Vol. XLIII 6 Adar - Nissan 5773 March

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1 Vol. XLIII 6 Adar - Nissan 5773 March Journey into Jewish History During Our Fascinating Scholar-in-Residence Weekend Join us during the weekend of March 15, when we welcome Jewish history scholar Dr. Benjamin Gampel of the Jewish Theological Seminary as our scholar-in-residence. Our special guest will take us on a journey back in time as he addresses Reframing Traditional Judaism: Travels with Maimonides, Nahmanides and Rashi. Dr. Gampel, an associate professor of Jewish history, holds the Dina and Eli Field Family Chair in Jewish History at the seminary, teaching courses in medieval and early modern Jewish history, with a special focus on the medieval Sephardim. He is the author of The Last Jews on Iberian Soil: Navarrese Jewry , and the editor of Crisis and Creativity in the Sephardic World. Dr. Gampel returned to the Spanish archives for a recent project, a book-length treatment of the riots and forced conversions of 1391 on the Iberian Peninsula. I am very excited to have Dr. Gampel serve as our Kahn Family Scholar in Residence this year, said Rabbi Steven Abraham. He was one my favorite professors while in rabbinical school, as well as one of Shira s while she was an undergraduate at JTS. Dr. Gampel is just as committed to his students as he is about his field of study. I loved his lectures because they were entertaining as well as informative. I am thrilled that the Beth El community will get to spend time with this amazing educator. On Friday, March 15, during our 6 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat service, Dr. Gampel will offer a brief overview of his weekend presentations; he will also lead the Dinner & Drash session afterward, addressing Between Muslim Power and Jewish Survival: The Brilliant Career of Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam). On Saturday, March 16, during 9:30 a.m. Shabbat services -- and continuing during Kiddush lunch -- the professor will discuss The Pioneering Efforts of Ashkenazi Jewish Culture: Shlomo ben Yitzhak (Rashi) and his Pathbreaking Commentaries ; at 7:30 p.m., between Celebrate the Second Night of Passover at Our Congregational Seder You re invited to welcome Passover with the entire Beth El family, as we celebrate the second night of the holiday at our annual congregational Seder on Tuesday, March 26, at 6 p.m., led by Rabbi Abraham and Hazzan Krausman. (continued on page 3) A warm, joyful evening is being planned, filled with singing and meaningful concepts from the Haggadah to reflect modern slavery and freedom, Rabbi Abraham said. We look forward to sharing our celebration with the community. Dinner will include your choice of brisket, salmon or a vegan entrée. Make your reservation by March 15 --payment included -- and take advantage of our early-bird pricing (the following prices reflect Beth El members/non-members): adults, $25/$35; children 7-12, $18/$25; children six and younger, free. After March 15, cost will be: adults, $30/$40; children 7-12, $25/$30. Be sure to let us know your main dish selection and whether you ll need a high chair or booster chair, as well as with whom you would like to sit, and if you have any food allergies. Make your second night of Pesach a memorable one; join us and make your reservation today! To RSVP, send in your check payable to Beth El Synagogue or sign up and pay online at For more information, contact Margie in the synagogue office, or programming@bethel-omaha.org.

