December 9, 2005 by Jewish Press

Vol. LXXXV No. 13 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 84 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

8 Kislev, 5766 December 9, 2005

Thanks to Visions Group, a Career Spans Carbon Paper to Computers

Up Night with Nothing to Do? Join Late Night Players at the JCC

by RITA SHELLEY The memorandum, dated 7 January 1942, describes the work and missions of B’nai B’rith on behalf of its national president, Henry Monsky. Initialed by “E.S.,” Monsky’s secretary, the error-free, multiple copies of three pages were no small accomplishment in a time before Liquid Paper and photocopy machines. The secretary, Esther Schwartz Segel, continues to use her secretarial skills as a resident of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. She writes regularly to her nephew, Arthur Schwartz in Virginia and Florida, one of the relatives who helped her celebrate her 100th birthday last summer. And although Segel is perfectly capable of achieving perfection without the benefit of an electronic backspace key, she’s happy to save the frustration. She also has the benefit of returning to the old “home row” on a modern invention-a large type keyboard. Two of the keyboards and two flat-screen monitors are a recent gift to Blumkin Home residents from Visions, a social organization of active seniors. “Large-type keyboards and up-to-date monitors are among the many ‘extras’ we are able to provide for our residents to help them keep up with activities they enjoy,” said Mike Silverman, Executive Director of Jewish Senior Services and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. We are so grateful for Visions’ help in making this possible.”

by RACHEL BLUM JCC Program Director Home for winter break with nothing to do? Or maybe you’re a night owl, looking for new entertain ment. On Wednesday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m., join the Jewish Community Center and the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, when they present “The Late Night Players” in the JCC Theater. An evening of laughter with the Late Night Players is a smorgasbord of comeMembers of the Late Night Players--Aaron Kagan, Seth D. Michaels, Seth Reibstein, Zach Sherwin, and dy delicacies. Andrew Slack--will perform on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m., in the JCC Theatre. College students-Sketches, musical only--are invited to a reception prior to the show at 6 p.m. numbers, anagrams (their beloved trademark), slide shows, and dance the first day of college. Their long history together as friends and performers battles combine to create a variety show that is at once observational, highbrow, absurd, political, lowbrow, translates into tight teamwork and a highly contagious interactive, thought-provoking, and several other excit- sense of fun onstage. The group tours extensively at clubs, theaters, colleges, festivals, and other venues ing adjectives. Dig colorful characters? Feast your eyes on theirs: a throughout the United States--from midtown Straight Man, a Buffoon, a Tortured Rebel, a Cute Manhattan to the middle of Arkansas--and looks for“Awww” Guy, and a Dweeb. The Late Night Players ward to their first trip to Nebraska. The show is open to the entire Jewish community. are cutting-edge performers with one foot rooted firmly in comic tradition and the other gazing resolutely Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance due toward the future. One newspaper called them to limited seating in the theatre. Reserve your space “Saturday Night Live--only smarter.” And another now by contacting Cindy Reed, JCC Registration Associate at 334.6419, and be sure to check out “The called them the “Midnight Players.” Sigh. The five members of the group--Aaron Kagan, Seth Late Night Players” on the web at: www.latenightD. Michaels, Seth Reibstein, Zach Sherwin, and players.com. Andrew Slack--have performed together as the Late Reception Prior to Show for College Students Only Night Players since their All Jewish college students are invited Dec. 28 to a private reception, starting at 6 p.m. at student days at Brandeis Jewish Community Center, followed by a viewing of “The Late Night Players” at 7 p.m. in the University in the suburbs of Theater. Appetizers will be served at the reception and tickets to the Comedy Show will be the Boston, MA. Three of the free for the first 50 college students who RSVP to Lisa Shkolnick, JCC Assistant Executive Late Night Players met on their freshman dorm hall on Director, at 334.6425 or via e-mail: lshkolnick@jccmomaha.org.

Lois Wine, right, helps her aunt, Esther Segel, write a letter on one of the Blumkin Home’s new large-type keyboards. Purchase by Visions of two flat screen monitors and the keyboards make it easier for residents stay in touch with friends and relatives. Solitaire, on-line mah jongg and several other computer games are also popular activities.

Educator and Volunteer, Karin Levine Dies at Age 49 by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press After fighting cancer for more than a decade, Karin Levine died Monday night at the age of 49. Services were held Wednesday at Beth El Synagogue with interment at Beth El Cemetery. Originally from Louisville, KY, she graduated hgh school at 16 and entered Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Though she earned top honors and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, what she really wanted to pursue was the rabbinate, but the Jewish Theological Seminary wasn’t quite ready to accept women as rabbincal candidates. Instead, she moved to California for a teaching job with a former Omahan--Ron Wolfson, who later became Vice-chancel-

Inside Opinion Page see page 12

lor of the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. She escorted groups of young students to Israel, moved to Cleveland, OH, and then on to Boston, MA, to work with a renowned human growth and development specialist, Larry Kohlberg. That led to a certificate from Harvard University in that field and then a master’s in education as well. Pursuing a PhD, Karin made her way to Minneapolis, taught at the Jewish day school there, and eventually met Michael Levine. The two married in her home town and had a daughter, Arielle, now 15 and a sophomore at Millard North. Though the Levine family has lived in Omaha for only nine years, Karin has made her mark here professionally as well as on Jewish communal life. An associate

professor at Creighton University, said the NCJW project’s she taught undergraduate classes chairman, Sandy Epstein. in Child and Adolescent “What wonderful memories Development, as well as the occashe helped create for sional graduate class in education. Arielle.” She was often called upon to lecLevine also taught in Beth ture in that field to laymen and El’s religious school and was a presenter at the 2000 served on several commitKlutznick Symposium. tees for the Jewish She served on the boards of the Federation. Friedel Jewish Academy, Juliana Reno described Hadassah and the National Karin “as a caretaker. She Karin Levine Council of Jewish Women, which took care of her family, her honored her with its Distinguished friends, any woman that she knew with Service Award in 2004 for her work in breast cancer, and homeless animals at public affairs and community service. the humane society. She took care of the “Karin was so dedicated, she even students at Friedel while her daughter pulled hr daughter out of school to help attended there, and of her own students her make deliveries on Dictionary Day,” Continued on page 15

This Week: Teen Age Features Tifereth Israel’s USY in Lincoln: Page 11 Press Co-sponsors 92nd St. Y’s Broadcast of Barbara Walters: Page 3

Hanukkah Crossword Puzzle: Page 6

Coming Next Week: Hanukkah Issue

CDC and Friedel Host Back-to-Back Hanukkah Events: Page 8

ADL’s Prejudice Elimination Workshop Creates Safe Haven: Page 16

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 9, 2005

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 Ima and Me, 10:30 a.m. at Chabad House Fifth and Sixth Grade Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, DEC. 10 Men’s Club Poker Night, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel BBYO WRC Hype Up Overnight, 7 p.m. C L I P & S A V E

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 NCJW Book Club, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13 Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Adult Education, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14 PATTER, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Rabbis and Presidents Meeting, 11:30 a.m. C B’nai B’rith Banquet Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. L Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel I THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15 P Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel & Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Rabbi Levin’s Class, noon at Beth El Long Range Planning Meeting, noon at Temple Israel S Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. A Kripke Library Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. V JSS Community Concert, 1:30 p.m. E Youth & CDC Hannukah Extravaganza, 5:30 p.m. Friedel Jewish Academy Hanukkah Program, 7 p.m. All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING, VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

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by A.M. GOLDSTEIN Editor, Haifa University Department of External Relations HAIFA--That Nobel Laureate-to-be Prof. Robert J. Aumann talked about game theory was no surprise. That the Israeli economist talked in English to his University of Haifa audience last month was unexpected. A special guest of the Mt. Carmel institution’s Dept. of Economics, Aumann was in a run-up to his formal address in Stockholm, where he will be awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for 2005. The laureate-to-be, now professor emeritus at the Hebrew University, delivered what was likely meant as a draft of his forthcoming talk, in English, at the highly prestigious event. His subject was repeated games. He explained how cooperation could form from within people on the basis of self-interest alone if the relationship were long-lasting. There was a touching interchange when Aumann remarked that patience was required in any negotiations, economic or political. “In such negotiations,” he continued, “‘peace now’ was not always the correct thing.” The “peace now” reference was to an Israeli political organization that had called for Israel withdrawal from Lebanon and, more recently, for withdrawal from the Gaza area, as well as for negotiating with the Palestinians. Assoc. Prof. Ramzi Suleiman of the University’s Dept. of Psychology interjected that if other elements were

added to the model, then “peace now” was, indeed, worthwhile. Aumann would not be deterred. “Our cousins,” he replied, “believe that we, like the Crusaders will not remain long on this land. They have patience and we have ‘no time.’” Suleiman jumped up and announced: “I am a cousin.” Robert Aumann, professor Aumann was not flusemeritus at the Hebrew tered. “In that case,” the University of Jerusalem, was Nobel economist retorted, named co-winner of the “Come, I want to give you a 2005 Nobel Prize for hug.” He descended quickly Economics. from the podium as Credit: Hebrew University Suleiman approached, and the two hugged each other to the appreciative applause of the audience. The University of Haifa audience may have had to struggle a bit with a technical subject in English. But they needed no special invitation and were able to sit comfortably in shirt sleeves rather in formal wear to listen to Israel’s latest Nobel winner. And enjoy a repartee in what may be termed political economics.

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C SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 L “Living Hebrew” with Susie Levin and Bible Study I with Leonard Greenspoon, 10 a.m. at Beth El P BESTT Annual Latke Party, 10 a.m. December Dilemma, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel & WRJ-O Baking, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Prayer Class and Jewish Potpouri, 11 a.m. at Beth El S Yachad Mitzvah Holiday Gift Baskets, noon A Camp Sabra Meeting, 12:30 p.m. V Kripke Library Chanu-kids, 3 p.m. E New Member Reception, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel

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by JODI BODNER Jewish National Fund Director of Communications This holiday season, you need look no further than Jewish National Fund (JNF)--yes you read it right--for a choice of several gifts that are unique and affordable and yet still provide you, the giver, with the satisfaction of giving to charity, and the recipient with the enjoyment of the gift itself and the knowledge that they too are playing a part in the development of the Land of Israel. Holiday celebrations can be enhanced with beautiful, premium Rite Lite MultiColored Hanukkah Candles, new this year to the JNF store, available in limited quantities. Each of these traditional candles is hand-dipped and hand-decorated by skilled artisans. A box of 45 candles, enough for all eight days of Hanukkah, is just $11. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these candles, from the Jacob Rosenthal Judaica Collection, will be donated to JNF. Rite Lite Ltd., founded in 1949 by Holocaust survivor Jacob Rosenthal, has been providing the finest quality Hanukkah products to Jewish homes for 50 years. For a truly unique gift, try looking past traditional ideas and purchase trees or boxed sets of Water is Life or Landscapes of Israel greeting cards. JNF, an organization with a long-standing tradition of supporting the environment by planting trees in Israel, will plant a tree in someone’s honor for a small taxdeductible donation. To date, JNF has improved the land of Israel by planting over 240 million trees and provided luscious belts of green covering more than 250,000 acres. A tree is a gift that truly keeps on giving and growing and is a thoughtful way to mark a holiday or joyous occasion while supporting a noble cause - the environment. With each purchase, JNF sends a customized decorative certificate of your choice to the person receiving the gift. The recipient’s name and your personal message are

For more information o create the perfect Bar/B Israel, please call 877-5 email: travel@jnf.org or visit www.jnf.org/jnft

inscribed on the certificate of your choice. Choose from a variety of decorative tree planting certificates including “Trees for Israel,” “Children’s Forest in Israel,” the “Unity of Israel,” and the “Holy Land.” Water certificates are also available. Individual trees, including a beautiful certificate, are just $18. This season we are offering our Ring of Trees (3) at $36, usually $54; and our Circle of Trees (5) at $72, usually $90. A Garden of Trees (100) is also available for $500. Or you may try a set of all-occasion greeting cards. Our landscape set features beautiful images of Israel from paintings by world-renowned Israeli artist Avner Moriah. These cards highlight Israel’s natural scenery and the diversity of its landscape. Our water-themed set show various reservoirs and helps increase awareness of Israel’s water crisis and the role of Jewish National Fund in alleviating it. Over the last decade, JNF has increased Israel’s water resources to furnish water to 1.2 million people. The set of 12 blank cards (3 each of 4 different designs) can be used as thank you notes, birthday greetings or for other occasions. A set of 12 all occasion water-themed greeting cards sell for $30. You may show your support for JNF and Israel by wearing the JNF Blue & White bracelet and sharing them with your friends and family. Bracelets are inscribed with “For Israel, Forever.” Pack of 6 is $18. Or, purchase books, movies, music and software from giveline.com, and a percentage of your sale can go to JNF. Select any of the latest bestselling items, offered at a discounted price, and about 15% of the proceeds will go to benefit JNF. Or you may opt to spend the full retail value of the item and the difference between the full value and the discounted price becomes your gift to JNF as well. With the exclusion of www.giveline.com, all of the above items are available for purchase by visiting JNF’s Online Tree Planting Center at www.jnf.org or by calling JNF’s toll-free number, 800.542.TREE (8733).

