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60
HISTORICAL ST " NE
SOC
, SERVING NEBRASKA AKD IOIVA S!fs!C£ 1920
Vol. Ulll No. 39
Omaha, Neb., Fri., June 14, 1985
AJCongf ill, ;S
n o ifGiUi A federal judge in Nebraska haa turned do.vn a request by a group of students that their school district be forced, under the new "equal access" law, to allow them to form a religious club in their high school. Judge C. Arlen Beam, of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, said that there are enough "serious questions" about the constitutionality of the federal law, which was passed last summer, to deny the students' request for a preliminary injunction that would compel the school district to allow the formation of student religious organizations on school facilities. The "equal access" act requires public schools with student club programs to extend the privilege to religious cluba. Judge Beam's ruling cams in a case brought by*the students against the Board of Education of the Wcotsids Community Schools, a suburban school district in Omaha; The American Jewish Congress had argued in an nmicun, or friend-of-the-court, brief submitted to Judge Beam that the federal legislation is unconstitutional, thereby removing
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Rabbi Dreyfus
any lejal bjua for a preliminary injunction. .Judge Beam's ruling was the first by a federal judge to suggest that^he "equal access" act may be in violation of the constitutional principle of church-state separation. A similar case in Houston, Texas led to a recent ruling by the U.S. District Court in favor of student plaintiffs claiming the right to organize a religious club. Jerrold Blumoff; president of the Southwest Region of the American Jewish Congress, hailed Judge Beam's decision and noted that the discrepancy between the ruling of the two federal courts in what were essentially similar cases raises "very serious questions not only about the constitutionality of the law but about its wisdom." The legislation, he added, "can only provoke divisiveness and community conflict.". In turning down the students' request for a preliminary injunction, Judge Beam noted that "without attempting to resolve the constitutionality of the Act, it is clear... that serious questions have been raised,"
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PJehhl Glzcsr
rabbas participate o Rabbi-Brook By Barbara Simon bequests to Temple and. the cornmurtity. Special Event Publiciot :• •. Everyone is invited to Shabbqt, services and to both the Many events are planned as part of the weekend-long Oneg Shabbat on Friday and the; buffet luncheon on Sattribute to Rabbi Brooks when he is invested as Rabbi Emer- urday following services. The arrangements for Friday itus of Temple Israel, June, 21-22. In addition to the can- Shabbat services' and reception/are under the direction of.-, dlelight dinner-dance, June' 22; at Peony Park, Shabbat co-chairmen Betty Sanford and Arlents Beber. Saturday's; services both Friday evening and Saturday morning at Tem- luncheon is hosted by Temple's past presidents. Arrange-' ple Israel willbe graced by outstanding speakers, who are ments chairmen are Barbara Frohtnan' and Eleanor Slos-: burg.* * •,•..".••• a •; also the.Brooks',lifelong friends.!; ••• . ; ; Temple Israel would appreciate knowing if you will attend Shabbat eye, Jutie~2,l,at .Temple, Rabbi;.A.; Stanley. Dreyfus, New York,; who is djrsptor* of;placement of the Rab-, services so they may plan for proper seating. Please call the, / ^ / ,;;:;•; >"• : binicol Placement Commission, will.conduct the investiture Temple office, 556-6536. * •*' of .Rabbj: Bropks a? Rabbi)Emeritus'. Rabbi Herbert. E. The tribute-weekend for Rabbi Brooks promises to* be'; 1 Drooz, Congregation GemiJuth Chassodim, Alexandria, La. , > stimulating, warm, beautiful, nostalgic and meaningful. We i l L l pl i h i i look forwerd to oeeing-you-therb. V" " v ' "' '•'•••• \ Rabbi Brooks commented that he and the three men have been togetherfeincerabbinical ccHpoland hoite Beo'h "closer v than brothers" flirice they were in'their late teens. They were present at Rabbi and Jane'swedding, andRabbiDropz officiated at their marriage. ' '.-"'•• ••••.•..* "I am fortunate t o have these outstanding m e n . . .these NEW YORK — Vice President George Bush rejected scholars and dear colleagues... as friends. W e have so much respect for each other, and'we goback so many years. criticism of the Jewish community "for its vocalness on issues it believes in." • i ' I a m thrilled they will be taking part." ' " "Letno one tell.you that support for Israel and efforts, Another, good friend a n d colleague, Rabbi Joseph B. Glaser, will deliver t h e sermon on Shabbat eve. H e is Ex- on behalf of Soviet Jews is 'special interest polities'," Mr. ecutive Vice President, Central Conference of American Bush said in accepting an honorary Doctor of Laws degree Rabbis, New York, or aa Rabbi Brooks soys, " a rabbi's from Bar-Ilan University at an academic convocation in rabbi." Ho is both a n attorney a n d a r a b b i . . . a m a n who, ; . Park East Synagogue. according t o Rcbbi Brooks, "ia a stellar example of a rabbi, He