Vol. LXXXIX No. 9 Omaha, NE
EUROPE RECKONS WITH ITS PAST
Eastern Europe advances toward accountability, but there is more to do by RUTH ELLEN GRUBER ROME (JTA) -- A row of empty shoes where Jews were shot dead on the bank of the Danube River in Budapest. The image of a grand synagogue chiseled into stone at the place it once stood in Bratislava. A museum, a wall of names and a vast symbolic field of ashes at the site of the Belzec death camp in Poland. A giant menorah and the statue of a tortured figure at a corner in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. These are just a few of the monuments to victims of the Holocaust that have been erected in Eastern Europe in the 20 years since the fall of communism opened the way to a dramatic, often painful and still ongoing confrontation with history in that region. Under communism, Jewish suffering in the Holocaust generally was subsumed as part of overall suffering during World War II. Most Holocaust or World War II memorials in communist Europe -- even at death camps such as Auschwitz and Buchenwald -- honored generic “victims of Nazism” or “victims of Fascism.” But over the past two decades numerous new memorials have been built, countless plaques have been affixed, educational programs have been instituted, Holocaust museums have been established, and a number of countries have adopted an annual Holocaust Remembrance Day to serve as a focal point for study and commemoration. “Education is a slow process, and changing inherited and accepted concepts and beliefs is a difficult task in any context,” said Samuel Gruber, president of the International Survey of Jewish Monuments. “In this light, I think we can look at amazing progress over the past two decades.” But the process has been far from smooth, and far from complete, and it varies widely from country to country and locale to locale. “The way that the Holocaust is remembered is a good indication of the health of a nation,” said Warren Miller, chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, which has sponsored a number of Holocaust memorial projects.
Holocaust memorial in the shape of a weeping willow tree, erected in 1990, stands in back of the Dohany Street Synagogue in Budapest. Credit: Ruth Ellen Gruber “When the Holocaust is denied, freedom is under assault,” he said. “Where the Holocaust and its victims are remembered, freedom is secure.” Some states, particularly those that were themselves victims of the Nazis, have taken many measures to confront their history and recognize local culpability in the deportation and murder of Jews. In Poland, for example, the memorials and museums at Holocaust sites such as Auschwitz and Belzec have been revamped to provide both factual information and context. New memorial plaques have been put up Continued on page 2
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
26 Cheshvan 5770
November 13, 2009
Main Street soon to be a welcome sight at Blumkin Home
This overhead shot of Main Street facing north shows the large wall at the top, which will be removed upon completion of Main Street and connect to the already-exsisting portion in the North Wing of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Nicknamed “the big glass box,” Main Street features large glass clerestory windows on all four sides. The arch at the upper right eventually will become the “antique store”-- the new home for the Social Services office; underneath that in the photo is the bank (the bookkeepers’ office) and the Town Hall, at the lower right, which will house the main business office for the Home. To the left is the new entrance and at the upper left is the new multi-purpose room.
After report, Yemen operation is happily out in the open by JACOB BERKMAN NEW YORK (JTA) -- After months of stressing the need for silence, two major Jewish organizations and a former Bush administration official are embracing publicity about their roles in bringing Yemenite Jews to the United States. More than 60 Jews, who were among the last few hundred living in Yemen, have been resettled in the New York suburbs, according to representatives of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the Jewish Federations of North America. Word leaked in the Israeli media last March that the two groups were working with the U.S. State Department and the government of Yemen to help Jews leave the country after a spike in intimidation and violence against the Jews, including the murder of a communal leader. A Yemenite woman brought to the United States by The stories appeared to be fueled Jewish groups and the U.S. State Department arrives at by complaints from the Jewish John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Agency for Israel that some of the Credit: HIAS
This Week: FBI offers insider briefing to ADL: Page 3 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Thanksgiving recipies in Read It & Eat: Page 4
Yemenites were taken to the United States instead of Israel. Jewish Agency officials were particularly upset over what they described as HIAS and the Jewish Federations, then known as the United Jewish Communities, working with the Satmar Chasidic sect. The Satmar community is anti-Zionist and reportedly has been on the ground in Yemen urging the Jews there not to go to Israel. Officials at HIAS and the Jewish Federations countered that they simply had acted in accordance with the wishes of the Yemenites and disputed claims that they were working with the Satmars. The officials also Continued on page 2
Coming Next Week: Hanukkah Gift Guide Issue Mikvah to be re-dedicated in educational event: Page 6
Jewish federation leaders meet with Obama during GA: Page 12
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November 13, 2009
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Continued from page 1 “Generally speaking, Jewish issues, including the throughout the country, and numerous public and pri- Holocaust, are still not seen as part of one’s own histovate education projects on the Holocaust and Jewish ry,� said Tarik Cyril Amar, academic director of the history have cropped up. Center for Urban History of East Central Europe in “But when the subject focuses on questions about the Lviv. Polish role as collaborators with the Nazis or merely The high-profile dedication last month of a national Polish self-expressions of anti-Semitism, it is still quite Holocaust memorial in the Romanian capital Bucharest controversial,� said Rabbi Andrew Baker, the American illustrated many of these points. Jewish Committee's director of international Jewish Under Marshal Ion Antonescu, Romania was an ally affairs. of Nazi Germany, and deportations of Jews ordered by In some countries, nationalism, local pride and com- Antonescu resulted in the deaths of some 280,000 Jews. plex political and other legacies have put up obstacles to Even after the fall of communism, this fact was largely an honest evaluation. ignored or minimized, “Progress is relative,� and Antonescu is often Gruber said. “These are viewed as a hero by still fledgling democraRomanian nationalists. cies. Some countries are “Six years ago there was much further along the no difficulty in getting path to historical accountRomanian leaders to ability and sincere comacknowledge that there memoration than others, was a Holocaust in their but many have had furcountry, but they only ther to go.� understood this as what In countries such as Hungarians did to Jews Slovakia, Hungary and in Romanian territory Romania, which were under their control,� allied with the Nazis, Baker said. honest evaluation of the Construction of the past means acceptance of monument and marking direct local participation Oct. 9 as Holocaust in the Holocaust. Commemoration Day Education is vital, said was mandated by an Maros Borsky, director of international commission the Slovak Jewish on the Holocaust in The Ghetto Heroes monument, erected in Warsaw in 1948 on the Romania, headed by Heritage Center. “The evil that hap- site of the World War II Warsaw Ghetto, will stand behind the new Nobel Prize laureate Elie Credit: Ruth Ellen Gruber Wiesel, which released a pened in society will not Museum of the History of Polish Jews. be healed, but the next generation must learn about it,� 400-page report in 2004 as Romania was preparing to Borsky said. enter the European Union. In the countries that once formed part of the Soviet Political dignitaries, Holocaust survivors and religious Union, the problems are compounded by other issues. leaders from Europe, Israel and the United States In the Baltic countries in particular, nationalists long attended the ceremony, and Romanian President Traian have regarded the Nazis as the lesser of two wartime Basescu spoke. The Romanian state and Romanian socievils -- “liberators� against the Russians who occupied ety, Basescu declared, “reaffirm their decision to assume their countries. the blame for the past and to uncover the historic memIn 2002, for example, Latvian President Vaira Vike- ory in the spirit of truth.� Freiberga had to intervene directly to ensure that the The memorial, said Baker, who attended the ceremoinscription on a monument to 25,000 Jews killed in the ny and is a member of the Holocaust Commission, can Rumbula Forest near Riga included mention of Latvian be seen “as a culmination of the process of getting collaborators as well as Nazis among the perpetrators. Romanians to confront their own Holocaust history.� “She said this is a place of national shame,� Miller Nonetheless, he added, “It was still ironic that while said. “It was a huge step forward and an example for President Basescu spoke very clearly in his dedication other European leaders to follow.� remarks about the role of Antonescu in the Holocaust, In Ukraine, nationalist aspirations after decades of he told me later that same day that he believes over 50 Russian domination have eclipsed the memory of Jewish percent of the Romanian population still views suffering, particularly in western Ukraine, which before Antonescu positively.� World War II was part of Poland and had a complex “So much has been done,� Baker said, “but there is multi-ethnic profile. still much to do.�
