Vol. LXXXII
No. 8
Omaha, NE
19 Cheshvan, 5763
October 25,2002
SPECIAL ISSUE ON EDUCATION AND CAMPING STARTS ON SECTION TWO, PAGE 21
introducing-. Mordechai Levin by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor •
Position: Senior rabbi Beth El Synagogue Experience: Rabbi of Congregation Lamroth Hakol, Buenos Aires, Argentina, since 1984; Director, Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano's Institute for Conversion since 1992; Director of Placement, Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano since 1984. Education: B.A. in administration from University of Buenos Aires; Studies in Comparative Religion with Prof. David Flusser at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Rabbinic Ordination from Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano. Personal: Married to Susi Frydman, educational psychologist; children: Ariel, 14, Tali, 11, and Gabriel, 8. Jewish Press: Given the current situation in Argentina and the economic crisis there, it's understandable that you'd want to leave. But why Omaha? Rabbi Levin: When we decided to leave Argentina, I began conversations with some congregations in the U.S, through the Rabbinical Assembly. I visited Beth El and I liked it very much. I was invited to visit a second time with my wife, and that reinforced my positive appreciation of the congregation. The people here were so warm and friendly. And the Beth El congregation is so filled with vitality. We liked, not only the welcoming attitude of Beth El, but of the Jewish community, and we liked the city, too. JP: What were your expectations of life in Omaha-and at Beth El before you made the move here three months ago? ML: Beth El has a 75-year history. I discovered a warm, vibrant and participative congregation. I was attracted by this and its values and felt immediately that I could make a contribution here and enrich what we all do in the Jewish community in Omaha. I hope to contribute to exploration of the beauty of Jewish tradition, the warmth of its holidays, and help people realize how the depth of the teachings adds wisdom to our lives. All I'm doing is to try to build another layer on the experience and history of this congregation. And as a family, we found here a good place to raise our children! JP: Obviously you were right; Beth El is now getting more than 200 people for Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday night! ML.- Yes, I like a service where people participate and feel the joy of Shabbat--a service that brings out the kavannah, the proper spirit. There's a Hebrew saying that prayer without proper spirit is like a body without a soul. There's lots of singing here and we've had to put chairs in the hallway outside the chapel to accommodate everyone! It's important to have a joyful, meaningful experience. (Continued on page 15
Federation Series Opens with Controversial Film: Trembling Before G-d Panel Discussion to Follow by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director1
Trembling Before G-d is an unprecedented feature documentary that shatters assumptions about faith, sexuality, and religious fundamentalism. Built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian, the film portrays a group of people who face a profound dilemma-how to reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality. As the film unfolds, a range of complex individuals are revealed-some hidden, some out. The controversial and critically acclaimed documentary Trembling Before exclusive Omaha premiere. Immediately following G-d kicks off the first Annual Omaha Jewish Film the film, the audience is invited to participate in a Festival, Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 p.m. in the Theater panel discussion with Rabbi Steve Greenberg, who is the first openly gay Orthodox rabbi and is feaat the Jewish Community Center. Trembling Before G-d is the first of four recently tured in the movie. (Continued on page 20) released noteworthy Jewish films to be shown in an
Omahans Get More Than Their Names in Print by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor
Families of Terror Celebrate B'nai Mitzvah at the Kotei by JEWISH PRESS News Service —
—
—
—
Jill Belmont, Joan K. Marcus, Tami Field and Oliver Pollak are all experienced writers. Belmont serves on the Jewish Press Committee and often writes free-lance articles for Jewish organizations and this newspaper (she has written two about the Women's Campaign House Parties). Marcus also free-lances; in fact, one of her stories-about the appearance of Joel S. Kaplan, B'nai B'rith International's President, appeared in last week's issue). Tami Field, while she hasn't written for this paper (yet!), wound up authoring a guide for individuals with milk soy protein allergies. It was based on her own experiences with her son Max when he was an infant. And Oliver B. Pollak is familiar to readers as a book reviewer, a past Chairman of the Jewish Press, and the author or editor of nearly a dozen books and hundreds of articles. His new column, "The History Footprint" was launched in last week's issue. All four have recently published essays, or in Field's and Pollak's cases, entire books. Though , none are directly about Jewish, issues, the subject matter-in every case-is of great importance to members of the Jewish community: surviving cancer, dealing with mental and physical disabilities or the challenges of allergies and "the invasiveness of Jewish culture on the 20th century," according to Pollak. (Continued on page 26)
Monday morning 28 boys and girls from families who have been victims of terror celebrated their B'nai Mitzvah at the Kotel (Western Wall). The ceremony was an initiative of the Jewish Agency and the cost of the ceremony was paid for by the Jewish Agency's Fund for the Victims of Terror. Photo by ISRANET.
INSJOET""" " Monthly calendar.
"~
"' j pages 10-11
Special Crossword Puzzle for Jewish Book Month .page 18 Woody Allen feature of next Live front the 92nd St Y. page 20 Special Issue on Education and Camping starts ........ page 21
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Absolute Serenitij Day Spa Yoga &. Pilates Arthritis • Osteoporosis • Fibromyalgia • Neck & Back Pain • Stress Reduction Mention the Jewish Press and get the first class FREE!
Jennifer Schaecher
V
Certified Instructor
^^^402/612-4665
email: nbde417@ad.com
Ckwe Consultants for the Aging Since 1991
A Registry Providing Companions, Home Health Aides, Nurses Aides and Nurses Affordable miss with no minimum hours Omaha 39&1848 7701 Pacific, Suite 100
Lincoln 488-3771 6211 "O", Suite "B"
Take advantage of today's low mortgage rates! • Consolidate Debts •• We'll make getting your mortgage "pointless." • Apply for your mortgage and check rates at: www.residentialmortgages.com
October 25, 2002
What Is an "Act of God?55 by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE - — » — _ _ _ — _ (Editor's note: This column was originally published in the Jewish Press on Nov. 2, 1990.) Parashat Vayera Insurance companies have their own definition of an "Act of God," but it is not their definition that arouses our ancestor Abraham to challenge God. There was, apparently, an ancient tradition about a great natural catastrophe, probably an earthquake, that swallowed many towns and villages and deposited them at the bottom of the rising waters of the Dead Sea. Biblical writers assumed that God is Master of Nature and that this accident of Nature was no accident; God brought it on. Why would God do such a thing? The Bible writers had no problem with an answer. They gave the same kind of answer they gave to the tradition of the Great Flood. In Noah's day, all of mankind was corrupt. In Abraham's day, the people of Sodom and Gemorrah were corrupt. In both cases, mankind on the one hand, and Sodom and Gemorrah on the other, deserved destruction, the penalty for moral depravity. Bible writers interpreted natural calamities as punishment from the hand of God. The answer is not a physical answer. It is a moral answer. But their answer left gnawing moral problems. Would righteous people be swept away together with the wicked? There followed Abraham's famous confrontation with God. The implication is left that immorality is rampant and all-pervasive, except for the family of Lot, and they were saved. These answers, at least partially satisfied the Bible writers, and in later generations, some theologians. One could always say that the ways of God can never be really understood by humans, that God knows what He/She is doing, etc, etc. Do these answers satisfy us? Not at all, for many of us. We hesitate equating God with the seemingly amoral catastrophes of Nature. How beautiful the world, how mysterious the "flower in the crannied wall," how awesome the waterfalls and canyons and the everlasting hills! How repulsive, however, how shattering and how disturbing Nature's indifference to human life. The Midrash gives much attention to this problem. But it is limited by the assumption of Godbehind-Nature. It cannot therefore get beyond the Biblical accusatory appeal of Abraham, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" In our age we have been obliged, intellectually obliged, to separate the Natural-Physical World from the World of Morality.
Give Someone Another Chance by JEWISH PRESS News Service
Experience Exceptional Hair,-Skin and Nail Care . Voted #1 in Omaha Two Years In a Row!
iiiiii p|i| ip|i|ii Certificate? 639 North 114th Street
Please call Harry Alloy at 697-8709 or Temple Israel at 556-6536 to make an appointment to donate blood on Wednesday, Oct. 30 between 1-7 p.m. at Temple Israel.
Mommy andMe Instructors: Shani Katzman and Shirley Goodman A ^ : . 1 4 Years
Wednesdays Time: 10:00-11:30 AM New session: November 13-December 18 Fee: $36 per session, $8 for single class Location: Chabad House, 1866 South 120th Street Chairperson: Nadine Kutner The program nurtures both the practical and spiritual side of growthforJewish mothers and children. Spend time ' with other moms and a multkige group while enjoying Judaic songs, projects, circle time, stories and junior gymnastics. A wonderful opportunity to reinforce the joys of ' Jewishness while developing lasting friendships.
:
•'••:.
'
To .reserve, please call Nadine •: at 552-0167or Ghabad House at 330-1800.
'•' •••:''.>
Program Energizes 2003 Campaign by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director
— — • — »
What would you do with an extra $100? You could take your spouse out for a nice dinner, buy yourself a new pair of shoes or maybe treat yourself and a couple of your buddies to a sporting event. But would that $100 change your life? Probably not. Now consider what $100 means to Frieda, an 80year-old Holocaust survivor, living alone in the former Soviet Union. One Hundred dollars means a nutritious, kosher meal will be delivered by a JDC (Joint Distribution Committee) worker to her one room apartment every day for a month. It means that someone makes sure she takes her heart medication. It means someone cares about her.
The Jewish Federation ofOmaha 1903-2003 - (5663-5763) In honor of the Jewish Federation of Omaha's Centennial year, 2003 Campaign Co-chairmen, Joanie Kaiman and Jerry Kohll, have introduced the Centennial Patron Program. General Campaign donors who increase their Annual Campaign gift by $100 or more will be recognized as "Proud Centennial Patrons" in ads running regularly in the Jewish Press. Donors who make an increase of less than $100 will be recognized as contributors. Major donors to the Campaign will be listed when they make their gift, regardless of whether or not they increase, in honor of their generous and longterm community support. "Vintage" or Senior Division donors will also be honored in the Centennial Patron list, regardless of an increased gift. Kaiman and Kohll are pleased with the community response. "So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive," said Kaiman. "This past year has been a difficult one for Israel and the Jewish people. When we tell people how much the Federation can accomplish with $100, they're happy to increase their gift." "When I talk to donors about the Centennial Patron Program, I ask them if donating $100 more will affect their standard of living," said Kohll. "In most cases, they realize that it won't alter their lifestyle but it will make a difference in someone else's life." In addition to helping Jews in the former Soviet Union, Israel and 60 other countries world wide, the money raised through the Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign provides for the needs of the Omaha Jewish community through programming and tzedakah. A Campaign Hotline has been established to answer any questions about the Campaign by calling 334-6594. For more information, please contact the Jewish Federation of Omaha at 334-8200. NOTICE Photos used in the Sept. 6 New Year's issue of the Jewish Press may be picked up at the Press office, during regular business hours. Photos from the March 22 Passover issue also need to be picked up or they will be given to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. , Questions? Call 334-6448.
.• ,
::. NOTICE:: The community mikvah (ritual bath) has closed temporarily for renovations, through approximately Friday, Nov. 22. For information about alternative mikvah locations, please callMarlene Hert at the Federation office, 334-6437, We are sorry for the inconvenience;
tfss
October 25, 2002
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
rnc ' ', Oi t
,
I
L 1
,
i ir
'i • I.
tf, 'I'I'.. .'.'.'*.
*
.6:11 p.m.
2
I I , I
•
Page 3
4.i.\rr.i,
i .i.-|i...r.,..'i ;
1
FRIDAY: Men's Club, 11:45 a.m. All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join us for some relaxation and great conversation. Sephardic Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m., Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate. Hazzan-in-Residence Ram6n Tasat, will introduce the congregation to specific Sephardic melodies for our prayers. The Oneg will be sponsored by the Women of Reform Judaism. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:3010:15 a.m., in the Milder Center. Hazzan Tasat will join us for a Sephardic Prayer Book discussion. Morning service, 10:30 a.m., Hazzan Tasat will chant Torah using Sephardic trope; Hazzan Tasat will join OTYG for Havdalah, 6:30 p.m. in the Livingston Chapel, everyone is welcome; "Gather to Sing," with Hazzan Tasat, 8 p.m. at the home of Judy and Mike Feldman, sponsored by Beth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION Tuesday, Oct. 29: The Prophets: Thundering Voices of Passion, Fire and Grace, 7-8:30 p.m. John Dacey will lead the group as it examines Heschel's The Prophets. Wednesday, Oct. 16: The Jews of Spain: History and Culture, 6:45-8:15 p.m. with Prof. Guy Matalon. Thursday, Oct. 31: Adult Study with the Clergy, 10-11:30 a.m. Cantor Wendy Shermet will explore our special music heritage. TOT SHABBAT Friday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m. A short service of song and prayer, followed by cookies and juice. Toddlers through children in the primary grades are encourages to bring their families. Come enjoy songs and a story with Rabbi Marantz and Patty Nogg.
Vi.
i'f
. i i i f i i , | i ' . ' 'A >,\ur.i u
• '.i. 'Jin-:..
V':'i4;!..
-
. . ' : ' .i
/i-i'-.ii./ir
...
nl. 1
,!• f
'£.*--t: n-i1
i
It
/ll!. 1
. ' l'> t, "h jfv-r.t T"??t~ir «"£
•
'•
Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.ni.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:15 p.m.; The West Minyan is at the home of Dani and Leon Shrago, 12209 Leavenworth. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m.; Free babysitting begins at 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m., Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood. Shabbas House, 3-5 p.m. at the home of Howard Gendelman and Bonnie Bloch. All school-aged children are invited to attend an afternoon of learning and schmoozing. Parents are welcome to join; Mincha, 6:05 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:10 p.m.; An evening of music with Hazzan Tasat, 8 p.m. at the home of Judy and Mike Feldman. This informal program includes a free dairy dinner. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m As has become custom at Beth Israel, when Daylight Savings Time ends, we hold a ma'ariv minyan at 6:30 p.m., Sunday-Thursday. This will continue until spring. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m TUESDAY: Talmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY: Evening Service, 7:45 p.m., followed by Oneg. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Hebrew School, 9 a.m.; Religious School, 10 a.m. Sunday Afternoon Book Club, 3-4 p.m. at Tifereth Israel, with discussion of Amos Oz's The Silence, reflections on S.Y. Agnon. Contact, Jean Cahan, 423-9462 or jcahan@unlserve.iml.edu; INTERFAITH COUNCIL DINNER SUNDAY, OCT. 27, 5 p.m.: The Lincoln FRIDAY: Evening Service, 7:30 p.m. Topic will be Interfaith Council will be presenting their "The Nazi Terror in Europe and How the Civilized Interfaith Leadership Award to John and Beatty World Allowed It,"" Oneg will follow. Brasch, long-time members of our congregation. The award is being presented to them for their "devotion to religion, distinction in career and dedication to community." The event is at the Cornhusker Hotel; tickets are $35 per person-proceeds will benefit the Emergency Food Pantries System. Monday, Oct. 28: Adult Hebrew Study Group, 7 p.m., call Stephanie Dohner, 435-0140 for info. L Thursday, Oct. 31: B'nai Mitzvah class, 3 pan. Saturday, Oct. 26: Services held in the Chapel at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, 9 a.m.
* **•**
t
s
^ •ife:TJ"!ifiL;t.Si" J J M ^ V
w.bethel-omaha.o Shabbat Services are conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Cantor Emil Berkovits and Ritual Director Gaston Bogomolni. FRIDAY: Come join a joyous, musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. Congregational Shabbat Dinner to follow. New Beth El members will be honored at this first dinner of the New Year. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m., immediately followed by the Bells Luncheon. Beth El Lunch and Learn on Shabbat Series presents David Kraemer, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary. The topic will be "Understanding Judaism through the Eyes of Islam." Call for lunch and childcare reservations. Kiddush will be sponsored by Beth El; Rabbi Levin's Torah class is 5:45 p.m.--everyone is welcome for informal discussion and snack; Evening services, 6:35 p.m. in the chapel. A THOUGHT FOR SHABBAT To receive Rabbi Levin's weekly "Thought For Shabbat" e-mail message, please send your e-mail address to Exec@bethel-omaha.org. SUNDAY: Morning service, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m WEEKDAYS: Services, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m
Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 ajn. FRIDAY: Mincha-Ma'ariv, 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m., Carly Feldman will become a Bat Mitzvah. Men's Group meets every Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. at the Knolls.
I
FRD3AY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY: 9 a.m., services, conducted by members of Beyt Shalom, are held in the Herbert Goldsten chapel and are open to the community.
Chabad's Adult Education Expands to Meet Growing Need:
Torah Take-Out Jewish Learning Delivered to__Your Doorstep by SHAN I KATZMAN
Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Monday-Friday, services at 7 a.m. FRIDAY: Mincha-Ma'ariv, 6 p.in,' Irv and Ruth Goldenberg of Lincoln, international teachers and lecturers, will share their recipe for wholesome living during Shabbat dinner. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Morning Service, 8:30 a.m. MONDAY: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth (Women of Worth), 11:45 a.m.-l p.m. Lunch is served. TUESDAY: Crown of Creation (W. of W.), 9:30-11 a.m.; Parshas HaShavuah (weekly Torah portion), 7-8:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Jewish Mysticism (Adult Education), 7-8:30 p.m., at the JCC. To register for any of the classes, please call Jennifer at 330-1800, or e-mail chabadoffice@aol.com.
—
—
—
—
The newest addition to the smorgasbord of Jewish and learning and is prepared to provide highly prolearning provided by Chabad House is the "Torah fessional, innovative lessons." Hecht explained that "Torah literally is transTake-Out." Based on the same principle of bringing home food to save time and to eat, great food in lated as teaching or direction. It contains the the comforts of one's own home or office, Chabad instructions for life and managing this world has created a menu of choices for Torah learning. according to the Manufacturer Himself." Hecht Mendel Hecht, a rabbinic student from Chicago will added that "every Jew should have access to the Torah-and everyone can become a Sage. be implementing this program. "My goal," he said, "is to help community memHecht's experience includes mentoring and teaching in summer camps for almost a decade and pro- bers access texts that they thought were beyond viding teaching and tutoring for both adults and their reach. I want to provide opportunities for spechildren throughout the country. Hecht is a seri- cific questions to be answered. Torah study is releous student of Talmud, Jewish history and ethics. vant for all. It is a road map for life. I plan to cook He is especially diligent in the study of Kabbalah up something special for each one of my study partand Chassidut and is excited to share with Omaha. ners," he added. The "Torah Take-Out" program is open to the com"His knowledge is impressive," says Rabbi Katzman who hired Hecht to teach his own son munity. Scheduling is available by calling Hecht at Talmud. "He is caring, warm and loves teaching 330-1800.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page .4
October 25, 2002
For most of us3 our Jewish learning stopped around the time of our B'nai Mitzvah--or maybe, if we were lucky, at Confirmation or Hebrew High School graduation. That means we generally have a' '"juvenile" view of Judaism. There's no reason now—with the offerings of every synagogue and other Jewish organizations—and the growth of the Internet—to leave our Jewish education at that level. Pick any day of the week and almost any venue in the Jewish community and continuing learners can find a class—or two—among the varied intellectual and stimulating subjects available in this small Jewish community. That's the good news—here's the bad. Our kids don't have as much as adults do! That's a turnaround from the past, when our best teachers were trained educators from Europe or Israel, knowledgeable in their subject matter as well as in pedagogical methods and trends in teaching. Today, we often depend on many volunteer teachers, who, as devoted as they are, may not be professionally trained in either subject matter or methodology. In our front page interview with Rabbi Mordechai Levin, the new spiritual leader of Beth El Synagogue, he
states that one way to solve this more talent and diversity to Omaha conundrum may be to "import" while solving a critical need. Beth El has already begun working trained Jewish studies teachers from through the maze of immigration reguhis former home-Argentina. Before he studied for the rabbinate, lations and we think the whole commuhe—and his wife—graduated from the nity should get on board with this idea! Institute for Teacher Training in Raising the level of educational excelBuenos Aires. Given the severe eco- lence in this community is in everynomic crisis in that country, this com- one's interest—our children's, their munity could perform two IMB5M OF H mitzvot—resmil OF AMWHEl^/ BUT iN 1Vf& C4SE cuing the 1SBTT ISRAfiU MESSED PUfeNMltt ITSELF captive and AM©cnBW4AtSOtfRCBOF providing highly qualified Jewish teachers for our youngsters. Like the^community effort to bring Jews from the former Soviet Union to Omaha, helping Argentinian Jews to immigrate here would add even
parents, and our leaders-whose future is dependent on a knowledgeable Jewish constituency. It's wonderful that we adults have so much educational talent from which to learn; let's not shortchange our children. Bravo to Beth El for taking the first step. Now it's time for the rest of us to join and make this succeed!
by DR. MITCHELL G. BARD The fall semester is in full swing and the nation's campuses are already rocking with anti-Israel activities as the usual parade of anti-Semites make their vitriolic speeches and seek to delegitimize Israel through the divestment and other hate campaigns. Jewish students have responded to these attacks with unprecedented vigor, but the key to winning the war on campus is not reactivity, it is proactivity. The goal is not to be more radical than our critics or to try to outdo their street theater of the absurd. Our goal is to set the tone for the entire year on the campus, a tone that is pro-peace and pro-Israel. We want to create a climate where there is always something going on related to Israel so that Jews and nonJews see that we are proud to stand with Israel and that it is cool to be pro-Israel. We are on the side of right and we are going to stand tall and make every Jew on campus feel comfortable to be Jewish and pro-Israel. The way we are going to do it is by beating the drum for Israel. What I mean by beating the drum for Israel is to constantly have some activity related to Israel going on. Depending on the size and activism of the particular campus, it can be daily, weekly, or monthly. By beating the drum for Israel, Jewish students set the agenda. They are not sitting hack waiting for the
other side to assail Israel, and they are not reacting to their attacks. If our drumbeat is loud enough, we can drown them out altogether, and it may be possible to ignore some or all of the detractors' activities. The anti-Israel students are going to be shouting in frustration because every time they turn around the bloody Jews and their supporters are putting on another program about Israel. The drumbeat should not be restricted to politics. Every aspect of Israel should be explored, discussed, and celebrated on the campus. Bring speakers to talk about current political events, archaeology in Israel, the high-tech industry in "Silicon Wadi," advances in medicine, and the environment. Sponsor cultural activities such as dances, art exhibitions, and concerts. Invite classmates to Shabbat dinner and talk about Israel, create a tour of Israel on campus, study Hebrew. The anti-Semites believe Jews control the media. If it were true, every Jew in America wouldn't be convinced the press is anti-Israel. But there's no reason why Jewish students shouldn't try to take over the campus media. Join the staff of the paper and radio station. Become an editor or writer. If you aren't on staff, send in op-eds and features. Don't wait for someone to attack Israel, start beating the media drum by sending in letters and articles today and
Don't be afraid to read what the other side has to say; in fact, it is incumbent upon you to know what they are saying and how to respond. If you do the research, you can't help but be pro-Israel because that is the side of right and truth. No, Israel isn't perfect. American Jewish students have no obligation to defend every Israeli action and every right to express an independent view. They do, however, have an obligation to put issues in the proper context. So long as you have a love of Israel, it is possible to have legitimate concerns, as every citizen of Israel does. Critics, however, who do not recognize Israel's right to exist, who speciously denigrate Zionism as a form of racism, and whose intent is not to improve Israel but to destroy her, are nothing more than anti-Semites trying to use the academy's guarantees of free speech to cloak their bigotry. Instead of hearing what the antiSemitic and anti-Israel forces are doing on the campus, I want to hear the constant sound of the drumbeat of Israel thundering across the land. Am Yisrael chai. (The People of Israeli live)!
Fred Tichauer Chairman Carol Katzman Editor , The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish com- Richard Busse munal needs;locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Creative Director Allan Handleman Services, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Advertising Manager Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, noon, eight days prior to.publi-. RayPred Account Executive The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $28 per calendar Timothy J. Ketelsen . year U.S.; $32 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Oinaha. Phone: 402-334-6448; FAX: 402- Bookkeeper 334-5422; e-mail editorial material, photos, and)|ddress changes to: ckatzman^jew- Jen Gates Production Assistant ishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or vFI)^iom;^..^y / rb^s^@|jewiishomaha.org. Periodical postage: :paid at :0maha, NE. POSTiyii|sTEp,; iSerid address changes to: The George Schapiro Jewish:Press;333 S 1 3 2 d S t O h N E 68l54^|985 HS#; Volunteer :
JEWISH PRESS
Nebraska Press Association
National Newspaper Association
continue every week until school ends. Make the other side respond to you. Ideally, the Jewish student message should focus on the positive, especially Israel's desperate craving for peace, and the risks it has taken-and is prepared to take-to end the conflict with the Arabs. Don't stop at control of the press, Jews should beat the drum at the student government as well. Run for office, join committees, volunteer. You want to have a say in how student funds are spent so they are used for pro-Israel activities and not or programs that violate the will of the students or promote hate and antiSemitism. A drum is not always a solo instrument. It, is not the Jews versus the world. Jewish students have allies on campus. Seek them out. College Democrats and Republicans, Christian groups, ethnic organizations, Greeks. You don't have to agree with everything they stand for, but they may be willing to support Israel and you should see if that can be the common ground on which you can stand together. Young Jews should educate their fellow students and themselves. Read everything you can and try to pass on your knowledge to others. Read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict and Myths and Facts: A Guide to Understanding the ArabIsraeli Conflict.
