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VoL UOC No. S7 Omaha

Ttuch ado about 'Tierchant'

13 Tamtui, 8768, July 2,1993

Campaign reaches goals

The Rev. Michael Proterra, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Creighton University, called the At a forum held at the Jewish Community Center play one of Shakespeare's greatest. He said it was an Monday night to discuss the anti-Semitic aspects of unpleasant play but Jews were not the only people in Shakespeare's play, The.Merchant ofVenice, Steve history that have been portrayed as villains. " Although Shylock is portrayed as an evil money RiekeE said it was one of the greatest plays, but no lender, he pointed out that in Shakespeare's time one could deny the pain and difficulties it has caused. Mr. Riekes, chairman of the College of Jewish Christians were the money lenders, not Jews. Rev. Proterra said nothing is gained if we reject the Learning, introduced a panel representing segments of the Omaha community, both Jewish and non- play for the portrayal of one character. Hap Stein, assistant English professor at Jewish. The discussion was prompted by the presentation of the controversial play at the annual Creighton, said he thought he brought a unique Shakespeare on the Green festival. The Merchant of prospective to the panel.'I teach Introduction to Venice is a play about a money lender, Shylock, who Shakespeare. "He said it can be played very melodramatic, but demands his pound of flesh when a borrower defaults on a loan. Shylock is Jewish and there has been that was not what Shakespeare intended. He pointed debate for years as to whether the play is anti- out there is villainy on both sides. He said his students were most upset when Shylock was forced to Semitic. Rabbi Dan Fink, associate rabbi at Temple Israel, convert to Christianity. He said the play was also said he spoke from the point of view of a person who about gender relations. Bob Wolfson, regional director of the Anti once in his adult life has read the play. As a lay person he did not see it as an anti-Semitic play. "That Defamation League, said his perspective was different does not mean it has not been presented that way," he as a community relations expert. He said it is imporsaid. 'But at least it can be read that way." He said he tant to explain what Jewish pain is. He said one of the was eager to see it presented in Omaha. "It will be a problems is that Jews are not perceived as a minority. He said Merchant was being produced but no one learning and sharing experience." Dr. Doug Patterson, chairman of the Dramatic Arts was producing To Kill a Mockingbird or department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Huckleberry Finn. When speaking of the said he wasn't in on the choice, but knew the play may Shakespeare play he asked "Will it harm the Jewish cause strong resentment in the Jewish community. "I community?" And he answered, "I am extremely didn't know how strong the feelings were going to be," doub^ul. Will we as Jews squirm in our seat watching JL • he said. "But we have a cultural responsibility for our it? I M^e no 4fubt.«^, Merchant of Venice wiin>e produced in Elmwood artifacts." "It will be a compelling night of theater. It will'H, Park at 60th and Dodge July 2, 3, 4, 9 and 11. A semidemand a lot from all of us. Come to see if we have nar, starting at 6:30 each evening will precede the lived up to our responsibility." performance. There is no admission charge.

By Barbara Chandler, Federation public relations At the beginning of the 1993 UJA/Federation Campaign, Phil Schrager and Tom Fellman, general cochairmen announced three campaign goals. The first goal was to raise the level of giving in the community. Second, they wanted to provide for continuity of leadership, and third, to involve more young people in leadership positions. Zoe Riekes, chairman of the Women's Division, added that the women hoped to surpass a landmark campaign goal of $500,000. At the Federation's annual meeting on June 13, Mr. Schrager, Mr. Fellman and Ms. Riekes addressed the successful achievement of those goals. They announced that the community exceeded the .campaign goal of $2,660,000, raising a total of $2,660,000, $530,000 of which was raised by Women's Division. In terms of the second goal, continuity of leadership, they announced that the chairmen for the 1994 Campaign will be Harley Schrager and Howard Kooper as general co-chairmen with Don Goldstein and Fred Simon leading the Pacesetter Division. Carol Katzman will be chairman of the Women's Division. To meet the third goal, involving more young people in leadership rotes, the Federation offered some special programming for young adults in our community this year including a Young Leadership dinner featuring Ellen Cannon, a Young Women's Focus Group, and a reception with Tom Dine, executive director of AIPAC. In addition, young adults were invited to join their parents at the Pacesetter Recognition Dinner featuring Mr. Dine. In her closing speech, Ms. Riekes praised the campaign volunteers "who spent endless hours telephoning and meeting with the ladies of our community." She also confirmed her commitment to continued involvement with the Jewish community, noting, "Although my year as chairman is over, I know I am not done. One can retire from a position, but one can never retire from being a Jew."

provide a basis for beliefs and practices. The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (The Old Testament) make up the Torah, or the five books of Moses. It contains the basic laws and teachings of Judaism and describes ^^m By Anita Haeems the history of the Jews until the death of Moses. ^^B Reprinted with permission from The Beside the Torah, the Bible also contains books on ^H, Economic Times, Bombay, India ^^ If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one history and moral teachings, known as The Prophets, percent of the human races. It suggests a nebulous and 11 other books known as The Writings. The puff of Stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Talmud is a collection of legal and ethical writings as Properly, the Jew ought hardly be heard of He is as well as history and folklore. It serves as a guide to the prominent on the planet as any other people, and his civil and religious laws of the Jews. Judaism does not try to convince others to adopt its commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to beliefs and. practises. However, it does accept people the world's list of great names in literature, science, who choose to convert to Judaism. Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, Saturday, is art, music, finance, medicine and abstruce learning are also way out of proportion, to the weakness of his a fioly day of rest. It begins at sunset on Friday and numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in the world, ends at sundown on Saturday. On the Sabbath day, in all the ages, and has done it with his hands, tied practicing Jews do not work, travel or carry money. All Jewish festivals occur on different dates each behind him. He could be vain of'himself and be excused for it. year since they are based on the Jewish calendar. The The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, most s^jrred days of the Jewish year are Rosh filled the planet with sound and splendour, then faded Hashanah and Yom Kippur, also known as the High to dream-stufr and passed away. The Greek and the Holidays. Rosh Hashanah, the Ne)w Year, is the celeRoman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are bration of the creation of the world and God's rule gone; other people have sprung up and held their over it. It begins the Ten Days of Penitence, which end torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On this day Jews fast and atone for their bad deeds in the past twilight i)ow or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all and is now year. They also express their hope to perform good what he always was: exhibiting no decadence, no infir- acts in the forthcoming year. Jews were supposed to make pilgrimage* mities of old age, no weakening of i^ts parts, no slowing In ancient times, Jews were supposed to make pilof his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are morUl but the Jaw; all other grimages during the three festivals of Passover, forces pass but he remains. What is the secret of his Shavtiot and Sukkot Therefore, theae are now known also as the pilgrim festivals. Each one Is related to the immortality? So said Mark Twain of this remarkable raca, What Jews'ascape tnm Egypt and ih*lr journey to Israel. Paasovercelobrales I' i from the is it about the Jews, really? Maybe a few ideas of Mi-nmrates Judaism, lU fetUvali and tradlititna, would pmvlda a Pharaoh's tyranny In I-. the receiving of the Torah by Moses on Mount SInal. clue. Judaism It the religion Ibllowad by over 18 million Sukkot Is the harv—• ...n,.,! ii,,.i l,...,ii.. five days ve|, little Jewish people all over the world. It is among the nld- afUr the Day of t mi^nr religions; Its principle teaching Is that thorn huts are created ni< » ri'iiiinni r <>i UrHfiix^ hie In thvtr Just one God, who wnnU panpl* to do what ts just wandering In the wildamrss. • in thfir hisdiry are d miTclfiil II has two <• • llonn of Mnrrpd I'pnsl of LighUi, slfT•lllngi; The Bible and I > nl Thf>i»«> wi>rk» al .