& S A V E

Press Announces Winners of Hanukkah Coloring Contest by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press Julia Edelstein is the winner of this year’s Hanukkah Coloring Contest. Her imaginative drawing, using candy wrappers as the stems of the nine-branched hanukkiyah, will be featured in next week’s Hanukkah issue on the front page of the second section. Julia, daughter of Stan and Ellene Edelstein, is a fourth-grader at Harvey Oaks Elementary School. In addition to having her artwork featured in the Press, Julia will receive two free tickets to Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, sponsored by Broadway in Omaha. Other winners include Lila and Isaac Ferber, children

of Jenni Schlossman and Jeff Ferber, and Sara Cohen, daughter of Marla and Bob Cohen, who were the first three young artists to submit their drawings for the contest. They will receive gift certificates to Gordman’s. Congratulations to all those who entered!

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE Though the Press office will be open during winter break, several staff members at the Suburban Newspaper Group will be on vacation. In order to assist them, we are moving up our deadlines by one day, therefore the deadline for the Dec. 30 issue is Wednesday, Dec. 21, and for the Jan. 7 issue, the deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 28.

December 9, 2005

Dangers of Internet Chat Rooms for Teens Spotlighted in Library Discussion Group by PJ NUNN (Los Angeles)--A 10-yearold girl in Toronto “met” a 35-year-old man in an online chat room, saying she was 13. Within a month, “the relationship between the two evolved from chat rooms to emails to phone calls” to an encounter in his apartment, the Toronto Star reports. In Covington County, GA, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually Rochelle Krich assaulted in her own bedroom by a man she’d “met” days before in an online chat room, the Newton Citizen reports. She had invited him to her house and let him in but reportedly “had no idea of his intentions.” It doesn’t happen often, but it happens: children and teens in Internet chat rooms find themselves involved with people who misrepresent themselves, and often have very dangerous motives. In Rochelle Krich’s latest Molly Blume novel Now You See Me...(Ballantine Books), a fan of the Orthodox reporter swears that he desperately needs Molly’s help in finding his eighteen-year-old daughter, Hadassah, who has run away from home to be with a man she met on the Internet. Molly hesitantly agrees--and immediately has regrets. Her investigation leads her into a dark area in which parents are loving but oblivious, teens are afraid to talk, afraid to disappoint their loved ones, yet desperate for acceptance. The story brings to light issues that are all too common for teens these days including self-mutilation when relationships that are born in hope turn to deceit and betrayal. It’s a long, deadly path that stretches before Molly, a path mined with hidden passions and festering secrets. Krich will be in Omaha to discuss her new book with the ongoing Library Discussion Group on Thursday, Dec. 15, 1 p.m., at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. She’ll sign copies of her latest novel following the discussion. The story couldn’t be more timely and relevant. With children having more and freer Internet access, and “meeting” people who may or may not be who they say they are, stories like Hadassah’s are not at all impossible. Krich researches her story lines meticulously, and understands the hazards of teens with unlimited access, and the difficulties inherent in keeping them safe.

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Jewish Press Co-Sponsors Next 92 ST Y Satellite Broadcast Featuring Barbara Walters no-holds-barred opinions and lively, colorful conversaby RACHEL BLUM tions. Premiering in August 1997, The View consists of JCC Program Director Barbara Walters will take the stage at the 92nd Street hot topics in the news, the best experts in their field, Y in New York City, and her interview with Jeff celebrity interviews and general entertainment. Walters joined ABC News in 1976 as the first woman Greenfield, CNN’s Senior Analyst, will be broadcast live via satellite at the Jewish Community Center Theater on to co-host the network news. In 1984, she became cohost of the ABC newsmagazine “20/20”, which is curSunday, Dec. 18, 6:30 pm. Barbara Walters has arguably interviewed more states- rently in its 24th season on the network. Prior to joinmen and stars than any other journalist in history. She is ing ABC, she appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” for 15 so well known that her name and a brief biography is years. She began as a writer on the “Today Show”, and listed in the American Heritage Dictionary. Walters’ within a year became a reporter-at-large, developing, numerous and timely interviews--which appear regularly writing and editing her own reports and interviews. In 1963 she became a co-host of the program without on the weekly newsmagazine “20/20” and on “The the official title, but in 1974 Barbara Walters Specials”--read like a NBC officially designated “Who’s Who” of newsmakers. her as the program’s first “The Jewish Press is excited about sponfemale co-host. soring this particular broadcast,” noted Over the years, Walters has Carol Katzman, Editor. “The committee received national recognition acknowledged the fact that Walters was for her work and has been the one of the first Jewish women to achieve recipient of numerous prestithe stature of prime time interviewers in gious honors and awards. She the world of broadcasting. She serves as a is the recipient of honorary role model for young Jewish journalists, doctoral degrees from Sarah maintaining a professional demeanor even Lawrence, her alma mater, as when interviewing the likes of Saddam well as Ohio State University, Hussein Moamar Quadaffi.” Temple University, MaryThis past season, she did the first intermount College, Wheaton view for American television with Russia’s College, Hofstra University President Vladimir Putin and the first and Ben-Gurion University in interview with President and Mrs. Bush Jerusalem. following Sept. 11. She also did a oneA native of Boston, Walters hour special on Saudi Arabia following her is the daughter of the famed visit there. Barbara Walters entertainment impresario Through the years Walters has interviewed such world figures as Russia’s Boris Yeltsin, Lou Walters and has one daughter. Walters’ interviewer, CNN’s Jeff Greenfield, has garChina’s Premier Jiang Zemin, and Great Britain’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In 1999, nered a number of awards, including the 2002 Quill Walters conducted the first interview with Monica Award for Professional Achievement and three Emmy Lewinsky, which became the highest-rated news pro- Awards for his contributions to Nightline’s South Africa gram ever broadcast by a single network. She has inter- specials in 1985 and 1990 and for a 1992 primetime viewed every American President and First Lady since special on Ross Perot. Greenfield has a bachelor’s degree Richard Nixon. She made journalism history by arrang- with honors from the University of Wisconsin and grading the first joint interview with Egypt’s President uated with honors from Yale Law School with a bacheAnwar Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem lor of legal letters degree. In addition to co-sponsorship by the Jewish Press, this Begin in November, 1977. Another of her “firsts” was an hour-long primetime Live From NY’s 92nd Street Y satellite broadcast also is conversation with Cuban President Fidel Castro--an funded in part by the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein interview which has been printed in half a dozen lan- Supporting Foundation. Tickets for the broadcast are $5 guages and shown all over the world. and can be purchased by calling Cindy Reed, Walters is co-owner, co-executive producer and co- Registration Associate, at 334.6419. For more informahost of The View, the original forum where real women tion about the Live from NY’s 92 ST Y Series, please discuss relevant, everyday issues and share their daily, contact me at 334.6404.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 9, 2005

Beth Israel Women Create Chesed Project

Elliott Gould Narrates New DVD Promoting Awareness of Most Common Genetic Disease Facing U.S. Jews by ROSINA CRISTALLI The National Gaucher Foundation (NGF) is distributing a popular new DVD presentation, A Message to Elijah that promotes awareness of Gaucher disease, the most prevalent genetic disorder facing the American Jewish population. Narrated by popular actor Elliott Gould, A Message to Elijah explains the causes, symptoms and treatment for Gaucher disease, while exploring the lives of three individuals with Gaucher disease of different ages and lifestyles. Since the DVD’s debut in September 2005, more than 5,250 copies of A Message to Elijah were ordered by visitors to the NGF website and by participants in special Gaucher disease awareness events throughout the United States. “This informative, heartwarming presentation has struck a chord with viewers because it addresses an important medical issue and deals with the lives of real people,” said NGF President Rhonda Buyers. “‘A Message to Elijah’ shows how awareness and proper diagnosis of Gaucher disease can lead to treatment, which enables those who have inherited the disorder to pursue active, productive lives.” According to current medical estimates, the most common form of Gaucher (pronounced Go-shay) disease --Type 1--occurs in one out of every 450 to 600 births of Jews of Eastern and Central European ancestry. More than 90 percent of the American Jewry is descended from this geographic/religious subgroup, also known as

Ashkenazi Jews. While less prevalent outside the Ashkenazi Jewish population, the disorder can affect anyone, regardless of ethnicity, age or gender. Gaucher disease is caused by an enzyme deficiency, creating an excessive accumulation of lipids in bone marrow and various body tissues. Today, it can be treated and brought under control using an intravenous infusion. Although only one in every 100 to 200 people in the general population may be carriers of a gene mutation that causes Type 1 Gaucher disease, as many as one in 10 Ashkenazi Jews carry this inactive genetic trait. Carriers are not affected, but are capable of passing it along to future generations. When two parents are Gaucher gene carriers, each of their children has a 25 percent chance of inheriting the disease. Michael Margolis, a Los Angelesbased television producer who also is being treated for the disorder, created the 21-minute presentation to generate greater awareness of Gaucher disease, particularly among Jews throughout the United States and their physicians. Margolis explained that A Message to Elijah is an important new vehicle to inform others--particularly in the American Jewish community--that they may have inherited the genetic disease. It also teaches potential carriers and individuals who may have Gaucher disease about getting accurate diagnosis and treatment in the form of an intravenous infusion, which has been available since 1991.

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue If you’re a woman who enjoys the company of other women and likes to do nice things for others, then plan to attend the first gathering of the Women’s Chesed Project at Beth Israel on Sunday, Dec. 18, 3-5 p.m. Participants will sip on wine, enjoy some snacks and cook meals that eventually will be given to families experiencing the loss of a loved one or some other difficult situation. The project was developed by Beth Israel members Lesley Gendelman and Amanda Gurock. “The word chesed means ‘kindness,’” stated Gurock. “We wanted to come up with a way for women to occasionally get together and have some fun, while performing chesed at the same time.” According to Gurock, the project aims to perform two general services. “We want to make meals that can be kept frozen and then delivered to families at times such as during the loss of a loved one,” she said. “Secondly, we want to create ‘visiting baskets’ that Rabbi Gross can take when he goes to see people in the hospital.” “When a family observes shiva, we want to help ease their burden,” said Gendelman. “It will be nice for Beth Israel to have frozen kosher meals prepared that can be given to grieving families or to others experiencing a major life event like the birth of a new baby or having a loved one in the hospital for a long stay. Those are times when there isn’t time or energy to worry about preparing a meal, so it will be terrific if we can help ease the burden.” All women in the community are invited. Babysitting will be provided, free of charge. For information, contact 556.6288 or BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

The presentation’s namesake, Elijah Gumm, is a teenager living with Gaucher disease who has never known the difficulties of the disorder because he has received proper treatment from the time he was first diagnosed. Elijah’s acceptance of his health situation serves as a poignant counterpoint to vignettes about the two adults who describe the pain they suffered from Gaucher disease, prior to the availability of treatment. “Elijah will never know the torment of Gaucher disease and others can experience the same relief by getting proper medical care,” Margolis said. “That’s the point of ‘A Message to Elijah.’ If we can build greater awareness of Gaucher disease, we can spare thousands of people from needless discomfort by getting them properly diagnosed and treated.” To obtain copies of A Message to Elijah and learn more about Gaucher disease, contact the National Gaucher Foundation at 1.800.925.8885 or visit the organization’s website at www.gaucherdisease.org. The mission of the National Gaucher Foundation is to find a cure for Gaucher disease by funding vital research, programs to meet the ever-increasing needs of patients and families, as well as promote community/physician awareness and education programs. The NGF offers a variety of services and programs, including regional educational meetings and international conferences. The NGF also provides critical financial assistance to individuals with Gaucher disease through its CARE and CARE+PLUS programs.

