mm
SERVING NEBRASKA, IOWA
Vol. LXI No. 29
Omaha, Neb., Fri., April 1,1983
Omaha girl exits successfully from cult, will tell her story to help others By Morris Malino Margie and Paul Alpcrson, of Omaha, gave their three children a good Jewish education, provided them with a warm, loving family environment nnd didn't think too much aJxtut cults. Now, they think a lot about cults. Their daughter, Amy, 23, has exited successfully from o cult and she will describe her experiences to the Omaha Jewish community, April 7 at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. M*. Alpereon is now a part-time assistant to Rabbi Yehuda Pine, a nationallyknown exit counselor, and tshe will join him in a program sponsored by Jewish Family Service end the DeAmy Alpcrson partment of Jewish Education. In an effort to help other parents nnd to educate Jewish
children in the community, Mrs. Alperson agreed to talk with the Jewish Press about her daughter'* involvement and the continuing family crises which followed. This is Mrs. Alperson's story: Amy is a bright girl. She was always interested in new things, what's happening, even in high school. She was very interested in religion and wanted to educate herself. When she was IS, she talked about going to o Yeshiva, but we talked her out of it suggesting that she would hove a better situation here in Omaha. Amy went off to the University of Michigan studying liberal arts with a plan to major in psychology. We talked two or three times a week and toward her junior year I detected a slight change in her behavior and attitude. She told me that she had found a group of friends I would really love. They were bright kids, non-smokers and nondrinkers. They also were members of a Christian fundamentalist group. They befriended Amy and convinced her through their own interpretation of the Old Testament and their own form of logic that non-believers were doomed to hell and that the devil is real. A boy who abandoned Judaism for tho group became her
Iwy friend, and Amy began to assume leadership rolea even encouraging another Jewish girl to join. During this period, there was great distress in the family. Amy'B father would no longer talk to her even though he loved her and cared deeply about her welfare. He found her behavior and acceptance of the cult's dogma to be intolerable. I realized that he had to handle the problem in his way and I had to handle it r.iy way. I just couldn't let go for fear of lotting her altogether. At one point, Our daughter, Carol, went to visit her and told us that the kids Amy was associating with were cleancut, well-dressed, certainly the kind of youngsters we would approve of — even for marriage, except for the fact that they weren't Jewish. This information intensified our problem, but we still kept in contact although by this time it was quite obvious that she was under some form of mind control. We went to a psychiatrist for advice, and after speaking with us and then with Amy he told us it was not a psychiatric problem. One of the people we turned to was Rabbi Jonathan Ro(continucd on page 2)
Women's Mission - "An outstanding experience"
By Jean Ann Krupinaky ADL/CRC assistant to tho director The Israeli Hmhassy WA» "An opportunity to hear and speak with tome of our the scene of the meeting national leaden made the with Consul General Benrecent Women** Mission to jamin Abileoh. Consul AbiWashington, D.C., an out- Icah spoke of his anxiety standing experience. It of- over the American media fered the group a chance to coverage of the war in LeIrani firsthand the mood of banon last July, and said he the moment in tho capitol." felt it was an attempt to get •aid Jcri Kaplan, mission Israel "to accept the unacceptable." He said Israel did leader. "These briefings aid in not realize until they went our understanding of the into Lebanon the extent of policy of the U.S. in regard weapons the P.L.O. had to Israel, and make our cached there, and without interpretations of the permanent observation Middle Bast situation posts in Lebanon the P.L.O. easier," Mnt. Kaplan added. would most certainly return. Jackie Abclman, of the "The United Nations has American Israel Public Af* refused to let Israel have fairs Committee, spoke of these observation posts, her concern about Amer- saying it would IK> an inican-Israeli relations. She fringement on Lebanese accepted the need of the sovereignty," Consul AbiJewish community in the lcah said. United. States to remain "The position of the Arab united and the importance world U no negotiation*, no of lobirying groups to ninke recognition, and no peace. our opinions known. Tho main reason Lebanon "The Reagan administra- does not make pence is botion lifts not bpen re&ponBivc course of the Arab alliance. to the problems facing Is- Wo must try to get Lebanon rael. No one in the cabinet to realize peace with Israel has any foreign policy," Ms. is in their own best interAbclman stated. ests," he added.
With Senator Zorlnaky arc from loft. Bea Sommcr, Coco Zorinsky, Rose Shupajck, Nancy Pcrlman, Lyra Ann Monasce, and Jean Ann Krupinsky.
With Senator Levin aro from left, Lyra Ann Monasce, Diane Rubin and Cccc Zorinsky.
At the Senate Office Building, where the group heard five senators, in' eluding Nebraska's Ed Zorinsky and James Exon, one theme was repeated by them all: the United States is being held hostage by the Arab world due to our own lackof an energy policy. "The United States thinks it needs oil more than it needs Israel," Sen. Zorinsky said. "We should not be fooled by the weakened condition OPEC np(continued on page 7)
Indoor picnic planned for Newcomers party By Karen Lincoln An indoor picnic is on the agenda for the Newcomers Welcome Party on April 17. The party will IK* held at the Jewish Community Center at 12:30 p.m. All singles, couples, and families who recently moved to Omaha and made contact with a synagogue or the Federation have been invited to the party. "We try to reach out to all newcomers in the community who we are aware of," said Terri Zacharia, chairman of the Ncwcomera Committee. "If anyone has the name of a newcomer to Omaha or would like to lie a host couple, please call Kathy Walker at the Federation office, 334-8200." The committee members hove planned an interesting afternoon. Special activities will
be held for the children. "To acquaint the newcomers with tho Jewish community, a short program will tell them about the synagogues, Federation departments, and volunteer organizations," told Mrs. Zacharia. The members of the Newcomers Committee arc: Rill and Beth Ginsburg, Carl and Denny Grecnberg, Allan and Rini Gonshcr, David and Shane Kotok, Gary and Doreen Lerncr, Ncal and Jody Malashock, Jack and Mnxine Noodell, Alan and Carol Parsow, Vicki Perlme'ter, Ijirry and Terry Siege), Steve and Joy Wees, Lois and Joel Finkcl. Dietary lawn will lie observed. Reservations for the luncheon should be nude by contacting Kathy Walker at the Federation office.
Eagle to Eagle Daniel Marburg (left) in congratulated by Rabbi Barry Weinstein during a recent Boy Scout Court of Honor at Temple Israel in honor of Dan achieving Eagle Scout rank. Rabbi Weinstein also la an Eagle Scout. The new Eagle b) the son of Gerald and Judith Marburg.