Vol. LXXXVIII No. 51 Omaha, NE
The organ harvesting controversy: Did Sweden fumble or Israel overreact? by GIL SHEFLER NEW YORK (JTA) -- A Swedish newspaper is pushing forward with its far-fetched claims that the Israeli army harvested body organs from Palestinians. But for many Israel watchers the debate has shifted to whether the Swedish government fumbled the controversy or the Israeli government went overboard with its incensed reaction. The decision by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet to publish the story, which included no evidence that the allegations were true, drew swift Israeli and Jewish denunciations, as well as a condemnation by Sweden’s ambassador to Israel. But then the Swedish Foreign Ministry disavowed that condemnation in the name of free speech, infuriating Israeli officials. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman charged that the Swedish government position was reminiscent of the country’s policy of neutrality toward Nazi Germany during World War II. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded a formal condemnation from the Swedes. And the Israeli Government Press Office delayed accreditation of two Aftonbladet reporters for a visit to Israel early next month by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. For their part, Stockholm officials argued that it is not the government’s place to comment on press reports out of concern for freedom of the press. Meanwhile, some members of Sweden’s small Jewish community said this week they were bewildered by Israel’s handling of the affair. Some Israelis also criticized their government’s response as an overreaction.
Celebrating 88 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
15 Elul 5769
September 4, 2009
Ted Kennedy, a friend of Israel, dies at 77
Prime Minister Shimon Peres, left, met with Senator Edward Kennedy at the Prime Minister’s hotel suite in New York on Oct. 20, 1985. Credit: Israel Government Press Office and ISRANET by ERIC FINGERHUT WASHINGTON (JTA) -- U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is being remembered in the Jewish community for his huge impact on domestic issues such as education and health care, but also as a giant in the Soviet Jewry movement. Kennedy “was one of the earliest, strongest champions on behalf of Soviet Jewry,” said Mark Levin, executive director of NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia. “He was always proactive and didn’t wait for NCSJ and other organizations to come to him -- he was always looking to see where he could make a difference.” In his 2006 book, The Case for Democracy: The
Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, Natan Sharansky specifically mentions Kennedy as the first Western politician to meet with refuseniks “in a midnight meeting that was kept secret from the KGB until the very last moment.” And Levin noted that whenever Kennedy met with Soviet officials, in Washington or in the Soviet Union, he would bring lists of those he wanted to see released. “He never forgot we were talking about individuals and families,” Levin said. Kennedy also will be remembered as a strong champion of Israel. Jewish organizational officials noted that he was a stalwart supporter of foreign aid, Continued on page 3
ADL confronts anti-Semitism on campus
Donald Bostrom’s article on allegations of IDF organ harvesting from Palestinians was published on Aug. 17, 2009 on Aftonbladet’s Web site. “The Israeli reaction was very harsh, and it created a storm on a diplomatic scale,” Lena Ponser, president of the Official Council of Jewish Communities in Sweden, told JTA. “On the one side, it is understandable. On the other, it shifts the focus from the main issue at hand: Instead of trying to expose [the falsehood of the story], all the other papers are now supporting the freedom of press.” In an editorial, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz said Lieberman’s invocation of the Holocaust and Sweden’s neutrality during World War II caused political damage for Israel and dishonored the memory of victims of Nazism. Continued on page 2
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
chance to practice strategies responding to pernicious by THERESE VAUGHN-WEINER stereotypes such as “all Jews are rich” and hurtful lanfor ADL Plains States Region Whether it’s a student’s roommate making a joke guage like “that’s so Jewish.” Using thought-provoking about Jews or a political science professor showing a scenarios, role-playing scripts and a lot of humor, faciliclear anti-Israel bias, anti-Semitism is alive and well on tators put the students at ease while challenging them to today’s university campus. That’s why the Anti- face potential difficulties. “Many of our participants are enrolled at Midwestern Defamation League (ADL) Plains States Region conducted a workshop to teach college-bound Jewish stu- universities where they might be among the first Jews dents how they can effectively address ignorance and their peers have ever met. So, while we encourage the students to stand up against offensive remarks, we also help bigotry before they head off to school this fall. them to defuse misunderADL’s Confronting standings and raise awareAnti-Semitism on ness,” ADL Education Campus workshop is Associate Jessica Gall said. designed to empower Participants also learned young adults to challenge about intensifying antiage-old prejudices and Israel activity and rhetoric the relatively newer antion campus. Since the Israel sentiment students conflict in Gaza, the ADL might encounter at their has noted a spike in antirespective institutions. Zionism including stu“This program is most dent rallies evoking the timely,” ADL Regional Holocaust; incidents of Director Alan Potash said. vandalism, extremist “Today’s college students speech and harassment; need information, supcalls for divestment and port and the tools to protect themselves.” Incoming college freshman who participated in the ADL workshop boycotts against Israeli The 15 participants, all included: Zach Spooner (with back to camera), left, Alex Solomon, businesses; and one-sided from Omaha, had a Avery Lehr, Ygal Schuller, and Macklin Emas. Continued on page 2
This Week: Opposing op-eds on health care reform: Page 9 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Beth El announces auditions for musical: Page 3
Coming This Month: New Year’s issue Israeli recipes for the Jewish holidays: Pages 6-7
Temple golf tournament “nourishes” players, volunteers: Page 12
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
September 4, 2009
Tell-all book drags Hadassah back into Madoff story
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by AMI EDEN and JACOB BERKMAN NEW YORK (JTA) -- Sheryl Weinstein, the highprofile victim of Bernard Madoff claiming to have had an affair with the confessed swindler, kicked off her book tour Tuesday with an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Why would a married woman, interviewer Chris Cuomo wanted to know, decide to write a book certain to cause a stir in her own personal life? Weinstein responded that as the person responsible for losing her family’s money with Madoff, she felt compelled to make things right by selling the only thing of value that she has: her story. “When this happened, the feelings of guilt, responsibility, failure, became overwhelming. What went through my mind was, how am I going to get out of this? How am I going to make this situation better?" Weinstein said. “I knew it was going to be very hard on me. I was going to take a lot of the brunt. And I was willing to do that because the amount of responsibility was, and still is, really overwhelming.” Weinstein was right to think that her decision to sell her story would land her smack in the center of the Madoff media circus. In the process, however, she also ended up dragging her former employer into the spotlight. “I certainly hope Mrs. Weinstein was more discrete about her investment decisions on behalf of Hadassah than she was about her sex life,” Madoff’s attorney, Ira Sorkin, said in a statement broadcast to the ABC morning program’s 4 million viewers. Weinstein, as virtually every media report on her new book makes clear, met Madoff and carried on an alleged 18-month affair with the investment guru during her tenure as Hadassah’s chief financial officer. It’s not the sort of branding opportunity Hadassah officials were looking for, especially after months of promoting the message that the organization had moved beyond being a victim of Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Weinstein hasn’t worked at Hadassah for 12 years. And, she reportedly told The Associated Press that she did not control investment decisions at the organization. Still, the book’s release has not only reopened ques-
tions about how the Jewish community’s largest membership organization ended up investing $40 million with Madoff (as Hadassah’s CFO, Weinstein reportedly was a member of the organization’s investment committee). It also has prompted media organizations to take a second look at the possibility that Hadassah and other charities potentially could be forced to return millions of dollars in profit that they withdrew over the years from their Madoff accounts. At the time that Madoff’s scheme was exposed last year, Hadassah thought its account was worth $90 million, leading to initial reports about the losses suffered by the organization. But later it emerged that over the years Hadassah actually had withdrawn $130 million from its Madoff account. Weinstein and Hadassah officials both have said that the first $7 million the Credit: St. Martin’s Press organization invested with Madoff in 1988 came from a donor who insisted the money be handled that way. Hadassah had invested another $33 million with Madoff by 1996, a year before Weinstein left the organization. When news of Weinstein’s book broke, Hadassah officials were quick to insist that it was the first that they were hearing of the affair; the organization also stressed that there were many other members on the committee that decided to invest some of Hadassah’s money with Madoff. “Hadassah was shocked to hear the news reports of Mrs. Weinstein’s personal admissions regarding this relationship. Indeed, we knew nothing of her relationship with Mr. Madoff until now, and her departure was unrelated to Mr. Madoff,” Hadassah’s president, Nancy Falchuk, said in a message sent to members. Hadassah officials will not say why Weinstein left, but insist that it had nothing to do with Madoff.