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December 9, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

The Lion, the Witch and the Torah?

ASK FOR...

Beth Israel Book Club to Discuss Novel by Narnia Author C.S. Lewis

TONI ROSEN

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue With the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe opening in theatres on Dec. 9, there has been a growing debate about the Christian themes that many find evident in the film. The movie is based on a novel by C.S. Lewis, an English professor from the 1920s until his death in 1963. Lewis was born in Ireland, served in World War I and became a scholar of medieval literature and author of popular fantasy novels. He also is known for his books about Christianity. Many Christian groups are thrilled with the release of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Others are concerned that this could be a repeat of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ. In light of this, Rabbi Jonathan Gross thought it would be very appropriate to discuss C.S. Lewis’ classic novel, The Screwtape Letters. He will lead a discussion about the book when Beth Israel’s Book Club meets on Thursday, Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. In explaining why he chose The Screwtape Letters to discuss, Gross’ interest in C.S. Lewis was evident. “I read all seven books in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ series and loved them,” he noted. “The stories make you think about adventures, the battle between good and evil, and the moral dilemmas we all encounter.” “There has always been controversy surrounding the

IN THE NEWS

novels written by C.S. Lewis, since many people contend he emphasizes Christianity in his works, while others view his frequent exploration of the ‘good versus evil’ theme as being more universal. In fact, many of the themes he touches on are not uniquely Christian; they are found in Jewish sources as well.” The Screwtape Letters was first published in 1942. The novel consists of a series of letters from a senior devil, Screwtape, to his nephew, a novice devil. The letters pertain to his nephew Wormword’s assignment to tempt a human, called “the Patient.” “By reading Screwtape’s letters, the reader gains insight into Wormword’s responses to his uncle. ‘The Screwtape Letters’ can be described as a fantasy, a satire, a comedy and as an enlightening piece of writing that challenges the reader to consider the ‘slippery slope’ of human temptation,” Rabbi Gross added. During the book discussion, Gross plans to compare and contrast Lewis’ themes to those found in medieval and modern Jewish wisdom literature. Gross encourages everyone to read The Screwtape Letters before the Jan. 19 Book Club meeting, but it is not necessary in order to learn from, enjoy and participate in the discussion. The book can be purchased at bookstores and on-line. For more information about Beth Israel Synagogue’s Book Club, please contact the synagogue office at 556.6288 or BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

ORGANIZATIONS

Alan and Marty Cohen announce that Kelly Nogg has joined their team at CBSHomeWest Dodge Office. Kelly is married to Jeff Nogg and recently moved to Omaha from Atlanta, GA, where she was a successful agent with Jenny Pruitt and Associates (owned by Berkshire Hathaway).

HADASSAH On Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m., the Omaha Chapter Hadassah invites the community to a Hanukkah party at the Jewish Community Center. Jonathan Rathsam will provide Jewish music as part of the planned entertainment. There is no fee for this event, however, attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped Hanukkah present, suitable for a child ranging in age from three to 17. These gifts will be distributed through Jewish Family Services’ “Project Dreidel.”

Creighton University Medical Center announced the national Best Doctors survey recently named 49 Creighton University Medical Center (CUMC) physicians to this years Best Doctors list. These Creighton University Medical Center physicians were ranked by their peers as the best in clinical care in their respective specialties, among them: Family Medicine: Mark Goodman, MD; Hematology/Oncology: Peter Silberstein, MD; and Infectious Diseases: Mavin Bittner, MD. A group called Best Doctors Inc. commissions an annual peer-review survey of the medical profession. This past year they contacted more than 50,000 doctors who were identified in previous surveys as the best in their specialties and asked them: If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer them? As a result of the survey findings, 49 CUMC physicians were named in this years survey. Only 4% of doctors in the United States are identified as Best Doctors physicians.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

The Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) is a national Homeland Security program to enhance security and overall preparedness to prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. Steve Danon, who is the Director of Risk Services for the Marcotte Insurance Agency is serving on the command structure as the Safety Officer for the tri-county (Douglas, Washington, Sarpy) emergency exercise program. The purpose of the planning and exercises are to build an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism. Danon also serves on the Nebraska Emergency Response Commission. Marcotte Insurance and United Healthcare Group is sponsoring a free informational seminar to learn more about the new Medicare Part D Options. Jerry Worth from United Heathcare Group will be speaking on this important topic on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. at Valentino’s, 132nd & Center. A free buffet lunch will be provided after the seminar. For registration, please call Christi at 970.3303 or e-mail reservations to her at: cheideman@marcotteins.com by Monday, Dec. 12.

JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES Join us for a community concert featuring vocalist Billie James on Thursday, Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m. in the JCC Community Room. During her 40-year career in Australia, she worked with a large number of jazz groups. Billie was honored as “Night Club/Cabaret Entertainer of the Year” in 1978. Call Maggie Conti at 334.6521 for reservations.

Page 5

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 9, 2005

At Biennial, Conservative Jews Look to Recapture Place in the Sun

65. Port north of Haifa 66. WAS EMBOLDENED, AS WERE JUDAH, JONATHAN, OTHERS 67. Dublin’s land 68. Chomsky 69. IN THE BEGINNING, JUDAH TOOK CARE TO _____ THE ENEMIES’ MAIN FORCES 70. The way some Brits like whiskey 71. What means may lead to 72. Make note of, recommend someone 73. Very fast planes DOWN 1. Structural cross-piece 2. Rabbi Yosef ____, 15th c., famed for his role in the Tortosa disputation 3. Stalk type plant, such as those encountered by Moses and Israel in the sea of this name 4. HANUKKAH IS ALSO CALLED THE FEAST __ _______. 5. Solitary 6. Dutch town, known for water sports 7. Faced, or turned to, in Hebrew 8. LIKE A SAGA, AS THAT OF HANUKKAH 9. Actor Keach 10. “A ‘sailor’ of the Arabian Nights” 11. Oak or pine 12. Descartes

ACROSS 1. Meter starter 5. Mont Blanc et autres 10. A Houston killer bee, for short 14. Thousand, in Hebrew 15. Jumped, older usage 16. Made angry 17. Cain's unfortunate brother 18. All things, to Caesar 19. Hawaiian goose, nearly extinct 20. MATTATHIAS’ TOWN/WHAT HIS SONS WERE KNOWN AS 23. Mastery, superiority, in Scots 24. Incan singer Sumac 25. Sphere beginner 28. Short for rabbi 31. “A Bell for _____”, Hersey's classic 35. “_ ___ __ conditions” (am demanding no terms - 3 words) 37. Deltaic channel 39. Title or honorific 40. OUR PEOPLE’S OPPRESSORS (def. article plus two-part name) 44. Poetic contraction 45. Annapolis grad. 46. Chinese tea (var. sp.) 47. Trap or drum 50. ___ Plaines 52. Roman historian-philosopher 53. Common suffix 55. Nights before 57. HIGHPOINT RITE, EACH OF THE EIGHT DAYS

13. Poetic forms, such as the Pindaric 21. Figure of speech that apposes oddly relating realities 22. Doctors’ league 25. Uses teeth 26. Quite pale 27. ____ Marie, R&B singer (“Starchild”) 29. Delete 30. Container for grain, coal, or similar 32. Papua, New Guinea airport 33. Japanese camera make 34. Cockney for a steed, familiarly 36. Bauxite, e.g. 38. Accelerated graphics port, for short 41. NYC subway line, runs along 8th 42. Scribe again 43. Morays’ lairs? 48. Sews bottom of skirt again 49. Clocks in the Big Apple go by this 51. Leave a federal union 54. Downy sea duck 56. Darth 57. Travel or country or Lois 58. Little emblem on your desktop 59. Alumnus or alumna 60. Cathedral part 61. ____ Spee, German battleship sunk in WWII 62. Prevarications 63. Past form of Latin “esse” 64. Tennis match parts

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by SUE FISHKOFF The initiative calls upon OAKLAND, CA congregations to actively should (JTA)--How encourage conversion, parJudaism Conservative ticularly of non-Jews already cope with dwindling in Conservative families. membership, growing “The process we’ve tradiintermarriage rates and tionally had, which makes it society’s increasing relidifficult to convert, was probgious and political polariably valuable at a particular ty, while remaining true time,” Epstein says. “While to its base in halachah, or I’m not looking to recruit Jewish law? people off the street, for those Those were some of the who have already chosen to vexing questions the be part of a relationship with Rabbi Ismar Schorsch United Synagogue of a Jew, we ought to be pasCredit: Jewish Conservative Judaism sionate and compassionate Theological Seminary tackled when it convened toward them.” Sunday in Boston for its four-day biennial. Epstein believes kiruv is the biggest chalThere are more: Who will replace lenge facing Conservative Jewry. “Our sucRabbi Ismar Schorsch, longtime chancel- cess here will determine not only the deslor of the movement’s flagship Jewish tiny of the movement but the destiny of Theological Seminary, when he retires American Jewish life,” he maintains. The next summer? Conservatives are broadening their It’s no accident that the opening plenary embrace of the intermarried just two weeks talk by Rabbi Harold Kushner was called after Reform leader Rabbi Eric Yoffie pro“What does it mean to be a Conservative posed at that movement’s biennial that Jew?” That’s a question on everyone’s Reform congregations ask non-Jewish mind at the Dec. 4-8 conference, says spouses to consider conversion. Rabbi Joel Meyers, head of the Rabbinical Are the two approaches converging? Assembly, the Conservative movement’s Not really, Meyers says. rabbinic arm. “What the movement is “Maybe at the edges Conservative is struggling to do is set a public position for becoming more Reform,” he acknowlthe 21st century,” he says. edges, “but the two movements are disThe challenge comes as Conservative tinctive. The Reform movement’s posiJudaism, which once set the agenda for tion is that each person and rabbi is American Jewry, has lost its numeric edge, autonomous and does their own thing, dropping from 43% of affiliated Jews in while we believe in halachah and mitzvot. 1990 to 33% in 2000, according to the two We have a clear idea of how people latest National Jewish Population Surveys. should behave.” Conservative Jews are older as a group “The Reform movement reaches out” than the Reform or Orthodox, yet they and makes intermarried members feel hold most of the key positions in Jewish comfortable, says Rabbi Moshe Edelman, communal leadership, contributing to the Director of congregational planning and aging of that leadership. leadership development for the United Meyers insists the Conservative move- Synagogue. “We’re saying, reach out and ment “is strong” and says enrollment in gather in for the sake of sanctity, of day schools and camps is up, even as the kedushah,” or holiness, he adds. “We’re movement’s outreach to young adult not looking for a comfort zone.” Jews is languishing. The initiative offers “a suggestion of In an effort to stem the hemorrhaging of approaches” rather than dictating policy, membership in Conservative synagogues Epstein says. “It’s called al-haderech,” or and soften the movement’s image of being on the path, “rather than ‘this is it.’” cold and unwelcoming to the intermarried, That’s how it should be, Simon says--an Rabbi Jerome Epstein, the USCJ’s outreach approach that incorporates the Executive Vice-president, unveiled a far- views of many people and institutions, reaching initiative on kiruv, or outreach, rather than one imposed from the top directed primarily at interfaith families in down. Epstein expects that the new openness will impact the movement’s Camp Conservative congregations. In the works for the past year, the ini- Ramah and Solomon Schechter day tiative, described by Conservative leaders schools, which place restrictions on chilas much more forthcoming than the dren of non-Jewish mothers. The day movement’s current approach to kiruv, is schools, for example, require such students being kept under tight wraps--though to convert within a year of admission. In addition to the kiruv initiative, at the every movement leader, half a dozen congregations and selected outsiders already biennial the movement for the first time have seen it. handed out kiruv awards, recognizing six Epstein, the driving force behind the congregations for their outreach efforts. initiative, notes that in 1986 he headed Among the attendees at the Biennial was the faction that pushed for promoting in- Dick Fellman, a past-President of Beth El marriage rather than actively welcoming Synagogue. the intermarried. Now he’s spearheading Discussion of Schorsch’s replacement, an outreach approach that Charles a hot topic among movement leaders and Simon, head of the Conservative move- rabbis, took place more circumspectly, in ment’s Federation of Jewish Men’s corridors and private meetings rather Clubs, calls “a major reversal” of the than plenary sessions. The seminary’s search committee is still movement’s current attitude. Insisting it’s “an evolution, not a rever- evaluating candidates. Despite an eversal,” Epstein says he didn’t believe two changing short list that surfaces, commitdecades ago that the Conservative move- tee members remain tight-lipped. Rabbi ment “had the resources to both pro- Gordon Tucker of Temple Israel Center mote in-marriage and kiruv.” But with in White Plains, NY, the former dean of intermarriage a reality, he says he has JTS, and Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, “come to the conclusion that whether we dean of the rabbinical school at the University of Judaism, are two favorites. can or can’t do both, we must.” The USCJ also considered resolutions Epstein says the new approach “goes beyond the idea of keruv as welcoming supporting immigration reform, religious the intermarried,” but without trans- freedom in the workplace, food programs gressing any key Conservative values. for the poor, opposing family violence and “There are many things that are permit- congratulating the United Nations for its improved treatment of Israel. ted that we have not done,” he hints.

