Vol. LXXXVI No. 4 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 85 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Israel Will Soon Welcome Descendants of a ‘Lost’ Jewish Tribe by DINA KRAFT TEL AVIV (JTA)--A group of 218 people from a remote mountainous corner of northeastern India who claim descent from one of the lost biblical tribes will be immigrating to Israel as recognized Jews for the first time. The aliyah of members from the Bnei Menashe community to Israel is a turning point, said Michael Freund, founder of Shavei Israel which assists “lost Jews” seeking to return to the Jewish people. “This is a major historical event, because these members of a lost tribe of Israel, after 27 centuries of wandering in exile, will at last be coming home,” he said. News of the planned arrival next month of 218 Bnei Menashe, who have already undergone official conversion in India, was made public for the first time last week after it was leaked to the Israeli daily Yediot Achronot. The government decision to bring the 218 to Israel followed months of bureaucratic wrangling in which Israel’s Interior Ministry and Absorption Ministry balked at plans to bring them here, Freund told JTA. Advocates have been working for years to convince Israeli authorities that the Bnei Menashe were indeed long-lost Jews who had returned to the faith. They hope this group will pave the way for others in the community to also make aliyah. The group of immigrants went through conversion courses and were approved for conversion by rabbinical judges sent to India last year by Israel’s Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar. Amar has declared Bnei Menashe “descendants of the Jewish people” and has been working to help facilitate the aliyah of those who want to live in Israel. To date, many of the some 1,000 members of the community who arrived in the country as tourists and later converted to Judaism and became citizens live in West Bank settlements. Some also lived in settlements in the Gaza Strip until last year’s Israeli withdrawal. The decision to place them predominately in settlements has drawn criticism. Their advocates say the move was not a political but a practical decision. They say the settlements were among
A member of the Bnei Menashe community in India prepares for the Sukkot holiday. Credit: Photo courtesy Michael Freund the only communities in the country willing to financially help the Bnei Menashe who arrived in Israel and had to spend their first year studying for conversion, without much time to hold down jobs. Tzvi Khaute, 32, lives in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, on the outskirts of Hebron, where the largest number of Bnei Menashe reside. He welcomes the government decision to bring more of his community to Israel as Jewish immigrants for the first time. “It really is a dream come true,” said Khaute, who studies in a yeshiva part-time and works for the Shavei offices. The group that is scheduled to arrive in November will Continued on page 3
14 Tishrei, 5767 October 6, 2006
Human Rights Rabbi to Voice Concerns as Scholar at Temple Israel by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Defending human rights is a theme that winds itself through Rabbi David Forman’s life. As a college student in the 1960s, Forman joined the Freedom Riders to challenge the American South’s Jim Crow laws and noncompliance with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that prohibited segregation in all interstate public transportation facilities. In 1988, he founded Rabbis for Human Rights and served as its first chairperson 198892 and then again between 2002 and 2003. Rabbis for Human Rights gives voice to the Jewish tradition of human rights in Israel promoting justice and freedom while campaigning against discrimination and inhumane conduct. Rabbi Forman will serve as a scholar-in-residence the weekend of Oct. 27-29 at Rabbi David Forman Temple Israel. He will talk about major concerns of the Jewish State, universalism versus particularism, and reflections on the recent war in Lebanon under the overall topic, “Israel in the Eyes of American Jewry.” His residency is sponsored by Temple’s Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. Rabbi Forman, who made aliyah in 1972, one month after his ordination at Hebrew Union College, has held a number of key leadership positions during his rabbinic career including director of the Israel Office of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now the Union for Reform Judaism) where he led the struggle for religious pluralism in Israel. Prior to that, he was the chairperson of Interns for Peace from 1984 to 1986, founding chairperson of both the Jerusalem Council for Soviet Jewry and the Cincinnati Council for Soviet Jewry, vice-chairperson of Seminarians for Peace, and a member of Clergy and Laity against the War in Vietnam. Continued on page 2
Former Omahan Displays Her Unique Talent at Federation Women’s Campaign Event by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Director A campaign dinner kicked off the Federation’s 2007 Annual Campaign last month. Jody Malashock and Marcia Pitlor are co-chairing the women’s division, and Campaign Co-Chairman Patty Nogg couldn’t be more pleased. “Jody and Marcia are midway through their two-year campaign,” said Patty. “They make a wonderful team and it feels great to work with two such capable, caring women.” “It’s an honor to serve in this role,” said Malashock. “People have been so generous this past year with Operation Promise and the Israel Emergency Campaign. It’s important for Jews to help Jews around the world, yet we can’t forget how important our own campaign is to meet the needs here at home.” “The annual campaign supports the Federation and all of its agencies. These agencies rely on the dollars we raise,” Pitlor explained. “I feel very proud of the results from last year’s campaign, and we are hopeful that the increasing needs of
Inside Opinion Page see page 16
Rebecca Rosen the Jewish community in Omaha and around the world will continue to be met.” The agencies supported by the annual campaign include: the Anti-Defamation League, the Center for Jewish Education, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Press and
Jewish Senior Services. Campaign dollars also help support the synagogues, Young Jewish Omaha, Friedel Jewish Academy, Va’ad HaKashruth, the Opportunity Omaha internship program, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programs, teen trips to Israel, BBYO and more. In addition, approximately 38% of the contributions go overseas to rescue and revitalize Jews in peril. “Our theme again this year is ‘Live Generously’,” said Malashock. “This is a very appropriate theme for Omaha. Having lived in this community for many years, I’ve seen our community continue to step up year after year.” “I love the ‘Live Generously theme’,” added Pitlor. “I think it encompasses a brilliant message that does not need to be explained. Everyone can interpret this message and hopefully come to the same conclusion. Live Generously, Omaha!” The women’s campaign event will be held next Thursday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m., at Ironwood Country Club. The program will feature psychic medium and former Omahan Rebecca Rosen, daughter of Jan Goldstein and Sheldon Perelman. The
This Week: Groundbreaking at Wyuka Cemetery: Page 20 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Blumkin Home Plans “New Beginning”: Page 3
event is open to all women in the Omaha Jewish community who make a contribution to the 2007 Annual Campaign. “We feel it’s very important to get the women of our community together,” Malashock said. “This event promises to be fascinating and different than anything that’s been done in the past. We’re looking forward to hearing from Rebecca, who will focus on empowering Jewish women spiritually.” “Rebecca is an Omaha native who has a very unique and special approach to spirituality,” Pitlor added. “It will be interesting and enlightening to hear how Rebecca’s upbringing in a traditional Jewish Midwest family played a role in where and who she is today.” Seating for the women’s campaign event is limited, so please contact Kathy McGauvran to RSVP at 334.6427 or kmcgauvran@jewishomaha.org. “We’ve received a lot of positive feedback about this event,” said Malashock. “We hope to have a great turnout, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone there.”
Coming This Month: Arts & Entertainment Issue Where Are They Now? Features Segal Family: Page 8
Sukkot Recipes and Read It & Eat: Pages 13 and 14
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
PRINTING, COPYING and DIGITAL NETWORK
3706 South 132nd Street • 402/330-5050
Letterhead • Brochures • Newsletters Business Cards • Mailers • Postcards
Affordable,user-friendly help and training... delivered right to your door. • Personalized training on what you want to learn • PC delivery/setup,internet setup,data transfer •Troubleshooting,free virus and spyware protection •Wireless networks for home/small business • FREE advice on hardware and software selection
Email:info@homePCadvisor.com Visit:www.homePCadvisor.com
count 10% Dis55+ For Clip for $10 Off First Session
No more choking down pills. There’s been a Nutritional Scientific Breakthrough that makes it as Easy as Grip, Rip and Sip!
ified Kosher Cert
Gelceuticals™ are state of the art nutrition. 402-558-7967
by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Youngsters were stirring ingredients, rolling out cookie dough and cutting out cookie shapes--and learning about the meanings behind the traditions of baking honey cake and other treats for Rosh Hashanah--when they participated in Beth Israel’s latest “Parents Are Teachers” event. Children and their parents created “Stained Glass Cookies” and chocolate chip mandel bread and received copies of The Children’s Jewish Holiday Kitchen by Joan Nathan. According to Rabbi Jonathan Gross, “The kids had so
much fun. They loved smashing up lollipops for the stained glass cookies. Yes, there was a great mess, with flour everywhere, but it was definitely fun and worthwhile.” The kids’ culinary creations were included with Gross’ annual honey cake deliveries to Beth Israel’s older and homebound members. “It was nice to distribute the fruits of their labor along with the honey cakes,” noted Gross. “They helped brighten the holidays for lots of people.” “Parents Are Teachers” is made possible through a grant from the Orthodox Union. For information, contact Youth Director Brooke Shrago at 556.6288.
C L I P
Left: Aviva Chana Shyken, center, and Shmuel Aaron stir cookie dough, as Leah Gurock looks on. Right: Bradley
Berman, left, and Sam Novak smash lollipops to create the “stained glass” in their cookies.
&
Scholar at Temple
S A V E
Continued from page 1 As the keynoter at the Nobel Institute Conference in 1993, Rabbi Forman spoke about “The Role of Religion in Middle East Peacemaking.” He has also lectured on “Human Rights in the Jewish Tradition,” and “Jerusalem: Holy City of Three Faiths” at United Nations conferences in Dakar, Senegal; Amman, Jordan; Kyoto, Japan; Thessalonica, Greece; and throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ukraine, and Russia. His topics often feature human rights in the Jewish tradition and Jerusalem as the city of three faiths. Since he spoke at Temple Israel in November of last year, Rabbi Forman has served as a scholar-in-residence for a month at Washington Hebrew Congregation, teaching a number of courses and giving lectures. He
CLIP & SAVE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 JCC Closes at 6 p.m. Friedel Jewish Academy 2p.m. Dismissal-Sukkot Erve
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 ADL/CRC Board of Directors Meeting, noon at JCC Travelin’ Toddlers Sukkah dinner, 5:30 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. BBYO New Member Training, 6 p.m. Reading the Women of the Bible, 7 p.m. at Beth El ADL PEW Facilitrator Training, 7 at JCC
C L WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 I Elie Wiesel - His Other Works, 11 a.m. P Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel & S A V E
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Yiddush Group, 1 p.m. Beit Hashoeva Sukkot Celebration, 6 p.m. 2006 Women’s Campaign Event, 7 p.m. at Ironwood Country Club Advanced Parshah Study, 9 p.m. with Rabbi Gross All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING, VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)
COMMERCIAL and
RESIDENTIAL 8037 H Street Omaha, NE 68127
402/593-1242
During the past few weeks, as we gathered en masse in our congregations for the high holidays, I was reminded of how well we come together as a community. As the hostilities in Israel began this summer, we stood united in our support of the homeland. Hundreds of people gathered at the Israel rally, and donations continue to pour in. We come together in good times, too, as we did last month to recognize our phenomenal volunteers of the year. I would like to invite you to come together again at our upcoming Men’s and Women’s Campaign Events. The Women’s Campaign Event will be held on October 12, 7 p.m. at Ironwood Country Club. This one-of-a-kind evening will feature psychic medium and former Omahan Rebecca Rosen, daughter of Jan Goldstein and Sheldon Perelman. A dessert reception will follow the program. Seating is limited so please contact Kathy McGauvran to RSVP at 334.6427 or kmcgauvran@jewishomaha.org. The Men’s Campaign Event will be held on Oct. 17, 6 p.m. at Phil Schrager’s office. Tim Schrager, son of Phil and the late Lois Jeanne Schrager and Co-Chairman of the Jewish Federation of Atlanta’s Men’s Major Gifts Division, will be the guest speaker. Tim has been involved in various aspects of the campaign for the past five years. He is also on a Federation Disabilities Special Education Task Force and a Board member of Operation PEACE, an Atlanta inner-city youth program for at-risk kids. The men’s event will include dinner, cocktails, and the opportunity to visit
the Phillip Schrager Collection of Contemporary Art. RSVP to Sharon Kirshenbaum at 334.6485 or skirshenbaum@jewishomaha.org. The speakers of this year’s campaign events share a common background. Rebecca and Tim both grew up in Omaha with parents who are very involved in the Omaha Jewish community. As adults, both have followed in their parents’ footsteps, embracing the responsibility of tikun olam. You won’t want to miss hearing from these inspirational young leaders. You’ve helped to meet so many urgent needs during this past year--donating for Hurricane Katrina, Operation Promise, the Israel Emergency Campaign and more. The annual campaign will help meet the needs of our own community, as well as Jewish communities throughout the world. Campaign dollars are used to maintain an outstanding infrastructure, enabling our agencies to provide a broad spectrum of programs throughout the year. The AntiDefamation League, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Press and Jewish Senior Services are all supported by money raised through the annual campaign. Funds from the annual campaign also help support our Hebrew schools and provide Jewish experience grants for our children. In addition to taking care of the Omaha Jewish community, almost 38% of campaign contributions go beyond our community. This money supports special programs in Israel, in addition to rescuing and revitalizing Jews from 68 countries who are in peril. Attending a campaign event is a great way to come together in support of the annual campaign and the many programs your campaign dollars make possible. As we embark on this New Year, let’s continue to follow the Omaha Jewish community’s strong tradition of community spirit.
Families Cooked up Fun at Beth Israel’s “Parents Are Teachers” Baking Day
www.iamagel.com/robshell| www.Geldocs.com | Distributor ID# 74330
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 JCC Closed Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Tot Shabbat/Cradle Roll, 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel C Lunch in Sukkah, 11:30 a.m. to Beth Israel L I SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 P 4B’s (Behaving, Belonging, Believing, and Bagels), 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel & Yachad Sukkot Celebration, noon Sukkot Lunch - Pizza in the Hut, noon at Beth El S Live from NY’s 92 ST Y Satellite Broadcast features Annie Liebovitz, 6:30 p.m. at JCC A V MONDAY, OCTOBER 9 E JSS Senior Luncheon, 10 a.m. Friedel Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Women’s Soup & Salad in the Sukkah, 6 p.m. at Chabad Israel in the Middle East, 7 p.m. with Dr. Moshe Gershovich Friedel Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m.
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT by NORMAN H. SHELDON, President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha
Want computer help? Call Home PC Advisor.com
Call:402/850-3778
Together as a Community
C L I P & S A V E
also met a number of times with the bishops of the National Cathedral while in Washington, D.C. Rabbi Forman holds a Doctor of Divinity Degree which he received in 1997 and a master’s degree in 1970 both from Hebrew Union College. Author of numerous books including Over My Dead Body: Some Grave Questions for God, Fifty Ways to be Jewish, Jewish Schizophrenia in the Land of Israel, and Israel on Broadway, America: Off Broadway--Jews in the New Millennium, Rabbi Forman also writes a recurring column in The Jerusalem Post. In addition, he has written articles and columns that have appeared in Jerusalem Report, Moment Magazine, Journal of Reform Judaism, Challenge, Forward, Davar, Ha’aretz, and the AngloJewish press.
October 6, 2006
Conservative Judaism’s College Outreach Program Offers Free Trip to Israel by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator College students will have the opportunity to experience Israel--completely free of charge--through the eyes and the customs of the Conservative Movement Israel, KOACH, through Taglit--Birthright Conservative Judaism’s College Outreach Program. Through KOACH’s exciting and educational itinerary, each journey is a meaningful one, linking together the Israel of yesterday, today and tomorrow. This year, both KOACH and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, are serving as organizers for the upcoming Birthright trip, scheduled for January 2007. KOACH’s trip is a great choice for college students looking to learn more about Israel and about themselves. Based in Jerusalem, attendees will travel to northern and central Israel, with visits to more than just the average tourist sites. Students will meet with Masorti (Conservative) Jews, learn about the challenge of religious pluralism in Israel, explore the prospects for peace and economic stability, and experience day-to-day life in Israeli society. Several trip options include the “Explore Israel Campus Trip,” where students travel with fellow students from their campus and local schools; “KOACH, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Tour,” during which participants experience contemporary Israel in a comfortable and educational setting with KOACH, the Center for Conservative Judaism on Campus; and the “Hillel/KOACH Special Needs trip,” designed to meet the special needs of those with Asperger’s Syndrome. A modified schedule and higher staff ratio will accompany this group. Staff are trained and experienced. A special interview process is required and the trip will be limited to 20 participants. With years of experience in sponsoring Israel trips, a safe, educational experience is KOACH’s top priority; a transformative journey is promised for all. For more information, contact KOACH, www. koach.org, or www.hillel.org/israel/travel/bri_hillel/trip_options/default.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Virtual Tour Featured at Blumkin Home New Beginning Celebration by OZZIE NOGG A computer-generated bird’s eye view of the construction plans and progress at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home will be featured during the New Beginning Celebration scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m., in the Jewish Community Center auditorium. “Seeing is believing,” said Bob Belgrade, President of Jewish Senior Services, “so we’re going to take the community on a visual virtual tour that evokes the sense of moving through the site, and makes this new beginning for the Blumkin Home really come alive. He added that the tour walks viewers through the Home, “down its busy Main Street, past the new synagogue, the indoor kids’ playground and much more. We invite everyone to come to the JCC on Oct. 19 to
No, these workmen are not rehearsing their roles as giraffes in the Lion King. They're busy finishing the two resident model rooms and bathrooms at the Blumkin Home. The rooms will be open for viewing during the New Beginnings Celebration, Oct. 19.
explore the exciting new layout and features of the Home. We also want everyone to know that the New Beginning evening is a celebration, not a solicitation or fundraiser.” In addition to the virtual tour, a short program will highlight the role played by Blumkin Home volunteers, staff, residents and their families. “Since the Home opened in 1982, more than one generation has been committed to its continued success,” said Joanie Bernstein, program organizer. “The Home is the source of countless heartwarming, sweet stories and we’ll tell a few of them at the Celebration.” The Blumkin Home New Beginning Celebration is open to the entire community at no cost. A dessert reception follows.
