Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
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December 7, 2012 23 Kislev 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 12
This Week
A poem for Hanukkah Page 5
Tastes like Hanukkah Page 6
by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha Jewish communal professionals from across North America gathered recently in Baltimore for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) 2012 General Assembly (GA). Included in the 3,000 participants were JFO professionals Marty Ricks and Sharon Kirshenbaum. e event is a forum for current thinking and best practices in Jewish philanthropy, religion and culture, and includes discussions of the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community at home and abroad. Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel headlined what was billed as a “historic dialogue” with Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Soviet Jewry. Together they planned the extraordinary march that changed the landscape of the American Jewish community and helped free Soviet Jews. ey spoke on how the March forever impacted the global Jewish Continued on page 2
Elie Wiesel and Natan Sharansky. Credit: JFNA
JCC dancers strike a pose Making connections The two faces of Morsi Page 12
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press In early 2013, Omaha Performing Arts will mark the 100th anniversary of choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps (Rite of Spring). “e Rite Returns” is the name of the event, which runs from Feb. 23 through March 3.
movements choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky shocked the audience, which was accustomed to the demure conventions of classical ballet. Despite its unfavorable debut, Stravinsky’s score became one of the most celebrated musical works of the 20th century. Hundreds of choreographies were created for the
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When it premiered in Paris on May 29, 1913, Rite of Spring received a riotous reception. e original Ballet Russe’s production created an uproar. e intensely rhythmic and dissonant score by Igor Stravinsky and primitive
score, but Nijinsky’s original ballet was not performed again until 1987, when e Joffrey Ballet presented it to commemorate the work’s 75th anniversary. From music to poetry, from dance to podcast and more, Omaha Performing Arts offers a multi-disciplinary celebration. One of the highlights: e JCC Dance Training Company will be performing on ursday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum eater’s Slosburg Hall. ey will be in good company: more than 15 local dance groups will perform original pieces of choreography for this free community event. is evening will also feature Continued on page 2
by BOB GOLDBERG Director of Strategic Initiatives, Jewish Federation of Omaha One thing that makes Omaha an exceptional Jewish community is the pride we take in welcoming new families and individuals with genuine warmth and kindness. We invite them to dinner, we tour them around town, and we show them all the things that make us proud to call Omaha home. We definitely take pride in showing off the accomplishments of the recent past, things like the new jewishomaha.org website, the modern facilities of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, the JCC Phil Sokolof Fitness Center, along with the cooperation we demonstrate by working together as a community. Equally important is that we let people know that Omaha is special because anyone who wants to get involved and make a difference, whether it be through the
Federation, its agencies, the synagogues or other Jewish organizations can, simply by taking the initiative to start. Our goal is to make Omaha the best Jewish community, and we are the best when we are all actively involved. On Saturday night, Nov. 17, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Young Jewish Omaha (YJO), the JCC, along with our three synagogues and three young community Rabbis, Steven Abraham (Beth El), Josh Brown (Temple Israel), and Jonathan Gross (Beth Israel), hosted 70 people in the JCC Auditorium for a Newcomer’s Havdalah event. e event featured lots of important schmoozing and meeting new people, learning about Omaha and making sure that everyone is getting the Jewish Press. We also enjoyed an interactive Israeli wine tasting program Continued on page 2
2 | The Jewish Press | December 7, 2012
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Continued from page 1 community and how its reverberations are still felt today. î ˘e two credited American “students and housewivesâ€? for their grassroots eorts to promote the plight of Soviet Jews. â€œî ˘e advocacy that was critical for Soviet Jews of yesterday remains just as critical today. Israel is still in danger and is still threatened. Israel needs Jews of the Diaspora more than ever before,â€? said Wiesel. î ˘e conversation was moderated by Laura Bialis, an award winning documentary filmmaker who produced and directed Refusnik (released in May, 2008), about the movement to free Soviet Jewry. î ˘ose living in Omaha at the time will recall that Bialis co-produced the film with Stephanie Seldin (daughter of Sarah and Ted Seldin) and the duo’s original plan was to focus the film on Shirley Goldstein, an Omaha housewife and activist in the fight to free Soviet Jews. î ˘is session was particularly poignant for Kirshenbaum and Ricks as plans continued upon their return for Omaha’s own recognition of the 25th Anniversary March for Soviet Jewry. Ricks participated in a few GAs in the past, but acknowledged the importance of his attendance this year as he prepares for his new position as Chief Development OďŹƒcer with Federation. “I attended a breakout session run by four Federation professionals including Matt Freedman, the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropic Resources. î ˘ey reinforced the importance of spending time with donors, of finding out what they care about, and, most importantly, taking that next step to make the connection to the Jewish Federation.â€? “I really love what a Cincinnati Financial Resource Development professional said to the group: We are in the Friendraising business, not the Fundraising business,â€? Ricks added.
He continued, “I noticed that most of the talk centered on the trend of Federation professionals handling community fundraising. In Omaha, we are still a lay-driven Annual Campaign and as long as we have leaders like Murray Newman and Anne Shackman devoting their time, energy and resources to a successful Campaign, we will remain so. î ˘ey are exceptional leaders.â€? Kirshenbaum feels there is merit in time spent networking and getting reacquainted with colleagues from across the country. â€œî ˘ere is a great sense of purpose and satisfaction in highlighting Omaha and showcasing our accomplishments,â€? she said. To that end, Kirshenbaum handed out dozens of this year’s Annual Campaign booklets, the very ones mailed out to the entire community in October. î ˘e feedback was immediate. “Everyone just loved that we took our Campaign event entertainment, Beatlemania, and incorporated it into our marketing and solicitation eorts. It was great exposure for Omaha.â€? She had an opportunity to speak at a breakout session on leadership where the group focused on YPO’s (Young President Organizations), an emerging aďŹƒnity group. Kirshenbaum provided information on JFO’s relatively new aďŹƒnity group, the Omaha Jewish Entrepreneur Forum. JFNA wrapped up its three day General Assembly with Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren’s symbolic call for a new covenant built on shared values between Israel and the United States. Oren detailed ongoing challenges facing Israel, from “the Iranian centrifuges that continue to spin,â€? to the 120 rockets that struck southern Israel just prior to Israel implementing Operation Pillar of Defense. Amid near-constant threats, Oren proudly highlighted the continuing Israeli drive to innovate and succeed, and how Israel will now be “exporting caviar and Olympic snow-making machines to Russia.â€? While Jewish communities in Israel and North America are living in a kind of golden age, he said, they need to build on that success to forge a bond that is “more symbiotic, more organic and more vital to our common survival.â€?
“We are in the Friendraising business, not the Fundraising business� – as described to Marty Ricks at the 2013 General Assembly.
Making connections Continued from page 1 called “Wine Tasting and Intoxicating Torahâ€? that brought Torah to life through wine. Wine is an important element of Jewish culture and life, and with the facilitation of Lisa Bodziner, a Jewish educator and wine enthusiast from the Pearlstone Center, a Jewish organic farm outside of Baltimore, Maryland, guests were entertained while enjoying a variety of quality Israeli wines and connecting with its Jewish significance. î ˘e evening also featured the musical talents of singer/songwriter Yisroel Juskowicz. Juskowicz, from Baltimore, is a painter, a physical therapist who works with children with development delays, and has a passion for Judaism and getting closer to G-d. î ˘e latest output of his creative journey is writing songs that have led to his first collection titled î‚ťe Narrow Bridge, which tells an inspiring story of how a boy had the courage to survive the Holocaust because of a Hasidic song. During the wine tasting portion of the evening,
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Taylor, and set to a Stravinsky arrangement, performed live by the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra under the direction of Aviva Segall. “It’s incredibly special that the Training Company dancers were invited to be a part of this,â€? says Esther Katz, Director of Cultural Arts at the Jewish Community Center. â€œî ˘e JCC Training Company dancers are among the youngest participants; almost all the other dancers are adults. It’s a wonderful compliment of what we are doing in the JCC dance department.â€? Esther Katz herself will be performing with several other dancers in a piece called Motivation. All groups were given the task to choreograph a piece that was inspired by the themes presented in the original Rite of Spring. Wendy Larson-Cooper is choreographing the JCC performance. Larson-Cooper began her choreographic journey by heading to the dictionary and looking up the words “rite, ritual, renaissance, regenerate, and emergence. My creative mind then took me to the music of Yanni, especially the song Rainmaker. It has a ritualistic, almost aboriginal sound and tells me a story of opposing sides and their eort to become one. î ˘e ballet titled Emergence is what resulted.â€?
