90301060 NEBR HISTORICAL SOC 1300 R BT LINCOLN NE
6850
SERVING NEBRASKA, IOWA Vol. LXll No. 8
Omaha, Neb., Fri., October 21,1983
Faculty votes Monday on status of women
By Morris Maline • The status of women in Conservative Judaiim will face a decisive vote Monday. On that day, the faculty of the .Jewish Theological Seminary of America wilt vote on the admission of women to the rabbinical school, The proposed vote follows a request from the Rabbinical Assembly for a decision on the question of admitting women to the rabbinical school. The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative rabbis.
The issue of ordination of women arose academically in May, 1077, when the Rabbinical Assembly called upon the Seminary to focus iti attention on this question. Dr. Genion 0. Cohen, in his capacity us chancellor of the Seminary, established an interdisciplinary commission to study all aspects of the role of women as spiritual lenders in the Conservative Movement. In its final report, presented by Dr. Cohen to the 1979 convention of the Rabbinical
Assembly, the commission found no Jewish legal barrier to the ordination of women and proposed that the Seminary admit women to its rabbinical school with a view to their ordination. The Rabbinical Assembly 1979 convention accepted the commission report and resolved to take no action pending study of the recommendation* by the Scminnry faculty. The faculty senate ultimately tabled the matter on the grounds that whichever way the issue would be decided, it would be divisive within the Conservative Movement. In the spring of 1983, the issue surfaced publicly again when a woman candidate failed to secure the required vote for membership in the Assembly. Stating that ordination was a matter for the Seminary, they urged a vote against the woman, Rabbi Beverly Magidson, and isfsucd a renewed plea to the'Seminary to come up with a decision on the question of admitting women to the rabbinical school.
By Morris Maline More than 50 Council Bluffs area residents attended a special meeting last Sunday at B'nai Israel Synagogue and decided to move forward with a plan to save the Iowa facility. The plan, o» described by the meeting organizers, involves utilizing the top floor of the facility for a Boon-to-be organized Reform congregation, while retaining the downstairs sanctuary for use by Orthodox members. David Oallner and Eugene H. Frcund, naid that on the basis of the turnout and the support they have received from those unable to attend, they plan to proceed with a plan to offer twice-monthly services on Friday night. The first service for the new group wilt take place Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. A rabbi will not be in attendance, they said. Approximately 17 of those attending the meeting indicated that they would join the. new congregation immediately. Others indicated that they would join after a time, but would want to participate in activities now. Members of the established congregation questioned the ability of the new group to
pay its portion of the expense. An estimate of $7,000 was given to the new group as the amount they would be expected to pay for maintenance of the facility. Abe Kntlenuin told the new group that there were not enough Jews in Council Bluffn to support the synagogue. "As fur as I know, there is not a single Jewish child in the Council Bluffs school system," Mr. Kotleman said. He declared that saving the synagogue was not as important as saving Judaism and recommended that the members of the new group and the remaining members of B'nai Israel affiliate themselves with the "three fine synagogues" which are firmly established in Omaha. Calling themselves perpetual optimists, the new group selected temporary officers. "We're not going after those people who are currently affiliated with synagogues. We are going to reach those who are seeking different paths to Judaism, the organizers Raid. Mr. Freund is the interim president. Rnndy Freund and Bettie Adams will serve as secretaries, and Dr. Allan Rosenthal will serve as treasurer.
Senator Henry Jackson and the Jews By Dr. Irving Greenbcrg. • DlWeUw, National Jewish Resource Center Henry Jackson's death was a great loss fot the entire American community. In forty-three yean in Congress, he wa* a consistent force for honesty in government, for humane liberalism in domestic matters and for civil rights. In 1954, Jackson challenged Senator Joe McCarthy's committee as "hunting headlines instead of hunting Communists" and ho ployed a key role in the Army-McCarthy hearings that broke McCarthy's power. Jackson wan a major architect of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1069J which set up tho Environmental Protection Agency. In his service and leadership on Jewish issues, Jackson wait peerless. Ho was o major force in the Congressional group which developed the steadily escalating United States aid to Israel. Me ispofce for Israel at crucial moments. His wrvice and advocacy for the cause of Soviet Jewry was the capstone of his leadership. The Jackson-Vnnik amendment tied the casinjj of trade barriers to fewer restrictions on emigration. To his great credit, Jackson stood by that initiative even when Jewish leadership vacillated Although the deterioration of American-Soviet relations led the- Russian*) to repudiate the tie-in and emigration flow declined, the Amendment is still helpful to Rumanian Jews and remains available should U.S.-Soviet relations improve. The legislation which helped Jews benefitted others also and was the forerunner of greater use of American foreign policy to advance human rights worldwide. Jackson was not a lackey; his stature increased his helpfulness. Nor was ho a blind friend. Ho disagreed with tho West Bank settlement policy and told Jews (or Israel) when
Livingston grant spurs Foundation The Jewish Federation Board recently approved on amendment to tho Federation Bylaws which will soon become operational thnnks to a $20,000 grant from the Milton and Corinno Livingston Foundation. The grant was approved at the September meeting of the Livingston Foundation Board to encourage the Fed* oration's Endowment Development Program as outlined in the recommendations of the Endowment Development Task Force chaired by Howard Kaslow. Allan Greene, executive vice president, said "We arc grateful to tho trustees of tho Livingston Foundation for their generous support. These funds will enable ua to employ an endowment development;1 director and get started on a public relations campaign for this important v program." The Foundation, which will be established in the next several months, will bo managed by 12 trustees recommended by tho Federation president with tbo consent of the' Board of Directors of tho Jewish Federation of Omaha.