The organ harvesting controversy Continued from page 1 “The argument cheapened the Holocaust, blew the article out of proportion and caused an international uproar, pushing Sweden -- which currently holds the presidency of the European Union -- into an unnecessary confrontation with Israel,” the editorial said. “Lieberman must understand that freedom of the press exists in Sweden -- for both good journalism and bad -- and that just as in Israel, the government does not dictate what is published. Its purpose is not to condemn news stories.” The controversial article penned by freelancer Donald Boström ran on Aug. 17 in Aftonbladet, a tabloid and one of the two leading newspapers in Sweden. In his piece, Boström tied the recent arrest of LevyIzhak Rosenbaum, a Brooklyn Jew suspected of trying to sell a kidney, to allegations by Palestinians in the West Bank that the bodies of family members killed in clashes with Israeli forces were returned with organs missing. This week, the newspaper followed up with another report on allegations of organ harvesting, calling on Israel to investigate the issue. The newspaper’s editor also penned a piece defending the decision to publish the stories. Sweden’s ambassador to Israel, Elisabet Borsiin Bonnier, called the original article “shocking and appalling.” But Sweden’s foreign minister later disavowed her statement on his blog, saying the government had no right to comment. Lieberman called the report a blood libel. “The story published this week is a natural continuation of the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ and blood libels like the Beilis trial, in which Jews were accused of adding
Christian children’s blood to Passover matzah,” he said, according to reports. Jewish Swedes have watched with dismay as the controversy has ballooned. Anders Carlberg, the outgoing chairman of the Jewish Community in Gothenburg, Sweden, said Israeli officials should have responded by publishing a rebuttal to the allegations in Aftonbladet. “The stance of the community in general is that it’s strange that this has become a government issue at all,” Carlberg said. “It falls along the lines of Voltaire: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.” In the United States, however, Jewish organizational officials were strident in calling for Sweden to condemn the report. David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, called on Bildt to embrace the statement made by Sweden’s ambassador in Tel Aviv. “Assuming you disagreed with the article, all you had to say was that you found the report odious and welcomed the reaction of Ambassador Bonnier,” Harris wrote in a letter to the Swedish foreign minister. “That would have been the right thing to do in a case that has garnered global attention.” Condemnation of the news story came from some unexpected sources, too. Matthew Cassel, a blogger for the pro-Palestinian Web site Electronic Intifada, called the Aftonbladet story “highly irresponsible” and said it “lacked credibility.” But Cassel also said Israel was exploiting the controversy for its benefit.
ADL confronts anti-Semitism on campus Continued from page 1 academic courses and discussions. “The most important thing I learned was how to address offensive remarks or comments that catch you off-guard,” said one participant. “We encourage students who run into anti-Israel hostility or anti-Semitism on campus to enlist the ADL office as a helpful resource,” Potash said. “Also, the campus Hillel and Jewish groups can offer a sense of community and affirmation.” Another participant added, “I think I’ll be able to act on a more conscious level when I get to college.” More information on ADL’s Confronting Anti-
Semitism program and newest guide, Fighting Back: A Handbook for Responding to Anti-Israel Rallies on College and University Campuses, is available at www.adl.org. “I liked the responses to typical jokes about Jews and general anti-Semitism,” noted yet another participant. “I think I can be more aware now and responsive.” Parents also can keep their college students informed by obtaining a free subscription to the Jewish Press for them while they’re away at school. Send the student’s name, college address, city, state and zip to jpress@jewishomaha.org or call 402.334.6448 to start a free college subscription today.
September 4, 2009
Friend of Israel Continued from page 1 opposed arms sales to Jordan and Saudi Arabia in the early 1980s, and was a strong backer of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He also publicly rebuked President George H.W. Bush when he linked settlements to U.S. loan guarantees for the emigration of Soviet Jews, and was a leading voice in speaking out against the Arab boycott of Israel. Israeli officials rushed to praise Kennedy, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the senator “an American patriot” and “a great friend of Israel,” according to media reports. And Israeli President Shimon Peres said Kennedy’s death was “a very big loss to every sensitive and thinking person the world over.” He added, “Kennedy was a clear friend of Israel the whole way, and in every place that he could help us he did help.” The late senator drew praise from a broad range of Jewish organizations, including both the Orthodox Union and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. They noted that he had worked on a vast array of domestic issues over his 47 years on Capitol Hill, from religious liberty bills such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, to his efforts on children's health insurance. In a statement, the president of the National Council of Jewish Women, Nancy Ratzan, said: “We were honored to work by his side on so many critical issues: Family and Medical Leave, the Lilly Ledbetter Act, the Civil Rights Act, voting rights, the Americans with Disability Act, hate crimes prevention, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, health care, the increase in the minimum wage, and numerous judicial nominations -to name a few.” The National Jewish Democratic Council said in a statement that the “greatest tribute” to Kennedy would be to enact comprehensive health insurance reform. “On the little stuff and the big stuff, he was always there for us,” said Nancy Kaufman, executive director of the Boston JCRC. “There wasn’t an issue he wasn’t on top of.”
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Auditions announced for “Children of Eden,” Beth El’s 2009 Cantor’s scholarship concert by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Beth El Cantor Beth Schlossberg has announced that the synagogue’s 2009 Cantor’s Scholarship Concert will be a production of “Children of Eden,” a musical based on the Book of Genesis, from Creation through the Book of Noah. The two-act play, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and based on a book by John Caird, will be performed on Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13, at Beth El. The cantor is sending out a casting call to the Jewish community: all adults and children ages five and older -actors, dancers and singers alike -- are being sought, and are encouraged to attend auditions on Sunday, Sept. 13, noon to 4 p.m., at the synagogue. (For those un- Cantor Beth Schlossberg able to attend that day, Cantor Schlossberg will set up a different time to audition.) “‘Children of Eden’ is geared towards all audiences,” Cantor Schlossberg said. “It is accessible to young children, full of colorful costumes and melodic and fun songs, and to adults, with its strong sense of drama combined with our history. It is educational storytelling -- the best way to engage an audience!” The main cast features 10 characters, plus numerous chorus members, dancers and singers made up of both adults and children. “I’m looking for children to play the animals and a few other roles as well; I also need teenagers and adults to cast the principal roles such as
Adam, Eve, Noah, Mrs. Noah, their children, and of course, the ‘father,’ she explained. “I’m hoping to have an ensemble of at least 30 people, plus the principal roles. She added, “I think that this musical will be a great way of allowing the greater Jewish community to take a much more active and participatory role in exploring their Jewish identity, as well as supporting a very worthwhile cause. There are roles for everyone, both on and off stage. From marketing to sets, costumes to sound and light, I’m interested in recruiting anyone interested in participating. It’s nice to include those who may not want to be on stage to take a prominent role in creating a set or a costume, and know that without their contribution, the event could not be as successful.” No experience is necessary to participate, she noted, explaining that she will provide rehearsal CDs for everyone in the cast. Encouraging all interested parties to audition, the cantor said, “This will be a wonderful opportunity to get the children and adults in our Jewish community involved in an exciting, as well as meaningful, event. The people who make these performances a reality will create a bond that will never be forgotten and not only will they be a part of something fun and fabulous, they will also be contributing to the future of our children. Rehearsals will begin in the middle of Oct. (all in the evening), with twice-a-week meetings for the ensembles and extra rehearsals for the principal characters. The annual Cantor’s Concert benefits Beth El’s Youth Scholarship Program, which provides opportunities for youth to attend Jewish summer camps, visit Israel or attend Jewish youth conventions. Anyone interested in participating may contact Cantor Schlossberg at 492.8550, or via e-mail at cantor@bethel-omaha.org.
JEWISH PRESS EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed Monday, Sept. 7 for Labor day; the deadline for the Sept. 11 issue is Wednesday, Sept. 2, 9 a.m. for all articles, ads, and photos. There is no regular news in the New Year’s issue on Sept. 18, 2009, entitled “What we did THAT summer!” And the Press office also will be closed on Monday, Sept. 28 for Yom Kippur. The deadline for the Oct. 2 issue is Wednesday, Sept. 23. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
September 4, 2009
Reflection, renewal and celebration mark the High Holidays at Beth El
by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Each year, the High Holy Days serve as a welcome reprieve from everyday life for Jews around the world, offering a quiet time of spiritual inventory and forgiveness. And every year, Beth El offers meaningful avenues for Jewish community members of all ages to observe this sacred time and welcome the new year. A special Selichot program and service on Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 p.m., will mark the beginning of the holy season with Havdalah. The evening will feature a video presentation -- created for this year’s High Holidays -entitled, “What Are We Praying For This Year? Defining Success and Failure in This Current Economic Crisis.” The program will feature the wisdom and thoughts of Rabbi Brad Artson, Dean, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies; Rabbi Ed Feinstein, Valley Beth Shalom, Los Angeles; and Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, who will examine, among other things, how people view success and failure, what is normal and what is not, in light of the fallout of the current economic crises, and what happens when your plans and/or dreams don’t turn out the way you desired. After the video and discussion, musical selections will be performed by Cantor Beth Schlossberg, followed by a dessert reception. The evening will be capped off with the synagogue’s poignant Selichot service. The synagogue’s celebration of Rosh Hashanah will begin Friday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m. with Ma’ariv; the next day, services will be held at 9 a.m. (alternative service, 9:45 a.m. in the social hall), and Minha/Ma’ariv at 6 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 20, services will be at 9 a.m., Tashlich at 5:50 p.m., and Minha/Ma’ariv at 7:15 p.m. Traditional services will be held in the sanctuary, led by Rabbi Levin and Cantor Schlossberg. Once again, the Beth El family is honored to welcome renowned scholar and liturgist Rabbi Jules Harlow, who will lead the alternative service for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in the social hall. Rabbi Harlow will also present the D’var Torah in the sanctuary during the second morning of Rosh Hashanah, as well as the D’var Torah during Kol Nidre.