Descendants of a ‘Lost’ Jewish Tribe Continued on page 2 be living for the first year in absorption centers in the northern towns of Carmiel and Nazareth Ilit. Some 7,000 Bnei Menashe live in the northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur. They trace their descent to the tribe of Menashe, one of the 10 tribes expelled from ancient Israel by the Assyrians. They claim their ancestors wandered eastward toward China, then eventually settled to the south in what is now northeastern India and nearby Myanmar. Most of the community converted to Christianity at the turn of the 20th century. In recent decades, some
have returned to the Judaism their ancestors have practiced for centuries, including observing Shabbat, keeping the laws of kashrut, practicing circumcision on the eighth day of a baby boy’s life and observing the laws of family purity. The Jewish Agency will be facilitating their absorption into Israel. Freund said some $1 million in financial support for the undertaking will be provided by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a Chicago-based group that has raised tens of millions of dollars from Christian supporters of Israel.
Jewish Omaha Teens Can Win Big $$$ $600 • $350 • $250 • $125 Enter the 21st Annual Edward Zorinsky B’nai B’rith Alan & Marty Cohen and Associates Get Connected to Omaha’s Top Producing Team Selling One of a Kind, One at a Time. Alan Cohen
Kelly Nogg
Marty Cohen
677-2524
990-1600
690-1591
Diversify.
Truly diversify your retirement portfolio by holding non-traditional as well as traditional investments in your account! The Self-Directed IRA provides the flexibility for this to happen. Real estate, tax liens, mortgages and other passive investments are ideal vehicles which can drive your account to new highs.
For details call...
Mary Lueth Regional Manager
Your Self-directed IRA Administrator
712/490-3657
mary.lueth@securitytrustcompany.com www.securitytrustcompany.com Unleash the Power of Your IRA
Bible Quiz Contest Q. Who is eligible? A. Jewish Omaha high school students in A. grades 9-12. Q. What Bible subjects? A. All quiz questions will be based on the A. Books of Genesis and Jonah. Q. What are the prizes? A. $600, 1st prize, $350; 2nd prize, $250; A. 3rd prize, $125; 4th prize. Applicable to A. college tuition, an approved trip to Israel or A. an approved camp or educational program A. sponsored by a Jewish organization. A. Extra cash prizes paid at the quiz: $50, A. 1st place; $10 to all contestants who A. correctly answer three questions. Given at A. the end of the program.
?
Q. Who wins? A. Everybody who learns more about the bible A. and our heritage. Q. Where and when? A. At the JCC, Wednesday, A. December 13, 2006, 7 p.m. Q. How to enter? A. Submit entry to the B’nai B’rith office A. at the JCC by November 6, 2006. Q. Can you practice before the quiz? A. Practice sessions will be scheduled and A. sample questions will be given. Q. Do you have any more questions? A. Call Steven Riekes, 333-8498 or A. Lois Epstein, 334-6443.
Sponsored by Henry Monsky Lodge B’nai B’rith This contest is designed for all Jewish high school students. The only requirement is to read the Books of Geneiss and Jonah.
Entry Form Name of Contestant ______________________________________________________________________ Parents Name __________________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________ Zip _________ Phone ____________________ School ____________________________________________________________ Grade ______________ Return form to: B’nai B’rith Office, 333 South 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154
Page 4
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
Bringing Home Baby: Spurred by Bible and Demographics, Israel Leads in IVF by DINA KRAFT TEL AVIV (JTA) -- The waiting room at the IVF clinic at Ichilov Hospital fills up as the morning stretches on. Women and men fill out stacks of forms and nervously eye the nurses as they call their names for examinations. Some say silent prayers. Behind the walls of the clinic’s labs and treatment rooms, the science fiction of in-vitro fertilization unfolds: A woman’s eggs are extracted through a long syringe, then mixed with sperm in a glass dish in the hopes an embryo will be created that can be implanted in the uterus. For the lucky, pregnancy and, ultimately, a baby will follow. Israel is a world leader when it comes to fertility treatments. As the only country that pays for infertile couples to have two babies, it has the highest number of IVF procedures per capita in the world, and its doctors are behind several cutting edge procedures. But the race to conceive, driven by demographic concerns and a family-focused culture, has its downsides. Some public health advocates and doctors argue that fertility treatments are pushed too aggressively even when it might be medically unwise. There are concerns that repeated exposure to fertility drugs could increase the risk of certain types of cancer. “It’s a two-edged sword. We have the technology, but the question is how to use it wisely,” said Julie Cwikel, a professor of social work and director and founder of the Center for Women’s Health, Research and Promotion at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The subsidized cost of IVF treatment in Israel, even for those who are treated privately, is about $3,000 per procedure, compared to $12,000 to $15,000 in the United States. The lower cost and Israeli doctors’ vast experience with IVF has attracted so-called “fertility tourists” to the country. For Y., 33, who tried for nearly two years to conceive, IVF was the best hope for getting pregnant. She was not deterred by the potential drawbacks of hormone shots and the emotional and physical upheaval that can follow treatment. “You need to feel like you are doing something, and IVF lets you feel like you’re doing something proactive,” said Y., who is now eight months pregnant. “It’s a daunting task, but then suddenly you get pregnant and you think, ‘Yes, it was worth every second.’” On average, about 20,000 IVF procedures are done annually in Israel, compared to about 100,000 per year in the United States, which has a population nearly 50 times the size of Israel’s. According to some estimates, as many as 5 percent of Israeli kindergarteners today were born through IVF. “Be fruitful and multiply,” God proclaimed to Adam and Eve in Genesis. Later in the Bible, the issue of infer-
FREE SINK & Field Measure Valued at $490 w/Countertop Purchase
tility was dealt with at length: Three of the four biblical matriarchs were infertile until God decided to “open” their wombs. Israel has taken the biblical injunction to reproduce seriously. Covering fertility treatments costs the government-subsidized HMOs about $57 million a year, much of which goes toward IVF procedures. Having IVF treatments paid for by one’s HMO makes it available for all Israelis, regardless of financial status. In the United States, by contrast, the treatment is the prerogative of those with financial means. “If our society can help these situations by bringing a child into the world, what could be better than that?” Health Minister Yacov Ben Yizri told JTA. Beyond the traditional importance Judaism places on family life, the cold calculus of demography perhaps best An Israeli baby born as the result of explains the policy fertility treatments. Credit: Puah Institute of funding fertility treatments. Israeli Jews fear for their majority status in the country, concerned they could eventually be overwhelmed by the Arab sector’s higher fertility rate. Figures released in September by the Central Bureau of Statistics show that the relative number of Jews in Israel has been dropping, while the percentage of Arabs is on the rise. About 76 percent of the population is Jewish, and 20 percent is Arab, according to current figures. “If you are in Israel surrounded by Arabs whose mean family number is four or five children, and you still want Israel to have a majority of Jews, then there’s no other way” but to fund fertility, said Dr. Alex Simon, director of IVF at Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospitals. The focus on fertility also is colored by the memory of the Holocaust and Israel’s precarious political situation. “There’s more pressure here to have families than anywhere else, and it comes from the post-Holocaust mentality that everyone needs to populate the country and that we’re under a sort of siege mentality,” Cwikel said. State encouragement for families to have children is not a new phenomenon in Israel. In 1949, a year after statehood was declared, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion instituted a reward of 10 lirot -- a handsome sum at the time -- to women who bore 10 children. The reward was canceled when it became clear that more Arab women than Jewish
We Have Countertops & Kitchen Cabinets
women were eligible for it. Still, Ben-Gurion continued to speak of the importance of what he called “internal immigration” as a way to combat Arab demography. In Israel, a society that is highly divided on most topics, the issue of state-funded fertility treatment elicits little public debate. “No one is against it,” said Dr. Frida Simonstein, a medical ethicist at Jezreel Valley College. “It’s incredible, there’s no division of opinion whatsoever.” Simonstein fears that part of the reason there’s no debate is that women don’t take into account the potential health risks of treatment. For many, access to virtually free IVF treatments is viewed as a godsend. Patients, not doctors, are the ones clamoring for as many treatments as it might take to conceive, doctors claim. “I’m very grateful to my HMO. I cost them so much money,” says Hava Yael Schreiber, only half joking. A gynecologist and fertility expert, Schreiber had 11 IVF procedures before giving birth to a child. It’s not unheard of in Israel for a woman to go through as many as 20 IVF procedures before either conceiving or giving up. IVF usually is among the final steps in fertility treatment after other methods have failed, including fertility drugs, surgery and artificial insemination. Egg donation, a technique pioneered by Israeli doctors, can only be done abroad, however: Israeli law does not permit women to donate eggs for money in the way that men may sell sperm, so Israeli women who need egg donation usually travel to Eastern Europe for treatment. Some public health experts suggest doctors might be pushing IVF on their patients too quickly, without giving adequate time for other methods to work. “Doctors love a high-tech solution,” said Cwikel, who has done research on the link between stress and depression during fertility treatments. She argues that women need to be more aggressive about getting the information they need before deciding to undergo IVF, which requires repeated rounds of hormone treatments that can be physically and emotionally debilitating. Studies are inconclusive, but there are concerns that repeated exposure to fertility drugs could increase the likelihood of breast and uterine cancer. Furthermore, multiple births, often a byproduct of IVF -- where more than one embryo usually is implanted in the uterus -can endanger the health of both mother and fetus. But Simon said the push toward IVF often is patientdriven: “They say, ‘I don’t care about my body. I want a pregnancy here and now.’” Shahar Kol of Elisha Hospital in Haifa, who sees Israeli and foreign patients in his clinic, agrees. Continued on page 5
Commercial & Residential • 24 Hour Emergency Service • Trimming & Removal • Year-Round Operation • Aerial Equipment • Licensed & Insured • Member of BBB
TLC tree care
402-453-4114
MEMBER BBB of the Heartland
10% OFF with this ad
Formica Solid Surface
FREE ESTIMATES
Staron Solid Surface
Reduce the appearance of cellulite with Endermologie
Avonite Solid Surface
C O U N T E R T O P S
O F
D I S T I N C T I O N
Before
Before
After (23 treatments)
After (18 treatments)
You owe it to yourself! Call Beth Today.
679-2977 132nd & Dodge
991-7258 • 4362 S. 87th St. www. premiercountertops.com
Discover Endermologie
Increase Circulation • Body Contouring
Premier Countertops
Soothe Sore Muscles • Look & Feel Great
Granite & Quartz Available
October 6, 2006
It’s Not You, It’s Him: Israeli Clinic Targets Infertility with Sperm Study by DINA KRAFT sperm successful. Most important, he discovered, is the KIRYAT ONO, Israel (JTA) -- Sperm darting across a shape, or morphology, of the sperm. Bartoov has identipetri dish are magnified to 6,300 times their normal size fied 100 characteristics that define ideal sperm shape -and visible on a computer screen as a lab technician meas- most importantly an oval head, smoothness and symmeures their size and shape with a plastic ruler, hoping to try. spot the sperm most likely to lead to conception for a “We look at sperm morphology like a fingerprint,” he couple that has struggled with infertility for years. says. Dr. Benjamin Bartoov, director of the clinic, has helped Also important are the concentration of the sperm and bring 225 babies to the its motility. The most viable world by determining which sperm move quickly and linindividual sperm cells have early. the most fertility potential by In many cases, Bartoov studying their surface and says, sperm may be checked internal structure. in the lab and deemed viable, For many couples, the Barbut in reality may have flaws Ilan Clinic for Male that can be seen only using Infertility, possibly the only his method. The lab also has lab in Israel that focuses on found a small number of male infertility, is the end of potentially successful sperm a long, frustrating road of in men that previously had failed fertility treatments. been told they had no sperm Most couples who come to at all. the clinic already have been Once the promising sperm trying to get pregnant for an are selected, they’re extractDr. Benjamin Bartoov, left, director of the Bar-Ilan Clinic for ed from the larger sample average of six years. Studies have found that in Male Infertility in Kiryat Ono, Israel, views specimens in the with a glass needle, put on a Credit: Bar-Ilan Clinic for Male Infertility dish and placed in a cooler about 35 percent of infertili- clinic's lab. ty cases the problem rests until they’re transferred to a with the man, and in 35 perhospital’s IVF clinic. These cent with the woman. The hand-picked sperm are then rest fall into the murky cateinjected into the cytoplasm gory of “unexplained inferof the egg. tility.” “We can observe the sperm Bartoov, 64, claims that cells, and when we see a using his treatment, about good sperm cell, we pluck it half of presumed male inferout,” he says. tility cases can be detected This technique, the fruit of and solved. more than 20 years of The semen quality of the research, is called BIQUM, European male 60 years ago or Bar-Ilan Quantitative was twice as good as it is Ultra-Morphology. today, he adds. Bartoov, whose research Environmental and other has been published in several factors are blamed for a sigjournals, including the New nificant rise in male infertility England Journal of in recent decades. A rise in Medicine, reports a relatively the heat of metals in the high success rate. The soenvironment has a negative called “take-home baby” rate effect on sperm, as do is as high as 40 percent, increasing levels of estrogen twice as high as that from IVF treatments done within the water system from out the BIQUM method, he agricultural pesticides. says. Bartoov, a biochemist and He also has made progress andrologist, started his in sidestepping a major probresearch into male infertility lem in IVF and other pregin the early 1970s, first nancies, which is the chance experimenting with ram of miscarriage: Bartoov’s sperm. The lab was estabresearch has found that lished in 1982. “I decided to do some- Dr. Benjamin Bartoov, holding baby looking at him, with par- sperm that have a hole in thing that would help the ents and children born through treatment at the Bar-Ilan their nucleus, for example, can increase the chance of community,” he says. “I’m Clinic for Male Infertility in Kiryat Ono, Israel. Credit: Bar-Ilan Clinic for Male Infertility miscarriage. very lucky that I was successSeveral labs around the world have adopted Bartoov’s ful.” While most female infertility can be overcome by stim- methods, including some in France and Italy. “We’re doing a simple trick,” he said. “The real quesulation of the eggs, for men there was not much that could be done to improve the quality of existing sperm, tion is how to produce normal sperm cell for someone who has none. We have some good ideas for that too, Bartoov explains. So he decided to try to figure out what made specific and are starting to work on it.”
Bringing Home Baby Continued from page 4 “I don’t see patients in Israel or from anywhere else that don’t want IVF because of some increased risk,” he said. Simon views IVF as the best tool to bring about conception and predicts that in the next few years the other, less effective methods, such as artificial insemination, will fall by the wayside. Cwikel, on the other hand, fears IVF will be seen as a cure-all and that women in Israel, who know they don’t have to pay for the procedure, will delay childbearing. Age, she notes, is the most important factor in predicting fertility. And just as the odds of natural conception drop off as women age, so does the chance of IVF working for them. “We don’t talk about it, and act as if it doesn’t happen,” she said. “This is what feeds the IVF machine.”
9202 West Dodge Road Suite 201 Omaha, NE 68114 402.884.1607 www.thesmiledesignstudio.com
PLUMB CONSTRUCTION, INC Quality Craftsmanship
Jeff Plumb General Contractor 5728 Colorado Lane Ft. Calhoun, NE 68023
Phone:
572-0115
Residential Mortgage Services, Inc.
Take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates!
• Consolidate Debts
• We’ll make getting your mortgage “pointless.”
• Apply for your mortgage and check rates at: www.residentialmortgages.com Omaha Bellevue Council Bluffs Lincoln
333-7900 292-7900 322-7900 423-8885
I represent an insurance industry leader in cafeteria plan services, and I can help strengthen your employee benefits plan or help you establish one at little to no cost to you. A large number of my clients currently have a good major medical plan in place and see the benefits of enhancing employee coverages by adding Aflac’s insurance policies. With more than 354,000 national payroll accounts, we know how to increase benefit choices and morale while potentially saving you and your employees tax dollars. For more information, please contact me:
Jerry Chesen District Sales Coordinator 809 N 96th Street, No. 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402.672.0766 American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac)
Call me about executive sales opportunities. Flexible hours
EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE Please send all articles, photos and ads to the Press by Thursdays, 9 a.m., for all regular issues (early deadlines for special issues and to accommodate office closings for holidays will be announced in advance). Questions? Call 334.6448.
Page 5
Christopher A. Stanosheck, D.D.S.