:
c
a
t
i
o
n
.
•'
" • .
;
-'••••.
.•
;
...
•..•}•;'
;
'
•
.
(Founded in 1920)
•
•
•
•
.
.
•
•
•'
.
•
•
.
•
•
• . : . • .
FUNDS
ISRAE L.
Dr. Mitchell G. Bard is the Executive Director of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE) and webmaster of the Jewish Virtual Library— www.JewishVirtualLibrary.org.
JEWISH PRESS COMMITTEE Joanie Jacobson, Vice-Chairman; Penny Endelman, Secretary; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Jean Duitch; Kip Gordman; Bobbi Leibowitz; Howard K. Marcus; Scott Meyerson; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Melanie Weinstein; Amee Zetzmari; George Schapiro (Honorary Committee Member). Editorials,e3fpr.e.ss,th,e view of the,w,ritet..and,iare,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 fight to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.
October 25, 2002
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 5
"Service First—Quality Always"
by ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ.
CAMBRIDGE, MA, (JTA)-I applaud the 300 col- criticizing only Jews for a trait that is universal. For lege and university presidents who signed the ad- example, in the 1920's, then Harvard President A. organized by the former president of Dartmouth, Lawrence Lowell decided that the number of Jews James 0 . Freedman—that expressed concern over admitted to Harvard should be reduced because "intimidation and hatred" directed against Jewish "Jews cheat." When a distinguished alumnus, supporters of Israel on many campuses. I wish that Judge Learned Hand, pointed out that Protestants more presidents had been willing to join in this con- also cheat, Lowell responded "You're changing the demnation of a dangerous and spreading form of subject, we're talking about Jews." bigotry that is now prevalent on campus. The same is true about the debate over divestiAs a professor long identified both with human ture. When opponents point out that other count-'-.-? rights and with support for Israel, I have received in the Middle East have far worse human rights numerous phone calls, letrecords, proponents of ters, e-mails and faxes What is the equivalent of anti- divestiture respond, from Jewish &LUUCUL& students r~1 J.1U111 OCW1O11 • , • • , J • }• , JC ,1 iUU "You're changing the sub-
around the country fearful SemitlSItl IS the Singling OUt Of the j e c t ; weVe t a l k i n g a b o u t for their safety and wor- JewiSh nation far divestment, bOV-tlie J e w i s h s t a t a " T h a t i s ried that anti-Israel pro. the equivalent of internafessors would punish COtt, U.N. Condemnation Or Other tional anti-Semitism writ
them for their support of sanctions Israel.
despite -*
its far better J
lar
To the Editor: I am an American Indian who has reached out to the American Jewish community for a history project on indigenous peoples. Now I'm working on a World War II-era history project and would like to correspond with any American Jewish woman who served in the military, Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol or aided the war effort in some other capacity. I'm also seeking men or women whose childhood or teen years were affected by World War II. Finally, I'm looking for any unwanted or duplicate photographs, postcards, buttons and other memorabilia that depict Jewish people, events, synagogues and other aspects of Jewish life in America. These items can be historic or contemporary.
MACHINERY (Auto & Ssmij • Stretch film machines • Tape Machines • Strapping machines • Conveyor systems • Case erectors • A full line of new and used machinery
www.industrialpack.com Fax: 933-9303 E-mail: sates@industrialpaok.com
S » P • K • C • I • A
Wde Selection of Judaica
f.
It is certainly possible
This is especially true 1'eCOrd OH human rights than any who have J that signed some the divestiture or since the campaign to :» nation in thp Middlp F boycott petitions do not divest from Israel and to omer mm°n *« me Mluuie n boycott all Israeli Jews ffiOSt Other nations Ml the WOrld," believe that their actions has heated up over the are anti-Semitic. They ing to punish Israeli colleagues just because of their used by enemies of Israel who would delegitimate past several months. Anybe professor be ignorant of theonly reality thatnation. they are being national origin may well willingimmorally to punish willstu- may and isolate the world's Jewish dents who vocally support Israel. The fear is real. There are some who argue that the presidents' ad will chill campus debate. Quite the opposite is true. The ad, along with Harvard President Lawrence Summers' statement that the divestiture campaign is anti-Semitic in its effect, has stimulated healthy debate. Those who argue that these presidential statements chill debate rely on the red herring that any criticism of Israel is immediately labeled antiSemitic. Susannah Heschel has made the following claim: "We often hear that criticism of Israel is equivalent to anti-Semitism." That is simply not true. I challenge Heschel to back up that falsehood with hard evidence. Let her produce proof that "criticism of Israel" is often characterized as anti-Semitism. I have never heard that accusation made. I am often critical of Israeli actions, most recently of Ariel Sharon's dumb decision to attack Yasser Arafat's compound. I have never been accused of being anti-Semitic. Nor are other critics of the Sharon government nor supporters of Palestinian statehood "often" accused of being anti-Semitic. President Summers went out of his way to make it clear that criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic, either in intent or effect. No one I know is seeking to stifle criticism of Israel or of the current government, or to chill support for Palestinian statehood and human rights. What is the equivalent of anti-Semitism is the singling out of the Jewish nation for divestment, boycott, U.N. condemnation or other sanctions, despite its far better record on human rights than any other nation in the Middle East and most other nations in the world. A good working definition of anti-Semitism is
PRODUCTS • Corrugated, S.U.S. & S.B.S. Boxes 1 Packaging tapss & glues 1 Stretch film, shrink film & lidding film 1 Poly & steel strapping > Printed zipper bag's, paly bags 1 polypropylene & styrefoam trays
The recent campaigns for divestiture and boycott grow out of two earlier campaigns that were undoubtedly motivated by a desire to destroy the Jewish state. The first was the Arab boycott, which lasted for many years and was finally defeated. The second was the now discredited U.N. resolution equating Zionism with racism. The current efforts to equate Israel with the apartheid regime of South Africa will also fail, because the analogy is demonstrably false. The goal of this campaign is not actually -to achieve divestiture, but rather to miseducate young and impressionable college students into believing that Israel is among the worst human rights violators in the world, despite its generally superb record on human rights and its great concern for minimizing civilian casualties by exposing its own soldiers to the risks of door to door "retail" fighting, rather than "wholesale" bombing of the kind done by many other countries, including our own. The fact that Israel is the only country in the Middle East with freedom of expression, an independent judiciary, a commitment to the equality of women and gays are all ignored in this effort to isolate Israel. Ignorance may be a defense to bigotry, but it has no place on a university campus. The immoral campaign on campuses against Jews who support Israel must be combated in the marketplace of ideas. The presidents'letter is an important component of this struggle against bigotry. Too many good people are remaining silent in the face of anti-Semitism. It is time to stand up and be counted. Alan M. Dershowitz is a professor of law at Harvard Law School and author of Why Terrorism Works.
LAKESIDE HILLS Luxury Apartment Homes 1 Bedroom $895 • 2 Bedrooms $1100 • H e a t e d G a r a g e w/ r e m o t e • 9' Ceilings/ Crown Molding • Gourmet Kitchen • Controlled Access Entries • Elevator Service " Fireplace • 7,000-sq.-ft. Clubhouse • Terrific Workout Area and Pool 9 Walking distance to new Baker's Store, Super Target, restaurants, banks, medical and wellness center and many more shops. Oak View Mall only five minutes
Professionally managed by Vacanti & Randazzo Companies
whatdoyouwanttabe?
Excludes hats, wtgs, masks, make-up and accessories. Not valid with any other otters.. Offer expires 10/27/02.
• Over 25,000 Costumes in Stock • Make-up and Accessories
8 600 Unique Wigs and Masks e Halloween Decorations
Feel free to contact me at: PO Box 685, Collinsville, IL 62234. Robert J. Clark To the Editor: I represent the National Jewish Girl Scout Council; we are looking for former Jewish Girl Scouts that earned Jewish Religious awards prior to 1972. Please have them contact me at: NJGSC@aol.com or call me at: 1-508-923-0800, extension 31. Wendy Garf-Lipp Community Ties Program Manager Girl Scout Council Southeastern MA 111 East Grove Street Middleboro, MA 02346
OMAHA 120th & Center (Bel Air Plaza) 333-630Q
BEUEVUE 42nd &Hwy 370 [Twin Creek Plaza) 292-1700
Pag* 6
Jewish Press, Omaha, NS
October 25, 2002
•Computer solutions and upgrades • Specializing in networks • 20+ years of diagnostic experience. Contact Gary Cohen at 884-0030 for your free consultation.
Nicholas E. Pierce Technologies Technology support for your business Office; 884-0030
• Cell: 680-8740 • nepf@cox.nef
Bruce W. Frank D.D.S. 2505 South 174th Plaza Omaha, NE 68130 Phone: 697-3838 Fax: 697-3888 Mention this ad, receive 10% OFF (new patients only)
glEWISHpRE
v -'
T O ADVERTISE IN THIS SPECIAL ISSUE CONTACT YOUR ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE OR CALL 334-6448.
HENRY MGNSKY LODGE As part of its membership drive, Henry Monsky Lodge of B'nai B'rith will host its annual Appreciation Night for current and prospective members on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m. starting with a buffet dinner at DJ's Dugout, 636 No. 114, Kevin McKenna, the former NBA star who revitalized the University of Nebraska-Omaha basketball program, will headline the event. The event is open to the Jewish community. There is no charge. B'nai B'rith is the oldest and largest Jewish service organization in the world. The local chapter is one of the most active in the U.S., according to the international president, Joel S. Kaplan, who traveled here recently for the opening of the Philip Klutznick museum exhibit. For more information or to RSVP, call Richard Diamond, 493-1169, or the B'nai B'rith office, 334-6443 or email Lois Epstein, lepstein@jewishomaha.org.
VISIONS Autumn Foliage Cruise on the River City Star is on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1-3 p.m. Meet at 12:30 p.m. at 1515 Abbott Drive. Visions board meeting is Friday, Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m. at the Blumkin Home conference room. Luncheon meeting is Friday, Nov. 15, 12:30 p.m. at Caniglia's Venice Inn. Cost is $8 per person. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Oliver B. Pollak. Send reservations to: Harry Alloy, 11317 Harney Plaza Cir., Omaha, NE 68154. Deadline is Nov. 8, Make check payable to Jewish Senior Services. Do a Mitzvah for Visions Mitzvah Program. As a joint project with Jewish Family Service, we are asking our members for a monetary gift for Jewish families who are in need. Please bring your donation to the luncheon or send a check to: Milton and Doris Parker, 120 So. 70 St., Omaha, NE 68132. Make check payable to JFS. Visions 10th Birthday Party is Sunday, Dec. 1, 12-3:30 p.m. in the JCC auditorium. Cost is $5 per person. Special musical entertainment by Kim Eames. Send reservations to: Elaine Feldman, 770 No. 93 St., #2D5, Omaha, NE 68114. Make check payable to JSS. Deadline is Nov. 21.
B'NAI B'RITH BREADBREAKERS Representatives from the National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section will discuss the upcoming election on Wednesday, Oct. 30, noon, at the Park Inn Regency, according to Gary Javitch, Y.E.S. Breadbreakers Chairman. Cost for Members will meet Monday at the lunch is $9; beverage service only, $2. JCC. Play bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Stacey YIDDISH GROUP Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to Lomir Redn Yiddish: Let Us Speak share for "YES Talk" at 11 a.m. YiddishThe Yiddish Conversation Following lunch at noon, join us at the Group will meet on Thursday, 1-3 "To Life" party with four fine Yiddishe p.m. in the Social Hall of the JCC. entertainers: Tuffy Epstein, Dik Call Anne Skolkin for information at Weiner, Howard Gendelman and 343-1638. Rabbi Howard Kutner. For transportation to the JCC call 330-4272. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES Celebrate Veterans Day on OMAHA CENTER Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. at the JCC. FOR TORAH LEARNING The AVI80RS Ensemble will perform Rabbi Aryeh Blum will give a wonderful music of the World War II Parasha Shiur on Shabbat afternoon, era in USO show style. Their mission Oct. 26 4:40 p.m. Torah Tots continis to provide a wide range of songs to ues with Shari Blum on Mondays, entertain and inspire. Refreshments 9:30 a.m.; Time for Talmud is with will be served. Rabbi Blum on Monday, Oct. 28, 7 There is no charge for this event, p.m.; learn at the Beis Midrash, sponsored by Jewish Senior Services, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., all at L.O.V.E., Jewish War Veterans and the OCTL house, 1313 No. 58 St. Morris Lipp, except for round trip Discussion of the weekly parasha is transportation, $3. Deadline is Nov. 4. at Lunch 'n Learn, Wednesday, Oct. For reservations and transportation 30, noon at the Federation Library. call Maggie Conti at 334-6521. For At 7:30 p.m., Rabbi Blum hosts a more information call Cathy Carroll class for women. At 8 p.m., Brooke or Anne Joseph, at 334-6520. Shrago will lead a Jewish learning group for teenage girls at her home, 805 So. 120 Ave. For more information WALK-IN, DROP-IN call Rabbi Blum, 320-8055. There will be no meeting Oct. 31.
Pastor Douglas Ferguson of the Celebration Covenant Church invited Cantor Leo Feltman to address the new congregation about the Holocaust, brotherhood and Judaism at a recent Sunday dinner. The pastor was eager to accommodate Cantor Fettman's kashrut needs and suggested that the entire congregation would have a kosher dinner. Usually the Cantor's wife, Annette, brings brown bag lunches for her husband and herself, but Bagel Bin catered the dinner that Sunday evening for 65 satisfied people. Cantor Fettman has lectured for more than four decades-this is the first time an organization has provided kosher food for the whole congregation.
Gary Eatelman, CSA, member of NAIFA, HIU and former President of L T C Associates, Inc., has been named Director of L T C I Marketing for Senior (Market Sales, Inc., after a merger of LTC Associates, Inc and Senior Market Sales, Inc. in June. Katelman has taught continuing education classes on Long Term Care, as well as conducted seminars at several Insurance Conferences.
October 25, 2002
Category
iazzan Ramon Tasat to Teach and Sing for AiS
One
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN
Temple Israel Communications Coordinator ~ ~ — ~ » — • — . When Hazzan Ramon Tasat arrives using Sephardic trope. in Omaha as Temple Israel's HazzanAt 6:30 p.m. Saturday night, Oct. in-Residence Friday-Sunday, Oct. 26, Hazzan Tasat and the Omaha 25-27, the. cantor, composer, and Temple Youth Group will co-host entertainer will have something for Havdalah in the Livingston Chapel. everyone. All are welcome to attend. Tonight, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. at Later that same evening, at 8 p.m., Temple, Hazzan Tasat will partici- Beth Israel S3Tiagogue will sponsor pate in a Sephardic Kabbalat Shabbat "An Evening of Good Music and Good Worship Service in the Sanctuary. Company" with Hazzan Tasat at the Tomorrow morning, the Argentina home of Mike and Judy Feldman, native; who now lives in Silver 12614 Harney Circle. The dinner proSpring, MD, will begin with a discus- gram is open to the community. sion of the Sephardic Prayer Book on Wrapping up his visit here, Hazzan Saturday, Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m. at Tasat will teach Sunday School chilTemple Israel's Bagels and Sacred dren and their families in the sanctuBooks study session in the Milder ary a on Sunday moriiing, Oct. 27, Center followed by Shabbat Worship 11 a.m. at Beth El Synagogue. Services at 10:30 a.m. Hazzan Tasat For more information, call the will lead services and chant Torah Temple office, 556-6536.
•
ANN ARBOR, MI (JTA)--In the tional approach. Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the United MSZ activists flanked the doors of States is considered Israel's last the conference building, chanting that remaining key ally. Aiming to change the pro-Palestinian movement was that, the anti-Israel movement on col- "justifying suicide bombing" and was lege campuses has adopted a message anti-Semitic. They also staged a rooted in American ideals. prayer service, counter-conference, The Second National Student rally and a "street theater" demonConference on the Palestinian stration where students scattered on Solidarity Movement, held at the the ground simulated the aftermath of University of Michigan last weekend, a suicide bombing. framed its anti-Israel arguments in MSZ leaders filed a lawsuit trying to the language of civil liberties and force the university to cancel the conhuman rights. ference on the grounds that guest The new, slicker message showed the speakers-including Sami Al-Arian, a challenge Jewish groups will face after University of South Florida professor a conference that both sides considered under federal investigation for links to a pivotal moment for anti-Israel terrorist groups-would incite violence. activism on American campuses. It's A judge denied a hearing on the lawstill unclear whether the Oct. 12-14suit, saying the plaintiffs didn't have pro-Palestinian conference, sponsored legal standing. Many of the 400 peoby a Michigan group called Students ple at the pro-Palestinian conference Allied for Freedom and Equality will represent extreme elements from 70 give the anti-Israel movement a lasting universities across the country. boost or, instead, show that the tide has Wayne Firestone, director of the turned against it. Israel on Campus Coalition, a coordiThe movement has come under nating body, for Israel advocacy sponincreasing scrutiny in the past month sored by Hillel and the American after Harvard's president said the Israel Public Affairs Committee, said anti-Israel activism bordered on anti- he wasn't impressed by the Palestinian supporters' new message. Semitism. Some 300 university presidents then "I believe they're very much on the signed an American Jewish defensive and they're essentially failCommittee ad criticizing the anti- ing," he said. "They had almost no Israel movement for allegedly intimi- buy-in from the local Michigan popudating its opponents. The develop- lation. To the extent that the advance ments drew publicity to a movement publicity succeeded in bringing this to that until then primarily had attract- the public's attention, it galvanized ed campus radicals, but they also put the administration's opposition." the anti-Israel forces on the defensive. Indeed, the university's president, The weekend conference showed Mary Sue Coleman, denounced one of that the pro-Palestinian groups are the conference's key planks-for unireacting to the spotlight by crafting versities to divest their holdings in an increasingly sophisticated message companies that deal with Israel~in a --and that Jewish activists are split on Sept. 26 statement. the proper strategy to confront it. Participants at the pro-Palestinian Mainstream groups such as Hillel: conference argued that university The Foundation for Jewish Campus divestment would pressure Israel to Life sought to avoid direct confronta- end its occupation of the West Bank tion so as not to give the conference and Gaza Strip, which they say is the more publicity. Hillel planned pro- first step toward making peace. Israel programming to highlight Undermining a key Israeli argumentIsrael's democratic values, placing ads -that Israel is a democracy like in campus newspapers, bringing pro- America-Palestinian supporters say Israel lecturers to campus and spon- America's historic subjugation of blacks soring a pro-Israel rally on Oct. 10 and, allegedly, of women shows that with speakers from mainstream democracies can be oppressive too. organizations. The Israel on Campus Coalition A new group—Michigan Student released a resource guide last week Zionists-worked with Aish HaTorah, that offers tools to counter prothe Zionist Organization of America Palestinian arguments, and describes and Coalition for Jewish Concerns- different approaches favored by variAmcha in crafting a more confronta- ous organizations.
Accessories for good living
Page 7
M-Th 10-9 Fri 10-8 Sat 10-6 Sun 12-6
Gourmet Stems Include:
•FREE Gift Wrap-
All Clad'Wusthof Bake/Cookware • Glassv/are Linens • Dinnerware • Bar& Wine Accessories PLUS Coffees & Teas Jams & Jellies Sauces Mustards • Breads • Salsas
"Excludes Wusthof, Ail Clad Seis and E'ectrics
Bridal & Holiday Registry Available
Valid through the month of October.
DARTS
Huga Selection of Darts. Electronic and Non-electronic. See Our , Talking Dart Boards^/
AntS-Israei Parley Shows Intensity of Battle for Students5 Hearts, Minds by RACHEL POMERANCE m - — .
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
T
HUGE SELECTION OF BAR & CQUMTER STOOLS
FOOSBALL TABLES Starting at
$349
SLATE POOL TABLES
Professional Quality Slate Pool Tables and Accessories. At Discount Prices. Largest Selection in trie Midwest! COMPLETE with playing equipment starting at Financing Available.
POKER TABLES
Service • Recoveries I » Poker Chips J
/ A I R HOCKEY 61 and 7' models. 6' starting at
Custom Lamps. Service Supplies
Antique S | 8 Apparatus "~U bubbler Juke i
BCK available
on CO
y
BARS &POB TABLES
V$339
\__GmatFamily Gift!
JUKE N .BOXES
Huge Selection of Custom Jointed Cue Sticks and Supplies
GAMETABLES
FINANCING AVAILABLE V j
ISisiWiSiioiiMi!
5*»
-V- '
- - » • ' -
* *
,
.
tf ttie wmond Beautiful Environment... includes library, activities center, beauty and barber shop, exercise room and much more. Professional Services. . . providing weekly housekeeping and laundry, dietician and nutrition services, activities, transportation and more. Assisted Living Service... assistance with activities of daily living provided on site. Affordable Retirement. all services included in one low monthly rental. Peace of Mind... Remington Height's 24-hour staff emergency call system means assistance is just seconds away.
12606 West Dodge Road Omaha,NE 68154 (402) 493-5807
J
age S
Jewish Press, Omaha* NE
October 25, 2002
Surgeon Saves Lives in Bali Disaster: A 'horrific sight' He Won't Forget by HENRY BENJAMIN
The Australian government had SYDNEY, Australia promised to send an Air Force medical (JTA)-For Graeme unit to assist the doctors, but it was Southwick, an early j not due for several hours. So Sunday morning on an *-. Southwick and his team—which idyllic island launched included a second-year plastic sura day that turned from geon trainee from Australia who was a dream into a nighton holiday, and his wife, a third-year mare, »» trainee as an anesthetist-went to Southwick was relaxwork helping people who had suffered ing by the pool of his burns over as much as 80 percent of hotel in Bali after their bodies. attending a plastic surgeon's conference when "We were able to persuade the he learned of the night | Indonesian authorities to let us tackle club bombing that had the European and North American claimed more than ISO patients first, and we set about identilives the day before. fying as many as we could so that Southwick 55, an A u s t r a l i a n plastic surgeon Dr. Graeme those outside searching for loved ones would know that we had them under active member of S o u t h w i c k . our care," Southwick said. "Many volAustralia s Jewish community, immediately contacted the worked in cramped wards with limit- unteers arrived to help, some with no nursing experience and others who island's only hospital, in the capital of ed supplies. "I was not prepared for what I saw," could help." Denpasar. Many tourists offered blood, but "At that stage, no one knew how he said. "The hospital was jammed facilities for transfusions weren't severe or serious matters were," with patients." Southwick told JTA. The attack is believed to be the work available and it was difficult for the Hospital staff initially told Southwick, of Jemaah Islamiah, a group headed medical team to even ascertain the president of the Society of by a 64-year-old Muslim cleric, Abu patients' blood groups. They also lacked items like surgical Australian Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Bakar Bashir, that has links to Althat everything was under control. A Qaida. Bashir blames the United instruments, drugs and even rubber gloves. few hours later, however, he received a States for the attack. phone call from a plastic surgeon in In addition to the dead, who come Southwick's team was able to visit Jakarta asking for Ms help. from around the world, 300 people are some smaller hospitals and stabilize their patients as well. Southwick ended up working 15 injured and 200 are missing. hours straight. Today, 64 victims are The first plane from the Royal When Southwick got to the hospital, on the road to recovery thanks to the he immediately set about prioritizing Australian Air Force arrived about 10 efforts of his medical team, which the caseload. p.m. that day, and Southwick's team
sent patients to the airport in a convoy of nine ambulances, each carrying three wounded. With more space available in the wards, Southwick was able to identify additional Australian and English patients. He began to stabilize them and prepare them ,for evacuation to Australia, where they could be treated in proper burn units. At one stage, 64 patients were lying on the tarmac of Denpasar airport waiting for a flight to Australia. The Air Force had set up a temporary, open-air ward on the tarmac, with a series of ropes holding intravenous drips. Southwick recalled the case of one woman whose name he never learned. "She was about 18 and had severe burns around the respiratory area as well as brain damage. We sent her on the first available flight" to Australia, but she died en route, he said. Most of the patients were on pain medication and remained conscious during the stabilization and evacuation process, Southwick said. "The patients were wonderful. Some refused painkillers, as they thought others needed them more," he said. Despite his years as a doctor, nothing had prepared Southwick for the experience in Bali. "I have never seen injuries on such a dreadful scale. It was a horrific sight which will remain in my memory forever,'" he said.