nifies God's deliverance of the Jews from the hands of the Syrians, who wanted them to give up Judaism. Purim signifies the rescue of the Jews of Persia from a plot to kill them all. With regard to their meals, many Jews follow the dietary rules based on Biblical laws. Food prepared in accordance with these laws in called kosher, that is, ritually correct. For example they do not eat pork or shellfish. They also store meat and milk firoducts separately and do not serve them at the same meal. As far as India is concerned, the story of Judaism and the Jews of India is hardly known at all outside India. The very existence of Jews in India is often completely or nearly unknown. Besides, there also remains the impressive fact that Indian Jews were never the victims of any form of anti-Semitism. Though they are a microscopic part of the population of India altogether, the Indian Jews are a very ancient community which form three subgroups, each distinct from the others by way of their origins in India. The groups are the Bene Israels, the Baghdad)a, and the Jews of Cochin. The most numerous (more than three quarten of the country's Jews), the Bene Israels are a Marathispeaklng lot settled for yeara on the Konkan coast of Western Indis. While then exists no direct evidence aa such of the exact date of their settlement in India, the Bene Israels maintain that they are descendants of one of the Loat Tribea of Israel. Legend has it that the ancestora of the Bene Israel* left North Palestine, perhaps due to the persecutions of Anliochu* Bplphanes (around 176 B.C. or even later), and were shipwrecked near Navgaon, a village on the Konkan coast, 36 miles aouth of Bombay. Only a handful survived. This has been disputed and scholnri have propounded various theorio of the Km*' and place of origin of thla community In India. Hut as there are simply no records of these facta, provlnK "'' ilmomving any of them I* not possible. That ths irmup did landtn-NavgHon •- .••ubilshed, and gradunlly Ihry dispersed in lh)> nrighboring villago* alntig the coast, living In small groups. (ConlinueJ on Pag* 8)

By Jo Carroll

The Jews in India

July S, 1988.

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By Michele Chabin JERUSALEM, June 27 (JTA) — lerael'g state telephone company inau^rated ita Christian prayer line to Jerusalem this weekend with a taped message from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and live pronouncements from pronunent evangelists. Christians and Jews were on hand at the Hyatt Regency Hotel here to "christen" the project, and Christian dignitaries from around the world joined the proceedings by phone or recorded messages. By Tamar Levy Among the Americans who rose in the wee hours GENEVA (JTA) — An Israeli Druse has been of the morning Sunday to participate in the program elected to the governing body of the International were former Housing and Urban Development Labor Organization as a deputy member of the Secretary Jack Kemp, former U.N. Ambassador International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Jeane Kirkpatrick, and television evangelists Pat Youssef Kara was elected June 22 to the post for . Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Billy Graham. a three- year term at the ILO's annual conference, The new prayer line is a joint venture between which has been meeting in this city. the Jerusalem Christian Review, Israel's leading The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations in Christian newspaper, Bezek Telecommunications, Geneva said that Kara was an excellent candidate Israel's national telephone company, and several for the position, as he is a specialist in the field of i Christian organizations based in Jerusalem. workers' rights. 1 The new Christian prayer line comes after Bezek No Israeli has been a member of the governing introduced a new facsimile service earlier this year body for several years. for Jews around the world wanting to have their At the ILO conference, a repoH was also presentmessages inserted into the Western Wall. ed on the poor working conditions of Palestinian "Although there are many prayer lines around laborers. The report noted especially the high unemthe world," says Dan Mazar, administrator of the . ploymentin the administered territories. Christian Review, "only this oneiinks Jerusalem to The ILO offered to help organize social services in the rest of the world. the region. "The Jerusalem prayer line will be the first to offer Christians throughout the world the opportunity to commune with their Christian brothers and sisters who live in the Holy City." ' According to Grant Livingston, the program's By David Landau prayer adviser, trained volunteers from Christian JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli officials here said congregations in Jerusalem will staff the line 24 they did not think the U.S. missile attack on hours a day Baghdad would escalate into a broader conflict that would involve Israel in hostilities. Arab American groups Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said he received a personal telephone call from President Clinton on sue law-enforcenfient agencies Saturday informing him in advance about the attack, and he discussed the situation with his minBy Tom Tugend isters at Sunday's weekly Cabinet meeting. LOS ANGELES, June 27 (JTA) — A coalition of Israelis were eager for information about the Arab American groups has filed $2.4 million in attack, remembering how Iraq had fired Scud misclaims against law-enforcement agencies in Los siles at Israeli cities during the Persian Gulf War. Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, alleging that But the general perception here was that Iraq police and sheriffs oflicers exchanged confldential would not respond in that way again. information with the Anti-Defamation League. Clinton described the American attack as a reacThe claims are a first step in anticipated invation to a foiled Iraqi plot to assassinate former U.S. sion-of- privacy suits claiming that the ofTicers President George Bush when he visited Kuwait in swapped their confidential computer data on indiApril. viduals and groups for intelligence gathered by Vice President Al Gore said the U.S. attack had ADL, an attorney for the Arab American coalition sent Iraq the message that "this kind of activity said. that Iraq initiated is simply unacceptable." "What we're seeing here is pure political surveilSome Israeli observers also saw the attack as a lance" for "purposes of dirty tricks, for disruption, warning to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein not to for discrediting," Abdeen Jabara, vice chairman of take armed action against the Kurds. the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Recent reports from Iraq spoke of large ground said at a news conference here. forces massing in the north, apparently in preparaOther plaintiffs are the National Association of tion for an invasion of the Kurdish region, which is Arab Americans and a group calling itself the under the protection of the United Nations. American Federation ofRamallah, Palestine. Israeli Economic Development Minister Shimon The Arab groups' charges come in the wake of an Shetreet told reporters here Sunday that Iraq had investigation by the San Francisco Police "broken the rules" by targetingj^an individual leader Department into ADL's information-gathering activsuch as Bush. ities.

