Vol. UV No. 4S Omaha, Nabr.
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920
NJHS to open exhibit on J.L. Brandeis and Sons
At 100, Abe Epstein watches the store By Susan Paley At the age of 100, Abe Epstein ia picked up four days a week at 8 a.in. ahd whisked to his job at Nebraska Wine and Liquor. At 11:30, he finishes his work and returns home for lunch. "Dad keeps a watchful eye on us to see if we're on the ball," says his son. Jack Epstein. "He wants to make sure that we know what we're doing. He doesn't want us to lose our business. He is very aware of everything." Mr. Epstein and his wife, Sonia, were married in Russia. After serving in the Czar's army for three years, two of which he spent in Siberia, Mr. Epstein came to the United States. His wife followed a year later. "Dad's first job in Omaha was a carpenter," recalls his daughter, Sarah Schreiber. "Shortly after that, he went into the fruit business. This was during the Depression. My father has always been |4]uiet man who naver drew Itention to himaelf. He ht us to always be kind to others. There are still families In Omaha who tell tia that it waa my father's kindneaa and generoaity which Uterally kept them alive during tJioae difficult times.
Abe Epstein "Dad was always concerned about the family. He didn't enter into the liquor business until my husband, Julius, proved to him that he could make a living at it. He was 60 when he changed careers. . "Religion has always played an important role in Dad's Ufe. He still attends minyan twice "Vaeh day. y/hea he was younger, he used to put on t'fillin every day. "We grew up in a typical Jewish home. The amell of freshly baked challah graeted us when we arrived hcme from achool every Friday. Mother kept a itrictly
6 Elul, 5748 Friday, Aufluat 19, 19M
kosher home. We celebrated Shabbat and aU the holidays. We belonged to the Cuming street shul and then joined Beth Israel Synagogue. "My father waa always a marvelous mathematician, as well as an avid reader. His favorite newspaper was the Jewiah Forward. He still reads it every day in Yiddish. All Dad required to make him happy were his family, his work and -his newspaper. He taught all of us to be good, honest and charitable." Mr..Epstein is the father of Sarah (Mra. Julius) Schreiber, Jack Epstein (wife, Lucille), and Harold Epstein (wife, Etta). He is the grandfather of Diane Dempsey, Marlene Parilman, Ronee Krashes, Diane Zipay, Paul, Steven and Gary Epstein. He is the great-grandfather of Todd, Joshua, Michelle, Jeremy, Kimberly, Lindsay, Cari, Corey, Haley, Robbie, Benjamin, Michad and Elizabeth. "W«-w«Bt til of our friends and relatives to share our joy in celebrating our father's 100th birthday," the family said. A Kiddush luncheon in Mr. Epstein's honor will take place on Aug. 20, following at Beth Israel Synagogue.
By Mary FeUmaa, eiecutive director Neiwaaka Jewish Historical Society "Uiuler the clock at Brandeis" was the meeting place of generations of Omahans. The lOth-floor Tea Room, the Pompeian Room and the well-known Brandeis cafeteria were the locations of many business meetings and social get-togethers. The basement at Brandeis was the scene of many a money-saving sale and the forenmner of the famous Filene's basement concept today. The eighth-floor toy department was the place to go for entertaining the kids and sho|9ing for every kind of plaything and toy. Memories of these now past moments in the hiatory of Omaha merchandiaing, and photographs and memorabilia of those who created and developed that institution known as "Brandeis" will be on exhibit starting Aug. 31,7:30 p.m., when the Nebraska Jewiah
'M(adi&r(^.X: and Sona"- coUectioo. The exhibit is open to all members of the community. A reception in the gallery from 7:30-9 p.m., will be under the chairmanahip of Genevieve Bomstein, Sally Malaahook and Fran MiUer. The exhibit, which was made poeaible through the E. John Brandeis Foundation eatablished by Alan and Marda Beer, wUI be on diaplay in the "Corridor of Jewiah Hiatory" muaeum of the NJHS at the Jewiah Community Center. It has bean prepared by Ducky MiUar and Suzie Sngar and
J. LBraaAia will be open for viewing dur- ally opened a fUall clothing ing the hours the JCC ia atoie. open. In Omaha, Mr. Brandeis The Brandeis saga began opened "The Fair" at 606 in 1881 when Jonaa Leopokl South 13 street. As his three Brandeis, a 44-year-old na- sons, Arthur, Emil and tive of Prague, Bohemia, a^ Hugo, grew older they enrived in' Omaha with hia tered hia buaineas and bewife and four children. He came partnara in "J.L. had previously lived in Mil- Brahdets and Sona." waukee and Monitowac, Tha atore, now called Wis., where he had atarted "The Boaton Store," moved with a puahcart and eventu(Ceatiaaad oa Page 4)
'Oklahoma^ctor's roots deep in Yiddish theater j l««M tan UM atonr. Pnm left, GaU I KaUl aad Jaulfw Oudkr. Not ia pfcota is
, AUi aU|9la> RaUMrd.
