Beth Israel offers course
A good start Men's Club hosts a panel discussion on Black-Jewish relations at Temple Israel last Sunday and participants are from left, the Rev. William D. Barlow, Lerlean N. Johnson, Preston Love, Jr., Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, and the Rev. Lee King. See editorial on Page 4.
I
Synagogue vandalism
The Anti-Defamation offered support to help reLeague has condemned pair the emotional and the spray painting of physical damage done to swastikas at Lincoln's the community," Mr. B'nai Jeshurun (South Wolfson added. Street Temple). The APL's 1991 Audit "This hateful attack cannot be dismisB«d as a of Anti-Semitic Incidents, harmless prank. We hope issued in January, the citizens of Lincoln will reported an 11% rise in oiverwhehiungly reject this vandalism, and an appalltype of ugliness," said 1. ing 25% rise in incidents of Robert Wolfson. ADL dir- .harassment, threat^, and assaults against Jews naector. "It is gratifying that tionwide. The number of many good people, Jews incidents in Nebraska foland non-Jews, have called lowed the national trend to express outrage at this with increases in both criminal act and have types of acts.
"Regrettably, Nebraska has not adopted hate crimes legislation, byt the League will continue to urge the Nebraska Unicameral to act on previously introduced legislation based on ADL's model codes," Mr. Wolfson stated. The bill was killed in committee.. Thirty oiie states have adopted Ipws based on ADL's Hate Crimes model. Only three states have failed to enact some type of hate crimes legislation: Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming.
Beth Israel Synagogue will offer a "Crash Course in Basic Judaism," a series of five free one-hour classes at the Jewish Conununity Center beginning May 11, announced Rabbi Mark Urkowitz. The lecture series focusing on Belief in God, Prayer, The Sabbath, Jewish Observance, and Sexuality, is part of a national outreach effort sponsored by the National Jewish Outreach Program in conjunction with synagogues across the country. The program offers Jews the opportimity to explore the basic concepts of their religion and expand their knowledge. "We are addressing a significant need iii the Jewish community," explains Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, director of NJOP.
Schiner to visit
B'nai Israel joins Reconstructionists The Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations and Havurot has announced the affiliation of Congregation B'nai Israel, Council Bluffs, Iowa, according to Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, executive director. The congregation's membership was approved by the national Board of Directors of the Federation at its winter meeting. Reconstructionism is an approach to Jewish living for the individual, the family and the community. Ellen Fennick, president of B'nai Israel, said it allows contemporary thinking Jews to reclaim the heritage of their past by encouraging them to enhance their own Jewish lives and to become active participants in the building of the Jewish future.'
FRCH is only the latest step in a long history of serving the area's Jewish community. Founded as an Orthodox synagogue in 1903, B'nai Israel has, in recent years, drawn new members from Omaha as well as Council Bluffs, as it has reemerged as a small, dynamic liberal synagogue open to all members of the Jewish community. She pointed out that the synagogue entered a new phase in 1989, .when it first hired a student rabbi, Rabbi Sharon Stiefel, from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. The present rabbi of B'nai Israel, also from the R.R.C. is Sheryl Shulewitz. '
Kent E. Schiner, international president of B'nai Ms. Fennick commented B'rith, will "visit Omaha on the synagogue's official March 26, the first such embrace of Reconstrucvisit of an international Founded by Mordecai tionisQ^ "The philosophy president in over 30 years. Mr. Schiner will apeak M. Kaplan, Reconstruc- of Reconstructionism fits at B'nai B'rith Bread- tionism is the fourth major B'nai Israel's community breakers* noon luncheon, branch of .Judaism with extremely well. Its key which is open to the com- 50,000 members through- . principles of inclusiveness, out the United States and maximum participation, munity. _ . Because a larger than Canada. B'nai Israel joins gender equality, emphanormal crowd is expected, 70 affiliates represented sis on learning, and a thoughtful approach to it is necessary to call B'nai by, the Federation. Jewish tradition are the B'rith at 334-8200 to make Ms. Fennick said B'nai cornerstones of our conreservations, the anIsrael's affiliation with gregation." nouncement stated.