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ALICE (MINKEN) HEEGER Services were held June 16 at Mt Carmel Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa, for Alice Heeger. A lifelong resident of Omaha, she was 84. Survivors include two sons. Dr. Alan Heeger of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Dr. Gerald Heeger, New York, N.Y.; a sister, Helen Finkel, Omaha; a brother, Sam, of Los Gates, Calif.; 4 grandchildren and great-children. Memorials may be made to charity.

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Fsyn Synagogue Activities

Beth El Synagogue 14806 CalUoraU

Onwlw. NE 68184 492-8580

Candleli£^ting for Friday, July 2; 8:43 p.m.

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Beth brael Synagotfue

^^^K 1802 No. 52nd 8ti«et ^B Omali*. NE 68104 ^^ 6864288 Ofllce hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Services are conducted by Cantor Leo Fettman and Cantor David Taub. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat service is at 7 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service is at 8:46 a.m. in the Sanctuary and Goldstein Chapel. Beginners' Minyan and Junior Congregation are at 10 a.m. Babysitter service is provided by Sisterhood, which also sponsors this week's Kiddush. Mincha at 8:40 p.m. Shalosh Seudos, Ma'ariv and Havdalah conclude services. SUNDAY Service is at 9 a.m. MONDAY Service is at 9 a.m. WEEKDAYS Services are at 7 a.m. and 8:40 p.m. JEWISH UFE AND LIVING Cantor Leo Fettman will discuss "Contemporary Halachic Problems" on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the school wing of the synagogue.

Guest rabbi at Beth Israel Rabbi Joey Friedman of St. Louis will conduct Shabbat services and study sessions for adults at Beth Israel synagogue this weekend. The community is invited to a special Shabbat dinner prepared by synagogue caterer Nancy Mattley. The cost is $8 for adults, $6.60 for children ages 5-12, $4 for children ages 2-4. The dinner is free for children under two. A Shabbat luncheon will be served after services Saturday. The cost is $6.60 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12, $2 for children ages 2-4. Lunch is free (or children under two.

Mexico recognizes Judaism

NEW YORK (JTA) — Mexico has given official recognition to Judaism, in accordance with a new constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of religious organizations, the World Jewish Congress has reported. * Interior Minister Patrocinio Gonzalez Garrido received the leadership of Mexico's Jewish community at the official registration, according to a report th«WJC received from the Comite Central Israelita de Mexico. Mexico last year adopted the constitutional measure, aimed at easing institutional hostility against religious structures — principally the Roman Catholic Church — that followed the 1910 Mexican revolution. The Catholic Church had historically been aligned with reactionary forces in early Mexican history. The Jewish community joins more than 30 other religious bodies which have registered under the new law. Registered groups are entitled to operate openly as legal entities and have transactional rights such as owning and transferrin{c property. The Catholic Church earlier this year became the first religious body to register under the new law.

NEW!! '^torage Bee" being organized NOW by Jewish Family Service. To become a member of the exclusive club of valued Resettlement volunteers, please call Tami at 330-2024.

OfBoe Hours: Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Services fire conducted by Rabbi Paul Drazen and Cantor Emil B^rkovits. FRIDAY: Services at 6 p.m. SATURDAY Services at 9:30 a.m. Kiddush follows services. The Devar Torah will be given by Heather Goldstein. Sitter service starts at 10 a.m. Shabbat story time is at 11 a.m. Minha-Ma'ariv and Havdalah services are at 8:55 p.m. SUNDAY Services are at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Services are at 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. JUDAIC SHOP Open T\iesday through Thursday, U a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment. The shop will have a sale during June and July. Many prices are reduced by up to 60 percent. GOLDSTEIN KIDDUSH Following Shabbat morning services, July 3, Ray, Jody, Heather and Stephanie Goldstein will be honored at a kiddush as they leave for Rochester, Minn. » SUMMER DISCUSSION SERIES The first discussion on chapters from the book, Jewish Values in Health and Medicine will be Wednesday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. The topic is Ethical Dilemmas in Medical Practice.

Temple Israel 7023 Ciwa street

Pmkha. NE 68132 5S6-e536 FRIDAY Shabbat service is at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Daniel Fink and Cantor Kuen Webber-Gilat will officiate. Shabbat worship duri^the summer services are devoted to the topic: Pirkei Avot, a compendium of practical advice and ethical guidance handed down by rabbis throughout the centuries. SATURDAY Shabbat service is at 10:16 a.m. SITTER SERVICE Sitter service is available for the 7:30 p.m. Shabbat evening services. Please make a reservation so we may plan accordingly. There are no facilities for infants. SUMMER SCHEDULE From July 2 through Sept. 4, Shabbat evening services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Shabbat morning services will begin each Saturday at the earlier hour of 10:15 a.m.

Chabad House 1322 So. 119th Street Omaha, NE 68144 697-1124 SATURDAY: Davening is at 9:30 a.m., followed by Kiddush. SUNDAY Davening is at 9:30 a.m. TALMUD CLASSES Talmud class, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Advanced Talmud, 12 p.m. Thursday. ^ CHUMASH CLASS Chumash class for adults, 7 p.m. Tuesdays. YIDDISH "Hooked on Yiddish" lessons, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Chabad House. ENGUSH CLASS "^hink Jewish and speak English" classes on Jewish topics for new Americans, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at Chabad House.

