Nominees Announced for Community Service Award
X No. 15
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.COUNCIL BLUFFS. LINCOLN, OMAHA Omaha, Neb., Frl.. December26,1980
leration Campaign ish Needed Now; Local Help Asked Joe Kirshcnbaum, president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha announced Friday that the United Jewish Appeal has urgently requested an additional $150,000 in cash this month over prior requests. In making this announcement Mr. Kirshcnbaum said, "The cold hard facts are that total cash transmitted to The Jewish Agency this year from UJA is less than even with 1979 totals." He pointed out that while inflation in the United States is running at "an alarming rate of over 12 percent, Inflation in Israel was at the staggering rate of 112 percent In 1979 and is projected to be close to 150 percent in 1980!"
Mr. Kirshenbaum noted that Jewish communities like Omaha are having to "dig deep" to come up with the cash needed to honor their UJA obligations and support local services. "I strongly urge you to write a check now for your entire outstanding Campaign pledge balance and I thank you in advance for your attention to this urgent matter" All payments made before Dec. 31, 1980 can be deducted from 1980 taxes, Mr. Kirshenbaum said. "In addition," he said, "an income tax cut in 1981 would make your payment today worth more than a payment on or after Jan. 1, 1981.
The 1980 Community Service Award will be presented at the joint annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its departments on Jan, 18,11 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center. The purpose of these awards, according to Joe Kir-
shenbaum, president, Jewish Federation of Omaha, is "to encourage and stimulate creative programming by synagogues, Jewish organizations and F e d e r a t i o n d e p a r t ments." The program must have originated in 1980, he noted.
Wife of Refusenik Hopes Publicity Helps By Margo Riekes The human rights of numerous prisoners of conscience in Russia are being violated and ADL/CRC Is encouraging members of the community to write to their legislators reaffirming the continued support for Review conferences of the Helsinki Accords with emphasis on U.S. leadership in pointing out human rights violations, according to an ADL spokesman.
about his desire to be a Jew and to live In Israel. He also had an acquaintance with some British engineers, a knowledge of English, and possessed five American dollars. These things were enough "evidence" for Soviet officials to accuse him of being a spy. After nine months of maintaining his Innocence, Shkolnik pleaded guilty when his court appointed lawyer Informed him that a death sentence would follow a plea ol innocence. He was sentenced to seven years of hard labor.
Feiga Shkolnlk, wife of refusenik, Isak Shkolnik, told her story at a meeting at the Jewish Community Center on Dec. 16. The purpose of her visit to In 1979 Shkolnik was reNorth America is to try to make Americans aware of her leased and applied for an exit plight and through social ac- visa to go to Israel where his tion try to bring her family wife and daughter have been add hundreds of other Jewish' living since 1973, After waiting for an entire year and being families together. Mrs. Shkolnlk talked about shunted trom one office to anhow her husband was arrested other his request to leave was by Soviet authorities in 1972 in denied. an apparent effort to deter Instead of being free to go to Jews in the city of Vinnitsa from applying to emigrate tc Israel, he has been enclosed in the small town of Vinnitsa Israel. . . with no right to even leave Isak Shkolnlk, a mechanic, that town without permission w.is a Zionist and spoke openly from the Soviet police.
This Is Felga's second trip to the US to gain support for Isak and all Jews held In Russia against their will. She feels that publicity surrounding her appearances will help. She also hopes that people will write to their legislators or to her husband In Russia for "moral support." Isak Shkolnik Vinnitsa St. Tarnogorodskogo 23 apt. 517 U.S.S.R.
Poll Results NEW YORK (JTA) - A re-' cent privately commissioned Louis Harris poll shows that Americans favor U.S. military, economic and political support for Israel by a greater majority than four years ago; that they reject the proposition that support of Israel should be reduced to satisfy the demand of the Arab ollproduclng states; and that they regard the Egyptian-Israeli peace process, with U.S. participation, "as beacons of hope in the Middle East."
