January 14, 1994

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V0I.LXXI No. 17 Oauha

*Schindler's List' survivor to speak at special screening "Schindler's List," the movie depicting Oskar Schindler, who saved more than 1,000 Jews from torture, deportation and death in Nazi occupied Poland during World War II, will be presented at a special screening for the Jewish Community on Monday, Jan. 24. According to I. Robert Wolfson, ADL/CRC Director, the screening will take place at Cinema Center Theater, 2828 South 84th Ave., at 6:45 p.m. The screening will be preceded by a very special guest speaker, a Jew saved by Oskar Schindler who survived the Holocaust to bear witness and tribute to this extraordinary man. According to Mr. Wolfson, "this special screening of the film offers an opportunity to the Omaha Jewish Community for a unique and intense experience. We will hear the testimony of one who lived through the events so vividly brought to the screen, and will see the film with our fellow Jews". The Steven Spielberg film has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece and has been chosen Best Picture by the Los Angeles Film Critics, New York Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics. The movie has also been nominated for seven Golden Globe awards including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Proceeds from the sale of tickets to this special creening of 'Schindler's List" will benefit the Anti)efamation League/Jewish Foundation for Christian Rescuers, an ADL division founded in 1987 to recognize and provide monthly awards to more than 1,200 aged and needy Christian ^ Rescuers in twenty countries. For further information or tickets, please call the )L/CRC office, 333-1303.

Omaha professional selected for seminar By Barbara Chandler Federation Public Relations Director

Jan Perelman, Missions Director for the Jewish Federation of Omaha, has been selected as one of 40 professionals from among 250 Federations and communities nationwide to attend a comprehensive seminar on UJA Missions in Israel from Feb. 3-11. General Nechemia Jan Perelman Dagan, Director of UJA Overseas Programming, explained. This select group of individuals will participate in a week of intense meetings during which they will decide the focus of UJA missions for the coming year. They will share ideas for mission recruitment, planning and follow-up. "The seminar provides mission professionals with a comprehensive look at v/hii is available for missions. Their communities will have an edge in mission planriing because their professionals will have the information, the contacts, the tools and the resources to plan their missions." General Dagan will be in Omaha on Tuesday, Jan. 26, to address the Federation Board of Directors about the national mission program. In particular, he will discuss its importance in promoting Jewish continuity and its importance to the ftiture of Israel, The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the community. Jerry Slusky, president of the Federation, encouraged anyone interestad In miMioni to lirnel to attend the meeting. (Continued on page 7) • t :ii "•iiOi J -• 1. • »m. I

Thanks to community response, WIesel event moved to Red Lion By Barbara Chandler, Federation Public Relations Director Due to the overwhelming response of the Omaha Jewish community to the 1994 UJA/Federation Campaign, the community event on Jan. 20, featuring guest speaker Elie Wiesel, will be held at the Red Lion Hotel. Tickets to the event were made available to anyone in the Omaha Jewish community who made a pledge to the 1994 Campaign by Dec. 31. The event was scheduled to be held at Beth El Synagogue, which seats 950 people, but the number of pledges and requests for tickets has exceeded that number, and the campaign chairmen felt it was necessary to hold the event in a location that would allow everyone who made their pledge by the Dec. 31 deadline the opportunity to hear Professor Wiesel speak in person. Validated parking for the event will be available courtesy of First National Bank and the Red Lion Hotel. Approximately 600 parking spaces will be available for validation in the Red Lion's 17th Street Parking garage, which is directly west of the hotel, across 17th Street. Guests may park In stalls marked "reserved" in that garage. There is an underground tunnel between the 17th Street parking garage and the Red Lion. The garage directly connected to the Red Lion Hotel on the east is owned by First National Hnnk. They have arranged for validation of approximately 250 spaces in that garage, "It's really wonderdil that we were forced, by the success of the campaign, to move to larger quarters for the event," commented Howard Koopcr, r;«nnrnl Campaign Chairman. Harley Schrager, General Campaign Clmirnmn,

added, "We are gratified by the overwhelming] response to not only the event itself, but the timeliness of people making their 1994 Campaign pledges. It demonstrates to us, as chairmen of the campaign, that Jews in Omaha are generous andthat they enjoy coming together to celebrate the! greatness of this community." "I am personally thrilled by the response to having Elie Wiesel speak in this community. More than 1,200 people want to hear him," remarked Carol Katzman, Women's Division Chairman." And I am grateful to all the campaign volunteers and donors who worked toward our goal of getting all pledges in by Dec. 31 and helped make this event such a great success. I know it will be a memorable evening."

"This remarkable response illustrates, once again, what n wonderful Jewish community we have in Omaha." Jerry Slusky, President of tho Jewish ^ Federation, added his thanks to the community. S "This remorkable response illustrates, once again, what a wonderful Jewish community wo have in Omaha. I want to thank Iho chairmen for running jH a successful campaign and making this event possi- ^| bio, and I want to thank the donors in this community for their conllnuoui suppnri nrtli.. K,,r|.,r,ii, and its family of agenetes" TickaUi for the event were iniiiii'ii on .nin lu