December 9, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Reform Movement Takes Stands at Biennial on Religious Right, Teen Sexuality, Alito, and War by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator More than 4,200 Reform Jews gathered for the Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ) 68th Biennial, Nov. 16-20, in Houston at the vast George R. Brown Convention Center which recently sheltered some 9,000 Gulf Coast hurricane evacuees. About 40 members of the four Gulf Coast Reform congregations, including all four rabbis, walked to the front of the auditorium carrying Torahs rescued from Katrina’s waters. The Torahs were later used during the Biennial’s Shabbat worship services. Hurricane relief, the religious right, and the Iraq War were also topics at the Biennial. Wendy Goldberg, president of Temple Israel’s Board of Trustees, expressed the Biennial’s upbeat atmosphere. “I am so proud to Above, Union of Reform be associated with an Judaism President Eric Yoffie international organiza- delivers a sermon encouraging tion willing to take a Reform Jews to welcome unafstand. The professional- filiated Jews and potential conism of the URJ leadership verts into their synagogues, inspires me,” she said, during the URJ’s 2005 Biennial reflecting the confidence in Houston. Credit: Michael of the country’s largest Fox; top right; Temple Israel sent the largest delegation Jewish stream. Confidence was also from the Midwest to the URJ evident in URJ President Biennial, which included Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s Executive Director Dennis Shabbat sermon in which DePorte, left, and board memhe urged Reform congre- ber Jeff Schweid; right; gations to find tangible Representing Lincoln and ways to honor non- Omaha are mother and daughJewish members who are ter, Sue Schreiber, right, and raising Jewish children Deb Marburg. while not shying away from suggesting that these nonJews convert. Since URJ instituted its open-arm policy toward interfaith families in 1978, Rabbi Yoffie suggested that “by making non-Jews feel comfortable and accepted,” perhaps “we have sent the message that we do not care if they convert. On the contrary, it is a mitzvah to help a potential Jew become a Jew-by-choice. In fact, we owe them an apology” for not inviting them to convert sooner. Another issue resulted in the passage of a resolution

commending American service women and men (and their families) who are serving “our nation honorably often with valor and distinction, and who have earned our respect and gratitude.” The resolution also called upon the Bush Administration to immediately “provide more transparency regarding all aspects of the (Iraq) war and a clear exit strategy” with specific goals for troop withdrawal…as soon as possible in a way that maintains

the stability in the nation and empowers Iraqi forces to provide for their national security. “A bipartisan, independent commission to determine the lessons learned…before and during the war” was part of the resolution along with proposals that all nations support the democratically elected Iraqi government and assist in rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure. The resolution condemns violations of the Geneva Convention that involve torture and abuse of prisoners and detainees in U.S. custody and those who use the war

as justification for anti-Israel efforts. Delegates advocated adopting respectful and meaningful methods of acknowledging the contribution of U.S. military by the use of prayers for their welfare and listing names of personnel lost in the line of duty in Kaddish prayers, Temple bulletins, and other appropriate means. Rabbi Yoffie went on to chastise the religious right. “We are particularly offended by the suggestion that the opposite of the religious right is the voice of atheism,” Rabbi Yoffie said. “We are appalled when ‘people of faith’ is used in such a way that it excludes us as well as most Jews, Catholics, and Muslims. What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God and that anyone who disagrees with you is not a person of faith.” He called the religious right’s opposition to gay rights reminiscent of the Nazis. “We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933,” Rabbi Yoffie recalled, “one of the first things that he did was ban gay organizations.” Acknowledging that although “we can disagree about gay marriage…there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that fuels the hellfires of anti-gay bigotry.” Based on the extensive record of Judge Samuel Alito, nominated by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Supreme Court, a resolution was passed recommending opposition to his nomination. Issues of “core value” to Reform Jews include the Judge’s “assertively conservative approach to the law” potentially shifting the narrowly divided Court, restricting “constitutional and statutory protections regarding privacy, reproductive choice, women’s rights, civil rights, and the separation of church and state.” It was also resolved that URJ review its own decision after Congressional hearings on Judge Alito. A three-day symposium on adolescence led up to the Biennial “to gain a greater appreciation for the lifelong impact that…teachers, educators, and counselors in our Jewish educational system” have on Jewish children in and outside the classroom. Religious school program directors, instructors and staff, day school teachers, summer camp counselors, Israel program organizers, youth group advisors, informal education teachers, and volunteer leaders, including Temple Israel’s Director of Middle/High School Elyce Azriel and Director of Youth and Informal Education Continued on page 8

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Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 9, 2005

Reform Take a Stand

CDC and Friedel Host Hanukkah Events Back-to-Back

Continued from page 7 Lynne Jensen, attended the symposium. In his Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Yoffie also asked congregations and parents to counter a tide of sexual activity especially among teens. â€œA growing number of middle school students are sexually active, and oral sex is both prevalent and widely accepted.â€? He condemned the social ethic known as â€˜hooking upâ€™ that severs sex from any pretense of a relationship. He noted that the Reform Movementâ€™s dedication to the equality of women â€˜is worth nothing if Jewish girls define their worth by how they please boys.â€? â€œWe are the most creative and forward-looking movement in Jewish life,â€? Rabbi Yoffie continued, â€œbut in the realm of personal behavior, we are reluctant to ever use the word â€˜forbidden.â€™â€? He urged parents and synagogues to impart the message of Judaism that tells teens â€œthey are created in the image of God, and each and every one of them is unique, of infinite worth, and entitled to respect. It tells them that the guiding principle of sexuality in the Jewish tradition isâ€Śâ€˜You shall be holy,â€™ which means that sexuality is linked to blessing, commandment, and God.â€? He added that â€œstudents in high school are not yet ready for the loving, mutual relationships that make sex an experience of holiness.â€? URJ plans to unveil a course for teens in 2007 to speak plainly and openly about issues they confront. Cindy Goldberg, president of Women of Reform Judaism-Omaha and part of Temple Israelâ€™s 20-strong delegation, found the Biennial to be â€œinspiring and empowering. I think it helps with the bigger picture and that we are not alone in our struggles and our successes.â€? â€œWith the issues facing everyone around the world, not just Jews,â€? pointed out Jon Meyers, Templeâ€™s president-elect, â€œthe resolutions passed were quite poignant.â€? Deb Marburg, a WRJ-O board member and a firsttimer at a URJ Biennial, said, it was â€œan amazing, fulfilling experience!â€? She is already planning to attend the next URJ Biennial in 2007 in San Diego.

by JORDANA L. KURTZMAN The Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center and Friedel Jewish Academy have scheduled their Hanukkah programs in succession this year on Thursday, Dec. 15, 5:15 p.m. Knowing many families have some children who attend the preschool while they have other children who attend the Jewish day school, the heads of both schools have combined forces to make an extended night of extraordinary celebration. The Child Development Center program commences first at 5:15 pm in the auditorium. Children and their families will be able to participate in an interactive arts and crafts environment with the children which will also include music and cookie decorating. For information about cost of the event, which is being catered by Nothing But Noodles, call the CDC at 334.6413. At 7 p.m., Friedel Jewish Academy will present their annual Hanukkah program in the theatre. This year, the children will sing â€œMaoz Tzurâ€? in a Ladino melody plus other Hebrew songs as well as present a play entitled, â€œAnother Year, Another Hanukkah.â€? The Friedel program is free of charge, and the entire community is encouraged to attend.

Both CDC Director Corey Kirshenbaum and Friedel Principal Cookie Katskee encourage families to celebrate Hanukkah by attending both of these festive celebrations, even if their children only attend one of the schools. Having both of these events follow one another on the same night provides a sense of community and partnership that everyone can enjoy together. On the following day, Friday, Dec. 16, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Friedelâ€™s PTOsponsored latke sale takes place, with Judaic studies teachers Naâ€™ama Arzi and Anna Besser making homemade latkes with the students and the help of their parents. In keeping with the tradition of cooking foods in oil for Hanukkah in remembrance of the miracle of the sanctification oil that lasted eight days, the children will assist in the preparation of the latkes. Latkes will be on sale during those hours where one may purchase a lunch serving of two large latkes with applesauce and sour cream plus a beverage for $5 or take a â€œto goâ€? order of ten medium latkes for $10. If youâ€™d like to place an order in advance, call Mary Jane Tweedy at 334.0517. To find out more about the CDC, contact Corey Kirshenbaum at 334.6413, and for information regarding Friedel, call Cookie Katskee at 334.0517.

Donâ€™t Spare the Strikes, but Hold the Splits Beth Elâ€™s third through fifth graders had a magical time during the synagogueâ€™s recent â€œChaim Potter and the Hogschwartz School of Menschlichkeitâ€? Shabbaton. Based on a spoof of the Harry Potter theme, the weekend focused on teaching students what it truly means to be a mensch. Sarah Kutler, front row left, Elissa Wiener, Alex Pichik and, back row: Alyssa Cohen, Alyssa Kirshenbaum and Samantha Wiener mugged during a fun-filled bowling outing, one of the activities enjoyed by participants.

