Federation urges teacher exchange
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BLUFFS, LINCOLN. OMAHAi Omaha. Neb., Fri., October 2.1981
\ N committee aims aid toward Russians
. A new committee Is being organized to provide further assistance to the more than 90 Russian Jewish immigrants in Omaha. Tentatively named the Jewish Integration Committee, the new unit would work in the area of Jewish education, socialization, culture, career planning and continued language development. Plans for the new committee were approved by the Federation's Board of Directors Sept. 22. Joe Klrshenbaum, Federation president, was authorized to name a chairman. Allan
Greene, director of Budget and Planning, said the proposal to establish such a committee was recommended recently by Karl D. Zukerman, director of the Soviet Jewish Resettlement Program for the Council of Jewish Federations. Mr. Zukerman was in Omaha eariler this year to assess Omaha's resettlement program. In his report, Mr. Zukerman noted that there is little or no role of the Federation in the area of Jewish intergration. The Federation, he said, should be responsible for the planning and coordination of
these programs in order to reflect the fact that the intergration of Jews into the Jewish community is a responsibility of the entire Jewish community as represented by its Federation. The plan calls for the committee to be made up representatives of Federation departments, the synagogues, and others including some of the Russian immigrants. The committee will survey the group and the community to determine the needs of the newcomers and to recommend ways that these needs can be fulfilled.
Newman Grant funds new learning program The Esther K. Newman Grants Committee ' h a s announced the funding of a learning disabilities pilot program which will involve the three synagogue religious schools. The program, headed by Ms. Cindy Apple, will initially serve any child who appears to have "special needs" within the religious school setting. Referrals can be made directly by parents or by teachers, physicians or other professionals in contact with the child. After receiving parental consent, a plan will be developed to meet the needs of the particular child. This may involve individualized instruction, modified testing procedures, adapted text books, sup-
plementary ^ periodic consultation with the classroom teacher. According to Ms. Apple, a second important feature of the program will be four parent seminars. These seminars, open to the public, will focus on topics related to learning problems in children and adolescents. The first of these sessions, to be held in midNovember, will be entitled Those "Special" Kids: A Look At Children With Learning Disabilities. The program will also include four workshops for the teachers at religious school. The workshops are designed to provide a basic understanding of the child with learning disabilities and to develop r«Y>ni-
mediations for teaching special students within the classroom. Throughout the 1981-82 school year, the Ad Hoc Learning Disabilities Committee of the Department of Jewish Education, under the direction of Dr. James Wax, will meet with Ms. Apple to monitor the sucess. of the program, provide continuing guidance, direction, and project future needs. A quarterly report will then be prepared for the Esther K. Newman Grants Committee. For information about the learning disabilities resource program, call Ms. Apple at the Department of Jewish Education (334-8200) or contact your religious school educational director.
Establishment of a National Jewish Teacher Exchange has been proposed by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. '" ~
deal of expense and trouble. Other smaller communities are experiencing the same frustration and all would benefit from a National Jewish Teacher A resolution calling for Exchange, he said. The resolution is as such an Exchange was approved unanimously by : follows: the Federation's Board of The Jewish Federation of Directors Sept. 22. Omaha recommends the following resolution to the The resolution, it was General Assembly of the said, now goes to the General Council of Jewish Assembly of the Council of Federations: Jewish Federations for a WHEREAS, competent vote at its November and qualifiedjeachers are meeting in St. Louis. the most essentfaTfactor. in A National Jewish any system of meaningful Teacher Exchange would Jewish education, and serve two primary purposes, WHEREAS, neverSteven J. Riekes told the theless, many Jewish Board. communities, and in parHe said that a national ticular, smaller comorganization could acquire munities or those located information on available away from metropolitan , teachers and share this areas with substantial information with com- Jewish populations, find it munities seeking teachers. increasingly difficult to locate and place such In addition, this group competent and qualified could actively encourage Jewish teachers for their and inyoung persons to establish communities careers in Jewish education. stitutions and agencies within those communities. Mr. Riekes explained that NOW, THEREFORE, BE the idea of a National Ex. change