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WYNDHAM HILL APARTMENTS

ByJeirShyken This week's sedra is BO. In it we read about G-d and the plague of locust on the Egyptians. This was because Pharaoh again refused to let the Jewish people leave Egypt. Pharaoh begged Moses to ask G-d to stop the plague. When this happened, he would let the people leave. After the plague ended, Pharaoh again refused to let the Jewish people leave. Because of this, Moses brought the next plague, that of darkness which lasted for six days. Three of these days were so dark and heavy that the Egyptians could not move. Only the Jewish people had light in their homes during this time. Pharaoh became so upset that this time he told Moses that the Jews could leave, but they could not take their flocks and herds. Moses said no to Pharaoh, he could not accept Pharaoh's offer. Pharaoh became so angry he told Moses to never appear in the palace again. Moses told Pharaoh there would be one more plague — a very horrible one — one that would kill all the Egyptian first-born males. G-d told Moses the redemption was near and the year would begin with the month of Exodus — Nissan. On the 10th of Nissan, each Jewish male was to take a male lamb to be kept until the 14th of Nissan when it was to be sacrificed. Some of the blood was to be smeared on the door post of the house as a sign that it was a Jewish home. This night was the night the Egyptiam first-born males were killed. The Egyptians asked the Israelites to leave. The Jews left in such a hurry that their dough for making bread did not have time to rise. That is why we eat matzah on Pesach. The Jews left carrying much gold and silver which they took from the Egyptians. This money was considered "payment" for all their years as slaves. The Jews were ordered to bring a Korban Pesach every year on the 14th of Nissan. The Jews were commanded to redeem their first-bom male in all their future generations and to wear Tefillin for a sign on their hand and for a "memorial between your eyes" to remind them of their rescue from Egypt Good Shabbos.

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DOROTHY KUSHNER Services for longtime Lincoln resident Dorothy Kushner were held Wednesday. She died Monday at her home at the age of 93. Burial was at Mt, Carmel Cemetery in Lincoln. Mrs. Kushner was bom in the small Ukrainian town of Bresilev in 1900 and came to the United States with her family when she was eight years old. She moved to Lincoln from Rock Island, III., when she married Max Kushner in 1919. She was active in the Lincoln Jewish community for many years and volunteered 'in a variety of; capacities at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, a congrega-' tion which bestowed upon her its "Woman of Valor" award in the early 1960s. She also served as volunteer at Lincoln General Hospital. Mrs. Kushner was preceded in death by her husband, Max, and two sons, Dwayne and Gerald. Survivors include two sons, Sheldon of Lincoln and Marshall of Omaha; a daughter, Shirley Schaffer of Lincoln; two brothers, Sam Zabel of Boca Raton, Fla., and Abe Kama of Los Angeles; 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, Neb. 68502. HOWARD POSTER Services for Howard Poster were held Monday at Golden Hill Cemetery. Rabbi Paul Drazen officiated. He died Jan. 8 at the age of 62. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rebecca Poster. Survivors include two sisters, Rose Schmidt of Sioux City, Iowa, and "Shirley Raasch of North Hollywood, Calif, and a brother, Sam of Omaha.

Beth El sets Women's League Shabbat

By Diane Azler Baum More than 60 women have accepted roles in the Beth El Women's League Shabbat, scheduled for January 22. Dinah Rafiil is coordinating the service. Tratlitionally a time for expressions of appreciation, the Women's League Shabbat will offer an opportunity to honor Torah Fund contributors, "Is There God in Our Bedroom???" is the pro- according to president Susie Silverman. gram offered by the Twentysomething group at Women's League benefactors will take an aliyah, Temple Israel, Sunday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m. and another will be taken by new members of Women's League, she said. ,She will deliver the Refreshments will be served. I^var Torah. For information, call Temple Israel at 556-6536. Mrs. Raful said a new dimension to this year's service will bring to the bimah a number of young women who became Bat Mitzvah within the past two or three years in the in the singing of Adon CjlAPMiC DESIGN TtPtSfnifiG POINTING COPVING UlfJDERT Alom. •Flyers •Booldctt •Stationery "These young women represent our future gener•N«wil«tt«r» •Brochures •AnnouncemenU ation of Women's League, and we are delighted that ^ RECYOJED PAPERS^SOY BASED INKS they will participate in our service," Mrs. Raful Quality & Scrvtc* said. Two of the young women are her daughters, 3706 S 132iid. Omaha. NE 68144 (402) 330-5050 • FAX (402) 330-0789 Sarah and Anna. Several members of Women's League have begun BUBigEIBJgJBMBMBIBlBMBigiBIBiBMBflB to bake for the Kiddush, but additional bakers would be welcome. Anyone interested in helping should call Dinah Raful at home, 4931436, or at "For Exctptiont) Dining" the ofTice, 334-8200. A group of bakers will be Expanded U»nu - PrivMl* Dining Room Avallabl$ bringing their recipes and kosher ingredients to the Beth El kitchen on Sunday, Jan. 16, beginning Gr««k Spiciatt Otily Gratk Beet & Wine at 9:30 am. Homemade Patlrlet Dine liVCarry Out The 1993 Women's League Benefactors are Susie Speclalliing In Biklava Wt Cater, Tool M(jn thuil II I m 9pm Silverman, Anne Wolfson, Betty Alloy, Reva Oruch, 348 1528 lu 5jl II im 10 pm Frances Batt, Rose Blumkin, Dorothy Frieden, '.tin 11 i nt / p ni 3515 Center Esther Simon, Liz Shackman, \S\!SMSISSSISMSMSMSMSMSMBinM Susie Drazen, Anna Wiesman, Syd Winlroub, Nancy Rips, Darlene GolbiU, Frances Blumkin^ and Merriam Cooperman. Expert Teachers

Twentysomething group

CALENDAR OF I EVENTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20 Walk-in Drop-in, 10:30 a.m. UJA/Federation Campaign Event, Eli Weisel Program, 7:30 p.m., Beth El

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Lose recruits JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Women in Black art having a recruitment problem. Since the Palestunian autonomy plan announced in September, the organization has shrunk from 31 chapters to five and the group's weekly demonstrations attract only half as many women as they ones did. The problem it the peace process. Now that the Israelis and Faleatinisni are lilting at the nsgoUating table, many of the country's peace organizations are examining what role, if any, thsy Should play in the fljture.