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December 9, 2005

Chabad’s Global Warming Outsiders Praise ‘the most effective Jewish organization’ by JONATHAN MARK Associate Editor New York Jewish Week If messianism hadn’t become such a malignant word with which cynics and rivals indiscriminately tar, feather and suspect every Chabad-Lubavitch hasid, it would be easier to say that Thanksgiving’s annual convention of the Lubavitcher rebbe’s Rabbi Mendel Katzman, shluchim (emissaries) was Director of Chabad of nothing less than mesNebraska, spoke at the worksianic. No, not the messhop on Small Cities. sianism of a quadrant of Lubavitchers who still believe that the rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who died in 1994, is indeed the Messiah and somehow alive. In fact, every written word about the rebbe in the convention’s papers and programs was suffixed with the Hebrew acronym indicating that the rebbe’s emissaries, the elite of Chabad-Lubavitch, clearly recognize, as the coroner says in Munchkin Land, that he’s not only merely dead but really most sincerely dead. One has to be blunt, for that is what the cynics demand, even if it brings a tear to a hasid’s eye as much as if anyone had to swear under cross-examination that, yes, someone I loved is now cold in the ground. Ethically and spiritually, though, the rebbe is alive and his movement is hot. Almost 100 couples went out into the world as the rebbe’s emissaries in the past year, bringing the total number to nearly 4,000. Chabad Houses opened for the first time in Poland and Laos, pushing the number of countries in which Chabad operates to more than 70. As Rabbi Berel Lazar, chief rabbi of Chabad’s Russian operations put it, the shluchim are still guided by the rebbe’s principal that “no Jew is too small, no effort too big, no result insignificant. He gave us the strength and the courage,” said Rabbi Lazar, “the blessing to understand the infinite value of one lone Jew.” And when the actual Messiah does arrive to his fabled Banquet of the Leviathan, the joy at that apocalyptic feast might only hope to approach the energy, spirit, and foot-stomp dancing that had the silverware bouncing off the tables and the fine china rattling at the Sunday night’s shluchim banquet at the New York Hilton. The stories told at the conference were like a messianic checklist, from reviving the dead (albeit metaphorically) to ingathering exiles and other unearthly deeds. Revival of the dead? Less than 15 years ago, the conventional wisdom among Jewish professionals was that Jewish life in the Soviet Union was as dead as the rebbe is now. Nevertheless, Chabad today has returned soul to dry bones, with permanent rabbis in 105 cities in the former Soviet Union, and circuit shluchim servicing 321 towns beyond that. Since last year’s conference, Chabad

shluchim welcomed 200,000 Jews to services, and energized American philanthropists into donating $35.9 million--earning a spot on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual “Philanthropy 400” list, where the group ranked 391. And that’s just Chabad of Russia. Among the prominent New York philanthropists, George Rohr helped with the publishing of more than 200,000 Russian siddurs and religious books. And Michael Steinhardt helped finance a Chabad youth movement that now has members in more than 100 cities of the former Soviet Union. Steinhardt, who has spent scores of millions on projects for Jewish identity in the United States, said in conversation outside the ballroom, “Chabad is perhaps the most effective organization in the Jewish world. I think that. I really do. I’m trying to learn from Chabad.” There were 2,094 shluchim at the dinner, among them: Rabbi Mendel Katzman of Chabad of Nebraska--and they brought another 800 “civilians”--friends and supporters, many of whom were not chasidic, Orthodox or even Jewish, such as the ambassadors to the United Nations from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Moldavia and Kazakhstan, each seated with their local Chabad shluchim. Chabad’s success in parts of Europe and Russia has sometimes been met with resentment on the part of others working the same turf, albeit in smaller numbers. Chabad’s religious soft-sell has been contrasted with its raw political muscle and machinations, helped by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s patronage. The matter was addressed by a conference workshop, “Interacting with the existing Jewish, rabbinic and secular organizations.” Alan Dershowitz, another non-Chasid, was there to deliver the convention’s layman’s address. He began his speech with a “Wow! What a gathering! The energy! The love! The Yiddishkeit in the room is beyond belief.” He said that when New York Magazine found out he'd be speaking at the Chabad banquet, they called and asked, “Why? You don’t agree with all of their policies.” Their implication was, said Dershowitz, “If you don’t agree with everything, you agree with nothing. I explained that what I learned more than anything from Chabad is how to emphasize points of agreement rather than points of disagreement. Chabad doesn’t require agreement. They simply open themselves up to Jews.” Dershowitz admitted to skepticism when he first heard Chabad was sending a shaliach to Harvard University, where he’s a law professor. Dershowitz said, “My idea was, [Chabad in] Siberia? That’s nothing. Central Africa? That’s a breeze. Chabad at Harvard? How can that ever happen? Kids come to Harvard to rebel against religion, to look for more liberal attitudes.” But, said Dershowitz, a few weeks ago, 400 Harvard students showed up for Chabad’s Friday night dinner. Chabad’s presence on campuses “is absolutely crucial to make young people proud of being Jewish” and proud to support Israel. “We cannot rest until there is a Chabad shaliach on every major college campus in the world,” he said.

Beth El Offers Latkes and Fun for Families During Congregational Hanukkah Celebrations by JILL BELMONT Judaica Shop will be open, offering one-stop Hanukkah Beth El Publicity Coordinator shopping, complete with elegant hanukkiyot, candles, During December, Beth El Synagogue will mark the colorful dreidels, festive wrapping paper, and gifts for Festival of Lights with two fun-filled celebrations for loved ones of all ages. For those looking for some great congregants of all ages. family-friendly fun, Beth El On Sunday, Dec. 11, 10 is hosting a special a.m. to noon, Beth El Shabbat/pre-Hanukkah Synagogue Talmud Torah dinner on Friday, Dec. 16, (BESTT) students and their following the 6 p.m. families will be treated to the Kabbalat Shabbat service in school’s second annual the chapel and the 6:30 Family Hanukkah Program. p.m. Tot Shabbat service, During the morning, kids and held in the sanctuary. In their parents will be able to addition to a delicious holitake part in a variety of day meal, the evening promHanukkah games, participate ises an evening of entertainin arts and crafts and enjoy a ment for all ages, including Hanukkah film festival. Also games, singing and special on the agenda are Hanukkah- Teachers, family members and students of all ages enjoyed holiday surprises. cookie decorating, candle- the arts and crafts activities during last year’s BESTT Family Cost is $12.50 for adults, lighting and brachot practice, Hanukkah Program. This year's holiday party is scheduled $8.50 for children ages five as well as a presentation about for this Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon. to 12; there is no charge for children under 5. Reservations are needed by Dec. 13, how Hanukkah is celebrated in Israel. For this special holiday event, the West Court will be and may be made by calling the synagogue or e-mailing transformed into the Latke Café, offering free latkes and Margie Gutnik at programming@bethel-omaha.org. sufganiot (doughnuts). In addition, the synagogue’s Seating requests will be honored.

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When the Potato Is King by DANIEL ROGOV (IPS) Due to the idiosyncrasies of the Hebrew calendar, the eve of Hanukkah falls this year on Christmas day, the first time this has occurred in more than a century. Regardless of its date, however, Jews all over the world know that the eight day festival commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple by the Maccabees in 165 BCE, three years after it was desecrated by the Syrian king, Antiochus. That the Maccabees had a supply of oil that was supposed to burn for only a single day but that lasted for eight whole days is equally well known and, by some is celebrated as a miracle. In Israel, perhaps more than in any other country, Hanukkah is also a time for pleasant, informal parties, for eating...and for a modicum of drinking. Hanukkah is also the holiday where the humble potato is elevated to royal status, for nearly every Israeli home serves huge amounts of potato pancakes. These pancakes, called latkes in Yiddish and levivot in Hebrew, are the true kings of the holiday. These special pancakes have nothing subtle or sophisticated about them but since the 15th century have been prepared with love and especially associated with the holiday. With lots of salt, pepper and onion, and in nearly all cases deep fried, these culinary delights may not hit anyone on the head, but they surely make a lasting impression on the stomach. Whatever, when consumed with plenty of wine punch, they make for a delightful evening. POTATO LATKES 12 large potatoes, grated 3 medium onions, grated 4 eggs, beaten lightly 5 Tbsp. flour or more as required salt and pepper to taste oil for deep frying Using a clean tea towel, squeeze out as much of the liquid from the potatoes as possible (the more liquid that can be squeezed out, the better the latkes). In the same fashion, squeeze out the liquid from the onions. Combine all the ingredients except the oil and mix together well by hand. Be generous in seasoning with salt and pepper. In a heavy skillet heat oil--a minimum of one inch deep. Form individual pancakes by hand and when the oil is thoroughly hot slide in enough pancakes to fill most of the pot, but be sure to leave room between the pancakes. When the latkes are nicely browned on the first side, turn them and cook until browned on both sides and crisp on the edges. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper toweling. Serve immediately or keep warm in a very low oven. Serve plain or with sour cream, applesauce or sugar. (Serves 4 - 6) Variation: To make Polish Ratzelech, add 2 large peeled, cored and grated apples to the batter and fry the pancakes in a large skillet with about one inch of hot chicken fat.

HANUKKAH PUNCH If potato pancakes are the king of the holiday, the hot punch served during the eight days of the festival is the traditionally undisputed queen. Even though this punch is traditionally served during Hanukkah, there is no reason why it cannot be offered to guests on any cold winter evening. One hint: considering that the wine to be used in the recipe is to be seasoned and boiled, it would be foolish to use the finest wine you have in your home. Best bets are simple and relatively inexpensive but appealing reds 4 bottles dry red wine 8 oz. seedless raisins 8 oz. sugar 8 dried figs (optional) 1 large orange, studded with 12 whole cloves 12 cardamon seeds 1 cinnamon stick Combine the ingredients in a large enamel saucepan. Bring to a boil and let boil uncovered for 3-4 minutes without stirring. Reduce to lowest possible flame, cover and let simmer for 30 minutes. Let stand in a warm place for 3-4 hours before serving. To serve, reheat until piping hot and ladle into mugs or wine glasses, garnishing each portion with some of the raisins. Serve piping hot. (Yields about 32 punch cups)

Volunteers Needed for Beth Israel’s Kosher Chinese Dinner by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue On Sunday, Dec. 25, Beth Israel Synagogue will celebrate the beginning of Chanukah with a Chinese Dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by a family-friendly film and Movie Scavenger Hunt. Since regular staff will not be working that evening, volunteers are being sought to help with the meal. “We’re seeking people to help serve the meal, as well as others to help with cleaning things up afterwards,” said Executive Director Beth Cohen. “We’re ordering Chinese food from a kosher restaurant in New Jersey, so there won’t be a need to do much cooking aside from heating up the food. Since everyone will have placed their orders ahead of time, it will simply be a matter of distributing the heated meals to the correct people. Then we’ll want to clear the tables when the meal is finished so we can start the movie.” Orders are still being taken for kosher Chinese dinner on Dec. 25. You must place your order with the synagogue office by Dec. 15. If you plan to attend the Dec. 25 event at Beth Israel and would like to volunteer to assist with the meal, please call me at 556.6288.

Temple Israel and Churches Give Thanks for Bountiful Thanksgiving by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Speaking to nearly 600 people on Thanksgiving Eve at Temple Israel, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel reflected on the hundreds, maybe thousands, of people who are responsible for the turkeys on which millions of Americans feast on the following day. “I want to share an ancient Midrash with you,” he said to the crowd representing Dundee Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Margaret Mary’s Church, Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church, and Temple Israel at the annual interfaith service. Rabbi Azriel described all the things Adam had to do just to have a bite of bread. Those turkeys displayed at the supermarket “at just the right time,” without any coordination from “a turkey czar, a bureaucrat in Washington, or a dictator,” is “a good expression of the work of God’s hand,” pointed out Rabbi Azriel. Clergy from the various congregations led the service which was accompanied by hand bell choirs from Dundee Presbyterian and First Christian Churches and a combined choir which included members from three churches and Temple Israel. The entire gathering sang “America the Beautiful” and closed the service with a group shofar blowing on the bimah steps.

Decemebr 9, 2005

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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underwritten by A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR Editor’s note: This month’s Teen Age features the teens of the Tiffereth Israel Congregation in Lincoln. Special thanks goes to adviser Jordan Kenyon for collecting the material.