Shamir lauds Begin as great man of Jewish history JBRUSALfjM (JTA)-Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir mourned his predecessor and onetime underground commander, Menachem Begin, as "one of the great men" of Jewiih history. In • radio statenaent to the nation, and later in a eulogy delivered at a ipecial aeMioo of the Cabinet, the premier praised Beg&i'f leadership in peace and war. Begiii'i heritage, Shamir said, was ooth the peace treaty with igypt and the strengthefied hold over Eretz irael. Following ore the texts of Shamir'a radio statement and his remarks to the Cabinet. ShoBilr'i Radio Statement "Today, the entire nation of Urael-in lorael and in the Diaspora-take* ita leave, with great anguish and In mournlDg, of one of its most valued sons, the sixth prime minister of Israel and one dear to the nation, Meoachem.Begiii. "The primary student of Ze'ev J^botinsky, the coraof the Etsel, the founder of the Herut movent, the creator of the Ukud, member of Knesset and star in governments of Israel, the men who—all his -fought for Eretz Ylarsal and for the nation of Israel I annals of the nation, the name of Menachem Begin is etebed aktngaide thoaa of the greats of the natioa throughout the generations. "Undir hie conusand, the alien ruler wu expelled om Eretx Yiareel and the eatablishment of the State [ raroal wu made possible. Under his leadership, the ity of the people of Israel was maintained and a bitfeud wu prevented. 'Under hie guidance, the nation of loroel reached a I agreement with the largeat Arab state-Egypt. r the Inepiration of hie pareonality, parliamentary 1 democratic life wu fouiided in lorasi,
"He was the leader who brought about the removal of barriers among the nation and the'entrenchment of all strata. He attended to the welfare of the development towns and the distreased neighborhoods. He wu the man who showed everyone what real leadership—Jewish ' leadership—was. "To us, his pupils, those continuing along his path, his comradee, we have lost the founder of our movement and ita leader ftx 85 years. To us who loved him so, who admired him so, he will be missed doubly. "On this day, we sahite our commander, our leader, our teacher, our prims miniater, who is no longer. On this'day, we 4re In mourning and with bowed heads over the great man who hu departed and is no longer among us. The memory and inspiration of Meoachetn Begin will be etched in the heart of the whole nation forev^. "In the spirit of his doctrine and path, we will continue the struggle for the sake of the strengthening of the Jewish people in its land; for ths saks of ensuring the security of the sUte and of its citizens: for the sake of proclaiming the force of our right to our entire homeland, from the oea to the river, nr the aake of expanding the circle of peace in the Middle Eut; for the sake of social juatice and the freedom of people throughout Isrsel. "We are, today, mourners. Our heede are bowed over the dear man, the admired and loved man, Mjnachem Begin. We have all been orphaned. There is no coneoiation. Shaotir sUteaunt to Cabinet "The government of larael and the entira people of Israel today mmim the paasing of the sixth prime minister, Menachem Begin, of bleeeed memory. From this room', in which he—over the couree of six years and two montha-conducted eeeeions of the government of Israel, we, ministers of loraeL lend our eoodolencee to his
son, daughters, granddaughters and grandsons, and to all members of his family. "A great man has been uprooted from among us. A leader who towered fr6m above, one of the most valued of the nation, the distinguished student of Betar leader Ze'ev Jabotinsky. "Our teacher and master, our beloved one snd our leader, Menachem Begin left behind a people in great pain, enveloped in anguish, mourning and with beads bowed. He also left behind a distinguisbed heritage of strong leadership and monumental achievements for the people of Isrul snd for Eretz Yisrsel. "His actions will be remembered forever, both u the commander of the Etzel and leader of the revolt against foreign nils, and u the prime minister whi) brought about the first peace treaty with an Arab state: who forged our hold over ports of the homeland that were liberated in the Six-Day War: who proclaimed Israeli sovereignty over the Golan; who sevend the nuclear arm ruler: who fought for the immigration of the Jewish people—from the Soviet Union u well u from Ethiopia, in :'OporaUon Moeee," #hkh he initiated. "This great heritage sur^ is etched in his acts, hia speeches and his writings: a heritage whoee entirety speaks of the right of the Jawish paopis to Its homeland: of the just war Of the people for Ite existence and iu security in its land: for ths Jewish and dmoaatk char acter of the stete: for interaal unity and the minimizing of diaputee among ua u much u poaeihle; for the welfare of all social atrata. urban and rural: for the integration of the exiles and the removal of Intercommunel barriars: (or the supreme vahiea of humanity end Judsiem, liberty end juetioe (or oU httman beinfi. and. especlellv. liberty end JuMke for the pareecuted Jewish people, exiled for 2,000 years.
I