BIRTH Marcy and Kevin Saylan of Lenexa, Kansas, announce the July 26 birth of their son, Zachary Krigsten. Grandparents are Jacki and Steve Saylan and Barbara and Ray Krigsten of Sioux City, IA. Great-grandparents are Edythe Friedman of St. Louis and the late Arthur Friedman, and Rosalie and Milton Saylan.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Full- or part-time hours available. Aflac agents are independent agents and are not employees of Aflac. MMC06392
8/06
Page 6
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
Temple’s Choir to Participate in Habitat for Humanity Concert by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator In appreciation of the work accomplished by Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, a multi-faith music festival under the direction of Hal France, Opera Omaha Musical Director emeritus, is set for Sunday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m., at All Saints Episcopal Church, 9302 Blondo St. Open to the community at no charge, the music festival theme celebrates “Many Faiths, One Mission.” Temple Israel’s choir, Kol Rina, has been invited to perform in this second annual event. Others participating in the concert are Salem “Voices of Victory;” Sacred Heart Choir; South Omaha Arts Institute; Michael Murphy, a native American flute player; Kuchipudi Dance Academy from the Hindu Temple; Bahai Faith; All Saints Episcopal Choir; Blue Barn Music Festival; El Museo Latino’s “Chomari” Ballet Folklorico Mexicano; St. Paul United Methodist Choir; Kountze Memorial Lutheran Choir, and others. “Habitat for Humanity of Omaha is a vibrant and vital part of our community,” said France. “This fall, coalitions of vol- Dan Marburg is one of 20 to 25 volunteers from unteers are working with Habitat to con- Temple Israel who have worked on Habitat for struct houses on numerous sites through- Humanity’s house this summer.
out the city. The festival is our way of say- volunteer builders have worked side-bying thank you to them. With the joy and side with a 16-member coalition of diversity of music, we will celebrate the Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Bahai, and mission of a great organization. I’m Buddhist groups since June. thrilled about the Jensen added quality performers roughly that and groups that will $7,000 was conjoin us.” tributed by Temple Internationally, members to help for Habitat defray the cost of Humanity helps to building the house. the eradicate poverty Altogether, housing. The coalition has raised organization has $90,000 towards goal of made home ownerthe ship a reality for $100,000. thousands of fami“It’s been great lies who otherwise working with all would not be able the people who to realize this have shown up,” dream. Jensen said. “Some Approximately 20 were members of to 25 volunteers Patrick Jensen, standing in front of the house, Temple I didn’t from Temple Israel, coordinated Temple’s efforts as part of a multi- know and others by faith coalition to build the house. coordinated were from the variPatrick Jensen, have put in about 200 ous other organizations.” He added that hours building a house at 4221 a volunteer is needed to take donations or Himebaugh Avenue which will be the to usher at the concert. Anyone interesthome of a Sudanese family who have ed can call him at 556.7525. added their own sweat equity hours to A dedication date for the house has the house’s construction. Temple Israel’s been tentatively set for Nov. 11.
Beth El’s Rabbi Levin to Explore Siddur’s Timeless Messages as Weekly Class Resumes by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Rabbi Mordechai Levin’s popular Thursday afternoon class is set to resume at noon on Oct. 19 at Beth El Synagogue, with this year’s theme, “Getting More Out of Prayer: Insights Into the Siddur.” Calling the siddur “the most important Rabbi Levin book Jews read regularly,” Rabbi Levin said, “Trying to express their hopes and aspirations, their fears and anxieties, Jews throughout history have turned to the siddur. The siddur, however, is little understood by many American Jews.” Now in its fifth year, the rabbi’s adulteducation class will explore the siddur’s themes and timeless messages, its structure and language, as well as the meaning of individual prayers. Questions such as ‘What do prayers really say?’ and ‘Where do they come from’ will be examined, said Rabbi Levin, adding that “The prayers’ authors were concerned with questions that continue to occupy modern Jews: Why pray? How can a fixed
liturgy express the spontaneous needs of individuals?” The rabbi also plans to lead discussions about prayers containing subject matter “that some people might not believe,” he said, citing prayers which say that God gives life to the dead, that God will withhold rain if the commandments are not followed, and that Jews are the ‘chosen people.’ “While some people may not literally believe these prayers, a metaphorical interpretation may help to reclaim some of the original intentions behind these prayers.” Although written long ago, “these prayers were concerned with questions that continue to occupy modern Jews,” he remarked. Open to the entire Jewish community, attendees of this exciting new class can look forward to “learning more about this treasure of Jewish wisdom and finding deeper meaning in prayer along the way,” Rabbi Levin said. Cost to attend is $36; to register, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or programming@bethelomaha.org. There’s always room at the table for everyone interested in this class -- sign up today and join in the discussion!
Soup in the Sukkah by DEVRA BRAM for Chabad House Sukkot is said to be one of the most joyous holidays of the year. To celebrate join the Chabad Women of Worth for their Soup in the Sukkah party on Monday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. As Nancy Wolf, an event co-chairman says “Following the serious Days of Awe, I look forward to spending time with my women friends. What a great thing to visit over hot soup in the cozy atmosphere of the sukkah!” Open to all women in the community this event will include a meal of a variety of hearty soups, salad, bread, and of course desserts. In addition to the meal in Chabad’s spacious sukkah, Anna Cotton, local story teller, will be telling stories.
According to Marsha Kleinberg, an event co-chair, “Each time I attend a women’s function at Chabad I always meet new and interesting women from across the Omaha Jewish community. The program promises to be an enlightening evening that I look forward to with pleasure.” Women of Worth members are encouraging participants to remember those who are less fortunate by bringing a kosher non-perishable food item for the Jewish Food Pantry. This event is free for Women of Worth members and $4 for non-members. Please call Carol at 330.1800 or email chabadoffice@ aol.com to make reservations. Contact Nancy Wolf at 330.6736 with any questions.
October 6, 2006
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
Beth El Mini Course Temple’s Kindergarten to Explore “Reading Women Class to Celebrate of the Bible”
Hospitality for the Living and Dead:
by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Hoping to share her passion for learning and looking forward to exploring the biblical history of Jewish women to better understand those who came before us, Susan Paley is enthusiastic about leading Beth El’s upcoming mini-course, “Reading Women of the Bible” on Tuesdays: Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31, 7 p.m. The class will be centered on the book “Reading Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of their Stories,” by Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, a widely-recognized Jewish feminist scholar. “We are the current historical link in the long chain of Jewish women who have come before us,” Paley said. “We need to connect to them by understanding and internalizing the characteristics they exemplify. Their stories illuminate universal human themes, applicable anywhere at any time. It is from their strength that we can find ours.” In the book, the author divides the women into four categories: victors, victims, virgins and voices (prophecy), Susan explained, adding that, “I studied this fabulous book a couple of years ago with a group of wonderful Jewish women. Together, we explored the many unrecognized biblical women, marveling at their enormous contributions to the history of the Jewish people. “We all know about our matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah; we know about the prophet Deborah, and we know about Queen Esther; but in between, we are pretty much unaware of the stories and influence on the development of the burgeoning Jewish nation by these many unfamiliar women.” This absorbing mini-course is open to everyone in the Jewish community; cost is $18. To register or for more information, contact Beth El Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or at programming@bethelomaha.org.
by JOYCE EISENBERG AND ELLEN SCOLNIC PHILADELPHIA (JTA)--Ushpizin n. Aramaic (oosh-pee-ZEEN) “Visitors” or “guests.” The ancestors who are invited into the sukkah. Sukkot is a harvest celebration. It’s a blessing to invite families, friends, neighbors and even strangers who do not have a sukkah of their own. Along with the actual guests, religiously observant Jews also welcome seven heavenly guests -- the ushpizin. These seven are the biblical characters Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David.
Duet Highlights “Roundup” at the Blumkin Home Jan Goldstein, left, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation, and her mother, Florence Brody entertained residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home at a western-themed sing along celebrating River City Roundup last month.
Consecration on Erev Simchat Torah
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator As the last portion of reading through the Torah is completed on Erev Simchat Torah, Friday, Oct. 13, and a new cycle is begun with the first portion of Genesis, a brand new class of kindergartners will mark the beginning of their formal religious school training at Temple Israel. Tuffy Epstein and his Fabrangen Fiddlers will set the mood for the joyful holiday service at 6:45 p.m. followed by the worship service at 7 p.m. One of Judaism’s noisiest holidays, Simchat Torah is an occasion to rejoice with the families of Temple’s kindergarteners and older students, who haven’t yet been consecrated, by parading the holy scrolls in the traditional seven hakafot (processions) around the sanctuary as it erupts into jubilant celebration. “What an exciting celebration this is for these children as they begin their formal Jewish education,” said Elyce Azriel, director of education at Temple Israel. “Not only are the families of these young children celebrating, but also our entire congregation joins in honoring these young students.” Twenty-two students will be consecrated including Isabella Seina, five-year-old daughter of Tanya and Craig Seina. “We’re very happy and excited for Consecration,” said Tanya Seina, “and so is Isabella! We went shopping to get the fabric and symbols to make the Torah cover for her little Torah. For someone her age, making the Torah cover brings the concept of Consecration to her level. We talked about the Torah and Judaism as we picked out the symbols. I want this to be a very meaningful experience for her.” Following the festive tunes, singing, and flag waving in the sanctuary, the merriment will continue in the Friedman Social Hall with more of Tuffy’s music and an ice cream Oneg. Zohar Winer, the Jewish Community Center’s shlicha, will join the festivities for Israeli folk dancing. “It’s going to be fun,” she said. “Everybody, from kids to adults, can do these dances. I hope people will join me!” Everyone who attends the service is requested to bring non-perishable food items to donate to Together Inc. On Saturday, Oct. 14, the Shabbat and Simchat Torah morning service, including Yizkor, will begin at 10:30 a.m. Names to be read should be called in to the Temple office, 556.6536, by Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Sukkot Custom Invites Biblical Guests
Israel Levy builds a sukkah with his father Shlomo in Jerusalem’s Beit Yisrael neighborhood in preparation for the week-long Sukkot holiday in October 2005. Credit: BPH Images/JTA In the Sephardi tradition, families set aside an ornate or specially decorated chair in the sukkah for the ushpizin. Some say the inspiration for Sukkot hospitality dates back to the patriarch Abraham, who would sit outside his desert tent waiting to invite travelers. A modern version of the ritual includes Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Esther, Deborah and Miriam. In another modern twist, some families also invoke the names of their deceased grandparents. Maimonides saw holiday hospitality as a matter of religious obligation. He wrote that “while eating and drinking himself, one is obligated to feed the stranger, orphan and widow. If you do not, you are not performing a mitzvah for joy, but for your stomach.” Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic are co-authors of The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words (Jewish Publication Society, 2006).
Let us give your pet the royal treatment it deserves when you’re away!
213-8985 www.mypetnanny.info
• In-house pet sitting • Mid-day potty breaks • Dog walking • Overnights • Boarding • Chauffeur service • Pet waste removal • Bonded & Insured • Vet recommended • Animal care since 1994
Complete Landscape Design & Installation Specializing In Creating Your Unique Landscape
THIS IS NOT A FUNDRAISER
Trees & Shrubs • Retaining Walls • Patios • Landscape Lighting Water Features • Irrigation • Sod & Seeding • Erosion Control Estate & Acreage Planning FREE Estimates • Fully Insured • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Visit our website at: www.kmlandscaping.com
KM LANDSCAPING, INC. 402/359-2898 Established 1997
MEMBER BBB of the Heartland
Page 8
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
Thanks for the Memories:
Segal Family Sells Long-held Phoenix Business
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? by JENNIFER GOLDBERG Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, Staff Writer
It’s the end of an era. As of Sept. 1, the name on the door still says “Segal’s,” but a new set of owners is behind the counter. “I think 40 years is enough,” says former Omahan, Zalman Segal, owner of the kosher market and restaurant in Phoenix. “Being as old as I am, it’s time to slow down.” The new ownership consists of two brothers, Levi and Abram Babakhanov, and their brother-in-law Albert Yusupov. The three men are members of the local Bukharian Jewish community. “We want to do something for the community--to make something nice for them,” Levi Babakhanov says. Makings of a legend Zalman Segal, an Israeli-born shochet (ritual slaughterer), his wife, Pearl, and their five children moved to the Valley from Omaha in the winter of 1967. Frustrated by the declining meatpacking industry in Omaha, Zalman Segal had visited Phoenix to check out the Katz Meat Market, as the business was then known. “My father flew out on a January or February afternoon,” Zalman’s son David, Segal’s manager, told Jewish News in 2003. “He left 16 inches of snow and frigid temperatures. In Phoenix, it was 75 degrees without a cloud in the sky. In 20 minutes, he had done the deal, bought
the business, called my mother and told her to start packing--we were moving to Phoenix.” At first the store was located at Fifth and Washington streets in downtown Phoenix. When it outgrew that location, Segal’s moved to a building at 16th Street and Thomas Road.
Zalman Segal serves customers in the back of the Thomas Road location in the early 1970s. Photo courtesy of David Segal It has been at its current address on Seventh Street since 1984. Over the decades, several generations of the Valley’s Jewish community have passed through Segal’s doors. “I’ve seen the city grow a lot over the last 40 years,” Zalman Segal says. Looking back David Segal, who has worked for the company since 1983, spent his last day at the store on Aug. 31. He says his father decided to sell the business because “he’s tired. It used to be fun, but it’s becoming less (so).” Running the business often means 18hour days, which is increasingly hard for 77-year-old Zalman.
Still, Zalman Segal says he enjoyed “meeting new people and making friends with some of them.” For his part, David Segal says he will miss “dealing with people on a day-to-day basis that I’ve dealt with for the last 23 years. I’m going to miss the relationships and the people.” He liked being “one of
David Segal, general manager at Segal’s, offers a cookie to Chezka Gelber during his visit to the store in 2003. Photo by Tegwin Winterhalt the first people to meet newcomers to Phoenix. I always had an opportunity to invite people into our homes for Shabbat and holidays.” Into the future The new owners have several ideas for the business. “We want to make changes,” Babakhanov says. He plans to use his restaurant experience--he said he ran a five-star Persian restaurant in New York before moving to the Valley two years ago --to bring a fresh dining experience to Segal’s customers. They plan to install a sushi bar and bring in a Chinese chef.
They also hope to install a bakery with the capacity to make everything from cookies to wedding cakes. The owners also plan to offer takeout meals for Shabbat and holidays. The business will continue to be supervised by the Greater Phoenix Vaad Hakashrut. Segal’s operating hours will expand, with the restaurant and the market open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.two hours before Shabbat on Fridays and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays. There are tentative plans to be open on Saturday nights after Shabbat. One thing that won’t be different are most of the faces behind the counter. Babakhanov says all the employees will remain on staff, including Zalman Segal’s assistant Jo Fenton, chef Ken Knox, butcher Mike Wolf, and Elmer Payton, who has been with the company for 39 years. Even Zalman Segal will stay, at least for a while. He plans to be on premises several days a week for a few hours per day in an advisory capacity. “I’ll be busy working with the new owners,” he says. And making still more memories, no doubt. As the Segal family transfers ownership of the business, they leave a legacy of service to the Valley Jewish community. David Segal says, “It’s a happy occasion in our family, but there’s a certain amount of sadness.” Segal’s is located at 4818 No. Seventh St., Phoenix, AZ; call 602.277.5769, the next time you’re in the area! (This article is reprinted with permission from the the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.)
OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS PHOTO: LOIS GREENFIELD
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
A Q U I L A T H E AT R E COMPANY IN WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 0 6 7:30 PM SLOSBURG HALL O R P H E U M T H E AT E R SUPPORTED IN PART BY MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS MEDIA PARTNERS: NRG MEDIA
POPULAR ENTERTAINERS SERIES
%
AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN AND LINDA EDER
V
%
%
V
%
E
V
E
V
R
E
Y
R
R
E
2
Y
Y
R
O
(
S
L
L
O
M
O
A
A
O
O
(
Y
S
O
2
M
E
M
We’ll come to you with custom design and products to fit your style and budget.
M
E
From concept to completion, we do it all!
E
E
Call for your complimentary consultation – you’ll love us!
T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 0 6 7:30 PM KIEWIT CONCERT HALL HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Franchisee Photo to be Placed Here.
SPONSORED BY ROBERT H. STORZ FOUNDATION
Franchisee Info to be Placed Here.
Jane Joyce Owner/Decorator
MEDIA PARTNERS: NRG MEDIA, CITY WEEKLY AND METRO MAGAZINE
402.916.9884 PhSale or
www.decdens.com/janejoyce Gift Certificate Offer Here
100 Off any Sale Over $500
$
Not valid with any other offer, discount or coupon. For a limited time.
TICKETS | 13TH AND DOUGLAS STREETS W W W. T I C K E T O M A H A . O R G | 4 0 2 . 3 4 5 . 0 6 0 6
www.DecoratingDen.com E a c h f ra n c h i s e i n d e p e n d e n t l y ow n e d a n d o p e ra t e d.
October 6, 2006
Weather-Permitting: Succot in Israel
JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL by TEDDY WEINBERGER In the Book of Leviticus, Moses tells the Israelites that beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (counting from the month of Passover), “You shall live in booths [succot] seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the Lord your God” (23.42-43). The most remarkable aspect of Succot in Israel, for someone who observed the holiday in a variety of locations in the States before making aliyah, is the fact that the idea of obeying Moses can seem like a pleasant one. Whether Succot comes out at the end of September or sometime during October, the climate in Israel is perfect for being outdoors, especially at night. One never has to worry about rain, and even if the sun is still hot during the day, there is usually enough of a breeze to make a meal inside the succah (which, by Jewish law, must contain more shade than sun) seem more like a picnic than an onerous religious ritual. Jews in the States are usually not that lucky. In Miami, for example, where we lived for six years before making aliyah, Succot occurs in the middle of summer-time (summer in Miami being from mid-April through earlyNovember). Daytime Succot meals in Miami leave one drenched in sweat, and many families eat part of these meals indoors. At the other extreme there is my wife’s experience growing up in Omaha, where her most vivid memory of Succot is of eating soup with gloves on, hovering over her steaming bowl for warmth. And it often happens that in many parts of the States, the rabbi’s brief remarks
on Succot eve sound more like “Notes From the Rain Bunker,” covering such topics as “kiddush in drizzle,” and “when to throw in the towel.” In Israel, the weather is so nice (and perceived Succot danger from gentiles nonexistent) that it is indeed much more common to find people doing what Moses had intended: living in the succah. There are people who move their dining-room tables and chairs into the succah, along with their china-laden buffet, and at night, these people will not make do with sleeping on floor-mattresses and will move their beds outside to their succah. There is just one problem to the pleasant weather in Israel on Succot: it ruins a popular rabbinical teaching. Remember the reason given for the booths in Leviticus? The succot are reminders of the temporary booths used in the Exodus from Egypt. A classic rabbinical question therefore is: if so, if the booths are connected to the Exodus, then why was the Succot holiday not assigned to one of the months more immediately following Passover? Here is the traditional answer: A Succot in the late spring or early summer would not demonstrate a Jew’s commitment to Judaism. After all, the whole world enjoys going outside at that time. But when a Jew builds a temporary hut in the fall and must fight the elements, he (and she) show they are doing so not for pleasure, but because they are following God’s commandment. What are we to say, then, about Succot in Israel? Given that September and October are just as mild as May or June, perhaps we should move Succot in Israel to its proper historical place in the year? Aside from the fact that, I believe the Chief Rabbinate would tend to give a little more weight to centuries of Jewish custom than to the arguments of this column. I like to think of this situation as our chance in Israel to show solidarity with you in the Diaspora. Happy Succot! Weinberger can be reached at: Teddy weinross@netvision.net.il.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 9
When you patronize our advertisers, tell them you saw their ad in the Jewish Press.
