SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920
• Tavat, S747 FrMay, January •, 1M7
Vol. LXV No. 15 Omaha, Nabr.
Annual meeting takes place Sunday at 7:15 p.m. In JCC By Mwris Maline The annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Omaha will talcs place Sunday at 7:15 p.m. in the theater of the Jewish Community Center. Among the activities scheduled are the election and installation of officers, the
Contestants chosen
Mayor meets 'mom' Oty PUimiiig DineUx Marty Shukert intradaces Us grandmother, Rose Meyerson, to Mayor Mike Boyle Monday dming a meeting of the Yoting Energede Seniors group at the Jewish Comawidty Centw. Mr. Sholurt accompanied die mayor on Us canipaign to defeat ^ recall election and told the groop that it wasn't often he had an opportunity to^teak and find Va grandmother in the audience. The mayor alao sp<Ae to B'nai B'lith gnarfywakaw Wa^Mtd^r at noon in Howard Johaaon's lestanrant.
In a random drawing from the entries submitted, Margo Riekes, chairman of the Annual Meeting Committee of the Jewish Federation piclced nine contestants for the "Wheel of Federation" quiz show. The following contestants will compete for prizes on Sunday evening, Jan. 11, at 7:15 p.m. in the JCC theater: Lois Bernstein, Ron Cooper, Howard Epstein, Jeff Farber, Art Grossman, Phyllis Hoffman, Janette Salkin, Lynne Saltzman and Judy Siff. The contestants will be vying for prizes donated by Allen Furniture, Borsheim's, J.B. Patton, W<M^d Radio and Zoob's. Consolation prizes wUl be provided by Spirit World. "Thanks to the gencttus donors, all 'Wheel of Federati(»' contestants will be winners," said Mrs. Riekes. *^- "I wish all the contestants good luck and hope that everyone will have fun being a part of this activity sponsored by our Jewish Federation," Mrs. Ridtes addad.
presentation of reports and Itonoring those community members receiving awards. In addition, a game modded aft«' the television show, Wheel of Fortune, will be presented with 'live' contestants and real prizes. Participating in the program will be the following: - Margo Riekes, annual meeting chairman; Steven Rod, executive vice president; Mort Trachtenbarg, president; Joan Lehr, Howard Kooper and Tom FeUman, 1986 campaign report, and Howard Kaslow, 1986 campaign award presentation. Ilene Kledn ?nll present the agency volunteer of the year awards, and Sanford Friedman will give out the Justin Greenberg memorial yoimg leadership award. Sharon Cipperley will present the IXHS Jeanne Schrager memorial young leadership award, and Andrea Gordman will handle the Jewish teen leadership awards. Mr. Trachtenbarg will recognize outgoing agency presidents, and Milton Abrahams will install agency officers and board members. Howard Ruback will present the Federation Nominating Committee report and Mr. Abrahams will install Federation officers and board members. A reception will follow the program.
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Biblical standards of beiiity resemble our own By Rabbi B«mard S. Raakaa (Copyright 1967, Jewiah Tale^prapUe Agmcy, lac) When the patriarch Jacob was knking for a biide he came to t^ house of hia kinanan Laban. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. According to the practice of the times, Jacob shoiuid have chosen the oUer. But the biWcal taxt says, "Leah's eyes were ddicate, but Rachel was of beautiful form and i^pearaiice." DalQab amfled at Samsdo and he was lost King David had many wivea, but when be sawBathsheba bathing, he bdiavad mprehensivdy, arranging for her hnAandto be sent to war and killwi, and than taking h«r for himself. Nothing is known about Eve'a vital atatJaN^, end hi any cifae Adam ladced means ofcoai^adww.' Baanty is in the eye of the beholder. Standards vary from age to age, from re-
Mmjster Peretz By Hugh Orgei TEL AVIV (JTA) - Interior Minister Yitzhak Peretz resigned rather than confirm the Jewiah identity of a person converted by a Reform rabbL In his letter of resignation to Ptiomier Yitzhak Shamir, whkh he read to the media before reading it to the Knesset, Peretz, who heads the Orthodox Shaa Party, denounced Reform converaioiis as a "travesty" that threatened "the survival of the Jewish peoiJe." • Accordinf to the law, a Miniater'a rerignatlon takei effect 49 hours after it is submitted, ^k^'ooalition members, mainly Likud MS«, trivi to persuade PereU to withdnwUI iwignatkn, but be inaiated his decision was nnid. Nevertheleas, Shaa, with a foitt-man Knesaet factlin, is eqwcted to ronain in the unity ooaUtlao fovernment, though without Cabinet repteslBDtation.