MEET THE LINCOLN USY BOARD MEMBERS President: Carly Feldman Social Action/Tikkun Olam: Vice President: Casey Weiss Rachel Wallick Communications: Molly Weiss Kadima Representative: Donnie Earl Religious Education: Samantha Payne Youth Director: Jordan Kenyon

Lincoln to Minneapolis Direct by CARLY FELDMAN LUSY President There is only one word to describe Kinnus 2005--amazing. We went to Omaha the night before the whole group left, and played games, ate, and some of us even slept! Then we headed off around early in the morning to Minneapolis, Minnesota. I did not realize how cold Minneapolis was until I got off the bus and was shivering and could see my breath. We got settled in our hotel rooms; that was when the fun began. We met up with friends I haven’t seen since last year’s

Kinnus, made new friends, and waited for programming to start. The weekend was filled with fun activities, all tied to Israel. We had many interesting breakout groups as well as board-to-board discussions, where I got to meet with all the other Chapter Presidents and see how they run things in their communities. We also had entertaining performers, as well as services. Services USY-style are always lots of fun! This Kinnus was by far the best yet. I cannot wait until next convention. Carly Feldman is a junior at East High School.

“Circus Boy” and the Rope Warrior were among many entertainers at Kinnus. Above, the Roper Warrior jumps rope while in a huge balloon.

Kinnus Creates Memories by CASEY WEISS LUSY Vice President Words cannot describe a person’s feelings towards Kinnus. It is a weekend you must experience to truly understand. The long bus ride there is a combination of snoring, screaming, chomping, and loud movies. Everyone is anxious to arrive. When you first get to the hotel, you reunite with friends you have met from camp, pilgrimage, or previous conventions. You unpack and the fun begins. You pray, laugh, sing, eat, and spend

quality time with other Jews. You go sight seeing in the city, too. Tremendous bonding occurs throughout the weekend. When it is finally time to return home tears fill everyone’s eyes. You are sad to leave all the people, but you take with you many lifelong memories. You keep in touch with your friends and await the next USY convention. Kinnus is the best and I love it a lot. Casey Weiss is a junior at Southeast High School.

What USYers Say About Kinnus by EMMA FELDMAN LUSY KADIMA “I really can’t wait until I get to go to Kinnus! I have heard how much fun it is

to go. But I guess I just have to wait. “It’s all good stuff!” Emma Feldman is a seventh-grader at Lux Middle School.

by SAMANTHA PAYNE LUSY Religious Education Kinnus was so much fun this year! Actually, this was my first convention and I didn’t know what to expect at first because I had never done anything like this before. It was awesome at Kinnus because I had never been with so many Jewish people at one time in my life! I met quite a few Jewish people, and befriend-

ed many. At Kinnus, we sang a lot of funny songs like “When the Jews go wash their hands” instead of “When the Saints go marching in.” Let me tell you that that song has been stuck in my head since Kinnus! Well, I had a blast at Kinnus this year and I CAN’T WAIT ’til the next convention! Samantha Payne is a sophmore at Southeast High School.

So What Is USY Anyway?

Jordan Kenyon, left, Kitra Monnier, Emma Feldman and Rachel Wallick enjoying USY movie night at the home of Rabbi Royi Shaffin.

Full Scholarships Available for Legacy Heritage Internship for Young Scientists by DIANE DOLINSKY-PICKAR Are you looking for a summer science research internship? The Legacy Heritage Internship for Young Scientists (LHIYS) is a rigorous six-week summer program designed to introduce brilliant Jewish high school juniors and seniors with demonstrated scientific aptitude and achievement to hands-on experience with Israeli scientists in the research laboratories of a prestigious Israeli university. Twenty to 30 students will be selected for the summer program, June 25-Aug. 7, 2006. Beyond outstanding academic credentials, candidates for the internship will be selected

on the basis of their potential to meet our overarching goal of strengthening the Jewish community. We seek the highest caliber Jewish individuals who strive not only to fortify their qualifications for college, but also young men and women who wish to prepare themselves to be “movers and shakers” in the organized Jewish community, during college and beyond. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2006; interviews with the most promising candidates will occur in late February and early March, with notification of acceptance on March 10. For more information and an application, e-mail me at: dolinsky@lhfl.net.

People hear teens talking about how sister organizations--called Noar Mesorti cool USY is, but do people really know in Israel and Noam USY in Hungary-when it started, where, and why it exists? were established. The aim of USY is to bring together Let’s find out. United Synagogue Youth is an interna- Judaism, the Jewish people, the synational organization, founded in Minneapolis in 1950. It was established for one simple reason: there was no youth group for children at North American Conservative synagogues that incorporated both Jewish education and a social environment. So a bunch of rabbis got together and set up what we now know as United Synagogue Youth. Since USY’s birth in 1950, Casey Weiss and Mike Evnen at movie night USY has been going strong. It has grown from that gogue and the Jewish teen. As a result of small group in Minnesota to an this combination, the goal is that Jewish International group with more than 400 teenagers will become active young chapters across the United States and adults in their Jewish communities. Canada. In addition to North America, From Hagalil USY’s website

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 9, 2005

The ‘Other’ Holocaust Survivors Just about everyone knows about the Warsaw Ghetto and the uprising of its remaining Jews, but few outside the former Soviet Union know much about the ghetto in Minsk. Located deep inside the German-occupied USSR, it was home to more than 80,000 Jews in 1941 when the Germans invaded. Within the year, another 20,000 Jews from nearby villages and shetlach were deported to Minsk, filling the ghetto to overflowing. As in Warsaw, the Jews of the Minsk ghetto also organized and fought back. They created an anti-German group that participated in sabotage against German units and joined the partisans in the surrounding forests. About 10,000 Jews fought with the partisans, but most were killed during the war’s battles. In July of 1942, Germans rounded up residents of the ghetto and killed more than 30,000 in just two days. By the Fall of 1943, the Germans destroyed the Minsk ghetto; many of the remaining Jews were transported to Sobibor, a concentration camp created for the sole purpose of killing Jews. By Oct. 10, 1943, the 2000 Jews left were sent to Budzyn labor camp near Lublin, infamous for the Majdenek Concentration Camp located on its outskirts. Minsk was finally liberated on July 3, 1944; only a few Jews, saved by hiding during the war, were still alive. Minsk suffered again on April 26, 1986, when the reactors at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffered a huge meltdown, spewing harmful radiation into the air over Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. More than 600,000 emergency workers were exposed to high levels of toxic radiation; one of the few Jewish organizations allowed to help was Chabad, which arranged airlifts to Israel for medical treatment for children. By 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Joint Distribution Committee was once again allowed into the Belarussian capital to assist

Jews with everything from medical needs to making aliyah. Between 1989 and 2001, close to 75,000 Jews from Belarus left for either Israel or the United States. JDC remains active in Minsk, however, serving the needs of the mostly elderly poor Jews left behind, but anti-Semitism continues. Just last year, according to the Union of Councils for Jews in the FSU, a local neoNazi group, the Russian National Unity party, distributed anti-Semitic leaflets; gravestones have been overturned in Belarus cemeteries and swastikas and other neo-Nazi graffiti have defiled Jewish sites. Employees of a church in Minsk distributed a brochure entitled “About Jewish Fascism” and its gift shop sells a Russian Orthodox prayerbook that opens with “On rescue of Russian Orthodox from yoke of Yids.” It is clear that despite great strides in diplomacy between the United States and Belarus and even between Israel and Belarus (which, of course, had no diplomatic relationship prior to 1989), that anti-Semitism is still a problem in many places in the former Soviet Union. So next week, as the Jewish Press publishes its Hanukkah issue, we will also publish a story about someone who survived the Minsk ghetto, who survived years of oppression under the Soviet dictatorship, until finally being liberated and emigrating to the

United States. Last year, author David Guy chronicled the lives of several survivors of the Minsk ghetto in a book entitled Innocence in Hell. Boris Dobin, a resident of Omaha since 1991, is one of those survivors. We will publish his story--not just because he survived, but because the story of Holocaust survivors who remained behind the Iron Curtain is not well known--but they should be. As we look forward to Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, let us also remember that there are still dark corners of this globe. There are places like Iran, whose president calls for the extermination of the Jews in Israel, people like Bashar Assad, dictator of Syria, who continues to fund terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, bent on destruction of the Jews; and organizations like the National Alliance which distributes hate literature right here in Omaha. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the few over the mighty. Not because of our repeated brushes with persecution, hate and murderous dictators, but rather despite all of it, we’re still here, still proud, still living Jewishly.

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

Protecting Human Dignity

BEHIND THE HEADLINES by DANIEL R. ALLEN “Protecting Human Dignity” is the slogan of the International Red Cross as adopted at their conference in December 2003. Even though Israel’s Magen David Adom protects human dignity everyday, it is the only national society in the world that has applied for membership in the International Red Cross and been denied entry. However, this may be about to change. Magen David Adom was founded 75 years ago in Israel. In 1950, it was given a mandate by the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) to be the primary emergency service in Israel and responsible for the country’s blood supply. Today Magen David Adom operates 100 emergency stations, a fleet of 700 ambulances and the only Blood Services Center in the country. As with all Red Cross Societies, MDA provides service without regard to a person’s religion, race, ethnic identity or political status. Israel is a country with citizens of many faiths. Magen David Adom serves all the people in Israel. It is one of the ironies of humanitarian work that one MDA paramedic may assist a terror victim while another is attending to the terrorist. On Dec. 5-6, the Swiss government convened an international diplomatic meeting in order for the world to consider accepting a new symbol to provide protection to medical

and humanitarian workers in areas of conflict. The current symbols granted international diplomatic immunity are a red cross on a white background and a red crescent, also on a white field. The new symbol, officially called a “Red Crystal,” looks like a red baseball diamond on a white background. The purpose of adopting this Red Crystal is so that Israel may become a full member of the International Red Cross Movement. Many will question why not just adopt the Magen David Adom, the Red Shield of David, as the third protocol? Magen David Adom has participated for more than 50 years shoulder to shoul-

Symbols are important. Saving lives is even more important and this fundamental rabbinic principle, called “Pikuach Nefesh,” dictates that saving a life supersedes everything else. der in disaster relief around the globe. It has had to do so under the banner of the Red Cross. MDA has often not been allowed to operate even under this banner in Moslem countries. Even though MDA participated in disaster relief they could not be full members without agreeing to agree to permanently use an existing symbol. On a permanent basis neither the Red Cross nor the Red Crescent was acceptable to Israel.

(Founded in 1920) Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper Jason Rich Sales & Marketing Intern Jewish Press Committee Howard K. Marcus, Vice-Chairman; Bobbi Leibowitz, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Finance Chairman; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Fred Tichauer, Immediate Past-chairman; David Herzog; Jamie Meyerson; Stanley Mitchell; George Quittner; Linda Saltzman; Joe Shyken; Michael Siegal; Nancy Skid; Dorothy Spizman; and Melany Weinstine. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press is a constitutional committee of the Jewish Federation.

On Nov. 28, Magen David Adom and the Palestinian Red Crescent signed a historic memorandum of understanding. Both parties recognize the right of each to treat the citizens of its country. The agreement recognizes the right of MDA to treat Israeli citizens within the boundaries of the State of Israel including East Jerusalem and the settlements. The Palestinian Red Crescent has the right to treat Palestinian civilians within the territories of the Palestinian Authority. The agreement concretizes the existing situation whereby each Society handles incidents based on principle of proximity to those in need. A hotline will be installed between the dispatching centers of both bodies. Symbols are important. Saving lives is even more important and this fundamental rabbinic principle, called “Pikuach Nefesh,” dictates that saving a life supersedes everything else. Magen David Adom has, unfortunately, a great deal of expertise in disaster relief. Sharing this expertise with the world is a moral mandate. If it means placing the Shield of David inside a red diamond in order to save lives and provide humanitarian aide to those in need, so be it. Who knows, given time, perhaps all Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian organizations and efforts will eventually adopt the Red Diamond? In that case Israel will have been the first to use the symbol--not the last to be admitted to the party. Former Lincolnite, Rabbi Daniel Allen is the Executive Vice President of the American Friends of Magen David Adom.

