8ERVIN6 NEBRASKA AND IOWA SMCC 1920 LXffl No. 10 Omata, IM».
Rod appointed by Federation ^teven J. Rod, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, will be the new executive vice president of the Jewiafci FMbration of Omalu. Hit selection an the top professional in the Federation was approved hy the Federation's Board of Directors TViesday nixht. Mr. Rod had l)een recommended by the Search 'Committee followin); interview's with several out-ofSteven Rod state candidates. He Will assume his new duties Feb. 24. Mr. Rod was appointed to direct the Center in December, 1960 following the reBignation of Phil Cofman, In 1982, he also was given the responsibility of managing the Federation campus. Cisiropus buildings include the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and the Livingston Plaza Apartments as well as the JCC. The appointment of Mr. Rod as Federation executive vice president fills the vacancy created upon the resignation of Allan Greene last May. Meanwhile, a Search committee under the chairmanship of Robert Zuber has been appointed by Norman Sheldon, JCC president, to find a new director for the Center. In Omaha, the Federation conducts the annual fundraising campaign lor the benefit of local services and Israel. In addition, the Federation allocates the funds raised to Israel and the local operating agencies: Jewish Community Center, Bureau fur the Aging, Library, Jewish Family Ser' vice,jjewiah Press, Bureau of Jewish Education and Community Relations. Each .^0tDcy operates independently with it^ own board > of difectors, although the Federation board has the ultim6te~ la^al responsibility for all actions. " The Federation also supplies central services such as accounting, secretarial, and facilities for the operating agen-
Fed^ation offers scholarships, loans By Jonathan Roaenbaum ' The Financial Aid Committee of the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Jewish Federation of Omaha has announced that scholarships and loans are available through funds of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Eight endowmenl.i now provide funds for students from preschool through graduate school. Many of the scholarships provide fundii for Omaha's Jewish college students. The Financial Aid Committee also announced that incoming and present college students are invited to apply for funds for the 19A6-87 academic year. Applications are available through the Bureau of Jewish Education, 333 South 132nd Street, Omaha, NE, 68154. Applications may also be secured by calling Joan Pecoraro at the Bureau, 334-8200, Ext. 210. Applications for college scholarships miist be submitted hy March 1, 1986. In 1985, the Financial Aid Committee awarded almost $45,000 to local Jewish young people to attend universities, and to participate in Jewish camping experiences, trips to Israel, Jewish preschool and day school programs. Some $22,(KX) was awarded to college students to help supplement the increasing costs of higher education. Despite the substantial awards, spokesmen lor the Bureau of Jewish Education indicate that needs for scholarships and loans are constantly increasing. Among the scholarships and loans available are the following: Freshman Scholanhlpa — Income of the Nancy and Don prieenberg Scholarship is awarded 6aich year to a Jewish resident of Omaha who is enb^ring his/her freshman year of college. Candidates who have earned no more than a "B" average in high school are eli^ble. General Undergraduate Scholarahip — LoU Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fas' — provides annual grahta of up to $1,000 each to eoilege students who demonstrate superior academic performance, eztncurricular involvement, and fmancial need; Baairioe and Nate H. Shariaaii ScholaraUp Fund — provide* grant* in •mount* dtaifMted Iv the Financial Aid Committee to Jawiah undarlnduatae tnaHb$J>m»i» ana. Uadargradwit* LoaM '- TkdDmnA'K. Beber Schol(continued on page 10)
21 tlwvM, S748 Fikhqr. JwMMry 31,1986
Catholics, Jews recognize anniversary of prodamatbn By Jill Kushner Belmont AMiisUnt Director, ADL/CRC The Omaha Catholic and Jewiih communities will come together at Creighton University on Feb. 9 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Nostra Aetate," the Vatican II proclamation which formally denounced anti-Semitism, according to Sheldon Filger, Plains States regional director of the Anti-Defamation League/Community Relation Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. The ADL/CRC, Creighton University and the Archdiocese of Omaha are sponsoring the 7 p.m. community program, to be held at Walsh Lecture Hall at the Eppley College of Business. The theme of the evening, "Catholic-Jewish Relationa: Twenty Years of Progress," will be the subject of in-depth presentations to be made by the evening's guest speakers, the Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, a Catholic Servite priest from Chicago, and Rabbi Leon Klenicki, director of Interreligious Affairs for ADL in New York. Both men are leading authorities in the fleld of Catholic-Jewish relations, Mr. Filger said, and will provide an evening of valuable and educational insights regarding the heightened understanding l)etween the two denominations. The declaration in 1965 by Vatican II recognized Judaism for the fiAt time as a valid, complete religion; the previous Catholic view of Judaism was that it was invalidated by the New Testament, and that the Jews' only salvation was conversion, Mr. Filger sqid. In addition, maj^r changes in Catholicism's teachings have occurred, including a repudiation of the deicide charge, which stated that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus, Mr. Filger said. The two presentations wiltJae followed by a panel discussion comprised of the following clergy: Rabbi Stephen Barack, Temple Israel; Rabbi Myer S. Kripke, Rabbi Emer-
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itus, Beth El; the Rev. Val J. Peter, director of Father Flanagan's Boys' Home; and the Rev. Roliert F. Priesinger, director of the Ecumenical Affairs Commission of the Archdiocese of Omaha. Moderator for the evening wjll be the Rev. Richard Hauser, S.J., chairman of the Theology Department at Creighton. "This is a very important progtam for the Jewish community to attend," Mr. Filger said. "The Catholic (immunity has made a major effort to instill a better understanding of Judaism, and the opportunity to celebrate the impact of Nostra Aetate is not one to be missed." After a question and answer session, a reception will be hosted by Creighton University President Michael G. Morrison will be held at 9 p.m. in the Union Pacific Room on the lower level of the Rainert Alunuii Memorial Library. The program and the reception arehoth free of < open to the community.
