Vol. LXVN No. 14 OiMM. IMv.
1 Twat, S780 Friday, Docwnbor 29, IMS
Christian women pursue freedom for family of S6viet Jews
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By Morrte MaUne Althouj^ several wedu have pasMd since my trip to the Soviet Union, images of Jewish families stmg^ing to emigrate still are vivid in my mind. In reviewing my notee and photos, a thought pofj^iedl . The CJif. (Nick) Newman Endowment Fond pidd for a good portion of my October trip, and wouldn't it be interesting for the Omaha Jewish oommunity to know that his phOaiuhroDv may have contributed lUzectly to freedom for Soviet Jews. I say that bedmse in my notes then is tUs wooderful stoiy of two Christian women becoming the deddiag factor in one family's decision to leave. And sifice in a small w«y, I have become involved with the fan^, the laredit for eucteas if aocoaas ba indeed forthcomi&g—ahould be shared with many, inchiding the Newmkii Endownunt
I left Omaha with a series of telephone calls from Jane Oehringer, an Omaha schod teacher, who asked me to meet with her friends, Inna and Yure Cohn, and their son, Alexander (Sasha).
leave the Soviet Union, but we had a great many doubts." She said that Mrs. Burlra and Ms. Gehringer "opened our eym" to what was available in the free world and a "nunnent of truth" convinced us that our son was right in wanting to leave.
HassNnger, Rothenberg named chairmen of Super Sunday By Joanie Jacoba«m Federation pabUc reiatioBS director M'Lee Hasslinger and Steve Rothenberg have been named co^hairmen of the annual Super Sunday Teleth(m to be hdd on Simday, Jan. 21 at the Richman Gwdman Corporate Offices. 12100 West Center Road. The teletiMB marks the official doto of tiie 1990 UJA/Fe<Uration Campaign, a nwjor fdndraising eftot by the Jewish FedenuHn of Omaha to benefit tihe Omaha Jewish commnnity and 88 Jewish communities around the worid. Doiens of men and women will volunteer to call over 1.700 of their fellow Jews in the Omaha area to help raise neoeesaiy community dollars. Clean-qp caOa wfll bo made during Suparweek, Jan. 23-25 from 7-9 pjn. "We want to communicate to people in the divi-
Ms. Gehtjnger said that she had become actively involvad in their lives after having resided with them Upon our return to in tluir Moscow q>ait- Omaha, I QudntaiBBd an meot for a coiqile of weeks inter«st in ha^rfng the through a teacher exCohn family among othen change program. and volnnteeted to prepare »iUey Goldstein, Ruth a reaume for Alexander— Potash, and I (the Omaha a brilliant theoretical ecntingent to die Union of chemist Inna is a sdiod (kmadla for Soviet Jewry teacher with an excellent Council meeting in the Socommand of En^iah, and viet Union) made a special her husband is a lawyer effort to meet with the with a construction comCohn taraiiy during our pmyvisit. But it was obvious that Mrs. C(rfm told me that Alexander was the pride the visit by Ms. Oeliriager and a iirsvions viait by a and hope of the Cohn Miriam Boike of CiOifor family. nia. a Catholic QrandHe has earned the equivmothec for Faaca, ware the afant of a Ph.D degree in two (vents i*Uck diangeq chemical idiysics, gradnat" hvlift. Jnf from the MoMMr i aio«i tl^^aSi Mntaii day,
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M'Lee Haadinger and Steve Rothenberg would greatly benefit this Mr. Rothenberg recalled whole community," said the message of the 1990 Mrs. Hasslinger. Can^Mign. " 'If Not You, "We want it to be both WHOt'-It's really true," a poattive experience and a he said "There's no one k>t of fun for the people in- out there to help us;' the volved," she continued. campaign is all about he^ "A SniMr Sunday caller ing ourselves. vohmteers only two hours "This year is actually of his or her time-that's more in^Mrtant than other it. It's a perfect opportu- years. It will decide what nity for anyone with a direction we'll go. The ver^^ busy achedvie to Jewish community in make a personal oonuni^ Omaha can't afford not to ment on bdialf of oqr Jew- give and still maintain the ish comanmity. P»M» sarviees «• have hare. cJiange tor tlwbttt«r whan Conyared to othsr comwiddt iMiQrIi»iMttai»- tib«gr|i«tinvtv«NLIilNlf able amount of ioMoefy, good to help out" (Ceatiaaed on Pege 9