2 Remembering the Exodus from Egypt by Rabbi Steven Abraham In each and every generation a person must see himself as if actually coming out of Egypt... It was not only our ancestors who the Holy One redeemed, but all of us as well were redeemed along with them. Passover Haggadah Remember what Amalek did to you on your way out of Egypt; remember the day on which you left Egypt. [Deuteronomy 25:17] The act of being Jewish cannot be summed up in one defining characteristic. Yet our most common denominator as Jews is our bond to certain events in our people s past. We all have certain memories that stand out in our own lives, whether of our grandmother making chicken soup, going to synagogue with our grandfathers or lighting Shabbat candles with our own families. We made these memories and they are an indelible part of our Jewish psyche. But on Passover we are told to remember the day we left Egypt and act as if we, too, were redeemed along with our ancestors. Have you ever tried to recall an event from your youth that no matter how much color another person gave to the event, you still could not remember? We can listen intently, but the story is not ours! And with the Passover story the obligation is even more daunting, as the commandment requires that we remember an event for which neither we, nor anyone else sitting at our tables, was present to experience. How do we remember something we did not experience? It s important to first realize what the obligation of the Haggadah is asking of us, and the assumptions inherent within. In telling us to remember the day on which we left Egypt, thereby seeing ourselves as actually having been redeemed just as our ancestors had been, the rabbis are making the claim that taking part in an event is not required for memory. In short, something that is part of the collective Jewish story can be part of our own story, even though we were never there to witness the event. The question still remains: How do we remember something that we did not experience ourselves? Two slightly divergent texts come to help us answer that question. We are taught in Mishnah Pesachim 10:5, In every generation, each person is obligated to see himself as if he went out of Egypt. While this may seem like a challenge, in reality the rabbis made it quite simple. What are we doing when we sit down at the Seder table, if not recreating the Exodus from Egypt? Whether in the form of eating matzah or bitter herbs dipped in salt water to reclining when we drink our four glasses of wine, we literally play out the Passover story in order to see ourselves as part of the story. Our reenactment is the way in which we remember. Were we there? No! Yet the story is so engrained inside of us that it has become part of our own personal narrative. Interestingly, the second text varies slightly and says the following: In every generation, each person is obligated to show himself as if he personally went out just now from the slavery of Egypt. [Mishneh Torah; Laws of Hametz and Matzah 7:6] As mentioned above, seeing oneself as part of the story is to insert oneself into the narrative, to literally take part in the play. Maimonides [RaMBaM] in the Mishneh Torah is saying something quite different in this second text. His understanding is that while it is important for one to see oneself having gone forth out of Egypt, that is only half the battle. The second more difficult challenge is to act the part of an individual who has been spared, to live a life worthy of having been redeemed from Egypt. For Maimonides, what is the point of remembering, if nothing positive is going to be done with those memories! How do we remember something we did not experience? We do this by taking part in the conversation, taking part in rituals that connect us to the events of our people s past -- the Seder. In addition -- and potentially even more importantly -- we must take the lessons of Passover and use them as a tool to guide us in our everyday actions. Men s Club Shabbat Promises Special Morning A ruach-filled morning is promised during our annual Men s Club Shabbat on Saturday, March 9, 9:30 a.m., and we invite our entire Beth El family to enjoy this special service. Men's Club Shabbat is a way for us to honor members of the club, as well as the congregation, with the responsibility of leading the services as a team, said organizer Jason Blair. I would encourage all men of the congregation to be a part of this experience. A light Kiddush lunch, sponsored by Men s Club, will follow services. 2

