"9'03010-CO 60 NE3R HISTORICAL 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE
SOC 68503
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA'SINCE 1920 Vol. LXIII No. 14
Omaha, Sfeb., Fri., December 20,1985
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New York — In the past three years the Palestine Liberation Organization, its allies and other violence-prone The Jewish Federation of Omaha will hold its annual Palestinians have carried out terrorist actions throughout the world on an average of once a week, according to an meeting and election and installation of new officers at the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith report made public Jewish Community Center on Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. recently. In addition to the elections, the program will include The report, "PLO and Palestinian-Inspired Terrorism, volunteer of the year awards, an award to an organization 1982-1985: The Continuing Record of Violence," cites and for excellence in programming and a display focusing on describes terrorist incidents and victims from the time the the activities of the agencies. PLO was expelled from Lebanon in 1982 to the recent Mort Trachtenbarg, who has held numerous volunteer Malta hijacking. The report notes that following the PLO hijacking of the positions within the Jewish Federation, has been nomiItalian cruise ship Achille Lauro and the murder of Leon nated to be president of the Federation Board of Directors. Klinghoffer, additional terrorist incidents took place in Is"I welcome the opportunity to be part of the process to rael and Spain in October — involving at least two more serve the Jewish community," he said in regards to his nomfatalities and the wounding of five persons — followed in ination. November by the terrorist hijacking of the Egyptian jetliner He has been first vice president of the Federation board bound from Athens to Cairo, and the killing of passengers. In making the report public, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL's as well as chairman of the Jewish Foundation. Also having associate national director and head of the agency's Inter- served the Jewish Community Center, Trachtenbarg was a national Affairs Division, said the murder of Mr. Klingh- vice president of the JCC Board of Directors and the chairoffer and Miss Scarlett Rogenkamp on the Egyptian man of the JCC Outdoor Planning Committee. airliner "only serve to dramatize the fact that a heavy perProfessionally, Trachtenbarg is a CPA with Trachten(contiriued on page 2) barg, Haack, O'Brien and Masimore.
New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo warned against any attempt to try to make • America "a Christian nation," at a dinner held recently by the American Jewish Congress at The Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. Governor Cuomo addressed a n audience of 300 who had gathered for the presentation of the 1985 AJCongress Stephen S. Wise Awards to the Governor and to Fred . WilponT-chairman of-the-boardof Sterling Equities and President of the New York Mets. Mr. Cuomo was honored for his "lifelong commitment to human rights and social justice." "The American Jewish Congress reminds us constantly that one of the bases of our democracy is the rejection by law of the notion that any formal philosophical or religious test should be used to grant or withhold the rights of citizenship," Mr. Cuomo said. "The truth is that some people see a very different fundamental principle, one that is contradictory of this freedom. They tell us that to be strong as a nation we must return to what they say we were meant to be — a Christian nation. The idea that religion and politics don't mix, Reverend (Jerry) Falwell says, was invented by the devil to keep Christians from running their country," the governor continued. The "Christian nation" concept, he went on, "is a perversion of our Constitution and a dangerous one for all people who believe that our greatest gift and our greatest strength is the right to choose what we will be and what we will believe." He cited the recurrence in U.S. history of a "nativist sentiment" calTing on people to stop being what they are in order to become "real Americans." The governor remarked that the immigrants who fought and died for America "never forgot who they were and where they came from They never gave up their language or their faith." Today, he said, "we're stronger because of the diversity the immigrants insisted on and wiser. We've learned to encourage the identity of all the fragments that have contributed to our greatness." c;. Related to the idea of diversity and pluralism is the idea.of family and the common Welfare, the governor said, noting that there are those who would substitute individualism for compassion. "At our very best, we have helped ourselves by having our people collectively as a government help one another," he said. Jews, he continued, have furnished an example. "Everywhere where poverty and exploitation were found, Jews "have fought against it," and have identified themselves with the struggle for social justice and educational reform. , The American Jewish Congress is dedi-
A member of the Nebraska and Iowa Society of CPA's and the American Institute of CPA's, Trachtenbarg is a former officer of the Douglas/Sarpy County unit of the American Cancer Society. He also served as president of the OmahaDouglas County Board of Health. Mort and his wife Shirley are the parents of three chilMort Trachtenbarg dren. Their daughter Janet Arffa is married and is s preschool teacher in the Los Angeles, Ca., area. Their son M. Edward Trachtenbarg is also married and lives in Portland, Or., where he is comptroller for Hi-Tech Company. A computer programmer for AT & T, daughter Nancy Trachtenbarg lives in the Washington, D. C. area. The Trachtenbargs belong to Temple Israel, (continued on page 5)
New York's Goy. Mario Cuomo and Fred Wilpon, president of the New York Mets, right, are shown after receiving 1985 Stephen S. Wise Awards from Howard M. Squadron, center, honorary president of the American Jewish Congress, at AJCongress awards dinner.
