September 12, 1980

Rabbis Launch Course Aid Russian Jews Vol. LIX No. 52

COUNCIL BLUFFS. LINCOLN, OMAHA Omaha. Neb.. Fri.. September 12,1980

Israel Bonds to Honor Celeste Holm, Ethel Edgar

The Department of Jewish Education has launched a course of Instruction for recently resettled Jews from the Soviet Union. Extending to Aug. 2, 1981, the course is being taught in area synagogues by Rabbi Jonathan Rosenbaum, director, and local rabbis. This course seeks to introduce Jewish life cycle ceremonies, holidays and occasions of the year, and communal life to Jews who have recently come to the Omaha area from the Soviet Union. In addition to disseminating fundamental Information, the course will also provide an opportunity for the participants to meet with the rabbis of the community as well as certain representatives of local Jewish communal agencies.

' ognilion of her efforts and Mona Crandell, Jean Dultch, By Suzanne Somberg Sponsors of the 19B0 friendship. Ethel Edgar, Etta Epstein, Greater Omaha Women's DiMary Fcllman will make the Frieda Erman, Mary Felvision State Of Israel Bonds presentation of the "Woman of Iman, Kitty Frank, Dorothy campaign will have the oppor- the Year" award to Mrs. Ethel Freldcn, Roz Friedman and tunity to meet Celeste Holm at Lcvenson Edgar for her many Carol Goldberg. a cocktail party at the home of years of devoted service toihe Other callers are Leah Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Rips, Jewish People and the State of Grossman, Ann Hahn, Sarah 330 So. 93rd St., on Tuesday, Israel. Lashinsky, Sara Landsman, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. In addition to hosting the Ann Margolin, Jcanette NaMiss Holm, star of stage, cocktail party, Mrs. Hips is <loff, Rita Novak, Carol Parscreen and television will also serving as luncheon sow, Ida Potash, Elaine RichBasic intellectual knowlspeak at the Israel Bonds chairman. She has been as- ards, Ida Richards, Sylvia edge is insufficient without the luncheon to be held on sisted by Jcanette Ban. Ross, Faye Ruback, Sis Turn- strong communal commitWednesday at the Jewish Calling the women of the er, Sally Vcnger and Mary ment which has classically Community Center at 11:30 community for their reser- Lou Walker. bound the Jew to his/her relia.m. She will also receive the vations have been Myrna Reservations for the lunch- gion Rabbi Rosenbaum said. Israel Cultural Award in rec- Block, Miriam Coopcrman, "This course will not only eon are still being taken by (he Israel Bonds office, 341-1171. provide basic information, but Also any sponsor, one who will also allow new members purchases over $1500 in Israel of the Omaha Jewish commuBonds, is asked to RSVP to nity to meet its rabbinic leadBy Morris Maline Mrs. Hips, 391-4948 for the ers so that entrance into each Editor-in-Chief cocktail party. Transportation synagogue will be marked by The Jewish Press gets a lot of telephone calls In the for the events can be arranged familiarity." course of doing business, but one call last week really througlithe Bond office. The class will meet monthly stands out. Sure, many good friends and appreciative readers called to congratulate us on our outstanding New Year's issue. The entire staff put a good deal of effort, time, and deHoward Kaslow, chairman sponsoring groups. votion into this issue, and it's nice to know that our work is of the Esther K. Newman "We welcome participation received so well In the community. Fund Committee has an- in this program by every JewHowever, none of these calls were the call that really nounced that proposals for ish organization in Omaha", stood out. funds for programs serving stated Mr. Kaslow. Funds are Neither were the calls asking for advertising rates, Jewish youth and Jewish col- available for Jewish youth, changes of address, and back Issues. We get these all the lege students will be accepted pre-school through high school time and they are quite ordinary requests. through Oct. 10,1980. as well as for Jewish college The call that really stood out came from the Executive In October the committee students. Office of the President of the United States, will review submitted proposThe White House spokesman advised us that a purals and aljocate $5000 to those Additional Information and c h a s e order would be mailed forthwith to secure a subprojects deemed most worthy. application forms can be obascription to the Jewish Press of Omaha. The committee previously al- tained from Allan Greene at Thank you, Mr. President. Give us a call anytime. located $3650 in June to four the Federation.

A Welcome Call

Funds Available

at a time of convenience for both student and teacher. Lectures will be given in English with accompanying sentenceby-sentence Russian translations. This system together with Russian Language courses will allow individuals to begin learning about Judaism even before achieving fluency in English. Each class will last approximately an hour and sufficient time will be allotted to allow participants to ask questions. All sessions will be recorded on audio cassettes to allow subsequent arrivals to make up sessions which they will have missed. Russian language booklets on each holiday provided by the Friends of Refugees of

Eastern Europe and Russian materials provided by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations on Jewish ritu: al will comprise texts on periodic observances . Texts on the Jewish life cycle will Include the Russian translation ol Herman Wouk's This Is My God and materials in Russian provided by the UAHC which decrlbes Jewish usage. All materials will have approximate analogues in English which will be available, for families who speak English. A set of texts will be supplied to each participating family through funds supplied by the Department of Jewish Education.

