumbs up from some of the staff members, regarding his pleasant disposition and sense of humor. Although he was in a wheelchair, he still gave the impression of physical strength, and strength of character, who definitely did not look his stated age of 93, and could have passed as much younger. Seated at his side was his devoted wife, Rosalie, who also looked much younger than her age. Her secret to youthful longevity she stated was, “Take good care of yourself.” She also reported she visits her husband every day. The Saylans are long-time Omaha residents. Saylan, who has been at the Home on at least two occasions, said he really enjoyed the food, entertainment and activities. He also indicated the quality of care was excellent. At that moment, Trey Payne entered the room, looking sharp in the white, summer Navy uniform he wore for the picture. I asked Saylan what he thought of his new friend, and he said, “It does my heart good to see a real live sailor.” I asked Payne to tell me a little bit about himself. He seemed to be a very personable young man, mature for his age, but reluctant to do much bragging, although I offered him the opportunity by asking, “Did you graduate with high honors?” He said simply, “Just average grades.” He really opened up when describing his boot camp experience, however, and anything pertaining to the Navy. “My dad is in the Air Force, but I didn’t want to go into the Air Force. I was in the Junior R.O.T.C., where I got a taste of the Navy, and decided to go there instead.” He then gave an account of a typical day at boot camp. “We’d get up at 0500 and do physical training, eat breakfast, march, eat lunch, attend classroom, march back, eat dinner, take cold showers. They really tear you down and then build you back up. They strip away negative attitudes and give you new ones. I graduated from camp as an expert marksman with a rifle. First, they give you pellet guns for practice.” Saylan countered with, “We shot M-30s, but I spent most
of my time in the galley, getting food ready.” “Well, you do whatever they assign you,” Payne recalled, and added, “There were 25 in our batallion, and in September, we joined up with a squadron in Lincoln.” Payne also indicated one of the perks the Navy offers is payment for the young recruits’ entire college education while they are enlisted .” “I had only base pay,” Saylan said. “I had two kids at the time, and I only got $30.00 for each of them. I made about $150.00 a month.” There followed further comparisons and discussion from the years Saylan served in the Navy, to the present, where apparently more generous benefits are now offered. Payne is the son of David Payne and Heather Parker. He is 17 years old and lives with his dad here in Omaha. He has two brothers, Trenton, 5, and Tristan, 4, who live with their mother in Missouri, and two other siblings, Hannah, 13 and Carter, l l. I asked about Payne’s future plans, and if he was going for a career in the Navy. He said, “I’ll probably stay in for a while, but I’d like to eventually train as a firefighter. I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter.” Despite the years between Milt Saylan and Trey Payne, there is no evidence of a generation gap. For all anyone can tell, it’s just two guys sharing their experiences in the same Navy boot camp, proving that some things never change that much, and friendships can be formed as a result of coincidence.
Tentative ceasefire Continued from page 1 Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet elected not to escalate things in Gaza, opting for restraint. But the ingredients for instability remain firmly in place: Hamas in control of Gaza, an Egypt more susceptible to popular sentiment against Israel and a Sinai Peninsula where terrorists may exploit the lack of security to stage attacks against Israel. Note: A long-range Grad rocket landed near Beersheba on Sunday, the fourth rocket to land in Israeli territory since the new cease-fire .On Saturday, a Kassam rocket hit the Negev, and on Aug. 26 two rockets hit in the Negev and the Ashkelon area.
September 2, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 3
Doing a world of good: One Campus, One Community by SHERRIE SAAG the campus beginning September 1 with Community Development Associate, Jewish added emphasis on collection during the Federation of Omaha Federation’s upcoming Backyard Concert As part of the One Campus, One Series. Community initiative, the Jewish “We are asking everyone attending a Federation is sponsoring a collection drive Backyard concert to bring an item or more on campus, running from on the list. We will Sept. 1 through Sept. 25. have collection bins Our goal is to help re-stock stationed outside on the shelves of Jewish Sept. 11, 18 and 25 Family Service as we colto make it easy for lect essential personal care everyone to particiitems and cleaning suppate. We want this to plies for those in our combe a great communimunity who may otherty-wide effort that wise do without. Help us improve the quality of life for really makes a differ“That’s surprising, I did- people in our community by bringing ence in people’s n’t know,” is the response the following items to the Jewish lives,” said Bob most often heard when Federation of Omaha campus collec- G o l d b e r g , Jewish Family Service tion bins. Sept. 1-25. Federation Director (JFS) announces that its of Communications pantry is in need of per- Laundry detergent and YJO. sonal care items. Liquid dishwashing soap The Backyard According to Karen Deodorant Concert Series kicks Gustafson, Director, Shaving cream off on Sept. 11 from Jewish Family Service, Disposable razors 5 – 8 p.m. with the SNAP, the acronym for the Toilet Paper and Paper Towels SuperNinjas, Tara food stamp program, is Facial tissues Vaughn Band, and good for just that, food Household Cleaning supplies the Klezmorim set and food only. to perform. Bring a “This leaves everyday items that are a bit picnic blanket, dinner and beverages and more expensive, like laundry detergent, join the community for a great evening. Star deodorant, soap, shaving cream, razors, toi- Catering will be selling hot dogs and hamlet paper, and facial tissues, on the most- burgers too. needed lists of JFS clients. We can all relate This is a program of the Jewish Federation to how expensive our shopping trips can be of Omaha - One Campus, One Community when we have cleaning supplies, paper tow- and sponsored by the Sokolof Javitch Music els, razors and soap to buy,” said Gustafson. Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Collection bins will be placed throughout Foundation.
Ann Goldstein Outstanding Young Leader Award by DON GOLDSTEIN cation. As a tribute to Ann Goldstein, the On July 28, the Leadership Omaha former director of Leadership Omaha, and Alumni Association (LOAA) honored her belief in the importance of the scholarBenson High Senior LemLem Retta and Central High Senior CheLynn Thompson with the Ann Goldstein Outstanding Young Leader Award. The awards were given at the Omaha Housing Authority Board Meeting. The $1500 award is given annually to one or two graduating seniors CheLynn Thompson, left, Don Goldstein and LemLem Retta. who have lived in the Omaha Housing Authority throughout ships, LOAA named the award the Ann their school career. It is to be used as a Goldstein Young Leadership Award in book scholarship for post-secondary edu- 1999.
Livingston Foundation grant applications by HOWARD EPSTEIN The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation, Inc. will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. The primary interest of the Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation, Inc. is to support Jewish institutions and projects. The Foundation has a secondary interest in supporting health, education, cultural and social services in the Omaha metropolitan area. Grant requests should be submitted in writing, using the appropriate forms, to
Howard N. Epstein at 11605 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 300, P.O. Box 542005, Omaha, NE 68154-8005. Guidelines are as follows: 1. Grants will be limited to organizations located within the Omaha metropolitan area and the State of Israel. 2. No grants will be given for capital or endowment campaigns. 3. Organization representatives may contact Howard Eptein at 402.492.9800 for a grant application form. The deadline for grant requests is Friday, Sept. 30.
