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26 lyar, 5752—Friday, May 29,1992
"Our holy city" By Rabbi Mark Urkowitz Beth Israel Synagogue .1 remember many years ago my first trip to Israel, getting everything ready ; at home, the packing, ElAl Security, davening on the plane, crying when the pUct announced, "If you look out the windows now, you will see Israel," kissing the ground and just feeling good about being in our coimtry. I also remember cursing myself for having left something on my bed at home. Tradition teaches us that the first time we see the Wall we tear a gar^ment just as we do when we lose a loved one. I had forgotten the jacket that I was going to tear on my bed. I told my sister who already lived there more than a dozen years of my predicament, and she said not to worry. Two days later she woke me from my Shabbos afternoon nap and said. "Let's go for a walk." About thirty min: utes later, we turned the comer and without warning, without fanfare, the Wall was in front of me. On Shabbat, I couldn't tear a garment, so she took care of my problem. When a person walks through Jerusalem there is, a certain mystical quality which fills the air. To be able to say its the architecture, it's more 'than that; to aay, it's the museums, it's more than that; to say it's the synagogues, it's more than that. Jen^salem is greater than the sum of its parts.
There is a mystical aura about the city which envelopes anyone and everyone, Jews or Christians or Muslims; black, white, or yellow. It is impossible not to be touched by the city. This Sundaju-May 31, the 28th of lyar, we celebrate the silver anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. For the first time in nineteen hundred years, we can proudly say that we, as a people control our capital, not a governmental capital, but a spiritual one. When she was divided for nineteen years, and we were denied access by the Jordanians to our holy sites; when we were denied the right to daven at the Wall; to put a kvitel in one of her many cracks, we knew that we were incomplete. Twenty five years ago, we became whole again. Just as Jerusalem is greater than the sum of her parts, we, too, have risen to greater heights. It can honestly be said that the spiritual uplift which we were given has changed the face of world Jewry. There are more young men and women studying in Yeshivot in Israel today than at any point in Jewish history. As the prophet Isaiah said so beautifully, "Upon your Walls Jerusalem, I have set watchmen: they will not be quiet any time during the day or ni^t for those who remember the liord do not rest." Jerusalem is truly the ear hakodesh, our holy city.
Yom Yerushalaym "Jerusalem ... has been, and will remain forever, the capitsd of the Jewish people." David B«i Gnrioa DM. S, 1»47 SM eov«nf« of the ZSth •••ivanvy of the rraaifleatkia of Jtraaalam on psge four.
A view of Jerusalem PiMto bjr Larry Kavkli
Gov. Nelson leaves for Israel Gov. Ben Nelson, flanked by his wife, Diane, and Richard Fellman, and surrounded by Kathy Wittier, Nebraska Com Board; ADL Director Robert Wolfson; Kathy Boellstorff, Grain Sorghum Board; Bryce Neidig, president, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation; Larry Sitzman, director, Nebraska Department of Agriculture and James Weyer, managing director, Nebraska Soybean program, left Omaha Tuesday for a business mission to Israel and Cairo.
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Federation picks teen leaders By Sheila Garsombke, staff writer Rikki, Epstew and HoUy Friedman have been selected by the Jewish Federation of Omaha to receive the Jewish Teen Leadership awards at the June 14 annual meeting at the JCC. They will each receive a plaque and a $500 stipend to use on a Jewish experience. The awards will be presented by Becca Goldstein and Derek Altman, last year's recipients. Mias Epstein was chosen because of her tremendous impact on MoVFTY (Missouri Valley Fedwa-. tion of Tempk) Youth). She served aa president, during 19911992, was a board membw, has served aa both houaing and decoraticma chairperami and was qtedal projtets coordinator in clurge of Camp Rainbow. "Every summer'1 go to Camp Rainbow, which is sponsorad by MoVFTY. I have bean both a oouosslor and ths camp's coordina* tor. The kkls are not neoessarily Jewish, but have somethintc in common; they are all seriously ill with cancer," she said. Miss ' quite Hi award. No one from Temple Israel has won the Jewish Tesn Leadership award recently. "It is good to know that my accomplishments have meant a lot to others as well as to me. It doesn't matter with which Jewish organiEatlon you are afflUated. It is important to be committed and involved so that Judaism will survivs and flourish,"
Holly Friedman Joah Zweiback, who nominated Miss Epstein sa;|d that she is a wo^de^ ful role model. "She is an ethical, moral, compasaionate. hard-working human b«ing. As preaident, she modMed appropriate behavior at functions through her energetic and attentive interaction and participation at all progranu even at thooe ahe did not (adliUte. Her hard work hs^^ make this past year an educational, spiritual, and enjoyable one for literally hundreds of Jewish tems across the Midwest," be said. Mias Epstein has also served as coordinat4» of Temple Israel's religious school junior studsnt council, treasurer of OTYG. coordinator of both Purim carnival snd the annual spaghetti dinner, and editor/historian of Bdiar HBG. Misa Friedman was aeUcted by the Jewish Federation of Omaha on the basis of her nominstiona by Beth Cohan, regional director of BBYO and Kn^.n fihaldon HHVO
Rikki Epstein advisory board chairman. They said she has exhibited outstanding dedication to her BBG chapter. MZ Yoshsnsh -2063 over the past four years. She has held every office in her chapter. As one of only B few seniors in MZ. she has taken a very active role in passing down the traditions of BBYO to the younger members. "When I was president." Miss Friedman said, "I triad to teach the younger members of my board the responsibilities of their officee. In my second term. I was the only ssnkv on the Board I t,ried to leave the legacy of own commitment to aa well as my enUtuaiasut (ur BBYO. When asksd how she felt ahoiil this award, Miss I said. "I am so V-,,..,. ..ri^i h
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goes to prove I ne who has a goal unu wurka 'hard to achieve it, can reach his or her dream." Misa Friedman was a coordinator of Mid-America Rsgiooal Kallah Weekend held last February. The regional convention
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due in part to the time ani energy she put into the planning of this Jewish studies weekend which focused on intermarriage, dating, and Jewish sexual ethics, the nominators said. "BBYO has increased my personal strength, has taught me how to better relate, to all kinds of people, and how to organize and plan my work. Although I have always had a lot of commitnient to Judaism, 1 have stronger, more intense Jewish values now," Miss Friedman concluded. Her role as a leader and her commitmmit to the Jewish community go beyond the offices she has held in youth group. She has been a teachera' aide for UTTO. and a JCC camp counselor. She is a graduate of the High School of Jewish Studisa mtu\ has psrtidpated in the UTTO merit scholarship prognun. She has led the junior congregstion st Beth El, tutoring them in their Saturday morning prayers and helping them prepare for Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Bulletin . The Board of Directors ors • ion ^ of the Jewish P'edaration of Omaha approved a »2,988.072 budget for 1992-93 at its May meeting Tuesday night at the Jewish Community Csn* ter. The budget provides for local earvk)sa aa well as national and international needs. Last year'ii budget