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The founding editor of the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Harlow has been on the executive staff for over three decades and served as editor of the first edition of Siddur Sim Shalom, the Conservative movement’s prayer book for Shabbat, festivals and weekdays. He also edited the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Mahzor. This December, the rabbi and his wife, Navah, will be honored by The World Council of Conservative Synagogues (Masorti Olami), for playing an instrumental role in the cause of the B’nei Anusim (descendents of crypto-Jews) in Lisbon, Portugal. Rabbi Harlow has facilitated the return of many of them to the Jewish people. In addition, the Harlows founded Kehilat Beit Israel in Lisbon as the first non-Orthodox synagogue in the history of Portugal. Shabbat Shuvah will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m. during Kabbalat Shabbat services, and the next day at 9:30 a.m. services and 7:15 p.m. Minha/Ma’ariv. A memorial service will be held at Beth El Cemetery on Sunday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m. Kol Nidre services are on Sunday, Sept.27, 7:20 p.m.; the following morning, traditional services will be held in the sanctuary at 9 a.m.; the alternative service at 9:45 a.m. Rabbi Harlow will lead a thought-provoking study session on Monday, Sept. 28, 5 p.m. Minha-Ne’ilah will begin at 6 p.m. The congregation’s children (ages 12 and younger) are invited to participate in a joyous processional and Havdalah service at the end of the service, around 7:30 p.m.; all participants will meet in the chapel at 7:20 p.m. Beth El’s lively tradition of concluding the service with a group-sounding of rams’ horns will take place around 7:40 p.m.; all Beth El members experienced in blowing the shofar are invited to participate and are encouraged to contact Cantor Schlossberg at 492.8550, or cantor@ bethel-omaha.org. High Holidays Youth Program Beth El’s children and teens will welcome the new year with special youth programming during the synagogue’s High Holidays services. All students will attend ageappropriate services for the first hour; following a snack break, they’ll have the opportunity to participate in spe-
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cial classroom sessions offering fun activities. In addition, free babysitting will be available for children three months old to pre-K during services on Erev Rosh Hashanah and Kol Nidre. All activities will be open to children from preschool through seventh grade and will be held from 10 a.m.12:15 p.m. both days of Rosh Hashanah, and 10 a.m.12:45 p.m. on Yom Kippur. A light snack will be served on all days. Cost is $18 per child (this one-time fee covers all High Holidays youth programming), or one hour of volunteer service for each child registered.Volunteers are needed to help at the registration table, assist pre-K services, lead music and singing for children’s services (K-3), serve snacks, and chaperone Junior Congregation services. Reservations are due by Sept. 11 and may be made by contacting Margie Gutnik at programming@bethelomaha.org. All children attending must be pre-registered. Beth El’s high school students (eighth to 12th grades) are invited to join together and lead services for younger students. These hour-long services will be held at 10 a.m. on both days of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur, and teens will receive volunteer service hours* for the time they spend in preparation. (*To receive credit, teens must turn in their volunteer forms by Sept. 11.) Mandatory practice sessions will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13, noon to 1 p.m. (for Rosh Hashanah), and Sunday, Sept. 27, noon to 1 p.m. (for Yom Kippur). To participate, you must attend both sessions. For more information about the service or to sign up, contact Jason Rich in the office or at youthdir@bethelomaha.org by Sept. 13. Students in grades 8-12 may also volunteer as classroom assistants for the younger children and will be eligible to receive volunteer credit hours*, but only if they have preregistered. In addition, walk-in teens or adults who would like to volunteer will not be accepted. For information about serving as assistants or with any questions, contact Margie Gutnik, Jason Rich or Judy Rubin, in the office. Every fall, the Jewish High Holidays offer families throughout the community a great opportunity to Continued on page 5
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September 4, 2009
First sounds of Shofar begin month of Elul at Temple Israel
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Preceding Rosh Hashanah, the month of Elul, heralded with the first rousing sound of the shofar at worship services on August 21, is a time of introspection and repentance. At the Shabbat service on Friday, Sept. 11, 6 p.m., at Temple Israel, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet will offer an opportunity for congregants to take a spiritual accounting and to reflect on the past year. Preparing for Elul, an introspective experience as the work of teshuvah begins, the service will involve reflection, personal contemplation, inspiration, and discussion. On Shabbat morning, Sept. 12, Sparks Beneath the Surface, led by Rabbi Eric Linder, will begin at 9 a.m. in the Milder Center followed by Shabbat morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. That Saturday evening, S’lichot, a service of forgiveness delineating a multitude of possible sins against both God and man, will begin at 7 p.m. A participatory, communal prayer experience, led by Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Linder, and Cantor Shermet, that is traditional and reverent, joyous and soulful, healing and transformative, the S’lichot service will be an exploration of the liturgy through music, art, and poetry. Bob and Marla Cohen attended last year’s S’lichot service when Cantor Karen Webber Gilat returned to Temple to lead congregants in Israeli, folk, and popular songs as well as liturgy and poetic text. “It was wonderful seeing her again,” Marla recalled. “The service also kind of gets you in the mood for the holidays.” Havdalah and changing the Torah scroll covers to High Holy Day white mantels will also be included. Women of Reform Judaism will provide its customary chocolate Oneg to conclude the evening’s prayers.
ORGANIZATIONS
WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those going on the bunch to lunch trip to the restaurant Come on Into My Kitchen on Thursday, please meet at the JCC by 10:45 a.m. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., at the JCC. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS AIPAC and B’nai B’rith team up again for a special lunch at the Ironwood Country Club on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 11:45 p.m. Cost is $25. RSVP to 334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.
Beth Israel Sisterhood plans a full fall by BETH COHEN Beth Israel Executive Director The Beth Israel Sisterhood has a full schedule of fall activities. “Spirits & Spirituality,” a group for women of all ages, is an opportunity for women to connect with other women and explore Judaism from a uniquely feminine perspective. This popular program is held once a month in members’ homes and is led by Liat Shyken. This month’s program will be held the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:45 p.m. at the home of Talia Mizrahi. Wine and light refreshments will be served. Shyken encourages people to attend. “We all learn from one another,” she explains. “Different viewpoints and learning levels each add flavor and excitement to the learning. It is nice to have a crowd and share an evening of camaraderie and Torah with other women. The class topics generally focus on issues and subjects related to women. I am open to suggestions from participants and some of my ideas for classes are based on questions from previous sessions.” The Sisterhood will host a Hat Show on Sunday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. at the synagogue. Hats are being brought in from Linda’s Headquarters, a store in Chicago, and a percentage of sales from the day will be donated to the Sisterhood. In addition, Liat Shyken will teach, “The Mystery Beneath my Hat: Why We Cover Our Hair,” and Talia Mizrahi will do a demonstration on how to tie a tichel (head scarf). The Annual Donor Event, the main fundraising event of the year, will take place on Sunday, Nov. 1. The program, “It’s All About You!” will include a lavish Sunday brunch and fashion show from some of Omaha’s premier boutiques. The Sisterhood Gift Shop stocks beautiful and unique Judaic items for your home and gift giving. The Gift Shop is currently offering 15% off of all purchases made before 5770. This is a great opportunity to buy an apple and honey set for Rosh Hashanah or to shop ahead for Hanukkah. The Sisterhood Gift Shop is open during regular synagogue office hours (Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.) or on Sundays by appointment. Beth Israel Sisterhood is the women’s auxiliary group and raises money for the benefit of the synagogue and the community as well as offering classes and programs throughout the year. For more information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact the office at 556.6288 or BethIsrael@Orthodox Omaha.org.
High Holidays at Beth El Continued from page 4 reflect and celebrate together. Beth El’s doors are always open to newcomers and to every member of the Jewish community; join us in welcoming a sweet new year with the entire Beth El family.
