THE
Inside Omaha Plans Israel Bond Fashion Show . . . Page 2 Lincoln Federation Elects Officers
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Des Molnes Golden Ball This Saturday
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Who Will Get the Jewish Vote? . . . . . . . . Page 5 Local Senior Adult Group Leaves for Israel Page 7 'You and Israel Day' Planned in Omaha .. .Page 6
Serving Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Lincoln, Omaha Vol. MI—No. 7
OMAHA, NEB,, FBI., OCT. 20, 1972
Contracts
Omaha —A historic moment for Omaha Jewry was recorded this week with the letting of • contracts for the new Omaha Jewish Community Center. The action brought to fruition . planning w h i c h began more than 15 years ago when the . search was started for a new Jewish Community Center site. On October 15,1972, a special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha beard,and approved the recommendations of t h e New JCC Building Committee that construction of the new Center begin immediately and that b u i l d i n g contracts be awarded to Ihc following low b i d d e r s : Fostcr-Smetana to serve as the general contractor; Ray Martin Company as the mechanical c o n t r a c t o r ; electric requirements to be provided by Summer Electric and installation of tbc sprinkler system to be handled by Acme Omaha Sprinkler Company. The unanimous approval by the Federation, Board of the recommendations was described by Federation leaders as "a vital step in guaranteeing the
continuation of Jewish life in Omaha." Ground breaking ceremonies for tho new building will be held November 19. Expected completion date for the building is December, 1973. Daniel Katzman, G e n e r a l chairman of the new Center project, p r e s e n t e d the recommendations of the Building Committee to the Federation board. Mr. Katzman noted that the Building Committee had spent much time and effort in reviewing the plans and the bids, and that their recommendations were based on many hours of careful deliberation. Mr. Katzman's p e r s o n a l thanks to the Building Committee was followed by a resolution of appreciation adopted by tho Federation board; Text of the resolution follows. RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, having today awarded the Initial construction contracts for the new Omaha Jewlsb.,Coinmunlty Center, docs hereby express its profound gratitude to Norman (Continued on Page 2)
Presenting tbc recommendations to the Federation Board prior to.thc vote to award contracts for the New JCC.Pictured above (seated, from left) Dan Katzman, General Chairman of the New Center Project; Norman Batt, Chairman of the New JCC Building Committee; (standing) Morley Zipursky, president of the Omaha Jewish Federation; Charles Monasee, Chairman of tbe Jewish Community Center Committee and Chairman of the Study Committee for the New JCC.
who have yet to make their tho Building Committee has a great deal of interest has gifts can be counted on to con- recommended that we proceed been expressed to complete the tribute the additional $1,000,000 with the project even (hough : outdoor pools at this time," needed to complete this under- the Building Fund Campaign Katzman said. "Since the outhas not yet been completed.'' taking," he said. door pool waa not included In Presenting a complete surKatzman explained that to our projection of costs for the vey of the elements to be con- delay the awarding of contracts '. new Center, it cannot be hansidered by the Federation Ex- would not only result in a delay i> died unless the Building Fund' ecutivo Committee in order to "of the much needed services •1 Campaign produces npproxlmake the momentous decision to be offered by the new Cen- •' mately $200,000 above the addito move ahead with the new tcr," but also in higher build- tional $1,000,000 still needed to Center", -Mr. Katzman said, . ing costs. Katzman.estimated fund the original design." "Although we are committed that building costs will Increase Responding to Mr. Katzto building a debt free Center, as much as 19 percent during the next 12 months, and it was • man's". report, the Federation these considerations which prompted the Building Commit- I tee to recommend proceeding: with the project at this time. v ' "We're nof home free," Katz- • Says Newman man said, "but we're going oh Murray Newman) chairgood faith and the past record, man of the Building; Fund of philanthropy of the Omaha Campaign, urged all cam; Lincoln—Hyman Polsky, president of the Lincoln Jewish "Jewish community which aspaign workers to. complete Welfare Federation, has announced that a contribution of $20,000 sure us that our goal can be* their calls asf quickly .as pos; to the Building Fund Campaign for the new Omaha Jewish Com- achieved." sible. He noted that while munity Center was approved by the Board of Directors at its last the results thus far have Outdoor Pool Possible meeting." been excellent, "more than Mr. Katzman discussed the half the community-remains In a letter to Daniel Katzman, chairman of the New Omaha possibility of an outdoor swimto*be contacted." : 'V .-•''. Center Project, Mr. Polsky expressed the good wishes of the ming pool for the new Center; Lincoln community, noting that Lincoln is looking forward to the credit 'arrangements for inNewman said that efforts completion of tho Center." It is hoped that the cultural programs terim financing of the construe-. will be made to contact evas well as the physical plant of the Omaha JCC will enrich tho tlon and the relationship of the. ery Jewish f a m i l y . i n the lives of many Lincoln residents who will participate in the Cen- Building Fund Campaign to community. He added that" ter's physical and cultural programs," said Mr. Polsky. he would be pleased id hear both items. from anyone wanting to Mr. Polsky pointed out the proximity of Lincoln to Omaha; Mr. Katzman said that an make a pledge who has.riot, tho friendship of the youth of the two cities and the need for outdoor swimming pool had not yet been contacted by* a closer ties between the two communities. been included in the original campaign worker. "Lincoln is pleased to support Esther K. Newman Camp design for the new Center, al-v : "Call me. at 397-0606,','• Mr. and has previously contributed to the construclion of the Dr. Sher t h o u g h provisions, had.; been j Newman,, .said,''' 'land i;i;ili . Home for tho Aged in Omaha. We hope that the residents of Lin- made to add the 'outdoor pool'* make ;the arrangements to coln and Omaha will receive many benefits from the new Cen- at some future .date. • • • uiget; your pledge!" / ! ' ' ter," said Mr. Polsky, "In recent weeks, however, Omaha —In consideration of the gifts of those who have already pledged more than $2,500,000 for the new O m a h a Jewish Community Center, we should go ahead with the construction now," said Dan Katzman, chairman of the New Center Project at a special meeting Sunday of the Executive Committee of tho Omaha Jewish Federation. "We can go nhcad with the knowledge that those people
Lincoln Jewry Gives $20,000 to Omaha JCC
, Executive Committee approved a resolution which declared the xmtdopr pool to be the "first priority item for additional construction, and that if the current fund raising drive produces sufficient funds in excess of the basic construction and equipment CD S t s,v then such pool shall be built concurrently with the .construction-of the basic Center facility." ,
Financing
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The Federation Board also authorized interim financing when needed to be handled by the Omaha National Bank. Katzman explained that cash from the Building Fund would be used to cover construction costs as they become due. "If the pledges are redeemed at the same pace bills become due, we will be able to keep financing at a minimum," he said. "We have not arranged for a mortgage on our- property," Katzman stressed. "We have no intention to build the Center on anything other than a cash basis. Rather, we have arranged for money to be available to us to pay, all of our con- struction bills as they- c6me due, in the event that the payment of p l e d g e s docs not match the timing'of our needs. We expect to have the Center completely paid for fct the end ' 6f the three year period which has been allowed for tho red e m p t i o n of c a m p a i g n , pjedgc.s," he said. ,;!