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January 23, 2004

Page 1

Vol. LXXXIII No. 21 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

29 Tevet, 5764 January 23, 2004

The Survival of the Human Spirit: Judy Meisel Returns to Nebraska to Speak About the Holocaust by BETH SELDIN-DOTAN bring lessons and materials to Nebraska Teachers. Director, Institute for Holocaust Education Lincoln Public Schools stepped up to the plate to be Plains States Office of the ADL the first community to hold a large-scale in-service. Holocaust survivor and civil rights activist, Judith In coordination with the Lincoln Public Schools Meisel has seen it all: death, destruction, intimidation, Teaching American History grant titled “Bringing anti-Semitism, racism. But that’s not the sum of her life: American History Scholarship into the Classroom” it’s survival and hope. (BAhSIC) and grants from the From her collaboration on Nebraska Humanities Council and the award-winning documenthe Cooper Foundation of Lincoln, tary, Tak For Alt: Survival of nearly 100 Lincoln Public School the Human Spirit, to her teachers will have the opportunity involvement in the historic to participate in this first In-Service. Civil Rights March in In addition to the In-Service, Meisel Washington, D.C., with Dr. is scheduled to speak in eight of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Meisel Lincoln Public Schools to more than has now embarked on a new 3,000 students. career--speaking to public The Holocaust Materials and school students and teachers. Educational Resources In-Service In response to an invitation to Training Project in Lincoln will participate in a Lincoln Public include a screening of the documenSchool Teacher In-Service, tary film Tak for Alt, featuring Meisel’s Thursday, Jan. 29, Meisel’s story. Meisel will speak to the teachvisit has blossomed into a ers following the film. series of speaking engageThe In-Service will include workments. shops and a plenary session with Through the efforts of top educators from the Kansas City Omaha’s Institute for Midwest Center for Holocaust Holocaust Education and an Education, and sessions with educaJudith Meisel interested group of educators from the Institute for Holocaust tors from throughout the state--including Director of Education. Teachers will return to their schools with Social Science Education, Larry Starr from the Nebraska new materials dealing with Holocaust issues, to be folDepartment of Education a series of Holocaust Teacher lowed by support from their school district to use these In-Services will be held during the year 2004 to help materials in age-appropriate and meaningful directions

for their students. These materials have been selected keeping state educational assessments as top priority. Judith Meisel will also speak following screenings of the film at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Lincoln on Sunday, Jan. 25, 10:15 a.m, and at Creighton University at 6 p.m. in the Rigge Science Building Auditorium. A reception will follow. Meisel was born in Lithuania and is a survivor of the Kovno Ghetto and of Stutthof concentration camp in Poland. She has lectured extensively on the Holocaust, and has taught the subject for over 30 years at schools and universities across the nation. Meisel’s personal story appears in the Philadelphia Public High School Teacher’s Guide for Teaching of the Holocaust, and has been recorded on audio tape in the archives of Brandies University and Columbia University. Her story has been videotaped by the Shoah Foundation Washington, D.C., and she has been active in their behalf in educating the public against racism and bigotry. An active participant in the Civil Rights Movement, Meisel was a member of the Panel of American Women and participated in and helped to organize the March on Washington, at which time she met and spoke with Dr. Martin Luther King. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Temple University and helped to establish a Preschool at Germantown Jewish Centre in Philadelphia. Later she founded the Preschool at Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara, CA. Meisel worked at several of the Ramah Camps (including the camp in Israel) in various capacities for 18 years, and has taught Yiddish at Gratz College in Philadelphia. Continued on page 4

Changes Afoot at Blumkin Home, Jewish Senior Services WWW.RBJH.COM Makes Its Debut

State Survey Shows Positive Results

by PHYLLIS GENTRY JSS Executive Assistant The Board of Directors of Jewish Senior Services is very pleased to by JOANIE BERNSTEIN announce that the Rose Blumkin Jewish President, Jewish Senior Services Home has recently completed its annual Jewish Senior Services and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home have developed a State and Federal survey and passed comprehensive website to showcase the programs and services provided to the with flying colors. The process, which Omaha senior Jewish community. took over “Our website has been designed to be user two full days, friendly and provide calendars of events offered examines at the Home and through our community outevery comporeach programs,” stated Michael Silverman, nent of the Executive Director. “We’ve also built-in the abilidelivery of ty to update the text and photos internally so we care and prodo not have to rely on an outside company for gramming to support. This will allow us to post special events the Residents and timely photos immediately.” of the Home. The home page is designed with a front door “The survey model to reflect the “open door to programs and process is a services” slogan that embodies the mission of stressful time Jewish Senior Services. Individuals visiting the for the staff of site can request information about admissions, the Home,” volunteers, Young Energetic Seniors, etc, and s t a t e d also send in information regarding job opportuM i c h a e l nities that may be available. Silverman, “The site has dynamic calendars that can be Executive clicked to showcase special events that may be Director. “It is occurring and will also link to the Community difficult to Calendar for events,” added Silverman. perform your “In addition, we are clearly linked to the daily duties Federation, which allows us to showcase our knowing that strengths and reaffirm our commitment to excelsomeone is lence in programming. It’s nice to finally have a The “front page” of Jewish Senior Services’s new website can be watching over website that matches our quality reputation.” your shoulder Come and visit the site; we’re just a click away! found at: www.rbjh.com.

Inside

This Week: America Decides 2004 Continues on Page 4 Jewish Teen Shares Summer Trip to Explain Holocaust: Page 2

Local, International Scholars at Passion Conference: Page 3

and documenting every move you make. Fortunately, our staff is outstanding and complying with the State and Federal regulations has become second nature.” With surveys in long-term care facilities identifying dozens of deficiencies across the country, the Blumkin Home was identified as having only one area requiring improvement. “We couldn’t be more pleased,” added Silverman. “Deficiency-free surveys have become few and far between, so being cited in only one area is a true testament to our hard work and dedication to the elderly.” “The Rose Blumkin Home staff works at being deficiency-free 365 days a year,” commented Joanie Bernstein, President of the Board of Directors of Jewish Senior Services. “The quality of care and the programming provided at the Home is not duplicated anywhere in the city of Omaha. The Board takes great pride in the work of each individual member of the staff. We extend our congratulations for this year’s survey results, and we thank them for their continuing efforts on behalf of our residents,” she added. For more information about the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and the array of programs and services offered by Jewish Senior Services, please call 330.4272 or visit us on the web at: www.rbjh.com.

Coming Next Month: Home & Garden Issue on Feb. 20 Gary Javitch Reviews Golda’s Balcony: Page 5

Details Wanted on Bush’s Immigration Plan: Page 9


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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 23, 2004

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Beth El Teen Augments Learning About Holocaust at Millard North by DIANE AXLER BAUM His first step was to transform the pictures from his disfor Beth El Synagogue posable cameras into CD’s. “What a great thing for him Thanks in large part to the efforts of Josh Sweet, a to do,” exclaimed Bacon. The other students “have member of Beth El Synagogue and its USY, the heard about the Holocaust,” she said, “but it’s not much Holocaust has come to represent unspeakable horrors more than a statistic until there is a person involved.” rather than mere statistics for some 60 students at One of the many positives for Josh was in seeing the Millard North High School. reactions of his peers. “It In 11th grade American felt good that my classmates Literature, Josh and his who are not Jewish were classmates focused recently stunned (by the photoon works that relate to graphs),” he said. Many World War II and share a were visibly moved, and a common theme of conflict number were inspired to and reaction. For Josh, Eli express their feelings. Weisel’s award winning Looking back on “the Night was especially movmost meaningful trip” he’s ing. He felt its impact not ever taken, Josh said the only because he’s Jewish, itinerary included three he said, but as a result of days in the Czech Republic participating last summer in and four days in Poland as L’Dor V’Dor (Generation to background for four wonGeneration), a trip to the derful weeks in Israel, with Czech Republic, Poland, an emphasis on kibbutz livand Israel. ing. During the brief class disHe returned to parents cussion of Night, he found Mark and Lynn Sweet a difhimself greatly disappointferent young man. The ed. “We didn’t talk enough experience “changed my about the Holocaust,” he outlook on life and made recalled. “I felt there could me a better person,” he be more meaningful learnsaid. As one example, he ing.” said he is much more aware His English teacher, Kara of making meaningful use Bacon, willingly permitted of his time. him to prepare a presentaThis, he believes, came to tion about his summer bear when he seized the experiences, complete with Top photo: Josh Sweet took a photo of the hole in the ceiling opportunity to promote photographs he’d taken of of a concentration camp gas chamber where the gas was Jewish-Christian underghettos, concentration released. Bottom photo: Josh Sweet, left, stands atop a rock standing at his school. camps, and gas chambers. formation in the Negev, with his friends, Harry and Zach.

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Rabbi Black’s Got a Little Music to Sing on Shabbat Shira

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 KADIMA and 6th Grade Shabbat on Jan. 23-25, at Beth El SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 C Sisterhood Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El L JYG Event, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel I P

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 Kids Snack and Learn, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El BBYO 4 Israel, 1 p.m. S Girl Scout Troop Meeting, 3 p.m. MONDAY, JANUARY 26 YES Program, 10 a.m. Adult Ed. Class, 11 a.m. JELS Teacher Training Program, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 JELS/ADL Lunch & Learn, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Adult Education, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 Crash Course in Hebrew Reading, noon C Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 7 p.m. at Beth El L I P & S A V E

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 National Conference on The Passion of the Christ, 9 a.m. at Creighton University & UNO & Walk-in Drop-in/Yiddish Group, 10 a.m. S Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel A Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century V with Rabbi Levin, noon at Beth El E “Live from the 92nd Street Y”, 7 p.m. All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated.The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events.To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING,VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN “Everybody’s Got a Little Music,” a CD with 11 songs; Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “Aleph Bet Boogie,” a mixture of traditional folk In photographer George Kalinsky’s book, Rabbis: The melodies with styles from swing to salsa and lullabies Many Faces of Judaism, Rabbi Joe Black looks more to straight rock. like a cowboy than a rabbi. In his cowboy boots and “Sing Me a Story” is a video recording of a live conwhite Stetson, Rabbi Black strums a guitar. But instead cert performance. “Enough Already” is also a video, of a horse at his side and a saddle blanket, his tallit based on a popular Yiddish folk tale about a farmer rests on the nearby rail post. with a large family, featuring Rabbi Black, who will Klezmer style music. sing at Shabbat Worship Blending traditional folk Service on Friday, Feb. 6, melodies with a variety of 7:30 p.m., at Temple Israel, musical styles, Rabbi Black loves making music. He is has been compared to Raffi known for bringing a sense and even bears a resemblance of joy to Judaism with his to the guru of children’s songs. Through storytelling music. But the rabbi’s central and original compositions, tenet is to teach children an he teaches children about appreciation for their religious their religious heritage and heritage. Nonetheless, their encourages adults to weave parents--especially the ones Judaism into their daily who grew up in the 1960s and lives. ‘70s--enjoy Rabbi Black’s tunes In his song, “Leave a Little too. Undone” about tikkun He has been a featured perolam, he sings about a simformer at CAJE (the ilar belief about repairing Conference on Alternatives in the world held by Pueblo Jewish Education) since 1992 Indians whom he met when and also sung at Union for Rabbi Joe Black he moved to Albuquerque Reform Judaism biennial conto became rabbi of the century-old Congregation Albert ventions as well as for hundreds of Jewish communities on the rangeland of New Mexico. Although his music in the United States and Canada. usually has a serious message, it is often delivered in a Rabbi Black has been recognized as one of the Top light-hearted way. On his new CD, he rewords the Ten Artists in both the categories of Jewish Children’s song, “Who Let the Dogs Out?” to teach some Jewish Music and Male Adult Contemporary Jewish Music, by history. His version is called, “Who Let the Slaves Out?” Moment magazine, and TARA Publications. He has also After his first year as assistant rabbi at Temple Israel received accolades from The New York Times, Hadassah in Minneapolis, before moving to the southwest in magazine and Parent’s Choice among others. 1996, Rabbi Black was asked to pick up his guitar for a Rabbi Black’s participation in Temple Israel’s Shabbat Hanukkah concert to benefit the Temple’s nursery Shira service, the Sabbath of Song, celebrating the school. This performance resulted in his first recording, Israelites escape from Egyptian bondage, is sponsored “Rabbi Joe Black Sings.” Other recordings include by the Janis Yale Enrichment Fund.


