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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXVI No. 43 Omaha, Nebr.
27 SIvan, 5749 Friday, June 30, 1989
Israel Bond cutback will affect Omaha
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Jewish education
' The football on the table \nU soon be put to Dse, but right now these newly arrived Soviet Jews are concentrating on their Jewish studies in New York. The UJAyPederation Passage to Freedom Campaign will help newcomers—in Israel and the U.S.— with jobs, housing, medical care, clothing and Jewish education. Some 40,000 Jews might emigrate from the Soviet Union this year, the largest number in a decade. VJA fVM> Sinrlct Phou by Uam O-H
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Orthodox Jewish l-oups, such as Agudath irul of America and Drah Uinesorah, the ational Society for Herew Day Schools, are apporting the idea, nich is contained in a giilative package now Ickedl^ the Democratic aderslup of the Senate. 3ut non-Orthodox Jewh groups fear such a rogram would be tantalount to government ipportfor religious initutions. "he Democratic leadertip plan combines a imprehensive child-care II, sponsored by Sens, iristopher Dodd (Dn.) and Edward KenCD-Mass.), with
and the separation of staff throughout the United States. According to the statement, issued by Julian B. Venezky, chairman of the board of the Israel Bond Organization, decisions regarding the reorganization were extremely difficult and that the impact on local communities and personnel is "deeply regretted." The statement added that regional representatives will be in contact with local lay leadership and ask that their support not be diminished. Mr. Venezky said in the statement that the Bond organization will continue to go forward nationally and abroad and will intensify its efforts to provide Israel with dollars needed for economic development. "The best way to show solidarity with Israel is to buy Israel Bonds," said Mr. Venezky.
At the time of the reorgar.ization, Israel Bond sales were 20 per cent ahead as compared with last year, the statement said. Just before press deadline, Murray H. Newman, Nebraska State Chairman for Israel Bonds, told the Jewish Press that he had been notified by letter and telephone call of the Omaha closing. "We have been reassured by the Israel Bond Organization that this region will be taken care of by the office in Miimeapolis," he said. Mr. Newman added that the women's event scheduled for Sept. 13 in Omaha will take place under the supervision of the professionals in the Kansas City office. He added that the Kansas City office also is slated for closing and that St. Louis will be responsible for that region.
Jewish groups divided on day-care
By Howard Rosenberg iVASHINGTON (JTA) — K proposal to make federal funds available to parents who send their :hildren to day-care proframs sponsored by secarian institutions has livided American Jewish (roups. The proposal, which vould become part of hild-care legislation now eing considered by the lenate, would provide bnds to parents who send hildren, up to age 13, to ay-care programs run efore or afler the school ay by sectarian institulons, including synaogues, Hebrew day chools and yeshivot. )rtliodox support Mea
By Morris Maline The Israel Bond organization has signaled a nationwide cutback of offices and staff because of budget constraints, and the Omaha facility is targeted for closing, the Jewish Press has learned. Although confirmation of Omaha as one of the locations selected was not im-' mediately available from New York, other sources named Omaha as one of the locations. Closing here is expected to take place on or about Aug. 1, and one secretarial employee will be released. The Israel Bond organization in New York City responded to this newspaper's request for confirmation with a prepared statement. The statement said, in part, that "serious budget constraints" have prompted a major reorganization which necessitates the closing of a number of offices
