'KT-^T^^-r-
iewish Press Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
VoL LXX No. 47 Osaha
24 EInl, 87BS, SepCembw iO, 1—
"Perhaps, now rcan sleep. Editor's Note: During the past few weeka, the Jewish Press has been letting the community know about the need to raise $160,000 for the cancer treatment of Mark Epstein. His father, Gary, sent the following message and asked that it be shared with the Jewish community: Another sleepless nig^t. It's 4:30 in the morning and 1 have been struggling to sleep for almost five hours now. Instead of feeling the calmness that comes just before sleep, my mind is racing with so many thoughts, so many emotions ... so many, many. I look to my left and see my wife turning and turning and struggling to sleep. I do not want to wake her, even though I desperately wish that I had someone to share my thoughts with at this very moment. Instead, I carefully get out of bed, put on my robe and begin to make my way downstairs to the kitchen. As I am walking in the darkness, I walk past my son's room. I cannot resist the temptation to go in. His door is slightly open, probably because of his nightly visits (tbm the cat. As I enter his rotim, I stumble over something in the darkness. So what's new, his room, like most other young people, is strewn with "stuff"." But this is different, I stumbled on his artificial leg. By now I have somehow made it near his bed without waking him, not unusual since he actually slept through an earthquake as a child. Now I am at his bedside, and the moonlight is shining through his window and illuminating his motionless form. I stand for a moment looking at him, the once beautiful head of hair is now gonej^but the calm, peaceful look on his face that he had as a child is the same. I stand and woncjer how that can be? As I stand and wonder, my thoughts and emotions are building inside of me and I feel my throat thickening and tears come to my eyes. I turn and leave the room. As I walk down the steps, I see theyahrtzeit candle flickering in the darkness in loving memory of my wonderful father-in-law.
Now I am at the kitchen table. On my right is the Jewish Press. Instinctively I pick it up and begin to read it just as I did over and over again the evening before. By now I have almost memorized the editorial that occupies much of the front page. The more I read it, the more emotional I become. By now the tears fill my eyes-again and my mind is beginning to find the answers to some of the questions that have been racing through it from the hours of sleeplessness before. I realize that I am reading the words of a man, Morris Maline, who has transcended editorialism and is really writing from the heart. The words express true emotion, for not only my son but for all the Jews of the community. Because of his words, perhaps I, too, will be able to express my own feelings of love and hope instead of feelings of bitterness and anger. I must not allow these feelings to take over my being. It is not fair to my family, my wonderful friends, or myself So, in the early hours of the morning, I have learned another important lesson in life. In the past year-and-a-half, I have learned so much from my son and now I have learned a great lesson from someone I would like to know much better, Morris Maline. Knowing that, perhaps now I can sleep. Editor's Note: At last count, the drive to raise $150,000 had reached the half-way mark and activity within the Jewish community seems to keep gaining momentum. Those desiring to help may write a check payable to the University of Nebraska Medical Center and send IL to Sheldon Bernstein, c/o Federation Foundation, 333 South 132nd St. Omaha, NE, 68154. P.S. At deadline for this week's issue, the Press was advised that Mark's treatment would begin Sept. 13. Meanwhile, activities are under way in the community to raise additional funds. Please keep the" Press informed so that publicity for these events can be published.
