Vol. LXIV No. 49 Omaha, Nabr.
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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 10 Ehil, 5747 Friday, Sapt. 4, 1987
Lincoln invites Omaha to Sivum celebration The Omaha Jewish community is invited to attend a weekend of activity at Tifereth Is'rael Synagogue, Sept. 11-13, marking the rededication of the congregation's Torahs. According to Harry Alien, general chairmaii, 'the activities include a ^'Shabbat evening service sSept. 11 at 8 p.m., led by Children of the congrega- Dr. E>ic Ray ^tion followed by an Oneg Shabbat. i On Shabbat morning at 9 a.m., there will 'be special readings followed by Kiddush luncheon and a lecture by Dr. Eric Ray on [the Hidden Meanings of the Torah. I Siyum morning wUl be from 9 a.m.-noon. |Following Shaharit services and a continenttal breakfast, the Sifrei Torah will be unI rolled in the social hall and Or. Ray will as> sist persons in writing their choaen verses. iSpecial Torah wOTkahops also will be held.
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Lincoln elects Betty Polsky to Federation
E; Betty Pkdaky.a past pteaideBtof Tifareth i Israel Syna[gogue sisterrhooid, haa been I elected presii dent of the LinI'coln Jewish I Welfare Federa; tion. She is the 'firat woman to 1 serve in that Jeadership post,
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Batty Po«d^
i, Mrs. Polsky haa been a member of the '.Jewish Welfare Board and haa beaded three [women's campaigns. She also has held varl ious siatwhood offices and has participated [as a member and board member of [Hadaaaah. I Mra. Polaky also ia a member of the Lintcoln Symphony Guild, the Lincok Art Asi sedation and the Law Wives Association.. She and her huaband, Hyman, a Lincoln lawyer, were Israel Bonda 1984 honoteea. tHiB Polakys have two children, Alan, a lawyer in Los Angeles, and Suaan, an advertising executive in Cleveland.
The concluding ceremony will take place Sept. 13 at 3 p.m., with a Torah processional, final writing of the scrolls and a creative service followed by a reception. Members of the reception committee include Barb Seglin, Gerry Schuchman, Eleanor Neiden, Annie Allen, Esther Rae Chesnen and Richard Evnen. The program committee includes Steve Seghn, Henry Misle, Nancy Coren, Eve Hoffman, Stuart Margoles and Rabbi Ian Jacknis.
Katz chapel Rabbi Alexander Katz, aenior ritual director of Beth El Synagogue, will be honored Friday night, Sept. 11, when the chapel at Beth El will be officially dedicated in his name and becomes the Rabbi Alexander Katz Chapel. The dedication service will begin at 6 p.m. in the Chapel and will be followed by a Shabbat family dinner in the Social HaU. The community may attend both the service and the dinner, and reservations may be made by calling Toby Kagan, 397-1037.
Kusbnef's tips on happiness By Ehmice Denenberg "People, in general, are not afraid of death, they are afraid that they have wasted their lives. I try to show them ways to cope with that fear," said Rabbi Harold S. Kushner. Rabbi Kushner, author and lecturer, will speak at Beth El Synagogue Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. In. a recent conversation, he said that much of people's frustrations in seddng "happiness and success" stems from allowing society rather than themselves to define happiness and success. "We see everyone around us aa rivals," Rabbi Kuahner aaid, adding "getting ahead means beating our friends and colleagues. I offer suggestions on how to feel successful in ways that don't defeat our asaociatea." Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life is the title of Rabbi Kushner's talk, which will be followed by a reception and book signing.
At tKe Lincofai Bond dinner, Andrew Goodman (left) preaenta Prime Minister awards to Rachel and Herb Gaba and Ruth and Irwin Goldenberg. Seated is United States Senator J. James Extm.