Tifereth Israel 3219 Sheridan Blvd. Lincoln. NE 68802 423-8860 Services are officiated by Rabbi Elihu Milder. NOTE: Rabbi Milder will be out of town during July. FRIDAY: Services begin at 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Parshat: Balak. Services are at 9:30 a.m.

B'nai Israel

B'nai Jeshurun

618 Mynstcr Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503 322-4705 Services are led by congregants. For general information, leave a message on the synagogue answering machine (322-4705). FRIDAY: Services are at 7:30 p.m.

20th and South Streets Lincoln. NE 68502 435-80O4 Services are officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. FRIDAY: Sabbath evening service at 7:45 p.m. TUESDAY: Adult education classes at 7:30 p.m. TEMPLE GARAGE SALE _ The annual South Street garage sale will be Aug. 26 and 27. To donate goods, call the temple at 435-8004 or Sam at 476-9985.

Rose Blumkin Je>wish Home SATURDAY: Services are held in the Goldsten Chapel at 9 a.m. Members of the community are invited to join residents for the service and the kiddush following. , Special memorial services are held on the last Saturday of each month. '

Personals I wish to tftank my family and many friends for their kind wishes and support given to nne during my recant surgery and recuperation. Especially I appreciate the kindness and support extended to nna by Cantor Emil and Llli Berkovits and Rabbi Paul and Susie Orazsn. Nate Shukert

Offutt

Capehait Chapel 2Sth Street end Capehut Omelia. NB 68123

204-60S1 FRIDAY: Services start at 8 p.m.

Leonard and Helen Finkel and the family ol Alice Minkin Heeger acknowledge with grateful appreciation your very kind and thoughtful expressions of sympathy which ware of the greatest comfort to ua in our sorrow.

Volunteers needed The Jewish Press can use the help of volunteers for general office work. PIMM call Shtryl Friedman at 334-8200.

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lb the Editor Years ago when my Uttle one, Barbara, found a coin, I would rush pell-mell to her to Wrest it away before she stuck it in her mouth. Now when her little one, Ziv, finds a penny, he skips and runs and sing-songs, "A penny for Tzedakah, a penny for the Tzedakah box".* He is all smiles and elated beyond words. Ziv is in Tampa and I am in North Miami Beach, so whenever you see a smile spreading across my face, you should know I am thinking of Ziv and his penny for Tzedakah. The other day I started thinking about Mrs. B and her Tzedakah-giving. Mrs. B will soon reach the golden age of 100. Whi ;• do you give her for a birthday pre8pnt?'She has (jiven away more than she could possibly ever spend. Besides money to Omaha and Israel, she has literally put Omaha *on the map." Whenever I proudly aver I am from Omaha, people invariably ask, "Do you know Mrs. B?" I am 80 proud to say yes. Without intending to do so, she has made Omaha famous. The question is, what do we do to repay her? The answer is really quite simple. "We give pennies for Tzedakah in her honor. What is the Tzedakah? It would be the Endowment Fund for the Rose Blumkin home, which is drying up — the fund that is. Would this little lady be surprised? Her birthday is in December and should be a community-wide celebration contributed"to from my grandson with his penny, from my contribution to yours and yours and yours. How about it, Omaha? Let's put Mrs. Blumkin on the map (it doesn't matter how much -— let your heart decide) with a penny for Tzedakah. According to Maimonides, this gift would be the highest form of Tzedakah. Fll bet there isn't a family that has not benefited from the Rose Blumkin Home. Celia Lipsman Blank North Miami Beach P.S. With her letter, Mrs. Blank enclosed a $100 check made out to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. (EDITOR'S NOTE)

_ Tb the Editor: At the Federation and awards meeting on June 13,1 was recognized as the 1993 Volunteer of the Year from the Bureau for the Aging. I was not given an opportunity to voice my appreciation for the award so I am using this letter as a way of saying thanks. I would Hke to accept my award on behalf of Charlie Guss, of blessed memory. Charlie and I shared our duties in conducting the Sabbath Services at the Rose Blumkin Home for 10 years and at the Dr Phillip Sher Home for six years. Being able to conduct the Sabbath Service was near and dear to the heart of Charlie, and I think my receiving the award would have made him happy. I would also like to accept my award on behalf of the countless volunteers, both living and dead, who over the years assisted with the services and making up the Minyanim: Harry Noodell, Al Friedman and Iz BogdanofT. They, like other volunteers, serve without any thought of recognition and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them as well. Yale Halperin

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Sparks from The Word By Rabbi Myer & Krlpke Ptuxuhat Balak How Pagan* Mitunderttood Their god* The end of our Sidrah, after the long description of Balaam's curses-blessings of the Children of Israel, turns to a different theme entirely. It is the theme of false worship, i.e., worship of false gods. The Israelites, enticed by Midianite women, compound their adultery with false worship. The text has it that Phineas, Aaron's grandson, overpowered by his revulsion, killed an Israelite man and a Midianite woman with one angry thrust of his spear. The Midrash indulges in fancied details of the encounter that would do credit to a titillating modem novel. But what should not deter us from trying to understand what the real point is. The real point is that the Torah reacts with revulsion to a basic assumption of the ancient pagan religions. That assumption was that the gods could be manipulated by the behavior of humans, even licentious behavior, to give humans what theymost wanted. The great Israeli Bible scholar, Ezekiel Kaufman, explains this at length. He points out that in the pagan view the gods were subject to a realm of magical con-

trol, which human beings could tap. Water ceremonies brought rain. Sacrificing a new-bom lamb would bring fertility in the flocks. And sacred prostitution in the shrines, with official female and male prostitutes ministering to the 'worshipers," would bring fertility to the human faipily. It was this "Vorship" that so enraged Phineas. It was this continuing kind of worship over the next centuries that filled the prophets, from Amos on, with a sense of revulsion. The Ibrah and the prophets, in contrast, stress that although the good things of life are indeed the gifts of the Lord (we still say Motzi and Bore pri hagaffen with that understanding!), the greater emphasis in Judaism lies in another area, the creation of character. Jews are bidden to love their neighbors, to protect the deprived, to show compassion to the weak, to create the good society. We do pray (on different levels of religiosity) for the good things of the earth, for sustenance, for health, for long life. These are certainly God's gifts. We surround our religious feelings with commitments, commitments to traditional mitzvot. But we know that our first and most-pervading mitzvah, our underlying commitment, is to love and serve our fellow-human betngs, the real test of loving and serving God.