Yemen operation out in the open Continued from page 1 asserted that public discussion of the operation could prompt the government in Yemen to stop it and end up endangering Jews who remained there. Such concerns were echoed by Gregg Rickman, who worked for the Bush administration as the State Department official in charge of combating antiSemitism, and went on to serve as a consultant for a segment of the Satmar community. But earlier this month The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy article on the operation, and now those who had counseled silence appear to be embracing the publicity. Rickman was quoted in the article and subsequently wrote his own piece for the news Web Site The Cutting Edge. Officials at HIAS and the Jewish Federations sent out multiple media alerts about The Wall Street Journal story. “We were very concerned and our State Department partners were very concerned about the press coverage at the time,� the president and CEO of HIAS, Gideon Aronoff, told JTA. “We disagreed with those in the Jewish Agency who spoke publicly about the migration, and we were grateful that the process was able to move
along and hope those remaining are able to continue the movement without negative repercussions.� Though a few hundred Jews still remain in Yemen, a HIAS spokeswoman said that those who had originally registered to leave the country had departed. “Our sense is now that the story is out,� Aronoff said, “we should talk about the collaborative effort for a good humanitarian cause.� The Jewish Federations raised more than $700,000 from local Jewish federations and HIAS to help resettle the Yemenites in the United States. “The Wall Street Journal published a story on Saturday, but we still remain circumspect about what is going on and so does the State Department,� said Barry Swartz, the vice president of consulting of the Jewish Federations, who oversaw the mission. Still, Jewish Federations spokesman Joe Berkofsky said, the organization has a responsibility to update supporters about the operations. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to tell our stakeholders about this and to update them on what is happening, in addition to quietly holding behind-the-scenes briefings with leadership,� he said. “We had to tell them in a broader sense that this is happening and these are the details.�
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November 13, 2009
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Page 3
FBI offers insider briefing to ADL
by THERESE VAUGHN-WEINER ADL Communications Associate In their common battle against terrorism at home and abroad, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) are both committed to securing the lives and civil liberties of people and the communities they reside in. This was the crux of a talk given by New Jersey FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Weysan Dun at an ADL-sponsored event last month at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. Formerly of Omaha, Dun currently heads up the FBI’s Newark office where he was the leading authority in the recent high-profile case of corruption and international money laundering. Nearly 90 people gathered to hear what Dun had to say about the FBI’s latest work in counterterrorism and hate crime investigation. In the mid-1980s, as a field agent in Omaha, Dun turned to ADL’s then Regional Director Bob Wolfson to ask what he knew of area white supremacist activity and the Christian Identity movement. Wolfson’s expertise helped in the investigation of a violent religious survivalist cult on a farm outside Rulo, Nebraska. After cult leader Michael Ryan, his son Dennis and Timothy Haverkamp were charged with torturing and murdering one man and a five-year-old child, Wolfson helped fill in the gruesome picture of religious fanaticism and antigovernment sentiment. The investigation resulted in several homicide convictions and a longtime local partnership between the ADL and FBI. As an instance of domestic terrorism, the Rulo case illustrates the ADL’s role in enhancing law enforcement’s ability to address threats, both homegrown and foreign-born, Dun noted. The civil rights agency provides timely intelligence on extremist ideologies, trends and groups from its 28 regional offices and investigative researchers in the field. “Our ongoing work with law enforcement has been fundamental in our efforts to unify communities against hate,” ADL Plains States Regional Director Alan Potash said. “We frequently update each other on area hate group activity and extremist individuals in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.” Besides combating violent bigotry from “lone wolf”
radicals and domestic groups of Klansmen, neo-Nazi skinheads and anti-Semitic black separatists, the ADL and the FBI are strong allies against international terrorism. September 11th confirmed the need for intensive coordination among military, law enforcement, and non-governmental organizations. After the attacks, the ADL shared its extensive fact-finding infrastructure with the nation’s intelligence community. According to Dun, today’s terror threat extends from multiple fronts with traditional al Qaeda, self-radicalized terrorists and a dangerous mix of hybrid groups or “al Qaeda franchises.”
Former ADL director and now national’s Director of Regional Operations Bob Wolfson, left, FBI agent Weysan Dun and ADL Director Alan Potash were part of an ADL event last month. “The ADL has been a vital resource in our counterterrorism efforts,” Dun said explaining how the League is uniquely positioned to offer help with terrorist group backgrounders, threat assessments and updates on antiSemitic and anti-West rhetoric emanating from the Middle East. Dun also lauded ADL’s training programs on counterterrorism, hate crimes and civil rights. Through its Advanced Training School (ATS) in Washington D.C., senior law enforcement professionals assigned to intelligence and homeland security units across the country participate in an intensive course on extremist and terrorist threats.
Last year, Dun joined a delegation of American law enforcement officials on a trip to Israel through the ADL’s National Counterterrorism Seminar (NCTS). In a country that lives and thrives in the shadow of terrorism, Dun studied state-of-the-art investigative and security strategies from the Israel Police, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli security and intelligence communities. “If any nation has the expertise, skills and preparedness to effectively deal with terrorism while honoring the civil rights of its citizens, that nation is Israel,” Dun said. Following Dun’s presentation, ADL’s Associate Director Bob Wolfson gave an overview of the ADL and its current priorities. Wolfson also remarked on the cooperative training initiatives between the ADL and the FBI. Of particular note, he said, is an innovative program called Law Enforcement and Society (LEAS): Lessons of the Holocaust. Developed in partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), the ADL and the FBI, LEAS draws on the history of the Holocaust to provide law enforcement professionals with a deeper understanding of their relationship to the people they serve and their role as proctors of the Constitution. Now a required part of training for all new FBI agents and intelligence analysts, LEAS has trained more than 45,000 law enforcement professionals, including recruits, veteran officers and commanders of more than 20 state and local agencies. The ADL and the USHMM recently received the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award in recognition of the LEAS program. “This extraordinary Holocaust education program helps its participants to fully understand what is at stake when law enforcement fails to safeguard the freedom, rights and human dignity of all people,” Wolfson said. “This, in the end, is what the FBI and ADL are all about.” Last spring, members of the FBI’s National Executive Institute (NEI), the executive training program for chief executive officers of the country’s largest municipal, county and state law enforcement organizations and their federal and international counterparts, took part in the program.
MARTIN INDYK
The Ruth and Phil Sokolof Lecture Series Presents
“The New “Administration: “Making Peace “in the Middle East”
Former US Ambassador to Israel
&
The Natan & Hannah Schwalb
Presented by
Center For ISRAEL Jewish Studies
University of Nebraska at Omaha
November 24 7:30 pm UNO Thompson Alumni Center For more details, call 554-2139 or email unoisraelcenter@unomaha.edu
Page 4
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
November 13, 2009
Parents, children enjoy learning together during Beth El’s “Bring Your Parents to School Day”
by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator The classrooms were filled with enthusiastic parents and their offspring several weeks ago, as Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah (BESTT) enjoyed its annual “Bring Your Parents to School Day.” The event was kicked off with an assembly in the social hall annex, where Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Education Director Judy
Rubin and acting school board chairman Joel Rich welcomed guests and discussed the school’s goals for the year. The parents then dispersed to the classrooms to join their children in a morning of activities and academics. “The teachers and I love to share with our parents the wonderful moments we experience with our students,” Rubin said. “We have insightful and curious students who take advantage of the unique learning environment we have created at BESTT.”