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Synagogues Candlelichting: S pju. PBETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 1802 No. 52ad Street^ I Omaha, NE 68104 S564S88 ^ Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; FViday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Services are conducted by Rabbi Joseph Friedman. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat service is at 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning services are at 8:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary and Goldstein Chapel. Kiddush This week's Kidduih is sponsored by Mrs. Albert Newman in commemoration of the Yahneit for her father, Meyer WoUTTatle. Babysitter service is provided by Sisterhood. Study Talmud with Rabbi Friedman at 4 p.m. Mindia is at 6 p.m. Shalosh Seudot, Ma'ariv and Havdalah conclude the services. SUNDAY: Services are at 9 am. Breakfast and a study session follows in the Beit Ha Midrash with Rabbi Friedman and Rabbi Gonsher. Evening services are at 5 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Services at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Kidduah Luncheon This Shabbat, reservations are required Sisterhood Sisterhood Social, Saturday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m., 'Italian Coffee House."

^•^ 14506 California ^P ' Omaha. NE 68154 I 492-8560 I Office Hours: I Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are conducted by Rabbi Paul Drazen and Cantor Emi) Berkovits. FRIDAY: Services are at 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Services are at 9:30 a.m. Kiddush following services. Sitter service starts at 10 a.m. TSS (Torah and Siddur Skills) meets at 10 a.m. Shabbat story time is the first and third Saturday at 11 a.m. Minha-Ma'ariv and Havdalah services at 6:05 p.m. Weekly Torah study, an English discussion of the Torah portion with modern commentaries, meets 30 minutos after services. 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. Judaica Shop Open Tuesday throu|^ Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon, and by appointment Lunch 'n Leara Lunch 'n Learn with the Rabbi continues Thursday. Call the office on Wednesday to reserve your place. Adult Siddur Claaa Adult Siddur Class continues Monday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. IntarflBith Survival Skills Beth El is sponsoring an interfaith survival skills panel discussion Friday at 8 p.m. Rabbi Paul Drasen, Father Gerry Gonderinger and Reverend William Williams, Jr. will lead the discussion on the differences between death and marriage customs. A traditional Shabbat dinner following Friday tvening services precedes this event. PrqJcotLink Project Link will present a round-table discussion reviewing the "December Dilemma' Sunday at 10 a.m. at Beth El. For raaervations, call Ilene Klein at 334-1185. Klda Kabbalat Shabbat Kids Kabbalat Kiabbat will be Friday, Jan. 21,7 p.m., fbr fliniillee with grade school and younger children. An Oneg Shabbat followa.

Jewish Preu

JaniMiy 14,1M4

TEBIPLE ISRAEL 7023 Case Street Omaha, NE 68132 556^36

, FRIDAY: Shabbat evening service is at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Fink and Cantor Karen Webber-Gilat will officiate. Guests will be the Reverend Charlotte Abram, the Reverend Nancy Brink and the UNO Gospel Choir. A service will be presented celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Oneg Shabbat is sponsored by Sisterhood. SATURDAY: Shabbat morning service is at 11:15 a.m. Simcha B'Shabbat, an alternative Torah study Service, will be in the Chapel. The regular Shabbat service will be in the sanctuary. 'Shabbat Comes To You" Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Fink and the Temple Youth Group will lead a Shabbat service Friday, Jan. 21, 3:45 p.m., at Livingston Plaza. B'nai BUtzvah Tony Renatrom, son of Kathy and Barry Camine, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah at the Shabbat morning service Saturday. Michael Allen Bresel, son of Marge and Jim Bresel, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah at the Shabbat morning service on Saturday, Jan. 22. Sitter Service Sitter service is available each Shabbat evening service and the Saturday morning Shabbat service when there is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Please make a reservation so we may plan accordingly. There are no facilities for infante. PJEJP. Parallel Education for Parents will meet Sunday at 10 a.m. The discussion will be "On truth and falsehood: What is the boundary between white lies and unethical lies?" "Food For Thought" The next luncheon session will be Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rabbi Fink will lead the discussion. Bring a brown bag lunch and Temple will provide the drinks. TIFERETH ISRAEL 3219 Sheridan Blvd. Lincoln, NE 68502 423-8569 Services are officiated by Rabbi Elihu Milder. FRIDAY: Light candles no later than 6:06 p.m. Services are at 8 p.m. SATURDAY: Services are at 9:30 a.m. B'NAI JESHURUN 20th and South StreeU Lincoln, NE 68502 435-8004 Services are officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. FRIDAY: Shabbat evening service at 7:45 p.m. SATURDAY: Torah study and service at 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Hebrew school at 9 a.m.; Religious Khool at 10 am. TUESDAY: Adult education classes at 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Choir practice at 7:30 p.m.

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BIMAIISRAEL 618 Bdynster Street Council Bluffk, Iowa 51503 322-4705 Rabbi Sheryl Shulewitz is the spiritual leader. For information on any synagogue activities, call 322-4705. FRIDAY: Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Religious School from 10' a.m. to noon; "Exploring Judaism" class from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. FRIDAY, Jan. 21: Family Shabbat services at 7.30 p.m. SUNDAY, Dec. 23: Religious School from 10 a.m. to noon

CHABAD HOUSE 1322 Sa 119th Street Omaha, NE 68144 607-1124 SATURDAY: Davening is at 9:30 am., followed by Kiddus i. SUNDAY: Davening is at 9:30 am. Ttolmud Classes Talmud class, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Advanced Talmud, 12 p.m. Thursday. Chumash Class Chumash class for adulte, 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Yiddish "Hooked on Yiddish" lessons, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Chabad House. English Class "Think Jewish and speak English' classes on Jewish topics for new Americans, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at Chabad House.

