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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920
4 NIaan, 8747 Friday, April 3, 1M7
Vo(. LXV No. 27 Omaha, Nebr.
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Rabbi Kassel Abelson to address women's group
Midwest Branch of Women's League for Conservative Judaism has announced that Rabbi Kassel Abelson will speak at its Spring Conference hosted by Omaha April 2628. Rabbi Abelson, spiritual leader of Beth El Synagogue in __ .u i Minneapohs, is Rabbi Abelson also president of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international organisation of 1200 Conservative rabbis. He will present a Torah study session for the delegates. Rabbi Abelson, a 1943 graduate of New York University, became assistant rabbi at Beth El in 1948 immediately after being ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He has both a master's and a doctorate of Hebrew letters from the Seminary. During the three years he was in Minneapolis, fUbbi Abelson organized the Youtji Program which formed the nucleus for the United Synagogue Youth organization, now an integral part of Conservative Judaism in America. In 1951, Rabbi Abelson left Beth El when he entered the U.S. Air Corps as a chaplain. Statioi»ed in Casablanca, he served not only
Jewish servicemen but also the large Casablanca Jewish community. Returning from overseas in 1953, Rabbi Abelson went to Shearith Israel Synagogue in Columbus, Ga., where during,the four years of his tenure he became recognized as one of the outstanding leaders of Conservative Judaism in the Southeast Region. He returned to Beth El in Minneapolis in 1957 as associate rabbi with Rabbi David Aronson. He became senior rabbi when Rabbi Aronson retired in 1960. In addition to his rabbinic responsibilities, Rabbi .\belson is the convener of the Minnesota Inter-religious Cornmittee, and is co<;hairman of the Minnesota InterReligious Committee on Bio-Medical Ethics. He was a member of the Governor's Advisory Conunittee on the Family and the Mayor's Committee on Civil Liberties. He was also a representative of the State of Minnesota to the White House Conference on the Family in 1980, and he has served on the staff of the St. Paul Seminary. Rabbi Abelson serves on the Talmud Torah Board and the Board of the Federation for Jewish Services in Minneapolis. As the author of several pamphlets, including "A Time of Sorrow," Rabbi Abelson brings his' expertise to the Conference titled "For Everything there is a Season and a Time."
Jeff Taxman leads the children's group in Skybird, a major musical number at Campaign Cabaret. The children from left are: Lance Polikov, Maggie Jacobson, Annie Nogg, Michael Cohn and Gila Drazen. See additional photos on pages 8 and 9.
Campaign Cabaret thrills 900 with musical revue
By Morris Maline (This article includes opinion) Words alone are not enough. You would have to have been there to appreciate Campaign Cabaret. And ahnost 900 were there-offering a standing ovation and screams of delight in \ tribute to the homespun talent of the Jew• ish community. -"Sc»res of singers and dancers joined in a ' Newcomers to musical revue that included a wide.range of Omaha will be welnumbers performed by children and adults comed at a brunch of all ages. on Sunday, April Originally scheduled for last Saturday 26, beginning at 11 night, the dinner and show had to be posta.m. at the home of poned until Monday night because of the Steve and SusaO unseasonal blizzard. Silver. Fortunately, according to the opening an"The Jewish Fednouncement, the orchestra, sound and lighteration of Omaha ing technicians, and Peony Park were availsponsors two adult able for the change in date. newcomer events . Mort Trachtenbarg, president, Jewish each year," exFederation of Omaha, quipped that even the plained Judy Siff, school system cooperated by canceling recently appointed Tuesday's classes so that the cWldren didn't Newcomer Commithave to worry about staying up late. Judy Siff, Newcomers Committee chairman, displays a welcome bag tee chairman, "and Campai^ Cabaret—a fund-raising exof Sabbath wine and chaUah. A similar welcome bag is deUvered brunch at the Siltravaganza intxiuoed by the Jewish commuvers' promises to be to every newcomer family. ^ nity of Omaha for all gift-givers to the Fedfun, casual and even eration Campaign—originated last year and for others. We've had to change cities behelpful to the sixty-five people who have fore, but the gradousness and genuine con- was re-activat^d for the current Campaign been invited. by popular demand. "Our family moved to Omaha two years cern of the Omaha Jewish conununity was Marcia and Jack B. Cohen served as Camago from Boston," added Mrs. Siff, "and we special and made us .feel right at home. paign Cabaret chairmen, and Campaign "I've never lived anywhere else," were so grateful for the warm welcome we leaders Joan Lehr, Leonard and Bert Lewis received. People really reached out to us— remarked Mrs. Silver, an Omaha native, greeted the guests (Contmued on Page 2) we were so touched. I wanted to do the same
