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c 30th Happy Anniversary •i a
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This Issue of the Jewish Press is dedicated to the residents and staff of the Dr. Philip Sher Home for the Aged, a department of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, in behalf of the Jewish Communitittes of Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs. The Home is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and in connection with this event, the Press has devoted several pages of this issue to stories and photographs about the Home, . We are indebted to our regular and special advertisers for supporting this edition, and we thank the residents and staff of the Home for tlieir patience, understanding and assistance. . The Jewish Press staff
MaryFeUman
ith Leadership Awards Three Omaha communal leaden will be honored with Leadership Recognition Awards at the 1978 Biennial Convention of Jewish Welfare Board, April 5-9, in Montreal.
Lincoln Hosts JSerdaKlein
Mrs.-Klein speaks extensively at high schools, colleges and laicffoiui meetings for UJA, Bonds for Israel and Hadassah. Her book, All But My Life, has been described as "one of tbecjnosi moving and beautifully written books of Jewish suffering and survival."
Vol.LVIINo.27
Omaha, Neb., Fri., March 24,1978
Project Elijah Opens Homes
; The UNO-Crelghton B'nal B'rith HUlel group is organizing a match-up service for students and young people in the community to find families to celebrate the Passover seder with in their . homes. The group Is seeking the names and phone numbers of > Interested young people. Families who desire to act as hosts may contact the Jewish Community Center, 334*200to leave their names and telephone numbers. They will then be contacted by a HUlel member to arrange the details. • Gary Klnstlinger, a coordinator, said this is a lonely time for the young student away,from home, or the young wonting per-
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They are: Mary Fellman (Mrs. Morris C. Fellman),' president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha; Allan S. Noddle, chairman of the Jewish Community Center, and Norman Batt, a member of the JCC Board ol,Directors since its inception in 1971. JWB Is the Association of Jewish Community Centers, YM and YMHAs and Camps in the United States and Canada. It Is the U.S. Government-accredited agency for serving Jewish military personnel, their families, and patients in VA hospitals. . Mrs. Fellman has served as chairman of the Coordinating Conunittee-on Aging-of the Federation and as chairman of the Older Adult Committee,' JCC. Also; she has been a
member of the New Jewish Community Center Planning Study Committee, Older Adult Program Study Committee, the New JCC Architect Selection Committee, the JCC Board, and chairman, Older Adult Committee, JCC. Mr. Noddle has served the JCC as vice chairman and as personnel chairman. He is a member of the Study Committee on Restructuring of Jewish Federation, and served In Division Campaign Offices, United Jewish Appeal and United Way. Mr. Noddle is board chairman, North Branch YMCA; vice p r e s i d e n t , Junior Achievement.: of - Omaha; board member, Better Business Bureau. He i? active on* (Continued on Page 20)
A New Reign in Spain
Bulletin The Department of Jewish Education reminds all those who are submitting applications to the David E. Beber Scholarships In Category HI (studies in Israel) and Category IV (Susirr.er czrr.p, institutes, conventions and other youth activities) that all applications must be submitted by April IS. Grants of up to $soo are available l for this program.
Once again the Jewish community of Omaha will have an opportunity to demonstrate its warmth and friendliness through Project Elijah. This program is designed to bring together, members of the community who wish to share their Passover seders and persons who would otherwise be alone for the holidays. According to Emily Ravits, Project Elijah coordinator, the community has been highly responsive in past years. Persons who wish to share their seder(s) should contact Miss Ravits or Toby Forbes at the Jewish Family Service office, 334-8200, ext. 68. Anyone desiring home hospitality for Passover, either for an Individual or a family, should also call Miss Ravits or Mrs. Forbes. . . . •• <-•.:' • , : "This is an opportunity for members of the community to open their hearts and their homes and help make Passover a more meaningful holiday for all," MUs Ravits said.
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Norman Batt
Three Omahans Honored
Gerda W. Klein
The Arrival Luncheon of the Lincoln Jewish Welfare Federation Women's Division will take place March 29 at noon in the University Club with Gerda W. Klein as speaker. According to Mrs. Max Nelderi,' chairman, reservations must bo made with Dorothy Grant, 3024 Bonacum Drive, Lincoln, by March 24.
