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ORT io currently opsrafcinEJ.cckooIa and training rael, announced American ORT Federation President Alvin L. Gray.
By Burbara Simon, Foundation CoiaulU-ut Mort Trtrhlpnbt»rg, chairman of the board of trustees of the Foundation of the Jewish Federution of Omaha is pleased to announce thi-t Phil und Torri Schrager have ' made a generous gift to benefit the Federation Endowment. He said they have established the Phillip G. end Terri L. Schrager Foundation — a separate, non-profit corporation, called a Supporting Foundation, affiliated with the Jewish Federation — as an endowment to benefit the Jewish community. This Supporting Foundation is the fiist endowment of itu type at the Jewish Federation. "This iB a wonderful gesture on tho Seine;;,;./ part," Mr. Trachtenbarg said, "which will havo continum;;, positive effect on the Jewish community and will help uu make our Foundation endowment giovv." Phil Schrager caid that the endowment papers have bssn completed and the Schrager Foundation funded, but the exact amount of the endowment will us determined over the next 6-12 months. He estimates the final amount to ba approximately $250,000. "Our idea is to disperse only the income from this endowment each year and to leave the principal intact for perpetuity," he said. "We feel very good to be able to make this contribution to the Federation endowment fund. There are no strings attached, and we intend to add to the principal from time to time, so that the income can increase and we can fund even more projects." As a Supporting Foundation, the Schrager endowment can operate somewhat differently than a philanthropic fund, Mr. Schrager said. The rules allow the donors to have some say in the direction of the fund by permitting them to sit on the board of directors, although they may not have voting control. The Schrager board has five directors: Phil • • and wife Terri, and Mort Trachtenbarg? .Marty Lehr and Joe; Kirshenbaum representing the Jewish Federation. "Although Terri and I are pleased to be able to suggest contributions out of this endowment, the main purpose of
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Phil and Torri Schrager the fund is to benefit our Jewish agencies, especially those that benefit young people. We will suggest some disbursements to other causes, Certainly, but we are open to requests from any needy or qualified source," Mr. Schrager said. "As I look back over all my past contributions, it appears that a pattern emerges," he continued, "even though I don't think it's really been conscious. I'm especially attracted to helping individual young psqple, whether through scholarships, sporto'activities (Schraijer's donation to the JCC during its building-drive biillf the JCC gymnasium)'or spe^ cial projects that have helped teens and families in crisis. "I like the idea that a person can directly benefit from (continued on page 2)
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By Jan Schneider Lund JCC Cultural Arts volunteer The Klezmer Conservatory Band will perform Feb. 9, 8 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. By all reports and from hearing them on National Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion, the Music Committee may want to pass out free sedatives just to keep the audience in their seats. WHY? Because what you have in a klezmer concert is a cross between dixieland jazz and the sounds of a joyous immigrant wedding; music derived from medieval cantorial singing mixed with ragtime, blues, musical comedy and even Big Band sounds.
The Jewish Federation's Board of Directors Has approved an expenditure of up to $13,000 for a new dance floor at the Jewish Community Center. In its unanimous vote of approval at, the Jan. 22 Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved the Dec. 18 recommendation of the Budget and Allocations Committee.
This music comes indeed from the shtetlo of Eastern Europe, via the emigration to America, down from the stages of the Yiddish theater and out the side doors of jazz clubs in the big cities. It promises to be a rousing good time!! The word klezmer itself in Yiddish means "instrumentalist" (from the Hebrew kelezemer, "musical instrument"). The klezmer was an itinerant musician fulfilling the artistic and cultural needs of the Jewish community in Central, Western and Eastern Europe in the middle ages. He went from town to town playing for Jewish festivals and special events. The playing was largely improvisational while accompanying singing and dancing. Although instrumental music was banned from Jewish life after the destruction of the Temple (70 C.E.), it gradually became part of special occasions, minor holidays (Hanukkah, Purim) and even Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath) in the synagogue. (But on Friday the musicians would cease to play immediately before the recitation of Psalm 92, at which point the Friday night service officially begins.) (continued on page 13)
By Jonathan Rosenbaum Exective Director ' Bureau of Jewish Education The Financial Aid Committee of the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Jewish Federation of Omaha has announced that scholarships and loans are available through funds of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Eight endowments now provide funds for students from preschool through graduate school. Many of the scholarships provide funds for Omaha's Jewish college students. Incoming and present college students may apply for funds for the 1985-86 academic year. Applications are availr .able through the Bureau of Jewish Education, 333 S. 132nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68154 or by calling Mrs. Jo YoUngs at the Bureau, 334-8200, Ext. 210. Applications for
The appointment of Jody K. Goldstein as director of the Jewish Day School of Omaha has been announced by Michael Katzman and Forrest Knitter, co-chairmen. Mrs. Goldstein has had 14 years of experience in elementary education, having taught as a classroom teacher in grades one, three, four and five in public and non-public schools in Lincoln and Ralston, Nebraska. She holds a BS degree in education from the University of Nebraska, in Lincoln and a MS degree in Special Education (Learning Disabilities) from the University of.-Nebraska at Omaha. During her tenure in Ralston Public Schools, she also worked in the Gifted Program. While living in Lincoln, Mrs. Goldstein was director of the Non-public Follow Through Program before joining the Lincoln Public Schools. In addition, she and husband Ray, were directors and advisers for U.S.Y. at Beth El Synagogue. The Goldsteins have lived in Nebraska for 16 years and moved to Omaha nine years ago. They have two daughters, Heather and Stephanie. Heather is currently a student of the Day School.
college scholarships must be submitted by March 1, 1985. Among the scholarships and loans available for college education are the following: Freshman.Scholarships — The entire income of the Nancy and Don Greenberg Scholarship is awarded each year to/a worthy Jewish resident of Omaha who is entering his/her freshman year of college. Candidates who, have earned no more than a "B" average in high Bchool are eligible. Further, those students who have held employment during their high school years shall receive preference in consideration. General Undergraduate Scholarships — A. Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund —provides annual grants of up to $1000 each to college students who
Jody Goldstein One of Mrs. Goldstein's goals is to build on the existing strong foundation of the Day School and make it an outstanding educational facility. Her immediate objective is to expand the School to include grades K-3. Eventually she hopes to have, the School include grades K-6. ' Mrs. Goldstein has invited members of the community to visit the school at 12604 Pacific Street or call 334-0517 for information.
demonstrate superior academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and financial need. Special consideration will be shown to applicants whose contribution to Jewish-oriented activities is clearly exceptional. B. Beatrice and Nate H. Sherman Scholarship Fund — provides grants in amounts designated by the Financial Aid Committee to Jewish undergraduates from the Omaha area. Requirements for eligibility are the same as those of the Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund. Undergraduate Loans — The David E. Beber Scholarship Fund makes available loans of up to $2500 per year to selective recipients among the Jewish youth of Omaha. Financial need is a basic consideration in the granting of (continued on page 2)