Juskowicz, along with YJO committee members Naomi Fox and Andrew Boehm, led the kids (in another room) in Jewish songs and craî‚?s. î ˘e kids made their own Havdalah spice bags with herbs brought by Bodziner from the Pearlstone Center, and Fox, Boehm and Juskowicz entertained by singing Hanukkah songs along with the kids. Newcomers met community Rabbis, Jewish community professionals and new people, beginning new friendships. We even hosted Rabbi Dovid and Laila ShaďŹƒer who came in from Kearney, Nebraska. Making connections is really what it’s all about. Newcomers ranged from couples in their 70’s, to families with infants in carriers, to singles and young couples. Everyone had a great time and leî‚? knowing that they made new friends, learned something new and felt a bit more comfortable in their new home city. î ˘is event was made possible by a generous grant from the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation.
î ˘e JCC Dance Training Company is open to dancers 12 and older, with annual auditions required. î ˘ere is no competing; the Company performs at dierent venues around the city and has a concert annually at the JCC î ˘eater. “We take what we do very seriously,â€? Esther says. “It’s not about going from competition to competition, or who has the cutest outfits and the shiniest sequins. It’s not that sort of pressure we are aî‚?er. Instead, it’s all about hard work, and about respect for technique and the art of dance. We value modesty, age appropriate movement and technique, and most of all a nurturing environment for our dancers. It’s because of that approach to dance that the JCC Dance Training Company was selected to participate in this event.â€? Join Omaha Performing Arts for a weeklong celebration; In addition to music, poetry and dance, there will be opportunities beyond the stage that bring together artists, students and community members through master classes, free community events, and pre-performance chats. Although the community event on Feb. 28 is free, and no reservations are needed, this is not necessarily the case for all performances. For the Omaha Performing Arts full schedule of events, visit www.î ˘eRitereturnsOmaha.com, or go to www.TicketOmaha.com. For more information about the JCC Dance Training Company, please contact Esther Katz at ekatz@jccomaha.org.
December 7, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 3
Alvin S. Johnson admitted to the Nebraska Hall of Fame by OLIVER B. POLLAK lived in encyclopedic times and filled the e Nebraska Hall of Fame, established in library with their books that were spread out 1961, is an exclusive group of twenty men over the broadness of human knowledge: and five women. To join you have to have economics, sociology, faith, social policy been dead for at least 35 and education. Johnson years, and selection is limitconfronted Marxism, ed to one every five years. Progressivism and entrepreSuccessful candidates exhibneurial America. He wrote it intellectual, cultural, economic textbooks, novels, political and moral accomtracts on libraries and adult plishments that are rememeducation and edited the bered two generations later. magisterial multi-volume eir busts adorn the State Encyclopedia of the Social Capitol. Sciences, and in 1952 his Cultural icons who took autobiography, Pioneer’s the Nebraska story to the Progress. world include Willa Cather, Johnson’s teaching at stellar Bess Street Aldrich, John G. universities, Bryn Mawr, Alvin S. Johnson Neihardt, Mari Sandoz and Nebraska, Cornell, Chicago, Loren Eiseley. Political and military leaders Texas, Stanford, Columbia, and Yale helped include J. Sterling Morton, William formulate his educational mission, fulfilled in Jennings Bryan, General John J. Pershing, co-founding e New School for Social Judge, Congressman and Senator George Research in New York in 1918, and directW. Norris, and Senator Gilbert M. ing from 1922 until his retirement in 1945. Hitchcock. He wanted to provide continuing education Alvin Saunders Johnson, born to Danish for nontraditional students – the out-ofimmigrants in Homer, Nebraska, in 1874 school adult who wants to learn and improve. died in Nyack, New York in 1971 at the age Johnson, a go-to person, combined his of 96. He earned a BA and MA in Classics at training in the classics, advanced studies in the University of Nebraska in 1897 and 1898 economics and practicality to analyze and a doctorate at Columbia University in thorny problems. e Carnegie Foundation Economics in 1902. employed him in 1915 to review the utility Johnson the patriot volunteered for the of Carnegie funding of Library construcSpanish-American War, served on the War tion. He wrote a study that concluded legalIndustries Board during the First World izing prostitution and providing medical War, and fought Nazism by rescuing the exams (the European method) would not persecuted from Hitler’s grasp. He fought work, the solution was improving living, discrimination against African Americans working and other opportunities for and declared he loved liberty more than life women. He edited e New Republic, a itself. forum on social policy. Johnson had the breadth of mind of the e authors of New School (1986) characearlier economist Adam Smith. ey were terized Johnson’s practical Midwestern not the clichéd renaissance men, they both leadership skills, “Whatever the situation,
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Johnson invariably managed to cut through confusions and personal animosities, showing little patience for obstructionists.” During the 1930s he formed the University in Exile rescuing German academics from Nazi clutches, and some young Germans were resettled at Van Eeden, North Carolina, an agricultural colony for refugees. He presided over the use of publishing royalties accruing from the sales of Hitler’s Mein Kampf. His unprecedented relationship with Jewish intellectuals is wor-
by ZOË AND CARL RIEKES, STACEY AND BRETT ATLAS 2013 Annual Campaign Co-Chairs e Jewish Federation of Omaha’s 2013 Annual Campaign has hit our first benchmark by eclipsing the $1 million dollar mark, meaning that we are one third of the way to reaching our goal of raising $3,013,144. Our goals this year are to increase the campaign by 5% and to add 200 new or re-engaged gis. e goal of $3,013,144 represents a 5% increase from last year so we are excited to report that to date, over 50% of the completed pledges have increased by 5% or more. is is an important goal that we are watching closely. We continue working hard to rebuild the campaign so that we can provide the programs and services that sustain our community and support glob-
thy of further study and exhibits. e acknowledgment of honest human greatness, in an age of cynicism and fallen idols, expands our better consciousness. e bulk of Johnson’s papers reside in Special Collections at UNL’s Love Library. As a humanitarian, social researcher, distinguished economist and educator, he is well worthy of inclusion in the Nebraska Hall of Fame and increased public recognition and incorporation into Nebraska’s public school curriculum.
al Jewish needs. We are still $2 million dollars short of our goal and we need your support, so let’s Come Together as a community and raise the remaining two million dollars by Dec. 31, 2012 so we can support the needs of our Omaha Jewish community while providing the necessary assistance to Jews in need in Israel and around the world. To make your gi to the Federation’s 2013 Annual Campaign, you can go to www.jewishomaha.org/donate and make a gi online or print out a pledge card, complete it and mail it back to Sharon Kirshenbaum, Jewish Federation of Omaha, 333 S 132 St, Omaha, NE 68154 or contact her at 402.334.6485 or skirshenbaum@jewishomaha.org. We thank you for your wonderful support.
4 | The Jewish Press | December 7, 2012
Welcome new donors!
B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz by GARY JAVITCH e 27th Annual Edward Zorinsky B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz Contest for Jewish teenagers will be held at 7 p.m. in the JCC Auditorium on Tuesday evening, Dec. 11. e contestants for this year’s quiz are: Jacob Arnold, Zev Krausman, Aaron Kurtzman, Sam Lieb, Justin Norton, Hannah Perry, Max Polack, Ethan Potash, Ari Juster, Lee Lohman, Max Weiner and Aaron Zipursky. e judges for this year’s contest will be Rabbi Josh Brown, Marty Shukert and Rabbi Yaacov Weiss. e questioner will be Gloria Kaslow. e host and timekeeper will be Ari Riekes, President of the Henry Monsky Lodge. Gary
Javitch will be the scorekeeper, and Karen Javitch will be the chaperone. Deb Marburg, B’nai B’rith Administrative Assistant, will be assisting in the operations of the contest. Ari Riekes said that the contest is open to the public. We encourage everyone to attend because it has always been an interesting and exciting experience. e contest will be preceded by a dinner at 6 p.m. in the social hall and open to all members of B’nai B’rith, the contestants, their parents and all members of the committee. For more information, please contact Steven Riekes at 402.492.9800, or Deb Marburg at 402.334.6443.
