25 Tammuz 5765Aug. 1, 2005

Founded in 1930 by Tulsa Section, National Council of Jewish WomenVVooll.. 7766 NNoo.. 66

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Strengthening Our Jewish Identity: Perry K. Simons ..................... p.2

First Jewish Educators Conference Scheduled ............................... p.2

What’s Nu?....................................................................................p.3

IAJS “Sunshine Sessions” Scheduled............................................ .p.3

Summer Refreshment: Rabbi Charles P. Sherman.......................... p.3

The Courthouse, The Capitol, and the Zoo: Robert Cohen............... p.4

Jewish Groups weigh Supreme Court Nominee ............................. p.5

Thank You, Tulsa: Cali Cohen......................................................... p.5

The Lighter Side..................................................................... pp.6,7

“Chevra Kadisha” Societies growing............................................. p.8

Community Calendar .................................................................p.11

What’s Happening at the JCC......................................................p.12

... in the Review

PUBLISHED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF TULSAwwwwww..JJEEWWIISSHHTTUULLSSAA..oorrgg

TULSA, — An initial organizationalmeeting of the Jewish GenealogicalSociety of Tulsa will be held on Sun-day, September 11, at 1 p.m., in theBarbara and Dave Sylvan Auditoriumat the Charles Schusterman JewishCommunity Center. This new societywill be affiliated with the SherwinMiller Museum of Jewish Art. Thegoals of this new organization are: �To establish a scholarly organiza-

tion with the goal of pursuing,encouraging, and preserving Jewishfamily history and genealogical data.�To assist and promote the

research of Jewish family historywhile elevating the status and role ofgenealogy in the community.�To provide opportunities for shar-

ing Jewish genealogical information.�To help develop interesting

exhibits for the Sherwin MillerMuseum.

Starting with the first JewishGenealogical Society in New York City

in 1977, the International Associationof Jewish Genealogical Societies hasgrown to more than sixty societiesaround the world including twentyinternational societies and forty-fourthroughout the United States. Thiswill be the first Jewish GenealogicalSociety not only in Tulsa but also inthe state of Oklahoma.

Plan to be a part of this exciting,stimulating, and rewarding neworganization as you discover yourown roots, develop a sense of history,embrace our rich heritage, and learnto research all of it. The research willnot be limited to families of Jewishorigin.

For any questions or if you wouldlike to volunteer and serve on a com-mittee, please call the Sherwin MillerMuseum office at 492-1818, or e-mail genealogy@jewishmuseum.net

Organizers look forward to sharingthe adventure as you discover yourpersonal history.�

Jewish Genealogical Society Forming

TULSA, — Jewish community andTulsa leader Harold Katz died onJuly 11, 2005.

Mr. Katz was born in Aberdeen,Md., and earned Bachelor of Arts inbiology and sociology from the Uni-versity of North Carolina and a mas-ter’s degree in health care adminis-tration from Duke University. Heand wife, Blythe, were married in1979 and moved to Tulsa in 1987.

Harold Katz was deeply committedto Jewish continuity, as evidenced by his many significant roles servingthis Jewish community in a remark-ably short 18 years in Tulsa.

He was most recently serving aschair of the Tulsa Jewish UnitedFund Men’s Campaign and the

Jewish Federation of Tulsa Founda-tion. Mr. Katz was also president-elect of Temple Israel Brotherhoodand the Sherwin Miller Museum ofJewish Art. He had previouslyserved as president of the TulsaJewish Retirement and Health CareCenter, president of Temple Israel,treasurer of Temple Israel Founda-tion, and he was the recipient of the2005 Temple Israel Brotherhood Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mr. Katz was also recently named amost deserving recipient of the pres-tigious Jewish Federation of TulsaFoundation 2005 Maimonides Award,originally scheduled to be presentedat the Annual Maimonides AwardDinner on August 2, 2005. The eventhas now been postponed at therequest of the Katz family, and arescheduled date will be announced.

Mr. Katz held CEO and seniormanagement positions at severalhealth-care organizations during histwenty-five-year career. In the Tulsacommunity, he was the previousadministrative director of the Com-munity Action Project of TulsaCounty and the executive director ofPalmer Drug Abuse Program andPalmer Continuum of Care.

Harold Katz is survived by his wife,Blythe; three sons, Ethan, Matt, andStephen; parents, Manfred and Barbara; sister, Anita; and twobrothers, Dan and Carl. �

CCOO MM MM UU NN II TT YY LLEEAADDEERRHHAARROOLLDD KKAATTZZ DDIIEESS

Harold Katz

BY RUTH ELLEN GRUBERSZARVAS, Hungary, (JTA) — In

T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers, thechildren chowing down on kosherchicken in a brightly decorated din-ing hall looked like kids at any otherJewish summer camp.

They clowned a little, linked armsand swayed to after-lunch songs,and cheered when a teenaged girlwas hoisted on a chair to celebrateher birthday.

But these kids were different.These 75 boys and girls were sur-

vivors of the bloody terrorist siegeand massacre last September thattook the lives of more than 300 peo-ple at a school in the town of Beslan,in southern Russia.

Aged 7 to 18, most of the kids hadlost a brother, sister, or parent in thecarnage, and many had themselvessuffered serious injuries during thethree-day ordeal.

None of them was Jewish, and feweven knew anything about Jews orJudaism.

But thanks to the initiative of oneof Russia’s two chief rabbis, AdolfShayevich, they were brought toHungary last month for a week ofrest and recuperation at the RonaldS. Lauder Foundation/AmericanJewish Joint Distribution CommitteeInternational Jewish Summer Campat Szarvas.

Hosted by the JDC, they partici-pated in a specially designed pro-gram that integrated traditionalsummer-camp activities such assports, arts and crafts, and informaleducation with ongoing post-traumatherapy.

“We are trying to make them feel normal again,” said Sasha Piatigorsky, program director of theMoscow Jewish Religious Commu-nity, who accompanied the childrenand helped coordinate their stay.“The best thing that happens is whenthey smile.”

The children don’t want to talkabout what happened during the

siege, he said, but they’re still copingwith its aftermath.

“They behave normally and feelgood, but sometimes you will seethem crying for no reason,” he said.“And some of the girls don’t smile,because they lost their teeth in theattack.”

The Beslan crisis erupted on Sept.1, 2004, the first day of school, whenterrorists stormed the school and took more than 1,000 people hostage, including students, parents, and teachers.

They wired the building with explo-sives, murdered some of thehostages, and herded hundreds moreinto a gymnasium, where they wereheld under appalling conditions.

The siege ended in a bloodyshootout that left at least 330 dead,more than half of them children.

The Szarvas trip was part of abroader program called Jewish Fam-ilies for the Benefit of the Children of Beslan, which was initi-ated soon after the massacre byKEROOR, the Congress of JewishReligious Organizations and Com-munities of Russia.

JDC’s involvement is part of itsongoing nonsectarian programs,which have included coordinatingvisits to Beslan by Israeli traumaspecialists.

“This represents a big mitzvah thatwe, the Jewish people, are doing notjust for others, but for ourselves,”Jorge Diener, JDC country directorfor Hungary, said as he listened tothe children singing songs afterlunch in the dining hall.

“It’s just amazing to me, given allthe history, to hear these kidssinging in Russian, in a Jewishcamp, in Hungary. It makes mehopeful that we can overcome thepast,” he said.

Piatigorsky said arrangements forthe trip to Szarvas had been

Young survivors of horrendous Beslansiege find R&R at Jewish summer camp

SEE BESLAN SURVIVORS AT JEWISH CAMP, PAGE 9

The Israe l Scout Caravanenterta ins at the CSJCC

THE ISRAEL SCOUT CARAVAN ENTERTAINED OVER 150 PEOPLE in the Barbaraand Dave Sylvan Auditorium at the Schusterman JCC on July 17. These youngscouts from all over Israel amazed the crowd with their singing and dancing talents, bringing a little taste of Israel to Tulsa.

AAsignificant part of what our community doesthrough its annual Campaign is to providefunding for local, national, and international

needs throughout the Jewish world. Everyone isaware that a significant portion of the money we raise each year is distrib-uted through United Jewish Communities (UJC) to Israel via programs ofthe Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint DistributionCommittee. In addition to this, our community provides supplementalfunding to a variety of efforts that are identified as being in concert with ourcommunity’s priorities.

The process of prioritization and earmarking of funds has evolved over theyears to a committee process overseen by our Foundation Committeethrough its Allocations Subcommittee. This year, the subcommittee waschaired by Jeff Weinstein. Other members of the committee included (inalphabetical order) Brian Brouse, John Clayman, and Debbye Zanerhaft.The members of this committee took their charge very seriously and beganthe process by articulating the focus for this year’s efforts and reviewing therequests for allocations received by the Federation. Over the past few years,the committee has been focusing on areas such as Jewish education, thetraining of Jewish community professionals, Jewish student services, andJewish culture. Following familiarization with potential donor organizationsand some in-depth deliberations, the following organizations were identifiedto receive allocations:

Anti-Defamation LeagueBBYO – North Texas/Oklahoma RegionBBYO – National OrganizationBrandeis University – Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal ServiceHebrew Union College (programs relating to community professionals)Hillel – National OrganizationJewish Children’s Regional ServicesJewish Council for Public AffairsJewish Educational Services of North AmericaJewish Labor CommitteeJewish Theological Seminary (programs relating to community professionals)National Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL)Magen David Adom (Israel’s “Red Cross”)National Foundation for Jewish CultureNational Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases FoundationSociety for the Protection of Nature in IsraelUnited Hebrew Immigration Aid Society

Beyond these organizations, the Federation provides funding for our localBBYO chapter, birthright israel, the Coalition for Advancement in JewishEducation (CAJE), Heritage Academy, Hillel at OU, and the Oklahoma IsraelExchange (OKIE).

We should all be very proud that our contributions to our annual Campaign touch so many lives through enabling the institutions notedabove to continue their important work. Our thanks go out to the commu-nity members who give of their valuable time and participate in this process.

We hope that you all will choose to participate in our work.LIVE GENEROUSLY – It does a world of good! �

2 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� AUG. 1, 2005

BY PERRY K. SIMONSEXECUTIVE DIRECTORJEWISH FEDERATION

OF TULSA

RE A D T H E TU L S A JE W I S H RE V I E W ON-LI N E A T W W W.J E W I S H T U L S A.O R G

TU L S A JE W I S H RE V I E WThe Newspaper of the Tulsa Jewish Community

THE TULSA JEWISH REVIEW (ISSN # 1521-5482) is published monthly

by the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, 2021 E. 71st St.,Tulsa, OK 74136. Periodicals Postage Paid at Tulsa, OK

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Jewish Federation of Tulsa, 2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136.