Photos from left: Cantor Beth Schlossberg leads the sixth graders in her Haftarah trope class during “Bring Your Parents to School Day;” Amy Raffel works on a project alongside her daughter, Julia, at right, and Hannah Stein.
ORGANIZATIONS
YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Celebrate Thanksgiving on Monday with a special holiday meal and entertainment by Michael Lyon. While opera was his first love, over time he has developed a taste for many kinds of music including bluegrass. Cost for lunch is $7. Lunch will be served at noon and the program will begin at 12:30. Come play bingo at 10 a.m. Call Theresa for transportation at 330.4272. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us
every Thursday, 1-3 p.m., at the JCC. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Attorney Michael Nelsen will discuss “Thou Shall Not Murder” and other issues related to the death penalty on Wednesday, Nov. 18, noon, at Regency Lodge. All men and women in the community are invited. The program is free. An optional buffet lunch is $13; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to get on the email list, contact Jenny at 334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA – LINCOLN
Transitional Justice, Reconciliation, and Social Reconstruction: Where is the Evidence? As we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st Century mass violence, intrastate wars, genocide and profound repression continue to produce major social, economic and public health disasters. Diplomats, human rights and victims’ organizations have advanced such mechanisms as truth commissions, reparations and lustration to hold perpetrators accountable and to acknowledge the impact of human rights abuses on individuals and communities. Various transitional justice mechanisms have been implemented in more than 90 countries, at an estimated cost of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. But after all this we are still left with questions about the utility and validity of the mechanisms that have been initiated: debates about domestic, international and mixed tribunals, the roles of punishment and forgiveness, the value of amnesties and so on, continue in several disciplines. This lecture addresses the question of whether justice is related to reconciliation, and whether reconciliation is an illusion.
Thursday, November 19, 2009 | 7:00 pm Center for Great Plains Studies Art Gallery 1155 Q Street - Lincoln, Nebraska Featured lecturer:
Harvey Weinstein Associate Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley and Clinical Professor in the School of Public Health. He obtained an M.D.C.M. degree from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in 1967 and an M.A. in Public Health from University of California, Berkeley in 1994. He is Co-Principal Investigator of the Communities in Crisis: Justice, Accountability and Social Reconstruction in Rwanda and Former Yugoslavia project funded by the John D. and Catherine T. Macarthur Foundation.
This event is free and open to the public. This event is co-sponsored by The Human Rights and Human Diversity Program, UNL and The Schlesinger Fund for Social Justice of The Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies, UNL. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for diversity. © 2009 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved.
The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane
Morgan (Chronicle, $24.95)
READ IT AND E AT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN
Give thanks for the health and well-being of our families and friends and savor this sampling of traditions from coast to coast...as diverse as the regions. An American celebration of family, friends and food introduces the regional variations in the Thanksgiving theme. The holiday had its orgins in 1621 ... Plymouth, MA, with the indigenous Wampanag tribe, offering New England harvest foods. Detailed sections on autumn foods, tools, procedures, complete menus and timetables for New England, Heartland, Southern and Pacific Northwest theme dinners are covered. Over 70 recipes are in eight chapters ... from Appetizers to Desserts and the all important Leftover Favorites ... turkey chili, chowder, hash, enchiladas and more. Clear instructions and lovely color photographs. The author suggests you double the recipe for this popular roasted pecan recipe that can be made one week in advance. TEX-MEX HONEY PECANS Makes 2 cups Pecans 2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon chipotle powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 2 cups (8 ounces) pecan halves 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt Preheat the oven to 325º. Have ready a rimmed baking sheet, preferably non-stick. For pans without a nonstick finish, line the pan with parchment paper or use a Silpat mat. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, warm the honey to thin it, then stir in the chipotle powder, cinnamon and allspice. Add the pecans and stir until evenly coated with the honey mixture. Spread the nuts in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes until aromatic, glistening, and lightly browned. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 2 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and salt. Add the warm pecans and toss with the sugar and salt until evenly coated. Spread the pecans on a clean sheet of parchment or waxed paper and let cool to room temperature. Store in a locktop plastic bag or an airtight container at room temperature. Lois Friedman can be reached at ReadItAndEat@ yahoo.com.
Temple’s Rabbi Linder to give sermon at interfaith Thanksgiving service
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Rabbi Eric Linder will give a sermon on the themes of thanksgiving at the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., on Sunday, Nov. 22, 5:30 p.m. Along with the host congregation, members of Temple Israel, First Christian Church, Dundee Presbyterian Church, St. Margaret Mary Church, and Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church will join, as they have done for numerous years, to give thanks for the bounty and freedoms of America. First United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Jane Alexander said, “All the pastors will have a part in the service.” She added that the church bell choir and vocal choir and Temple Israel’s Kol Rina will also participate in the service. In addition, the trumpeting of shofarot will intensify the sounds of prayer and thankfulness. Prior to the service, Omaha Temple Youth Group along with youth from First United Methodist Church, All Saints Episcopal Church, and the Omaha Muslim Youth Association will perform a variety of tasks at Together, Inc., a multi-faith emergency relief services non-profit organization serving the greater Omaha area. Then the youngsters will enjoy an ethnic potluck supper at First United Methodist prior to attending the Thanksgiving service together. A dessert reception, sponsored by all the congregations, will follow the prayer service. Canned goods and monetary gifts will be collected for Together, Inc. The entire community is welcome to attend.
November 13, 2009
My makolet man JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL by TEDDY WEINBERGER
Even in this age of large supermarkets, the makolet is still part of Israeli culture. Alex Dudelzon is my local makolet man; his Elran makolet is just up the street from my home. Alex made aliyah alone at the age of 19 in February 1997 from the former Soviet Union. He worked as a licensed cable-tv technician for a few years before he took over the makolet in Givat Zeev from a friend of his who decided to move back to America. On weekdays, Elran opens around 6:30 a.m. and closes around 10:30 p.m. Alex splits the day with another Givat Ze’ev resident, Aaron Sharvit (who though only 23, has been married for 5 years and is the father of two children). At any point in time there are between 4,000-5,000 different products for sale at Elran, though one would scarcely believe it from surveying the (always immaculately clean) 80 square-meter store. Alex says of makolet work: “It’s not simple. It requires a lot of energy to deal with all of the suppliers and the financial side of things, and to make sure that it’s fun for people to come in here.” Alex understands his competition. He says that he cannot compete on price with the 3 big supermarkets in Givat Ze’ev (although he points out that he is cheaper on quite a number of items; his mark-up is between 15%-25%). One reason for this is that manufacturers give the big supermarkets special deals and bonuses thanks to large sales volume, but Elran’s relatively small operation does not attract such offers. What Alex does excel at is friendliness and service to his customers. While I was interviewing him, a woman came in and Alex asked her about her migraine, another woman had her hands full with her toddler and so Alex carried her groceries out to her car, and a man purchased some crackers and Alex remarked: “Ah, so you like these crackers -- I told you that they were good.” Though Alex is upbeat by nature, he once mused to me that his experience in the makolet has taught him that some people are just plain negative; this kind of person
will come in to the store, look around and say, “What, no eggs?” instead of asking, “Do you have any eggs?” A number of years ago I wrote about the fact that it is still possible to buy penny candy at Elran. Another charming Elran throwback to yesteryear is the practice of buying on credit. Certain families have a running tab with Alex. This is super convenient toward the end of my morning run when I pop into the store for some fresh rolls. And my kids know that they can go in to Elran and charge whatever they need. Is Alex happy as a makolet man? On the one hand he says, ‘It’s become a part of my life. I took over the makolet when I was 23 years old. We’ve grown up together and so I have a sentimental attachment to it.” On the o t h e r hand, Alex Alex Dudelzon is Teddy is making Weinberger’s “makolet man.” plans to try to become a real estate agent because he is frustrated at Elran. He says: “My goal is to progress a bit further. This place has very limited growth potential. I don’t feel that I am using all of my abilities here.” Asked more pointedly if he would recommend this job to others, he says clearly: “No. Compared to what this work demands of you with the satisfaction it brings to you and to others, I would not recommend going into this business.” I was sorry to hear Alex express reservations about his job. Like his other customers, I enjoy the atmosphere that Alex creates in the store. It is indeed fun to go into Elran and to kibbitz with Alex. I only hope that if and when Alex moves on from my makolet, he will see to it that his replacement is just as upbeat and friendly as he is. Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. He can be reached at weinross@netvision.net.il. Copyright 2009, Teddy Weinberger.