By Alan H. Goodman Federation Controller At this late date in 1985 taxpayers begin to think of how they can save money on their 1985 taxes and at the same time perform an act of Tzedakah for the Jewish community.. Now is the time for every Jev£ to pay his annual contributions. The timing of these contributions can make them more effective for both the donor and receiving charity. . The current tax bill awaiting passage in Congress on this date will make the first major overhaul in Income Tax rates in many years, if and when it passes. For individual taxpayers this legislation carries the promise of rate reductions of up to 15 percent from the top effective rates that have been paid up to now. Therefore, the charitable contribution that donors pay in 1985 could be worth up to 15 percent more, for example if a taxpayer pays $1,000 before ,12/31/85 . the income tax savings could be up to $150 more than if the payment is deferred into 1986. This is an outstanding reason for accelerating payments on all charitable contributions from 1986 back into 1985. This strategy will give every taxpayer a bonus tax deduction and saving in 1985 and their Federation or other chosen charities the use of : 1986,contributiona;Ui)ifr()nt.;' .. '.".•
Those taxpayers who have been in the habit of giving appreciated securities to the Federation are urged to make those contri: butions prior to the end of 1985. The pending tax legislation noted above contains a revision making a portion of the unrealized capital gain subject to the calculation of the alternative minimum tax in subsequent years. Therefore, those taxpayers who donate appreciated securities to charities such as the Federation will be able to avoid exposing themselves to this penalty provision of the Tax Law. Considering the major rate reductions pending in the tax revision legislation there are a number of methods of giving to help your Jewish community: 1) Prepayment of 1986 pledges in 1985 to obtain the deduction now; 2)Establish a Federation philanthropic fund from which the donor may recommend future Federation campaign donations and other gifts to charitable institutions; 3) Establish a permanent endowment fund to be used to fund annual gifts to the Federation Campaign for a specific term of years or in perpetuity; '• 4) Establish a permanent endowment fund, the income of which will fund the purposes of specific needs or programs in our Jewish Community! ••„.'.. •' . ;
cated to the ideals of freedom and justice and compassion, Governor Cuomo said. In his acceptance remarks, Fred Wilpon said that "being a humanist is not a luxury — you can be tough-minded, but not hardhearted." Mr. Wilpon was cited for "distinguished leadership in community relations and social welfare." Howard M. Squadron, honorary president of AJCongress, served as dinner chairman. Theodore R. Mann, president, and Henry Siegman, executive director of AJCongress, presented greetings. Mr. Wilpon serves as director of the Foundation for Children with Learii ing Disabilities, the New York City Partnership and United Services Organizations of Metropolitan New York. He also serves as a trustee of the Jewish Institute for Geriatric care. Previous recipients of the Stephen S. Wise Awards have included Golda Meir, Robert F. Kennedy, Harry S. Truman, Adlai E. Stevenson, Leonard Bernstein, and Walter Mondale. The Stephen S. Wise Awards were established in 1949 to commemorate the 75th birthday of the founder and long-time president of the American Jewish Congress..
For further information on how to accomplish these goals and make the best use of your charitable dollars contact Jerry Rosen, Federation Endowment professional. For many years the Jews of Omaha have very generously donated Israel Bonds to the Annual Campaign and to our fast growing Endowment. A number of new tax regulations applying to the transfer of this type of property to charities have been set out by the Internal Revenue Service/These regs have put created some stumbling blocks and have made the donation of these bonds in amounts of $5,000 or greater more difficult and complicated. It is suggested that if a donor is contemplating a major donation of Israel Bonds to your Federation or any other charity that you consult with your tax professional or attorney regarding the obtaining of the required documentation under the new IRS rules. We, at the Federation will be happy to consult with your professional. • In summary, NOW is the time for the' • Jews of Omaha to make the most effective contribution to their Federation and the rest of the Jewish community. Dollars and property transferred to charities before the end of 1985 will be the most effective dollars you could Bpend both for yourself, the donor, and for your Federation. , .