Vol. LXVN No. 17 OnwlM, Nobr.
18 ToMt, S751 PMui. Jan. 4,1M1
American Jewish historian draws lessons for the future By Fomflt N. Knitter Gi«iniiaii, Jewiah Cvltnral Arts Conndl This year's Kallah weekend scholar, Professor Jonathan Sama, will speak to the community over the weekend of Feb. 1-3 at the three area synagogues. Over the course of the weekend, the Kdlah speaker will diraw upon Jewiah history and experience in America to help us understand tha chaileDges we face today. The aeries will begin at 8 p.m. Friday evening at Beth Israel with the topic "Russian Jewish Immigration to the United States; Past Legacy and Future Proepecta." Satur day afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Professor Sama win speak on "Decoding Intarfaith Humor" at Beth El Synagogue. The aeries will oondude Sunday morning at 10 a.m. with "The Firtore of the American Jew" at Temple Israel. T^oisaeor CMna waooofn itl'FMwMphia and grew up in New York and Boaton. A graduate of Brandeia University, Boston's Hebrew College, and Jerusalem's Merkaz HaRav Kook, Professor Sarna received his Ph.D. from Yale University. He has, he says, developed strong roots in the Orthodox,
Profeaaer Sama
Conaervative and Reform movements. ' A committed Orthodox Jew, Professor Sarna served for roughly 20 years at Conservative synagogues in Boston and Cindnnati as a high holidaya cantor. Following his graduation from Yale, he went on to teach at the Reform movement rabbinical seminary in Cincinnati Among hia students at the semiTttry waiv uaun Aiyen Aariel and Professor Same's wife. Rabbi Ruth Langer, and many otho-of today's prominent Ref(»in rabbis. Now at Brandeis University, Professor Sama is working to develop Brandeia as a major canter of scholarahip in American Jewiah history.
Professor Sama is a frequent commentator on the American Jewish community scene writing iot Commeatary, Momeat, and the Jounial of American Jewish History. He is also active as an author, lecturer and member of several scholarly editorial books and grant committees. Among his more recent studies are; intermarriage in the Jewish community, mixed aeating in Orthodox congregationa, church-state relations, and the synagogue as an American institntion. In each of these roles, the Kallah weekend qMaker presents his analysis of American Jewry throu^ the eyes of an historian. Profesaor Sama combines in his lectures and writings the exdtement of explaining American Jewry's historical roots with concern for our future. For theae reasons, the Jewish Cultural Arts Council 1B looktDgtanrard ur Prafeesor Same's visit to Omaha as our 1991 Kallah weekend qwaker. The Kallah weekend program is supported by the Morton A. Richards Endowment Fund. For more information, call Beth Seldin Dotan, JCAC director, at 3348200, axt. 272.
Jews leave Albania
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By AUsa Marens NEW YORK (JTA)Thirty-seven Jews from Albania, Eastern Euraiw's last remaining Communist strongfaoki, arrived in Italy last week and an awaiting reoettkment in the United States. The emigres, all members of one family, are among the first in what is expected to be a mass migration of the country's tiny Jewish community, estimated to numbar anywhere between 500 and 1,000 peopit. according to officials involved. Offidala said a few fuo* illes are ah-eady in laraal, but it is unclear when they arrived as part of "Operation Flying Carpet," as the emigratiiHi of Albanian Jews is bainc callad. The departur* of Jews from Albania, whoae peopie remained in virtual isolation for decades under the Stalinist mle of Enver Hoxha, comes as the country Is taking tantativa ateps toward astabliahlng an open ayatam. Tha new Coamunist
; laodarsUp baa agraad to allosr oppDdtlon partiaa in
thia country of 3.3 million, mittee is handling the and the total ban on relig- ooata incurred during their ion raportadly has been stay in Italy, he said. Exit visaa for the Jews eased. The majority of Alwere obtained after months banians are Moalema. "For 46 years, there waa of quiet negotiations beno Jewish community life tween laraal and Albania nor synagogue, and they with the help of the Italian could not celebrate their govemmant, aaid an offiholidays in public," said dil connected with the an official connected with emigration. In general, a family member traveled to the emigratioB. "But the males said nearby Athens or Rome they were all drcumdsed, and then returned to Albademonstrating as a fact nia with Israeli visas for they haven't forgotten the whole family. their Judaism," the official aaid. One Albanian man, when asked by an Italian customs official about the large menorah he had in The eight Soviet Jews his bag, raportadly aaid, schodulad to arrive in "Why are you aaldng me Omaha last week still about this? I had to keep had not arrived as of it buried in my yard for Jawiali Press deadline years. yeatarday. The axtandad family of Natalia Rubin, coor37 waa flown from tha Aldinator of the Soviet banian capital of Tirana to Jewiah reaattlemant proRome, where their migragram here, aaid ahe tion procaaaing la being learned from the HehuidlMl by HI AS. the Hebrew Immigrant Aid brow Immigrant Aid SodSociety in New York aty, aaid Karl Zukerman, City that the group haa ita esacutiva vie* praaibean raachadulad to ar d«nt. Tha AoMrican Jewrive Thunday. Jan. 3. ish JfliRt DiatributiaB OoB-
