December 11, 2020 by Jewish Press

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The Jewish Press AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA | WWW. JE WISHOMAHA.ORG

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WE CARE The impact of JFO

The Kaplan Book Group reads The German Girl SHIRLY BANNER Library Specialist, Kripke Jewish Federation Library In keeping with social distancing, the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will be using Zoom to meet until further notice. To join the Zoom meeting, Contact sbann er@jewishomaha.org for the link and meeting ID.

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JAMIE SKOG-BURKE JFO Director of Development Your support of the JFO Annual Campaign makes an impact on the local, national and global level. The annual campaign is at the heart of any strong Jewish community and allows our agencies to plan for the future. The funds raised this fall and winter will set the amount that is available to support Jew-

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ish Omaha’s programs and agencies into the next fiscal year. The support of those who contributed to last year’s Annual Campaign ensures that we CARE for Jews locally, in Israel and beyond; we EDUCATE & ENGAGE our community; we INVEST in our Jewish Agencies and Community Partners. See The impact of JFO page 2

Jewish Bible Translations: Honoring Dr. Leonard Greenspoon

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MARK KIRCHHOFF Community Engagement and Education The Omaha community is preparing to honor Dr. Leonard Greenspoon in a “Mini-ZOOMposium,” noting especially the release of his most recent scholarly book, Jewish Bible Translations: Personalities, Passions, Politics, Progress. This special event will be held via Zoom on Sunday, Dec.20 from 2-3 p.m. You are invited to join at 1:45 p.m. to share and view greetings and congratulations from the

Dr. Leonard Greenspoon

many people in Professor Greenspoon’s professional life. Alan Potash, CEO for the Jewish Federation of Omaha shares that, “I am thrilled to learn about the release of Leonard’s newly published book. I am looking

forward to exploring the topic that inspired him to research and write on this daunting topic. I hope he was able to find room to insert his sense of humor. I Iook forward to congratulating Leonard at this event and encourage our Jewish community to do so as well.” Following opening remarks, Dr. Greenspoon will share an introduction of how his book came to fruition. Following this, Jennie Gates Beckman will engage Zachary B. Smith, Ph.D. and Associate Professor in the Department of Theology at Creighton University and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at UNO Laura Alexander, Ph.D. in a discussion following their brief remarks on the role of Bible translations (Jewish and nonJewish) in their professional and personal life. Says the JFO Director of Community Engagement & Education, “We hope to acquaint See Leonard Greenspoon page 3

On Dec. 17 the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will be discussing the Armando Lucas Correa novel The German Girl. The novel, based on true events, spans seven decades in the lives of the Rosenthal/Rosen families. For this family, freedom most certainly comes with a steep cost. In 1939, life in Berlin is changing fast and is on the brink of World War II. Twelve-year-old Hannah Rosenthal, her parents Max and Alma Rosenthal, her best friend Leo Martin and his father are in a race against time to escape from Germany. The families seize upon a costly opportunity to escape Germany and emigrate to America aboard the luxury liner SS St. Louis by way of Havana, Cuba. Once in Havana, it would only be a matter of a time for their names to come up on the visa waiting list for entry into America. As the St. Louis made her way across the ocean, another race against time was unfolding; the Cuban government had reneged on allowing entry into the country for people whose landing permits were signed by DirectorGeneral of Immigration, Manuel Benitez. They would only honor documents issued by the Secretary of State and Labor of Cuba. Of the 937 passengers, only 22 were allowed to disembark – including Hannah and her pregnant mother. The remainder of the passengers’ See Kaplan Book Group page 2