Award Winninq I
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 24 Adar, S7S2 Friday, Feb. 28,1M2
Vol. LXI)( No. 26 Omaha, Nabr.
Rabbi tells Bush to go for pastrami By Susan Paley, staff writer "Two>veeks ago, President and Mrs. Bush came to the synagogue where I was performing for a campaign appearance. Although I would have loved an opportunity to perform my routine-for the President, still, he was the best opening act I've had. He really knows how to warm up a crowd. The dinner choices for the evening were corned beef or pastrami. The President couldn't decide. I said, "Take the pastrami," which he did. I started the evening as a comedian; now, I'm a presidential advisor!" The above story was obtained in a telephone inter view with Rabbi Bob Alper from his home in Vermont in preparation for his forthcoming visit to Omaha. Rabbi Alper is funny! His material comes from observation—weddings, board meetings, family, everyday problems, trips to Russia. "Nobody else is doing this stuff," Rabbi Alper told me. "1 strongly hfeel that helping people btugh is giving them an important spiritual exercise. There is a long tradition on the use of humor in the rabbinate." Rabbi Alper said that while people are laughing, they are also learning. "Even when I am telling :es, I'm still teaching," said. "I ialwayai use jokes and' funny sermons from the pulpit, ' Rabbi Alper "1 always dreamed doing stand-up comedy. ity yttrs in the rabhas given me a lot dence in front of a audience!"
Rabbi Alper says that he is not a humorist of the "Borscht Belt" genre. He describes himself as a 'Crossover Act.' "My monologue is drawn from things in my own life, but not so much as my experience as a rabbi as it is from being a father, husband, and a person who drives a car, uses an answering machine, and lives on the side of a mountain in Vermont." (His manager told me that he built his dream house on this mountain in Vermont; it overlooks a cemetery. It's funny!) Six years ago. Rabbi Alper was a finalist at a Jewish Comic of the Year contest in Philadelphia. One of the judges was a TV persontdity. She liked him and offered him a spot on her show. The rest is history. "My act was developed in comedy clubs. It was a tough and unforgiving testing ground," he told me. His schedule includes weekends (not on Shabbos or holidays!) with audiences of 200 upscale listeners to weekdays wi^h audiences of "four." comprised largely of drunks and hecklers. "When a joke really bombed, I would say that 1 told it on purpose," Rabbi Alper said. Rabbi Alper will be performing at the JCC March 15, at 7 p.m. For information call th6 Friedel Jewish Academy, 334-0517, or send a check to the FJA (patron tickets are $50 a couple, donor tickets $15 each or t30 per coupla). cio Rick Katzman, 1204 N. 127th Ave.. Omaha, NE 68154.
Dedication planned for funeral home The (Udicttion ceremony for UM nsw Louis Friedman Jswish Funeral HonM, 4415 Cumiog St., will take place on March 12 at 6 p.m. Msmbsnof the FrMman (unity will luve ben invited to afBi tht Manuuhs on Uw doorposts of thebuiUiag. A diMMT honoring tbs mentbMrt of b«lh the BM'S mad womea's Chevt«Kadisiu(Buritl)8aci» ttsewiHWiowtbedsdkattoo. March 13 is li» BovwtholAdarintlMHf bt«« calendv. Tbia d«r It traditionally obearved w the yaiimit of " ' uj f-riii ii-n
Scholar-in-residence
Rabbeinu (Moaea) and hJstoricaHybaabeenaday when communities honor the pious, Rabbi Mark U^ kowiu eiplaiiied. Rabbi Irving Click. chsirinaa of the Funeral Standards Committee of the Rabbinical CeuadI of Chicaco. will speak. Rabbia Aryok Aariel. Paul Draaan. and UrkowHa m planniaf the fveafag'spapaaa.
Hm snttfs m may attsad both the dedication oaramony and the diinar. Coat for the diMMr laWJW. RaearvatioMBMBr ba mads to Beth' lara^, »fi«4a8». hy March 9.