Beth El eighth graders’ memorable trip to Chicago by JILL BELMONT they walk.” Beth El Publicity Coordinator Josie Slovut added that, “It was interesting seeing the passFor years, Beth El’s eighth-graders have been immersed in ports with the false middle names, the armband saying Holocaust education through reading materials, multi- ‘Jude,’ and just seeing what we had learned earlier.” media presentations and guest speakers. Last month, the “Just being in the building gave me chills,” said Sam students added another dimension to their education, jour- Kricsfeld. “I cannot express how emotional and educational neying to Skokie, Illinois, the museum was.” to spend a day at the Eliana Schuller noted that Chicago Holocaust the visit “helped me to Museum, along with Eadie really connect and rememTsabari, Beth El’s Director ber what happened and of Congregational Learnhow fortunate I am;” and ing, and eighth-grade her classmate Joshua teacher Janie Kulafosky. Kurtzman shared that “I The trip was important was impressed by the stoas a bonding experience ries of the survivors.” for the students, Tsabari Saying she was impressed said, and was filled with by the fact that Holocaust During their recent Chicago trip, Beth El Synagogue Talmud ‘firsts’ for some of the kids: survivors of Chicago built Torah’s eighth-grade students and their teacher, Janie Kulakofsky, visiting Chicago, traveling the museum, Kulakofsky, a far left, had a chance to say hello to former BESTT student, without parents, eating at second-time visitor, said, Caroline Juster, third from left, now a student at Northwestern a kosher deli, just spend“The first time I went University. ing an entire day together. through it, I did not pay The group also took a tour of Northwestern University, and close attention to many of the details. This time I stopped to visited with current student (and former Beth El student) read all of what people said about their Holocaust experiCaroline Juster. ences. It is still unfathomable that people continue to have Spending time at the Chicago Holocaust Museum visit acts of genocide in other countries.” proved to be powerful for both students and their chaperTsabari shared that standing in a railcar “was a very emoones. The experience “brought to life everything that the tional moment for me. I tried to imagine how I would feel in students have been studying in their classroom,” Tsabari that situation.” said, adding, “It was the third Holocaust museum that I had Calling the trip a great success, she said she plans to make visited this year, and still, I was touched by the displays at the Chicago Holocaust Museum experience an annual event this particular facility.” for the school’s eighth graders. For student Jake Spivack, walking into a train car that had “I was very happy to bring our students to experience this been used to transport Jews to the concentration camps was museum, which contains some of the most defining pieces unforgettable; he said it “defined the feeling that the Jewish of modern Judaic history,” Tsabari said, “and my hope is that people felt going to the place that might be the last place this will reinforce how important their Jewish studies are.”
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by BOB GOLDBERG Director of Strategic Initiatives, Jewish Federation of Omaha As lay and professional leaders in our community work towards achieving a 2013 Annual Campaign goal of 200 new gis, we want to introduce as many new donors as we can. It is our hope that their inspiration and motivation to support the Annual Campaign serves a similar purpose for others. If you would like to be included in this series, please call me at 402.334.6431. We want to welcome you into the Federation family! Today, we hear from Andy Raffel. Why become a donor in 2012? Why now? I’m not an Omaha native and Andy Raffel I have no close family here. In the past few years I’ve gone through some trying times and it’s been my friends in the Jewish community who have been there for me. Whether it’s been a guy’s night out, a Seder invitation or a “just checking on you” phone call, the Jewish community has been my local support. is year, I was asked to become a donor and to help solicit others. I look forward to not only starting to pay back the kindnesses extended to me, but to also pay it forward for those who participate in the services and programs supported by the Federation. What’s your hope for the Omaha Jewish community moving forward? My hope is that the friendship, camaraderie and support shown to me and my three children is extended to others who need it. It takes time and money to make this happen. As a board member of Beth El’s Men’s Club, I have seen it evolve from a mostly service-oriented group to one with a strong social element. I see that happening on a larger scale around Omaha as well. ere are more events on the Federation campus that are cross-congregational, aimed at involving everyone in the community. Having the campus as a physical structure and the Federation as its financial engine creates a nucleus that strengthens the overall community. What’s your takeaway? I grew up in Kalamazoo, MI, and my synagogue was the only one in a 50-mile radius. It was, and continues to be, the center of Jewish life in the region. at synagogue provides programming for both members and the community as a whole. In Omaha, we are fortunate to have several synagogues, but we also have a very vibrant Jewish Federation committed to our community. In choosing to live L’dor V’dor, I have made the decision to support my synagogue and, at the same time, support the overall community via my new Federation involvement. One is as equally important as the other.
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December 7, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 5
A poem for Hanukkah by MARINA SADOFSKY In memory of Mark and Olga Garanuner
e Holiday of Light O Hanukkah! O Hanukkah! e precious light of all. And even if it’s small or dim, it warms the Jewish soul, It helps believe in miracles, and keeps our dreams alive. We pray for peaceful Holiday, our spirit to survive. Eight days we light the candles, each candle like a star, Which brightens our existence, reminds us who we are! Get out a little dreidel, make a wish and spin the toy... When candle flame is burning it brings us hope and joy!
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Temple Israel’s emphasis on education by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer This year Temple Israel has been placing a renewed emphasis on education, and not just for its children. Yes, the children attend Religious School while older students attend the new Temple Teen Night, but there are also many opportunities for adults to continue their Jewish education as well. Along with Wednesday evening Adult Education classes and Thursday morning Adult Study with the Clergy, Temple Israel is now offering an opportunity for parents of Religious School students with Family Days. “We are experimenting with making Sunday morning an opportunity for families to come together in a Jewish way,” Rabbi Brown said. Family Day begins when parents drop their children off for Religious School. Instead of leaving, parents are encouraged to stay at Temple Israel, have breakfast and participate in a discussion session with Rabbi Brown from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. in the Milder Center. “We want to have programming for adults centered around Jewish family growth,” Rabbi Brown said. “We want this to be an opportunity to strengthen the meaning of Jewish life for families.” Following the meeting with Rabbi Brown, Stacie Brodkey and Danielle Gordman, who have been planning the Family Days with the rabbi, will talk with the parents about that day’s activity, so that parents can assist the children when they join the group at 11:15 a.m. The activities will vary, from learning about different aspects of Jewish culture to cooking Jewish foods, like matzo ball soup. “Culture and tradition are important,” Brodkey said. “We both like to cook, and our Jewish identities are very important to us. We want to teach about Jewish life, and cooking is part of what makes a Jewish home.” A different grade will participate in each Family Day, which will be held the Sunday prior to a First Friday, so that the children can use what they learned on Sunday during the Shabbat meal. “We’ve had one Family Day so far, before the October First Friday,” Rabbi Brown said. “We had a great turnout from our
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5th and 6th grade parents. It was great to see them on First Friday, the parents and their kids, and for the kids to have a part in the meal.” The next Family Day is scheduled for Jan. 27, prior to the February First Friday service and meal on Feb. 1, with Grade 3 parents being asked to stick around after getting their children off to class. “The goal is to bring the parents in the community together so they can get to know each other better, and to know the clergy better, and to have fun with their kids,” Rabbi Brown said. “We think this is a wonderful opportunity for parents to see their kids in action on Sunday mornings.”
