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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 192d Vol. LXIIi No. 15
Omaha, Neb., FrI., Dacambef 27,1985
Community Service Award rxxninations anrxHjnced
Artifacts on display Shown above are some of the old Torah covers in the "Corridor of Jewish History" museum at the Jewish Community Center as part of the "Kapulier Connection" display. These artifacts and otherv from the old B'nai Jacob Aashe Sholom and Adas Yeshuron synagogues thait merged into the Kapulier Shu! will be on exhibit until Jan. 7,1986 as a Hanukkah gift from the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society to the Jewish community.
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Ti^orism called intematfonal affair
New Vprif — A multi-national anti-terrorist commando ;. unit and EUi international convention against terrorism, int eluding' mandatory extradition, were advocated by a panel I of counter terrorism experts. [' The experts spoke at an Anti-Defamation League of !. B'nai B'rith news conference held to inake a year-end evalI uation of the state of international terrorism and assess \ . prospects for 1986^ [.. Abraham H. Foxman, associate national director of the i League and head of its International Affairs Division who f-presided, asserted that "terrorism is the greatest threat to i democratic society both here and abroad." He said an ex[ amination of the dimensions of the terrorist problem is vitally needed to pave the way for future American goveminent actions to combat terrorism. Taking part in the news conference were: Yoram Dinstein, professor of law at Tel Aviv University and visiting professor of law at New York University; —Dr. Eric Willenz, senior associate at the Carnegie En'. dowment for International Peace and former member of the State Department unit dealing with counter intelligence af&DSt terrorism; —Dr. Yonah Alexander, professor and director of the Institute for Studies in International Terrorism at the State University of-New York'and a senior research member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Georgetown University; . —Tom Sheer, deputy assistant director in charge, FBI-New York; ^ —Edward J.O'Sullivan, manager of special planning, public safety department, of the Fort Authority of New York and New Jersey. Dr. Alexander, warned that in 1986 there could be "escalation" of terroristlncidents, such as the Achille Lauro hijacking and added that "nuclear terrorism" may be around the comer." He emphasized that "Americans are the number one target." . To respond to this threat. Dr. Alexander urged the setting up of an "international commando unit by likeminded democratic states "including the United States and other Westem European nations. "Otherwise," he said, "the world will remain hostage to these blacinnailers." Dr. Alexander also called for tntemational diplomatic or military measures to isolate nations, such as Libya, which > support terroiiam. The year 1985, according to the SUNY professor, mqy "go down as the bloodiest ever when all the statistics fie counted." From January to September, he said, there were at least 2,265 terrorist incidents worldwide, resulting-MI 4,9ea>death8 and 3,0(M wounded. ' Proil Dinstein, said there is a need for "collective" ae! curity against terror just im there was against intemationa] agBression in the 1930s.
tied together the themes of Easter and the Rebirth with By CIaadi» SheAbn Eight community service projects have been nominated the eight days of Passover and the Exodus. Sister Ann Gillen, a Catholic nun and executive director^ for this yeaVs Community Service Award which will be of the Inter-Religious Task Force on Soviet Jewry, spoke presepted during the annual meeting of the Jewish Fedabout 'the- oppression of Soviet Jews. One-hundred-fifty eration of Omaha and its agencies on Jan., 12, 1986 at the Jewish Commuiiity Center. The award was first presented people attended the program which had never been at^ in 1979 to recognize excellence in programming by Jewish tempted in Omaha previously. community organizations. ' The Women's Plea for Soviet Jewry was nominated for The Adolescent Prejudice Reduction Workshop, the Community Service Award by NCJW, national connominated for the Community Service Award by the ADL/ veners of this project. CRC, brought together representatives from school disbWomen Helping Women" was planned by th» Jewish tricts, community organizations, religious institutions and Family Life Education Committee of Jewish family Service. From teenaged to aged women, from mother-daughter corporations this past Nov. 22 at the JCC. and mother-sen relationships to couple conflict, from manTwo-hundred-fifteen high school students from Valley, Elkhom, Bellevue, OmahA and Papillion participated in the aging a Jewish home to working mothers, from depression day-long seminar on prejudice and stereotyping. The to assertiveness these sessions were offered to the coibyoungsters also were given the opportunity to shale their munity-at-large with special emphasis for Jewish women. More tlian 20 professionals from the community prefeeliiws and attitudes with others whom they mi^ not sented the topics related to ^heir own specific expertise. have met otherwise. More than 2&0.>participated in the programs which were In addition, the 45-memberupIanning committee with scheduled throughout the days and evenings of a two-month representatives from Offiitt Air Force Base, the Urban League of Nebraska Boys Town, NAACP, InterNorth Inc., period.' Northwestern Bell andthe JCC agreed to remain intact as B'nai B'rith Women of Omaha provided an opportunity an educational group to work with the ADL/CRC in elim- ' for the Omaha community to learn about the disease osteoporoeis. Those who attended the program were ininating bigotry and prejudice in our community. formed about the problems and the prevention of the Another community-wide event, the Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service on April 21 at First United disease. Dr. Jeffrey Passer provided each individual who attended with an on-the-spot personal evaluation of his or Miethodist Church opened the 1985 Yom Hashoah program. her tendency toward osteoporosis. The following night^nteinational Nazi hunter Beate The concept of Tzedakah was emphasized at a Ship^aKlarsfeld lectjjred_aj^th Bl Synagogue. Several hundred people^vt^n^fd each of the programs which were co-sponBox program given by NCJW in November. Ship-a-Box is sored by the ADL/CRC and the Jewish Cultural Arts Couna community service project of NCJW, who nominated the program. cil. ^ . The children who attended the NCJW-sponsored portion The interfaith service was planned and led by clergy from of the HanUkkah program at the JCC that day contributed various religions. A candle-lighting ceremony, led by chilnew gift items which will he sent to children in Israel. The dren of Holocaust survivors, commemorated the memory Omaha youn^ters also were shown a film about the Shipof those who perished at the hands of the Nazis. Civic leadarBox project. Then they (iarticipated in a number of Haers, including Mayor Michael Boyle, attended. nukkah workshops. Seeking \a educate our community about the problems On December 9, 1984, the, Mamaloshen Society of of all religions in the Soviet Union as well as in cither Iron Curtain countries, the ADL/CRC,. the Union of Councils Omaha was bom. 27 people attended that first meeting. Now there are more than 200 dues-paying Mamaloshen Sofor Soviet Jewry and the Jewish Federation of Omaha joined ' ' with the National Council of Jewish Women last March 30 ciety n^embers. Under the auspices of the Jewish Cultu)[al Arts Council, in the Women's Plea for Soviet Jewry. Designed'to raise the consciousness of both Jews and Gentiles, this program (continued on page 2) ' '^
Focus on _youth The Moses Maimbnides' 860th Birthday Celebration held December 15 at the Jewish Community Center was focused on children of ail ages. Over 100 children ages 3 to 13 participated in the festivities. This included a large contingent from Lincoln, Nebraska.. Activities included lunch, a film, live theater and dance performances, arts and crafts and birthdAy cake for all. The program was co-sponsored by H^dassah, the Jewish Culture'! Arts Coaacil,' th« Dance, "theater, and Film CojnmUtees of the JCC and the Jewish Federation Library. Performances featured t|ie Children's Pfrfairmance Workshop, the JCC Youog Dancers Woskshbp and the HadaawUh Dancers. "As the' photos show, a good . time was had by ail." •ceordiag to Sasan Paloy, JCAC College of Jewish Learning ChairnMi.