Perry K. Simons, executive directorTerry Marcum, chair

Ed Ulrich, editor; design and productionDebbie Mann, advertising representative

PHONE: (918) 495-1100FAX: (918) 495-1220

www.JEWISHTULSA.orgE-MAIL: TJReditor@cox.net

AUTHORIZED MEDIUM FOR THE COMMUNITY'S JEWISH AGENCIES

JEWISH FEDERATION OF TULSACHARLES SCHUSTERMAN

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERPerry K. Simons, executive director

John Clayman, president

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMENDenise Landgarten, president

SHERWIN MILLER MUSEUM OF JEWISH ART

Louis Davidson, presidentStephen Goldman, director

TULSA HEBREW SCHOOLDavid Charney, president

TEMPLE ISRAEL BROTHERHOODJeff Chasen, president

TEMPLE ISRAELRabbi Charles P. Sherman

Ginny Katz, president

TEMPLE ISRAEL SISTERHOODLillie Land, president

TULSA JEWISH RETIREMENT AND HEALTH CARE CENTER

Andrew Wolov, presidentJames M. Jakubovitz, executive director

AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEERita Moskowitz, chair

BBYO F-R AZA CHAPTER # 276Trevor Langston, president

BBYO N.B.S. BBG CHAPTER # 243Becca Zemel, president

B'NAI B'RITH, TULSA LODGE #798Aaron Maissell, president

B'NAI EMUNAH MEN'S CLUBJeff Darby, president

B'NAI EMUNAH SISTERHOODRandee Charney, president

CHABAD HOUSERabbi Yehuda B. Weg

Yohanan Zomer, M.D., president

CONGREGATION B'NAI EMUNAHRabbi Marc Boone FitzermanJames Cash, M.D., president

HERITAGE ACADEMYRichard Borg, president

Helen Hightower, director

DE A D L I N E S F O R TU L S A JE W I S H RE V I E W SU B M I S S I O N SADVERTISING: FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION

ARTICLES: EIGHTH DAY OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION

Strengthening Our Jewish Community

TULSA, — Congregation B’naiEmunah, Heritage Academy, TempleIsrael, and the Jewish Federation ofTulsa have joined to bring nationallyrecognized educator Dr. SherryBlumberg to Tulsa on August 19-21,for a workshop for all Jewish community teachers who work intheir respective Jewish educationprograms from preschool throughadult education.

Dr. Sherry H. Blumberg, RJE, hasbeen active in Jewish education forover 36 years as teacher; youthgroup leader; director of education;college professor (at Hebrew UnionCollege in New York, St. FrancisSeminary in Milwaukee, and cur-rently at University of Wisconsin,Milwaukee); and curriculum consult-ant. She has also been a popularteacher at meetings, such as theCoalition for Advancement of JewishEducation conferences catering notonly to new teachers and directorsbut to veteran educators as well. Shehas written many articles and collab-orated on a number of major educa-tional works.

Active in Jewish educational organ-izations, Dr. Blumberg has beenpresident of the Religious EducationAssociation, vice-president of theNational Association of Temple Edu-cators, and is currently serving asthe vice-president for educationalresources of CAJE.

Dr. Blumberg has both a M.A. andPh.D. in Jewish education, as well asan M.A. in librarianship. She cur-rently lives in Milwaukee and servesas the educational director of Con-gregation Am Echod, in Lindenhurst,Ill.

The weekend will begin with atten-dance at either Congregation B’naiEmunah (7 p.m.) or Temple Israel (8 p.m.) on Friday evening for

Shabbat services and a D’var Torahby Dr. Blumberg entitled, “V’shinan-tem L’vanecha, “Are we really teach-ing our children?”

The next day on Shabbat, an after-noon Torah Study at CongregationB’nai Emunah is scheduled from 3-5p.m. on the week’s parasha, “Fromthe V’ahavta to the Cities of Refugeand Back Again.”

The weekend will conclude with anall-day workshop on Sunday, August21, for teachers, which will includethe following sessions:

“Creating Holy Space,” “Blueprintsfor Building Jewish Lessons,”“Teacher Power + Ethical Dilemmas= Jewish Wisdom,” and “Who’s inCharge? – the Jewish Classroom.”

In addition to local faculties, educa-tors from neighboring communitiesin Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas,Arkansas, and Texas will also beinvited.�

Tulsa’s First Community-wide Jewish Educators Conference Scheduled for August 19-21

Dr. Sherry H. Blumberg

L’ S h a n a h To v a h !

Welcome the High Holydays from your family or business by sending New Year’s greetings to the community in the special

High Holyday’s October 1, 2005 issue of the TTuullssaa JJeewwiisshh RReevviieeww..

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ROSH HASHANAH: October. 4, 5YOM KIPPUR: October 13

BY SUE FISHKOFFPACIFIC GROVE, Calif., (JTA) — A

new survey of adult children of inter-married parents shows a high level ofJewish cultural identification andinterest in Jewish studies, combinedwith low levels of childhood Jewisheducation and religious attachment.

Ninety young adults from Boston,Chicago, and San Francisco, eachwith one non-Jewish parent,described their relationship toJudaism and the Jewish communityin recent face-to-face interviews runby the Jewish Outreach Institute. Keyfindings from the study were releasedrecently. The institute’s executivedirector, Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, says hehopes Jewish organizations will use itto design programming to reach thatgrowing population.

Preliminary analysis of the datasuggests a population that “feelsJewish” in many ways, despite a lackof Jewish education or affiliation.

Just 30 percent of those interviewedidentify with Judaism as a religion,but almost 70 percent say that beingJewish is important to them. Those

who did not celebrate any Jewish rituals or holidays describe beingJewish in cultural terms — readingJewish books, going to Jewish movies— or in terms of social action, such asgiving to charity and working ontikkun olam projects.

One respondent said, “The older Iget, the more I feel I want to cling tomy Jewish roots, especially in thesetimes, to see an alternative to theChristian right.”

Concerning formative Jewish expe-riences, one-third said they had hadsome formal Jewish education aschildren, but a large proportion men-tioned two specific Jewish experi-ences as being meaningful: beingtaken to see “Fiddler on the Roof”and/or “Schindler’s List.”

In other words, survey analystswrote, “for many of these young peo-ple, Jewish history as filteredthrough a Hollywood or Broadwaylens was their sole ‘Jewish experi-ence’ while growing up.”

SSuurrvveeyy:: CChhiillddrreenn ooff iinntteerrmmaarrrriiaaggeeiiddeennttiiffyy aass JJeewwss —— ssoommee ooff tthhee ttiimmee

SEE CHILDREN OF INTERMARRIAGE, PAGE 4

The pope will say prayers in Hebrewwhen he visits a German synagogue inAugust. The recitation of Hebrew prayers inCologne would represent Benedict XVI’slatest effort to reach out to Jews since hetook over as pope in April. In a relateddevelopment, Israeli Prime Minister ArielSharon has invited the pope to visit theJewish state. The invitation was offered asIsraeli officials presented Benedict with anIsraeli stamp depicting Pope John Paul II’svisit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem in2000. The pope has not yet accepted orrejected the offer.

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Romania’s foreign minister said his coun-try is working to come to terms with itsHolocaust-era behavior. The JerusalemPost reported last month that Mihai-RazvanUngureanu, speaking at Hebrew Univer-sity’s Vital Sassoon Center for the Study ofAnti-Semitism, said Romania has been“desperately seeking absolution” since sur-vivors began describing their experiencesover the past few years. Some 280,000-380,000 Jews were killed by the nazis inareas under Romanian control duringWorld War II. Ungureanu said Romaniawould be establishing a voluntary curricu-lum on the Holocaust in secondaryschools. Romania has made strides towardacknowledging its complicity in the Holo-caust, including the establishment of aHolocaust Remembrance Day, since aRomanian government statement denyingthat the Holocaust took place on Romanianterritory sparked an uproar.

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Israel is getting a new genealogical insti-tute. A group of eminent Jewish genealo-gists recently announced the formation of anew facility, the International Institute ofJewish Genealogy, that will be housed inthe Jewish National and University Libraryof the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Though the institute is still in an early stageof development, its board expects it tobecome a major force in the world of Jewishgenealogy within five years. The genealo-gists envision an international researchcenter that will work cooperatively withexisting facilities such as JewishGen, YadVashem, the Central Archives for the His-tory of the Jewish People, and the NewYork-based Center for Jewish History.

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Egypt and Israel have signed a $2.5 bil-lion natural gas deal. Under the 15-yearplan signed June 30, Egypt will sell 25 bil-lion cubic meters of gas to the Israel Elec-tric Corporation starting in October 2006,with an option to extend the agreement forfive more years. Israel’s minister of nationalinfrastructure, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, said“This will be the best indicator to showeveryone that the peace between Israeland Egypt is solid.’’

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Ten percent of American Jews are inter-ested in living in Israel, a study has found.According to the Jewish Agency for Israelsurvey released last month, 10 percent ofAmerican Jews would like to immigrate toIsrael, with interest split evenly amongmembers of Orthodox, Conservative,Reform, and unaffiliated congregations. Sixpercent of the 1,690 respondents said theyplanned to move to Israel within the nextfive years, the poll found. Israeli Prime Min-ister Ariel Sharon has said he wants onemillion Jews to immigrate to Israel fromaround the world in the next 15 years.

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A foundation devoted to fighting a Jewishgenetic disease has designated Septemberas National Gaucher Disease AwarenessMonth. Type 1 Gaucher, which is causedby an enzyme deficiency, occurs in one outof every 450 to 600 births in the AshkenaziJewish population. The disease can bepainful and debilitating. More informationis available at www.gaucherdisease.org.

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The Jewish population of Miami hasdeclined by 15 percent to 113,000 since1994, according to a new survey. Some 31percent of the Jewish adults in Miami-DadeCounty are foreign-born, according to thesurvey, conducted for the Greater MiamiJewish Federation. But “while we are asmaller population in Miami-Dade Countysince the last study was conducted, the percentage of people who have lived herefor 20 or more years has increased,” saidMichael Adler, president of the federation.“That speaks to the stability, deep roots, andconnectedness in Miami’s Jewish commu-nity.’’

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Michigan and Nebraska have declaredOctober 5 as Raoul Wallenberg Day. The

proclamation comes after a campaign bythe International Raoul Wallenberg Foun-dation. The day, which already is cele-brated in New York, commemorates theSwedish diplomat who saved thousands ofJews in Hungary during the Holocaust.Wallenberg, who is believed to have died ina Soviet prison, received honorary U.S. cit-izenship in 1981.

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The U.S. Air Force secretary has named arabbi as a special assistant in response tocharges of proselytizing at the Air ForceAcademy. Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, a formerU.S. Navy chaplain, was named to the postlast month. Resnicoff helped create a pro-gram at the Colorado Springs campus todeal with religious tolerance. The schoolhas been criticized in recent months for cre-ating an uncomfortable climate for religiousminorities, including Jewish cadets, whosaid they felt pressure to choose their mili-tary duties over expressing their religion.