Services at Temple Israel By Jenny Goldberg Temple Israel invites the community to celebrate the New Year of the Trees with a Tu B'shevat service and seder on Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m. According to Rabbi Dan Fink, the service and seder is designed to be enjoyed by young and old alike. Families will plant parsley seeds to be harvested for Passover. The seder consists of wine, fruite and nute to help us appreciate and celebrate the birthday of the trees. Two shades of wine will be mixed to create four, to symbolize the four seasons of the year. There is no charge for the event and reservations are requested. Call Temple Israel at 556-6536. J Olympic entry NEW YORK (JTA) — Israel, a country not known for winter sports, will be represented for the first time in the Winter Olympics by an immigrant from the former Soviet Union. Mikhail Shmerkin, a 23-year-old figure skater, will represent Israel next month in Lillehammer, Norway. He was previously a champion Soviet skater, finishing fifth in the Youth World Championship held in the United States in 1985. Shmerkin, knowii as Misha, was bom in Odessa, Ukraine, where he began skating at the age of 4. At 13, he went to a special boarding school for gifled athletes.

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OFFUTT Capehart Chapel 25th Street and Capehart Omaha, NE 68123 294-6051 FRIDAY: Services start at 8 p.m. ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME S3S So. lS2nd St. Omaha, NE 68164 SATURDAY: Services are held in ths Goldsten Chapel at 9 a.m. Members of the community are invited to join residento for the service and the kiddush following. Speeial roemerial servieea are held on the last Saturday of each month.

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marriages of American Jews to non-Jews, and the loss to Judaism of most of the children of these mixed marriages. How can the organized community — or the Synagogues — steer a path between discouraging mixed marriages, on the one hand, and on the other accepting, willingly, eagerly, the non-Jewish partners into our ranks, whether formally by conversion or informally by encouraging them to be among us. And, this is the crux, accepting the children into our ranks. These thoughts about conversion were triggered by the Midrash on our Sidrah. Midrash Shemot Rabbah devotes more space to our Sidrah than to any other in the Book of Exodus, mostly on the verse "this month shall mark for you the beginning of the months." But it devotes an extraordinary number of comments also to the concept of "gerim," converts to Judaism. This excursus on conversion starts from the question of who may eat of the Passover lamb/sacrifice. The text makes it clear that no nonJew may share in it. But the Midrash proceeds to indicate, by quoting verse after verse after verse, that the Bible (i.e., God) welcomes converts who come to Judeusm with honest, sincere purpose. The Midrash sums it up: The Holy One, Blessed Be He, refuses no one: He receives everyone. The gates are always open, and anyone who wishes to enter may enter.

By Rabbi Myer S. Kripke

Parashat Bo Reflections on Conversion So far as I can see, the recent accord between Israel and the Vatican did not touch the touchy subject of Catholic efforts to convert Jews. Nonetheless protests were heard in Israel that now they could expect every knock on the door to be a possible proselytizer. ' In fact, however, from Vatican II and onward, in the documents issued by the Vatican in 1975 (Guidelines) and in 1985 (Notes), it is accepted that Catholic efforts To convert Jews will be abandoned. A long-standing Catholic view has been given up. Note how sharp a contrast this is with an anecdote from Herzl's day. Herzl, making the rounds of the governments of Europe, wherever they would receive him, in the hope that one or more governments would sponsor his aborning Zionist movement, was told by Pope Leo XIII that he did not approve of the movement, but that if Jews succeeded in getting back to Palestine, the church would have enough people on hand to convert them. American Jews have been much disturbed -^ at least their leaders have — by the results of the survey taken by the American Jewish Committee of

Letters to the Editor To the Editor. I wa^ surprised and disappointed to not see a picture of Harry Sidman on the front page of the Jewish Press. I grew up living next door to Pauline, Harry and Eddie Sidman and I'd like to share some of my memories of Harry. I remember well in 1941 when my parents, Betty and Henry Krasne, wanted to move out of a very small apartment in north Omaha. I remember piy mother crying because landlords would not rent to families with children. Harry Sidman owned a small house in the back yard of his own duplex. He very generously offered to rent the house to mother and daddy and that began a friendship which lasted almost six decades. Harry Sidman became not only our landlord but probably the only close male friend that daddy ever had. The two men rode to work every morning. When I was old enough to attend Central High Schopl, I joined the twosome. Harry and daddy exchanged secrets, he gave financial advice and was truly a friend to our small family. Harry wasn't an average landlord. He never raised our rent because he knew that we couldn't afford it. A time or two, daddy raisrd the rent himself and Harry argued. He never asked for more money from u.s and I'm sure that he didn't from any of his other renters. When something broke at our house, mother was always hesitant to call. She hated for Harry to have to spend money on the house. When a workman came, Harry came right along to make sure that the job was done correctly for "Tiis people." Harry helped my mother kosher her mixmaster beaters for Passover one year. Mother made wonderful Passover sponge cake and Harry knew that if the egg beaters became Pesidic, he would get a cake! I can still see those egg beaters in the hole in the ground with boiling water. The friendship between our two families contmued even after the Sidmans moved from 36th St. When mother and daddy wanted to move in 1965, they consulted Harry and Pauline first. Harry even offered daddy a "loan" so that they could move. Daddy declined and Pauline and Harry instigated a "^ouaewarming" party for them. When daddy died suddenly in 1969, I called Harry from the hospital and he was waiting for us when we got home. He helped with funeral