ENTERTAIN
FIRST CLASS HONEYMAN RENT-ALL The Party Place WITH
FOR THE FINEST IN ENTERTAINING ACCESSORIES, HOW CAN YOU THROW A PARTY AND NOT INVITE US? • Tables • Chairs • Linens • Skirting • China • Glassware • Champaign Fountains • Chafing Dishes • Party Canopies • Wedding & Church Displays • Dance Floors • BBQ Grills • Coat Racks • Candelabras • Margarita Machines • Chocolate Fountains
Our Visit room w o h S
11226 Wright Circle
333-2882
(1 Block South of 114th & Center)
We Disp dding Sup lays & plies
Are Bonds in Your Future--for College, Retirement...? portfolio of all equities may improve overall portfolio stability. by ALAN UNGER Tax-exempt municipal bonds offer you the chance to maxiFinancial Advisor, UBS Financial Services Inc. While some people might have the perception that municipal mize your after-tax return consistent with the amount of risk bonds are for investors who are in or near retirement, many you’re willing to accept. As with other fixed-income securities, investors who are still in their “working years” are now consid- municipal bond prices fluctuate in response to changing interering municipal bonds as an appropriate wealth preservation est rates: prices increase when interest rates decline, and tool. Tax-exempt municipal bonds have become one of the most prices decline when interest rates rise. popular types of investments. They offer an array of benefits, Bonds held to maturity are redeemed by the issuer at their including: face value—regardless of prevailing interest rates. Investors who • Predictability. Bond buyers know how much they will earn, sell a municipal bond before maturity may find themselves with and how long it will be before their principal is returned. a capital gain or loss. Although income generated by most Interest is paid semi-annually, and bondholders receive their municipal bonds is exempt from taxes, any capital gains earned principal intact, when the bonds mature. from the sale of these bonds are subject to taxation. • Relative Safety. Investment grade municipal bonds have a Should investors move into bonds now? The answer—like all default rate of less than 1/2 of 1 percent, according to the Bond investment decisions—depends mostly on each individual’s situation. For the investor whose objectives include the preservation Market Association. • Tax Free Interest. The interest earned on most municipal of principal or reliable cash flow, bonds should be a considerabonds is exempt from Federal income taxes, and may be tion regardless of market conditions. Let your investment objectives determine whether or not you buy bonds in the first place exempt from state taxes in the issuer’s state, as well. • Liquidity. Should the need arise, an investor can generally and let the market conditions influence which bonds you buy. Whether you are searching for tax-advantaged income, trying sell almost any investment grade municipal bond quickly. • Variety. With over 1.4 million municipal bonds outstanding, to safeguard your principal, saving for college or targeting other investors are usually able to find the maturity and credit quality financial objectives, consult with your financial advisor to determine if investing in municipal bonds could help you pursue your that matches their investment objectives. • Reduced Portfolio Volatility. Adding municipal bonds to a goal. PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Taking the time to understand. It’s how confident decisions get made. You and us. In golf, as in financial matters, confident decisions require careful consideration. You judge the opportunities. Assess the conditions. And understand the resources you need to get to where you want to be. That’s why we’re proud to partner with some of the world’s leading golf tournaments, where confidence is the key to success.
For more information, contact: Alan Unger, Financial Advisor 402-963-2999
800-666-0632
alan.unger@ubs.com One Valmont Plaza, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68154
Problem gamblers usually lose a lot more than money.
423 WILL INCREASE OUR PROPERTY TAXES. The last thing we need in Nebraska is to increase our property taxes. But that’s exactly what Initiative 423 will do.
www.ubs.com/financialservicesinc
Problem gamblers lie about how much they’ve lost and increase their bets to try and win it all back. If this sounds like someone you know, please get them help before it’s too late and they lose everything.
Call 1-800-522-4700 Compulsive Gambling Help Line
Paid for by Nebraskans Against 423, 605 S. 14th St., Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68508 ©2006 UBS Financial Services Inc. All Rights Reserved. Member SIPC.
Out
Dining
Page 10
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
When you patronize these fine establishments, tell them you saw their ad in the Jewish Press.
When people mention Jack & Mary’s, they’re talking
Now Offering Breakfast on Sundays 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Chicken! RESTAURANT
Lunch and Dinner Old Mill Shopping Center
Steaks • Seafood Chicken 108th & Dodge 496-2090
Omaha Performing Arts presents “An Evening With Michael Feinstein and Linda Eder” at the Peter Kiewit Concert Hall in the Holland Center on Thursday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. This evening of song will present select pieces from the golden age of American popular music performed by four-time GRAMMY Award-nominated vocalist, pianist and noted musical archivist Michael Feinstein, and celebrated Broadway songstress, Linda Eder. Tickets are $25-$40 and may be purchased at Ticket Omaha, 402.345.0606, or online at ticketomaha.org.
“Home Front” presents the human side of America at war, through the letters, photographs, diaries, albums and other artifacts of men and women who fought for our country, as well as those of civilian volunteers, support staff, and war industry workers. With an emphasis
Omaha Community Playhouse Playbill Boutique 2006 is Saturday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Act II and the Omaha Community Playhouse will host a pre-holiday celebration featuring an exciting, upscale gift boutique. This all-day event will be held at the Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. This upscale gift boutique features fashions, artwork and jewelry by some of Omaha’s Premier Artists. The items will be unique and one of a kind. This premier event benefits the Omaha Community Playhouse. This year’s chairpersons are Francie Prier and Judy Wickersham and can be reached at 551.9004 or 896.6314 for more information.
Muscovites celebrate spring with balloons on Manezh Square. Credit: Igor Tabakov, photographer Copyprint, original taken in April 2002 on World War I through current conflicts, the selections presented are representative of the compelling and unique items collected in the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project. During the exhibit, the Durham will also record the oral histories and reminiscences of wartime service men and women, with the recordings produced becoming part of the Library of Congress’s permanent collection. According to the Library, nearly 1,700 veterans pass away every day, making the collection of these personal accounts an urgent endeavor. (To make an appointment to record wartime memories, veterans are invited to call 402.444.5499.) “Reflections” also includes the recording of human conflict and emotion, but entirely through the medium of photography. With the fall of communism and photographers no longer bound to follow the party line, Russian photography once again entered the international arena. In contrast to Western news photography, however, the Russian photojournalism seemed to take a more artistic form. For more information on the Durham Western Heritage Museum and its exhibits, visit our website: www.dwhm.org.
Two Great Cuisines Under One Roof
Japanese Sushi
Chinese
Mon-Sat: 11:30-2, 5-10 | Sun: 12-9 Every Fri & Sat Late Night Happy Hour 10-12am South of 129th & Maple (Eagle Run Plaza) | 884-3909
li e D e Th at
Spirit World 7517 Pacific Omaha, NE 68114 391-8680
Bring in this ad and receive a
Free Fountain Drink with the purchase of any Sandwich or Entre – Eat in only – One coupon per person. Not valid with any other offers.
• Hand Stretched • NY Style • Pizza • Freshest Pizza • Best Taste
The Cheesecake Factory has selected the Omaha Community Playhouse as the benefactor of the Very Grand Opening Celebration of The Cheesecake Factory at Westroads Mall. The celebration will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, 7-10 p.m. Tickets to the exclusive Very Grand Opening Celebration are $60 per person, and will be available only through the Omaha Community Playhouse at 553.4890 ext. 127. The tickets include cocktails, appetizers, a buffet with a selection of The Cheesecake Factory entrees and famous cheesecake, all accompanied by live music. 100% of the ticket sales will benefit the Omaha Community Playhouse. Tickets are limited and orders will be filled on a first come/first served basis. Two powerful and moving exhibits from the Library of Congress come to the Durham Western Heritage Museum for the fall and holiday seasons. “From the Home Front and the Front Line” and “Reflections: Russian Photographs 1992-2002” open together on Saturday, Oct. 7, in the museum’s Velde Gallery; both are on loan from the Library of Congress through Jan. 7.
MARRIAGES MILLER/ZALKIN Jessica Erin Miller and David Marshall Zalkin, of Boston and Israel. The groom graduated from Brandeis University, Houston, TX, were married on July 6 at United Orthodox Synagogues in Houston. The ceremony was Waltham MA, where he received his BA in biology with officiated by Rabbi Gideon Moskowitz of Houston, the a minor in Spanish literature. He is a second year medical student at Houston’s Baylor College of groom’s father, Mark W. Zalkin, and Cantor Joel Lichterman, of Denver. A dinMedicine. He is the son of former Omahans ner/dance was held at the synagogue. Mark and Susan Zalkin of Denver. The bride is a graduate of the University His grandmother is Evelyn Flaxer and the of Texas-Austin and the University of late Dr. Carl Flaxer of Denver and the late Houston College of Law. She is an attorney Allen and Monie Zalkin. with West Law in Houston. Among his attendants were cousins Erik She is the daughter of Harold Miller of Flaxer and Jeremy Kamlet of Denver. Houston and Nancy Miller of Austin, TX. Family and friends from Omaha, Denver, Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Jay Miller Boston, New York, Detroit, Toronto, Los of Las Vegas and Selma Engorn of West Angeles, San Francisco, Virginia and Israel Palm Beach, FL. came to Houston to share in the simcha. Among the bride’s attendants were the groom’s sisThe couple honeymooned in the Colorado Rockies ters, Sara Zalkin of San Francisco and Mara Zalkin of this summer and plan to go Israel this December.
You are the most powerful influence in your child’s daily life.
VOTED OMAHA’S #1 ORIENTAL RESTAURANT Omaha Magazine--2002
PICKED ONE OF OMAHA’S 10 BEST RESTAURANTS Jim Delmont, Omaha World-Herald--1994 132nd
Dine-In To-Go Downtown Delivery
NOW AT TWO GREAT LOCATIONS Kids who learn from their parents or care-givers about the risks of drugs are:
Dodge Street
• 7834 W. Dodge Road • 13463 W. Center Road • 1213 Howard St. (Old Market)
344-2222
Dine-In, Carry-Out, 1/2 Baked Pies Available
631 N. 132ND ST. in Westridge Plaza next to Earl May
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • Dine In/Carry Out • Daily Specials • Full-Service Bar and Lounge
291-8855
ALL ROADS LEAD TO CHINA ROAD
4006 Twin Creek Dr. Located in the Twin Creek Plz. 42nd
Catch The Best Pizza
BELLEVUE
Kennedy Expressway
431-0066 OMAHA
• 36% less likely to smoke • marijuana than kids who don’t • 50% less likely to use inhalants • 56% less likely to use cocaine • 65% less likely to use LSD
For more information call:
1-800-648-4444 Hwy 370
http://www.prevlink.org
October 6, 2006
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
IN THE NEWS Omaha-based free-lance journalist and regular Jewish Press contributor Leo Adam Biga has an article in the current (September 2006) edition of The Black Scholar, a prestigious journal of African-American critical scholarship. His story, “Letting 1,000 Flowers Bloom,” originally appeared in The Reader, an Omaha alternative news weekly for which Biga is a senior correspondent. Biga’s story is based on an interview he did in 2005 with Robert Chrisman, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the quarterly Scholar. Chrisman was chair of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Department of Black Studies from 2001 through mid-2005. An Omaha native and 1982 UNO journalism graduate, Biga worked in public relations at the Joslyn Art Museum and the UNO Sports Information Office before becoming a free-lance writer/reporter in 1988. In addition to The Reader and the Press, he regularly contributes articles to the New Horizons and Nebraska Life Magazine. Biga is a prize-winning writer whose work has captured Nebraska Press Association honors in 2002 and 2003; an American Jewish Press Association Rockower Award in 2004; and an Omaha Press Club Excellence in Journalism Award in 2006. His articles have appeared in award-winning special editions of the Press. In addition to his newspaper and magazine work, Biga does corporate writing. He is also the author of a book of memoirs (Memoirs of an Anxious Man), an original feature-length film script and an original play. Locally, The Black Scholar is available at Aframerican Book Store. For more information, check out the Scholarwebsite at theblackscholar.org. For his outstanding research in pulmonary medicine, Stephen Rennard, M.D., has been named the first Scientist Laureate at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The award is the highest recognition given to a UNMC scientist. Dr. Rennard was among 25 investigators recently
named UNMC Distinguished Scientists for 2006. The scientists -- all recognized leaders in their field -- represent the colleges of dentistry, nursing, medicine and pharmacy as well as the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. The award, sponsored by the chancellor, recognizes those UNMC researchers who have been among the most productive scientists in the country over the past five years. Dr. Stephen Rennard “These award winners are some of the real heroes of the UNMC research program,” said Thomas Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research at UNMC. “Their selection was based upon rigorous criteria, and the competition was very strong. I am proud of the true excellence of all of the UNMC research professionals. “As scientist laureate, Dr. Rennard ranked the best of the best,” Dr. Rosenquist said. The 2006 Distinguished Scientists receive a meritbased salary supplement of $10,000. As scientist laureate, Dr. Rennard will receive a $20,000 supplement. UNMC will host an event in March to publicly recognize each honoree’s research accomplishments. Dr. Rennard, Larson Professor of Medicine in pulmonary and critical care in internal medicine and courtesy professor of pathology and microbiology at UNMC, joined UNMC in 1984 as chief of pulmonary and critical care, a position he retained until 1997. He also is currently the director of the Nebraska Office of Tobacco Control and Research.
who exemplify the spirit of community contribution while providing a meaningful example of successful aging. Nomination forms are available online at by calling http://pwsa.unomaha.edu/ or 402.554.4897 or 402.554.2292, and are due Nov. 1. The minimum nomination requirements include: Name, age, address and phone number of the nominee; The nominator’s relationship to the nominee; Information on the nominee’s actions, activities and involvement in the community and its results; Reasons why the nominee’s work or advocacy was significant and identification of who benefited (individuals or groups); and any other additional information that effectively creates a strong picture of the nominees’ accomplishments. Award recipients will be honored at a luncheon and community-wide program, Celebrate: Women of Wisdom Because Aging is a Lifetime Event, set for April 18, 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Central. The keynote speaker will be the bestselling author of Patty Jane’s House of Curl and Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, Lorna Landvik. Tickets are $40 a person; $35 for seniors over the age of 60. Corporate tables are available, beginning at $500. For information, call 402.554.4897 or 554.2292 or e-mail jmaassen@ mail.unomaha.edu. The Omaha Jaycees are now accepting nominations for the 74th Annual Ten Outstanding Young Omahans (TOYO) Award. For 74 years, the Jaycees have honored the most remarkable individuals in Omaha by presenting the TOYO Awards. These Omahans, between the ages of 21-40, must exemplify excellence in both the professional and personal arenas, while taking an active role in giving back to the community. To nominate a member of the Omaha community for this honor, visit www.omahajaycees.org to complete the nomination form before Nov. 3. The Ten Outstanding Young Omahans for 2006 will be announced and honored at a banquet on Feb. 7, at Embassy Suites.
Organizations and individuals in the Omaha metropolitan area are being asked to nominate senior women for the 2007 University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) “Women of Wisdom Awards.” Awards will be given next spring to three women over the age of 50
A Unique Opportunity For The Perfect Gift
Sanctuary Day Spa Renewal of the Mind, Body and Soul
Ladies 1.1 ct. round cut diamond set in a modern 14k yellow gold band. VS 2 clarity and approximate J color. Appraised by Malashocks at $8100. Asking $5500 or highest offer. View by appt. or see pictures via email. Call 960-4731 or contact mindyjsclark@aol.com
Facials ★ Massages ★ Waxing ★ Brazilian Waxing Body Treatments ★ Microderm Abraison Spa Pedicures ★ Men’s Treatments Permanent Cosmetics ★ Eyelash Extensions Spa Packages ★ Gift Certificates
934-8008 7517 Pacific Suite B Omaha, NE Offer good thru 11-10-06. Not valid on previous sales.
er' sR ece p
tio
n.
