SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXV No. II Omaha, Nabr.
UAHC to convene conference on rural crisis in America le Midwest Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations announced that it will convene a major regional conference on the Rural Crisis in America to take place at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis on March 21 and 22 of this year. - The conference title, "Building new alliances: The urban stake in the rural crisis" underscores a major purpose of the meeting—to bring together members of synagogues and churches, Jewish communal agencies, clergy, farmers and others concerned with agricultural issues. The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the parent body of 800 Reform Temples which represent 1.6 million Jews, is sponsoring this conference under the aegis of its Midwest Council, which serves the 63 Reform Temples located in 12 states in the heartland of the United States. A cosponsor of the conference is the Union's National Commission <m Social Aetion, which recently passed a resdution which called for educational and informational programs
designed to inform congregations as to the urban and Jeirish stake in the farm crisis which is currently afflicting middle America. The March conference in St. Louis is designed to educate urban residraits about major issues and questions concerning agriculture and food policy. The keynote address will be given by James Hightower, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, and a series of practical workshops and panels will focus on such issues as agriculture policies, new legislation, building effective ruralurban coalitions, issues of rural antiSemitism, and the role of churches and synagogues in woriqng towards solutions to the rural crisis. In addition to the workshc^ and panels, there will be exhibits and materials which highlight the key issues of the rural crisis in America. The closing session on March 22 will feature an address by Rabbi David Saperstein, co-director and counsel of the UAHC's Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C.
ll'®(§ms ®ffi fecSoffsftSom By Joanie Jacobson Federation pnbUc relations director
Teachin' the teach' Helen Epstein, teacher: JCC Pre-School JMlx.{Ia|Mhnin, jt^acher United Talmud Torah of Omaha' Benee KaAor, teacher Temple Inael I JLocUla Sknnders, teacher The Jewish Day L School [. Whether it's how to tell a story, how to ', ask the right questions, how to make a menorah or how to challenge a young, Jewish ' mind, the Bureau of Jewish Education's InService Teacher Workshops should get an "A." Once a month, teachers like Helen, Judy, Renee and Lucille come together to learn. "So, what do they do at these In-Service WcHksh(^?" you ask. Good question. Let's have the teachers tell you. Who wants to be first? Okay... Judy Handleman. "My favorite was Annette Harrison, master storyteller, from St. Louis. The minute I walked in, I was excited. She looked like ; a storyteller... Cinderella shoes—those soft, black flats with a strap across the anIda; a long, flowing skirt with big pockets and a fiill-aleevod sweater, belted at the waist. "I do Btoiytelling all the time, but this was difierent TIM meesage was to'dose the book md tell the story.' Objects in her pockets became like props in a play. She was every person and every animal in the story and spoke beautifully with her hands. She got us out of our chairs. Everyone participated. She really had talent... I was ^ad I came." Lucille, let's hear from you. "Thanks to the 'Make-It, Take-It' workshop presented by the Kohl Jewish Teacher Center in Chicago, we have a new member of our classroom. It's a life-size doll we call 'Shalom.' Shalom is un-gendered, and each ' di^, the children dedde whether it will be a boy or girl and dress him or her accordingly. We change its expression to reflect our feelings or thoughts. Every day, Shalom makes a different statement. It has become a very intimate part of our classroom. "I take notes and keep file on all workshops. Let's see... Bloom's Taxonomyquestioning sldlls that make the child dig deeper. Take the story of Noah's Ark: How would you build an ark today? Design a n^idal (md show where the animals are kept. How¥li«m they kept? Invite your friends to come aboard. "It's wonderful. It gives these children a chance to be creative and think. That's
when they really learn." ^H^en JBpatein is next. "Tliese workshops can be pretty revealing. Telling stories to the children was easy, but the minute I stood in front of adults, I freaked. I got tongue-tied, stammered, giggled, then finally got a hold of myself. In fact, I got so engrossed in listening to my group tell the story, I forgot my part! Jane West had to prompt me'... and the narrator said ...!' You know, it's not easy to tell a good story. "The Kohl workshop was an eyeopener—standard public, school teaching tools could be adapted for Jewish content. They suppUed everything—paper, tape, brads, glue and a folder full of patterns. New uses for old things—the possibiUties were endless. I need things like this to keep from getting stale." And finally, Renee Kazor. "I'm a first-year teacher at Templefourth grade. Iliere are bright children in my class who need to be challenged. I've learned how to relate their feelings to Jewish heroes and heroines like Judah Maccabee, Abraham, Hillel, Emma Lazarus and Anatoly Shcharansky. I've been raminded that a classroom should look exciting. So, every week I bring something new to look at.. .80 that it's not just aroom. I've been offered new ideas on presenting and reviewing. Evoy four weeks, we play Jewish Jei^ ai^y. I like to review to see how well I've done my job. ° "I'm hdping to shf^ie the lives of these children. I am a guide. I want to give them positive Jewish experiences in the classroom. Hillel said, 'That is the whole Torah—the rest is but cummentaiy. Now go and learn.' We teachers must also go and learn. That's why we have in-service training. What difference does it make where we teach? We're all Jews, bringing ideas together." "Thanks to Federation dollars, the InService Workshops provide a vehicle for cooperation between teachers and schoob," concludes Susie Drazen, Bureau Interim Director. ""There's sbmething to learn from absolutely everyone—from administrators to first-year teachera We're not such a large community that we can afford not to share." Teachin' the Teach'—a tribute to the Bureau of Jewish Education, itsteachers and schools.