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An Israeli has given birth after receivingtransplanted ovarian tissue. The 31-year-old woman had a healthy girl at ShebaMedical Center in Tel Hashomer lastmonth, despite having been rendered infer-tile by chemotherapy. The solution, whichwas reported by the New England Journalof Medicine, was to implant her withhealthy ovarian tissue that had been storedon ice since before she began her cancertreatment. The procedure is still consideredexperimental.

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Marcia Lieberman, who said she “kvelled”when her son was nominated for vice pres-ident in 2000, died June 26, at age 90. Marcia Lieberman, the mother of Sen.Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), campaignedheavily after Democrats nominated herson, the first time a Jewish man was on amajor national ticket, and when he ran forthe Democratic nomination in 2004. “Ourstrong and beloved mother who gave uslife has died,” the senator and his sisterssaid in a statement. When Liebermanannounced his presidential campaign in2003, his mother told JTA: “He’ll be thebest president there ever was.”

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More than 300 films, including some rareold footage, are now available to viewers atHebrew University’s Web site. The filmshave been gathered by the Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive, whichbegan digitizing some of its holdings threeyears ago. The goal is to make at least 500of the films available on the Internet, atwww.spielbergfilmarchive.org.il/kv/index.htmlby 2007.

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A new umbrella organization has beenformed for Jewish lawyers in North Amer-ica. Several groups of Jewish lawyersformed the North American Network ofJewish Lawyers’ Organizations to addressissues such as anti-Semitism on collegecampuses, legal attacks on Israel, and anti-Israel and anti-Semitism at the UnitedNations, among other things. The group’sboard will have its first meeting in August inChicago during the annual meeting ofthe American Bar Association.

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Some 280,000 to 300,000 people of Jew-ish heritage live in Argentina, according toa survey. The poll was done in 2004 by an American Jewish Joint Distribution

Committee study group, in association witha local sociological studies organization.The definition was wide, as the group con-sidered all those born to a Jewishmother or father, or those with a Jewishgrandparent. The results were published inthe national daily, La Nacion. The numbers,which were larger than previously believed,may allay fears of a huge drop in Jewishpopulation caused by emigration during the2001-2002 economic crisis. It is believedthat many of those who left the country inthe midst of the crisis have since returned.

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Rabbi Nahum Sarna, a leading Biblescholar, died June 23, in Florida, at the age

of 82. Sarna, a pioneer in Jewish studiesand longtime professor at Brandeis Univer-sity, was devoted to making biblical schol-arship accessible to general audiences. Hewas the editor and an author on the JewishPublication Society’s Torah commentaryand an editor and translator on its transla-tion of the Bible. His book “UnderstandingGenesis,” published in 1966, won theNational Jewish Book Award. His sonJonathan is a leading scholar of AmericanJewish history and a member of JTA’sboard of directors.

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CONTINUED ONPAGE 10

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HHebrew words are build on a system of three-letter roots; therefore, the simplest of Hebrewwords can have many meanings. For example,

the word shalom may mean hello, goodbye, peace, com-pleteness, wholeness, and peace of mind. So when wewish shalom to another, we wish him or her a greatdeal. For many words, their meanings seem to comple-ment one another; for other words, they do not.

The Hebrew word for summer kayitz (pronouncedKAY-yitz) also means conclusion or end. Now thesemeanings may seem at first to complement each other –summer marks the official end of school and program-year activities. But in Jewish time, summer is actuallymuch more a beginning than an end. Summer allows usto refresh our bodies by gathering the sun’s rays andtaking in the summer air. We feel healthy, even rejuve-nated.

As we find ways to strengthen and reinvigorate ourbodies, we should also find ways to refresh our soulsand minds. Let me suggest a simple, three-fold agendafor what is left of this summer.

1. Read a good book. Make time to stimulate yourmind and imagination by losing yourself in the words ofa great novel or provocative biography.

2. Take a long walk. Find some all too rare opportuni-ties to enjoy the natural beauty all around us. If possi-ble, take some of those walks alone and use the time forpersonal reflection and spiritual renewal.

3. Make a new friend. It doesn’t mean that you have tomeet someone new, perhaps you can renew an oldfriendship or breathe new life into an existing relation-ship that seems a bit stale. Devote some of the hourswhich hopefully accompany a lighter summer scheduleto building and enhancing your inter-personal relation-ships.

Summer can be for all of us a time of refreshment andrenewal, not just for our bodies, but also for our mindsand souls. Summer is a time to reorganize our prioritiesso that our days do not become one long series of workdotted only occasionally with time for family and self.Let’s use this more leisurely time to take stock of what istruly important in our lives, that which sustains us andgives meaning to our days. Time is the most preciousgift we have or can give to another – let’s use it well.

I wish for all of us a summer filled with health, refresh-ment and renewal, rest and shalom. �

Summer REfreshment

AUG. 1, 2005 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� 3

BY CHARLES P. SHERMAN, D.D.RABBI

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Who - Tulsa Jewish CommunityWhere - Zarrow Manor,

Rainbow Room, First FloorWhen - Tuesdays from 11 a.m.- 12 noon

Registration - Call Amy Terkel at 495-1111Cost - FREE

AUGUST 2, 9, 16, 23, 30Instructor: Dr. Cathy Kass, Temple Israel educator, will offer a five-session course on“Bringing the Ten Commandments to Life.”Suggested readings for the class are:“The Ten Challenges,” by Leonard Felder, and“Duties of the Soul,” by Niles Elliot Goldstein.Please note that these are suggested readingsand not required.

SEPTEMBER 6, 13, 20, 27Instructor: Rabbi Yehuda B. Weg, Chabad House, will offer a four-session course entitled “Fall Festivals.”If timing is everything, then it’s time to explore and prepare for the High

Holy days and beyond: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah.

MONTH INSTRUCTOR

August 2005 Dr. Cathy KassSeptember 2005 Rabbi Yehuda B. WegOctober 2005 no classNovember 2005 Cantor Kari Siegel-EglashDecember 2005 Helen WinokerJanuary 2006 Rabbi Charles P. ShermanFebruary 2006 Rabbi Marc B. Fitzerman

Funded by: The Jewish Federation of TulsaCosponsored by:

The Charles Schusterman Jewish Community CenterCongregation B’nai Emunah

Temple Israel

Ins t i tu t e o f Adu l t Jew i sh Stud i e s “Sunsh ine Ses s ions”

Zarrow ManorBeg inn ing Tuesday, Augus t 2

I n s t i t u t e o f A d u l t J e w i s h St u d i e s

We d n e s d a y s d u r i n g M i d r a s h aSee “Community Calendar,” page 11, for information

about a new Fall 2005 Wednesday evening Institute

of Adult Jewish Studies course during Midrasha.

TThe news this summer wasfilled with coverage of twomajor controversies involv-

ing the separation of church andstate. On the national level, the U.S.Supreme Court issued its ruling onwhether the Ten Commandmentsmay be publicly displayed at govern-ment facilities. Locally, the city ofTulsa considered whether to installa biblically-based exhibit at theTulsa Zoo. Our Jewish communityhad a stake in the outcome of bothcontroversies.

There were actually two casesbefore the Supreme Court involvingthe Ten Commandments. McCrearyCounty v. American Civil LibertiesUnion of Kentucky arose from thedisplay of the King James Bible ver-sion of the Ten Commandments in aKentucky courthouse. The focus inVan Orden v. Perry was a large gran-ite Ten Commandments ( also KingJames version) monument on thegrounds of the Texas State Capitol.The high court ruled that the court-house display was an unconstitu-tional violation of the First Amend-ment’s Establishment Clause, butthe Texas Capitol display is consti-tutionally acceptable.

Some wags cynically described theSupreme Court rulings as anendorsement of the public display of “the Five Commandments.”Staunch advocates of a high wallseparating church and state, includ-ing the leading national Jewishdefense organizations such as theADL and American Jewish Commit-tee in coalition with interfaith andsome Christian organizations, weredisappointed that the court failed tounambiguously proclaim the generalapplicability of the separation doctrine. Their arguments includedconcerns over government favoringor appearing to favor majority faithgroups at the expense of minorities,the slippery slope of governmentintrusion into the affairs of religiousinstitutions, and the distortion andsecularization of sacred texts.

The Ten Commandments rulings,taken together, assert that each con-flict over such displays in govern-ment settings will be considered onthe basis of its own specific situa-tion. For the foreseeable future,then, proponents of such displayswill be encouraged to try and tryagain.

The Tulsa Zoo controversy posed amore complex situation for the Jew-ish community. Dan Hicks, a localChristian conservative advocate,demanded that the zoo accept hisdonation of a display of creation asset forth in his chosen version ofGenesis. He argued that since thezoo contained a timeline of evolu-tion, an elephant statue, and aNative-American-themed fountain,the zoo should also include his cre-ationist exhibit.

The church-state separationdimension of this controversy isobvious. But the “equal time” argu-ment for including creationist con-tent alongside content on evolutionmay resonate with those in the Jew-ish community who consider Gene-sis historically accurate. Some ofthese biblical literalists may relatesympathetically to Mr. Hicks’ efforts,even if the Genesis story he wants totell differs from theirs.

The Parks and Recreation Boardfirst voted to accept the creationistdisplay, then a few weeks laterreversed that decision and rejectedMr. Hicks’ offer. So for the moment,at least, the zoo will remain a “reli-gion-neutral” zone. But I don’t thinkwe have heard the last of Mr. Hicks’demands. And I’m sure we haven’tseen the end of demands for TenCommandments displays on publicproperty. �

4 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� AUG. 1, 2005

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The Courthouse, the Capitol,and the Zoo

BY ROBERT COHENCOMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTORASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JEWISH FEDERATION OF TULSA

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The institute’s assistant executivedirector, Paul Golin, says the inter-esting aspect of this response wasthat this population understoodsuch films as touching their Jewishcore. “A non-Jewish American seeingthese films would not be having aJewish experience,” he muses. “Whatelse is out there in secular societythat could be experienced as a Jew-ish experience? And how do we builda bridge between that experience anddeeper Jewish engagement?”

Despite the minimal nature of theirreligious upbringing, nearly 40 per-cent of those interviewed hadenrolled in a Jewish studies coursein college, and 78 percent said theywanted to transmit a Jewish identityto their children. This finding con-flicts with the National Jewish Popu-lation Survey 2000-2001, whichfound that just 24 percent of stu-dents with one Jewish parent hadtaken a Jewish studies course.

Other findings cannot be accu-rately compared, as questions wereworded differently in each survey.The same is true of the 2002 Hillelstudy of Jewish college first-year stu-dents.

Olitzky says the study reveals apopulation curious about its Jewishidentity and ripe for creative out-reach by Jewish organizations, par-ticularly during the college years.

“If these kids are gaining their Jew-ish experiences through secularmeans, Jewish institutions need toexploit those secular means,” hesays, instead of “working solelywithin the walls of their own institu-tions.”

For example, he suggests thatinstead of running its own Jewishfilm festival, Hillel might “insinuate aJewish film” into an already existingnondenominational film festival,thus providing a “non-branded Jewish experience ” for young people

from intermarried homes who areinterested in their Jewish heritagebut might not step into a campusJewish organization.