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Beth El’s Merit Scholarship Program offers incentives by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator A special incentives program offered through Beth El’s religious school gives the congregation’s teens a variety of opportunities to enrich their Jewish lives, while earning money to be used for Israel trips, Jewish youth programs, conventions or college. The Merit Scholarship Program, open to students in the ninth-through-twelfth grades, “offers rewards to those students who choose to develop their own base of Jewish knowledge outside the framework of the formal Jewish high school program,” according to BESTT Education Director Judy Rubin. The program has been awarding dedicated, hard-working students for over three decades. Scholarships are announced at the end of each school year, with payment awarded for trips, youth conferences, or upon the students’ graduation from high school, Rubin explained. Scholarships are based on a variety of criteria, including volunteer activities, attendance at and participation in synagogue services, youth group participation, and mentored tasks ranging from research papers and presenting a D’var Torah, to creating a Jewish cultural arts project, such as a sculpture, a video, or composing music, a poem, short story or essay. Students may participate in the program during their entire high school career, or they may join at the beginning of any school year. Students who participated during the 2010-’11 school year include Ari Brodkey, Alyssa Cohen, Yonatan Dotan, Julia Edelstein, Noam Margalit, Tal Margalit, Adeev Potash, Ezra Potash, Chad Shulewitz, Samantha Wiener, Aaron Zipursky
and Naomi Zipursky. Several of those students recently shared their thoughts about the program and its benefits. This fall marks the third year of Merit Scholarship participation for Tal Margalit, a junior at Central High School. Saying she enjoys the program because of the volunteer opportunities it offers, Margalit has worked as a tutor for Junior Congregation and B’nai Mitzvah students; she also spent a productive six weeks at Herzl camp, where she built benches, cleaned the camp, played bingo with the elderly, and helped to take care of abandoned pets. “Merit Scholarship presents to the participant many volunteer opportunities, funds for college, and allows the person to show their creativity within the projects and choices they make,” she said, adding that she plans to use her scholarship funds toward college tuition. Also planning to use the funds she earns for college is Julia Edelstein, who is following in the footsteps of her older siblings as a Merit Scholarship participant. “My sister and brother did it, so it seemed like the thing to do in high school,” said the Millard North sophomore, “and it’s a good opportunity to get volunteer hours in the community and be active in USY and in synagogue.” This year marks Edelstein’s second year in the program. She hopes to continue her volunteer activities as a Junior Congregation tutor and as a Bingo game assistant for residents at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, a gratifying job because “you could see the enjoyment on people’s faces from having kids help out – they enjoyed having us there,” she said. Chad Shulewitz, also a second-year participant, said he
Blumkin Home hosts Grandparents’ Day by OZZIE NOGG Grandparents’ Day at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11, and the entertainment line-up will please participants of all ages. From 1 p.m to 3 p.m. a Vintage Car Show will be held in the SW parking lot of the Jewish Community Center Campus. “Cars from Omaha’s Model A club, along with automobiles from private collectors Al Montia, Don Noodell and Paul Shyken will be on display,” said Karen Menagh, RBJH Activities Director. “The cars are in fabulous condition and a treat to look at.” At 1:45 p.m., the delightful family film, Yours, Mine and Ours starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda will run in the Blumkin Home Auditorium on the large screen. The movie is free, along with bags of fresh popcorn. After the movie, everyone is invited to Tea Time on Main Street outside the Auditorium for a Make Your Own Sundae Ice Cream Social. “In addition to all this fun,” said Lois Wine, RBJH Director of Volunteers, “the Blumkin Home Gift Shop on
Main Street -- staffed by L.O.V.E -- is running a superduper Fall Sale. The doors are open from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., so be sure to stop in and see our wares.” Grandparents’ Day is topped off by the first of three musical offerings from the JCC’s Back Yard Concert Series. Live music by Jorge Nila and the SuperNinjas, Tara Vaughan, and the Klezmorim will be featured from 5 to 8 p.m. Everyone is invited to grab a lawn chair, pack a cooler, bring family and friends, and listen to great music while relaxing for a few hours in the yard behind the JCC. The Backyard Concert Series is sponsored by the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. The Grandparent’s Day program -- free and open to the entire community -- is underwritten by these funds administered by the Foundation: The Sheldon A. and Lorrie Bernstein Endowment Fund; The Betty A. Studna and Seymour T. Lee Endowment Fund; The Chester and Phyllis Lustgarten Endowment Fund, and the L.O.V.E. Auxiliary.
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decided to join the program to earn money for camp or college. The Burke High sophomore has chosen to tutor students during Junior Congregation on Saturday mornings and said he enjoys participating in the program because, “I got to learn about things I had no idea about before doing the program.” He added that because of his heightened involvement, he feels a deeper connection to the synagogue, and would encourage other students to take part, “because it’s fun, it’s a great learning experience and it’s very interesting.” For Millard West sophomore Alyssa Cohen, being a Merit Scholarship participant has given her opportunities to tutor, serve as a substitute teacher’s aide, babysit during the High Holidays, among other volunteer activities. Her involvement has been meaningful, she said, because “I’ve learned more about Judaism and how much the Jewish community impacts the world without us even knowing it. I feel like I have a deeper connection with the synagogue because in order for me to complete the volunteering part, I get to help around the synagogue and interact with the congregation.” Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin expressed pleasure with the scholarship program. “Merit Scholarship offers an excellent and enriching program for those who like to be more involved at Beth El and in our Jewish community. Those who participated in it in the past and those who are currently enrolled are grateful for the program.” According to Rubin, “It’s a very easy way to earn a respectable amount of money that may be used for one’s college education. Not all students will qualify for scholarships based upon financial need or academics. This should give a student -- and his or her parents -- a great deal of satisfaction because it was earned by the student’s own efforts. “We can always accommodate more participants,” she added, “and I encourage all Beth El high school students to consider the Merit Scholarship.” For more information about the program, contact Rubin at 402.498.0904, or eddir@bethel-omaha.org.
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September 2, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 5
Beth El Sunday Morning Scholars series by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Starting Sept. 11, Sunday mornings at Beth El will once again take on a scholarly tone, as the synagogue begins its second annual Sunday Morning Scholars Series, featuring a variety of thought-provoking speakers and topics. Kicking off the 11 a.m. series will be Susan Paley, M.A., and longtime Jewish studies teacher. Paley will take a look at the meaning of forgiveness during her address You’ve
mation,” she said. “In addition to news about our upcoming events, there are helpful pages that people may not be aware of, such as our B’nai Mitzvah and Interfaith pages.” For her portion of the program, Rubin will demonstrate the many uses of SMART Boards (interactive white boards) in the classroom, and will give participants names of educational websites “that they can pursue to further their own Jewish knowledge.” Extolling the benefits of the boards, she noted that “the pos-
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Recanted: Now Repent! Citing scandals such as those surrounding John Edwards, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Eliot Spitzer, Paley quipped, “Ripped from the headlines, yet another powerful public figure apologizes for his indecent, immoral, adulterous, unethical behavior. He weeps, wrings his hands, and dutifully says (on camera), ‘I’m sorry,’ but does his mea culpa really mean anything? “In Judaism,” she said, “asking for forgiveness is a holy process whose purpose is to go far deeper than the surface apologies we are accustomed to hearing in the media. There’s so much more than just saying ‘Sorry.’” Saying “This timely discussion topic is critical as we prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” Paley said that during her presentation, “We’ll study the true meaning of forgiveness from classic Jewish sources, as well as the foundational principles of Teshuva, to assist us in having wonderful, meaningful experiences from the Yom Tovim.” On Nov. 6, Beth El’s Education Director, Judy Rubin, along with the synagogue’s webmaster Lisa Lieb, will share the lowdown on Judaism Online, a discussion about navigating through Beth El’s website, as well as all things Jewish online. Lieb said she plans to introduce attendees to the synagogue’s website and show them the many resources available to them. “There’s so much happening at Beth El and it’s really helpful to have a place people can go to for the latest infor-
In the news Register today for the Omaha Free to Breathe® 5K Fun Run/Walk and 1 Mile Memorial Walk, Saturday, Oct. 15 at Miller’s Landing, 151 Freedom Park Road. All proceeds help support the National Lung Cancer Partnership’s vital research, education and awareness programs. For more information or to register, donate, sponsor or volunteer, please visit www.FreeToBreathe.org. The Ak-Sar-Ben Royal Court has been announced for the 2011 Coronation and Scholarship Ball; the ball will take place Saturday, Oct. 22 at the CenturyLink Center. Among the 2011 Pages are Zachary Evan Atlas, son of Stacey and Brett Atlas; Jane Elizabeth Boggust, daughter of Paula and Matt Boggust; Michael Jacob Denenberg, son of Drs. Tippi and Steven Denenberg; Rose Ellen Friedland, daughter of Jamie and Ted Friedland; Zev Dan Gordman, son of Danielle and Jeff Gordman; Abigail Paige Kaufman, daughter of Dana and Michael Kaufman; Jordyn Ashley Kirshenbaum, daughter of Nikki and Adam Kirshenbaum; Brady Adam Meyerson, son of Jenifer and Scott Meyerson; Jack Morton Scioli, son of Andrea and Anthony Scioli; Luke David Steiner, son of Melissa and Gary Steiner. Alison Rose Coyle, daughter of Pamela Bloch and Michael F. Coyle, will be a Princess and Matthew Baker Heyman, son of Betsy Baker and Richard Heyman, will serve as an escort. The event is a program of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation.
