Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Past Presidents come together
November 23, 2012 9 Kislev 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 10
This Week
Lincoln Jewish School raises money for hurricane Sandy relief Page 9 Current JFO President Jody Malashock, left, Past Presidents Steve Pitlor, Morley Zipursky, Zoë Riekes, Howard Kaslow, Howard Kooper, Norman Sheldon, Joe Kirshenbaum, Jerry Slusky, and President-elect Jay Noddle. by JODY MALASHOCK President, Jewish Federation of Omaha On Wednesday, Nov. 14, a group of Past Jewish Federation of Omaha Presidents came together for the first Past President’s Dinner. What follows is current President Jody Malashock's speech.
Hanoch Piven visits Friedel Page 10
Tonight’s dinner with our Past Presidents of the Federation was not only planned by Zoë, but it was Zoë’s idea to bring us all together. In looking over the list of Past Presidents, it is quite impressive indeed. Each of you have made your mark and contributed to the rich history of our
Word has it that the Post Black Friday Special entree is a Perfectly Priced and Spiced Prime Rib Sandwich. “The first five people to order the Special will pay only $2.99 -- that’s right, only $2.99 -- instead
Kosher cheese company bidding for recovery after Sandy Page 16
Inside Next Week Hanukkah Issue See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
others were there as advisors as well as a sounding board. At times, it may have seemed to some that I was working in a bubble, but trust me, I was not. At the end of the day, though, the ultimate responsibility of the Federation was mine as it was yours Continued on page 7
Black Friday revisited Newman Supporting Foundation news by OZZIE NOGG Always sensitive to customer habits and retail trends, the Star Deli will be closed on Black Friday, Nov. 23. “The day after Thanksgiving, people seem to focus less on food
Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
Federation. I think my uncle, Joe Rice, would have been very proud to have another member of our family serve as president as well. I have been very fortunate to work with many of you during these past two-and-a-half years. Some of you served on committees with me and
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The Post Black Friday Deli should bring lots of excitement and plenty of fun for everyone. This group patiently waiting in line for the Special arrived a week too early and will have to return on Nov. 30. and more on shopping,” said Michael Schop, Assistant Administrator of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. “So we’ll shut down on Nov. 23 to give our staff and customers a chance to bargain hunt their hearts out. We’ll be ready to welcome everyone back on Nov. 30 with our Post Black Friday Deli.”
of the regular price of $12.99,” Schop said. “Limit one Special at $2.99 per customer. It’s a second chance for those that may have missed out on a Black Friday deal.” Schop also emphasized that the Blumkin Home doors will open at 9 a.m. for those who want to secure an early place in line before the Deli service begins at 11:30 a.m. In addition to the Special Prime Rib Sandwich, the Post Black Friday Deli will feature the Groovy Girls Craftalicious Cake Creations. “Apparently it’s the hot toy this year,” Schop said. (According to the toy’s website, ‘Making a cake has never been more fun!’ and Groovy Girls Craftalicious Cake Creations are flying off retailers’ shelves like, Continued on page 3
by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Jeffrey Kirshenbaum has been named President of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation Board of Trustees. He replaces outgoing President Susie Noddle, who will continue to serve as a Trustee. “Sharee joins me in congratulating Jeff as the new President of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation,” stated Murray Newman. “Jeff has demonstrated over many years, and through involvement in a number of Federation activities and its Agencies, his insight, intellect and sensitivity to the community’s needs. His perspective and knowledge have been invaluable to our Trustees during our grant deliberations. Jeff is the perfect person to lead the Foundation in the years to come.” Newman continued, “Sharee and I want to thank Susie Noddle, retiring President, for her years of service. Her father, Harlan Noddle, was the first President of the Foundation and served from 1987 until his death in 2006. Susie was Sharee’s and my suggestion to serve in Harlan’s place. Susie now resides full-time in New York City. We thank Susie for her dedicated service to the Foundation, carrying on beautifully the legacy left by our beloved Harlan.” The Newman Supporting Foundation was established in
1987 with an initial gift of $100,000 from Sharee and Murray Newman. The Board of Trustees includes Kirshenbaum, Noddle, Sharee Newman, Lisa Lewis, Jamie
Jeff Kirshenbaum Friedland, Jay Lerner and Murray Newman. Born and raised in Omaha, Kirshenbaum is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Vice-President at Noddle Companies. Kirshenbaum and his wife, Sharon, have two daughters, Alyssa and Lauren. A former President of the Jewish Community Center, Kirshenbaum serves on the Jewish Social Services and Anti-Defamation League boards. He also is on the board for Mt. Sinai Cemetery. Kirshenbaum previously served on Beth El Synagogue’s board of directors. Continued on page 2
2 | The Jewish Press | November 23, 2012
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Partnership2Gether and education by MARK KIRCHHOFF Eliad’s group, the Education Task Force, deals with a wide Administrative Assistant, The Center for Jewish Life variety of programs that connect people in the Western Feeling an attachment to Israel – its history, culture, Galilee and the partnering U.S. communities in both formal accomplishments and challenges -- is part of what it is to be and informal educational settings. From preschool through an American Jew. Having a program available dedicated to high school, teachers, children, teens, students and profesfostering one-on-one relationships for the mutual benefit of sors can connect both virtually and in person through the the two cultures is something special indeed. The many Partnership opportunities. Eliad’s focus on education Partnership2Gether program is focused on doing just that. allows him to create momentum and facilitates relationships And on Oct. 26-28 the that blossom once they get Omaha Jewish community started. “People don’t hosted the visit of a key learn, grow and share person in the because of a title,” Eliad Partnership2Gether proremarked “This happens gram, Israeli Eliad Eliyahu. through one-on-one perEliad is the engaging, sonal relationships.” energetic, visionary His numerous activities Education Coordinator for in Omaha included meetOmaha’s Partnership area, ing with Friedel teachers, located in the Western planning meetings with Galilee. Arriving in Omaha staff in the CDC, a dinner after his visit with program with the Omaha leaders in San Antonio and Partnership committee, an Austin, Texas, Eliad hit the opportunity to enjoy the ground running and didn’t Star Deli, leading a musistop until boarding the cal havdalah at Beth Israel plane -- rerouted away Eliad and his new friends at the CDC. and visiting the religious from New York in response schools at Beth El and to Hurricane Sandy -- for Temple Israel on Sunday the return journey to his morning. home in Akko. Accompanying Eliad Partnership2Gether is on the majority of the visdedicated to connecting its was Mary Sue people and making a difGrossman, Associate ference for Jews in Israel Executive Director with and America. In talking the Center for Jewish Life. with Eliad, one comes “Eliad has an amazing abilaway with the conviction that he devotes considerable ener- ity to immediately connect with everyone with whom he gy and expertise in finding effective ways of making those meets. Watching him interact with children was a delight connections. Through the structure of six task force groups - and seeing him share his vision with our staff and lay leaders Arts, Education, Missions & Marketing, Medical, Regional makes it easy to see why he is so successful in his position.” Development, and Budapest - Partnership provides an One of the premier programs of the Education Task Force is avenue for community members so that they to be agents of “twinning.” Elementary, middle, and high schools participate Continued on page 3 change and create stronger bonds between communities.
Newman Supporting Foundation news
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Continued from page 1 During the board’s meeting last month, trustees expressed appreciation to Marty Ricks, Jewish Federation of Omaha (JFO) Foundation Executive Director, who attends the annual meetings. Ricks will step down as Executive Director at the end of the year to move into his new role as the JFO’s Chief Development Officer. Howard Epstein has been named as Ricks’ successor at the JFO Foundation. The Newman Supporting Foundation Board of Trustees awarded grants to eleven Omaha programs. “The Newman Supporting Foundation annually considers applications from Federation agencies as well as other charitable organizations whose programs are consistent with the mission of the Federation.” explained Ricks. “It was a challenge for the board to select grant recipients because applications were received from many worthwhile programs.” A grant was given to the Anti-Defamation League/ Community Relations Committee for the 27th Annual Prejudice Elimination Workshop, scheduled for November 2013. Approximately 300 high school juniors from over 40 schools are invited to attend. School counselors, teachers and staff receive educator training. Participants learn to take responsibility for fighting discrimination and prejudice, and become change agents in their schools and elsewhere. Funding was allocated to support the Center for Jewish Life’s 2013-14 Community Shaliach Program. The shaliach serves as an Israeli resource and offers programming for JFO agencies, synagogues and other Jewish organizations in the community. A grant was awarded to the Sam and Frances Fried Holocaust and Genocide Education Fund for Holocaust and genocide education at five universities and colleges in Nebraska. College students gain an understanding of the lingering and serious impact of the Holocaust, learning about the past so they can help change the future. Friedel Jewish Academy received a grant to bring “RESPECT 2 All” to the school. Friedel students will learn skills and acquire tools to help prevent bullying, and help them develop healthy relationships in school and in the community. A grant went to Inclusive Communities to support the July 2013 IncluCity I Leadership Institute, a human relations and leadership program. Sixty high school delegates will meet in a week-long residential setting to confront bigotry and discrimination through workshops, exercises, discussions and
more. The students learn new skills and develop a plan to make positive changes at school and in the community. The Jewish Community Center (JCC) Integrated Special Needs Summer Camp program was awarded a grant to allow high functioning special needs children to participate in the JCC Summer Camp in 2013. The grant will help ensure that these children have the same camping experience enjoyed by other children. The JCC also received a grant for the 2013 Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration in April to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day. An adult evening event will include a Yom HaZikaron Commemoration, dinner and more. A children’s carnival will be held the next day. A grant was allocated by the Newman Board of Trustees to the JCC’s B’nai B’rith Youth Organization in support of the annual Teen Mitzvah Day, or Shiputznick, a day of service and mitzvot for Omaha Jewish teens. During the April event, teens will spend the afternoon doing service projects around Omaha, and then share a meal and stories about their day. This program promotes Tikun Olam and encourages volunteerism. Jewish Family Service was awarded a grant to support the agency’s 2013-14 Tzedakah Project. The project feeds the hungry, offers celebratory food for holidays and reaches out to Jewish community members in need. Volunteers deliver gifts, visit with recipients and let them know they are remembered during the holidays. The Jewish Press received a grant to hire a college or high school student, who is an active member of Omaha’s Jewish community, to serve as a summer intern. The intern will contribute to the newspaper and website while providing a voice that is representative of young people in the community. A grant went to Project Interfaith for their parenting series, “Parenting in a Pluralistic World: Raising Kids with a Strong Sense of Spiritual Identity While Respecting Those of Other Faiths and Beliefs.” The two hour April program for parents and other primary caretakers will be open to the public. “Murray and Sharee’s generous commitment to support these valuable programs through the Newman Supporting Foundation is amazing,” said Ricks. “We are grateful to them and the Board of Trustees for making such a difference in our community.” To learn more about establishing a supporting foundation with the JFO Foundation, please contact Marty Ricks at 402.334.6440.
November 23, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 3
Partnership2Gether and education Continued from page 2 in the program which couples Israeli classrooms with classrooms in the U.S. The Friedel Jewish Academy has been a longterm “twin” with Ma’ayanot located in Kibbutz Cabri. Children from both locations share books, Jewish holiday activities, pen pal letters, as well as singing and dancing through the use of Skype. “Modern technology has made the world a smaller place; partnerships help bind us together” said Eliad. Also when visiting Friedel, Eliad delivered letters to the 5th grade students from their pen pals in Israel and he received letters to take back to Israel. Pam Cohn, principal of Friedel, greatly enjoyed the visit with Eliad. “As someone new to Friedel, learning more about twinning and the other resources available through Partnership was exciting.” She continued, saying “Having the chance for our teachers to meet with Eliad, plan activities and share information was invaluable and will help make our twinning relationship stronger. This partnership enables our students to have a special connection with students from Israel and them with us.” Eliad also speaks with pride about “Hava Nagila Gan,” another flagship of Partnership’s educational programs for the kindergarten and preschool program. From the early beginnings of an idea to share curriculums, Hava Nagila Gan has become a virtual international community for sharing information with over 200 teachers currently active in the program, making it a beacon for all North American communities. Teachers share projects, music and lesson plans with new entries added constantly. Eliad tells the story of how a teacher in Turkey was browsing the internet and found the Hava Nagila Gan website where Israeli children were singing and dancing to the
song, “Tsadik Katamar.” The discovery so inspired the teacher that she taught the dance to her class, and soon a connection
Force is an alternative spring break available to college students in the Partnership communities. In recent years, many students
Friedel students with the string of flags made by Israeli kindergarten students. was made and the process of sharing ideas, activities, and cultural awareness began. The Child Development Center is launching its involvement with the program soon and Friedel has been using the site for their kindergarten students for the past two years. A new project from the Education Task
have opted for meaningful, community-oriented volunteer experiences during spring break. During the Partnership program, students will travel to Western Galilee to volunteer for work with at-risk youth. More details on this program, in addition to other opportunities developed through the
Education Task Force, will be shared in the coming weeks. In addition to his work with Partnership, Eliad is an Israeli pop music sensation as a singer, composer and guitarist, and he utilized his talent as the soloist of the Northern Commander Band of the Israel Defense Forces. His first CD, Shirat Hael, reached the top of the charts in Israel. He weaves his musical talent into his work, and appreciates the way in which program participants use music as a part of education. Eliad shared his musical talents with Omaha, teaching Friedel students new songs and also leading a musical Havdalah program at Beth Israel. Eliad’s visit was action-packed with a balance of fun, planning, creating, encouraging and camaraderie. And that might just be the essence of what Partnership is all about. For more information on Partnership2Gether, please call 402.334.6445.