Winds of War RBJH Looking by JEWISH PRESS News Service for "A Few Good MerTor Women A large scale simulaby LOIS WINE, Director of Volunteer Services •
The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home needs volunteers to fill the following positions. Please call me at 334-6530, if you're interested. • Receptionist: parttime volunteer needed to answer phones and interact with residents, family members and visitors. Great opportunity for someone who wants to make a difference. Several 'shifts' available during weekdays. • Resident escort: take residents to doctors' appointments. Ride in the van with residents, sit with them in the
w.iiting room and wait while ihe resident sees the doctor. Return to the Home in the van with the resident. Day and time will vary according to appointments. 8 Gift shop clerk: Volunteers needed to assist customers with merchandise in the Rose Bkumkin Jewish Home gift shop. Must be able to handle monetary transactions and interact with residents and visitors. This volunteer position also helps residents select books from the mobile library cart.
tion exercise involving nearly 50 firemen was carried out at the huge gasoline and gas storage facility of Pi Glilot just north of Tel Aviv. The simulation encompassed three different scenarios in which a missile or a plane crash into the compound resulting in a giant fire. The Pi Glilot depot, which is due to moved in a few years from this heavily populated area to a safer location, is at the center of an on-going dispute between local residents over a
wide area who are concerned at the serious consequences which would result from an explosion at the depot. Photo by ISRANET.
de&em&tok&pampered at... Rediscover Your Full Service
... 'Niwumms 'Nails/
Neighborhood
132nd & West Center Road (Orchard Plaza) (One Block North of West Center Road) » Complimentary Beverages • Only Warm Hand Towels Used e Sanitized Equipment • Walk-Ins Welcome • Whirlpool Spa - Special Product • 5 Quality Brands of Nail Polish • Student Discounts Available • Gift CertiFicates Available
Hours
Moa-Fri. 9-7:30 Sat 9-7:00 Closed Sundays
A West Center M.
330-9922
• Competitively Priced Prescriptions • Nebulizer Medications/Nebulizers Available • Home Health Care: Walking Aids and Wheelchair Rental or Purchase — Also, Bath Aids, Braces and Supports, Compression Hose, Lift Chairs & More • We bill Medicare, Medicaid and Most Third Party Insurances 8 Home Delivery Service and Mail Out Services Available
CartS. rBaum (Druggists Goodfoea limited lime, i Good for a limted time, i Good ^ a |j m j| e d i ™ i Good for a limited time, i Good for a limited time, i VWti Coupon O i * . ^ WiUi Coupon 0 i % I M h Coupon O n ^ ' ' With Coupon Oil/. 1 WMi Coupon Only. I
Pharmacy
5001 Underwood Ave • Omaha 551-6882 * Fax 551-9768
October 25, 2002
by JOE BERKOFSKY~~-———-*
••«•• — — .
NEW YORK (JTA)-Tliis is the American Jewish world, by the numbers, as revealed in the just-released National Jewish Population Survey 2000-2001: • The Jewish population now stands at 5.2 million, down 5.45 percent from 5.5 million in 1990. • Jews represent 2 percent of the general U.S. population, which stands at 288 million, an increase of 33 million from 1990. • The Jewish population resides in 2.9 million Jewish households, with a total of 6.7 million people in all those households. This means that 1.5 million of those people - one out of every five people living in a Jewish household on average—are not Jewish. The United Jewish Communities, the umbrella organization of local Jewish federations and sponsor of the study, released only the demographic findings last week. Other parts of the study, which will address issues of Jewish identity and affiliation, will be released at the group's annual gathering in Philadelphia at the end of November. Among the key findings released: • The median age of U.S. Jews is 41, up from 37 in 1990, and in contrast to the median age of 35 in the general U.S. population. 8 19 percent are age 65 and older, up from 15 percent in 1990, and compared with 12 percent in the general population. 8 19 percent are age 17 and younger, down from 21 percent in 1990, and compared with. 26 percent in the general population. • 51 percent of U.S. Jews are female, 49 percent male. The gender distribution is the same as the general population and is unchanged from 1990. • 54 percent of U.S. Jews aged 18 and older are married, compared with 57 percent in the general U.S. population. • 26 percent aged 18 and older are single and never married, compared with 24 percent in the general population. 8 30 percent of Jewish men are single compared with 22 percent of Jewish women. 8 Jewish women approaching the end of their childbearing years, aged 40-44, have an average of 1.8 children, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. • 52 percent of Jewish women aged 30-34 have no children, compared with 42 percent in 1990 and 27 percent among the general population in 2000.
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator-—-—«—
Quality Crafted Jeweinj
To provide opportunities for members of the community to explore their relationships with Judaism and to seek guidance and support in resolving questions of religion and identity in their lives, Temple Israel's Outreach Committee has planned six programs throughout 2002-2003. Addressing the impact of ethnic, religious, and emotional issues, these events are intended to inform and assist intermarried couples, those considering conversion, unaffiliated members of the community, and any other interested individuals and couples. Todd Hutton, chairman of the Outreach Committee, said, "Outreach events serve as an example of our commitment to providing programs which are sensitive to the interests of contemporary interfaith families." On Sunday, Nov. 3,10 a.m. in the Milder Center at Temple Israel, the Outreach Committee will present "There's a Dreidel in My Stocking: Help in Making it HOME for the Holidays." Hutton noted that "major religious holidays offer a great opportunity for interfaith families to come together and celebrate multi-religious traditions in a supportive and respectful atmosphere. Our next event will provide a group discussion giving all in attendance an opportunity to ask their own personal interfaith holiday questions. "Rabbi Debbie Stiel and John Dacey, who has done counseling for years with individuals and families, will join others and assist us as we explore meaningful ways to share holiday observances," he added. "Anyone looking for fresh and innovative ways to make your house 'HOME' for the holidays is cordially invited to attend." Outreach Committee members have also scheduled a Family Shabbat Dinner on Dec. 13, "Shabbat Services 101: A Back-to-the-Basics Tour of the Sanctuary" on Jan. 26, 2003, "Lights, Camera, Action! Exploring Jewish Themes in Movies" on Feb. 22, 2003, "Mazel Tov! Part 1: Birth to B'nai Mitzvah for Your Family" on March 16, 2003, and "I Married a Jew. Will They Hate Me too? Today's Anti-Semitism" on April 27, 2003. For more information Outreach programs, open to the community, call Temple office at 556-6536.
Imported from Israel
Population Study Revives Debate over Best Approach to Intermarriage by JOE BERKOFSKY - — — _ NEW YORK (JTA)-The fiery intermarriage debate that roiled American Jewry over the past decade is resurfacing. The battle that erupted in the wake of the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey, which showed 52 percent of Jews married non-Jews in the five years previous, is reviving over the 2000-2001 NJPS. The latest demographic study, the most ambitious portrait of American Jewry ever undertaken, revealed that 5.2 million American Jews live in 2.9 million households-along with 1.5 million non-Jews. On one side of the divide are those like Kerry Olitzky, Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute, which promotes efforts to bring unaffiliated and intermarried Jews into the community. "These are potential partners in the Jewish community," Olitzky says of the 1.5 million. "We have the power to either embrace or exclude them." On the other side are those like Steven Bayme, national director of contemporary Jewish life for the American Jewish Committee. While Bayme believes that the latest demographic stew shows that American Jews have attained an unprecedented level of acceptance, he's also convinced that intermarriage is producing a generation that doesn't identify primarily as Jews. "If Jews are doing well by American standards, the second narrative is that Jews as Jews are not doing nearly as well," Bayme said. These arguments both echo the longtime split in the Jewish community about how to deal with intermarriage and signal how both sides are likely
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
to grapple with the latest NJPS in the coming months. Most headlines about the NJPS focused on findings that the Jewish population fell 5 percent from 1990, that Jews are aging and that Jewish women are waiting longer to have fewer children. Yet the mix of Jews and non-Jews in many Jewish households went largely ignored. The focus shifted in part because officials of the NJPS team with the United Jewish Communities, the federation .umbrella group that funded the $6 million study, released little information beyond the initial demographic numbers.'NJPS officials said they are still analyzing the survey and will issue a fuller 15-page report on Jewish identity and Jewish life at the UJC's annual General Assembly in November. Vivien Klaff, a sociology professor at the University of Delaware who co-chaired the National Technical Advisory Committee, a panel of experts that consulted on the NJPS, said the team "really didn't want to do that this time." A decade ago, the NJPS intermarriage data sparked two main reactions-those who called for "inreach," or reinvigorating Jewish life as well as staving off intermarriage among those already involved, and those who advocated "outreach," efforts to welcome marginal Jews and interfaith families into the fold. A decade later those on both sides are still debating, though now, in the wake of the latest NJPS, the conflict is shaping up about whether outreach and identity-building programs worth tens of millions of dollars have made a difference.
Page 9
www.shirtal.cx3m
©akwew Mali - Lower Level Younker's Wing
OVER A CENTURY OF SERVICE
LOCKSMITHS Lock, Safe and Gun Company 110551 Street FOR IMMEDIATE LOCKOUT SERVICE CALL
LL FREE 1-888-KEYS-LOST
Help protect your assets, independence and quality of life with Prudential Long Term CareSM insurance To leam more aboul how long term care insurance can help protect you and your family, call: Joseph M John, CLU.ChFC Pruco Securities Registered Representative 440 Regency Pkwy., Suite 150 Omaha, NE 68114
402926-2850
Prudential (^ Financial Crowing and Protecting Your Wealth" 5
Prudential Long Teim Care " Insurance is underwritten by Prudential Insurance Company al America, 751 Broad Street, Newaik, NJ 07102 (800-732-0416). This coverage contains benefits, exclusions, limitations, eligibilityrequirementsand specific terms and provisions under which the insurance coverage may be continued in force or discontinued. All insurance policies may not be available in your state. Coverage is issued under Prudential Long Term Care31 Insurance policy numbers GRP 98176, GRP 98177, and GRP98178; however, policy numbers may vaiy by stats. PiudsntiaJ Financial is a service mark of Prudential, Newark, NJ and its affiliates. INST-A006077
I*
Our fine food, superior service and professional planning will make
your wedding or special reception truly memorable. Call our Catering Department at 346-7600.
D O U B L E T R E E H O T E L~ 16TH & DODGE STREET DOWNTOWN
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 10
October 25, 2002
ThE Includes: • Testing for carton monoxide emissions (most companies charge extra) • Basic furnace cleaning and complete safely inspection • Servicing and starting humidifier
invitations collectibles and gifts unique gift baskets
We Also Sell New Furnaces and Heat Pumps. Ask How We Can Drop Your Utility Bills With a New Heat Pump and Furnace
>PfiICiiItfB
Bar and Bat Mifzvah Invitations Wedding invitations Wedding Accessories
-fUNfCUiK 8827 Maple
3914287 OMAHA'S MOSTTHUSTED NAME
WSOWCTB
12039 Btondo • Omaha, NE • 402/498-9770 =
'Parts Extra
TTM \
WITH
HONEYMAN AN RENTALJ.
\- -
76e Patty Pfae
FOR THE FINEST IN ENTERTAINING ACCESSORIES, HOW CAN YOU THROW A PARTY AND NOT INVITE US? • Tables • Chairs • Linens • China • Silver • Glassware • Punch Bowels • Fountains • Chafing Dishes • Parly Canopies • BBQ Grills • Wedding &. Church Displays • Poruble Bars • Dance Floors • Skirting • Coat Racks • Coffee &. Tea Servers • Candelabras
„_,"^ j
\\
I " — .
(1 Block South of 114th & Center)
333128821
,.
.
, 1
Vw Believe tnat special occasions deserve special attention. Count on us ior memorable events that zxceea expectations • Weddings • Anniversaries • Bar/Bat Mitzvahs 1 000 sq. ft. of flexible event space Kcommodates up to 250 guests • On-site pfanning and catering professionals jKi\ 3m) JP
For information, Call the sales department at 402-496-0850 ext. 143
^ ro vne PUa' OmaKa O U Mill 655 Norttl toStli Avenue OmaL, NE 6S154
smAnimw Chiropractic Health Care 7
^MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED Auto Accidents Work Injuries Hormone Balancing Advanced Scoliosis Whiplash Sinus Problems Headaches Neck & Back Pain Nutritional Counseling
' > '
j
'
!
• ^ .
'
[ /
" _, , -^
1
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 Klutznick-Harris Symposium, 9:30 a.m. at Creighton University YES Program, 10 a.m. Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29 Women's Campaign House Party, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. JELS Lunch 'n Learn, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. B'nai B'rith Membership Appreciation Night, 6 p.m. at D<Ts Dugout Talmud Class with Eabbi Kutner, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. Haddassah Lunch, 11:30 a.m. BESTT High School Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El NCJW Book Club, 7 p.m. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 ADL Prejudice Elimination Workshop, 7 a.m. Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Hebrew Vocab Course, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Ttemple Israel Retreat with Danny Maseng, 9 a.m., in Nebraska City Visions Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 Tfemple Israel Retreat with Danny Maseng, 9 a.m., in Nebraska City Jewish Film Festival, 8 p.m. 69th Annual AZA #1 Sweetheart Dance, 8 p.m., at Happy Hollow Country Club SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Camp Sabra Information Meeting, 12:30 p.m.
Michael D. Armour, D.C. EMERGENCIES
Seen Same Day! \NEW! AlternativeCrohn'sDiseaseTreatment]
e
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 Klutznick-Harris Symposium, 8:45 a.m. Klutznick-Harris keynote speaker, Joan Nathan, 7 p.m. •
A r c O u r Dusiness
1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 BELLS Luncheon, noon, Beth El Synagogue
[ v '•• " —- — i
11226 Wright Circle
SSS5-
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 Family Shabbat Dinner, 6 p.m. at the Chabad House
i | | '
1
391-2600
&
PALMER GRADUATE
iiliiil carpet cleaning
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4 YES Program, 10 a.m. Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 General Elections, 7 a.m. Beth Israel Sisterhood Board Meeting, 10 a.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. 'Ealmud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel Friedel Jewish Academy Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. NCJW Omaha Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Chabad House Adult Education Class, 7 p.m. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Hebrew Vocab Course, 7 p.m. 'live from the 92nd Street Y", 7 p.m. Jewish Senior Services Educational Series, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Scholar-in-Residence Weekend, 7 a.m. with The Maggidim, at Beth El BBYO New Member Convention in Kansas City, 1 p.m. Chabad House Family Shabbat Dinner, 6 p.m. Shabbat Dinner with The Maggidim, 7 p.m., of RofVi TH1] al JJcLIl IL1
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Lunch and Learn with The Maggidim on Shabbat (BELLS), 12:30 p.m., at Beth El OCTL Mystery Theatre Dinner Event: "A Touch of Mystery", 7 p.m., at Culinary Services in Ralston Jewish Film Festival, 8 p.m. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Scholar-in-residence weekend breakfast, 9 a.m., at Beth El Visions Brownville Trip, 1 p.m. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11 YES Program, 10 am. Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Federation Women's Campaign House Party #3, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sisterhood Annual Donor Luncheon, noon, at Beth Israel BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Federation Budget & Allocations Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. Jewish Senior Services Program "An Evening to Remember with the Aviators", 7 p.m.
All events held at the Jewish Commu This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation's websit* The Jewish Press is not responsible fc
E L ALAMO "Best Mexican Food"
TUX RENTALS AND SALES
Oriental Rugs Hand Washed in our Plant IICRC Certified • References Available Bonded/Insured • Free Estimates • Uniformed
339-5127 5610 South 85 Circle
Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners
Naehos • Guacamole • Tacos • Fajitas Burritos • Shrimp • Enchiladas Combination Dinners Carnitas • Tostadas Tamales • Arroz Con Polio • Machaca MEXICAN BEER Corona • XX • Bohemia • Ikcate • Carta Blanca i Open for Lunch and Dinner 11 a.m.-9 p.m, OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 4917 South 24th St. • 731-8969
117th
.sss. -as? just east
October 25, 2002
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
Legal Document Services
\
MO LAWYERS MONEY
ESTABLISHED 1985 • Offices Nationwide
502*9898
ff^^^^0 THE • MARKET «BASKET
9207 Maple Sf *
S a i l SOUTHS? AVENUE. COUNTRYSIDE VILLAGE. OMAHA. NEBRASKA 68IU.IJO2i:i97.1100 I
l M | r e e « s ;Benz:pf:OmaKa
THAT IP0TTERY PLACE introduces Judaica Pottery Talmud Class with Rabbi Rutner, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel Board of Commissioners Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. •Mah Jongg Club, 11:30 a.m. Chabad House Adult Education Class, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Hadassah Board Meeting, 10 a.m. Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Rutner, noon, at Noddle Development High School Dinner, 6 p.m., at Beth El AIPAC Membership Event, 7 p.m Chabad House Adult Education Class, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Rose Blumkin Jewish Home "Women of Worth Chodesh Service", 11:30 a.m., Family Night Dinner, 5:30 p.m. at Chabad House Hebrew Vocab Course, 7 p.m. :Tiddish Group, 1 p.m. Hebrew Vocab Course, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 CDC Thanksgiving Feast, 9 a.m. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 ^Visions Membership Luncheon at Venice Inn, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 12:30 p.m. Pre-Hanukkah Dinner, 5 p.m., at Beth Israel 'Family Shabbat dinner, 6 p.m., Jewish Film Festival, 8 p.m. at Chabad House sScholar-in-Residence Weekend, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24 at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. BESTT Special Hanukkah Program, 10 a.m., Shabbat dinner, 7 p.m., at the OCTL House at Beth El JFS Project Tzedakah, 10 a.m. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 BBG Scavenger Hunt, 1 p.m. Scholar-iii-Residence Shabbat lunch, Visions at the Orpheum for "Miss Saigon" 12:30 p.m., at the OCTL House Perfonnance, 3 p.m. Beth Israel Shabbos House, 3 p.m., at the home of Howard Gendehnan and Bonnie Bloch MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Jewish Film Festival, 8 p.m. YES Program, 10 a.m. Womens' Shalosh Seudah, 4:45 p.m. Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the OCTL House JFS Project Tzedakah, 1 p.m. Melava Malka, 7:30 p.m., at OCTL House TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 JFS Project Tzedakah, 8 a.m. B'nai B'rith Bus Trip to KC Chiefs Game, BBYO Night, 6 p.m. 8:30 a.m. Tahnud Class with Rabbi Kutner, 7 p.m., Kids' Snack and Learn, 11:30 a.m., at Beth El at Beth Israel Film Festival-Kid's Matinee, noon Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Kosher Iron Chef Competition, 3 p.m., at Beth El WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Jr. Maccabi: Learn How to Dance, 3:30 p.m. Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. Kumzits Party, 7:30 p.m., at the OCTL House Chabad House Adult Education Class, 7 p.m. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 YES Program, 10 a.m. Melton Adult Mini School, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
This paint-your-own pottery studio specializes in unique gifts painted by you. Select from over 100 different items. Mezuzahs, Havdalah sets and Hddush cups are now available! Birthday, group and no-occasion parties are welcome.
Sandra EL No^ 5 Inc. Personal Bookkeeping Seivice
Caring, Confidential, Committed
Cdi
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 CDC CLOSED ALL DAY Jewish Women International Children's Home in Israel program, noon.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Talmud Class with Rabbi Rutuer, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel ADIVCRC Executive Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
Dundee Realty Co. SALES 'RENTALS • MANAGEMENT Residential and Commercial Real Estate
rrity Center unless otherwise noted. e: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-5437. )r the accuracy of the above events.
f
Listing and Selling-Omaha and surrounding areas
Howard Weiner DikWeiner 4645 Dodge- 553-2121
V
J
cfikate control HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
for RELIABLE & RESPONSIBLE FABRICARE Addresses 5213 Leavenworth 214 N. 114th St. 10910'Q'St. 108th & Center 2301 Lincoln Rd. 112 N. 18th St. 8728 Pacific 2214 N. 90th St.
2909 N. 108th St. 5624 Ames 614 N. 114th St. 14430 W. Center Rd. 4963 So. 155th St. 7897 S. 83rd St. 4028 N. 132nd St. 1910 N. 144th St.
2541 S. 174th Plz.
J
PRE-SEASQN FURNACE SPECIAL OFFERS
sixiMtlms mum Financing Available
•Save $10 with any service call • Ask about our Yearly Service Plan
DEaN
Camera Center
'Where camera bugs have a habit of deve/dping!"
One-Hour Developing Choose from Our Fabulous Collection of Picture Frames and Unique Photographic Gift Items
747 N. TI4th
493-7555
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 1'2
October 25, 2002
Teach your Mds it's easier to never start. It's up to you to provide the information they need to say no to drugs.
1-800-648-4444
Pulverente MONUMENT CO. Frank L Ciciulla Jr.
•
PEOPLE W H O READ NEWSPAPERS ARE
60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials
1439 So. 13th 341-2452
It all starts with Newspapers
too much to do... . too little timeLet us take care of the details •personal gift shopping =custom gift wrap «pick up and delivery GLEM1 FiNElTOf, I S C W Licensed Clinical Therapist Family Mediator 12818 Augusta Avenue Omaha, NE 68114 402/334-1122 email: acpcounseling@hotmal.com www: acpcounseling.com
presentations custom gift wrap & delivery
402.672.2357
Jewish Senior Services CemmuiMly GutreacM Invites You to a Series of Educational/Informational Sessions Often growing old or caring for an aging loved one brings up questions and concerns about finances, living arrangements, healthcare decisions, and ultimately loss. If these issues are of concern to jou. please join us for this program. The program is free.
Thursday, November 7
"Tlie Many Faces of Grief Anne Marie Aita, Chaplain, VNA Hospice
All sessions will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Social Hall at the Jewish Community Center. For questions, contact the Director of Outreach Services, Shane Kotok at 334-6529 at the Rose Blumkln Jewish Home.
by PAULA AMANN
Washington Jewish Week, News Editor „ — ^ ™ » _ _ ,
WASHINGTON-Wornen plus wealth equals potential to better the Jewish world. This equation underlay much of the International Lion of Judah Conference held this week in Washington. Among the attendees were Omaha's Federation Executive Director Jan Goldstein and Women's Campaign Chairman-elect Ruth Erman. Themed as "Power Philanthropy: Dare to Dream," the biennial gathering drew some 1,000 "Lions," donors of $5,000 or more to the United Jewish Communities National Women's Constituency, from as far as Israel and Argentina and as near as the District itself. "The last time I went to this conference was four years ago. Then, the most pressing issues were women's health, domestic violence and Jewish continuity-all still very critical," Goldstein recalled. "Only four years later we're focused on shattered domestic security, rising anti-Semitism, anti-Israel politics and increasing pro-Palestinian support on college campuses. "It's shockingly clear how much our world has changed, especially against the backdrop of fear caused by the serial sniper in the Washington, D.C. suburbs," she added. "More than once we heard people compare the fear in Washington to what Israelis have been enduring daily for more than two years now." The power-suited crowd listened raptly to sessions not only on giving but on such topics as the Middle East, media bias, terrorism and anti-Semitism on campus. A keynote address on Sunday evening by Canadian parliament member, professor and human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler brought a standing ovation. In a wide-ranging address on the state of world Jewry, Cotler warned of a "new, virulent, globalizing, even lethal anti-Jewishness without parallel since the Second World War." Cotler himself compared today's anti-Semitism-in Europe, the Arab world and global gatheringswith that of the Nazi era. "All that has happened is that we have moved from anti-Semitism against Jews as individuals to anti-Semitism against Jews as a nation," he said. Cotler pointed to what he called the "Orwellian" U.N. conference on racism held last year in Durban as the most visible example of this new bigotry. There, as well as at the U.N. Human Rights Commission and an unprecedented reconvening of the Geneva Human Rights Convention last December, Israel has been indicted as an apartheid state, a violator of human rights, a perpetrator of war crimes and ethnic cleansing. "We have to take back the narrative," thundered the human rights advocate, making a parallel with Take Back the Night marches that counter violence against women. Cotler challenged the 1,000 Lions to champion Israel personally. "In the next year, each one of you should seek to sensitize, politicize, make 10 non-Jews better aware of the Jewish people's case and cause," he said,
adding, "While anti-Semitism is an enduring hatred, we are an enduring people." At Monday's breakfast plenary, "The Middle East Boils Over," conference goers heard from Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat, of the Likud Party, and her Labor Party Knesset colleague Colette Avital, who drew gasps from the audience as she told of Yael and 40 other Israeli single mothers who donated organs because they could not afford to pay their rent. Since the onset of the Palestinian uprising two years ago, the Jewish state has had to repeatedly cut social service programs that might have helped women like these, said Avital. "In any economic crisis, whether in Israel or anywhere else, women pay the higher price," the former career diplomat stressed. A workshop on anti-Semitism on college campuses drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 200. While acknowledging trouble spots in the United States and Canada, Hillel president and international director Richard Joel downplayed the problem. "The sea that your children swim in on campus is not one where every minute they are bitten by a Palestinian shark," Joel argued. Student activists from the Washington area had a gloomier view of the situation. "We have a lot of problems on our campus with anti-Semitism," said American University's Avital Ingber. She noted proPalestinian posters slapped on the walls of the religious center on Yom Kippur and "inflammatory remarks" by professors. "While it was amazing to be with 1,000 other Jewish women from around the country, the complexity of the issttes facing the Jewish people is frustrating," Erman added. "I was most affected by Shoshana Gottlieb's story of survival." Caryle Murphy wrote in The Washington Post, "Gottlieb calls herself a survivor, hot a victim: So when the 49-year-old Israeli told how she ended up paralyzed from the chest down, she spoke without tears or traces of self-pity. It was her audience that cried. Addressing a darkened ballroom from her wheelchair, Gottlieb, a mother of four, told how she was left paraplegic when Palestinian snipers fired on a van ferrying her home from work in February 2001. "The export-import manager for an Israeli chemical company then thanked the women for the gift they helped make possible: a device that lets her navigate the stairs in her multistory apartment building. 'There are no words,' Gottlieb said to her subdued and sometimes sobbing listeners, 'to describe my appreciation.'" "Her courage was absolutely inspiring and she's not at all embittered by her devastating injury. This is a woman who will not give up," Erman commented. "But the fear caused by the sniper attacks permeated the conference-it made the terror that Israelis are living in all the more real."
