SERVING NEBRASKA, IOWA Vol. LXI no. 41
Omaha, Neb.. Fri., June 24,1983
Rabbi Barry L. Weinatein, associate rabbi and director of education at Temple Israel since 1971 has resigned his position with Temple Israel effective August 1,1983. In bis June 8 tetter of resignation to the congregation's Board of Trustees, Rabbi Weinstein says: "1 have be*n offered the p o s i t i o n of rabbi of Temple H'nai Israel, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and 1 have decided Rabbi Wcinstcin to take advantage of this important opportunity." "Nonetheless", Rabbi Wcinatein continues, "I hope you can appreciate my affection for the congregation of Temple In rat I and for the many close relationships which my family and I have enjoyed with the Temple members as in the community at large." Rabbi Weinstcin came to Temple Israel as a newly ordained rabbi from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, clou of 1971. He served for several years as auutant rabbi before being elevated, in 1074, to associate rabbi and director of ed-
ucation. • Several new programs in the congregation were the work of Rabbi Weinatein. He was the moving spirit which formed the singles group, "Our Gang" and the Couples' Club. In 1979 "Our Gang" was presented the first Annual Jewish Communal Service Award of the Jewish Federation of Omaha in recognition to its contribution to the Jewish community. ' In formally accepting Rabbi Weinstein's resignation at the Board meeting, Or. Blaine Roffman, president of the congregation, expressed at length the fact that Rabbi Weinstein "will bo truly missed by us". Rabbi Sidney Brooks stated that while understanding the need for Rabbi Weinstein to further his rabbinical career, he would always regard Rabbi Weinstein as both a genuine friend and a cherished colleague. On Friday evening, July 8, the congregation will add special sentiments to the Shabbat Services at 7:30 p.m. Following the service a farewell Oneg Shpbbat will be given in honor of Rabbi and Mrs. Weinstein. All members of the congregation and the many friends of Rabbi and Mrs. Wcinstcin in the community are invited to attend.
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Open House Sunday Edith Gractz, loft, a resident of the Rose Olumkln Jewish Home, hi briefed on the upcoming Open Houso by Leo Jano Parsow, chairman. The Open House takes plnco Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. under the sponsorship of The Bureau for the Aging, Toby Kaftan, program chairman. Visitors have been requested to use this main entrance to the Home.
Swiss shocked at upcoming Palestinian meeting By Tamar Levy GENEVA (JTA) — The Swias government and officials at the United Nations were (hocked to learn that the scheduled conference on Palestinian rights which was forced to cancel a meeting in Parts this August reportedly due to French pressure, will take place here in August. The conference, which was met with fierce opposition when it was announced that Paris had been chosen as the venue for the August 10-24 meeting, was abandoned by tha committee responsible for planning the conclave. The date and location of the conference had been fixed by a General Assembly resolution adopted last December. But tho news of the conference to take
place at the UNESCO building, precipitated *ome reservation from the Swiss government and from police authorities that Geneva was not capablo of providing the security necessary for the conference. Some 1,000 delegates are expected to participate. Swiss officials have also expressed concern that hotels in the city will be unable to occomodate all the guests. Francesca Pomota, head of the UN division at the Swiss Foreign Office, said that the Swiss government expressed certain reservations concerning the meeting taking place in Geneva. Specifically the problem relates to security. During a debate in Parliament earlier, Swiss Foreign Minister Pierre Aubcr also mentioned the security problems and the
fact that there would be difficulty finding accommodations in August, the height of the tourist season here. Aubcr said however that according to international law, the UN was free to hold any conference and at any time they choose at the UN premises in Geneva. Minister of Polico Guy Fontanet was furious at the news that the meeting would take place here, saying that he had no idea where he would find sufficient security and polico force in August to replace all those who were on vacation. Tho objection to tho meeting in Paris had focused on security problems aa tho French government had made it clear that it was fearful that such a conclave might touch off anti-Semitic incidents as well as attract ter-
rorists to Paris from all over the Middle East.
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Meanwhile, at the UN the mood was also gloomy. Many UN officials feared that their summer vacations might be interrupted by tho conference. And this opinion was also expressed by the UN press corps that are furious they will also bo forced to cancel, their plans for the customary August vacation. The Minister of Police is scheduled to call a press conference to expand on their security concerns and tho Jewish community is also expected to file protests. In New York, tho Israeli mission to the United Nations called the scheduled conference an "exercise in PLO propaganda" which will not achieve solving any problems of the Palestinian people.
Daub seeks freedom for Soviet family Congressman Hal Daub has personally undertaken the cause of a Russian family with the hope of speeding their release from the Soviet Union. His statement to Congress and his letter to Ilya Katz follow: STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN DAUB FOR CONGRESSIONAL CALL TO CONSCIENCE VIGIL FOR SOVIET JEWS
"FREE THE FAMILY OF ILYA KATZ"
PUCO participants The Federation's summer intern program is now under way. Interns are, from left, Naomi Mitchell, Jewish Press; Rosie Zwelback, Blutnkln Home; Gail Handleman, Jewish Preaa; Beth Seldin, B'nai B'ritb Youth Organization; Cindi Anderson, Federation Library, Seated with the interna is Steve Rod, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, who is In charge of the Professional Interns of the Jewish Communal Organizations <PIJCO).
"Mr. Speaker, for so many people in this world tho United States holds the ultimate treasures of life — freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of travel. Tho Soviet Union has never embraced these basic doctrines taken for granted by many people in thin country. Today, I would like to bring to your attention the fact that Soviet Jewish emigration has declined precipitously in the last few years. Figures from the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews state that in 1979, a peak year, 16,320 Jows were allowed to leave, while last year only 2,683 were freed; and still this year emigration bos amounted to a trickle of about 100 persons a month. In particular, and in light of this fact, I would like to bring to the special attention of my colleagues the plight of Ilya Katz, who
lives with his family of four in Kiev. Mr. Katz, a former attorney, has been denied the right to practice his profession, as have' the others in his family, because in 1979, he requested and was denied, permission to leave tho Soviet Union, on the grounds of insufficient kinship outside the country. I therefore have taken it upon myself to begin corresponding with the Katz family and I have adopted, as a personal cause, the plight of Ilya Katz and his family, in the hope of speeding their release and furthering the hope that the Katz family may one day reach freedom. We in Congress, and those in a position to influence tho situation of thousands like . Ilya Katz, must not allow these pleas for freedom to fall upon deaf ears. As we in the United States approach our 207th year of freedom, we must renew the fight for freedom commenced by our forefathers, (continued on page 3)
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Kevin Saltzman, son of Mr. and MfB. Ernest Saltzman, and Tucker Mogid, son of Dr. and Mrs: Bernard Magid, were chosen to represent Nebraska at Boy's Nation in Washington, D.C., July 22-30. Kevin and Tucker were selected earlier this month at Nebraska's Boy's State,