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Vol. LXXI No. S Omaha
Rabbi Kula to lead CLAL
30 Tishre, S7M, October 15,1903
^hree Cantors Berkovits to present concert
By Diane Axler Baum, Beth El publicity By Barbara Chandler, Cantor Gabriel Berkovits of Federation public relations director Sandi Fried, CLAL chairman, annoiinced that Israel is joining his two cantor Rabbi Irwin Kula will lead the opening sessions of sons in Omaha to present Oma^ia's CLAL(National Jewish Center for "Nostalgia Plus," a concert of Learning and "yesterday's music" that will Leadership) program. benefit the Friends of the Cantors Assembly of America, Rabbi Kula previousMonday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m., ly served as rabbi of Congregation B'nai at Beth El Synagogue. Amoona in St. Louis. The concert will feature songs passed down over generFollowing that, he received a fellowship, ations in the Berkovits family Emil Berkovits and individual favorites of the funded by the Wexner senior Berkovits and his sons. Cantor Edward Heritage Foundation, to Berkovits of Cleveland, Ohio, and Cantor Emil study privately with Berkovits of Omaha. Among the highlights will be Rabbi Irving (Yitz) lullabies their mother sang to them in Yiddish, Greenberg. Rabbi Kula Yiddish tunes from the 19th Century, Hebrew folk is currently the Senior Teaching FellowRabbi Kula songs, and selections in English from decades gone by. Shirley Schwartz will provide piano accompaLeadership Development at CLAL. "There are a number of excellent scholars at niment. "The Friends of the Cantors Assembly feels deep CLAL," said Mrs, Fried, "but we are delighted to have Rabbi Kula, who is well-known to many concern about the shortage of young people entering the cantorate. The organization makes a valuOmahans, leading our opening CLAL sessions." Mrs. Fried emphasized that "CLAL scholars cre- able contribution by providing scholarships, endowate a unique discussion atmosphere. The sessions ments, and prizes to students of the Cantors are open to the community and everyone, regard- Institute of the Theological Seminary of America," less of Jewish education or observance, will enjoy said Cantor Emil Berkovits, of Beth El Synagogue. "My father, brother, and I invite the Jewish comparticipating." CLAL is being brought to Omaha through the munity of Omaha to enjoy an evening of music and generous support of the Murray H.^nd Shaiee £. to support this worthy organization," he said. Newman Foundation, the HerbertSJoldsten Trust Cantor Gabriel Berkovits, in the established tradition of the Berkovits family of Czechoslovakia, and an anonymous donor. CLAL will begin on Sunday, Oct. 17. was recognized during childhood for possessing a Participants can attend either "Are Sarah and magnificent voice. He studied music and voice at Abraham really my mishpacha?" from 3to 5 p.m. at the Conservatory of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, the home of Anne and Barry Broder, or "From Mt. and the Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, Sinai to Omaha — a real lead of faith!" from 7 to 9 and ho served as a hazzan in Eastern Europe p.m. at the home of Judy and David Finkle. Future before escaping the Holocaust with his wife and sessions will be held Nov. 14-15, and Dec. 5. There young sons. He escaped the Holocaust with his is no charge and reservations may be made at 334- wife and young sons and settled in Montreal, Canada, where he served as a cantor for decades 8200, ext. 210.
Gabriel Berkovits
Edward Berkovits
before he and his wife made Aliyah to Israel. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Cantors Institute. Cantor Edward Berkovits, of Cleveland, Ohio, previously served congregations in Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Florida, and South Carolina. A recipient of the Hazzan-Minister Award of the Cantors Assembly, he has composed and performed many of his own works in the synagogue, in concert, and on radio and TV. He is a graduate of Montreal's Sir George Williams University and the Jewish Teachers Seminary of Montreal. He did post-graduate studies in music at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia' and attended the Chofetz Chayim Yeshiva in Baltimore, MD., and the Rabbinical College of Montreal. Cantor Emil Berkovits held positions witffeyna-^. gogues in Chicago and Montreal befot'e coming to Beth El. He studied at the McGill UniversityConservatory of Music and took private lessons with acclaimed voice teachers. Widely known even a? a child, he appeared in concert with several famous cantors and sang in numerous operas and in Yiddish theater. He later performed throughout the U.S., ns a soloist and in concert with hi.s father and brother. Tickets for "Nostalgia Plus" are $10 in advance or $12.50 at the door. A concert patron who contributes $36 will receive two tickets.
Holocaust survivors honored as heroes
PacAsetter Chairmen meet with team Fred Simon, left, and Don. Goldstein, Pacesetter Division JChairmen for the 1994 UJA/Fedcration Camptrtifn, have held three meetings with their campaign volunteers and a fourth meeting ii scheduled for Oct. 18. Volunteers received information about the Federation agencies and about Israel's continuing need for our support as the peace process moves fbrward. "Israel is atUl living in a very dangerous neighborhood," noted Mr. Goldstein, "and they are still resettling 6,000 Jews a month." Open discussion during the meetings included many suggestions by volunteers for future campaigns and for building community relations. " We have not had brainstorming sessions like this in the past," commented Mr. Simon. "The discussions brought out some excellent suggestions." •IT
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By Morris Maline The greatest act of heroism ever witnessed by a history professor was described Sunday night at the Jewish Community Certter. "As I watched this Holocaust survivor limp toward the crematoria at the M^jdanek concentration camp — reliving the nightmare — 1 realized that I was witnessing the greatest act of heroism I had ever seen." This is how history professor David M. Crowe summed up his recent educational trip to Poland accompanied by schoolteachers and Holocaust survivors. Professor Crowe, Department of History, Eton College, said he took the trip as a member of the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum's Education Committee. In a two-day symposium, scholars from the United States and abroad discussed "Crisis and Reaction: The Hero in Jewish History." The symposium was sponsored by Creighton University, the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Jewish Cultural Arts Council. In his presentation, Professor Crowe said the survivor (identified later as Norburg Volhsim, a witness at the Nurtmburg trials) — 'terrified at this experisncs of reliving a nightmare, sacrificed himself for a greater act — that of telling the story of the Holocaust" Professor Crows traced the origin of the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum and discussed ths concern of the survivors (who sat on all of the committess) that the Mussum not be a national horror show, but a facility for learning that would
History Professors David Crowe (left) and Mcnachem Mor at the Klutznick Symposium. be more than a museum. He said the survivors were driven by what Elie Wiesel expressed as the fear that when the survivors died, there would be no one to remember. He pointed out that each survivor paid the price of allowing the nightmare to return and each had to decide how much pain he would endure. Professor Crowe also addressed the oflen-heard question asked by mostly non-Jewish audiences: "Why didn't the Jews resist?" He explained that the question "burned survivors* souls, and in reality was a "non-issue." He said the Holocaust was not "an ordinary event," and that by asking the question one puts responsibility on the victim. Survival itself, he said, was an act of spiritual resistance snsuring that someone would live to tell. "Wanting to tell made the difference between life and death, and there is honor in much of what they did,* said Professor Crowe.