Omaha, Neb., Frl., Juna 4,1832
This Is tiie second la a series of articles about sensitive Issues with -which Jewish Family Services deals. The first article was on adoption. By David Dlttoer
Hebrew High graduates The Omaha High School of Jfwtsh Studies condncted graduation exercises at Oetb Israel Syaagoguf last wrck. T N graduates are from left [«eat<^XBcbrecaJ$zlen, Naomi JUitchell. I-orl ttubln. Martha Biltner [•landing] Cathy Fleck. Alan Maltoe, Neat Abramsan, Marty Nooddl, and Cynlhla Anderson. At rigbt I* school director Stanley Mitchell.
lly Diane Wlntroub Af(?r 24 years of service on the District CO School Board, lrvin Yaffe in retiring. "Twenty-four years is a long time," said Mr. Yalfc. "I enjoyed every minute of it, but it's time someone else steps in and docs the work." In Vaa, Mr. Yaffc, vice president of U.S. Yaffc Printing Co., was elected for' his first six-year term on the school board and has since been re-elected for three consecutive terms. "At the time that I was first elected, 1 didn't know the district," Mr. Yaffc said. "But over the years, I worked with some wonderful people-administrators, students, and parents. My work became a labor of love."
"Male, 18 or over, possessing high degree of patience and understanding. Must be responsible and a good listener, Must have a good sense qf humor and be able to remember his own boyhood." If you meet these qualifications, you may be just the right man to become a companion to a boy between the ages of seven and 14 who comes from a fatherless home. You'll have no further to go than tha offices of Jewish Family Services at the JCC, where a Jewish arm of the Big Brothers has recently been established. Rabbi Allan Gonshcr, who oversees the new program, sold it has its genesis when Big Brothers program of Omaha approached him last year and suggested starting a Big Brothers program to serve the Jewish community exclusively. "The reason they came to us," said Rabbi Gonshcr, "was they found that over the years the number of Jewish volunteers for the national organization had greatly decreased. Jews didn't seem to be interested in being Big Brothers to the sort of transient, truant children who came from homes in the community at large where there was alcohol and beating."
"I had misgivings at first," admitted Rabbi Gonshcr, "because I wasn't sure we wanted to click into Big Brothers' regional and national structure, but they assured us they would give During his years on the lrvin Yaffe us autonomy and that we District CO School Board. Mr. Yoffo held a number of of- education for their scheduling in which the day would be able to create our fices including treasurer, children." Is divided into mods or set own program within theirs secretary, vice president, Mr. Yaffc noted that the time periods. "It's more like and be flexible." and president for a total of As a matter of fact, District GO school system has a college environment," Mr. four years, been noted for quality and Yaffc said. "When students though Jewish Big Brothers "The people who run for innovation. "It has been aren't in class, they arc free conforms to such rules of the called a 'lighthouse' school to go to the learning centers. national organization as that the school board, usually district," he said. Modular scheduling con- against Big Brother paying don't use it as a ntcppng stone to political office," Mr. In the early 1970s, tributes to the student's little Broiner's way, the time obligation Is different, Yaffe said. "They're con- Westsidc High School conwith Jewish BlR Brothers cerned about Che quality of verted to modular (Continued on Page 3)
Big Brother Dan Sherman and Little Brother Mitch Trctlak. seeing their Uttle Brothers once every two or three weeks as opposed to the national rule of two hours a •week. To date Rabbi Gonshcr has made two matches of Big and Little Brothers. The reason there have been no more than that, he said, has nothing to do with the
shortage of Little Brother material. There is a waiting list full of boys, he said. What takes so long are the screening process for adult volunteers and the arranging of matches between similarly-interested boys and men. "A lot of work go'1, into . (Continued on_Page_3)__
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Solomons honored Ixu and Marlene Solomon with daughters, Amy and Mlndy. Members of the Omaha Jewish community are Invited to a reception on Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center honoring the Solomons. The family Is moving to Indianapolis where Mr. Solomon will be the executive vice president of the Jewish Welfare Federation.