arrangements and acted as a pallbearer. He wept because he had lost a good friend at an early age. Harry Sidman was a quiet, generous, honorable man. He never bragged about helping people or . being philanthropic. He was a wonderful role model for me and my generation. Omaha will miss him! Joan Krasne Marcus Editor's Note: If publishing deadlines and space availability had permitted, we certainly would have placed Mr. Sidman's photo on page one of the Dec. 24 issue. Unfortunately, we had to wait until the following week to accommodate the photo and much of the available information. To the Editon Your column "American-Led Force Seen As Peace-Keeper in Golan" scares the dickens out of me. We have just seen the USA's tender care for democracy in Haiti, Chile, Argentina, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Angola, etc. We watched us set up "Mocracies,"' where we pin the label "El Presidente" on military dictators and call them "Democracies." 1 clearly remember when the USA intervened in Lebanon to prevent the Israeli's from capturing the PLO and its leader, Arafat. We watched when the USA allowed Iraq to repeatedly fire Scud missiles into Israel (while not letting Israel retaliate or destroy the missile launchers). I remember when Israel gave up the Suez Canal zone, allowing it to become a "demilitarized zone" under the supervision of the USA, and the "neutral" USA allowed the Egyptians to install SAM 5s in that "demilitarized zone." That cost a bunch of Israeli lives and nearly the country. And wasn't that the time that our CIA told Israel that the Egyptians weren't preparing for war, on the eve of the Egyptian Yom Kippur attack? And doesn't that list tell you something about why the USA considers Pollard as a most dangerous spy? After all, tiny Israel is such a threat to us. Or is it just that the OlL-owning Arabs are pressuring our president? Out of curiosity, have the Arabs ever paid reparations to Israel for starting all those wars against thtm? I doubt if the average American has any idea of the above events; shouldn't they be reminded? Arthur Dutky — Omaha

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Th» rolt of th» Jtwith F«d*ration of Omaha i* to involve J«wi in mtating Jawiih communal n««dt locally, nationally and In braal. Acanclai of th* Fadaralion art: Community Rdationi, Jtwiih Community C«nt«r, Jawiih Education, Jcwith Pr*u, Jtwiih Family 8«rvic«, Library and Burtau for th* Aging. Tha Jtwiih Prtit (USPS 27B620) ii publlihtd wttkly on Friday for 124 per calendar year U.S., t27 fortign, by th* Jtwiih Ftdtralion of Omaha, 3SS South 132nd Stratt, Omaha, NK 00164. Sacond CIAK poilagt paid at Omaha, NK. POSTMASTER Stnd addriti chnngn to Th« Jawlih Pr«««, 933 south I32nd 8ti-*«t. Omaha, HE 0(1154. TiUphont 402-394 H,>OO

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Letter from Israel By Harry Allen This past Shabbat (Jan. 8) in synagogues around the world, the prayer for Rosh Chodesh — the new month — was chanted. "Kol Yisroel Haverim — all Jews are brothers," we all intoned. But the reality of Jewish life is far different. In Israel, in the disapora, divisions over peace between Israel and Arabs, divisions over social issues, divisions over religion are rapidly widening.' The intensity of the debate in Israel is now such that our next door neighbor, good friends that we are, suggested the other day that discussions about politics were not a good idea among neighbors. Whatever happens to the peace process, and there is little doubt that agreements will be reached between Israel and Arabs, the rift between the proponents of the peace process and the opponents will not be easily healed. Just as the Viet Nam war poisoned the political atmosphere in America for years, the peace process and the relinquishing of territory will rpmain a bitter and divisive element in intra-Jewish relationships for decades to come. The argument is not simply a political one — rather the debate reflects two very different ways of looking at the world. The government and those who support the process are essentially rationalists who look at Israel as a modem state, as part of a world community. This is a government of quintessential Israelis, Eabin was bom in Israel and its first Sabra prime minister. He is not burdened by deep fears and reads history in a very different way than his opponents. He sees continued holding of the territories as counter-productive and decreasing. But the opposition of the religious (read Orthodox) community approaches the question from an entirely different perspective. Consider, for example, some of the following: Ysrael Harel, chairman of the council of residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza places the debate in non-conventional terms when he writes, "the question of whether or not to withdraw from parts of the 'land of Israel' is first and foremost an ideologicaltheological question." Or take Rabbi Nachum Rabinovitch, a leading Talmudic scholar who has defined the issue of withdrawal as the actions of a "goyish" government. Rabbi Shlomo Goren, former chaplain of the Israel Defense Forces and a reserve Mt^or General, has called for Israeli soldiers to disobey orders if those orders involve evacuating any settlement. "We have seen in this world the terrible consequences of religious zealotry." The National Council of Young Israel, a maj( player in the modem Orthodox world both here in Israel and America, has taken large newspaper advertisements stating that resistance to the peace process is a religious obligation and many of the Orthodox rabbis organized more than 50,000 haredim and kippah-wearing Israelis at the Western Wall for a mass prayer against the government. We have seen in this world the terrible consequences of religious zealotry. The Greek Orthodox Church and Roman Catholocism are still at odds over events in the fourth century. Muslim Shiites and Sunnis still battle over the successor to Mohammed in the seventh century. Protestants and Catholics slaughter each other in Northern Ireland in the face of all reason. Greek Orthodox Serbs and Muslim Croats are engaged in mutuol self-destruction in the former Yugoslavia. We can only hope that perhaps the Rosh Chodesh message — all Israelites are brothers — will shine through, quickly, but don't hold your breath.

Board of Directors Jacli E. Cohm, vtc* prtdcknt; Syhrla Wafnar, tnaiurar, Rota Schupacli, Mcraunr; SUn Dinon, Mirci Oallnar, Dtbbia JowphMin. Sharyl Ut, Sttv* Uvlnmr, Erthtr Maichii, Jan* RiM, Alvin Ro*i, Audrey Shapiro, Mayntrd TWIpnir and Ban Wwunan. EdltortaU aipriu Iha vUw of Ih* writar and ar* not n*c*uarily r>pr*Mn(*llvi of th* viiwi of th* Jtwiih Priii Botrd, th* Jawlih Fidaralian of Omih* or th* Omahi Jawiah Community I* a wholi. Tha Jiwtih Pm* U nsl raiponilbbi for ih« Kaihruth of any armKut or tttabllihmtnt.