Pam Monshy, Federation Communications Director, contributed to this article.
We do DRAINS and so much more! Thermostat gptyouhot
Furnace doesn't heat
Dishwasher leaks
Running toilet
HAMPTON INN • WESTROADS • 391-5300 • Free Deluxe Continental Breakfast • 129 Spacious and Comfortable Guest 7 Days • 6-10 am. Rooms Free Local Calls
Dryer needs
Faucet drips , Washer hose leaks
• 9 Two-Room Parlor Suites
• Free Passes to 24-Hour Fitness
V FREE Showtime, CNN, ESPN, WGN and TNT
In-Roam Movies Available • Westroads Shopping Mall Adjacent • 18 Fabulous Food Court Restaurants • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee-If you're • TGIF Fridays' not satisfied with your room, you dont pay! • Macaroni Grill
Beautiful Guest Rooms For Out Of Town Bar/Bat Mitzvah & Wedding Guests
9720 WEST DODGE ROAD Group and Corporate Rates
;
JVC or heat pump on theblink
Water tastes funny
almost anything!
Bksarben/JIMS' Service Team For fast, professional service on all your air conditioning, heating and plumbing needs, call aksarben/MS Service Team at
331-1233
October 25, 2002 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Tax Law Changes Subject of Seminar
Page 13
Can You identify This Graduate?
by SARA BOYD, Omaha Community Foundation 1 Keeping up with tax law these i charitable giving as an important days can be a daunting task. The estate planning tool. laws as they relate to estate planA frequent speaker for profesning are changing every year J sional groups and associations on through the year 2010. It's diffi- j taxation and estate planning, cult to know if the estate plans Cates was formerly a planned givmade by a client's team of attori ing officer for the University of neys, accountants and financial ' Tennessee. He was also an planners are meeting the objecj instructor for the advanced estate tives. planning course of the American To help professionals serve their College for two years and has been clients throughout this period, the on the faculty of the National Omaha Community Foundation Planned Giving Institute since and the Yale Richards Professional 1975. Education Endowment Fund of Cates is a member of the the Foundation of the Jewish % v Chattanooga, Tennessee and Federation will present "Planning ' American Bar Associations, the in a Time of Tax Law Change" on Chattanooga Estate Planning Alan L. Cates Thursday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-12:15 Council and the Chattanooga Tax p.m. at the Scott Conference Center. Practitioners. He is a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Guest speaker Alan L. Cates, JD, is a partner in Foundation and the American College of TRust and the law firm of Shumacker, Witt, Gaither & Estate Counsel. He previously served as PResident Whitaker PC in Chattanooga, TN. He specializes in of the University of Tennessee National Alumni estate planning and tax matters. Association and is a former member of the of Chattanooga Chancellor's Cates will discuss recent developments in estate University planning, new regulations for qualified plans and Roundtable. individual retirement accounts, planning for the For more information about the seminar or to regestate with considerable tax liability, as well as ister, please call me at 342-3458.
Crohn's Patients Sought for New Study by JEWISH PRESS News Service
Protein Design Labs, a biotechnology company mation and other symptoms of Crohn's. By binding based in Fremont, CA, is studying a new approach to the IFN-g molecule and blocking its activity, to treating Crohn's disease. Twenty-five study sites HuZAF may help to prevent inflammation. in the United States, Canada, and Europe are curPatients who participate in this study will be rently enrolling patients with moderate-to-severe assigned by chance to one of five treatment groups. Crohn's. Known as the "Harmony" study, this clin- Four of these groups will each receive a different ical trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness amount of HuZAF; the fifth group will receive a •of an investigational drug called HuZAF. placebo. The initial dose of the drug will be given HuZAF is a humanized monoclonal antibody—an intravenously, injected into a vein hi the arm. Four antibody that is produced in the laboratory from a weeks later, three additional doses of the drug will single clone. (Antibodies are proteins normally pro- be given subcutaneously. Patients will be followed duced by the body's immune system to helpfightoff for six months after receiving their final dose. foreign substances.) HuZAF targets a specific proIf you are between the ages of 18 and 70, have tein called interferon gamma (IFN-g). Excess been diagnosed for at least six months, and have amounts of IFN-g have been found in people with received prior treatment for Crohn's, you may be Crohn's disease. Researchers believe that this eligible. For more information, call 1-800-772-0482 excess of IFN-g may be linked to intestinal inflam- or e-mail or visit www.harmonystudy.com.
by JEWISH PRESS News Service — — ~ — > — Once again, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is asking readers for help. If you can identify the high school or college graduate at right, please call Historical Society Director Renee Corcoran at: 334-6442. NJHS is always looking for volunteers to help with unidentified photos in its archives. Please consider volunteering your time.
Five Inducted into Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame by JEWISH PRESS News Service — - — The late Louis Albert was among five inductees in this year's Omaha's Hospitality Hall of Fame dinner Sunday. Sponsored by Metropolitan Community College, the Omaha Restaurant Association and the American Culinary Federation, the event featured a gourmet meal prepared by Metro chef instructors Tina Powers and Kathleen Koesters. Louis Albert was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States in 1912. He owned a succession of small grocery stores in South Omaha and then settled at 35th and Leavenworth for 27 years. In 1949, Albert produced a line of Albert's Dressings and Sauces. His son, Larry, joined the business and the products continue to be sold in 30 states and overseas. Along with Albert, others honored included the late Jack Churchill, Alfred Hiltbrunner, Jane Palmer, and Ruth Herman-Nielsen. Proceeds from the event were shared by the Metropolitan Community College Scholarship Foundation and the Omaha Restaurant Association Scholarship Foundation.
BIRTH Jennifer and Matt Kirshenbaum announce the Oct. 1 birth of their daughter, Laura Tompkins Kirshenbaum She has a big sister, Kathleen. Grandparents are Tom and Kate Kirshenbaum and Bernie and Kathy Tompkins, all of Omaha. Great-Grandparents are Joe Kirshenbaum of Omaha and Palm Springs, CA, and the late Audrey Kirshenbaum, Betty Femmer and Lillian Kuhn of Omaha, and Bernard and Gladys Tompkins of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Solution to Crossword PuzzSeon Page 18
ieirement lining that's anything but retiring® * • • • •
No buy-in, no entrance fee and no lease One or two bedrooms with full kitchens Studios available in Omaha Light housekeeping 150 seat theater for your enjoyment
•• Fitness center with whirlpool/spa • On site bank, travel agency, beauty shop and pharmacy/gift shop • Weekly housekeeping •• Tours 7 days a week
Stop in and see the newest choices in INDEPENDENT LIVING Walnut Grove
'Savannah Pines..
4901 South 153rd Street Omaha, NE 402/861-1611 walnutgrove@yahoo.com
3900 Pine Lake Road Lincoln, NE 401/420-9900 savannahpines@yahoo.com
^§l|k
iiiiiiiiiiliiilii
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 14
You are the most powerful influence In your child's daily life.
Teach your kids ifs easier to never start.
Kids who learn from their parents or care-givers about the risks of drugs are:
1-800-648-4444'
It's up to you to pro-ride the information they need to say no to drags.
• 50"o less likely to use inhalants • 56% less likely to use cocaine
• Experienced
• 65°B less likely to use LSD
References Lauren Goldstein 639-5102
For more information call;
1-800-648-4444 http://wmv.previirjk^>rg
PRINTING, COPYING and DIGITAL NETWORK
3706 South 132nd Street • (402J330-5050
Letterhead • Brochures • Newsletters Business Cards • Mailers • Postcards
1
402/498-3444
Companionship - Light Housework • Meal Preparation • Incidental Transportation • Errands & Shopping
> We appreciate Your Patronage > Every Party or Event is Equally Important to AAA Rents (from 5 to 500) > We Specialize In Party Planning and Arrangements, Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Special Events Let Us Add That Special Ffair and Touch to Your Entertaining
JACKIE LAW, PRESIDENT Omaha (402)339-3707
6 Bring a new, unwrapped gift for JFS to distribWith Hanukkah less than six weeks away, Jewish Family Service is gearing up for Project Dreidel ute to the families; • Help JFS and other volunteers wrap, sort, and/or 2002. Project Dreidel helps ensure that every Jewish child and family in our local area receive at deliver the gifts; • Call the JFS office to find out more details! least one new gift for Hanukkah. We will be wrapping and This program is funded sorting gifts on Sunday, primarily through donaNov. 24, packing food and tions and the generosity of gifts into boxes on Nov. 25, the members of our comand making all deliveries munity. So far this year [ s /*^ on Nov. 26. we have received requests If you, your family or your from more than 30 chilorganization is looking for a dren and families. Each way to help others this holyear it is our goal to have iday season, this is a wonevery child "sponsored" derful way to reach out to anonymously. others while performing You can help us reach great mitzvot of tzedakah this goal by doing any of and tikkun olatn. the following: 8 Please call me for more Sponsor a child/family information on volunteerand purchase gift(s) from ing or receiving gifts for a family's wish list; 9 Project Dreidel at 330Make a monetary Director Steve Stiel and J e n n i f e r 2024. JFS thanks you for donation to JFS so that we may purchase gifts for the Meyerson start packing Hanukkah gifts for your support of this imporfamilies; Project Dreidel. tant program.
Gars Israel to Offer Winter Experience by DEVRA BRAM • ~ ~ ~ ~ — ^ ^
"AAA
Lincoln (402)467-4151
JFS Seeks Families to "Adopt15 Children and Teens for Project ireide! by JENNIFER MEYERSON, Jewish Family Service —
• 36% less likely to smoke marijuana than kids who don't
Call
October 25, 2002
Kearney (308)234-1015
5620 S. 72nd Street * Omaha. NE 68127 2700 North 27th Street» Lincoln, NE 68521 112 E. 6th St. • Kearney, NE 68848
LAKESIDE APARTMENTS
Rent starting at $615 Elevator Buildings Maintenance Free Living Heated Indoor Parking Paid Trash Pick-Up at Your Door One Mile Garden Walk Around the Lake Close to Shopping, Restaurants, and Professionals
On the heels of another successful summer season, Camp Gan Israel will be in session for one week during this winter's school break. Gan Israel Day Camp offers children ages three11, a wholesome Jewish experience that is spirited, educational, and fun. "It is about the joys of Jewishness, pride in who we are, and hands-on Jewish learning and living," explained Shani Katzman, Education Director at Chabad House. Gan Israel is the world's largest network of Jewish camping with affiliates throughout the world. There are Gan Israel day and overnight camps throughout the States, Canada, Israel, South and Central America, Australia, South Africa, Russia, Ukraine, and East and Western Europe. For nearly 50 years, Gan Israel camps the world over have been inspiring Jewish kids, boosting their Jewish identity and pride, and encouraging them towards Jewish life and leadership, all this in addition to giving them a grand old time. "Each day is permeated with love of G-d, love of Israel and love of mitzvot," Katzman added. "Every activity is an opportunity to see Jewishness as being 'cool' and 'fun.'" Sports, art, drama, kosher cooking, woodworking, swimming, and Challah baking are among the features of the weekly schedule. Field trips and special visiting entertainment add flavor and spice that complement the program. Each weekly theme is integrated with exciting activities and games that reinforce the lesson of the day. "The best part is that the kids learn so much without realizing," Kathy Helm said. Her daughter, Mollie, has been attending Gan Israel since she was of age. "She won't miss a day when we're in town." Helm is also one of the devoted volunteers that help the program run efficiently. The volunteers enhance the program by sharing of themselves with the children. Marcee Rogers is another dedicated volunteer and mother of two. "I learn so much myself," she said. "And it's so amazing and fun for the kids." Charles Geffen, who helps with driving, shopping, cooking, and sports, commutes daily from Lincoln with his daughter Kitra. "She waits for camp to begin from the moment it is over," Geffen said. "Gan Israel is a real source of inspiration m her young life. It is her connection to all things Jewish," he added. Hot, kosher lunches are served daily as are snacks. The menu is available for viewing in advance. The needs of children with special eating habits are provided for as well. The camp is staffed by professional teachers and
educators whose primary concerns are the safety, well being, and growth of each individual camper. In addition, especially trained teens provide enthusiasm and warmth that lasts from one camp season to the next. "We were privileged to have Brooke Shrago on staff this summer," Shani Katzman said. "She is a wonderful young newcomer to our community. She imbued the program with her unique touch and talent. The kids really took to her," Shani added. Brook directed the Kiddie Camp and assisted in many of the aspects of camp. She and her husband David relocated from Chicago in June. In Chicago, Brook directed Yachad~a group for mentally and physically challenged young adults. She taught for nearly two years in a therapeutic Jewish day school. She currently teaches at the CDC at the JCC. She is planning to be on the Gan Israel staff this summer. This year the camp was a beneficiary of a generous grant from the Herbert Goldsten Foundation, directed by Howard Kaslow. The winter session will run from Dec. 23-27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Chabad House, 1866 So. 120 St. Before and after care may be arranged. Kiddie Camp will meet from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. for three and four year olds. Five-year-olds have the option of joining either program. Cost for the entire week is $90 for kiddie campers and $100 for the older division. This includes lunches and snacks. The dates for the summer camp are July 7-18. Gan Israel, literally the Garden of Israel was named for Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic Movement. Before he was ever recognized as a giant of the spirit, he was a teacher's assistant whose job entailed bringing children to and form school. The Baal Shem Tov's love for all Jews, especially young children, was legendary. He saw in them the greatest potential and nurtured each one of his charges with consummated dedication and love. The Baal Shem Tov also taught that every event or experience is an opportunity and stepping stone for Jewish growth and achievement. "This is the mandate at Gan Israel," Rabbi Mendel Katzman explained, "to see the beauty and uniqueness in every child—to nurture and help each individual to develop. And to use each interaction as a stepping stone towards a greater awareness of G-d." For more information or to reserve a spot for your child, call 390-1800 or visit Chabad's website at
www.chabadcenters.org \omaha chabad@aol.com.
or
e-mail:
October 25, 2002 Jewish Press, Omaha NE Page 15
(Continued from page 1) — JP: Let's go back to the situation in cation, pedagogies, group dynamics Argentina. Do you still have family and.so on. In the U.S there is a shortthere? And is there anything the age, and Argentina there are many Omaha Jewish community can do to willing to emigrate. If we will bring help alleviate the economic crisis for some of them, it would be good for Jews in Argentina? Omaha and good for some Jews in ML: My mother was born in Argentina. Argentina and my father came when The community has 200,000 memhe was a toddler from Ukraine, but bers, there are many day schools and he's really an Argentinian. My mother teachers. In addition, they are two has since died, but my father is still institutes for teacher training. My there, along with my brother, who's a wife, Susi and I both graduated from psychologist, and his family, my in- one of them, and we taught in day laws, many friends. My wife's brother schools. We are both products of lives in Kfar Saba in Israel. Jewish day schools. And our children In Argentina, many people, are attended a Jewish day school in angry and desperate. There's been an Buenos Aires with 1200 students. increase in kidnappings and burglary. People there think it will get worse JP: What other 'innovations' or new before it gets better. programs do you anticipate bringing Most of the Argentinian Jewish com- to Beth El and the Jewish community? munity was middle class. They owned ML: First of all, I hope to create an shops or were professionals like doc- inspiring and meaningful experience tors, lawyers, teachers. Today, due to in all our services. I want to see our the economic crisis and unemploy- religious school at Beth El grow in ment, 25.000 Jews receive meals from quality. the Jewish community. In addition to try to improve the Many Jews are leaving the country. education for our children, we're Every year since the independence of starting an Introduction to Judaism Israel, about 1000 Argentinians immi- course for Jews who maybe didn't grated there each year. Now it's about learn everything when they were 4000 and Israel expects about 6000 at younger-or maybe forgot what they the end of this year. Others leave the knew! country to go to the U.S., Canada, It's also for men and women who are Spain an other countries. not Jewish, but are interested in conUnited Jewish Communities is help- verting. I would like the intermarried ing. This community raised money for that want to live a Jewish life, to feel Israel and for the Argentinian Jews. a welcoming environment at Beth El. (Editor's note: It's being allocated In the near future, we'll also be offerthrough the Joint Distribution ing an activity for parents of religious Committee, who are assisting with school students. hot meals and small stipends for rent And my "Thought for Shabbat" is and clothing; Jews who wish to immi- now available via e-mail for any pergrate to Israel are being helped by the son interested. Jewish Agency, another beneficiary of I just want to mention the close relafunds raised during the Jewish tionship I had with members of the Federation's Annual Campaign.) non-Jewish clergy in Buenos Aires. I People don't see a future there, so for count many Catholic priests and pasourselves~and our children~we came tors as friends and I hope to continue to the U.S. Many Argentinian, and Beth El's tradition in this area. Intermany Jews are willing to leave the religious relationships are important country, but unlike the Jews of the for- to me and to the Jewish community. mer Soviet Union, Argentinian Jews There are a lot of activities going on. are not persecuted and therefore, With a wonderful Board,' committees can't enter the U.S. with refugee sta- and staff, we are working together to tus. In order to come here, they need provide many activities for young and jobs. • -adults. JP: Only one thing left--how are you and your family adjusting to Omaha? ML: As to my family—we're very happy we made the move to Omaha. Language is the biggest difficulty.;, and we're all taking lessons in English as a Second Language. Then there are the cultural differences that we have to learn. In Argentina, for Rabbi Mordechai Levin, left, with his wife, Susi example, it is very Frydman, and three children: Ariel, 14, Tali, 11, and common for everyone Gabriel, 8. t° k i s s children. It seems odd to JP: That's a perfect segue into a shake the hand of a five-year-old! I'm studying and learning all the question about the state of Jewish education here in Omaha-can we help time about Beth El and the commusome of the Jews of Argentina and nity. help ourselves by hiring Jewish educaMy family is getting settled-soon tors form Buenos Aires? we'll need winter coats and gloves, but ML: We do have a need for more we have felt the warmth since the day "certified" Jewish educators here in we first arrived! Omaha, those trained in Jewish edu-
In Omaha, NE
•HBHI iliiSSB
A Cozy Stay At A Comfortable Price®
800-456-4000 www.countrymns.com
Complimentary features include: • Continental "'plus" breakfast ••• In-room coffee & weekday morning newspaper •• Local telephone calls and long distance access #• Fresh-baked cookies & coffee in the lobby You'll appreciate these extras: • Spacious guest rooms & suites ^ Indoor pool & whirlpool #• Golf courses, shopping & entertainment nearby • Special group rates for out-of-town guests for Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, weddings and reunions
Ask for Fran&e 402/445-4445 11818 Miami (North of Blondo on 120th) FREE Passes to 24-Hour Fitness Center next door Ask for Makayla 712/347-5600. 2210 Abbott Drive (Omaha Airport)
379
$ s
2003 Acum vmo.
0 Due At Delivery
48 Month Lease- Limit 12,000 Miles Per year. 1st Payment Due at Start/$OSec. Deposit, W.A.C. Tax & License Excluded, Acq. Fee $500. Iowa Residents Sales Tax Due at Stan-NE Residents Tax will Effect payment. LE.V. 2003ACURA3.2TL, residual $17,098.40 $0Down For 1st payment, Sec. Deposit, Acq. Fee & Down Payment, Financing rate), shown apply to select units only. WACSee Dealerfoe Details. All offers With Approved Credit, model 0UA5663JTW
We've Got The Corner on Quality!
©ACURA OF OMAHA
331-9100 Just South of 1-80 on 84th Street wmf.acuraefomaba.eom
Jewish. Press, Omaha, NE
Page 16
October 25, 2002
by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director-
Residential • Commercial • Insured ALSO help with dinner parties (serve & clean-up) Mary Lewis 402/321 -3995 Cell • 702/325-4102
New Car Sales
808 Not* 102nd Street Westroads Omaha, NE 68114
Porsche Lincoln • Mercyry
402/397-8200 800/634-3768 cell: 402/30S6133
Mazda • Audi
v
y-
www.stanolsenauto.com
SALES/SALES MANAGEMENT American Credit Systems will be interviewing to fill several positions in the Omaha and out suite areas the week of October 28,2002. Business sales. $70- 100K best commission and residual income package available. Please send resume. Fax 402/955-0993, Email jdumke@acscorp.us or call 402/955-0992.
AMERICAN CREDIT SYSTEMS, INC.
»
The Pacesetter Division kicked off their fundraising effort at Ironwood Country Club last week. Bruce Snackman, Pacesetter Chairman, commented, "this group of donors typically raises two-thirds of the Omaha community's Annual Campaign." The Pacesetter Division consists of men who make a gift of $6,000 or more to the Annual Campaign. The kickoff event also included Jr. Pacesetters (men under age 45 who make a gift of $3,600 to $5,999) and Ben Gurion Society members
(men under age 45 who make a gift of $1,000 to $3,599). Photos from top left: Stuart Simon, left, Mike Platt, and Federation Foundation Director Marty Ricks catch up; Don Goldstein, left, and Norm Veitzer talk before the program begins; sampling the appetizers are Federation President Steve Pitlor, General Campaign Co-chairman Jerry Kohll, Steve Nogg and Nelson Gordman; Young Leadership Chairman Michael Miller, left, and Bruce Shackman anticipate a "great Campaign."
House Party is a Big Deal by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director| 1
• Accounts Receivable Management & Collection • Check Verification & Recovery 'Account Billing Service
I
• full Service Agency • National Coverage • Online Service *
Visit us on me web ar aicorp-us
ArVlERICJATST CREDIT SYSTEMS, INC. :—
1-800-392-1602
402/955-0992
10701 MockmgUdDr Omaha.NE 68117
Fax:402/995-0993
Exquisitely Elegant in Every Detail
;
I
The totaliy renovated Park Inn Re ency Lodge
Our eta ic lodge decor elegant grand staircase world class catering and attentive service make Regency Lodge trie perfect setting for the perfect event. Call to arrange your personal tour —
The first House Party for the 2003 Women's Campaign, "Up for Discussion...What's the Big Deal?" brought more than 40 women to the home of Jody Malashock for a spirited debate about what's legal regarding religion in schools, government and politics. Left photo: Patty Nogg, 2003 Women's Campaign Co-chair, left, is joined by Jenny Meyerson, Lourie Sullivan and Susi Levin at the first House Party. Facilitated by Carol Bloch, above right,
participants tackled such issues as prayer in school, school vouchers and the importance of voting and knowing what the candidates stand for. Hostesses for the House Party, in addition to Malashock, were Toba Cohen and Keri Workman. Women will create their own tzedakah boxes at the next House Party. "The Art of Tzedakah," is s Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., at Friedel Jewish Academy. For reservations, call Marcy Noodell, 697-1262.
402/397-8000 Coiivejiiendy located at Pacific Street fi W7th Avenue en the heart o/u'esr Omaha.
ASdrealinlhedly .
Solve the Mystery, Bid on a Gift, Enjoy a Fun Night with OCTL by DIANE G R A U L —
SUN, SUN, SUN,
—<
WE ODME Snowbirds 1
| i ! I
Please lot the Jewish Press knew in advance when you are leaving and when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to ycur "o\d" ackliess before we are notified by the Post Office, j £verytimeffievrJ'etumapapartous,youmssthe | Jewish Press and we are charged 70<2i Use the torn on jags 17 or esnail us at ckatzman©jewishornaha.org.