Tom Dine resigns as director of AIPAC over remarks seen as rude to orthodox M By Larry Yudelson NEW YORK (JTA) — One of the most respected leaders of the organized American Jewish community and influential political professionals in Washington has stepped down from his post in the face of protests over remarks he made that were seen as disparaging fervently Orthodox Jews. Thomas Dine resigned Monday as executive director of the American Israel P*ublic Affairs Committee, ending a 13-year stint at the helm of the powerful proIsrael lobby. The AIPAC leadership immediately appointed Howard Kohr, its managing director, as acting executive director of the agency and launched a search for a permanent replacement, a process it hopes to conclude by the end of the year. The remarks that touched off the protests and ultimately led to Dine's resignation were made four years ago to David Landau, an Israeli journalist who is currently news editor of the Ha'aretz newspaper and Israel bureau chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. But they did ndt appear in print until the publication this month of Landau's new book, "Piety and Power: The World of Jewish Fundamentalism." "I don't think mainstream Jews feel very comfortable with the ultra-Orthodox," Dine was quoted in the book as saying. "It's a class thing, I suppose. Their image is — smelly. That's what Fd say now you've got me thinking about it. Hasids and New York diamond dealers." In response to this passage. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, president of Agudath Israel of America, a group representing fervently Orthodox Jews, wrote a letter to Dine in protest, calhng the remarks "both shocking and heartbreaking." Had similar remarks been made about African Americans or Reform Jews, wrote Sherer, "you would be compelled to resign your position. "Are'Orthodox Jews," he asked, "entitled to lesser reapectT* In a letter sent last week to Dr. Mandell Ganchrow, a member of AIPAC's executive committee and a leader in the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Dine distanced himself from the quoted remarks, saying they were meant to describe perceptions, but that he did not personally subscribe to those sentiments. Nonetheless, at a weekly conference call of senior AIPAC officers last week, "• consensus developed •bout the serious nature of the book, and the potential for damage to the organicatlon and the U.S.-Israel relationship," said Steven Grossman, AIPAC's presi-

dent. Grossman told JTA he accepted Dine's resignation "because Tom obviously gave it a great deal of thought. "Tom was deeply concerned that those words may have had an effect on undercutting his effectiveness as a leader of this organization," Grossman said in a telephone interview. At Agudath Israel, Sherer said he would have been satisfied had Dine made a "public, meaningful display of good will" that "would have to be very drastic" but still shy of the resignation that was proffered. "The resignation is the decision of the board of AIPAC," he said. Some longtime observers of AIPAC and the Orthodox community expressed skepticism that Dine would have been allowed to leave solely because of pressure from the Orthodox community. They suggested that other considerations must have convinced him to end a 13-year tenure during which he built the organization from one that had 24 employees and 8,000 members when he started to one that today boasts 160 employees and over 66,000 members. "I think it's the straw that broke the camel's back," said one of those observers. "Agudah's not so important to it." Grossman, however, denied that the issue went beyond Dine's quoted remarks. Dine's resignation is the latest in a series of highprofile embarrassments for the pro-Israel lobby. AIPAC suffered a humiliating rebuke last August, when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin charged that the lobby's confrontational style on behalf of Israel during a battle for U.S. loan guarantees had actually undermined the Jewish state's interests. There was also a scandal centering on the organization's information-gathering activities and the recent public rebuke of an AIPAC officer for publicly attacking the Israeli government's polidee of territorial compromise. But perhaps the moat embarrassing incident came in November, when AIPAC's president at the time, David Steiner, resigned after admitting he had untruthfully exaggerated the lobby's clout in a telephone conversation secretly taped by a man posing as a would- be contributor. '< Among other things, Steiner admitted boasting falsely that he had bean "negotiating" with Bill Clinton's presidential transition team on candidataa for secretary of state.

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In the News Cantor Leo Pettman spoke at the Nebraska Sch /lars Institute on the UNL campus recently relating his experiences in the Holocaust and discussing bigotry and anti-Semitism. Gifted students from high schools throughout the state took part in the two-week confer. Rabbi Dr. Richard A. Freund, professor of Judaic studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has recently received tenure and has been promoted to the rank of full professor by the Regents of tlie University of Nebraska. He also was elected president of the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature for the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region. Dr. Freund has been invited to deliver a paper entitled "Jewish Ethics and Jewish Modernism" at the World Congress of Jewish Studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem,'Israel. _/ Following the Congress, he is leading the Bethsaida Excavations project in the Golan which is uncovering a lost city of first century Israel. At the end of July, the faculty of the project have been invited to the University of Munster, Germany, to deliver a day-long symposium on the excavations as part of^ the International Society of Biblical Literature's annual conference. Jeffrey Engel, a student at Cornell University, has been awarded a Young Scholars grant from The National Endowment for the Humanities for a research proposal titled. "United States-France, Economic Blocs and the Jeffrey Engel Origins of the Cold War." Selected from a nationwide pool of 835 applications, he was one of 167 students awarded this grant. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Toby Engel.

Marianna graduates

Four-generation family who arrived in Omaha from Kishinev, F^.U. in January, 1991. Left to right: Frima Simkhovich, grandson Daniel Reikher, mother Taubo Adler, daughter Marianna Reikher. This picture wag taken in May on the occasion of Marianna's graduation from college of Arts and Sciences, University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelor of Arts degree in computer science. Since graduation, Marianna and yani^ have moved to Milwaukee, Wls., to be reunited with husband, Alex ReikJier, who has'empldyrfj^nt there. Natalie Rubin, resettlement coordinator of Jewish Family Service, has received the happy news that Marianna is already working full time in her field in Milwaukee. This past week, Frima's sister, Gita, and her husband, Yakov, arrived in Omaha for reunification with the family. • 0

Send Rosh Hashanah Greetings through the Jewish Press

Herb Freeman, senior vice-president of CBS Real Estate Co., has been elected chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Omaha, Inc. He succeeds Robert M. .Patrick, CLU, of the Patrick Agency, Inc.

