NEBRASKA ST/tf" HISTOSICAT, SOCIETY
Vol. XI.III—Nn. 17
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OMAHA, NKKKASKA, FKIDAY, inA'.KMRKK
To the Omrtlia Jewish Coninuinify: "With t h e approach of the New Year, the active Philanthropies Campaign for 1961 is Hearing conclusion. "It. has taken a tremendous amount of work and effort on tile part of many people who have cooperated with me; and Die generosity of (he entire community to make the campaign achievements possible." "I am deeply grateful to the hundreds of workers in all campaign divisions who shared in the important task of raising the necessary funds. I am most appreciative of the help and assistance of the chairmen, co-chairmen, and captains in the several campaign divisions who shared the direction and responsibilities of the campaign with me." "All that remains tofoedone is the E. XI. Brodbcy r e d e m p t i o n of the remaining unpaid pledges. Listed here are the many agencies and institutions which are urgently in need of our funds!" "Before the year ends, I make this special appeal for the payment of pledges which will enable us to carry on our most urgent activities and programs. All of Us must share this responsibility." "To all of you I extend sincere thanks and my very best wishes for 1965. EDWARD D. BROOKE Y, Chairman 1964 Philanthropies Campaign
'Biological Suicide' Threatens Survival of American Judaism
IS,
Reform Jewish Appeal Hebrew Theological College, Chicago Jewish Theological Seminary, New York Yeshivah University, New York Minor Religious Institutions in U.S.
Overseas and Israel United Jewish Appeal United Jewish Appeal Special Emergency American-Israel Cultural Foundation Hadassah Youth Aliyah Hebrew University in Israel Israel Institute of Technology National Committee for Labor Israel National Council of Jewish Women Pioneer Women's Organization United Hias Service Yeshivot in Israel
Cultural B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation? B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (AZA, BBG) B'nai Brith Vocational Service Dropsie College Histadrut Irvit Jewish Braille Institute Jewish Chautauqua Society
Bar-Bas Mitzvah Parties Discussed By Omaha Parents
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Beth El Synagogue Religious Schools Beth Israel Synagogue Religious Schools Ternplo Israel Religious .Schools Dr. Philip Sher Home lor Aged .Esther K. Newman Cnmp Family Welfare and Medical Aid Jewish Education Bureau and Library Jewish Community Center Mikvah Religious Transients
Defense Agencies American Jewish Committee American Jewish Congress Anti-Defamation League. B'nai B'rith Jewish Labor Committee Jewish War Veterans Nat'l Community Relations Council
Hospitals American Medical Center. Denver Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital, Hot Springs National Jewish Hospital, Denver
Nuiiomu Services American Association for Jewish Education Council of Jewish Federations and Funds National Jewish Welafre Board Synagogue Council of America
Feinbergs Return From Moscow Report Plight ofRussian Jewry
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The "fantastic rate" at which American Jews have taken on the culture of the majority, plus a high rate of intermarriage and EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first of three articles to appear a low rate of fertility, pose grave threats to the survival of a JewIn response to a letter signed ish community in this country, according to Dr. Mordechai Kaplan by Rabbis Brooks, Groner and in the Jewish Press based on interviews with Mr. Robert Feinberg his recent trip abroad with Mrs. Feinberg. and Dr. Marshall Sklares. " Kripke, a meeting of parents of following This is not a travelogue. The usual "places to see" account ol Dr. Kaplan, founder of the Re- • — Bar and Bas Mitzvah children a trip has been deliberately omitted. This is one man's observaconstructionist movement, said hoped'for was to contain it at for the years 196 -OK, was held Jew from Omaha, Nebraska—as he meets and speaks that the Jewish people was in the present level. Wednesday, December 16 at tions—a with individual Jews in Moscow, Russia. danger of "succumbing to the Beth El Synagogue. 'Biological Suicide' kiss pi death," the modern cliOver 50 parents attended the He called "biological suicide" mate of democracy and naturalmeeting to discuss and evaluate A Visit to the Moscow Synagogue the greatest and least-discussed ism in which American Jews are There is but one synagogue nor to offer contributions to any threat to Jewish survival, add- the current mode of social parbeing Integrated. ties hosted by the Bar/Bas Mitz- still open for the 325,000 Jews in individuals. We were, however,, He suggested education, eth- ing that almost all American vah child. Moscow. Finding it was not a permitted to make a monetary nical power, and reorganization Jews believed in the small famSince the group, consisting of of Jewish life and thought, to ily but "nobody talks about it." members of all three congrega- simple matter. Tour guides and contribution in a metal box for 1 strengthen the cohesiveness of "There is a conspiracy of si- tions met oil a voluntary