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by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator The evening of Friday, Dec. 14 will be a busy one for Beth El’s congregation, as the synagogue presents several Shabbat services for attendees of all ages, plus a congregational Hanukkah dinner in the social hall. Beth El Talmud Torah students will help to lead a special 6 p.m. Family Kabbalat Shabbat service; and at the same time, the synagogue’s Tot Shabbat program, led by Patty Nogg, will be captivating and entertaining the littlest congregants with songs, stories and much more. Both services will offer spirited intergenerational celebrations, and the entire Jewish community is invited to attend. Afterward, everyone is welcome to stay for a festive Hanukkah dinner, featuring hearty soups and a variety of salads, latkes, homemade challah, root beer floats and Hanukkah cookies. Dinner cost is $8 for adults ($15 for non-members), $5 for children ages 7-12 ($8 for nonmembers), and no charge for children ages six and younger. Maximum charge per Beth El family is $25. Reservations are needed by Wednesday, Dec. 12, and may be made online at www.bethel-omaha.org, or by contacting the synagogue office or programming@ bethel-omaha.org.
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6 | The Jewish Press | December 7, 2012
Tastes like Hanukkah How many people would actually run toward the sound of an explosion?
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Coming in January
The
by OZZIE NOGG On Friday, Dec. 14, patrons of the Star Deli can indulge their appetites for fried Hanukkah food with the Special Latke Reuben Sandwich. “In this culinary creation crispy potato latkes are used instead of bread,” said Chef Mike Aparo, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Director of Food Services. “We pile corned beef, sauerkraut, ousand Island dressing and parve (fake) cheese between the latkes, so if you haven’t yet had your fill of rich fried food, this sandwich is the perfect lunch for the seventh day of Hanukkah.” Traditional Star Deli entrees -- matzah ball and kreplach soup, pastrami, smoked turkey, egg or tuna salad sandwiches along with everpopular salads and sides -will also be available. ose who choose to go the whole nine yards in the fried food department will be delighted with the Dec. 14 Deli Dessert of sufganiyot -- a deep-fried donut enjoyed in Israel during Hanukkah. e Star Deli sufganiyot come courtesy of Rabbi Yaakov Weiss, RBJH Pastoral Coordinator. “While living in Israel during our first year of marriage, my wife Ilana and I decided to host a Hanukkah party for all of our neighbors that included homemade sufganiyot,” Weiss explained. “ey were a hit, and ever since it’s been a family tradition to make them in our home and share them with our friends. Over the past few years it has been even more exciting to personally make sufganiyot at the Blumkin Home to share with the entire community at the Star Deli. We make the donuts from scratch with a not too sweet yeast dough and, in the true spirit of Hanukkah, fry them until just golden brown. e sufganiyot are then stuffed with a sweet filling and topped with powdered sugar.” For etymologists in the crowd, the Hebrew word sufganiyah (singular) comes from the Hebrew word for sponge -sfog -- which describes the sponge-like way the tasty little donuts soak up the oil in which they’re fried. (Well, yum.) If you’re looking for entertainment dur-
ing the Dec. 14 Star Deli Hanukkah lunch, keep your eyes open for Mike Silverman, Jewish Federation of Omaha CEO, who will
act as a strolling MC, schmoozing with guests and asking Hanukkah-related questions. According to Michael Schop, Blumkin Home Assistant Administrator, the next special Deli event is the New Year’s Deli scheduled for Dec. 21. “e lunch will have a Dick Clark vibe,” Schop said, “so stay tuned for details. And please note that the Deli will be closed on Friday, Dec. 28.” Launched in July of 2010, e Star Deli on Main Street -- with its garlicky aromas and the raucous atmosphere of a Lower East Side eatery -- is a favorite Friday lunch destination for local chow hounds. Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, the Friday Deli will have new hours -11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. instead of 1:30 p.m. e 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.
In the news
Guide
Mitchell Warren, originally from Omaha, was named to the POZ top 100 list for his work as Executive Director of AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention. “They don’t come much smarter than Warren.” the magazine stated. POZ is the nation’s leading magazine about HIV/AIDS, serving the community of people living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS since 1994. Mitchell is the son of Marilyn and Marty Warren and the grandson of Dave Dvorkin. On Dec. 8, the UNO Women’s Club will be
hosting their Winter Wonderland Boutique and Brunch at Mammel Hall, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., located on the corner of 67th and Pine Streets. Shoppers will be treated to a wide array of wonderful vendors selling everything from jewelry to glass art and more. An optional brunch will also be served for $10. Proceeds will be donated to the UNO Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, which benefits non-traditional female students. This event is open to the public. For brunch reservations, RSVP to gpearson@nufoundation.org.
Organizations Publishing Date | 01.04.13 Space Reservation | 12.24.12 Camera Ready Deadline | 12.26.12
Jessie Wees | 402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org
B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The CEO of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Mike Silverman, will update us on all the new building taking place on the campus, what’s in store for the future, and issues and concerns for Omaha, on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 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.
LOMIR REDN YIDDISH The Yiddish language is a wonderful source of rich expressions, especially terms of endearment (and of course, complaints and insults!) Come join us for fun and laughter. We meet in the board room of the Blumkin Home, every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. For information, please call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.
December 7, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 7
Omaha Jewish Authors Showcase this Sunday by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Associate Executive Director, the Center for Jewish Life Have you dreamed of writing the great American novel? Would you like some ideas on finding a way to get started on a book or perhaps a short story? Do you have a solid idea but are hesitant to move forward, not quite knowing the
Israeli army threatens to unravel his personal life. In Matter, Steve Miller, a biomedical researcher, is struggling for tenure, a cure for manic-depressive bipolar disorder, and balance in his life -- not necessarily in that order. It is a multi-layered story that gives an in-depth but humorous view of academic scientists who are at the forefront of biomedical research.
prominent Midwestern university in the mid-60s before obtaining her undergraduate degree. e highly unusual plot lines see her ingratiating herself with a hate group to direct a menacing wrath against her own people. Planning for and committing crimes, intense litigation and a final moral awakening highlight the many complex characters tightly bound
next step you need to take? An event on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 1-2:30 p.m. in the JCC Auditorium, will be your chance to hear from many of Omaha’s own, sharing their stories of their successful experiences in the literary arena which started with questions no doubt similar to yours. e Omaha Jewish Authors Showcase is the final event of the 39th Annual Jewish Book Month celebrations of the Kripke Jewish Federation Library through the Center for Jewish Life. e event will highlight several authors from the Omaha Jewish community. Brian Bogdanoff, Steve Caplan, Tony Endelman, Steve Fischer, Milton Kleinberg, Simon Noel, Ozzie Nogg, and Nancy Rips along with editor Sandra Wendel will talk about their cra. Using a “speed dating” format, each participant will spend six to eight minutes discussing an aspect of their writing experience. Following the presentations, authors will be available to chat one-on-one and will also have books available for purchase. Brian Bogdanoff is an award winning homicide detective, retired from the Omaha Police Department. His book ree Bodies Burning tells the story of two worlds colliding -- the illegal transportation of tons of Mexican cartel marijuana to inner city gang members in a Midwestern city’s “hood” -three bodies end up burning, caught in a web of greed as a major international drug deal goes very bad. e book was described as a haunting triple murder, “a must read that you won’t want to put down.” Steve Caplan, a principal researcher at UNMC, is the author of Welcome Home, Sir and Mind Over Matter. Sir tells the story of Dr. Ethan Meyer, a biochemistry professor conducting scientific research and teaching at an American academic institution. Outwardly, he is a poster-child for success, but inwardly, feels as though he is coming apart at the seams, as the post-traumatic stress disorder he incurred in the
Tony Endelman shares a collection of personal essays with honesty and utter hilarity in his first book, I Hope ere’s Pie. By the end of the book, his comedic voice makes one feel like one has been hanging out with him for years. His second book, Randy Penny, features real life exchanges between Randy, Tony’s alter ego, and people using the internet to sell worthless “stuff.” e exchanges offer a laugh out loud throughout the book. Steve Fischer was newly retired. With plenty of time on his hands, his very large collection of Las Vegas memorabilia and a million Las Vegas stories, Steve decided to begin divesting himself of some of his collection through eBay. He stayed up all night composing his first listing which included a story about the hidden owners of the Sands. Based on the complimentary emails he received the next morning from people who enjoyed his stories, Steve went on to write When the Mob Ran Vegas – Stories of Money, Mayhem and Murder. Many of the stories you’ll read are about famous or infamous people, many are about people you’ve never heard of before, but they all contributed to giving the fabulous town such a vibrant history. Milton Kleinberg shares his early life experiences in Memories of My Childhood: During and Aer the Holocaust 1937 – 1951. His ordinary childhood was abruptly disturbed in 1939 when Poland was invaded and his family was forced to flee, seeking refuge behind the Soviet border. e journey eventually spanned over 10,000 miles with him and his family finally arriving in the U.S. in 1951. Simon Noel is the author of Ohio Story, which tells the story of a psychologically impaired Jewish woman who assumes a position as a foreign language instructor at a
together by myriad circumstances irregular in the academe. Ozzie Nogg shares a collection of stories and illustrations in her award-winning book Joseph’s Bones. From magical marbles and gis from the Czar, to snow angels and the Angel of Death, these stories grew out of Ozzie’s life as a rabbi’s daughter and reflect the rich Jewish oral tradition in which she was raised. Additionally, her short story Blue Plate Special was published in 2002. Nancy Rips, the “Book Maven of the Midwest,” is a longtime bookseller and reviewer. Sharing her work in compiling anecdotes, observations, memories and jokes from friends and family, Nancy is the author of Hanukkah Stories, High Holiday Stories and Seder Stories. She is also a passionate advocate for libraries; reviews books regularly on radio and television; speaks extensively in schools, to various groups, and at fundraisers; and organizes an annual book-themed New York City tour for Nebraskans. Sandra J. Wendel is an Omaha-based book editor with a special expertise in conducting editorial evaluations for book manuscripts for major independent publishers and performing all levels of editing for nonfiction books including memoirs and true crimeworking. She edits many wellrespected health/business books and wellness publications and is working with independent publishers and writers of specialized consumer health books. Sandra also has her own online Health-eheadlines™ newsletters. e Omaha Jewish Authors Showcase is open to the community, free of charge and refreshments will be served. For more information, please call 402.334.6463 or email mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org.
