• 9D30T0-OCT -60 ~ VEa R HISTORICAL SOC 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE 63503 SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXIII No. 12
Omaha. Neb., Fri., December 6,198$
By Morris Maline For possibly the first time since the Jewish Federation of Omaha was organized to raiae funds for Israel and the local community, retained earnings will be used to balance an annual budget. . The Federation's Board of Directors approved a 1986 budget of $2,285,895, an increase of $118,057 over 1985, with the understanding that $49,942 would come from retained earnings. . ," "This could well be the first time,in the 60 or BO year history of the Jewish Federation of Omaha that, savings from past years have been used to balance an operating budget," Robert Gordman, chairman, Budget and Allocations Committee, told the Jewish Prer.3. He said the community faces an even greater shortfall in income for the 1987 budget inasmuch as interest income for 1986 may be down as much as $100,000. Mr. Gordman told the directors at the November board meeting that expenses are exceeding income and that despite the increase in the 1986 budget, not all programs asked for are being funded. "Air who share in the nice Jewish lifestyle we enjoy in Omaha should also share in the commitment and the re-
spoir ::!i!it> :/> provide the funds," Mr. Gordman added. He ,>raiEed.the Federation staff and the operating agencies of the Federation saying that all have done "an excellent job" in watching where the dollars go and in budgeting their needs for 1986. For the second year in a row, agencies had been directed to bring in budgets asking for allocations up to 95 percent of the previous year's allocation. Federation President Howard Kaslow also commended agency staff and the lay leadership in doing "a phenomenal job of handling funds." He said, "The problem is on the income side." 1 Mr. Kaslow charged the individual members of the Board with making a personal commitment to boost contributions and involvement, thereby setting a pattern for the entire community. In addition to retained earnings, the 1986 budget will utilize an estimated $1,850,000 from the 1985 Campaign, $102,000 from investment income, and $283,953 from endowment income. The annual budget funds local, national and overseas needs as well as the United Jewish Appeal, The breakdown of 1986 allocations is as follows:
10SG BUDGET SUMMARY Agency Total approved 1986 allocation $299,121 Federation Operations 7,895 Vaad Community Relations Library Education Community Center Aging Nursing Home Group Services Individual Services Transportation Press Family Service TOTAL - LOCAL United Jewish Appeal Reg! --..—-• •- IEF" TOTAL UJA National and Overseas: SUBTOTAL Contingency Capital Fund Repair and Maint. Fund Funeral Fund Roof Repair
28,360 67,780 83,043 142,511 274,352 35,231 34,319 56,909 14,418 41,364 94,442 $1,179,745 •,- • -Z-.
• ; .
-—-$172,500 • 752,500
. r
. 925,000. 2,120,895 70,000 .50,000 " 25,000
145,000
(Photo by Robert Cummt)
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By Morris Maline Israel's National Unity Government could fall as a result of the Pollard spy case, the Washington bureau chief for The Jerusalem Post said here Monday. Wolf Bhtzer told about 150 attending the Book Fair lecture at the Jewish Community Center that the spy incident will end quickly in the United States, but that the political ramifications are just starting in Israel. Mr. Blitzer described the Israeli diplomats allegedly involved in the covert spying operation as "not being sacri-
By.Boris Smolar
• Campaign Shrink 20,000 Awards for outstandTOTAL $2,285,895 ing efforts in public > relations were presented to federations during the recent 54th General Assembly of The Council of Jewish Federations in .Washington.jp.C. Hap Nebraska. Governor Robert Kerrey and Qroaha Mayor'Levy of Miami,"ch£lv-'' .;.Michael Boyle have issued proclamations naming Dec. ,8 man of tlie'CeFF public.' "Hanukkati Torch Relay Day." Both proclamations stress relations awards comreligious freedom' and tolerance, values which characterize mittee, (center) makes our American democracy. "We're very pleased that the top the presentation to city and state leaders have joined us in support of our relay," Sondra - Rosenblatt, said Judy Siff, chairperson of the Hanukkah Torch Relay acting executive diCommittee. "It is our hope that the relay will heighten rector, Jewish Federpublic awareness of the holiday of Hanukkah and ation of Omaha, and strengthen the conviction that religious freedom is the right Mort Trachtenbarg, of every people." . vice president, Omaha Upon completion of the 10 mile relay run, which begins Federation. Awards at 10:30 a.'m. at Beth El Synagogue, proceeds to Beth Israel were given to the comSynagogue, over to Temple Israel and finishes at the JCC, munity for a Camclosing ceremonies will be held in the main lobby of the paign poster, Center. campaign invitation Opening remarks will be presented by Steven Rod, exand-the Jewish Press; •. ecutive director of the Jewish Community Center. Rabbi