Six weeks in Israel 'lifetime opportunity' By Motits AkUM all rstUHMt with hnMNVm UMMMOUd AMswtthlMmfrls^ 4 and tte mmy pnants I jawabry and trlnlMU for JmUy and tHaods. fllMB, thm waa tha unexctad: rocka from tha I bordar, flratkaad In an lira«U .•adtranaiwakia >OoosiMilaUla. I 11M six Otnaha taaiagsra ) wtak m tha aii-waak PUfrhacaa Uva riwttha"iaaU»aof
mamocias" and acoraa of nsw"UiiUBM"Uiiidsfrain other oooBUiBitisa. Tha Omaha oontingaot waa inada up of J«uiiiar Ckahdiar, Gail Brodkty. Kevin nnkal and Scott Kaplan, alt modbart of tha Junior Oaaa atBuriM High SdxKiAlUaonKoUi, a Junior MWaiMda wad |UcM (lUttM BauuKt^ taikr •tCntralHlghSeiKwi •gara fron Tula*, Kanaas dty. Daa MolBai VIrifailla BmA and Nawpart M»—
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in aaparianoing toura, famifar koMttaMty and daily Uii InlartaL "lliia waa tha beat Una of n>y Ula...Iar«Bt ia graat and w« bad the bast fnhp. Wa got raal don and w« bopa to alar that w«y«Mi our irinda and tha psopla of laraat."aakl Kevin bi an inlarvlaw with tha Jawkh His eoamnenta were echoed by thaothara, aU affraeing that the atoat rewarding iacture of the trip waa Iha CBpoitunttir to aae {CmMm ea Page 4)
By Lyada Frank Than'a a I*ersian paddlar in town aeeklng an Omaha Jawiah grooar. Thia paddlar, however, lan't trying to aeU hia waraa. Ha ia Brace Adler, eumatll* V^'V^ ^ roUofpaddhrAllHakiBin Opera/Omaha'i production of "Oklahoma" at the Or pheum Theatre, and he would like to peraonally thank the grocer for befri«i^yafe hie parenta 43 yaara ago. Ihlr. Adlar'a pueata, va*MWville«adYiM*tha> ater parfonMra Julius Adbr and Henrietta Jaoobaoa, ware travaUu tram CfUfor nia htdi to New Y^ in 1»4& whan they atoppad at • email Omaha grocery atore to quench thiir thiret ThiywwababrMidbgrtha grocer who rarngiiaad them bom thair Ykdah thMtar
as a rabbi, became i and ainger aftarl ing to America at thai of the eeatury. "He didn'l want to make nwney tnaA nUgian, - Mr. Adbr aakL^ Mr. Jacobaon and his wil Beaaie,tawsdthel and Jacobagn triad to i a Yiddlah theater in LoujB. Mr. Adlar'a Irving and Hymia J^ SOD. were alao big attta I tha YidkMah theaUr. N«winhiaear<y40'i Adier began hia own? BraoaAdlK caraar at the age ol i perfannanoaa. Although his and had hia firat parsnu have forgotlfB the part at age aeven. By Btan'a aaoM, thsf have not Umo he waa 17, he waa ( fbrgottw his Undaeaa. ing 10 to U shows a I llr. Adiar, who will be (SO weeka) and pla, pwfcnnlng hat* through diaractar rolae-aUdlB« Aug. SI, comee'tram a kng ahow and a graodfather I line of actor^ Hia grand- another. All thia tnMM, I talhar, Joeeph Jacobecn. aaki. helped him wh9 w«a arigtaaUy ordahtad eaPwe*