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SERVING DES MOINES, Vol. UV No. 33
.COUNCIL BLUFFS, LINCOLN, OMAHA Omaha, Nab., Fri., Juno 13,1976
Cabinet Backs Rabin in Visit WASHINGTON - Israel Premier Yitzhak Rabin carried wttta him Into hi* meeting this week with President Ford the endoneoMiit of his policies by the Israeli Cabinet. Following a marathon debate, the Cabinet made It dear that Israel stands fast on its position of last March toward a second-stage interim agreement with Egypt, and would reexamine Us potition only if' 'parallel changes were forthcoming In the Egyptian jjosltlon." The statement indicat«l that Isriel favored a resumption of Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger's step-by-step approach as the
most "realistic" method of advancing toward an Interim settlement under present condiliona, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. But, the Cabinet also stated that Israel was prepared to reach agreements with all of Its Arab neighbors "whether within the Geneva framework or outside It, whether through the means of peace treaties or ttvough interim settlements." Menachem Belgln, leader of the Herut wing of Likud, expressed approval of the Cabinet's statement. Premier Rabin is to meet privately today with a delegation of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations at Blair House. In another development, the U.S. State Department announced that Syria's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Abda-Hilim Khadam, will confer with President Ford and Kissinger June-20. The meeting Is to be part of the Administration's ongoing reassessment of American Middle East policy, according to a Department spokesman. Qualified sources said that a nnuch more positive aind healthier relationship esists between Jerusalem and Washington now than when Kissinger's efforts at an aggreement were suspended March 22.
The caatoii sing their flnale in CMsmUe at Edgar, Liaaek, Aaron Edgar, Spbo i conchisiwi of the Cooccrt Sunday night at the man. (JP Photo) Center. From left are Cantors Najman, Ray
IfMt-
Cantors Shine on 'Golden Oldies'; 600 at JCC Feel Warmth, Elegance .
Bdttor's Note: Tlw writer o( ByBuitZisUnd this review Is allfiitwisnt to OMAHA - "Golden tlw Air rural itaUoMd at Oldies," folk, country - that OKiitt Air Base. A kind of music will always of gftllM draw a crowd. bsM by Oiuba's But the» Cantorlal Concert Young Adult Divlriaa (YAD), he is to Meceed Capt. Mar- that drew an. audience of shall FMedmao as 1^ Itadar almost 600 to the Jewish o( OOmt's Jmslrii oammaBlty ^Community Center Sunday ntght was a unique type of tbls month.
popular music, for the "Golden Oldies" wwe not of the '30s, but rather of ao^md nnore years ago; the folk music was not American folk, but Israeli; and the native tunes were not "country-andwestem" but "Country and Easter (European)". The formal evening suits of the six talented singers along with their piano and cello accompaniment made the event appear like a Joslyn Chamber Music concert or an Orpheum operatic performance. This elegance contrasted nicely with tlie warmth of a
down-home, foot-stomping, stirring rendition of the Israeli hand-clapplQg Ixioteiiany — version of "Off we go, into the wild Blue Yonder" - "Hel Jowish otyie. Whetbar staging barllDDt or Tziyon" — and by Cantor tooor or In-between, tlie Pinchas Spiro of Des Moines Haxzans amply displayed Tifereth, who sang an Israeli thrir professional talent. Old- cowboy tune complete with a tlme favorites such a> "TVi "Ky-yi-yippee!"—style finale. Cantor Leo Fettman of Ratzon" by the Canton Edgar (father Aaron and son Ray) Omaha Beth Israel regaled and "Mommde" by Cantor the crowd with his version of Leon Llssek of St. Louis were the Yiddish tune "Hazzan Oif toucUngly done with that Shabbos", in which he plaintive, tear-ln-tbe-eye teasingly described current quality reminiscent of a synagogue arbiters of cantorlal talent as knowing more Rosenblatt or a Pearoe. Folk tunes of the New Land about secular business and were lustily sung by Cantor ' race track bookies than Chaim Najman of Omaha sacred books and the Bible. The finale featured the Beth El Synagogue, who did a
entire cast in a sing-along medley featuring such Hassldic tunes as "Heenay Mahtov" and "Y'vorecb Echaw". At curtain time, the performers acknowledged the chairman of the event, Jeanne LIpsey, whose concert committee handled the lastminute rush for tickets by arranging for additional onstage seating. The only regret lor this reviewer was that more younger people didn't attend and see for themselves that their elders appreciate "popular" music as well.
