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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SIMGE 1920
Vol. LJCIII No. 6
Omaha, Neb., Fri., October 25, 1985
Bond It was announced by Dr. Paul Shykcn, General Chairman State of kn-.el Bonds, that this year's Dinner of State in honor of HarJan Noddle its presenting Paul Zim as its gu£at entertainer. "Those who have heard Mr. Zim in concert agree that he has special music charisma. He does not merely sing his songs,-'but ' ( rather, he lives L • - -• —' them," the Jewish Paul Zini Press was told. The New York Tisnca ccid that "Zim is a fine lyric, (and) sensitive singer." "His consummate artistry and his beautiful voice reached the heart," was the comment of the Jerusalem Foot. With many records to hio credit, his varied and extensive repertoire-includes the best of opera, Israeli, Yiddish, and pop American songs. His tenor voice has captivated audiences around the world. Mr. Zim's latest recording, "Simcha, Simcha — Sing'& Dance With Me", is "a rare gem in Jewish music. With Jewish artists bringing out pop records, one copying another, it is refreshing to find something original from the Jewish music scene . . . This recording in my opinion, surpasses vocally -and musically all of the modern recordings
By Ben Kayfctz TORONTO (JTA) — The British government and its Commonwealth allies — including Canada — agreed in 1948 to end the prosecution of Nazi war criminals, according to a newly declassified top secret British document obtained from the Defense Ministry in London. The document, and others related to it, were presented at the,hearings of the Deschenes Commission which is conducting, an inquiry into Nazi war criminals presently living in Canada. The commission, consisting of former Quebec Superior Court Justice Jules Deschenes, was set up by the govern> ment earlier this year to identify war criminals in Canada and recommend legal measures against them.' \ . The document showedthat in 1948, only three years after the end of World War II, a top-level British government committee including then Prime Minister Clement Atlee, leifder of the Labor Party, concluded that no new trials of alleged Nazi war criminals should be initiated after Aug. 31 of that year. Britain asked the Commonwealth governments to adopt the same policy and all acquiesced. A 1947 Canadian document released to the Deschenes Commission showed that less than a year before the policy decision in London, the Canadian government was on the look-out for 154 ouEpocted Nazi criminals. •" • The British document made clear that the Commonwealth leaders were anxious to put. World WarH behind them in order to concentrate on the Cold War with the Soviet Union and allies. A previously top-secret telegram sent by the Commonwealth Relations Office in London-to the seven Commonwealth governments on July 13,1948; stated: "^"Punishment of war criminals is more a nta'titer of. discouraging future generations than of. meting out retribution to every guilty individual. Mbreover, in view of futtire political developments in Germany enViSaged;;by; recent tripartite talks, we' are convinced fhat it is now necessary to CUBp"6se of the past as' soon as possible.''- ; •'••• Another confidential document, dated
Reminiscent ol the "dooro are closing" s,taiir, Ondi i'-v in tlia lo..er level area will theme of the Yora Kippur Neilah service bo many of the Torah covers, ark curtains , will be the final community service of the and other artifacts find books which were "Kapulior Shul" piior to the closing of its used in the synojojjue for generations. Persons having special recollections of doors after almost 80 years of existence. The building at 3028 Cuming Street has their years at the "Kcpulier Shul" as chilbeen sold and the artifacts are to be dis* dren and adults will have an opportunity to tell their story on tape during the open tributed in a variety of ways. According to the Nebraska Rabbinical house hours. -Interviewers will be provided Council, the religious ceremony marking by the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society the closing of B'nai Jacob — Adas Yeshurun which will also provide hosts for the guided will follow the 1 p.m. Open house planned toura at 1:30, 2:00 and 2:30 p.m. by the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. Parking will be available on Cuming The closing ceremony at 3 p.m. on Oct. street, in the corner lot on 30th and Cuming 27 in the synagogue sanctuary will