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H I S TC"r a ST
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXVI fto. 12 Omaha, Natof.
IS Kiatov, 5746 Friday, Nov. 25, 1988
Jewish Federations endorse General Assembly resolution By Mark Joffe NEW ORLEANS (JTA) — Leaders of Jewish federations across North America overwhelfflingly endn^ed a strong worded reaolution imploring Israel to remove the so-called "Who Is a Jew" issue froto its political agenda. "The issue, with its ideological, moral and communal implications, should not be decided in the context of political accommodation <x to ensure the maintenance or downfall of a particular govoimient," the Council of Jewish Fedarations General Assembly said in a resolution adopted after a fiery debate hare. "World Jewry should not be divided by a political approach to the issue of 'Who Is a Jew,' " the assembly said. While aimultaneoualy affirming its "continued total support for Israel," the body of some 3,000 delegates also sternly warned lanaU leaders "not to undaraatimate ths itnngthof feeling on thia matter" in the Diaspora "Wa diract the leadership of CJF to convey to ths political leaderaUp in laraal, in tita moat vtgorous, tmmadiata and continuing way poasible, that they must not risk dividing the world Jewish community as th^y seek now to form a government and thereafter," the assembly stated in the reaolution. The reaolution, drafted and reviaed only a few hours before it was presented, was adopted mainly intact after a vodfarous and sometimee raucous debate on the subject, at a plenary session that originally was scheduled to be devoted to an entirely different aubjaet: the quality of Jewiab life. The decision to introduce the reaolution a day before •11 other raaolutiooa are to be conaidtred by the assembly waa apparmtljr both • renonee to the toth of feeling here about this iaaue and a raeognition of the opportunity to impact the Is-
raeli political process before the govemmoit is solidified. At issue is an agreement Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir has made with four Israeli religious parties—in exchange for their support—to win Knesset adoption of an amendment redefining who is considered Je«dah in Israel. The amendment would bar those converted to Judaism by non-Orthodox rabbis from qualifying for automatic Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return. The Reform and Conservative movements, who represent some 90. percent of affiliated Jews in North America, consider the amendment an affront to their legitimacy. What became clear here was that the vast majority of delegates feel such a change in the law would be an afboDt to the entire Diaspora. "It is an attempt to disenfranchiae fnmi the Jewish body politic the majority of North American Jaws," Mendel Kiflen. chairman of the Jewish Aggncy Board of Oovemora, erflaimed in a paaaionate ineech introducing the reeouition. "It is not only an American ioaue," he said. "It goes to the heart of concern of every Jew, wherever he lives, including the State of Israel." The proposed amendment "tampers with the unity of the Jewish community," Kaplan argued. "It jec^ardicea the concept of the cantrality of Israel for every single Jew."
Pacesetter Dinner hosts Nazi prosecutor Loftus
By Joanie Jacobaon Kaplan called the issue a Federation public "battle for the soul of the relations director John Loftus, former trial Jewish poopW and urged the delegates to "fight to- attorney for the United gether with us" for "the States Justice Department soul of the State of Israel." and author of "The Belarus Despite hie strong Uui- Secret," will speak at the gusge, and the uncharac- Pacesetter Dinner, Dec. 12, teristic stridency of the at the Highland Country resolution, delegate after Club at 6:30 p.m. Robert Gordman and delegate argued, during a debate on the document, Murray H. Newman are that CJF should take a chairmen of the Pacesetter tougher stand. Diviaion of the Jewish FedAnnette Dobba, president eration of Omaha Camof San Francisco's Jevrish paign. There will be no federation, argued that the solkiation of funds at the General Assembly should event. Mr. Loftus was responsisend a stronger message to Israeli leaders saying, in ef- ble for prosecuting Nazi war fect, that paesage of the criminaLs and investigated amendmoit would seriously Nazi connections to U.S. Inweaken American Jewish I telligence while serving in philanthropic support for the Justice Department's Israel. Office of Special InvestigaShe said that in her own tions, He left the governcommunity's federation ment in 1981 and wrote a campaign, " nutjor contribu- hiatory of the Nazi amugtors, in the six and seven gling programa in America. figures," are already After his book, "The Bethreatening to withdraw larus Secrst," was