3 We Thank Our Yad Squad The following members read Torah/Haftarah in February: Yitro Michael Gerson Steve Riekes Howard Kaplan Marty Shukert Haftarah - Marty Shukert Mishpatim Ben Shapiro Sharon Brodkey Glen Fineman Roni Reiter-Palmon Alan Potash Sally Zipursky Steve Riekes Haftarah - Alan Shulewitz Terumah Hazzan Michael Krausman Aaron Zipursky Zev Krausman Alan Shulewitz Marty Shukert Haftarah - Patty Nogg Tetzaveh Michael Gerson Gary Nachman Marty Shukert Naomi Zipursky Steve Denenberg Haftarah - Steve Denenberg BIRTHDAYS With 5-year multiples Wendy Berenson Rose Davis Deb Denenberg Bruce Friedlander Marilyn Kaplan Heather Kelln Marilyn Konigsberg Shane Kotok Bettie Muskin Margo Riekes Michael Schop Don t Miss the Scholar-in-Residence Weekend (continued from front cover) Mincha and Ma ariv/havdalah services, he will lead a special study session, exploring The Muslims Fall and the Christians are Victorious: Moshe ben Nahman (Ramban) and the Challenges of Christian Spain. There is no charge for the Saturday lunch; Friday night s dinner cost is $5 for Beth El members and $12.50 for non-members. No charge for children six and younger. Babysitting after dinner is available by reservation only. (Note: Due to the reduced cost of this dinner, we are unable to accept charges for payment. Please send checks to the office.) Reservations are required for Shabbat dinner by Wednesday, March 13. After that date, a late fee of $10 will be added. Reservations and payment may be made by visiting or by calling the synagogue office. Dr. Gampel's visit is being generously sponsored by the Ilse and Marcel Kahn Endowment Fund. Women s Rosh Hodesh Group to Visit SAC Museum Exhibit Our Women s Rosh Hodesh Group will enjoy a special field trip on Sunday, March 10, as we head to the Strategic Air & Space Museum to view Searching for Humanity: Veterans, Victims and Survivors of World War II, an exhibit created by local artist Matthew Placzek. Using photos, memorabilia and testimonies of Nebraska Holocaust survivors, soldiers and liberators of those imprisoned in concentration camps, the exhibit asks its audience to consider the search for humanity during the Holocaust and to reflect on man s obligation to humankind. We are fortunate to have Placzek join us during the morning to speak about his experience conceptualizing and creating the exhibit. Following the formal meeting, attendees are welcome to spend time touring the rest of the museum. The program will begin at 10:15 a.m.; all women in the Jewish community are welcome to attend. Admission is $11; reservations and payment must be received by March 6. RSVP to the meeting s host, Jill Belmont, at BeanK2@aol.com or , and send your check made payable to Beth El to the synagogue. Tons of Fun Planned for Our YAC Playgroup Toddlers and their parents are in for tons of fun this month during our Young Adult Committee s playgroup: on March 13, 10:30 a.m., we ll enjoy cookie-decorating (place TBA); and on Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m., we ll have some quality play time at the Omaha Children s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. For more information or to RSVP for these activities, contact Caryn Scheer at carynscheer@yahoo.com. Kollectibles Mazel tov to Andy Greenberg, on the publication of his new book of motivational vignettes, Your High: Life-Changing Broadcasts from Andy Greenberg. 3

4 Let Shira Abraham Give You a Passover Makeover! Want to learn how to prepare your home for Passover? Let Shira Abraham show you the way during Passover Makeover: Home Edition, a special get-together at her home on Sunday, March 3, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Shira will share tips and tricks about how to stay organized for the holiday, and explore new traditions to add to your week of Passover. So much of Passover -- the preparations, the cooking, even the Seder itself -- happens in our homes, she said. We will explore new traditions and ways to add meaning into our home observance of the holiday. Come with ideas to share -- from how to stay organized for the holiday to ways to liven up your Seder! I was lucky to grow up in a home that was full of Jewish life, she continued. I want to be able to share how we bring Judaism into our life and encourage people to observe holidays in ways that work for them - in addition to