Black Friday revisited Continued from page 1 yes, hot cakes.) “Everyone gets to decorate his or her own little cake with frosting,” Schop explained. “The experience will be, literally, the icing on the cake of the Post Black Friday Deli.” Traditional Star Deli menu items -- corned beef, pastrami, smoked turkey, egg or tuna salad sandwiches along with ever-popular salads and sides -- will
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also be available. The Star Deli on Main Street is open for business every Friday. Beginning Jan. 1,
2013, the Deli will have new hours -11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. instead of 1:30 p.m. The Deli is happy to host special occasions
and will reserve private dining spaces in the RBJH for large groups. For more information on how Star Deli Catering can add spice to your meetings, parties and life cycle events, please contact Mike Aparo, 402.334.6522 or Regan Tinglehoff at 402.334.6523. And please note that the Deli will be closed on Friday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Dec. 28.
4 | The Jewish Press | November 23, 2012
Omaha’s Jewish Book Month Celebrations now in the 39th year by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Associate Executive Director, Center of Jewish Life For each of the past 39 years, the Kripke Jewish Federation Library has celebrated Jewish Book Month. Promoted by the Jewish Book Council, Jewish Book Month is an annual event on the American Jewish calendar dedicated to the celebration of Jewish books. It is observed during the month preceding Hanukkah. The roots of Jewish Book Month started in 1925 when Fanny Goldstein, a librarian at the West End Branch of the Boston Public Library, created an exhibit of Judaic books and used it as a focus of what she called Jewish Book Week. The event was later adopted by communities around the country. During its first fifteen years, the annual date of the program coincided with the holiday of Lag B’Omer or Shavuot, regarded as scholars’ festivals. In 1940, the event was moved to pre-Hanukkah, so as to promote books of Jewish content as Hanukkah gifts. This timetable remains in place to this day. Jewish Book Week became so popular and so filled with activities that it was extended to a one-month period in 1943. The following quote from Jonathan Sarna, an author wellknown to the Omaha Jewish community, is found on the Jewish Book Council website. “For almost seventy years, the Jewish Book Council has been America’s #1 promoter of Jewish books. It invented Jewish Book Month, pioneered the National Jewish Book Awards, and nurtured generations of writers and readers. Many a book, including mine, have benefited from the council’s single-minded devotion to Jewish literature of every kind. If North American Jews are still the “people of the book,” it’s largely thanks to the Jewish Book Council.”
A walk on the wild side by MARGIE UTESCH Director of Marketing, JFO During the month of December the JCC Gallery will showcase Nebraska wild life artist Sherie Garner. Sherie’s art portrays extreme realism of a variety of animals and scenic views from around the world. “I work in a variety of styles. If you think you are looking at watercolor, you have probably noticed pen and ink with an ink wash. This technique was inspired by the Chinese Brush technique and is a mixture of Asian and European styles. Elaborate pen work with wash on top placed on water color paper makes for an incredibly realistic illusion,” said Garner Many of the pieces displayed are pencil. The artist has used a variety of blending techniques with colored pencil that mimics the perfect blending of oil paint. Graphite, once thought to be only a learning tool for sketch artists, is used to create a finished look that takes on a near photographic quality. Extreme blending and use of more than one type of pencil, together with brush blending, creates the realism. Sherie Garner teaches local classes; using these various techniques. For more information about classes or commissioning a portrait call 402-592-6622. The JCC Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m, Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Looking for a great Hanukkah gift? You can order a gift subscription to the Jewish Press. Send a check for $40, made out to the Jewish Press, to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. For more information on how to connect your out-of-town relatives and friends, call 402.334.6448.
During Jewish Book Month, as well as throughout the year, the Jewish Book Council serves as the coordinating agency for promoting Jewish books nationwide. As part of the Jewish Book Month celebration, the Council prepares
2012 Schedule of Events Jewish Book Month Luncheon Wednesday, Nov. 28, 11:45 a.m. in the JCC Auditorium With Janna Yeshanova-Stephens Author of Live is Never Past Tense Children’s Jewish Book Month Event Saturday, Dec. 8, 6-9:30 p.m. at the Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20 St, Omaha Omaha Jewish Author Showcase Sunday, Dec. 9, 1-2:30 p.m. in the JCC Social Hall educational and promotional materials, commissions a color poster featuring the original work of a noted artist, and
designs and disseminates bookmarks with lists of recommended books for adults and children from the past year. The Jewish Book Council also advises local communities on exhibits, book fairs, book clubs, author speaking tours and literary programs. The 2012 Jewish Book Month poster, which can be seen in the Kripke Library, features the theme “Books – Food for the Soul” and was created by graphic novelist, Liana Finck. Finck’s inspiration came from Larry Smith’s collection Oy! Only Six? Why Not More?: Six-Word Memoirs on Jewish Life. Pictured here, the artwork also includes a quote from Pirkei Avot, “Where there is no bread, there is no Torah; where there is no Torah, there is no bread.” Jewish Book Month events and the Kripke Jewish Federation Library are presented by the Center for Jewish Life. This year’s luncheon has been generously sponsored by the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Endowment Fund. Funding for the children’s event is being provided by the Ann Goldstein Memorial Fund. For reservations or for more information, please call 402.334.6463 or visit www.jewish omaha.org.
Explaining the mikvah by ILANA WEISS In the past few months there has been a lot of excitement regarding the Omaha mikvah. The story of the effort undertaken to fill our accidentally drained mikvah with ice has captured the attention of many. But while many of us have now come to learn about the complexities in filling a mikvah during a drought, it’s also important to take a look at just what a mikvah is and the purpose it serves. A mikvah is a body of water collected in the amount of 40 se’ah (approximately 200 gallons). The water must come from a natural source which is almost always (and ideally) from rain water. It cannot have collected in any way before then. In other words, if you stand outside in the rain with a large bucket and collect what pours down, you cannot pour that collected water into a larger basin to serve as a mikvah. What this all amounts to is a kind of replica of a womb -- the place where life begins; the place where water supports, cushions and sustains us. Jewish thought places a great emphasis upon life and purpose. Every element of our lives has the capacity to be used towards holiness, regardless of how mundane or ordinary we may think they are. The mikvah gives us a chance to declare a purpose for ourselves or for our objects in circumstances when purpose might have been lost or overlooked. The mikvah brings us back to womb -- so to speak -- to start over and ascribe purpose to all that we do going forward. Jewish Law provides three primary reasons for visiting a mikvah: Taharat HaMishpacha (Family Purity), Conversion and Tevilat Keilim (Immersion of Vessels used for cooking and eating). The practice of Taharat HaMishpacha is the most poignant expression of the appreciation that Judaism has for life. Upon menstruation, a husband and wife separate from physical contact. Unfortunately, this practice has received a “bad rap” over the years, and the term for the status of a menstruating woman (niddah) was poorly translated as “unclean.” The reason for separation at this point in a woman’s cycle is not because a woman is dirty or tarnished. Rather, Judaism teaches that intimacy should be conducted during times of joy and happiness. Aside from the typical “grumpiness” that often occurs during “that time of the month,” during menstruation, a woman sheds a part of her body that could have brought life. While that life may have never been intended to come to fruition, we pause for a time to recognize that potential which was lost. At the same time, while physical closeness is suspended, emotional strength in a couple’s relationship has the opportunity to be built. During this time of physical separation, couples focus on the attraction to each other’s personalities and strengths. They are reminded of the purpose of their relationship. Finally, at the conclusion of a woman’s niddah status, she prepares for the mikvah by removing any foreign objects from her body that would be a barrier between her body and the water. She enters the water, makes a blessing and immerses herself entirely. The time in the mikvah is tradi-
tionally a time appropriate for prayer, and so many women take a few moments in meditation to connect with Hashem. When she emerges, she enters a new phase of her life as if she is a new bride all over again, and she reignites the physical relationship that she shares with her husband. Lest anyone think that the practice of immersing in the mikvah in this way is just for women, men too have the opportunity for a similar practice. Customs for men vary; Some enter the mikvah on a daily basis, others before Shabbat, or before holidays or significant occasions. Men maintain this practice just as women to ensure that they too do not overlook any potential life they may have lost. A second use for the mikvah is for purposes of conversion. When an individual makes the choice to convert, they do not only join a system of belief, but they also join a family. A convert enters the mikvah as a gentile and emerges as a brand new person. A lesser known reason for visiting the mikvah is for the immersion of dishes and utensils used for cooking and eating referred to as “Tevilat Keilim.” Judaism surely encourages us to enjoy food; but, Jewish tradition teaches that there is nothing that we do that is entirely for the purpose of physical sustenance and absent of holiness. So many of us spend hours and hours preparing food on a daily basis. While we can get caught up in the preparation of food items, it can be easy to forget about food’s purpose in sustaining us so we have the stamina to live meaningful lives. Jewish law asks us to elevate those dishes and utensils that we use for preparing and eating food by immersing them in the mikvah and declaring them not just mundane products, but as vessels that we use to nourish ourselves so we can engage in lives of purpose. Omaha is fortunate to have a beautiful mikvah for the community located at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Open every hour of every day, the Blumkin Home is the ideal location to provide a safe and secure site for the mikvah which is often used late at night. As some uses of the mikvah require confidentiality and privacy, there is a separate entrance in a discreet location. The mikvah is maintained by the Jewish community and has a committee chaired by Suzanne Singer. There are representatives from each synagogue, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Blumkin Home and Chabad who sit on the committee. The mikvah is funded by donations, membership dues and user fees. The Home generously funds the remaining deficit and also provides for the upkeep of the site. No one can say that after immersing in the mikvah, you’ll feel any cleaner than after a regular bath, and no one can say that your food will taste any better after your dishes are immersed. Chances are, your body won’t feel any more spiritual than it did before -- Judaism doesn’t believe in instantaneous transformations. What you will be able to say is that you’ve designated your body and your belongings to be used for a purpose. You will know that you’ve engaged in an activity that has been central to the Jewish experience for millennia and one that will continue to be an expression of the sanctity of our lives for generations to come.
November 23, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 5
A community that cares: JFNA responds fast and furious to Sandy by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha Hurricane Sandy left a wake of devastation and destruction in neighborhoods that just happen to be home to some of the country’s largest Jewish populations. In response, Jewish communities across the United States, including our own, have banded together to meet immediate needs and plan for long-term revival. Acting almost immediately, on Nov. 1 the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors approved a donation to the JFNA Hurricane Relief Fund in the amount of $5000.00 on behalf of the entire Omaha Jewish community. Last week, JFNA announced that Federations across the continent have raised nearly $1 million and are actively distributing those dollars; including $250,000 to the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York and $250,000 to ten Jewish Federations in New Jersey for immediate humanitarian needs. The funds are being used for cash disbursements, food, shelter, clean-up kits and other basic necessities. NECHAMA, a Jewish organization specializing in postdisaster clean-up, is working in tandem with Federations to repair and restore Jewish institutions, including a conservative synagogue in Hoboken, New Jersey, where a Bar Mitzvah went on as scheduled Nov. 10. Staff and volunteers at the Marks Jewish Community House in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn climbed innumerable flights of stairs to deliver meals and water to those trapped in high rise apartments without electricity. Marks House Board President Carol Goldstein said, “I am so proud to be part of an agency that exemplifies the Jewish belief we are all responsible for one another.”