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The American Society of Interor Designers Nebraska/ Iowa chapter together with Joslyn Castle Trust present Designer Showhouse 2009 at the historic Brandeis Mansion from Sept. 18-Oct. 4. The home, owned by Al and Delores Maser, was designed in 1904 by Detroit architect Albert Kahn in the Jacobethan revival style. No expense was spared on exterior finishing or interior detailing. The public can view 25 professionally designed spaces in the 9,500-squarefoot home and enjoy the Brandeis café and boutique and a wide variety of special events and tours. Tickets are $12.50 in advance at area Hy-Vee Food Stores and online at www.omahadesignershowcase. com or $15 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the preservation and restoration of the Joslyn Castle building and grounds.
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The Omaha Community Playhouse presents Yesterday and Today: An Intimate Beatles Experience, Dec. 4-31 in the Howard Drew Theatre. Billy McGuigan (The Buddy Holly Story; Rave On!, Rock Legends: People’s Choice) and his fabulous band return for a third year with this amazing tribute to the music of the Beatles. Rekindle the spirit of yesterday through the music of the world’s most popular band. Tickets are $38 for all seats. Performances run Wednesdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve party shows are separately priced for performances at 7 p.m. ($50) and 10 p.m. ($75). Call the OCP ticket line at 553.0800 or visit the box office at 69th and Cass.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
September 4, 2009
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by LINDA MOREL NEW YORK (JTA) -- What does a typical Israeli family eat on Rosh Hashanah? It’s hard to say with certainty. Like any question you ask two Jews, you’re likely to get three opinions. In a sense, it’s an unfair question because no two families in Israel, or in any country, celebrate Rosh Hashanah in the same way. However, Janna Gur, author of The Book of New Israeli Food: A Culinary Journey (Schocken Books, New York, 2007), offers insight into Rosh Hashanah entertaining. Gur, who was born and raised in the former Soviet Union, immigrated to Israel in 1974 and has been joyously consuming its cornucopia of local food ever since. Her cookbook is a coffee table-sized collection of recipes as stunning as the Mediterranean Sea. She says that in most Israeli homes, one will find a combination of Courtesy Random House Sephardi and Ashkenazi dishes at Rosh Hashanah. This is characteristic of the explosion in Israeli cuisine in recent decades. Gur describes Israeli cooking as the product of diverse cultures. During the 20th century, Jews from all over the Diaspora settled in a homeland that was new to them. While they brought their recipes from far-flung places, they also looked to their Arab neighbors for inspiration with ingredients, such as chickpeas, that many of them had never seen. At first the Jews from abroad clung to their culinary heritage, in part to preserve their identity and to savor the foods they adored. Sometimes through exposure to Jews from distant lands and sometimes through exploring ethnic restaurants, they liked what they tasted and adopted new recipes. Delicacies from every continent have become the stockpot of Israeli food. Time has seen a blurring of Ashkenazi and Sephardi cuisine. “But there are certain items that are almost mandatory on the Rosh Hashanah table,” Gur says. In most Jewish homes around the world one will find a round challah, sliced apples and a pot of honey. Other foods, however, are surprising either for their appearance or absence at New Year’s celebrations. “Fish is one of the most important items on the Rosh Hashanah menu,” Gur says. While gefilte fish is served in Ashkenazi homes, Moroccan Jews savor a spicy fish cooked casserole style with hot peppers and garlic. Traditionally made with grouper, the hot fish dish, reddened by paprika, is much easier to prepare than gefilte fish. Gur says you can go a little lighter on the chili peppers, but the dish is meant to have a kick. “By the way, many families serve both the spicy fish and the milder gefilte fish,” says Gur, explaining how Israeli food has become a melting pot of international cuisines, a menu of exotic flavor combinations. Israel’s climate plays a part in Rosh Hashanah fare. Summer is still going strong by the Jewish New Year, so many families wait for cooler weather to serve piping hot chicken soup. The same is true for potato and noodle kugels. Brisket is often bypassed, too, with Gur noting that many families opt for chicken or lamb casseroles. Usually the main dish contains some sweet elements, such as dried or fresh fruit, honey, pomegranates or molasses. Lamb and Quince Casserole is typical at Israeli Rosh Hashanah dinners. Quince is a tart fruit adored by Bulgarian Jewish cooks. Gur, too. “I personally love quince in cooking,” she says of a fruit similar in appearance to the yellow apple and available mostly in the fall. Those who avoid red meat can substitute chicken for lamb. Israelis insist on a salad with almost every meal, Gur says, and this is true as well at Rosh Hashanah. But the typical Israeli salad of chopped tomatoes and cucumbers is not common at New Year’s celebrations. Many Israelis prefer a green salad sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. With their abundant seeds, pomegranates symbolize the 613 commandments of the Torah. Gur raves about the Beetroot and Pomegranate Salad from her cookbook. “I first made this salad last Rosh Hashanah, and it was a big hit,” she says. “I received the recipe from Erez Komarovsky, a dear friend and very talented chef. I
would never imagine combining these two ingredients in one salad, but they work extremely well together.” Carrot dishes, symbolizing prosperity in the coming year, are wildly popular in Israel. They appear in the form of an Ashkenazi tsimmes or a spicy Moroccan carrot salad. In most Israeli homes, you’ll see at least two vegetables on the holiday table, whether they be fresh, baked, sauteed or pickled. As in America, on Rosh Hashanah you can expect apple cakes and desserts oozing honey. Often the pastries are homemade. “You know, cake baking is extremely popular in Israel in both Sephardic and Ashkenazi households,” Gur says. “But even Sephardic cooks rarely confine themselves to Middle Eastern pastries.” Her recipe for apple cake is perfumed with cinnamon and exudes the crunch of walnuts. It’s a kosher baker’s dream because the cake is meant to be made with oil rather than butter. The following recipes are from The Book Of New Israeli Food: A Culinary Journey, by Gur.
BEETROOT AND POMEGRANATE SALAD* (PAREVE) BY EREZ KOMAROVSKY Ingredients: 3 to 4 medium beetroots 2 tablespoons pomegranate concentrate (can be ordered online at Israelikosher.com or available at Whole Foods) 2 to 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 to 3 dried chili peppers, crushed Coarse sea salt to taste 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves 1 cup pomegranate seeds 1/4 cup olive oil Preparation: Boil the beetroots in water until tender. Cool, peel, and cut into very small dice. Mix with the pomegranate concentrate, lemon juice, peppers, and sea salt. Set aside for 15 minutes. Mix the salad with the cilantro and pomegranate seeds. Pour the olive oil on top and serve. Yield: 6 servings.
MOROCCAN-STYLE HOT FISH (PAREVE) BY GUY PERETZ, GAZPACHO, HOLIDAY INN, ASHKELON Ingredients: 4 hot red peppers, cut into strips 2 sweet red peppers, cut into strips 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped coarsely 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped coarsely 8 portion-sized (about 6-ounce chunks) of grouper or other saltwater fish 20 cloves garlic, peeled Seasoning Mix Ingredients: 8 tablespoons paprika Salt to taste 1 cup olive oil Preparation: Line a wide saucepan with the peppers, parsley, and cilantro. Mix together the ingredients of the Seasoning Mix. Dip the fish chunks into the Seasoning Mix and arrange in the saucepan above the peppers. Stir together the remaining Seasoning Mix with the garlic and 3 to 4 cups of water. Pour over the fish. Cook for 10-15 minutes (depending on the size of the fish chunks) over high heat. Lower the heat, cover, and continue cooking for another 15 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Yield: 8 servings.