how it is observed in the synagogue. I do not expect that people simply copy models of how others observe Jewish life -- but to be able to add just one more thing into their own observance would be amazing! There is no charge to attend, but reservations are requested. To RSVP, contact Shira at Shira.Abraham@gmail.com. We Share Your Joy On the Births of: Lola Sam Aryal Granddaughter of Margie & Bruce Gutnik and Usha & Shakti Aryal Our fifth and sixth graders, assisted by their parents and BESTT teachers, spent a recent Sunday morning performing the ritual of tying tzitzit for their personalized tallitot. Nechama Nacher Granddaughter of Carole & Wayne Lainof and Stuart & Susan Nacher Take Advantage of Our Jewish Service Grants Families with children planning to attend Jewish summer camp or participate in an Israel experience are encouraged to apply for a Beth El Jewish Service Grant. Applications are now available in the BESTT office, on and on Judy Tully's desk in the synagogue office. All families, regardless of financial need, are eligible for these grants. The applicant repays the grant in the form of service hours to the synagogue or to BESTT. The deadline to submit applications is March 18. For further information regarding additional financial aid or to have an application sent via , contact Eadie Tsabari at etsabari@bethelomaha.org,

5 President s Corner After all these years of living in Omaha, I finally became a member of the JCC. Why? Of course it was an opportunity to exercise and strive to take better care of myself. But a secondary opportunity has developed, which is equally as gratifying. As I walk the track, I see dozens of Beth El members. I love greeting them, learning about their careers and family, and talking about Beth El. It is gratifying to hear the positive comments about Rabbi Abraham, Hazzan Krausman, Eadie Tsabari, Margie Gutnik, Judy Tully, Laura Bair, Larry DeBruin, our wonderful services and programs, and lots more. We also discuss their ideas, concerns, and suggestions about how to keep Beth El a vibrant, spiritual, educational, and warm community for all Beth El congregants, as well as for all Jewish community members who attend our synagogue s events and educational classes. Many of the congregants with whom I visit while exercising would never call me to express their feelings, so this has become a great venue for your president to connect and get feedback. So, what s my point? I want and encourage your feedback so that we can continue to ensure that our synagogue meets your needs. Please call me, or join the JCC and come visit with me as we work out. Beth El is the place to be! Lloyd Roitstein President, Board of Trustees Defy Gravity with YAC on March 17 Calling all young adults married or single, with or without kids, our Young Adult Committee invites you to have a bouncingly-good time at Defy Gravity, Portal Rd., on Sunday, March 17, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of fun jumping on giant trampolines that cover over 6,000 square feet of jump space! Cost is $10.50 per person (any age); admission fee includes shoes. Reservations are needed by March 13 and may be made by contacting organizers Laurie Epstein at laurieepstein@hotmail.com, or Melissa Shapiro at melissalynneshapiro@gmail.com. After the deadline date, cost to attend will be $ Send checks payable to Beth El Synagogue to the office, or register online at Note: All participants are required to sign a waiver; you may fill it out in advance online at or the day of the event at the venue. Support Men s Club s Yellow Candle Project It s time again for Men s Club s annual Yellow Candle Project, established to keep alive the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. For the project, Yom HaShoah candles are sent to our entire congregation, and donations are requested which will benefit youth programming at Beth El. Glen Fineman is serving as chairman. The memorial candle's yellow wax and symbol depict a Jewish star and strand of barbed wire, which remind us of the yellow armband which Jews were forced to wear during the Nazi regime. The photo on the candle, which shows youngsters leaving a concentration camp, emphasizes the importance of teaching our youth lessons of the Holocaust and remembering those who perished. Chairman Glen Fineman (left) joins fellow Men s Club members, packaging candles for a past Yellow Candle Project. Men s Club members are invited to help package candles for mailing on Sunday, March 10 at 10 a.m. Your help would be very much appreciated! And we hope that when you receive your yellow candle in the mail, you will support the project and our Beth El kids by making a generous donation. 5

