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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXIII No. 22 Omaha, Neb.
Adar I, S746 Friday, February
Closing remarks jolt Pacesetters outpace '85 Cathdic/Jewish dialogue with 22% gain likely By Morria Maline Closing remarks by two Omaha rabbis jolted an otherwise placid meeting of Jews and Catholics at Creightori University Sunday night. Rabbi Myer Kripke, rabbi emeritus, Beth El Synagogue, said "Jews cannot forget 2,000 years of perbt-cution and cannot forget that Catholic teaching Was a major contribution to the Holocaust." And Rabbi Stephan F.' Barack, of Temple Israel, called upon Omaha's church leaders to .speak out against anti-Sennitism. The rabbis' remarks came at the end of,a two-hour scholarly presentation arrange<E. to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Nostni, Aetate." This declaration, issued by the Second Vatican Council oa Catholic-Jewish relations, formally denounced anti-Semitism as church doctrine. About 150 attended, including the Rev. Michael 0. Morrison, S.J., president, Creighton University. The rnajor speakers were Rabbi Leon Klenicki, director of Interreligious Affairs, Anti-Defamation League, New York, and the Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, a Catholic Servite priest from Chicago. Klenicki suggested that the 20 years of dialogue were in reality a monologue with the Christians talking and the Jews listening. "Dialogue demands respect for the other as a person of God which has not been tiiie reality for the past 2,000 years." Klenicki said that both Jews and Christians "as people of Cod" must face together the new diabolic force running rampant in the world. He said that the church "deploring" antiSemitism is not enough, adding that the Holocaust was not a Jewish event in Europe but a combined failure of witnessing God in Western Civilization. Klenicki also suggested that Christians study Genesis where they will find God promising the "Promised Land" to the Jews.
"Israel is not an invention of the Zionists' and a papal ambastisdor to Israel would help bring peace to that region," he added. Pawlikowski called for a commitment to partnership between Jews and Catholics to battle secularism and religious fanaticism. "If we are going to prevent either of these forces from dominating us, we must form a coalition of openminded religious people who are able to say that God dwells in each of our brothers' faiths." Pawlikowski said the past 20 years has made a difference bringing people together in a "quiet but substantial revolution." He said that must Catholic theologians now believe that there is a "group emphasis, an intimate bonding" with the Jewish people that Christianity has with no other religion. "When Christianity looks at its heart, it sees Judaism". Pawlikowski also .said that the guidelines for implementation of Nostra Aetate expand the horizons of dialogue. "We now look upon the Hebrew scriptures as a fundamental basis of a sound spirituality and recognize that the New "Testament is a truncated vers^n of Jesus' teaching." As a respondent, Kripke said that 20 years cannot erase 20 centuries and that most Jews.have real objections over the "low priority" that the church attaches to improved relations. In Omaha, he stfid, most Catholic teach-' ers have not even read the implementation notes and that while there are hundreds of sermons about abortion, there are none about the Holocaust. Barack suggested two proposals to make some sort of favorable impact in this life. He suggested that immediate attention be given to providing more education about "our respective faiths." His second point referred to the memory of the Jews and the "frightening" aspects of anti-Semitism. "Speak oiit against it, as we are most sensitive to it," he asserted. The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue was cosponsored by AUL, the Archdiocese of Omaha, the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation and Creighton University. Participating in the Catholic/Jewish dialoKue, below, are from left, the Rev. Val J. Peter, director of Father Flanagan's Boys' Home; the Rev. Robert F. Preisinger, director of the Ecumenical Affairs Commission, Archdiocese of Omaha; Rabbi Stephan F. Baracli, Temple Israel; and Rabbi Myer S. Kripke, rabbi emeritus, Beth El Synagogue. At left are main speakers, Rabbi Leon Klenicki and the Rev. John J. Pawlikowski.
By Morris Maline The Pacesetter Division of the Men's Campaign announced a likely 22 per cent increase over its 1985 performance at the close of the Irving R. Levine dinner IWsday night at the Highland Country Club. Phil Schrager, cu-chairman, told the 125 guests that while all the cards were not yet in, those collected hy Jewish Press deadline accounted for a 22 per cent gain. His announcement followed a wide-ranging talk by NBC's Mr. Levine on the economies of Israel and the United States with a partial excursion into foreign affairs. He pointed out, for example, that any action (QT Khadafy tu intercept an Israeli airliner may trigger an American military response. "The people in Washington are taking his threats seriously and the fact that our'fleet is close to Libya is no accident." He said there are many in the government who "hope" the scenario will take place so it will give the Uni Ad States an opportunity to "punish" Libya. Mr. Levine also discussed Israeli relations with the Soviet Union hinting that the release of Anatoly Shcharansky may be one additional sign of a warming relationship. "The Soviets may be trying to defuse the human rights issue before the second summit."
He spoke of a "major turnaround" in the Israeli economy as a result of the coalition government following a policy of auaterity as outlined by an American commission. "This called for massive wage and price controls, dropping inflation there from an annual rate of 400 per cent to 30-36 per cent." Mr. Levine said that Secretary of State George Shultz has emerged as a "strong friend" of Israel. "He is disappointed with the Arabs and now is cautious about United States leadership in the peace process." Mr. Levine pointed out that considerations for Middle East peace now are tied to Israeli politics and the forthcoming elections in the United States. He said Jordan's Hussein wants to recover land he lost, Arafat wants an independent Palestinian state, and that Peres seeks an opportunity to call a special election. On the. United States economy, the NBC commentator said he was "optimistic" considering the moderate rate of inflation, steady interest rates and the predicted slow growth. "The problem is the huge deficit, but even this is manageable."
An Omaha welcx)me The Omaha Jewish community welcomed more than 30 newcomers at a brunch last Sunday at the home of Nancy and Shelly Rips (ranter). At left is Bobbi Leibowitz and at right is Connie Slutzky, co-chairmen for the event. The paper plates, donated by Paper Plus, say "Omaha Welcomes 'You!" More photos next week.
S. Elmer Gross dies; led Federation in '70s
S. Elmer Gross, a past president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha and a prominent builder in this city died Feb. 7 after a long illness. Services were held Feb. 9 at Temple Israel with burial in Golden HUI Cemetery. In addition to S. Elmer Gnas his wife, Marian, Mr. Gross is survived by brothers, Gerald and Gordon; and sister, Sally Mala8hock,aU
of Omaha. Mr. Gross was president of the Federation during the early 19708 when the new JCC was being planned. J^r. Gross' activities in Omaha Jewish affsirs included leadership positions in Israel Bonds. As a builder, Mr. Gross was responsible for the construction of numerous office buildings, apartment houses, warehouses and homes, including many residences on Dillon Drive. In later years, Mr. Gross became ill with Alzheimer's disease and resided in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. The family has suggested memorials to the Home.
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