"Peace will raise new issues for Israelis and Diaspora Jews" Editor's Note: Harry Allen, a former University of Nebraska official who now resides most of the year in Israel, has written a Letter from Jerusalem column for the Jewish Press. In this article, he takes a look at the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. By Harry Allen The Haftorah portion chanted in synagogues around the world last Shabbat as one of the Haftorot of Consolation read between Tisha B'Av and Rosh Hashanah contains the wonderful hope that "the voice of violence will no longer be heard in the land." It now seems possible that this prophetic vision may at last come into being as Israel and the PLO movt toward a truly hjjloric Agrippisnt. 'vVhatevcr may finally emerge tomne is little doubt that the agreements, negotiated over some 13 months of secret talks represent a "sea change" in the relations-between Israel and the arsbs. The fact that these negotiations could be kept secret is in itself a ramarkabls achievement. Much remains to be hammered out, in the end the peace may not be achieved, the Palestinians msy scuttle the wholt thing, the right wing in Israel may derail the process, but the rsality if that none of the dire predictions are likely. To be sure many Paleitiniani are bitterly opposed to any agreement with Israel, there will, no doubt, b« some violence in Israel led by the religious right wing, but none of this sserni likely to stop the momentum. The truth of the matter it that this pact, if it comet to past, rtpraianta an enor
mous victory for Israel and the Zionist movement. The Arabs have lost, they know it, we know it. But peace, if it comes, will raise new issues for Israelis and Diaspora Jews, issues going to the fundamental nature of Jewish survival, the ultimate Zeitgeist of the Jewish state, and the dynamics of relationships between Jews in Israel and Jews in America. The great challenge so world Jewry, and that includes Iiraelii, lies in the simple question: "What is the glue that holds us together after the threat of destruction recedes?" For nearly half a century now Jews have universally been primarily concerned with survival, survival in Europe, survival in Israel, and now survival in America us American Jews face the onslaught of intermarriage and dismal birth rates. It may now come to pass that our new concerns must be the quality of Jewish life as well as its physical continuity. What does this mean for Israel? If security is no longer the over-riding issues Israelis will have to deal seriously with the difllcult problems of developing a modern, but yet traditional establishment. Secularists must come to terms with religion, must stop bathing religion in every possible way and the Orthodox mutt be willing to face the problems of modernity aquarely. When energy it available to work on solutions the debate will become oven more fbriout than it it now. But Itrael, mutt remsin a Jewish ttate or elie it has no meaning st alt. But defining what that means where there is no military pretture to at least ofTer one common denominator in polities will (Continued on page 6)
Anita Gray will spealc Anita Gray will be the guest at a Migor Gifts brunch, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to noon, at j^^ the home of Nancy Rips. A preview of the Rips' succah is also planned. "The women of the Lion of Judah, Double Chai and Chai/Grand Gifts divisions are in for a fascinating morning," said Carol 'Katzman, women's division chairman. "The work and life of Anita Gray is compelling and eye opening. What . she has to say is impor* i^ray tant, the way she says it is energizing and she offers audiences a terrific opportunity to learn." Ms. Gray, who became interested in Judaism when was 21 and converted six years later, currently serves on the national UJA Women's Division board and is past chairman of the UJA Speakers' Bureau. Speaking around the country, she com-bines the story of her personal journey with today's story of the millions of Jews who, says Ms. Gray, "are leaving strange places all over the world to be free ... to be Jewish." "I want people to know how beautiful and special and privileged it is to be Jewish," she continued. "I was born Catholic, but the belief in the trinity never fit me," Ms. Gray explained. "It was belief in one G-d and the concept of Tzedakah that really made sense to me. I coiKiucied because I wanted to. "Before I converted," she recalled, "I lived 'on the edge.' I made my first contribution to UJA, picketed for 'Freedom for Soviet Jews and became a serious student of Judaism. "Tbday, I'm an American Jewish woman who feels passionately about the importance of the immigration and its impact on Jewish people everywhere. There are those among us who think this migration signals the coming of the Messiah. No matter what we believe, one thing is for sure — the migration of Jews in the world over the last five years could significantly fortify the Jewish people as well as strengthen the Jewish state. "Our problem would dissolve if everyone could feel personally involved," she concluded. That will happen if Jews make the effort to directly communicate with Jews, one by one, and never give up. Our misunderstandings and lack of interest come when we don't talk to each other "Change takes time," said Ms. Gray, "but we must be a vejHdMtient people — we're still waiting for
theMeisffir"
For information, call Jan Pcrelman at 334-82(OQ^^I
Batgiri Joanna Kny, 10, of Omaha, won a special sweepstakes that cntiUed her to be the Milk Duds Celebrity Batgiri for the Kansas City Royals game on Aug. 11. This VIP Royals experience included a photo with Kansas city relief pitcher Billy Brewer. Joanna is a fifth grade student nt Cottonwood Elementary School. She plays toftball for the Terminatort of tl)e KWAA League and nito playi toccer and basketball. She enjoys collecting troUt, Nintendo, rollerskaling and ice ikating