Volunteers from Entwine, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) young leadership program that usually works in eastern European Jewish communities, were active on the ground in Brooklyn, searching for those with language barriers in need of assistance. According to Goldstein, calls came in from Federation-supported service agencies in the Ukraine asking how they could help Russian speaking Jews in New York. Teens without school to attend were mobilized to call on the elderly and Holocaust survivors. As Shabbat approached on Nov. 2, United Jewish Appeal of New York distributed more than 800 challot. Manhattan’s JCC prepared more than 1,000 meals and distributed over 600 blankets. Matt Freedman, Associate Vice President of Philanthropic Resources at JFNA described our long term response best when he said, “We are a first responder and we are also an endurance responder – as the rebuilding extends over the coming weeks and months, our federated system will be there for those in need.” As we continue to provide emergency assistance, food relief, shelter and other crucial human services to those suffering all along the eastern seaboard, our action serves as a poignant answer to the question, “Why Federation?” Only a Federation, funded by the Annual Campaign, can move so quickly, so decisively and so broadly to assess need and provide immediate assistance for the most vulnerable in our community. Moments like these, while tragic, are powerful reminders of the value we bring as a Federated system. As evidenced by example after example, our crucial role is only possible through the investment made by donors to their Annual Campaigns.
Beth El congregants invited to take part in ‘Family Affair Shabbat’ and ‘The Yad Squad’ by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator For Beth El’s cantor, Hazzan Michael Krausman, Shabbat is all about sharing, all about community. And, fueled by his dedication to bring congregants of all ages together to connect with the synagogue’s Shabbat experience, the hazzan has established two exciting new projects, ‘Family Affair Shabbat,’ and ‘The Yad Squad.’ ‘Family Affair Shabbat’ encourages families to adopt a Shabbat morning by bringing together immediate and extended family members to participate in Beth El’s morning service. Participants may chant Torah or Haftarah or lead other readings during the morning. Pre-B’nai Mitzvahaged children are also encouraged to participate, either by leading a concluding portion of the service or by sharing an English or Hebrew reading. As a bonus, each participating family can have the synagogue bake their favorite desserts to be served following the service during Kiddush. The idea about special, ongoing intergenerational Shabbat celebrations came about after a conversation Hazzan Krausman held with congregant Roni Reiter-Palmon, whose son was scheduled to read Torah at an upcoming service. “I said, ‘Since Tomer is already reading that Shabbat maybe you would like to read Torah, too.’ She agreed that it would be nice to read with her son so I said, ‘Hey, let’s ask Ophir [Roni’s husband] to read as well...we’ll make it a family affair.’” The new program “is a very new idea, but it has certainly been embraced with enthusiasm,” the hazzan said, adding that several families have expressed an interest in participating. There is no set schedule for the Family Affair Shabbat celebrations, he noted, and families can select their own date. Saying he looks forward to welcoming all families to take part, Hazzan Krausman said, “The Family Affair service strengthens the connection of the family to the community, gives the family a common project to work on together, increases involvement by lay people in the service and helps to foster the family atmosphere we endeavor to create at Beth El.” Another way to share the Shabbat experience is as a member of Beth El’s new ‘Yad Squad.’ Hazzan Krausman established this group to welcome and embrace Torah and Haftarah readers – veteran and newer readers alike -- as well as those who would like to learn to chant. All adults and post-B’nai Mitzvah celebrants are invited to join. Each Yad Squad member can select the level of participa-
tion, and the hazzan will find time to accommodate everyone’s needs. “Some read several times a month and some only a few times a year,” he explained. “People who wish to learn can set up individual lessons or can put together a group of friends if they wish. We set a goal of a first reading and meet weekly for about a half hour at a time -- we can even meet online if they wish. The time it takes to learn depends on the individual’s background. If for example they can’t read Hebrew, it will take a lot longer.” The bottom line for Hazzan Krausman is sharing the joy of connecting with the ancient ritual of chanting, “We have been reading the Torah the same basic way for over 1,000 years and every community in the world reads from more or less the same section each week,” he said. “So when a person reads the Torah, he or she is at the same moment connecting with many generations from the past, with Jewish communities all over the world and, God willing, with thousands of generations into the future. “It’s amazing for people to have that connection with reading the Torah – there’s nothing like it.” For more information about Family Affair Shabbat or The Yad Squad, contact Hazzan Krausman in the office, 402.492.8550, or at hazzankrausman@bethel-omaha.org.
Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Rosie Zweiback, a staff member of the Monroe-Meyers Institute at UNMC, is criss-crossing the state to help uncover children who are at risk. She will tell us all about it on Wednesday, Nov. 28, noon at the Blumkin Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.
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Regional youth groups enjoy weekend of social action at Temple Israel by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer Almost 100 high school students from around the Midwest descended on Temple Israel the first weekend of November for the Western Fall Chavurah, hosted this year by the Omaha Temple Youth Group. OTYG, the Omaha chapter of NFTY, the North American Federation of Temple Youth, began planning for the annual fall event early in the summer, according to Co-Chair Zane Fletcher, who, along with Morissa Miller, spearheaded the committee. “We were further ahead in our schedule than a lot of other youth groups are for their events,” said Fletcher, a senior at We s t s i d e High School. OTYG Board Members Hannah Radler, left, “As we got Austin Dubinsky, Special Project Coordinator closer to the for Missouri Valley NFTY and Abby Hack are event we had excited for the Fall Chavurah. weekly meetings Sundays after Hebrew school, and [we] would communicate via text and email during the week.” The chavurah, held from Nov. 2 through Nov. 4, brought together teens from Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Colorado for a weekend of socializing and social action, beginning with a Friday afternoon welcoming session hosted by freshman Abby Hack, one of OTYG’s Vice Presidents of Membership, and ending with a pancake breakfast and tearstreaked goodbyes Sunday morning. In between, OTYG members led their youth group peers through a series of games and activities with an emphasis on social politics and volunteerism. Hannah Radler, Vice President of Social Action, created a Saturday afternoon program designed to make the teens think about the societies they live in and how they could be made better. The kids were split into six groups, with each group assigned a different organization to visit and volunteer at. Kids assembled entertainment centers at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, sorted clothes at the Open Door Mission, straightened a stockroom and sorted miscellaneous donated items at Together, visited the Youth Emergency Shelter, cleaned medical equipment at HELP Adult Services, and sorted donations at the Food Bank for the Heartland.
Engagement GELMAN/LERNER Michelle Gelman and Bradley Lerner announce their engagement. The bride to be is the daughter of Eric and Mira Gelman of Highland Park, IL Her fiancé is the son of Dick and Martha Lerner. He is the grandson of Ruth and Irwin Goldenberg and the late Joseph and Helen Lerner. The wedding will be in August in Chicago, Illinois.
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Births Annie and Todd Jason of San Francisco announce the Aug. 24 birth of their daughter, Sydney Reese; she is named for her maternal great grandfather, Seymour (Si) Lee and paternal great grandmother, Reva Oks. Grandparents are Patty and Steve Nogg, and Fay and Buddy Jason of Memphis. Great-grandparents are Jeanie Lee and Allen Parelman of Kansas City, MO, the late Seymour (Si) Lee of Kansas City, MO, the late Betty and Harlan (Bud) Studna, the late Adalynn and Ernie Nogg, Renee Jason and the late William Jason of Memphis, and the late Reva and Jacob Oks of Memphis. Courtneay and David Saylan of St. Louis, MO, announce the Sept. 12 birth of their daughter, Abigael Leigh; she is named for her great aunt, Linda Tilley. Grandparents are Jacki and Steve Saylan and Joyce and Jim Cockrell of St. Louis. Great grandparents are the late Edythe and Arthur Friedman, Rosalie Saylan and the late Milton Saylan.
“I think the social action program went really well,” Radler said. “Some teens came up to me and told me how much they enjoyed it. Pretty much all of the kids felt that they had made a difference, and I hope they go on to help out in their community.” Solomon Marburg, a freshman attending his first chavurah, “particularly enjoyed the social action.” He was part of the group that went to Together and he plans to continue volunteer work around Omaha. “Not everyone lives as fortunately as we do,” Marburg said.
The youth group kids volunteered at six Omaha area organizations, including the Food Bank for the Heartland. “[Poverty and homelessness] are not just a problem elsewhere. They exist in Omaha, too. These organizations are here because they need to be.” In addition to the social action, Radler also created a mock presidential election in which platforms for social issues like education and poverty were read anonymously to the group. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were referred to simply as “Candidate 1” and “Candidate 2.” The kids then split into smaller groups, where they learned more about whichever issue they felt most strongly about, and tried to lobby their friends to come over to their way of thinking. In the end, a vote was held and the teenagers learned which candidate their views most closely aligned with. Barack Obama won the election handily, defeating Mitt Romney by a 2-to-1 margin. While everyone seemed to enjoy the social action and political discussions, the biggest highlight for many was having the opportunity to meet and socialize with their peers from other youth groups. A social was held Saturday evening for just such a purpose. “I'm most happy with the connections and joy I saw in people,” Fletcher said. “I walked out of the weekend with new friends, and I feel comfortable saying so did everyone else.” Radler had a difficult time picking a favorite part of the weekend. “The entire weekend was a success,” she said. “I think the entire weekend was my favorite part, though I really enjoyed the senior circle, because you get really close to the people you've known for years and really have fun.” The upcoming Winter Chavurah, which is from Jan. 1821, is being held in Denver. Registration will be open soon. Check out NFTY.org/MV for details.
Musicians visit the Rose Blumkin Home Two Omaha Chamber Music Society musicians peformed recently at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Danielle Meier, string bass, and Christi Zuniga, piano, presented a wide range of selections for an unusual combination of instruments in an hour-long concert that delighted Blumkin residents and staff members. The “Music as Medicine” event was sponsored by the Ruth Riekes Richards Fund of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Two more concerts by Omaha Chamber Music Society musicians will take place at the RBJH in the near future.
November 23, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 7
A message to the past presidents by MIKE SILVERMAN Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Federation of Omaha On Wednesday, Nov. 14, a group of Past Jewish Federation of Omaha Presidents came together for the first Past President’s Dinner. What follows is CEO Mike Silverman’s speech. I am so happy to be addressing you today as the first CEO for the Jewish Federation of Omaha. I assumed this new position in April 2011 and we have accomplished a lot. That certainly doesn’t mean that we have completed everything that needs to be done, but we have taken great strides, and I firmly believe that we are moving in the right direction. My portion of the program tonight is to tell you about specifics. Specific business strategies, operational enhancements, collaboration, and communication. Numbers and statistics, facts and figures. Good and bad. Changes to our campus In January 2011, the JFO Board voted to implement a CEO/CFO model. In doing so, the Board understood that contingency funds may need to be available to pay for the additional expenses connected to this new corporate structure. One would assume that for an organization of our size that we are talking a few hundred thousand dollars or so -and the Board felt it important enough to invest in the future of Jewish Omaha with a business model that would lead us into the future. I am pleased to say that there has been absolutely no expenditure from the contingency funds to offset the cost of this new business model. Quite the contrary -- in the first fiscal year after the organizational change, the Federation and its agencies outperformed the budget by approximately $ 71,000. Fiscal responsibility How is that possible? Years and years of struggling to meet agency requests for funding. Campaign allocation support reduced annually and just not enough money to go around. Consider this with an annual Campaign that was declining so there is less money to go around. It works because of the following: The CEO/CFO model places the ultimate responsibility for the knowledge and use of agency endowment funds for budget purposes and for special projects squarely on my shoulders. Agencies managed their own funds in the past, but now with the new corporate structure, we are watching to make sure that all available funds are used for the right purpose -as the donors intended. These dollars are first dollars in. The campus is now sharing staff in the maintenance department which allows the best staff person to work on projects across the campus; in the marketing department agencies can keep costs down by utilizing the very talented staff that we have; the volunteer department is being expanded to position community supporters throughout the campus to augment our staff and help keep costs down; information technology staff and contracted IT personnel
are working together to make sure that the agencies communicate with each other and share information appropriately; clerical support is stepping up and providing support for not only the agency in which they are employed, but for any agency that needs the support; and finally the finance department is communicating and collaborating across the campus. Yes, the Home’s accounting department and the
Maxine Kirshenbaum with Gloria Kaslow.