Marty Shukert
Rabbi Yaacov Weiss
sibilities that the SMART Boards afford us are endless and provide teachers with tools that can reach all kinds of learners. Guy Matalon, the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Scholar in Residence, will be the featured speaker on Dec. 11. Matalon will address Sources for Jewish Law, and said he will focus on different texts that serve as the sources for rabbinic decisions as they pertain to religious questions. In addition to classical sources, he shared that, “We will look at some recent Halachic decisions by leading Conservative rabbis to explore how exactly decisions are made.” The series’ winter and spring speakers will include Marty Shukert, principal at RDG Planning & Design; Beth El’s Rabbi Steven Abraham; Rabbi Yaacov Weiss, Chaplain Resident at the Nebraska Medical Center; Glen Fineman, LICSW, LIMHP, clinical therapist; and attorney David Herzog. Details about their presentations will be announced in The Jewish Press. The entire community is invited to attend the Sunday Scholars Series, at no charge.
CJE offers course for personal connection by AMBER PARTIN CJE Administrative Assistant In preparation for the High Holidays, the Center for Jewish Education will be offering a course entitled, “Deepening Our Personal Relationship with God.” Taught by Judy Tawil Rosenfeld, this enlightening, three-week class will examine our personal relationship with God through the study of the Torah. Sessions explore “God Encounters” beginning with the story of creation, followed by the personal experiences of Abraham, Moses, Hannah and Elijah. All attendees are encouraged to bring a siddur (prayer book) for the final class, when tips and insights will be shared on how to have a meaningful connection to God all year long. “I am excited to be learning Torah with the Jewish community of Omaha,” says Rosenfeld. “As we approach the High Holidays, we tend to focus more on God. Developing a personal relationship with God is a lifelong process. Based on Torah models, we will be exploring ways to enrich our connection with God on a daily basis.” “Deepening Our Personal Relationship with God,” will take place in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library on Sept. 9, 16, and 23, noon–1 p.m. Class tuition is $26 for the three sessions, discounted to $21 for the donors of the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Pre-registration is required and should be sent to apartin@jewish omaha.org or by calling 402.334.6463. Rosenfeld received her Bachelor’s Degree in Judaic Studies from Brooklyn College. She has been a Jewish educator in the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform communities for over twenty years. Most recently, she served as the Educational Director for the Congregation B’nai Israel in Toms River, New Jersey. Judy has recently moved here with her husband, Aaron and their children, Daniel and Linda.
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6 | The Jewish Press | September 2, 2011
Beth El to celebrate 20 years at “new” building
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by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Many in the Jewish community who remember Beth El’s Farnam Street location still refer to the synagogue’s current home at 145th and California Street as the “new” building. Well, that new building turns 20 years old this year, and the congregation is preparing to celebrate both Beth El homes this September, during a special weekend celebration, “Preserving Our Past...Celebrating Our Future.”
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Events commemorating the milestone anniversary will include a special Shabbat service and reception at Beth El on Friday, Sept. 16, plus an open house at the old synagogue – now the home of Holland Basham Architects -- on Sunday, Sept. 18, complete with building tours led by principals of the architecture firm, Tim Holland and Keith Basham. The entire community is invited to attend. “Many of our members have fond memories of life-cycle events, religious services and programs, in the old building and in our new building,” said Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin. “I would like to invite everybody to come to celebrate the past, our vibrant present, and our promising future.” Chairing the festivities are Sandy and Jeffrey Passer, along with Debbie and Lloyd Roitstein. Assisting the Roitsteins and Passers as hosts during the special weekend will be Cheryl and Ron Cooper, Julie and Eric Phillips, Patty and Steve Nogg, Pam and Bruce Friedlander, Susan Witkowski, Carol and Alan Parsow, Hollie and Glen Fineman, and Lorrie and Gary Katelman. “Lloyd and I have many fond memories of Beth El,” Debbie said. “Lloyd grew up at the synagogue, I attended my first service at Beth El and went through conversion with Rabbi Kripke, and we were married at Beth El. Knowing that 2011 marked the 20th anniversary of leaving the old Beth El
for the new sparked a desire in us to want to return to where we shared so many wonderful memories with our family, both spiritual and personal.” The Passers also have a long history with the congregation: Jeff ’s grandparents and parents were members of the synagogue, and he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah there. He and Sandy have been members for the past few years, he said, noting that, “Since joining Beth El, we have enjoyed renewing many acquaintances, and Sandy has been involved with Sisterhood challah-baking and the Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group.” The Friday night Shabbat service will feature former leaders of the congregation sharing memories and offering a history of the synagogue; then, on the 18th, the festivities on Farnam Street “will allow longtime members to refresh their memories and newer members to visit a very special place in the history of the Beth El congregation,” Jeff said.
Clockwise from top left: the original Beth El Synagogue at 49th and Farnam, Lloyd and Debbie Roitstein, the “new” Beth El Synagogue at 145th and California 1991, and Sandy and Jeff Passer. “It will give all members the opportunity to view firsthand how magnificently the building has been renovated.” Lloyd added that, “Many of the congregants who attended school, services, etc., at Beth El are curious about how the old synagogue was transformed and if any parts of it were preserved. This will provide an opportunity for those curiosities to be answered. “Beth El provides a link for us to our past and our future,” he noted. And for many in the Omaha Jewish community, the upcoming festivities will be spent reveling in that link, recalling the past, celebrating the present and looking to the congregation’s future.
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B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Mace Hack, PhD, Executive Director of Nebraska’s Nature conservancy will talk about The Great Missouri River Flood of 2011 - or 'Nature 1, Man 0 (despite our best efforts)’ on Wednesday, Sept. 7, noon at the Blumkin Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $10; beverage service is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish teaches an optimistic vision that allows us to view the world with joy and hope. Come join us at the Blumkin Home, every Thursday in the board room, at 1 p.m., to reap “The Joys of Yiddish!” For information call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638. MAINSTREETERS Stretching and Balance Exercise Class with Sharon Rowe on Wednesdays, Sept. 14, 21 and 28 at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (Simon Chapel). Cost is $15 per series which includes three 45 minute sessions. Send reservation with full payment to: Mainstreeters, c/o Maggie Conti, 323 S. 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154. Make check payable to Jewish Social Services. Call Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521 for questions.
