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A delegation of 10 merabara of the Omaha Jewish Community Center will represent the community at the forthcoming Diuinkl Convention of JWB, April 25-29 in Boston, Mess. Hundreds of Jewish communal leaders from throughout the U.S. and Canada, j as well as U.S. Jewish military and VA i ; chaplains and lay ! i leaders will gather ! • for the five day ' •—"VT; event to exchange Norman Sheldon ideas, discuss crucial concerns facing the Jewish community, engage in experiential
exercises, and hear major speakers. Dr. David Hartinan, Hebrew University Professor end director of the Shalom Hartman Institute of Advanced Studies in Jerusalem who will ba tho scholar-in-rcsidence at the 1984 Biennial. The Omaha delegation includes llene Klein, president of the Jewish Community Center, vice presidents Norman Sheldon and Carol Katzman, board members Karen Pollak and Suzy Sheldon, a3 well as Center members Oliver Pollak, Michael Katzman, Donald Klein. Executive director and assistant executive director Steven Rod and Thomas Neuman will also be members of the delegation. "We have already had our pre-Biennial orientation meeting," announced Mrs. (continued on page 3)
efebratfen By Nancy Coren . Lincoln Federation volunteer Israeli Independence Day, which is May 7, will be celebrated by the Lincoln community with several activities. On May 5, the Israeli film, "Kazablan", a musical rendition of the Romeo and Juliet tale will be shown atTiffereth Israel Synagogue at 9:15 p.m. On May 6, beginning at 6 p.m., Tifereth Israel Synagogue will be transformed for trie evening into an Israeli "cafe. After-dinner entertainment will be provided by the Lincoln International Folkdancers and by Avram foobard. The former owner of El Avran, an Israeli nightclub in New York City, Mr. Grobard has had numerous experiences in the entertainment industry.
A native of Israel, he directed, played and sang in his own band while serving as a paratrooper in the Air Force during the 1956 Sinai Campaign. He later performed with the "Hagalgal" group in a musical revue and then became an entertainer on the ships of the "Zim" Lines. Mr. Grobard owned and ran El Avram, which he opened in 1967, in Greenwich Village. The nightclub has b.een acclaimed as "America's number" one Mediterranean nightspot. Mr. Grobard's appearance was arranged through the JWB Lecture Bureau. In addition to the entertainment, a special display related to Israeli Independence Day will available at the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education.
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licit _.cli volci.ii - .• Ethel Kutz Lsven!,on Edgar is the full name of the still vibrcnt and tnthusic;,tic 87 year old community luado-r who will bo honored by the Omaha Chapter of Hadassah on Monday, April 30. That night the program of tho Israel Ballet at the Orpheum Theater will ba dedicated to this woman who has devoted her life's energies to the Jewish people and to the cause of Zioni&rn while at the same time running a business and raising a family. Ethel Edgar came to Omaha from Russia with her Zionist imbued parents early in the 1900s. By the time she was in high school she was involved in Young Judea youth organizations working for Palestine. She has continued that work through leadership of the Zionist Youth Commission, Omaha Zionist Organization and the Ethel poaes next to one of YVNC Zionist Organization of America, Jewish paintings from Israel. • National Fund and from its beginning, the Omaha Chapter of Hadassah. She also when her husband became ill until 1961. During her years working with Matt Levheaded the Missouri Valley region of Haenson, Ethel and her husband helped found dassah. During a lifetime of devotion to the Israel Beth El Synagogue which she still attends she has now visited more than 20 times, on a regular basis. Yox many years she Ethel has continued her reading and study- worked with Dr. Morris Margolin to ing about national and international history strengthen the Beth El Talmud Torah and the Bureau of Jewish ^.Aucaiion. and events. A large number of young people in Omaha Her formal education included attend-ance at the University of Minnesota and the were influenced and inspired by the enthuUniversity of Nebraska. Shortly after she siasm and spirit of EtVveV VJV\O wtged \Wn was married to Matthias F. Levenson at the attendance at Zionist and Jewish camps, age of 21,.she began working with him in study.groups, youth groups and Junior Hathe chemical business they founded which dassah. She has continued het vtvtettit vrv later also became a pest control business. A all avenues of Jewish life through 29 years chapter in Dr. Robert Shetsinger's book of widowhood and since her marriage 11 "The Ratcatcher' Child"is devoted to the years ago to Cantor Aaron Edgar. Thai* Levensons and their business. By the time home is a gallery of Israeli and Jewish art she was 46 years old and the mother of three objects brought back from Israel and her daughters, Ethel waa widowed. She contin- most recent plana include another trio to • ued to run the business alone from 1941, Israel late this spring.
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&dakah bin ready Jewish Family Service Secured tho cooperation of students from the United Talmud Toronto launch tho opening of its Tzcdalcoh program for the Passover holiday. Gary Shyken cleano the bin at'the JCC in preparation for dopcoita by Sachel Shylion (center) and Nicole Lerner.
By Morris Maline Editor-in-Chief The Federation Board of Directors rejected a proposal to seek government funding for 50 additional apartments for the elderly. The proposal, presented by the Bureau for the Aging at the March meeting of the Board, asked the Federation to prepare a grant application to Housing and Urban Development under the Section 8 program. Kevee Kirshenbaum, on behalf of the Bureau, advised the Federation Board that HUD has funding available for such housing at the present time, but that there was no assurance that such funds would be available in the future. He said also that there are 46 older adults on a waiting list for Livingston Plaza Apartments and that the waiting period for such applications is from four to eight years. Mr. Kirshenbaum apologized to the Board for presenting the proposal on auch Bhort notice in that the application would have to be submitted by April 30. After more than an hour of debate, the Board decided that a committee should be formed to assess the impact of any new
structures on the Jewish Community Services Campus. The consensus of the Board was that there was insufficient time to analyze what effects the new construction would have on the use of Jewish Community Center facilities, parking, and other areas of concern. In other action, the Board approved funding of up to $27,320 for the 1984-85 school year of the Jewish Day School. The Board also approved the concept of funding the Day School for the two succeeding years of up to $25,000 and $23,000 respectively so that the school can complete its projected five-year evaluation. Susan Paley, Day School president, told the Board that the school's goal for the next year is to have 25 students in grades K through 2. "The hope is to add eight to 10 children a year over the next three years and three years from now to have a viable school, grades K through 5." In other business, the Board approved a proposal to. sell the Dr. Philip Sher Home building and grounds for $300,000 to Heritage,. Inc., of Omaha.
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By Borio Smolar
{Copyright IGQ4, Jewish TftjlegrtiPMc Acoucy, lac.)
The defeat in the Senate of the bill for a Constitutional amendment to legalize voluntary vocal prayers in public eehdpla — a measure stronjjtyopposed by all leading Jewish phrWtiancTiurgroup8ofvari8d9 raii^'by liberal groups — is » victory for the churcb-state separation which the Founding
such petitions, the Congress must call the requested con\ . Fathers embodied in the Constitution. Currently, however, there is another strong effort in the vention. Amendments to the Constitution can be accomplished in making which requires great attention on the part of the Alnoncan Jewish community andofall Americans who are one of two ways; according to Article V: Congress, by a two? interested in protecting the Constitution. Thirty-two states thirds vote:of both Houses, can make proposals to.the petitioned Congreso to hold a Constitutional Convention States; or twt»-tturds of the States con petition Congress to to'draft an amendment requiring .tho. federal government • call a Constitutional Convention. In either vcase, all pro•- ' '• •, (continued on page 12) . to maintain a'balanced budget, If two "more states submit