January 23, 2004

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Local Scholars Join Others from Across North America for Conference on Mel Gibson Film by LEONARD GREENSPOON Klutznick Chair, Creighton University Next week’s Symposium, “Exploring Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ,” is attracting wide attention. This is due not only to interest in the film but also to the impressive roster of presenters who will be participating. Drawn from throughout the United States and Canada, as well as including local Sidnie White Crawford Philip Cunningham experts, each is an acknowledged expert in his or her field. Their authority and ability to make even the most controversial topics clear will greatly enhance the value of this event for all who attend. The Symposium will take place at UNO and Creighton University on Thursday, Jan. 29 (see full schedule on page 5) Morning activities, including a luncheon keynote address, are at UNO’s W.H. Thompson Alumni Center. Michael Lawler Gordon Mork Dennis Hamm, S.J., of Creighton’s Department of Theology, begins with a passion plays, especially the famous talk titled, “Is the New Testament Anti- presentation at Oberammergau; his artiSemitic?” Hamm, who has been on the cle on this topic was included in a past Creighton faculty for almost 30 years, is Klutznick Symposium volume. an expert on the Gospel of Luke. He has The third speaker of the morning is written four books and more than a hun- John Pawlikowski, O.S.M., who is dred articles on topics relating to the Professor of Ethics and Director of the New Testament and its implications for Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at the Jewish-Christian relations. Catholic Theological Union. Gordon Mork, who teaches at Purdue Pawlikowski is a leader in JewishUniversity, follows Hamm at 9:45 a.m. A Christian dialogue and recognized for his leading scholar of the passion plays, achievements in this area. He will speak which have been performed in Europe on “Christian Anti-Semitism: Past History, since the Middle Ages, Mork will speak Present Challenges.” on ”Christ’s Passion on Stage: The A kosher lunch will be served at 11:30 Traditional Melodrama of Deicide.” a.m. Adele Reinhartz, of Wilfred Laurier Mork has written and lectured widely on University, will present the keynote,

World of Jesus and the Disciples.” Boston College Professor, Philip Cunningham, follows with “The Execution of Jesus: A Historical Reconstruction”. Cunningham is Executive Director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning. A leader in interfaith dialogue, he is the author of a number of books, including A Story of Shalom: The Calling of Christians and Charles Jurgensmeier Dennis Hamm Jews by a Covenanting God. After a short break, Mark Silk will speak on “Gibson’s Passion: A Case Study of Media Manipulation.” On the faculty of Trinity College in Hartford, CT, Silk is a leading expert on how religion is covered in the media. He is a founding director of the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life and editor of its journal, Religion in the News. The last two speakers are both Fr. Pawlikowski Adele Reinhartz Creighton faculty members. Michael “Passion-ate Moments in the Jesus Film Lawler is holder of the Graff Faculty Chair Genre,” during lunch, making use of film in Catholic Theological Studies. He is also clips. A widely published author and director of the Center for the Study of much in-demand speaker, Reinhartz’s Religion and Family at Creighton. An most recent book is titled Scripture on expert on historical and theological trends in Catholicism, he will speak on “Sectarian the Silver Screen. The afternoon program, consisting of Catholicism and Mel Gibson”. Charles Jurgensmeier, S.J., Director of five additional presentations, begins at 2 p.m. in Creighton’s Skutt Student Center Choral Activities in the Department of Ballroom. The first speaker is Sidnie Fine and Performing Arts, will present “A White Crawford, who has chaired the Review of The Passion of the Christ”. Department of Classics and Religious Jurgensmeier has viewed the film and Studies at UNL since 1997. A popular will speak from this perspective. For more information or details, conspeaker at Klutznick and other Omaha community events, Crawford is an expert tact Bob Wolfson, 333.1303, Ron on the Dead Sea Scrolls. She will speak Simkins, 280.2504, or Bill Blizek, on “Romans, Jews, and Greeks: The 554.2628 or me, at 280.2304.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 23, 2004

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AMERICA DECIDES 2004 (Editor’s note: statements from seven of the nine Democratic candidates for the presidency were published in last week’s Press. Gen. Clark’s statement was received too late to be included and Rev. Sharpton’s statement was never issued to JTA. Though the Iowa caucus results have been tabulated with John Kerry in first place with 38%, followed by John Edwards and Howard Dean with 32% and 18% respectively, the Jewish Press wanted to include Gen. Clark’s statement for future reference for the May 11 Nebraska primary election. Other election articles will be featured in upcoming issues.) by Gen. WESLEY CLARK (JTA) -- The values of patriotism, faith, family and inclusion shape my thinking and my agenda for America, but I define them differently than the politicians and ideologues most often associated with these terms. Patriotism means living up to the image of America that inspires people all over the world to seek a new life on our shores. A Clark administration will strengthen America's alliances abroad, promote the national interest through the power of persuasion and use force only as a last resort. Nowhere is American leadership more crucial than in the Middle East. It’s been more than three years since Yasser Arafat rejected a negotiated settlement to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. In those three years, almost 1,000 innocent Israelis have been killed by Palestinian suicide bombers. And, as a result of the actions Israel has taken to defend itself, the suffering of the Palestinian people has increased. Now, without a credible negotiating partner, the Israeli government has decided that it has no option but to build a security fence. This barrier is a logical extension of Israel’s right to self-defense, but it is neither a long-term solution nor a sustainable substitute for peace. As president, I will send a high-level negotiating team to the region and task them with helping the parties renew and complete the peace process. When Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and I began our effort in 1995 to settle the conflict between Serbs, Bosnians and Croats, the task seemed impossible. But that year, I learned firsthand what concerted American diplomatic efforts--backed by strong presidential support--can achieve. As with the Bosnian peace effort, I will invest my energy and attention in working toward Middle East peace. America will be an honest broker and show the necessary leadership. In working toward peace, I will never lose sight of Israel’s security interests because I believe that honoring America’s commitments is part of what it means to

be patriotic. Patriotism also demands the ardent support of American values around the world wherever they are challenged. The pervasiveness of anti-Semitism in the Arab and Muslim world must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. So, too, must anti-Semitic crimes against Jewish institutions in Europe. When synagogues are bombed in Istanbul and set aflame in France, the United States must ask tough questions about the extent of anti-Semitism in Europe and work together with our allies to combat it. As president, I pledge to do so. Reverence for the separation of church and state is also central to American patriotism. Freedom of reliGen. Wesley Clark gion is a founding principle of our nation that has been attracting people to our shores for centuries. That’s why I believe that federally supported programs should be free from entanglement with religion. Faith-based social programs do excellent work, providing much-needed social services around the country. But the Bush administration crossed the line with its activist stance on faith-based initiatives, which have the potential to use federal funds to encourage religion. As president, I plan to keep the business of government separate from matters of faith. That is one of the reasons why I oppose school vouchers. Like both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, I grew up in the South, and faith was central to my daily life. It remains so today. My faith leads me to believe that the United States should use its potential for good in the world--to prevent genocide, fight the spread of AIDS and ease the epidemic of hunger. As for family values, I believe in putting families first. That’s why I’ll implement a progressive tax reform that simplifies the tax code, relieves the financial strain on working families and reduces poverty. You cannot properly care for a family if you do not have a job or if you are constantly worried about losing your health-care coverage. A Clark administration will invest in jobs and increase access to affordable health care. My health-care plan will extend coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans--including every single American child. We have a choice. We can keep losing jobs, mortgaging our children’s future, alienating our friends and neglecting our allies. Or we can change course. I will bring a higher standard of leadership back to Washington. The values that I am running on are American values; they are also Jewish values. I believe we can build an even better America and a more secure world. That’s why I am running for president. Retired four-star Gen. Wesley Clark was the supreme allied commander of NATO.

Judy Meisel Returns to Nebraska to Speak

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Continued from page 1 Meisel initiated a program whereby Jewish children all over North America wrote letters to Queen Margarethe of Denmark. The schoolchildren thanked the queen and her late grandfather, King Christian X, as well as her Danish subjects for saving virtually all of the Danish Jews by secretly smuggling them to neutral Sweden during the war. More than 15,000 letters were written, which are now exhibited in the Danish Museum of the Resistance in Copenhagen. In December 1993, Buenavista Production Co. flew Judy, her son, Michael, and 12-year old grandson, Aaron, to the concentration camp in Poland where she and her sister had been imprisoned during World War II. The film was televised nationally on The Crusaders program in early 1994. And in May and June of 1998, Sirena Film Company filmed Judy in Lithuania, Germany and Denmark; the resultant award-winning one-hour documentary Tak For Alt: Survival of a Human Spirit, premiered at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara, CA. It has been shown in numerous Film Festivals and on Public Broadcasting television stations throughout the country and has appeared on Public Television in Denmark and Canada. Meisel has been the recipient of numerous awards; among them, the Distinguished Community Service

Award for 1994 presented by the Anti-Defamation League, a commendation in 1999 for “Outstanding Contributions to the Education of our Youth” from Phi Delta Kappa, and an award in March 2000, for “Courage and Leadership in the Jewish Community” from the JCCs of Greater Philadelphia. Her most recent awards include The 2002 Youth Service Award from Santa Barbara Hadassah and “Woman of the Year 2002 in Santa Barbara Second District” by the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women. She currently serves as a trustee of the Santa Barbara Jewish Community Foundation and is a Trustee of the Santa Barbara County Hebrew Free Loan Association. In 1997, Meisel was Education Chairman of the “Anne Frank in the World” exhibit and was instrumental in arranging that more than 12,000 Santa Barbara County school children and their teachers were provided with transportation to view the exhibit. Meisel serves on the Boards of Hillel and the AntiDefamation League, and is in constant demand to speak at schools, various organizations, church groups and film festivals all over the country, including Temple Emanu-El in New York for Holocaust Memorial Day. She is married to Fred Meisel; they have five children and seven grandchildren.