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January 14,1994

I

Jewuh Press

Flare 6

labbi Arthur Oleisky:

"A synagogue should be like a service station" By Debra Nussbaum Cohen YORK (JTA) — A"synagogue should be like a service station, according to Rabbi Arthur Oleisky. "Some people come here for gas, some for a tuiieup, others for a major overhaul. We have to be ready for all of them all the time," said the spiritual leader of Congregation Anshei Israel, in Tucson, Ariz. At a time when synagogues are being urged to reconsider their mission and expand their programs to serve the needs of every segment of the Jewish community, Oleisky's congregation is providing an unusual service,^ but one that observers say more synagogues should emulate. Anshei Israel, a 1,000 member Conservative congregation, has on staff a social worker who works speciflcally with the synagogues' pre-school educators, students and their parents, to deal with the toddlers when they behave anti-socially or act out emotional problems. Before the social worker came to the congregation, "we had to refer peiople who needed counseling to Jewish Family Services. This says to parents that the synagogue is concerned for you," said Oleisky. "The synagogue shouldn't just stick to services and teaching and social activities, which are the traditional mode, but should touch where people's lives are," said Oleisky. Congregation Valley Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Encino, Calif., has taken the same idea further by establishing a counseling center open to the community — synagogue members and non-members, Jews and non-Jews. Clients come to work on issues ranging from domestic problems to dealing with depression related to mourning the death of a loved one. The center is staffed by synagogue members who undergo a two-year training program and are supervised by professional psychiatrists and psy-

chologists. ' Everyone donates their time, and the 125 clients who come for counseling each week pay what they can. While each of the peer counselors must belong to the synagogue, just about one-quarter of clients are members, according to Rabbi Harold Schulweis, the synagogue's senior rabbi. The center's purpose is not to bring in new members, he said, but to "redefine the parameters of the synagogue." "This shows that this is a synagogue which is a therapeutic institution, not merely one where one is preached at, but is helped. It has led the counselors themselves to a deeper respect for Jewish life. It has also deepened and strengthened the self- image of the congregation," said Schulweis. Valley Beth Shalom also offers weekly classes for developmentally disabled Jevrish children. About sixty children and teen-agers meet on Sundays at the 1,700-member synagogue, and once a year, lead Shabbat services. Some of them go on to become Bar and Bat Mitzvah. "To hear a kid who can hardly speak get through the first blessing (over the Torah) is the most thrilling spiritual encounter I've ever had," said Schulweis. While some of the children's parents join Valley Beth Shalom, most do not. But recruiting new members was never the point of the program, said Schulweis. "It is to offer a service to the community and for the internal morale of the congregation. You can't talk about Judaism unless you can point to what you mean by love of the Jewish people," he said. The largest and fastest growing segments of the Jewish community are unmairied adults smd senior citizens, and'synagogues around the country are beginning to look at ways in which they can serve

these expanding constituencies. In Denver, a community that had an intermarriage rate of 72 percent in 1980, as dbcumented in a local demographic, study, a Reform temple'began a computer dating service for Jews. The Colorado Jewish Social Network was begun two and a half years ago by Congregation Emanuel and now has between 700 and 800 participants from age 18 to 80, though most are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Thirty couples matched by the network have married. Participants pay $35 a year to join, and come from the whole range of Jewish backgrounds — from unaffiliated to Orthodox. About 30 people have joined the temple as a result of Rmingin through the social network, said Ribbi Steven Foster. Emanuel also offers free memberships for up to three years for anyone under age 31, he said. About 200 of the temple's 1,800 members are under 31 and receive the free membership. "It's an outreach effort to find places for singles to find one another, and obviously, if people see the synagogue as reaching out to them and not requiring a lot of them, they'll get involved. "They know .that the synagogue is not trying to put a stumbling block in their way, and ultimately it will be positive for the synagogue, ours or another. They're going to stay in a synagogue afler they turn 31 because it's been good to them," said Foster. Temple Beth El, in Boca Raton, Fla., has tailored part-time memberships to the "snowbird" population of retired Jews who live in the North during the warm months and spend the winter in Florida. In addition to year-round membership, the temple offers two pro-rated associate memberships — one in which people join for six months a year, the other for four months a year.

1994 UJA/Federation Campaign

I

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ELIE WIESEL will be held at the RECI

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JANUARY

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CAROL KATZM AN Womea's Division Chairman

HOWARD KOOPER ud HARLEY SCHRAOER General Co-clulnnen

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S-JL-J'•;'.=! "IWHL:

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The Kiryas Joel case

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE

the two hundred years which preceded the writing of the Constitution. It was that which they were determined to prevent from recurring in the new nation.' That principle of keeping religion and secular power separate has served the nation and the Jewish community, well.' Most of all, groups like Satmar, who share so little of' the society's values, have benefitted from the protections afforded by a generous reading of the Clause. The Establishment Clause'has been particularly successful in preventing the public schools from functioning as the preserve of any one religious group. Powerful forces now threaten to tear down that achievement. A series of issues confronting the public schools divide the citizenry along religious lines. A decision upholding the Kiryas Joel School District, established on de facto religions lines, would encourage the breaking down of our common schools into religiously homogeneous enclaves. Do we really want the Court to encourage the creation of evangelical or secular humanist school districts, or Catholic and Baptist ones, or Mormon and Gentile districts — even if they cannot be as ethnically exclusive as the Kiryas Joel district is? And what would a decision in favor of these religion exclusive districts mean for the trend toward Afrocentric or Latino or Gay schools, or women-only math classes? Each of these segregated schools exist already, though the legality of such schools is doubtful. These are not trends which should be encouraged, as a judgement for the Kiryas Joel district would necessarily do. If the choice were services for the Hasidic children only by integrating them into the regular public school program — an alternative which has been tried and failed — and a separate school district, this would be an excruciatingly hard case, and perhaps one which would have to be resolved in favor of a separate school district. The case would then pose a question most would prefer not to face; that is, does a complex society have a duty, where the need for a common meeting ground is compelling, to actively facilitate and not merely permit a constituent group's dissent and isolation? Patrick Buchanan, whose views on pluralism and toleration are peculiar, suggests that this case is about both toleration and banning "secularist dogmas" from the schools and government. Since the "secularist dogma" Buchanan condemns is not the denigration of religion, but the insistence on the veiy tolerance for differences he purports to celebrate, the case cannot be about vindicating both principles. Evidence proffered to the courts demonstrated that the Hasidic children of Kiryas Joel cannot now be successfully mixed with their peers in the public school. Their handicaps, coupled with their rigorously separatist culture, does not readily permit them to be intermingled in ordinary special education classes in the former school district. But the district could have and should have provided bi-Iingual Yiddish instruction (which is provided in the Kiryas Joel District). And, as the Supreme Court and the New York Court of Appeals have held, it could have provided the children with special education at neutral sites located so that Hasidic children would constitute the overwhelming mtyority of the students in attendance. The existence of these alternatives makes this a much easier case morally. It is one which does not involve peripheral legal issues, but one which goes right to the heart of the separation of the institutions of government from religion. Much rides on the outcome of that principle being upheld in this contest One could hope for a set of facts more likely to generate public understanding of the iinportanee of the principle of separation, but there rually cannot be any doubt about the outcome.