added: "It is your right and duty as Americans to both nationally and intellectually." ' advocate causes important to you." h ph d f h The event was moved from the New York Hilton because gahization, Rabbi Glaser looks out Tor the welfare of his of the hotel employees' strike. Bar-Ilan University is in fellow rabbis and always, says Rabbi Brooks, "shows us Ramat Gan, Israel. . . enormous caring and concern, giving help and support to The degree was conferred on Vice President Bush by Dr. individual rabbi3.1 am honored he will ba with us.". Emanuel Rackman, president of Bar-Ilan, who hailed his At Shabbat services, Saturday morning, Jurte 22, Rabbi . "uninip'eachdble integrity, matchless tact and exceptional Brooks will; deliver the serpion honoring Temple's past brainpower;" .••!:'. : i ;; • ' '• • prcfiideqt8iiti.tl'od':'-'"The Rabbi and His PresiIn his address, Vice President Bush said:'"We Americans dents ; . . Conversations You Never Heard.'' The 19. livirig presidents include Morris Jacobs, Milton -haye a responsibility to the yic'tims of the Holocaust, and. Abrahams, Jack;Marer, Louis Lipp, Alfred.Mayer, Harold Americans related by blood or faith have, perhaps, a special ; , :Farbsr, Lazar"Kdpla'n*r Millard Krosne, Warnpr, Ftohmah, r. responsibility."^ He continujed:,( ' '• , "I've :heard some people criticize the Jewisjfi coimmunity Morrid Lipp; Stanley Slosburg,.Stanley Perimeter, $ba Katelnwn, SidneyjOatep.-Joan Lehr, Theodore Seldin,,"Mi-, for-its. ypcalnes* on issues it; believes in. Well, I don't go chael Erman, Dr, Blaine Roffman and Phyllis Glazer, Tvyo along with that. I believe that citizen advocacy is the greatand gives'vitality to additional pa?t; i)reDidents, Milton Livingston qiid David. ness of America. It's what strengthens : : ; ; Beber, are honored in memory and. through their genorous ( O t p c o u n t r y . " ..., .•. .....,..,.- - ' -'-.-> c* .,<,,••*•! V.M. ,-VVA*!J^J..».»" !
'ewlsh cqnirriijriity-.
He pointed out that a religious club in a public high school would require a teacher present in a custodial role and would probably seek to use such other facilities as bulletin boards, public address systems and be included in the yearbook. "In this setting," Judge Beam declared, "the Act would not merely promote equal access, it may tend to mandate the opening of a forum well beyond that which the school itself has sought to sanction" and may make it appear that the government, of which the school system is part, is giving an official stamp of approval to religious organizations.
The opening of the second major exhibit in the "Corridor Qf Jewish History" and the presentation of the first Journal published by tho Nebraska Jewish Historical Society will highlight the third annual meeting of the NJHS on • Wednesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center.. [ One wall of the "Corridor of Jewish History" museum j %• y, .' . will be devoted to telling the j , \j-:...t • story of the life of Henry Monsky, president of the American Jewish Conference at the time of his death in 1947 at the age of 57 and -.former leader of.national
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and local civic .and Jewish " , >•'' . organizations. The exhibit ( will include pictures of ' Monsky and his family from ' ' his childhood until his Henry Monsky death. . The ather wall of the Jewish leader "Corridor of Jewish History" museum will tell the story of a number of Jewish men who served in World War I through pictures; discharge papers, medals, memorabilia and newspaper stories. The list of rnen;who served in-World .-War-. I is continuing to be compiled by the NJHS and may still be called in or sent to the. NJHS office at the JCC. The exhibit is being, compiled and arranged by Lois (Ducky) Milder, museum di-1 rector, and has beea.njado possible by a grant from the, Henry Monsky Chapter of B'nai B'rith No: 354. "The Little Shul of 19th Street," tho current museum exhibit of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, will be openthrough J u n e 2 1 . Tho "Corridor of Jewish Hiot o r y " museum at the Jewish Community Center is located in the connecting area between the Joseph I. Freed JCC and the Livingston World War I Vet Plaza, just east of the lobby. The presentation of the first Journal to be published by the NJHS will also be made preceding the business meeting qnd election of officers. The Journal will include a major story by Louis E. Lipp on the history of the Jews of Omaha, a second major story by Dr. Oliver Pollak on "The Impact of Spiritual Identity on Communal Organizations — Jews in Nebraska." Also included in the Journal will be the winning entries in the Morris C. Fellman Essay contest by Gertrude Perlis Kagan and Elaine Abrams Clearfield as well as pictures relative to the stories. The meeting is open to all members of the Omaha, Council Bluffs ancl Lincoln Jewish communities as well as persons interested in Nebraska history. Copies of the Journal will only be available to paid up members of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. The meeting will be concluded with an old-fashioned ice cream social in the JCC auditorium; where, the, meeting will be held. . ,, , •