Sen. JJ. Exon:
Persian Gulf dramatizes Israel's link with U.S. By Morris Maline The "perilous" situation facing the United States in the Peraian Gulf dramatizes the vital link between this country and Israel, Senator J. James Exon said Sunday night in Lincoln. "Thank God we have a aolid ally i There „jll Offoow b^m^JB-jftBTOvide rminMl «nd advice to lif than the laraelia. Israel is our only true.friend in the region," Sen. Exon said at an Israel Bond dinner in Tifereth Israel Synagogue. More than $100,000 was raised. Sea Exon told the 12S attending that the United States has a legitimate role to play in the Peraian Gulf, but that "we should not be taken advantage of." . He said we ahould not have rushed in "foolheartedly" without the full support of our allies. He rebuked Saudi Arabia apedfically for not granting landing rif^ta to American aircraft, suggesting that it is "ludicrous" for the United States military to be there without air bases. "We should have told the Saudis that we were willing to help, but that we were not going to do it alone." Israel on the other hand haa always been there when we needed them and I suspect that the United States will always be there when they need us, Sen. Exon added. He thanked the group for investing in Israel through the purchase of Israel Bonds, adding that year after year Americans have attended such dinnera across the country '
and that thia t}^ of financial support has helped Israel survive in a hostile environment. In his opening remarks, Sen. Exon said he was sorry that Norman Krivoaha could not be there to introduce him. "I appointed him to a full time, lifetime job, and he ops andlaavasit.... iiowthat4>»'sree^'w<vking for a living, he has to leave town on business." Sen. Exon said that Norman and Helene Krivosha accompanied him on two trips to Israel and were highly influential in encouraging his support and underatanding of that country. He also singed out the late Eli ZaUdn and Bill Davidson, and Lincohiite Abe Novicoff as inspiring influfflices in behalf of Israel and Israel Bonds. Members of the Lincoln community honored at the event were Rachael and Herbert Gaba and Ruth and Irwin Goldenberg. Both couples were presented with the Prime Minister Award for their continuing financial support. Sophie Davidson was praised for her continuing effort. Also participating in the program were Yale Gotsdiner, general chairman; Albert Weiss, vice president, Tifereth Israel Synagogue; Marsha Plotkin, president. Congregation B'nai Jeshurun; Rabbi Ian Jacknis, Rick Katzman and Andrew Goodman, and Rabbi Debbi Pipe-Mazo. Murray Newman, Nebraaka state chairman for Israel Bonds, introduced Sen. Exon.
Delegate describes meeting with Pope as 'historic' By Edwin Eytan GANDOLFO (JTA) — An international Jewish ddegation met Tuesday for over one hour with Pope John PnjI II for what a member of the delegation described Is "a historic meeting which would have been inconceiva-^ Iple to previouB generatums." , ',. The Pontiff and the nine Jewish representatives discussed all the issues which have been troubUng Jewish communities throue^unit the world, including the Waldheim afniir, relations with Israel and recent revisionist trends in western Europe. ' Althoiigh the Pope did not respond directly to all the subjects, according to one of the participants. Rabbi Marc Panenbaum, he "listened carefully and patiently and tesponded in general terms." Pope Approves Three Dedaions : The Pope also aiqproved the three dedsions reached by NheddslEBtJaa in its meetings Tuesday momiilg with IgMttno CairdinalCasarali and during its negotiataona with dgh-ranUng church officials Monday, [fllhe dilNHration and the release of a Church declaration jiifpirining its stand on the Holocaust, its omidenmation ~ ravisicmist tendencies and tradng the roots of anti-<'
The Pope praised this decision and said he hoped it will have iinportant conaequences. The Pope also reminded the delegation that Tuesday, Sept. 1, was the 48th anniversary of Poland's invasion by Nazi Germany: "I know what a tragedy this meant. It is fitting we meet today." Providing for a mechaniam which would enable the Catholic Church and the Jewish community to keep in closer contact so as to prevent such "surprises" as the Pope's meeting' with Austrian President Kurt Waldheim, his invitation to Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat and the canonization of Edith Stein. This mechanism will also provide for regular meetings between representatives of the Jewish community and the Vatican State Secretary. A<xess to the Pope "whenever the need arises" for ftirther frank discussions. Joint Recitation Of A Psabn The delegation had what some Jewish delegates described as "a strong conversation" on this subject earlier in the dt^ with Casardi The nine Jewish representatives and the Pope started their hiatoric meeting by reciting in turn, in H^rew and in Latin, a psalm ia front of an open £Uble. Both Jewish and Catholic spokesmen said this joint reading was nteant to'aymbolize their joint heritage. Aa
if to further stress the informal nature of the meeting, the Pope sat apart but on the same level with the other participants. The long-awaited meeting, which many hope will mark a turning point in the often tortuous relations between Jews and Roman CathoUcs, took place in the Pope's summer residence, a 17th-century palace 20 miles south of Rome. A Ceremonial Beginning The nine Jewish reprea^taUves and six highranking Catholic officials arrived tOgetho- aboard a cavalcade of Vatican limousines. The Syrias guards, in their yellow uniforms with blue and red stripes, raised their lances, a traditional gesture of welcome, and Vatican officials greeted them at the gate. The delegates were introduced into one of the Pope's private rooms on the fourth floor of the palace. The 15, nine Jews and six Catholics, sat in a semi-drde facing a throne from which the dais had been removed. Between the two lay an open Bible on a low table. EmotioB-LadeB Atmosphere The Pope, dressed in his usual white robes and a red akullcap, entcoed the room at exactiy noon. He moved alowly along the line of Jewish delegates shaking hands and greet(CoBtlnaed an Page 10)
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