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SERVING KJ-CSIASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Omaha, Web., Fri., November 8, 1985
Vol. LXfil Mo. B
By Jill Kuchuer Belcaont ADL-CKC Acnktant Director Retired District Jud^e Samuel Van Pelt of Lincoln, has been named the 1085 recipient of the Torcli of Liberty Award, presented by the AntiDefamation League. Judge Van Pelt will receive the honor at an ADL Society of Fellows reception on Nov. 24 at the Swanson t Towers San Souci Room, 8405 Indian Hills Drive.
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Ellen Albin (left) presents first annual Anne Katznuui Commemorative Calendar to the honoree during a program at Beth El Synagogue last week. Mrc. Albin and Corinne Levin triglit) are co-ckaiemon of tho Omaha Chapter of Presidium. For photo coverage of. the event, Bee page
Magda Fried, a f survivor of the Hoi- ! ocaust who in ro- ] cent years shared her experiences with thousands of Nebraskans, died Nov. 4 in a local hospital. Afamily spokes' man gave the cause of death 03 cancer. Mrs. Fried, of 12732 Harney street, was 56.. Megda Fried Services took place Nov. 5 at Beth El Synagogue with Rabbis Paul Drazen and Myer Kripke officiating. Burial was in Beth El Cemetery. In addition to her husband, Sara, Mrs. Fried is survived by sona, Jim and Edward, Omaha; daughter, Susan, St. Louis; sister,
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According to Sheldon Filger, Jud(;e Van Pelt Plains States Regional Director, ADL, the Torch of Liberty Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution toward furthering American democratic values and serving the community. Past recipients include Mifton Abrahams, Jule Newman, Father Michael Morrison, president of Creighton University and Sam and Magda Fried.
mist groups and monitoring -the activities of those in Nebraska. In October, 1984, he was appointed by Gov. Bob Kerrey to investigate the Arthur Kirk thooting in Cairo, Neb. Kirk had blamed the Jews for the loss of his farm, and was killed after a confrontation with law enforcement officials. Officials later found anti-Semitic literature in his home. Judge Van Pelt has studied extremist groups as they relate to the farm crisis, and has warned of the dangers of these organizations on the ABC news magazine "20/20's" report, "The Seeds of Hate." "Judge Van Pelt has made an outstanding contribution to the citizens of the state of Nebraska by devoting a significant amount of his time to monitoring and exposing antiSemitic extremists," said Mr. Filger. "Judge Van Pelt has publicly condemned the efforts of extremists to exploit the farm crisis for the purpose of arousing anti-Semitism in this state," he added, referring to those organizations which have taken advantage of desperate farmers both monetarily and emotionally, by blaming the Jews for the plight of the rural economy.
Those interested in attending the recepFrances Diamond, Omaha; and brother, tion but who have not received an invitation Louis Chunovic, L03 Angeles. During this last year, Judge Van Pelt has may contact the ADL-CRC office at 333Born in Eastern Czechoslovakia, Mrs; spent a great deal of time studying extre- 1303. Fried saw her father led to a concentration camp when she was 10. Mrs. Pried was imprisoned, witnessed and .was part of the i n n i n f p . ' P ^ • •• nightmare of the Holocaust for two years. • u Released when she was 15, she returned Women's Campaign to Czechoslovakia where she met and in announces the np1048 married husband, Sam, also a concenpointaont of Ruth v tration camp survivor. Golc73fo!:: end BoreIn 1949, the couple emigrated to the ; '.-thy R:ei-.on .c.c coJ United States and rattkdin Omaha. 'clicii'jMr-i v, fo-'JCO ' -* A few years ago, Mr.'and'Mfs.1 Fried '.'"SnowbirdB" Divi/ founded the Society of Survivors; an organ-: '1 Goldotein ' .. ization of Holocaust survivors now residing •'s'ioa.'RIro. 1 and Mra. Itiohea will in Nebraska and Western Iowa. ' be rc3poncibla for conDespite personal grief andthe horror of ;their memories, Mr. and Mrs; Fried started : tacting Chai/Grand Gifto women who - ' to tell their stories so that the truth of the have "flown south" Holocaust would be made known to area for the winter. . ... _ (continued on page 9)
By Borid Smolar Editor-in-chief emeritus, J.T.A.
; Women's Cairspaigri a
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House, the State Department, and in other government offices. It maintains an "action office" in Washington which is recognized by every branch of the Administration.