LAMB AND QUINCE CASSEROLE (MEAT) BY YEHIEL FILOSOF BALKAN RESTAURANT, JAFFA Ingredients: 4 tablespoons oil 1 (2-pound, 4-ounce) lamb, cut into cubes Kettle of boiling water 3 large quinces, peeled, cored, and cut into 6 wedges each Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1 level teaspoon sweet paprika 4 to 5 teaspoons sugar Rice, prepared according to package directions Preparation: Heat the oil in a large saucepan and brown the meat on all sides. Pour in boiling water, covering meat. Cover pan and cook for an hour or more, until the meat is tender and almost ready to eat. Add the quince. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika Continued on page 7
September 4, 2009
Buffet of international cuisines Continued from page 6 and cook for another 10 minutes. In the meantime, dissolve the sugar in 2 to 3 tablespoons water in a frying pan. Cook to a light-colored caramel. Carefully, add some of the lamb cooking liquid to the caramel and stir well. Pour the caramel into the saucepan and cook for another 10 minutes, until the lamb is completely tender and the quince wedges are soft but retain their shape. Serve with steamed rice. Yield: (6-8 servings). APPLE, CINNAMON, AND WALNUT CAKE (PAREVE) Ingredients: 5 large baking apples, peeled and cored Juice of half a lemon 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda Pinch of salt 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 5 tablespoons brandy 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup vegetable oil, plus more for oiling pan 3/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped For Dusting Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon Equipment: 1 (10-inch diameter) springform pan Preparation: Preheat oven to 350º. Generously oil springform pan. Cut 3 apples into 1/2-inch dice. On a separate plate, slice the remaining 2 apples into 8 wedges each. Sprinkle diced and sliced apples with lemon juice and set aside. Sift the flour with cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Place eggs, sugar, brandy, and vanilla in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat them until pale and thick, about 8 minutes. Lower the speed and gradually add the oil and then the flour mixture. Fold in the diced apples and walnuts. Pour the batter into prepared springform pan. Arrange the apple wedges in the center of the batter in a flower pattern. Combine dusting ingredients and sprinkle on top. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry with a few crumbs adhering. Cool for 10 minutes, release sides of pan from cake, and cool completely on a rack. Yield: 8 servings.
BIRTH Lisa and Chuck Lucoff of Scottsdale, AZ announce the Aug. 20 birth of their daughter, Makayla Lynn, named after her late grandfather Mark Lucoff and her late
great-grandmother, Miriam Sheldon. Grandparents are Suzy and Norm Sheldon, and Dena Lucoff of Milwaukee.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
MARRIAGE
EISENMAN/YANKOVICH Tiffany Eisenman and Mordechai (Federation Executive Recruitment and Yankovich were married on Aug. 2 at Education Program) and works for United Jewish Federation of Crest Hollow Country Club Greater Stamford, New in Woodbury, NY. The cereCanaan, and Darien, CT. mony was performed by She is the granddaughter Rabbi Mordecai Feuerstein of Ruth Eisenman and Mary of Synagogue of the and Paul Dark of Kansas Suburban Torah Center, City. Livingston, NJ. The groom is the son of The bride is the daughter Hennie and Zvi Yankovich of Sam (Shelly) Eisenman, of Livingston, NJ. He gradand Scott Eisenman of uated from Boston Houston, TX. She graduated cum laude from Boston University with a University with a BS in Communications BS in Communications and earned a dou- and is a second year student at Hofstra ble Masters in Public Administration and Law School. in New York. Hebrew from New York University, He is the grandson of Magda Yankovich where she was a University Scholar. of Petach Tikva, Israel . She received a FEREP scholarship The couple resides in Forest Hills, NY.
IN THE NEWS The 11th annual Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Lecture on Human Rights is set for Tuesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., in the Thompson Alumni Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. The event was rescheduled from Sept. 15. Brian Steidle, author of The Devil Came on Horseback: Bearing Witness of the Genocide in Darfur, will present the lecture, “Hope for Darfur.” The Goldstein Lecture is sponsored by the Religious Studies Program at UNO. For more information, please contact William L. Blizek, 554.3347. Former Omahan, Mark W. Zalkin, has been appointed High Holiday cantor for
Congregation Beth Israel in Hempstead, Long Island, this Yom Tov. Over the years, he has served congregations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Pueblo, CO. Zalkin credits his love of chazzanut and Jewish music to former Beth El Cantor Aaron I. Edgar, of blessed memory, and also Cantor Chaim Najman. As a teen, he was a member of the Beth El choir and also conducted the choir in the mid 1970s, while serving as director of Cultural and Performing Arts at the JCC. He lives in Denver with is wife Susan, who along with her mother, Evelyn Flaxer, also of Denver, will join Mark in NY for the holidays.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
September 4, 2009
What’s ahead for 5770? Yikes -- it’s September! Families are back from summer vacation; the kids are back in school. Organizations and synagogues have set the line-up of programs and events for this fall, and the Jewish Federation’s annual campaign will kick off by the end of this month. It’s hard to believe that yet another year has gone by -- and so quickly. Every year that we age, the time seems to fly by even more quickly. Maybe that’s because to a 10-year-old, a year is 10% of his life, but to us “mature” adults, a year is only 2% (if you’re 50) and less of a percentage the more you age. Well, that’s life -- the good and the bad. We celebrate at simchas like weddings and baby namings, and cry at the funerals of people who have meant so much to this community. Every year seems to bring a bittersweet element and make us all realize how much we treasure the people in our lives -- and how much we miss those who have moved away or left holes in our hearts through their deaths. So what does the future hold for us? In the High Holiday prayers, we solemnly ask, “Who will live? And who will die?” And though we have no way of knowing the answers, we should be planning as though each day was our last. How do we want to be remembered? When we leave (whether it’s a job, a community, or, yes, each of us, someday, this life), how will people talk about us? Native Son Ron Wolfson will be here this month to talk about his new book: Seven Questions You’re Asked in Heaven. He asked the first question in July in an op-ed about the jailed ex-financier Bernie Madoff and noted
that the first question we’ll all be asked in heaven is “Were you honest in your business dealings?” After the last two years and the shocking revelations about our banking and housing industry, our government and those who slander Israel and Jews around the world, it’s hard to imagine that many of those folks will be granted entrance into heaven! And frankly, who wants to spend eternity with them if they are? (Of course, that’s assuming, we will have earned a spot in Olam Haba -- the World to Come!) In the end, we can’t control the behavior of others; we can only be responsible for our own actions. Have we treated others fairly? Have we listened to their concerns and suggestions? Have we been respectful? Have we given others the benefit of the doubt (and not made them feel guilty if they haven’t lived up to our expectations)? Have we paid our employees and our creditors in a timely fashion? Have we kept an honest set of books and been transparent in our finances with our business partners and boards of direc-
tors? Have we included lay people and staff in important discussions about the current operations and future plans of our organizations? And have we been forthcoming with all pertinent information so informed decisions could be made? Will we be asked all these questions? Who knows? But come the Yamim Tovim -- the High Holidays and the Ten Days of Awe -we’d better be prepared to answer. May we all be blessed for a good year, a sweet year, a year of life and happiness, of good health and prosperity, and a year of peace. Shana tova!
BEHIND THE H EADLINES by STEPHEN J. SAVITSKY
NEW YORK (JTA) -- I was most privileged on July 13 to be invited along with 16 other Jewish leaders to meet with President Obama at the White House. Much has been written about this historic meeting; it’s hard to believe there have been so many commentaries on a one-hour session. Everyone who was present has their own version of what happened, and I’m no different. For me, the meeting was a chance to dialogue with a new administration and to make certain that the views of the Orthodox Union and our constituent body are well represented. After the meeting, I surmised that the administration was asking a great deal of Israel while requesting little from the Arab world. President Obama apparently likes the word “recalibrate.” I’ve heard him use it on many occasions. He said, “We have to recalibrate the perception that little is being asked of the Arab world, and specifically the Palestinians.” The president assured us that in private discussions, Arabs have agreed to stop the incitement and to recognize Israel’s legitimate right to be a homeland for the Jewish people, but they have yet to express this publicly. We were assured that in the near future there would be significant changes in the news releases and speeches given by moderate Arab leaders. The president felt that with a more evenhanded diplomatic posture, the Arab world would rise to the occasion. It is time to look at what has happened since we’ve had our meeting. I have not heard one Arab leader publicly recognize Israel’s legitimate right to be a Jewish homeland and a free democratic society in the Middle East. I have not heard one Arab leader publicly recognize
I suggest that you make it abundantly clear that the opportunity for peace rests clearly on the shoulders of the Arab world. What I did hear at the convention is that Palestinians who supposedly were expelled in 1948 should be able to return to their homes. What I did hear is that Israel had no justification to defend itself after waiting seven years and absorbing tens of thousands of missiles fired at its people. What I did hear is a Palestinian leader warning the Arab states not to normalize their ties with Israel. (“Normalization of Israel’s ties with the Arab countries before the occupation ends in the Palestinian areas is the last thing that the Palestinians should have to experience,” said Abu El-Izz Dajani, a former PLO ambassador.) What I did hear is Jordan calling on Saudi Arabia to publicly reject appeals to improve relations with Israel. After meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told her that confi-
Jewish Press Board Andy Ruback, Vice President; Michael Sigmond, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Daphne Pollak Alperson, Marc Brodkey; Eric Dunning; Jason Epstein; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Jamie Meyerson; Jim Simon; Dorothy Spizman. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press . Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org.