•
•
—
Dateline Hollywood, 1943. This just in! Hollywood film studio to be in town to recruit local talent for their new movie! "Magnificent Studios" from Hollywood, CA, has chosen Omaha as their locale for shooting the patriotic movie, Ail-American Rose, starring young starlet Jean Harlette, heartthrob Grant Baker, and aging, over-the-hill actress CarlaDevine, Perhaps pompous director Cecil B. DeMilo will conduct screen tests and let you audition for a bit part, or a crowd scene, filmed at the Blackstone Hotel? You'll have many perks, such as enjoying the delectable meals prepared by caterer Elva Mussel, being made over by industrious make-up 'artiste' Wanda Black, or sending local yokel EJ Ryan, the 'go-fer', on an errand for you, Girls, you may want to avoid casting director S. Lee Zeeman, who is rumored to make use of couches. And who is that young girl, Paige Turner, and why has she been seen lurking around the third ' floor of the Blackstone Hotel?" Those joining in the fun will be able to observe,
and even participate if they so choose, in a real play-Blue Jean, a comic mystery written by Holly Nielson, and performed by Class Act Productions, of the Fremont Mystery Train, at the Omaha Center for Torah Learning's first "Fun Night." Deirdre Evans and I are assisting in making the atmosphere fit the mystery. An elegant kosher meat meal prepared by Nancy Mattley of Culinary Services will be provided. To add to the entertainment, Lynne Saltzman, Lesli Shrago, and Nancy Wolf have been busy on a silent auction with such unique items such as Tea for Two, Twice; Take yourself away; Sew on--Sew on~and Sew on; Hanukkah stamping-on, and Stand Up for Israel, as well as donations from Kohll's Pharmacy, the Omaha Symphony, UNO Maverick basketball, and more. The activities will begin Saturday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. at Culinary Services, 7597 Main St. in Ralston. Reservations can be made by mailing a check for $36 per person to Nancy Wolf at: 16620 Vinton Circle, Omaha, NE 68130-2021.
October 25, 2002
's
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 17
.Samara's Catering
by DIANE AXLER BAUM-
~For\ll your catering needs
We cater parties big and small • BarMitzvahs • Wedding Receptions • • Fund Raisers • Corporate » Barbequ.es s For your next event call Bassam Abou-Nasr '''Sam"
402/208-9809 EYE ESSENTIALS We make a difference in the way you view the world. • 8111 Dodge Medical Center • Suite 140 • 354-8195 •8111 Dodge Medical Center* Suite 331 • 354-8175 (Contact Lens Dept.) »16120 West Dodge Road • Health West • 354-0670 • 4242 Farnam St. • Dr.'s Building Suite 141 • 558-8961 • 10060 Regency Circle • Physician's Clinic • 354-1371 (Contact Lens Dept.)
Students at the Friedel Jewish Academy learn Hebrew according to the acclaimed Tal Am method, which teaches Hebrew as a living language and the language of Judaism. During Hebrew class, students are surrounded by
audio and visual Hebrew and only Hebrew is spoken. Above, Cleo Rogers-Marcovitz, left, wears the crown and holds the scepter that brings "Ariot" the "Lion of Letters" to life. Standing next to "Ariot" is Aaron Nissen.
Hadassah Donor Features Speakers on Healthy Living
Expert: New Cancer Link Result is a Medical Step., Not Reason to Panic
(Formerly Contemporary Eyewear & 8111 Optical)
Please give us the following information
I
by PETER EPHROSS
Name Old Address City, State, Zip. (Or attach your mailing label)
NEW YORK (JTA)--Don't panic. That's the mesName sage from an expert on Jewish health-related Jewish Community Center fitness experts New Address Michelle Strief and Sharon Lindstrom will join der- issues after a study reported that Ashkenazi Jews are two to three times more likely to develop colon City, State, Zip _ matologist/plastic sur-1 cancer if they have a mutation of a single gene. New Phone geon Dr. Joel The study of DNA from more than 3,000 Schlessinger at the • Ashkenazi Jews in New York and northern Israel I Effective Date annual Omaha Chapter If moving out of town, please check one: j appeared last month in the journal Science. Earlier of Hadassah donor studies had shown that mutation of both copies of • Discontinue Press • Bill Me • Full-time Collese Student I luncheon on ® the BLM gene causes a disorder called Bloom syn- I • "Snowbird" date of return Wednesday, Oct. 30, Mail this coupon 3 weeks in advance to: § drome, but this study shows that it takes only a sin- I 11:45 a.m. The Jewish Press ® gle flawed BLM gene to increase the risk of colon • The event, a benefit cancer. 333 South 132nd Street I for the Hadassah Omaha, NE 68154 Only about 1 percent of Jews of Eastern European I or see bottom of page 4 for email address and Fax number I Medical Organization, descent have the single BLM gene mutation. which provides assis"Every step science takes is significant," says Dale tance to the upkeep of Mintz, director of women's health at Hadassah, the Hadassah Hospital in Women's Zionist Organization of America. Jerusalem and funds Michelle Strief "The more information they're gathering, the more research projects, is people they can diagnose." According to a new study, Offering Skilled focused on getting healthy and staying healthy. one key to successful aging is Indeed, the senior author of the study said it may Nursing and Hadassah hospital is a leading medical facility and having positive relationships be a first step toward a basic understanding of what Restorative Care research center. with friends and family. The causes colon cancer in general. research, conducted on nearThe event features a kosher lunch at the Jewish "Although this finding relates only to Ashkenazi ly 1,200 men and women Community Center auditorium. Cost is $10 per perbetween the ages of 70 and Jews, we think the mechanism will be the same for son. Sitter service is available and reservations 79, involved measuring their all colon cancers," said Kenneth Offit, the senior may be made by calling Nancy Wolf, 330-6736, or blood pressure, cholesterol, 'Dedicated to the author of the study and a researcher at Memorial blood sugar metabolism, and mail a check,, made out to Hadassah, to her, at: Enhancement Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. hormone levels. All of these 16620 Vinton Cir., Omaha, NE 68130. measures together make up Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer of Life" an' individual's "allostatic death in Israel and the second leading cause of canload," which is a measure cer death in the United States, though it is considthat tells scientists how our (402) 551-2110 ered a preventable disease. bodies have coped with the wear and tear of agng. The 2824 No. 66th Ave. There are many steps people can take to reduce higher the allostatic load, the their susceptibility to colon cancer. A generally Omaha, NE 68104 higher the risk for disease. healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, is rec- www.abhome.net While it was expected that ommended. Smoking has been linked to colon canolder individuals would have cer. A diet low in fats and high in fiber has been higher allostatic load scores, those who had two or more linked to lower risk of colon cancer, but this view is close friends had lower allonot universally accepted. static load scores than those Patients concerned about colon cancer should diswith two or fewer close cuss the issue with their doctor. Most guidelines friends. Positive relationships concall for colonoscopies beginning around the age of tribute to good health. MAPLE 50, and earlier if there is a family history of colon CREST CARE CENTER is a cancer. Genetic tests are not yet available for the restorative nursing home that BLM gene mutation, says Mintz of Hadassah, is "dedicated to the enhancement of life." Our activities which is conducting colon cancer research at its Ein and social events are Kerem hospital in Jerusalem. designed to help residents It's possible that such tests may one day become remain engaged in living and available with further research. The finding is just learning. A full-time board certified chaplain provides reliSharon Lindstrom, J C C Fitness Trainer, will the latest one identifying a certain genetic mutagious services, prayer, and tion among Ashkenazi Jews. speak a t t h e luncheon on Oct. 30. support. by CAROL PARSOW
•
•
——
—
I
Maple Crest You Gotta Care Center Have Friends
Page 18
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 25, 2002
A Year of Russian Feasts by Catherine Cheremeteff Jones (Jellyroil Press, $16.95) Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN.
The author, whose father is a retired Ambassador (who had once been stationed in Jerusalem) and whose mother traced her roots to Czar Nicholas I, shares her stories, vignettes and experiences in the kitchens and homes of Russian friends while living in Moscow for three years in Moscow. Visit a dacha, a "plot of land in the countryside, with or without a house on it," on a trip to a small town celebrate a birthday singing and toasting with the son of a gifted baker. "Communism wiped out the Russian aristocracy" and "the short-lived era of imported fancy foods and exotic hot-
house produce"...delegating Beef Stoganov, Strawberries Romanov, Chicken Kiev to Western menus. This cookbook takes you on a nostalgic culinary journey/memoir where "There is never enough food on a table, but always more than enough." The recipes reflect the needs of people who live in a land of long winters and a short growing seasons...the foods, centuries-old traditions, seasonal/village-ways of life in Russia. Some of the same food is cooked today as was cooked centuries ago. The recipes come "from yellowing pages of the notebooks of her Russian
friends, from cooks whose memory is their only guide." The recipes contain easily found ingredients, include detailed instructions and both the Russian and English name of the recipe.' Kasha, toasted buckwheat groats, is a dietary staple that has been around for centuries...enjoy this recipe. KASHA WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES AND TOASTED ALMONDS Kasha S Klyukvoy I Mindalyem 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup whole kasha (buckwheat groats)
1/3 cup dried cranberries 1 cup water 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds or other nuts Melt the butter in a nonstick saucepan over high heat. Add the kasha and cranberries and saute for 2 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10-15 minutes, or until the kasha is tender. Be careful not to overcook the kasha, or it will turn to mush. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving Sprinkle the kasha with the toasted almonds and serve immediately. Serves four.
The Writings by R. BERNARD MANN, Legacy Crosswords, © 2002 10
When you patronize these fine establishments, tell them you saw their ad in the Jewish Press.
11
12 13
16 19
•
Preferred Diners Club
BEIJING GATE EAST: 3535 Center St. 346-9226 WEST: 2859 S. 168 St. 778-9322
AWARD CERTIFICATE Good towards ONE (1) Complimentary Entree (Max $10 Value) Good for your next visit, Lunch or Dinner, dine-in or take-out, every day
CONDITIONS: Not valid with other promotions, discounts or offers. Certificate expires one year from issue date. Only one certificate may be redemmed per party or take-out order, even if separate checks are issued. May be applied to only lowest priced appetizer and/or entree. May NOT be applied towards desserts, beverages or gratuities. Maximum credit allowed per appetizer is $5; maximum credit allowed per entree is $10. For awards with multiple appetizers and/or entrees, unused credit from one appetizer/entree may NOT be applied to any other appetizer/entree. Certificates may only be redeemed in their entirety. Unused appetizer and/or entree portions of an award certificate will be considered forfeited at the time of redemption. Certificates may be redeemed by either the PDC member, or given to a friend or family member. If award certificate is lost, a replacement can only be issued to the appropriate valid PDC member upon presentation of a valid PDC card. Certificates have NO CASH VALUE and cannot be refunded or redeemed for cash.
wrpmrom^ » Your
Come dine with us in a quiet elegant atmosphere.
"Big portions of wood fired, friendly food thats a little spicy, somewhat saucy and full of robust flavors." Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-lO p.m. Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-ll p.m.
646 North 114th Street • 498-0804
JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 14505 West Center- Road Galleria Collection
ACROSS 1. Snake, for short 5. WHERE EMOTION OF 57 ACROSS RESIDES 10. Often used memo acronym 14. Mixture 15. U.S. corporate giant 16. 3,000 mile long Siberian river 17. Really?, slangily 18. Popular Starbucks item 19. Culinary or martial 20. WRITINGS: THIS ONE URGES LEARNING FROM 12 DOWN 23. Berate strongly, in the vernacular 24. Tree 25. Handed out a hand 28. Kind of flow 31. WHO THAT COMES UP FROM THE DESERT? (SEE 57 ACROSS, 8:5) 35. go, that was the deepest my wagon wheel ever got stuck in! 37. Vietnam War Memorial designer 39. Dawn 40. WRITINGS: THIS HAS 'CUP RUNNETH OVER' 44. Always, poetically 45. Square root of one hundred 46. Warplane foray 47. 'The Deer, O Israel, lies upon your heights!" David's metaphoric Eulogy for Saul and Jonathan 50. Gridiron units 52. Malign 53. One of the orig. 13 colonies 55. Tigger's friend 57. WRITINGS: THIS STARS THE SHULAMITE . 64. Arthur and Lillie 65. Comedic actor Martin 66. Chicago run-around 67. Guthrie 68. Bring to joy 69. Star Trek commander 70. Atoll feature 71. Writer Leo, popularized Yiddish and
Jewish humor, abbrev. 72. in the dark DOWN 1. Nation at times allied with Judah 2. Palo 3. Oriental soup 4. MARKETING FRAMEWORK THAT MIGHT HAVE SOLD THE WRITINGS? 5. Football periods 6. Pass, as time 7. Robards or Brando, for short 8. gravure 9. Yiddish girl's name, English variant 10. Warning bells 11. Belgradian 12. Carpenter and army 13. de deux 21. lunch 22. Samuel's mentor 25. Palm fruit 26. Tamarisk, in Tiberias 27. Sports venue 29. Redford's hair color 30. stek, French menu item 32. Doomsday Book spelling for Village of Salt in England 33. Last word, second line of Hatikvah (English translitertaion) 34. An eater, in Yiddish 36. Drunkard 38. Symbol, Element 93, in the plural 41. Francis Scott 42. Ho-hum folks 43. Half-nelson and such 48. March 49. Miracle, in Modiin 51. Leisure, golfwear brand 54, Not a winner 56. Frequently 57. Binth opener (tree of Israel) 58. Nathan of American Revolution 59. Hockey assn. et al 60. Don't let mocker get your 61. Ancestor of the Patriarchs 62. Person you want is your guy 63. Tussle
October 25, 2002
by JOAN K. MARCUS-
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Greek Gyros • Steaks Phillies9 Burgers
»-~~~^m_-^___,
Nebraska Second District Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE), his Democratic challenger, Jim Simon, and Green Party candidate, Dr. Doug Paterson, all participated in a debate sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section and B'nai B'rith last week. WOWT-TV's Rebecca Kleeman moderated the event. Terry, 40, is a graduate of Creighton Law School. Before being elected to congress, he served on the Omaha City Council. He said he didn't expect Congress would have the issues it had to deal with during his | last term. "Certainly Sept. I I 1 has changed the way Rebecca Kleeman we do business in congress," he said. "While we mourn lives lost that day, the measures we've taken in Congress will try to protect us from that ever occurring again." Terry, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said he believes dependence on foreign oil is a national threat. "We are going to have to make some tough choices in Congress today. We have to make a dedicated and real effort to new and innovative technologies in the automobile industry. We have to focus on our economy."
v
Page 19
solve these problems is by working together." Though Simon says there is no "quick fix" for the economy, he believes one of the best ways to help the economy in the short term is to help small business. We can stay focused "by simplifying tax bills and making taxes fairer, especially for small businesses," he said.
#1 Food iti the Midwest Open 7 Days a Week
4409 Dodge Street • 553-3326
Steaks • Prime Rib«Chicken Pasta • Burgers • Salads • Fresh Fish
Location:
J i m and Kim Simon
West Dodge & Boys Town Omaha, ME 402/431-0023
He also expressed concerns about our educational system, saying that if we want children to have a future, they're probably going to need education beyond high school. "Families simply cannot afford to pay for post-secondary education," said Simon. But, he believes in local control of schools and is concerned about "early childhood" development. "If we invest one dollar in early childhood development now, it represents a seven-dollar savings down the road," he insisted. Simon also worries about seniors and retirement security. "We all know that health care is way too expensive in this country. Our seniors are scared and we should provide a meaningful, comprehensive prescription drug benefit as part of Medicare."
To-Go Available • All Major Credit Cards Accepted
•
Jade Garden Chinese Restaurant CARRY OUT AVAILABLE
498-8833 Beer and Wine Available
2068 W. 117 Ave. l l
.3. >
•
J t ".«?
Lee Terry and Sylvia Wagner Among his other proposals: to provide relief froror the marriage penalty and phase out the death tax. The issue with Iraq is national security. It is not if Saddam Hussein will use weapons of mass destruction, but when and how he will use them. Terry supports aid to Israel because he believes it is the "anchor of stability" in the Middle East, adding, "The fact remains that they are the only democratic society that embraces freedom. Most importantly, they are our friends and I'm loyal to my friends. We have to make sure (Israel) remains a strong, viable, democratic society to create stability in the area." Omahan Jim Simon, 33, received a political science degree from American University before joining his family's business, Omaha Steaks. He worked Ms way up, was recruited to America Online and helped start an affiliated business, Digital Marketing Services, which he eventually sold a year before launching his candidacy. Simon began by saying that in the next session of Congress, decisions will be made about our economy, our educational system, health care, retirement security and our national security. "I believe that the fundamental role of a congressional representative should be to represent all of the people and not just some of them," he said. "Some of the keys to success, in government, business, a friendship or even a marriage include compromise, flexibility and open-mindedness. "Lee Terry is a really nice guy but he is an individual who votes with his party over 95 percent of the time," Simon asserted. "I am here to tell you that, even as a former Republican, nobody is right 95 percent of the time! "I f we're going to solve the problems of our country, it's going to take teamwork, cooperation and a bipartisan effort," Simon added. "This is one of the worst economies our country has seen in a long, long time. Unemployment is up; pension plans have fallen and people are really scared. The way we are going to
North Park (117th & Blondo) M-Th: 11-0:30 • Fri & Sat 11-10:30 • Sun. 13-9:30
a
MEDITERRANEAN Casual Dining in a Bistro Atmosphere Dine-In, Take-Out & Catering
Doug and Marguerite Paterson At age 26, Doug Paterson received his Ph.D. from Cornell University. He served as chairman of the University of Nebraska at Omaha theater department for 10 years. Paterson, President of the UNO Faculty Senate for two years; also co-founded three theatres-The Dakota Theatre Caravanj The Circle Theatre and Omaha Public Theatre 'In Our Neighborhood.' He described himself as a passionate advocate of democracy as it has growji and matured in the United States. "I would like today to talk about a whole bunch of issues," he said. "I would like to be able to talk about national health care that I support absolutely. We have it for people over 65 but it needs to be expanded. We have Medicaid and it's a wonderful system but it needs to be expanded. "I would like to talk about all of these things but I can't!" he insisted. "Because what has been put in front of us for the last four months is war." Paterson would like to keep the issue of coi-porate responsibility and keeping corporations in line in front of the public. As a big supporter of the arts, he proposes that the National Endowment for the Arts be increased by 10-fold. And would like policy-makers to discuss keeping taxes low and about public education. However, said Paterson, "I can't talk about any of these things because I have to talk about war!" Other issues of concernfcohim are public education, social justice, civil rights, the environment and the depletion of water in Nebraska.
OPEN SUNDAYS LUNCH: Mon-Fri, 11-2:30 DINNER: Tue-Sun, Open at 5 p.m.
Reservations Accepted
I&1712 North 120th St. 493-3080
T A V E R N
&
G R I L L
>> Steaks & Chops • Sandwiches • Seafood •Soups • Salads • Pasta • Desserts •FullBar • Kid's Corner PLUS • Our Tavern Grill Specialties Open Mon-Fri for Lunch & Dinner Sat & Sun for Dinner 102 South 10 Street • Omaha,, NE 68102 (East side of Hilton Hotel Lobby)
402/280-8888 Chris Dressti General Manager
Page 20
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 25, 2002
WOOdV A l l e n I n t e r v i e w by RACHEL BLUM, JCC Program Director
Woody Allen is set to be the focus of the next live satellite broadcast from the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The interview, titled, Woody Allen _ in Conversation with Dr. Gail Saltz: Psychoanalysis in the films of Woody Allen will be presented in the JCC Theater on Thursday, Nov. 7, 7 pm. During this broadcast, Woody Allen, filmmaker and director of such classics as Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters, Zelig and Manhattan, will discuss his films with Dr. Saltz, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Saltz is also the chairman of public information at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute; and mental health contributor for NBC-TV's Today Show. Technology offers a wonderful way to bring unique information and programming to our communities, and to bring us closer together through shared experiences. The JCC of Omaha is just one of many JCCs taking advantage of this program, which allows us to be a part of lectures, interviews, panels, and readings from
some of the best-regarded and most exciting thinkers of our time. The other Centers receiving the Woody Allen interview live include: the JCCs of Austin, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Northern Virginia, San Antonio, Scottsdale, Tucson, Utica, and Vancouver. To purchase tickets for the Woody Allen Interview, contact JCC Member Services at 334-6426, or for more information about the series, call me at 334-6404.
Lectures, Interviews, Panels and Readings Broadcast Live via Satellite from the 92nd Street N
Federation FilmSeries (Continued from page The New York Jewish Week, in a review of the movie when it was released last year, Debra Nussbaum Cohen said, "The film is making an impact as well far beyond the walls of movie theaters and Orthodox synagogues. Its portrayal of gay men and women struggling to reconcile their sexual orientation with their commitment to Orthodoxy is also helping to open channels of communication in families where relationships have been frayed—or cut off—because a member is homosexual. "In its respectful treatment of even the rabbis who say they cannot condone homosexual behavior, and in its loving treatment of Orthodox life, with its passion for Torah and joyful commitment to family and community, the movie is being well received in the most fervent of Orthodox circles." ("The 'Trembling' Phenomenon-Film on religious gays making big impact," by Debra Nussbaum Cohen, Nov. 10, 2001 in The New York Jewish Week). The film, directed by Sandi Simcha Dubowski, broke opening day box office records at the New York and San Francisco Jewish Film Festivals and is making a notable impact on many elements within the Orthodox
community, from its leadership to Orthodox family members of gay and lesbian Jews. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door, online at: www.jewishomaha.org, or by calling the Film Festival Box Office at 334-6402. A Combo Pack is also available for $15 for all four films. Upcoming films are the comedy Schmelvis: Searching for the King's Jewish Roots, Nov. 9, the Academy Award nominated documentary, Promises, Nov. 16 and the dark comedy/drama, Train of Life, Nov. 23. All films are on Saturdays, 8 p.m. in the JCC Theatre. A Kid's Matinee, featuring four short children's films, will be held Sunday, Nov. 17, 1:30-3:30. The Jewish Omaha Film Festival is a Jewish Federation of Omaha Centennial Celebration event. Film Festival sponsors are: the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Kripke Federation Library and Jewish Education and Library Services (JELS). The Film Festival is funded in part by the Avy L. and Roberta L. Miller Foundation by Lindsey MillerLerman and the UNOmaha Department of Religion and Film.
CAMPAIGN HOTLINE Do you know how the Jewish Federation supports your synagogue? Have you ever wondered how your contribution to our Annual Campaign can dramatically improve the quality of life for an elderly Holocaust survivor in the former Soviet Union? Now you can get fast and reliable answers to these questions and others by calling the new Centennial Campaign Hotline334-6594-an innovative new community service sponsored by the Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign. Call and leave your questions today!
EMPLOYEE OWNED
Health Market Hy-Vee Moist & Chewy Roberts American Gourmet Skinny Veggie Booty Corn Chips Cereal Bars Pirates Booty oo 4/$4|OO Reg. Price 3/$l,00
• 1 oz. Bar Reg. Price $2.39
4oz.
4 oz. Bag Was $2.19
West Soy "
Hy-Vee
Fantastic Assorted
Soy Milk Drink
4" .Doubt Prints
Hummus
Plain o r Vanilla
Side Dishes Falafel, Polenta, Couscous,
;;
:
32 oz.
Reg. Price $1.99
$
1
liiiiii
6-12 oz.
October 25, 2002
r-..'
-
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 21
\
J* "S
r^#^%
OmaRa Center for T'orafi Leurning
Learn! Enjoy! Ce Join us for upcoming OCTL programs with Rabbi Aryeh Blum, OCTL Director (all at the OCTL House, 1313 NO. 58 St., unless otherwise noted):
Wanna know sVnore?
For a CD-rom, brochure and application contact the Beber office at:
8QQ-8Q3-CAMP 2 2 6 7 bebercamp@ool.com Only 90 minutes north of Chicago in Mukwonago, Wisconsin!
-»»-" s :gr»'' a = "Si?
