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Vol^^No. 29 Omaha,
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Nabr.
18 Niaan, 8747 Friday, April 17, 1987
Susan Fellman chosen for visit to Berlin Susan Fellman, daughter of Beverly and Richard Fdlman of Omaha, has been chosen to be among 25 Amoican Jewish youth leaders who will participate in the 750th Anniversary of the City of Berlin. The celebration will begin on June 22 in West Berlin and will involve over 250 American youths between the ages of 18 and 25, announced E. Robert Newman, president of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith/Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. The program is a cooperative effort between governmental and state legislatures in t&e United States and West Germany and is called the "Partnership of Parliaments." According to Mr. Newman, ADL officials visiting Germany two years ago, met the Deputy Speaker of the Berlin House of Representatives, Dr. Alexander Longolius. Out of this initial meeting came the idea of including Jewish contingent within the delegation of Americans participating ini Berlin's 750th Anniversary celebration. The goal of the Jewish contingent is to provide a rewarding experience between American Jewish and German youth. Ms. Fellman was selected from hundreds of youths around the nation. According to Ms. Fellman, she has a good working knowledge of the German language which she . picked up as a small child in pre-school from a German caretaker and later seriously studied the language in high school. "I also remember jbiejsmig.8^^ my great-grandmother anabBr brother who lived in Berlin before coming to the United States," said Ms. Fellman. "They had left a small town near Minsk, Russia, were making their way across Eu-
Susan Fellman rope, and found themselves in Berlin without money. Eventually they saved enough money for the voyage to New York, but even after living in this country for years, they roninisced about Berlin," she said. Ms. Fellman is a junior at Brandeis University of Waltham, Mass., where she is majoring in English. She works as a stringer for the Boston Globe, is an associate editor for The Justice—Brandeis' student newspaper—worked as a copy mes-
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a teen editor for the Omaha Jewish Press. The ADL/CRC is a human relations organization dedicated to combating antiSemitism and other forms of bigotry and promoting intergroup understanding.
Women's B & P kickoff year-round programming The Women's Business and Professional Division of the Jewish Federation of Omaha has announced the first of three programs for 1987 geared to the lifestyle of the Jewish working woman. Dr. Michelle Knolla, OB-GYN and medical director of planned parenthood, will speak and answer questions on "Women's Health Concerns" following dinner at the La Strada Restaurant on May 6. Cocktails will begin at 5:30 p.m., diimer and program at 6 p.m. "This is not a fund-raising event. Jewish working women have expressed a desire to know each other," explained Barbara Simon, B & P Divisional Leader. "They want to talk, learn, socialize and make a Jewish connection. B & P programming will offer appealing topics at convenient times in the hope that our division will grow in number and participation." Dr. Michelle Knolla has been the medical director of planned parenthood for five years. In addition to her private practice. Dr. Knolla is a member of the Methodist Speakers Bureau and has given lectures throughout the Omaha area. She is married and has two children. NoeUe Rips, program chairman, explained that Dr. Knolla will begin the evening by distributing paper and pencil to her audience. Women are encouraged to ask any questions, anonymously or otherwise, to pramote diMaission. "Estrogen and risks of emrogen nplacement, pre-menstrual syndrome, menopause, osteoporosis—there are so many femide health issues that confront women of the 80's," said Mrs. Rips. Topics under consideration for future
Dr. Michelle Knolla programming include The Balancing Acthow to juggle career, spouse, children and community; Dual-Career Couples—a special relationship and Stress—how does the working woman cope? "Our goal is to present exciting and relevant programs to Omaha Jewish working women," said Mrs. Rips. "Any suggestions are always welcome. Our hope is that through a more vital Women's Business and Professional Division, we can develop stronger ties to the Federation—something working women don't always have the time but most definitely have the desire to do." . Currently, there are 400 names on the B & P mailing list. Anyone not receiving an invitation to the May 6 dinner and program should contact Bllie Penner at the Jewish Federation of Omaha, 334-8200, Ext. 264.