Joe Kirshenbaum with Zoë Riekes. Federations Central Services Finance Department are meeting weekly and creating fiscally responsible policies that are being adhered to. The budgets for the agencies are being drafted within the agencies and reviewed and challenged at the CEO/CFO level. No budget line account is taken for granted, and all agency executives have to justify their expenses and revenues before budgets are passed to the Budget and Financial Review Committee for consideration. Having worked very closely with our CFO, Jordana Glazer, on the budgets the past two years, I can assure you that no line is overlooked. We are sharper now then we have ever been and not only can the
agencies explain their budgets in detail, but so can Jordana and I. Even our auditors have said that this has been the smoothest audit they have ever performed for our campus. I am personally reviewing each month’s financials and highlighting areas that need explanations and attention. There has never been the level of scrutiny about campus financials that exists today. Here’s an interesting statistic: Agencies receiving a Campaign allocation between 2011 and 2012 performed extremely well. This was the first year of our new corporate model. Salaries went up by .41% year to year; benefits and taxes decreased by 3.46%; and operating expenses decreased by .32%. These are some of the reasons why we did not have to spend additional dollars for the new corporate model. Other changes There has been staff turnover. Many familiar faces and tenured faces are no longer part of the campus. This is true. Some left of their own accord and some were asked to leave because they did not fit into the new model. I have been charged with a great responsibility that I take seriously -- to run the Federation and its agencies as an efficient business model and to always think of the best interests of our campus and community at all times. I have made difficult business decisions that others would have shied away from in the past, and I will continue to make difficult business decisions. That is what you expect of me. I may not always make the right decision, but I am trying my best, and I work tirelessly for the Omaha Jewish community. Benefits on the campus have changed. We no longer fund cars for staff or half off massages or full family JCC memberships. We do still fund 25% off of child care at the Child Development Center to remain competitive in the community for staff, and we have picked up an additional percentage of health insurance for staff choosing the Health Savings Account plan (HSA). All benefits across the campus are equal and no one receives more than any other employee in the same range. I have no executive compensation package and my benefits are the same as any other full time professional staff person on campus. Communication on the campus is better than it has ever been. Weekly meetings bring executives from all agencies together to discuss the campus and community, and there is open, honest sharing of information with a focus on collaboration. The conflicts that existed in the past between the Home and the JCC, the JCC and the Federation, and others too numerous to mention do not exist any more. This is evident in our combined website that brings us all together; it is clearly evident in the loan that the Home made to the Federation allowing us to purchase an additional property on 132nd street for future programs and services for our community; it is evident in the new Wellness Initiative that has brought together talented staff from various agencies to Continued on page 8
Past Presidents come together Continued from page 1 during your tenures as President. I have now adopted Jay’s words of modernization over reorganization. We appreciate the good work that had been done in the past, but times have changed, and our Federation had to change as well. We are not alone in this modernization mode, as Federations all over the country have been doing the same as we have been doing here in Omaha. When the Federation board made the decision to go into a CEO/CFO model, we prioritized our goals for a CEO. The number one goal was that he/she have top notch business skills. In the past the number one in our organization was the chief fundraiser. In the new model we felt it would be more efficient to have a Chief Development Officer who was responsible for campaign, fundraising and donor development. The CEO would develop relationships with our major donors, as well as assist in solicitations with the CDO when necessary. He/she would dedicate him- or herself to the running of the business of the Federation, all the while keeping in mind our mission of the Federation which has stayed the same through the years. With Mike Silverman as CEO, Jordana Glazer as CFO, and Marty Ricks as CDO I am confident that we have positioned ourselves well as we go into the future. We have a CEO with strong business skills, a CFO who is keeping watchful eyes on our finances with utmost transparency and a CDO with proven skills in fundraising. Now, some of you have felt that the reason for this change was strictly financial, and I am here to tell you that this was a reason, but it was not the only one. We had to get a better handle not only on our finances but on our organization as a whole. The Federation three years ago looked a lot different than it does today. Our Federation board has been downsized to eleven direc-
tors. Our Executive Committee is made up of the President, Secretary and Treasurer. The business of the Federation is now being dealt at the board level with the Executive Committee used mainly for emergencies. For the first time, each director sits on a Federation committee as well. Our Federation committees are stronger than ever. The Budget and Financial Review committee meets regularly as well as the Audit committee. Finances are constantly being looked at, not just at budget times. The HR and Comp committee is now responsible for evaluations and compensations. Presidents of agencies are involved in the process along with the CEO, but HR and comp has the ultimate responsibility. The Planning and Engagement committee worked tirelessly on the new bylaws of the Federation and currently is working on the agency bylaws and committee charters. The nominating committee of the Federation will begin working in conjunction with the agencies to ensure succession planning for the agencies and the Federation. The Federation board has been evaluating old policies and developing new ones that reflect the changes that have occurred to ensure proper governance. We have defined lay and professional roles, and together we have formed a strong working relationship. We remain a lay driven organization with our lay leaders setting the policies and the professionals implementing them. The campaign this year has been reenergized with Zoë and Carl Riekes and Stacey and Brett Atlas at the helm. Murray Newman and Anne Shackman have been working hard on behalf of our community as major gift chairs. Beatlemania brought out over 600 community members of all ages. For the first time the decision was made to not solicit at the community event but to set the stage for soliciting. We are hoping for an overall five percent increase to the campaign.
With our One Campus One Community initiative we have seen the Federation, its agencies and the other entities on campus working together. The Riekes museum relocation is one example. With that, the campus is starting to have a new look as well, and will continue into the next year. We have needed to update not only for asthetics and safety but for efficient use of our space as well. There has been a change for efficiency and savings with the elimination of duplicate services and doing things in house as often as possible. The Federation remains the steward of community resources and we take our job seriously. We know how fortunate we are to have a community as engaged and generous as ours is. We also know that we need to continue working with the current and next generation and engage them not only financially but in generating new leadership as well. We are challenged but committed to getting this accomplished. We are a work in progress. When we first started this I said it would be a two-to-three year process. I feel that we are on track. I congratulate the Federation board as they have been completely dedicated and responsible for making and implementing decisions that were not always popular. I thank Mike, Jordana, Julee and the rest of the staff as well, for all the hard work they do each and every day. I am looking forward to Jay being the next Federation president and I know he will continue the work that has been accomplished to date. In the end I appreciate the support that I have gotten from many of you here tonight. We may not always have agreed along the way on how things should or could have been done, but I am proud of the job that has been done. You are a special group. Your love for the community remains strong. I, along with the rest of our community, will always be proud and appreciative of the job each and every one of you did for us, and I thank you.
8 | The Jewish Press | November 23, 2012
A message to the past presidents Continued from page 7 emphasize enough how important the Heritage Fund and quality of the work that is done and the effort our commucreate a healthier, happier work environment; it is evident in these earmarked endowment funds are for our future. nity lay leadership puts forth. This new Board Room will be the Customer Service Initiative that brought together over Physical changes to our building a focal point and the most heavily used meeting space on 20 staff people from various agencies, holding different We’ve heard rumor after rumor about campus renova- campus and will showcase the images of our Past Presidents positions, to create an atmosphere of exceptional customer tions, so I will tell you what is planned. prominently in a room filled with Judaic art and imagery -service for our visitors and for each other; it is evident in the The JCC Leadership has been meeting regularly to estab- as future leadership understands the challenges we face into two summer pool parties we held for all staff and the staff lish a list of priorities that will upgrade the JCC and allow the future -- and appreciates the efforts of those who have holiday party that we held last winter -- a second to be held the Center to attract so many more community members of built what we currently enjoy. this winter as well -- bringing all campus staff together. all ages. The Canteen project started -- and will finish. We Partnership with Israel There is a newly enhanced relationship with the Nebraska are now working with an Interior Designer who is keeping We have just about completed our New Partnership wall Jewish Historical Society. The Federation that highlights the relationship that Omaha worked closely with NJHS, Friedel and the has with the Western Galilee and our partRiekes Family to reposition the Riekes nership cities. We send much needed funds Family Museum to the front of the JCC. This to this region and many in our community way, our rich Jewish community’s history are not aware of how these dollars are being could be showcased. This has received outspent -- so we are highlighting it for all to see. standing reviews. In addition, the Federation The Partnership Wall is to be used by the worked closely with Friedel leadership to CDC, Friedel, BBYO and others to learn strategize about their building plans and to about Israel. Also, in July we are hosting a help reduce costs by recommending the reloPartnership Meeting that will bring about 40 cation of the Museum and also the west or so individuals from various communities addition, as opposed to the significantly and Israel to Omaha for many days of meetmore costly south addition being considered. ings. This is a great opportunity to showcase This change was embraced by Friedel leaderwhat we have done as a community, and I am ship. As you can see when you enter the camsure that you will hear a lot about this in the pus, the plans to grow the school and provide months ahead. much needed space for our children into the These remodeling efforts will be funded future are well underway. through agency endowments (where appropriFundraising ate, like the JCC), operational surplus when When I was hired, the Board was clear that available, campus repair and replacement my role would not be as a fundraiser. The funds -- as well as contingency funds if need intention was to hire a Chief Development be. The projects are being actively bid out as we Officer and for me to focus on operations. speak and will be presented to the Federation Well -- it took us a little longer than anyone Board for approval in the near future. expected to identify our new CDO -- Marty Plans for the future Ricks -- who officially takes over January 1st. We continue to hone our relationship Marty has been working with the Campaign with UNO and are currently working staff weekly to ramp up and also to undertowards a relationship that will share a future stand how the process works with our Schusterman Fellow at the university and the Campaign co-chairs. We are very fortunate Schwalb Center. to have Carl and Zoë Riekes, and Brett and We already have more kids committing to Stacey Atlas as Co-chairs. They have providMaccabi in the summer of 2013 than we had ed energy and drive and fabulous ideas about last year. Our Youth Department at the JCC how we can make an even greater impact on is doing great things, and we expect to max Clockwise from top left: Howard and Gloria Kaslow; Jody Malashock and Zoë Riekes; Marsha out our participants. our community for decades to come. Our Pitlor and Buzz Malashock; Sharon Kooper and Janet Slusky. plans have been for today and for tomorrow Working closely with Rabbi Abraham, we -- as we realize that sometimes the seeds we plant take time us on track. The area will receive new flooring, furnishings are doing all we can to secure kosher food for our commuto grow. We, as a community working together, must nur- and a new feel, which will allow the space to be better used nity throughout the year -- not just Passover. ture what we plant and choose wisely when we harvest. for small gatherings and impromptu catch-ups. This area is We are planning a family mission in the winter of We have had exceptional leadership in Murray Newman the first impression for so many campus visitors -- particu- 2013/2014 through the Center for Jewish Life. and Anne Shackman as Pacesetter and Lion chairs. They larly those using the health spa. This coming Saturday evening there is a newcomers/YJO have hit the bricks and met with many major donors face to The Youth Lounge is slated for a significant upgrade that event that will officially welcome those new to our commuface, to secure their gifts and give the Campaign the charge will make the area the Place to Be! New amenities in the nity with a Havdalah service at our JCC. I understand that it needs to build momentum and move forward. space and greater visibility for passers-by will generate activ- there are approximately 70 people attending. So far the 2013 Annual Campaign has raised $1.1 MM ity and the energy in the room will overflow into the corridor. Challenges through Nov. 14th, which represents a 3% card for card The sidewalk outside the CDC has been repaired to elimiWe need to do all we can to keep our donors involved and increase from 147 gifts. In 2012 we raised $1.2 MM repre- nate safety issues and the carpet in the CDC is slated for active in our community. We need to make sure that the senting a 2% card for card increase from 334 gifts for the replacement as well -- we want the very best for our children. next generation understands the role of philanthropy and same time period. So -- we have raised just $100,000 less The Health Spa is long overdue for an upgrade and the continues on the path that their ancestors have paved. We with a card for card increase of 1% greater than the prior JCC leadership is committed to funding the necessary need to use our dollars wisely. We need to stay on top of year on 187 fewer gifts. changes. This may take some time, as you can imagine it is operational issues that may affect our campus “bottom line.” The Heritage Fund complicated, but we are working on it, and it will happen. We need to make sure that we have the very best talent at And there is something else about the Campaign that you We have modified both the men’s and women’s locker rooms each position possible so we can best meet our collective may not be aware of. Through the generosity of a donor, the already. missions. Heritage Fund was established, and it requires that a portion There are new pieces of equipment appearing all the time And we need to remember that great challenges require of our Annual Campaign dollars raised be put aside to grow at the JCC fitness area and we are trying our very best to be great focus and a commitment to change. an endowment that will be our Safety Net. When the fund cutting edge. You can also expect a newly painted gymnasiI want to thank the Board of Directors for their continued reaches $1MM we will no longer be required to contribute um in the near future. support and especially Jody Malashock for her unwavering and we can begin using the interest income to help support The carpeting in the main area of the JCC has been a safe- commitment and focus. She has been a tremendous mentor our community and Jews worldwide. To date we have raised ty issue for a very long time, and this is being addressed for me. I also want to thank Jordana Glazer for her incredi$636,000 so we are well on our way to reaching our goal. through our Interiors Committee. An appropriate carpet tile ble efforts and attention to detail. She has chipped away at This fund is extremely important for our future. In addition, will be chosen that will liven up the space and compliment historical issues and helped strengthen our operations. And this year we are earmarking Campaign dollars to fund future changes to the walls throughout the main level -- I must thank Julee Katzman who has been my right hand endowments that will help individual agencies receiving including the art gallery. person since I started. What a jewel we have in this commuallocations annually. Thanks to the foresight of the Budget The Community Room is slated to be reconfigured allow- nity with Julee -- we are fortunate as a community, and I am and Financial Review Committee, this initiative will allow us ing staff in multiple departments to work side by side in the fortunate to work closely with her. to further secure our future. 2012/2013 earmarked $49,455 Back of the House (so to speak). By doing so, we will create I continue to feel privileged to serve the Omaha Jewish and we are planning to earmark $100,000 each year. I cannot a future Board Room for our campus that will match the community as your CEO. Thank you all for your support.