Basic Word Processing (only 6 students per class) on Tuesdays, Sept. 6, 13 and 20 at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (Learning Center) with instructor Phyllis Gentry, Jewish Senior Services Executive Assistant. Learn the basics and a little more of Microsoft Word. Cost is $10 per series which includes three one-hour classes. Send Reservation to: Mainstreeters, c/o Maggie Conti, 323 S. 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154. Make check payable to Jewish Social Services. Call Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521 for questions. Mainstreeters Luncheon on Monday, Sept. 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home (auditorium). Come give a warm welcome to Aaron Rosenfeld the new JCC Executive Director and hear a snapshot preview of all the future plans of the JCC. Send reservation to: Mainstreeters, c/o Maggie Conti, 323 S. 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154. Make check payable to Jewish Social Services. Call Linda Abrams Tederman at 402.468.4939 for questions.
Birth Chris and Fran Edwards of Naples, Italy, announce the Aug. 3 birth of their son, Lochlan Zev Theodore. He has three big sisters, O’Bryen, Gavriella, and Siobhan, and a big brother, Malcolm.
September 2, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 7
Temple Israel student living up to a man’s obligations by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator On the day after he became a Bar Mitzvah, Solomon Marburg woke up as usual, went to the Bagel Bin with his father, Dan, rode the Bagel Bin van to Aksarben Village Shopping Center’s Farmers Market, filled it up with produce and baked goods and delivered it to The Stephen Center, an emergency shelter on South 28th Street. Solomon’s Bar Mitzvah day was Saturday, Aug. 27, and as required of all B’nai Mitzvah students at Temple Israel, he carried out a mitzvah project. “I Solomon Marburg sits on the back had been thinking of the Bagel Bin van which has about it for awhile, become his mitzvah vehicle every because I knew I had Sunday. to get a mitzvah project done.” It was important to him to do something on a large scale and have a large impact. “My original idea was to organize a drive with a bunch of vehicles going to a bunch of restaurants. But it worked out better to pick up food at the Farmers Market. I had a lot of help editing and trimming the project,” said the 13year-old Westside Middle School student. Owners of the Bagel Bin, the Brezack family, loan Solomon the van every Sunday. The Farmers Market executive director, Vic Gutman, also a member of Temple Israel, was happy to let Solomon and Dan park the van, prior to closing time, at the market. “When it closes,” Solomon said, “people start bringing what they didn’t sell. There’s lots of produce and baked goods loaded into the van between 12:45 and 1:15 p.m. Then we go back to the Bagel Bin and usually have a quick lunch, pick up their leftover bagels, challah, and pastries and drive to The Stephen Center.”
Mainstreeters activities stretch your mind and body by OZZIE NOGG Feeding and exercising both our minds and bodies is important for optimal mental and physical health. So take part in one or all of these Mainstreeters offerings. They’re like booster shots for the entire you! Basic Microsoft Word Processing Computer Training: Tuesdays, Sept. 6, 13 and 20 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Only 6 students per class. Learn the basics (and a little more) about the Microsoft Word environment; what toolbars are and how to customize them; how to format text and apply formatting to documents; how to drag, cut, copy and paste; how to use spell check; how to set up autocorrect; apply headers and footers; use find and replace; how to do a page set-up. You’ll be a pro before you know it with the help of instructor Phyllis Gentry, Jewish Social Services Executive Assistant Instructor. Cost is $10 per series which includes three onehour classes, all held in the Pennie Z. Davis Learning Center on Main Street at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Make checks payable to Jewish Social Services and send full payment to: Mainstreeters c/o Maggie Conti, 323 So. 132 Street, Omaha NE 68154. For more information, call Rocky Stern at 402.393.4952. Stretching and Balance Exercises with Sharon Rowe: Wednesdays, Sept. 14, 21 and 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the Simon Chapel at the Blumkin Home. Flexibility exercises can improve your overall ease of movement, decrease stress on your joints and reduce risk of injury. The ever delightful Sharon Rowe, MA Public Health Education, is back by popular demand to help you add stretching and balance exercises to your life. Sharon, a certified exercise
leader and Pilates coach, has taught a variety of health/wellness classes for 30 years in her business, Body by Rowe. Cost is $15 per series which includes three 45 minute sessions. Please make checks payable to Jewish Social Services and send full payment to: Mainstreeters c/o Maggie Conti, 323 So. 132 Street, Omaha NE 68154. For questions, call Maggie at 402.334.6521. Meet and Greet Aaron Rosenfeld, Jewish Community Center Executive Director: Monday, Sept. 19, 12:30 p.m. lunch in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium. Come give Aaron a warm Nebraska shalom and hear a snapshot preview of the JCC’s future plans. For your entree, choose either Broccoli Quiche or Salmon Salad Plate, both served with Gazpacho soup, fresh fruit, roll and lemon bar. Cost is $10 a plate. Make checks payable to Jewish Social Services and send full payment to: Mainstreeters c/o Maggie Conti, 323 So. 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154. Reservations are appreciated by Monday, Sept. 12. For transportation, call Linda Abrams Tederman at 402.468.4939 Mainstreeters welcomes all Jewish residents of the Omaha area age 60 plus. The group celebrates its first birthday this year with plans to continue offering a mixed bag of social events and learning opportunities that give participants the chance to meet new people, exercise their brains, take part in new activities and continue enjoying life to the fullest. No dues are required to be part of Mainstreeters, but a $5 per person communication fee is needed to keep your name on the mailing list.
