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amilies Assess Tornado Losses OMAHA - Tornadoet duuife whole, nelgiiboiliooik io radically Uiat a person •Imoat become* disoriented when he can't find thUigi (amUtar to him — wch ai the rows of neat bouiet wbkh no kngar stand along Ttnd Street north o( Wectem Avenue. That WM this writer's reaction to the massive destruction of the May 6 storm that roared through the Ttod Street area, smaahing housa and wmying topa of trees. But there are other things tornadoes do — like bringing strangen together at the
Jerome Waaaerman home, part of which stUI stands at 6868 Cuming. With Jerry at wort, how many of the Wassemuuis were at home during the stonn? "Five plus a stranger walking by," saki t6-year-old Mike not quite accurately, but a bit excitedly. The best count available — from Jerry — was four, nrs. Wasserman (PhyllU>, daughter Hdene and sons Mike and Andy with son Steve at the Jewlah Community Center. But it was five because "there was some guy walking by the bouse and he asked If he
Message from R. Rabinowftz Edttor's Note: The kOomtim RoMllnd HiiifcwwUi, gnsrai chaliniisi oC the Das
Inn. AH-
DES MOINES - The Des Moines All-in One Campaign is drawing to a close. By May 29, with your help, I would like to report our final to the Board of Governors. II Is Imperative that all members of the community tie given ttie opportunity, by that date, torfuue in our collective Jewish responsibilities. Ptsan complete all cards with the thoroughness of presentatkn that our community deserves and desires, within the next tew days.
SERVING DES MOINES, Vol. UVNo.21
L^COUNCIL BLUFFS, UNCOLN, OMAHA Omaha, Nab., Fri., May 16,1976
Cnior FsttBun
Cantor A. Edgar
coukl come in," sakI Mike, wlM looked out of an ivstairs window while getting a radio. The stranger, of course was ushered Inskle. The family plus one ducked into the basement and the tornado slammed tlirough, ripping off big hunks of roof and somewhat iNicklIng the walls. Mike said he saw two tornado tails approaccing, one leaving. Nobody ever learned the stranger's nanie. Just seconds l)efore, one block away, Joanne Freeman, librarian at Lewis and Clark Junior High, had huddled in the southeast comer of her basement under a pool table as the storm took apart most of the house. Earlier that afternoon, husband Jerry lutd changed can, leaving the Flat which was blown - with the garage — into the Freeman backyard. She, like the Wassermans, escaped in]ury. Among the approximately 20 Jewish famUles In that neighborhood whose houses sustained eltlMr partial or total deatruction was that of Uw and Mollle Delman,
CaotorUaiik
Jewish Community Center staff ntembers. A garage wall was knocked out by a neighbor's tree, windows shattered, cupboards emptied and mud and dirt splattered throughout. A large tree limb was driven through a wall of thehotise. Temple Israel at 7023 Cass was heavily damanged but "on the tMsla of what I've seen so far," the need to build a l>rand new synagogue "is not at all likely," said Stanley E. Perimeter, congregation president who stressed, however, that not all surveys of damages had been completed early this week. "The odds are very much against total rebuilding." Perimeter, Temple Vice President Sid Austin; Irv Sherman, board member and chairman of the building and grounds conunittee and architect Gary Goldstein, a Temple member, had surveyed the structure and Indications were that it would take "several months, probably the fall at the very earliest before It will be back in operation," said Perimeter. Goldstein's assessment said Preliminary investigations revealed the roof over the sanctuary and social hall had lost sections of the metal decking and that ttte metal flashings and copings around the entire building were either "damaged, displaced or missing." The roof over tlie education section of the Temple, he said, "was badly damaged" including some of the structural steel. There was roof damage eisewiiere and the wall on the south side of the educatkm unit "will have