6 Why Buy Beth El? Thanks to our congregants shopping with Beth El gift cards, the synagogue netted over $1,300, just from August to December last year at no extra costs to shoppers! If you frequent Bag n Save, Baker s, No Frills, Bagel Bin or Kohl s, make your purchases using Beth El grocery/shopping cards, and those merchants will donate a percentage to the synagogue. Buy Beth El cards may be purchased online at our website, or at the synagogue office. Want more information? Contact Larry DeBruin in the synagogue office, and support us by buying Beth El! Board games, mah jongg and friendly competition ruled the day for the women of Beth El, during Dames & Games, the special edition of our monthly Dames & Drinks program. Join us on Thursday, March 21, 7 p.m., for our next get-together; kick back with friends and enjoy casual conversation, appetizers and drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic). Free babysitting is available by making a reservation with Melissa Schop, at melschop@hotmail.com. Beth El Summer Scholars Fund Established by Murow Family Beth El Synagogue President Lloyd Roitstein and Rabbi Steven Abraham are pleased to announce the establishment of the Beth El Summer Scholars Fund, designed to help facilitate Jewish summer camp attendance by the synagogue s kids, and to increase their connection and love of Judaism while at home. The fund has been established by Janie and Allan Murow, Rebecca (Murow) and Josh Klein, and Josh s mother, Janet Kolodner. Rabbi, Hazzan to Lead Study Sessions at Remington Heights During March and April, Rabbi Abraham and Hazzan Krausman will lead a series of study sessions a little teaching, a little singing and a little noshing -- at Remington Heights. Classes will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5, and on the following Wednesdays: March 20, April 10 and April 24. All members of the Jewish community are invited to participate; no charge to attend. In addition to receiving funding for camp, recipients will also attend special educational sessions with Rabbi Abraham and Hazzan Krausman several times during the year. Eligible applicants include Beth El youths who currently participate in Jewish educational programs (BESTT, Friedel Jewish Academy, BESTT High School), and who regularly attend Shabbat services and/or Junior Congregation. Contributions to this new fund, as well as other existing synagogue funds, are welcome by phone at , at reception@bethel-omaha.org, or through the Beth El website, For more information about the Summer Scholars Fund, contact Larry DeBruin in the synagogue office, or at exec@bethel-omaha.org. 6

7 BESTT Kids Treated to Entertaining Wrap Session Our BESTT students got in on the fun of learning to wrap tefillin during last month s Worldwide Wrap, sponsored by Men s Club. During the morning, Hazzan Krausman presented an entertaining session about the symbolism of tefillin and demonstrated the wrapping technique; then Men s Club members, including Steven Levy (bottom left), and Michael Gerson (bottom right), taught students how to wrap, using Fruit-by-the-Foot. Shopping at Amazon.com Makes Ca$h for Beth El! Did you know that any purchase you make at Amazon.com can make big bucks for Beth El? All you have to do is access Amazon s site through the link on our synagogue s website, and a percentage of your purchases will be donated to Beth El. It doesn t get any easier than this: shop online and support our congregation, all at the same time! Minyannaires Thanks to these members of Beth El who attended at least one daily service between January 18 and February 14: Rabbi Abraham Diane Axler Baum Jill Belmont Wendy Berenson JoAnn Blatt Zachary Bram Sharon Brodkey Sheldon Cohen William Cohen Larry DeBruin Ellene Edelstein Julia Edelstein Stanley Edelstein Hal Emas Leigh Emas Macklin Emas Rick Emas Ronald Epstein Glen Fineman David Finkelstein Gail Friedman Heidi Friedman Jeremy Friedman Morris Friedman Sanford Friedman Michael Gerson Sherman Golbitz Donald Goldstein Dee Goodman Michael Goodman Jay Gordman Miriam Gottlieb Andrew Greenberg Bruce Gutnik Marjorie Gutnik David Herzog Julianne Herzog Jon Lance Jabenis Ilse Kahn Marcel Kahn Howard