The study also revealed how impor-tant celebrating a bar or bat mitzvahis to this group. “We didn’t know howsignificant that was,” Olitzky says.“Take a typical kid from an intermar-ried home, with no childhood Jewishexperience. He gets to the age of 12or 13, he goes to his friends’ barmitzvahs, comes home and says, ‘Iwant one.’

“How will the synagogue commu-nity respond to that? Will they say,You have to be a member. You haveto have gone through our religiousschool.’’

Another interesting finding con-cerns the level of comfort theseyoung adults have with their dualreligious identity. Many describethemselves as half-Jewish, seem-ingly unaware that the Reform andReconstructionist movements acceptpatrilineal as well as matrilinealdescent.

That seems to apply to their par-ents as well: While 77 percent ofrespondents with Jewish motherswere encouraged to identify with theJewish religion, that numberdropped to 45 percent for respon-dents with Jewish fathers. �

CHILDREN OF INTERMARRIAGE,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

... one-third said they hadhad some formal Jewisheducation as children, but a large proportion

mentioned two specificJewish experiences as

being meaningful: beingtaken to see “Fiddler on the Roof” and/or“Schindler’s List.”

FFour years ago I was part of agroup that worked with JewishAmerican youth in Israel. The

group had come to Israel to partici-pate in a summer program withIsraeli Scouts (the Tzofim).

We were in the middle of one of theactivities when one of the leaders ofthe group asked me if I would like toconsider working with the Jewishcommunity outside of Israel. I didn’tknow at that time exactly what hewas thinking about, but I said,“Sure, why not.”

He introduced himself as one of the“Young Judaea” lay leaders fromNorth America and started to tell meabout this youth organization. Bythe end of his explanation, he hadtold me about the Shaliach programand how good it would be for me andmy family if we would take part inthis opportunity to go to the UnitedStates for two years.

On my way home I called Perachand asked her – how would she feelabout two years in America with thewhole family?

There was a moment of silence;then she said ... “with the whole fam-ily?”

And I said, “Yes; you, me, and theboys.”

“Well, not the all family,” shereplied, and we both thought thatwas the end of the story.

The day after, someone called mefrom the Young Judaea office inJerusalem and asked me to come foran interview the following week. Tomake a long story short, I would justsay that the interview went very well,and we were ready to spend two yearsin San Francisco.

Luckily that didn’t happened(budget problems), but then we gotanother phone call from the JewishAgency for Israel. The call was aboutchanging my mission and applyingto the community Shaliach program.Again I called Perach, and she said,“Forget it; I am not going through theprocess again!”

Late at night (Israeli time!) wetalked about it again, and we agreedthat if it was something that we weremeant to do, we needed to go on withit, and if not, we would continue ourhappy life in Israel.

That night’s decision opened a one-year process of tests, interviews, anda lot of talks into the night. And thencame the day and we met PerrySimons in Jerusalem, and we feltthat we had reached the end of ourquestioning and were ready for thisadventure.

The rest of the story is the story ofour last two years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a story that we will neverforget!

I can tell you about the first welcome at the airport with balloonsand smiling faces, but you knowabout it already. I can tell you abouthow Sahar and Nevo’s first days inschool went, but most of you sawthem running away from their teach-ers. I can tell about how Perachfound her way into the communitythrough her magic hands’ touch,and a lovely smile, but I know thatyou saw this every time that youwalked near the health center at theCSJCC.

And I can tell stories about howwhen I started here, I didn’t knowwhat to do with my time, and hownow I don’t know where to find someof that time anymore.

But I will tell you one story that for me and my family is the story of our shlichut here in Tulsa,Oklahoma.

On June 10, our daughter, Shaked,was born in good health. The sameday, within a few hours, the visitorsand the flowers started to arrive. Bythe end of the second day, the roomlooked like a flower store. The nurses

were amazed bythe number ofvisitors and thebeautiful flowersthat were in thisroom.

But yet this isnot the storythat I wanted totell you.

On Saturday,June 25, ourfriends Kerenand Don Blumand Marti andJay Malhi organ-ized a babyshower partytogether for Perach and

Shaked. The Blums, members of theJewish community, provided notjust the house but the Jewish touchto the event. Marty and Jay, asmembers of the Christian commu-nity in town, provided the localtouch to the party.

Together these two families combined what we found the mostpowerful experience of our shlichut.The fact that Jews and the non-Jew-ish members of the Tulsa commu-nity can live and enjoy living witheach other, with no fear or feelingsthat used to be well known for yearspast all over the world.

We are almost ready to leave, and itseems that we just arrived. So I willuse my last article to say,

“Thank you” — Thank you to all of the wonderful

people that we have met through thelast two years of our life in Tulsa.

Thank you, rabbis, for the spiritualguidance and for being there for uswhen we needed you.

Thank you, all of our friends fromthe federation and the JCC staff, forbeing a family to us.

Thank you, friends (and I am notgoing to write all the names here, butyou have to believe me that we havemany friends now in Tulsa).

Thank you, Tulsa, for being a second home for the Cohens.

With all our love and respect, wewill not forget you all!

... And we hope to see many of youvisiting in Israel. �

AUG. 1, 2005 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� 5

JUST CATERINGBy Orr Nalp

• COLE HAAN

• MONSAC

• SESTO MEUCCI

• PERLINA

• VAN ELI

• MEPHISTO

• RANGONI

• JOEL PARKER

• BRIGHTON

• BERNARDO

• UGGS

• DONALD J PLINER

BY CALI COHENCOMMUNITY SHALIACH

JEWISH FEDERATION OF TULSA

Thank you, Tulsa

THE BEAUTIFULCOHEN FAMILYwish their Tulsafriends a warm“shalom” andhope to seethem again inIsrael. (l-r): Nevo, Cali,Shaked, Perach,and Sahar.

BY MATTHEW E. BERGERWASHINGTON, (JTA) – The nomi-

nation of Judge John Roberts to theU.S. Supreme Court may motivatesome liberal American Jewish organ-izations to work against his confir-mation, but it will take time for manyto determine where Roberts standson issues such as reproductiverights and the separation of churchand state.

While much attention will focus onRoberts’ views on abortion, his con-firmation also could have a profoundeffect on church-state issues.

Marc Stern, general counsel for theAmerican Jewish Congress, saidRoberts´ writings suggest that coer-cion is the necessary standard toshow a violation of the First Amend-ment prohibition on governmentestablishment of religion.

If that is indeed the case, Sternsaid, Roberts likely would vote toallow prayer in public schools andthe public display of the Ten Com-mandments. “But there are a lot ofleaps there,” Stern said.

He arrives without a long judicialtrack record and is not a legalscholar with a hefty body of pub-lished work. Therefore, analysts say,it’s hard to gauge whether he will bea strict conservative jurist or willmove toward the center.

Roberts, who once clerked for ChiefJustice William Rehnquist, workedas deputy solicitor general from1989-1993, in the administration ofPresident George H.W. Bush. At thetime, he advocated for the overturnof Roe v. Wade, the landmark rulinglegalizing abortion. In 1991, he alsocoauthored a brief for the govern-ment in Lee v. Weisman that sup-ported prayer at public-school grad-uation ceremonies.

The Supreme Court ruled againstthe government in that case, outlaw-ing graduation prayer. The court’sposition was backed by a large

number of American Jewish groups,but was opposed by several Orthodoxorganizations.

It’s unclear whether those positionsrepresent Roberts’ personal views orthose of his client at the time, thefederal government.

The National Council of JewishWomen already has announced thatit will oppose Roberts’ nominationbecause of his ostensible views onabortion. The group also opposedRoberts’ 2003 nomination to theappeals court.

David Saperstein, director of theReligious Action Center for ReformJudaism, whose group advocates forabortion rights and strict separationof church and state, said Roberts’writings clearly are at odds withthose of a majority of the AmericanJewish community.

But several other Jewish groupshave expressed a desire not to weighin unless the candidate is consideredextreme. Groups like the AmericanJewish Committee and Anti-Defama-tion League are expected to vet thecandidate, but not to take a formalposition on his nomination.

Roberts’ record would have to riseto the level of concern that thosegroups had with Robert Bork, astaunchly conservative SupremeCourt nominee in 1987, sources toldJTA, and there is little to warrantthat yet.

““SSttaarree DDeecciissiiss””Analysts said much will hinge on

Roberts’ view of “stare decisis,” theprinciple of following precedent deci-sions. If Roberts believes juristsshould not revisit issues that alreadyhave been decided, the church-stateand abortion cases that already arelaw may stand.

“The first question is, does he startfrom ground zero, or does he respect where the court is?” saidMarc Stern. �

TTOO OOPPPPOOSSEE OORR NNOOTT TTOO OOPPPPOOSSEE::Most Jewish groups waiting to see where

Supreme Court nominee, John Roberts, stands

MADDIE, the “wondervolunteer” dog, andher owner DANNYALFORD, entertainKaiser Health CareCenter residentsevery Friday. Herethey visit with JUNEGREENSPAN. Twonew volunteers areCAROL and MARKKIRSCHNER. Markuses his camcorderand interviews resi-dents every Sunday,and Carol visits with them.New volunteers

include BRITTNEA EZELL, STACEY LAFOND, MICHAELMcCANN, CHARLOTTE McDANIEL, JACQUELINE MILLER,and RUBEN PEREZ. BARBARA ALMON, coordinator of theVolunteer Corps, notes 132 hours were served by members ofthe group in one week, and at $6 per hour, that meant a theoret-ical saving of $792. The hours were volunteered in the activitydepartment, at Kaiser’s nurses’ station, Zarrow Manor receptiondesk, in the library, attending plants and flowers, during watertherapy twice weekly, and in the dietary and education areas.

“There are several volunteer opportunities,” Barbara said.“Do you like to see people smile? Then come join the SmileConnection: that’s what we call the Volunteer Corps.” At presentthere are openings with the arts and crafts sessions and also inbaking. “The residents like to fix muffins, small pies, cookies, orsmall pizzas,” she said. “And everyone gets to eat the finishedproducts.”

Call Barbara at (918)-747-7173, balmon@prodigy.net),or Crystal Levin at 496-8333.

Volunteers, Volunteers!!!!!

Thank-U-Gram Given to Employee

JIM JAKUBOVITZ, executivedirector, presents a Thank-U-Gram award in late June to JODUHN of dietary. (Jo passedaway July 5. She was one ofthe residents’ favorites) Alsohonored but not present during the award programwas SERGIO ARAOZ of thedietary department.

New Zarrow Manor Art Gallery Created

“MOSES AND AARON,”an oil painting byITZCHAK FRENKEL, isshown at the right beingadmired by residentRITA SHISLER in thenew Zarrow Manor ArtGallery.

