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r' SERVING NEBRASKA MiD IOWA CIKCE 1920
Vol. LXIII No. 38
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- By'Morris Maline
May 24 was a special day for Irwin (Irv) Schwartz arid his family. It was his daughter, Phyllis' birthday, and both she and her brother, Jeff, were at their dad's hospital bsd to celebrate. A week earlier, Mr. Schwartz had undergone a heart transplant. ' "~ He slept for nearly five days following the surgery and this special day wa3 his first fully-conscious experience following the ordeal. This week, plans call for Mr. Schwartz to leave the Variety Club Hospital at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to take up an anticipated two-month residence at nearby Cedars 94 apartments. Then, the timetable calls for his return \o Omaha. ^ It's incredible . . . he looks real well, and we've just seen a miracle," his wife, Shirley, told the Jewish Press in a telephone interview. ; She pointed out that his rich, pink color was noticeable following the transplant from an 18-year-old donor. Details of the family's experience were supplied by Jeff, who is in Omaha caring for the family residence at 1722 S. 138th Street. ; . - ' . •: Mr. Schwartz, who was 50 in March, experienced hiafirst heart attack oh Feb. 14, 1983. The outlook at that time was "good" . . . he was told to change his diet, lose weight, and engage in proper exercise.
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Irv and Shirley Schwartz Almost two years later, Mr. Schwartz collapsed in his office at C.O.D.E. truckline where he is'terminal manager. He was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital and
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Nearly 100 friends and colleagues and special guests actress Debra Winger and Governor Bob Kerrey surprised attorney Richard Fellman at a birthday party last week hosted by Mr. Fellman's brother, Tom Fellnian at Mr. Toad's restaurant. •
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WHS discharged two weeks later with the understanding that hib condition could be treated with drugs. Soon, however, fluid built up in his lungs and he experienced problems in breathing. He was told that he was allergic to one of the drugs and that the other wasn't working properly. "We were advised that the choices were a year to live, or a transplant," Jeff recalled. "Dad said let's go for the transplant." Mr. Schwartz' cardiologist, Dr. Thomas Sears, checked into a number of programs available in different parts of the country. He also spoke with Dr. Carl Airentzen who was in Omaha recently for a professional seminar. It was decided that Mr. Schwartz should enter the Minneapolis hospital for evaluation, and four days later, he was a candidate for a transplant. Usually, there's a four to six week wait, but the parents of an 18-year-old boy who had suffered fatal head injuries, donated the youngster's vital organs. And a medical team which included Dr. Arentzen and Dr. W. Steves Ring performed the transplant surgery. Jeff said that his aunts, Toby Forbes! of Milwaukee,1 Wise, Sandy Schwartz from Madison, Wise, and Tillie Rasnick, of DenveT, helped to provide family comfort for his mother. " At this point, the Irv Schwartz family considers every day a special day.
, . By Barbara Simon ,,... -,- .SpeciaKEyent-Publicist .--• .. Candlelight and wine. Dancing,' music and gourmet dining. Old friends. Family and distinguished speakers. These are some of the delights.in " " " "I |.."*' store for our Jewish ,| ' "* '' .1 i community when it gathers at Peony Park Ballroom, r , Saturday evening, :. June 22, to cap the weekend honoring the retirement of / Rabbi Sidney H. i Brooljs after 33 j years at Temple Is- ',' rael.' , The sparkling af- L_ 1 fair will begin with Rabbi Schindler cocktails at 6:30 followed by a beautiful dinner complete with music, elegant decor and table settings. Joannie Lehr is chairing the dinner and the weekend with help from assistants Nancy Noddle and Mary Bernstein.Reservations are still being accepted at Temple, confirmed.by the receipt of your check for $17.50 per person. The entire community is welcome and urged to attend this lovely evening.