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8 | The Jewish Press | December 7, 2012
Point of view
American Jewish Press Association Award Winner
Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008
The new Pharaoh
ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press One moment you’re on top, things are going well and the world is your oyster. The next, something goes horribly wrong and you have to back-pedal like mad. We’ve all been there at one point or another, though few of us have been as spectacularly whiplashed as Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Revolutions are fickle things. Too often we view them as linear events: a bad dictator is in place, people become restless, the boiling point arrives after which said dictator is deposed and a new dawn arrives. There’s optimism and an abundance of hope all around. Then, after spring has arrived, the new ruler (who is most definitely better than the old one, he must be) steps onto the world stage and even helps broker a cease fire between Hamas and Israel. The result: a big sigh of relief, and effusive praise from many a world leader. Things are good, yes? In fact, things are so good, we all forget that revolutions are not linear at all, nor are they easy. They are messy, cloudy and uncertain. They also, whether initially successful or not, awaken a sense of hope and strength in the people. And that sense is fresh in Egyptian minds. So when, only one day later, Morsi made what’s been billed as a “power grab,” it did not go over well. The facts: Morsi’s first steps as President were to disband the army council, to support the Islamist-dominated houses of parliament, and the creation of a committee that would draft a new Islamist-oriented constitution. (Source: JTA.com) Then, he announced a consolidation of power, including the decree that Egyptian courts would not be allowed to overturn any decision made by Morsi since he took over in June 2012, at least until the new constitution is in place. But that
constitution was drafted by the aforementioned committee, it gives Morsi powers even beyond what his predecessor had - and the democratic process was nowhere in sight. This infuriates both the secular Egyptians (getting closer to Sharia law is a valid fear) and the judicial branch, which is a holdover from Hosni Mubarak’s days. In fact, the constitutional draft was so contested; even some members of the actual committee walked out and refused to participate. The courts scheduled a hearing on Morsi’s decree, but canceled it, fearing for their lives. Morsi insists sidestepping the courts will speed up the democratic process, and the proposed constitution will be put to a vote in a few weeks. But that does not ease anyone’s fear that they replaced one dictator with another. The protestors are back in Tahrir Square, and this time former rebels and Mubarak loyalists are on the same side. Morsi may have looked great on the international stage when he helped broker that cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, but at home, he’s got a new nickname: The new Pharaoh. The message to Morsi is clear: “We deposed Mubarak, we can do the same to you.” Egyptians have many worries. Mere weeks ago, nearly 50 children died in a traffic accident in the province of Assiut. It highlighted the country’s terrible infrastructure, from public hospitals in derelict state, neglected bridges and roads, to substandard schools and a useless railway system. Egypt is in shambles. The economy continues to falter, and social problems are bigger than ever. It seems Morsi is ruling a powder keg rather than a real country. What Morsi does over the next few weeks will be critical.
Morsi’s role in the negotiations between Hamas and Israel was important, positive, and a reason for hope. But the leadership Morsi showed in that situation means nothing if he cannot regain the support of his own people, and if he doesn’t see himself as the president of all Egyptians. “President Obama has to be careful,” Thomas Friedman wrote last week, “not to sell out Egyptian democracy for quiet between Israel and Egypt and Hamas. We tried that under Mubarak. It didn’t end well.” How does Morsi see himself when he pictures the history books of the future? Power does strange things to people; one never knows if hard-fought ideals will stand the test of time. Morsi can be another Anwar Sadat, or he can be another Mubarak. His choice, whatever it is, will have consequences for everyone involved.
Linking to Lincoln on Hanukkah
Focus on issues EDMON J. RODMAN LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- We need to celebrate a Lincoln Hanukkah this year. It’s not because of the new Spielberg movie -- that gives us something to do on Christmas Day -- but because of the 150th anniversary of a little-known event in American history that threatened to expel a portion of the Civil War-era Jewish population from their homes on the Festival of Lights. On Dec. 17, 1862, during the heighth of the war, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant issued General Orders 11 expelling “Jews as a class” from a war zone that included areas of Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky within a 24-hour period. It was the first day of Hanukkah. At the time, Hanukkah was not the major holiday it is now. But Grant’s order, if carried out, meant that entire families would be uprooted during the holiday and beyond, and exiled from their communities. Today, relaxing in our home with family on Hanukkah, retelling the Maccabee story that takes place in a far-off time and land, it’s uncomfortable to imagine a different story about our freedom that hits much closer to home. On that day, Grant was attempting to cut off the black market sale of southern cotton, in which some Jewish and other traders were engaged. As researched in the engaging new book When General Grant Expelled the Jews by the prominent historian Jonathan D. Sarna, we find that Grant’s order was enforced in several towns in Union hands, including Paducah, Ky.; Holly Springs, Miss.; and Trenton, Tenn., among others. “Only a few Jews were seriously affected by General Orders 11,” perhaps fewer than 100, according to Sarna, but news of the order and the resulting outrage was quickly
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spread by The Associated Press. The B’nai B’rith sent a petition to Washington calling upon President Lincoln to “annul” the order. Other Jewish leaders moved to organize delegations to meet with Lincoln. A Jewish merchant from Paducah named Cesar Kaskel traveled to Washington on a mission to have the order overturned. Upon arrival he was able to arrange through an Ohio congressman a meeting with the president. According to an account of the meeting that Sarna says is often quoted but most likely embellished, Lincoln, using biblical imagery, asked Kaskel, “And so the children of Israel were driven from the happy land of Canaan?” In response, Kaskel asks for “Father Abraham’s” protection, to which Lincoln replies, “And this protection they shall have at once.” The reality seems to have been that when Lincoln finally heard of Grant’s order, he ordered the general in chief of the Army to countermand it. An account by the prominent Cincinnati Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, who also had met with the president about the issue, provides Lincoln’s rationale: “I do not like to hear a class or nationality condemned on account of a few sinners.” This Hanukkah, then, with Lincoln on our minds, how should we commemorate Lincoln’s action to rescind what Sarna cites as “the most sweeping anti-Jewish regulation in all American History”? Should we devise a stovepipe hat menorah? Fry up four score latkes or change the lyrics of the modern classic Peter Paul & Mary Hanukkah song to Light one candle for the Tennessee Children? Not necessary. Jews going back to Lincoln’s presidency have found ways to connect before. After his assassination, expressing their sorrow, many rabbis delivered sermons that were collected in a book by Emanuel Hertz titled Abraham Lincoln: The Tribute of the Synagogue. The basis for the Library of
Congress’ Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana was donated by Alfred Stern, a Chicago businessman. There’s even a Lincoln Street in Jerusalem. Continuing the connection is this year’s Steven Spielberg film about Lincoln’s role in the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery. Watching the film, I found it to be an excellent way at Hanukkah time to rededicate an interest in Lincoln’s heart, humor and wisdom. Another film, Saving Lincoln by director Salvador Litvak, approaches the Lincoln story through the eyes of his bodyguard. It might prove another way to light up a Hanukkah night. Sarna’s book would be good for any night of the holiday, which many see as a struggle for freedom. For me it was a reminder that the dreidel’s message -- “a great miracle happened here” -- can apply to the U.S. as well. “In the end, General Orders 11 greatly strengthened America’s Jewish community,” Sarna writes. “The successful campaign to overturn the order made Jews more confident.” And Grant, to “repent” and to “rehabilitate himself with the Jewish community” during his two terms as president “appointed more Jews to office than had any of his predecessors.” This Hanukkah, when we stand before our lit chanukiyot reciting Hanerot Halalu, “These lights which we kindle recall the wondrous triumphs and the miraculous victories,” perhaps we can also recall the victories here of Cesar Kaskel, Rabbi Wise and ultimately Abraham Lincoln, who protected our freedom. So maybe they weren’t exactly American Maccabees -- but Maccabee style for sure. Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles. Contact him at edmojace@gmail.com.