Arrival delayed
Siffs named chairmen of Super Sunday drive By Jill Kushner Behnont Federation public relatl«ma asaodate Barry and Judy Siff have been named chairmen of the Jewish Federation of Omaha's Super Sunday phone-a-thon, to be held Feb. 3, 1991, announced Jay Leraer, president of the Federati(m. Super Sunday, an all-day event which marks the final phaae of solidtation for the 1991 UJA/Fedaration Campaign, will be held at the Richman Gordman corporate offices, 12100 W. Cento- Road. The 1991 Super Sunday theme, "It's For You— Pass It On." focuses on the importance of a united eKort to siqiport the growth of the Jewish community, Mrs. Siff said. Barry and Jndy Siff "The spirit of volunteering has been a vital part of our growth, our atrength, getting involved. It's a each calling shift, Mr. Siff our ability to connect irith good introduction witlMMt said. ffHMuHga QUO year commiv"Bbm is aoanthusiMdc. keep that spirit goin^^md ment." so supportive, and we're pass it on to as many The Si^ aaid they are ludiy to have her exper others as possible. That's also hoping that r^resen- tise." why we're aakiag our com- tatives from all of the JewMrs. Siff agreed, sayinft munity monbers to volun- ish organizations, synateer a few hours of their gogues, youth and senior "Sheri makes it so easy fattime on Feb. 3 to make groups and board members people who haven't made some calls for Super Sun- from Federation agendas calls before. She puts them day." will participate in the at ease and makes them comfortable with the solicMr. Siff noted that "there phone-a-thon. are 1,700 people within the "It'a an opportunity to itation process." Super Sunday diviaion, give the minimum time fcxAccording to Mrs. Siff, nujdng it the largeat divi- the maximum reaulta. It'a at least 20 workers are sion in the campaign. It in- fun. it'a axdting to be part needed for each shift. Shift volvee more people in its of such a large group, and times, which indude the effort than any other divi- it's amasing and gratify- half-hour training session, sion and affects the vast ing to aee the funds raiaed will be from 9:30 a.m. to majority of the commu- through thia effort," Mrs. il:'30 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 1 nity." p.nL; and 6:30 p.m. to 9 Siffaaki. Recruiting first-time callShe added that laat p.m. ers from all age groupa is year, $47,000 was raiaed Thoae wanting to sign a priority for the Siffa. through Super Sunday; up are eDcourag»d to con"We'd like to induda peo- thia yaar'a goal ia M9.334. tact Pedoration aaaodata ple who haven't experi- a five-peroant incraaae. diractor Chariie Epatain at enced the joy of giving to For the third year in a 334-8200, Ext. S23. the community," Mr. Siff row, Sheri Idelman of Idel"We need everyone's said. man Telemarketing. Inc., Mp," Mr. Siff aaid. "Your "For those people, it's a will conduct the half-hour time ia as important aa good stepping stone to training session preceding your moo^y."
Play offers memories for Dr. Bette Evans By Lynda Prank It's not everyone whose family is put on display before audiences around the country. However, for Bette Evans this February will bring back aoBM vivid mamOriaa of bar great tin* cle, Haakell Haralik. Mr.HaraUkiaoneofthe characters in "The Immigrant" which "Thoatrs at the J" wiU preaent Thursdays and SaturdiqrB, Feb. 7-23, at the Jewish Community Center. Dr. Evans, a political aciance profesaor who
came to Omaha 16 years ago to teach at Creighton University, said there may also be other relatives in the area becauae the Ruasian for HarsUk is Gerelik. "Hsskell HareUk lived in the Ruaaian village of Parich. A Ug lira io the village destroyed aU tha records. When tha Russians came to thia village (rfVkidiah speakera and aaked thmn their namea, all they could say waa 'gerelik' (bumed upK so they all became Gerelika," Dr. Evans said.
It was wlien bar great uode came to Amaries that his name bectaM Haralik. Awcthiir raaenn aha faala than are unknown ralativea in Omaha ia her family entered the United SUtaa through Qahrsaton which waa alao tlia way many Midweatsm Jawa entered. Aa an aiampis, aha Dotsd that Roae Blumkin waa a Oeralik tnm bar great-unda'a hometown and could possibly b« related. an Pegs 7)