various amendments The Dole alternative thing that connects sought by Senate Major- more closely resembles church with state, howity Leader George Mitch- President Bush's concep- ever marginal such conell (D-Majne). tion of child-care legisla- nection may be, repreThe original Dodd-Ken- tion. It would give more sents the kind of outright nedy 'Actfor Better Child money directly to parents hostility toward religion Care Services of 1989," or and less to state govern- disfavored luider our sysABC bill, would have ments. tem of law." banned federal funds Jewish groups on both Rabbi Moshe Sherer, the from going to sectarian sides are focusing on the group's president, said in child-care programs. It Senate because it is ex- a letter to the senators had the support of non- pected to act on child-care that without the amendOrthodox Jewish groups, legislation before the ment, the ABC bill "would such as the Ainerican House of Representatives have the effect of disenJewish Committee and does. franchising thousands the National Council of An ad-hoc coalition of upon thousands ofAmeriJewish Women. Jewish organizations sent can families from the a letter May 8 to all 100 benefits of the legislaAgree to modifications senators arguing that tion." incorporating the FordBut to gain additional Durenberger amendment Argument supporters — most nota- into the proposed childbly the powerful Mitchell care legislation "would In a legal memorandum — Dodd and Kennedy substantiallv increase the included with Sherer's agreed to support various poisibili^ that the ABC letter, the group argued modiGeations, including a bill would violate the that "parents who choose Tarental Choice Amend- EstablishmentCiause' of religiously sponsored ment" introduced earlier the First Amendment child care might do so for this year by Sens. WenThe clause states, "Con- any of a number of readell Ford (D-Ky.) and gress shall make no law' sons, including reasons Dave Durehberger (R- respecting an establish- that have little to do with Minn.). , ment of religion or pro- religion." The amendment would hibiting the tree exercise On June 14, AJCommitallow parents to use thereof" tee and NCJW sent sepavouchers to pay for secrata letters to the 100 tarian child-care proGroups sign Utter senators. The hand-deUvgrams. The vouchers would be distributed bv Groups signing the let- erednCJW letter, signed state governments, which ter included AJCommit- by its president, Lenore would be reimbursed l>y tee, American Jewish Feldman, praised the unamended ABC bill for the federal government. Congress, B'nai B'rith A less-popular Republi- Women, Council of Jew- "ensuring that the constican alternative to the ish Federations, Na'amat tutional separation of ABC bill, recently drawn Women, NCJW and the church and state will not up by Senate Minority Union of American He- be violated." Leader Robert Dole (R- brew Consrwations. In addition, "we strongly Kan.), would reimburse Agudath Israel coun- oppose anv amendment parents throu|^ tax cred- terea June 2 by writing that would alter this its, rather tnan cash the senators that "knee- aspect of the bill," voudiers. jerk opposition to any- Feldman said.
In past cases involving caught in the middle of the use of federal funds this issue is Conservative for sectarian educational Judaism's 65-memJeer purposes, the Supreme Solomon Schechter Day Court has upheld some School Association. It uses and struck down initially supported the others. Durenberger-Ford Sammie Moshenberg, Amendment, through its director ofNCJWs Wash- membership in the Counington office, called the cil for American Public constitutionalitv of such Education, representing use of federal funds "up mainly parochial schools. for grabs." The council supports the amendment and told Sees no difference members of Congress in a V/hile Moshenberg sees letter that its members no difference in constitu- do, as well. tionality of whether such Robert Abramson, direcfunds go through parents tor of the education deor not, David Zwiebel, partment at the United general counsel and di- Synagogue of America, rector of government re- which oversees the lationstit Agudath Israel, Schechter association, made such a distinction. said it initially "misread Funds, going directly the impli«iti«ns of the from governments to sec- amendment" arid that tarian programs, andftot later, the Sbliunon through parents, ^rould Schechter schools disasraise "difficult questions," sociated themselves from the letter. i Zwiebel conceded. A disclaimer is conAbramson said he intained In Mitchell's modi- formed the Senate that fied version of the Ford- the Solomon Schechter Durenberger Amend- schools oppose the Fordment, seemingly to pla- Durenber^er amendcate groups concerned ment, because it "contraabout government in- dicts our basic undervolvement with religious standing of the separainstitution*. It states: tion between church and "Financial assistance state." provided imder this act The group has traditionsh all not be expended in a ally opposed federal aid manner inconsistent with for sectarian child-care the Constitution." programs, he said. The Council of Reform "Meanlnqless" Day Schools supports But even Zwiebel of federal aid to sectarian Agudath Israel called that child-care programs, said assurance "meaningless." Erwin Shlachter, its One Jewish group president