^lE^O HISTO^ICIL 150n p ST •^ : r. C 0 L \ J :.
SERVING NEBRASKA ANDIOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXVII No. 8 Omaha, Nabr.
Every Soviet Jew a refugee from anti-Semitism By Morris Maline Note: This article is one of a series resulting from a recent trip to the Soviet Union. Warning—you may consider the information to be unsuitable for young children. When the United States stopped providing refugee status to Soviet Jews recently, insisting that new emigrants prove persecution, the policy sounded reasonable to me. After all, Glasnost, the new openness in the Soviet Union had made it possible for Jews to meet, talk publicly and participate in Jewish cultural activities. So, I thought conditions must be better for the Jews. At least they can improve their cultural existence without being afraid and those who now want to leave probably want to go because of economic conditions. I should have known better. My mother, may she rest in peace, told me of the pogroms, the Cossacks riding through her village—maiming, killing, raping and looting—when she explained why my maternal side of the famUy left the Soviet Union in the early 1900s. History of the Jews In addition, before leaving on the trip I had access to a History of the Jews in the USSR, written by Soviet Jewry activist? Marilyn Himmel and Shirley PoUak. And when I arrived in Moscow, Helen Zilber, who acted as an unofficial tour guide for us and who now has settled in Boston, deUvered a history of the Jews in Russia while showing us the Jewish historical places in Moscow. „ . , „ (Continued on Page 4)
Women's Division campaign event The Women's Division of the Jewish Federation of Omaha will gather in recognition of the 1990 UJA/Federation Campaign on Thursday, Dec. 14, at Ak-Sar-Ben. " "A Picture Perfect Ending" will be offered as a luncheon program at noon, or as a dinner program at S p.m. Dietary laws will be observed. Guest speaker will be Sherry M. Merfish, Houston attorney and writer, who will adcbess the topic, "The Jewish American Princess—No Laughing Matter!" Ms. Merfish combines her background in law and writing in response to social and legal issues. She currently cochairs the Women's Issues Committee and is a vice preoidsnt of the Houston Chapter of the American Jewish Committee. Through her work, she organized the first Task Foroa to combat tha negative staraotyping of wo; men in the guiae of the Jewish American Princess. These efforts resulted in the passage of far-reaching raeohitioas by the Houston Jewish Federation and Rabbinical As' sociation, thereby blooming the f^t organizations to go on record concerning this issue. Ruth Erman is chairman of the Dec. 14 event.
"We are planning a special afternoon and evening to recognize the women of the Omaha Jewish coihmunity. It will mark a major fundraising effort and, hopefully, a successful campaign," said Mrs. Erman. , "Because it is demeaning and inflammatory, the subject of the Jewish American Princess is important to Jewish women of all ages," she continued. "The JAP issue particularly affects our young women, because they are the ones confronted by their pears in high school and on college campuses. For this reason, we are encouraging teenage girls in our community to attend the evening program. Personal invitations have been sent to them, in addition to the general membership of the Women's Divisioo." The cost pf either the day or evening event is $12 per person. A minimum gift of $52 to the 1990 UJA/Federation Campaign Is required to attend. Teenage girla are exempt from the minimum gift requirement. They may attend for the cost of the dinner only ($12). Reaervationa^ must be made by Dec. 7. For information, contact BUle Penner. Women's Division director, 334-8200, ext. 264.
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This is Salaspils today—a memorial to slave laborers during the Holocaust. During World War II, an estimated 100,000 Jewish men, women and chUdren were imprisoned here for the benefit of the Nazis. See additional photos on pages 10-11.
Rabbi Nadoff retires from Beth Israel The retirement of Rabbi Isaac Nadoff as spiritual leader of Beth Israel Synagogue has been announced. In a letter to the congregation. Rick Katzman, president, said that these past several months have been difficult for Rabbi and Mrs. Nadoff. Earlier this year. Rabbi Nadoff submitted a letter to the Jewish Press referring to his illness and offering thanks to all those who have wished him well. Mr. Katzman's letter b, as follows: " Dear Friends: . There is both happiness and sorrow in community service. In my term as president of Beth Israel. I have received much personal satisfaction. Unfortunately, disappointment
Rabbi Isaac Nadoff also comes with the territory. It is difficult, I have learned, to always be the joyful and smiling person we should perceive a synagogue president to be. "Today, I am saddened to inform you of the retirement of Rabbi Nadoff. These past months have
been difficult ones for Rabbi and Jeanette and our hearts have been with them. In my many conversations with Rabbi and Rebitzen they always expressed their love and concern for the welfare of Beth Israel, both its present and future. Repeatedly they told me how much their affiliation with Beth Israel has meant to them. With love they spoke of how their lives have been positively affected by all of us, their congregation. Of course we all know how deeply our lives have been touched by them. "Rabbi recognized that it is time for Beth Israel to move forward and that we must seek his replacement. Soon a search committee will be in place to accept thia most signifi-
cant challenge. Rabbi and Jeanette only wish us to proceed with the business of the synagogue and deal with our future in a positive and optimistic manner. "Rabbi has made tremendous progress in his battle. We pray that his health will continue to improve and that he and Jeanette will be viable members of our community for many years. 'Our challenges are laid out, we all know what we must accomplish. The continuation of Beth Israel as a Traditional/Orthodox synagogue is the greatest gift we can give Rabbi and Jeanette. We are sad on this occasion yet we must recognize that this is the natural progression that Beth Israel must now face."
Reform leader blames American Jews NEW ORLEANS (JTA) — A leader of Reform Jewry has laid much of the blame for Soviet Jewry's Uurge-scate lack of involvement with Judaism in this country at the feet of American Jewry. Rabbi Alexander Schindler, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, mid many Soviet emigre famiUes are dropping out of Jewish life because American Jews have "failed to reach out" ^ to the new anjvals.
Schindler, speaking at UAHC's 60th biennial convention here, told some 3,500 Reform leaders that Jewish coogregations, including Reform synagoguee, have been '"most ne^ectful" in failing to encourage contact between Soviet Jewish emigres and the American Jewish community. In his critique, Schindler emphasiied what he called the "embarrassingly inadequate" response of American Jews to the
United Jewish Amieal's din, chairwoman of the Passage to Freedom cam- National Conference on. paigii, the $75 million spe- Soviet Jewry, applauded cial fund established to help offered by UAHC support absorption pro- congregations, citing two grams for Soviet Jews etsmptos of effective outboth in America and Is- reach by member synarA. , goguea that could be repliHe specifically called on cated by other "each of our 822 Reform congregations across the congregatkms to engage in country. a vigorous outreach proCardin spoke of a program to bring Soviet Jew- gram at Shearith Israel in ish families into our syna- San Francisco, a historic gogues and homes." synagogue that survived During a convention both the earthquakes of, workshop, Shoahana, Car- 1906 and 1989.
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