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December 9, 2005

Activists Look to Jewish Law as Abortion Debate Intensifies

FOCUS ON ISSUES by MARSHALL BERGER WASHINGTON, (JTA)--When American Jews talk about the future of the U.S. Supreme Court, the discussion usually turns to the issue of abortion rights. Nearly 33 years after the high court legalized abortion, the subject remains one of the most divisive in the country, and one of the most important to countless American Jewish activists. Many who are watching the Supreme Court nomination fight this year are thinking about the effect conservative justices, including the newly installed Chief Justice John Roberts and nominee Judge Samuel Alito, will have on reproductive rights. It remains unclear whether the legal right to an abortion will be debated in the Supreme Court in the near future. But the court is expected to weigh in on numerous cases involving access to abortion, including two that were just heard Jewish activists and leaders have been central to the pro-choice movement for decades, working both in Jewish organizations that support abortion rights and in various other public policy groups. Since Jewish law mandates that a pregnancy must be ended in cases where it is necessary to protect the mother’s health, pro-choice groups have often sought out Jews to bring a religious perspective to their cause. But while all religious streams agree on the Jewish view of abortion, they differ on how to translate it into public policy. These differences, in turn, are reflected in the larger question of how much to get involved in the debate over Supreme Court nominees. Many liberal Jews, believing decisions about abortion are personal, fight for greater access to abortion for those who choose it. Orthodox groups believe abortion should remain legal, but only used in cases of protecting a woman’s health. Liberal Jewish groups say that outlawing abortion would strip Jews of their right to follow their religion. They use this as one counterargument to the religious statements against abortion by conservative activists. “If a faith group believes in full conscience that a fetus is a person, than they shouldn’t have an abortion,” said Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Director of clergy programming for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. “What we are against is not allowing us to make that choice.” The Religious Coalition, with nine

Jewish signatories, used Jewish law as an argument in an amicus brief in one of the cases to be heard by the Supreme Court. The case, Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, challenges a New Hampshire law requiring parental notification for women under 18 to receive an abortion. The Religious Coalition’s brief specifically cites policies of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, noting “Judaism chooses and requires abortion as an act which affirms and protects the life, well being and health of the mother.” It also says that “to deny a Jewish woman and her family the ability to obtain a safe, legal abortion when so mandated by Jewish tradition, is to deprive them of their fundamental right to religious freedom.” The second case heard on Nov. 30, Scheidler v. National Organization for Women, involves the free speech rights of abortion opponents. Lower courts have found that anti-abortion groups that use violence or threats are violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. But for liberal Jews, the argument for abortion rights goes beyond the religious realm. “Everyone feels that abortion should be rare and it should be safe and it should be accessible,” said Phyllis Snyder, President of the National Council of Jewish Women. “The decisions of when a woman should have an abortion should be based on the circumstances and in consultation with her doctor.” The Orthodox Union has largely stayed out of the abortion-rights debate. The fervently Orthodox Agudath Israel of America has spoken out against the increased access to abortion, while believing it should be legal in case of a mother’s health. “At least let there should be a message that abortion is not like choosing a brand of toothpaste,” said Rabbi Avi Shafran, Agudah’s director of public affairs. “The law is a teacher, and we believe it is currently teaching that fetal life is worthless. Judaism teaches that while fetal life is not equivalent to born life, it has worth.” For many Jews, the abortion-rights cases now before the Supreme Court point to the larger issue of the future of the court. Both NCJW and Union for Reform Judaism have announced their opposition to Alito, largely on his record on abortion rights. Agudath Israel is expected to announce its support for Alito in upcoming weeks, JTA has learned. Many other Jewish groups that back reproductive rights have not weighed in on Alito.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

A Humpty-Dumpty World of Israeli Politics

LETTER FROM ISRAEL by HARRY ALLEN For sheer fascination combined with a bit of comic relief, nothing comes close to matching Israeli politics. Let’s start with Ariel Sharon. He has remade the political landscape and is primed to become the first person to be elected prime minister three consecutive times. Sharon was a founder of the Likud party some 30 or so years ago--a party committed to the ideology of Jabotinsky --a Jewish state on both sides of the Jordan to the sea. Yet Sharon campaigned in his last election by stating that Israel would have to make “painful compromises” for peace-statements which were widely disbelieved. Whatever the electorate thought-they gave Sharon’s Likud party 40 seats in the Knesset and shrank Labor to 19. Then Sharon pushed the Gaza disengagement over the intense opposition of many in his party, and his party did not forgive him. Sharon fired the ministers who disagreed with him, and Netanyahu quit of his own accord. The whole ‘greater Israel’ mantra which was a defining position in Israel after the 1967 war was collapsed by Sharon--though it had been sagging significantly for some many years. After all, Netanyahu ceded most of Hebron to the Palestinians in the Wye Plantation agreement. But Sharon split the Likud, and like humpty dumpty, it could not be put back together again. Turn for a moment now to the Labor party and Amir Peretz. The Israel Labor party not unlike the Democratic Party in the United States has been adrift. Ehud Barak was crushed in the election by Sharon’s first election. Mitzna was crushed by Sharon’s second election and the party found itself having to act as a very junior partner in Sharon's coalition. Over the years the party had drifted away from its social-democratic principles and was more and more seen as the party of the Israeli elite. Along comes Amir Peretz--a dynamic (some say rabble rousing) Sephardic former mayor of Sderot--one of the development towns in the Negev to which North African olim were shipped in the 50s--and head of the Histradut, the general Federation of Labor. Peretz was brought back to Labor by Shimon Peres, the Israeli icon with 60 years of service in the Knesset, and promptly challenged him for the party leadership and contrary to all expectations won. Peretz is reforming the labor

party and, being Sephardi,c has an excellent chance of cutting deeply into the old Likud constituency. On becoming chairman of the Labor party, Peretz immediately withdrew the party from the coalition forcing an election. In the next scene of the drama, Sharon fired his Likud ministers who disagreed with him and created a new party-Kadima--(forward) taking 19 members of the Knesset with him, including Haim Ramon and Dalia Itsik from Labor. Peres quite Labor but will not join Sharon’s party. Instead Sharon promised that he would be in charge of the peace negotiations and development of the Negev as “an elder and wise statesman.” Both Sharon and Peretz are busy tying to recruit well known and talented people. Peretz has snagged Avishai Braverman, former president of Ben Gurion University and a world class economist (who, by the way, worked on his PhD at the University of NebraskaLincoln!). Sharon countered with the president of the Herzilya Center for Interdisciplinary studies, a highly regarded educational center and a founder of the Shinui party. Peretz is courting a couple of ex-Shin Bet heads; Sharon is meeting with the mayors. Now what of what’s left of Likud. There are four politicians trying to wrest the leadership from Netanyahu--none of whom will likely succeed--at least that is what Amir Peretz is hoping. This election will revolve around social and economic issues far more than security ones and Peretz believes he can more easily beat Bibi on these issues than some other Likud candidate. Further to the right of Likud the National Religious party, the National Union Party and some others are trying to form a single right wing bloc. Left out in the cold in all of this maneuvering are Shas, Degel Hatorah and United Torah Judaism--the three Haredi political parties. Sharon’s last election effectively marginalized them. Now just to add to the mix the Israeli Supreme Court is likely to rule in the very near future that persons who are converted by Conservative and Reform movements must be registered as Jews, eligible for citizenship under the right of return. Over the past 20 years the court has slowly moved in a series of cases to this ultimate ruling. The battle over Judge Alito in America pales in intensity to this argument. So stay tuned--the best part is yet to come. Chag Hanukkah S’meach. Former Lincolnite Harry Allen made aliyah to Israel with his wife, Annie. He can be reached at: hsallen@internetzahav.net.

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 9, 2005

Candlelighting Friday, Dec. 9, 4:37 p.m.

Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Dr. Ben Nachman. The community is invited. There will be no Services on Friday, Dec. 16.

Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.org

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org

Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org

The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. in the chapel. BESTT fifth and sixth graders will participate in the service, and will join with their families afterwards for Shabbat dinner in the West Court. For dinner reservations, contact the office. SATURDAY: Traditional Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Alternative Service, 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; K’tantan (K-2), 10:45 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Beth El; Evening Service, 4:40 p.m. Sitter Service is available during Friday night and Saturday morning services, on a drop-in basis, at no charge. SUNDAY: Bible Study Class with Leonard Greenspoon, 10 a.m.; “Living Hebrew,” with Susi Frydman-Levin, 10 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah class with Cantor Bogomolni, 10 a.m.; Jewish Pot Pourri Class, 11 a.m.; “From Your Heart to God’s Ears”, led by Andy Greenberg, 11 a.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday, 9 a.m./5:30 p.m.; Weekdays, 6:55 a.m./5:30 p.m. PATTER: Wednesdays, 10:30 -11:45 a.m. led by Helen Epstein THURSDAY, noon: “Discovering the Talmud: Lessons for Everyday Living,” with Rabbi Levin. For more information, contact the synagogue office. BESTT FAMILY HANUKKAH PROGRAM, Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon, Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah students and families will be treated to the second annual Family Hanukkah Program. All BESST families are encouraged to attend. C O N G R E G AT I O N A L SHABBAT/PRE-HANUKKAH DINNER, following Kabbalat Shabbat services on

Friday, Dec. 16. Cost is $12.50 for adults, $8.50 for children ages 5-12; no charge for children under 5. Reservations are needed by Dec. 13, and may be made by calling the synagogue or e-mailing Margie Gutnik at programming@ bethel-omaha.org. TOT SHABBAT: Will be held Friday, Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m. Note: the service is scheduled 30 minutes later than usual, so families may attend the congregational dinner afterward.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 4:45 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free Babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Sisterhood; Mincha, 12:45 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:42 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Sisterhood presents another “Make-It-and-Take-It” Class, 10 a.m. Learn how to make fleece blankets for yourself or to donate to the Child Saving Institute emergency children’s shelter. For supply information, see the bulletin or call the office. Contact the office for Mincha/Ma’ariv time. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Contact the office for Mincha/Ma’ariv time. WEDNESDAY: Board of Commissioner’s Meeting, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Dec. 15 is the deadline for ordering your kosher Chinese dinner for the Dec. 25 dinner and movie. Contact the office for information or to place your order; Advanced Parshah Study, 9 p.m.

BEYT SHALOM SATURDAY: Minyan, 7:30 p.m.

Learners’

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30

BAT MITZVAH

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethlincoln.org

If you’re looking at this space, so are others! YOUR AD CAN GO HERE...

to reserve space, call Allan Handleman, 334.6451.

Matthew George Waldbaum son of Natha and John Waldbaum will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Temple Israel. Matthew is a seventhgrade honor roll student at Kiewit Middle School. His interests are hockey, racing and skiing. For his mitzvah project, Matthew has been collecting food for the Omaha Food Bank and working at the facility preparing

foods for distribution; he would appreciate additional donations of food being brought to Temple for his Bar Mitzvah. Matthew has two olders brothers, Adam and Jared. Grandparents are LaVerne and Lloyd Mitchell of Langley, OK, and Mimi Waldbaum, and the late Dr. Milton G. Waldbaum.