The painting wasdonated in memory ofGERALD S. RICHARDSby his children andgrandchildren. The ideaof the gallery, conceived by Rita and dedicated earlier thisyear, consists of works of art contributed or loaned toTJRHCC. The opening collection is by JEAN BUTLER, DEEDAVIS (George’s wife, deceased) ROSA DERRICK, BERTGOODMAN (Shirley’s husband, deceased), CATHERINEMAERCKLEIN, WALLIE MORSE (deceased, presented toTJRHCC by her family), SYLVIA OBERSTEIN, SAMMIEPYRON, GLORIA ROTHMAN, and MARTIN ROTHMAN (Gloria’s husband, deceased). Oils, hooked yarn, pastels,

water colors, acrylic, and photography are featured.

Aug. 1, 2005

OPENING CEREMONIESof the Fourth Annual Wellness Fair and SeniorGames in late May sawMYRON SHISLER, ZarrowManor resident, left,being recognized byDANA BOWMAN, aretired member of theU.S. Army elite GoldenKnights skydive team,and by executive directorJIM JAKUBOVITZ.Myron is a retired U.S.Navy pilot. TJRHCC, St. Simeons, HillcrestHealthcare System, andMagoon & Associatesjoined in presenting theWellness Fair.

Fourth Annual Wellness Fairand Senior Games

Held in May

TThhee LLiigghhtteerr SSiiddee iiss pprroodduucceedd aanndd ppuubblliisshheedd bbyy tthhee JJeewwiisshh FFeeddeerraattiioonn ooff TTuullssaa

6 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� AUG. 1, 2005

What does it mean to be a “Jewish Facility?” Keeping a kosherhome is certainly a requirement. But some other principles arebasic to Judaism, and as long ago as the Middle Ages the Jewish community built homes for its elderly members to pro-vide more congenial surroundings for them. It was a mitzvah, areligious duty, to give the aged every comfort in life. And everyman is his brother’s keeper – we bear responsibility for ALL ourneeds. God recognizes no distinction on the basis of creed,color, or station in life.

Our mission at Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center is to provide high-quality, compassionate care to our res-idents in an environment that is sensitive to Jewish culture andvalues.

OUR PHILOSOPHY OF CARE?At Tulsa Jewish we will accomplish our mission by combining

philosophies of quality care with quality of life. We believe inand deliver quality treatment that focuses on the three majorcomponents of life – the mind, the spirit, and the body.

Stimulating the human mind and engaging the spirit in mean-ingful activities enhances one’s physical health. Complete well-ness and quality of life is achieved only if we recognize theimportance of each. We believe that the desire to get out of bedeach day is just as important as the ability to do so.

What Does It Mean to Be a “Jewish Facility?”

FFRROOMM JJIIMM JJ’’SS DDEESSKK

by James M. JakubovitzExecutive Director

Tulsa Jewish Retirementand Health Care Center

Dear Ketti,My neighbor is in her eighties and lives

alone since her husband died a few yearsago. She stopped driving this spring, andher children check on her on the week-end. I am concerned that she is not eating right and is not ableto socialize with others. What can I do to help her?

Friendly Neighbor, Tulsa.

Dear Friendly Neighbor,There is a wonderful opportunity for her to get a meal, as well

as a visitor on a daily basis. Meals On Wheels will deliver a sacklunch to her. There is usually no cost, but donations areaccepted. Contact Life Senior Services at 664-9000, for moreinformation.

ASK KETTI...TJRHCC's assistant administrator

and social services director, KETTIMILLER, M.S., addresses issues of interest to many of our readers.

AUG. 1, 2005 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� 7

The Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health

Care Center “Light to Life”

Tribute Fund —Helping to Keep

the Light BurningINDIVIDUALS FOR WHOM CONTRIBUTIONS

HAVE BEEN MADE:In Memory:Sam GoldwynHerbert GussmanSam KasselHelen LangerEdwin MarcumGertie NissimLouis RosenDr. Martin RothmanDora SchockenArnold SchreierGrace SolomonAlica Urban

Speedy Recovery:Helen AprilJeanette FriedenSylvia ObersteinDonna Trantham

Wedding Anniversaries:Lou & Marilyn Diamond’s 50th AnniversaryCantor Harry and Alice Sebran’s 60th AnniversaryMr. & Mrs. Sheldon Rosenberg’s 35th Anniversary

Honoring: Susan FensterCurtis Green on Father’s Day

Special Birthdays:Jim BednarBarry DavisMorris GlazerAnna GreenbergMarshall GrossbardHarry GutermanNorman LevinSeymour MarcumRosalie MinskyRobert L. NewmanJosh Price Betty RavisRose SchlangerTillie SpearMaxine Zarrow

Honoring “Women of Valor”:Rowena Galerston & Hannah UngermanCarolyn Kriegsman & Ida Breitfelt

In Appreciation of: David & Vicki Hurewitz & Toby Hurewitz

TJRHCC’s “Pillow” Craft Project:Debbye Zanerhaft

CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM:Ken & Becky AllenAmerican Airlines WorkersJulius & Joy BankoffRuth BannerHarold J. & Anne C. BaumannMikhail & Rosa BekermanDavid & Gerry BernsteinDonald L. & Marilyn A. BoyerIrv & Sylvia BravermanLeslie & Anita BrindisDessie BucknerWillie & Shirley BurgerIris ChandlerHarvey & Nancy CohenGeorge & Tillie FeinHerman FeldmanIrb & Irene FensterLynn & Katherine FrameJeanette FriedenMorris GlazerBillie GrabelCurtis & Joan GreenJohn Kilyk & Judith GreenRobin GreenMarty & Frieda GrossbardMichael & Cindy GutermanWilliam R. Hart, M.D.Gerald & Sharon HellerKatie JoeRichard M. KaganSaul J. & Edith KarelisMolly KatzRobert & Ruth KilleyIrene KopelmanRon & Carolyn KriegsmanGregory LaFeversArt & Jackie LaskyBill & Grace LeiterNathan & Ellen LifsicsJonathan LozierMyrna Lubin

Rosalie LudmeyerStuart & Ada V. MandellSeymour MarcumRuth A. McNamaraDr. Robert & Dianne H. MorrisDodi NesbitGenya ReichmanHerbert & Adele ReznikoffMarian RichKip & Gail RichardsGloria RothmanDeborah K. Hicks & Michael RothmanRuth G. RothmanYeeleng RothmanMary K. SanditenThe Scott & Jolene Sanditen Philanthropic Fund

Irv & Barbara SchreierSteve & Carol ShainVeronica SheehanEd & Betty ShermanMargaret ShlossbergMadelyn R. ShyavitzPaul & Barbara SilbermanBarry & Irene SilvermanSid & Clare SimonFred & Martha StraussDave & Barbara SylvanDorothy & Larry TyeHerbert & Eva UntermanGertrude WeismanSelma WilnerAnna WinerAndy & Nancy WolovJack & Debbye ZanerhaftJack & Maxine ZarrowScott & Hilary ZarrowThe Zarrow Families FoundationDanny & Debbie ZeligsonJoel & Elizabeth ZeligsonStephen & Phyllis Zeligson

THE CHARLOTTE S. RICHARDS ACTIVITIES ENDOWMENT FUND

FROM: The Tulsa International Folk Dancers

Given in Memory of Gerald S. Richards

FROM: Gail and Kip RichardsGiven in Memory of Grace SolomonGiven in Honor of Barry Davis’Birthday

FROM: Isrella TaxonGiven in Honor of Morris Glazer’s 80thBirthday

FROM: Barry and Karen DavisGiven in Memory of Gerald Richards

FROM: Joseph L. Parker, Jr.Given in Memory of Gerald Richards

Vol. 11 No. 3 Aug.1, 2005

Editor: Morris Glazer

Celebrating Years of Service tothe Retirement Center

DAVID MURPHY (2nd from right) was honored at the annualmeeting for completing 15 years of service at TJRHCC. Davidis director of housekeeping and laundry. Also recognizedwere (l-r): ANITA MARKS, nursing; MIKE WHITE, administra-tion; and SUSAN SURCHEV, director of food services. The lat-ter three all have been at the Center for five years. Not present but also completing five years were RANDYCOGBURN, MAYRA HERNANDEZ, and THERESA SHORT.

Welcome NewcomersWelcome to all of you who have joined us at TJRHCC since

the last issue of The Lighter Side: In Zarrow Manor Retirement Center: GEORGE and TILLIE

FEIN, JIM GLASS, ORA HARRIS, WALTER AND MAGGIEKAISER, and NORM and SHIRLEY LEVIN.

In Kaiser Health Care Center: ELLIS NICKELL, MARYSMITH, and GEORGE SMITH.

To Life! L’CHAIM! May your days be overflowing with happi-ness and good health!

JACKIE COOPER was nameda 5-Star Award Winner in May.Voted on by department heads,the award is based on employ-ees who strive to go beyondtheir assigned duties. Theaward carries with it a trophy, apay increase, plus a lapel pinand certificate - and to top it off,lunch with Jim J!

JACKIE COOPERSupport Staff

5-Star Award Winner!

BY CHANAN TIGAYNEW YORK, (JTA) — The call came

in the late afternoon: A Jew has beenkilled in a car crash. The body islying in a nearby funeral home, wait-ing to be prepped for burial. Can youget over here tonight?

Jackie Stromer remembers his firstglimpse of the victim. “He lookedtotally serene,” said Stromer, whoworks with a New Jersey Jewish bur-ial society. “Like he was taking anap.” What Stromer could not seewas the massive trauma the impacthad inflicted beneath the surface.

“We were told in no uncertain termsthat if we removed his jeans, we’dtake off a leg,” Stromer said.

That raised a question: Accordingto Jewish custom, a person shouldnot be buried wearing or bearing anyof his or her possessions.

The deceased are normally clothedonly in traditional, pocketless burialgarments known as tachrichim.

But Stromer said the decision wassimple: The man was buried in hisdungarees, with traditional burialpants laid over them.

“If by the removal of his clothingyou’re going to, in fact, dismemberthe body, you don’t do it,” he said.

GGrroouuppss AAccrroossss JJeewwiisshh SSppeeccttrruummFFoorrmmiinngg CChheevvrraa KKaaddiisshhaa

That was in keeping with what’sknown as kavod ha’met, or respectfor the dead, which those involved inchevra kadisha burial societies say istheir primary concern.

“The considerations are generallyas follows,” Stromer said. “You wantto gather up any blood that came out

at the time of death” and bury italong with the body. “You want tobury as intact a body as you possiblycan, and you want to follow all theprescribed rituals as closely as youpossibly can. That’s the hierarchy inwhich you operate,” he said.

Whether they’re Orthodox, Reform,Conservative, or Reconstructionist,Jews across the board are forming agrowing number of chevra kadishagroups throughout the United Statesand Canada.

According to several participants ata recent chevra kadisha conferenceorganized by Kavod v’Nichum — agroup whose name is Hebrew forRespect and Comfort — Judaism’sdivergent streams, at odds on myriadissues of theology, ideology, andpractice, are finding common groundwhen it comes to caring for corpsesbetween death and burial.