and Rabbi Joseph and Miriam Florans of St. Louis, MO. Great-grandparents are Judge Sam and Judy Cooper, and Eva Pineas-Emanuel of Jerusalem.
the person you want your kid to be. What stronger anti-drug message is there? For more information call: 1-800-648-4444 http://www.prevlink.org
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PRINTING, COPYING and DIGITAL NETWORK
Be a role model;
BIRTH
Elchon and Chaya Rochel Emanuel of Jerusalem announce the Oct. 20 birth of their daughter, Elisheva Bracha. Grandparents are Mark and Ronna Emanuel of Johannesburg, South Africa,
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Mikvah to be re-dedicated in educational event
Two Great Cuisines Under One Roof
Japanese Sushi
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weddings and for married women by BOB GOLDBERG Federation Communications monthly following their menstruation. Some Jewish men periodically and Young Leadership Director Many people don’t know immerse themselves in the mikvah that a mikvah is one of the prior to holidays and some do so in first things a Jewish commupreparation for Shabbat. nity must have. Omaha has a The mikvah is also important for mikvah, but most don’t the conversion of non-Jews to know where it is or why it is Judaism. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of Temple Israel explains that, “We all important to Jewish life. desire to have completeness (or The mikvah committee, shalom), and the mikvah enables us comprised of women from to find that.” all three local synagogues, He has recommended immersion in will host a mikvah re-dedicathe mikvah for those who have gone tion event with wine and through some type of life-changing cheese in the Kripke event such as major surgery, chemoFederation Library on therapy, divorce, or sexual indiscreTuesday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. tions. “The mikvah gives them a fresh They will discuss the signifistart by purifying and washing away cance of mikvah, the newly all that was bad,” he adds. developed procedures for its Mikvah is the Jewish ritual that symusage and its new amenities. bolically denotes profound change. Seven years ago, the Federation’s Executive The community’s mikvah in the Blumkin Home, Immersion renders a person ritually Committee asked Suzanne remodeled in 2002, will be rededicated on Nov. 17. pure. The mikvah is used by all Singer to head a beautification of the mikvah. In addi- denominations. The mikvah is located inside the Rose tion to many upgrades, an artistic painter made the con- Blumkin Jewish Home and all use of the mikvah is private. For regular users of the mikvah, please contact your synacrete blocks look like Jerusalem stone -- complete with a serene night sky -- as Jewish women generally use the gogue, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home front desk or the Jewish Federation offices for a complete list of the new promikvah after the first star in the sky is visible. Ritual immersion is an ancient part of Jewish tradition. cedures. Also, the door locks on the mikvah will be changed Jewish law requires immersion for brides before their following the re-dedication event on Nov. 17.
Big thanks from OPS students for dictionaries from NCJW More than 1500 dictionaries were delivered to fourth graders in 24 underserved elementary schools in the Omaha Public Schools last month. Dictionary Day, a project of the National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section, now in its 11th year, is chaired by Sandy Epstein. Right: volunteers Harriet Epstein, left, Tuffy and Helen Epstein picked up boxes of dictionaries from JCC building supervisor Jim McCrea, back row, and Campus Manager Mike Collier. Among the thank you notes sent by teachers and students was this from Becky Mayne: “Thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to personally deliver the dictionaries to my fourth graders here at Wakonda Elementary School. This is a gift that lasts a lifetime and keeps on giving. Your generosity has helped in our pursuit to be great writers and spellers.”
Mercedes-Benz of Omaha Under New Management Please contact Ryan Knott, your Mercedes Sales Consultant 402.891.2612
Mercedes-Benz of Omaha 14335 Hillsdale Ave. (Just South of 144th & “L”)
Saving for college has never been so easy! You could win $529 for your children’s college fund just by investing in the College Savings Plan of Nebraska during the WIN 529 promotion. In November, two winners will be selected. And two more winners will be selected each month through July 2010.
Go to www.win529.com for your chance at an extra $529 and more details. The College Savings Plan of Nebraska is a state-sponsored 529 plan and is part of the Nebraska Educational Savings Plan Trust.The Nebraska StateTreasurer serves asTrustee,the Nebraska Investment Council oversees the investments,and Union Bank &Trust Company serves as Program Manager.Investments in the College Savings Plan of Nebraska are not guaranteed or insured by the State of Nebraska,the Nebraska StateTreasurer,Union Bank &Trust Company,the FDIC,or any other entity. To learn about the College Savings Plan of Nebraska, its investment objectives, risks, fees, and expenses, read the Enrollment Handbook (issuer’s official statement), which is available by calling 888-993-3746 or by downloading it at www.PlanForCollegeNow.com. Check with your home state to learn whether it offers tax or other benefits for investing in its own 529 plan. 888-993-3746
November 13, 2009
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
IN THE NEWS
Dinah Abrahamson, left, and Nancy McCabe, Douglas County Chairman, had the opportunity to meet and speak with Governor Mitt Romney prior to the Nebraska Republican Party’s Founders Day event last month.
Nine friends, some dating back to preschool years, celebrated their 60th birthdays in New Orleans last month. They came from Atlanta, West Plain, MO, Miami, Denver, Needham, MA, and of course, Omaha. Among them were, top row: Renee (Fishel) Zack, left, Carole (Adler) Shovers, Margo (Neesman) Rosen, Linda (Nogg) Cote, and Sandy (Lipp) Epstein; seated: Lainey (Reiss) Nacron, Laurie (Nogg) Brock, Sandy Jess, and Margie (Siref) Brodsky.
Dr. Harvey Weinstein, UC-Berkeley will deliver a lecture titled: “Transitional Justice, Reconciliation and Social Reconstruction: Where is the Evidence?” on Thursday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., at the Center for Great Plains Art Gallery, 1155 Q Street in Lincoln. This event is co-sponsored by The Human Rights, Human Diversity Program, UNL and The Schlesinger Fund for Social Justice of The Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies, UNL and is free and open to the public. This lecture addresses the question of whether justice is related to reconciliation, and whether reconciliation is an illusion. Dr. Weinstein comments: “As we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st Century mass violence, intrastate wars, genocide and profound repression continue to produce major social, economic and public health disasters. Diplomats, human rights and victims’ organizations have advanced such mechanisms as truth commissions and reparations to hold perpetrators accountable and to acknowledge the impact of human rights abuses on individuals and communities.” He added, “Various transitional justice mechanisms have been implemented in more than 90 countries, at an estimated cost of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. But after all this we are still left with questions about the utility and validity of the mechanisms that have been initiated: debates about domestic, international and mixed tribunals, the roles of punishment and forgiveness, the value of amnesties and so on, continue in several disciplines.” Dr. Weinstein is the Associate Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley and Clinical Professor in the School of Public Health. He obtained an M.D.C.M. degree from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in 1967 and an M.A. in Public Health from University of California, Berkeley in
1994. He is Co-Principal Investigator of the Communities in Crisis: Justice, Accountability, and Social Reconstruction in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia project funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
The No Frills Management Team opened the supermarket’s newest store, at 132nd and Center last month. The store features a selection of fresh kosher meat and poultry as well as deli. Above: Fred Witecy, President and CEO, left, Steve Moskovits, CFO, Bill Brewer, IT Director, Lonnie Eggers, Vice President & COO, Kevin Hennessy, Vice President of Perishables, Calvin McWilliams, Director of Operations, and Joe Bosco, HR Director. Below: Moskovits cuts the tape to let in Robert Pease, the first of 600 customers, as Witecy, Brewer, and H e n n e s s y, hold up the sign.