gion to region. Yet, from early excavations in the Middle East it is possible to reconstruct some rough ideas of ideal beauty that are remarkably similar to those of modem Jewish circles. Upon tnrfmining early female figures as repreaented in idols, we find women repreaented with full breasts and wide h^. lUs probably was related to the ancient conoqit of futility. Large families were bnportant in the biblical economy. They were needed to till the fields, tend orchards and make clothes. Moreover, infant mortality waa high and survival through childhood was chancy. There are words on beauty in "The Song of Songs"—at least from tbuB male point of view. "Your hair is like a flock of goata, trailing down, your teeth are aU shaped alfike, and your nose is like the tower of Ldlv anon," it says. ' To be told that one's nose is like a tower hardly seems like a compliment. Apparently, a large, strai^t nose was a aigh of beanty then. More recently, Jewish women wen having their noses shortened. But after BariHW Streisand, perliaps the biblical view is coming back into vogue. Light skin and fair completion were greatly valued. In "Song of S(wg8," Shulamite, the epitome of biblical radiance, said plaintively, "I am dark, but comely." Then she added by wi^ of explanation, "I am dark because the sun has tanned me." Yet, Moses' second wife was a Kushiti^ J'^^ clearly means black. . . ' Then, as now, women knew how to make themselves attractive. More than 25 words are used in the Bible to describe jew'els and ornaments. Aa it is today, jewdry waa Used aa adornment by the matriarchs^ MHien Abraham's servant waa sent to look for a bride for laaac he found Rebecca. At first he gave h(r "a gol^ noae riac wai^iing half-ashakaL" He alao gaya bar f'tmhraodets weii^iiiig ien Bkaket* tigM and jewela." In the recstttexhlUt of the Moshe Dayan Co&ectioB at tlia lanial Moaeoo iq JicuaIan) are iUuattaMooa in atane4l<a-aaiprlsing variety hairatylaa—long, ahmt or
braided—among women. There evevi is a boufiant, as though the woman just stepped out o^a beauty sh<9. Aj^arently makeup also was used. Among the items found in excavations of thehiblical period are khol jars in many varieties. Khd is blue or reddish brown and a basic ingredient used in eye makeup. Incidentally, Khol's henna coloring is popular with Israeli women today fw dyeing hair because, they maintain, it is natural and non-allergenic. The prophet Isaiah made a thorough study of women and their "wiles." The day will come, Isaiah wrote, when the Lord "wOl take away the bravery of tinkling omameuts about their feet and their headdresses and headbands, the. diains and bracdets, the ornaments and perfume vials, the rings and the nose jewels, the many changes of clothes, the pins..." A recent find in Jeruatdem dated at the time of Isaiah contaiDed six gokl itema, 95 silver items and many perfume containers, lliey were identified as coming from aU over the known worki This reflecta the fact that fashions in Jerusalem were infhienced by
foreign styles and, as today, are international Today in Jerusalem there are beauty shops and fashion stores located near or even precisely at ancient sites. Israeli soaps and creams are made from avocados, shampoos from olive oil, aloes and cactL Hair dyes come from the henna and other plants. Local perfumes are made from the wild flowers of Judea and Samaria as well as those cultivated on kibbutzim, llieir names are Shalom, Masada, Judith, Bat Sheba, Spell of Jerusalem, etc. iWe is even a beauty mud that comes from the Dead Sea called "Jwicho." The Cardo is the recently constructed sh(^>ping area of the first century and serves as a faahion center in Okl Jousalem. A strdl through it Will reveal shops selling Isradi-made leather auch as Beged-Or to Gottex bathing suits, whkh are hig^ fashi(m throughout the workL Locally made jewelry of aQver, gold, and other metala dazde the eye. In addition to modem design they mdude the^ise of ancient glass and coins. It seems Uie more the worid changea, the more it remains the same.
Report links senator with extremist groups „• B^Morria Mallae w - r /• ^fict-lbdflif4npartdnStJiiteSdiatarE^ nest Chambers haa been prqiared by the Anti-Defamatkm League of B'nai B'rith. The re|»rt, titled, "E^neat ChaoriMn: Proffle la Eztroniam", was aelectivdy distributed to State leaders about a mcmth ago, but waamade public this week fdlowing inquiries Sprint and broadcast media, the Jewiak PNM haa learned. According to 'ntaak Santis, director, APL Plains SUtea.Regico in Omaha, this report on S«n. Chambera ia the lateat hi a aaiaa iirf ADL publications dealing with extiemiam and extremist groupa operating in the farm bait He sadd American extremist groups, their bkla for politkal power and the reapectable
sourcee of some of their support, are of continuing ADL conoem. The eodstenoe of such extremists not only imperib the donocratk: fabric of the nation bat poses a potential threat <a increased anti-Semitiam, he added. Mr. Santla pointed cut that the findings of ADL reeeuch and investigative operations are often uaed by the media and by government and law officials concerned mth f««tot«<«{iig community hamumy. The ISitaga report daacribea Sen^^ambera'partk^ation at meetingB of extremirt groupa and tr^ij*— a mmdMr.ofetatementa be haa made with regard to the farm crisis, Jews and land. Copiae of the report may be obtained from the kical ADL office. Euerpta on page 4.