Hanukkah a time of fear, heroism for Panama Jews NEW YORK'^JTA) Hanukkah has not been a joyous time for the Jews of Panama, but ita vety first diqr w«8 s time for heroics, la ksspfaig with the piood of tilie boflday. FoOowiac the U.S. faiva-. An of Panama on I^ 21,. the Jews, a majmfy of whom are merchants, found, their buainaeses
mercilessly looted, down to the lighting fixtures and toilet facilities. They (daoed calls of desperation to U.S. Jews. As dnak qipnaefaed Friday aflierBOon, when Jews should bcve bsen pnpa^ hig to Ugiit' menorahs, tiiose living hi the swank neil^ibMhood ofPunta de PatiOa fonad thamsihree about to be assaulted in
tbefr homes. They quickly farmed their own vigihmte brigade. AJD armed Jewish brigade of about 30 men, keqiing watch from Friday night to Saturday momfaig, was successful hi turning away assailants and even, hi one case, capturing armed thugs attadied to ousted mUtaiy strongman Manuel Nori-
ega, acoordhig to aooounts pieced together &«n Jewish sources in New York who have maintainsd dose tdephone contact with Jews in Panama. The two pro-Noriega men, whom the Jews turned over to the U.S. troops, were bodyguards of Noriega's miatrass, said New York busineesman Blitchsi) Drlouner, who hahdlee shipping for buiinessee in Gentral America, a large number of which are owned by Jews. Jews, in fact own a substantial share of major busineeses in Panama. Gueesee at how large a share range from "a conservative estimate of 70 percent" to "over 90 percent," according to three separate deecriptiona. The Jews have done well, and now they are wiped out, say thoae familiar with the community. Jews living hi the highrises of PunU de Patilla knew even before the U.S. invasion last week that thafr naighborhood would be assaulted, said Drimmar. Over radio telephones that huainese owners thers keep to eomnninkate with •och othsr, thay heard ^Mciffe dhectkns bstweaa members of Noriega's "Dignity Battalioas'^ to ; the neighborhood.
Dhnmer said. Th«y rs' quested direct American assistance hi their aaichbcrhood, which is aome 100 yards from tiie Vatican miasion where Noriega has taken refuge. One tank entered the neighborhood for two hotvs, said Dimmer. He was among several New York Jews who caBadkxal members of Congrsse snd Mie State Department asking for help in the Jewhdi nei^iborhood. Whan it became qipareot that adequate protection was not eoming, the Jews formed their own defense group and took to thestrseta. On Friday night, under the laaderahip of a'Jewish tetaOer of ladiea' dothee, the Jews want out armed with Usis and handguns, and pitifully Uttla ammunition, and used cars and vans to cordon off the three stiaata that provide aeceaa to the area. They stopped care and aakad lor proof of reghitration, Dlmi^tsr eaid, pulUng out tboae who could not provfale it
Semitism, emphasised RaUi Morton Rooentiial, diractoK of Latin American affairs for the AntiDefamation League of 3'nai B'ritiL He said tiie Jews shouU be seen as Panamanians suiCwing from the effects of wsr snd angry that the U.S. ittvaaion plan did not hidade protection of dvfliaas aad strssts to complement the miUtaiy sbat-
There were maay car thsfta by kieal brigands aaeodstad wiUi Noriaga.
Senator J. Jamee Bxoa la scheduled to eaaak t« B'nai B'rith BnadfaiMlnnWedMaday, Jen.!, Boon, at tha VeaiealBB.
By Iteaday, the altaation had hMprovad,jrtth the atiaala raportai la be Daapito accoMnte of fsar aad strsaa, the story U not oaaef anti-
Although tiiare was said to be aome levd of cooperation between Noriega jnd busineas leadels, many of whom are Jews, it is believed that few Jews voted for hfan In thia year'a praaidential election, won by OuiOermo Bndara but hivalidated by Nariaga.VhtuaUy all Panamanian Jewa support the U.S. h>vasion, according to sourooe tharec About 70 percent of the some 4,000 Jews of Panama are SaphanUe, most of whom srs of Syrisn origfai.
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Tha Bsstiag is onea; coat for MBCB la 96.