Mr. President, time to ‘recalibrate’ on Middle East that Israel is a nation among the nations of the world. I have not heard one Arab leader call for the elimination of incitement and hatred against the State of Israel. I have not heard one Arab leader recommend that the educational tools used to indoctrinate hatred against Israel be eliminated and new textbooks published in which the State of Israel is displayed on the geographic map of the Middle East. Also, I did not hear any words of conciliation and moderation at the recent Fatah convention. What I did hear were statements praising suicide bombers and threatening violence, as well as the ridiculous claim accusing Israel of assassinating Arafat -- although the Fatah delegates acknowledged there was no proof.
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dence-building measures that the United States wants the Arab states to take will not produce a resolution to the conflict. So it seems that the Arab world has totally rejected President Obama’s requests. I therefore eagerly await the change in approach that the president promised us on July 13. In the interim, the Obama administration has continued to press the settlements issue with Israel, making its displeasure over the eviction of Arab residents from an East Jerusalem building clear in conversations with the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren. Our meeting with President Obama was the beginning of a dialogue and so I, as president of the Orthodox Union, representing the fastest growing segment of Jewish life, respectfully ask the president to reconsider his position in relationship to Israel. At that meeting the president was urged that there be no daylight between Israel and United States -- the stronger the relationship, the greater the opportunity for peace. The Arab world has sent a clear message to President Obama: “We will not change our rhetoric and we will not change our positions. Continue to press Israel, force them to give back land and compromise their security in exchange for words of hatred from moderate Arab leaders.” So I now ask you, Mr. President, if you are truly sincere about finding peace in the Middle East, is it not the time to recalibrate your position again? May I suggest that you make it abundantly clear that the opportunity for peace rests clearly on the shoulders of the Arab world. Once they accept Israel completely and reject terrorism and incitement, and once the relationship between the United States and Israel is solidified to assure the world that there is no daylight, then and only then will the seeds of true peace be planted in the Middle East. Stephen J. Savitsky is the president of the Orthodox Union.
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American Jewish Press Association Award Winner
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September 4, 2009
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 9
Cut the clamor for desperately needed health care reforms
FOCUS ON ISSUES by RACHEL GOLDBERG
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- There’s a lot of noise about health care -- wildly false claims, meetings being disrupted, shrill voices shouting down legislators. Amid the din, real ideas and concerns are getting lost. It’s easy and lazy to criticize something. What’s difficult and bold is to recognize that a critically important part of our country’s infrastructure is severely broken and come up with a plan to fix it. The premise of many health reform naysayers is that the system isn’t bad now, but it will be if we “reform” it. The next part of that theory is that what Canada and England have creates problems that do not exist in the health care utopia we currently occupy. (Incidentally, none of the congressional proposals would adopt their systems.) Even assuming the initial premise is true --and it’s not unless you are wealthy and lucky -- we still know the next parts are demonstrably untrue. If we do nothing, employer-based coverage will continue to erode, even as our unstable job market means more people are losing access to employer plans. And when people lose or switch jobs, often they are unable to acquire coverage in the private market. That can mean long periods without coverage, or with costly catastrophic coverage, and dangerous Catch-22 provisions down the line: You can’t get coverage if you
didn’t have coverage in the past – that pesky pre-existing condition exclusion. Particularly offensive are attempts by opponents to convince older people that reform proposals would steal their benefits or destroy Medicare. Many of the Medicare “cuts” are delivery system reforms that aging advocates have been urging. We actually could see improvements to the Medicare program if reform occurs -- changes that won’t happen otherwise. Seniors are an important constituency because they know the importance of health care and care about their children and grandchildren. Using fear to turn them against reform is reprehensible. Also outrageous: Raising the specter of Nazis to promote the absurdist scare tactics about fictional death panels, too. The U.S. health care system is broken. In the richest nation in the world, about 47 million Americans have no health insurance. Millions of Americans are underinsured, unable to afford co-pays or prescriptions, or even are forced into bankruptcy by uncovered expenses (medical costs are the biggest single cause of bankruptcy in the United States). The numbers of people who don’t visit doctors or fill prescriptions because they are underinsured is rising. Meanwhile, the traveling clinics created to serve diseaseravaged parts of the developing world now also visit underserved communities in poor and rural parts of the United States. People travel many miles and wait countless hours for those services. In the face of this crisis, some have chosen venom, demagoguery and misinformation over real dialogue – jeopardizing the chance to make life better for millions. A better health care system, we should not forget, would
provide real security for everyone – even those who like whatever arrangement they have now. As a human rights organization, B’nai B’rith is dedicated to health care for all. We have not yet endorsed any piece of legislation -- we see problems, as well as real promise, in each of them. Legislators are working hard to do more than stake out ideological and political territory. At the most basic level, health care coverage needs to be comprehensive, affordable and secure. It must ensure that people can keep the coverage they like and acquire coverage they can afford. Realistic health care reform must address long-term services and be both politically feasible and financially fair. A reform plan should include provisions for the high costs of prescription drugs and long-term care issues. Our population is aging and the latter’s costs have the potential to further erode our current system. Americans, regardless of their opinion or knowledge base, obviously are passionate about health care: Just watch any town hall meeting with members of Congress or listen to callers on talk radio. Health issues can serve as the great leveler of our society. Everyone gets sick and needs medical attention. It’s time for a better system. There are real proposals on the table that could expand coverage. Will everyone like every element of the proposals? Of course not. But if we can quiet the shouting and stay in touch with the reality that demands we do something, we have an opportunity to work together to reach an effective compromise. That compromise could improve, and even save, millions of lives and deliver the human right of health security to a country in desperate need. Rachel Goldberg is the director of aging policy for B’nai B’rith International.
Health care reform, yes. Big government, no.
ANOTHER P OINT OF VIEW by LARRY GREENFIELD
LOS ANGELES (JTA) -Government insurance for health care -- the public option -- is an inappropriate cure that the American body politic is rejecting. Canadians spend 10 percent of annual GDP on health care, while Americans spend 16 percent. However, Canadians experience long waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment, rationed care, and limited access to doctors and new medical devices. You can get private medical care in Canada -- if you are a pet and your doctor is a vet. Otherwise, tens of thousands of Canadians flock to the United States each year for private care to reduce pain or to save their lives. Famously, Liberal MP Belinda Stronach advocated for government health care but then traveled to California herself for private breast cancer surgery. Even Canada’s top court struck down a Quebec ban on private health care as violating a patient’s right to life, liberty and security of person. Nationalized health care systems abroad depend upon cost and medical effectiveness panels that frequently deny drugs and surgeries to the elderly. That is not the American way. Neither is socialized medicine’s obvious disincentive to scientists and entrepreneurs to research and develop innovative biologics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Americans, by contrast, produce and consume the best health care in the world and export life-saving drugs across the planet. Americans are overwhelmingly impressed with the
high-quality health-care testing, technology and treatment they receive. Note that there are 12 patients in Europe for every nurse, compared to just six in the United States. Approximately 260 million Americans have private health insurance. The 40 million people who do not include many young and healthy who choose to become insured when they grow older and build families. It also includes 10-15 million illegal immigrants, a number that would rise with single-payer health care. It further includes the successful who choose not to purchase insurance and the poor who choose not to enroll in already existing public plans. There are actually only about 8 million chronically ill patients who require insurance and do not have it. We can and should cover them with vouchers, tax credits, and savings from the waste, fraud and abuse in the system. How about medical liability reform, to reduce defensive medicine (unnecessary, expensive tests) and defensive documentation (hours a day on paperwork) and the $200+ billion a year in trial court judgments? As they say, ask your doctor. Health insurance coverage for most people can be for catastrophic, not comprehensive, care. Government mandates and rules prevent interstate competition among the 1,300 private insurance companies, keeping Americans from choosing good plans, thereby driving down costs and increasing health care accessibility, affordability, portability and price transparency. There are many sincere reforms (such as allowing wellqualified nurse practitioners to care for your cold at the local store) to increase consumer choice and health care supply, promote healthy living and keep medical professionals from leaving the field. Big government is clearly not the answer. The free market is already being crowded out in the United States. Medicare, Medicaid and S-CHIP account for 47
percent of health care costs. But they are going broke, as they cost billions more per year than promised when these programs were created. In 1965, Medicare began with predictions that it would cost taxpayers $12 billion by 1990. The bill came in 10 times higher. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office now predicts new, massive expenditures as utilization rates would soar under government health care. Mr. Obama’s senior economic officials have telegraphed the possibility of huge tax increases to come. We hear the common refrain: If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it’s free. Americans have become deeply concerned about the rapidly growing government role in our economy (nationalization of banks, insurance companies and the auto industry), bizarre centralized economic planning schemes (directives not to hold government conferences in the convention destinations of Orlando or Las Vegas), and the Democratic Congress’ record-setting deficit spending. Poll numbers have shifted dramatically against the extremely liberal president and Congress because their fearmongering about a looming Depression produced rushed, unread and ineffective stimulus legislation. The president again has overreached, cynically trying hard to pass Obamacare prior to wide public discussion. In the light of hot summer debate, even Obama now reveals ambiguity as he touts Fed Ex and UPS compared to the U.S. Post Office. Exactly. The left’s repeated prescriptions for bigger government are not what citizens desire or deserve. Larry Greenfield is a fellow in American studies at The Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship & Political Philosophy. The statistics in this article come from the Pacific Research Institute, which opposes universal health care and works to advance “free-market policy solutions.”