Former Secretary of Commerce Philip M. and international spheres. He has served in Klutzriick will be in Omaha June 27 to help various Federal Government posts under celebrate the 50th anniversary of the seven Presidents. During the evening, Rabbi Alexander M. Mr. Klutznick was a member of several Omaha. Housing United States delegations to the United Na- Schindler will deliver the keynote address, Authority. tions. The first time was in 1957, during the many distinguished guests from around the He will speak at country will be introduced and Rabbi administration of President Eisenhower. the Chamber of The second was in 1961-63, in President Brooks will receive a specialgift presentaCommerce Public Kennedy's administration. Mr. Klutznick tion. Gift, committee co-chairmen are MurAffairs luncn which has. been an associate of Adlai Stevenson, ray H. Newman and Isadore M. Tretiak. starts at 11:45 a.m. who, as Governor of Illinois, appointed him Rabbi Brooks' remarks will be followed by at the Holiday Inn, to serve as vice chairman of the Illinois dancing and more music to end the festive 72nd and Grover. State Housing Board. When Mr. Stevenson celebration. Mr. Klutznick was named Ambassador to the United Nawas the first legal The main speaker, Rabbi Schindler, is, tions in 1961, Mr. Klutznick joined him as counsel for the Auone of his principal deputies, with respon- according to Rabbi Brooks "the foremost thority and accordsibility, for development problems in the spokesman in the country for liberal Juing to an OHA Third World and the financial aspects of the daism arid liberal religion." He represents spokesman was rePhilip M. the national organization of Reform SynUnited Nations system. sponsible for writKlutznick agogues as president of the Union of AmerIn the post of.U.S. representative to the ican Hebrew Congregations. He is the irig the Nebraska Public Housing Act: • Reservations at $14 may be made by call- United Nations Economic and Social Coun- .Rabbi;to. the Reform Congregations and ing the Omaha Housing Authority at 444- " cil with the rank Of Ambassador; Mr- Klutzr speaks forthe Reform Movement, nation6903 or the Chamber of Commerce at 346- nick served on-several delegations to the ally and politically, Rabbi Brooks said. "He General Assembly and became a leading ad- is a brilliant speaker, a very important per5000. ••>•'.. ' Mr. Klutznick was named to be Secretary vocate of increased assistance to developing son and a warm friend," Rabbi Brooks said. .: \ of Commerce, by President Carter on No- nations. He has headed the synagogue movement • A former Omaha resident and-graduate of vember: 16; 1979. He served until January .20,1981. A Chicago attorney and business- Creightori LawVSchool, Mr. Klutznick is of Reforitt'Judaism in the United States and man; Mr: Klutznick*: has devoted much of married to.the former Ethel Rieke's and they Canada, composed of 1.3 million men and women in some 760 synagogues, since 1973. his Mfeto. public'service in! both domestic . have five children and 14 grandchildren^ •;
Under his dynamic and creative direction, -Reform Judaism has become one of the.fastest-growing, most vigorous and influentialforces in American religious life. Eloquent, outspoken and fearless in the face of controversy, Rabbi Schindler has led the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and its affiliates in mounting a nationwide outreach campaign to bring the message of Judaism to non-Jews, in publishing the first liberal commentary on the Torah, in pioneering the full participation and equality of women in Jewish religious life, in leading the Reform movement to adopt equality of descent in Judaism (patrilineal as well as matrilineal), in challenging Orthodoxy's monopoly on government support in Israel, and in conducting social action programs on behalf of world peace, economic and social justice, religious pluralism, civil rights and civil liberties. • From 1976 to 1978, Rabbi Schindler served as chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (a representative coalition of leaders of 37 Jewish secular and religious bodies). He became a confidante of Israel Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who hailed him 'for his "courageous and outstanding leadership" and as one "who haswritten his own name into the pages of the Jewish people's story of freedom, dignity and strength." For his services to the Jewish people, Rabbi Schindler was awarded the coveted Bublick Prize by the Hebrew University in 1978, an honor bestowed earlier on Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and President Harry S. Truman-, among others. Born in Munich in 1925, Rabbi Schindler left Nazi Germany with his family, arriving in the U.S. when he was 12. He earned a Purple Heart aS a ski-trooper in World War II and graduated from the City College in New York before his ordination as a Reform rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute o£ Religion. He is married to the former Rhea Rosenblum. The Schindlers have five children and live in Westport, Connecticut. . Being present to hear Rabbi Schindler's address as well as to share in the elegant evening and Shabbat services is something we, won't want to miss. The entire weekend tribute to Rabbi Brooks will be memorable.