bewlsh Press
Israel turns 45 this month.
Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
18 NISSAN. 5753 Friday. April 9.1993
Vol. LXX No. 27 Omaha
Author clears Israel's name at Federation event
Songwriter Karen Sokolof Javltch (left), scriptwriter Mary Fellman and accompaniit Shirley Schwartz rehearse for the show. Not pictured are scriptwriters Jean Duitch and Joanle Jacobson.
Musical to mark Israel's 45th year By Deborah FeUnuui Most of us celebrate our own birthdays with parties, special foods, maybe some singing and dancing. For Israel's upcoming birthday, its 45th, a group of writers, musicians, singers, dancers and actors will present a show that they created specifically for the celebra- Elaine Jabenis directs the show. tion. Another song, a duet called "Leaving Called "Omaha-Israel Spectacular Home," tells of one Russian family's up45," the musical features a cast of 43, coming move to America and another's including Jeffrey Taxman, Stan Wid- move to Palestine. man and Michael Yablonski and tells Produced by the Jewish Cultural the stories of Jews in long-ago Russia Arts Council, Oie show also features a and modern-day America, all thinking script written by Mary Fellman, Jean about the Jewish homeland. Duitch and Joanle Jacobson. The play, "It's moments like this that,you feel according to JCAC Director Beth so privileged to be Jewish." said Elaine Seldin-Dotan, grew out of discussions Jabenis, who directs the show. "T^is is between Mrs. Fellman and Israeli-bom something nobody will ever forget." Amnon Dotan about the connection Songwriter Karen Sokolof Javitch, who usually pens love songs and coun- Omaha Jewry has with Israel. In one scene, a group of excited try-western songs, focused her mind on teenagers prepare for a summer trip to her 'Jewish side" to create the show's Israel. i' ' '•' six songs. "Israel Is part of a lot of Oihahi Jews' The closing song, "One People, One Destiny," describes a .bond among all IWes," Ms. Seldin-Dotan said. The show will be performed April 2S Jews worldwide and the Jews of hisat 1 and 2:46 p.m. at the JCC thesUr. tory.
By Morris Maline Author John Loflus said he will clear Israel's name in two highly-publicized historical events: Contragate and the U.S.S. Liberty. He told more than 100 attending the closing event of the Federation Campaign's Women's Division this his new book. Spying on Zlon, will tell the truth behind these two events. . "The United SUtes often has acted in a doublehanded manner in its treatment of Israel," Mr. -Loflus said. He pointed out that the initial thrust of Contragate did not include any participation by Israel, but that Israel was brought into the fray as a "red herring" to detract investigators. The truth, he pointed
out, is that Oliver North and former President George Bush had arranged to buy guns, for the Contras — not from Israel, but from the Palestine Liberation Organization. He said the PLO obtained the weapons from the Soviets and banked American money in payment. "Bush and North blamed Israel in just another attempt to blackmail the Jewish state into acting as a scapegoat." Mr. LoftUB referred to the strafing of the U.S.S. Liberty by Israel during the 1967 war as necessary to stop the United States iivm sending battle intelligence to the British, who in turn, were transmitting the date to the Egyptians.
Service marks half-century since Hoiocaust
Guest rabbi speaks on spiritualil
A Holocaust memorial service at Beth Israel Synagogue on April 18 at 2 p.m. will mark the 50th anniversary of the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw ghetto. The Yom HaShoah service, sponsored by the Jewish Cultural Arts Council, includes a lecture by Professor Michael Berkowitz of the Ohio State University. Also, the names of Omahans' friends and relatives who' perished in tlte war will be recited. Omahans who survived the Holocaust will light six candles to represent the six million Jews whb died at the hands of the Nazis. To contribute names of Holocaust victims to the service, call Beth Seldin Dotan or Beth Cohen st 334-8200.