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The Jewish Press will publish Its special Rosh Hashanah edillon September 16. Sending your good wishes to friends and relatives through this holiday issue will assure that no one will be forgotten and will save you the expense and time of Individual mailings.

Joan Micklin Silver, considered a pioneer among independent women film makers, will be honored with the Mary Riepma Ross Award during the second annual Great Plains Film Festival scheduled for July 13 through 26 at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater located on the campus of the University of NebraskaLincoln. Ms. Micklin Silver, who was bom to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in Omaha, Neb., will appear at the Friday, July 26, awards ceremony to accept the accolade as well as at a screening of one of her films, "Crossing Delancy," on Saturday, July 26, to discuss her work with the audience. A retrospective of her work, including her widely acclaimed first feature "Hestei; Street,' will be presented during the festival.

Births Joey and Julie Greene of St. Louis Park, Minn., announce the April 23 birth of a son, Bei\jamin Joseph (Binyomin Yoaef). Grandparents are A. Richard and Ina Weiner of Omaha and Bernard and Iris Greene of Seattle. Great-grandparenta are Dr. J. Milton and Ann Margolin.

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^ *' Jewish Agency Assembly clouded by charges By Cynthia Mann JERUSALEM (JTA) — The annual aaaembly of the Jewish Agency for Israel convened here this week under the heavy cloud of a police investigation into financial fraud allegedly conducted by the chairman of its Executive, Simcha Dinitz. The delegates arrived here over the weekend for five days of deliberations on issues ranging from immigrant absorption to Zionist education. But many said the Dinitz aflair had climbed to the top of the unofficial agenda. "It is the topic of conversation around the coffee tables, at the bar, at dinner and on walks," said AJan Markuvitz of Milwaukee, an outgoing member of the agency Board of Governors. Delegates say privately that Board of Governors Chairman Mendel Kaplan is under tremendous pressure, especially from Jewish community federations in the United States, to convince Dinitz to step aside until the investigation is complete. Federation leaders say the affair is hurting the fund- raising effort for Is-ael at a time when the United Jewish Appeal and local campaigns are already difficult enough. "Mendel has been warned that major federations will not hold still," said one assembly participant. A few delegates also said privately that Kaplan had not Bct^ as promptly or as forcefully as he might have. "The leadership of the agency is being tested now, lay and professional, Israel and Diaspora," said Howard Weisband, Jewish Agency secretary-general, but "I believe we're going to come out stronger for it." "Everybody is very concerned," said Audrey Citak, a World Zionist Organization delegate from the World Council of Synagogues. "People have been waiting for the ax to fall and are still waiting. We don't know how (the case) wrill affect the workings of the WZO," which Dinitz also chairs.

Labor celebrates By Gil Sedan JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin has released a 144-page report detailing what he considers to be the achievements of his first year in office. The report was the culmination of a week-long public relations campaign to mark the first anniversary of the elections that brought the Labor Party to power. The book, presented to President Ezer Weizman, boasts of the government's achievements, noting that for the first time in years, unemployment in Israel is going down.

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"The affair is very difficult," she continued. "There is an element of possible mistrust of someone who has held our trust for a very long time." "Not that we're seeking to prove him guilty," she added: 'But in our heart, there's an element of bncertainty." "It's at the stage where peopici are saying Simcha should be told to find a way to st«p aside with dignity," said another source. For his part, Kaplan has been telling the delegates that Dinitz cannot be judged guilty on the basis of allegations alone. He also has explained, according to sources present at a weekend briefing for the United Israel Appeal, that the standards of the West do not apply in Israel, where it is not untoward for officials under police investigation to continue to hold office. Claims that Dinitz misused Jewish Agency money have been common knowledge inside and outside the agency for some months. In February, the Board of Governors was presented with a comptroller's report that referred to irregularities in the chairman's spending practices. It was followed by an opinion issued by the agency's legal adviser that there was no bad intent on Dinitz's part. * Following that meeting, a Likud Knesset member, Limor Livnat, filed a police complaint about the alleged abuses, triggering the current investigation, which is expected to conclude in the coming weeks. While the affair has continued to nag at the Jewish Agency leadership, it was thrust into the limelight Friday by a painstakingly detailed expose in the widely read Jerusalem Post weekend magazine. The article's publication coincided precisely with the arrival of the bulk of the Diaspora assembly members. "According to documents and dozens of interviews," the article stated, "Dinitz used agency funds to livein the lap of luxury and travel like a king.

Bird caused forest fire By Hugh Orgel TEL AVIV (JTA) — A bird was to blame for a mtuor fire in Upper Galilee last week that destroyed about 1,000 acres of trees and crops, forced the evacuation of Moshav Amirim and burned down two houses and a synagogue. The fire started June 23 when a large bird of prey apparently landed on high-tension power cables and spread its wings, causing a short circuit between two lines, according to fire and Israel Electric Corp. officials. The bird was electrocuted and died immediately, falling to the ground in flames and setting fire to tinder-dry leaves and bushes below. Fanned by a hot Sharav wind, the blaze quickly spread throughout the surrounding forest and field areas.

er 1^ Edythe Wolf presents paper at Jewish Library convention

Edythe Wolf; librarian Edythe Wolf, director of the Jewish Federation Library attended the 28th annual Association of Jewish Libraries convention, where ahe presented a paper entitled "Book Fairs on a Shoestring." The convention was held at the New York Hilton Hotel, Manhattan, recently. Approximately 300 from the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel and the Netherlands attended. Of special note this year was the Judaica Book and Crafts Marketplace. Over 140 exhibitors made this the largest exhibition area in AJL history, and included all types of learning materials, computer software, storytelling, puppet shows, original art, hand-made crafts, antique Judaica, and books, videos, and sound recordings. Mrs. Wolf was recognized last month at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation for 20 years of service to the Jewish community. She has been the Library director since April of 1973.

