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Jewish Author Event: Bob Yaffe B’nai B’rith plans its Annual Bible Quiz: Jeopardy! — The David Edition Page 3

Jumping Jehoshaphat: 2 Chronicles 20 Page 4

Showing in the Eisenberg Gallery at the J Page 7

HEIDI HEILBRUN PJ Library Coordinator ocal author Bob Yaffe is a strong advocate for open adoptions. “A person has a right to know their origins,” he said. It’s a theme he promotes throughout his book, Relinquished, which he will present at the Staenberg Omaha JCC on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. A question-andanswer session will take place following Yaffe’s presentation at the Goldstein Community Engagement Venue. Relinquished details Yaffe’s emotional 30year journey to find his biological parents following his adoption in 1950. Throughout the book, the author expresses deep gratitude to his parents, who adopted him, and his Jewish upbringing. Yaffe explains that in looking for one’s birth parents, “[adoptive] parents need to understand – it’s not a reflection of a lack of love or a lack of respect.” Yaffe longed to know where he came from. The city of Omaha and its Jewish Community play a central role in his story, reflecting his upbringing and birth in the city. Yet, the author had many questions he wanted to answer including: Why do I live in Omaha? Why am I Jewish? His biological mother, who was also Jewish, insisted her child be adopted to another

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HAZZAN MICHAEL KRAUSMAN Beth El Synagogue Rabbi Or and Feliza Zohar, internationally renowned singers, composers, and spiritual ambassadors recently came to America from the Upper Galilee region of Israel, and we are excited to announce that they will be joining the Beth El Community as musical scholars-in-residence Dec. 6 and 7, 2024. Their inspirational settings of our sacred texts show a high degree of empathy while at the same time being extremely engaging and accessible. I met Or and Feliza a few years ago when they first visited Omaha at the tail end of the COVID pandemic, and when we were in the midst of doing a major renovation of our sanctuary. Despite these issues, all who attended

Additions to the KripkeVeret Collection SHIRLY BANNER JFO Library Specialist YOUNG ADULT: Bird Brain by Joanne Levy Arden Sachs has always wanted a pet: a purring kitten or an adorable puppy, or even a fuzzy guinea pig. But living in a cramped condo with her mom and siblings means she’s unhappily pet-free. Then her Uncle Eli, a professor and scientist, asks Arden to look after Ludwig, his African Grey parrot, while he’s away on sabbatical in Guinea. A little afraid of the bird, Arden reluctantly agrees to prove that she can handle pet ownership.

Bob Yaffe

Jewish family. “My Jewish background has been exceedingly important,” said Yaffe. “It’s the best gift [my parents] ever gave me.” Yaffe said he leaned on his Jewish faith and values, which helped ground him through the difficult moments of his search. Ultimately, he decided to accept whatever information he would find. While the author See Jewish Author Event page 3

Musical Shabbat with the Zohars

Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

SPONSORED BY THE BENJAMIN AND ANNA E. WIESMAN FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND

Rabbi Or and Feliza Zohar

were treated to a remarkable experience. The Zohar’s very deep love and affinity for Jewish music and liturgy is only matched by their warm and engaging personalities. During the winter of 2023 when I was in Israel with the JFO teen trip, I had the opportunity to reconnect with Rabbi Or and Feliza. Not only did they give us a warm welcome to Israel, but we had the chance to visit the Galilee, where they spent several

years as spiritual leaders. At that time, I had no clue that only a year later, Nahariya, the lovely city in which we met, would be the subject of merciless rocket attacks by Hezbollah terrorists. In speaking to Rabbi Or, he commented on how impressed he has been with the warm and welcoming Beth El community during the two times he visited Omaha. “Feliza and I are so excited to reconnect with our Omaha friends, share some of our music, and help create a meaningful, spiritual, and uplifting worship experience while at the same time having a wonderful time with all who attend.” We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome the Zohars back to the Omaha Jewish community. Please plan to join us at Beth El on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., as we begin the weekend with a lively and spirited Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Feliza and Rabbi Or will combine a sampling of their outstanding original prayer settings together with some of our familiar melodies and be accompanied by an ensemble of our own Beth El musicians. Not only will the service be spiritually moving, but physically moving, too, as it is almost impossible See Musical Shabbat page 2

But when Ludwig goes beyond his usual sounds and imitations to spout numbers and words that seem way too complex for a parrot, Arden wonders if there's more to this bird than meets the eye. As they get to know each other, Arden realizes Ludwig is not only super smart, he’s also fiercely loyal, helping her with everything from her school presentation to her bully problems, and her pursuit of a spot on the Science Bowl team. Ludwig may not be the pet Arden wanted, but he might turn out to be exactly the pet she needed. ADULT: Saying No to Hate: Overcoming Antisemitism in America by Norman Finkelstein Saying No to Hate grounds readers contextually in the history of antisemitism in America by emphasizing the legal, political, educational, communal, and other strategies American Jews have used through the centuries to address high-profile threats. Norman H. Finkelstein shows how antisemitism has long functioned in America in systemic, structural, and interpersonal ways, from missionaries, the KKK, and See Kripke-Veret page 2