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November 23, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 9
Two memorable lectures at UNO and the JCC by DR. MOSHE GERSHOVICH Professor of History and Director of UNO’s Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies What do Jewish involvement in the civil rights movement fifty years ago and the current state of US-Israeli relations have in common? The answer is: Dr. Stephen Berk. On Thursday evening, Nov. 1 at the
said Mark Javitch, grandson of Phil and Ruth Sokolof whose foundation provided for the lecture series at UNO that brought Dr. Berk to Omaha. “And he did it all without notes,” added Mark’s father, Gary Javitch, “enthralling us all with his fantastic presentations. He really exceeded my expectations.”
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Mark Javitch, left, Karen Sokolof Javitch, Gary Javitch, Dr. Stephen Berk, Natan Schwalb, Rich Juro, Moshe Gershovich, and Hannah Schwalb. University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and next morning at the JCC, Berk offered two lectures on these two topics. Those who attended the first lecture, entitled Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1954-1965, were treated to a fascinating historical exposé about times in which Jews and AfricanAmericans marched together for a great cause. The Friday morning talk, US-Israeli Relations in Turbulent Times, provided a brilliant analysis of current politics on the eve of the presidential elections. “For over an hour on Thursday evening and again on Friday morning, Dr. Berk informed, entertained, and fascinated all of us with historical perspectives and insights,”
Hannah Schwalb, co-founder (with her husband Nate) of UNO’s Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies that hosted the two events added: “We were very fortunate to have Professor Berk speak to our community. As expected, his lectures were amazing.” Rich Juro, who, together with his wife Fran co-sponsored the Friday lecture at the JCC, concluded: “I told people Dr. Berk was the finest speaker I’d ever heard. I think most people who attended now agree.” In addition to the Sokolof Foundation, the Schwalb Center, and the Juros, the events were also co-sponsored by the University of Nebraska Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, and UNO’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Snowbirds Please let the Jewish Press know in advance when you are leaving and when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to your “old” address before we are notified by the Post Office. Every time they return a paper to us, you miss the Jewish Press and we are charged! Please call us at 402.334.6448 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org.
Lincoln Jewish Community School holds spaghetti feast for Hurricane Sandy relief
Omaha’s Team Hockey Nov. 23: UNO vs. Alabama - Huntsville CenturyLink Center 7:37 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 11, the 1st and 2nd grade classes of the Lincoln Jewish Community School hosted a spaghetti feast. Members of the community gathered together for fun and spaghetti in order to raise money for Jews on the east coast affected by Hurricane Sandy. The Lincoln Jewish Community School collaborated with the Jewish Federations of North America who will help disperse these tzedakah funds to support the rebuilding of various Jewish agencies. The tzedakah spaghetti feast raised $275.00 for relief efforts.
Nov. 24: UNO vs. Alabama - Huntsville CenturyLink Center 7:37 p.m.
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10 | The Jewish Press | November 23, 2012
Hanoch Piven visits Friedel by DEBBIE DENENBERG for Friedel Jewish Academy “When I tried to imitate the other artists, I wasn’t exceptional. When I discovered my very own niche, I became excellent.” Hanoch Piven.
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chose objects from a colorful buffet of junk that families brought from home. In their own self-portraits, children used a broken headband for a smile, a magnet for a mouth. “What a great opportunity for our students to work with an acclaimed artist” said Friedel Principal Pam Cohn who is
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Chinese Restaurant Hanoch Piven, left, working with Daniel Rosenfeld With these words, Israeli illustrator and collage artist Hanoch Piven wrapped up his presentation to parents of Friedel Jewish Academy students. Hanoch was brought to Omaha by Carol Gendler and the UNO College of Education. He worked with Friedel Jewish Academy students in two hour sessions to teach them his special collage art. Hanoch is a portrait artist and illustrator, but with a creative twist. Instead of using line-and-ink, he uses everyday objects to create likenesses with whimsy and meaning. A portrait of Moses is made of matzo while a portrait of Nixon is made with a tape-recorder. His imaginative portraits have appeared on magazine covers from Time and Newsweek to Rolling Stone and Esquire. He recently branched out to illustrating children’s books and even publishing i-device apps where you can make your own fanciful portraits (more at www.pivenworld.com). No pipe-cleaners were allowed—to pry the children’s thinking away from making lines. Instead, the students
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Brad Berman working on his project new to the school this year. “Not only did the students have mountains of fun, they learned a lot about creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Friedel was the only private elementary school on Hanoch’s schedule, and he really delivered a rich program to our school.” How did Hanoch discover Omaha? Halfway around the world on a trip to Beijing, he met Amy Gendler, Carol’s daughter, and made the shiddach with Omaha, Nebraska.
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Temple Israel partners with Bemis Center to select artists for new building by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer As construction of its new building progresses, Temple Israel turns its focus inward to the art that will adorn its most holy spaces. Specifically, the process to select the artists who will fashion the sacred art pieces is underway. Temple Israel has partnered with the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts to help curate artists who will be considered for creating “the most critical art focal points in the new synagogue,” said Todd Simon, who has been working to coordinate the process between the building council, the relevant committees and the Bemis. The focal points include the ark enclosure, the eternal lights for both the main sanctuary and the chapel, Torah covers, clerestory windows that surround the sanctuary and a wall sculpture to be displayed at the new building’s main entrance. “Those are the most important signature pieces that are going to become internal icons of the experience at Temple,” Simon said. “We felt it was really important to get it right the first time.” To help get it right, Temple Israel turned to the Bemis Center. “The same kind of professional approach that we took to find the architect, we wanted to take that same approach to find the artists,” Simon said. “So we hired the curatorial staff at the Bemis to guide the process to select qualified panelists who could select world-class artists.” A five-member jury, consisting of Jack Becker, the Executive Director and CEO of the Joslyn Art Museum; Maurice Finegold, the Boston-based architect who designed the new Temple Israel; Adam Kleinman, a writer and curator who was the Agent for Public Programming for the dOCUMENTA (13) art exhibition; Hesse McGraw, the Chief Curator for the Bemis; and Connie Wolf, Director of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, was formed to submit artists for consideration. Invitations were sent to approximately 40 artists from around the world, and on Dec. 12, the jury will meet at the Bemis to review the submissions.
An Artwork Committee, made up of members of the Worship and Building Committees, along with the clergy, will also participate in the day-long discussion at the Bemis, though the final vote remains solely with the jury. In addition to being a juror, Adam Kleinman will be giving a lecture at the Bemis the week of the jury. The lecture, presented as a partnership between Temple Israel and the Bemis Center, will be open to the public. Further details will be forthcoming. The jurors sought out artists whose previous work exemplifies the kind of aesthetic best suited for display in a place of worship. “The jury is going to look for artists who they think can execute the kind of piece that has been defined through this process, within the aesthetic, budgetary and timing of when we need this done,” Simon said. “They’re going to bring their sense of beauty to the project.” Hesse McGraw said he and the other jurors are excited to see all the work that’s submitted for consideration. The jury is tasked with ensuring the artwork is of high quality and embodies the heart and soul of the congregation. “What we’re tasked with asking is, ‘Who are the best choices for artists who are suited to specifically engage this situation?’” Hesse McGraw said. “Amongst the nominated artists, it’s an incredibly exciting group of nominees. Many of the artists have produced prior works for temples, some have Jewish heritage.” In addition to helping curate artists for consideration, the Bemis Center is also ensuring that the selection process be a “positive experience for the artists,” according to McGraw. “The Bemis Center’s mission is to support artists of exceptional talent,” McGraw said. “Our role is to help structure a very humane process for the artists. Artists are often treated like any other subcontractor.” After the numbers are tallied from the Dec. 12 vote, commissions will be offered to the artists who received the most votes. The artists, should they accept, will develop proposals that will be reviewed and approved by the Building Council and Artwork Committee prior to the final execution of the artwork.