January 23, 2004

Golda’s Balcony: A Must See on Broadway!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

IN THE NEWS

upcoming Arab sneak attack. A veteran of screen, stage and TV, Feldshuh has perfectly captured the mannerisms and dress of the former Milwaukeean. Her costume and makeup create a remarkably true image of the PM at age 75, when she assumed the leadership of Israel. The no-holds barred dialogue has Golda frankly speaking her opinion about many of the

by GARY JAVITCH With all the fantastic musicals and light-hearted plays available to a tourist on Broadway this season, there remains one “best” choice for a Jewish visitor to attend. It is a drama and it is a standout selection for this theater season. The play is Golda’s Balcony, the one woman, one-act performance featuring Tovah Feldshuh. While the award-winning play covers the life of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, it focuses on the period of her premiership (1969-74) and the question of whether she should Actress Tovah Feldshuh, center, visits backstage with Omahans use the nuclear bomb. Gary Javitch and Karen and Rachel Javitch. Golda confronted that dilemma following the Jewish State’s Israeli and world leaders with whom she early and serious losses in battles to worked. Though married, she also Egypt and Syria during the first days of acknowledges her active extra-marital the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Highlighted sex life. by magnificent special effects that For 90 energetic minutes, Tovah include loud bomb explosions, cigarette Feldshuh brings the personality of the smoke, strobe lights, fog machines, and remarkable Golda Meir to life, dynamislides, the play delves into the stresses cally recreating the tension of the time, and strains that enveloped Prime the political insights and the history of a Minister Meir after she held herself beleaguered nation. A predominantly responsible for failing to accurately Jewish audience gave Tovah a standing assess pre-war indicators suggesting an ovation and two curtain calls.

YWCA Omaha is seeking nominations for the “2004 Tribute to Women”. Ten women will be honored for achievement in their award category, community service and a demonstrated commitment to the elimination of racism or other forms of discrimination. The award categories include: arts/humanities, business/entrepreneur, communications, K-12 education, post-secondary education, human services/community advocate, professions (other than medical), medical professions, professional volunteer, and young leader. The nomination form can be found at the YWCA Omaha website: www.ywcaomaha.org. The award winners will be honored at a luncheon on Tuesday, June 8, noon, at the Holiday Inn Central. This is the final week of the Girl Scout Great Plains Council annual cookie

sale. The boxed kosher certified cookies, are priced at $3.50 and can be ordered from any Brownie or Girl Scout or from the Council at: 558.8189, or through the Friedel Girl Scout Troop by calling Troop Leader Julie Phillips, 397-5827 or the FJA, 334-0517. Proceeds are used to recruit and train volunteer leaders, provide financial assistance to make Girl Scouting available for girls and young women, improve and maintain facilities and keep program and event fees to a minimum. Former Omahan Mark Zalkin runs Zalkin Training and Development in Denver, CO. Coaching individuals and organizations to peak performance since 1985, Zalkin also publishes the Zalkin Report, a newsletter produced by CoachNotes.com.

LINCOLN CENTER Sara Bauman, a Lincoln artist has been invited to show a drawing in the upcoming exhibit “All About Drawing”, which opened Jan. 20 and runs through Feb. 19. The Exhibition will be at the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery in Richards Hall at the University of NebraskaLincoln. “All About Drawing” presents creative aspects of drawing that demonstrate a variety of styles, artistic interpretation, use of materials and subject matter. The show includes local, national, and international artists.

Bauman’s work, “Bound Figure Emerging” is a graphite drawing. Bauman states that much of her work has Jewish themes. Her work is in collections around the country and in several universities. She is currently engaged in drawing, printmaking and teaching. Congregation B’nai Jeshurun will host a book discussion, using The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children by Dr. Wendy Mogel on Sunday, Feb. 1, 10:30 a.m.- noon, at the Temple.

Exploring Mel Gibson’s

“The Passion of the Christ” Thursday, January 29, 2004 • 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. On the campuses of and The purpose of this symposium is to explore some of the issues surrounding Mel Gibson’s soon to be released movie, ”The Passion of the Christ.” Topics include anti-Semitism, the historical Jesus, portraying Jesus in the movies, the Roman Catholic perspective, and media coverage of the controversy.

Speakers include the following people: Philip Cunningham (Boston College) Dennis Hamm, S.J. (Creighton University) Charles Jurgensmeier, S.J. (Creighton University) Michael Lawler (Creighton University) Gordon Mork (Purdue University) John Pawlikowski, O.S.M. (Catholic Theological Union) Adele Reinhartz (Wilfrid Laurier University) Mark Silk (Trinity College) Sidnie White Crawford (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creighton University

W.H. Thompson Alumni Center

Skutt Student Center Ballroom

9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

(Kosher lunch included)

9:00-9:45:

2:00-2:45:

“Romans, Jews and Greeks: The World of Jesus and the Disciples”

“Is the New Testament Anti-Semitic?”

Sidnie White Crawford (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Dennis Hamm, S.J. (Creighton University)

9:45-10:30:

“Christ’s Passion on Stage: The Traditional Melodrama of Deicide”

2:45-3:30:

“The Execution of Jesus: A Historical Reconstruction”

Gordon Mork (Purdue University)

Philip Cunningham (Boston College)

Break

Break

10:45-11:30: “Christian Anti-Semitism: Past History, Present Challenges”

3:30-4:30:

“Gibson’s Passion: A Case Study in Media Manipulation”

John Pawlikowski, O.S.M. (Catholic Theological Union) For further information please contact: Ron Simkins 402/280-2504 rsmkns@creighton.edu Bill Blizek 402/554-2628 wblizek@mail.unomaha.edu Bob Wolfson, ADL 402/333-1303 Guy Matalon, JELS 402/334-6560 Leonard Greenspoon, Klutznik Chair 402/280-2304

Sponsored by Journal of Religion & Film

Creighton University’s Center for the Study of Religion & Society

Page 5

11:30-1:00:

Lunch and Luncheon Speaker “Passion-ate Moments in the Jesus Film Genre”

Mark Silk (Trinity College)

4:30-5:00:

“Sectarian Catholicism and Mel Gibson?” Michael Lawler (Creighton University)

Adele Reinhartz (Wilfrid Laurier University)

5:00-5:30:

Review of The Passion of the Christ Charles Jurgensmeier, S.J. (Creighton University)

Co-sponsors include Jewish Educational & Library Services

The Klutznik Chair of Jewish Civilization


Dining

Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 23, 2004

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by CAROL KATZMAN and Ahmed are performing five shows in Denver and Editor of the Jewish Press London this month and added that “Egyptians are Or so says Rabbi Bob Alper, part-time Vermont-based funny; Jews are funnier, but most of the other Arabs rabbi, part-time comedian, who’s performing in London aren’t funny at all.” and Savannah, GA, this week. He’ll be in Omaha next So where does all this humor come from? Rabbi Alper week for a fundraiser at Beth El Synagogue on Saturday says three things: survival, humor’s transportability, and evening, Jan. 31. And he’ll give the D’var Torah during Jews’ love of language. The Jewish people needed to Shabbat morning services. So Omahans will be able to develop a sense of humor to escape from the tragedies see Rabbi Alper in both of his roles. of their history--and to outwit bullies--in any language! When he was a student at Hebrew Union College, He doesn’t do “prophetic humor” however. “There professors “tried to teach humor a little bit.” In fact, probably won’t be any Saddam jokes when I come to Rabbi Alper’s student sermon was so funny, he won an Omaha,” Rabbi Alper insisted. “Jay Leno has 16 writers; award for delivery and content; the HUC rabbinic staff I have--me!” now uses it as a model in the classroom. But he says humor often finds him. “I’m fifth generA senior rabbi at HUC, however, cautioned Alper “not ation American-born, and don’t speak Yiddish,” he told to become a buffoon.” the Press. “After one “The key is approshow, a man priate humor,” he approached me and explained in a telesaid, ‘Rabbi. Your perphone interview. For formance was geshexample, he says puns michte vaziggaleh are “intellectual v’chochen.’ I think it humor,” but rabbis was a compliment, often turn them into because he had a “in” jokes, “so congrebroad smile, and he gants either groan, used a lot of phlegm.” gloat that they’re on Jews are competitive the inside and they about “their” humor, get it, or complain that too, Alper noted. “If they don’t.” you do a joke in 12 There’s no “blue” seconds, 11 is better.” humor in Alper’s And members of the stand-up routine, audience love to tell either. But, he used to him their version of tell “JAP” (Jewish“his” jokes! American Princess) Alper relaxes jokes, until someone between gigs and pulpointed out to him pit duties in his home that they were racist town of East Dorset. and hurtful, so he He notes that though stopped. “It’s not there are “only 6000 funny when people Jews residing in are uncomfortable. It This cartoon is from Rabbi Bob Alper’s book, Vermont on a regular is, however, when you’re pointing out foibles or stu- basis, there are 1.7 million during ski season.” And he pidity or obnoxious behavior.” does plenty of skiing; in fact, following this interview, For example, Alper told the Press, “After six years as Rabbi Alper was on his way outside to go cross-counan assistant rabbi, it was finally time to move on to my try skiing with his dog, Gideon. His dog, by the way, is own pulpit. I submitted my name to the Synagogue a “Hurricane Andrew dog,” adopted after the 1992 Placement Commission. Basically, the way it worked is South Florida hurricane when Gideon lost his owner. that I was sent from Buffalo to Philadelphia…in a trade “We live in a small town in Vermont. Just a handful of for two cantors, one Bar Mitzvah tutor, and a rookie Jews,” he added. “I was taking a hike one day, feeling mohel.” just a bit lonely and isolated, when suddenly a wind came He enjoys his two roles and is always on the lookout across the mountain and up the valley, and I heard a for situations he can incorporate into his act--either his voice saying, ‘If you build a deli, they will come.’” solo act, or the “tag team” duo he performs with Wonder what he’ll say about Omaha!?! Ahmed Ahmed, considered “comedy’s odd couple.” For more information about the Saturday night, Alper says they’re “hard to tell apart, even though Jan. 31, 7 p.m., auction which precedes Rabbi Alper’s Alper’s 5’8”; Ahmed’s 6’3”. I’m a Jew, he’s a Muslim; I’m show or tickets to the comedy performance at 8 p.m., in my 50’s; Ahmed’s is thirty-something, but we’re both call the synagogue office, 492.8550. Tickets start at $18 incredibly good looking,” he added with a laugh. He with proceeds benefitting Beth El’s religious school.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT This year’s winter play at Millard North High School, Stage Door, includes: Nate Fineman, Isaac Frishman, Amy Schweid and Megan Katelman. Millard North teacher, Jan Fischer, is the director. The story, which takes place in the mid 1930s, is about a group of young women who live in a boarding house in New York City. This play was actually made into a movie, starring Katherine Hepburn. The show opens tonight, Jan. 23, 7 p.m., and also runs tomorrow, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door ($3 for seniors).

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SNAP! Productions will hold auditions for the play Stop Kiss on Monday, Jan. 26, and Tuesday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m., at the SNAP!/Shelterbelt Theatre, 3225 California St., Omaha. Stop Kiss will run ThursdaysSundays, March 4-28. Lara Marsh is directing this compelling play. The auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. All roles are available. SNAP! is looking for three men and three women. For further information please contact Artistic Director Michal Simpson at 346-1773. Pink Martini debuts with the Omaha Symphony in the SuperPops concerts Feb. 6-7, 8 p.m., at the

Orpheum Theater. For ticket information, visit the symphony’s website: www.omahasymphony.org or call: 342.3836. The beloved opera, La Bohème, comes to the Orpheum Theater next week with a powerful cast. Playing the lead female role of Mimi is Elena Kolganova, stated Opera Omaha, producers of the shows. Originally from Uzbekistan, Kolganova came to the U.S. in 1993. She studied with the Houston Grand Opera Studio program and has sung with the New York City Opera, among others. Tickets for the three shows: Jan. 28 and 30 and Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., are available by calling 34.OPERA or online at www.operaomaha.org. Comedian Robert Schimmel will appear at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, Feb. 5-7. A cancer survivor, Schimmel says he can help others in two ways: one is to make them laugh with his openness about his own struggles with “the ‘C’ word” and his son’s death, and the other is to ask members of the audience to bring books, games, videos and CDs for children with cancer to his shows. For ticket information, call 493-8036.