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Photos from top: Community Shlicha Elya Wilson planned a memorial honoring the memory of slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin last week. Lighting a candle in his memory was Lisa Shkolnick, associate director of the Jewish Community Center. Teacher Eadie Tsabari led a group of Friedel Jewish Academy students in tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was assassinated 14 years ago.
Richard J. Sampson, Jr. (402) 926-7856 (402) 490-0950 richard.sampson@bcbsne.com TTY/TDD 1-800-833-7352
Page 8
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
November 13, 2009
Remaining optimistic With a $1.4 trillion deficit, the value of the dollar plunging, unemployment nearing 10% (and in some states already exceeding that figure), home values declining and consumer confidence still shaky, it’s hard to be optimistic about the future. Add despotic rulers in Iran, Sudan, Syria and elsewhere, crazy dictators in Venezuela, a growing Russian challenge to American hegemony, and perceived weakness of American foreign policy, and it would be very easy to describe these times as bleak. But let’s take a look back, shall we? Only 65 years ago, the world emerged from the nightmare years of World War II only to discover the true horrors that occurred in the concentration camps across Europe. And by comparison, the American deficit was far larger back then than it is today. Women, who had worked in the factories while husbands, sons and brothers were shipped off to war in Europe and the Pacific, were politely thanked for their “service” and sent home. It would be years before their contributions to the labor force were recognized, welcomed and rewarded. Blacks were second-class citizens. Even in war, they had to “prove themselves,” often settling for a spot in the kitchen, rather than on the battlefield. It would be nearly 20 years before the Voting Rights Act was passed by Congress, ensuring that they neither had to be landowners or pass a test in order to vote. While research during WWII advanced medical breakthroughs, children would wait more than a decade after the war ended to be immu-
nized against polio. Many of them suffered through the mumps, measles and chicken pox -- all now preventable with vaccines. And Israel was just a dream at war’s end. Here we are, approaching 2010, and the tiny country amidst a sea of hostile neighbors is churning out more IPOs than any other country in the world except the U.S. Without the scientists of Israel, we’d have no cell phones, no fast computer processors, no medical achievements in multiple sclerosis or spine injuries; we’d have no trauma treatment in large scale emergencies or pill camera, nor voicemail, instant messaging or internet security. And the Israeli military must have done something right in Gaza, regardless of the socalled “fact-finding” mission chaired by Richard Goldstone -- because for the most part, Hamas has stopped lobbing rockets over the border, and there hasn’t been a single suicide bombing in all of 2009. Can we survive the economic mess of this decade? Can we overcome the ridiculous posturing and backbiting of politicians of all stripes? Can we get our country working, creating and developing new products again? Think back to 1945 -- tens of thousands of refugees worldwide, the Soviet dictatorship of Russia and Eastern
Europe, the growing dominance of Mao and the Communists in China and Southeast Asia, quotas to limit Jews and minorities to universities and medical schools, housing areas with policies of “no dogs, no Jews” -- and more to come -- a Cuban missile crisis, war in Vietnam, the student uprisings in Hungary and Prague, and wars in 1948, ’56, ’67 and’ 73 in Israel. Good old days? Not really. The American people have the perseverance, the ability, and the optimism to succeed in overcoming the challenges facing the country, and indeed, the world, today. “If you will it, it is no dream,” is as pertinent today as it was when Theodore Herzl, the founder of Zionism, said it in 1896.
FOCUS ON ISSUES by URI REGEV and STANLEY GOLD
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- How does it happen that thousands of Israelis travel each year to Cyprus and Eastern Europe to get married? Is this an Israeli custom, to elope? Not at all. Hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens cannot marry in Israel due to state law, including numerous Russian olim, all non-Orthodox converts to Judaism and native-born Israeli Jews who want an egalitarian marriage ceremony. Israeli democracy is enlightened and progressive in most respects, but in the area of religious freedom it lags all Western democracies. The increased stranglehold of religion on the state has a dire impact on Israel today. That’s why we recently launched Hiddush, which in Hebrew means innovation and renewal. It is also the acronym of the Hebrew words “freedom or religion and equality,” as we hope to realize the promise of Israel’s Declaration of Independence to “uphold freedom of religion and conscience and ensure complete equality of civil and political rights to all, irrespective of religion.” As a transdenominational advocacy and public education organization comprised as a partnership between Israeli and world Jewry, our aim is to enhance all of the important efforts already under way in this arena by bringing together Israelis and world Jewry from all walks of life. Israeli religious freedom and equality should be of communitywide concern. All forces in our community in Israel and the United States, especially those committed to the diversity of the Jewish people and to civil liberties, should make this a high priority. That’s why we expect the issue to gain the attention it deserves from Jewish federations, communities and advocacy organizations across the U.S. Practically from day one of the state’s exis-
... Israeli citizens cannot marry in Israel ... including numerous Russian olim, all non-Orthodox converts to Judaism and native-born Israeli Jews who want an egalitarian marriage ceremony. Thousands of women struggle to gain their freedom from unsuccessful marriages. A growing number of public bus lines relegate women to the back of the bus in the name of religion. Even as we write, the Knesset is deliberating on a “civil union” bill that would provide couples with an alternative to legal marriage containing some of the civil features of marriage. This would be available only to couples in which both the man and woman (it is not intended for same-sex couples) do not belong to any religious community or have any religious status, intentionally preventing any Jew from entering into a “civil union.” Rather than offering freedom of marriage, as the majority of Israelis desire, it would further undermine the Russian olim, Jews by choice and many others. One’s status would remain beyond the marriage itself, even in ID cards, creating a cast of “untouchables” who can only marry among themselves. We plan to call on Israelis and world Jewry to voice their con-
Jewish Press Board Andy Ruback, Vice President; Michael Sigmond, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Daphne Pollak Alperson, Marc Brodkey; Eric Dunning; Jason Epstein; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Jamie Meyerson; Jim Simon; Dorothy Spizman. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press . Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.
Israel must break growing stranglehold of religion tence, politicians cut deals that undermined religious freedom at the expense of the majority of Israelis. This stranglehold has stifled Jewish creative religious expression. It’s also a threat to Israel’s economy and democracy. Israeli and world Jewry cannot accept the second-class status of our own converts or the repeated decisions of state-sponsored rabbinic courts that retroactively nullify Orthodox conversions for “insufficient ritual observance.” Hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens are denied the basic civil right of marriage.
(Founded in 1920) Bobbi Leibowitz President Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper
cern to let the Knesset lawmakers know that this is unacceptable. Israel is an attractive place for investors now, in large part because of its educated work force. But as Diaspora Jewry is asked to step up its financial support of Israel, it cannot remain oblivious to the urgent warnings of senior Israeli economists that point to the threat to Israel’s economic viability if the current policy of huge financial allocations to the haredi community is maintained. Studies have found that fervently Orthodox men’s avoidance of joining the Israeli job market costs Israel between five billion to 15 billion shekels annually -- about $1.33 billion to $4 billion. Two-thirds of haredi men in Israel refuse to enter into the work force but would rather live on public support. Nothing in the Torah prohibits a religious man from providing for his family with dignity; indeed, fervently Orthodox Jews in the United States and England work at twice the percentage of their counterparts in Israel, since they can’t count on government subsidies. Most fervently Orthodox schools in Israel teach simple mathematics and no English, science or civics. This dooms their graduates to lives of poverty and dependence. Moreover, if this state of affairs continues, Israel’s economy could reach a third-world level within 10 years. Israelis want change. Israeli pollster Rafi Smith recently completed a large-scale public opinion survey commissioned by Hiddush showing that 83 percent of Israelis maintained that freedom of religion and conscience should be upheld in the State of Israel. But change will not occur by itself. In the past, our community has demonstrated its ability to achieve the toughest of goals. Together we can make the promise of Israel’s Declaration of Independence for equality and freedom of religion and conscience a reality. Rabbi Uri Regev, a Reform rabbi based in Jerusalem, is president and CEO of Hiddush. Stanley Gold, the chair of Hiddush, is president and CEO of Shamrock Holdings Inc., a privately owned Burbank-based investment company.
Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. 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 it 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. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. 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 information, call the Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $35 per calendar year U.S.; $72 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.
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November 13, 2009
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 9
Kristallnacht in Munich, then and now
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by NOAM E. MARANS
MUNICH (JTA) -- Kristallnacht, the “Night of Shattered Glass” that unmistakably signaled Hitler’s determination to eliminate European Jewry, came early to Munich’s 12,000 Jews. Munich was singled out for special attention five months before the “real” Kristallnacht on Nov. 9, 1938 -- when hundreds of synagogues were torched, Jewish businesses pillaged, and angry mobs chased Jews through the streets in Germany and Austria -- because it was Hitler’s political home. The violence in Munich was triggered by the presence of the awe-inspiring synagogue on Herzog-Max Strasse, a sight unbearable to Hitler because he felt it polluted his beloved “capital of the movement.” In the Munich of 2009, the 71st anniversary of Kristallnacht will be marked on the date commemorated the world over, Nov. 9, by a Jewish community that no longer appears to be living in fear. Not coincidentally, the date also will mark the third anniversary of the dedication of a magnificent new synagogue and Jewish community center located within a central square in the heart of the city, adjacent to the city’s Jewish museum. Munich Jewish community leaders, eager to declare that their past won't ever be forgotten even as they build for the future, deliberately chose the dedication date in 2006. It is a bold statement: Bavarian Jewry is back and here to stay. It’s hard not to be skeptical. This is Germany, after all. But spending Shabbat in Munich nearly assuages the doubts. One Friday in October, fresh from several days in nearby Oberammergau, where I engaged in Christian-Jewish dialogue regarding its infamous Passion Play, I arrived to
witness the Munich Jewish community in action. I sat in on an Ivrit b’Ivrit (only Hebrew spoken) lesson at the day school, complete with Smart Boards and the latest Israeli curricular bells and whistles. German-Jewish children speaking Hebrew! The Friday evening Shabbat service at the Ohel Jakob synagogue was followed by a festive communal dinner. On Shabbat morning, the congregation celebrated the bar mitzvah of a young man of Russian-Jewish descent who skillfully chanted the maftir and haftarah. The rabbi has assiduously restored the fabled GermanJewish synagogue traditions, including formal dress -- he and the cantor wore black-tie clerical garb and ecclesiastical hats -- a choir (also in black tie) singing classic German-Jewish melodies and cantillations, and the legendary decorum. Closing my eyes, I imagined German Jewry in its heyday.
Should Jews be back in Germany? Is there a Jewish future in this tainted land? Today’s German Jews have learned to live with these questions, but they are too busy rebuilding what has been ... the fastestgrowing Jewish community in the Diaspora to allow it to affect them. I observed what was taking place around me with admiration and some astonishment, but also with some sadness for what had been lost. Frankly I was a bit spooked by this German-Jewish renaissance and by the elaborate security that is a fact of life for Jewish institutions in Munich. After World War II, a small group of Munich’s survivors joined forces with displaced Jews, mostly from Poland, to establish the new Jewish community in the city. It was rough going at first, as these Munich Jews wondered whether there was any justification to the attempt to establish a community, but an enormous influx of Russian Jews returned Munich to its pre-World War II Jewish population. Today this amalgam of Shoah refugees and their
descendants, Russian Jews and some Western transplants -- including Americans and Israelis -- are blessed with enviable institutions. There are four synagogues -- three Orthodox and one Liberal -- a Chabad presence, a Jewish bookstore better stocked than most in New York and a smattering of kosher food outlets. The central address of the Jewish community of Munich and Upper Bavaria is the modern, imposing Ohel Jakob synagogue, which resembles the Israelites’ portable Tabernacle described in the Torah. Connected to it through an underground passageway is a state-ofthe-art community center, complete with a day school that enrolls 180 children from preschool through fourth grade, a world-class kosher restaurant, a mikvah, a library, and numerous offices and public spaces. The capital campaign to pay for all of this raised tens of millions of euros funded by the Munich municipality, the Bavarian state, and donations from Jews and others. Germany wants the Jews to feel at home and was willing to pay a significant share of the cost. Should Jews be back in Germany? Is there a Jewish future in this tainted land? Today’s German Jews have learned to live with these questions, but they are too busy rebuilding what has been -- at least until Germany changed its immigration laws in 2005 -- the fastest-growing Jewish community in the Diaspora to allow it to affect them. If Munich is any indication, German Jewry has arrived. Deep in the eerily peaceful underground passageway between the synagogue and the community center is a haunting memorial to the 4,500 Munich Jews murdered by the Nazis. A few flights above, the voices of Jewish children celebrate the arrival of Shabbat with the weekly Friday Kabbalat Shabbat program. Kristallnacht was the beginning of what many believed to be the end, but now there is a new beginning. As it has so often in the past in so many different places, a Jewish community has reinvented itself, with allegiance to the past and promise for the future. Rabbi Noam E. Marans is the American Jewish Committee's associate director of interreligious and intergroup relations.
Growing Birthright Israel should be a no-brainer
their creative idea a reality starting in 2000. When we were approached to support Birthright Israel at the end of 2006, it appeared to us to be a transformaby MIRIAM AND SHELDON ADELSON tive program based on the anecdotal evidence we heard. Now there is research that validates our impression: LAS VEGAS (JTA) -- The recently released study of The Birthright Israel experience significantly increases the impact of Birthright Israel trips should be very wel- participants’ connections to Israel and the Jewish people, rates of in-marriage and the value placed on raising come news for the Jewish people. Ever since the release of the 1990 National Jewish Jewish children, among other desirable outcomes. In the past three years, our family has been privileged Population Survey, experts have been seeking ways to maximize Jewish continuity. Quite simply, this new study, con- to help Birthright Israel demonstrate the scalability of ducted by Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern this remarkable program by committing more than $90 Jewish Studies, shows that the Birthright Israel program million to increase the number of participants. Last year more than 40,000 young adults went on represents a truly effective way to change the course of Birthright Israel trips. If the program can Jewish history. Last year more than 40,000 achieve that rate for several years, we will come Now that we have close to reaching a majority of young Jews. this research, increas- young adults went on Birthright This becomes a real tipping point that can ing the number of Israel trips. If the program can transform an entire generation. With so many Birthright Israel participants should become achieve that rate for several years, demographic and geopolitical forces arrayed against our people and the Jewish state, a top priority of Jewish we will come close to reaching a increasing the number of Birthright Israel parphilanthropy. majority of young Jews. ticipants should be a no-brainer. We cannot take credBy no means are we understating the importance of it for coming up with the idea for Birthright Israel, which offers a free 10-day trip to Israel for Jews ages 18 other formal and informal means of promoting Jewish to 26; that distinction goes to Michael Steinhardt and continuity. But in Birthright Israel we have a proven Charles Bronfman. Despite opposition from many skep- product that can be targeted at young adults who are the tics, these visionary philanthropists persisted in making least affiliated with our community and constitute a rap-
FOCUS ON ISSUES
idly growing segment of the Jewish population. Birthright Israel can provide effective “booster shots” for Jewish continuity for less than $3,000 per person. Maintaining a level of 40,000 participants per year will be an enormous challenge. It means a budget of more than $100 million per year. To date, the program has benefited from very generous support from the government of Israel, and we hope that support will continue to grow. The benefits to Israel are clear -- most of the Birthright Israel dollars are spent there. Even more important, however, is a strengthening of Israel’s base of support in the Diaspora, not to mention the Birthright alumni who make aliyah. Federations, foundations and individual philanthropists also have played an important role in the program’s growth, but it is time to significantly expand the number of players and ramp up the level of support. The recently released study confirms the tremendous potential of Birthright Israel as a proven and simple way to use our charitable dollars to strengthen the Jewish people and the Jewish state. We hope you will join us by putting this extraordinary program at the top of your charitable list, and together we can literally change the course of Jewish history. Dr. Miriam Adelson is an Israeli-born physician who works in the field of drug addiction. Sheldon Adelson, her husband, is chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, Inc.
