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SERVING NEBRASKA, IOWA Vol. LXI No. 34
Omaha, Nob.,
[1983
New play opens Saturday at JCC B y Carol Kntzman "It's a pleasure working with Theater Director Marty Skomal," said Margie Gutnik, one of the actors featured in the Jewish Community Center product inn of Lovers and Other Strangers, which opens tomorrow night. "I haven't acted nince high school, but Marly has concbrd me ami 1 feel very good to be on titagv again." Mnrty Skomnl i» the Theater Department'ft Artist-in-Hesidence from the Nebraska Arts Cuuncit. He ha* worked in community thrntcr here and in St. Louis and is also production manager for Chanticleer Community Theater. This is hia first production at the Center. For the first timeftinccaudiliomi, the cost tmd crew rehearsed together lam week. The sets were in place, but unpaintcd; in one ncene, chairs were used as bedside tallies. The overall effect wot stilt impressive. At the end of each ecene, Mnrty gave new instructions and inspiration to the acton. For Mime, like Rnndi Katelmnn, it was the firat time the hod »c*n the other actor* perform. "I really liked what I taw," said Rondi, who has appeared in the last two JCC production*. "The »how U very, very funny. Now, if I can jutt gtt Mr. Newman to learn his linen, we'll be set for opening night!" Thi» i» .ICC Program Director Tom Neuman'* fir»t acting role in five year* and first in Omaha. Before entering the Jewish Community Center field, Tom wo* a professional actor and the recipient of a Rockefeller Grant forsnuluntc theater, work at the University of Cincinnati. There are several other professionals in tho *how: Joe Grojsnn, who in familiar to Omaha television audience* for hit* many
commercials, and Linn Friedman, i'hil I'fenninger and Kyle Smith, who nil have appeared in local dinner and community thenlers, including the Omaha I'layhouHC. Most people just know Paul Cohen us the president of the Jewish Federation of Omohfi. But Paul has appeared in the last two JCC ploys nndj* also a night owl disc jockey on KOIL radio. His role m opposite thut of Margie Gutnik, vice-president of the •ICC, which makes the saying "politics makes strange bedfellows" utmost a reality! The JCC Theater welcomed back Mark Trustin, who firnt np|>earcd two year* ago in D r i g a d o o n . He plays u scene with Yvonne (irant, a newcomer making her Omaha acting debut in Lovers and Other Strangers. Another newcomer to the .ICC Theater is Myra Goldman, who tried out for the play as a lark. She has the longest scene in the show, but *aid that "working with Marty has mode it seem easy." Working behind stage are Joyce Shcchnn and Vernon Push. Joyce hns designed lighting for Chanticleer and Crcighton University. She is Marty's "right-hand woman" an stage manoger end assistant director. Regular patrons of Chanticleer and the (Jputaira Dinner Theater will recognize the mark of Vernon Push as set designer for this thow. Lovers and Other Strangers in o series of acenes about love and marriage for mature audience*, and in mado possible by an ArtUt-in-Schoolti/Communitics grant from the Nebraska Art* Council. The show run» for three consecutive weekends, turning .Saturday night, May 14. Ticket prices range from S2 to $5. Cnll the JCC, 334-8200, to make reservations.
Paul Cohen and Margie Gutnib rehearse for Lovers and Other Strangers, opening at the JCC theater Saturday night.
Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebration
Among those participating in Israel's 35th birthday party at the JCC last week are from loft Center director Steven Rod, Federation President Paul Cohen, La Vista Mayor Harold Leathers, Mayor Mike Boyle, co-chairman Pam Cohn, Cantor Leo Fcttmon and Rabbi Isaac? Nadoff. Pom's son, Michael, greets Sam Friedman, grand marshal of the parade. See photos on Pages 67.