Learning Center Expands The Learning Center for Jewish Women at Beth El Synagogue will expand Its curriculum to provide further opportunities for those who have completed the first two-year program, Sylvia Wagner, coordinator, has announced. To be taught by Rabbi Kenneth Bromberg, the new course is entitled, "Applied Jewish Ethics". This course will follow the 9 a.m. Hebrew

class.

The study program begins on the Tuesday following Yom Kippur and will continue for 12 consecutive Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. More than 40 women have participated in the program during the first two years of operation, Mrs. Wagner said. For information, call Mrs. Wagner at 556-2266 or Dorothy Lazarus 496-2233.

Holiday Closings In observance of the Jewish holidays, the JCC building will be closed on the following dates: Wednesday, Sept. 10,5 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Thursday, Sept. 11, ALL DAY Rosh Hashanah Friday, Sept. 12, ALL DAY Rosh Hashanah Friday, Sept. 19,5p.m. Yom Kippur Saturday, Sept, 20, ALL DAY Yom Kippur Wednesday, Sept. 24,5 p.m. Sukkot Thursday, Sept. 25, ALL DAY Sukkot Friday, Sept. 26, ALL DAY Sukkot Wednesday, Oct. l, 5 p.m. Shemlnl Atzeret Thursday, Oct. 2, ALL DAY Shemlnl Atzeret Friday, Oct. 3, ALL DAY Simchal Torah

Treasures of A Destroyed Community Will Be Displayed in Kansas Museum ByAnnaWlesman tographs, documents, poig- Jewish cemetery was to be Women's League for Con- nant taped Interviews and su- sold, and that all Jews were to servative Judaism, of which perb ceremonial objects from prepare toleave that city, Beth El Sisterhood Is a mem- tbe Great Synagogue (later proceeds of the sale of this ber, has announced "a rare destroyed) mirror the chang- property vyere used to finance exhibit of historical signifi- ing lives of the Jews of Danzig Jewish emigration. In May, cance," In conjunction with and their final desperate 1939 the ejders of the Jewish search for refuge." the Jewish Museum. community collected the cereThe collection is on exhibit monial objects from the Great DANZIG 1939; TREASURES OF A DESTROYED COM- for the first time since leaving Synagogue, as well as preMUNITY will be on display at Danzig In 1939 for safekeeping cious heirlooms and memorabilia from private families. the Wichita, Kansas, Museum In America. of Art from Oct. 5 to Nov. 16. With the assistance of the The story of the destroyed Rescued from destruction Jewish community of Danzig -American Jewish Joint Distriand oblivion Just one month Is a dramatic one; fought with bution Committee, the Danzig before the German Army faith, hope and the determina- Police Department agreed that "For a certain sum of moved Into Danzig, the collec- tion to survive. tion of Judalca traces the hisIn December, 1938 the Jews money-which presumably tory, from the 17th century to of Danzig were notified by would also help expedite tbe the Nazi era, of the once flou- Nazi officials that their com- emigration of Jews from Dan-' rishing Jewish community. munal property, which Includ- zlg-(they would permit) the "Cherished heirlooms, pho- ed the Great Synagogue and export of these objects to the

United States." In July, 1939 ten crates containing over 500 examples of Judalca were delivered to The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York City. The understanding was, that if, at the end of 15 years, there remained a Jewish community In Danzig, these treasures would be returned. If not, the valuables would remain In this country "for the inspiration and education of the rest of the world." In August, 1939 the German army marched Into Danzig. Tbe Great Synagogue wap demolished. There ensued the systematic extermination of the entire Jewish population. DANZIG 1939: TREASUR-

ES OF A DESTROYED COMMUNITY traces the history of that Jewish community from the 17th century to the Nazi era. One hundred thirty-four gold, silver, bronze and brass ceremonial objects and textlles-Torah crowns, Torah shields, rlmmonlm, seder plates, menorahs, alms boxes, spice boxes, Ktddush cups, prayer books, Torah ark curtains and more — will be shown to the general public for the first time since leaving Danzig. In addition, photographs and documents tell the story of the early years when Jews were not allowed to reside In Danzig (present day Gdansk) and were required to secure

permits to trade in the city; the prosperous era of the 20's when Jews did live In Danzig, filling the highest professional roles as doctors, teachers, and leaders of the community; the rise of anti-Semitism and Nazi supremacy. Taped Interviews tell poignant tales of families separated, the sheltering of Jews by non-Jews, the heart rendering search for survival in Palestine which was denied . . . the desperate need for refuge. Mrs. Joy Ungerlelder at the Jewish Museum (1109 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10028) will assist groups for a special tour ol this outstanding event.