Newcomers'brunch announced
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Mr. Trachtenbarg recited the Hamotzi and Cantor Harold Firestone led the Birkat Hamazon. The cast and credits for Campaign Cabaret follow: "TRADITION" Howard David Borden, Robert Epstein, Sandy Friedman, Marvin M. Parihnan, Jeff Taxman, Stan Widman, David Christensen, JBarry Davies, Danny Epstein, Dan FeUman, Dan Kasin, Chad Polikov, Andrew Wigodsky, Jane Batt, Susie Drazen, Beth Ginsburg, Julee Katzman, Debbie Nalven, Sibby Wolfson, Kim Broder, Andee Friedlander, Becca Goldstein, Andrea Goodman, Lisa Goodman, Nicole Lemer, Lesley Plotkin, Rabbi Paul Drazen, Rabbi Isaac Nadoff. "ANI MA'AMIN" Ozzie Nogg "MOMMA, MOMMA, MOMMA" Steve Denenberg, Eunie Denenberg. "GOD BLESS THE CHILD" Eunie Denenberg "DODI LI" Jane Batt, Anne Broder, Susie Drazen, Karen Javitch, Patty Nogg, Sibby Wolfson. "SKYBIRD" Jeff Taxman, Jon Broder, Kelly Broder, Kim Broder, David Christensen, Danny Cohn, Michael Cohn, GUa Drazen, Dan Fellman, Andee Friedlander, Jimmy Friedlander, Andrea Friedman, Becca Goldstein, (Continued on Page 31
With iiope always: An interview with Elie Wiesel
I will return to Nebraska with a television interview. I By The Rev. Elizabeth B. Beams want to discourage guilt and in its place, I want the interExecutive Producer view to plead with each of us to again make a commitment Great Plains Media Ministry to life so that events such as Holocaust may never be Editor's Note: ' Elie Wiesel, the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, will repeated. I am aware that Americans harbor such hope but, 1 also speak in Omaha on Wednesday, April 29,1987, at 7:30 p.m., see destructive forces, such as racial hatred or economic at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol. privilege undermining the vision. In many places the Tickets are $3 for adults, $2 for students and can be purChurch has faired poorly in exhibiting Christ's justice and chased from TIX, 342-7107, the Jewish Community Cen, t i^ • • i.' ter 334-8200 and United Christian Ministries in Higher love. I, too, have participated or been silent about mjustice. Education, UNO, 558-6737. With that in mind, however, and because I accepted the MONDAY MORNING-I am enroute to interview invitation to interview him, I become responsible for makProfessor Elie Wiesel. Nobel Laureate. Survivor of Ausching the great American heartland more aware of the truths witz and Buchenwald. Author. Teacher. Story-teller. StuProfessor Wiesel knows intimately: that apathy feeds dent of life. , , , , , . ,,. suffering; that individuals can and must resist evil, can On the one hand, his words reveal the shadows of civilimake a difference in this world by speaking out; that all zation, the darkness of humanity's inhumanity. Insanity. life is a cherished gift belonging to God and entrusted to On the other hand, his writings and life affirm hope and humanity; that our dead must never die in vain. compassion. I am steeped in his stories. I dream them at I know many Christian clergy and laity remain unaware night. I hear them in my mind. of the meaning that the Holocaust holds for humanity's I take my thoughts of the impending interview everyfuture, the weight it places on humanity's survival. I ask where I go. As I prepare, I question the meaning of the myself in what ways will this interview serve the reign of Holocaust. Answers elude me. I am shocked by how many God and help create a better world for all peoples? people latk knowledge of or interest in either the Holocaust MONDAY AFTERNOON-I arrive at Boston Univeror the evidences of hate that are prevalent today.
sity after climbing every physical, mental and spiritual hwdle possible to overwhelm me to the task and opportunity ahead. The entire world, it seems, is calling on Professor Wiesel or is crowding around him. The phone rings, it is Paris, Israel, a child. All want to speak to him. I think, "the Nobel Peace Prize brings no peace to its recipients." I am invited into his small office. It is crowded with books and papers and now a T.V. crew. Professor Wiesel is calm and in control. He is warm and hospitable. A quiet silence emanates from him. It is equal to the simplicity of his surroundings. This lifestyle is even more evident as he speaks of being a Nobel Laureate: "All the honors I receive occasionally, justly or not, I know what they really mean within the context of my life. I am not a spokesman, nor am I a public figure. I am a teacher. And as a teacher, I see my role as a witness ... [The Nobel] gave me keys, very special keys, that can open certain gates, cwtain doors ... It's part of an instrument to fight power." Although I have no illusions about his humanity, the time together feels holy and it is inspiring to hear him speak of resisting evil. He says, " I have learned to live in a society where there (Continned on Page 5)