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December 7, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 9
Journalists and terrorists
Focus on issues RON KAMPEAS New York Times columnist David Carr questioned the dangers posed to journalists in combat zones, framing it with Israeli actions during the recent Gaza miniwar. Mahmoud al-Kumi and Hussam Salama worked as cameramen for Al-Aqsa TV, which is run by Hamas and whose reporting frequently reflects that affiliation. They were covering events in central Gaza when a missile struck their car, which was clearly marked with the letters “TV.” Mohamed Abu Aisha, director of Al-Quds Educational Radio, was also in a car when it was hit by a missile. Two questions have ensued: Who is a noncombatant? And does the media hold Israel to a different standard than its enemies? A number of conservative sites have accused Carr
of singling out Israel for killing journalists (although he makes clear he also believes this is an American problem and the Gaza war is his jump-off for his wider point) and of not being careful with his facts. The accusation about Carr not checking his facts seems to be the case with Abu Aisha. Elder of Ziyon shows that Abu Aisha’s status as a uniformed member of Islamic Jihad was available to Carr and anyone else at the time of Carr’s writing. Nothing I’ve seen, though, substantively contradicts his point when it is applied to Mahmoud Al-Kumi and Hussam Salama, who were Hamas operatives and cameramen for Hamas’ Al-Aqsa television network, which regularly features programming that encourages and praises attacks on Israeli civilians. The IDF targeted Al-Kumi and Salama on Nov. 20. The IDF notes no specific operative role the two played in any terrorism or military attack against Israel. (It does link to primary evidence suggesting Abu Aisha was indeed an
active terrorist.) The implication seems to be that if a terrorist pays your salary, you are a terrorist. This is problematic in Gaza where Hamas has a hand in just about everything -- and that is Carr’s point. Is this the standard Carr’s critics want to uphold -- that someone working for the journalistic arm of a terrorist group is just as liable as an actual gun-carrying terrorist? Back during the first Intifada, undercover Israeli units also used journalistic cover to patrol the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, sometimes to make arrests. Foreign media raised holy hell, and rightly so: It became dangerous to announce oneself as a journalist. (I had a couple of hairy encounters.) The Shin Beth and the undercover IDF units desisted. Who among the mainstream media is now making the same case, and as emphatically, to Hamas?
do, however, think that expectations should be nixed. Aer all, what are expectations, if not pre-determined resentments? is is how I see it, now that I’m older and semiwiser: You get what you get and you didn’t have to get anything at all. So, yeah. I enjoy receiving gis -- in any form. But gi-wrapped boxes are always nice. Just sayin’. en again, not all presents come gi-wrapped or in an envelope. For instance, at the time of this writing, I haven’t seen my parents in nearly six months. So, on my wish list (my Official Wishlist; not the half-hearted pipe dreams I tend to sport like DVDs, iPods, books, gi certificates, etc.), I asked for one thing from my wife. I asked her to let me come home. See, as I get older -- I’ll be 32 in March!! 32!! Say it ain’t so!! -- I’ve come to understand that while I’m not getting any younger, neither are my mom and dad. I mean, they’re not elderly. In fact, they’re what most people would consider as Middle-Aged. However, I can see how age is starting to crack its arthritic knuckles and get started for the long haul.
Other family members, too, are slowly succumbing to that universal and frustrating ailment: Nature. Indeed, gis may not always be readily available, but time is the one thing we can always count on to be there, to haunt us. It’s the one absolute, as it’s been said. at is, until it runs out. Aer that, eight nights become a long-ago, far-away, vaguely-familiar memory and we pray that we’ll get one more night, whether it’s for Hanukkah or ever again. I don’t mean to be grim or cynical. at’s not what this is about. It’s about remembering what constitutes as a real gi vs. a “Gimme” gi -- as in, gimme this! Gimme that! I want that! or I need that! And so on and so forth. It’s funny how that once-blurry line between “want” and “need” crystallizes as the years pass by, as time carries to us to our final destination. Maybe that’s His gi to us: e understanding that we, as people, are the finer things in Life. And you can’t get that at any local booksto— Wait! Did someone mention books?!
Real gis by HAL SENAL Parents (specifically, mine) or children reading this: you should do yourselves a favor and skip this article if you want to keep all eight crazy nights of Hanukkah joyous and exciting. Has anyone ever noticed that the older you get, the fewer days there are for Hanukkah? Once you realize that Hanukkah has shrunk to three days (save for candles), there’s no going back. What was once the highlight of my year, a bonfire of excitement, anticipation and tears -- happy tears, mind you! Although, there was that time, as a gag, my parents got me a set of plain white Hanes T-shirts, instead of, say, the much-coveted X-Men t-shirt that I was hoping for. e joke did not go over well. My parents have the photos of my face contorting into red, tear-streaked expressions that no child should ever sport. ough, to be fair, it’s nice to get something in the mail from my family; that never goes away. To heck with life being a box o’ chocolates! Even if it’s just a greeting card, I love going to get the mail. ere are always so many possibilities. Is it wrong that I love getting presents? I don’t think so. I
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Synagogues B’NAI 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. FRIDAY, Dec. 14: Services, 7 p.m. followed by a potluck Hanukkah party with guest speaker, Phil Wolf on the Significance of Numbers and Understanding the World with a Jewish Perspective. Call Sandra at 712.323.8885 to let her know what you will bring. Bring a menorah and candles for the traditional candle lighting. The community is invited. Cantor Beth Schlossberg will officiate at all of the Speaker Series Services.