resulted from the IT RESOLVED, that there difficulties experienced by be established a National the Department of Jewish Jewish Teacher Exchange, Education in finding a which would solicit the qualified third teacher for n a m e s , backgrounds, Omaha's c o m m u n i t y qualifications, experience and references, for those education program. seeking employment in He said that Omaha's Jewish education, and success in sharing evaluate and share such professional teachers by the information with Jewish Day School, the Synagogues, Federations throughout the and the Federation is an country, and agencies and innovative step in improving institutions in their comJewish education in smaller munities, and, further, that such an exchange communities. disseminate information to However, he pointed out, said communities regarding fringe that the success of the salary ranges, system here calls for. a third benefits and other such teacher and that searchers pertinent information, and have found it difficult to further, that such National Teacher Exacquire the necessary in- Jewish formation without a great change.actively encourage
competent young persons to establish careers in Jewish education, and assist said persons' own education by means of scholarships, grants, loans and other forms of assistance, and, further, that it actively encourage Jewish educators to locate, at least for a limited period, in communities of smaller size or otherwise away from the very large centers of Jewish population, and that it otherwise assist said Jewish population, and that it otherwise assist said Jewish communities in obtaining qualified twrsonnel. AND, FURTHER, btl IT RESOLVED, that the Council of Jewish Federations appoint a committee to establish the best method of funding said National Jewish Teacher Exchange, and determine whether such program should be handled by an existing agency or otherwise, and that said committee prepare a report to the Council at the soonest possible time.
LOVE Calls The Volunteer Recognition Banquet for the Dr. Philip Sber Home for the Aged will take place Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the JOC. Sponsored by LOVE (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly), the event marks the 10th anniversary of the volunteer group. The cost of dinner Is $7.50 and reservations should be made by Oct. 7. Chairmen are Mrs. Jack Belmont and Mrs. Alan Nogg.
Jewish Family Learning school to open Hlndy Batt and Linda Dunn, co-chairmen of the College of Jewish Family Learning of the Jewish Cultural Arts Council announce the opening of the College's Fall Semester with guest speaker Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits, Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth and author of books on Jewish medical ethics. Dr. Jakobovits will address the community on such topics as euthanasia and abortion from an orthodox point of view. The lecture will be held on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Registration is now taking place for a variety of classes to be conducted by the College faculty. Those interested In registering for classes and seminars may do so by calling the Jewish Community Center, 334-8200) A $5 registration fee will enable a student to participate in as many classes and seminars as he wishes. Registration should be made by both number and title and checks should be made payable to the Jewish Cultural Arts Council. All classes and seminars are to be held at tbe Jewish Community Center. • • . . . . . .
The schedule of classes and seminars for the Fall Semester of the College of Jewish Family Learning is as follows: Monday Nights 101 Military Analysis of Biblical Warfare Rabbi Ted Stainman, Nov. 16-30,7:30- 8:30p.m. Three lectures will be presented on successive Monday evenings. The first will focus on the conquests of Joshua. The second will analyze the campaigns of David and the Third will consider the Wars of the Maccabbees. 102 A Biblical Trilogy Rabbi Sidney Brooks, Nov. 2-23,7:30- 8:30p.m. The course will include a series of four sessions in which figures from the Bible will be analyzed Including: Johah as Serious Comedy, Esther-A Providential Libretto and Daniel in terms of Satire-Dreams and Visions. 103 Study of the Rabbinic Mind Rabbi Meyer Krlpke, Oct. 26-Dec. 7,8:40- 9:40 p.m. The course will include readings in English of the Mldrashlm and later Rabbinic- commentaries In order to
search out the full meaning of Biblical texts. 104 Beginning Hebrew Walter Feldman, Nov. 2-Dec. 7,7:30-8:30 p.m. 105 Beginning Yiddish Walter Feldman, Nov. 2-Dec. 7,8:40-9:40p.m. Tuesday Nights 106 Sephardic Jewry: Splendor and Conflict Dr. David GIU1U, Oct. 27-Nov. 17,7:30-8:S0p.m. A general overview of Sephardic Culture will be covered in two of the four sessions offered. One session will focus on Sephardic folk music and the last will deal with Sephardic cooking. Wednesday Mornings 107 "Ess Mein Kindt" Frieda ElewiU, Nov. 4,18, and De. 2,10a.m. • Noon The course will feature favorite Jewish recipes from around the world and will meet every other week. • • » • • • ! • (Continued on Page 6) . . . .
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