January 23, 2004

Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday at the JCC. Play bingo at 10 a.m. with Eileen Remer or exercise with Stacey Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share for the “YES Talk” discussion group at 11 a.m. The Omaha Theater for Young People presents Broadway Town, starring Sue Booton and Earl Bates, at 12:45 p.m. Lunch begins at noon. There is no charge for the performance. Lunch is $6 per person. Call Maggie at 334.6521 for reservations. For transportation call Dee Dee at 330.4272. WALK-IN, DROP-IN For members going to the Bluffs Run Casino on Thursday, please meet at the JCC main entrance by 8:45 a.m. For transportation call Maggie Conti at 334-6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Want to have a “Freylichen Tog”? Come to the Yiddish Conversation Group at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Even if your Yiddish isn’t so “Aye-Aye-Aye”, you’ll enjoy it anyway! Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638 for information. OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING “Hidden Dimensions of Psalms,” organized by Shirley Goodman meets at the home of Annette Fettman on Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m. Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman will explore the meaning of Psalms. A crash course in Hebrew Reading with Rabbi Hoffman also meets Wednesdays at noon in the Federation Conference Room; Advanced Hebrew Comprehension meets at 7 p.m. at the OCTL Beis Midrash; call 981.0569 for more information. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Scott Hazelrigg will speak on Wednesday, Jan. 21, noon, at Park Inn Regency, according to Gary Javitch, January Chairman. Hazelrigg is Director of the Strategic Air and Space Museum. Cost is $9 for lunch; $2 for beverage service only. Breadbreakers is open to the community.

VISIONS: Come Fly Away with Me: In Search of Shangri La, The Dick Walter’s Professional Film Travelogue on Friday, Feb. 27, 2 p.m., at the Joslyn Art Museum in the Witherspoon Concert Hall. Visions members’ price is $6 per person. Join us for lunch at noon at the popular Joslyn’s Le Cafe Durham (on your own). Send reservations with payment to: Sandy and Fred Bromley, 13419 Marinda St., Omaha, NE 68144. Deadline is Feb. 19. No reservations after that date. Make checks payable to Visions. Membership dues to Visions for 2004 are due. Please mail your $5 check, payable to Visions, to: Visions, c/o Gilda Pieck, 6955 Cuming, Omaha, NE 68132. JEWISH EDUCATIONAL & LIBRARY SERVICES Don’t miss the last January session of The Guy and Bob Show on Tuesday, Jan. 27, noon, in the Kripke Library. Guy Matalon and Bob Wolfson will be taking a break during February and will resume the Lunch and Learns on March 6. Bring your lunch and join in the lively discussion about Israel, the Middle East, religion in our society and other current events.

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Omaha Temple Youth Group (OTYG) has invited youth groups of the Islamic, Hindu, and Christian faiths to attend OTYG’s fourth annual Diversity Service tonight, Friday, Jan. 23, 6 p.m., at Temple Israel. Janet Baack, OTYG president, said, “It’s certainly not an accident” that this Shabbat worship service is the same week as the country honors Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39 after a life of working to bring about social, political, and economic equality for blacks. “We’re focusing on respecting the practices and views of other religions,” Janet explained. Janet, Sara Rips, and Molly Needelman are compiling

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Sarah and Guy Trainin of Lincoln, NE, announce the Dec. 22, 2003, birth of their son, Oren Matan. He has two brothers, Erez, 9, and Asaf, 7. Grandparents are Carol and Marvin Rowen of Los Angeles, CA, and Ze’ev and Rita Trainin, Tel Aviv, Israel. Great-grandmother is Mary Rachlin, also of Los Angeles. Barb and Tom Jacobs of Kansas City, KS, announce the birth of their son, Forrest Bernard, named for his late grandfather, Bernard Wishnow. Grandparents are Drs. Judy and David Jacobs of Overland Park, KS, and Gail Wishnow of Lincoln. Great-grandmother is Bernice Katskee of Lincoln. Mark and Jana Kirke of Leawood, KS, announce the Jan. 15, birth of their son, Lawson Andrew. He has a sister, Kornelle, 4. Grandparents are Larry and Cheryl Kirke, Steve and Pat Newland, and Nick Skada, all of Omaha.

OTYG Diversity Service to Emphasize Equality and Respect

Chicago Style

Across from Creighton University

Page 7

BIRTHS

ORGANIZATIONS

2412 Cuming Street

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

the service to which youth from approximately seven congregations have been invited. Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet are helping OTYG with the service. “Every year, this service gets better and better,” according to Sara. One of the purposes of the Diversity Service is to emphasize equality and that “no person should be above another,” pointed out Sara. Both Janet and Sara hope that families from the congregation and the community will attend the service together. While this is an opportunity for adults to reevaluate, noted Sara, “their children can see whites, blacks, Jews, and Gentiles all together.” As Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of achieving his goals through nonviolent means, Sara is optimistic that “maybe peace can be achieved.”


Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 23, 2004

Opinion War Crimes Some contenders for the office of the United States President have told reporters that Saddam Hussein deserves a “fair trial.” We agree--but that doesn’t mean he deserves the rights and privileges that Americans enjoy: a speedy trial, judged by his peers with a right to representation. He’s not American; his crimes are not akin to grand larceny or armed robbery. He committed war crimes--and he’s going to be trid by the Iraqis. For comparison, let’s look at the Eichmann trial in Israel. Though Adolf Eichmann was arrested in 1945 and sent to an American prison camp, he escaped. The Israeli Mossad (Secret Service) learned that he had used the name Ricardo Klement to enter Argentina, where he lived for 10 years, until being captured by Mossad agents in 1960 and brought to Israel. Complaints were heard in Europe (and in the United States) about Israel having the audacity to try Eichmann for war crimes--since his crimes weren’t committed in Israel. Never mind that Eichmann was the mastermind behind the Final Solution, which lead to the death of more than six million Jews! Ignoring their critics, the State of Israel put Eichmann on trial in Jerusalem for “crimes against the Jewish people, crimes against humanity and war crimes.” The four-month long trial was filmed and more than 100 witnesses testified against him. He was found guilty, and, to this day, is the only convicted criminal who

FOCUS ON ISSUES by GIL SEDAN JERUSALEM (JTA)--There’s not much on which right and left see eye to eye in Israeli politics. But one point they agree on is that Arabs represent a demographic threat to the Jewish state. The debate centers around whether that threat comes from within Israel or in the West Bank and Gaza Strip--and how to overcome the threat, with each side using the demographic issue to promote its own agenda. The left, led by such figures as the chairman of the Labor Party, Shimon Peres, argue that Israel’s continued presence in the West Bank and Gaza distorts the balance of Jews and Arabs in the Jewish state, and Israel should therefore withdraw. But when it comes to Israel’s own Arab citizens, the left often is silent. And when a right-wing politician speaks out on the matter, it often gets him in politically incorrect hot water. Last month, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu created an uproar when he referred to Israel’s one million-plus Arab citizens as a “demographic bomb” threatening the Jewish state. Knesset member Ahmed Tibi, an Israeli Arab, said Netanyahu would soon “spray us with spermicide.” Columnist Bet Michael wrote in Israel’s daily Yediot Achronot, “It turned out once again that there was only one criterion to the Jewishness of the Jewish state, the quantitative criterion: The more Jews, the more Jewishness.” Was the difference between Peres and Netanyahu a matter of double standards? Yes and no. Yes, because left wingers use demographic arguments when it suits their agenda but publicly criticize such arguments when they don’t. And no, because there is a difference in the consequences of policy vis-a-vis the Palestinian Arabs versus Israel’s own Arab citizens. The left wants to resolve the demographic problem in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by

(Founded in 1920)

was sentenced to death in the State of Israel. He was hanged on May 31, 1962, at Ramle prison. What does this have to do with a future trial of Saddam Hussein? Hussein committed war crimes--but he shouldn’t be tried by the International Tribunal in The Hague. Their namby-pamby justice gave the killers of the Rwandan genocide a slap on the wrist; Saddam deserves the ultimate penalty--or the world will have to continually worry about terrorism being ordered from inside his prison cell. For the crimes of gassing more than 20,000 Kurds living in northern Iraq, for the crimes of sending more than half-amillion (mostly young) Iraqis to their deaths in the war against Iran in the 1980s, for the crimes of ordering the rapes of Iraqi women (often while their husbands or children watched), for the crimes of torturing dissidents, for the crimes of mass killings--Saddam Hussein must be tried--and the trial must be videotaped. A parade of witnesses similar to the kind that gave testimony against Adolf Eichmann will surely undermine his credibility as the former leader of Iraq and allow the Iraqi people to put his brutal regime behind them. This cannot be the O.J. Simpson trial; if it’s turned into a platform for spewing

hatred against the West, apologists who look to blame the Americans, the Jews, and poverty as excuses for Saddam’s actions better find another issue--the American public won’t stand for it. Like Haman, once Saddam is hanged, his people (and the world) can look to the future.

Jewish Press Committee Howard K. Marcus, Vice-Chairman; Bobbi Leibowitz, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Finance Chairman; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Fred Tichauer, Immediate Past-chairman; Jean Duitch; Penny Endelman; Kip Gordman; Stanley Mitchell; George Quittner; Linda Saltzman; Joey Shyken; Nancy Skid; and Melanie Weinstein.

If Israel’s Arab Citizens Indeed Are a ‘Demographic Bomb,’ Can It Be Diffused? withdrawing Israelis from those areas. Critics say the message of Netanyahu, a right winger, was that if Israel wants to preserve its Jewish identity, Arab citizens should be encouraged to leave Israel proper. Jewish population growth is dwarfed by that of Arabs, who have more children, and Jewish immigration to Israel has dropped off considerably. Netanyahu's critics conveniently disregarded that latter point, which the finance minister made in his speech.

By generously subsidizing multichild families--a policy mostly intended for fervently Orthodox families, but which has benefited large Arab families, too--the government has encouraged Arab family growth. Netanyahu suggested that Israel needs a policy to balance two unattractive options: Either Israel’s Arabs will “beautifully integrate” and become 35 to 40 percent of Israel’s population, with Israel’s becoming a binational state, or Arabs will remain 20 percent of Israel's population and relations between Arabs and Jews will become “harsh and violent.” Paradoxically, this is exactly what outspoken advocates of Arab integration into Israeli society have been saying for years: Yes, there is a bomb, they say. Arab leaders often use the term “time bomb” to refer to their own grievances. Moreover, Arab commentators have used the same demographic arguments as Netanyahu to promote their own political aims. Wahid Abdul Meguid, editor of the Arab Strategic Report of Egypt’s Al-Ahram Institute for Strategic Studies, once wrote, “The Arabs of 1948”--Israel’s Arab citizens--“will become a majority in Israel within less than half a century. This means that they are the ones who will put an end to the conflict, by turning racist Israel into a Palestinian pluralistic coun-

Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Ray Pred Account Executive Timothy J. Ketelsen Bookkeeper Lori Kooper-Schwarz Production Assistant

try, in which the Jews will live side by side with the others,” in a translation provided by the Middle East Media and Research Institute. Recent figures from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics support this trend. By the year 2020, the proportion of non-Jews in Israel will increase to 23 percent, from 19 percent today. Everyone agrees that there is a demographic bomb; the question is what should be done to ensure that it does not harm the Jewish state. In his speech, Netanyahu argued that the problem needs to be addressed now. If there is a demographic bomb, it is largely the responsibility of Israel’s governments from the very first days of the state, he said. By generously subsidizing multichild families--a policy mostly intended for fervently Orthodox families, but which has benefited large Arab families, too--the government has encouraged Arab family growth. By systematically neglecting the basic needs of Israel’s Arab population, particularly with regard to housing, work opportunities and education, Israel has fostered Arab resentment against the Jewish state. Therefore, Netanyahu said, Israel needs to develop a policy that will give Israel’s Arab citizens a true sense of belonging to the state. Following the October 2000 riots by Israel’s Arabs, the government launched a four-year plan called the Four Billion Shekel Plan to narrow the gaps between Israel’s Jewish and Arab sectors in such fields as infrastructure development and job creation. But according to a report by the Association for the Advancement of Civic Equality in Israel, most government ministries cut their budgets for the Arab sector in 2002. The Mossawa Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens of Israel estimates that it would actually take about $4 billion to make Israel’s Arab sector on par with Israel’s Jewish sector. That is not to say that the burden should fall only on the government. Undoubtedly, Arab leaders should contribute their share to alleviate Jewish concerns. Continued on next page

The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press and the Foundation are constitional committees of the Jewish Federation. Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, noon, eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1-402-334-5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be singlespaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $31 per calendar year U.S.; $35 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or e-mail to: jpress@jewishomaha. org.

