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Vol. LXVI No. 42 Omaha, Nobr.
Passage to Freedom reality for Russian By Morria Maline Omaha's Soviet Jewry chairman Shirley Goldstein has returned from a twoweek trip to Russia and France with a surprise for Omaha's Jewish community. Mrs. Goldstein, co<hairman with her husband, Leonard, and Miriam Simon, in the current Passage to Freedom campaign, has arranged for a 20-ye«r-old Russian girl to proceed with her o?ra passage to freedom—she's coming to Omaha. Inna Gumnitsky, the daughter in a family which has been refused permission to emigrate for 10 years, now will reside with the Gddsteins and hopefully attend college here. Arrangements were made when the girl's parents advised Mrs. Goldstein that they still were unable to leave, but that they wanted their daughter to go to the United SUtes. Mrs. Goldstein had visited Moscow, Leningrad, and ViUna (Lithuania), along with Lynn Singer, ezacutive director of the Ixmg Island, N.Y. Committee for Soviet Jewry and a past president of the Union of Councib for Soviet Jewry. "We visited with about 100 Refuseniks in 17 different apartments on this trip and the impression I got was totally different than when I visited the Soviet Union more than 10 years ago," Mrs. Goldstein said.
Inna Gumnitsky She said that she and Mrs. Singer were met by Refuseniks at every airport, that she rode in private autos with Refuseniks, that they talked almost freely in hotels and that she was not searched coming and going. "None of this would have been possible 10 years ago," Mrs. Goldstein added. That's the good news, she said, adding that there is plenty of bad news too. The new openness has brought with it increased anti-Semitism showing up in the lack of opportunity for Jews to attend a university, obtain good jobs or decent apartments, she pointed out. And those planning to leave for Israel or the United States are "deeply concerned" over the lack of available money to provide housing and resettlement costs when they emigrate. "They are allowed to take only $100 per person when they leave and now they hear about the lack of housing in Israel, the unwillingof the United States to
accept them as refugees, and the inability of American Jews to raise enough money to help them emigrate." Mrs. Goldstein said that many Refuseniks now are afraid to apply for permission to leave. "There is a terrible fear of pogroms because of the growing anti-Semitism, and there is a terrible fear of not being able to leave because money is not available." Mrs. Goldstein said that she was so taken by the strong desire of Inna's parents for their daughter's well-being that she offered to house the girl until the parents could make their own way. "She'll be going through Vienna and ultimately arrive at our home where she will be most welcome," Mrs. Goldstein said. "I only wish that our Omaha 'Passage to Freedom' campaign was doing better so that we could provide more help to those aching to leave the Soviet Union," Mrs. Goldstein added.
Congratulations High School grads your story on pages
Federation falis short of '89 fundraising goal By Joanie Jacolwon Federation public relations director Saranne Gitnick, president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, announced the close of the 1989 UJ A/Federation Campaign with a total of $2,250,000 raised, $150,000 short of its $2.4 million goal. "The community does not perceive the need," said Mrs. Gitnick. "Things have been so good for so long that it could take several years before we actually feel the lack of service. "The Federation has probably the best fundraising staff and core of volunteer manpower that we've had in a decade," said Mrs. Gitnick. "There are those who think the Federation is an overstaffed bureaucracy. Not true. The Federation is a well-managed, well-run, professional and effective social service business in the Omaha community." Jay Lemer and Donald Yale, vice presidents of the Federation and 1989 Men's Division chairmen, expresaed their faith in the community and hope for the future. "We have a good, vibrant and strong Jewish community," said Mr. Yale. "I think, however, it has gotten somewhat complacent and spoiled with regard to the excellent programs and services produced from a relatively painless fundraising campaign. "The years of complacency are over," he con-
tinued. "The needs won't get less, and even if they stay the same, it will cost more to provide them. We are seeing an increased demand for programs which is a good sign, but we, as a community, are going to have to respond to the challenge of paying for them. "We need to look forward rather than bemoan the past," said Mr. Yale. "We are at a new beginning with a new director and a new decade of Jewish community life. We need to work closely together in a positive and motivated manner for^ a much brighter future." Mr. Lemer noted that "probably the most important thing that happened in the '89 campaign was the setting up of a campaign infrastructure which will ensure the continuity and forward planning of future campaigns," he said. "For the first time in a long time, some very qualified people will have plenty of leadtime to run a well-planned and well-organixad campaign. "I'm obviously disappointed we didn't reach our goal of $2.4 million," he added. "It means difficult decisions during the budgeting process... but the budget is based on dollars raised by the campaign, and that's exactly what we will have available to spend. "I think we have an excellent Federation that does an exceUoit job in and for this community," he continued. "It's our responsibility as Federation leadership to
earn the confidence and generate excitement among people in this conununity so they respond in a fashion that will allow us to grow. "They're out there for us," said Mr. Lemer. "There's no question there are generous people in this community. We just need to tell them our story in a more personal and meaningful way." Mrs. Gitnick expressed praise for all three campaign chairmen. "I want to compliment Jay and Don and Bobbie Epstein, women's division chairman, for assuming the leadership at a critical time and developing a line of successors and, especially to Bobbie, for successfully implementing new concepts in the Women's Campaign. "These people worked closely with Howard Bloom, our executive director. In addition to being a fine professional, Howard is- a real fundraiser whose talents and ideas continue to be innovative in Omaha."
China visit cancelled NEW YORK (JTA) The American Jewish Committee has canceled plans to send a (telegation to China in September. It acted to protest the Chinese government's use of force against student activists in Beijing on June 3 and its subsequent repression of the movement.
Kulakofsky family celebrates 100 years in Omaha By Morris Maline They came from Kulakee, an estate in Lithuania, which was two miles from Tinkovitch, four miles from Kapoulia, between Minsk and Pinsk—to Omaha in 1889. And then the family of Michael and Golds Kulakofsky grew and grew. " One-hundred years later, Miriam Miller of Livermore, Calif., and Ethelyn Simon of Piedmont, Calif., first cousins, thought it might be fun for the family to get together for a reunion. They contacted 89 family units on their mailing list and 143 family membsrs indicatod they would b« willing to 00010 to Omaha to celebrate the Kulakofsky presence in this dty for 100 years. With Barbara Frankel and Saranne Gitnick making the arrangeownts in Omaha, the Kulakofsky clan gatherad h«r« last weahanrt in tbeir first reunion since 1927. Alan Kulakobky was in charge of games, Gary Katehnan made the maps and Ruth Nogg took care of tlW tr«aaury. Tbay came from both coasts and a total of 13 stataa with ona manbar, Lynns Millar, PhD. formerly of Livermon, arriving trom Saosgal, Afrka, whara sha now raaidaa. Wkh tha Maniott Hotel aa thair base, the far-fhing family joined five of the graadchildran, oina graatgranidchildren and nine great-great graadchildren who maka Omaha thair boma. Of 21 first couaina, 20 wtea ahle (oattand. Mrs. Simon, mothar of Saranna Gitnick, said that oral historiaa wouM bo takao ol tha oouaina and that thsaa histoniaa and tha tamiiy traa now on diaptay at the Jowish CoBununity Cantor would ba given to tha Nebraska Jewiah Hiatocical Sodaty.
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