declassitheir donations if larael fied by the CIA, Mr. Loftus makea such a change in the appeared on an Emmy law. Sources cloee to federation campaigns in other cities, including New York, have expressed aimilar fears. By Herb ScUmel A Jewish leader from St. For the tenth year in a Louis, who could not immediately be identified, row, the Women's Lunchsaid, "We need to find alter- eon will be co-sponsored by native ways of sending sup- all 10 Jewish women's orport to laroel" that do not ganitationa of Omaha. send a message of support Peninnoh Schrom, storyfor the 'current Israeli teller, teacher, recording artr leadership. iat and author, will speak on But delegates ^ejected Wednesday at noon in the propoeals to toughen the JCC Auditorium. Ms. Schram is widely relanguage of the resolution. garded ae one of the great Jewish storytellers of our generaticm and haa collected and retold 64 delightful Jewiab folktales to create at ttia event, and Marvin Jewish storiaa "One GenerK. Baihn, of Sioux Folk, ation Telia Another." S.D., past District 6 "The value of a Btory ia id preoident, will apeak on ths tailing—I stole that Idea "377 Century RMoerofrom BUeWieaeL" says Ms. bered." Schram, wboae aeli-conCoat is tl6 and roserfaaaad laroiny aeoma juativttiona may be made by fied bi Ugbt of h« purauit of calliag Mr. Bark at 488an ancient and inherently 1641. muaical Jewish tradition, the art of storytelling. An oasociate profeeaor of naach and drama at Stem CoUata of Yaahiva Untve^ •ity. Ma. Schram had deeded to bocoms a profaasional storjrt«)iar aomt years ago upon dlaeovwing, to her diomay, that maiyr qf her atudente wtre totally unfamUiar fith Jawi^k folk t«laa. Eacbtwing a "parlor manca approach, Ms. Schram niafai hataad ifanply to ten Mch (to^, bar delivery eh«riKt«riiea both by a tielktte Hflmot be' tweso dramaUc ind narrative •lemanta, oad by affactlva uae of IMK moaiiilated roeuoapaaUng voke. Ma. Schram, whose firot nana la token from the
Jobs Loftoa
ed the Loftus Fund a taxexempt status for educational research. Bom in 1960 of Irish Catholic descent, Mr.Loftua graduated from Boston Latin School and Boston College. After serving as an Army officer, he aimultaneoualy completed his Masters in Public Administration and Doctor of Laws degrees, edited the Suffolk University Law Review and worked on several political campaigns. Currently, he manages iiis own law firm in Rocldand, Mass.
Award-winning s^ment of '^0 Minutes." In 1086, CBS produced "The Belarus File," a movie of the week based on his book. Congressional bearings arising from allegstions mode by Mr. Loftus were begun in 1986, and resulted in the filing of House Resolution ||I3814, which established a Congressional Commission to inveatigate Nazja in America. In 1986, the U.B. Government grants
In 1977, Mr. Loftus was invited to join the Justice Department as a member of the Attorney General's Honors Program and, for two years, worked on cases in the Federal Appellate Courts and in the Supreme Court of the United SUtes. After President Carter created the office of Special Inveatigations hi 1979, Mr. Loftus coordinated a top secret investigation into Nad recruitment by U.S. Intelligence Ageodaa.
Women co-sponsor luneheoi for Jewisli Book
Celobration in Lincoln Lincoln Lodge 377 of B'nai B'rith will celebrate ita centennial at • dinner at the Lincoln Univerdty Club, Nov. 29 at 6:80 p.m., it was announced by Max Neiden and Sam Berk. Sam Moaer will be preaented with a 60-yaar pin
ST
Inside this week
The Jewish Press Annual Gift Guide plus
Special Section on Winter Pleasures
Book of Samuel and means children aomething beautiPMTL la the daugfatar of the ful" The Jewioh Pederatkw tke Cantor and Mrs. Sam- Library will conduct its anli MaQcbaeter, both avid nual aale of Jewioh booko, storytellera themselves. raeonia, tapes and games at From her mother. Mi. the hwcheon and throughSchram recaUa having out the monUflong celebrelearned to live through Joyce Cohoo ia the lunchprovarfaial folklore, while niNn hm fatbtr ahe gained eon cbalnnan. Heearvationa an appreciation of both are required and may be Midraabk and Tabuudio mods by calling the JCC talai, u well u revanooe reeepUcniat at 334-8800. Luncbaon cost is 16.60. Sitfor the "word." LUIO. ter lorvke wiU be avaiUble. "I loved doing tbs miti- "n* altemoon'e leetivlties -je yob," she aays of that being Jointly sponsored fieriod when she recanted Beth El, Beth lareal auch talea aa ZUtah UM Temple larael SiaUrhooda, Ooat.8ba Mid. "We've gdna BntTBrith Womm, Haaway froAi a(arytiU|Bg ia daaaafa. AMIT-HaUkvah Jewish educatioa. Timt Chapter, AMIT- Kalal atorlae tell us who we ire • Chapter. NCJWOaie (0 ehara (ke ateriee, that's SfMwa,WeM«'s the key. You muat give the CRT aMi Neaaaat USA
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