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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXVII No. 10 Omaha, Nabr.
3 KIslav, 5750 Friday, Dacambar 1, 1980
Freda Keet speaks to Omaha community By Joanie Jacobson Federation public relations director The Jewish Federation of Omaha will sponsor a Community Forum featuring Freda Keet, noted Israeli broadcaster, on Sunday, at the Jewish Community Center, noon to 1 p.m. Miss Keet was the guest speaker at an Oct. 29 event for Divisions 12 and 13 of the men's 1990 UJA/Federation Campaign, and according to Robert Gordman and Murray H. Newman, general chairmen of the men's division, "... her message was so important and she was so well received that we decided to offer the entire Omaha Jewish community the opportunity to hear her." Harold Zabin, cochairman of Division 12, described Miss Keet as "... wise, entertaining and profound... She is a dynamic and spellbinding speaker." Mr. Gordman emphasized that Miss Keet briugs a "different perspective on what's happening in Israel with respect to the intifada. For
Freda Keet the first time, Jaraelis are afraid,"-^he explained. "They feel fear, not arrogance and strength. "Most of us have a very narrow view about what's really going on in the middle east and with Israel," he continued. "It's not just what we read in the World Herald and see on the 6 o'clock news. Freda Keet brings it to light both as an excellent speaker and a stimulating actress." An award-winning actress and noted television and radio program editor and director, Miss Keet is one of Israel's foremost woman broadcasters for Kol Israel, the national radio service.
Community to hear 'gifted' speaker By Herb Schlmel Excitement reigns according to comments made by some of the members of the various committees planning the 16th annual Jewish Book Month celebration sponsored by the Jewish Federation Library. Professor Howard Schwartz, who will deliver the annual community lecture on Dec. 11 at tha JOG at 7:30 p.m., was daaoibed as a prolific writer of books on Jewish subjacts and as a spellbinding speaker. Sara Juater, community lecture chairman, referred to Prof. Schwartz as a gifted taacher. An aaaociate profeaaor of Engiiah at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, he teaches coursea in Jewish Literature, Poetry Writing, Short Story Writing, AlkflOfty «ad FoUdore. Profeaaor Schwartz will diacuaa "Jewish Talea of the Supernatural" followed by both a queationand-anawer period and a racaption.
Leningrad starts first Jewish Sunday school This dramatic photo of students at the first Jewish Sunday school in Leningrad was taken recently at my request by Leonid (I don't have his last name yet) of Leningrad. This is a school that we didn't visit during our recent trip to the Soviet Union, bat I understand from Leonid that 50 children from seven to 14 are enrolled learning "Jewiak language," music, Jewish history and tradition as well as geography. My series of articles will resume next week. (MM.)
'JAP Jokes' issue: No laughing matter By Jan Perelman Women's Division, publicity chairman
Prof. Howard Schwartz In the last 15 years, Professor Schwartz has produced nina books on Jewish subjects. Edythe Wolf, UhrariaB, commcDted that "Jewish Talea of tiie Supanatural" are storiaa that are found in almost avnry pbaae of Jewish UUriture after the Bible. TVy indwla talea of wawkriim apirita, marriage with demons, posaeasion by dybbuka, ghostly visitations, and other themea drawn from the realm of the supanuturaL This program, co-sponaorad by tba Jewiah Cultural ArU CoHMil. ia the nofiudlng lecture of thia aamaatar'a CJL Jewish Studiea Institute. It ia open to the entire community.
Jewish American Princess jokee—we've all heard them—caricatures of a Jewish female portrayed as pampered, aelf-indulgent, materialistic and frigid. JAP jokes are nothing new, but maqy concerned Jews today tell ua that what appears to be harmleaa humor, may actually be nothing to sinile about. "HW Jewiah American Princeaa: No Lau(^g Matter" trill be the topic of discussion at a major woman'a caritpaign kvent on Thursday. Dec. U. at Ak-Slr-Ban. The event, "A Picture Perf^t Ending...," is sponsoied by the Women's Division of the Jewish Federation of Omaha in recogmti(» of the 1990 UJA/Federation Campaign, Houaton attorney and writer ShanyMarfiahwiU speak at both a luncheon at noon and a dinner at 6 p.m. for the Dec U event. Jewiah teanage girla in the
community have been invited and encouraged to attend the evening program. According to Ms. Merfish, the perpetration of JAP jokes is demeaning, provides a vehicle for antiSemitism and sexism and affects the way society views Jewish women in general. "The term connotes idleness and dqMndency," she said. "It is not only derogatory, but oldfashioned and undermines women's recant ambition and achievemiots. It Qies b the face of Jewiah woDMO who have contributed so much. "Traditionally, Jewiah humor has aUow«(Jl Jews tt a^KNip to laugh at their oominon plight, she explafaied. "Do^ao enabled ua to find humor in the grimmeat and moat inhunaaa of aituations. JAP jokea, oo the other hand, alandar one aax. "The reault of this characterization is a stereotype formed from partidae of raaUty and fualad by anU-Samitiam in
Shmy Merfish our environment. It hurts us as we try to live with and understand one another." she said. , According to an article in Jewish Monthly, JAPBaiting is an activity practicedi on some American coUese campuses and haa many Jewiah leaders and parents worried. At Cornell University, for example. The Cornell Luaatic, a right-wing magajune. printed an article aititled, "Jap»B<}ooe: A Handy Info Packet for the Home Exterminator." On the aame campua, a fraternity aat up a fair booth entitled "Slap-A-
Jap," featuring wet sponge throwing at female images. "Slap-A-Jap" Tshirts, greeting cards and newspaper cartoons testify to the scope of the problem. In addition to such harassment, Ms. Merfish points out that negative stereotyping is dangerous because it interferes with healthy male-female relationships. "Intermarriage is not only the result of living in an open society where ethnic groups mingle, it also stems from the dark cloud of stereotyping and cliches which may turn Jewish men and women off to each other," she said. "Behind every JAP crack hes a man who views Jewiah women as pampered, demanding, emptyheaded and aelfiah. Eyen if he expresses i^ deafre to marry a Jewish women, hia notion of what Jewish women are like puta a damper on the prospect of a meaningful relationship,'- she concluded. (CoatiaMd on Page 31