'Electric Evening' Says IVIrs. Lipsey By mcbard Peart
Emergency Meeting anCAOO - Frank Lautenberg, national fhalnnan of UJA; Harold Pldgson, member of the "AU-ln-Oos" Canpalfi taam la Das Molnas and Isnali rofwlvi Mbiistar and Dspuly Prims Mtadater Ylgal AOoB pauaa for this pbotognvb at (he rsMBt UJA Emergtocy Maatbig.
How much do you know about Jewish Philanthropies? This fourth quiz offered during the 1975 Omaha Campaign will help you find out. Answers appear elsewhere in this issue of The Jewish Press. 1. It cosU (a) tl4,000 (b) 110,000 (c) $8,900 to transport four Soviet Jewish families and their belongings to Israel. 2. What does It cost to help an immigrant family settle In a new apartment with a few belongings? (a) tl,500 (b) «2,300(c) $1,100. 3. Payment for Transit Center services for one immigrant en route to Israel cosU (a) $35 (b) $40 (c) $50.
OMAHA - There is only one way to describe Uie June 8 Cantorlal Concert in the Jewish Community Center Theater — and that way is with tlie worlds "huge success." It was grandly successful from three perspectives — from the standpoint of turnout — an overflow crowd of 600 persons; from ttie standpoint of technical achievement — Uie six cantors were very well received and Sam Fried made a good tape recording: and, most importantly, from the standpoint of the benefit to the Cantors Assembly. "Our goal was to raise $1,000 for the Cantors Assembly," Jeanne Lipsey, chairman of the benefit program said, "and at this point (Monday, tlie day after the concert) it looks like we'll have more Uianthat."
Mrs. Lipsey promised that a full financial report on the program would be forthcoming. "It was an electric 'It was Just taatastle bqrond aU nThe standing ovations accorded the Cantors by the crowd during and after the performance Indicated how well it was received. The audience filled the Theater, flowing onto the stage where special seating was set up. Featured were Cantor Aaron Eklgar, cantor emeritus of Beth El Synagogue, and his son Rafael of Temple Beth ZIon in Buffalo, NY; Cantor Chaim Najman of Beth El and Cantor Leo Fettman of Beth Israel; Cantor Pinchas Spiro of Tifereth Israel Synagogue In Des Moines; and Cantor Leon Llssek of Congregation B'nai Amoona In St. Louis. A
delegation of 44 Des Moines concert-goers came with Cantor Spiro. It was, said Cantor Edgar, the first time in Omaha that a number of local cantors had joined with others from outside the city to give a concert. "We were pleased with the reception of our program," said the Hazzan, who became cantor emeritus at Beth El In 1972 but who has been kept active by the many requests for his singing. Longtime observers commented that, while be still sings with his (dd verve, Cantor Aaron's voice is mellower and that son Ray sounds like his father did at his age. For his part, Ray was Impressive In his stage presence and gave a good accounting in his rendition of "Shalom" from the musical "Milk and Honey". The voices of Cantors Lissek
and Najman, both of whom showed great range, were particularly pleasing and many were strongly impressed by the sincerity and feeling expressed by Cantors Spiro and Fettman. "'It was a gratifying experience," summed Cantor Aaron Edgar, and few would disagree. For his part, Sam Fried, who served as recording engineer, was fairly well satisfied with the overall quality of his tope. "There will definitely be a casette made for the Jewish Federation Library," he said, adding that several people already have asked him to cut casette tapes for them, too. Whether or not records also will be made remains to be seen, he said, although he received many Inquiries from concert-goers Sunday night.