Beth El Family Fun Day by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator To celebrate the final days of summer, Beth El’s Men’s Club and Sisterhood are presenting a Family Fun Day and picnic dinner for the synagogue’s congregation at the JCC pavilion on Sunday, Sept. 4 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. “We’ll be using the playground, volleyball pit, soccer and softball fields, so be sure to bring bats, balls, mitts and Frisbees,” said Sisterhood President Marcie Spivack, adding,
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Point of view
American Jewish Press Association Award Winner
Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008
Frenemies: a very confusing summary
by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press For the longest time, the western world has looked at the Middle East as a homogeneous blob; with the exception of Israel, all these Muslim countries are fairly similar. You’ve seen one; you’ve seen them all. Except, of course they aren’t similar at all. If there is one thing the Arab Spring has taught us, it’s that things are always more complicated than they seem. Having any kind of understanding about Middle Eastern politics means we have to look beyond the surface, we have to dig deeper and ask questions about the intricate relationships between many of the regimes, and the people who are ruled by those regimes. For instance, with Egypt having gone through its revolution, the Muslim Brotherhood ready to spring into action, Lebanon being awfully quiet and Libyan rebels unable to find Gadhafi (as of this writing), what is it exactly that Iran is doing? What does President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad think of all this? Never one to keep his opinions to himself, Ahmadinejad announced recently he was cutting Iran’s funding to Hamas. Wait. What? Weren’t they on the same Israel-bashing side? United in anti-Zionist rhetoric? Hadn’t Hamas leaders and the Iranian government decided that their hatred of the “Great American Satan” outweighed their Sunni-Shiite differences? Apparently, it wasn’t enough. To understand, we have to look at another player, which is Syria. Iran and Syria have maintained close ties since the early years of the Islamic Republic. In 1982, the two states brokered a deal allowing Syria to receive shipments of subsidized Iranian oil, and in return, Syria shut down Iraq’s pipeline through its territory. Over the past decade, particularly in view of the absence of an Iraqi threat, the two have shared support of terrorist organizations, and enmity towards Israel. In the wake of the Arab Spring, Iran has supported the Syrian Assad regime, by sending advisors and training personnel. In addition, the nuclear cooperation that exists between the two nations goes far beyond rhetoric. Iranian leaders, who benefit from the preservation of the Assad regime, have continued to downplay the significance
of the Syrian protest movement , and even assisted Assad in his fight against the opposition. (Source: Irantracker.com) During its first stage, beginning in the late 1980s, HamasIranian relations were marginal. The second stage began with the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. Iran’s ties to Hamas grew stronger after October 1992, when a Hamas delegation, led by Dr. Muse Abu Marzook visited Tehran for meetings with key Iranian figures, including Ayatollah Ali Khameinei. Iran then pledged an annual $30 million subsidy to Hamas, in addition to promises about weapons and military training. However, Iran continued to view Hamas as a pawn in its own quest for dominance of the region. The third stage began in 2000, and transformed a lukewarm relationship into a full-blown alliance. The second Intifadah, the American invasion of Iraq, Yasir Arafat’s death, and Hamas’ 2006 electoral victory all drew Iran closer to its Palestinian client. (Source: HudsonInstitute.com) Sometimes, when two children play in the sandbox, everything is fine, until a third joins them. Suddenly, toys get thrown and tempers flare. For the longest time, Syria and Iran had only each other; since Iran forged that tentative relationship with Hamas, the situation has become more complicated: Hamas is that third child. While trying to become BFFs with Hamas, Iran forgot that Syria and Hamas hate each other with a passion. If Iran wants to continue to support Syria’s government and maintain the status quo in Damascus, it cannot afford to play nice with Hamas. Ahmadinejad can’t have his cake and eat it too. Which is why, early last week, Iran forced the issue by requiring Hamas to hold rallies in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, supporting Syrian
President Bashar Assad. Naturally, Hamas refused, and there you have it. The big question is, now that Iran has turned off the money tap, where will Hamas find support instead? Egypt has been making noises about opening the border to Gaza; in addition, Hamas and Egypt have some history: it was Egypt that brokered the April 2011 peace between Hamas and Fatah, a peace for which Hamas made large concessions, showing it was operating from a weakened position. Hamas may have its roots in Gaza, but officially its base is in Damascus. That base has disintegrated. Although sources also claim that funds to Hamas from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood have dried up, it is likely that Hamas will continue to receive strong support from the Muslim Brotherhood. It is that same Muslim Brotherhood that has switched its focus to funding uprisings related to the Arab Spring, including Syria’s Assad regime. So will Egypt, the new Egypt, eventually step into this latest vacuum? Only time will tell. One thing is certain: none of this sounds like good news for Israel.
Jews must respond to the crisis in Somalia
Focus on issues CARYL M. STERN NEW YORK (JTA) -- A tragedy is unfolding in the Horn of Africa, where hundreds of thousands of children are at immediate risk of death. The disastrous combination of the worst drought in 60 years, high food prices and regional conflict has left 12 million people, including more than 2 million malnourished children, in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. A huge migration is now taking place from the areas of southern Somalia that have been engulfed in famine to the capital, Mogadishu, and to neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Mothers carry their infants for days or weeks on end, desperate to find them nourishment, clean water and medical assistance. Some have been forced to make an unthinkable “Sophie’s choice” about which child to feed and which to allow to die—a decision no parent should ever have to make. The next rains are not due to arrive until October, meaning that no new harvests can be expected in the region before the end of the year. Unless aid to affected areas increases significantly, the famine will likely spread and intensify, putting many more young lives in jeopardy. However, despite the scale of this catastrophe, the drought
(Founded in 1920) Andrew Ruback President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper
Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, Vice President; Jason Epstein, Treasurer; Bobbi Leibowitz, Past President; Marc Brodkey; Phyllis Brown; Daniel Christensen; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Michael Kaufman; Paul Rabinowitz; Caryn Scheer; Mark Senal; 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 jewishoma-
and famine in the Horn of Africa have not consistently made headlines, nor have these scourges caught the attention of many Americans. The international donor community, so quick to mobilize after similar disasters, has been slow to respond to the situation in Somalia this summer. This catastrophe is not on the public agenda, but it urgently needs to be. With this in mind, I turn to the Jewish community—my community—for support in our efforts to save the lives of children threatened by conditions beyond their control. After serving nearly two decades in Jewish communal life, I have spent the past five years as president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, which is one of several entities trying to get aid to the afflicted area. My worldview, personally and professionally, has been shaped by a commitment to tikkun olam—healing the world. It comes from my mother, who was a child in Vienna during Kristallnacht. She survived the Holocaust by being sent to the United States in 1939, at the age of 6, along with her 4-year-old brother and a woman she never saw again after they arrived. They were raised for two years in an orphanage for Jewish refugee children on New York’s Lower East Side. My mother’s dislocation as a little girl left both of us with the profound desire to do whatever we could to protect and care for other vulnerable children. Today, it is in the Horn of Africa where children’s survival
is most in peril. More than 400,000 refugees, the vast majority of whom are women and children, are crowded into three refugee camps in Kenya. They desperately require nourishment, medicine and access to clean water and sanitation facilities to survive. Aid organizations are there, providing those services—along with child-friendly spaces and educational opportunities—but the needs are tremendous. In Somalia, the epicenter of the emergency, tens of thousands of people—mainly children—have died in the last few months. UNICEF and other humanitarian groups are reaching thousands of malnourished children with nutritional supplies. One highly effective weapon is a nutritional peanut paste that has the power to pull a child back from the brink of starvation. Packed with protein and vitamins, it is ready to use and does not need to be refrigerated or mixed with water. This miracle paste is saving lives. But many more are threatened and will perish if we don’t act quickly. The Jewish community must take notice of the plight of these children. As Jews, we have been at the forefront of humanitarian causes and responses to international disasters. Humanity is facing a devastating crisis in the Horn of Africa. We cannot fail to fulfill our Jewish responsibilities now. Caryl M. Stern IS president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
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September 2, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 9
Lessons from Tripoli has no qualms about mowing down his own people (though he has been wise enough not to describe them as "rats"). Assad has banned journalists from the country, and by all accounts has killed thousands of his own citizens. Yet they continue to take to the streets to demand his ouster, apparently in growing numbers. There are a few differences that make Syria’s situation unique. Western powers have been slow to call for Assad’s ouster. They came around only last week, with coordinated statements from the United States and Europe and new sanctions against Damascus. But so far there has been no real consideration of backing up that talk with air strikes, as in Libya. Why? For one thing, it wouldn’t look good for the United States to be involved in four wars against Muslim countries (count ‘em: Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya). Unlike with Libya, in Syria the opposition has not asked the West for support. For another, the Arab world is not united against Assad as it was against Gadhafi. Libya’s quixotic leader had few friends; Assad is still a friend to Arab autocrats and a champion to some Arabs, including the Alawite minority in Syria from which he hails. In Washington (and Israel and elsewhere in the region, for that matter) there is anxiety about what a post-Assad Syria would look like. That’s not to say that either the Americans or Israelis have any affection for Assad, but the instability that doubtless would follow his ouster could prove complicated for a whole host of neighbors: Israel, which already is dealing with instability on its borders with Gaza and Egypt; Lebanon, to which Syria has played the role of patron and overlord (kind of like a mafia boss); and Iran, which is closely allied with the Syrian regime. A vacuum of power in Syria could be filled by Tehran. Because Syria has so long been a pariah state, the United States doesn’t have the kind of leverage it had in Egypt to influence events. For the time being, it seems that so long as the West declines to take up arms, it’ll be up to the Syrian people to get rid of their leader. But after decades of iron control by the Assad family, the Syrian people seem illequipped to the task. And unlike in Libya, the protests haven’t quite turned into fullscale armed insurrection -- yet. Stay tuned.