Mfufdoysl
'"""'l %*">':^'^?"°^"
-•:—•'*•
Weekly Parsha Shiuc one hour prior to Mincha (at Beth Israel) each Shabbat Mondays: "Torah Tote" Mommie and Me with Shari Blum, 9:30 a.m. Time for Talmud Class, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays: Beis Medrash, (chavrusa-style learning with partners), 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays: Lunch'n Learn at the Kripke Federation Library, noon Women's Shiur, 7:30 p.m. Teen Group for Girls with Brooke Shrago, 8 p.m., at her home, 805 So. 120 Ave. OCTL Fun Night a "Night of Mystery" Saturday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. with Class Act Productions (the Fremont Dinner Train players), an elegant kosher dinner and silent auction, $36 per person Culinary Services by Nancy, 7597 Main St., Ralston RSVP to Nancy Wolf, 330-6736 or mail your check, made out to OCTL, to her at: 16620 Vinton Cir., Omaha, NE 68130 Scholar-in-residence Friday night Shabbat dinnec Nov. 15,6 p.m. Saturday Shabbat lunch, Nov. 16, and Melave Malkah, 7:30 p.m. with Rabbi Moshe and NaamaParnes of the Atlanta Kollel Kumzitz Sunday, Nov. 17,7:30 p.m. Singing, dancing and "schmoozing" Shabbatdinner Friday night, Dec. 20,4:45 p.m. Turn Friday Night Into Shabbos For mote information or to arrange study for small groups (2-4 couples) in your own home, call Rabbi and Storf Blum, at 320-8055
Jewish Press. Omaha, NE
Page 22
October 25, 2002
Herzl Camp Proud of Growing Omaha Connection
Whats on Your Mind About Moral Courage?
by JEWISH PRESS NEws Service—— Over the last five years, 36 Omaha campers, Ozrim (counselors in training), and staff have spent part or all of their summers at Herzi Camp. This important link between Omaha and Herzl means more fun, more friendship, and a better connection to Israel and Judaism for everyone involved. Last year alone, Omaha sent five campers and five staff to the summer program and two campers and two staff to Winter Camp; all of them leaving their mark and taking away memories to last a lifetime. Omaha's impact on camp promises to be even greater as 2003 unfolds. Omaha native, Jenny Javitch, who has spent every summer at Herzl since 1989 (except 1994 when she went to Israel) is being promoted to the position of Assistant Director. In her seven years on staff, Jenny served as madricha (counselor), Rosh Sports, B'yachad (program for 10th grade campers) Director, Mama Ozo (in charge of counselors in training), and Program Coordinator (responsible for oversight of all daify programming). Last year, she joined the full time year round staff and even co-directed Herzf's first ever Winter Camp. With Javitch's creative input, the Herzl staff are already planning for next summer. It is not too early to start thinking about
ADL Kicks Off Essay Contest for Area High Schools
1
Jl
i.
- 7 2 0 0 3. Herzl Camp •! has ses- by JORDANA GLAZER, Anti-Defamation L e a g u e -m-~~~*mm—-*m***m*~*~.mm~m~m—m. For educators who attended last All works will be judged on ideas and L j sions for
.i_ i weeks in n Former Omahan Jenny. .. _ Javitch is Herzl Camp's- J l If Assistant Director. . u n 6
rz11
Ha'atid, Kesher, Nisiya, Etgar, Kadimah, B'yachad, and Teva Trek. And don't forget, Winter Camp (Dec. 26-Jan. 1), open to campers in grades 5-8. The "coolest" of Herzf's offerings, last year it included dog-sledding, snowshoeing, hiking, cross country skiing, boot hockey, a home-made bobsled run, and much more. For information on all of Herzl's programs, contact the office at 952-9274002 or visit Herzl on the web at: www.herzlcamp.org. Looking ahead to the summer of 2003, there is no doubt that the best and brightest from Omaha will be leading the way at Herzl Camp.
week's seminar, Tak for Alt: Survival content, quality of expression, organiof Human Spirit, a bonus was the zation and English mechanics. announcement of an essay contest for As the ADL Essay Contest Omaha area high school students. Coordinator, I am working with The contest will provide participants teachers from all Omaha-area disan educational overview of the Nazi tricts to implement the contest in the occupation of Denmajk and the high school Social Studies, English Danish response to Nazism and high- and Ethnic Studies programs. The light the Danes' courageous efforts essay contest is a wonderful way to under stress. Participants can choose test whether Holocaust curriculum to research a historical event that has been learned, processed and interdemonstrates moral courage and nalized. Given the timeliness of the incorporate their research into an announcement, some teachers are essay about the "moral choices" people working the contest into their curricumake, relating this to modern-day lum. The ADL encourages wide participation that teaches that one person moral choices and courage. • Sponsored by the Anti-Defamation can make a difference. League, Dana College and the Danish Volunteer essay screeners will be Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, IA, trained and provided criteria for readthe contest is open to all nine=12th ing essay submissions. Jurors will grader high school students and will represent educators, local governrun from J a n . 6-Feb. 29, 2003. The ment, parents, students from Dana contest winners will be announced at College, the Danish Immigrant the Omaha Jewish community's Yom Museum and local corporations. HaShoah program on Wednesday, Although the ADL has already comApril 30, 7 p.m., at Beth El piled a list of jurors, more readers Synagogue. may be required. The ADL is offering prizes for the If you would like to get involved, contest, including a $1,500 first prize. please call me at 334-6576.
Beth El's BESTT School Year Is Up and Running by OZZIE NOGG——— — BESTT-Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah-started the new school year with some exciting curricula changes and additions. The new programs were designed by Anna Besser, Beth El's Education Director, and faculty Margo Riekes, Hollie Fineman, Francee Altman and Eadie Tsabari. One important BESTT addition is "The School Values Program." According to Besser, "The aim of this curriculum is "get our students from kindergarten through eighth grade to earmark their tzedakah money for specific organizations and purposesfrom the local to the global. We know that giving and performing gimilut chesed--&cts of loving kindness-can be even more powerful for youngsters when they get to choose exactly where they want their tzedakah money to go and can put a 'face' on the people they want to help."
BESTT classes and their tzedakah beneficiaries include: « Kindergarten: Child Development Center at the JCC. • BESTT First-graders: The Rose Blumkin Home. • Second-graders: BESTT Library. • Third-graders: the Red Cross and Ronald McDonald House. 8 Fourth Graders: Sienna/Francis House. • Fifth Graders: Jewish Family Services. • Sixth-graders: FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). • Seventh-graders: Medical Ethics. 8 Eighth-graders: Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Along with the School Values Program, two other additions designed specifically for eighthgraders are starting to bear fruit. According to Besser, "We want our
teens to become active participants in in Israel. the Omaha Jewish community and "Another important BESTT change the larger Omaha community. We involves the Hebrew curriculum," want them to be able to relate the Besser continued. mitzvot they study in the School "This year- in every classroomValues Program to the actions they objects related to learning are labeled perform every day. in Hebrew and teachers are using the "To accomplish that goal, our eighth- Hebrew words for those objects. graders are now doing volunteer work Epahrone. Sefer. Luaeh. It's an easy at various organizations of their and effective way for even the choice-Federation agencies and civic youngest student to pick up some organizations like Omaha Parks and Hebrew vocabulary. Recreation-it's their call. Then, dur"Also, to help our kids learn some ing class, the students discuss how basic conversational Hebrew, BESTT various mitzvot relate to their chosen teachers spend part of their class time volunteer work. They'll soon write a teaching students 15 different paper about their experiences." Hebrew phrases that relate to the The second new addition for eighth- schoolroom. And every, year we'll add graders emphasizes the History of more," she said. Israel, from the Holocaust to the presFor information on how to enroll ent day. Next semester, students will your child in BESTT, please call Anna focus on recent events in the Middle Besser at 492-8550--or e-mail her at: East and the current political climate eddir@bethel-omaha.org.
what we are about..
Mend Qimp M:^m Omaha ¥ ¥ f 9 ¥
Summer and winter programs ( l,2>3,& 4-week *ptita$ y >}y Umaksjfw campers «ifiterin^;^ffft;grade Sports, drana, rodk-dinibbg, art, sailing & i w e Great staff from Oaiafta, across the OS, (mMi & Kssfisr fdtcta, Friends, friends, friends, & more friends
•
Building Conservative Judaism
@
Education
• Students • Teachers • lora/i
Beth Et Synagogue IJahnud Tofafa. "
(/"For applications and Information contact us at:
^
"Preparing our students for the future" For information, call Anna Besser, Education Director, 498W04
October 25, 2002
New Parent Education Series Creating a Buzz at Temple Israel
by OZZIE NOGG
parents to Sunday School. Each month the class with the best attendance of parents in the Four Bs will get a donut party. The series continues once a month throughout the year and is scheduled to coincide with the Religious School's monthly all-school Prayer Assembly. At the conclusion of the workshop, parents meet their children in the Sanctuary for a brief family service. The following is the schedule for the rest of the y •_ .r: » Nov. 10: "Israel in Crisis"; ® Dec. 8: "Why Shabbat?"; • Jan. 12: "Building a Jewish Library for Your Children; of "What Happens to Jews When We Die?"; » Feb. 9: "Reform Judaism: A Primer"; 8 March 9: "Parenting Lessons from the Patriarchs and Matriarchs" or "An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism"; * April 13: "What are the Lessons of the Holocaust for Us and for Our Children?" « May 18: "Jewish Rituals You Can Try At Home." All sessions begin at 10 a.m. Childcare for ages one-year through pre-K is available. Call the Temple Israel office at 556-6536 to reserve a spot.
The Healing of Yoga by JENNIFER SCHAECHER, Special to the Jewish Press •—
Wednesday morning, Oct. 9, marked the first session of Beth El's new toddler program created especially for 18 months to three-year-old lads. Called U-BET: Ultimate Beth El Toddlers, the class is designed to jump start Beth El toddlers' Jewish education and will meet in the synagogue nursery every Wednesday, 10-11, a.m. through May 7.. The sessions focus on early childhood Jewish curriculum and involve toddlers and their moms in various classroom activities including learning time, music, dance, age appropriate art and storytime. As an added enrichment feature, the U-BET kids will also get to know Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Cantor Emil Berkovits and Gaston Bogomolni, Beth El's Ritual Director. Snacks, of course, are also part of the deal. The lead teacher of the U-BET program is Susi Stein, who has been a Mohtessori educator and has 20 years experience as a Teacher's Aide in the Omaha Public Schools with a focus on assisting special needs children. For information on how to enroll your toddler in U-BET, call Kathy Schmitt, Beth El Program Director, at 492-8550.
Medical Center:
——...
When the concept of yoga is entertained, many people think of a skinny, flexible person twisting into various pretzel-like poses. But that is not the true essence of the healing power of yoga. Yoga is an ancient method of calming the mind as well as relaxing the body. Yoga enables the mind and body to withdraw from the tension and hurriedness of daily life. You do not need to be flexible to do this. I invite you to do an experiment right now. Allocate a few minutes. Sit comfortably or lie your back. Close your eyes and begin to focus on your natural breathing. Gradually and continually inhale to bring more air into the lungs. Breathe deeply and fully. Your attention will probably drift away to other thoughts. Simply observe these thoughts and bring your awareness back to your breathing. Exhale without pushing, just letting it go. Your breath should be circular, smoothly flowing. After several minutes, most people will tend to forget to do the deep breathing, or even fall asleep. That's why it is good to train with someone at first. This simple exercise brings your focus inward and you are able to cultivate more body awareness. Try another simple yoga exercise by simply pausing throughout the day to drop and relax your shoulders. Yoga teaches many techniques you can utilize to build body awareness and begin to notice how to allow yourself to build tension and carry stress in the body. Stress is now considered the foremost contributor to our modem chronic ailments. Recent medical research shows that stress is a major factor in causing heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. Further investigations report that sticking to yogabased stress management therapies can slow progression. I personally use yoga and Pilates to control chronic pain and invite you to call for a free consultation to see how yoga and Pilates can help you. I'm located in Absolute Serenity Day Spa; you can reach me at: 612-4665.
Page 23
Beth El Launches UBET Toddler Program
by ROSIE ZWEIBACK, Program Director ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ — The first session of the "Four Bs: Behaving, Belonging, Believing, & Bagels" was standing room only in the Milder Center at Temple Israel last Sunday. More than 55 parents gathered for a workshop entitled: "What do you say when your kids ask about God?" taught by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Rabbi Craig Marantz. Participants discussed the Jewish theology of God and how to talk about God with their children. The workshop merited rave reviews. "I thought it was terrific," commented Larry Gendler. "First of all, it's a nice way to get to know people who our kids are growing up with. In that context of learning about God and religion, it lets us participate in our children's experience by learning with our fellow congregants. Secondly, I really do think the clergy at Temple do a great job of engaging us. I left thinking the time flew by and I couldn't wait to come back." A committee of dedicated volunteers met several times last year to create an adult education program specifically to help parents raise Jewish children. Committee member Susie Norton noted, "It was a really dynamic and thoughtful group who put together a curriculum that would interest a wide variety of parents. Judging from our first session, it appears as though we have succeeded." Others on the planning committee were: Katherine Finnegan, Cindy Goldberg, Jeff Laudin, John and Sandy Lehr, Lee Needelman, Ellen and Jeff Platt, Louri and Charlie Sullivan, and the Temple Israel professional staff. Involving the entire family in Jewish learning is one goal of the program. Students in Kindergarten through sixth grade are encouraged to bring their
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
• Has educated more than one-half of the physicians, dental and allied health professionals, pharmacists and master's prepared nurses practicing in the state. • Has established itself as one of the country's leading centers for research in cancer, genetics, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, arthritis and bioterrorism preparedness. A new, $77 million research center - set to be . completed in 2003 - will provide state-of-the-art facilities for further growth in these areas. 9
Serves as a national model for solid organ and transplant programs through the Lied TransplantCenter, which opened in 1999. The center was the first to use the innovative conceptjof cooperative care in transplantation, in which a family member or friend takes on the role of care partner to provide the patient's basic needs during recovery. UNMC's transplant programs have brought more then $397 million into the state since 1990.
8
Has had a presence in more than 150 Nebraska communities this year through its teaching, service and research programs.
a
Was the first to develop a triple drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. It is recognized as one of the five major advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in • the last 50 years. • Conducts innovative dancer research that includes the development of custom-made vaccines that activate the patient's own immune system to fight the disease and keep , it in remission.
Medical Center NEBRASKA'S HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
If you would like more information about UMMCr call (02) 5B9 4353 or visit our Web site at tvww.umtc.edu
Page 24
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
PEOPLE W H O READ NEWSPAPERS ARE
October 25, 2002
NOW Announces
It all stats with Newspapers
by SALLY ZIPURSKY Omaha Section Public Relations Vice-president — —
Sales Associate
The National Council of Jewish Women, Inc., Omaha Section announced that Greater Omaha Packing Company, Inc. has generously donated $8,000 toward the purchase of 1,500 dictionaries to be distributed at Dictionary Day 2002., Monday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. "The enthusiasm of Henry Davis, President, and Greater Omaha Packing Company, Inc. in partnering with NCJW on Dictionary Day emphasizes the importance of the project. We deeply appreciate Henry's contribution to the community. He recognizes the needs in our community and is willing to step forward and be a leader in making a difference," stated Kim Noddle, NCJW President. She also added her thanks to other Dictionary Day contributors: the Wolf Family Foundation in Albion, NE, the Carl E. Frohm Foundation and Wells Fargo Bank. In 1997, NCJW volunteer and leader, Joanie Lehr created the idea of Dictionary Day. Based on research that by the time many students reach the fourth grade, they have had no contact with, exposure to, or knowledge of the use of a dictionary. For each year since then, NCJW, Omaha Section has addressed this dilemma by presenting every fourth grade student and teacher in targeted Omaha Public Schools elementary schools with a new, hardbound dictionary to have as their own, through Dictionary Day. One day each school year, Omaha Section volunteers hand deliver dictionaries to each student in these schools. This year, NCJW, Omaha Section and Greater Omaha Packing Company, Inc. will provide dictionaries to fourth grade students in over 20 Omaha Public Schools elementary schools and academies.
In many cases, these j fourth grade students ' have never received a J book to own, let alone a 1 reference book they can - i I use throughout their academic years. Teachers have incorporated the dictionaries into their curricula, and t: to maximize the dictionj **"* .,...?? —- j aries' benefits, by first v 1 "* '•"• '• — J giving "how to use a dictionary" lessons, and then assigning work which emphasizes the dictionaries' use. The students learn to spell, explore definitions, expand vocabulary and learn pronunciation through the use of their dictionary. Each child is encouraged to keep his or her dictionary in the classroom for use during the school year. At the end of the school year, students can take the dictionaries home,and are encouraged to use them in years to come, thereby benefiting them for the rest of their lives. Sandy Epstein has chaired Dictionary Day since its inception. "I cannot express the satisfaction of our volunteers when they interact with the students. The kids and their teachers are so appreciative of our efforts. It is a very quick way to make a true difference," she explained. "I am very proud that Dictionary Day has grown each year. Thanks to Henry Davis and Greater Omaha Packing, this year's Dictionary Day will continue on that path." Anyone wanting to help deliver dictionaries should contact Epstein at 397-2528 or via e-mail at slepstein@cox.net.
Melton School Adds Betsy Marantz to Faculty
Time Works
Outgoing,friendly sales associate. Earn up to $ 17.50/hr. Call 880-4071.
Comfort Zone
Private Tutoring
J for Elementary School Children Cheryl Viale
• Certified Teacher since 1983 * Spalding Trained
(402)333-3692 Viaiejc@aol.com
LynneM, Popp Educational Therapy, Inc. M.S. in Learning Disabilities, A.E.T.
• Educational Assessmen
4405 North 156th Ave. Circle Phone: 402/498-8708 FAX: 445-0433 E-mail; slpoppl@cox.net
Camp BmmmmA Una Amesbury, MA Residential boys'1 camp
Grades 2-11 ACA Accredited Established 1931 Age appropriate programs: athletics arts&crafts boating bar mitzvah tutoring ceramics fitness Swimming tennis tutoring weekly trips many other programs Modernized gym & weight room Bob Stone 781/784-5577
m. Friedel
tob@bauercnest.org
Jewish Academy
F
iriedel Jewish Academy offers an integrated curriculum of general and Jewish studies for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Friedel provides students with a firm educational foundation and promotes individual and social development in an atmosphere of warmth,joy and intellectual excitement. Upon -completion of the program, students are well prepared for their next level of study. Graduates are knowledgeable and skilled jews, responsible Americans and caring citizens of the world. Friedel welcomes and values all members of the Jewish community. ;: •A-
Check us out by phone or e-mail•! 402/334-0517 • friedelacademy@jewishornaha.org
by SUSAN PALEY, Melton School Director.
The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School j (FMAMS) has announced' the addition of Betsy Marantz to its faculty for this fall. She is a seasoned Melton instructor who taught the "Rhythms of Jewish Living" class for the Atlanta FMAMS last year. The Marantz family I moved to Omaha this past summer. Rabbi Craig Marantz serves as Temple Israel's associate rabbi. According to Betsy Marantz, "I enjoy teaching Melton because it is a unique opportunity in which the endeavor is learning for the sake of knowledge and the furtherance of Jewish learning. What could be better?" After attending Dartmouth College and graduating with honors in religion, Marantz worked in politics while advising her hometown youth group in McLean, VA. She continued her education at the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion. At HUC, she earned masters degrees in both Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service. She has served in congregations and Jewish institutions in both educational and administrative roles. Marantz teaches both the day and evening sections of the "Rhythms of Jewish Living" as part of the Melton School Year-One curriculum. The course focuses on the ideas, beliefs and practices that define and shape Jewish life, as well as exploring how practices are keys to understanding and expressing basic Jewish values. Carolyn Novicoff, Jewish Educational and Library Services' Executive Director, said "I am absolutely delighted that we have added diversity and special knowledge, plus Melton teaching experience and a wonderful new addition to our community to our Melton faculty. We just go from better to better."
at Beber Camp by AARON 'H' HADLEY Assistant Director, B'nai B'rith Beber Camp Special to the Jewish Press-————-__— Days and weeks fly by, and every time you glance at a calendar you simply marvel at how quickly it passes. Still, at the end of each day, you're exhausted after hiking, swimming, frisbee, arts and crafts, two song sessions, capture the flag, waterskiing, and a conversation about life with your friend while looking at the stars. It's hard to describe a summer at Beber. As a camper or staff you have difficulty explaining to friend back home how powerful the experiences are -like the time a camper hugged you tightly, crying, because he or she didn't want to go home. Or how funny it was when campers dressed up the counselors and there's a photo of you on stage wearing a bikini made of watermelons. Or maybe you called home during rest hour and your mom was concerned because your voice sounded scratchy--and you tried to make her understand how important it was for your team to win the spirit contest, so you sang the same song 36 times in a row. It's always difficult to review camp. How can you summarize 56 glorious days of dining hall cheers, cooling off in the lake, and talking to your friend on the swing? It's easy to narrow down a sport or game to a few paragraphs. I could use this space to tell you all about a camping trip, Maccabiah, or the teams course. But we both know that despite all the wonderful games and activities, they're only a part of what camp is about. Let's get down to what's important. Beber in 2002 was a powerful place where in just a few short weeks, campers and staff acted in silly skits, danced to the latest pop sensations, roasted s'mores, and sang "Leaving on a Jet Plane" through their tears at the final campfire. Campers and staff left having made friends for life. Counselors left strong, lasting impressions on campers. The impact the campers left on their counselors was even more powerful. Beber is magical. Maybe that's why time works funny at camp.
October 25, 2002 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 25
Campers Make New Friends and Lifelong Memories by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator
Zoe Vann, a fifth grader at Swanson phy, and "the really, really [~ Elementary School, was a first-time fun evening activities." [ camper last summer at Olin-SangBrenna made new friends | Ruhy-Union Institute (OSRUI), a pro- from Chicago and evenfrom'[•' gram of the Union of American Israel. She hopes that f Hebrew Congregations. She went "maybe someday," she can j horseback riding, climbed the five- go again to OSRUI located j story high Alpine Tower, went kayak- 45 miles from Milwaukee, j ing for the first time, WI. and made new friends from A ninth grader at'. Minnesota and Illinois. Brownell-Talbot School, 14- i Zoe, who is 10-years-old, joined year-old Caroline Terry fS '"' approximately 25 other youngsters returned to OSRUI for her . from Temple Israel who spent two to second time last summer. seven weeks at OSRUI painting, "Everything pretty much ,?,* singing, paddling, fishing, horseback revolved around Judaism" riding, sleeping under the stars, sail- especially on Shabbat which ing, lighting Shabbat candles, making "was really fun," she menhavdalah, and making new friends- tioned. She worked on a among other activities. painting that depicted "how A fourth grader at Fullerton Magnet God is so great and s Center, Ben Holmberg, nine, decided bright, it almost blinds you."' Jackie Neesman, 12, a n S a m M o n s k y i n front of his cabin at OSRUI. he'd like to go to OSRUI after listenof cam P w e r e sports and water activiing to Camp Director Jerry Kaye eighth-grader at Westside Middle when he was at Temple Israel last School, was attending OSRUI for the ties. "I'd like to go back, because I just November. Ben's favorite activities fourth time. "I liked knowing that liked it a lot," she remarked. Another first-timer, Rachael were swimming, sports, and banana there are Jewish kids all over the Monsky, a seventh- grader at Kiewit tube boating. Ben also enjoyed the world," she commented. She added Middle School, went to OSRUI Rick Recht Concert and would like to that she "liked learning more because "my parents said it would be go back to OSRUI next summer sim- Hebrew." ply "because it was fun!" "We had services every morning and a good Jewish experience." Despite a Campers can improve their skills in night" said Anne Rips, 13, an eighth- little hesitancy, Rachael, who is 12, soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, grader at Lewis and Clark Middle went to camp and didn't regret it. "I and ping pong. The children, who School. Havdalah was one of Anne's liked. Shabbat the most. It was excitrange from those going into third favorite times of the week. "We'd talk ing!" She also liked horseback riding grade through high school, can also and have an evening program." She and meeting new friends from Illinois, choose to participate in the arts and said it was interesting as well as fun. concentrate on an area of interest Josh Danon, a fourth-grader at such as drama, dance, music, or visu- Montclair Elementary School, went to al arts. OSRUI for the first time last summer. Activities are built on the premise of He became interested when his sister by JEWISH PRESS News Service — Jewish education and enrichment. Jessie said, "It was really fun." During Newly funded programs will soon OSRUI's central focus is on Jewish his two weeks at OSRUI, Josh, nine, provide money for college students, learning, worship, and community went tubing, swimming in the lake, according to the National Academic involvement. took part in sports, and made new Funding Advisory. The 10th annual Brenna Robinson, a 10-year-old who friends. updated publication for scholarships Grace Hack, a fourth grader at for the 2003-04 academic year is is in the fifth grade at Swanson Elementary, said Shabbat and "song Loveland School, also made new available for students entering colsessions on Friday night" were among friends. One from Chicago wrote her a lege, trade school or graduate school. her favorite activities. So were climb- letter and Grace wrote back to her To receive a copy, send $2 to cover ing the Alpine Tower, jumping on the friend. Grace, nine, was also motivat- postage and handling to: NAFA, 188 trampoline in the water, horseback ed to try OSRUI for the first time Summer St., Scholarship Dept. E3, riding, and "getting candy, slushies, after hearing Jerry Kaye at Temple Portsmouth, NH, 03801. and juice at the canteen." She also and seeing his camp video. "It seemed The Alisa Flatow Memorial liked participating in dance, photogra- like fun," she said. Her favorite parts
Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Indiana. Rachael's nine-year-old brother Sam went to OSRUI too. He is a fourthgrader at Grace Abbott Elementary School. OSRUI is different than the Jewish Community Center's camp which Sam had previously attended. "There are no cabins at the JCC.and no pool at OSRUI," he observed. However, there is Lac LaBelle where campers go swimming, sailing, canoeing, and tubing. OSRUI also has a Hebrew Center, an outdoor band shell for concerts, a sports center, and a theater. Sam enjoyed the water trampoline and the water slides. Rachael's and Sam's mother, Pam Monsky, admitted that at first, her children were "reluctant" about going to camp. After receiving Rachael's rather pessimistic letter upon arriving at OSRUI, "we never heard from the kids again" until camp ended, said Pam. By that time, "everything was cool. They had a great time especially Rachael who," her mother laughed, "had not been thrilled about sleeping in a tent."