Cantor Leo, Annette Fettman
Beth Israel plans honor for Fettmans A retirement dinner honoring Cantor Leo and Annette Fettman is scheduled for Monday, March 30, at Peony Park. Cocktails will begin at 6 pja., with dinner at 7 p.m. FoUowlng dinner, a musical tribute to the Fettmans, written and produced by Elaine Feldman and Bette Kozlen, will take place. "It promises to be a delightful evening to honor Cantor and Annette on their 18 years of dedicated service. They have been an inspiration, not only to Beth Israel but to the entire community. It is our pleasure to honor them on their retirement," said chairpersons Cheryl and Barry Kricsfeld. Reservations can be made by calling Beth Israel Synagogue at 556^288. The cost is $25 per person and the deadline for reservations is March 15.
"Social Justice.. .An Integral Part of Reform' Judaism " will be the topic for Temple Israel's scholar-in-residence weekend, March 13-15. Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C., will speak on "The Roots of Social Justice" at the 8:15 p.m. Shabbat service. On Saturday at 3:30 p.m.. Rabbi Saperstein will address the subjects "The Changing Supreme Court: What It Means For Jewish Concerns" and "Abortion Rights: The Time Has Come." Havdalah will follow. Sunday's session, a 10 a.m. brunch, will focus on "A Jewish Social Agenda For The 1990s." As the center director. Rabbi Saperstein represents the Reform Jewish movement to Congress and the Federal administration, provides legislative and programmatic materials to synagogues and coordiaatee social action education programs which train Jewish adults, youth, rabbinic and lay leaders. Both an attorney and an adjunct professor in comparative Jewish and American Law at Georgetown University Law School, Rabbi Saperstein has held leadership positions in national coalitions dealing
Rabbi Saperstein with issues as diverse as Israel, civil rights, energy and the environment, abortion rights and nuclear disarmament. Rabbi Saperstein has been a guest qfl network news shows such as "Nightline" and "McNeil Lehrer News Hours," and his articles on political and social justice issues have appeared in.the Washington Post and the New York Times. He also has authored and edited five books on social justice issues. He is married to Ellen Weiss, the executive producer of the National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." The Commurjity may participate in the weekend free of charge. The program, presented under the auspices pi Temple Israel's Adult Education committee, is made possible through a grant from the Carl Frohm Foilndation.
Israel silent JERUSALEM (JTA)Israeli authorities have remained silent about reports that a new airlift is being planned to bring out the remaining Jews in Yemen. The govemoMot of Yemen has dismissed the reports, which first surfaced when the Sunday Times of London wrote that Israel intended to mount a rescue operation with or without the co^ operation of the Yemeni authorities. Political sources in Jerusalem cautioned that any coinmsnt couU jeopardise quiH efforts on behall o< Ute 1,500 to 2.000 Jews atiO living in Yemso, a countiy that has rsitricted saigratiM HBtU BOW. But one ofBdal involved in thoaeeflofto toU the Jewish THagraphk AfMcy that an undsrtaking •long the liaee (rf Operar tion Solomon, which broi^ more than 14.000 Jewa out o( Ethiopia last Msy, wouki be "illogical" in the caM.o( Yemaa.
Herzl Shabbat at Beth El ol Omaha yaw^pUcs who atteaded Hsnl Caakp last sMmmer will ISMI asr«ieaa at Belh B gyai^egae tsmsrtsw at MO ajw. " A Henl Shabbat' wae Mf dad's idea,' iM Sarah lafal. "bat 1 was UM orgaaiaar. There will he kUb iMi ahaMatary to high eckaal age dolH tverytMH (*«• lawilH Masaf to re^hM Tmk ta ^viag the D'Vvr IWah. Thare'U be Uda (roai Temple larael, loo!" PartldMate iadttds: tliam Mt, hattMl AadI Oataik, Skaahaaa Wees. Aaaa fUfttI; ImiddW Heather Oleah. AUhma Qataih. Jaaaifar Javhch. lyaa Oloeh: (topi Sarah Katal Brlaa Negg. Jeff Negg. Jea Brwte. Net pktaied: Bobby Shapiro. Jelf Shaplim Laarto Bpetaia. Jaaoa Bpateia. Aaraa Shefnm. Stavs Kotok, OUa OrMMUaah Qaaahif, Andrea Callk Aaale Kotah. MeUaaa Katimaa. J«(( KaU maa, Heather Oaideteia aad Lance PoUwv.