Indeed, participants say, the pri-mary differences inritual burial prepa-ration — known as

tahara — lie not between Orthodoxand non-Orthodox chevras, butbetween groups from disparate geo-graphic and ethnic backgrounds.

“I think it’s one of the few areas ofJudaism where Jews are prettymuch united in practice,” said IraFeigenbaum, who is part of a chevrakadisha group in Hartford, Conn.

Hundreds of volunteer burial soci-eties exist throughout North Amer-ica, from small towns to big cities.Some are multidenominational, bothbecause basic practice varies littlebetween the denominations and, inthe case of smaller locales, becausethere simply are too few Jews to bepicky.

Participation in a tahara is consid-ered to be among the highest formsof mitzvah, because recipients of theservice can’t thank those carrying itout. “That’s why it’s chesed shelemet, the truest act of kindness,”said Rabbi Joseph Ozarowski, theincoming rabbinic chaplain of theJewish Healing Network of Chicagoand author of “To Walk in God’sWays: Jewish Pastoral Perspectiveson Illness and Bereavement.”

Taking part in a tahara is “intenselyspiritual,” said David Zinner, execu-tive director of Kavod v’Nichum,which provides assistance, training,and resources about Jewish deathand bereavement practices through-out the United States and Canada.

“It connects people with a life-and-death process in a very intimate wayand really helps them get in touchwith God and with their own spiritu-ality and mortality,” he said. “It’s theultimate reality check.”

NECESSITIES FOR EXCEPTIONAL COOKINGQUALITY & PERSONAL SERVICE SINCE 1969

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8 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� AUG. 1, 2005

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Not just for the Orthodox anymore

BY CHANAN TIGAYNEW YORK, (JTA) — Aspects of

tahara, the ritual burial preparationof a Jewish corpse, are drawn fromthe Bible, the Talmud, the Kab-balah, and 17th-century Jewishmanuals on dealing with the sickand dying.

Many of today’s chevras use RabbiMosha Epstein’s “Tahara Manual ofPractices,” about to come out in itsthird edition, as a guide.

But practitioners say the processis guided as much by tradition andlocal custom as by Jewish law.

Most taharas include several com-mon elements. A chevra is mostlikely to perform a tahara in afuneral home, though some are donein houses, hospitals, and elder-carecenters.

First, any clothing remaining onthe body is removed, along withother extraneous items, from med-ical tubes to bandages to nail polish.

The body is then washed. The headis cleaned first, followed by the per-son’s right front side, left front side,right back side, and left back side.

Next comes the washing of thehands and feet, much as Jewishpriests washed their hands and feetbefore entering the biblical taberna-cle or offering sacrifices.

The actual ritual cleaning follows.Known as the tahara or the tishakavim, it’s carried out in one of sev-eral ways: the body either is leftlying down and propped up withboards; angled on a tilting table orheld upright as chevra memberspour three buckets of water onto it,starting at the head and runningdownward; or dunked in a mikvah.

At this point, some chevras willrub wine or vinegar into the corpse’sscalp and eyebrows. Some chevras,particularly older ones, will wet thehair with a beaten egg and work itin. These practices may originallyhave been used to enable the identi-fication of bodies as Jewish prior toburial, and also could be rooted inkabbalistic symbolism.

Finally, the body is dressed in rit-ual burial garb — a hood, pocketlesspants, a shirt, kittel, socks, a sasharound the midsection — andplaced in the casket. As it is beingdressed, the Metaharim, the Hebrewterm for those carrying out thetahara, will often sprinkle earthfrom Israel over the body’s eyes,mouth, heart, and genitals. Thispractice is based both on the biblicalaxiom, “Dust thou art and to dustthou shall return,’’ and on the age-old Jewish connection to Israel.

A number of prayers are said dur-ing the process, and the body is keptcovered as completely as possiblethroughout. Once the tahara isdone, the Metaharim ask their sub-ject’s forgiveness in case they’veoffended or hurt him or her in anyway.

Ideally, the body is not left alonebetween the time of death and bur-ial. Shmira, or guarding the corpse,is another function often performedby members of a chevra kadisha. �

Many steps involved in tahara,

the ritual preparationfor burial

SEE BURIAL SOCIETIES, PAGE 9

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“What we have done as aJewish community is take aritual that we used to be

in control of and hand it over to outside professionals.

Doing “taharas” seems to be a way of reclaiming the

community’s responsibility and role in taking care of

someone, not just throughout his or her life but after death as well.”

QQuueessttiioonnss ““GGrruueessoommee”” —— BBuutt NNeecceessssaarryy

In addition to spiritual concerns,tahara practitioners must deal on afrequent basis with the most practi-cal — sometimes gruesome — ele-ments of working with the dead. Thatwas highlighted by a sampling ofquestions asked during a seminar on“Advanced Tahara” at the conference:

* If a bandage seems likely to ripthe skin if it is removed, can it be lefton the body?

* If a person has been killed in anauto accident and broken bones areprotruding from the skin, can theburial garments be altered to fitaround misshapen limbs?

* If a Foley catheter, held in placewith a water-filled balloon in thebladder, remains fitted in a deadbody, but proves tough to removebecause it is still inflated, can it beleft in for burial?

* If it seems likely that removal of afeeding tube or a tube in the neckwill lead to bleeding, can it be left in?

“As far as I’m concerned, there isonly one halacha when it comes tochevra kadishas, only one guidingprinciple: kavod ha’met,” or respectfor the dead, Stromer said. “Havingtreated that as your guiding source,everything else is common sense.”

Each of these scenarios, in otherwords, ought to be dealt with on anad-hoc basis, with respect for thedeceased primary in the decision-making process.

DDoommaaiinn ooff tthhee OOrrtthhooddooxxFor many years, chevra kadisha

groups and taharas primarily werethe domain of the Orthodox. But thathas begun to change over the past 30years — since the publication ofArnold Goodman’s “A Plain Pine Box”— as burial societies from across thereligious spectrum have emerged.

In the past five to ten years, insid-ers say, the number of non-Orthodoxchevras has greatly expanded.

Some 170 people attended theKavod v’Nichum conference, hailingfrom 25 U.S. states and three Cana-dian provinces. About 10 percent to15 percent were Orthodox, 20 per-cent Reform or Reconstructionist,and about 50 percent Conservative,organizers said. The rest werefuneral directors, Jewish family andchildren’s service workers, hospicerepresentatives, and the like.

While the figures don’t reflect theoverall make up of North Americanchevras, which remain overwhelm-ingly Orthodox, insiders say they doreflect the growth of non-Orthodoxchevras.

“The American funeral industry hasnot responded consistently well tothe ritual needs of American Jews in

many ways,” said Rabbi Linda Holtzman, director of the departmentof practical rabbinics at the Recon-structionist Rabbinical College nearPhiladelphia and leader of a localReconstructionist chevra.

“What we have done as a Jewishcommunity is take a ritual that we as a community used to be in control of and hand it over to outside

professionals,” she said. “Doingtaharas seems to be a way ofreclaiming the community’s respon-sibility and role in taking care ofsomeone, not just throughout his orher life but after death as well.”

For further information on chevra kadishas, visit www.jewish-funerals.org. �

For summer 2005, the Jewish Children’s Regional Service has provided“need based” funding to a record 257 Southern Jewish youth to attendovernight camp. The campers are residents of seven southern states,including Oklahoma, and must attend a camp sponsored by a Jewish non-profit organization.

“This is the only comprehensive Jewish camp scholarship program of itskind,” explains JCRS executive director Ned Goldberg. “These Jewish youthattend 30 different camps each summer, and over the last ten years, haveattended approximately half of the 120 Jewish overnight camps in the UnitedStates. The scholarship program” he continues, “is over fifty years old and hasserved many thousands of Jewish youth. The Jewish camp experience isproven to enhance Jewish identity, and the JCRS has countless adult successstories who are today active in Jewish life as a result of attending camp whenthey were young,” said Goldberg.

To learn more about this unique, 150-year-old agency, and its variousscholarship programs for the neediest Jewish youth of the mid-south, visitthe Web site of jcrsnola.org, call 1-800-729-5277, or write JCRS at PO Box7368, Metairie, LA 70010-7368.�

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AUG. 1, 2005 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� 9

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Imported and domestic wines

A Tulsa landmark for over 30 years.

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BURIAL SOCIETIES, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

underway for months. “After meetingwith people in Beslan, we realizedthat the main thing the childrenneeded was to be in a safe place,where they can feel that there aremore good people than not-so-goodpeople in the world,” he said. “Andfrom our point of view, the best placein the world that can show kids thatthere is such a place and that thereare people like this is Szarvas.”

The largest Jewish camp inEurope, Szarvas opened in 1990 andnow hosts about 2,000 children fromdozens of countries each summer.

Owned by the Ronald S. LauderFoundation and operated by theJDC, it has developed rich program-ming, infrastructure, and a trainedprofessional staff. Piatigorsky him-self worked for several years as amadrich, or counselor.

Funding for the trip came from avariety of sources, including dona-tions from some 250 Jewish familiesin Russia. Several Russian singerscut a special CD, which was sold toraise money for the trip.

The children traveled to Szarvas bytrain — two days from Beslan toMoscow, and another two days fromMoscow to Hungary.

Many already had been hosted onrest-and-recovery stays by individu-als or charity operations in othercountries, but none had had a struc-tured camp experience that keptthem busy mentally and physically.

Each day in Szarvas, the childrentook part in a range of activities thattaught them about different culturesand countries, from Japan to Egyptto Israel.

“I loved the Japanese evening,” saidMarina, 14, who was sporting bighoop earrings. “I feel much saferhere and am finding many friends,”

BESLAN SURVIVORS AT JEWISH CAMP,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SEE BESLAN SURVIVORS AT JEWISH CAMP, PAGE 10

Nationally Recognized Composer David Friedman to Perform in Tulsa in August

DAVID FRIEDMAN, LEFT, AND THE CAST OF "LISTEN TO MY HEART" will perform at the PAC, August 21, and at the CSJCC, August. 24. See page 12 formore details.

“We are trying tomake them feelnormal again.The best thing that happens is

when they smile.”– Sasha Piatigorsky,

program directorof the Moscow Jewishreligious community.

BY CHANAN TIGAYNEW YORK, (JTA) — It’s morning

for El Al. A dozen women in aprons and hair

nets are arranging items on plasticfood trays. Nearby, several moreslide silverware and mini-packs ofsalt and pepper into narrow plasticbags.

“They’re making breakfast for ElAl,” Jacob Li-Or tells a group of visit-ing journalists.

Li-Or, president and CEO of Boren-stein Caterers, is leading a tour ofthe company’s Queens, N.Y. facility.On this particular morning, he says,the company — an El Al subsidiarysince 1972 — has made 2,500kosher in- flight breakfasts

Breakfast aside, it’s morning for ElAl in another sense: After its recentprivatization, the company is orches-trating a new beginning, developing a

she added. “It helps me forget whathappened.” Ina, 16, agreed that theweek at Szarvas was helping hercope. “I wish no kid anywhere in theworld would even see what we saw,”she said. “Szarvas is making me feelmuch more comfortable and to real-ize that life can go on. Here, we arenot thinking about what happenedthere.”