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^^mA less sympathetic setting for vindicating the ^^ore meaning of the principle of. separation of church and state could hardly be imagined. Yet, despite the sjrmpathies which so plainly and strongly tug the other way, the American Jewish Congress will urge the United States Supreme Court to invalidate a special school district set up to serve the handicapped children of the Hasidic community of Kiryas Joel. Invalidating the disti;ict does not mean abandoning these children or denying them effective services at public expense. AJCongress and the New York Court of Appeals have both pointed out that there are several constitutional ways to meet the unique educational and cultural needs of these children. But many have understandably asked what is so important about the principles involved to justify upsetting the existing arrangement. The media have portrayed the Supreme Court's decision to accept this ease as motivated by its desire to re-examine the current test for evaluating claims made under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . ..") Contrary to the impression left by news accounts, however, the Court did not in fact say that it would use this case to reconsider the Lemon test. If pressed, counsel for Kiryas Joel will certainly urge that the Lemon test is too stringent and does not represent a sound interpretation of the Constitution. iHowever, the thrust of his argument •is certain to be that the Kiiyas Joel School District passes the Lemon test. Moreover, because the ease presents an unusual fact pattern, it presents an unusually unlikely case

for the Court to reject the principles which have guided its decisions for almost fifty years. A decision to overturn Lemon on the unusual facts of this case would leave lawyers and government officials at a loss to know what remains of prior decisions in areas as diverse as aid-to-parochial-schools, public school prayer or religious symbols. There is no reason to think that a majority of the Court is interested in upsetting existing law is these areas. The Lemon test has three parts: it asks (1) whether a practice has a secular effect, (2) whether • it has a secular purpose and (3) that it does not entangle government with religion by placing government officials in a position of overseeing religion. It was designed, as the Court itself has said, to help courts confront a bewildering array of challenges to actions of the omnipresent regulatory and welfare state. The scope of government in the late 20th century is far more comprehensive than anything the Founders could have imagined. Understandably the courts need a road map to. help them through the thicket. But no refmed test, no road map, is necessary when a practice goes to the heart of the Establishment Clause. What New York's legislature did in setting up the Kiryas Joel School District was to create an exact correspondence between religion and political power. In formal terms, the Kiryas Joel School District may be secular, but in the real world it is a district whose sole organizing principle was and is religion. That, more than anything else is what the Establishment Clause is designed to prohibit; the deliberate merging of political power with religion. That is what the Founding Fathers saw happen in the Colonies and in the Great Britain of their times and during

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Januaiy 14,1994 (Continued Crom pagre 1) Ms. Perelman noted that UJA's philosophy toward missions is changing. Sally and Jeff Rotenstreich of Birmingham, "UJA's fpcus in the past has been on missions Ala., announce the Dec. 30 birth o( a daughter, from large cities like Miami, Detroit and Baltimore, Abby Jordan. They al^o have a son, Matthew Eric. but during the last few years, smaller communities Grandparents are Judy and Jimmy Rotenstreich like Omaha have conducted some very successful of Birmirigham and Gloria and Donald Vann of missions, in terms of number of participants, Omaha. financial commitment and volunteer involvement Great-grandparents are Rose Rotenstreich and in the community following the missions. This sucDr. and Mrs. Ralph Levene, all of Birmingham, and cess paved the way for UJA to take notice of comIda Rosenberg and Stella Meyer of Omaha. munities our size and begin to tailor a mission program to meet our unique needs. Scott and Felicia Littky of Omaha announce "As a result, Omaha will be leading a large comthe Dec. 22 birth of a daughter, Sarah Rose. munity mission next October and inviting other Grandparents are David and Santa Cooper of midwest intermediate and small size communities Omaha and Robert and Loretta Littky of to join us." Southfield, Mich. While in Israel, Ms. Perelman will have an Great-grandparents are Ida Zoorwill of Omaha opportunity to meet with UJA mission staff memand Abe Berk, also of Southfield. bers to work on specific planning for the Omaha Community Mission scheduled for October. Lori Feldman and Gary Caine of San Rafael, Calif., announce the Dec. 20 birth of twins, Joshua Milk cartons show MIAs Alexander and Hannah Elizabeth. They also have a * son, 2!achary Aaron, 4. TEANECK, N.J.- Milk cartons in the tri-state area Grandparents are Ellie and Albert Feldman of have been sporting pictures of Israeli soldiers missOmaha and the late Sylvia And Henry Caine of ing in action. A brainchild of the New York-based Orthodox Union, the effort is aimed at getting overLittle Neck, N.Y. tures from Arab countries as the Mid-East peace talks unfold. ^K Lubavitch fans feast "The issue of Israeli soldiers is close to our hearts," said Betty Ehrenberg, executive director ^B on Moshiach memorabilia for public affairs at the Union. 1^^ By Debra Nussbaum Cohen "This is a way to encourage grass-roots ' NEW YORK (JTA) — Are you really excited about awareness about the Israeli MIAs." For years the idea of Moshiach? A big admirer of the milk cartons throughout the nation have carried Lubavitch Chasidic movement? pictures of missing children. The campaign for the You can show your support by purchasing a 16Israelis is a recent development. ounce plastic drinking bottle adorned with the slogan "Moshiach, We Are Ready!" or a 20-by-64-inch BERGMAN'S PAINTING plastic clock proclaiming "Moshiach Is On His & DECORATING Way!" Interior/axleriof paJnIIng, woodwork reflnishjng. enamQiing, walThe truly enthusiastic may be tempted to buy a removal, drywaH repair. 24-by-12- foot billboard, urging "Discover Moshiach paper Free estimates, Insurance, 20 — Call 1-800-4- Moshiach," for $59, or a set of nine years experience, references. 345-5490 business cards bearing the same message, for $1, to hand out to friends. All are available from the International CARL JARL Moshiach Center, at 355 Kingston Ave., in the SECURITY SYSTEMS heart of Lubavitch Crown Heights. 3724 S. 132 St. The center also sells a variety of books and pam7511 Dodge phlets dedicated to the messianic ideal in a pletho391-5700 ra of languages, from English, Hebrew and Yiddish to Persian, Italian and Portuguese. The center is also making these available to the blind, in the form of braille and large-type books, as well as audio- and videotapes and computer disks. In addition, bumper stickers are available in four languages, as are short- and long-sleeved T-shirts. Laundering & Alteraiions And for kids of all ages, coloring books and card 7601 Pacihc Si 397-2561 games are available in English and Hebrew.