Allan Noddle
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EOitoft No(«: Tfate article, dUcuuing the situation affecting Jews in Spain U based on report*firaimtte European Offleeof Ihq American JewUhCommlltt*. : Ai Spain moves purposefully but haltingly toward democra' cy, its 11,000 Jews can, at long last, hope for civil and religious equal lty with Catholics. " •; Tl is development seems a minor miracle to anyone who reniciii sers that only 30 years ago, Jews had to conduct urcif religious: services virtually in secret; that the first synagogue and community center since the 1492 expulsion was built in 1956, in Barcelona, and was not allowed — until 1967 — to place a sign outside the structure to show it was a Jewish institution. By contrast. In January 1978, Spain's Ministry of Justice, for the first time, called In Protestant and Jewish leaders, along with Catholics, (or discussion of religious affairs. ;' The draft of Spain's New Constitution certainly suggests the Inten to provide full equality for religious groups. Article 2 declare i that the state is non-confessional; Article 15 makes all citizens regardless of race, birth, religion, opinion] or other personal or social condition, equal before the layr; Article 17 guarantees religious liberty to all cults, limited ojily by considerations of public order, and bars the government from compelling anyone to reveal his or her religious beliefs; another clause places marriage and dissolution of marriage undej- civil law. • ' • W! ten the draft Constitution was made public, Catholic bishops vere quick to point out that Spain is an overwhelmingly Cathcllc country; but Socialists retorted sharply that other Cathqllc countries — France, for Instance — are governed by civil law. ! Catholic authorities relented, insisting they were not opposed to separation of church and state, but wanted safeguards for their pwn right to teach and preach. Complicating the situation Is thef fact that in Spain, as In Italy, a new Concordat with the Vatican Is under discussion. i • ' Given Spain's long Catholic tradition, It is obviously too much to expect that the separation of church and state will be as sharp as It if In the U.S. ',.•• "^ .-. Theoverrldlnglssuewillprobablybethenatureandextentof state support for Catholic Institutions, and the big question for' Jews and Protestants will be whether they get equal support A new law granting social security coverage to religious funcHonories applies only to Catholics; It Is hoped thai the new Cooitltution will eliminate the distinction. ! Sp itn's Jewish population, though small, has been increasing stcadfly over the past two decades, largely becausfeof Immigration from Morocco; and (he communities in 11 r^ajor Spanish cities show 6lgns of new vigor. (More recently/a few thousand
Jews arrived from South America, principally from Chile and Argentina, but they do not have much contact with other Jews.) -In Madrid, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Ovadia Yosef, was guest of honor at the opening ceremony of a Jewish school that can accommodate 300 children, although the present enrollment Is only about 120, of Whom about 20 are not Jewish. The Franco Government never established diplomatic relations with Israel.
1978 Goal Announced By Campaign Chairmen The Combined Federation Campaign has set a minimum goal of $1.75 million to fulfill the current obligations of the Omaha Jewish Community. "People all over- the world are counting on us to share what we have with them, and unless we raise the minimum amount we will witness a cutback hi services and the quality of Jewish life in Omaha and the rest of the world," said Harlan Noddle and Joe Kirehenbaum, Campaign cochairmen. Here in Omaha: -Hebrew school education Is subsidized by $50,000. -$750 goes to each resident of the Dr. Sher Home. -Utilities went up $35,000. —There are more Soviet Jews who want to come to Omaha. —Every Jew in Omaha is given a $9.50 subscription to the Jewish Press. —Hundreds of children and adults enjoy Camp Newman. In Israel, the concern Is getting the number of inhabitants per apartment below four people per room and paying tui-
tion to "public" high schools. In Rumania, the young and the bid, remnants of the Holocaust gather in the Kosher Canteens or soup kitchens set .up by the Joint Distribution Committee. Mr. Noddle and Mr. Kirshenbaum urged all members of the Jewish Community to give as generously as possible to fulfill our responsibilities.
Help Needed The local Ami-beiamation league of B'nal B'rith office Is seeking concentration camp artifacts In connection withIts forthcoming educational pro- gram on the Holocaust. The program will take place April 4 at 3:45 p.m. in the JCC, and is being conducted for educators throughout the stale. A photo and poster display along with an exhibit of artifacts will be part of the program. Persons having items available for loan may contact the ADLolilce at 392-2274.
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