be con- and in the small lot next to the synagogue. ducted by members of, the Nebraska Rab- Persons coming are urged to car-pool in or-. binical Council including Omaha rabbis dor to make the parking situation flow more Stephan Baraclt, Myer S. Kripke, Sidney smoothly. Any persons needing a ride are Broolta, Allan Gonshcr, Isaac Nadoff, Jon- aaked to call the Nebraska Jewish Historathan Rosenbaum, Paul Drazen, president ical Society office, 334-8200, Ext. 270. of the Nebraska Rabbinical Council, and There will be no solicitation of funds at Rabbi Ian Jacknis of Lincoln. Also partic- the open house or closing ceremony. ipating will be Cantors Harold Firestone, Beginning Oct. 28 the Nebraska Jewish Leo Fettman and Emil Berkovits. Historical Society will begin the process of In addition to a selection of prayers and taking down the major artifacts.in the synpsalms, the ceremony will include an intro^ agogue and preparing them for moving and duction to the Torah ceremony, the removal storage until they are restored in a re-creand return of Torah Scrolls, and a message ated synagogue setting in a permanent museum. For those wishing to assist the NJHS about the congregation. • Torah ceremony participants will include with the expenses involved in this major Jake Wine, president of the B'nai Jacob move and restoration a blank is available on synagogue and Jake Adler, president of the page 3 of this Jewish Press. The Congregation of the old synagogue Adas Yeshuron synagogue which merged in the 1960s. Also participating will be other has provided for two endowment funds unmembers of the synagogue which has been der the supervision and direction of the in e::istenca pirrao 1P03 and moved into-its- "Jewish Federation of Omaha's Foundation; . One fund.will utilize the proceeds from original site on 24th and Nicholas ctrcita in 1909! This synagogue is the last of the many the sale of the building and the second will smaller Orthodox synagogues which existed utilize funds generated by the disposition of the congregation's other assets. The income in Omaha during the past" 100 years. from both funds will be utilized to further The present members of the synagogue Aug. 13, 1948, stated that the governments the cause of Jewish education. are the Rev. Arthur Gendler, the Rev. Manof/Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Some of the religious artifacts will be preAfrica, India, Pakistan and Ceylon "have del Landsman, David Weiss, Irvin Green, replied agreeing or at any rate, not disa-; Jake Adler,'Dan Greenfield, Marvin Katz, served in a museum-like setting by the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and a fund Sol Weiner, Jake Wine and John Kolm. greeing with our proposals." Included in this synagogue are the arks drive is underway to make this possible. The same document cautioned that "no from both synagogues which merged, a perArea synagogues and organizations also public announcement" was to be made of manent succah, a bimah in the middle of have been i invited to make requests for this policy decision. At the Deschenes hear- the sanctuary and a women's section up- books and other items to be distributed. ing, officials of Canada's Ministry of External Affairs explained that at the time, Britain and its Commonwealth allies were in a race with the Soviets and Americans to recruit German scientists. The revelations in the documents astonished and angered lawyers attending the . hearings. They noted that these revelations Rich Juro, president of B'nai B'rith's the Air Force before joining Bozell & Jaconfirm long-standing charges that Canada had done nothing for nearly 40 years to Henry Monsky Lodge, has announced that cobs, Keck was a Lieutenant General and track down and prosecute Nazi war crimi- James M. Keck, senior vice president of Vice Commander .in Chief of the Strategic nals, many of whom had no trouble becom- Bozell & Jacobs, Inc., and R. Jerry Hargitt, Air Command. recently retired vice president of Northing naturalized citizens. Hargitt was cited for devoting his energy , Irwih Cotler, the McGill University law western Bell, have been selected the co-re- and talent to the Omaha community for professor who is representing the Canadian cipients of the 1985 B'nai B'rith many years. He is currently chairman of Jewish Congress at thfe Deschones hearings, Americanism Citation. Omaha's Chamber of Commerce, president The awards will be presented Nov. 6 by of Nebrasltans for Public Television and the said