Scholarships Available for Graduating Seniors
When you're looking for Ml Things Educational Growing in Jewish Omaha Lookat Jewish Educational & Library Services! .
Scholarship is also available for students wishing to study in Israel for the 2003-04 year. Established by the family of the late Alisa Flatow who was killed in a terrorist attack in Kfar Darom, Israel, on April 9, 1995, the scholarship can be used for any year-long program in Israel. Application can only be made online at: www.alisafund.org. Questions may be directed to Dr. Wallace Greene, Executive Secretary, at the website.
BIKE RACK CYCLING & FITNESS GanneiitiaSe • Mlehi • lemoiid • M e r • Set/en • iurles
• Florence Melton Adult Mini School • Scholarships for Jewish Preschool, Jewish camps, Israel Experience^ trips, college and much more! •" B'nai tVfrtzvah and Isif el Bcpei^ericer grants for t$ens! • College of Jewish Jjeamii access for tnepjubflc!
; ."":• ''""?•••..••.•
'•':..'/•?£
BinrfBIkel i t the 2nd Bill Pncel fees store for details)
mmmmm iililEll Sm5-15%l
We're lowing!! For more informatidn!' please contact JELS at 334-6445 or email: Miirshman@jewishomahaorg
tlsit ys ©oiolBsr 24tii at 14450 lagie Run Drl¥®
Page 26
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 25, 2002
More Than Their Names in Print (Continued from page 1) •»———— It's been almost two years since from Touched by Cancer, P.O. Box Belmont was diagnosed with thyroid 1031, Anoka, MN, 55303. Interested can also visit: cancer. And, despite years of writing readers newspaper articles, chronicling her www.tbcinc.org for updated information. own experience with Little did Joan Marcus know when cancer was a she researched the funding and availdifficult ability of programs for the mentally undertaking, and physically challenged that she yet one she would need these services after the wanted to birth of her daughter, Elaine. tackle. In But in the 1950s, families "were the end, faced with an almost total lack of supwriting was port in their communities" and "there somewhat were no alternatives except for insticathartic, . tutionalization," Marcus wrote with Belmont Rene Ferdinard an essay, entitled said. "After "Doing What We Had to Do in the an incrediJill Belmont 1950s: Parents Build the Foundation." It appears in the new book from the bly turbulent and emotional year, it felt so good American Association on Mental to write about it from a distance, and Retardation, Out of the see it from a healthier perspective." Her personal essay was recently Darkness published in Touched by Cancer II, a and into the compilation of stories submitted by Light and is cancer survivors, as well as loved ones available by of cancer victims. Two of Belmont's calling the children, Lindsay and Colin, also AAMR at 1penned their thoughts and emotions 2 0 2 - 3 8 7 about their mom's experience. "I 1968.. always thought that if you had cancer Their you were going to die, but my mom r e s e a r c h told me that there were many differ- delves into ent kinds of cancer, and that hers the backJoan K. Marcus could be treated. That made me feel ground of better," Colin wrote at age 10. ignorance and apathy of the 1950s Today, he's thankful that his mom is and the efforts of parents in creating cancer-free—as is the rest of the schools and organizations which led to Kushner-Belmont family. changes in state and local policy. From In addition to writing her own essay a few parents who banded together to for the book, Belmont was asked to start a small school for their mentally help edit Touched by Cancer. "I was challenged children came laws that proud to be a part of this publication," later enabled such children to attend she said. "Each essay or poem is very public school, receive financial assisheart-felt, very genuine and life- tance from the state, as well as servicaffirming, and could be of great com- es such as speech therapy and health fort to someone going through the care. shock of being diagnosed with cancer." Marcus, who faced these challenges The book's proceeds benefit cancer with her husband, Milt, and their son research, support and education. To Howard, offers insight into the times purchase Touched by Cancer ($19.95), and the almost hopeless atmosphere call Belmont at 333-9202, or order surrounding parents of the mentally
and physically challenged. "Until that time, their potential was largely untapped," Marcus said. "Now the services are available, but as we parents age, we have begun to worry about what will happen to our children in the future." Tamara Field and her husband, Larry Gendler, also faced some challenges when their first son, Max, was born in 1996. "It was a parenting nightmare," F i e l d recalled. "Max cried all the time. Our doctor switched him from breast milk to soy, which Tamara Field made him worse. Not only did Max lose weight initially, he didn't gain weight after the switch to soy-based formula." A diagnoses of milk-soy protein intolerance (MSPI) made all the difference. After just a week on a synthetic protein formula, Max stopped crying and began to gain weight. But the cost-"$30 for an itty-bitty can" was exorbitant, said Field. At that rate, the cost for feeding an infant with MSPI for a month would be $600. Field decided to develop alternatives to standard recipes that would allow MSPI infants and children (and even adults) enjoy wholesome, healthy and "delicious" meals. The result was the MSPI Guide, which not only contains recipes and helpful hints, but is a resource for reading labels, eating in restaurants, meal planning and food substitutes. Kashrut has actually made life easier for sufferers of MSPI, said Field, who started looking for labels with a kosher symbol that's non-dairy~or pareve. When their second son, Nathan, was
'Education is a Priority at* Temple Israel
born in 1998, Field already knew what to expect and changed her diet in the third-trimester. She breast-fed him successfully for 11 months and he avoided most of the problems Max had. To order the book, visit the MSPI website at: www.mspiguide.com. Finally, Pollak's latest book, A Year at the Sorbonne: A Proustian Life, has just been published in as limited collector's edition by the Yellow Barn Press of Council Bluffs. The basis of this small, hand-bound book are the volumes of letters and journals by Kearney native Elmo Shaver, the son of an Iowa grocery store owner, who makes his way to California and then Paris and back to California. Given the uncertainty of the times, the world-wide depression and world war, Shaver's letters, which span nearly 2/3 of the 20th century, provides "unique testimony to the shadowy world of the gay community going increasingly public after 1970...and the Jewish contribution Oliver B. Pollak to culture flourishing amidst the near destruction of its progenitors." Pollak also introduced a new column to Jewish Press readers last week. Midwest Memories opened with his impressions of various groundbreaking ceremonies in Omaha. The column will appear once a month and feature historical moments in the life of Jewish Nebraska, as well as occasional trips overseas for reports on Jewish sights, sounds and substance. A Year at the Sorbonne is available by calling the Yellow Barn Press at 322-2292.
Be discovered at
NancyBounds Studio
• Adult Study with the Clergy • Scholars in Residence Outreach • Family School • Meittor Program The Chavurah * fewish Journey Groups • Family Workshops Grades PK-12 : Tomb Tots • OTYG • JYG' Grade 10 trip to New York • Kol Rind • Tot Shabbatot L'Taken • Club 56 • Bagels & Sacred Books • Adult Retreat Social Justice Youth Club e Family Services • Basic Judaism The Hermene Zweiback Centerfor Lifelong Learning
'Nancy'Bounds 11915 Pierce Plaza Phone: 697-9292 Fax: 697-9272
"I've dreamt of becoming,a model my entire life, and Nancy Bounds Studio made it easy. The modeling opportunities and tuition assistance offered at NBS set the industry standard. I know that what I'm learning at the school, both on and off the runway, is the best preparation for my future, modeling or not." Kristcn Stoesz, Model
A. Cavalb VioM, LLC FINE Vic 11 s
As
&O"
ALEXANDI n
- ,J
RossD.MA
/
Violinist
I
• <Pi 10525 Puu fit •• J Phone: /*
827-9270 Fax: 827-9271
'fk
Is your out-of-town family out-of-the-loop? Purchase a gift subscription to the Jewish Pressl Subscribe now and we'll give you November and December for free! Name of subscriber:
Purchaser of gift subscription
g Address
Address
1
City, State, Zip
City, State, Zip
Mail with check for $28 to:
The Jewish Press 333 So. .132 St., Omaha, NE 68154
(_,
« Phone:
October 25, 2002
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 27
The Power of Family Learning by RABBI CRAIG MARANTZ Associate Rabbi, Temple Israel
The Shema teaches us: "V'shin'nan'tam I'va'nekha, You shall teach (the words of Torah) to your children. This instruction is at the foundation of our family school, which brings together students and u their parents for learning each week. . As a rabbi, I am constantly amazed by the interaction between parents and children as they figure out a question of Jewish importance or they work together to translate some Hebrew. As I reflect on the impact this special program, I do not think there is a better approach to Jewish learning than a family sharing the educational experience with each other. There are three reasons why I feel this way. 8 First, religious school is best designed to partner with parents in the Jewish education of their children. Religious school teachers alone cannot do all the work of educating young people. Even if they taught the children daily, they could not substitute for the important role parents play in Jewish education. Thus, parents must participate as well, so that when they are at home they feel more comfortable imparting Jewish lessons. Family school fosters such a partnership on an ongoing basis. • Second, I find that our family school participants become more Jewishly conversant. That is to say, while they are at the synagogue, they practice speaking to each other about Jewish things. And when they go home, they use the tools they have acquired in Family School to continue conversations around the dinner
by BERT LEWIS - —
table, at bedtime, in carpool, etc. When the whole family participates in Jewish learning, they create together common experiences from which new questions and reflections organically and meaningfully arise. These shared experiences make for richer Jewish memories to which the whole family can relate. • Finally, family school nurtures community. It is relatively uncommon for large numbers of adults in our synagogue to convene on a weekly basis for Jewish learning. It is even rarer that many families get together. In family school, adults gather each week to learn, to socialize and to share a meal together. Not only do families benefit by the shared participation of parents and children, the Temple Israel community grows because of the interaction of families on a regular basis. People get to know each other's names. They get to talk about serious ideas. They get to learn from each other. And, their families get to relate to other families. This is a wonderful thing to behold. I have no doubt that the power of inter-generational learning enhances congregational life. We at Temple Israel champion lifelong Jewish learning. Family school is a critical part of this important educational mission. The presence of parents and children and teachers and rabbis all together learning reveals to everyone the power of Jewish learning no matter what your age. We are very proud of this special community of learners, and we look forward to its continued growth.
Jewish Book Council Announces National Jewish Book Awards by JEWISH PRESS News S e r v i c e - — -
New York~The Jewish Book Council mark work of biblical scholarship Etz announced the winners of its 52nd Hayim was described by judges as "a Annual National Jewish Book Awards monumental work of this generation." for outstanding English-language The award for Children's Literature works of Jewish literature. The will be presented to Norman National Jewish Book Awards is the Finklestein for Forged in Freedom: oldest and most comprehensive Shaping the Jewish-American Jewish book awards program in North Experience (Jewish Publication America. Society) which the judges cited as "an A stunning debut novel about the excellent introduction to American quixotic search of a young American Jewish history" begins with the immicollege student to locate his grandfa- grant experience and leads readers in ther's shtetl in the Ukraine; the first an exploration of the key forces that new Torah commentary for shape Jewish life in America today. Conservative Judaism in more than Founded in 1940, the Jewish Book 70 years; and a book that teaches Council is the only organization in the young readers through words and American Jewish community whose photographs about the history of sole mission is to promote the reading, Jewish life in America. writing, and publishing of high-qualiThese three books, showing the ty English-language books of Jewish diversity and range in Jewish litera- content. In addition to presenting the National Jewish Book Awards, the ture today, lead the list of winners. The Fiction Award was presented to Council sponsors National Jewish Jonathan Safran Foer for Everything Book Month, Jewish Book Failis Illuminated, (Houghton Mifflin) Network and publishes the Jewish about which the judges have noted, Book World (issued three times a "Spellbound by the sheer brio of Foer's year) and Jewish Book Annual. prose, we follow along as his protagoThese and other award-winning nist undertakes an epic journey to books are available at the Kripke retrieve his personal history, while Jewish Federation Library. Foer, the novelist, explores the cen-. To celebrate Jewish Book Month, the turies old collective old collective his- library is sponsoring "An Evening tory of European Jewry." with Steven Fried" on Sunday, Dec. The Non-Fiction Award went to Etz 15, 7 p.m. Fried is the author of The Hayim: Torah and Commentary, edit- New Rabbi, the story of the senior ed by David Lieber and Jules Harlow rabbi at Congregation Har Zion in (Jewish Publication Society). A land- suburban Philadelphia.
If the subject of this issue is Education, then I have a golden opportunity to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes: nostalgia. Admittedly, I'm the queen of sentences that begin with the words "remember when?" Give me a clue by saying the word education, and I immediately conjure up a picture of my first school experience. I remember very clearly my kindergarten teacher, even though I'm going back many, many moons ago. Never mind how many. Just take my word for it. She was a dear person—Mrs. Butler and I can still see her if I close my eyes and concentrate! She wore her dark hair up in a round bun, kind of like a yofniov challahl And for some reason, she wore an apron over her long dress. I don't know why, whether she was compulsively neat or whether that was typical of kindergarten teachers then. I cried when the school year ended and I had to leave her, because while I was just a little afraid of her, I loved her dearly. I guess my affections were easily transferred however, because I certainly remember just about every teacher that followed Mrs. Butler, all the way to the eighth grade. I remember their names and I remember some of the ways they made a significant impact on my life. I remember which ones taught me to love books and which made me understand all the items of interest (besides the comic strips) in the daily newspaper. I remember the poor dear who struggled to make me believe that fractions were not a foreign language and who
finally figured out a way to prove it; also, I remember the sweet woman who, long before it was politically correct, whispered in my ear, "Dear, you don't have to sing Silent Night. Just move your lips." Thinking back on that little scene, I now wonder what would have happened had anyone heard her! Of course, I can recall many of the teachers following those first nine years, from kindergarten through eighth grade, but only a few made really lasting impressions. I'd like to think that teachers today are so much better trained that they start kids off with the best possible background for a lifetime of learning. Some of them are, of course, and I'm sure some aren't, since much of that is a matter of personalities. The very first teachers with whom a child has experience have the best chance of helping that kid love learning. They lay the groundwork, and it's up to parents to know that teacher and what kind of job he or she is doing. It's not all up to the school and the teacher. We parents have to be involved too. If you want to be sure your child is in the care of a really good teacher, get to know that teacher. Remember, you are the best advocate your child will ever have. The kid who says "the teacher doesn't like me" is sometimes telling the truth. You won't know unless you're involved however, so go to school. Meet the teacher. Let her know you want to help her do a good job. That expression "a mind is a terrible thing to waste" is a good one.
Bellevue University brings education to you! Bellevue University now has more options to bring education closer to where you live and work. Main Campus
1000 Galvin Road South Bellevue, NE 68005 402.291.2000 Southwest Omaha Center
16820 Frances Street Omaha, NE 68130 402.505.9500
Lozier Professional Center 2810 North 118th Circle Omaha, NE 68164
402.682.5200 Online www. bellevue. edu
Put your career in high gear, with BeSIevue University! "Ask about our Accelerated Undergraduate Degree Completion Programs and our Graduate Programs.
iiiilil SBlEifil* www.bellevue.edu
IS /
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 28
PERSONAL/ZED 9
8
GIFTS!
Cartoon Pictures Mousepads • Mugs • Keychains • and Lots More! Bar I Bat Mitzvahs * Sports * Family • Holidays
ITEMS: $ 5 " to s 25 0 0 + shipping
Chuckles Call Ricki Skog, Distributor
333-8983
IMMUNOLOGY
Gcuutetuent and Roger Kobayashi, M.D. James TYacey, D.O. Brett V. Ketielhut, M.D. Lakeside HeafthPark Westgate 9 Fremont Papillion B Council Bluffs (402) 391-1800
Beth Israel Synagogue offers an innovative • approach to Hebrew School... Our Talmud Torah program is entirely based on individual and small group learning, focusing on Hebrew reading and translation, Torah Study and Synagogue Skills. We offer a Shabbat Junior Congregation that includes weekly Parsha study for children ages 5-12, and a Saturday morning class with Rabbi Kutner for 7-12th graders.
...aimed at'providing children the Hebrew skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. For more information, call 556-6288 Lastjieat; summer camp scholarships were granted to every congregant who requested assistance.
October 25, 2002
Education Programs for Learners of All Ages at Beth Israel by RITA SHELLEY
From private instruction in conversational Hebrew for children to lively discussions of Talmudic issues for adults, Beth Israel Synagogue offers learning opportunities throughout the week in a variety of formats geared to all ages. Weekly and monthly adult education classes feature opportunities to extend one's knowledge of Judaism and Jewish life, including: 9 Talmud classes on Tuesdays, 7 p.m. Using the ArtScroll Edition of the Talmud with full English translation, Rabbi Howard Kutner leads this popular class through discussions off*< ancient, yet relevant, Talmudic issues. These classes meet in the synagogue Beth Israel Rabbi Howard K u t n e r meets with J o s h chapel. Grossman, left, Sarah Grossman, Adam Gendelman and "As these ancient debates come alive, Ben Gerber to study t h e Torab. on Sunday mornings. The a side benefit that students experience Hebrew High School class is one of many educational prois a sharpening of their analytical and grams for learners of all ages. thinking skills," Rabbi Kutner said. month. These events have included an annual • Lunch and Learn meetings on the third Sukkah Hop, painting Judaic items at That Pottery Wednesdays, noon. Bring questions on any topic of Place, helping to deliver Honey Cakes at the Judaism or Jewish life to these "Ask the Rabbi" ses- Blumkin Home, and going to a Corn Maze. sions that meet at the office of Joe Kirshenbaum, Synagogue affiliation is not required to participate 13710 First National Bank Parkway. Recent topics in NCSY. • The Hebrew High School Class for grades seveninclude business ethics, medical ethics, the religious significance of Israel, current events, Jewish 12 meets on Sunday mornings, 11 a.m.-noon at the synagogue. Led by Rabbi Kutner, the class: studies rituals and Jewish law. the Parsha text from the previous day's service; A Bagel Bin lunch is available for $5. B Shabbos House: Beth Israel members' homes explores current events from a Jewish perspective; provide an informal setting for monthly Shabbos - prepares students for the December Bible quiz; and helps prepare graduating seniors for college life. House gatherings on Saturdays, 3-5 p.m. "We look at things going on in the world through "The idea of the Shabbos House is to give all Jewish school age youth in the community an a Torah lens," Kutner said. 8 opportunity to spend Shabbat afternoon, together, Shabbos Morning Junior Congregation, led by playing games and in educational sessions," Beth George Aufseeser, meets from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Cohen, Executive Director of Beth Israel, said. the synagogue. Aufseeser said children, ages 5-12, "Parents are welcome to attend, also." Educational learn about Jewish holidays, ethics and values sessions cover topics related to Jewish values, tra- through stories, abbreviated services, prayers and ditions and customs. printed materials tailored to younger audiences. Howard Gendelman and Bonnie Bloch will host Parents are welcome to attend. 8 Synagogue members' children also receive one the Oct. 26 Shabbos House. David and Janet Kohll hour per week of private instruction in place of a will host the Nov. 16 gathering. Elinor » National Council of Jewish Youth (NCSY): traditional Hebrew School program. Young people from throughout Omaha's Jewish Matalon, a community teacher through the community are welcome to join in NCSY and Junior Federation's Jewish Educational and Library NCSY activities throughout the year. The junior Services, teaches Hebrew to Beth Israel students, fall convention met at Beth Israel earlier this following the Behrman House curriculum. month. Upcoming events include the senior fall "The beauty of this program is that it's highly indiconvention in. Indianapolis Oct. 31-Nov. 3, a senior vidualized and customized. It enables each student Mini-Shabbaton in St. Louis Nov. 22-24, and a sen- to work at his or her own level and pace," said ior Conclave in Lake Geneva, WI, Dec. 26-30. Bloch, Beth Israel Youth Commissioner. For additional information about any of these proIn addition to these regional events, the Beth Israel NCSY chapter has one or two local events per grams, call the synagogue at 556-6288.
Dr.-Leonard Greenspoon to Add to Temple's Study of Sephardic Judaism by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator =———«-.
Time to enroll for Glasses begin December 2nd
A\ METROPOLITAN C O M M U N I T Y
C O L L E G E Call 457-2400 or toll free 800-228-9553 www.mccneb.edu
managed to lead extraor"For me personally, teaching is always a joy," dinary active and signifireflected Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, who has held cant lives." the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Dr. Greenspoon, an Creighton University since 1996. expert in Bible and Dr. Greenspoon will teach a Lunch and Learn Bible translations, class, sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback earned his doctoral Lifelong Center for Jewish Learning, at Temple degree from Harvard Israel. "Paradigms of Involvement: Three Giants of University. Sephardic Judaism as Scholars and Communal Leaders" will survey the lives of 10th century He enjoys teaching at Saadia Gaon; Samuel ha-Nagid, from the 11th cenTemple Israel, because tury; and Maimonides, 12th century. "first, I get to talk as a At the informal bring-your-own lunch series on Dr. Leonard Greenspoon Jew to other Jews about Wednesdays, Nov. 6, 13, and 27, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Jewish topics of importance to me, especially Bible Dr. Greenspoon will emphasize the writings of the translation and interpretation. Secondly, my classes three scholars as well as the observations of others are invariably made up of articulate and experito reconstruct daily lives in the medieval Sephardic enced individuals who willingly share their observations, opinions, and insights with me and others world. Temple Israel is devoting a year to the study of the in the class," he said. "Truly, I feel blessed by these unique opportunities to learn as I teach." history and culture of Sephardic Jewry. Towering figures in Jewish history, these three indiTo register for this class, contact Temple Israel viduals combined their roles as scholars and leaders Program Director Rosie Zweiback by e-mail at: of the community, Dr. Greenspoon related. "Long rzweiback@qwest.net or at the Temple office, before faxes, PDAs, and electronic messaging, they 556-6536.