Rita Kusova, an adult leader whoaccompanied the children, agreedthat the combination of physical andmental stimulation at Szarvas, andthe structured programming, wereextremely beneficial to the children.

“It’s helping them get healthyagain, not with medicine but withprograms and rehabilitation,” shesaid.

BBeeggiinnnniinngg ooff NNeeww SScchhooooll YYeeaarrShe said going back to school this

fall will be a big hurdle for the kids.“This will be very, very problematicfor the kids — and it will be very diffi-cult, too, for the whole city,” she said.“September 1 will be a memorial day.Two new schools have been built, andjust one wall of the old school will bepreserved as a memorial.”

Kusova, like the children, had vir-tually no knowledge or contact withJews or the Jewish world before thetrip.

“Now I hope that we can keep theconnection and broaden it,” she said.“Because we really feel that we’veknown each other for a long time. Wefeel like family now, and we don’twant to lose the connection.’’ �

10 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� AUG. 1, 2005

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3The Claims Conference distributed more

than $1 billion in 2004, the largest single-year payout in its history. Of the sum, morethan 70 percent, or $778 million, went toHolocaust survivors. An additional $121million went to heirs of property, and $45million went to account holders or theirheirs through the Swiss banks settlement.More than 10 percent of the funds went toorganizations in 41 countries that care forJewish Holocaust victims or do Holocaustresearch and education. The direct pay-ments to survivors and heirs came fromeight different restitution programs run bythe Claims Conference.

���

An American journalist who rescuedmore than 2,000 artists and writers fromthe nazis was posthumously honored in aspecial ceremony June 26, when VarianFry had a street in his hometown of Ridge-wood, N.J. named after him. In 1940, Frytraveled to Vichy France to establish aclandestine network to rescue refugeeintellectuals being persecuted by the nazis.He succeeded in saving artists Marc Chagall, Marcell Duchamp, Max Ernst, andJacques Lipschitz and writers Franz Werfel, Lion Feuchtwanger, and HannahArendt, among others.

���

A 17th-century book seized by the naziswas returned to Rome’s Jewish community.The pocket-sized book was published inAmsterdam in 1680 and contains the firstfive books of the Bible, as well as the booksof the Prophets. It was returned last month tothe chief rabbi of Rome by a representativeof the Italian Commission for the Recovery ofJewish Bibliographic Heritage. A Dutchscholar gave the commission the book ear-lier this month in Hanover, Germany, after hereceived it from a German family.

���

Pioneers of American Jewish life haverecently been memorialized in Manhattan.Twenty-two Jews who defended New Yorkin the American Revolution were remem-bered in May at America’s oldest Jewishcemetery. The Veteran Corps of Artillery ofthe State of New York performed a color-guard ceremony, and American flags wereplaced at the graves of the RevolutionaryWar veterans at the burial ground atChatham Square, given to the Jews byNew York Gov. Peter Stuyvesant in 1656.Many of the 35 people there were descen-dants of the war veterans. The ceremonywas sponsored by the 1654 Society, whichcelebrates the first Jews in America.

���

An Internet site devoted to Jerusalem hasbeen launched. The site, pro-Jerusalem-society.huji.ac.il, includes information onthe city’s growth from the time of the Britishmandate, its neighborhoods and thepreservation of historical sites. The sitewas produced on behalf of the ProJerusalem Society, which includes theGeography Department of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Jerusalemmunicipality, the Israel Antiquities Authority,and other public bodies.

���

Two El Al flights took off last month carry-ing the largest-ever, single-day aliyah ofNorth American Jews to Israel. From NewYork and Toronto and packed with some 500new olim, the flights, sponsored by NefeshB’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency for Israel,were the first of six dedicated El Al flightsthis year carrying 3,200 North Americanimmigrants to Israel through these organiza-tions. This is the first year since 1983 thatmore than 3,000 North American Jews willbe making aliyah, and the first time a plane-load of olim left from Canada.

���A contest is seeking submissions from

would-be authors of Jewish children’sbooks. The 21st annual Sydney TaylorManuscript Competition, operated by theAssociation of Jewish Libraries, will pres-ent $1,000 to the best fiction manuscript byan unpublished author for readers aged 8-11. The deadline is December 31. Entryforms and rules are available at www.jew-ishlibraries.org.

���Israel will become the world’s biggest

Jewish community in 2006, a study hasfound. According to the study released lastmonth by the Jewish People Policy Plan-ning Institute, assimilation has so sappedthe current largest Jewish population, inthe United States, that its numbers will fallbelow Israel’s by next year. While mostJews abroad marry non-Jews, in Israel therate of intermarriage is only 3 percent, saidthe institute, which is linked to the JewishAgency for Israel. Still, Israel is notexpected to be home to the majority of the

world’s Jews in the foreseeable future. By2020, the report said, only 46 percent ofJews will have been born in Israel or cho-sen to move there, up from the current fig-ure of around 40 percent.

���Blockbuster Inc. has settled a religious-

discrimination lawsuit, filed after a Jewishemployee in Scottsdale was told he eitherhad to take off his yarmulke at work or losehis job, for $50,000 and a consent decreethat calls for the company to modify itsdress-code policy nationally and providespecial training in the Phoenix area, theU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Com-mission announced June 13. In the lawsuitfiled in U.S. District Court in Phoenix onSept. 24, 2004, the commission alleged thatthe video-rental company failed to accom-modate the religious beliefs of LeonardTeplitsky, violating Title VII of the U.S. CivilRights Act. In the settlement, Blockbusterdoes not admit any violation occurred. “Thiswas an unfortunate, isolated incident andthese allegations do not reflect the way weconduct business at our stores,” said RandyHargrove, a company spokesman. And“They had a national dress code that said‘no headwear,’” said Mary Jo O’Neill,regional attorney for the commission.

���Iraq’s new government may not recog-

nize the country’s few Jews as a minority. Amonth away from creating a new Iraqi con-stitution, the National Assembly in Bagh-dad is debating whether some 20 Jewsremaining in country should qualify asminority with rights guaranteed by thestate. “There have been suggestions thatwhen it comes to minority rights, we specifywho are the minorities,” said Shi’ite law-maker Saad Jawad Qindeel. The Jewsremaining in Iraq “should not be includedas a minority because their number is toosmall.” But the Jerusalem Post quoted aninternational law expert as saying thatthere is no size requirement for an ethnicminority to be recognized as such, espe-cially when its numbers dwindled as aresult of persecution.

���

Anti-Semitism may be on the rise inEurope, but Europeans still know moreabout the Holocaust than Americans, anew study finds. Sixty years after the end ofWorld War II, just 44 percent of U.S.respondents in an American Jewish Com-mittee survey identified Auschwitz,Dachau, and Treblinka as concentration ordeath camps. By contrast, 91 percent ofSwedish, 88 percent of Austrian, 79 per-cent of Polish, 78 percent of French, 77percent of German, and 53 percent ofBritish respondents correctly labeled thecamps. The AJCommittee study furtherfinds that only a third of Americans knowthat six million Jews were murdered in theHolocaust. Among Europeans, 55 percentof Swedish respondents know the six mil-lion number, as do 49 percent of Frenchand German respondents, 41 percent ofAustrian respondents, and 39 percent ofBritish respondents. Only 30 percent ofPolish respondents know this number. “Thereality is the Holocaust occurred on Euro-pean soil. It’s an integral and inescapablepart of their history,” said Michael Berenbaum, a Holocaust scholar and aconsultant on the development of the U.S.Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washing-ton. “The good news is that if they knowsomething, that means that European soci-eties have taken steps” to educate theirpeople. Sweden, for example, haslaunched a national Holocaust educationcampaign, distributing seven million copiesof a book about the Holocaust, even trans-lating it into several languages so that asmany people as possible can read it. Still,Berenbaum cautioned against reading toomuch into the Europeans’ surveyresponses. “Let’s not overestimate howmuch Europeans know,” he said. “The factthat Prince Harry could have dressed up ina nazi uniform shows that he doesn’t knowa thing about the Holocaust or British his-tory.”

���

A congresswoman has garnered over200 sponsors from both parties for legisla-tion that would create American Jewish History Month. “Ignorance about Jews, ourhistory, culture, and contributions to Ameri-can society remains widespread in theU.S.,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said last month at Hadassah'sannual Washington convention. “Ignoranceleads to hatred and bigotry, and one way tostop it is through education.” Presidents inthe past have declared such a month, but ithas not been legislated on a year-to-yearbasis. (JTA)

WWhhaatt’’ss NNuu??BESLAN SURVIVORS AT HUNGARIAN JEWISH CAMP

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Privatization lifts El Al hopes for higher profits, more services

SEE EL AL GOES PRIVATE,

PAGE 11

strategy to streamline its economicapproach, offering a wider range of services, expanding first- and busi-ness-class sections — and factoringin management’s accountability toprivate shareholders.

State-owned since its birth in 1948,El Al began the process of going private in June 2003. In 2004, theairline’s annual profit shot up from$6.4 million to $33.1 million, El Alsays. In 2004 its cash flow washigher than ever, and its annual revenues increased by 19 percent toover $1.3 billion.

The arrows seem to be pointing up.But what does privatization mean forpassengers? First of all, better food.

In June, El Al launched its newPlatinum business-class menu,designed by chef Avner Niv, a formerpersonal chef to fashion magnateDonatella Versace.

The business model of a privatecompany is entirely different thanthat of a government-owned opera-tion, says Israel “Izzy” Borovich, El

Al's new chairman, and El Al willreflect the distinction. The Israeligovernment’s objective was to estab-lish a presence in many markets,based not simply on economic con-siderations, but also on political con-cerns. No longer.

El Al now is planning to expand itsrange of services and clients, offeringits expertise in maintenance, tourismservices, ground handling and, ofcourse, security, to other airlines.

“Our objective,” Borovich says, “isto make money, period.” �

CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY CCAALLEENNDDAARRAUG. 1, 2005 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� 11

(Addendum to obituary first printed inJuly 2005 Review). Ruth SchustermanPoznik was also preceded in death byher sister, Helen Morrison, and by herbrother-in-law, Albert Morrison.

Of blessed memory...

Itzik Levin will be teaching a two-hourIsraeli cooking class at Savorychef, onAug 11, at 6:30 p.m. For more informa-tion, call (918) 307-2433.

This summer Jeff Bonem participatedas a Feinstein Fellow in a program forteachers of Jewish American history atTemple University in Philadelphia. Dur-ing his time at Temple University Jeffreceived training in a new curriculum forteaching American Jewish history called“Challenge and Change.”

HH ee rr ee aa nn dd TT hh ee rr ee

Send your COMMUNITYCALENDAR

Announcements to:Tulsa Jewish

Review2021 E. 71st St.