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: Social Action Shabbat, 6 p.m., and stay afterward to learn about our ‘Eight Days of Giving’ community service project (see below). SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m.; Shabbat’s Cool Hanukkah Happening & Lunch, 10 a.m., for all BESTT students; Mincha-Ma’ariv, 5 p.m. Social Action Shabbat weekend continues during Kiddush, following services. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Eight Days of Giving Back, lend a hand with community service projects during Hanukkah. Projects include: Habitat for Humanity on Sunday, Dec. 9; Hanukkah Memories a special evening with residents of Remington Heights on Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.; Hanukkah Havdalah at the Blumkin Home on Saturday Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m.; Sorting/ packing food at the Omaha Food Bank on Sunday, Dec. 16, 1–4 p.m. To sign up, visit www.bethel.omaha.org. Registration required to participate. For more information, contact Karla and David Cohen at userbitz@aol.com. SUNDAY: Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; BESTT B’nai Mitzvah Parents’ Meeting, 9:45 a.m.; Hebrew Crash Course, 11 a.m. and on Dec. 16 with Susi Frydman-Levin. 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. For more information, contact Margie in the office. WEDNESDAY: YAC Playgroup Hanukkah Party, 10:30 a.m., at the synagogue. For more information, contact Caryn Scheer at carynscheer@yahoo.com. THURSDAY: USY Lounge Night, 6-8 p.m. Dinner provided; Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group meets at 7 p.m. at Remington Heights to share a special “Hanukkah Memories” evening with residents. For more information, contact Carole Lainof at thelainofs@cox.net. Family Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Tot Shabbat and Hanukkah Dinner, Friday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m. (see full story on page 5.) All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
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 Sisterhood; The Laws of Shabbat, 2 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Boys (ages 10 and up), 3 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Twitter Topic class, 3 p.m.; Mincha, 4 p.m., followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 5:41 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Jewish Medical Ethics, noon at the Med Center WEDNESDAY: Board of Commissioners Meeting, 6:30 p.m.; 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. with Rabbi Gross.
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. SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service. Is Hanukkah relevant today? SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.; Breakfast Bonanza, 9:30 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Volunteer appreciation luncheon, noon. TUESDAY: 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: Personal Parsha class, 10 a.m. with Rochi Katzman; “The miracle of you” Women’s Hanukkah party at the home of Patty Nogg. THURSDAY: Annual Menorah parade, 4 p.m. The car topped Menorah motorcade will leave Chabad at 4:15 p.m. Call 402.213.9752 to reserve your family’s Menorah. 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: Family Dinner, 6 p.m.; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m.; Classical Reform Shabbat Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Ellen and David Feingold. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Vayeshev. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, 6:30 p.m. Intro to Judaism, Session #5 led by Rabbi Lewis.
Candlelighting Friday, December 7, 4:37 p.m.
Hanukkah Celebration, Friday, Dec. 14. Potluck Dinner & Latkes, 6:30 pm., Family Shabbat Service with lighting of Chanukiot, 7:30 p.m. and Oneg, 8:15 p.m. Cost is $5 per person and children age 6 and under free. RSVP to the office at 402.435.8004 or stemple@neb.rr.com. RSVP by Dec. 12.
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. 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: First Friday Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Tot Shabbat, 6 p.m.; Hanukkah Dinner, 7 p.m. Please contact the office, 402.556.6536 to make a reservation. No cost for the dinner. Reservations are required. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Jack Fletcher, son of Hillary and John Fletcher, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. SUNDAY: Teachers Meeting, 9:30 a.m.; Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; First Annual Latke Cook-off, 10:30 a.m. Entrants arrive at 10:30 a.m., with approximately four dozen of your finest latkes. Plan to stand at your station and answer questions about your recipe and cooking methods. There’s no fee to enter. Contact Program Director Wendy Goldberg, 402.556.6536 or wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com to sign-up. The following categories are Kid’s Choice, People’s Choice, and the Most Unusual or Creative recipe. 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.
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: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch; Annual Hanukkah Party, 12:15 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children under ten. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 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, 4:37 p.m.
Bar Mitzvah Adam Cooper-Kahn, son of Amy and Paul Rabinovitz, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Temple Israel. Adam is a seventh-grade student at Westside Middle School. He received Macabee and Aleph Scouting awards. His interests include Boy Scouts and the NE-IA Model Railroad Train club. For his mitzvah project, Adam volunteered at the Food Bank. He has two sisters, Katelyn and Amanda Rabinovitz. Grandparents are David and Sarita Cooper. Great-grandparents are the late Aaron and Shirley Rabinovitz of Kansas City and the late Gloria Gershun of Kansas City.
Prayer, Justice, and Outreach by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer Rabbi Josh Brown has been teaching a three-week Adult Education class at Temple Israel entitled, “Prayer, Justice, Outreach as a Reform Jew,” in which he has been discussing Jewish history as seen through the lens of Reform Judaism. “We’re going to look back through statements of Reform Judaism and see how it’s changed and see where it’s going to go in the future,” Rabbi Brown said. “We’ll be discussing the platforms of Reform Judaism throughout history that were agreed upon by the leadership of the Reform movement.” Using different texts, including A Vision of Holiness, by Rabbi Richard N. Levy, which explores the Pittsburgh Principles, a statement of principles voted on at the 1999 Central Conference of American Rabbis convention, Rabbi Brown asks, “What’s compelling about being a Reform Jew today? What’s important? What documents are important?” Rabbi Levy, who is the Rabbi of Campus Synagogue and Director of Spiritual Growth at the Los Angeles campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and attended the 1999 conference as the central architect of the Principles, writes about the debate over the Principles and how the rabbis decided on the language. Rabbi Brown has also attempted to illustrate the evolu-
tion of Reform Judaism in America by going back to the beginning. In 1885 the Union of American Hebrew Congregations adopted the Pittsburgh Platform, the text of which attempted to lay out the core values of then-modern Reform Judaism, a text that Rabbi Brown calls both “descriptive and prescriptive.” Using The Four Ideological Pronouncements of Reform Judaism in America, a text created by the American Jewish Archives, Rabbi Brown has explored the six central themes seen in the two Pittsburgh documents and two other documents, written in 1937 and 1976 respectively, and discussed how they have changed over the years. The themes include “The God-Idea,” “The Jewish People,” “Torah,” “Religious Practice,” “Palestine/Israel” and “The Mission of Israel.” The purpose of this course, according to Rabbi Brown, is to shed a light on what it truly means to be a Reform Jew in modern society. “We’re increasingly individualistic culture and if people knew what it truly meant to be a Reform Jew, they would be enthusiastic about being a part of the community,” Rabbi Brown said. “Most people don’t know what we stand for anymore.” Rabbi Brown’s Grade nine Temple Teen Night class, Continued on page 11
Pulverent e
December 7, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 11
Joseph and his brothers
In memoriam EVELYN FINKELSTEIN
Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Veyeishev Our reading introduces us to the character of Joseph, who dominates the rest of the book of Genesis. The story of Joseph excites the imagination of creative writers and perceptive readers then and now. For it is almost a paradigm of short-story or novelette writing, including character description and character growth, exciting incidents and plot, suspense, setting, environment, and a full complement of the unexpected and unforeseen. Even, without titillation, a little sex interest has its place. Joseph grows in character from a callow, brash, boastful youngster to a mature and responsible statesman and government food planner, and to a magnanimous brother who forgives his brothers completely, and to a devoted and faithful son to his aged father Jacob. But there are some gnawing questions. Before his brothers came to buy grain and awakened his family feelings, was Joseph, perhaps, planning to spend the rest of his life as an Egyptian noble? Was he lured by the good life? Did his sons know they were Hebrews, those despised foreigners from the northeast provinces? Did they object to Joseph’s declaration of solidarity with his brothers? More than 20 years had passed. Why did Joseph at no point send word to his father? Why did he not tell him he was alive and well in Egypt? What was passing through his mind? Here is a chance for a psychological novel about the effect of one’s background and kinship, the lure of a new and shiny culture much brighter than one’s own. Is blood thicker than the waters of the Nile? What finally made Joseph chance his self-revelation and declare himself a Hebrew? And one more question: are some American Jews in need of declaring themselves their brothers’ brother? This parsha was adapted from Rabbi Kripke’s book Insight and Interpretation.
Prayer, Justice, and Outreach Continued from page 10 which has been discussing Jewish identity this semester and recently visited New York City to learn about the history of American Jewish identity, has been joining the adults for the course. Adult Education classes begin at 6:30 p.m., after a family dinner, and end around 8 p.m. After Rabbi Brown’s three-week course ends on Dec. 12, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will lead a discussion the following week, on Dec. 19, focusing on “Transformative Moments in Reform Judaism.”
