SEHVtKG NEBRASKA, Omaha, Neb., Fri., July 20,1984
Vol. LXII No. 47 -.p.-
. Yale Gotsdmc-, ( i i Israel Bonds foi U... ! announced that Betty and H>num PoMty will receive the prestigious State of Israel David Ben Gurion Award on Aug. 22 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. The Polskys, staunch supporters of Israel and their.community, have been involved in all aspects of the Lincoln Jewish community. They are active members of Tifereth Israel Congregation. Mrs. Polsky is past president of Tifereth Israel Sisterhood and is a member of the board. Mr. Polsky is past vice-president and president of Tifereth Israel. They also were, chairmen of the UJA and Welfare Federation Drives. The Polskys are also active in B'nai B'rith, Hadassah, as well as many local organizations. When asked about the dinner they replied, "Through Israel Bonds we, as Americans, can assist-Israel in becoming a major influence in such fields as medicine, diamonds and high technology." t
Sheldon Filger, of greater Chicago's regional ADL office, has been appointed director of Omaha's ADL/CRC agency and regional director for [ ~~ " , i.Plains- States ( ' region. Mr. Filger, a native I of Canada; succeeds i Alan Katchen, who i left Omaha recently ' for an ADL post in Ohio. ! Mr. Filger had , served as a community consultant in the Chicago area specializing in inter-religious mat- Sheldon Filger ters and inter-group relations. In Wiscon-
By Harry V/tll Director of tlie Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith Israel office in Jerusalem As the Israeli election campaign draws to its conclusion on July 23, most polls and observers give the Labor Party the edge in its attempt to end seven yeurs of Likud rule. Political analysts do not rule out a Likud surge, but time is running short and it appears that the only possible last-minute run \ is that on the dollar which would further loss of confidence in the government's handling of the economy. The Labor Party, playing it cool but not overconfident in the campaign, is wary about making predictions, and with good reason. Memories are still vivid of the 1981 elections when the Likud reversed a preBetty and Hy.man Polsky ponderant tide in Labor's favor. Also, a sigMr. Gotsdiner said that formal invita- nificant part of the electorate (up to a third, tions will be sent to the Lincoln community according to some pollsters) have yet to declare a preference or intention to vote. And shortly. even if Labor does outscore the Likud on July 23, Party Leader Shimon Peres faces numerous hurdles in pasting together a coalition government. • As Israeli campaigns go, this one has been relatively, calm. There are "the usual large number of small and splinter parties vying for the Knesset. Twenty-four parties are sin, he dealt with problems involving the contesting for seats in the 120 member body. Posse Comitatus. These range from one committed to the reBefore joining ADL nearly three years vocation of the income tax, to a joint Arabago, Mr. Filger served as director of inter- Israeli peace party, to the notorious Rabbi Teligious programming for the Canadian' Kaharie running on a platform for expulsion Council of Christians and Jews in Toronto. of Arabs from all of Israel. The latter two Born in Montreal, Mr. Filger earned a parties were permitted to run by a court bachelor of arts degree with a major in com- ruling which overturned the decision by the parative religion from Carleton University Knesset Elections Committee rejecting them from fielding candidates. in Ottawa. So far, the campaign has not generated Mr. Filger told the Jewish Press that he had consulted with Mr. Katchen and Barry much excitement or interest among the Morrison, also a former Omaha ADL/CRC electorate. There are no leaders with the ability to stir up emotions as did the chardirector, before coming to Omaha. ismatic Menachem Begin, who has reHe said that one of his first priorities will mained in seclusion. Peres and Likud be to take steps to improve relations with leaders Yitzhak Shamir are lacklustre canother minority groups in Omaha. didates without any large personal followings. The Likud's Arik Sharon plays to his hard-core constituency, predominantly nationalistic Israelis of Middle Eastern origin, i
NEW YORK — Geraldine A. Ferraro, Walter Mondale's choice for running mate, is a member of Pioneer Women/Na'amat who is as firmly committed to Israel's security as she is to equal rights for women, according to Phyllis Sutker, national president of the 50,000-member organization. In a congratulatory message to the first woman to be designated for so high an office by a major party, Mrs. Sutker said: "As a feminist organization, once directed by Golda Meir, we have always encouraged the representation of women in the highest levels of government office, although as you know we do not endorse candidates. "We are proud that a woman of your high calibre — a Pioneer Woman — has been designated as a candidate for the office of Vice President of the United States."