protests despite threats By Morria Maline "I'm not brave, I'm just a Jew ... we've been scapegoats for 5,000 years, and I'm just, tired of it." With these words, Kearney farmer Gary Goldberg explained why he took such an active role in protesting the appearance of Heritage Library members at a so-called "farm convention." As a result of protests from Mr. Goldberg and others in Kearney, the Holiday Inn iii that community canceled the reservation for the farm rally. And following the holding of the rally in a substitute location, Mr. Goldl)erg was advised of a threat against him. In a telephone interview with the Jewish Press, Mr. Goldberg said the threat was disclosed to him by state and local law enforcement officials. Mr. Goldberg said he was advised to leave town and that the Governor's mansion in Lincoln was made available to him for the weekend. "I was scheduled to be in Lincoln anyway to attend the Executive Board meeting of the State Democratic Party so I just took my wife and our son and we stayed in a hotel." Mr. Goldberg, Third Congressional District Democratic chairman, also is a Kerrey appointee to the-Nebraska Ga-
Judith Resnik dies in shuttle disaster Judith Resnik of Akron, Ohio, the secorid female astronaut and the first American Jew .to enter outer space, perished with the crew of space shuttle Challenger 'Hiesday morning. Dr. Resnik, a mission specialist with a PhD in electrical engineering, was one of six crew members on the space shuttle Discovery which went into orbit in August, 1984. A^that titne she annouiiced on the shuttle.radio, "The Earth looks great." Dr! Besnik, 36, became a bat mitrvah in Akron and continued the study of Hebrew in high school. Her paternal grandpaieAts left Kiev in the 1920* because (^ persecution. They settled in Palestine. Hv fiither, Dr. Marvin Resnik, studiM in a ysohhia: in PJi)^(n» before moving tp the Ignited State*. JH* i* ail qptopetrist and an a^vetjmgjbinrof Aiuron'«J*«i||i<'
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sohol Copimisaion. Meanwhile, the Sheriff's patrol watched the Goldberg farm and upon finding no signs of vandalism or damage said they felt it safe for Mr. Goldberg to retuni. Mr. Goldberg raises corn and soybeans and feeds pigs. He owns 140 acres and rents 240 acres. "I'm just a farmer, I have the same anxiety, the same stresses that other farmers have, and I'm just mad that Heritage Library people could come in here (Kearney) and point fingers and i'md reasons to blame Jews." He said the Heritage Library people, the Rev. Everett Siliven and State Sen. Ernie Chambers are not farmers. "Those who were looking for ariswers to loan problems, foreclosures and the loan rate on com didn't find answers." Mr. Goldberg said he was "particularly disappointed" that the so-called fundamentalists who support the Rev. Mr. Siliven were not among the protestors. "If this had been a pro-choice meeting or an anti-apartheid conference, they would have been out here in force ... it just seems that they pick and choose their moral issues." Mr. Goldberg said that he has received much understanding from Albion farmer-rancher Jim Wolf "who had to deal with anti-Semitism a few years ago when he campaigned against State Sen. John DeCamp. "I'm a non-violent person, but I'm not going to allow neo-Nazis to come into this community without protesting," Mr. Goldberg said.
Federation plans newcxxners brunch Newcomers to the Omaha community will be welcomed on Feb. 9 at a brunch sponsored by the Shalom Omaha Newcomers Committee. Connie Slutzky and Bobbi Leibowitz are co-chairmen for the event to be held at the home of Nancy and Shelly Rip*, 330 South 93 Street. "This gathering will give the newcomers the opportunity to meet both other newcomers and members of our committeej" said Mrs. Slutcky. "A short film to be viewed will acquaint them with th« service* available in our Jewish community," she added. Invitations hove been mailtd to all aingl** and couples who have recently novfd to Qmahi and nUb^ contact with « «nagofae ot^ ftWwMpu TboM Moi^iiJiiit «bC>t have nukl* that «pataet lilwwld lika to attend the biNineh should caU BtU* iWner at the VUHXtkm office, 334-8aoa