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January 23, 2004

Bush Immigration Plan is a Start, but Devil is in Details, Groups Say

FOCUS ON ISSUES by E.B. SOLOMONT NEW YORK (JTA)--Jewish groups are pleased with President Bush’s initiative to give illegal immigrants temporary legal status in the United States--but they are withholding accolades until they see how Congress fills in the details. “The most important thing is that the president recognized and stated publicly that immigrants are a tremendous value to the United States and that our immigration system needs to be fixed,” said Gideon Aronoff, Vice-president of government relations and public policy for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Bush has been focused on the war on terrorism, paying little attention to the issue of immigration. However, his new immigration initiative, announced Jan. 7, has “put the issue front and center, back at the top of the agenda,” Aronoff said, “and that is a very good thing.” The initiative would offer temporary legal status to illegal immigrants who want to enter the U.S. workforce. They could fill jobs for which no American employee can be found for up to three years, after which their permits could be renewed. Immigrants who currently work illegally could qualify for the temporary-worker status after paying a onetime fee that has yet to be decided. Critics say the initiative fails to provide a long-term solution to the problem of illegal immigration. Immigrant advocates point to the dangers illegal immigrants face on the nation's southern border, where most enter the country, and of exploitative American employers. Since Sept. 11, undocumented workers in the United States have been called a potential threat to homeland security. Bush’s plan is only a “quick fix,” said Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, which works to strengthen Jewish ties with blacks and Latinos. The program doesn’t provide meaningful access to permanent visas or a path to citizenship, Schneier said. In addition, while Bush has praised undocumented immigrants' economic contributions to the country, the initiative ultimately will relegate temporary workers to second-class employee status, Schneier said. “The Latino leaders I have talked with are disappointed with the initiative,” Schneier said. “As part of intergroup relations, it behooves the Jewish community to take its lead from Latino leadership.” The president's plan is targeted primarily at Latinos, though Jews, too, have a stake in comprehensive immigration reform. Of the estimated eight million to 10 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, a few are Israeli, Russian and Latino Jewish immigrants. “In the Russian Jewish community, no more than seven percent is illegal,” said Alec Brook-Krasny, Executive Director of the Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations, an umbrella group for 25 Russian Jewish organizations in New York. Bush’s initiative would affect no more than 10,000 Russianspeaking Jews in New York, he said. There is no comprehensive estimate of illegal Israeli immigrants in America, according to Ido Aharoni, consul for media and public affairs at Israel's consulate in New York. “I can only assume some will be affected,” he said, if they have overstayed tourist visas or are working illegally. Still, the Jewish community traditionally has felt a sense of responsibility on immigration issues for historical, humanitarian and political reasons. As recently as this summer, HIAS and several other Jewish organizations lobbied the U.S. government for comprehensive immigration reform. An immigration resolution will be on the agenda at next month’s annual meeting of the Jewish Council for

Public Affairs, said Reva Price, JCPA's Washington representative. The resolution, which is still being drafted, will reaffirm the group's commitment to open immigration policies and will address the backlog in family immigration, among other issues. Part of the problem with Bush’s plan may be its lack of detail. While groups like HIAS, JCPA and the American Jewish Committee--longstanding supporters of generous immigration policies--support Bush's idea, they're withholding final judgment until the specifics of the plan are determined in Congress. Bush’s speech set forth the broad outlines of the plan, leaving details--such as how to apply, who may qualify and what might disqualify someone from the program--for Congress to decide. President Bush “brought up critical issues favoring migrants and those coming over the border,” Price said. But, she added, “the devil is in the details, and we will have to wait and see what the proposal looks like.” Richard Foltin, legislative director and counsel at the AJ Committee, called the plan a “step in the right direction.” He cautioned, however, that the plan may not set forth a path under which immigrants who have lived in the United States for a set period of time could become citizens. HIAS’ Aronoff said Bush’s plan also doesn’t resolve concerns about backlogs in family immigration, one of the group's main concerns. The groups were careful not to criticize the president's proposal too harshly, however. “I think the choice for the Jewish community and the country is stark: Either we bury our heads in the sand and pretend there is no problem and do nothing, or we come up with a sensible, long-term approach that helps on humanitarian and security needs,” Aronoff said. “The national conversation on immigration reform got a shot in the arm from President Bush--and what the final conclusion will be has yet to be written.”

Critics say the initiative fails to provide a long-term solution to the problem of illegal immigration. Immigrant advocates point to the dangers illegal immigrants face on the nation's southern border, where most enter the country, and of exploitative American employers.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Demographic Bomb Continued from previous page Knesset member Azmi Beshara, who wants Israel to become a “state of all its citizens,” suggested last month that it was in the Arabs’ own interest to have fewer children in order to afford them greater opportunities. What Beshara did not say was that part of the problem is a hostile political atmosphere toward Israel among the state’s Arabs. Beshara himself has faced scathing criticism for associating with some of Israel’s greatest enemies on visits to Syria over the last decade. A report last week showed that only 43 Arab citizens of Israel have been detained this year for suspected involvement in anti-Israel terrorist activity against the state. The report by the General Security Service, cited by Ha’aretz, showed a 45 percent drop in terrorist activity among Israel’s Arabs from 2002, and a 16 percent drop from 2001. The figures not only dealt a blow to the conventional wisdom that Israel’s Arabs tend to unite forces with their Palestinian brethren, but also that it might not be too late to dismantle the bomb. Helping Israel’s Arabs achieve a higher standard of living could increase their integration into Israeli society--and diffuse the demographic bomb.

Mothers wait on line with their children to get medical treatment at a clinic in a Gaza Strip refugee camp in a file CREDIT: Brian Hendler/JTA photo.

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Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322-4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492-8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 1502 N. 52 St. Omaha, NE. 68104 -5013 556-6288 BethIsrael@novia.net

Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660-2395 http://welcome.to/beytshalom/

Chabad House An Affiliate of the Worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch Movement 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330-1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshrun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435-8004 jewishnebraska.org

Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294-6244

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

Temple Israel Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556-6536 templeisrael-ne.org

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423-8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

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January 23, 2004

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. FRIDAY: Join us as we welcome Shabbat at a musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service in the Chapel, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. Sisterhood will conduct the service and sponsor the Kiddush Luncheon. Evening Services, 5:15 p.m. SITTER SERVICE Friday Night and Saturday Morning Sitter Service provided at no charge on a drop-in basis. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, 11 a.m. Adult Bible Study Group, under the guidance of Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, will continue with The Book of Samuel, in the Library. WEDNESDAY, 7 p.m.: Adult B’nai Mitzvah class with Cantor Bogomolni will meet THURSDAY, noon: “Jewish Wisdom for the 21st Century” with Rabbi Levin. Optional lunch available at 1 p.m. For more information, call the synagogue, 492-8550. SPECIAL PROGRAMS Kadimah Shabbaton: Students in Grades 6-8 will have the opportunity to attend a Shabbaton, Jan. 23-25, at the Elkhorn River YMCA Camp. For information, call Cantor Bogomolni or Rachel Katskee, 492-8550. Toddlers & Parents will meet Wednesday, Jan. 28, 10:45 a.m. to noon, in the nursery, led by educator Helen Epstein, with sing-a-long support by the cantor. Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group meets Sunday, 7:30 p.m., at the home of Gloria Kaslow, co-host with Marti

Rosen-Atherton. Stimulating discussion to focus on “Serenity, Courage and Wisdom: RiskTaking in Our Everyday Lives.” World Wide Wrap: Our Men’s Club will join thousands of Jews around the world in celebrating the mitzvah of Tefilin, Sunday, Feb. 1. KAHN SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE Rabbi/Comedian Bob Alper will fill Beth El with wit and humorFriday, Jan. 30 and Saturday, Jan. 31, as keynoter after a Shabbat congregational dinner, featured speaker following Shabbat morning services; and on Saturday, 8 p.m., in a stand-up comedy following a silent auction at 7 p.m. (show and auction to benefit the religious school). For tickets or more information, please call 492-8550.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Services, 5:15 p.m. Babysitting available. West Minyan is at the home of Maggie and Donald Gerber. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 8:45 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Toba Cohen-Dunning, Eric Dunning, and Jane Cohen in honor of Eleanor Dunning’s 2nd Birthday. SUNDAY: Morning Services, 9 a.m.; Mincha, 5:10 p.m. Weekday Morning Services, 7 a.m.; Weekday Mincha and Ma’ariv, 6:30 p.m. MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY: Institutional Garage Sale in the social hall, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. THURSDAY: Tunes of Davening, 7 p.m. Mail sent to BethIsrael @novia.net and BethIsrael Synago@quest.net is now

More Maimonides for Former and New Students Begins Next Month by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Due to its popularity last year, “More Maimonides”, a class on the writings of the great Jewish philosopher, religious thinker, and physician of the twelfth century, will be offered again beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 8:3010 a.m., at Temple Israel. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will teach the class. “I’ve taken quite a few classes over the years,” noted Judy Vann, who took the class last year, “and this is one of my favorites. Maimonides is one of the most respected thinkers in Jewish history. He is not only a physician, but he knew how to simplify and organize rules for ethical conduct on subjects such as the uncleanliness of food, robbery and lost property, murder and the preservation of life, neighbors, creditors and debtors, and inheritance.”

Vann finds it fascinating that Maimonides’ rules “are as relevant today as they were in the twelfth century.” Larry Roffman found last year’s Maimonides class “stimulating and interesting. It brought forth a lot of discussion.” Maimonides was “so profuse in his writings, we couldn’t cover everything we wanted to cover.” New members would “absolutely” be able to start the class this year, Roffman said. Prior knowledge of the topic is not required. The class, open to anyone in the community interested in learning about Maimonides, continues through March 30. To register, contact Temple Israel Program Director Rosie Zweiback by email at rzweiback@qwest.net or call her at 556-6536. The only fee is for the book, The Maimonides Reader, available in the Temple office.

Candlelighting Friday, January 23, 5:11 p.m.

received at BethCohen@ OrthodoxOmaha.org. After Feb. 6, the old accounts will be cancelled and e-mail will be reached only through the OrthodoxOmaha account.

BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Kaballat Shabbat SATURDAY: Kaballat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. MondayFriday, Morning services, 7 a.m.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Rabbi Debbie Stiel will be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, all day. You may reach her 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 416.2321 (local for Lincoln), or at rabstiel@aol.com. FRIDAY: Shabbat Services, 7:45 p.m. with oneg to follow. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY, Jan. 25: Viewing of Holocaust survivor Judy Meisel’s video, “Tak for Alt” (Thanks for All) and talk with her at Tifferth Israel, 10:15 a.m.; Megillah Practice, 1 p.m. TUESDAY, Jan. 27: No Adult Education. JEWISH SUMMER CAMP Don’t forget to register your children. There are still funds available from Lincoln Jewish Federation to help send many more children. Please contact Rabbi Stiel or Jaine Graham at 481.8499 for more information. INTRODUCTION TO HEBREW Are you interested in a beginning Hebrew class if offered? If you are please call Temple secretary, Kristi at 435-8004.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; led by Steve Riekes

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: All male members of Temple Israel are invited to a weekly informal get together at Spirit World, 7517 Pacific St. Join us for relaxation and great conversation, 11:45 a.m.; Family Evening Service, 6 p.m. Join us for this service created and led by OTYG members that focuses on the teaching and celebration of diversity. SATURDAY: Bagels and Sacred Books, 9:30 -10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. ADULT EDUCATION WEDNESDAY: “Israel in the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary History” Prof. Moshe Gershovich will lead this class on Zionism, the Holocaust and the modern state of Israel, 6:45-8:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Adult Study with the Clergy with Cantor Wendy Shermet, 10-11:30 a.m.. Prayer Hebrew and Music. Cantor Shermet will teach a six-week mini-course to improve the ability to read, sing and understand Shabbat worship service prayers, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan, Monday & Thursday, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:15 a.m. Lunch and Learn after services. WEDNESDAY: The Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. SUNDAY, Jan. 25, 10:15 a.m.: Meet Holocaust survivor Judy Meisel and view the documentary film, Tak for Alt.

BAT MITZVAH Hannah Corbit Ferer, daughter of Mary and Whitney Ferer, will become Bat Mitzvah, Jan. 31, at Temple Israel. A seventh-grade honor roll student at Lewis and Clark Middle School, she enjoys softball, tennis and swimming. For her Mitzvah Project, she organized a recycling program to benefit a one-room school house in Maine, as well as beach clean-up and trail mainte-

Coming Next Month

nance of small island community there. Hannah has a brother, Nick. Grandparents are Jacqueline Ferer of Los Angeles, CA, and the late Harvey D. Ferer, John and Hani Kenefick of Omaha, and the late John W Ryan. Great-grandparents are Hyman Ferer and Ann Ferer Sostrin and Morey Sostrin.

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January 23, 2004

The Real Problem in Politics and in Our Torah--No One is Listening!

SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI BARUCH HALEVI Parashat Va’era The Pitfalls of Politics Who would have thought that moving to Des Moines would put me at the center of the political universe? Everyone is reading about us, talking about us! Yes, we have finally arrived: we are now more than just a fly over state! However, now that we have arrived the old saying is beginning to ring true: “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” The bombardment of stump speeches, debates, commercials, caucusing and intensifying rhetoric is beginning to wear thin and grate on the nerves. The more the politicians communicate the less they say. The more they talk the less we hear. They are not listening. We are not listening and the enterprise of communication is left in tatters in their wake. People here, in my opinion, are quickly growing tired of the rhetoric and will be happy in a few weeks just to be a fly over state once again. It is this disturbing, disheartening, even devastating formula of crumbling communication at the heart of this week’s Torah Portion, Va’era. The Message of Exodus When I study Torah, I am always on the lookout for motifs in the narrative, which once found, can illuminate, not only the entire Torah, but our lives as well. One of my teachers, Dr. Avivah Zornberg, extracts such a motif throughout the beginning of Exodus with the words lo shama (“he did not listen”). As she suggests it will be a formative leitmotiv throughout the entire plague-narrative.

This, in a nutshell, is the problem within the Exodus story - no one is listening! The Israelites are said not to be listening to Moses because of their “anguished spirit.” Pharaoh, numerous times is described as not listening to Moses because of his “hardened heart.” And Moses is essentially not listening to God because of “uncircumcised lips” (ultimately due to his own insecurities.) When all is said and done, everyone is running around not listening to what has been said and yet complaining that they are not being heard. In the end, Pharaoh dies because of it; the Israelites remain as slaves even though they are freed and Moses is barred from entering the land of Israel. Listening and Our Own Lives Certainly there are times when we are like Pharaoh, facing challenges outside of our control. Of course there are times when we are like the Israelites, of an anguished spirit and ravaged by circumstances that are not of our own choosing or making. And undoubtedly there are moments when, like Moses, we encounter tumult because of inner doubt and turmoil beyond our immediate grasp. However, in the end, we always have control over one thing--our willingness to listen! Soon enough the Primaries will be over, the commercials will slow down, the candidates will move on and we will, God willing, once again just be the fly over state which New Yorkers will still not be able to place on a map. Though we have been bombarded by a flurry of messages, as of late, let us not confuse the way we have been verbally molested with true “communication.” We must constantly remind those seeking political office and ourselves as well that change rarely comes about through talking and is almost always the consequence of listening. Shema Yisrael…may we all find the wisdom and strength to truly listen.

DEATHS PEARL KATZ Former Omahan Pearl Katz died Jan. 12, at the age of 83. Services were held at Hillsdale Memorial Park in Los Angeles, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Katz. She is survived by her partner, Arnold Friedlander; daughters, Nancy Franzese of La Jolla, CA, and Barbara Katz of Santa Monica, CA; grandchildren, Tracy and Michelle Franzese, and Benjamin Safford; and brother and sister-in-law, Stanford and Judith Lipsey of Buffalo, NY. Memorials to Planned Parenthood. PEARL YAGER Former Omahan Pearl Yager died Jan. 14 in Houston. Services were held Jan. 16 at Beth El Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lew Yager, and their son, Robert. Both she and her husband were very involved in Jewish education in Omaha.

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Couple Finds Way to Give Thanks for Son’s Life by ROBERT ELLIOTT Hadassah Communications Director David and Maida Averbach of Long Branch, NJ, found a novel way to ease the pain of seeing their son, Steven, 37, and the father of four, wheelchair bound after a terrorist attack last May nearly took his life and turned him into a quadriplegic. In Jerusalem, they visited Hadassah Medical Center to donate seven hi-tech beds to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, where Steve was admitted after the attack.

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Federation Campaign Nearing Goal; Super Sunday Culminating Event by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director As the 2004 Jewish Federation of Omaha winds down, Super Sunday 2004 is gearing up! Super Sunday traditionally signals the end of the Federation’s Annual Campaign, and with a total of just over $3 million pledged so far this year, the Federation is working very hard to reach it’s goal of $3.2 million. “We’re counting on everyone to help us reach our Campaign goal,” said Andie Gordman, who along with her brother Jay, is leading Super Sunday 2004 next month on Feb. 15. “When the Federation doesn’t achieve their fundraising goal, that means that some needs in the community may not be met,” she explained. “If everybody increased their pledge by just 5 or 6% we could meet our goal…we’re that close,” added Jay. The Federation Campaign funds Jewish causes locally and overseas. In Omaha, Campaign dollars support the Community Relations Council (CRC), the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services, Jewish Family Service and Jewish Senior Services, as well as Federation programs such as Jewish experience scholarships, missions to Israel, birthright israel, Children’s Needs Scholarships and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Camp Grants. Volunteer callers are still needed to make calls for Super Sunday 2004. Calls are being made from Omaha Steaks, 10909 John Galt Boulevard between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Breakfast will be served and callers are eligible to win valuable prizes donated by local businesses. For more information, please contact me at 3346431 or by e-mail at pmonsky@jewishomaha.org.

Women of Reform Judaism to Welcome Interfaith Guests to Friendship Tea by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) will host the annual Sidney H. and Jane Brooks Friendship Tea on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2-4 p.m., at Temple Israel. WRJ volunteers will make presentations and explain the rituals, customs, and traditions of the fall holidays, Passover, Shabbat, Chanukah, and life cycle events. “We’re encouraging WRJ members to bring a friend who is not Jewish and attend together,” said Andie Gordman, who is chairing the Tea with Stacey Rockman and Michelle Bucher. “We hope to open the doors of Temple Israel to those who would like to learn more about Judaism in general and about Temple Israel specifically,” Gordman explained. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz, Cantor Wendy Shermet, and Gary Kaplan, president of the Temple Israel Board of Trustees, will participate in the event. In addition, guests will tour the sanctuary and chapel and have an opportunity to shop in the Temple Gift Shop. There is no cost to attend the Friendship Tea, but reservations are requested by Feb. 5. Please call the office at 556-6536 or email: tisrael@qwest.net.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 23, 2004

We’re Invested in Jewish Omaha! The following people have invested in Omaha’s Jewish community by making a gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s 2004 Annual Campaign. Donors who increase their gift are listed in bold. Donors who have maintained their gift are listed in regular print.

MEN’S MAJOR GIFTS Michael Abramson Joel Alperson Harvey Aronson Baker Family Tom Baker ◆ Harold Bernstein Steve Bloch Irv Blumkin Ron Blumkin Barry Broder Marc Brodkey Sherman Brodkey Harold Cooperman Henry Davis Steve Denenberg Gary Epstein Harold Epstein Paul Epstein Joe Erman Michael Erman Tom Fellman David Friedland Ted Friedland ◆ Sandy Friedman ■ Willard Friedman David Gilinsky Larry Gilinsky Bennett Ginsberg Mort Glass Dick Glazer Jim Glazer John Glazer Bruce Goldberg Don Goldstein Leonard Goldstein Herbert Goldsten Trust Nelson Gordman Don Greenberg Paul Grossman Gary Javitch Arnold Joffe Howard Kaslow Maurice Katzman Kavich Charitable Foundation Jeff Kirshenbaum Kevee Kirshenbaum Jerry Kohll Howard Kooper Forrest Krutter Marshall Kushner John Lehr Marty Lehr Jay Lerner Leonard Lewis Livingston Foundation Trenton Magid ◆ Ed Malashock Bernie Meyers David Meyers Jerome J. Milder Michael Miller Allan Murow N. Pitlor & Sons Sherman Neff (in memory) Bob Newman Murray Newman Allan Noddle Jay Noddle Noddle Development Harlan Noddle Joe Kirshenbaum Steven Nogg Omaha Bedding Co. Omaha Steaks Ann and Alan Simon Eve and Fred Simon Kathryn and Steve Simon Stacy and Bruce Simon Todd Simon Alan Parsow Sol Parsow Eric Phillips Michael Platt Carl Riekes Henry Riekes Steve Riekes Lynn Roberts Int Andrew Robinson Jonathan Rockman Blaine Roffman Larry Roffman Charles Schneider Harley Schrager Phil Schrager Richard Schrager Ted Seldin Bruce Shackman Norman Sheldon Steve Silver Stuart Simon Gerald Simons Milton Simons Mark Singer Slosburg Family Charitable Trust Jerry Slusky Phil Sokolof Swartzbaugh FarberAssociates, Inc Isidore Tretiak Maurice Udes Tom Vann John Waldbaum Arnie Weitz Speedy Zweiback