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November 23, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 11
December Community Calendar FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Beth El USY Kinnus Convention through Nov. 25, 8 a.m. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26 Adult Education with Rabbi Abraham, 10 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Monday Moadon, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Adult Tai Chi Class led by Beth Staenberg, 6 p.m. at Beth El Introduction to Judaism, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 B’nai B’rith Board Meeting, 11:45 a.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Beth El YAC Playgroup, 10:30 a.m. Jewish Book Month Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Friedel Magician Assembly, 1:30 p.m. at RBJH Federation Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Hebrew High, 6:30 p.m. at Beth El Prayer, Justice, Outreach as a Reform Jew with Rabbi Brown, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel 92nd Street Y Broadcast and Reception, 7 p.m. Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Scholars Club for 4th, 5th and 6th graders, 3:30 p.m. USY Lounge Night, 6:30 p.m. at Beth El 92nd Street Y Broadcast and Reception, 7 p.m. Dames and Drinks, 7 p.m. at Beth El FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Temple Israel: Shabbat Comes to You at RBJH, 2:30 p.m. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Junior Congregation, 10 a.m. at Beth El Family Shabbat, 10 a.m. at Chabad Masquerade Ball, 5:30 p.m. OJC Night at the Henry Doorly Zoo, 7 p.m. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2 BESTT Talmud Torah Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education Classes, 10 a.m. at Beth El Children’s Activity: Hanukkah, 10:15 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Tots, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Mainstreeters Event, 2 p.m. at Orpheum Theater MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 Adult Education with Rabbi Abraham, 10 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Monday Moadon, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Adult Tai Chi Class led by Beth Staenberg, 6 p.m. at Beth El Introduction to Judaism, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 B’nai B’rith Board Meeting, 11:45 a.m. Beth El Hanukkah Program, 1 p.m. at Remington Heights BBYO Night, 6 p.m. JCC Board Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 Rabbi’s and President’s Meeting, noon BESTT Talmud Torah Class, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Teen Night, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Prayer, Justice, Outreach as a Reform Jew with Rabbi Brown, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Hebrew High, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El Women’s Book Club, 7 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Scholars Club for 4th, 5th and 6th graders, 3:30 p.m. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 Mainstreeters going to the Durham Museum, 9:30 a.m. Friedel Latke Day, 11:30 a.m. Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Social Action Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El First Friday Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Tot Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Social Action Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Shabbat’s Cool Hanukkah Edition, 10 a.m. at Beth El Jewish Book Month Children, 5:30 p.m. at Omaha Children’s Musuem SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 Beth El volunteers at Habitat for Humanity, 8:30 a.m. Adult Education Classes, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El LEAP: for High School Students, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Latke Cookoff, 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Omaha Jewish Author’s Showcase, 1 p.m. Hanukkah Extravaganza, 4 p.m. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10 Adult Education with Rabbi Abraham, 10 a.m. at Beth El Friedel Hanukkah Candle Lighting, 2:30 p.m. at RBJH BESTT Monday Moadon, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Adult Tai Chi Class led by Beth Staenberg, 6 p.m. at Beth El Women’s Hanukkah Party, 7 p.m. at Chabad Center Introduction to Judaism, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 B’nai B’rith Board Meeting, 11:45 a.m. Beth Israel Jewish Medical Ethics, noon at Med Center BBYO and BBYO Connect Hanukkah Extravaganza, 5 p.m. B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz, 6 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. School Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Beth El YAC Playgroup, 10:30 a.m. Annual Menorah Parade, 4 p.m. at Chabad BESTT Talmud Torah Class, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Teen Night, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Prayer, Justice, Outreach as a Reform Jew with Rabbi Brown, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Hebrew High, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Scholars Club for 4th, 5th and 6th graders, 3:30 p.m. Beth El Women’s Rosh Hodesh Meeeting, 7 p.m. at Remington Heights Friedel Hanukkah Play, 7 p.m.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m. Oh Say Shalom to Shabbat & Tot Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El Shabbat Dinner for Teens, 6 p.m.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Junior Congregation, 10 a.m. at Beth El Hanukkah Lunch, 12:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Beth El Hanukkah Havdalah, 6:30 p.m. at RBJH Hanukkah Carnival, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 BESTT Talmud Torah Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education Classes, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El WRJ Meeting, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel LEAP: for High School Students, 2:30 p.m. at Beth Israel PLearVie (Pizza, Learning & a movie), 6 p.m. at Beth Israel 92nd Street Y Broadcast, 7 p.m. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17 Adult Education with Rabbi Abraham, 10 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Monday Moadon, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Introduction to Judaism, 7 p.m. Monthly Women’s Dessert & Discussion, 7 p.m. Jewish Press Board Meeting, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 Friedel Snow make-up date for play, 8 a.m. B’nai B’rith Board Meeting, 11:45 a.m. The Ethics of Our Fathers class, 2 p.m. at Remington Heights BBYO Night, 6 p.m. BESTT Talmud Torah Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 Friedel Winter Break begins BESTT Talmud Torah Class, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Transforming Moments in the Reform Movement with Rabbi Azriel, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Hebrew High, 6:45 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Scholars Club for 4th, 5th and 6th graders, 3:30 p.m. Board of Director’s Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 Adult Education with Rabbi Abraham, 10 a.m. at Beth El Chinese Dinner & A Movie, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 Temple Israel: Stephen Center Christmas Meal, 11:30 a.m. Men’s Club Congregational Dinner, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Scholars Club for 4th, 5th and 6th graders, 3:30 p.m. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 Beth El cooks/serves lunch at the Nebraska AIDS coalition, 9 a.m. Beth El Brings Shabbat to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29 Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 Temple Israel: Stephen Center Breakfast, 9 a.m.
All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Pat Anson at 402.334.8200. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.
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Jessie Wees
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12 | The Jewish Press | November 23, 2012
Point of view
American Jewish Press Association Award Winner
Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008
Can you hear me now?
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Halfway through the weekend (200+ press releases about Gaza in my inbox and counting) I start to get irritated. My head hurts, my vision is going blurry, and I can’t stop reading about the trouble in Israel. It’s hard to wrap your arms around it; it’s even harder not to feel like a hypocrite. On the local news they mention the conflict has escalated, “since the violence began last Wednesday.” What? Last Wednesday? What are they talking about? This didn’t start last Wednesday; this has been going on for years. I check several national news stations, but no dice: everyone is acting as if the rockets raining down on Israel are an entirely new development, brought on by an Israeli act of aggression. How dare Israel overreact like this, is the subtext. I check Fox, and they’re not even talking about it at all- they are too busy explaining why Susan Rice shouldn’t be Secretary of State. I guess talking about things that haven’t happened yet is more important than reporting the real news for the majority of the U.S. channels. Are we surprised that the world is judging Israel unfairly? Why is it so hard to get the message out, why is it so impossible to tell the truth about Hamas? Why do so many people not get this? I am by no means saying Israel is perfect, no country is, but when did it become fashionable to blame Israel for everything? The reason I feel like a hypocrite is that I, too, pay much more attention to the rockets aimed at Israel since Israel decided to strike back. So I am just as guilty as everybody else-- which is probably the real reason I’m so annoyed. We treat the rockets out of Gaza, the tunnels, the endless smuggling and demonstrations and flag burning as a nuisance, nothing more. We don’t pay attention until Israel shows her backbone, inadvertently reinforcing the idea that Hamas is not a problem until Israel makes it a problem. Without the
proper context, Israel ends up looking like the bully. We don’t mean to send that message, but by not actively fighting it, we become part of the problem. And we, in the rest of the world, lose our right to say anything, because we are never telling the whole story. How many press releases over the past year have I passed up? How many times has this newspaper paid attention to the neverending attacks from Hamas? I wrote about turkeys and yams last week, for goodness’ sake. And I am not the only one. Our paper may be small, a drop in the bucket (if that), but we have lots of company. Hamas is always a problem. Not just this week, not just last week, always. And as a Jewish editor, I should report on that, whether I get 5 news releases per day or 75. We tend to focus a lot of attention on local news, and that is good. We love printing stories about what happens here. However, Israel, too, is part of our community, and we should never forget that. “We stand with Israel,” it says on a big banner at the J’s entrance; let’s take those words seriously. Good intentions are not going to do the job; neither is self-flagellation, so enough of that. Of course, printing a weekly newspaper has its limits; we don’t necessarily have the option of a quick turn-around. But we do have a website. As of this writing, we have posted 30 stories under the “Israel” tab (under ‘World News’), ten focusing on operation Pillar of Defense since Nov. 14. We can do better than that, and we will. If the media coverage, or lack thereof, annoys me so much, I should start in my own backyard. Reporting on the challenges Israel faces every day on a more consistent basis may not solve the peace process, but it is a necessary step in creating a more informed
world. Of course, we can’t publish every single piece of news, nor can we expect readers to process it all. But we have to do better, and not only pay attention when things get truly hairy. There’s a caveat: with 12 to 16 pages per week, we have limited space to report everything we want; and even though we have practically unlimited room on our website, there’s the issue of only having 24 hours in the day. In addition, we don’t have our own personal press corps on the ground in the Middle East, so we still rely on the news wire. That’s okay; we have modern technology on our side, and as far as information goes, the world really has become a smaller place. There is honest news out there, and I believe it is possible to report on Operation Pillar of Defense without losing our moral compass. It is not easy, but it can be done. I’m sure the Israelis are tired of being ignored in the world media, of rarely getting their complete story out. Let’s continue to recognize the bias, and work towards changing it, one article at the time.
As federations await new funding model, no big buzz at GA
Focus on issues URIEL HEILMAN BALTIMORE (JTA) -- A year since its creation, the grandly named Global Planning Table remains the great white hope of the Jewish Federations of North America, which held its annual General Assembly here this week. Introduced a year ago, the GPT aims to reshape the way federations spend money outside their local communities by making decisions on collective spending more transparent and communal. Federation officials hope this will stem the decline in overseas spending and bring more clout -- and money -- to federations’ collective action. “Some say the federation system is an old model that won’t survive” because donors are more independent, Kathy Manning, the outgoing JFNA board chair, said at the GA’s opening plenary on Sunday. “I believe the secret of the Jewish community’s success is our ability to act together.” A year on, the GPT is still in its embryonic stages. No money has been doled out under GPT guidelines, and over the summer the professional director of the project resigned. The Jewish Federations subsequently announced that implementation of the GPT, which will end the traditional arrangement by which federation overseas dollars automatically went to the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee along a 75/25 percent split, will be delayed by a year. “This is slower than I would like it to be, but I understand we have to get a lot of buy-in,” Jay Sanderson, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, told JTA. “I’m still optimistic we can get the right thing done, but some-
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thing has to happen in 2013. There needs to be some tachles,” he said, using the Yiddish term for substance. The central challenge of the Jewish federations, which together raise nearly $3 billion per year, has not changed in recent years. These clearinghouses of Jewish charity must figure out how to keep the community committed to a system of collective action in an era when American Jewry is increasingly fragmented, less institutionally affiliated and more restrictive than ever when it comes to philanthropic spending. Most of the time, that’s a tough sell. But then a crisis like Hurricane Sandy comes along, and the need for a system that can harness the collective power of the community suddenly becomes readily apparent. In the space of just a few hours on the Sunday after the storm hit, the executive board of the UJA-Federation of New York made $10 million immediately available to Jewish institutions and people struck by the largest storm in memory to strike the northeastern United States. “Responding to people in suffering is what we do,” Jerry Levin, president of the UJA-Federation of New York, said at the GA. “This is the federation system.” Absent a crisis, however, mustering collective action faces two major obstacles: decision-making and motivation. How can 156 federations, each with its own agenda and priorities, come to agreement on spending decisions? And how can they motivate donors to give in support of those decisions? Federations hope the GPT is the answer. “The Global Planning Table could be terrific if they decided what the things are that we can do to bend the future,” Barry Shrage, president of the Boston federation, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, told JTA. “The federations are still the richest, most powerful force in American Jewish life. We
can change the world if we know what we want to do.” So far, the discussion, research, consultation and committees connected to the GPT have resulted in the identification of four spending priorities: strengthening Israel; developing leadership and community; caring for vulnerable populations; and building Jewish identity and connections. The federations hope they’ll be able to launch one to two new initiatives next year that support those priorities. “The potential still remains that the GPT will be able to gather enough momentum,” said Alan Hoffman, directorgeneral of the Jewish Agency. “It’s all about the power of ideas to engage the hearts and minds of donors. This is about the future of the federation movement.” While the GPT dominated insider buzz at last year’s GA held in Denver, this year’s assembly seemed to lack a comparable big issue. “I feel like it’s smaller, though that may be the venue,” said Susan Holzman Wachsstock, executive director of a group called Jewish Student Connection that seeks to enrich Jewish experiences for Jewish public school students. “I also think the content is much leaner than in previous years. The plenaries, however, were the best I’ve seen in years.” The conference site, the sprawling Baltimore Convention Center, dwarfed the 3,000 attendees, often making it difficult to find a crowd. There were no real star headliners -unless you count Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel or Edon, the kipah-wearing singing sensation from America’s Got Talent - and no one from either the Obama administration or the Israeli Knesset showed up. While attendance at other major Jewish gatherings has continued to climb year after year -- AIPAC’s annual Continued on page 13
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November 23, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 13
French Muslim leaders in Israel hope to mend fences with Jews
Focus on issues BEN SALES JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Standing in long, colorful robes and wearing traditional rounded hats, a group of men stood in reverent silence as one of their leaders placed a memorial wreath at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust museum. The group was a delegation of 19 Muslim leaders from France, in Israel to learn more about the Jews and their state. After a series of attacks against French Jews this year, many perpetrated by Muslims, the imams hope to improve the French Muslim community’s relationship with its Jewish neighbors. Delegation leader Hassen Chalgoumi, imam of the Drancy Mosque near Paris, said the trip reinforced the importance of combatting Islamic fundamentalism and Holocaust denial. “Life is more important than holy books,” Chalghoumi said in a speech outside of Yad Vashem. “We say in the name of love, of life, not to hide what happened” in the Holocaust. Relations between the Jewish community in France, Europe’s largest, and France’s more than 4 million Muslims have long been fraught with strife. The regular occurrence of anti-Semitic acts in France, including the horrific slaying in March of a rabbi and three children outside a Jewish day school in Toulouse, have significantly heightened the tension and mutual suspicion. Other incidents of anti-Semitic violence have followed, including a bomb exploding in a Jewish grocery store. Chalgoumi conceived of the trip after coming to Israel in June for the French Embassy’s Religion and Democracy Forum. Inspired by that visit, he wanted his colleagues to see the country, even as it generated controversy in his own
community. “They are very criticized by Muslims in France because they decided to come to Israel,” said Olivier Rubenstein, who organized the trip for the French Embassy. “To France, it’s very important to have mutual respect between the communities. French Islam is not the terrorist way.” The trip, from Sunday to Friday, had one of its most significant moments on Tuesday morning when the delegates visited the graves of the four victims of the Toulouse shooting. “The majority of Muslims want peace,” said Nourdine Mlanao, president of France’s National Council of Republican Diversity. He said the gunman, Mohammed Merah, is “not a Muslim.” In the coming days, the trip will take the delegates to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the Jerusalem Municipality, and to meetings with Israeli businesspeople and religious leaders. The group also went to Ramallah on Tuesday and met with France’s consul in Jerusalem. Chalghoumi and Mlanao both said they hope to see Israeli-Palestinian peace. While it was unclear what impact the leaders would have on France’s nearly 5 million Muslims, Mlanao plans to speak in public forums about the trip, and wants to arrange dialogue groups between French Muslims and Jews. He added, however, that “the government must take responsibility” for preventing anti-Semitic attacks. Olivier also commended government efforts and said that in order to address the root of Muslim-Jewish tensions, leaders should organize “more of this kind of event for understanding the other.” “It’s very important to know the other, not to be stuck in our ideological positions,” he said. “These imams are the leaders of a lot of Muslims in France. They’ll deliver in France a message of peace and understanding.”