Page 10
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
September 4, 2009
Candlelighting Friday, September 4, 7:34 p.m.
Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org
Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 www.OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org
Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244
Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154
Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org
The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org
If you’re looking at this space, so are others!
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.
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, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Jordana, Joshua, and Isaac Kurtzman in honor of the first anniversary of Aaron'’s Bar Mitzvah and his 14th birthday; “Guard Your Tongue”, “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up) one hour prior to Mincha, 7:15 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:33 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Reading the Rambam will resume after the holidays; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha, 5:45 p.m. MONDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. The office is closed for Labor Day. TUESDAY: Scholar’s Club for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Sisterhood’s Spirits & Spirituality, 7:45 p.m. at the home of Talia Mizrahi; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class is cancelled for this week. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg. FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.; Tot Shabbat and Say Shalom to Shabbat, with 6 p.m. services and 6:30 p.m. dinner. Open to all families in the Jewish community. Dinner is $10 for members; $15 for non-members. No charge for children six and younger. To RSVP, call the office or email programming@bethelomaha.org; Jacob Levy, son of Deborah and Steven Levy, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Friday evening and Saturday morning. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:40 p.m. Sitter Service is available during Friday night and Saturday morning services, on a drop-in basis, at no charge. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. ROSH HASHANAH AT REMINGTON: Join Rabbi Levin and Cantor Schlossberg on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 3:30 p.m. as they lead the residents in an early celebration of Rosh Hashanah. SHABBAT TUNES AND TALES: Saturday, Sept. 12, 11:15 a.m. Sing-along and stories for children up to age five and their parents, led by “Miss Patty” Nogg. Open to all families; no charge. SELICHOT: Join us on Saturday, Sept. 12, for a program, thought-provoking What Are We Praying For This Year? Defining Success and Failure in This Current Economic Crisis. The 9 p.m. program will be followed by a musical performance by Cantor Schlossberg, a dessert reception, and the Selichot service, at 10:30 p.m. JUNIOR CONGREGATION: Services for grades 3-7 will begin on Saturday, Sept. 12.
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded; Kiddush lunch follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 9:15 a.m. THURSDAY: The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:50 p.m. Please contact Shevi@ochabad.com with questions or to receive a guest pass. All events and programs are open to the entire community.
ADL honors tennis champ
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN
TEMPLE ISRAEL
Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Snacks, 6 p.m. hosted by Bornstein-Emler Family; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with participation by Lillian Bornstein, in honor of her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of Lillian Bornstein, daughter of Christie Emler and Brian Bornstein. SUNDAY: Outdoor Clean-up day, 9 a.m.-noon. Contact Rick Kohn at 489.6719 if you have questions. MONDAY: Temple office closed for Labor Day. WEDNESDAY: Deadline for registering for the Sept. 22 Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast; LJCS Teacher’s Meeting, 7 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAYS, 7:30 p.m. Intro to Jewish Ethics, led by Rabbi Emanuel and Nancy Coren. Programs exploring Jewish history will be featured on NET Television during Sept., starting with The Jewish Americans at on Sundays, Sept. 6, 13, and 20, 10:30 p.m., on NET1 and NETHD. This three-part documentary series examines the struggle of a tiny minority to make its way into the American mainstream. The hour-long special The Jewish People: A Story of Survival airs Tuesday, Sept. 22, 11 p.m. on NET1 and NET-HD.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Chef’s Demo, 1 p.m. led by Shani Katzman. SATURDAY: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg and assisted by Aaron and Naomi Zipursky.
FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m. SITTER SERVICE: Available Wednesday evenings during Family School hours, Friday evenings service except when there is a Tot Shabbat, Saturday mornings when there is a B’nai mitzvah, and Sunday mornings during Religious School. Advance reservations and a $5 donation appreciated. Young children, including infants, are welcome. TUESDAY: Kol Rina Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Teacher Orientation, 6:30 p.m. THURSDAY: CSA delivery for shareholders, 4:30-5:30 p.m. at South entrance; Grades 9/10 Orientation, 6:30 p.m. S’lichot Service, Saturday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m. First Day of Religious School & BBQ Lunch, Sunday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m., sponsored by the Golf Committee.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. There will be no services starting Sept. 18 until after Simchat Torah. Services will resume Oct. 16.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. MONDAY and THURSDAY: Minyan, 9 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study. WEDNESDAY: Deadline for registering for the Sept. 22 Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast; Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAYS, 7:30 p.m. Intro to Jewish Ethics, led by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel and Nancy Coren at South Street Temple.
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.
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NEW YORK (JTA) -- Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League honors tennis star Venus Williams on Aug. 26, for criticizing Dubai official for blocking an Israeli player from competing in a tournament there. Credit: ADL
Sunday, Sept. 13 Golden Hill Cemetery, 5025 No. 42 St., 11 am Mount Carmel Cemetery, 14th and Superior St. in Lincoln, 11 a.m. Beth Israel/Mt. Sinai, 78th & Crown Point, noon BHH/Fisher Farms, 8900 So. 42 St., 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 Temple Israel Cemetery, 6412 No. 42 St., 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 Oak Hills/Bikhor Cholim, Council Bluffs, 10 a.m. Beth El Cemetery, 84th and ‘L’ Sts., 11 a.m.
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Over 25 Years Experience
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September 4, 2009
An archaelogist’s dream
BLUE RIBBON
Olmert indicted
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Ki Tavo Another title for this Sidra might be: “A demand for history�. What I mean by this is that the great stones which were to be set up were for the purpose of reminding the world of what happened here. We take it for granted that a reporter always goes about with his notebook in hand. Our ancient ancestors and others wrote by chiseling words into stone. Our Sidra described setting up these great stones -probably pillars -- upon which to record the history of ancient, ancient Israel. Stone is not easily destroyed, nor words chiseled on them easily erased. So where are they? The words, therefore, that are on these stones would be of immense interest to scholars everywhere. Other nations remembered kings and conquerors. But Israel recalls the people who were their ancestors, and the lessons of life that are taught from them. Thus begins a fascination with history. The archaeologist who can find these stones will be remembered forever because of the memories unearthed, memories of ancient Israel, who recorded the events of the time when Israel became Israel. Every young student remembers liking math or foreign language at some point, but few like what is important -- the evidence that leads to the writing of history. We can take it for granted that these great stones or pillars are still to be found, somewhere in southeastern Israel (or southwestern Jordan!). No bulldozers please, but careful shoveling can strip away the accumulated dust and debris of the centuries. Somewhere, someone, sometime -- an investigator will find these stones. He will become as famous as the stones he has uncovered. We may call all of this the invention of history as a science and an important branch of learning. Israel, to be sure, was by no means the only people that recorded events of the past. Other people, however, tended to report only victories, never defeats or losses. Israel’s history, as schoolchildren everywhere know, is full of ups and downs. Israel did not hesitate to reveal the losses and failures of its leaders. But this is what, precisely, made its history reliable. Not empty boasting, but reliable reporting of past events, wins and losses, ups and downs, together make history.
DEATH HELEN FINKEL Helen Finkel died Aug. 19 at the age of 87. Services were held Aug. 21 at Bikur Cholim Cemetery in Council Bluffs. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Joel and Lois Finkel, and Ronald Finkel and Linda Blumel of Scottsdale; grandchildren, Kevin and Cristi Finkel of Gladwyne, PA, and Marti and George Poulos; two great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Arlene Hershorn of Wichita, KS. Memorials to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Prayerbooks Available for Visually Impaired The Jewish Heritage for the Blind announced the availability of the High Holiday Machzor in large print and in Braille free of charge for those who need them. A doctor’s note stating necessity is required. To receive a complimentary Machzor, contact our office at 718.338.4999; or fax 718.338.0653; or e-mail to Jewishheritage@gmail.com.