Page 10
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
November 13, 2009
Candlelighting Friday, November 13, 4:49 p.m.
Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org
Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 www.OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org
Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244
Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154
Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org
The Neighborhood Prayer Group 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org
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B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Joanna Kay asking:“How did a nice Jewish girl end up in a job like this?” The community is invited.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg. FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Phyllis Schwartz and Alice Klein in honor of their grandson Andrew Klein’s Bar Mitzvah; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 4:50 p.m. SHABBAT MORNING LIVE: Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Led by Holly Weill, for 4-8 year olds and their favorite adult(s). No charge to attend, but for planning purposes, please RSVP to Margie in the office or at programming@bethel-omaha.org. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Meet Yourself in the Torah, with Susi Frydman-Levin, Beginning Hebrew, with Eadie Tsabari, and Bible Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Jewish Images on the Big Screen, 11 a.m. with Frydman-Levin. SISTERHOOD BOUTIQUE: Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fabulous shopping, all-day raffle, pizza lunch and bake sale are highlights. Open to the entire community. BESTT: Sixth-grade Family Education Program, “Becoming,” on Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon. THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Understanding and Living Jewish Values, noon. MINI-COURSE: Exploring the New Wave of Domestic Terrorism, Sundays, Nov. 15, 22 and Dec. 6, 10-11 a.m., led by ADL director Alan Potash. Call Margie in the office to register. Classes open to all adults in the Jewish community. Cost is $36, members, $45, non-members. WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH: Thursday, Nov. 19, at the home of Patty Nogg, 1425 No. 135 St. Co-hosts are Jaime Nogg, Sherry Shapiro and Melissa Shapiro. Theme: “Living It and Loving It! Helping Kids and Grandkids Find the Joy in Being Jewish.” Social time, 7 p.m.; meeting, 7:30 p.m. RSVP to Patty at 493.3479 or
noggster2@ aol.com; Jaime at 991.6753 or jgoldf5375@aol. com; Sherry at 330.9825 or sheshap@aol.com; or Melissa, 614.6571 or smallshap@aol.com.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 4:49 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by David and Jean Cahan in honor of their 30th wedding anniversary; “Guard Your Tongue”, “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up) one hour prior to every Shabbat; Mincha, 4:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shilisht; Havdalah, 5:50 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels & Beit Midrash begins with breakfast, 9:40 a.m.; Sacred Text Messages (for teens) with Rabbi Gross, 10 a.m.; Living in Season with Miriam Gross, 10 a.m.; Junior NCSY Make Your Own Pizza Night, 5 p.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha, 5:15 p.m. MONDAY: Mincha & Mishna, 5:15 p.m., Mishna study with the rabbis along with Mincha/ Ma’ariv services. TUESDAY: Scholar’s Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.; Annual Women’s Shabbat Dinner at Katzman home. RSVP to shanikatzman@gmail.com or call the office. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded; Kiddush lunch follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings Remix, 10:15 a.m.
BAT MITZVAH Hannah Moorea Budwig, daughter of Larry Budwig and the late Kirsten Budwig, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 21, at T e m p l e Israel. Hannah is an eighth-grade Distinguished honor roll student at Westside Middle School.
Her interests include Center Stage Show Choir, OSRUI, Temple OTYG, and being with friends. She has two younger sisters, Sophie, 11 and Aleia, 9. For her mitzvah project, Hannah interviewed and photographed Blumkin Home residents about their hopes for their grandchildren. Grandparents are Susan Rothholz, Ron Budwig, and Dorothy and Vern Cornish.
WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Soul Quest: The Journey through Life, Death and Beyond, 7 p.m. To enroll, visit www.myJLI.com/SoulQuest or call the office. Contact Shevi@ ochabad.com with any questions. TUESDAY: W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 9:15 a.m. THURSDAY: The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:50 p.m. Please contact Shevi@ochabad.com. All events and programs are open to the entire community.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg following. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan Simcha-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel; Gerry Schuchman unveiling, 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, noon at the Olive Garden. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at TI. THURSDAY: Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel. For information or to sign up, call the office. A $5 dollar donation per session is requested for nonmembers. TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. The Ethics of Consumerism, led by Rabbi Emanuel and Nancy Coren.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. led by members of B’nai B’rith Men. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Jim Polack.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Temple Israel hosting NFTY-MV Conclave; Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m.; Shabbat Service with Dan Nichols, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Eric Linder, and Cantor Wendy Shermet with Temple’s Senior Youth Group. SATURDAY: Yoga at Temple, A
Shabbat Alternative, 9 a.m. Six week session: $30 for members, $50 for non-members. E-mail wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.c om, to participate; Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Justin Norton, son of Susie and Mike Norton, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. SUNDAY: Hebrew Teacher Meeting, 9:15 a.m.; Religious School (PreK-6), 10 a.m.; Grade 2 students and parents OSRUI meeting and smores, 11:30 a.m.; Children’s Choir Rehearsal, noon, lunch provided for choir and younger siblings; Bible Quiz Practice, 12:15 p.m. TUESDAY: Executive Meeting, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m.; Grandparents Circle, 7 p.m. Rabbi Linder and Program Director Wendy Goldberg will facilitate the course. Contact Temple or wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com, to register. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 46 p.m.; OTYG Lounge Night, 5 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6-8 p.m.; Grades 7, 9-12, 6:30 p.m.; Grade 8 at JCC for Terezenstadt Exhibit, 6:30 p.m.; Adult Beginning Hebrew, 6:30 p.m. with Mor Sheinbein; Nurturing the Nurturer: Stress Management, Judaism and the Arts, 6:30 p.m. Cost is $18 for members; $25 for non-members; no charge for Family School parents. THURSDAY: “Adult Study with the Clergy,” 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Community Interfaith Service, Sunday, Nov. 22, 5:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP FRIDAY: Minyan, 4:56 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Friday, 8-11 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY:Morning service, 9 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan Simcha-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel; Gerry Schuchman unveiling, 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m.
Large print living will available Jewish Heritage for the Blind announced the availability of the large print “Jewish Halachic Living Will”, produced by the Agudath Israel and the Orthodox Union. Forward your request on your formal stationery by fax to: 718.338.0653 or send an e-mail to jewishheritage@gmail.com. Requests must include a phone number to confirm delivery.