Tulsa, OK 74136TJReditor@cox.net

RE A D T H E TU L S A JE W I S H RE V I E W ON-LI N E A T W W W.J E W I S H T U L S A.O R G

AAndrew Louis Adelson, son ofTom and Julie Adelson, willcelebrate his Bar Mitzvah on

Saturday, August 27, 2005, at Con-gregation B’nai Emunah, beginningat 9 a.m.

Andrew attends Holland Hall Middle School, recently completingthe sixth grade. He enjoys sports,especially basketball and tennis, andplays the piano and violin. Next year,Andrew will continue his Jewishstudies in the Midrasha Program ofJewish Studies.

Andrew is the grandson of Steveand Ellen Adelson and Ed and DianaTullis.

The entire community is invited tocelebrate this simcha at services and

at the Kiddush luncheon to follow. �

Andrew Adelson to Become a Bar Mi tzvah

Andrew Adelson

JJoshua Michael Roubein, sonof Hillary and Leor Roubein,will become a Bar Mitzvah on

Saturday, August 20, 2005, at Con-gregation B’nai Emunah, beginningat 9 a.m.

Joshua is an honor student atJenks Middle School, where he willbe entering the eighth grade. He participates in the Midrasha Pro-gram of Jewish Studies and is anavid athlete, playing soccer, basket-ball, and baseball. In honor of hisBar Mitzvah, Josh will participate inthe B’nai Tzedek program.

Josh is the grandson of Audrey andTed Ginsberg and Blanche and IsaacRoubein.

The entire community is invited tohelp celebrate this simcha at servicesand a Kiddush luncheon to follow. �

Joshua Roubein to Celebrate His Bar Mitzvah

Joshua Roubein

MMatthew Vaughn, son of AnneVaughn and Brad Vaughn,will become a Bar Mitzvah

on Sept. 3, 2005, beginning at 9 a.m. Matthew is a seventh-grade honor

student at Jenks Middle School andis also enrolled in the Midrasha Pro-gram for Jewish Studies. He hasbeen involved in the Jenks footballand baseball programs. For his mitz-vah project, Matthew is donatingschool supplies to McClure Elemen-tary School and food to the JenksCommunity Food Bank, and he willparticipate in the B’nai Tzedek Pro-gram.

Matthew is the brother of JennieVukic, Adam and Melissa Vaughn,and uncle of Reagan Schoenholz.Joining Matthew will be his mater-nal grandparents, Beverly andAugust Gabel; paternal grand-mother, Betty Vaughn; and specialout-of-town relatives and friends.

The entire community is invited tojoin Matthew and his family for thissimcha and a Kiddush luncheon following services. �

Matthew Vaughn to Celebrate His Bar Mitzvah

Matthew Vaughn

Beginning on August 31 and con-tinuing through December 14, theInstitute for Adult Jewish Studieswill offer a special class on Wednes-day evenings at Congregation B’naiEmunah during Midrasha as a spe-cial learning opportunity forMidrasha parents and students.

This course, facilitated by formerjudge Todd Singer, will explore Amer-ica’s past and present justice systemin a course entitled, “American Jus-tice-Jewish Justice: The Similaritiesand Differences.”

Students will engage in spiriteddebates about American justice andwhen, if ever, it conflicts with tradi-tional Jewish values. Students willbe encouraged to advocate theirunique viewpoints and partake in afascinating and evolving dialogue.Minimal reading and maximum par-ticipation will be required.

Developed specifically as an inter-generational class for Midrasha stu-dents and adults in the Jewish com-munity, this class may be of particu-lar interest to parents and otherswho will be transporting students tothe synagogue.

Mark your calendars and watch forregistration information later thissummer. Everyone is welcome! �

I A J S C o u r s et o b e o f f e r e d o n

We d n e s d a y s d u r i n gM i d r a s h a

Temple Israel’s Summer AdultEducation Program will conclude onMonday, August 15, at 7:30 p.m.,with “Brownies and Books.” As aspecial treat, Bob Golan, Templemember and longtime Tulsan, willlead a discussion of his newly pub-lished book, “A Long Way Home: TheStory of a Jewish Youth, 1939-1949.”

Bob’s eyewitness account of one ofthe most important and interestingperiods in human history is a freshand engaging story of the experienceof Jewish refugees in the SovietUnion and Israel, as seen throughthe eyes of a boy. You won’t want tomiss this great opportunity to dis-cuss a book with its author.

Copies of Mr. Golan’s book areavailable for purchase in the TempleIsrael Sisterhood Judaica Shop. �

Temple Israel’sSummer Adult

Education ProgramContinues

Tisha B’Av, observed this year onthe evening of Saturday, August 13,and Sunday, August 14, commemo-rates the crises and cataclysms ofJewish history. In the traditionaltelling, the destructions of the Tem-ples both took place on the 9th ofAv, along with the Expulsion of theJews from Spain.

This fast day takes note of cen-turies of pogroms, persecutions,and, with the advent of the 20thcentury, attempted genocide.

Members of the community areinvited to attend a special serviceand film at Congregation B’naiEmunah, beginning at 9:15 p.m., onthe evening of Tisha B’Av. The experience will begin with a serviceof remembrance, followed by a special film at 9:45 called “Song ofHannah.” This film documents theHolocaust experiences of the youngpoet, Hannah Senesh, forging animportant discussion of courage,art, and identity.

Please note that no reservationsare required for participation in theservice, and there will be no chargefor the film following.�

TTIISSHHAA BB’’AAVVSSEERRVVIICCEESS AANNDD

FFIILLMM OONN MMOONNDDAAYY,,AAUUGGUUSSTT 1133 AATT

TTHHEE SSYYNNAAGGOOGGUUEE

This autumn the Sherwin MillerMuseum of Jewish Art will be theexclusive site in middle America for“Anne Frank: A Private PhotoAlbum.” Thousands of schoolchild-ren and youth/adult groups areexpected to visit Tulsa and themuseum.

“Admissions Ambassadors” areneeded to help meet and greet visi-tors each weekday and Sunday.

Trained docents will be critical tosharing the Museum and this specialexhibit with visitors.

The 1½ hour docent trainingclasses begins Thursday, August 18,at 3 p.m., and continue each Thurs-day at that same time through Sep-tember 29. Call 492-1818, to volun-teer as an ambassador or as adocent. �

Docents Neededfor Upcoming Miller

Museum Exhibit

EL AL GOES PRIVATE,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

SAVE THE DATE!2005-2006 JCC CINEMA SERIES

BEGINS WITH:

‘Avalon’Thursday, September 15, 7 p.m.,

in the Barbara and Dave Sylvan Auditorium

They’re back! Those well-known and not so well-known, the ones youmissed, the ones you wanted to see again, ones you’ve heard all about, andones you’ve never heard of! All wonderful and all right here for FREE atthe JCC. We’ve made it easier than ever to remember. Third Thursday ofthe month starting in September. Who needs “Friends”? Not you! Grabsome real friends or meet them at the J on movie night. The very best inJewish films, films with Jewish actors, films with Jewish themes, youname it (literally, we get our suggestions from you).

Our first film is “Avalon.” If you’ve seen it, see it again with your friends.Never seen it? Then don’t miss it.

For a complete list of our 2005-2006 films, watch your mail for thespiffy new brochure and check out our awesome Web site at csjcc.org.

See you at the movies!

WWWWhhhhaaaa tttt '''' ssss HHHHaaaappppppppeeeennnn iiiinnnngggg aaaa tttt tttt hhhheeee

SAVETHE DATE!

MEET THE NEW SHALIACH AND HIS FAMILY AT THE

J C C M E M B E R S H I P A P P R E C I A T I O N

L A B O R D A Y P O O L P A R T Y !MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

WATCH YOUR MAIL AND OUR WEB SITE,

WWW.CSJCC.ORG FOR DETAILS

Chai RidersFirst Bike'n

Breakfast RideSunday, September 11,from 9:30-11:30 a.m

Grab your Harley, your Beemer,your Ducati, or Goldwing. Grabyour biker babe or beau, your hel-met, and your leather jacket. Meetat the CSJCC at 9:30 a.m. We'regoing for a ride! And because weare Jewish motorcycle riders,we'll stop for a nosh. Call 495-1111,to sign up no later than Wednes-day, August 31.

We must have a minimum ofthree bikers to do this ride.

12 �� TULSA JEWISH REVIEW �� AUG. 1, 2005

AUGUST 2 — SEPTEMBER 15 , 2005YOUR JCC CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

CHECK OUR ONLINE CALENDAR FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. WWW.CSJCC.ORG

LLLLIIIISSSSTTTTEEEENNNN TTTTOOOO MMMMYYYY HHHHEEEEAAAARRRRTTTT:::: The Songs of David FriedmanSunday Matinee at the Performing Arts Center

August 21 at 2 p.m.See below for ticket information.

Special CSJCC performance-August 24 at 12:30 p.m.

Legendary, multi-platinum composer David Friedman has given voice tomany. In the SummerStage 2005 performances of “Listen To My Heart:The Songs of David Friedman,” the personal longings, ambitions, strug-gles, joys, and heartaches of the man behind the songs are revealed. InTulsa, the Off-Broadway hit musical revue, which debuted in October2003, will feature Friedman at the piano and a regional cast of five, includ-ing Cindy Baker, John Sawyer, Michele Dill, Booker Gillespie, and JenniferHover White. (See related photo on page 9.)

The revue includes a combination of recognizable standards and Fried-man’s personal favorites based on his own life experiences. Audiences fol-low Friedman’s life through challenges and triumphs as “voices in his head”are conveyed by Friedman and the five singers. One of TV and film’sfavorite composers, Friedman has written the words and music to well-known songs including the Lizzie McGuire Movie’s theme “Open Your EyesTo Love,” and has conducted and written all the vocal arrangements forsome of Disney’s most memorable classics, including “Beauty and theBeast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” and “Hunchback of Notre Dame.” His newsong, “There is Life,” will be featured in Disney’s sequel to “Bambi,” hittingthe screen in 2006.

Producer and Tulsan Mitchell Savage is bringing the show to Tulsa as abenefit for Council Oak Men’s Chorale. “We are very pleased to bring ashow of this caliber to Tulsa’s SummerStage,” said Savage.

SPECIAL PRICING IS AVAILABLEto the Tulsa Jewish Community for the PAC,

Sunday, 2 p.m. matinee on August 21For tickets call the PAC box office at 596-7109. Be sure to mention

CSJCC when you place your order to receive the special discount.Tickets are $16 when you pick them up at the box office the day of theperformance. A handling fee will be added if you request the tickets besent to you.

You can see a live sample performance of “Listen to My Heart” at theCharles Schusterman Jewish Community Center in the Barbara and DaveSylvan Auditorium on Wednesday, August 24, at 12:30 p.m. There is nocost for this version of the performance, but reservations arerequested. Call Mindy at 495-1111.