JEWISH PRESS EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed Monday, Sept. 7 for Labor day; the deadline for the Sept. 11 issue is Wednesday, Sept. 2, 9 a.m. for all articles, ads, and photos. There is no regular news in the New Year’s issue on Sept. 18, 2009, entitled “What we did THAT summer!� And the Press office also will be closed on Monday, Sept. 28 for Yom Kippur. The deadline for the Oct. 2 issue is Wednesday, Sept. 23. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
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After many months of indecision Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz filed an indictment Monday against former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The 61-page indictment charges Olmert with fraud, breach of trust and failure to report income. Olmert, who is the first former Israeli prime minister to face such charges, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The indictment relates to a period when Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister, but before he became prime minister in 2006. He is accused of accepting cash from an American businessman, Morris Talansky. Olmert is also accused of double-billing for trips abroad in what has now become known as the ‘Rishon Tours Affair’ -- Rishon Tours being the travel agency that Olmert used at the time. A third case alleges personal favors Olmert made to Uri Messer, his former law partner, when Olmert was the Minister of Trade and Industry. Following investigations several other corruption scandals were dropped earlier this year due to lack of evidence. Shula Zaken, Olmert’s former office manager, has been indicted along with him. Credit: EDGAR ASHER - ISRANET
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Encountering China Simulcast lecture and community conversation
Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 pm Columbus Central Community College Wayne Wayne State College Library Room 201
More info contact the Nebraska Humanities Council 402-474-2131
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Statewide Classified CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING works! Place your 25 word ad into thousands of Nebraska homes for $210. Contact the Jewish Press at 334-6448 or call 1-800-3692850. LOOKING FOR the classic car, truck or motorcycle of your dreams? Go to www.midwestclassiccars.com. It’s your Midwest connection to classic vehicles for sale. Need to sell a classic vehicle? For only $25, your ad with photos will run until sold! Call this newspaper today for more information or call 800-369-2850. FIND BUSINESSES you can trust. Better Business Bureau Member Directory. Available now! 800-649-6814, bbb.org.
Flu Nurses Needed
19TH ANNUAL Kite Flight in Callaway, Neb., Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-6. Professional and amateur fliers, kite venders and concessions. Family fun! 308-8362536 for info!
RN/LPN for Oct.-Nov. flu season
NEBRASKA ANGUS Tour - September 18-19. Visit Angus ranches throughout Central Nebraska. For registration and more information check out the website at www.nebraskaangus.org or call 308-577-6700.
Call 866-894-4567 Office hours: M-F 8a-6p
Wayne Area Economic Development is seeking an Executive Director Travel is required. Salary is competitive. Position reports to the 14 member Wayne Area Economic Development Board. Manage all office staff. Residing in Wayne required within 3 months of appointment. Committed to economic continuing education.
Resume and cover letter can be mailed or emailed to Wayne Area Economic Development Board, P.O.B. 275, Wayne, NE 68787, 402-375-2240, info@wayneworks.org
To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press: 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: ckatzman@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. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines prior to secular and Jewish holidays.
DIVORCE WITH or without children $95.00. With free name change documents (wife only) and marital settlement agreement. Fast and easy. Call us 24 hours/7 days: 1-888789-0198. BANKRUPTCY: FREE initial consultation. Fast relief from creditors. Low rates. Statewide filing. No office appointments necessary. Call Steffens Law Office, 308-8728327. www.steffenslaw.com. We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code. RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT Outlet; new & used restaurant equipment. See www.Chillmasters.biz for more info; Sioux City, IA, 1-800-526-7105. HOT TUB floor model sale. $995 to $3,995. Walk-in bathtubs $3,995 up. Saunas $1,995 to $2,695. Town Center Showcase, Lincoln, NE, goodlifespa.com, 1-800-8690406. ALL NEW Happy Jack Kennel Dip II: kills fleas, ticks, stable flies & mange mites without steroids. Biodegradable. At Orscheln Farm & Home Stores. (www.happyjackinc.com). 2,397 ACRES ranch land, east of Custer, SD, near Black Hills. Good water, French Creek, scenic, sells September 9. Absolute auction, Arneson Auction Service, 605-7982525, www.arnesonauction.com. FOR SALE: pasture or recreational land with large wetland, electric well, new fence. 164.7 acres near Holdrege, NE. Excellent wildlife habitat. Internet bids only, bids accepted 8/14-9/14/09. For details, go to www.ducks.org/landsales. STOP WASTING $ on rent! Own a new single-wide home for as low as $400/month W.A.C. Call for details: 307-635-3100. FORECLOSED ONLINE home auction. 500+ homes must be sold! Open house: 9/12, 19, 20. REDC/bids open 9/21. View full listings & details: Auction.com. A SPECIAL government loan for manufactured homes. Ask about $8,000 stimulus money. Zero down for land owners. Call today for pre-approval. 800-375-3115. NEBRASKA’S JUNK Jaunt, September 25-27, 2009. Three hundred mile garage sale, 32 towns, 400 vendors. Shopper guides, $7, www.junkjaunt.com or by mail: PO Box 21, Burwell, NE 68823. 308-346-4815. 400 MILES of yard sales-Sept. 18-20. 13 counties in northern Kansas, reaching Colorado & Missouri borders. U.S. 36 Highway Association, order guidebooks, www.ushwy36.com. LIQUIDATING - PALLET racking uprights, 9’-13’, 18’x 44� deep. Crossbeams 10’ long. 5,300 lb. capacity per pair. Big Rack Shack, 308-440-7286. PORTABLE STORAGE unit, 8’x8’x20’ secure, weather tight, delivered to your location. $150 per month plus refundable security deposit payable on delivery. 888-632-1040. MYSTERY SHOPPERS wanted for restaurant locations all over Nebraska (several remote locations). Apply online at http://www.trendsource.com, then email hsandifer@trendsource.com if you’re interested and available.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
September 4, 2009
Temple golf outing keeps players well nourished on the course
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Photos from left: Marlen Frost, below, was one of the volunteers at Temple Israel’s annual Golf Outing last month at Ironwood. She sold raffle tickets which, along with the other proceeds of the day, raised funds for Temple’s Religious School, youth groups, adult education, and programming. Other volunteers included Jamie Skog, Leora Azriel, Becky Smedlund,
Denise Meyers, Brenda Arnold, Rosie Zweiback, and Jimmy Farber, below, who partook of the buffet luncheon prior to tee-off. He also helped oversee the putting contest. At right
Jeff Smedlund, left, co-chaired the outing for the fourth year along with Dan Marburg, co-chairing his third year. “It was a gorgeous day,” Smedlund commented after the annual event. “I think people really enjoyed themselves” including
“some new golfers this year.” In addition to lunch on the patio, “Bill Stazzoni from Ayars & Ayars grilled hot dogs on the golf course,” said Smedlund, “and Julio’s served margaritas thanks to owner Rick Fox.” Winners of the tournament
were Jewish Press Advertising Manager Allan Handleman and his foursome: Ron Bucher, Bennett Ginsburg, and Jim Bresel.
SoulQuest presents the journey of life, death and beyond
by SHEVI KATZMAN It’s something many of us rather not think about. We’d like to stick to the day by day routine. It’s an obsession for some. Consuming the time alloted for enjoyment with endless tormenting questions of why, when, how. As life passes, a loved one dies. And then they’re gone. Forever. With no plans of return. They left us in the middle of our strong relationship. We’re not ready to end it just yet. When we run out of simple and complex things to distract ourselves with during the time of the death of a loved one, we’re forced to think. If only for a short while, we wonder what will happen? What will happen to us? Will the dead just be dead? He or she will surely go to heaven, so no more sufferring anymore. But I’ll never get to talk to him again? And the emptiness and despair overwhelms us with
questions like: “Who are we anyway? Why do we bother to do the things we do?” We probably all need help getting this sorted out. Join a group of other seekers on Monday, Nov. 2, at Chabad of Nebraska for the six-week SoulQuest course which explores the double mystery of life and death, giving perspective and comfort through understanding the many legs of the soul’s journey. The course will be held six consecutive Monday evenings at Chabad House. The fee is $79 and includes textbooks and refreshments. Chabad offers special discounts for full time students as well as deep discounts for signing up for all Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) courses this year. This course as well as all Chabad’s educational events are open to the entire community. SoulQuest is recommended for experienced Judaic students and novices
alike. Learn that death is not an end or a mere passageway to the next stage of existence. Our knowledge of death can become a means to inspire life and ensure that our moments here are lived to the fullest. This course shares the intuitive truths that have inspired generations of Jews to live more fully and to face death fearlessly. It explains how those who left this world are not lost to us, nor us to them. It allows us the opportunity to resolve what death has left unresolved, and thereby find peace and comfort. Look for the Winter course, “Portraits in Leadership”, beginning on March 1, 2010, and the Spring course, “Beyond Never Again”, beginning April 26, 2010. For more information or to register, visit www.SoulQuestions.com, email JLI@OChabad.com or call 330.1800.