dewlsh Press Senlng Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
VoL IXX No. 40 Omaha
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Jewish communities rally to help The Jewish Federation of Omaha is exploring ways to help regianal Jewish communities as well as other flood victims throughout the Mid-West. Bobbie Epstein, at the Chicago UJA Midwest Women's Leadership Conference, called the situation in Des Moines, "desperate," particularly among senior citizens.
In Lincoln, extensive damage was reported at Mount Carmel cemetery. (Separate story on page 5) Howard Bloom, executive director of the Omaha Jewish Federation, said he has been in contact with the Des Moines Federation. "They are requesting 400 gallons of water in onegallon containers, kosher food, and contributions."
Mr. Bloom said Rich Juro and Harold Cooperman arranged for collection and transportation of the food and water to Des Moines. He pointed out that the request for kosher food is for the elderly and homebound, adding that about 200 people are in need of the supplies. Mr. Bloom said the Federation's executive committee would be meeting at press deadline and that aid for the affected communities would be on the agenda. (More flood news on page 2)
FLOOD RELIEF EFFORT The Council of Jewish Federations reports that "There are numerous individuals and families in the Des Moines Jewish community who have been impacted by the flooding, and the Jewish Home for the Elderly has been severely affected. There is no water for the elderly to drink or to use for bathing. Electricity is limited and water, which is rationed, is being brought into the community by the National Guard."
Jewish National Fund honors Reip. Peter Hoagland The Jewish National Fund presented its Tree of Life award to Congressman Peter Hoagland at • dinner Sunday night in the Red Lion. Among the 120 particpating in the event were from left, labor leader Terry Moore, Gov. E. Benjamin Nelson, Rep. Hoagland, Harlan Noddle, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, and Charles Selcer, president, JNF Council of Minnesota. In his remarks, Cong. Hoagland said," I am proud of my support and friendship with the State of Israel I have always supported foreign aid requests on behalf of Israel and I can assure you I will continue to do so."
To help in the relief efforts, CJF has created the CJF/Midwest Rood Relief Fund to assist the Des Moines and any other Midwest Jewish communities that may need assistance. Donations should be sent to: CJF - 730 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, made payable to CJF/MidwestFlood Relief Fund.
Friedel Jewish Academy appoints director and consultant By Diane Axler Baum Curriculum used to mean "what is taught in the classroom," but not anymore. Today, according to the new educational director of Friedel Jewish Academy, curriculum i encompasses 'how you teach as well as what] you teach." *One of the great I strengths I bring to the | Academy is my experience in developing curriculum for Grades Kl through 6," said Michele J. Riojas, who will I assume the position of I FJA's educational direc-1 tor on Aug. 2 ."Today, curriculum ' refers to method as well Michel* RIoJas as content Educators have discovered that there should be a reduced need for discipline if lessons are exciting and motivating,' she said. Through her role as a curriculum planner, she added, she has kept up to date on the latest teaching methods, such as cooperative learning, thematic learning, and handi-on learning, Mrs. Riojas also brings to Friedel valuable supervisory and administrative experience, according to Michael Katxman, chairman of the PJA Board. "We are extremely pleased to find an educational director with outstanding qualifications in elementary education and ndminiitration, excellent teaching and supervisory skills, and tremendous energy and enthuiiasm," he said. Mr. Katintan also announced the appointment of
Dr. Richard Freund as Jewish Studies consultant to the Academy. Dr. Freund, a Friedel parent amd a rabbi, is professor of Judaic Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he received tenure this spring. He is cuiVent president of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Region of the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature. Dr. Freund served as a consultant to the committee composed of edu._ cators. parents, and rep'"'"'•'^ '^'•"°'* resentatives of Omaha's three synagogues which worked for three years to produce the Academy's new Jewish Studies curriculum. New teaching fulde The 60-page curriculum and its teaching guides, approved by the FJA Board in the spring of 1992, contains nine separate areas to be taught at the Academy. These include Ivrit (Hebrew Language), Teflllah (Prayer), Tanach (Bible), Torah SheB'al Peh (Rabbinics), Hagim-Dinim ITMinhagim (Holidays, Observances, and Customs), Arachim (Jewish Ethics), Toledot Ha'Am HaYehudi (Jewish History), Yisrael (Israel), and Hadashot (Current Kvents). Mrs, Riojas comes to PJA fVom Csndlewood
"3"^• Elementary School in San Antonio, where she cooT^ dinated the daily activities and planning for a group of three teachers and taught math and computer technology in Grades 3 through 5. An instructional leader for math, she evaluated other teachers' lesson plans and assisted teachers who had difficulty with either instruction or classroom management. She founded the school's Young Astronaut Club and led the members on a field trip to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Mrs. Riojas earned a Masters Degree in Education Administration from the University of Texas Pan American in 1990. She previously received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University, where she majored in elementary education, minored in science and language arts, and participated in a program on Teaching in Heterogeneous Classrooms." "I believe my background in the needs of heterogeneous classrooms will assist me in working with a faculty that includes Jewish and non-Jewish teachers and a student body of Americans and recent arrivals from the former Soviet Union," she said Mrs. Riojas expressed her enthusiasm about FJA's teacher-student ratio, small classes, and value-centered education. "It's wonderful that Friedel teaches the whole persont" she exclaimed. Mrs. Riojas recently read "T^t Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism,* by Dennis Piager and Joseph Telushkin. *I am depending on the Jewish Studies teachers to bo a theological resource to me," she said, "liust as I will be a supervisory and ndmlnstrative resource to them."
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