October 25, 2002
Food, Flavor, and Fortune Mingle at the Klutznick-Harris Symposium by ADRIAN GIBBONS KOESTERS, Creighton University
Past participants at the annual Klutznick-Harris ture," said Cara De Silva, who edited the awardSymposia report they have a wonderful time mak- winning book, In Memory's Kitchen, a. collection of ing friendships in the community and together, recipes from Theresenstadt. She will present the while sharing scholarship and the latest trends in book in a paper subtitled, "Reflections on Recently their fields of specialty. Discovered ' Forms of This year, when one scholar admits she has a fero- Holocaust Literature." cious sweet tooth, and another claims to be Kiutzrslek-rfarrss 'The Chocolate Lady', is Symposium Schedule there cause for conOpening sessions of the Kiutznick-Harris cern? Eve Jochnowitz, an Symposium at the Jewish Community Center instructor in culinary will begin Sunday, Oct. 27, 9:30 a.m. rather history at the New "It was really my privSchool, assures us than 8:45 a.m., as previously noted. ilege to edit these manDaytime sessions on Sunday will end at 5 p.m. uscripts," she said. there is none. Also known in some circles Joan Nathan's keynote is Sunday night, 7:30 "This was really an as 'The Chocolate p.m. at the JCC. unexpected discovery, a Lady', shell leave that Events continue Monday, Oct. 28, 8:15 a.m.hitherto unknown form persona behind for her of Holocaust literature," presentation, "Smoked at Creighton University Skutt Student Center she said. A lover of ethSalmon Sushi and Ballroom. nic foods, De Silva has See the insert in this issue of the Jewish Press for the appeared on the NPR Sturgeon Stomachs: The Russian Jewish complete schedule of presentations. show "All Things Foodscapes of New Considered" and is on York." the editorial board of the Oxford Encyclopedia of My interests are food in tradition, religion, and American Food and Drink. ritual, as well as in performAlice Nakhimovsky said that she grew up eatance and popular culture," ing food that was Jewish but she said. not Russian. Jochnowitz will be joined on "Twenty-three years later, Sunday, Oct. 27, 9:30 a.m. as a grad student in at the Jewish Community Leningrad, I found myself in Center by eight other schol- my first Russian-Jewish ars. (The full program of kitchen, and eventually marevents can be found at: ried into it," she laughed. http://puffin.creighton.edu/klutz"Since then and now, I've I nick/Klutznick2002.htm.) written several books and produced two children, "Separating the Dishes," is the theme of the open- who themselves have reproduced my chicken soup ing session by Dr. David [ recipe in a variety of remote settings." t x Kraemer, Professor of { Chair of the Department of Russian at Colgate Talmud and Rabbinics at the J University, her talk is titled, "Public Holidays and Jewish Theological Seminary Private Foods: The Fugitive World of Russianof America. "Most people conJewish Cooking." sider having at least two sets ' Continuing on Sunday is Oliver Pollak of the of dishes to be an essential University of Nebraska at | f« • element of keeping kosher," Omaha. An inveterate collec-! f j he said. "But it's interesting tor, Pollak has amassed a for-I' $ to note that this is a somewhat late development in midable collection of Jewish J" ^ i , the history, and I will be discussing my findings on cookbooks originating in the ^ 'j this development." Midwest, especially [f-7J J o n a t h a n Brumberg-Kraus of Wheaton College Nebraska and Iowa. "They[» chronicle a fascinating social' in Massachusetts considers himself "a foody." "Before I became an academic, I paid my dues as as well as culinary history! a summer prep cook and sous chef at a couple of than spans more than a century," he said. He will French restaurants," he said. "One of my most share his insights in a talk titled, "101 Years of memorable Jewish food experiences was kashering Nebraska Jewish Charitable Cookbooks." the Harvard Hillel kitchen for Pesach, where I first "My work has been shaped by two issues," said met co-panelist Alan Nadler, who was the blow- Marcie Cohen Ferris, who will present her torch-wielding mashgiach at the time," he said. research on "Matzah Ball Gumbo, Gasper Goo Gefilte Brumberg-Kraus will deliver two talks: the Fish, and Big Momma's Sunday presentation is titled, "Does God Care What Kreplach: Exploring We Eat?" and his talk on Monday at Creighton is on "Food and Table Talk in the Early Rabbinic Seder Southern Jewish Foodways." and the Last Supper in Luke's Gospel." "The place%here I grew up-Blytheville, Arkansas-was a Kabbalah and mystical studies are the particular small town known for cotton, interest of Joel Hecker, assistant professor of soybeans, and barbecue," she Jewish Mysticism and Modern Jewish Civilization said. "Then there was the small Jewish congregaat Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. "I have just completed a manuscript on the mys- tion of Temple Israel in Blytheville. We were about tical practices and experiences in the Zohar associ- 30 families," she added. "Being southern and ated with eating," he said. Hecker's presentation is Jewish is a 'double whammy."' titled, "The Blessing in the Belly: Mystical Meals in "Both cultures revere family and food. I love to Medieval Kabbalah." cook, both southern and Jewish dishes, and some Allan Nadler is Director of combinations of each. Over the years I've found the Jewish Studies Program ways to incorporate this love into my field of public at Drew University, and will history," she said. give the talk, "Holy Kugel! Leonard J. Greenspoon, holder of the Klutznick The Sanctification of East Chair at Creighton, notes that the day's events will European Jewish Ethnic conclude with keynote speaker Joan Nathan. Her Foods at the Hasidic Tish." talk, "From Beans to Bagels: A Social History of He was past director of the Jewish Food in America," will begin Sunday, 7:30 YIVO Institute for Jewish p.m. at the JCC. Research in New York City, and currently serves as Monday's events at Creighton University continits senior advisor for academic affairs. ue at 8:15 a.m., beginning with Jonathan "I am a journalist wiLh a passionate interest in Brumberg-Kraus' second presentation. (Continued on page 31) both food history and food as an expression of cul-
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 29
Tutors Etc • Elementary Guidance Counselor o 20 Years Experience • Will help your child, my home or yours
Barbara Herzog iVHueting ^551-2647
• behm2647@cox.netj
Don't make a move without us! Watch for your JCC Summer Camp Brochure in February 2003.
are good for you! www.bcbsne.com
t.
BlueCross BlueSMeld of Nebraska A not-for-profit mutual insurance company and an independent licenseeof ofthe the Blue Blue Cross Crossand andBlue Shield Association. lent licensee
FUN, FRIENDSHIPS AND CARING COUNSELORS AWAIT YOUR CHILD AT
<S*CAMP SABRA
OPEN HOUSE & REUNION (Lunch Included) Sunday, Nov. 3 12:30-2:30 p.m. OPEN HOUSE Jewish Community Center 333 So. 132nd St. Omaha Everyone is Invited REUNION & VIDEO WILL FOLLOW
• Climbing Tower • Mountain Biking 9 Blobbing 9 Theatre • Sailing • Horseback Riding • Tennis • Waterskiing 33rd Season ACAAcredited
Camp Sabta, located on 960 acres and 3 1/2 miles of private shoreline on the magnificant Lake of the Ozarks, MO, is the resident co-ed summer camping facility of the St. Louis JCC, serving children and teens entering grades 3-10 in 4-week sessions, with 2-week options available for those entering grades 3-6.
For more information, please contact
Eadie & Eitan Tsafoari (Area Representatives)
402/390-0192 Payment plan and 2nd child discounts available
Page
Jewish Press, Omaha, Nte
October 25, 2002
Potent Stories: The Maggidim Bring Learning to Life by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor - ~ - . ^ ~ ~ . , .
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Close your eyes and try to remember will have an impact," when you were in Hebrew School. she added. Your blue machberet is on the table in "(Jewish education) front of you. is not just learning Remember that? It's the notebook facts," insisted Rabbi with the drawing of Maimonides on Eugene Labovitz, who the cover. The teacher is writing in served as the spiritual Hebrew script on the blackboard." The leader of Temple Ner boys are shooting spitoalls and the Tamid in Miami Beach for more than 40 years girls look bored. Remember anything? Any facts? The before moving to New timeline of the Jewish kings or the York four years ago. navi'im, the prophets? The order of "It's relating. There are couples who the blessings on Shabbat? Now imagine that a lively storyteller remembered stories I has just described Shabbos in the told them from their shtetl. He conjures up the yeasty high school years and smells of fresh-baked challah, the asked if I'd tell them flickering flames of the Sabbath can- again under the chupdles, the clean white tablecloth and pahV the simmering chicken soup. The Labovitzes get A story unfolds of a Jewish family cel- much of their inspiration from The ebrating Shabbat together--the father Maggid himself, the late Rabbi walking home from Kabbalat Shabbat Shlomo Carlebach, who used the services, bringing a guest with him, Labovitz home as "headquarters" zemirot are sung, the kiddish is recited whenever he was in South Florida. Dr. over the wine and the motzi over the Labovitz began to realize that every braided bread, the children blessed, a time she used a Carlebach story, "test meal is eaten, the weekly Torah portion scores rose" in her classroom. "Shlomo is discussed, followed by the benchten- lived his stories," she added. "He the grace after meals. made a major contribution" to the What have you learned now? Jewish world. Instead of mere facts and figures, a The couple gear their stories not just good storyteller has just related the to the'age, group, but to the audience, order of the Sabbath meal-the the time of year in the Jewish calendar, prayers that need to be recited, the and other important factors. On traditional foods, the mitzvah of feed- Shabbat morning in Omaha, for examIng a stranger. ple, they'll use the weekly Torah porThat is what you'll remember says tion, Toledot, For Sunday morning's nationally renowned storytellers (and presentation to fourth through seventheducators) Rabbi Eugene and Annette grade students at Beth El, stories about Labovitz. To hear their stories, good the Holocaust will be told-to precede stories, memorable stories, come to the introduction of an Omaha memoriBeth El Synagogue Friday, al, The Six Million Lights. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8-10. "There are things that identify you The Labovitzes are known as The as a Jew," Dr. Labovitz explained. Maggidim, Hebrew* for storytellers. "This can be summed up in one wordAnd it's easy to see why. -Neshek—ammunition. The Hebrew "Stories provide role models," Dr. letter nun stands for narot, the canAnnette Labovitz said in a recent tele- dles; the shin for Shabbat, and the kuf phone interview. "The characters are for kodesh, holiness. people we'd like to emulate. So when "People are looking for ammunitionwe tell a story about Shabbat, for -ways to hold on to their Jewishness," .example, the 'tag line' in the story she added, "and we present Neshek as describes the way the Shabbat table the first of seven lines of defense. should look. When a couple goes home "The others include joy," she they can then relate to the couple in explained, "and we've missed out on the story and follow that 'tag line."' that one in the Jewish community. We The stories told by The Maggidim need to rejoice in Judaism, in our holstretch from the beginning of the idays. Mitzvot is next-how we fulfill •Jewish calendar through the end, the commandments. We also must from Shabbat through all the holi- study, learn Torah; and pray and condays "These are the values we hope nect to God through tefillah. The last
two are love-and bers of the Jewish community to come here's where we use to Beth El and tell "Omaha" storiesmany of Shlomo's how Zayde Meilach followed cousin stories-and remem- Paysie to Omaha from Davidivkov in bering. We have to Russia—or that fifth-generation know where we came Omahans visit their great-greatfrom." grandfather's grave in Temple Israel "Shlomo Cemetery. (Carlebach) personi"How did Omaha build this Jewish fied love," Rabbi community?" Dr. Labovitz asked. Labovitz added. "Why did they come her? And how did "When he talked to they survive? you, it was as though The Labovitzes are not strangers to you were the only Omaha-though they've never been person in the room. here. Rabbi Labovitz attended yeshiva And when he said in Brooklyn with two brothers of the he'd call, he did." late Rabbi Isaac Nadoff. And Dr. Rabbi Labovitz Labovitz, an educator in her own explained that he right, learned from Rabbi Nadoff's learns when he father. At CAJE, the ann.ual writes. "I have hun- Conference on Alternatives in Jewish dreds of notebooks," he said, adding Education, Cantor Leo Fettman once that he realized years ago how potent had a booth next to The Maggidim. these stories were. "Our stories are chosen for their "What we're teaching is about messages and their relationship to Jewish values," noted Dr. Labovitz. Jewish life," Dr. Labovitz noted. "We "This is not entertainment." like to describe our visits as 'an innoThe Maggidim talk about "Jewish vative forum exploring Jewish text places" in their stories. But that does- sources blended with holy stories as n't just mean Lithuania and they relate to profound issues of today's Jewish world.'" Jerusalem. It also means Omaha. The couple has even set aside some Profound, indeed-Nov. 8-10 at Beth time on Sunday afternoon for mem- El Synagogue. For the complete
Moshava Campers £Can! by JEWISH PRESS News Service
— _
Audrey Gerber, daughter of Donald and Maggie Gerber, attended Camp Moshava in Wild Rose, WI, last summer for the first time. "I've made lots of friends," Audrey told the Press, "and I get to see them at NCSY Shabbatons,
too. I can't wait for next summer!" Gerber is pictured, second from right, w i t h Keren Sblosberg, Omaha JCC's shlicha, Audrey's m mother, Maggie Gerber, and b r o t h e r Ben,, a former Camp Moshava camper, at visitor's day.
CampMoshawa ofWildRoseM 64yearsin Religious Zionist camping... andcounting • 4 week sessions for entering 4th-9th graders • 4-week and 8-week high school programs for entering 10th and 11th graders
Have an incredible six-week experience on one of our supervised summer programs: • USY on Wheels: a 6w.week trek across North America • USY on Wheels: Mission: Mitzvah • USY Israel Pilgrimage • London/Israel Pilgrimage • Spain/Israel Pilgrimage • Israel Pilgrimage/Poland Seminar • Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage • Heroism and Hope-Mfy/Israel Pilgrimage • Etgar! The Ultimate Israel Challenge Sponsored by The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Write: USY, 155 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010 Call: (212) 533-7800 cxt 2311 Web site: hUp://uscj.orgAisy/cscape/
• Programming for children with special needs • Fully kosher and Shabbat-observant
Call now for information on the summer of 2003
(847)6740733, exL 12 moshava@moshavawildrose.org
October 25, 2002 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Formal and Informal Education at Temple Israel Provide Role Models—Both Ways by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications
"When a teenage role model is used effectively, I think the students benefit in many ways," said Elyce Azriel, director of Temple Israel's Middle and High School. "The students in the classroom see the relationship between the teacher and the high school students and then say to themselves, 1 want to do that when I grow up."' Students have been helping as teacher assistants in the elementary grades for years at Temple Israel. Approximately 13 madrachim, as they are called, are working with teachers in the classrooms this year. Four other teenagers are taking the role of mentors working individually with children. Each mentor has two or three children to work with each week, explained Joan Cooper, Religious School coordinator at Temple. Helping out in the classrooms "gets the older kids involved in giving back," Cooper said. "It establishes positive relationships between the younger kids and Jewish teen role models. It also helps make sure the younger children aren't falling through the cracks. They get more individualized attention," she added. While the teenagers serve as role models for the younger students, "positive relationships develop between the teachers and their teenage assistants, too," Cooper commented. Jon Gates, 15, said he became a madrich, because "I like helping out. It's fun." The high school sophomore, who would like to be an educator someday, considers his work to be "a mitzvah. It's a good experience and I'm getting something back too." He works every Sunday with first through sixth graders. Rabbi Craig Marantz teaches a class especially to prepare the madrachim for their work with the younger children. Included among the curriculum topics are "Acting Like a Madrich", "Philosophy and Goals of Reform Jewish Education", "Child Development", "Classroom Management", "What if a Student Has Special Needs?", "Top Ten Teaching Techniques", and "Praising and Building Self-Esteem with Students." "One of the special things about the madrachim class is that the participants are excited to make a difference in the lives of their (younger) students. Befitting of their title, they're not just helpers, they're guides," said Rabbi Marantz, who was the director of education at Hebrew Benevolent Congregation in Atlanta, Georgia, before coming to Omaha this past summer. Azriel said the students are paid for
Page 31
Foocl5 Flavor, and Fortune
(Continued from page 29) It is followed ty," she said. by Maria She expands this idea in her presDiemling of entation, "Kashrut: Women as the Hebrew Gatekeepers of Jewish Identity." An University of enthusiastic cook, she lives with her their work. However, half of their Jerusalem. husband and two children, who, she salary is held in a fund for them to "I admit I says, are all very fond of home-made spend on an Israel experience, for have a fierce challah and barches. camp, or to attend a youth group con- sweet tooth," An examination of vegetarianism clave. she said. "But, being a .vegetarian, I concludes the Monday sessions, with a Teachers are also instructed on how also indulged in wonderful presentation by I to best use madrachim. Mediterranean food during a seven- Gary A. | Becki Smedlund, a 16-year-old junior, year stay in Jerusalem. While sharing Rendstmrg < is enrolled in the madrachim class. She food is a bonding experience, percep- Cornell Univer-! teaches the pre-kdndergarten class at tions of food can also introduce barri- sity. "My broad Temple along with fellow-madrachim ers between different cultures," she i n t e r e s t s Angela Friedman and Brandon observed. Her talk, "Garlic in Jewish- include the hisThomas. The class meets every other Christian Polemical Discourse in tory of food in week. "I really like working with kids," Early Modern Ashkenaz" explores world cultures, Becki said. "It's interesting and I these kinds of barriers and how they so I am very happy to be participatremember having madrachim in my contribute to self-identity. ing," he said; His talk is.titled "The classes" when she"'was" younger. She Brannon Wheeler is associate pro- Vegetarian Ideal in the Bible." mentioned that she really didn't intend | fessor of Islamic The keynote luncheon speaker is to become a role model. "It just sort of studies at the nationally known scholar Jenna comes with the job." University of Weissman-Joselit of Princeton Samantha Friedman, a high school W a s h i n g t o n , University, who writes widely on the hissenior, has been a madricha for four or and a past par- tory of American Jewish culture, from five years. "I like little kids and it's ticipant in the fashion to foodways. "I'm a longtime New fun," said the 17-year-old who is conK l u t z n i c k Yorker who is [ templating becoming a child psycholoSymposia. "I lucky enough to gist someday. "This is a good experispecialize in con- live down the ence. You learn how to handle little kids sulting on issues of Islamic law, religion, block from I who are being good or misbehaving." and technology in the Middle East," Zabar's, the Stephanie Grossman, director of where he has lectured widely, he said. renowned food youth and informal education at His presentation is: "Food of the Book or store, which I Temple Israel, hopes to interest college Food of Israel? Israelite and Jewish frequent daily,"] students in becoming role models there. Food Laws in the Muslim Exegesis of she said. With an expanding emphasis on infor- Quran 3:93." Lunch will be held in the Creighton mal education, Grossman noted, "We're "Home-Made Judaism" is the title of Skutt Student Center at noon, folin the beginning stages of expanding Ruth Abusch-Magder doctoral dis- lowed by Joselit's address, "Jewish in the role of college students." sertation in progress at Yale Dishes: Pood, Faith, and Community She also pointed out the overlapping University. "My work explores the role in Modem America." For more inforroles of formal and informal educa- of the culinary arts in Jewish identi- mation, please call 280-2303. tion. "There's a continuing mutual involvement between the youth group (which she oversees) and middle and high school." On Wednesday evenings when the high school meets, time is provided for "a youth group moment" which gives youth group members an opportunity'to make announcements "The hidden lives of gay and about their programs. In addition to a lesbian orthodox and Hasidic Jews youth group membership-welcome An unprecedented feature table, the youngsters go from classdocumentary that shatters room to classroom to talk about assumptions about faith, sexuality, Omaha Temple Youth Group (OTYG). Saturday^ November 2 and religious fundamentalism," Grossman said this cooperation has increased youth group attendance. "From Graceland to the Holy Land, She is also pleased that the clergy a Jewish Elvis impersonator, an have increased their involvement eccentric Rabbi, and a film crew with the youth groups which include travel on a bizarre odyssey to trace Junior Youth Group and Club 56 as Elvis' Jewish roots... well as OTYG. Both rabbis and the Irreverent, bizarre, witty and laughcantor will each go to a conclave outout-loud funny! " Saturday, f^ovemtser 9 of-town this year. They've always been involved in local conclaves which "This Academy Award nominated documentary, "is important so the kids know the follows the journey of filmmaker B.Z. Goldberg, clergy care about them." Their presan American who grew up in Jerusalem arid Safyrday was a journalist during the intifada, Over the ence also provides role models for November 1® course of 4 years, the filmmakers were "budding clergy and Jewish educawelcomed into the daily lives of seven children tors," according to Grossman. ' and theirfamilies. " Involvement by the clergy "goes both ways," she said. "It's important for the "A stunning comic fable that tells kids to get to know the clergy and for the tale of a Jewish village the clergy to get to know the kids." combating the oppressive forces of
Open Forum on Anti-Semitism Concludes JELS Series by DIANE AXLER B A U M — — - — • Bob Wolfson and Guy Matalon will Learning of Jewish Educational and conduct "An Operi Forum on Anti- Library Services (JELS). Matalon is a lecturer in the UNO Semitism and Related Topics" on Tuesday, Oct. 29, noon, at the Department of Philosophy and Kripke Jewish Federation Library in Religion, and Wolfson is director of the ADL-CRC. The two have become the JCC. The informal "brown bag" session known throughout the community for will conclude a series of four seminars their energetic, informative presentaon the rise of anti-Semitism and ter- tions. For more information about the rorism around the world sponsored seminar, call Kathy Hirshman in the this fall by the College of Jewish JELS office, at 334-6445.
2002 Jewish film Festival Omaha
fascism with humor—then making a cunningflight for freedom with unconventional aplomb."
November 23
" "fora ill
ALL SHQWTSSVSES AT 8 P . M . IN THE JCC THEATER Special Kid's Mat/rx* Sunday, November 27,130-3:30 p.m. Watch for details" . Ticket Info Individual film Festival Combo Pack (4tix)
$5 $15
For reserved tickets, please call the
FILM FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE
334-6402
Sponsored by: The Jewish Federation of Omaha m Kripke Library a Jewish Educational & Library Services Funded In part by: The Avy L. and Robert L. Miller Foundation by Lindsey MillerLerman ss UNOmaha Department of Religion & Film
Page 32
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
October 25, 2002
Noted Kollel Rabbi and Rebbetzin Come to Omaha by SHAR1 BLUM
.—
— ~ — —
The Omaha Center for Torah Learning (OCTL) will host Rabbi Moshe Barueh and Naama Parnes for its first Scholars-in-Residence Weekend, Nov. 15-16 at the OCTL House, 1313 No. 58 St. Rabbi Parnes is experienced in kiruv-outreach.-having served in Dayton, OH, in its kollel, where he also acted as rabbi of Dayton's Young Israel congregation in the early 1990s and was a member of the Federation Board of Directors. "Alyssa and I were lucky enough to be in Atlanta two years ago when the Parnes family joined the Atlanta Scholars Kollel. Since we have met them, our lives have changed for the better. We found it refreshing and encouraging to spend time with a family that lives by words that they preach," said Elly Berlin of Lincoln, NE, who brought Rabbi Parnes to the attention of OCTL Director, Rabbi Aryeh Blum. "(Their) combination of high energy, fun and enthusiasm is contagious. He's not afraid to tackle tough or difficult questions about religious Judaism," he added. "Together, they have enriched our lives more than they will ever know." Rabbi Parnes studied at both the Lakewood Yeshiva in New Jersey and in Israel. He obtained srnicha (rabbinic ordination) from Chief Rabbi Kolitz of Jerusalem and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in 1995. He has been a member of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel (ASK) since 2000 and is currently Director of Outreach for ASK in Cobb County, GA, where he provides programming for its growing Jewish community. "I lived in Israel most of my adult life," said Rabbi Parnes "but in 1996, I came to Dayton, so I understand the challenges in a small community." Naama Parnes, whose father is Rabbi Shalom Tendler, Dean of YULA~the Yeshiva University high School in Los Angeles, has taught for 16 years-in Dayton, where she developed a women's only
course, "Uniquely Ours," at Sharfman's-a seminary for young women in Jerusalem, and now in Atlanta, where she teaches Naviim (prophets), Chumash (Torah) and Hebrew Language at the high school level. Her uncle is Rabbi Moshe Tendler, rosh kollel of Ner Yisroel Rabbinical College's yeshiva high school in Baltimore. "Both Rabbi and Mrs Parneshave an impressive background and bring humor and life to what they do," noted Rabbi Blum. "We're grateful to Elly Berlin for helping OCTL introduce these two leaders in Torah education to the Omaha community." Rabbi Parnes, will deliver a D'var Torah during Shabbos dinner on Friday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. and he will speak during lunch, Saturday, Nov. 16, 12:30 p.m. OCTL will also host a "Women's Shalosh Seudah" later that afternoon with Mrs. Parnes at 4:45 p.m. That night, OCTL will sponsor aMelava Malka, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. with both Rabbi and Mrs. Parnes. All events will take place at the OCTL House. "I'm looking forward to my visit here," said Rabbi Parnes, "my first to Omaha. It's very encouraging to learn of Jews who want to study, despite the fact that they may not be near the kind of Jewish resources available in larger cities. That's what drew me to Dayton-Fve always liked working in smaller communities." The cost for the dinner is $15 for adults and $7 for children; lunch is $12 for adults and $5 for children. A combined price of $25 for adults; $10 for children is available for those who wish to partake of both meals. There is no charge for the Women's Shalosh Seudah or the Melava Malka (a postShabbat party with singing and schmoozing). Reservations may be made by calling Rabbi Blum at 320-8055 or by sending a check, made out to OCTL, to: OCTL, PO Box 24-883, Omaha, NE 68124.
Deadline is Next Week for Press Coloring Contest by JEWISH PRESS News Service
again, children and teens, ages 3-13, will
drawing reproduced in four-color on the front page of the Hanukkah Gift Guide, which will be published in the Nov. 15 issue of the Jewish Press. The first three entries received by the Press will also receive gift certificates to Countryside Village. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Nov. 1. Drawings must be on white paper, no larger than 8 l/2xll"~please use marker, not crayon. For more information, call 334-6448. Above: Brianna Sadofsky, daughter of Paul and Kelli Sadofsky, submitted this drawing for last year's Hanukkah Contest.
's BOys ,
HELP • HEALING • HOPE Girls and Boys Town, the original Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, is a leader in the treatment and care of abused, abandoned and neglected girls and boys. Throughout its 85-year history, the nonprofit, nonsectarian organization has provided these children with a safe, caring, loving environment where they gain the confidence to get better and learn the skills to become productive citizens. Girls and Boys Town alumni have gone on to become successful in all facets of life. For information on job opportunities, please visit our website at www.girlsandboystown.org or call the job line at 1-800-321-4171.