to be replaced." Senior Rabbi Sidney Brooks, together with Associate Rabbi Barry Welnstein and Ral>bl Robert Kaiser of Temple B'nal Jeshunm In Lincoln had herded the office staff and two classes of students into the basement on May 6. Some youngsters suffered cuts. Among the cars heavily damaged were those of the three rabbis. Rabbi Brooks thanked Ms
colleagues in the ral>binate and his friends In the ministry for Uielr many offers of assistance. He received cslls from around the counti>. Including one from the congregation In Springfield, Ohlo^hich he had officiated 23y^Skago. Perimeter noted that the total picture of damage to the Temple will not be available until repair work actually (Continuedon Page3)
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Cantor NkJman
CantorREdgar
llw word "ShaloiB", wUdi niMt "F«M«" In Hilinw, to vlsibie throui^ thto sMviNd tiM laftaat of Temple IWMl. (JP Photo)
Cantors WiH Perform in Gala Cantonal Benefit OBIAHA - A Cantortal Concert is being planned for Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center Theater. The concert will be a benefit for the Cantor's Assembly, with proceeds going to the Scholarship and PublicatkNi funds of the Cantor's Institute of the Jewish Theok>glcal Seminary, according to Mrs. Stanford Lipsey, concert Chairman. The program will feature, in •ddltkMi to Cantors Aaron I. Edgar, Leo Fettman and Chalm Nalman of Omaha, three prominent guest cantota •f natknal repute; Cantor
Raphael Edgar, a native Omahan, presently with Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, N.Y.: Cantor Leon Ussek of B'nal Amoona, St. Louis, Mo.; and Cantor Pinchas Spiro of Tifereth Israel, Des Moines. The cantors will l>e accompanied by Phyllis Mains, Shirley Schwartz and Betty Feilman.
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•rraafeaMiit bjr Genliea KtaipMjr pMhBslor baittaaa, osOoanl !!<•». The concert will consist of a varied program of Israeli, Yiddish and English songs as well as cantorlal music. A major feature will be the canton in ensemble to sing lively Israeli and Yiddish medleys. "The evening holds promise of a rare treat for nnusic loven and also offers an opportunity to support the Cantor's Asaembfy In Its Important Job of training .cantors and futherlng Jewish musle," said Mn.LlpMy. Tickela, which are tax deductible, can be obtained at
the JCC and at the synagogue offices. Patron tickets are tlO, regular admission $3.S0. Cantor Aaron Edgar is Cantor Emeritus of Omaha's Beth El Synagogue, wlwre he Mrved (rom U3S until lUs retirement In ItTJ. Cantor Edgar, wtw come* from a European Haiildic backywind. was raised In Detroit. MIcfa., and graduated tram UM University o< Michigan at Ann Artnr. He has served as vlc»i>rMidnt of ttw Cantor's AsienUriy. Cantor Raphael Edgar holdi * degree In music from Rooeevelt University |p Chtcago, and • diploma of Haizan and a master of saerad music degrac (ran Uie JT.i. Ht has mensivc ceoowt a pertme* In Israd anf the Unttad
Cantor Leo Fettnun of Omaha's Beth Israel Synagogue was lx>m In Hungary. He received his IMSIC educatloa In Eorope t>e(ore World War n and raaiaiMd hU musical studiaa in IMS at the Hanover Music Conservatory. Cantor Fettman then emigrated to Montreal, studying a Yeahlva University until ordlnatlaa. He also studied muiic and voice at McGIII University. Cantor L«an l.litk was bom In Parts and came to the United SUtes In ItW. A graduate of Cantor's InsUtut*, he pertOrmed many operatic lolcs while studying at ths UnKerslty of BuHaki. He baa also parformed at Camagle and Town Halls and hM appeared on NBC Tslavishm. He Is prasaoUy producii« s new Jewish iMisleal pmpaa «a a St. Louis
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Cantor Chalm Najman of Omaha Beth El was bom In New York City and received his education at Yeshlva College, Columbia UnlversKy and the Cantorial Training Institute. He has held cantorlal and educallonal poeltlons, Including that of music consultant (or tlw New York Board o( Jewish Education. Cantor Pinchas SpIro was bom In Jerusalem, receiving his education in Israel and in Ua U.S. A graduate o( Syracuse UnlvwaUy and an honorary (ellow of the Cantor's Institute, be has served the Cantor's Assembly as recording secretary and National Convention chairman. Cantor SpIro lias auUiorad many articles and publications on Jewish music, cantlUation and the caolorlal ait.