J 903010-00 60 NEBR HISTORICAL IfJCOLN NE
SEJIVKG A ;LU:.E:(/", / J : J IOWA unoi
SOC •
68508
urn i Ll.
Vol. LXVJI No. 41 Ore. .'.J, KcL
£3 Tommuz, 5750 Friday, July 6, 1990
By Morris Meline before Douglas County With an estimated total Commissioner Steve Rosof $850,000 in Israel Bond enblatt presented the Towsales raised last week in er of David award.. Mr. his honor, retailer and phi- Rosenblatt, son of the late lanthropist Dan Gordman Omaha Mayor Johnny approached the micro- Rosenblatt for whom Rosphone in Beth Israel Syn- enblatt Stadium was agogue's social hall and named, gave an autoresponded: graphed baseball to Mr. He told the more than Gordman, 250 in attendance that the Both Mr. Rosenblatt social hall was the setting and Mr. Gordman comyears ago for some great mented on the long friendevents involving historical ships of the two families. figures such as former. Marina Kuzmina, who is President Harry Truman in Omaha on a visitor's and entertainer Eddie visa from the Soviet UnCantor whose activities. ion, spoke about the difbenefited Israel. ficulties Jews have in the "Nothing has changed... jSbviet Union, , / • Israel still' needs us," Mr. She said finding a good Gordman said, adding that many dedicated peo- job was almost impossible, ple in Omaha are doing a that in many cases chillot to.benefit the State of dren must change their Israel as well as the local last names to hide their Jewishness, that her community. mother—a physician in "We're building a syna- one place for 31 yearsgogue, a school, and help- was dismissed because of ing to resettle scores of being a Jew. Soviet Jews," Mr. Gord"All the Jewish people man added. are now trying to leave, One of the evening's my mother asked me not highlights occurred just , to orriabaci, Leningrad is
now a dangerous place with signs telling Jews to go away..," Dr. Carlos Rizowy, a political analyst for National • Public Radio, described Israel ag one of less than 30 democracies out of the 160 nations affiliated with the United Nations. "Israel must proceed with caution," he said, explaining that 21 dictatorships surround Israel and that in all cases, "ono bullet can change the internal as well as the foreign policy of those countries." He pointed out that not a single ex-president, king or prime minister in countries bordering Israel came and left without violence. He said one bright spot on the horizon is that the Israel Boicb gcest of hone? Don Gordmna flips the baseball Steve Rosenblatt gave Soviet Union no longer can afford to support Syria him cp dinae? co-daaimen Tom Fellnaan and Don Greeabsrg v/atch. Scs additional and this means that an op- photos-on page 12. portunity exists for peace its war with Iran with one Tom Fellman and Don Epstein who gave the with that country. of the strongest armies in Greenberg, co-chairmen; toast, and an estimated 30 He pointed out that the the world. Rabbi Isaac Ncdoff in his Soviet Jews who have main enemy is now Iraq . Others participating at first official participation been in Omaha less than r -which hap emorged-from 'th.o dim" fir lczeption" wero uu rabbi emedins, Hcrcld' thrc3 no rtis.