New books

The Jewish Federation Ubrary has announced the availability of new children's books as follows: "Children's Bible stories from Genesis to Daniel* by Miriam Chaildn; "Blessed are you: children's prayers and blessings" by Michelle Edwards; "Rachel the clever and other Jewish folktales" by Josepha Sherman; "The three riddles: a Jewish folktale" by Nina JafTe; "A picture book of Anne Frank" by David A Adier; "Behind the secret window: a memoir of a hidden childhood during WWir by Nelly S. Tbll; "If your name was changed at Ellis Island' by Ellen Levine; "Shabbos treats that grew" by Mayer Bendet; "The Kingston castle" by Ruth Abrahamson; "Daniel's story" by Carol Matas; "Dov Dov and the last coin and other stories" by Yona Weiiiberg; "Making it last" by Ruthie Pearlman; "Jacob's rescue: a Holocaust story" by Malka Drucker; 'Sworn enemies" by Carol Matas; "Getting it right" by Ruthie Pearlman; "Working it out" by Ruthie Pearlman.

Go high-tech WASHINGTON (JTA) — The pro-Israel community has moved into the high-tech area. In an effort to mobilize grass-roots support for Israel around the country, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council co- sponsored their first-ever nationwide electronic town hall meeting earlier this month. Balebutta of the Month

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Bivouac By Harry Paakowiti Fm filling in for scribe Henry Stem who ia recovering from a broken writing arm. i Morgan-Epstein Post 260 hosted the Neb.-Iowa Dept. luncheon meeting of the Jewish war veterans and their wives at the Livingston Plaza at the J. There were 33 present, including past commanders Iz Rosen and Gordon Lebowich from Poet 337 of Sioux City. OfBcers of the Nebr.-Iowa division are: Commander Nate Marcus; Sr. Vice-Commander Iz Rosen; Quartermaster Nate Marcus; Judge Advocate Sam Kaplan; Chaplain Dr. Xilton Margolin; and VAVS Officer Sol Mann. Nate Marcus presided, gave a treasurer's report and said that election of oflicers would be held soon. Commander Sam Kaplan announced that Posts 260 and 337 would participate in a joint canceled stamp collection project for the Vets Hospital. A gift for the hospital was sponsored by Lester Waxman of Post 260. Post 337 said it would match 260'8 pledge. Sol Mann informed us that he, Lester Waxman, Harry Paskowitz and Sam Rosenstein make regular visits to the patients at the hospital. Kudos go to Livingston Plaza for their wonderful facilities, to those who prepared and served the delicious luncheon and to the clean-up committee: Bea Marcus, Charlotte Kaplan, Ida and Sol Mann, Esther Waxman, Georgia Ann Steinberg and Jacque DolgofT, who booked the Plaza for the luncheon meeting and sent out the invitations. Members of Post 260 meet every third Sunday of the month at the J. They will call bingo and award prizes at the hospital on Aug. 8.

The National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section, in cooperation with WOWT and CD105.9, will sponsor the sixth annual Child Care Fair July 18 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Regency Fashion .Court. The Fair i^ree and open to the public. Honorary chairwoman, State Senator Jessie Rasmussen, is this year's recipient of NCJWs Hannah G. Solomon Award for her leadership efforts in improving the quality of life for people of all ages and backgrounds. The Omaha Section of NCJW developed the fair as a community service project to offer new and expectant parents a chance to visit with a variety of child care providers, health care professionals and service representatives. About 60 exhibition booths will be on display at the fair. According to Martha Slosburg, co-chairwoman, the event is expected to draw about 1,500. Three workshops will be presented. Andrea Grossman, workshop co-chairwoman said Janet WhitePhalen, executive director of the Midwest Child Care Association, will discuss "How to help your children survive TV and Jean Cully, M.S., child and family therapist. Kids, Inc., will present "Challenges with children. Attorney Sara Juster, a new presenter, will discuss legal issues in child care from the perspective of day care providers and parents. The workshops will be offered from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The Child Care Fair is headed by chairwomen Max Sampson and Ms.Juster and co-chairwomen, Ms. Slosburg and Allison Latenser. Advising the group is Vicki Sanford. Committee members are Keri Workman, Regency Court arrangements; Wendy Goldberg, program booklet; Janet Klein and Maggie Gerber, publicity; Kim Noddle and Ms. Grossman, workshops; Jodi Epstein, Robbi Kudym, Shari Langnas and Amy BR£ADBR£AKER8 A representative of Epstein-Morgan Post, Jewish War Frankel, registration, and Mary Kay Davis, special proVeterans will speak to B'nai B'rith Breadbreakers jects. Wednesday at noon at Regency West Best Western, ADL, NAACP, join according to Bob Birt, July chairman. Cost is $7.50 and "WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Anti-Defamation the public may attend. League has joined with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in an effort to B'NAI B'RITH reduce racial tensions among young Americans. New officers of Henry Monsky Lodge, B'nai B'rith, Spurred by troubling reports of American racial are as follows; Howard Kutler, president; Bob Birt, polarization, ADL and NAACP are exploring the creBruce Brodkey, Penny Cody, and Sherry Taxman, vice ation of a multiracial task force geared toward lessenpresidents; Len Schultz, treasurer; Gary Gerelick and ing racial prejudice. Gerald Meyer, guardian and warden; Al Abramson, The decision "demonstrates that our two communiMike Abramson, Sheldon Cohen, Richard Diamond, Steve Epstein, Steve Riekes, Ed Rosen and Ira ties are serious about working together to change negative racial attitudes of young Americans before they Trachtenbarg, trustees. become ingrained," leaders of the two groups said in a joint statement following a meeting here. ADL National Chairman Abraham Foxman and BUREAU FOR THE AGING Family members caring for elderly relatives can come NAACP Executive Director Berxjamin Chavis Jr. said to a support group meeting on Sunday, July 11, at 10:30 their organizations would work with other groups to a.m., in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home conference develop educational programs on the high school and room. FYofessional facihtator is Deb Wesselman. college levels.