To Submit B’nai Mitzvah Announcements Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org. You can also submit announcements online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements.

p.m. FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Ima & Me, 10–11:30 a.m. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush to follow service. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 a.m.; Mishne class, 9:30 a.m.; Chabad Cheder and Aleph Champions, 10 a.m.-noon. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Torah Tots, 4:15 p.m. For information about programs or to register for classes, call the office or visit: www.nebraska-judaism.com.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg following. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel. SUNDAY: Gan Simcha, grades K, and 4-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon, at Tifereth Israel; grades 1-3 and Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun. ADULT EDUCATION Sundays, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel. Tuesday series on Jewish Social Justice. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. 100 YEARS OF JEWISH GIVING The Jewish Federation of Lincoln celebrates its 100th anniversary on Sunday, 5 p.m. at South Street Temple, B’nai Jeshurun, with appetizers and wine, annual meeting and election of board and officers, followed by dinner, partially donated by Bag ’n Save. Musical entertainment is by the Sarabande Strings. SOCIAL ACTION PROJECT Bring new socks and underwear to donate to the children of the Friendship Home, the local shelter for victims of domestic violence. All sizes are needed for toddlers through high school, and for girls and boys. There will be a collection box in the Social Hall. HOLIDAY LATKE POTLUCK DINNER The annual Hanukkah Latke Potluck Dinner will be on Friday, Dec. 30 at the South Street Temple. There will be a Shabbat Service at 6:15 p.m. and Potluck Dinner at 7 p.m. Latkes will be provided for all! Bring enough food for eight people. Be sure to mark your item as meat/dairy/vegetarian. If you are unable to attend, donations are appreciated. Donations to the Temple for latkes and other dishes will be accepted in place of a food item. Be sure to bring your menorahs to light. RSVP to the Temple office (435.8004 or stemple@ neb.rr.org) by Friday, Dec. 23.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9 a.m., led by Andy Greenberg.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 6 p.m.; Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.; Emily Katz, daughter of Amy and Richard Katz, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. SITTER SERVICE: Available at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar or bat mitzvah, and Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Advance reservations and a $5 donation are appreciated. Sorry, no facilities for infants. SUNDAY: CLUB 56, Floats, Pizza and a Movie, noon-2 p.m. Chill out with your friends in the Temple Youth Lounge after Religious School. Cost is $5. to Lynne Jensen, RSVP 556.6536; CRADLE ROLL, 10:30 a.m. The Women of Reform Judaism-Omaha invite parents and grandparents to bring their infants and pre-kindergarten age children to play and learn together with other families. Join us in the Temple Milder Center for a Hanukkah craft project, story time and snack. RSVP to Ann Osborne, 933.4954. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Dec. 11, 10 a.m.: Join Cantor Wendy Shermet and John Dacey for a some ideas on resolving holiday conflicts. The community is invited; there is no charge to participate; At 10 a.m., Join Temple President Wendy Goldberg for coffee and conversation about transitions for Temple. TUESDAY, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.: Lifting the Veil: New Models of Thinking to Reveal Insights Hidden in Judaism.; Crockpot Comfort Cooking, noon. Learn new recipes; $8 includes lunch. THURSDAY, Dec. 15: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Rabbi Marantz, 10-11:30 a.m.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 4:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Royi Shaffin. Minyan, MONDAY & THURSDAY, 7 a.m., followed by breakfast. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. with an Shabbat dinner following. SATURDAY: Parashat Hashavu’a class, 8:30 a.m.; Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Shabbat lunch and Talmud class. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066.

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December 9, 2005

Jacob Meets God

SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Vayetze No reader can remain unimpressed when he comes across the story of Jacob’s dream. A ladder, earthbound, reaches nonetheless towards the heavens, and there are angels descending and ascending upon it. Jacob is deeply stirred. He promises that if only the Lord provides him with bread to eat and raiment to put on, the Lord will be his God. We may consider his demanding a bargain at such a time to be a bit materialistic, but we will forgive him his personal interest. What is important here is the Lord’s promise to give the “land” to Jacob’s descendants. Now we meet Rachel, at the well to which Jacob actually turns as he journeys on. It is not only Rachel, but her wily brother Laban. Indeed after working seven years for Laban with a promise of Rachel as wife, Jacob finds that it is Leah who is his wife, not Rachel. He is angry but he is scolded for his anger. “Hereabouts, we don’t let the younger precede the elder. You have done it with your brother, but we don’t do that around here.” So Jacob works another seven years for Rachel. Who could have expected to find so beautiful a choice of words in this story. Yet here it is: his love for Rachel was so great that the seven years seemed like only a few days. Now we find the 12 Tribes of Israel, in the birth of Jacob’s 12 sons and a daughter. It is the more beloved Rachel who is mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob steals away with his large family and unexpected wealth. But Laban overtakes him and reproves him. It is important to note, and certainly interesting, that Rachel announces her right to succeed her father, by stealing the portable gods which they have in the house. And here we have what we might call the first peace treaty ever concluded. A mound of stones is set up, later called Gilead, to indicate that neither Jacob nor Laban will cross this point in anger. Laban swears by his god, and Jacob swears by the “Fear” of his father Isaac. So we have come upon one of the fathers of our people, struggling to maintain himself, trading deception for deception with his father-in-law Laban. For now Jacob proceeds into the land, which was to be the Land of Israel.

Beth El Sisterhood Stirs the Pot with “Make It/Take It” Cooking Class by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator If you’ve always wanted to learn how to make potato latkes, rugelach, mandel bread, and other delicious delicacies, then be sure to mark Sunday, Dec. 18, 1:30 p.m. on your calendar and join Beth El’s Sisterhood for their “Make it/Take It” cooking class! According to organizer Carole Lainof, guest chefs will include congregants Daniel Christensen, who will make traditional Sephardic Hanukkah sweets, Larry Hasslinger, cooking lemon-pepper salmon on a plank, Caryn Rifkin, making Lucy White’s famous peanut butter balls, Leigh Emas, baking Hanukkah cookies, and Wayne Lainof, who will whip up some tasty latkes. The best part of the afternoon? All attendees get to take the finished goodies home -such a deal! “We’re looking forward to a great afternoon and hope everyone will bring their children, their friends and family members and have some sweets and Hanukkah treats with us!” Carole Lainof said. Community members of all ages are welcome to enjoy this special class. Cost is $5 per person; reservations may be made by calling the synagogue office at 492-8550.

DEATHS KARIN LEVINE at Creighton, even after they became teachers.” Levine was one of the quilters for Beth El Synagogue’s 75th Anniversary project, “Living in an Ageless Society. Her quilt--“Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors”--is a permanent part of the exhibit hanging in the synagogue’s social hall. “One of the many things Karin and I had in common was a love of quilting. I am incredibly grateful that she sewed the beautiful quilt for Beth El’s 75th Anniversary,” Reno noted. “Not only because it is wonderful work, but also because she poured so much of herself into it that she is there, where I can find her.” “She couldn’t do enough for everyone else,” added friend Carol Parsow. “Karin always had an optimistic outlook about life. Though she was a brilliant woman, she never made a big deal about it. In fact, she was the one who made her friends feel smart!” “Karin battled cancer for so long, and so successfully, that it seemed to many of us that she would always be able to beat just one more time. If I learned anything from her,” Reno added, “it is that tenacity and optimism go hand in hand. They were her greatest assets.” Memorials to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 611 Fenwick Dr., Papillion, NE 68046. (Gary Javitch contributed to this article.) BETTY GEIFMAN FALK Betty Geifman Falk died at the age of 85. Services were held at Mount Sinai Cemetery on Dec. 2. She worked along side her husband, Max, at the Bedford Market for many years, and was very involved in the Beth El Sisterhood. She was preceded in death by son, Stephen Falk. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Max Falk; daughter and son-in-law, Jeri L. Falk and Peter Fitz of Baltimore, MD; grandchildren, Samuel and Rachel Fitz; and sister, Harriett Root of Los Angeles, CA. Memorials to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society or to charity of choice. RUTH SUTIN Ruth Sutin died at the age of 92. Services were held Dec. 4 at Temple Israel Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar. She is survived by her son, John; daughter and son-inlaw, Susanne and Robert Marcus; grandchildren, Ben and Kate Marcus; sister, Blanche Moss. Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or to charity of choice.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials

Page 15

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

December 9, 2005

PEW: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment by SHARON BRODKEY Communications & Community Development Director for the Anti-Defamation League Nearly 200 high school students from the 26 Omaha area high schools came

one of the biggest reasons I do this is to make sure my kids have a fighting chance to grow up and live in a society that is free of bias. Last year was so rewarding, there was no question I wanted to be a part of PEW this year,” Gates concluded.

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ONLY 22 Minutes From The Gretna, NE Exit! During last month’s Prejudice Elimination Workshop, Omaha Area high school students watch and listen as actors from R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 demonstrate how peer pressure and prejudice escalate into bullying and the harmful consequences. together with volunteer facilitators to participate in the ADL’s 19th annual Prejudice Elimination Workshop (PEW) last month at the Westside Community Conference Center. Selected by school counselors and teachers, the students represented public, private and parochial schools at the day-long, intensely interactive anti-bias training seminar. From serving lunch to managing traffic and distributing materials, PEW is a substantial project. It takes nearly 70 community volunteers to power the event. “The students who attend PEW represent every thread in the tapestry of our diverse community and it is so important that our volunteer facilitators mirror that diversity,” said ADL/CRC Assistant Director Debbi Zweiback. Community volunteers representing all professions and walks of life served as PEW facilitators after completing a facilitator training course. Zweiback emphasized that facilitators are not lecturers. “Their role is to create a safe and inclusive environment among a group of total strangers. They introduce activities and opportunities to enter into dialogues that allow students to explore issues and share concerns about prejudice, intolerance and bullying in their schools. For some students those concerns may even include a lack of diversity in their schools.” Returning facilitator Tony Gates said, “It was fun working with an amazing group of young people. I wish we could make PEW a required piece of curricula to reach all students.” Gates, whose “real job” is district manager for Pfizer Inc., emphasized his personal reason for becoming involved in PEW. “As a father of bi-racial children,

This year’s workshop was kicked off with a performance by R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2, a theatre troupe that uses drama to teach about prejudice, peer pressure, bullying and other forms of violence. Program and Artistic Director Pat Keis brought three actors who performed skits that related to the PEW curriculum. After the performances, the actors took questions and asked for feedback on the outcomes of the skits. Zweiback stressed the value of including RE.S.P.E.C.T.2 as part of the day’s interactive agenda. “The performance had an impact on the kids because it helped deepen understanding among a diverse group of young people and educate against hatred and discrimination,” she noted. Graduates of ADL’s Robert Sturm Leadership Mission to Youth Washington, D.C. were also on hand providing assistance and sharing their experiences from their trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., last spring. “This is a labor of love and commitment and it shows in the enthusiasm of the many people who take time from their busy lives and jobs to make an impact on our community and on our kids,” said ADL Regional Director Bob Wolfson. While the students were in their work groups, Wolfson led a workshop for 29 school counselors and teachers who accompanied the students to PEW as chaperones. The session served as an open dialogue on issues of diversity from the perspective of educators and administrators. PEW is made possible by a grant from the Murray H and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation.

Lincoln Celebrates 100 Years of Giving by MARCIA KUSHER The Jewish Federation of Lincoln invites all donors to the annual meeting and dinner Sunday, Dec. 11, 5 p.m., at B’nai Jeshurun. This event marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Hebrew Relief Society on Nov. 12, 1905, which evolved into the Federation. The theme is “100 Years of Jewish Giving”. There will be a wine tasting and appe-

tizers, followed by a brief meeting and election of new board members. Dinner and a program of Klezmer music by the Sarabande Strings will complete the evening. There is no charge for the dinner, but donations will be accepted. This is an adult evening, so no babysitting is offered. The dinner has been partially donated by Bag ’n Save supermarkets.

“It is not what one says, but rather what one does, “that makes a difference in the world.” —Pirke Avot

Live Generously...support our Jewish Federation today.

Shiputznick means“repairman” in Hebrew – Jewish teens.practicing Tikkun Olam and repairing the world. The Shiputznick program, sponsored by the Jewish Community Center, an agency of the Federation, is designed to give teens.the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. and in our community.

LIVE GENEROUSLY. IT DOES A WORLD OF GOOD.