the documents make clear why Canada has had such a dismal record toward Nazi former recipients Willis A. Strauss and Eu- Omaha Telecasters Educational Foundagene A. Conley. Principal speaker at the 8 tion, and chairman of Bellevue College criminals within its own borders! p.m. dinner at the Red Lion Inn will be Gov- •Board of Directors. He is a councillor of Ak"In 1948, ohortly after the Holocaust and ernor Robert Kerrey. Sar-Ben. He is also a member of the boards the devastation, when many of the victims The American Citation for Meritorious were still in displaced camps, you have here Service Award is presented for achievement of Clarkson Hospital, Guarantee Mutual a clear, unequivocal policy statement saying in efforts to improve relations between all Life Company, Nebraska Independent Colwe should dispense with bringing Nazi war segments of the Omaha community. The lege Foundation, Occidental/Nebraska Federal Savings Bank, Omaha Community criminals to justice," Cotler said. award dates back to 1952 and is one of the Foundation, and the Swanson Center for He observed that it was inconceivable few non-fund raising recognition dinners Nutrition. that the Commonwealth allies should so held in this area. The last awards were preHe is past president of United Arts quickly have forgotten the millions of Jews sented in 1982. and others who perished at the hand3 of the • Keck was cited for his many tireless hours Omaha,' United Way of the Midlands, and Nazis. "It is a scandalous indictment of the of involvement in Omaha's business, med- the Omaha Library Board and continues to public policy prevailing at that time in the ical, cultural and social life. He is presently sit on all three of these boards. Over the UK and in members of the Commonwealth chairman of the board of Saint Joseph Hos- years he has served and headed many other which acquiesced in it," Cotler said. pital and a member of the eKecutiye com- community boards. Some of the most recent past recipients Canadian governments continued to mittee of United Way and United Arts comply with the 1948 decision until the Omaha. He serves on the board of Boys' of the B'nai B'rith Americanism Citation early 1980s when the.newly installed Sol- Club of Omaha, the development committee award include Charles D. Peebler, jr., Dr. icitor General, -Robert Kaplan of Premier of Girls' Club of Omaha and is chairman of Ronald Roskens, Ben Morris, Eugene A. Conley, Helen Cherniack, and Donald J. Pierre Elliott Trudeau's Liberal Party, re- Friends'of Girl Scouting, opened the question of Nazi war criminals "~. He is past president of United; Way of the Murphy. in Canada. It was pursued by the present Midlands, Junior Achievement of Omaha Dinner tickets are $18.50 per plate arid ; Conservative government of Premier Brian and the Joslyn Art Museum, and has served they may be obtained by contacting co-din-; Mulroney, which established the Deschenes, .as a member.o£ many other community, ner chairmen Norm Korney, 330-6666, or Commission. ' •• boards. At the time of his retirement from Gary Ostrow, 392-1500. thatliuve come out in the lust few years and, I am sure will place Paul Zim where he rightly belongs as a top in Jewish music," said Alex Klein of the Jewish Gazette. Mr. Zim just made his movie debut in "War and Love," which is based on the book "The Survivor" by Juck Eisner. His' voice was recently heard at the Hnrtman Theater in Stamford, Conn, in a new production of '.'Cantonal" which was written by playwright and novelist Ira Levin. Other praises of Mr. Zim include the February 1984 issue of Variety magazine which said "the singing by Paul Zim is a virtuoso treat." "Feet were tapping, hnnda were clopping, but it was surely the polished style, charm, and presence of Paul Zim that made Saturday evening so entertaining," said the Rhode Island Herald. Nat Hentoff, journalist and music critic for the Village Voice and the New Yorker magazine writes of Paul Zim, "He is the kind of ecumenical singer I remember from my childhood. He has the bravura and the soul to be equally persuasive in the best of the liturgical masters, Yiddish theater songs, folk songs arid new variations of the. basic themes that have coursed through Jewish music for centuries." The Israel Bond Dinner of State will be held at Beth Israel Synagogue on Nov. 17.Invitations have just been mailed to the entire community, and reservations can be made by returning the RSVP card or calling" the Israel Bond office at 341-1177.