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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JEWISH PRESS NOTICE There will be no Jewish Press on Dec. 28 due to staff vacations and a need to upgrade computer equipment. The Jewish Press will be closed on Monday and Tueday, Dec. 24 and 25. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.
Evelyn Finkelstein passed away on Dec. 3 at age 86. Service were held on Dec 5 at BHH/Fisher Farms Cemetery, 8900 S. 42 Street. She was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Terry Schlemmer; son and daughter-in-law, Harold and Minarni Finkelstein; grandchildren: Taryn, Rachael, Jadon; and one great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to Beth Israel Synagogue.
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BOBBIE HORNSTEIN Bobbie Hornstein passed away on Nov. 9 at age 82 in Tarzana, CA. She is survived by her husband Marvin; sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce and Rona, and Steve and Bryna Hornstein; grandchildren: Michael, Ethan and Ella; niece, Martha Mason-Frishman. Bobbie served as the president of the Tarzana chapter of Women’s American ORT. While in high school she sang in in the Beth El Choir. After graduating college she worked for Brandeis as a copywriter in the advertising department. She was born in Omaha, but moved to California soon after marrying Marvin. Memorials may be made to NJHS or a charity of your choice.
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ROSA (REIZL) KOGAN Rosa (Reizl) Kogan passed away Nov. 29 in Omaha at the Blumkin Home. Services were held Dec. 2 at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Cemetery and were officiated by Rabbi Katzman. She was preceded in death by Michael Kogan. She is survived by her children, Basya (Galina) Tsed, and Gregory Kogan; grandchildren: Val Tsed, Marina Levi, Lina Kogan, and Nechama Tsatskis. Rosa was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother who served her community diligently through patience and generosity. Her memory will always be a blessing. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
GERALD STEIN Gerald Stein passed away in Los Angeles on Nov. 22 after a long illness. Services were held Nov. 25 at Hillside Memorial Park cemetery in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandra; children: Michael and Sonya Stein, and Lois and Russell Singer; grandchildren: Ryan and Bailey Singer, and Rose and Claire Stein; brother and sister-in-law, Arthur and Lorraine Stein. Memorials may be made to Beth El Synagogue.
B’nai Israel Speaker Series In the midst of increased aggression towards Israel, Shlicha Gili Gutwirth described a calmer, less troubled Israel. She related her experiences in the Israel Defense Forces as she and other soliders learned together and furthered the development of a peaceful Israeli nation. This was the first service in a planned series conducted by Cantor Beth Schlossberg. The Cantor’s leadership provided an enlivening element of professional performance quality and additional music to the traditional Speaker Series Shabbat Service. Cantor Beth will officiate at all of the Speaker Series Services. The next Speaker Series Service will be on Dec. 14 and will include a potluck Hanukkah Party. Call Sandra at 712.323.8885 to let her know what you will bring. Be sure to bring a Menorah and candles for B’nai Israel’s traditional candle lighting. Phil Wolf will present and lead a discussion entitled, Significance of Numbers and Understanding the World with a Jewish Perspective.
To Submit obituaries to the Jewish Press: Email to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; fax to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154, or online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on Jewish Press and go to Submit Announcements.
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12 | The Jewish Press | December 7, 2012
The two faces of Morsi: Power-hungry peace broker? by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Is Morsi morphing into Mubarak? Last week Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi earned U.S. kudos that were quickly followed by expressions of concern -- the former for brokering the truce that ended the Israel-Hamas mini-war, the latter for then decreeing himself absolute powers. It’s a sequence of events that has some in Washington wondering whether Morsi aims for the kind of relationship that helped prop up his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, for decades until the 2011 revolution: regional stability in exchange for unfettered rule by Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement that brought him to power. “It is unclear whether this represents a mistake or an overreach,” said Jon Alterman, the director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, referring to Morsi’s declaration over the weekend removing judicial oversight of his decisions until a constitution is in place. Alterman leaned toward “mistake,” noting that Morsi and his aides have scrambled to reassure opponents that the decree is temporary. But Alterman added that such a move inevitably reminded Egyptians of Mubarak’s excesses. “From what he said and how he talked about it, it seems he was principally motivated by the threat to continuing the process” posed by deep disagreements over the constitution “rather by a desire to have unchecked power,” Alterman said. “The problem is that in doing so, he raised the worst fears of the return of Mubarak-style governance.” Others were less sanguine. Eric Trager, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, argued that the Obama administration’s hopes for a Muslim Brotherhood leadership that would respect democracy were naive. “Washington ought to have known by now that ‘democratic dialogue’ is virtually impossible with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is now mobilizing throughout Egypt to defend Morsi’s edict,” Trager wrote in The New Republic. On Nov. 21, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was praising Morsi for his role in ending the fighting between Israel and Hamas. “I want to thank President Morsi for his personal leadership to de-escalate the situation in Gaza and end the violence,” Clinton said in Cairo. “Egypt’s new government is
assuming the responsibility and leadership that has long made this country a cornerstone of regional stability and peace.”
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, right, meeting Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Cairo, July 26, 2012. Credit: Mohammed Al-Ostaz/Flash 90/JTA Israeli leaders also praised the Egyptian president’s role in securing the cease-fire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his “appreciation,” and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said that Morsi deserves “a word of thanks.” The expressions of gratitude were striking given the Israeli leadership’s strong suspicion of the Morsi government in light of the Muslim Brotherhood’s traditional animosity toward Israel and affinity for Hamas, an offshoot of the Egyptian Islamist movement. Such concerns were heightened after the Brotherhood’s top leader called in October for a “jihad for the recovery of Jerusalem” and the surfacing of video of Morsi nodding along to an Imam’s anti-Jewish sermon. During the Gaza conflict itself, Morsi’s government expressed strong public support for Hamas and condemned Israel. Egypt’s prime minister traveled to Gaza in a show of solidarity during the early days of the fighting. But Morsi’s assistance in brokering the cease-fire offered a measure of reassurance that his government would take a pragmatic approach toward dealing with Israel. The day after the cease-fire deal was reached, however, international gratitude morphed into expressions of concern
about Morsi’s path at home. On Nov. 22, Morsi issued his decree removing judicial review, sparking massive protests in Egypt and causing Clinton to voice concerns the next day about the move’s implications for Egyptian democracy. Jason Isaacson, the international affairs director for the American Jewish Committee, said that Morsi posed a dilemma for Israel and its American allies who want to maintain the 33 years of peace between Egypt and Israel and fear imposition of a Muslim Brotherhood dictatorship. “The attempt to change the power structure appears to have been in the works for some time,” Isaacson said Monday, speaking from Cairo, where he had just met with Egyptian government officials, diplomats and members of the country’s tiny Jewish community. “It did not disrupt the achievement of the cease-fire, for which you just give them credit. But obviously, [the decree] raises concerns about human rights and the rule of law. Those who have a stake in protecting the principles of democracy and in human rights, and in preserving the Egyptian role in the Middle East peace treaty should stay engaged with Egypt and express concerns when concerns are felt.” U.S. lawmakers already were threatening to redirect assistance from Egypt’s military to democracy promotion. Ori Nir, a spokesman for Americans for Peace Now, the American affiliate of the dovish Israeli movement established in the wake of the Israel-Egypt peace agreement, said that cutting U.S. aid would be counterproductive. “Our focus in terms of aid to Egypt has to do with fulfilling the terms of the peace agreement Egypt signed with Israel,” he said, adding that outside actors would likely not be able to influence Morsi’s domestic policies in any case. “The extent to which he will be another dictator has to do with the dynamic between him and the Egyptian public and less so his foreign relations,” Nir said. “One has to hope that the Egyptian public, which has shown incredible fortitude and courage, will reapply that and will demand democracy and leadership that is accountable to the public.” That, Alterman of CSIS said, is already playing out, noting the persistent protests against Morsi’s decree. “The fact that this became contentious is a good thing and reflects a broader trend in Egypt that people are much more willing to protest than was ever the case before,” he said.
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