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SERVING NEBRASKA, Omaha, Neb., Frl., April 30,1982
Bulletin By Ellen Gordman Federation Staff By Morris Mallne An estimated 100,000 Jewish youth are involved in ctjfts Rabbi Yehuda Fine said last Tuesday in Omaha, Rabbi Fine, an exit counselor who specializes in rescuing youth from cults, conducted workshops here under the sponsorship of Jewish Family Service and the Department of Jewish Education. "The community la showing foresight In looking at the problem of cults because it is a growing problem", he said. They have been so successful in attracting youth that they now arc recruiting senior citizens in Florida and Southern California, Itabbt Fine said. He pointed out that the culls exist to control power, money and sex. "It's a multi-billion dollar industry" he said. lie listed some of the activities associated with cults "The Unification Church earns hundreds of millions of dollars in manufacturing small guns and automatic weapons... "The Church of Scientology is worth over 1100 million and is busy recruiting in Israel... "Way International has a standing army in Ohio... "A group in Oregon controls 100 square miles of purchased land on which they practice the most
poganistic imaginable."
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Rabbi Fine has been helping youth exit from cults for almost three years. He became interested in the problem when an attractive girl tried to recruit him while he was studying in Davis, California. "I helped the girl exit, fell In love married her..we now work together to help others," he told the Jewish Press. According to Rabbi Fine, cull recruiters do most of their work on the college campus. Some 40 percent of those who join cults are perfectly normal kids from solid families; 55 percent are experiencing a normative life crisis, perhaps in school or in their own family,, mid the other five percent Have a more severe problem, he explained. The recruiters offer friendship Jbut ultimately arc successful in controlling the victim's critical faculties, Rabbi Fine added. He explained that removing someone from cult influence is long and tedious and sometimes dangerous. "My life has been threatened on several occasions, but the benefits of success far outweigh what is Involved personally," Rabbi Fine said. In addition to workshops at the JCC, Rabbi Fine visited local synagogues.
The Jewish Cultural Arts Council's Yom Ha'atzmaut Committee has announced a variety of events to celebrate Israeli Independence Day. On Sunday, "Agam and More," an exhibition of art by Israeli artists from Gallcrle Rodin of St. Louis, will be open- in the JCC Gallery at 2:30 p.m. and run through May 0. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, the JCC's Health and Physical Education and Children's Departments will co-sponsor a Maccabiah in the Center gym for grades K6. These events will include walking races, Softball
1982 Federation Campaign Progress Report
throw, broad jumps, Hula Hoop contest, tugof-war, Frisb.ce golf and a jump rope contest. In connection with Wednesday's program, Amy Friedman and Ben Leet, Committee members, said nothing on Earth can describe the sights and sounds of an Israeli Shuk. "The aromas from the innumerable little nooks and crannies, humorously described as places of business, recessed in the walls of the alleyways throughout the Old City of Jerusalem conjure up visions of myrrh, incense and spices dating back to
WASHINGTON — Eighty men from Omaha arrived here this week to get some answers on United States policy toward Israel. The Men's Mission has been hailed by national Jewish leaders as the largest group of Jewish men ever to participate from the Midwest. On the first day of the two-day Mission, the group received both pessimistic and optimistic reports on the Israeli peace treaty with Egypt. Details will be presented in next week's issue of the Jewish Press.
Women's League holds coftf eraneeir* Lincoln By Eve Hoffman • Tlfereth Israel Sisterhood of Lincoln, will host The Annual Spring Conference of the Midwest Branch of the Women's League for .Conservative Judaism. Attending this event will be representatives of Conservative Sisterhoods from Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, and Manitoba, Canada. Delegate registration will begin at 9 on Monday, May 10 and extend until 2 at the Northeast Holiday Inn at 5250 Cornhusker Highway. The three day conference
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Volunteers honored Nearly 500 people attended Ihe 27th Annual Recognition l.uncheon at the Omaha Marriott last week. Members of ihe Jewlib community were among the volunteer* receiving top awards. In left photo, MolUne Cowman, fSilrlcy Fogel, and Role Meyers show the bowls they received. Mr*. Cisiman and M n , Meyer* received the
Biblical days. "Everyway one turns, the ears are bombarded with sounds of many languages. Varied dialects accent the air, ranging from shrieks to whispers." For one night, May 5, the JCC Auditorium will be transformed into an Israeli bazaar. The entire 4,000 square feet of the Auditorium will be converted into the Omaha equivalent of an Israeli Shuk (pronounced "shook") with many booths featuring food, fun and information. Goats and sheep also will be present. Continued on Page 2
award for their work In National Council of Jewish Women's publication of Our Story. Mrs. Fogel accepted the Council's award for Trouplag Theater. In photo at right, Loals I. Wolfion is presented with the Judge's Award by Governor Charles Those.
will bo based on the theme "In a World of Change Tradition; In a World of Tradition - Change". Keynote speaker at the welcoming dinner ori Monday at the synagogue will be Evelyn Auerbach, national vice-president and chairman of Torah FundResidence Halls. . Mrs. Auerbach is a past president of her home Sisterhood of Temple Israel In Ridgcwood, New Jersey. She has been on the National Board and has also been active in activities such as Girl Scouts, ORT, Hadassah, and Israel Bonds. _ Mrs. Auerbach has been an accredited discussion leader for Women's League for 11 years. Buses will be available to take delegates back and forth from the synagogue to the hotel. Tuesday's program will begin at 8:15 with a Shaharit service. Professor Neil Glllman of the Jewish Theological Seminary will lead the Torah Study group ' later in the morning. Dinner speaker at the hotel Tuesday evening will be the Honorable Chief Justice, Norman Krivosha. His topic will be "Rights of a Citizen in a Free Society: Tradition or Change". After dinner will be an informal and informational "Rap with the Rabbis" when attending Rabbis from-the Central States Region Rabbinical
Evelyn Auerbach Assembly will meet with delegates. . Two of the highlights of Wednesday's afternoon program will be a slide presentation of Jewish art and artifacts found in Lincoln homes, and a luncheon plenary session by Rabbi and Mrs. Mark Bisman on "How to Raise a .Conscrv ative Jewish Family." "Viva La Volunteer" will be the theme of the final banquet held at the synagogue. Installation of officers will be done at this time. Afterwards a branch party held at the hotel will take place. Information on attendance and registration is available from Betty Hill, 7200 Old Post Road No. 12 (4894061) or Sylvia Kushner, 7200 Old Post Road No. 2, 68506 (489-8144).