they erred. But he was a true friend. His criticism was respectful and his high level commitment never faltered. His leadership was all the more useful since ho was not Jewish or from a state with n large Jewish electoral constituency. What are tho sources that generated such invaluable understanding? Jackson always credited his mother, a deeply religious woman whose Protestantism tempered by American liberalism led her to reject antiSemitism. Ths Jews of the state of Washington — as few as they were — were active in civic life and close to Senator Jackson. Their credibility and interpretation of Jowishnosa and Jewish needs is a classic example of how a small number of politically active Jews can influence, far out of proportion to numbers. The crystallizing episode that gave Jackson's Jewish commitments passion and fire was a visit to Nazi concentration camps at the end of World War II. Encounter with the Holocaust gave him an understanding of Israel that would put many a Jewish theologian to shame. From whence shall we recruit our future helpers? There has been some slippage among middle Americans and liberal Christians; there is work to bo done there. The Jewish factor in politics has expanded and is the most promising clement for the future. The personal encounter with the Holocaust which shaped the Humphreys and Jackson* is no longer present. We need to expand Holocaust consciousness through the culture and through such channels as,the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council with its governmentsanctioned museum. (Jackson was a member of the Council.) Jackson's saddest political experience was his failure in. two attempts to be nominated for President. Jackson was a centrist. Ho was strong on defense; a critic of Utopian thinking or wishful idealism on disarmament. Ho warned that the Soviet Union was "a dangerous, unpredictable opponent." Ho dared to argue that "the basic decision to go into Vietnam was right" even after opinion had turned ogainBt tho war. Most American Jews remain uncomfortoblo with staunch anti-Communism, with moral realism as against moral idealism. They were suspicious of Jackson's hardhcaded defense thinking and bothered by his strong connection to Boeing Company. Influential Jews, remain tilted toward softer defense policies and are more critical of business or economic interests in politics. Jews failed to see how the radicalization of politics that made Jackson look 'square* was undermining tho moderate/liberal coalition which was good for Jews nnd for Israel. Jewish support for Jackson for President — opinlonmaking as well as financial — wavsred. . . . •• While the main cause of Jackson's defeat was "lack of charisma," one feds that stronger, more united Jewish help might have made a difference — especially in the critical 1076 primaries where Jackson faded and Carter camo to the fore. What a difference a President Jackson might have made for Israel! And having passed up Jackson's moderation in balancing economy nnd environment, or defense and negotiation, American liberals got Ronald Reagan's far more drastic policies in these areas.
Tho Jewish National Fund has announced tho establishment of the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Forest in tho American Independence Park near Jerusalem. Senator Jackson is seen here planting a tree in the Kennedy Peace Forest some years ago. "Woe! for those lost whose like cannot be found again" said the Talmud. Friends like Henry Jackson — who fought harder for us than we could — we will not easily find again. Wo should learn nt least to bo more openminded when their views diverge from our standard views and to treasure them when we have them. (In this regard, the failure of the Israel Ambassador to personally attend Jackson's funeral is to be regretted.) And our coalition with the center, as against tho ideological right and left must he given renewed attention.
Omaha wins The Jewish Federation of Omaha has won two awards in the 1983 Council of Jewish Federations public relations competition. • Omaha, the announcement stated, was selected for awards in the Intermediate nnd Small City category for television advertising and invitations. \ Tho television spots were for public service announcements lost Hanukkah and were produced by Ozzie Nogg and Cookie Hobcrman. The invitation, which listed all events of tho annual campaign, was prepared by the Federation's Women's Campaign. Presentation of the awards will take place Nov. 16 during tho General Assembly in Atlanta.