Jonathan Rosenbaum, executive director Bureau of Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, will deliver brief remarks on the holiday of Hanukkah. Ilene Klein, president of the JCC, will present the proclamation on behalf of Mayor Boyle and Howard Kaslow, president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, will present Governor Kerrey's proclamation. Cantor Harold Firestone of Temple Israel will lead those present in two festive Hanukkah songs: "The Dreidle Song" and "Rock of Ages." The program is ficial lambs." He said that if a formal inquiry is held in Israel, the open to the community. The closing ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 12:30 diplomats would make charges that would paralyze the govp.m. They will conclude at approximately 1 p.m. with the ernment forcing its collapse. Mr. Blitzer, author of the book. Between Washington official lighting of the Hanukkah menorah with the special and Jerusalem, said the spy incident is "terrible" for Is- torch from' Israel which will be carried by various participants in the relay. The torch was flown in from Israel by rael and the American Jewish community. He pointed out that the Mossad, Israel's intelligence ser- the Jewish Community Center in 1973 in honor of Israel's vice, and America's CIA have an "excellent" working re- 25th birthday. Refreshments will be served following the ' . (fontinued on page 2) ceremony.
organizations to address such controversies. They include delivering of testimony on behalf of the National Jewish The Hanukkah-Christmas season is approaching, and Community Relations Advisory Council (NJCRAC) by the with'it also the issue of placing creches and menorahs on' American Jewish Congress to a hearing by the National public property — a sensitive issue creating tense feelings Park Service of the Department of Interior concerning a between Jewish and Christian groups in a number of com- Nativity scene that has been part of the annual "Pageant for Peace" display on.the Ellipse.in Washington, D.C. munities. Leading Jewish organizations, always'fighting-for mainThe overall status of church-state separation is now, following the Supreme Court decisions on church-state mat-; taining a firm line of-separation between church and state, ters, somewhat more favorable than it appeared to'be two are opposed to the practice of displaying creches, as well yjpare ago. However, High Court rulings regarding the erec- as Hanukkah menorahs, on public property. They are detion of the Nativity scene on public property continue to terminedto protect the principle of church-state separation present highly visible and sensitive community relations at this time, in a period in which efforts to bring religion into public life are intensified, as1 are efforts by some to delimmas. '.'.-" A number of actions are being undertaken by Jewish identify the United States as a Christian country. (Kditov-in-chie/emcrittu. J.VA.) >.-•• (Copyright 1985, JewUk Wrgrcphic M'ncy, Inc.)
There was an increase last year in attempts by community groups and state and local officials to involve governments in nativity displays during the Christmas season. The practice of displaying Hanukkah menorahs on public property has also occurred in a number of communities.. The NJCRAC, as roof-organization of 11 leading national Jewish bodies and 113 Jewish' community councils, is opposed to all government involvement in religious displays as a violation of the principle of church-state separation.. This includes opposition to government support for the display of creches, menorahs, or any religious symbols. COURT RULINGS ON CRECHES > Jewish organizations expect an even greater increase than last year in attempts to involve government in displays (continued on page 5)