Rabbi: unveiling ceremony not required in tradition By Ben Gal lob 1, J n U Trlrroqiluf Awxy. Inc I
A Conicrvative rabbi, noting that unveiling rites at tombstones often evoke as much pain as burials, has asserted flatly th»l.un>'«iUns ceremonies arc not required by .Jewish religious law, despite a wide-' spread impression that "such a HCrvice is ordained by Jewish law and tradition." Thut insertion was made by Rabbi Harry Epstein of Atlunta, C!o. His statement wns published by Rnhhi Arthur Olcisky in the bulletin of Oleinky's congregation, Anshei Israel in Tucson, Arizona. Epstein declared that, very often, members of ii fumily in which a death has occurred will n.ik him whether there must he (i fornuil unveiling ceremony of the tombstone. Me added thnt "to my knowledge, there (ire many'families who would prefer not to have such an unveiling HCrvice, but they are under the impression thnt such a service is ordained by Jewish law and Iradition." He added thnt such fflmilicH, not wanting to violate what they believed to be an ordnincd rite, "will forego their own reluctnnce and force thcmRelvcH to schedule a public ceremony." "An unveiling service is not mentioned in any book of Jewish codes," Epstein added. "It is a custom that hns arisen in American
Israeli arms to Central America Protect Israel's friends B y Daniel S. Mariaschln (JSPS) — Over the past three yearn, unrent in Central America ha been front page news. The Sandiniata revolution in Nicaragua and guerilla activity in El Salvador and Guatemala have commanded the daily attention of the White House, the State Department, the Congress, and foreign policy oliscrvern across the political spectrum. Against this complicated setting, Israel's relations to the countries of Central America has been highlighted by some in
Driveway closed The north driveway to tho Jewish Community Campus at 333 South 132nd .Street has been closed. According to Steven J. Rod, executive director, JCC, UTCM, to all three buildings in the Campus will be via the main driveway only.
the media. During the waning wcckn of 1982, with the problems of l^bnnon still foremost in our mind*, a number of stories appeared focusing on sale* of Israeli weapon* and matcrinl to Honduras, Costn Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador. The visits to Central and South America by Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir and then Defense Minister Ariel Sharon were covered in depth iiy major American now* organizatiortH in n more than critical tone. With the Reagan Administration encountering difficulties in Congress over funding for increased weapons usuistancc and training to Central American governments, the arrival of the Israelis was depicted as a sinister American cat's paw. Critics Bliggested that the easy way to circumvent the restrictions on military nid to tliene countries was to utilize the Israelis, wb<> in their view were eager for new weapons markets. (continued on page 5)
.Jewish life," and, he asserted, the practice should not go unchallenged. He declared that it was meaningful "for a family to visit the grave of the departed at tho time of the Yahrzcit, the anniversary day of the dentil, and recite a memorial prayer. But it is not necessary for anyone else to lie there, not even a rabbi," Kpstcin described as a "time-honored custom" the practice of setting up a tombstone ut the grave "os an act of reverence and respect for the deceased, HO that they will nut lie forgotten and their final resting place will not he desecrated." UP asserted that the proper time for setling up n tomhstone is any time after 30 days of liuriul "but the 'unveiling service' has mi Im.Mis at nil in our ritual law. No family need feel religiously compelled to hold a formal unveiling service. Setting up an appropriate tombstone and a private visit to the grave site is sufficient." Epstein commented that "in too many cases, people have been making the tombstone setting almost like a second funeral. Such an occasion re-opens the wound and causes needless anguish. It would be a good thing to return to the simple, private family grave visitation." Oleisky noted that if a family, after (continued on page 5)
or bad?
Not in Israel's interest By Mcir Pa'll (JSPS) — Tho large influx of arms to Central America today does not come only from Cuba or the Soviet Union, as president Reagan often charges. Nor does the United States' own substantial contribution complete the picture there. Israel too, must unfortunately sharo the shame of being one of the main arms merchants to that unstable region. Steve Goose, of Washington's Center for Defence Information, putB it "among the top three suppliers to Central America." Israel's main customers there arc El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Kicii. Before the revolution in Nicaragua overthrew it, the Somoxa dictatonthlp was a customer too. All hut one of the current customers — Costa Kica —. are run directly or in effect by extreme right-wing oligarchies whow vicious large-scale murders and human rights.abuses are cited by non-par-
tisan agencies »uch an Amnesty International, and acknowledged as problems by the U.S. State Department. Offices established by the Catholic Archdiocese in El Salvador's capital estimate that more than 3!i,O0O civilian murders have been committed in that country alone in the lust three and a half years. Most arc attributed to right-wing death squads acting on behalf of the government or local land owners. The reactionary social and economic policies of these countries are reflected in their populations' low jitcracy rates, lack of access to decent health enre, widespread rural landlessness and urban joblessness. The ar*nn Israel sells to these regimes are mainly personal weapons, though more sophisticated kinds arc possibly involved as well. About three months ago, then Defense Minister Atiel Sharon traveled lo Honduras (whose pilots Israel reportedly helped . (continued on page S) /