basis cab drivers seemed reluctant to the up-keep of the synagogue. * lence," he maintained, "because include a ^yna-r^y "We were not permitted to sit the Jewish people. He called for with no legislative powers, no with the congregation during tlis efforts to unity Jews and the. we arc all engaged in it except policy decisioiis were made. gogue visit on i'"* a very small segment of the the Moscow Urn- I service. We were seated in a Jewish religion across the lines There was. however, a concenof denominational differences. Orthodox community." He called sus of agreement in many areas. e r a r y . Finally, CjiSJ ~-r> "wgrpgated section of the synagogue." the location was **•"' I V . '•We Jews must Inaugurate an the synagogue one of the main Parties Defined r e v e a l e d . Mr. ecumenism of our own" he said. hopes for Jewish survival, but Unscheduled Interviews in a different form than the traIntermarriage The parties discussed were Feinberg makes "All of my formal requests for ditional synagogue. defined as "boy-girl gatherings, the following rethe opportunity to interview Dr. Sklare, director of rein homes or public facilities, in- port of the visit some of the Jews in Russia had search at the American Jewish volving social dancing for 7th "We attended been denied. During the coursa Committee, catalogued specific and 8th grade children." There t h e S a b b a t h of my synagogue visit however, ways by which American Jewry was a general feeling that while m o r n i n g servI managed to speak briefly with might disappear, and warned some kind of celebration might ices. The congrefour of the members of the conthat the rate of acculturation by be appropirate, the nature of gation was made gregation. We conversed in YidJews has proceeded much more these parties were, in most up of some 400 men—no women. dish. Each of the four men had rapidly among Jews than among United Nations, N.Y. OTA)— cases, too sophisticated for this Most of these men were over an incredible tale to tell." any other group in the United Religious Freedom? The Arabs suffered a setback age group. In addition, there age 60. There was little evidence States. . Yiddish, he said, was dropped this week in their Security Coun- was a general agreement that of any religious observance by The first old gentleman said more rapidly by Jews than any cil demand for condemnation of these youngsters were attending the younger generations of Rus- that the distance from his hom» mother tongue'by other groups. Israel, as a result of the Nov. 13 too many parties. sian Jews." to this one remaining synagogue, The high rate of intermarriage, border clash between Syria and "We were advised by the necessitated a three-hour walk Majority against parties lie asserted, was a major threat Israel. Anti-Israeli censure resoThe majority of the parents Rabbi and the Shammos not to each Shabbos. He told of an inand the most that could be lution introduced by Morocco, present expressed the desire to converse with the congregants, fContinued on Page 3.) was practically ignored because eliminate all parties of this type •; there were obviously no back- involving 7th and 8th grade ers for it. There was unaniAs the Council met for the youngsters. agreement that the numseventh session to d e a l with mous ber and nature of the parties Syria's and Israel's cross-com- should at least be curtailed. plaints, Dey Ould Sidi Baba of Much Discussion Morocco, iiii; only Arab member Washington (JTA)—Proposals Many things were discussed for a nuclear desalting plant of the C o u n c i l , presented his which the United States and Is- draft calling for "severe con- relative to the social patterns of Israel. W h i l e of young teens including parties rael plan to build jointly in Is- demnation" was c e r t a i n of two in synagogues, parties on the rael have beeen submitted by 14 Morocco those of Czechoslovakia Sabbath or Festival holidays, United States engineering firms. votes, Uie Soviet Union, neither of "lights-out" parties at home, the The pilot plant is designed and the Communists states spoke up infusion of non-jewish guests at to determine the feasibility of to back the Moroccan draft, partis, the pressures of conapplication of nuclear energy Informed by the Council presi- forming and parental responsito desalting seawater ecomomident Fermando Ortiz Sanz of Bo- bilities. "tally, livia, that no Council member had requested the floor, Mr. Sidl EARLY DEADLINE KBON RADIO 1400 Presents Baba called for adjournment of Copy for (ho December 31 "Message of Israel" . the. session. Michael S. Comay, issue (or the Press must be Sunday, Dec. 20 at 7:3.0 a.m. Israel's permanent representareceived by noon on WednesDr. Maurice N. Eisendrath tive, told the Council that the day, December 23. Your coPresident, Union of American. Moroccan's view was only an operation In meeting t h i s Hebrew Congregations will View of the visitors section of .the Moscow Synagogue. VUfc Arab echo of Syria's complaint deadline will be appreciated. speak on "Jesus." tors must sit in Uils segregated area, away from the congregation against Israel:
ar Security Council
U. S. Firms Submit Plans for 'Desalting' Plant in Israel