Never date Philip Roth his work on three features, including one “dealing with an by ADAM SOCLOF Never date a writer, common wisdom tells, or you may exclusive and first interview with David Williams, the stepson of Philip Roth, which disclosed that Williams’ mother, become the subject of his/her next book. In October, celebrated American Jewish novelist Philip the late Margaret Martinson Williams Roth, is the basis for characters in some of Roth’s most important work.” Roth announced that he is no longer writing. The connection discovered by This development was first Cohn was explicated in a 2007 noted by JTA on Sunday, Nov. Roth Primer written by Stephen 11, the first day of the Jewish Amidon for the Sunday Times of Federations of North America’s London. 2012 General Assembly. Martinson inspired The The timing of the announceMonkey (Mary Jane Reed) in ment marked an interesting Portnoy’s Complaint and coincidence regarding Roth’s Maureen Tarnopol in My Life as work, Jewish journalism and the a Man, the latter a monstrous G.A. man-wrecker who tricks her On Nov. 11, 1976 -- exactly 36 years before JTA shared word of writer husband into marriage. Roth’s retirement -- the Smolar According to Amidon, Roth Awards for Excellence in North subsequently created characters Philip Roth in 1960 American Jewish Journalism, in the likeness of another exnamed after JTA Editor In-Chief emeritus Boris Smolar, wife, actress Claire Bloom. were announced at the annual Jewish parley in Philadelphia. For the record, the first red flag against dating Philip Roth One of the recipients for excellence in features was Robert was waved by a Jewish journalist. By the way, what do people say about dating us? Cohn, editor of the St. Louis Jewish Light. Cohn was cited for
Federations await new funding model Continued from page 12 now draws a crowd of more than 10,000, and 6,000 showed up to last year’s Reform biennial, which also featured President Obama -- the GA seems stuck at about 3,000. It wasn’t even the largest Jewish gathering of the week in America. That distinction went to the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, which drew more than 4,000 supporters and Chabad outreach emissaries to New York. “There needs to be more of a reason to get people here,” said L.A.’s Sanderson. “It’s not just about who speaks. Everything here is frontal, but the Jewish world is not frontal anymore. This is not an engaging setup. Maybe it doesn’t have to be every year. Maybe it should be every other year.” For many, the confab is not so much a pep rally as an opportunity for networking. Representatives of American Jewish and Israeli organizations hoping for federation support come to pitch their programs and meet federation leaders. Federation executives come to meet with their colleagues. More than 300 college students and 100 high schoolers were brought to this year’s conference. Stephen Hoffman, a former president of the federation
umbrella organization and now president of the Cleveland Jewish federation, said the GA is “not a place to convert the unwashed -- people who aren’t involved in federation.” Rather, he said, “It’s a place to reinforce the values and motivation of people who are engaged in the leadership ranks.” But Sanderson says GAs need to be attractive to more than just core professionals and lay leaders. “We need a lot more home runs,” he said. “This is a walk at best.” One moment of excitement that belied that analysis, many participants said, came in the closing assembly, when Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism and the GA’s official scholar-in-residence, delivered a call to stand up for religious pluralism in Israel. “So long as Israel remains the only democracy that legally discriminates against the majority of Jews who are in the non-Orthodox streams, the Zionist dream of the ingathering of the exiles in a Jewish state for all Jews cannot be fully realized,” Jacobs said in a speech punctuated by rousing applause. “It is time to end this discrimination once and for all.”
Contemplations on Jewish identity by RON KAMPEAS Delaware is a little state with a funny little Jewish history. On the one hand, the Klan persists in the state, and not too long ago, a school board in its conservative south settled a suit brought by Jewish families who said their kids were subject to pressure to convert. On the other, the state’s most famous son, Vice President Joe Biden, has not one, but two machatainisters. And it is the only state I know of that has had simultaneously a Jewish governor and lieutenant governor. So maybe that confusion explains the obsession one of its better-known judges, Leo Strine Jr., has with Jewish identity. Strine, on the state’s Chancery Court -- an important bench, because so many major corporations are headquartered in Delaware -- recently received a rare rebuke from the state’s Supreme Court for a digression in one of his legal opinions. The digression that prompted the rebuke has, as far as I can tell, nothing to do with Jews -- but other in-court digressions do, and these have earned Strine some baffled attention. At one recent session, the New York Times reports, he described Burch vs. Burch -- a battle royale between two formerly married designers -- as a “drunken WASP fest”: “We’ll be all geared up and in the mood for this sort of drunken WASP fest,” Judge Strine said, and then proceeded to ask about the litigants’ religion. “Are the Burches WASPs?” he asked. Robert Isen, the chief legal officer at Tory Burch, hesitated before responding, “Tory Burch is Jewish and Chris is not Jewish.” The answer did not entirely satisfy Judge Strine. “But not Jewish doesn’t make you a WASP, because it could make you an equally excluded faith like Catholic, right?” he asked. “I mean, that’s not a WASP. You know, a WASP is a WASP.” I found this piece he wrote for The Deal magazine, describing his off-bench passions: If you became a deal lawyer or banker because white Jewish kids can’t make it as soul artists, do not listen to Mayer Hawthorne’s song The Walk, as it will obliterate your rationalization. I mean, please. Amy Winehouse obliterated those rationalizations eons ago.
Could Hamas go moderate? by BEN SALES Experts often say that one of the biggest obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian peace today is the split between the Palestinians’ two major factions: Fatah and Hamas. Fatah cooperates with Israeli security forces and is committed in principle to the two-state solution. Hamas calls for Israel’s destruction and bombards southern Israel with rockets. It’s easy to forget, though, that in the 1980s Israel viewed the PLO, led by Fatah, much as it views Hamas now. The goal of the First Lebanon War, in 1982, was to oust the PLO from Beirut and to prevent it from attacking Israel. Eleven years after the Israeli invasion of Beirut, Yasser Arafat signed an agreement with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the White House lawn. What had changed? The PLO had agreed to recognize the Jewish state, to negotiate with it secretly and to renounce violence. Could the same process happen with Hamas? Hamas continues to call for Israel’s destruction. But after winning Palestinian elections in 2006, six years of governing Gaza seem to have led recently to Hamas’ pursuing stability. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, via Egypt, have happened several times. Evidence suggests that most of the bombs launched at Israel before this past weekend were the work of more extremist groups such as Islamic Jihad. A recent New York Times story reported that Hamas is now “sharing an interest” with Israel in controlling these extremist groups. And an editorial recently in Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot said that “Israel has no interest in Hamas being replaced by more extreme elements.” As long as southern Israel remains under attack, though, and Hamas continues to not recognize Israel, Israeli officials will be loath to call the group anything close to “moderate.” Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that “As far as Israel is concerned, Hamas is responsible for the rocket-fire and all other attempts to harm our soldiers and civilians, even when other groups participate. And it is Hamas that will pay the heavy price, a price that will be painful.” Another difference between the PLO’s and Hamas’ trajectories is that while the PLO was secular, Hamas is an Islamist group with an Islamist government in Gaza. This suggests that it will stay true to its foreign-policy fundamentalism as well. An improved status quo with a moderate Hamas seems like a long shot -- at least for now.
14 | The Jewish Press | November 23, 2012
Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885.
Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 4:41 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting service begins at 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by grandchildren of Ethel Mogil in honor of her 100th birthday; The Laws of Shabbat, 2:30 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Boys (ages 10 and up), 3:30 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Lecture Series, “Live Long and Prosper: The Jewish Secret to Longevity,” 3:30 p.m.; Mincha, 4:30 p.m., followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 5:44 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Women’s Dessert and Discussion, 7 p.m. Contact the synagogue office for meeting location. WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m. THURSDAY: Sacred Grounds, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross; Scholars Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:30 p.m.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. FRIDAY: USY Kinnus through Sunday, at the downtown Hitlon Hotel in Omaha. For more information, contact Eadie Tsabari in the BESTT office; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m.; MinchaMa’ariv, 4:50 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; MONDAY: Wrestling with Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham; Tai Chi Class class 6 p.m., taught by certified Tai Chi instructor Beth Staenberg and continues on Dec. 3 and 10. For more information, contact Margie in the office. WEDNESDAY: YAC Playgroup, 10:30 a.m., for a painting playdate. For more information, contact Caryn Scheer at carynscheer@yahoo.com. THURSDAY: Dames & Drinks, 7 p.m. All women of Beth El are invited. Dinner & Drash, Friday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m., following Shabbat services. Cost: $12.50 per person. RSVP online at www.bethel-omaha.org, or by contacting the office, or programming@bethel-omaha.org. Highly Controversial Laws of Torah, Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg. BESTT Torah Tots, Sunday, Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m., for preschoolers and their parents, led by Naomi Gaca. Clergy visits Remington Heights, Tuesday, Dec. 4, Beth El clergy will present a Hanukkah program for Remington residents. Back 2 Basics Adult-Ed class, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. led by Rabbi Abraham. No charge to attend. Women’s Book Club, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., at the synagogue. We’ll discuss The Frozen Rabbi, by Steve Stern. Hebrew Crash Course, Sundays, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. with Susi Frydman-Levin. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
B’nai Mitzvah Jacob Kirshenbaum, son of Barbara and Scott Kirshenbaum, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Beth El. Jacob is a seventh-grade Honor Roll student at Beadle Middle School. His interests include baseball, reading and video games. He has a sister, Rachel, and two brothers, Kevin and Alex. Grandparents are Max Kirshenbaum and the late Shirley Kirshenbaum, and Betty Gillogly and the late Bernard Gillogly. Ellie Paige Simon, daughter of Stacy and Bruce Simon, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Temple Israel. Ellie is a seventh-grade student at Westside Middle School. Her interests include music and theater, especially show choir. She participates in Westside Connection at school and Center Stage at Sharon North Jones Studio. They are both competitive show choirs. For her mitzvah project, Ellie is raising money for Wounded Warriors Project in support of family lodging during veteran’s recovery. She has a sister, Talia Layne Simon. Grandparents are Anne and Alan Simon, and Pat and Gene Smallwood of Phoenix, AZ.
CHABAD CENTER An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. The birthday of Rabbi Dovber, the second Chabad Rebbe. SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service. The Second Chabad Rabbi, Dovber was released from Czarist prison in 1826. SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.; Breakfast Bonanza, 9:30 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.; Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. Please reserve by calling 402.330.1800. WEDNESDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.; The Wedding anniversary of the Rebbe and his wife Chaya Mushka in the year 1928. All programs are open to the entire community.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. FRIDAY: Temple office closed; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Elaine Monnier. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Vayetze. SUNDAY: No LJCS classes. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at
Candlelighting Friday, November 23, 4:41 p.m.
Tifereth Israel; E.N. Forum, The Death Penalty: Justice, Retribution and Dollars, 7 p.m. with NE Solicitor General J. Kirk Brown and CU Boulder Prof. Michael Radelet at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. ADULT EDUCATION THURSDAYS, Beginning Hebrew, 6 p.m. Tot Shabbat with Ms. Jennifer, Friday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway | Offutt AFB, NE 68113 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.
TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: No Religious School. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-8, 6 p.m.; Temple Teen Night, 6 p.m.; Prayer, Justice, Outreach as a Reform Jews, 6:30 p.m. with Rabbi Brown. THURSDAY: The History of Judaism in Greece, 10 a.m. with Cantor Shermet; Make Homemade Applesauce for Hanukkah Dinner, noon. We are looking for some kitchen helpers with no skills required. Contact Program Director Wendy Goldberg, wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com or 402.556.6536, to participate. Shabbat Service Sermon in Song, Friday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. In honor of the influential composer Bonia Shur, who recently passed away, Cantor Shermet’s Sermon in Song will feature select pieces of his music and commentary from the cantor on Shur’s life and influence.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. FRIDAY: Temple office closed; Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch. SUNDAY: No LJCS classes. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Tot Shabbat with Ms. Jennifer, Friday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m.
Southern Israel remains under steady rocket barrage by JTA NEWS STAFF More than 90 Palestinians -- terrorists and civilians -JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Communities in southern Israel have been killed since the start of the operation on Nov. 14, came under a steady barrage of rockets and the Israeli mil- according to the IDF. Three Israelis have been killed. itary said it inflicted “severe damage on the rocket launching capabilities of terror organizations” as its Operation Pillar of Defense neared the end of its first week. At least 50 rockets were fired from Gaza toward southern Israel on Monday through the early afternoon. A woman in Ashkelon was wounded from rocket fragments while searching for a bomb shelter. Rockets fell in Sderot, Ashkelon, Ofakim and Shaar Hanegev. The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted rockets over those communities and over Beersheva. Overnight Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces targeted some 80 of what it called “terror sites” throughout the Gaza Strip, including underground rocket launching sites, tunnels and training bases, “inflictA wrecked house in Timorim, a village in central Israel, after being ing severe damage to the rocket launching capabilihit by a rocket fired from Gaza, Nov. 19, 2012. ties of terror organizations operating out of the Gaza Credit: Yossi Zeliger/Flash90/JTA Strip,” according to the IDF spokesman. The IDF also targeted buildings owned by senior terrorMore than 540 rockets have fallen inside Israel in the ist operatives used as command posts and weapons storage six days since the start of Pillar of Defense, all but 35 in facilities, it said. The IDF also targeted rocket-launching non-residential areas. Iron Dome has intercepted some squads as they prepared to fire rockets toward Israel. 320 of them, the IDF said.
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November 23, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 15
Where to find God
Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Vayetzei One might say that the principal idea of our Sidrah is that man is never alone, and that God is always available. The intriguing story here is that Jacob has a dream of a ladder, reaching from earth to the heavens. Angels were ascending and descending on it. We need not be disturbed that the ancient rabbis willingly assigned meanings to some of the words in our Sidrah, words that enabled them to think of humanity’s ability to reach God. They picture the ladder from Jacob’s dream as a literal ladder. They have to stretch the meaning of certain words, thus they were able to say that man is never alone, that whenever he wishes, whether he is in spiritual danger or not, he can find God. The ladder is there, whether in reality or in man’s mind. God is never unreachable; He is present and available when a human being wants to consult Him. The dream of the ladder is really no dream! Anyone who wishes to consult the Kodesh Boruch Hu need only to open his heart, and God will offer mental and spiritual advice, and peace.
Hamas’ Maashal shuns stop to bombings, Islamic Jihad leaders killed in strike by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- As Hamas’ leader in exile, Khaled Mashaal, brushed off a halt to bombings, Israeli airstrikes hit a Gaza media center and killed several leaders of Islamic Jihad. The Israel Air Force’s strike Monday evening -- the second on the center in two days -- killed Ramaz Harab, a top leader of Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the Al Quds Brigades. At least three other Islamic Jihad leaders were in the building when it was hit, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Hamas’ main television station, Al Aksa, is located on the top floor of the high-rise building. In Cairo, meanwhile, Maashal said Monday during an hourlong news conference, “Whoever started the war must end it.” He told reporters that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested a cease-fire, a claim that Israel has denied, according to reports. Maashal said there is a new spirit of cooperation among Palestinian factions due to the Israeli operation, which began on Nov. 14. “Israel is the common enemy. Confrontation with the enemy is our moment of truth,” he said. “We must end the political divide and unite around common institutions and around resistance to Israel. Our enemy cannot be treated with words, but only by force. No concessions should be made with Israel, given the new atmosphere in the Arab world.”
Lebanon defuses two missiles aimed at Israel by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The Lebanese Army defused two rockets aimed at northern Israel. The Grad rockets, located in southern Lebanon close to the border with Israel, were believed to have been placed there since Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense against Gaza began six days ago, according to a Reuters report that cited unnamed sources. They were located less than one mile from an Israeli military site on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. Several Palestinian groups operate in southern Lebanon, though the border has been quiet in recent years. The Iranbacked terrorist group Hezbollah is also based in Lebanon.
CORRECTION In our 11-16-2012 edition, Mathew Wiesman's name was misspelled. The Jewish Press regrets the error.
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Comfort Keepers by RICK MAGILL Comfort Keepers is proud to announce its ten-year anniversary in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Rather than having just another party or open house, we looked for a different way to mark the milestone, namely, by giving back to the community that gave so much to us. Comfort Keepers will match financial gifts to the following organizations: HELP Adult Services, Immanuel Pathways in Council Bluffs, and the Alzheimer’s Association-Midlands Chapter. Our initiative runs through Dec. 15; if you would like to contribute, please contact the above agencies directly. Comfort Keepers is a State licensed home care agency, providing personal care, companion care and private duty nursing for seniors in the Omaha/Council Bluffs region. Voted “Best of Omaha” for the second year in a row, Comfort Keepers is locally owned and operated by Rick and Denise Magill. For more information about the Anniversary Challenge or questions about options for a loved one, please call us at 402.991.9880.
Ring in the New Year with fun in the outdoors by BRAD A. WATKINS Director of Communications Fontenelle Forest is now taking reservations for Winter Day Camps. Don’t let the cold weather keep your explorer inside over winter break. Fontenelle Forest will once again be offering Winter Day Camps over winter break on Jan. 2, 3 and 4. Camps will be held at Camp Brewster each day from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Led by Fontenelle Forest’s trained camp staff, each day will be a different adventure. Campers will hike, track animals, study snowflakes, create art, read stories, play games, and much more! Campers will be split up into groups based on current grade level. The cost is $50 for Fontenelle Forest members and $60 for non-members per day. A snack is included. Campers must bring their own lunch. Registration is required and space is very limited. For more information and to register, please visit fontenelleforest.org/wintercamps.
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West Bank Palestinian protester dies by JTA NEWS STAFF L JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A Palestinian protester shot by Israeli troops during a protest against the Gaza operation has died. Rashid Tamimi, 31, died Monday after being shot Saturday during a protest in the West Bank, Ynet reported. Protests against Operation Pillar of Defense continued throughout the West Bank on Monday, according to reports. Also on Monday, an Israeli car caught on fire after being hit by a bomb thrown by a Palestinian protester in the Binyamin region of the West Bank.
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Orthodox Jewish Brooklyn store owner latest serial murder victim
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by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Three Brooklyn store owners, two of them Orthodox Jews, have been murdered at work by the same gunman, according to New York police. The latest murder was on Nov. 16 in the Flatbush store of Rahmatolla Vahidipour, 78, of Great Neck, N.Y., in suburban Long Island. Vahidipour was shot in the head and chest in his She She Boutique, and then dragged to the back of the store and covered with clothes, according to the New York Daily News. The newspaper cited police sources as saying the shell casings from the murder matched those of two other Brooklyn store owners who also were found dragged to the backs of their stores. Vahidipour, who came to the United States from Iran, was scheduled to attend the bar mitzvah of one of his nine grandchildren, according to the newspaper. In August, Isaac Kadare, 59, an Orthodox Jew born in Egypt, was shot in the head and stabbed in the neck in his Amazing 99 Cent Deals store in Bensonhurst. A month earlier, Mohammed Gebeli, 65, a Muslim originally from Egypt, was shot in the neck and killed in his clothing store in Bay Ridge.
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16 | The Jewish Press | November 23, 2012
N.J. kosher cheese company bidding for recovery after Sandy by CHAVIE LIEBER for two weeks, the company has been forced to write off JERSEY CITY, N.J. (JTA) -- A flooded warehouse, an entire batch of inventory. decomposed wall beams, sodden sheetrock, crumbling “The cheese must be stored at a temperature of 33 to 40 brick walls, a fried electrical system and about $2 million degrees Fahrenheit to be edible,” says Omer Wienrib, worth of rotten cheese waiting to be chucked: That’s only AIF’s vice president of operations. “Once we lost electrica glimpse of the woes facing Brigitte Mizrahi. ity, there was no chance to save any of it.” Mizrahi owns Anderson International Foods, a small Standing inside an industrial-size refrigerator packed kosher cheese company she founded in 1995, and her with some 100,000 boxes of cheese, Weinrib places his warehouse is located in an industrial area of Jersey City hand on a combo pack of fancy cheeses that should be on about a mile from the Hudson River waterfront. its way to Costco stores in Mexico. Some of the product Although the facility isn't in the designated flood zone, it is still cold, even though the air has the familiar stench of was under four feet of water soon after superstorm Sandy sweaty feet. blew through town two weeks ago. “Even though it’s cold out, it’s too much of a risk to be “The only reason why I look calm is because I’ve selling the cheese,” he says. “This is what people eat. We already had time to decompress,” said the petite native of can’t mess with that.” France while standing outside what was once her office. The cost of AIF’s devastation is significant. Mizrachi “It was such a beautiful building. The roof over here estimates the loss of her inventory alone could be as blew off, it’s pretty much gone, and all that used to be much as $2 million, with the building repairs nearly twice brick,” she adds, pointing to a wall with a mound of brick that figure. rubble piled high. Still, AIF presses on: It has received a new shipment of More than two weeks after the worst storm to hit the cheese, using several generators to power the refrigerated northeastern United States in memory, life has returned to rooms, and their 20 employees are working full time on normal for most of the millions of residents in the storm's regular salary. path. Still, thousands remain without power. And for those “We barely missed any days,” Maimon said. “We have a with homes and businesses that took the brunt of Sandy's makeshift office in Brigitte’s apartment living room and beating, the cleanup and restoration work is just beginning. we are getting right back on our feet.” Inside the AIF warehouse, a team of workers from a “Of course, we have some coffee, tea and candy,” Mizrahi recovery company is working on repairs. Three men in adds. “Some nice Jewish hospitality to get through all this.” masks are power washing the floors with bleach and sanFor AIF, the storm could hardly have come at a worse time. itation solution to get rid of the dirty residue from the Kosherfest, the world’s largest kosher food trade show floodwater, attempting to restore the facility to the prisand perhaps AIF's most important marketing event of the tine cleanliness required of a commercial dairy. year, is being held Tuesday and Wednesday in New Out front, a Dumpster overflows with removed sheetrock An off-site recovery company is working to clean and sanitize the Jersey. The members of Mizrahi’s team have been workand beams. The walls must be completely redone, ensuring warehouse of the kosher cheese firm Anderson International Foods in ing around the clock to ensure that they have everything Credit: Chavie Lieber under control and promise their table will impress. that employees won't become sick from inhaling mold or Jersey City, N.J. Still, those piles at the front look minimal compared to the mildew. A pile of computers, printers, fax machines, desks, Meanwhile, the company is dealing with insurance asseschairs and wires is stacked to the left, boxes of the company’s boxes of wasted cheese that stretch across and down the rest sors and hoping that government relief assistance will help paperwork are stacked to the right. Two forklifts with blown of the warehouse. cover the costs of rebuilding. For now, though, the price of AIF sells cheese under three labels: Natural and Kosher, rebuilding is being paid from company coffers. electrical systems droop in the corner waiting to be trashed. “This is organized!” says project manager Yehuda les Petites Fermieres and Organic Kosher. The company “We don’t really know exactly what we will get back Maimon. “You should have seen it after the storm. Pitch takes shipments from producers in California, Wisconsin because you never know with insurance,” Weinrib said. “But black, everything everywhere; it was terrifying. No one and Israel, and distributes to stores across the United States if we have to, we’ll pay for repairs and move on. This can be as well as Mexico, Australia and Canada. But lacking power a fresh beginning for all of us hit by this hurricane.” thought it was going to be this bad.”
Food Coming in January
The
Guide
Publishing Date | 01.04.13 Space Reservation | 12.24.12 Camera Ready Deadline | 12.26.12 Jessie Wees | 402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org