Herzog visits Bergen-Belsen: 'My pain is with me forever' BERGEN-BELSEN (JTA) - President Chaim Herzog of Israel, reciting the words of the psahnist, "My pain is with me forever," unveiled a rock quarried in Jerusalem at the site of this former concentration camp and dedicated it to the memory of those who periahed in the Holocaust. "I do not bring forgiveness with me, nor forgetfulness," dedared Herzog, the first President of Israel to visit Germany. "The only ones who can forgive are the dead. The living have no right to fcvget. Thus I will surely remember, with a heavy heart." The brief, moving ceremony at BergenBdsen followed by a few hours Herzog's arrival April 16 at Bonn where he was greeted with a 21-gun salute and personally welcomed by President Ridiard von Weizsaecker of the Federal Republic. Several hundrad people assembled here, including Holocaust survivors and West German dignitaries, headed by von Weiz-
saecker and the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Ernst Albrecht. Many fought back tears as the El Mole Rachamin, the prayer for the dead, was chanted by a cantor. llien Herzog faced the audience. "In this place, the vale of slaughter, and at the outset of my journey on this soil, I leave as a memorial, my brethem and sisters, victims of the Shoah (Holocaust), a stone hewn from the rocks of Jerusalem. On it are carved the words of the psalmist, as testimony to the decimation of my people: 'My pain is with me forever'." He recalled, "I was here for the first time 42 years ago. Then I was a Jewish soldier from the land of Israel, participating in the destruction of the Nazi regime, plucking the brands snatched from the fire. The memory of those shocking sights will never, ever leave me. "Now, accompanied by some survivors, I t«tuni as President of the State of Israel,
the independent Jewish State, by decision of its sovereign government, to bear witness before yoii that the ultimate destiny of the Jewish people will never be betrayed and that the Jewish people live on." At the ceremony, a Holocaust survivor, Hadassah Rosensaft, recognized Herzog as ope of the officers of the British army which liberated the concentration camp. She burst into tears and embraced the President. The memorial service at Bergen-Belsen was a far cry both in mood and setting from the ceremonial pomp that greeted Herzog and his wife. Aura, when they stuped from their Israel Air Force jet. After reviewing a guard of honor, Herzog was flown by helicopter to Villa Hammerschmidt, the official residence of President von Weizaecker. There, German army units passed in review and the national anthems of Israel and West Germany were played. The two Presidents had a brief talk
and were then flown to Hanover, capital of Lower Sawmy, and from there by helkxipter to Bergen-Belsen. Before unveiling the memorial stone, Herzog visited the museum at the concentration camp site and inspected the sole remaining barrack. Herzog's five-day tour of West Germany, following a five-day visit to Switzerland, was controversial in Israel where some thought no President of Israel should set foot on German soil Von Weizsaecker went out of his way to thank Herzog for accepting Bonn's invitation. "Of course I understand those who voiced criticismi." he told reporters three days before Herzog's arrival. He said the visit by the Israeli chief of state was "an extraordinary event of an extremely important meaning." V<Hi Weizsaecker dmied that the visit was intended to "close" the chqiter of the (Contianed on Page 2)
Elie Wiesel—witness, humanist, and prophet Editor's Note: . EUe Wiesel, the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, will speak in Omaha on Wednesday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m., at the Omaha Civic Attditoriiun, 1804 CapitoL Tickets are S3 for adulta, $2 for students and can be pur^ chased from TIX, 342-7107, the Jewish Commnnity Center, 334-8200 and United Christian Ministries in Higher Education, UNO, 668«737. The Reverend Elizabeth Beams, of the United Methodist Ministries and a member of the committee Sponsoring the Elie Wiesel lecture, pre-taped an interview with the Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Reverend Beams is the moderator of the television allow, "Point of View". Air-times of the interview will be as follows: Saturday, April 26, 6 pan., WOWT; Svnday, April 26,5 p.m., United Cable 23; Sunday, April 26,7 p.m., Cox Cable 16; Wednesday, April 29, 6 p.m.. Cox Cable 16. By Oliver B. PoUak Invited to pitch the first gamepf the 1986 World Series, Elie Wiesel declined as the game was played on Shabbos.
This was followed by an offer to pitch the first ball of the second game, but it was Sukkot. However, smce the game commenced after sunset, Elie Wiesel complied. He had little intwest in baseball, but his 14-year-old son was more inqiressed by the World Series invitation than the fact that his father had won the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize and $287,769.78 for being "one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression, and racism continues to characterize the world. Wiesel is a mesaeng^ to mankind: his message is one of peace, atonement and human dignity." Bom in the Transylvanian village of Sighet, Romania, in 1928, the son of a grocer, he knew even as a child that he would be a writer. The tragedy of the Second World War engulfed his family in 1944 when Adolf Eichmann, in charge of the Jewish section of the Gestapo commenced the extermination of Romania's 600,000 Jews. Wiesel's mother and youngest sister were killed at Auschwitz. His father died at Buchenwald. Elie managed to endure Birkenau, Auschwitz, Buna and Buchenwald.
When liberated hova the concentration camp in 1945, he decided not to write about his experience for 10 years. He bore the tattoo A-7713 on his arm in silence. He worked as a choir director, translator, and eventually as a journalist. He studied at Sorbonne in Paris from 1948 to 1951 where he came into contact with Albert Camus, Francois Mauriac the Roman Catholic scholar, and other existentialists. Mauriac received the Nobel Peace Prize for literature in 1952. Shortiy thereafter, Wiesel interviewed him and commenced his' inspirational journey. Mauriac (1885-1970) wrote over 20 novels, the central theme of which was the problem of sin. Wiesel recalls that Mauriac "spoke much about Christ, I was timid, but finally I said: You speak of Christ's suffering. What about the children who have suffered not 2,000 years ago, but yesterday? And they never talk about it." Mauriac embraced Wiesel and wept . and urged him to end his silence. -^ (Continued on Page 11) ::.i]lBaK-V(^'; :K,.Ja«