Behind the headlines URIEL HEILMAN Now that the Gadhafi regime appears to have been toppled, are there any lessons to be learned for elsewhere in the Arab world? (Bashar Assad, this means you.) Let’s look at the record so far: Tunisia - toppled: Started by self-immolating fruit vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, the revolution here quickly spread and resulted in the ouster of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, inspiring Arab protesters from Casablanca to the Persian Gulf. In the months since, however, the country hasn’t quite gotten its act together, and popular frustration is mounting. Egypt - toppled: The fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime sent a tremor across the Arab world, but the result owed at least as much to the military’s decision to side with the people as to the protesters themselves. Six months on and with the military firmly in control of the institutions of state, this uprising looks more like a military coup than a democratic revolution. Yemen - jury’s out: Actually, it’s the president that’s still out. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was injured in an assassination attempt and decamped to Saudi Arabia for treatment, vowing to return. Many observers thought this was it for Saleh, but no clear successor or armed group has emerged in his wake. The country continues to teeter on the edge of civil war. Bahrain - survived: Thanks to the proWestern orientation of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the ethnic composition of the opposition (Shiite, just like Iran), and armed support from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain’s Sunni king was able to put down mass protests. Western powers paid lip service to the idea of the rights of civil resistance, but when push came to shove they made little noise when the king brought in tanks to supress demonstrations by the majority-Shiite populace. Libya - toppled: What made Libya different from other places where rebellions were successfully suppressed? NATO airstrikes. When you have the Americans and the Europeans supplying bombing sorties, logistics and weapons, there’s a lot a ragtag bunch of rebels can do. Syria - ongoing: This is the big question mark in the Middle East. Like Libya’s Muamar Gadhafi, Assad has made clear he
In other Jewish newspapers: Wax Fuhrer furor, and other stories
Behind the headlines DANIEL TREIMAN The New York Jewish Week looks at the lives of the small numbers of Jewish students enrolled at historically black colleges. “I create my own Jewish life,” says Abraham Mercado, a place-kicker for the football team at Baltimore’s Morgan State University, where he may (or may not) be the only Jewish student. An Orthodox Jew, Mercado confesses thate he will have to tackle one dilemma on his mostly black campus: Will he kick on Yom Kippur? Andrew Silow-Carroll of the New Jersey Jewish News questions the wisdom of the effort to build a “National Museum of the Jewish People” in Washington. Instead, he suggests creating a “Wandering Jewish Museum” as a better way of telling the Jewish story. “What if various museums and collections were to combine forces on one terrific traveling exhibition, picking out the choicest artifacts and technologies and bringing them to cities and towns large and small across the country?” he asks. An Israeli woman complained after seeing fellow visitors to the London branch of Madame Tussauds posing for pictures with a wax statue of Hitler, some even extending their arms in Nazi salutes. While the museum initially defended the rights of visitors to choose how they wanted to interact with its statues, Britain’s Jewish Chronicle reports, the museum later backtracked. “We are just as upset by what happened as our Israeli guests were,” A Madam Tussauds spokeswoman said. “We will be
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weather, forcing many young couples to live within driving distance of their relations. Engagement: for the last decade or so, one of the watchwords of the Jewish nonprofit industrial complex not concerned with the problems of the 3rd world, the environment or Israel has been “engagement,” especially when it comes to the young, unaffiliated Jews. (We know you’re out there even if we know nothing about you.) Expect several service learning trips to D.C. to straighten out hanging paintings and photos, reshelve books and pick up chairs. This has the added bonus of potentially resulting in many marriages and children. Which brings us to our favorite word, continuity: the earthquake, which lasted mere seconds, has the potential to create a lasting impact. With our lives flashing before our eyes and our cell phones, some of us might’ve reached out to the nearest warm body. Others might’ve reached for a checkbook to make a donation to the Federation. And still others might’ve sat down to write the next great Jewish American novel about our experiences, which will undoubtedly win a flurry of Jewish book awards.
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New York City earthquake – what does it mean for the Jews? by DVORA MEYERS Last week, as anyone with proprioreception and a Twitter account knows, an earthquake of 5.8 magnitude struck the East Coast. While technically the epicenter of the quake was in Richmond, Virginia, many miles from New York City, we did feel the tremors here for a good 15 seconds. And since New York is the center of the universe and international Jewry (Israel is cute for trying to take the top spot), I think we should make this earthquake our own and consider its implications for East Coast Jews: Expect a large migration of Jews to the West Coast: since the only thing holding back many Jews from moving to the sunnier, more temperate climes of Southern California was the possibility of sudden earth movements (well, that and mudslides and debilitating traffic), it is projected that many thousands will move to the other side of the country since New York is clearly not any safer. This will allow many a below average height Jewish male to pursue his dream of becoming the next Seth Rogen. The only downside – parents are less likely to move to Florida upon retirement in pursuit of better
more aware of guests being around that figure and staffing in that area. We just have to hope people use their brains.” The paper notes that the only other Madame Tussauds location displaying a wax Hitler is in Berlin, where a visitor beheaded the figure three years ago. The Intermountain Jewish News weighs in with a strongly worded editorial on the topic of who should be the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback, endorsing the team’s decision to relegate the popular Tim Tebow to third-string status. “Fans like Tebow’s personality and his values,” the paper editorializes, before adding: “Like it not, values don’t win football games; abilities do.” In the Forward, Lawrence Grossman argues that for the late Orthodox luminary Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik “maintaining an Orthodoxy both firmly rooted in the tradition and open to the outside world could be accomplished not according to predetermined formulas, but rather through balancing complex competing values.” The result, Grosman writes, was an “intellectual juggling act.” The L.A. Jewish Journal drops in on a Beverly Hills viewing party for Glenn Beck’s Jerusalem rally. In attendance: 50 supporters of Israel, most of them Jewish fans of the former Fox broadcaster, as well as Christian pop singer Pat Boone, who told the paper that he hopes to see Israel's borders expanded. “It’s about restoring the land of Israel to Davidic boundaries,” said Boone, who also heads the Beverly Hills Tea Party.
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10 | The Jewish Press | Sepetember 2, 2011
Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.
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, Rabbi Steven Abraham and Cantor Beth Schlossberg. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush given by Alice Klein and Phyllis Schwartz in honor of their grandson, Jacob Klein becoming a Bar Mitzvah; Evening Services, 7:45 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Their will be no BESTT Classes due to the Labor Day holiday; Family Fun Day/Picnic, 3–7 p.m., Men’s Club and Sisterhood will sponsor a family fun day and picnic dinner at the JCC pavilion – all families in the Jewish community are welcome. Cost: $5 per person or $18 per family. To RSVP, send a check to the synagogue. For more information, contact Margie Gutnik at programming@bethel-omaha. org. MONDAY: Their will be no BESTT Monday Moadon classes. TUESDAY: High Holidays Cooing Class, 6:30 p.m. sponsored by Beth El’s Open Arms Initiative, led by Howard Shandell and featuring a traditional Yom Kippur break-thefast meal. Open to all adults in the Jewish community. Cost to attend: $10. To RSVP, contact the office. LET’S DO LUNCH: On Friday, Sept. 9, at noon, join Rabbi Levin at the Blumkin Home’s Star Deli for lunch and casual conversation. To RSVP, contact him at rabbilevin@ bethel-omaha.org; walk-ins are also welcome. SUNDAY SCHOLARS SERIES: This monthly series will be kicked off on Sept. 11, 11 a.m., at the synagogue, and will feature guest speaker Susan Paley, M.A., and longtime Jewish Studies teacher, who will address “You Recanted: Now Repent!” No charge to attend; the entire community is welcome. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
call-in to the conference call. TUESDAY: Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Scholars Club for fourth-sixth graders, 4 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Monthly Breakfast Series, 8:30 a.m. featuring a conversation with Mike Silverman, CEO of the Jewish Federation; Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross.
CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Minyan, 10 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m.; Mini Mensch title will be awarded. Kiddush luncheon follows. Join Rabbi Katzman, noon-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. 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: Kiddush, 6 p.m.; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m. led by Rabbi Lewis. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Shoftim. MONDAY: Labor Day -- Temple office closed. THURSDAY: Choir rehearsal, 7:30-9 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION Preparing Our Souls for the High Holy Days, Sunday, Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m.-noon with Rabbi Craig Lewis and Spiritual Lay Leader Nancy Coren at Tifereth Israel Synagogue.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway | Offutt AFB, NE 68113 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
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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, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; The Laws of Shabbat, 5:15 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 6:15 p.m.; Mincha, 7:15 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 8:36 p.m. SUNDAY: Gemara class, 8 a.m., learning tractate Kiddushin; Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast; End of Summer BBQ Sunday Night Dinner, 5 p.m. playground and schmoozing with dinner at 6 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. MONDAY-Labor Day: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Synagogue office closed; Weekly Teleconference Mishnah Class, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross. Contact the office for information on how to
1317 North 57 Street | Omaha, NE 68132 | 402.551.6609 FRIDAY: Minyan, 7:37 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
Bar Mitzvah Jordan Saag, son of Sherrie and David Saag, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Temple Israel. Jordan is an eighth-grade Honor Roll student at Elkhorn Valley View Middle School. His interests include baseball, football, wrestling, hiking and camping. For his mitzvah project, Jordan ran a shoe drive to collect old athletic shoes for the Nike reuse. Nike reuse is a program which recycles the old materials into playground surfaces and sports equipment. He has a sister, Rachel and a dog, Roscoe. Grandparents are Karen and Sy Teitelbaum of Chicago and Gloria and Jim Saag of Chicago.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Jim Polack. 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 Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel and Cantor Shermet.
Candlelighting Friday, September 2, 7:37 p.m.
SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Movie – Save the Tiger with Cantor Shermet, 6:30 p.m. Harry Stoner, played by Jack Lemmon, struggles with the complexity of modern life versus the simplicity of his youth. To Harry Stoner, the world has given up on integrity, and threatens to destroy anyone who clings to it. THURSDAY: Adult Study with the Clergy with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m. Tot Shabbat and Dinner, Friday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $ 5 per adult and children at no charge. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536, to make reservations. SUNDAY, Sept. 11: First Day of Religious School, 10 a.m. followed by All School BBQ; First Prayer Assembly, 10 a.m.; OTYG Car Wash, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cost is $5 per vehicle. All proceeds go to American Red Cross of the Midlands (Support for Military families) and National 9/11 Flag Project; How to Ask For and Grant Forgiveness with Rabbi Linder, 10:30 a.m.; Congregational Sing Along with Kol Rina, 1 p.m.; Shofar Choir Practice, 1 p.m. and Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m. Bring your Shofar!
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, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon. Join us Friday, Sept. 16 at 5:45 p.m. for a casual and fun Shabbat on the Green outside on the grassy side yard. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., Kabbalat Shabbat services will begin outside at 7 p.m. We will be grilling hot dogs and serving them will all the trimmings. (Vegetarian dinners available). Adults $8, kids 5-12 $4. Please send your check to Nava in the office no later than Sunday, Sept. 11. ADULT EDUCATION Preparing Our Souls for the High Holy Days, Sunday, Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m.-noon with Rabbi Craig Lewis and Spiritual Lay Leader Nancy Coren at Tifereth Israel Synagogue.
Borough Park woman killed in Irene by JTA NEWS STAFF NEW YORK (JTA) -- A Borough Park woman is among the at least 16 killed by Hurricane Irene's six-state onslaught. Leah Stern, a Jewish woman reportedly in her 70s, was trapped in the Valkyrian Motel in Fleischmann's, New York, approximately 140 miles north of New York City, when the motel was uprooted and swept away by torrential water, reported VIN News. Stern was found dead by the fire departments from neighboring Broome County Sunday night, reported Yeshiva World. The motel, including Stern's husband, had been evacuated earlier in the morning. It was not immediately apparent why she did not leave as well.
Temple Israel Religious School Begins with 9-11 Memorial, BBQ, Benefit Car Wash by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator A new year of Religious School begins on Sunday, Sept. 11, at Temple Israel. Beginning with a brief memorial service to remember those who perished ten years ago in our nation’s single worst terrorist attack, “the rest of the day will be upbeat,” announced Lori Bennett, Temple Israel Religious School coordinator. “Upbeat in that we’re back for another great year!” she emphasized. A Family Prayer Assembly at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary will get the started. Then the kindergartners through sixth graders will disperse to their individual classrooms for the first time. Teachers will walk with their respective students to each classroom from the sanctuary, they’ll meet each other, introduce themselves, and share some summer experiences, said Bennett. There are 17 returning teachers and two new teachers this year, she added.
Also that day, artistic renderings of the design plan of the new Temple Israel, to be built at the location of the former Ironwood Golf and Country Club, will be on display for all to view. There will be people available to explain what the drawings represent. As classes dismiss at noon, a Temple Israel Golf Committee-sponsored barbeque will provide hamburgers and kosher hot dogs (as well as raffle tickets) at no charge to families. Such items as gift certificates to Mt. Crescent for skiing, Mr. Good Sense, and the Rose Blumkin Home’s Star Deli will be up for raffle. Omaha Temple Youth Group members will be washing cars for $5 a vehicle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the west parking lot. The money they raise will be donated to the American Red Cross of the Midlands support for military families and to the National 911 Flag Project.
Pulverente MONUMENT CO.
September 2, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 11
Law and Order
In memoriam MARILYN HELLER
Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Shoftim A young niece of mine who is a lawyer works in Chicago for the State of Illinois. “So,” I said, “you defend people who are unfairly hauled before the courts.” “Not so,” she said, “my job is to get these louts and nogoodniks off the streets. My job is to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe and secure. There are too many leftovers from Chicago’s worst day of lawlessness. It is important to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe for our people, for adults and children.” We are taken aback to find that this kind of situation existed long ago in Bible times. Our Sidrah wakes us up to realities. It call for the institution of courts of law where judges hear cases brought before them, and by the police officers who try to keep cities and towns safe for families to rear their children in quiet and peaceful cities, towns, and villages. In a better world (which we do not have) none of this would be necessary. But with mankind including people who would rather “earn” a dollar by hitting someone over the head and helping themselves to a wallet, we need to have our streets and neighborhoods patrolled and kept peaceful. I remember as a child, we, my group and I, were afraid of the policeman. Then we were told that the police were not our enemies, but our friends. They keep life livable and civilized effort possible.