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The General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations — considered;by many as the "parliament" of the organized Jewish communities in the United States and Canada — is opening its annual conclave Nov. 13 in Washington with a mountainous agenda of over 100 forums and workshops on domestic issues, 25 on Israel-related issues,1 and about 25 related to other Jewish communities overseas. It will be the largest assembly in the CJF's history, with more than 3,000 foremost lay and professional leaders from about 800 large nad small communities — from those having a Jewish population of more than 100,000 to those having less than 100. This testifies to the role the Federations are playing in the American Jewish community, the scope of their activities, and their increasing strength from year to year. It also testifies to the tremendous role which thoir central body, the CJF, plays in guiding these activities and in assuming partnership with Israel and responsibility with world Jewry. The CJF has advanced a long way in tho scope of its activities from the time it was formed in 1932 by 19 Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. Today it represents all the Federations which embrace 95 percent in the U.S. and Canada. It is their broadest communal instrument davised t o ' meet the needs of the Jewish people the world over, including the humanitarian needs in Israel. Virtually every major Jewish need and responsibility is on the General Assembly's agenda. Every aspect of Amsr- . ican Jewish life will bs discussed in depth. The federations, with their vigorous leaderships and dynamic and creative activities, have bscomo the financial back-hone of all majororganizations arid institution's engaged in meeting the rniilr tifarious needs of Amorican Jewry. They currently raiGD.... more than $600 million annually in their fund-raising earn- . paigns and aim for $1" billion a year. Their leadership" is certain that this goal can be achieved within a few yearsr }. They also constitute art important factor in helping jnalre historic decisions on major changes in the world that con-
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The current CJF president is Shoshana Cardin, the first woman in Jewish history elected to the position of'Rosh Hakehilot" — the head of the central body of organized Jewish communities. As such, she is the president of the largest Jewish community in the world. She was born in Tel Aviv and brought to the U.S. aa a youngster by her father, a Hebrew teacher and writer who settled in Baltimore. She has a basic Jewish education, is well versed in Jewish knowledge and speaks Hebrew and Yiddish fluently. • **. American understanding and support for Israel is apriority concern for the CJF. In order to bolster U.S. Administration and Congressional support for Israel — as well as America's understanding of Israel's vital role — the CJF The Jovvioh Federation of Omaha will receive three has organized meetings of Federation presidents of major awardo-at the upcoming General Assembly. The cities with Administration and Congressional leaders in awards will be pressnted for the Campaign invita- Washington to discussforeign affairs. The, Federations have been strongly involved in U.S.tion "We Can Make A Difference," for the George Will poster, and for the Jcwioh Preaa. See local del- Israeli relations. They provide about $350 million a year — almost $1 million a day — for humanitarian needs in Israel. egate3 on page 7. , Deepening partnership with tho Jewish Agency in Israel cern Jews — the future of Iorael, the righto of Jews in the will be one of the major topics at the General Assembly. Soviet Union and the opening of the Soviet gatca for un- The CJF help's to design new ventures such as the iBTael restricted Jewish emigration, tho atrengthicining of Jewish • Education Fund and Project Renewal. Some of the Fedlife in countries where tho Jewish communities are undergo- erations undertake their own projects in Israel. The .CJF maintains an office in Israel to attensthen cooperation beh On tlecommunfllifiont in the U.S: and Canada they play tween the Federations,and Israel. Tho CJF also conducts interchange with Jewish coma critical role in financing Jpwish welfare institutions, in rebuilding Jevaah family-life,.in Jewiqh'.cominitment to col'; munities abroad, bringing them its esparien.ee in commulege youth, in invigorating Jewish; education and culture, nity organization. Heinz Eppler, president of the American in helping the E^owin|:niwbsroT-Ie^ioh aged, in financing Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, is scheduled to be nationajLand local Jewish agencies•fishting anti-Semitism oho of the principal ipaokers at the Assembly dealing with young leadership. the needs of European Jewish communities. Other speakers By, , andiitfbuildirig i g yg p h i i h AAssembly's b l ' agenda will be will be Jewish leaders from France and England. The opAmong thert&frissies on tthe : the Jewish"role,in the American and Canadian political portunities for Soviet Jewry presented by the U.S.-USSR process and the Federation's role in developing public policy summit talks in Geneva ,thia month will be discussed at a on certain issues. The CJF is recognized in the White special forum at the Assembly.
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