* W.A.C. Not valid with any other offer. See store for details. Offer good thru 11-10-06.
ac tiv ity da y's ft he
sto ck o
e ven ue f or t he o nly plun g
. rtfolio our po ities in e ame n g all th ploitin tion ex
relaxa
self your c ate Allo ha.
he t
Oma
assy Emb
e
nd
g at
tak en, .Th
est a
akin
ce rien expe
ea rovid
ed r
for t urs e yo s ar T he
divi
dend
“My top priority in the United States Senate will be to cut taxes and control federal spending.” -Pete Ricketts
www.PeteRicketts.com
need
Oversight
• sunset provisions to terminate outdated programs • Non-defense discretionary budget caps
Paid for by Nebraska Families for Pete Ricketts, Inc.
uc h
• Move to bi-annual budgeting to allow more congressional
Vote Republican on November 7
em
the earmarking process
s
Budget Reform Plan
federal funding
• Eliminate or reform
ite
Pete Ricketts’
Su
emergencies
• Full transparency of
som
• Line-item veto • Budget for
may
www.wowandsiding.com
Toll-Free: 866-477-6272
ub p hot t
M-Th 8-5:30 • Fri 8-5 • Sat 10-2
you
Showroom: 13229 I St.
and pool Our
537-7313
at the ev en ing Ma na g
Free Estimates:
Embassy Suites Omaha – book your September meeting and receive free internet
Page 12
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
In a Perfect World
BERT’S EYE VIEW by BERT LEWIS So tell me my friends, how are the holidays at your house? Did you have kids come in from out-of-town? Or maybe other mishpocha who are former Omahans, who like to accept your invitation to “come for yomtov.� I always loved it when there were aunts, uncles and cousins around the table, especially if they were relatives we didn’t see often. That’s how it should be, in my humble opinion--gather the clan and convene a family meeting around the dining room table! In a perfect world, that’s how it would be, I’m certain. Nobody would find it impossible to travel, all airline tickets would be on special reduced rates and there would always be seats available when a person called for reservations. Of course the flights would all leave on time and arrive as expected, and even the luggage would arrive! I mean at the same time as the passenger. In my perfect world, the lady of the house who was responsible for the magnificent holiday dinner, would get up the next morning and see every available surface stacked with clean dishes, silverware and glasses. There wouldn’t be a single roasting pan waiting to be soaked and scrubbed, and when her best white tablecloth was inspected, there would be no red wine stains! What more can you ask if you’re seeking perfection? How about finding a parking place close enough to the synagogue to make you feel lucky? Then walking in and finding many friendly faces in the mob that greets you? And maybe the ultimate shul experience, spotting the person you want to sit with and seeing there’s room for you. Those little things count big time in my perfect world! In that same perfect place nobody within earshot will tell a juicy bit of gossip not quite loud enough to hear, but loud enough to annoy. (That’s the same person who will look innocent when you send a dirty look her way.) I guess even in a perfect world nobody sits quietly and tends to their prayer book every minute. After all, we love to see our friends and folks we haven’t seen maybe since last Yom Tov. And when we do, we shake hands, we kiss, we hug, we exchange New Year wishes. And even if we sit quietly, we spend some of that time “checking the house,� I call it. That is, looking all around and finding a former neighbor sitting right over there, and maybe even old man what’s-his-name...look at that! He was old when you were a kid! So what’s the story here? That doesn’t sound like the way it would be in a perfect world. Of course not, because we’re human and many of us enjoy the social end of serv-
ORGANIZATIONS ices. that is, the seeing and greeting and exchanging New Year greetings, even though we know we should be sitting quietly and saving that stuff for after the service. Much as I love to imagine certain things I’d enjoy in a perfect world, life isn’t like that because the world isn’t perfect. But when you’re surrounded by people all dressed in their best, looking like they’re happy to be in that exact place and glad to see and be seen, well, the word decorum doesn’t readily come to mind. Still, I can think back to my early childhood, sitting up in the balcony with my mother and all the other women. That was as far removed from today’s service as Kol Nidre is from Ave Maria. I don’t know if those old timers were more respectful of the occasion, but I do know they demanded silence and sent threatening looks to those who chattered, even sotto voce. That was then, and this is now. It’s the holiday season and much as I’d love a perfect world, it’s not going to happen. So let’s try to do what we can to make it a joyous time and to remember to wish everyone Shana Tova. From our house to yours, my roommate and I send you best wishes for a healthy, peaceful New Year. Bert Lewis can be reached at BertLewis39@aol.com.
Hadassah National Organization Receives Award from Genetics Policy Institute by GLORIA SHUKERT JONES Hadassah Publicity Coordinator The Omaha Chapter of Hadassah has received word that the parent organization was the 2006 recipient of the National Advocacy Award presented by the Genetics Policy Institute’s (GPI) second annual “Stem Cell Policy and Advocacy Summit: Empowering the Pro-Cures Coalition� at Stanford University. The award is presented to the organization making the biggest impact in promoting stem cell research progress, and awareness of its lifesaving capabilities. Therefore GPI recognized Hadassah for its effective leadership and because it has earned the gratitude of patients world-wide. The Summit is the only nationwide meeting combining experts from the worlds of science, law, politics, bio-ethics, business, public policy and national, state and local activism. The goal is to combine the expertise of those who hold a stake in stem cell research (especially patients) to help overcome political obstacles and advance today’s most promising biomedical research. For more information, log on to: www.procures.com.
VISIONS Our Magical Mystery Tour is Wednesday, Oct. 18. Cost is $30 per person includes coach transportation, lunch and admissions, tax and gratuities. Depart from the JCC at 9:30 a.m. (be at the JCC by 9:15) and return by 3:15 p.m. Send reservations to Jim Wax, 118 So. 88 St. Omaha, NE 68114. Deadline is Oct. 9. Join us for a tour of the historic village of Girls and Boys Town on Thursday, Nov. 2, 9:15 a.m, from the JCC. Cost is $7 per person. The tour stops at the Hall of History, Dowd Chapel, Father Flanagan’s Tomb and Historic House, and special stop at “The Clothes Line,â€? where Louise Abrahamson will greet us and tell us about her unique store and what she does for the residents. The last stop on our tour will be at the Visitor’s Center where we will eat lunch in the CafĂŠ (lunch is on your own) and visit the gift shop. Send reservations by Oct. 25 to Rosalie Meiches, 5036 Parker, Omaha, NE 68104. Visions special events “Senior Conditioningâ€? will be held at the JCC on Wednesday, Dec. 13, noon. Learn and see what you can easily do to keep your body healthy. Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. and at 1:15 p.m. the Dancing Grannies will perform. The cost per person is $10 per person. Deadline is Dec. 7. Make all checks payable to Visions. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES The Avi8ors will perform for an early Veteran’s Day Celebration at the JCC on Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. This performance is in memory of Dr. Arthur M. Greene, a flight surgeon in the Army Air Corp, by Deborah Greene, Silvia and Larry Roffman and grandchildren. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Senator Ben Nelson, candidate for U.S. Senate, will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Oct. 11, noon, at Regency Lodge. Breadbreakers is open to everyone in the community. A full lunch is $11; beverage service is $2.
Since 1991
(UUPL
3,0)6=0;A
7LFNHWV DUH 6HDWLQJ LV OLPLWHG 7R UHVHUYH WLFNHWV RU IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ FRQWDFW &LQG\ 5HHG DW RU 5DFKHO %OXP DW
LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.
Care Consultants for the Aging
:V\[O UK :[YLL[
ElderCare Resource Handbook
This valuable resource is a must have for anyone who is dealing with elder issues. 402/398-1848 Omaha
Call
402/488-3771 Lincoln
For more information
HU
K
3L
VU H
YK .
VSKZ [L
U [PV UKH \ V PU :\WWVY[PUN
Now Available! The 7th edition of the
L PYS :O L [O
`
3KRWRJUDSKHU$QQLH /HLERYLW]¡V ZLWW\ SRZHUIXO SRUWUDLWV KDYH DSSHDUHG RQ PDJD]LQH FRYHUV IRU PRUH WKDQ \HDUV +HU DVWXWH REVHUYDWLRQV RI $PHULFDQ FXOWXUH ÀUVW DSSHDUHG LQ KHU OHJHQGDU\ ZRUN IRU 5ROOLQJ 6WRQHŠ DQG KDYH FRQWLQXHG WKURXJK KHU ORQJ DIÀOLDWLRQV ZLWK 9DQLW\ )DLUŠ DQG 9RJXHŠ +HU DFFODLPHG ERRNV LQFOXGH :RPHQ $PHULFDQ 0XVLF DQG $ 3KRWRJUDSKHU¡V /LIH 7KHUH ZLOO EH D VOLGH VKRZ RI KHU ZRUN GXULQJ WKH EURDGFDVW :ULWHU DQG HGLWRU RI $QQLH /HLERYLW]¡V ERRNV 6KDURQ 'HODQR ZLOO LQWHUYLHZ /HLERYLW]
YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS VNA Flu Shots will be held on Monday, 9-11 a.m., in the auditorium. Don’t forget to bring your Medicare Card. Join the students from the Friedel Academy at 12:45 p.m. for “Animals of the Great Plains,� sponsored by the Fontenelle Nature Association. Lunch is served at noon for $6 per person. Try your luck with bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen and Miles Remer. For transportation call Dee Dee at 330.4272. Call Maggie for reservations for the Ameristar Casino on Oct. 26.
-\UKLK
` Y[ I PU WH
EYE
ESSENTIALS We make a difference in the way you view the world. 8111 Dodge Medical Center • Suite 140 • 354-8195 8111 Dodge Medical Center • Suite 331 • 354-8175 (Contact Lens Dept.)
2953 S. 168th St. • Suite 101 • Armbrust Village • 330-4131
October 6, 2006
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 13
Warming, Autumnal Recipes Suit Sukkot, the Harvest Holiday cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons margarine, softened 11/2 teaspoons grated orange zest Salt and pepper to taste For the Streusel: Combine all ingredients in order listed in a food processor. Pulse to blend, until mixture forms small clumps. Spoon into a bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days. For the Sweet Potato Puree: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9X13-inch oval baking dish. Pierce potatoes in several places with a fork. Bake directly on the oven rack for 1 hour, or until very tender. Cool and peel. Mash flesh in a bowl with orange juice, brown sugar, softened margarine, and orange zest. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees. Scatter streusel over potatoes. Bake for 40 minutes, until puree is hot and streusel is crisp. Cool 5 minutes, then serve. Yield: 810 servings. 1/3
FALL STARBURST (PARVE) 11/2-2 pounds butternut squash, cut into halves and seeds removed
cup margarine cup dark brown sugar 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 cups fresh cranberries 1/4 cup sugar 1-2 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar (sold commercially or made at home with 1 part cinnamon to 4 parts sugar) Boil squash in water to cover in a saucepan until tender. Cool until it can be handled. Scoop out flesh, discarding peel. Puree squash with margarine and brown sugar in a food processor. Cook apples and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a saucepan for 8 to 10 minutes, or until juices begin to be released and the sugar melts and coats the apples. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat cranberries with 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a saucepan until berries soften and burst, stirring often. Arrange apples around the edge of a 9-inch French white oven-safe dish. Pour the squash puree in the center. Top with the cranberries, leaving a small border of squash. (The cranberries may bleed into the apples slightly.) Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar and bake for 20 minutes. Yield: 6-8 servings. Continued on page 14 1/2 1/2
NOW ON SALE!
5 easy ways to order tickets! CALL
IN PERSON
(402) 345-0606
Ticket Omaha Box Office
or
(402) 422-1212
ONLINE ticketmaster.com
located at the Holland Performing Arts Center at 13th & Douglas Streets
All Ticketmaster outlets
PREMIUM TICKET PACKAGES Call (402) 345-0606
GROUPS OF 15 OR MORE CALL
(800) 889-8457 or (402) 661-8516
Tickets subject to applicable service charges. Performance prices, dates, times and cast are subject to change without notice. Orders limited to 8 tickets per person. Other restrictions may apply.
5 WEEKS ONLY! • JANUARY 12–FEBRUARY 11, 2007 lionkingtour.com
© Disney
by LINDA MOREL The book offers tips on decorating tables NEW YORK (JTA) -- Of all the family- so festively they could grace magazine oriented holidays on the Jewish calendar, covers. Here’s how to turn an ordinary Sukkot, which entails setting up a tempo- table into an enticing harvest scene. Buy rary house, is probably the most homey a tablecloth splashed with fall colors. of all. There’s nothing more inviting than Make a centerpiece by arranging gourds, a sukkah, the one-room harvest hut squash and eggplants, accenting them whose interior walls are draped with with burgundy dahlias. Spread unshelled apples and eggplants, peppers and squash, nuts around the table, along with pillar plus handicrafts and children’s artwork. candles in harvest colors. With the scent of autumn “Our sukkah has a leaves in the air, these door,” says Blank, backyard dwellings are explaining that she leaves perfect settings for chatit open all day and during ting and dining during the evening meal, as a Sukkot’s eight days. sign that friends and “We invite people into neighbors are welcome our sukkah who don’t inside at any time. have one,” says Sandra “People in our neighborBlank, the editor of The hood take walks after dinKosher Palette II: Coming ner. They go sukkah hopHome (2006). Published ping. Our friends pop in when they hear our conby the Joseph Kushner versation and laughter.” Hebrew Academy in Livingston, N.J., this The Kosher Palette II: Coming “People know I have a plentiful array of desserts. community cookbook of Home cookbook. Credit: Joseph Kushner They like their little sugar more than 300 recipes Hebrew Academy fix.” For eight nights, she follows the wildly successful “Kosher Palette,” which sold more bakes Apple Crisp, Pear Tatin, and a myriad of chocolate confections. After all, than 70,000 copies worldwide. “My husband in particular feels strong- isn’t abundance what Sukkot is all about? The highlight of her dessert table are ly about sharing the joy of our sukkah,” Blank says. “It’s a busy week with a lot of Warm Chocolate Souffles, decadent concooking and entertaining. The more peo- fections that are a surprising departure ple who come to our sukkah, the happier from the usual fruit desserts on Sukkot. Served in individual ramekins, they are as I am.” She explains that in today’s fast-paced warming as coffee on chilly nights. world, people treasure time at home. “In People go wild when they stick their creating a sequel cookbook, we wanted to spoons into molten chocolate, as the honor the home, to reflect peoples’ scent of cocoa fills sukkah walls. Blank describes how her children’s artlifestyles, to be welcoming and warm.” When she conducted research to dis- work from school enhances their sukkah cover trends for the new cookbook, she walls. “Over the years, my kids have made spoke to people around the country. miniature sukkahs from popsicle sticks. Many of them felt the tragedy of 9/11 We display tiny handprints and painted instilled an appreciation for family and autumn leaves. It’s wonderful to see the the value of sharing meals with loved children’s faces as they point out their ones. She knew that a cookbook celebrat- creations, recalling how old they were when they made them. Now with digital ing home would strike the right chord. Like its predecessor, “The Kosher cameras, we hang pictures of them too.” “My husband and children eat all meals Palette II” evolved into a community project, bringing together Kushner in the sukkah including breakfast,” Blank Academy parents as they contributed says. “Unless it rains.” In case of rain, this their most enticing recipes, the ones that family recites blessings inside the sukkah remind their families of home. The new at dinner over the wine and challah, as cookbook, which is available at Jewish well as the after meal blessing. But they bookstores nationwide and can be dine indoors. “Rain is so disappointing,” ordered online at www.the kosher- says Blank, who loves being surrounded palette.org, features sophisticated inter- by fresh air and lovely sukkah decoranational recipes, typical of both Ashenazi tions. and Sephardi cuisine. “Some years, if the holiday falls early in “The recipes are well tested -- it’s a the season, it can be warm and muggy, book you can rely on,” says Blank, adding even at night,” she says. “But in cold that these dishes appeal to both children weather, we bundle up and stick it out.” Her family waits until sundown to eat and adults. Blank, who teaches studio art to 11th dinner, following the same rules as the and 12th graders at Kushner Academy, Shabbat. “The actual time we sit down is sends her four children to the Orthodox dependent on when Sukkot falls and whether we’ve changed the clocks yet or school. Because school is closed in observance not.” Sharing the holiday with the children’s of Sukkot, she has the opportunity to cook a cornucopia of food. She gushes grandparents, this large loving family about autumn recipes from her latest squeezes around the table, and the night goes on and on with hot casseroles and cookbook. Sweet Potato Puree with Almond delightful stories. “My association with Sukkot is that it’s Streusel is a tempting alternative to noodle kugel. Sweetened with orange juice a cozy holiday, filled with family, friends and dark brown sugar, its soft center plays and fun,” Blank says. It’s the ultimate in “Coming Home”--just like the cookbook counterpoint to its crunchy topping. Fall Starburst is a deeply satisfying she created. Recipes from The Kosher Palette II casserole filled with butternut squash, SWEET POTATO PUREE WITH Granny Smith apples, and cranberries, ALMOND STREUSEL (PARVE) artistically arranged to bring the brilliance Streusel: of autumn hues to the table. Herbed Standing Rib Roast is a crowd 1/3 cup all-purpose flour pleaser that requires minimal preparation 1/3 cup whole almonds for the impact of its presentation. Its 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar intense aroma and taste emerge from a 2 teaspoons paprika 1/4 cup margarine, chilled and cut into sensational spice rub. The Kosher Palette II is not just about pieces recipes but creating an ambience to enjoy Sweet Potato Puree: the flavor of food and the glow of family. 4 pounds red-skin sweet potatoes
Page 14
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
Fairy Tale Feasts by Jane Yolen (Crocodile Books, $24.95) Scanning | Color Graphics | School Reports | Manuscripts Word Processing | Mailings | Editing | Formatting Spreadsheets | Digital Photos | Resumes | Sales Proposals Transcription | Flyers | Business Cards | Brochures
ALL PROJECTS DONE TO YOUR SATISFACTION AT REASONABLE RATES 660-1210 (cell) email: skr.reynolds@cox.net www.sharissolutions.com Business Owners
Don’t Sell Your Business for at Least 20% Less Than You Could Have if You Had Developed an Exit Strategy • Failure to develop an exit strategy can result in a valuation 20%-30% below expectations • Don’t wait for burn out, retirement, or health/family issues. By then it’s too late • Don’t put your business on the market only to find out that no one will buy it.
