90301060 NEBR HISTORICAL SOC 1500 R ST LINCOLN HE 68508
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1020
Vol. LXIII No. 19
OmcJta, Keb., Fri., January 25,1085
Betti lorael Syaagogao will conduct its annual Know Thy Neiclibor corvica Feb. 15 at 0:15 p.m. *tb give noa-Jewiofi frienda on oppoFttahity to become isoro familiar with the religioua practices and baliefb of Judaicsn. Preparing for tho event as.1© oieiaboro of Botia Icmol'o choir, from loft, Jock Lovoy, Aarois Epoteia, I & r v i a Porilraah, Comtor Lea Fettman, Aron Zeidensiom, Davo Wino, Eoy LSVIEO, and DOQGM Gerbar.
By Borio Sntolar
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By Hugh Orgel JERUSALEM (JTA) — The controversial amendment to the Law of Return demanded by Israel's Orthodox religious establishment, waa defeated by a vote of 6251 on its firct reading in the Knasset. The voting \v&3 largely along party lines. Labor MKs opposed it, following the lead of Premier Shimon Perea who called the measure deviaive. Likud joined the religious bloc in support of tho amendment. But three Likud Liberals broke ranks to vote againot it. Another Likud MK abstained and five were absent from the chambsr. The voting was preceded and followed by acrimonious debate that epilled into the Knesset corridors after the balloting. Members of tho different Orthodox factions not only denounced the non-religious MKs but traded insults with each other over the defeat. . The amendment drew a powerful re-
p s o from non-Orthodox religious and secular Jewa cbrocd, particularly in the United States, .when it was placed on the Knesset agenda. They warned in messages to Pere3 and other Icrceli leaders that its adoption would create a coriou3 rift between diaspora Jewry and the Jewish State. The Law of Return dsfinos a Jew as a person born of a Jewish mother or converted. The proposed cciondinont would have eddsd the v/orda "according to halacha" which would invalidate conversions performed by nan-Orthodox rcbbio in Israel and obrood. The converts end their offcpring would not bo recognized as Jews in Israel. Perc3, summing up the case against the amendment, called for national unity. "Our generation was celled upon to find a v/ay of ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people in times of change and great dangers," he (continued on pago 2)
,x-seaocoon sssu •
pecially worried bout two major changes recommended by the Treasury in the tax-deduction law. They are: 1. A change disallowing tax deductions for the first 2% Jewish organizations — philanthropic, cultural, religious of the tax-payer's adjusted gross income. At present there and those engaged,in health, special welfare, and in com- is no minimum base. batting anti-Semitism — are watching with intense interest 2. A change in tax-deduction for gifts of appreciated prop^ the developments around the tax-reform proposals pre- erty. pared by tho U.S. Treasury. Department for n submission More than 60% of the nation's taxpayers currently doto Congress, repealing certain categories of charitable gifts, nate less than 2% of their income. The Treasury's provision •.-and reducing, tax^deductions,for other .ca.tegorie3v,...,^...„, .v.thus, removes'the. tax deduqtion-from a Creat.majority of If approved by Pre3id3nt Reagan and passed by Congress taxpayers. When this category "of^ givers' will not be given somo of the proposals will seriously affect the giving by any tax deduction,*their incentive to charitable giving will largo donors and eyen by middle class givers. These pro- weaken considerably. posals are being opposed by the Council of Jewish FederThe 2% floor may cause a major disincentive even among ations, by Protestant, Catholic national charitable modest givers who donate more than 2% of their income. organization!!, and by leading non-csctarian national groups It is likely that much of their contributions relate to gifts representing universities, museums, hospitals,'churches, of appreciated property, such as stocks which they bought welfare institutions, and other non-profit communal estab- • years ago at low prices and which have risen in their value liohments. . with the march of time. These gifts have beon tax-deductUnder the law of tax-exemptions a total of $59.5 billion ible till now at their current market values. The Treasury will bs exempted this year from taxes as donations to non- recommends now that their tax-deduction bs curtailed to profit organizations and institutions serving communal the actual cost paid by the donors when they bought them, purposes. Under the Treasury proposals the total will be plus a factor of inflation. The difference is tremendous. reduced to $47.7 billion — a slicing of 20 percent, according "More harmful will bs the effect of the Treasury's proposal to experts. Studies conducted on the Impact of the Treasury with regard to tax-deduction for gifts in appreciated propproposals present the following picture: erty when applied to big donors. Experts do not hesitate 1. There will be a. 28% decline in the level of cash giving to say that the Treasury-projected curtailment of tax-deductions from the market values to the value paid when to charity. -.-2. Combined Appeals will lose 24% of their income from bought would be "catastrophic" for philanthropic, cultural, medical and other organizations and institutions depending contributions. . ' ' , 3. There will be an overall decline of 36% in charitable on fund-raising. Most of the big givers relate their donacontributions by non-itemizers who currently provide 10% tions to gifts of stocks which have grown far faster than the economy generally. of all individual gifts. The Treasury Department recommends reducing the top 14. There will be a 38% decline in gifts of securities and tax from 50% to 35%. Donors in the 50% tax bracket who other forms of appreciated property. 