Pulverent e
November 13, 2009
ANITA KULAKOFSKY Anita Portis Kulakofsky died Oct. 21 in Glenview, IL. Services were held Oct. 25 at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago. Rabbi Jonathan Magidovich of B’nai Torah in Highland Park, officiated at the funeral. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; the couple were among the founders of Opera Omaha. They were active in many other civic organizations and she held positions with the National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah, and Temple Israel. In Chicago, she was president of Temple Shalom Sisterhood. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Alan and Janie Kulakofsky and Edgar and Debra Kully of Kirkland, WA; daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Alan Ruderman of Highland Park, IL; grandchildren, David and Elizabeth Kulakofsky of Chicago, Jay Kulakofsky of Highlands, NC, Nathan Kully of Chicago, Gennifer Kully of Kirkland, WA, and Jacqueline and Shawn Cotreau of Boston; sister-in-law, Shirley Kulakofsky, and brother-in-law, Stanley Katelman of Deerfield Beach, FL. Memorials to the Anita Kulakofsky B’nai Torah Memorial Fund, 2789 Oak St., Highland Park, IL 60635 or charity of choice. MAYNARD SAYLAN Maynard Saylan died in California. Services were held Nov. 8 at Temple Israel Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his sister, Louise Sherman. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Milton and Rosalie Saylan; and sister, Harriet Brown. MARVIN S. BROOKSTEIN Marvin S. Brookstein died Oct. 21 in Fountain Hills, AZ. A memorial service will be held at Temple Israel this Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 p.m. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Leah S. Brookstein, and daughter in law, Deborah J. Brookstein. He is survived his wife Lynn Brookstein; son, Spencer Brookstein; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Diane Brookstein; daughter and son in law, Karen and Larry Caulfield; grandchildren, Marci Mainus, Emily Vayner, Aaron Caulfield, Leah M. Brookstein, Clint Baldwin. In addition to serving on the board of Temple Israel and as treasurer, he started the first Alcoholics Anonymous group, meeting at a Jewish location in the Omaha area in 1985. Memorials to the Temple Israel Caring Committee.
Time to sign up for Medicare Supplemental Plan by BEV CARLSON, APR, PAHM Corporate Communications Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska It was in the emergency room -- before it took two surgeries, three titanium plates and 17 bone screws to put his ankle back together -- that Frank Markesi realized he had made a very wise decision. Markesi’s good choices had nothing to do with his home improvement skills or ladder placement that day -- but with his Medicare Supplemental insurance coverage. “I never had to pay a dime,” says the 70-year-old Omahan. “I totaled up the bills, and it came to at least $50,000. It was all covered.” Since Frank and Rose Markesi carry a Medicare Supplemental plan from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, everything was paid -- including several weeks of physical therapy, medical equipment, and follow-up doctor visits. The annual enrollment period for the U.S. government’s over-65 health plan is Nov. 15-Dec.31. During this annual enrollment season, people with Medicare can join, switch or drop Medicare prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2010 and there will not be another opportunity to change drug plans until November 2010. There are many resources available for those who are going through the process of navigating Medicare and supplemental coverage. Among them, a local insurance agent with Medicare expertise can help, as well as someone you trust who has been through the process. But remember that each person’s needs are different. There are also several helpful public resources. The Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (800.234.7119) is a state program which offers free counseling. Those who are eligible for Medicare can also contact the government program directly at www.medicare.gov. When asked what is most important to him about his Medicare Supplemental coverage, Frank is quick to answer: “Freedom of choice. I can go to any doctor, any hospital I want. I’ve never been anywhere that my insurance wasn’t accepted. It may not be the cheapest product out there, but it’s worth every penny. The value is there. I wouldn’t change for anything.” PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE
60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials
Parashat Chaya Sarah The Midrash suggests that Sarah died suddenly from fright, when she saw the knife in Abraham’s hand and understood that he would actually offer Isaac as a sacrifice. She did not know that an angel, a Divine Messenger, would stay the hand of Abraham so that Isaac was not harmed. I doubt if the Holy Text meant to give us this lesson; but the lesson is clear: mothers’ are God’s helpers. Apparently, God can’t do everything by Himself, so He appointed mothers to do all the things and teach all the lessons that the Holy One doesn’t get around to do. So, without saying so, the Holy Text is telling us clearly that mothers everywhere do the things and teach the lessons that would remain undone without them. If anyone needs to strengthen his appreciation of Mother’s Day, let him read these chapters of Genesis and understand what it was that caused her death.
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To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return). Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org. Readers can also submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines prior to secular and Jewish holidays.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
November 13, 2009
Jewish Federations leaders meet with President during GA Obama, Bibi face off behind closed doors
by JTA Staff cials at the White House. WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Monday afternoon’s hour long recepObama and Israel’s prime minister met tion, scheduled after Obama had to canbehind closed doors, discussing U.S.- cel his Tuesday speech to the group’s Israel ties, Iran and Mideast peace talks, General Assembly because he attended a according to a White House statement. memorial service for those killed at Fort Obama’s meeting Monday evening at Hood last week, featured short remarks the White House with Benjamin Netanyahu was closed to reporters, even omitting the standard photo opportunity and hand shake. The White House statement following the meeting was unusually terse: “The President and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed a number of issues in the U.S.-Israel bilateral relationship. The President reaffirmed our strong commitment to Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, left, Charles Israel's security, and dis- Bronfman, Michael Steinhardt, and Israel’s ambassador to the cussed security coopera- United States, Michael Oren, commit to increasing the number tion on a range of issues. of Jewish young adults visiting Israel at an event held on the eve The President and Prime Minister also from Obama. Mostly, though, attendees discussed Iran and how to move forward had a chance to talk one on one with the on Middle East peace.” president and White House senior staff. White House officials have expressed Obama, who dropped by for about 30 frustration with the impasse in Israeli- minutes, said that The Jewish Federations Palestinian peace talks. of North America “perform every day of Earlier Monday, Netanyahu had called every week selfless acts of tzedakah,” for an immediate resumption of talks, in a according to a person present at the speech to the Jewish Federations of meeting, and spoke about his experience North America’s General Assembly, with Chicago’s Jewish Federation. He which took place this past week in the also made a pitch for health care reform, nation’s capital. talking about the importance of passing it Leaders of The Jewish Federations of and stating that he could “see the light at North America also met with President the end of the tunnel.” Obama and other top administration offiWhite House staff at the meeting
included Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who spoke at the GA on Tuesday instead of Obama; top advisers David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett; Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag; National Security Council staffer Dan Shapiro; Office of White House
gle for the freedom of Soviet Jewry and the fight to bring down the Iron Curtain, Natan Sharansky said that he was often told that he had to choose between the universal cause and the specific national Jewish cause. But that choice that he had to make in the struggle for freedom is not all that different from the struggle for identity that Jews today face. In his speech to those assembled at the GA, one of the heroes of the Soviet Jewry movement, said, “In the post nationalist, post identity world where people are once again asked to make a choice. Do you believe in the universal value of human rights you are told why do you hold onto individual nationalof the GA in Washington, Nov. 8. Credit: David Karp. Israeli ism. Do we really want to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the General shelter ourselves in the Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, Nov. 9. cocoon of a Jewish state?” Credit: Robert Cumins/Jewish Federations of North America Sharansky added, “When Public Engagement director Tina Tchen; one young Jew believes he or she must and White House Jewish outreach offi- make a choice that he or she cannot cials Susan Scher, who is also chief of staff belong to both, then they make the choice to Michelle Obama and Danielle Borrin. in favor of universalism, then assimilation “We were thankful to have an opportu- erodes our community. Our detractors nity to directly discuss a number of our sense our weakness and our hesitation.” concerns with the administration's senior According to leaders at the GA, team and look forward to continuing to Sharansky is clearly positioning the Jewish reach out to them in the future to ensure Agency as an identity-building organizathe voice of the Jewish community is tion. heard loud and far in Washington,” said Among the attendees were Omahans Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of Zoe Riekes and Ellie Batt, Jan Goldstein, The Jewish Federations of North Federation executive director, and Bob America, in a statement. Goldberg, Federation communications When he was a foot soldier in the strug- and young leadership director.
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