Learn how you can increase the salability of your business and preserve value October 18th at Champion’s Run Golf Course 13800 Eagle Run Drive Doors open at 3:30 with presentation 4:00-5:00 pm This no cost event will fill in 3-5 days email measuredsuccess@frontiernet.net today to reserve your seat
Measured Success Inc. 5062 S. 108th St. #326, Omaha, NE 68137 www.measuredsuccessinc.com 402-926-1134
READ IT AND E AT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN Once upon a time...is how many fairy tales begin. However, this award winning author/story teller, who has been called “America’s Hans Christian Anderson”, retells her own versions of the classics adding a new twist here and a tweak there...new ways to say old things. “Marginalia...notes set in the margins of the stories” contain a wealth of interesting details, the AarneThompson Index, also called “The Types of the Folktale”, numbering and categorizing system, historical facts and background about each of the twenty folk tales. In all of these folk tales eating and food have been an integral part of the storytelling...like Snow White’s poisoned apple, Red Riding Hood’s basket of goodies for Grandma, Jack’s milk cow, and stone soup. The tales are divided into Breakfasts, Lunches, Soups, Dinners and Desserts; all include recipes...25 of them with variations, food facts, Equipment and Ingredients lists, brief numer-
ical directions, and charming, colorful illustrations. The tales come from around the globe and are old and new...think Aesop, Hans Christian Anderson, Charles Perrault, the brothers Grimm, and the tale written “by the great Yiddish writer, Sh. Y. Agnon”, The Magic Cave, which begins, “Once near a small Polish village there lived a poor Jewish farmer named Shimon and his wife, Gert.” and their two goats. The recipe is for a Goat Cheese Sandwich, Food Facts are about goat cheese. Cinderella and Pumpkin Tartlets, the Russian tale of The Great Turnip with Mashed Turnips, Brer Rabbit’s Carrot Soup and The Three Lemons and Lemon Chicken and this very easy Caesar Salad recipe for a delightful project to read a tale and cook together (adult supervision is suggested). CAESAR SALAD Equipment: Salad bowl & tongs Ingredients: romaine lettuce, washed and ripped, Caesar dressing Freshly grated parmesan cheese Croutons Directions: Toss lettuce with dressing and top with cheese and croutons. Friedman can be reached at: Lois ReadItAndEat@yahoo.com.
Warming Recipes Suit Sukkot
Upcoming UNO Home Games SOCCER
Friday, October 6th vs. Augustana 4 pm
VOLLEYBALL
Saturday, October 7th vs. Minnesota State, Mankato 6 pm Tuesday, October 10th vs. South Dakota 7 pm
HOCKEY
Tuesday, October 10th vs. Manitoba 7:05 pm
FOOTBALL
Saturday, October 14th vs. North Dakota (Homecoming) 1 pm
Tickets 554-MAVS G O M A V S . U N O M A H A . E D U
All This
25,000 costumes ! ...all in stock – starting at $9.99! Masks and wigs Candy and treat bags Novelties and props Napkins, tableware and centerpieces Decorations and accessories
06 20
PA R T Y 20
06
RE
Everything you need to have the most hair-raising Halloween ever!
I TA
LE
Halloween Omaha, NE 120th & Center • Bel-Air Plaza (402) 333-6300 Bellevue, NE Hwy 370 & 42nd Street • Twin Creek Plaza (402) 292-1700
Des Moines, IA 100th & University Ave • In Clive (515) 457-7100
www.nobbies.com
WARM CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES (PARVE) Truffles: 8 ounces, good-quality semisweet chocolate 1 (8-ounce) container nondairy topping Cakes: 1 cup margarine 8 ounces semisweet chocolate 4 eggs 4 egg yolks 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup flour, sifted 8 ramekins (3 inches in diameter and 13/4 inches high, holding 2/3 cup liquid) For the truffles: Chop chocolate into small nuggets. Heat nondairy topping until very hot, but do not boil. Pour over chocolate and stir until completely melted and combined. Refrigerate covered for 8-12 hours, until firm. With a melon-baller, scoop the mixture into small balls. For the cakes: Preheat oven to 400º. Melt margarine with semisweet chocolate in a saucepan. Beat eggs, egg yolks, and sugar with electric mixer, until light-colored. Mix in melted chocolate. Fold in flour by hand. Grease 8 ramekins. Pour batter into each ramekin, until 3/4 full. Place a truffle in the center of each ramekin. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool slightly and dust with confectioner’s sugar. Serve immediately. Yield: 8 souffles.
DNA Project Helps Holocaust Families Reunite
GET YOUR HANDS ON
• • • • •
Continued from page 14 HERBED STANDING RIB ROAST 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 2 bay leaves, crushed 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary 3 garlic cloves, finely minced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 (7-8 pound) standing rib roast Grind peppercorns, bay leaves, and salt in an electric coffee or spice grinder, until they reach a powdery consistency. Combine peppercorn mixture with thyme, rosemary, and garlic in a bowl. Mash the mixture with the back of a spoon, until a smooth paste forms. Stir in olive oil. Rub paste mixture over the surface of roast. Place roast in a roasting pan and refrigerate, covered for 8-24 hours. Let roast stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 450º. Insert meat thermometer into center of meat. Arrange roasting pan on middle oven rack, and roast meat for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350º and roast for 11/2 to 13/4 hours longer, or until a meat thermometer registers 110º. Remove roast to a large serving platter and let stand for 25 minutes. The roast will continue cooking, reaching about 130º for medium rare. Yield: 8-10 servings.
RO
F T HE Y
EA
R
by DAN PINE Staff Writer, j. the Jewish News Weekly of Northern California Joe Sorger thinks most of his Polish-born father's family perished in the Holocaust, their ashes scattered to the four winds. Then again, maybe some distant cousins survived, their descendants now living somewhere: Europe? America? Israel? Until now, the San Jose resident had no way to track them down. But with the launch of the DNA Shoah Project, doors Sorger could never have imagined may soon open. Not only does the technology exist to find living relatives, it may even help find the dead. “The primary purpose [of the project] is to help those living today find family they do not know of because of the Holocaust,” says New York-based geneticist and project director Syd Mandelbaum. “With advances in technology, we have the capacity to establish a DNA database.” Launched by Mandelbaum and two other top Jewish American geneticists, the DNA Shoah Project seeks to establish a genetic database of as many Holocaust survivors as possible. And if survivors can't participate, their children and grandchildren can contribute their own equally revealing DNA. The DNA Shoah Project kicked off its inaugural event in August at the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center in Los Gatos. More than 200 people showed up, including 80 survivors, their children and grandchildren. With a simple cheek swab, each person donated their DNA to the database. That database may not only help far-flung family members reunite, but in an advance that sounds more science
fiction than science, future researchers also may be able to identify the remains of long-dead Holocaust victims. “There are hundreds of mass graves all over Europe,” says Mandelbaum, himself the son of two Holocaust survivors. “One day people may want to open them up. With a DNA database people can give Jewish burials to their ancestors.” Mandelbaum says his technology would allow scientists to recover partial DNA from the dead buried in those mass graves--DNA that can then be scanned to find possible matches in the database. Because DNA endows every living thing with a unique “fingerprint,” finding such matches is entirely plausible. But to make those matches would require a much larger database than they currently have in place. Thus, Mandelbaum does not expect any mass disinterment to take place soon. He believes it can be done many decades, even centuries, after the horrific events of the Holocaust, but only if the database will have grown large enough to justify the effort. For Sorger, the potential for the DNA Shoah Project is personal. When his father Samuel died in 1990 at age 66, he left behind unanswered questions about his extended family members. Joe Sorger was born in Poland after the war as his parents sought shelter in a displaced persons camp in Germany. The impact of the Holocaust never left him, and years later, living in San Jose, he launched the South Bay Holocaust Survivors Group. However complicated the science, Sorger says the aging survivors fully comprehended the project’s potential. For more information on the DNA Shoah Project, visit www.dnashoah.info.
October 6, 2006
Guests in your Sukkah: Ushpizin
PEOPLE OF THE
BYTE
by MARK MIETKIEWICZ If you’re putting up a Sukkah this year --or perhaps visiting a friend’s – be prepared to be joined by some other esteemed guests: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and King David. Those seven tzadikim (righteous people) are traditionally welcomed into the Sukkah during the seven days of Sukkot. Today, a look at the Ushpizin. [http://tinyurl.com/fl4zy] The mystical book, the Zohar, is the source of ushpizin (“guests” in Aramaic.) It explains that “when a person sits in his Sukkah the Shechina (God’s Divine Presence) spreads its wings over it from above and then Abraham together with the other five tzadikim and King David dwell together with him.” Abraham is the guest on the first day, Isaac on the second, and so on. [http://tinyurl. com/fqk2s] “Each of these ancient personalities represented a particular spiritual blessing, characteristic, or mystical aspect of God (sefirah). These figures were imagined to dine with their hosts, bringing their unique qualities into the sacred space of the sukkah.” [http://tinyurl.com/ gxqwh] But merely dining with a heavenly guest is not good enough. The 19th century Rebbe of Sandz warned that these holy visitors would undoubtedly refuse to dwell in a sukkah where the poor were not also welcome. [http://tinyurl. com/ zzq2r] VirtualJerusalem explains that there is a custom “to invite seven poor people to eat in the Sukkah corresponding to the seven ushpizin. You then have seven exalted guests from above, with seven earthly guests and God’s Divine Presence hovering over it all.” [http://tinyurl.com/fqk2s] In addition to the traditional ushpizin, several other variations have ushered in more modern guests. For example, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880-1950) spoke of seven “chassidic ushpizin” as well: the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid (Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch), and the first five rebbes of Chabad. [http:// tinyurl.com/z46la] Even more recently, women guests have also been welcomed into the Sukkah. The “Ushpizot” guide created
by the Ma’yan Jewish Women’s Project quotes a medieval kabbalist who said that along with the seven male guests, we should invite the seven prophetesses listed in the Talmud: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Avigail, Huldah and Esther. The site has brief biographies of these personalities as well as recommended activities for an ushpizot celebration. [http://tinyurl.com/gxqwh] Unless you have a great imagination, it can be a challenge believing these great people really are in your midst. Barbara Weill has a suggestion: hold a press conference. In one of her role-playing games, you invite several friends to your sukkah and have each adopt the identity of one of the traditional ushpizin. Each real-life “Ushpiz” is asked “questions concerning his life as related in the Bible. For example, one might ask Abraham, ‘How could you agree to offer up your son Isaac as a sacrifice?’” Players are scored for the quality of their questions and responses. [http://tinyurl.com/hztxr] Although not a common word, “ushpizin” entered a wider lexicon after the release of the award-winning movie of the same name. Ushpizin (2004) tells the tale of a devout, childless couple who welcome two unconventional guests to their sukkah. [http://tinyurl.com/ 89pnk] You can watch movie’s trailer at the film’s website. [www.ushpizin. com/] Finally, a poignant story of a very personal ushpizin. Several years ago, Timora “Timmi” Avitzour died of leukemia at the age of 18. Her mother’s blog has memoirs about her daughter’s six-year struggle and its aftermath. [http:// tinyurl.com/ fcxlb] She tells of sitting in the sukkah almost five years after Timmi’s death when another of her daughters “surprised us by saying with a smile, ‘Maybe tomorrow Timmi will come and be our guest in the sukkah. It will be her birthday, after all.’ … I think that at that moment all of us at the table felt bound to each other in a mixture of contradictory feelings – a warm happiness at our memories of Timmi, a deep sadness that she will never again sing with us, and an intense yearning for the possibility that, in honor of her birthday, she might actually make this Sukkot ‘our time of joy’ by joining the Patriarch Isaac the next evening as one of the ushpizin at our table. “If only.”
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
OPEN HOUSE SUN 1-3
828 S. 131 St. Over 3400 Sq Ft, 4+ large beds all with walk-in closets, 2 master suites - each with private bath and 2 walk-in closets,finished basement, 4 bath areas, large kitchen, tons of storage. 445-2635 $262,900
House Cleaning Excellent West Omaha References Available to clean your home any hours including Saturdays Please call Sylvia de Anda 502-7167
Swanson Tower Condo For Rent Large, 2 Bed, 2 Bath $1695/mo • 24/7 security and doorman • Underground Parking • Pool & Tennis Courts Call Tham Friedman at 330-0462
Design Homes th 0 O u r4 ! Y ear
800-627-9443 designhomes.com z Classes Start Monthly z Financial Aid Available
for those who Qualify
$ 5 00 h i p la r s S c h o
z Individual Instruction
Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Internet producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be reached at highway@rogers.com.
Prevent The Tree-Trimming Blues Choosing the best types of trees to plant and planting them a safe distance from power lines will go a long way toward preventing the tree-trimming blues. So give us a call when you’re thinking about planting; we’d love to help you select terrific trees and plant them in safe places.
The forestry professionals of Omaha Public Power District answer many customer questions throughout the year, but the most-asked question is,“Why do you trim trees so they look asymmetrical?” We trim according to accepted forestry and arboriculture guidelines because it minimizes decay and keeps your trees as strong and healthy as possible. Trimming this way also keeps as much of your trees intact as possible while still providing adequate line clearance.
Thanks for helping keep our region green, beautiful and safe – now and in the future. For more information visit our Web site: www.oppd.com
oppd.com
Page 15
7 Display Models For Sale! Up to $17,500 off!! 50 Stock Models For Sale! Great Discounts & Immediate Delivery!
Page 16
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
Is Anyone Home? While Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice is in the Middle East this week (visiting the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, for one, and terrorist leader Hussein a-Sheikh, who heads the AlAqsa Martyrs’ Brigades branch), the mice have been playing at the United Nations. According to Dr. Aaron Lerner, director of IMRA, Independent Media Review Analysis, the Lebanese government has no intention of following UN Resolution 1701 which calls for the disarming of Hezbollah. And while UNIFIL--the French, Italian and Indonesian troops on the ground in Lebanon--has the authority to disarm the terrorists, it’s unlikely they will without the cooperation of the Lebanese miliary. When Lerner asked Farhan Haq, Information Officer, Office of the Spokesman for Kofi Annan--the U.N. Secretary-General, if indeed, the U.N. would comply with the resolution’s demands, Haq said that Annan essentially threw up his hands, remarking that “I remain convinced that the disarming of Hezbollah and other militia should take place through a political process that will lead to the full restoration of the authority of the Government of Lebanon so that there will be no weapons or authority other than its own.” That’s “newspeak” (or UNspeak, if you prefer), for “I don’t have the will, the courage, or the interest in making the Lebanese comply. I’m only interested in my legacy and frankly, I don’t care what the Israelis or the Americans think.” Chances are, the IDF will be playing this game, yet again, with terrorists on their northern border. And while Hezbollah (whose
leader, Nasrallah now claims to have more than 20,000 missiles again), continues to rearm as UN troops “observe” there, on Israel’s border with Gaza, thugs from both Hamas and Fatah fight it out on the streets. Before Yom Kippur, nine Palestinians were killed in fighting between the two factions. (Where is the Muslim worlds condemnation on this latest fratricide?) And, according to Aaron David of WorldNetDaily, Hamas “has smuggled from the Egyptian Sinai desert between several hundred and 1,300 tons of advanced rockets, antitank and anti-aircraft missiles, rocket propelled grenades, raw explosives, rifles, ammunition; and other heavy weaponry.” Condi, the deal you brokered with Israel and the PA last year as part of Israel’s disengagement from Gaza, turned over security of Gaza’s southern border to Egypt. Working well? Those European observers (as opposed to the ones now on the ground in Lebanon) have, not surprisingly, fled their positions, even as the Israeli government has reported numerous security offenses in the past year. According to the IMRA report, Yuval Diskin, director of Israel’s Shin Bet Security Services, has warned since the Jewish state withdrew from Gaza, the Palestinians successfully have smuggled hundreds of tons of weapons. “If we don't move to counter this smuggling, it will continue and create a situation in Gaza similar to the one in
southern Lebanon,” Diskin said. Is anyone home? In Israel? At the U.N.? (Okay--forget the U.N.) Thousands of Palestinians rallied in Gaza last week, calling--yet again--for the destruction of Israel. Maybe the Israeli MK who called for the transfer of Palestinians isn’t so crazy after all. Maybe they’d be happier in Iran, where state television there has called for a boycott of American landmark companies, like Pepsi, known in Iran as “Pay Each Penny Save Israel.” Honestly--we couldn’t make this stuff up!
BEHIND THE H EADLINES by DANIEL PIPES The violence by Muslims responding to comments by the pope fit a pattern that has been building and accelerating since 1989. Six times since then, Westerners did or said something that triggered death threats and violence in the Muslim world. Looking at them in the aggregate offers useful insights. • 1989: Salman Rushdie’s novel, The Satanic Verses, prompted Ayatollah Khomeini to issue a death edict against him and his publishers, on the grounds that the book “is against Islam, the Prophet, and the Qur’an.” Subsequent rioting led to over 20 deaths, mostly in India. • 1997: The U.S. Supreme Court refused to remove a 1930s frieze showing Muhammad as lawgiver that decorates the main court chamber; the Council on American-Islamic Relations made an issue of this, leading to riots and injuries in India. • 2002: The American Evangelical leader Jerry Falwell called Muhammad a “terrorist,” leading to church burnings and at least 10 deaths in India. • 2005: An incorrect story in Newsweek, reporting that American interrogators at Guantánamo Bay, “in an attempt to rattle suspects, flushed a Qur’an down a toilet,” was picked up by the famous Pakistani cricketer, Imran Khan, and prompted protests around the Muslim world, leading to at least 15 deaths. • February 2006: The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published twelve cartoons of Muhammad, spurring a Palestinian imam in Copenhagen, Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu Laban, to excite Muslim opinion against the Danish government. He succeeded so well, hundreds died, mostly in Nigeria.