5. Medical and other health institutions will suffer a 24% make, the donations in securities, or in other form sof appreciated property, will be doubly affected by this change. decline in contributions. 6. Art and Culture will receive 25% less in contributions. In addition to the loss by receiving tax deductions on the basis of the original cost of their gifts when bought — and 7. Higher; education 'will suffer a 27% loss. 8. Contributions to religious institutions, including not on the basis of the market values when donated — their large contributions will also cost them 15% more, since they churches and synagogues, will face a decline of 18%. A call to urge President Reagan to discard the Treasury's 'will no longer be given a 60% tax deduction but only 35 proposals affecting charitable giving before he brings to percent. Many of them might prefer to retain their secuCongress his "tax simplification" program of which the pro- rities for themselves and make their contributions in cash, posals are a part, was issued by a coalition of more than probably in smaller sums, unless other tax provisions will 600 national organizations and institutions opposing the be made to maintain their incentive. * The interested national organizations opposing the Treasury's recommendations. Tho coalition —: known as • "Independent Sector" — is composed of national voluntary Treasury's tax proposals that affect charitable giving recagencies, corporations, and the National Council of Phi- ognize that people do not gie to causes of their choice belanthropy. It is a successor to a similar coalition that existed cause of tax considerations. The large motivations are " several years ago of which Philip Bernstein, the then ex- related to helping others and improving communities. Howecutive vice president of the Council of Jewish Federations, ever, tho. availability of tho deductions doeo increase the was president. Ho was also chairman of its Tax Policy Com- size of enough gifts to represent an overall increase in giving of at least 25 percent. mittee. ThoCJFattitudo. Tho present coalition includes — in addition to the NaThe groups opposing the Tfteaaury recommendations tional Council of Philanthropy and the CJF — the REd Cross, the United Way for America, the Salvation Army, have time till March to express their opposition in testithe American Council on Education, the American Hospital monies on their behalf before the Congressional Committee • Association, National Urban League, Council on Founda- of Ways and Means. The Council of Jewish Federations, tions, National Conference of Catholic Philanthropies, As- which represents 800 Jewish communities, has always sociated Councils of the Art, and practically'all central helped to prevent enactment of legislative proposals that bodies in. the country "sponsoring fund-raising for. com- would affect charitable giving. As the representatives of the ' organized Jewish communities which rake more than $600 munal causes. million a year from over 1,000,000 contributors — more - Tfie harmful -chances • . The Jewish, Protestant, Catholic and other non-profit than a half of all Jewish families in the country — at all • organizations opposing the Treasury's proposals, are es- • income levels.w&tsf ecoritu, J. T. A.) 1030, JowUh Ifclcsrochls Aconcy, Inc.)
In one of the most competitive elections in its history, the Aleph Zadik Aleph (male component of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization) elqcted Hqwnrd Cohen as its 60th ihte'rna-' tionol president. Cohen, an 18-year-old from New Castle, Penn., defeated seven other candidates. Cohen will ha viciting Cornbelt Region, Feb. 1.5 oo port of the Cornbslt/ MO-KS regiono executive leadership training institute. Those desiring to meet with him may contact Debra Pololiy, BBYO d i r e c t o r , 3 3 4 8200, out. 235.
Howord Cohen .. urer, and sergeant-at-arms. On the international level, he was responsible for coordinating programs between North America and countries overseas, prior to being elected to his latest position. Graduating high school A member of AZA for five years, Cohen has risen last spring, Cohen has dethrough the ranks of lead- ferred acceptance to the ership within the organiza- University of Cincinnati for tion. After serving as vice- one year to pursue his AZA president, secretary, and duties. "I want to reach all Soviet Jewry Vigil chairman levels of the organization," for his chapter, he pro- says Cohen. "And within ceeded to seek office on the that process I want to effecregional level. There 1 he tively communicate with as served as president, treas(continued on page 2)
Two high school seniors have been selected for honors at the Feb. 27 B'nai B'rith sports stag at Peony Park. They are Sean Ridley of Central High School and Gregg Olson, of Northwest High. . According to co-chairmen Mark Sweet and Mark Goldstrom, the two students -tied for the award as best Omaha area high school athlete. According to the announcement, Sean has been named an all state football player for his performance as a defensive end and has been designated tho number two college recruit in the country. He also has earned a three year letter in track. Gregg also has been named all state in football, and in addition has bean named all America in baseball. He pitched 16-0 to lead his team to a national championship and has options to play professional baoeball, or select a baseball scholarship at several universities. CBS sports celebrity Brent Muoburger will speak at the -annual stag and Dave Blackwell, sportowriter and broadcaster, from Salt Lake City, will oorve as master of ceremonies.