Kaiman Howard Kaplan Judith Katskee Milton Katskee Larry Kipperman David Kotok Shane Kotok Laurel Krausman Hazzan Krausman Zev Krausman Larry Kronick Jane Kulakofsky Carole Lainof Wayne Lainof Joan Latchaw Gary Lerner Rabbi Levin Steven Levy Joan Marcus Steven Meyer Lynda Mirvish Anna Mosenkis Igor Mosenkis Jane Murow Betty Perelman Steve Pitlor Merle Potash Joel Rich Jonathan Rich Steven Riekes Caryn Rifkin Gary Rifkin Nancy Rips Lloyd Roitstein Sidney Rosenblatt Dorothy Rosenblum Carol Schneider Edward Schneider Melissa Schop Michael Schop Natan Schwalb Wayne Schwarz Benjamin Shapiro Rodney Shkolnick Stanley Silverman Tootie Simon Nancy Skid Mort Steinberg Edith Tsabari Judith Tully Stewart Tully Deborah Turetsky Lucy Turetsky Margaret Turetsky Esther Wax James Wax Joye Wees Steven Wees 7

8 Making Beth El the Best That It Can Be By Eadie Tsabari, Director of Congregational Learning I was fortunate to attend the recent Jewish Educators Assembly in Dallas. The JEA is a group of educators who do the sacred work, along with their teachers, rabbis and cantors, of educating Jewish children and parents to be literate and loving Jews. Not an easy task. The theme of the conference was "Change is in the Air." How can we, along with the Conservative movement, meet the needs of its members? How can we transcend the 1960s mentality and methodology and make Judaism relevant today? How can we make the changes but keep the soul and the beauty? How can we put God and Torah back into the conversation when our lives are so busy? That's a lot to think about! One day we went to the Dallas Holocaust Museum, and the Sixth Floor Museum (formerly the Texas School Book Depository, the building from which President Kennedy was assassinated). Both were very moving. At the Holocaust museum I saw the name of my aunt, Helen Newberg, who survived the Holocaust together with my mother by posing as Polish workers in Germany. At the Sixth Floor Museum, we remembered the tragedy of that November day in 1963, as well as what President Kennedy did during his short time in office. Change was happening throughout the United States -- civil right, women's rights, Cuba, the space race, and more. One of President Kennedy's most famous quotations is, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Change was in the air then, too, and we were all part of it. Could we answer President Kennedy's call for action today in our Jewish life? What will you do for Beth El to make it the best that it can be? Every community has its strengths and its weaknesses. While listening to people speak about their communities during the JEA, I was so proud of Beth El -- of our traditions, our school and our willingness to make changes. Anyone wanting to help us make those changes is welcome. Anyone wanting to be involved, just sign up. Ask what you can do for Beth El and make the positive changes that we need! BESTT Calendar March Oh Say Shalom to Shabbat 6:00 pm 2 Junior Congregation 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 3 BESTT Hebrew School 9:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 3rd-4th Grade Wedding 11:30 am 6 BESTT Hebrew School 4:15-6:15 p.m. BESTT High School 6:45-8:30 p.m. 9 Shabbat s Cool Pesach Edition 9:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 10 BESTT Hebrew School 9:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 13 BESTT Hebrew School 4:15-6:15 p.m. BESTT High School 6:45-8:30 pm 16 Junior Congregation 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Kadima Kinnus Weekend Retreat 17 BESTT Hebrew School 9:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Torah Tots 1030 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 19 BESTT Committee Meeting 7:00-8:00 pm 20 BESTT Model Seder 4:15-6:15 p.m. BESTT High School 6:45-8:30 p.m. BESTT students linked arms as they shared a special, soulful Havdalah celebration, led by Hazzan Krausman, during a recent Shabbat s Cool/Shul-In overnight. 8 March 23 - April 2 Pesach/Spring Break