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ByBertLewia Tve just answered my phone — it was a call exactly like the one I get almost every morning, and it annoyed me as much as it does each time. No, it wasn't a wrong number, exactly It was a call for my room-mate and intended to reach him at his office. You're thinking Tm really easily ahnoyed since, after all, this is a legitimate number But let me explain . . . this call is from a total stranger who doesn't know him. This is someone sitting somewhere in these United States randomly calling people to sell them something. The something might be a new telephone system or the latest in computer magic or even a giant machine with which to cut sheet metal. And the stranger calling invariably asks, in a folksy, familiar way "is Leonard there?" I guess he expects to get past whoever answered the call by sounding as though'he knows the person he's calling. He doesn't, of course, because he's never been west of Chicago and often the soimd of his speech tells me that fact. Now don't get me wrong, please. Tm well aware that telephone solicitation is a legitimate way for many people to earn a respectable living. I know that a large percentage of the work-force is attached to a phone system, calling strangers and hoping to sell them something. My objection is related to courtesy, or maybe I should say lack of courtesy. First of all, whafs with this first name stuff? Who gave some squirt someplace in Yahupitz permission to call a total stranger by his first name? I really hate that and I'm afraid I make it very plain when it happens. It's an old gripe with me, not just in this case. This morning the call was obvioiuly from someplace in the southwestern part of the U.S., or at least the caller was. An exaggerated drawl with everything but "you all" thrown in asked for Leonard. I gave him my usual answer about residence versus business number and he responded "mah dum secretary musta gimme the wrong numbah". I had all I could do to refrain from saying "get real". Actually, the sound was only a little worse than the harsh eastern "is Lennad theah? I could more easily handle the dialect if the caller identified himself and asked for Mr. Lewis. But that seldom happens, and unfortunately, the calls are frequent enough to be almost daily. Maybe they irritate me before I even answer because they invariably catch me hurrying to get ready to leave the house. Whatever the reason, I wish they'd cease and desist. And just as soon as I figure out how to arrange that. III let you know so you can put a stop to it also!

Presidents hail FBI

NEW YORK — The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations this week hailed the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its capture this morning of eight terrorists — linked to the bombers of the World Trade Center in February — who were planning to assassinate key political leaders and to wreak havoc in Manhattan.

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The Jews of India

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(Continued from Page 1) Then around 1300 CE (again the exaot date cannot be pinpointed and remains approxiinate) there was a renaissance of their awareness of Judaism when David Rahabi i;ecognized them and began teaching them Hebrew and the scriptures, rituals and other elements of Judaism that they had forgotten. The Bene Israel population in the mid-lSOOs was about 6,000, and they began moving out of their villages, not only to towns like Thana and Panvel, but to Bombay as well. In the first half of the 19th century, there was a second religious revival, with a handful of Cochin Jews arriving in Bombay to teach them about their religion. This was also supplemented by the Jews from Iraq settling in Bombay at that time and the work of Christian missionaries. The history of the Baghdad] or Iraqi Jews is quite different from that of the Bene Israels. With a large volume of trading between Basra in the Persian Gulf and the British East India Company, many Jews of that port and of Baghdad migrated to India around the 1830s, possibly fleeing persecution by the Pashas of Iraq. European Jewish merchants trading in Surat, a port north of Bombay, were joined by Jews from Aleppo, Baghdad and Basra. In the late 17th century, they formed the Arabian Jewish Merchants Colony. The term Baghdad! was , used not only for Jews coming from the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers but also Jews from Syria and other parts of the Ottoman Empire, Aden and Yemen, Persia and Afghanistan. Later, Surat lost its influential position and the traders moved, either to Bombay or to Calcutta. In both cities, a number of Baghdadis did exceedingly

It was not just idealism that drew the Jews of India to Israel. The economic factor played a large role as welL

Jewish groups lobby on poverty, Bosnia By Deborah Kalb WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jewish groups were busy last week lobbying government ofTicials about two causes that have been in the forefront of the Jewish agenda of late: poverty here in the United States and the plight of the people of BosniaHerzegovina. A coalition of groups, including Jewish and Moslem organizations, came together here June 23 to urge members of Congress to lift the arms embargo against the Bosnian people, Jewish groups have been active in urging stronger U.S. action to help the people of the former Yugoslav republic. They argue that lifting the embargo would better enable the Moslems of Bosnia to fight back against the primarily Serbian forces besieging them. The same day, representatives of Jewish groups, under the auspices of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, held an allday series of meetings with administration officials and congressional aides to discuss concerns about poverty.

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well; the chief among them being the Sassoons, also known as the Rothschilds of the East and the Ezras of Calcutta. The Cochin Jews of the Malabar Coast in the Southwest formed another large community. These Jews initially settled in Cranganore and in the surrounding Malabar for centuries. Then, in the 16th century, they moved further south to Cochin after being attacked by the Portuguese invaders. Due to differences in their place of origin, the Jews of Cochin varied in skin color and physique. During the rule of the Dutch in Cochin from 1666, the Jews flourished. Soon the British grew to be the rulers and the Cochinis, now living in a virtual backwater, lost all prominence. While they did adopt the local tongue (Malayalam), they also maintained their hold over Hebrew and Jewish customs and traditions. They adopted the local dress but soon switched over to the western costume and language. Though there was some emigration of Indian Jewry even earlier, emigration on a wide scale started from 1949, following the creation of the State of Israel. India's population, being as its chances of obtaining stable employment, have been competitive and Jews were not the only people to look beyond India for greener pastures. Initially, it was the Jewish youth and poor that lefl India for Israel. Soon, even persons doing well decided to make the move. Later, because so many of their relatives and friends had already emigrated, other Jews seeing their dwindling numbers and perhaps feeling a little lost, began thinking of settling in Israel as well. It was not just idealism that drew the Jews of India to Israel. The economic factor played a large role as well. Emigration has also been to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia, on a smaller scale.

Lynn Lyss, a vice chair of NJCRAC, said she was pleased her delegation was able to demonstrate that the Jewish community is concerned not only about foreign policy but also about domestic issues. "We were very well-received," she said. She said the group focused in its meetings on poverty- related issues, including the earned income tax credit plan assisting poor working families, food stamps and the minimum wage. The delegation held meetings with Gene Sperling, one of President Clinton's aides for doniestic policy issues, as well as aides to Sens. John Kerry (DMass.), James Sasser (D-Tenn.), Christopher Bond (R-Mo.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and RUssell Feingold (D-Wis.). Sperling "expressed how pleased he was that our community was involved in this and said that his involvement in this issue comes from his own Jewish roots," Lyss reported. The group also met with David Ellwood, assistant secretary of planning and evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services.