Four nominees are under consideration for the Community Service awards for 1980. The Anti-Defamation League Community Relations Committee has submitted its Yom Hashoa observance, Speakers Bureau, Prejudice Project, (•with the University ol Nebraska at Omaha) and appearance of Jacobo Timerman (co-sponsored with the Omaha World Herald). Beth Israel Religious School has been nominated for the creation of its educational computer curriculum using a newly acquired Apple II computer. The Children's Museum project of the National Council of Jewish Women is the third nominee for the annual Community Service Award. The NCJW exhibit "Your Way, My Way . . . Different Ways of Learning" allows "children, parents and teachers to better understand the feelings of being visually imparied hearing impaired and physically h a n d i c a p p e d , " a NCJW spokesman said. - "A Supplemental Education Program for Russian Immigrants" developed cooperatively by the departments of Jewish Family Service, Library and Education, has also been nominated {or the service award. The program was designed to increase the immigrants' knowledge of Jewish religion and culture, the American way of life, facility with the English language. The name of the recipient organization of department will be engraved on the permanent plaque in the lobby of the Jewish Community Center, Mr. Kirshenbaum said.
Omaha Youths Host Regional Conclaves Temple Group Expects 100 Dr. btlllman makes a point during the Kalian Weekend lecture.
Stillman: Islam A Way of Life By Margo Riekes "The Islamic revival has taken the west by surprise" said Dr.Norman Stlllman, Associate Professor of History York Stale University, Blnghamton, N.Y., at the opening Kallah lecture series held at Temple Israel last Saturday night. Dr. Stlllman, a noted authority on Near East Studies and author of the Book entitled Jews of Arab Lands, spoke about the Islamic revival and why Islam has become part of our everyday consciousness. He began by equating Islam to Judaism and pointed out that Islam, like Judaism, is more than a religion but a way of life. It constitutes a Moslem's basic identity which is governed by the laws stated in the Koran and in Islamic liter-
ature — laws much like Jewish halachah. Along with the Islamic sense of oneness between the rellglousjjfe_and secular life. Dr. in emphasized the belief that "success In this world brings divine favor." Mohammed, the Islamic prophet, statesman and soldier instilled within the Muslim world a sense of superiority. "The world of the Muslim is divided into the world of Islam and the world of war." There is a continuous struggle between the Muslim world and those who haven't acquicssed to its supremacy. "All unbc\ lief," said Dr. Stillman, "is one big religion." Although the traditional view that "the Muslim rules" has been supressed by history (Continued on Page 5), , ,
Temple Israel Youth Group members are awaiting the arrival of more than 100 out-of-town delegates to the Winter Conclave of MoVFTY (Missouri Valley Federation of Temple Youth) which will be held at Temple Israel Dec. 2630. Participants In the Conclave will include Reform Jewish High School youth from Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Colorado. While they are in Omaha they will be the l T lies. "You The Individual as A
JCC Closing The Jewish Community Center will close at 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve and will remain closed all day Thursday, Jan. 1. The Center will reopen Jan. 2 for regular programming.
Kadimah to Welcome 150
Beth Israel Synagogue Conclave events include culJew" Is the theme of the Conclave, which Is being co- Youth Group Kadimah SYO- tural enrichment seminars chaired by Anny Neff and Lisa NCSY will host its regional and discussions plus sports Solzman. Discussion groups Conclave Dec. 25-28. The Con- and artistic competitions and led by Rabbi Weinstein and a clave, one of three major re- a final banquet. volunteer faculty will study In gional events held each year Regional events such as this depth such current issues as by the Synagogue Youth OrReform Judaism today and its ganization, will be attended by especially important to youth continuing growth and devel- approximately 150 youths rep- from small Jewish commuopment, the importance of the resenting six states and Cana- nities as It provided them with a deeper sense of Jewish idenState of Israel, and the social da. The Conclave provides an tity, a Kadimah spokesman action movements within our opportunity for Jewish youth said. religion. to share in a Jewish experiConclave co-chairmen are The faculty which will lead ence and participate In reli- Mallpry_Rjitncr_and—Wendy— these studlesJncludes-Rabbi- gious~and~~social activities. Sidney H. Brooks, Rabbi John Spitzer (St, Louis), Ronnie Brockman (St. Louis), Jane Brooks, Linda Weinstein, Joel Brooks, Seth Levy, Josi and Bjon Farber, Peggy and Tom Meyer. Special interest activities such as arts and crafts, a newspaper, and service-writing will round out the curriculum and Israeli singing and dancing will provide enjoyment for everyone. A program at the JCC will allow the delegates an opportunity to take advantage of the athletic facilities here and join together In some sports and games, , , , • , , ,
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Wendy Weiner, left, Kadimah regional vice president and MaUory Ratner, Conclave chairman, discuss Conclave plans,