9 Save the Date for Our Annual Cantor s Scholarship Concert Mark Sunday, April 28 on your calendar and plan to join us for our annual Cantor s Scholarship Fund Concert. This year s concert, titled A Comedian, a Choir and a Cantor, will be led by Hazzan Krausman, and will feature worldrenowned comedian and Jewish humor maven Joel Chasnoff. Our hazzan invites congregants to participate in this special show, as part of the choir which will perform three pieces -- two liturgical and one secular. The music will be easy to learn, even for relative beginners, he said, adding that he will try to accommodate everyone s schedules regarding rehearsal times Interested? Need more information? Contact Hazzan Krausman at the synagogue or at hazzankrausman@bethel-omaha.org. Tu B Shevat is Too Much Fun at Lauritzen Gardens Our annual Tu B Shevat celebration at Lauritzen Gardens was a smashing success on January 27, delighting both adults and children alike. Congregants including David Finkelstein (at left), manned stations in the floral display hall, handing out sweets and juice, and explaining the four seasons in Israel to the more than 325 attendees; Jane Dreyfus helped out with seed-planting activities (top left); children were mesmerized by Helen Epstein s engaging story-telling (top center); our BESTT kids (top right) enjoyed creating nature-themed art projects; Nancy Rips and Nancy Skid (bottom left) supervised the children s cookie-decorating; and Hazzan Krausman (bottom right) divided his audience of over 80 into Fruits and Nuts, as they had a ball participating in a spirited Tu B Shevat sing-off. We thank our dedicated volunteers and the terrific staff at Lauritzen for making this community-wide celebration both fun and memorable. Want to help Men s Club kasher the synagogue s kitchen for Passover? Lend a hand on Sunday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. the more the merrier! IN MEMORIAM Beth El extends profound sympathy to the families of: Jay Chasen Edith Chesen Florence Davis Randy Endelman Maurice Gordon Eva Katskee Reva Rubenstein Dave Shkolnick Stuart Simon May the All-Merciful comfort and sustain them in their sorrow. 9

10 This Kol lists contributions received by February 18, Donations received after that date will be listed in the April Kol. Contributions to Named Endowment Funds 21st Century Endowment Fund In Memory of: Eve Katskee Recovery of: Amy Friedman Alan S. Kulakofsky Endowment Fund In Honor of Birth of: Lola Sam Aryal In Honor of Birthday of: Jonathan Fox Yahrzeit of: Dora Rosenblatt Ann Goldstein Endowment Fund Yahrzeit of: Ann Goldstein Arnold Stern Endowment Fund In Honor of Birthday of: Michaela Bolamperti Barbara & Dean Frankel Endowment Fund Yahrzeit of: Rose Herzog David and Ida Potash Endowment Fund Yahrzeit of: Jacque Dolgoff, Leonard Potash Florence Hurwitz Endowment Fund Yahrzeit of: Florence Hurwitz, Louis Hurwitz Isaac H. and Ruth S. Friedman Endowment Fund Recovery of: Amy Friedman Lee Jane Parsow Endowment Fund In Honor of Birthday of: Alvin Nogg Magda Fried Endowment Fund In Memory of: Florence Davis Marlene Hechtman Endowment Fund In Honor of: Blanche Wise PJ Havdalah was Out of this World! Milton Marcus Instrumental Music Endowment Fund In Honor of Birthday of: Alvin Abramson In Memory of: Dave Shkolnick P. and S. Wintroub Endowment Scholarship Fund Yahrzeit of: Marilyn Wintroub Pred Rita & Harold Novak Endowment Fund In Memory of: Dorothy Kotok Yahrzeit of: Israel Krantz, Max Novak Sandra and Edward Belgrade Endowment Fund In Memory of: Avielle Richman Sara and Eli Zalkin Endowment Fund In Memory of: Edith Chesen Recovery of: Frances Fried's daughter, Nancy Selwyn Roffman Endowment Fund Yahrzeit of: Rose Roffman Stephen R. Skid Endowment Fund In Memory of: Sheldon Turkel Zeffren Alter Scholarship Fund In Memory of: Dave Shkolnick, Reva Rubenstein Contributions to Named Synagogue Funds Blanche Wise Education Fund In Honor of Anniversary of: Hannah & Gene Step In Honor of: Blanche Wise In Memory of: Blanche Sachs, Doris Izenstat, Grandmother of Rachel Morris Recovery of: Caryl Greenberg, Morley Zipursky Cantor Berkovits Music Fund Yahrzeit of: Eva Ruback Caring Committee Fund In Memory of: Blake Wolfson Yahrzeit of: Hannah Klawans General Fund In Memory of: Dave Shkolnick, Edith Chesen, Eve Katskee, Shirlee Hersch Yahrzeit of: Blanche Horwitz, Diana Rubin, Harold Kaplan, Maurice Weiss, Max Snyder, Nathan Veitzer, Philip Smith, Rosa Turetsky, Ruvim Turetsky, Sarah Bernstein, Sarah Ostravich Litt, William Ostrow Liturgical Book Fund Yahrzeit of: Kate Lainof Programming Fund In Memory of: Dave Shkolnick Rabbi Abraham s Discretionary Fund In Memory of: Edith Chesen Yahrzeit of: Anna Chasanov, Edwin Rosenblatt, Florence Belmont, Marion Levine, Max Drolick, Molly Drolick, Nathan Veitzer Scholarship Fund In Honor of: Blanche Wise In Memory of: Aunt Gucia, Dorothy Kotok, Edith Chesen, Steven