T Rabbi Paul Drazen, Beth El Synagogue, was elected president of the Board of Directors of The Plains Religious Media, Inc. (GPRM) at their annual meeting at the Omaha [Press Club; Rabbi Drazen had previously served as vice-chairperson and led the organization through a transition for manual record keeping to computerization. GPRM is the interfaith media coalition that produces "Religion in the News" and "Point of View" on WOWT. It also produces religious education programs on KMTV. • GPRM is an interfaith coalition of communities whose tasks are: to inform the public of major local, national and international. reh'giousnew3; to present programs designed to raise consciousness on issues affecting the community; and to assist member communities in the electronic and print media. The Rev. Elizabeth Beams; executive producer for GPRM , in announcing Rabbis Drazen's election, said, "Great Plains Religious Media is a bold and voluntary association of faith communities in Omaha. They arc
." /
Jeff Taxman has bean named managing director of the Omaha Firehouse Theatre, according to artistic director Dick Mueller. - , "For the first time I've found a business person who shares my vision for the Firehouse," Mr. Mueller said in announcing the appointment. "A major reason we reorganized under a non-profit corporation was to spread our wings and fly towards our potential as the HeartJeff Tollman land's regional theater, much as the Guthrie is to does not officially begin the north and the Missouri the part-time position unRep is to the south." * til Aug. 1. In addition; Mr. Taxman will ba appearing "Jeff Taxman has work- on the Firehouse stage as ed v/ith large regional Boolie in "Driving Miss theaters in Nev/ York and Daisy" which opens July knows how to bring our 5. • productions to a wider auAlthough the Firehouco dience and to bring au-' was established as a nondiences to a wider variety profit entity managed by of productions. We already tho Omaha Corporation have our solid bass in last year, Mr. Mueller said Omaha, but there's a bare- he insisted on keeping it a ly tapped gold mine of professional houee, emtheater lovers within an ploying members of Aceasy drive of Omaha, and tor'o Equity. with Jeff's expertise, we're "I. believe in thct vigoing to let them know sion," Mr. Taxman said, v/hat tho Firehouse is do- " . . . the quality, the coning at all times" Mr. sistency, the depth." Mueller added. Mr. Mueller sold Mr. The president of J.J. Taxman has already exTaxman and Associates pended the Firehouoe'o insurance agency has al- fundraioing efforfcn and ready begun work at the started thsprccsss of apFirehouse although he plying for grants.
: - - v'
Rabbi Drazen committed to working together to foster understanding and mutual respect for different faith groups and to raise consciousness in the community about the issues of compassion and justice that affect the way v/e live in society. Rabbi Drazen's election as board chairperson will continue to strengthen the interfaith relationship, and will aid understanding among people wand will bring particular expertise to the organizational affairs of the organization." Rev. Beams also said that she Rabbi Drazen and Cantor Berkovits are hoping to produce a religious education program about Passover to be used by Christian groups, to understand Passover,
. • • , . . „ . , . • - • . • • • • ' - -M.i.i | ' i
By Jonnie JccoFaooa Federation Public Relations Director Joseph Kirshenbaum, president of Noddle Development Company, assumed his duties as chairman of the Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha at the Foundation's board meeting held on June 28. Outgoing chairman, David L. Friedland, handed over the gavel to Mr. Kirshenbaum sayingthat he has "enjoyed immeneoly serving as chairman for the last two. and a half years" and that he found the Foundation's Board of Trustees to ba a "dedicated and effective group of individuals who are supported by a capable and cooperative staff headed by Jerold I. Roseh.endowment director." Tho Foundation i3 a ssparate division of tho Federation established to administer endor/ed fund3 for the benefit of tho entire Omaha Jewish community. Funds help to ensure the continuation of a • strong and vibrant Jewish , community while mddng possible creative programming for today. Mr. Kirshenbaum cited a number of accomplishmsnto achieved during Mr. . Friedlnnd's term in office. "The total assets of the
Joscpli Kirslicafcnimi Foundation grew 19 percent, while .'unrestricted funds' increased by a significant 28 percent. New by-laws were passed, ths first Foundation brochure was published, an annual report was issued boginningin 1983, and a Donor Wall of Recognition was designed and is cchcdulcd to go on display in the lobby of the Jewish Community Center some tini-3 in the fall. Theso are ell very positive things for our community," ho said. Alco precsnt at ths Juno 28 meeting were tho four new members of tho Foundatiob'3 Board of Tractcc3. Thsy ore Irvin^B. Epcteia, Forrest N. Knitter, Harlsy D. Scliragcr and Jerry Slucky. "Tlio Foundation has bsaa instraEisstDl in ereCoatinaoi oa Pago 5