29 Tavat, 5747 Friday, Jmuary 30, 1887
Federation Campaign announces Divisional Captains By Joanie Jaoobaoa Federation public relations director Eighty-seven men and women will serve as Divisional Captains for the 1987 Federation Campaign, announced Leonard Lewis, Men's chairman, and Joan Lehr, Women's chairman, in an all-out joint effort to involve the entire Jewish community from beginning to end. "I'm very grateful to each and every man working on the Campaign," said Mr. Lewis. "Asking others to make a contribution to ensure the survival and enhancement of Jewish values is in keeping with the finest traditions of our people. I hope their efforts on our behalf will be generously received." "These women feel a genuine commitment to the Omaha Jewish community ," continued Mrs. Lehr, "and to Jewish people around the world. They're setting an example of leadership and responsibility and workjng hard to ensure a vibrant, quality Jewish life for themselves and thfeir families. Captains for the Women's Divisions are as fellows: Leadership ($600-$l,499)—Jeanette Nadoff, Sihia Roffinan, Faye Ruback, Betty Studna; Life Saver («260-$499|-Aileen Eisenstatt, Jan Glass, Patty Nogg, Joie Simon; Heritage |$1504249)-Donna Hersch, Doris Koom, Beth Leeds, Linda Patton, Charlotte iSotzky, Joye Wees; Initial Gifts ($100-$149)-Eleanor Feldman, tCate IHrahanb«Uin< Jane Kulakotsky, DiarnvMalaahock, Maiida Pitkr. Suaan Shyken; Easiness amft^rofessional—Susan Budwig, Debbie Denenberg, Eunice Denenberg,
Jean Duitch, Penny Endelman, Arlene Goodman, Bobbi Leibowitz, Patricia Newman, Ozzie Nogg, Noelle Rips, Muriel Steinberg, Carolyn Stem. Captains for the Men's Divisions are as follows: Grand Oifte ($l,600-$4,999)-Edward Bdgrade, Jay Chasen, Steve Epstein, Lloyd Friedman, Willard FViedman, Don Goldstein, Jerry Hoberman, Keith Josephson, Larry Josephson, Kevee Kirshenbaum, Jarold Kohll, Marshall Kushner, Dick Martin, Yale Rii±ards, Steve Riekes, Ernie Wintroub, Richard Zacharia, Warren Zweiback; LeadmUp ($60041,499)-Al Abramson, Ronald Brodkey, Jerry Dann, Bruce Friedlander, Michael Gallner, Mark Goldstrom, Richard Jacobson, Gary Ktqplan, Forrest Knitter, Paul Landow, Joel Patton, Steve Pitlor, Harold Zabin, Barry Zpob; Donors (S201-$699)-Gary Goldstein, Carl Greenberg, Bruce Gutnik, Bob Hurwitz, Marshall Lewis, BiD Rosen, Lecn Wintroub, Marty Wolf; Bnilders ($100-t200)-Ken Bassik, Jim Breael, Randy Endelman, Allan Gonsher, Robert Goodman, Alan Hersch, David Kot^ Len Shefren; Young Man—Stuart Giller, Bruce Goldberg, Robert Greenbo^, Myron Kaplan, Jim Lukasiewicz, Gary Ostrow, David Rips, SteveZalkin; Oldtimws—Gerald Bemstien, Irving Fofbee, Max Givot, Art Grosaman, Sam Kohn, Maurice Katz, Sam Kaplan, Sol Mann, Milt Mai^ioUit. BuUil RMtaei-; Hany Seiner, George Scluq;iiro, Harry Schulman, Sam Shyken, Henry Stem, Norman Wohlner, Sam Zweiback.
Senator Kennedy speaks to JNF dinner attendees . "While Israel bravely struggles to make peace with her neighbors, the Reagan Administration has repeatedly attempted to launch yet another unacc^table round of arms sales to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other nations that are the sworn enemies of Israel," said Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts at a recent testimonial dinner in Philadel(thia sponsored by the Jewish National Fund. "I oppose these arm sales," Senator Kennedy continued. "We do not seek a confrontation mth the Administration, but neither will we remain silent while they pursue arms deals that could endanger Israel." Massachusetts Senator E!dward M. Kennedy (left), joins On the issue of Soviet Marmon, president, Philadelphia JNF, and Mrs. MarJewry and emigration, Mr. Allan mon at a recent JNF testimonial dinner honoring two Kennedy said, "We plead strong supporters of JNF and Israel, Allen K. Fox, chief for the freedom of our financial officer, Careercom Corporation, and Suzan Fox, brothers and sisters con- accomplished graphic artist. demned in the Soviet Union to prison cells or exile for their heritage." cold-blooded pirates who slaughtered Leon He added, "Jewish emigration is still at un- Klinghoffer, an elderly man in a wheelchair. acceptably low levels. Only 1,100 were per- They are cowards who murdered Jews wormitted to depart in 1986, compared to a shipping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem high of 61,000 in 1979. The red flag of the and in the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Soviet Union may symbolize the forces that Istanbul." oppress Jews, but no hammer can ever "We cannot remain silent while nations blunt their spirit, and no sickle can ever de- such as Syria, Libya and Iran provide safe stroy their faith." haven and support for these fanatics," he "We must fight oppression and terror added. "The thugs who prey on innocent wherever they occur," the senator said, civilians deserve no hiding place, anyplace turning his attention to world terrorism. on earth." Mr. Kennedy asserted, "Justice "The events of .the last year once again proved to all the world that the PLO ter- shall prevail-^not through the bomb or the rorists are not freedorii-fighters. They are bullet, but through the path ot peace."