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ilewish Press Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
10 Elul, 6763, August 27, 19W
VoL LXX No. 46 Omaha
Editorial By Morris Maline Not long ago, a reader sent me two one-dollar bills and a note suggesting that I utilize the money for a double purpose. Her request was that I use one dollar to stop the war in Bosnia and the other dollar to benefit the Jewish community of Omaha. For weeks, I was stumped. What could I possibly do that would impact on either the senseless killing in Bosnia or the wellbeing of the local Jewish community? So, I put off writing about the challenge because I was unable to come up with anything that would make sense. Until now. At this point, I am willing to give up on trying to solve the problems in Bosnia. I am leaving that cauldron of horror to President Clinton and others who are in a position of power to do something. However, helping the local Jewish community is a different matter. In last week's Jewish Press, I alerted the readership to the needs of Mark Epstein, a young man with cancer whose only chance to hve depends on whether his family can raise $lSO,000 for medical treatment.
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His insurance will not cover the necessary bone marrow transplant and appeals to the insurance company have been rejected. I published Mark's story to give our Jewish community an opportunity to participate in the greatest mitzvah of all — the saving of a life. As a community, we spend vast sums annually to save Jewish lives all over the world. Surely, we can do our part for a member of our own Jewish community. I do not expect the Epstein family to plead or beg for help. I will plead and beg for them because that is the right thing for a Jewish editor and a Jewish newspaper to do. And the response of the readership is to rush with aid because cancer doesn't wait. The only hope is treatment. So, in behalf of the thoughtful reader who presented the two-dollar challfenge to me, let me say that your two-dollars will join my personal contribution and be directed to-the University of Nebraska Medical Center - (SEE BULLETIN BELOW) I am confident that our extended family — the Jewish community of Omaha and our readers throughout the country — will participate in the mitzvah of saving Mark Epstein's life.
Clianges may be necessary in Israel defense purchases By Deborah Kalb WASHINGTON (JTA) — Beginning next year, Israel may be facing mtgor changes in how it buys its defense equipment from the United States. The Pentagon announced that as of January 1994, it would end the commercial sales channel of the Foreign Military Financing program, under which Israel buys a substantial part of its equipment. FMF is a program assisting U.S. allies in buying weapons and other defense equipment, generally from the United States. Currently, some FMF recipients, such as Israel and Egypt, can go through either a government channel, in which the U.S. government buys desired items on behalf of the recipient, or a commercial channel, in which the foreign government engages in direct commercial contracts with suppliers. Israel is the largest recipient of FMF funds, with an annual grant of $1.8 billion per year. The Israeli government is currently hoping an arrangement can be worked out with the U.S government that would enable it to continue purchasing certain items through commercial channels, according to Ruth Yaron, the Israeli Embassy spokeswoman here.
Naval Academy protest
Aim at religious right
By Deborah Kalb WASHINGTON (JTA) — A group of Jewish members of Congress has sent a protest letter to the U.S. Naval Academy, criticizing the academy's decision to schedule its homecoming this fall over the weekend on Vbich Yom Kippur falls. The letter, organized by Rep. Benjamin Cardin (DMd.) and signed by 26 other Jewish representatives, criticized the academy for not displaying "more sensitivity to Jewish midshipmen, alumni, their families and friends." B'nai B'rith also criticized the academy for what it called "incredible bureaucratic insensitivity."
By Deborah Kalb WASHINGTON(JTA) — The so-called "religious right" is becoming a powerful force in both local and national politics, a group of Jewish Democratic activists was told this week. Experts from religious and constitutional liberties groups told participants in a conference sponsored by the National Jewish Democratic Council that the Christian Coalition, a religious right organization sponsored by the Rev. Pat Robertson, could have 1 million members by the end of the year. The NJDC has become involved in the effort to combat the agenda of the groups like Robertson's.
Residents oppose housing By Gil Sedan JERUSALEM (JTA) — Residents of the Park Towers housing project yi Ashdoji have opposed allocating housing units to new immigrants from Yemen, on the grounds that the presence of the olim will "reduce the value of their apartments." The tenants initiated a meeting with Ashdod Mayor Tzvi Tzilker on the issue, and asked him to intervene on their behalf The Housing Ministry purchased 82 apartments in the housing project over the past three months. The ministry did not say who will reside in those apartments.
Gary Hill earns Volunteer award
Bulletin
(Jary Hill, founder and president of the non-profit Contact Center, Inc., a national information clearinghouse and referral service for prisoners, has received the 1993 Maud Booth Correctional Services Award from Volunteers of America (VGA). The award was presented to Mr. Hill by VOA president and chief executive officer Clint Cheveallier during the annual meeting of the American Correctional Association. A resident of Lincoln, Mr. Hill's involvement in prison work dates to the early 1960's when his family-owned metals business began a policy of hiring and training ex-offenders from the Nebraska State Penitentiary. He soon recruited local Jaycees in a volunteer outreach program and established a Jaycees chapter inside the prison, the first of 500 Jaycees chapters he promoted in correctional facilities in the U.S. and abroad. In 1964, Mr. Hill founded the Contact Center which provides referral help to offenders awaiting release. The organization maintains a national data bank of available services including housing, employment, job-training and education, alcohol and drug recovery services. The organization has helped more than 48,000 men and women since its founding. Based oq his 26 years experience, Mr. Hill has become • national spokesman on corrections iuues. He kervad as chairman of a United Nations committea on crime prevention and criminal justice, and as • member of the board of the American Corroctional Association, lie has personally visited over 1,200 correctional focilities worldwide and has lectured extensively on the subject
Mark Epstein is awaiting admission to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for his bone marrow transplant Jerry Slusky, Federation president, told the board of directors Tuesday night that progress was being made in the fund-raising campaign. Announcement also was made that more than $30,000 has been received in the first week of the campaign to raise $150,000 for Mark's treatment. Tax deductible contributidns may be endorsed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center and mailed to Sheldon Bernatein, c/o Federation Foundation, 333 South 132nd St. Omaha, NE 68154.
Starting the day Efrat Itabari (left) and Joey Kahn, aUrt th« day holding flags at the Jewish Commanity Center's preschool camp. Photo by Jo Carroll.
Exhibit to feature women in business An exhibit entitled, Jewish Women in Business - — • 199.'1, will open at the Jewish Community Centerflj on Dec. 15, Louise Abrahamson, president of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, has announced. "We are pleased to announce that the 100th birthday of internationally recognized bur.inesswoman ftose Blumkin will be celebrated that night •m with a reception for the community." H The exhibit, available through January, will include photos of businesswomen and their businesies, awards, related memorabilia, and stories about the individuals who have served as founders^ president, monngers, and proprlators In Nehrask^^| and Council Hluffi. "^ The Society has requested that exhibit items be submitUd to Susan Silver, archivist, by Oct 10. ^