A Taste of the Seasons at Beth El
Marilyn Heller passed away at age 77. Services were held August 26 at BHH/Fisher Farms Cemetery. She is survived by her children, Jackie Gordman, Lenny Barry Bass, Morris Elliot Heller, Carl Eugene Ohsner, and Donald Robert Ohsner; seven grandchildren; and brother, Edmond Heller.
BONNIE FISK-HAYDEN Bonnie Fisk-Hayden passed away Aug. 26, in Point Reyes Station, CA after a brief illness. She was 67 years old. Services were held in Point Reyes Station, CA on Aug. 29. She was preceded in death by her parents Stanley and Bettie Fisk. She is survived by her husband Howard Schoof; her daughter and son-in-law, Merrill Hayden and Michael Bading of Boise, ID, daughters, Leah Hayden of Castro Valley, CA, and Rachael Banta of Oakland, CA; brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Shela Fisk; and two nieces and a newphew. Bonnie was born in Chicago and moved with her family to Omaha. Bonnie attended Central High School. She lived her adult life in California. She was an artist, photographer, and made her living doing graphic design and most recently as a holistic nutritionist. Memorials may be made to Community Land Trust Association of West Marin P.O. Box 273, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956; or West Marin Senior Services, P .O. Box 791 Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956-0791
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Attack in Tel Aviv by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) Seven people were injured in Tel Aviv by a Palestinian who rammed a stolen taxi into a police roadblock outside a nightclub and then got out and began stabbing people. The attack took place early Monday morning outside the Tel Aviv nightclub Haoman 17. The 20-year-old attacker, a resident of the West Bank town of Nablus, was subdued and taken into custody by Israeli police.
by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator
Nebraska STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS The stolen taxicab shortly after it had been crashed into a stationary police vehicle. Credit: ISRANET
In preparation for the High Holidays, Beth El’s “Open Arms Initiative” – a group established to grow the role of interfaith families at the synagogue -- offered its first “Taste of the Seasons” cooking class last week in the synagogue’s kitchen. Guest chef Howard Shandell, left, prepared traditional Rosh Hashanah dishes for attendees, who were treated to samples of his creations, as well as take-home holiday recipes. Shandell will lead the next cooking demonstration – a traditional break-the-fast buffet for Yom Kippur – on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend – new and veteran cooks alike. Cost to attend is $10; reservations are needed and may be made by sending a check – made payable to Beth El – to “Open Arms Cooking Class,” Beth El Synagogue, 14506 California St., Omaha NE 68154. For more information about these sessions, contact Beth El Program Director Margie Gutnik in the synagogue office, 402.492.8550, or at programming@ bethel-omaha.org.
JEWISH PRESS NOTICE The Jewish Press office is closed Monday, Sept. 5, for Labor Day. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.
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The man hijacked a taxi at 1:30 a.m. and some 10 minutes later drove it into a Border Police roadblock protecting the nightclub, which was packed with more than 1,000 high school students attending a party, The Jerusalem Post reported. The attacker then got out of the car and shouted “Allahu Akbar!” -- Arabic for “God is great!” -- as he assaulted people with a knife. According to The Jerusalem Post, five of those injured in the attack were members of the Border Police. One of those hurt in the attack was seriously injured, two were moderately injured and the rest were lightly injured, the newspaper reported.
Cemetery Tour by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press On Sunday Sept. 18 from 1-3 p.m. there will be a cemetery tour of Pleasant Hill Cemetery, facilitated by retired hsitory teacher Howard Hamilton. Hamilton taught Omaha history at Metro Community College for 20 years. Now retired, he gives private speeches and tours of Omaha. He has in-depth knowledge of 22 cemeteries in Omaha, and an additional 10 near the city. Hamilton will share histories about the cemetery itself, and about notable people buried there. The tour lasts two hours, rain or shine; cost is $20. For reservations, and further information, please contact Howard Hamilton at 402.341.6983
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12 | The Jewish Press | September 2, 2011
For Daniel Agami, 9/11 attack was a call to service -and to tragic destiny by DANIELLE FLEISCHMAN NEW YORK (JTA) -- Daniel Agami was working as a disc jockey in South Florida when the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 changed the trajectory of his life. Suddenly it didn’t feel like performing at events and parties for well-known entertainers was all Agami, then 22, could be doing with his talents. For nearly a year, Agami wrestled with his emotions over the attacks, often talking to his parents and siblings about his anger.
Even as a teenager, Agami’s brother said, Daniel would sport dog tags and wear military-style gear. “He chose to join the Army to become more accomplished,” Ilan Agami told JTA. “He wanted to prove himself.” Agami wasn’t known for taking things lightly. Growing up in Broward County, Fla., Judaism played “an extreme role in Daniel’s life,” his mother said. Agami attended a Jewish day school, kept kosher and as an adult regularly went to Shabbat services with his family at the local Chabad. After 9/11, Agami said the Army would give him a chance to do something good for his country, and he was excited about the challenges ahead, his family members said. It was all he would talk about in the months leading up to his deployment. Agami’s first stop was Fort Benning, Ga., for basic training. Maintaining his religious identity in the Army wasDaniel Agami on a mission in Baghdad in 2007. n’t easy, particularly in Credit: Agami family boot camp. The meals were not kosher, and Agami was confronted once by his sergeant for not eating. When he explained his dietary restrictions, the commander went to prepare a plate of fruit and vegetables for him to eat, his mother recalled. Agami encountered his first derogatory remark about Judaism in Schweinfurt, Germany, where he stopped en route to Iraq. Agami didn’t take it sitting down, in the process earning the respect of fellow soldiers, his mother said. They often came to him with questions about his kosher diet; for many, Agami was the only Jew they knew. “Daniel stood up to people for our religion,” his brother told JTA. In Iraq, Agami’s infantry Daniel Agami and his sister Shaina at the U.S. Army base in unit saw frequent combat. Schweinfurt, Germany, on the day of his deployment to Iraq in “I go on daily or nightly 2006. Agami’s family came to visit before he went to Iraq. missions raiding Iraqi Credit: Agami family homes to find weapons After about a year he enlisted in the U.S. and bombs,” Agami told a Newsweek interArmy, knowing full well he’d be sent to Iraq. viewer in 2007. “I lost six of my closest It would not be Agami’s first time in the friends.” Middle East: As the son of an Israeli army When an insurgent threatened to blow up veteran and part of a strongly identified his tank, Agami jumped off the turret, corJewish family, Agami grew up going to Israel nered the insurgent and, armed with just a every year. But this would be his first time pistol and wearing night vision goggles, putting on a uniform. killed him. The action would earn Agami a The fateful decision to enlist eventually Bronze Star, the army’s fourth-highest comwould earn Agami a Purple Heart, a Bronze bat award, given for bravery, acts of merit or Star and an Army commendation medal. It meritorious service. would also exact the ultimate price: On June Some time after Agami was killed, his 21, 2007, an improvised explosive device mother received a phone call from a nondetonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Jewish chaplain who said that her son had killing Agami and four other soldiers. expressed an interest in becoming a reliService ran in Agami’s blood. His grandfa- gious leader in the military. He had wanted ther, Leonard Becker, had served in the to dedicate himself to America by combinKorean War. His father, Itzhak, had fought ing his patriotism and faith, she said. in the Israeli army. So when he told his fam“This was something he would be amazily that he had signed up to serve, they ing at had he had the opportunity,” Beth weren’t surprised. Agami said. “He re-enlisted for four more “I believe he had a calling,” said his moth- years and planned on making the military er, Beth Agami. his career.”
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