Gershon Recovery of: Morley Zipursky, Steve Nogg Yahrzeit of: Ben Lebowich, Frances Shamberg, Sam Silver, Samuel Tannenbaum Transportation Fund In Honor of Birthday of: Ida Halperin USY Yahrzeit of: Fannie Abrahamson Youth Education Fund In Memory of: Eve Katskee, Steve Gershon Yahrzeit of: Ann Bercovici, Jack Duitch, Janice Rosinsky, Lewis Romagnano, Spencer Abraham Klopper Kids and parents alike had a blast at last month s PJ Havdalah at the synagogue, as they were treated to dinner, a kid-appropriate Havdalah service, plus a variety of fun-filled (and explosive!) science activities, as well as an inflatable planetarium -- presented by special guests from the Omaha Children s Museum. 10

11 31 PASSOVER - DAY 6 25 FIRST SEDER 26 SECOND SEDER 27 PASSOVER - DAY 2 28 PASSOVER - DAY 3 29 PASSOVER - DAY 4 30 PASSOVER - DAY 5 3 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 9:45 am - BESTT 10:00 am - Torah Study 11:30 am - 3rd/4th Grade Wedding 2:00 pm - Passover Makeover: Home Edition 10 9:45 am - BESTT 10:00 am - Yellow Candle Project 10:00 am - Torah Study 10:00 am - Controversial Laws of the Torah 10:15 am - Women s Rosh Hodesh Group 11:00 am - Adult B nai Mitzvah Class 17 8:00 am - Kitchen Kashering 9:45 am - BESTT 10:00 am - Torah Study 10:30 am - Torah Tots 11:00 am - Adult B nai Mitzvah Class 4:00 pm - YAC at Defy Gravity 24 10:00 am - Torah Study 11:00 am - Adult B nai Mitzvah Class 10:00 am - Torah Study 11:00 am - Adult B nai Mitzvah Class 4 10:00 am Wrestling with the Rabbis 6:30 pm - Tai Chi 11 10:00 am Wrestling with the Rabbis 6:30 pm - Tai Chi 7:30 pm - CJL Intro to Judaism Class at Beth El 18 10:00 am - Wrestling with the Rabbis 6:30 pm - Tai Chi 5 10:30 am - Study Session at Remington Heights :00 pm - BESTT Board Meeting 6:00 pm - Community Seder 6 4:15 pm - BESTT 6:45 pm - Hebrew High 13 10:30 am - Yac Playgroup 4:15 pm - BESTT 6:45 pm - Hebrew High 20 10:30 am - Study Session at Remington Heights 4:15 pm - BESTT 6:45 pm - Hebrew High 7 7:00 pm - Back 2 Basics: Laws of Passover :00 pm - Dames & Drinks 1 6:00 pm - Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 pm - Tot Shabbat & Oh Say Shalom to Shabbat 8 6:00 pm - Kabbalat Shabbat 15 6:00 pm - Kabbalat Shabbat 7:00 pm - Dinner and Drash Scholar-In-Residence 22 6:00 pm - Kabbalat Shabbat 10:00 am - YAC Playgroup at Children s Museum 6:00 pm - Kabbalat Shabbat 2 9:30 am - Scout Shabbat 10:00 am - Jr Congregation 6:00 pm - Minha/Ma ariv 9 9:30 am - Men s Club Shabbat 10:00 am - Shabbat s Cool 6:00 pm - Minha/Ma ariv Evening - Our Shabbat Tables Havdalah in the Home 16 9:30 am - Shabbat Services 7:15 pm - Minha/Ma ariv Scholar-In-Residence 23 9:30 am - Shabbat Services 7:15 pm - Minha/Ma ariv 9:30 am - Shabbat Services 7:30 pm - Minha/Ma ariv March

12 Beth El Staff Mordechai Levin... Senior Rabbi Steven Abraham... Assistant Rabbi Myer S. Kripke... Rabbi Emeritus Michael Krausman... Hazzan Larry DeBruin... Executive Director Eadie Tsabari... Director of Congregational Learning Margie Gutnik... Program Director Steven Meyer... Youth Advisor Jill Belmont... Publicity Melissa Massey... Comptroller Laura Bair... Kitchen Manager Judy Tully... Office Manager Cait Leff... Secretary Jeanne Shechet... BESTT Secretary Officers Lloyd Roitstein... Beth El President Jon Jabenis... Vice President Janie Murow... Vice President Wayne Schwarz... Vice President Jay Gordman... Treasurer Michael Schop... Secretary Bev Fellman... Past President Joel Rich... BESTT Chair David Finkelstein... Men s Club President Heather Kelln... Sisterhood President Aaron Zipursky... U.S.Y. President The Jewish Family Service Food Pantry Needs Our Help The Jewish Family Service Food Pantry is especially looking for this item during the cold and flu season to provide for the community in need: Laundry Detergent Items should be brought to the collection bins at Beth El Synagogue s Community Court in March. Friday Evening Candle Lighting Times: March 1...5:56 p.m. March :03 p.m. March :12 p.m. March :20 p.m. March :27 p.m. Minha/Maariv Service Schedule: March :00 p.m. March :00 p.m. March :15 p.m. March :15 p.m. March :30 p.m. Weekday Services at 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday Services at 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The KOL is Sponsored By the Beth El Judaica Shop Visit Beth El s Judaica Shop Online Website Judaica Shop Hours: Wed. 3:00-4:30pm & Sun. 10:00am - 12:00 pm (when BESTT is in session)