By Judith Marburg Temple Israel publicity In Keepingwith this year's theme, TTie Year of the Family," Rabbi Kerry 0lit2ky will discuss issues facing the Jewish Family at Temple Israel April 23 to 25 as a scholar-in-residence. His topic for the weekend is "Making our Lives Wliole and Holy Once Rabbi Kerry Olitzky Again." On Friday, at 8:15 p.m. of theSchool of Education services, his sermon will and the graduattf studivs be on 'A Personal Search program of the Hebrew for Jewish Spiritualitv." Union College-Jewish InAn Oneg Shabbat will fol' stitute of Religion in New York. He has developed low services. On Saturday at 3:30 training programs for clerp.m., I^abbi Olitzky will gy of afl iaitna on the subapeak on "Healing the ject of addictions and spiritual counseling. He writes Jewisli Family," Sunday at 10 a.m.-, he and lectures on topics such will discuss "The Elderly as innovative religious edAmong Us: Giants of ucation, spiritual renewal Jerusalem.' Brunch will and social gerontology. He has written books on b* served. Rabbi OliUky is director alcoholism snd other addictions, spirituslity, mourning and bereavement, gerontology and tha Russian Jewish experience. All three discussions sre free snd open to tlte community
Pliysician relates Jewish Ethiopian life _By Barbara Chandler, FMMratioa public ralatioiui dlraotor 'In 1981-82, Peggy and I heard about the plight of tha Ethiopian Jaws who. because of drought, famine and political unraat in Ethiopia, hid migratad to Sudan.' writes Dr, Ted Myers in his brochure, "Faith and Survival, Ethiopian Jewish Life 1983-1992.* The brochure is illustrated with photographs taken by his wife. Psggy. Dr. and Mrs. TW Myers will be in Omaha on Thursday, April 22 for s program sponsored by th« MalmonkUs Society of Ihs Jtwish Fedtration. Ths progrsm will fsaturs slides of Peggy Myers' photogrsphf, which sr« currently on sshlblt in
m^jor U.S. cities. In the brochure. Dr. Myers explaliu that when he and his wife first went to the Sudan, there ware about 12.000 Jews. They (bund living oondlUons almost unbeHrable. Food and water were InsufHd«nt, and there was often no medical care. In cooperstion with ths Amsrican Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJDC), Dr. Myers dsvelopad a msdical program for tha Ethiopian Jews. Ths program was discontinued in February, 1990. when the American msdical staff was evacuated because of ths civil war. However, Dr. snd Mrs. Myers continusd their work. Dr. Myera sa^lains, "In Augtist. 1990.1 'was askad by ths AJDC to siganlae a
new medical program In Addis Ababa to meet the needs of this community of 22,000 people (E thioplan Jews). From that time until May, 1991, the number of deaths in the Jewish community pregrsssively fell fVom 39 per month to 3-4 per month. On May 24 and 26, 1991, with Addia Ababa surrounded by rebel ftaroes, almost sU of ths Kthiopian Jaws ware flown to Israel In the dramatlo airlift known as Operation Soknnon." Ted and Peggy Myers have sines developed a msdIcal program for the Jews of Quara, the only significant group of Jaws remsinlng in Ethiopls. Upon returning from thsir current trip to BthlopU, Dr. Myers wiU
"The United States was spying on Israel during time of War and Israel had to knock out the ship's antennae to stop the transmission of vital intelligence." Mr. Loflus asserted that Israel was persuaded to accept blame for the incident and that the U.S. granted favors in exchange, llie favors included reimbursing Israel for the compensation she gave to the families of those who died during the strafing. Zoe Riekes, Women's Division chairman, told the group that the Jewish women of Omaha raised $525,000, an increase of nine per cent over last year.
Two Kesalm (rabbis) tnm ()uBru, Ethiopia, 1991 addrsai the Omaha Jewish community. Tbs program will begin St 8 p.m. at Highland Country Club. It is open to ths community and wiU be followed by a dessert
rsoapUon. lite ooat Is tlO per parson. Raeerratlons csn be msds by cslling Kathy Wstkins st lh« Fsdsrstlon office, 3348800,0X1.247.