WOMEN’S MAJOR GIFTS Carol Bloch Susie Blumkin Paula Boggust ◆ Bess Brodkey Jane Brooks Esther Canar Anne Cohen Marcia Cohen Toba Cohen Babe (Sylvia) Cohn Susie Cohn Cheryl Cooper Eunice Denenberg Sandy Epstein Ruth Erman Elaine Feldman Judy Feldman Darlynn Fellman Frances Fried ● Nancy Friedland Roz Friedman Thama Friedman Maggie Gerber Deanna Gilinsky Pearl Richman Giventer Janet Glass Phyllis Glazer Ann Goldstein Jan Goldstein Shirley Goldstein Linda Gordman Linda K. Gordman Caryl Greenberg Nancy Greenberg Deborah Greene Rose Gross Carol Hahn ✦ Joanie Jacobson Karen Javitch Fran Juro Joan Kaiman Suzanne Kaplan Gloria Kaslow Renee Kasner Carol Katzman Madeline Katzman Andi Kavich Maxine Kirshenbaum Sharon Kirshenbaum Gail Kohll Sharon Kooper ♥ Shirley Kulakofsky Barbara Kushner Sandy Kutler Joanie Lehr Sandra Lehr ◆ Bobbi Leibowitz Karin Levine Susan Levine Bert Lewis Deana Liddy Thelma Lustgarten Linda Mann Ducky (Lois) Milder Fran Milder Lori Miller Pamela Monsky ✦ Jeannie Neff Phyllis Newman Sharee Newman Kim Noddle Nancy Noddle Patty Nogg Ruthie Nogg Carol Parsow Ramona Pepper Marcia Pitlor Barb Platt Arlene Richman Dorothy Riekes Margo Riekes Zoë Riekes Barbara Rips Jane Rips Kimberly Robinson ● Julie Rochman Stacey Rockman Mimi Rogers Cynthia Schneider Jan Schneiderman Beth Schrager Terri Schrager Hannah Schwalb ✦ Beverly Seldin Sarah Seldin Anne Shackman Helene Shrago Linda Shrier Esther Simon Eve Simon Harriet Singer Suzanne Singer Ellen Slosburg Martha Slosburg Audrey Sophir Melissa Steiner ◆ Louri Sullivan ✦ Selma Tretiak Gail Veitzer Joodi Veitzer Mimi Waldbaum Amee Zetzman

MEN’S CAMPAIGN Harold Abrahamson Alvin Abramson Tony Adelson Morris Adler (in memory) WOMEN’S MAJOR GIFTS Jeffrey Aizenberg Leon Alexander Margie Alperson David Alloy Anonymous ● Harry Alloy Phyllis Aronson Bernie Altsuler Judy Baker James Anderson Frances Batt Izrail Aronchik Sandra Belgrade

MEN’S CAMPAIGN John Atherton Rabbi Aryeh Azriel Donald Baum Robert Beber Gene Beckerman Jim Belgrade Ben Belmont Mark Belmont Gerald Berman Harry Berman Julius Bernstein Thomas Bernstein Morris Birenbaum Marvin Bittner Larry Blass Mike Blatt Brian Bogdanoff Howard Borden Bob Bournstein Morris Bresel Bruce Brodkey Lawrence Brodkey Pete Brodkey Ron Brodkey Jack Brody David Bucksner Larry Budwig Sam Bukenholts Leroy Canfield Fritz Cassman Jay Chasen Dave Chorney William Christensen Irving Chudacoff Alan Cohen Bob Cohen Carl Cohen Don Cohen Gilbert Cohen Marc Cohen Marty Cohen Michael Cohen Sheldon Cohen William Cohen Edward Cohn Gerald Cohn Stephen Cohn Frank Comisar David Cooper Jeff Cooper Justin Cooper Ronald Cooper Meyer Coren Sheldon Coren Doug Davidson Manuel Delgadillo George Demidovich Jack Diamond Jacque Dolgoff Gregory Dubov David Dvorkin George Eisenberg Gary Emenitove Bob Endelman Randy Endelman Robert Engel Arnold Epstein Irv Epstein Gary Epstein Howard Epstein Melvin Epstein Richard Epstein Ronald Epstein Sam Epstein Abram Erlich Steven Evans Abraham Faier Scott Farkas Louis Fedman Sam Fedman Ronald Feldman Dick Fellman Stanley Feltman Cantor Leo Fettman Paul Fine Joel Finkel Glen Fineman Hersz Flatowicz Jim Folsom Irving J. Forbes Joe Frank Thomas Frank Alan Fredricks John Freeman Melvin Freeman Robert Freeman Marshall Fried Stuart Fried Bruce Friedlander Walter Friedlander Arthur Friedman Lloyd Friedman Morris Friedman Scott Friedman Steven M. Friedman Thomas Friedman Robert Fromkin Julius Froom Larry Gendler David Gerber Donald Gerber Paul Gerber Robert Gerelick Moshe Gershovich Ron Giller Stu Giller Lawrence Ginsburg Arkadiy Ginzburg Pete Godwin Sherman Golbitz Bob Goldberg David Goldberg Frank Goldberg Marvin Goldberg Richard Goldberg

MEN’S CAMPAIGN David Goldstein Gary Goldstein Herman Goldstein Howard Goldstein Brad Goldstrom Larry Goldstrom Mark Goldstrom Rabbi Allan Gonsher Alan Goodman Robert Goodman Tom Goodman Jay Gordman Kip Gordman Peter Gordon Eddie Gorelick Steve Gorelick Gary Gotsdiner Steve Gottlieb Saul Graetz Richard Grant Lonnie Graul Brad Green Gary Green Andrew Greenberg Barton Greenberg Henry Greenberg (in memory) Dan Greenfield (in memory) Bill Greenhill Bud Greenspan Gerald Gross Alex Grossman Barry Grossman Joe Guss Vic Gutman Bruce Gutnik Mace Hack Michael Halsted Sheldon Harris Larry Herman Richard Heyman Donald Hoberman Jerry Hoberman Kenneth Hoberman Michael Hoberman David Hoffman Philip Itkin Richard Ivers Lewis Izenstat Eli Jabenis Jon Jabenis Morris Jabenis Adam Jacobs Arthur Jacobs Art Jacobson David Jacobson Leonard Jacobson Richard Jacobson Allen Kahn Marcel Kahn Howard Kaiman Jerome Kaiman Leo Kamisar Gary Kaplan Lazar Kaplan Myron Kaplan Robert Kaplan Yale Kaplan Sandy Kasin Robert Katleman Jerry Katskee Melvin R. Katskee Milton Katskee Ralph Katz Rabbi Mendel Katzman Michael Katzman Rick Katzman Leslie Kay Louis Kazor Larry Kelberg Corey Kirshenbaum Joe Kirshenbaum Kevee Kirshenbaum Max Kirshenbaum Tom Kirshenbaum Donald Klein Harry Klein Milton Kleinberg Alan Kohll Harvey Konigsberg Doug Koom Joseph Kosinovsky Harold Kosowsky David Kotok Jack Kozlen Marc Kraft Howard Krantz Leonard Krasne Lloyd Krasne Manfred Kreitstein Stanley Krieger Alan Kricsfeld Rabbi Myer Kripke Gary Kudym Abram Kukawka Alan Kulakofsky Robert Kully Allen Kurland David Kutler Howard Kutler Sol Kutler Stuart Kutler Wayne Lainof Alan Langnas Morey Landman Ben Lebowich Michael Leibowitz Martin Leiserowitz Robert Lepp David Lercher Gary Lerner Richard Lerner Ben Levin Hugh Levin Rabbi Mordechai Levin

MEN’S CAMPAIGN Mike Levine Michael Levine Steve Levinger Dan Levitan Jason Levy Roland Lewis Michael Liddy Eugene Linde Ruben Lippett Harvey Lipsman Boris Litvin Stephen Lubman Jerry Mack Ben H. Magzamin Neal Malashock Robert Malashock Nate Mandell Harold Mann Justin Manvitz Rabbi Craig Marantz Dan Marburg Irv Marcus Milton Marcus Myron Marko Mark Marshall Howard Martin Leon Martin Victor Mashbein Sheldon C. Masnek Guy Matalon Harold Maurer Boris May John McGauvran Dan Meiches Gennadiy Menkov Gerald Meyer Bruce Meyers Joe Meyers Jon Meyers Marty Meyers Larry Meyerson Scott Meyerson Troy Meyerson Carl Milder Paul Militzer Ben Miller Sidney Mirvish Stanley Mitchell Henry Monsky Gordon Moshman Jack Moskovitz Stuart Muskin Ira Nathan Paul Nathan Howard Needelman Jeff Newman Alan Nogg Alvin Nogg Anthony Nogg Steven Noodell Harold Novak (in memory) Mark Ocheretyanskiy Bob Olesh Fred Ostrow Phil Paley Marvin Parilman Steve Parsow Gary Paskar Jeffrey Passer Dick Pellman Edward Pesetsky Harvey Pickel Matt Placzek Max Platt Hap Pocras Merle Potash Ira Priluck Dave Radler Leonid Raksin Phil Ratner Jerry Raznick Steve Redler Miles Remer Don Rice James Rice Tom Rice Jonathan Rich Phil Rich Harry Richman Marty Ricks Gary Rifkin Sheldon Rips Andy Robinson Dick Rochman Paul Roffman Normand Roffman Charles Rogers Lloyd Roitstein Carl Rosenberg Sidney Rosenblatt Thor Rosenquist Martin Rosenstein Alvin Ross Lee Ross Steven Rothenberg Mark Rubezhin Mike Sadofsky Rodney Sadofsky Michael Salkin Ernest Saltzman Errol Saltzman Kevin Saltzman Mark Sanford Milton Saylan Joel Schlessinger Abe Schloff Ben Schneider Edward Schneider Jeff Schrier Dan Schuller Harry Schulman Natan Schwalb Mark Schwartz Michael Schwartz Sidney Schwartz

MEN’S CAMPAIGN Jeff Schweid Anthony Scioli Barry Segell Nathan Seitelbach George Shafer James Shamberg Howard Shandell Morris Shapiro Leonard Shefren Dan Sherman Michael Sherman Dave Shkolnick Rodney Shkolnick Howard Shrier Michael Shrier Martin Shukert Alan Shulewitz Joe Shyken Paul Shyken Howard Silber James Silverman Michael Silverman Harold Siporin John Siref Larry Siref Michael Skolkin Stephen Skulsky Harold Slosburg Norman Smeerin Jeff Smedlund Edward Smith Stuart Smoler Ray Somberg Nicholas Spellman Richard Spiegal Jim Spooner Art Stein Walter Sternberg Steve Stiel Alan Stoler Eli Stone Bud Studna Mark Sweet Maynard Tatelman Melvin Tatelman Scott Tatelman Fred Tichauer Allen Tully Lazar Turetsky Ruvim Turetsky Jerald Venger Scott Veitzer Bennett Wagner Keith Wagner Marty Warren Jerome Wasserman Jim Wax Aaron Weiner Kenneth Weiner Marvin Weiner Dale Weinstein Stewart Winograd Ernest Wintroub Norman Whitman Phil Wolf Alan Wolfson Douglas Wolfson Harry Wolfson Robert Wolfson Warren “Tony” Wolpa Irvin Yaffe Harold Zabin Laurence Zacharia Richard Zacharia Steven Zalkin Jerome Zeffren Ted Zetzman Mikhail Zevakin Norman Zevitz R Todd Zimmerman James Zipursky Barry Zoob Seymour Zoob Mort Zuber Steve Zuber Irving Zucker WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Helen Abrahamson Louise Abrahamson Edith Abrams Doris Abramson Sheri Abramson Arlene Adelson Charlotte Adler Susan Aizenberg Paula Albert Eleanor Alexander Frances Altman Mildred Altman Beatrice Appel Alexandra Aronchik Joyce Ashley Barbara Ault Elyce Azriel Ruth Babendure Amber Baker Sally Barenbaum Jill Baron Celia Barron Diane Axler Baum Kathryn Beauchaine Arlene Beber Robyn Belgrade Jill Belmont Diane Berger Marilyn Berman Mary Berman Joan Bernstein Mary Bernstein Vera Bernstein Phyllis Bittner Claire Blass Juni Bloch Margaret Block