These incidents also spotlight a total lack of reciprocity by Muslims. The Saudi government bans Bibles, crosses, and Stars of David, while Muslims routinely publish disgusting cartoons of Jews. Incidents started in Europe (Rushdie, Danish cartoons, Pope Benedict) have grown much larger than those based in the United States (Supreme Court, Jerry Falwell, Koran flushing), reflecting the greater efficacy of Islamist aggression against Europeans than against Americans. Islamists ignore subtleties. Rushdie’s magical realism, the positive intent of the Supreme Court frieze, the falsehood of the Koran-flushing story (ever tried putting a book down the toilet?), the benign nature of the Danish car-
Jewish Press Committee Bobbi Leibowitz, Vice-Chairman; Stan Mitchell, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Treasurer; Michael Siegel, Finance Chairman; Joanie Jacobson, Immediate Past-chairman; David Herzog; Susan Lehr; Jamie Meyerson; George Quittner; Melissa Schop; Michael Sigmond; Jim Simon; Nancy Skid; and Dorothy Spizman. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press is a constitutional committee of the Jewish Federation. Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Jewish the Committee, Federation of Omaha 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.
Intimidating the West, from Rushdie to Benedict • September 2006: Pope Benedict XVI quoted a Byzantine emperor’s views that what is new in Islam is “evil and inhuman,” prompting the firebombing of churches and the murder of several Christians. These six rounds show a near-doubling in frequency: eight years between the first and second rounds, then five, thenthree, one, and six months. The first instance--Khomeini’s edict against Salman Rushdie--came as a complete shock, for no one had hitherto imagined that a Muslim dictator could tell a British citizen living in London what he could not write about. Seventeen years later, calls for the execution of the pope (including one at the Westminster Cathedral in London) had acquired a toofamiliar quality. The outrageous had become routine, almost predictable. As Muslim sensibilities grew more excited, Western ones became more phlegmatic.
(Founded in 1920) Howard K. Marcus Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Terri Greenwood Advertising Executive Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper Anne Muskin Editorial Intern
toons, or the subtleties of Benedict’s speech ? none of these mattered. What rouses Muslim crowds and what does not is somewhat unpredictable. Rushdie’s novel was not nearly as offensive to Muslim sensibilities as a host of other writings, medieval, modern, and contemporary. Other American Evangelists said worse things about Muhammad than did Falwell (Jerry Vines called the Muslim prophet “a demon-possessed pedophile who had 12 wives,” without violence ensuing). Why did Norwegian preacher Runar Søgaard’s deeming Muhammad “a confused pedophile” remain a local dispute while the Danish cartoons went global? One answer is, that Islamists having international reach (Khomeini, CAIR, Imran Khan, Abu Laban) usually play a key role in transforming a general sense of displeasure into an operational fury. If no Islamist agitates, the issue remains relatively quiet. The extent of the violence is even more unpredictable--one could not anticipate the cartoons causing the most fatalities and the pope’s quote the fewest. And why so much violence in India? These incidents also spotlight a total lack of reciprocity by Muslims. The Saudi government bans Bibles, crosses, and Stars of David, while Muslims routinely publish disgusting cartoons of Jews. No conspiracy lies behind these six rounds of inflammation and aggression, but examined in retrospect, they coalesce and form a single, prolonged campaign of intimidation, with more sure to come. The basic message--“You Westerners no longer have the privilege to say what you will about Islam, the Prophet, and the Qur’an, Islamic law rules you too”--will return again and again until Westerners either do submit or Muslims realize their effort has failed. Daniel Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and author of Miniatures (Transaction Publishers). He can be reached at: www.DanielPipes.org.
Editorial The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee 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. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1-402-334-5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be singlespaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $31 per calendar year U.S.; $36 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or e-mail to: jpress@jewishomaha. org.
Award Winner 2006
Nebraska Press Association
National Newspaper Association
October 6, 2006
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 17
Israel and Lebanon: the Summer of ’06
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by PROF. ARNOLD AGES Some casual summer reading which coincided quite accidentally with the 33 day battle in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel has offered some insights into the failure of the IDF to accomplish its stated goals. Those insights come from Barbara Tuchman, author of The Guns of August, arguably the best historical reconstruction of the month of August 1914 and the dramatic events which initiated the First World War. Of special interest was Tuchman’s review both of the war strategies of the Imperial German army and of France. It must be pointed out that the German army under the Kaiser was not the Nazi version, but a fighting force which contained thousands of Jewish personnel as well. Three German thinkers--von Clausewitz, von Schlieffen and Molkte-shaped the war doctrine that was implemented in that epoch-making month of August 1914. On the French side it was Joffre, formerly of the War College, who defined France’s strategic interests in the years that led up to the war.
With minor chord variations on both sides, the major thinkers were in accord on the rules of engagement and the proper conduct of war. The following principles flowed from their military doctrines. • One must be very careful not to underestimate the enemy’s resolve and capacity to wage war. • Attacking the enemy requires a catastrophic thrust which destroys the adversary’s ability to continue fighting. • The enemy’s territory must be completely occupied so as to ensure complete control over resources. • Frontal attacks must be avoided: outflanking and penetrating behind enemy lines are the preferred military actions. • Reserve troops must never be counted on to fight alongside regular ones because they lack the necessary conditioning and training. • Battles cannot be won unless there is the will to win: “la victoire c’est la volonté, victory is a matter of will,” said Joffre • Because things never go as they are planned, improvisation and flexibility are necessary ingredients in the heat of battle. (That flexibility did not extend to the uniforms of the French troops who maintained, against all opposing arguments, that, under no circumstances would they abandon their red pants!) Using these principles with which to measure the effect of the IDF’s battle
plans, it is obvious that all of them were partially violated. In mitigation, it must be understood that in Israel political and humanitarian considerations precluded complete endorsement or implementation. One must also take into consideration the possibility that Israel’s strategic planners did initially give some thought to implementing the first four principles described above, but disputes between the military and the political cadres prevented the creation of a clear battle plan. Despite these disclaimers, the IDF seems to have been especially vulnerable to underestimating its opponents in Hezbollah. Israeli intelligence knew about Hezbollah’s rocketry, but the army was unable, with rare exception, to neutralize the katyushas. The IDF did, however, destroy Hezbollah’s long range missile capability. Hassan Nasrallah’s boast that he would fire rockets that would hit Tel Aviv never materialized. Israeli intelligence was also negligent in not composing an accurate identikit image of individual Hezbollah fighters. Israeli soldiers interviewed on the front expressed astonishment at the resistance they met from Hezbollah fighters armed with anti-tank missiles and RPGs. The IDF was also delinquent in not realizing the scope and extent of expertly camouflaged underground bunkers, some with air conditioning and other amenities--to
which the Hezbollah fighter returned after ambushing Israeli troops. The most serious contravention of the First World War German-French rules on the inadmissibility of depending on the reserves occurred when Israel dispatched reserve units that were mauled both by katyusha assaults and Hezbollah attacks. However, in previous engagements with enemy forces in the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War reserve troops performed magnificently. The difference this time was not only lack of proper ordnance, but of simple military gear such as boots. In analyzing the broad picture of what occurred in Lebanon this summer, it appears that Gen. Joffre’s comment on “the will to victory” that is an indispensable part of any warfare, was lamentably missing from Israel’s battle plan. The “will” might have been present in the early stages of the fighting but when the katyushas continued to fall on northern Israel, the IDF’s focus became blurred. One should not, however, be too hard on Israel. During the First World War the Germans, the French and the British all violated the strategic norms they set down as sacrosanct principles and the result was four years of bloody slaughter in the trenches and the death of a whole generation of young Europeans. But that is another story.
ronmentally friendly manner “It’s hard to imagine the sukkah with wires attached,” said Gendler, who invented the first solar-powered ner tamid, the light that is always on in a synagogue, and espouses alternative energy sources. Another longtime environmentalist, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, founder and director of the Shalom Center in Philadelphia, is hosting an expected crowd of some 300 Jews, Christians and Muslims to address the question of how religious tradition can help global scorching. Leaders from the three faiths will speak to the participants, who will build a sukkah together. There will also be petitions on global warming and alternative energy sources which will be delivered to national, state and local legislators. “I’m hoping to have some direct impact right there on the spot, both in terms of public policy and in terms of congregations’ and congregants’ energy use,” Waskow said. The event takes place on Sunday and celebrates Sukkot, Ramadan and the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. It is part of a nationwide effort initiated by the Tent of Abraham, Hagar & Sarah, a network of Jews, Christians and Muslims.
For Barbara Lerman-Golomb, Director of Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life or COEJL, Sukkot, as a harvest holiday, is a perfect time to talk about organic foods. “Many individuals who have joined community supported farms and co-ops are bringing their organically grown fruits and vegetables into the sukkah,” she said. On the first day of Sukkot, LermanGolomb is slated to speak on the Jewish response to environmental issues at the Conservative Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn. “I coined the phrase ‘energy observant,’” Lerman-Golomb said. In particular, she will stress the problem of global warming, part of a five-month nationwide campaign that began in August, called “How Many Jews Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?” Richard Schwartz, President of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, views Sukkot as a time to reflect on how future harvests are endangered. “As our Israelite ancestors were sustained with manna, a vegetarian food,” while in the desert, he said, “we should sustain ourselves with tofu, the modern-day manna, and other plant foods, for the sake of our health and that of our precious, but imperiled, planet.”
Environmentalists Celebrate Sukkot
FOCUS ON ISSUES by JANE ULMAN ENCINO, CA (JTA)--During Sukkot, families of Kesher Israel, a modern Orthodox congregation in Washington, will gather for a special celebration. In the synagogue's sukkah, they will be treated to a tantalizing array of chocolate cakes and candies, accompanied by delicious cups of tap water. “Which are you enjoying more, the sweets or the water?” congregant Evonne Marzouk will ask, knowing that the cups of water will remain largely untouched. This activity is a reference to Simchat Beit Hashoeva, the festive water ceremony that took place on Sukkot while the Temple was standing. It is part of “True Joy Through Water,” a new program created by the Orthodox environmental group Canfei Nesharim, designed primarily to educate the Orthodox community about water conservation. “At the time of the Temple, people lived on the land and understood that if there wasn’t rain, there wasn't food. That
absolute dependence is still true today, but we don’t think about it because we live so far from the land,” said Marzouk, director of the three-year-old group. “True Joy Through Water” will be celebrated at more than 30 Orthodox congregations in the United States. It is one of many programs that Jewish environmentalists are promoting this Sukkot, which begins tonight. Rabbi Everett Gendler sees another link to the environment through the holiday. “The fragility of the sukkah and its shelter is eloquent testimony to both our dependence on the environment and the environment’s dependence on us,” said Gendler, rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanuel in Lowell, MA Gendler, who admits to a fondness for pumpkins stemming from an overflowing pumpkin patch he visited yearly as a youth in the Midwest, invented the Yaakov Lantern. It's a pumpkin, grown by Gendler every year, on which he carves a jack-o’lantern face on one side and a Star of David on the other. Inside, he places a candle. At night, the lantern invokes the ushpizin, the biblical forefathers whom Gendler refers to as the “ancestral spirits,” and also lights the sukkah in an envi-
Everyone who heats water twice as fast as electricity, please stand up.
Fee Req. $99.50
Propane water heaters. More hot water. Less $$$. It’s enough to make anyone stand up and take notice. To learn more, visit nebraskapropane.com.
REF#P1011
Openings for select House Parents The Omaha Home for Boys offers a unique opportunity for married couples to care for boys, average age 12–16. • Nationally recognized training • $36,000 starting salary • Free housing & meals
Nebraska Propane Gas Association
1-888-808-8949
• Beautiful, modern facility • Excellent benefits
The Omaha Home For Boys An Equal Opportunity Employer
4343 N. 52nd St., Omaha, NE 68104 • www.omahahomeforboys.org Call 1-800-408-4663, Monday-Friday
Bedtime should follow a consistent schedule. For example, bath, teeth brushing, bedtime story, nightlight, kiss good night and sleep. A consistent routine helps children learn to go to sleep by themselves. Turn everyday moments into fun learning activities. Help shape your child’s world. For more tips on learning activities for your child visit bornlearning.org ~ Dial 2-1-1
www.NebraskaChildren.org
Page 18
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
Candlelighting Friday, October 6, 6:39 p.m. Saturday, October 7, no earlier than 7:30 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
Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.org
Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.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 333 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.tiferethlincoln.org
If you’re looking at this space, so are others! YOUR AD CAN GO HERE...
to reserve space, call
Allan Handleman, 334.6451, or Terri Greenwood, 334.6559.
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; K’tantan (K-2), 10:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Jeffrey Hansen and Rhonda Saferstein Hansen, in honor of their son, Max, becoming a Bar Mitzvah; Ma’ariv and Havdalah, 6:45 p.m. SUNDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Ma’ariv/Ma’ariv, 6:45 p.m. PIZZA IN THE HUT: Congregational luncheon in the sukkah, Sunday, Oct. 8, noon. Cost: $7.50 for adults, $5 for children 5-12, under age 5, free. Contact office for information. Sitter Service is available during Friday night and Saturday morning services, on a drop-in basis, at no charge. SUKKOT: Hol Hamoed (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), Morning services, 6:40 a.m.; Evening services, 5:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 13, Hoshana Rabbah, 6:15 a.m. SHEMINI ATZERET: Evening service, Friday, Oct. 13, 6 p.m.; Saturday morning, 9:30 a.m., Yizkor and dedication of memorial plaques. SIMHAT TORAH: Saturday, Oct. 14, Minha/Maariv at 6:30 p.m., followed by the traditional Hakafot, with singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls. Our regular Torah readers will be recognized, as well as others who have served the congregation. Ice cream social will follow. On Sunday, Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m., congregants Sol Schwartz and Steve Riekes will be honored for their outstanding dedication BESTT: Classes on Sunday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 15, 10 to noon, will offer special holiday activities. On Oct. 15, a special service will recognize our kindergartners as they begin their religious education; they will receive a gift from the synagogue. READING WOMEN OF THE BIBLE: Susan Paley leads a discussion, Tuesdays: Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31, 7 p.m. (See full story on page 7.)
TOT SHABBAT: Friday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m., followed by dinner. Cost, $5 for adults, free for children ages six and younger. For more information, contact Margie Gutnik in the synagogue office.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 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. FRIDAY-Erve Sukkot: Luluv & Etrog orders may be picked up in the office from 8:30 a.m. to noon; The office will close at noon in preparation for the holiday; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 6:45 p.m.; One should not make kiddush in a sukkah before 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY-First Day of Sukkot: Shacharit, 9 a.m. Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 10 a.m. (contact the office for class schedule); Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood and a lunch in the sukkah will follow; Mincha, 6:45 p.m. SUNDAY-Second Day of Sukkot: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush in the Sukkah is sponsored by Sisterhood; Mincha, 6:45 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:35 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Chol Hamoed Shacharit, 6:40 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Travelin’ Toddlers Progressive Sukkah Dinner on Ollie the Trolley, leaves Beth Israel at 5 p.m. and returns by 7:45 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Advanced Parsha Study, 9 p.m.
BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home. SATURDAY: Sukkot/Havdallah, 3 p.m., at the home of Jenni Schlossman and Jeff Ferber.
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: Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service; Maariv, 6:45 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Maariv, 6:30 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Women’s Only Soup in the Sukkah, 6 p.m.
TUESDAY: Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. Kabbalah WEDNESDAY: Circle, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; Beit Hashoeva Sukkot Celebration, bring the Gantzeh Mishpoche to Chabad’s 19th annual Sukkot Celebration, 6 p.m. All events and programs are open to the community. For information or to register, call or visit 330.1800 www. Ochabad.com.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Motzi and Kiddush, 6 p.m.; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel. S A T U R D AY - S U K K O T : Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m., all led by Rabbi Emanuel; Celebrate Sukkot at the home of Ellin Siegel and John Mosow, 4:30 p.m. beginning with decorating the Sukkah, followed by a service at 5:30 p.m. and a potluck dinner. Rain date is October 8. SUNDAY: No Religious School classes. MONDAY: Groundbreaking for the Holocaust Memorial, 3:30 p.m. at Wyuka Cemetary. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Sukkot Services, 9 a.m., led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet. SUNDAY: Sukkot Services, 9 a.m., led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Erev Sukkot Family Potluck Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family Service, 7 p.m. S A T U R D AY - S U K K O T : Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:1510:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.; Tot Shabbat/ Cradel Roll, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Teacher Learning
Coffee with Zohar Winer, JCC Shalicha, 9 a.m. Her topic will be “Ten Ways to Bring Israel into Your Classroom”; Religious School (K-6), 10 a.m.-noon.; Prayer Assembly, 10 a.m. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are invited for this special time of prayer and song; Kindergarten Final Consecration Rehearsal with parents, 11:30 a.m. SITTER SERVICE: Available each Friday evening for the 7:30 p.m. service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar or bat mitzvah, and Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Advance reservations and a $5 donation are appreciated. Sorry, there are no facilities for infants. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 46 p.m.; Family School with Dinner, 6-8 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6-8 p.m. LIFELONG LEARNING SUNDAY, Oct. 8: 4 B’s: Behaving, Belonging, Believing, and Bagels, 10:30 a.m.–noon “Are the Jewish Stories My Stories?” TUESDAY, Oct. 10: Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 6:30–8 p.m. THURSDAY, Oct. 12: Adult Study with the Clergy with Rabbi Azriel, 10-11:30 a.m. Consecration of kindergartners and other new students, Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. (See full story on page 7.)
NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN No services will be held Sept. 22-Oct. 20.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Royi Shaffin. Minyan, MONDAY, & THURSDAY, 9 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. followed by a light oneg. SATURDAY: Weekly Parashat class, 8:30 a.m.; Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Shabbat lunch and Talmud class. SUNDAY: No Religious School classes. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.
B’NAI MITZVAH Boone Parvin, formerly of Omaha, son of Ellen Batt of Woodland Hills, CA, and Robert Parvin of Goliad, TX, will become Bar Mitzvah tomorrow at Temple Judea in West Hills, CA. Boone is an 10th-grade student at New Community Jewish High School. His interests include thinking and photography. Grandparents are the late Betty Abramson Batt and Robert Batt, formerly of Omaha. Great-grandparents are the late Anna Crounse Richlin, Morris Abramson, Ethel Gimple
Bleiweiss, James Philip Batt and Elizabeth Goldberg Batt. Haley Milrose Burns, daughter of Helen and John Burns, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah, on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Temple Israel. An eighth-grader at Lewis and Clark Middle School, Haley is on the school’s highest honor roll and is a member of the Leadership Team and Student Council. She partici-
pates in ballet, tap and jazz, and swim team, and is a madricha at Temple’s religious school. She spent three weeks in Europe last summer with the Dwight Eisenhower People-toPeople Ambassador program. For her mitzvah project, she volunteered as a junior counselor at the UNO day camp and helped with swimming, art projects, and meals. Grandparents are the late Harry and Rose Cohen and the late William and Mildred Burns.
Max Saferstein-Hansen, son of Jeffrey Hansen and Rhonda Saferstein Hansen, will become Bar Mitzvah, tomorrow at Beth El. A seventh-grader at Beveridge Middle School, he loves sports, particularly, basketball and soccer. Grandparents are M a r y Saferstein and the late Jack Saferstein.
October 6, 2006
MARIJUANA
IS A DRUG.
Be Happy!
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Sukkot I remember from the years that I was a lad in Talmud Torah, that our study included a constant preparation for the next holiday. And we Jews got ’em! The whole month of Tishrei is one after another and then we turn to Hanukkah, then to Tu b’Shevat, Purim, Passover, Lag B’Omer, Shavuot, Tisha b’Av (if you can consider this a holiday; it’s a Holy Day) and we’re back at Rosh Hashanah. It was a cycle that paralleled, though it was not similar, to the cycle of tragedies in Jewish history that we studied. I remember the sentence that our history book used as a transition from one to the other: “But the days of peace did not continue very long.” In one sense then, the cycle of Holy Days was similar to the cycle over long centuries of history through the tragedies in Jewish life. All of which brings us to Sukkot. This is no time for a history of this Holy Day, nor for questions about
whether it was once more important than Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; for I am by no means an expert on the historical developments that produced our cycle of Holy Days. But this note for certain: the emphasis on Sukkot is happiness. There is none of the seriousness, the worry about the human condition, the question of our personal fate for another year or more. It is all a question of lightheartedness. Bring in the harvest! Bring in the fruits! And let the good times begin! And if eight days are not enough, we throw in a ninth! Jewish tradition has it that the good Lord wanted a separate day--that extra ninth day--to celebrate privately with the Children of Israel. He, too, had a sense of humor. But there is a serious note, too. The sukka, which we are bidden to construct, is meant to be a construction with a fault. It must not be too solid. Its loose top is meant to remind us that life is vulnerable; and the faraway heavens, and at night the stars, must always be visible. And don’t forget the rain, for this is the rainy season in many parts of the world. So the sukka is a building with a built-in fault, just as life is wonderful--but vulnerable. A little rain falls on everyone, and sorrow is not withheld from anyone. With all that in mind: Good Yom Tov!
DEATHS GEORGE D. ROFFMAN, M.D. Former Omahan George Danny Roffman, M.D., died Sept 20 in Coral Springs, FL, after a short battle with leukemia. He was 55. A memorial services was held there, with burial at Golden Hill Cemetery in Omaha. Born and raised in Council Bluffs, he graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School, the University of Iowa and its medical school. Following an internship at the University of Hawaii Integrated Surgical Residency program in Honolulu, he completed his residency at the University of Iowa. Dr. Roffman also earned a masters in science and became board certified by the American Academy of Otlaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He practiced at various hospials in South Florida, where he had lived for the past 25 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Milton, “Mickey” Roffman. He is survived by his son, Scott Roffman, Woodbridge, VA; son and fiance, Jeffrey Roffman and Rebecca Seaman of Atlanta, GA; his mother, Yvette Roffman; brother, Randy Roffman of Coral Springs; and sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Gary Christensen. Memorials to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. HARLEY BEBER Harley Beber, 75, died in Chicago and was buried in Beth El Cemetery on Sept. 28. A native of Omaha, he was the son of Sam Beber and Helen Riekes Beber. His father was the founder of AZA. In 1951, Beber moved to Park Forest, IL, where he became a gifted teacher, political activist and tutor to problem children. He also continued his family’s charitable work, with a particular interest in the B’nai B’rith Beber Camp in Mukwanago, Wisconsin. He is survived by his twin sisters, Joan Beber and Jane Abramson, and his brother-in-law, Floyd Abramson, one
To Submit an Obituary Notice: Send full name, age, date of death, location of service and burial site, as well as other pertinent information to the Jewish Press via e-mail: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; fax, 402.334.5422; or mail, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68114. Obituaries--as well as engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies, and births--also can be submitted at the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s website. Just go to: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press and click on “Submit Announcements.” Guidelines are located on the Jewish Press home page; click on the box at the lower right.
For Sale
Chickens, Sheep and Goats
Call 402-234-2165 Louisville, Nebraska
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
nephew and seven nieces. The family suggests memorials to B’nai B’rith Beber Camp, c/o Lois Epstein, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 or the charity of your choice. HANNAH AIZENBERG Hannah Aizenberg died Sept. 20 in Sioux City, Iowa; services were held there on Sept. 22 with Rabbi Guy Greene officiating. She was a lifetime resident and active member of the Jewish Community of Sioux City. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Judi Lerner. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Morris Aizenberg; son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Susan Aizenberg; four grandchildren: Chris Aizenberg, Aaron Aizenberg, Jodi Lerner and Justin Lerner; and a sister, Minnie Shafton. Memorials to the Jewish Community Center of Omaha or Congregation Beth Shalom, Sioux City. JOSEPH P. KAUFFMAN The first director of Omaha’s Anti-Defamation League from 1950-51, Joseph Kaufmann died of cancer Sept. 29 in Madison, WI. He was 84. Kauffman opened the ADL office here, where one of his friends, Ted Sorensen, was a law student at the time. Sorensen later became a speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy, and recruited Kauffman to help found the Peace Corps in 1960. Kauffman, who held degrees from Northwestern and Boston universities, joined the University of Wisconsin as Dean of Student Affairs in 1965, where he became embroiled in student protests. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys in 1999; he is survived by his daughter, Marcia Krasnow of Norwood, MA; and son, G. Frank Kauffman of Los Angeles, CA.
ADL/CRC Education Associate The Anti-Defamation League/Community Relations Committee (ADL/CRC) is seeking applicants for the position of Education Associate in the Omaha office. The position requires an understanding of anti-bias education with the ability to train educators and volunteer facilitators to carry out the ADL/CRC programs and mission of fighting hate and building hope. Primary responsibilities include development and implementation of the anti-bias education agenda, interface with area school districts, and community liaison for issues as it pertains to public schools, in addition some public and media relations. The qualified candidate should have a background in education, non profit management, social justice, anti-bias work and working with lay leaders. The candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills. Interpersonal and project management skills required. Grant writing skills desirable. Working knowledge of Microsoft software (Outlook, Word, Excel and Publisher) and the internet. Applications should be sent to Alan Potash 333 S. 132nd St. Omaha, NE 68154 or to apotash1@adl.org
HELP YOUR KIDS UNDERSTAND.
For more information call 1-800-648-4444 http://www.prevlink.org
BLUE RIBBON Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Over 25 Years Experience Steve Snail 558-8617
Page 19
Pulverent e MONUMENT CO.
Frank L. Ciciulla Jr.
60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials
1439 So. 13th
341-2452
NEW!!! Israeli Dancing Classes Led by Ophir Palmon Six Week Session • Tuesdays 6:30-8 October 24th -December 5th (skipping Nov. 14th) Held in the Community Room at the JCC Cost- members- $45 non members- $56 Call Esther Katz at 334-6406 for more information.
Part-time Youth Group Advisor Temple Israel in Omaha, Nebraska is looking for a part-time advisor for OTYG, our High School Youth Group. A strong sense of Jewish identity is required, as well as a wonderful sense of humor. The advisor will work under the direction of the Assistant Rabbi. Candidate should have experience working with teenagers, preferably in a Jewish context. The salary will be commensurate with 12-15 hours of work a week, and occasional weekend retreats. Those hours will be spent mostly with our teenagers, planning, organizing and recruiting for monthly programs and integrating our youth group within temple activities. Please send letter of intent and resume to Rabbi Eric Linder at Temple Israel or email to elinder@templeisraelomaha.org. For further information, please call Rabbi Linder at 402-556-6536.
Statewide Classified ADVERTISE STATEWIDE for $195/25 word classified ad. Over 170 newspapers with circulation of more than 400,000. Contact the Jewish Press at 334-6448 or call 1-800369-2850. BANKRUPTCY: FAST relief from creditors. Statewide filing. Affordable rates. Call Steffens Law Office, 308-872-8327. www.steffenslaw.com. We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code. SELL YOUR classic car, truck or motorcycle online. Call this newspaper to place your ad on the national www.midwestclassiccars.com web site for only $25.00 Your ad runs until your vehicle is sold! ALL CASH candy route. Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 30 machines and candy all for $9,995. 1-888-755-1356. LOOKING FOR non-toxic Espial products based on tea tree oil? Looking to detoxify with NutraCleanse? I have them! 402-368-5630 or ispulak@hotmail.com. www.biogreensystems.com/4health. HOT TUB recyclers - Free removal of unwanted hot tubs, in working or non-working condition. 402-475-6698. BAR/RESTAURANT for sale in Hickman - growing community 15 minutes south of Lincoln. Owner ready to retire. 2 lots, building w/apartment, equipment, inventory, $120,000. 402-792-2707. A FUN job - California bound! Now hiring 18-24 sharp enthusiastic motivated guys and girls free to travel USA representing 150+ leading publications. 2 weeks paid training, transportation provided. Return trip guaranteed. Call Tina or Jim, 800-642-6147. SEEKING DYNAMIC, results oriented lender to double our Ag/Ag Business market share. If you have a strong knowledge of financial matters and are passionate about helping Ag and Business customers reach their dreams, you will enjoy this work. We would be pleased to train the right candidate. If you want the opportunity to prosper by helping others reach their dreams, send your resume with an example of your best accomplishment to: Don Nolan, President, First State Bank, PO Box 111, Hawarden, IA 51023. THE NEBRASKA State Patrol is accepting applications for the position of Trooper until 11/15/2006. Salary upon graduation $36,296.00. Application - www.nsp.state.ne.us or 1-866-JOIN-NSP. Equal Opportunity Employer. MEDICAL LABORATORY technician position is available at the Cherry County Hospital in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Limited on call. Potential sign on bonus. Competitive benefits package. Send resume to Cherry County Hospital, Box 410, Valentine, NE 69201. COMPANY DRIVERS & O/O wanted to pull flatbeds, vans, and hoppers. Weekly settlement, fuel & drive to own truck program. For more information call Jamie at 308-9627248 or 308-962-4687. DRIVER OTR for fleet operator, Classic Condo’s, 470/500hp, 75mph, driver chooses loads and lanes, home weekly, insurance, 2 years experience. Lanny at 800-810-5432. DRIVERS: CDL training: $0 down, financing by Central Refrigerated. Drive for Central & earn up to $40K+ 1st year! 800-727-5865 Ext. 1110. www.centraldrivingjobs.net. DRIVERS: WE are looking for you. High mileage pay. Full benefits, practical route miles pay. Class A-CDL/1 year OTR experience required. Grand Island Contract Carriers. 877367-4422. www.gicc.chiefind.com.
Page 20
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 6, 2006
NCJW Members Meet the Candidates before Casting their Votes embryos should be sacrificed to get stem cells. He is a retired UNMC-affiliated surgeon and has received the endorsement of Nebraska Right to Life. “Members appreciated the chance to meet with the candidates on a personal basis,” said Susan Rothholz, Co-Vice President of Public Affairs and Education. “NCJW expects its members to be active in the process. political These lunches are great opportunities to meet the candidates prior to casting their votes on Nov. 7.” In addition to the lunch, Regents NCJW has partnered with B’nai B’rith NCJW members Susie Norton, left, and Sivi Roffman listen to Breakbreakers to coUniversity of Nebraska Regent candidate Randy Ferlic. sponsor the followfeatured at an NCJW lunch at the Market ing candidate lunches at the Park Basket. This was the first time the two Regency Lodge: Stu Dornan, Candidate candidates have appeared together in for Douglas County Prosecutor and Don public, which drew the attention of both Kleine, Candidate for Douglas County the Omaha World-Herald and the Daily Prosecutor, and next Wednesday, Oct. Nebraskan. Stem cell research was a dis- 11, noon, at Regency Lodge: Senator tinguishing issue for the two candidates. Ben Nelson, Candidate for U.S. Senate. Russell is president of the advocacy The National Council of Jewish group Nebraskans for Research and the Women is a volunteer organization that former manager of cancer research stud- has been at the forefront of social change ies at the medical center. She said a for over a century. Inspired by Jewish valmajority of Nebraska’s citizens support ues, NCJW takes a progressive stance on stem cell research, and that banning this issues such as child welfare, women’s work at the medical center would force rights, and reproductive freedom. For researchers to leave and hurt the state’s more information on NCJW’s advocacy economy. activities or to attend a candidate lunch, Ferlic expressed his opposition to stem please contact Susan Rothholz at cell research, stating that he doesn’t think 391.3043 or spredwood2@cox.net. by LISA LIEB NCJW Co-Vice President of Public Relations With Nov. 7 fast approaching, members of the National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section will go to the polls fully informed about local candidates and key issues. Last month, University of Nebraska Regent candidates Carol Russell and Randy Ferlic were
BERNINA
Skilled staff are at your disposal in both Bernina stores. They are ready to discuss and demonstrate all that is new from Bernina
BERNINA 180 Pre-Owned
for the Creative Sewing Enthusiast Now available with Artlink/CPS Software Computer Hookup at no cost. • LCD Touchscreen • 250 Stitches, 45 CPS Stitches • Maximum stitch width 9/45mm • Maximum stitch length 5mm • 7 alphabets
NO INTEREST NO PAYMENT FOR 6 MONTHS
BERNINA SEWING CENTERS WITH APPROVED CREDIT
3407 S. 84th (Westgate Plaza) 392-0430 • 10144 Maple (Maple Village) 572-1212 Mon & Thur: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. • Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Groundbreaking for Lincoln Holocaust Memorial Monday at Wyuka Cemetery by YALE GOTSDINER Nearly four years ago, a few members of the Lincoln Jewish community determined that Nebraska should not be one of the six states without an official and tangible reminder of the Holocaust. That matter was originally brought to light by the director of the Wyuka Cemetery/ Park in central Lincoln, a facility created by the Nebraska legislature in 1869. Its shady, serene atmosphere shelters the remains of governors, mayors, senators, an ambassador, as well as veterans of the nation’s conflicts including the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Viet Nam. The official Nebraska facility is non-sectarian and also provides the final resting place for many hundreds of others. Wyuka is extraordinary in many respects. It has an amphitheater and periodically stages Shakespearean plays for junior and senior high school students. There is a memorial to firefighters lost in line of duty as well as a tall monument to commemorate 9-11. About 80,000 individuals visit Wyuka each year for its historical interest and patriotic holiday observances. The Nebraska Holocaust Memorial Committee consisting of Catholics, Jews Protestants, professionals and laypeople was formed emphasizing this is to be a total Nebraska effort. So far, the project has been financially supported by more than 200 individuals and organizations statewide. There will be an artistically significant
monument at Wyuka, designed to recall and honor those who suffered and perished in the Holocaust. The design was selected by the committee from the submissions of nine artists and architects. The design ultimately selected is by Morton Katz of Toronto, Canada, whose works have been on display in the U.S. and many European cities as well, The monument will be 16 feet tall and constructed primarily of brass and stainless steel and with self-contained lighting. It will be fabricated in Toronto, trucked to Lincoln, assembled and installed at Wyuka under the direction of Katz and the Wyuka staff architect, Larry Group. Incorporated in the site design will be permanent seating thereby providing a place of instruction and contemplation for individuals and classes. The surrounding area will be appropriately landscaped. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for this Monday, Oct. 9, 3:30 p.m., at Wyuka. The dedication following the installation of the monument in its completed landscaped environs is scheduled for mid-April, 2007. Realizing the monument alone will not satisfy the need for teaching the lessons of the Holocaust, the committee had planned to provide a professionally designed education program. As in Omaha, Holocaust Studies have now been incorporated in the curriculum of Lincoln’s high schools, and it is the committee’s intention to assist other Nebraska cities and towns.