who dub him "King of Israel" during his swings through development towns and open-air markets. But he has failed to broaden his support or generate much excitement. Nor, for that matter, has the popular and flamboyant Ezer Weiwnan running on his own ticket, lived up to his billing as this year's election attraction. The campaign has been relatively subdued and free of the violence that marred the 1981 elections. Labor has run a low-key, well organized campaign and has benefitted from its short duration. Unlike previous years, its leaders, Peres and Yitzhak Rabin, have set aside their differences in the name of party unity. Together.with former President Yitzhak Navon they have formed a leadership troika that is promoted as greater than any single leader. This tactic has proved successful in mitigating the credibility problem and poor image that has plagued Peres in the past. The Likud, on the other hand, was late in getting its campaign started and raising funds and was beset with the internecine strife that had been the hallmark of the opposition. Worst of all it has no vote-getter to compare with Begin, the man who led them out of the political wilderness. Neither Shamir, Sharon nor Deputy Prime Minister David Levy have been able to ignite the Likud campaign and galvanize its traditional following. The campaign has centered on two major issues — the economy and defense/security v — and on which leadership team.is best suited to handle these issues. Labor has made the economic issue the centerpiece of its campaign, and with considerable success. Inflation in Israel is at 400 percent and threatens to outrun the sophisticated indexation system that kept it manageable. Real earnings have dropped by about 15 percent as a result of the austerity measures taken by the government, and savings lost 50 percent of their value in the wake of last October's bank crisis. The national debt is $22 billion, about the same as Israel's GNP. And the recent run on the dollar has revitalized the black market for currency (about 30 percent difference from the bank rate) and further damaged the Likud's standing.
!
her visit to refugee centers in Lebanon and Jordan while en route to Israel. On Jerusalem, Mrs. Ferraro — an original co-sponsor of legislation to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem — said matter-of-factly: "It seems to me that if that's the capital, it's the capital." On the Golan Heights: "There is no way that, if I were Prime Minister of Israel, I would ever agree to its being given back to anyone." Mrs. Ferraro became a member of Pioneer Women/Na'amat at the May 25 meeting. She joined women in 500 clubs across the national who support Na'amat social services for women and children in Israel, including child care centers, agricultural and vocational high schools and community centers, and who work for women's rights in the U.S. and Israel.
Mrs. Ferraro's enthusiasm for Israel — where she met Masha Lubelsky, secretary. Asked how she balanced family and cageneral of Na'amat — drew a warm re- reer, Mrs. Ferraro told the Pioneer Women/ sponse from Pioneer Women/Na'amat's Na'amt Kesher Club: "My husband and I Kesher Club, a group of young professional thought wewere.doing so well when we had women, whom she addressed on May 25. two children. Then we had a third and all The club is in Forest Hills, Queens, part pf of a sudden I realized I didn't have a third Mrs. Ferraro's Congressional district. . hand!" For the benefit of the young mothers at the meeting, she revealed her secret for On the Palestinians: "They are using the "maintaining my sanity when the children women and children in the refugee camps were young" — : to generate sympathy .'.. It's disgraceful to "Getting out of the house." see what is happening there," she said on
The Jewish Community Cehter of Omaha won "a JWB Communications Award in Best Center Brochure category. The brochure's theme, "A link with the, past . . . a promise for the future," improved the JCC's image, resulting in increased registration. Thomas P. Neuman (right), brochure editor, receives citation from Harry C. Isaacs, of Rye, N.Y., JWB Board member and member of the Communications Awards Committee, at 1984 Biennial Convention in Boston. JWB is the leadership network and central service agency for 275 JCCs, YM-YWHAs and camps serving one million Jews in North America.