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Rebecca Bloom Rachel Blum Chris Blumkin Cindy Bogdanoff Lena Bogomolni Marian Bookey Midge Bowers Kelly Broder Beth Brodkey Carol Brodkey Gloria Brodkey Stacie Brodkey Florence Brody Sandy Bromley Freda Bucheister Michelle Bucher Elaine Bukenholts Sharon Cannon Molline Cassman Reva Chapman Peggy Chasen Edith Chesen Helen Rifkin Chorney Sally Clayman Arlene Cohen Bernice Cohen Beth Cohen Doris Cohen Elberta Cohen Elizabeth Cohen Joyce Cohen Karen Cohen Marla Cohen Rose Cohen Linda Cohn Naomi Cohn Soralee Cohn Cheryl Comisar Edith Comisar Judith Cooper Sarita Cooper Fran Coren Lisa Coren Rae Coren Bernice Crounse Minnie Cutler Janey Dann Juanita Davidson Rose Davis Sylvia Davis Peggy DeLand Karen Delgadillo Minde Diamond Esta Dubov Jean Duitch Jeanne Dvorkin Harriet Einziger Aileen Eisenstatt Lois Endelman Penny Endelman Renee Engel Audrey Epstein Edith Epstein Ellie Epstein Etta Epstein Harriet Epstein Helen Epstein Jean Epstein Lisa Epstein Lois Epstein Lucille Epstein Rosaline Epstein Sharon Epstein Esther Erlich Jill Erman Valentina Etus Bette Evans Deirdre Evans Leona Eveloff Estelle Faier Judy Farber Ida Fedman Judith Feigin Beverly Fellman Mary Fellman Kay Ferer Annette Fettman Rose Fine Helen Finkel Lois Finkel Betty Fisher Claire Flatowicz Paulette Flatowicz Hillary Fletcher Shirley Fogel-Greenberg Jill Folsom Sonia Forbes Dee Fox Rose Frankel Tiffany Franklin Joanne Freeman Robyn Freeman Beverly Freiden Norma Fried Phyllis Fried Jamie Friedland Pam Friedlander Amy Friedman Deborah Friedman Gail Friedman Lois Friedman Mania Friedman Sheryl Friedman Barbara Frohman Mrs. Marlen Frost Mandy Frost-Becker Susana Frydman-Levin Marcia Gallner Jennie Gates Anne Gerber Bernice Gerber Joell Gerber Bev Gilinsky Patty Gilinsky Julie Ginsberg

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Cheri Ginsburg Larisa Ginzburg Donna Givner Cindy Goldberg Jeannine Goldberg Kim Goldberg Wendy Goldberg Barbara Goldstein Jill Goldstein Judi Goldstein Dora Goldstrom Rini Gonsher June Goodbinder Mildred Goodbinder Dolores Goodman Shirley Goodman Suzy Goodman Andie Gordman Bridget Gordman Danielle Gordman Hilde Gottlieb Esther Graetz Diane Graul Carole Greenberg Sue Greenberg Rosalie Greenspan Linda Gross Pearl Gross Ethel Grossman Joy Grossman Mary Sue Grossman Stephanie Grossman Margie Gutnik Wendy Hahn Debbie Hale Mendy Halsted Saralee Harding Janice Harris Florence Hauss Kathy Helm Kathy Hirshman Cookie Hoberman Nancy Hoberman Pauline Hoberman Tiffany Hoberman Adele Hornstein Nancy Hornstein Bonnie Horwich Denise Ipock Marsha Itkin Marilyn Ivers Doris Izenstat Elaine Jabenis Pearl Jabenis Linda Jacobs Nancy Jacobson Ronnie Jacobson Linda Jess Sylvia Jess Sheryn Joffe Debbi Josephson Ilse Kahn Roxanne Kahn Mary Kaiman Sylvia Kaiman Bernice Kaplan Charlotte Kaplan Dorothy Kaplan Rose Kaplan Polina Karayera Beatrice Karp Frankie Kasin Leona Kasin Lucille Katelman Myllee Katelman Esther Katleman Cookie Katskee Eve Katskee Pola Katskee Frances Katz Marilyn Katz Nan Katz Julee Katzman Rose Katzman Shani Katzman Nancy Kavich Renee Kazor Betty Kelberg Sharon Kerr Yulia Kinarsky Hedy Kirke Jenn Kirshenbaum Myrna Kirshenbaum Janet Klein Marsha Kleinberg Harriet Klopper Ms. T. Klotz Loree Koester Sandra Kohll Marilyn Konigsberg Patty Koom Gertrude Korney Leah Kosinovsky Dorothy Kotok Shane Kotok Bette Kozlen Ruth Kraft Edythe Krasne Peggy Krasne Cheryl Kricsfeld Debbie Kricsfeld Angie Krieger Frieda Krizelman Robbi Kudym Traci Kugler Connie Kully Sandra Kurland Harriet Kutler Carole Lainof Pauline Landman Geraldine LaPierre Betty Laser Barbara Lashinsky Grace Lebowich Susan Lehr

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Cheryl Lerner Martha Lerner Judith Levin Bonnie Levinger Barbara Levitan Gale Levitan Rocky Lewis Vera Lewis Libby Lincoln Marjorie Lincoln Lydia Linde Louise Lippett Marcia Lipsman Anna Litvin Bonnie London Ellen Long Doris Lubman Fritzi Luefshuetx Ruth Luttbeg Candee Mack Carolyn Magid Diane Malashock Jody Malashock Paula Mandell Betsy Marantz Deb Marburg Judy Marburg Harriet Marcus Joan K. Marcus Harriet Marko Alice Mashbein Sally Masnek Elinor Matalon Beverly Mauer Khaya May Kathy McGauvran Esther Meiches Marybeth Meiches Sarah Meyer Tina Meyers Deenie Meyerson Jamie Meyerson Jenny Meyerson Miriam Meyerson Roberta Michalski Bernice Milder Rhoda Milder Harriet Miller Marian Miller Sue Millward Lynda Mirvish Evelyn Mitchell Ethel Mogil Susan Mogil Anna Mosenkis Ann Moshman Rebecca Moshman Ann Moskovits Janie Murow Betty Muskin Linda Muskin Elaine Nachman Jeanette Nadoff Laura-Lee Needelman Patricia Newman Babe Nogg Manya Nogg Marian Nogg Sandra Nogg Susie Norton Rita Novak Tatyana Novikov Donna Olesh Reva Oruch Ruth Oruch Ann Osborne Bede Ostrow Sandy Ostrow Jean Paley Joyce Palm Sylvia Parilman Margo Parsow Fefe Passer Sandra Passer Magda Peck Betty Perelman Vicki Perlmeter Sofiya Pesetsky Julie Phillips Shelly Pichik Gilda Pieck Kimberly Placzek Ellen Platt Suzanne Pocras Yaffa PodbilewiczSchueller Sheila Polikov Karen Pollak Corinne Polsky Ruth Potash Irina Raksin Jeanne Raznick Debbie Recht Dolores Redler Karen Redmond Amy Ref Lola Reinglas Eileen Remer Juliana Reno Floraine Rice Jeanne Rice Rosa Richtman Iris Ricks Paula Robinson Judith Roffman Phyllis Roffman Silvia Roffman Marcelyn Rogers Ann Roitstein Debbie Roitstein Margo Rosen Rebecca Rosen Rita Rosen Rose Rosen Sheila Rosen

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN Toni Rosen Marti Rosen-Atherton Rachel Rosenberg Rose Rosenberg Shirley Rosenberg Anne Rosenblatt Dottie Rosenblum Julie Rosenquist Willis Ann Ross Bunny Rothenberg Susan Rothholz Faye Ruback Marcia Ruback Alla Rubezhin Betty Rubin Natalie Rubin Monica Sacks Marina Sadofsky Mary Saferstein Linda Saltzman Lynne Saltzman Rosalie Saltzman Lynn Samuel Betty Sanford Vicki Sanford Rosalie Saylan Julia Schapiro Nancy Schlessinger Carol Schneider Margy Schneider Heidi Schneiderman Melissa Schop Lillian Schrager Sophie Katz Schulman Kim Schwartz Phyllis Schwartz Lori Schwarz Andrea Scioli Dalma Seitelbach Diane Shandell Audrey Shapiro Jeanne Shechet Suzy Sheldon Claudia Sherman Debra Sherman Patty Sherman Cantor Wendy Shermet Josephine Shrago Lisa Shkolnick Lois Shkolnick Phoebe Shkolnick Doris Shukert Cindy Shulewitz Susann Shyken Leah Siegel Sissy Silber Esther Silver Susan Silver Lorraine Silverman Mimi Silverman Susan Silverman Gail Silverstein Josephine Simon Judy Simons Maxine Simons Mary Siref Nancy Skid Marion Slosburg Charlotte Slutzky Koom Debi Smedlund Gloria Smith Helen Soiref Susan Somberg Cari Sommer Dorothy Spizman Gayle Spooner Edith Stein Lorraine Stein Georgiann Steinberg Phyllis Steinberg Rocky Stern Rabbi Debbie Stiel Esther Stoler Marion Strauss Jill Swanberg Lynn Sweet Elaine Tepperman Pearl Tieger Marilyn Tipp Margarita Treskunova Alice Trustin Eadie Tsabari Judy Tully Margaret Turetsky Sally Venger Yuliya Vishnevskiy Mary Walker Patsy Wallace Phyllis Wasserman Joye Wees Shirley Weinstein Alice Weiss Anne Weitz Allyson Wilczewski Andi Willensky Janet Wintroub Sally Wintroub Sara Wisnia Shelley Wisnia Bernie Wolfson Sara Wolfson Sibby Wolfson Annette Yaffe Phyllis Zabin Barbara Zacharia Terri Zacharia Rosalyn Zeffren Dorothy Zevitz Linda Zimmerman Sally Zipursky Nora Zoob Bev Zuber Debbi Zweiback Rosie Zweiback

■ New Pacesetter ● New Lion of Judah ◆ New Ben Gurion Society ✦ New Pomegranate ♥ New Ruby Lion

The dividends from your investment in the Campaign impact the entire Jewish world. Locally, your one gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign funds a wide variety of community services provided by the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Educational and Library Services, the ADL/CRC and Jewish Senior Services. In Israel and overseas, your gift helps feed the hungry, rescue the oppressed and fight anti-Semitism. Your annual gift to the Federation Campaign empowers you to make a visible and measurable difference in Jewish life.

The 2004 Jewish Federation of Omaha Campaign 2004 General Campaign Co-Chairs: Maxine & Joe Kirshenbaum

333 South 132nd Street

Omaha, NE 68154

402/334-8200

www.jewishomaha.org

Please note that this list of Federation donors is complete as of January 20, 2004. Every effort is made to ensure that the list is accurate, and we sincerely apologize if any name was incorrectly printed or inadvertantly omitted. To update information in this donor listing, please contact Brenda Frank at 334-6429.


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