Births

Fkge7

Jewish Prea*

Awards,missions on agenda ' By Barbara Chandler Federation Public Relations Director Jerry Slusky announced that the following people will receive Federation President's Awards at the Board of Directors meeting on Jan. 25 at the JCC at 7:30 p.m. Award recipients are Cindy Ridgeway of Jewish Family Service for hosting a citywide adoption conference, Sandi Fried for chairing CLAL, Jane Batt of ADL/CRC for organizing "Children of the Dream," a program to bring Ethiopian/Israeli teenagers to speak at Omaha public high schools, and Louise Abrahamson, Mary Fellman, Karen PoUak, Susie Silver and Dottie Rosenblum of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society for the Jewish Women in Business Exhibit and Rose Blumkin's 100th birthday reception. Following the award presentations, there will be a detailed report on the Federation missions program. General Nechemia Dagan, director of UJA Overseas Programming, will address the board. The meeting is open to the public. Mr. Slusky encourages anyone who is interested in going on a mission, or would like an overall picture of the Federation's mission program, to attend.

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Robin Rubenstein, UJA Missions Manager for the 1994 UJA Summer Family MisBion, will be in Omaha on Jan. 24 to talk with families who are interested in going to Israel this summer. The information meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Marcia and Steve Pitlor, Omaha's Family Mission chairmen. Mrs. Rubenstein is no stranger to Omaha. She and her husband lived here in the mid-lSeCs when he served as an assistant to Rabbi Brooks at Temple Israel. "Our oldest daughter was bom on Omaha and she considers that a point of pride!" noted Mrs. Rubenstein. She is hoping that several Omaha families will join this family mission, "especially because Omaha is the home of this mission's National Chairman, Anne Broder." Mrs. Rubenstein said they anticipate 75 to 80 families nationwide will go on the mission. "This mission is designed as a multigenerational experience in Israel," she explained. "It is an opportunity for grandparents and parents to give their children a real understanding of what they've learned in religious school. This mission is different from other trips, because it gives the children a community perspective and helps them understand why their parents are involved in the Jewish community.

MISSION Omaha welcomes UJA family mission manager ^ By Barbara Chandler Federation public relations director They will see people who benefit from tzedakah and how social welfare programs operate. "As an added bonus for this year's mission. Bar and Bat Mitzvah age children Will be the guests of UJA." All of the participants will be interacting with Israelis throughout the mission. On each bus, there will be an Israeli counselor who has been through the Army experience. But more than a counselor, he or she is a "midracha," a teacher of the way. The midrachim will talk with the children about the life they have chosen to live, which is very different from the life of the average American teenager.

Organizations YES YES will meet Monday at the JCC. "YES Talk" discussion group, bingo and English class start at 10:30 a.m. Following lunch at noon, Marshall, VP of Kemper, will speak on the financial outlook for 1994. YES choral group will rehearse following the program. For transportation, call 330-4272. WALK-IN DROP-IN Walk-In Drop-In will meet Thursday at the JCC. Exercise class with Belinda Milakovich, English class and bingo start at 10:30 AM. Bring a sack lunch to eat at noon,. The "Brown Bag'n with Bubbe and Zayde" program will follow. Transportation is available. BREADBREAKERS Frank LaMere, executive director of the Nebraska Inater Tribal Development Corporation, will speak to B'nai B'rith Breadbreakers Wednesday at noon at Regency West Best Western, according to Howard Kutler, January chairman. Cost is $7.50 and the public may attend.

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Mrs. Rubenstein concluded, "Families will see first hand how the Jewish communities in the United States can help and be part of Israeli society. They will get a sense of history, and they wiU experience all the fun things that exist in Israel. And summer in Israel is guaranteed good weather!"

Zach and Jason Leeds excited about family mission to Israel

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By Barbara Chandler Federation public relations director A Jewish family experience is one of the things that makes the upcoming UJA Summer Family Mission to Israel appealing to Beth and Steve Leeds and their sons, Jason, 14 and Zach, II. The mission, scheduled from June 26 to July 6, is being chaired by Marcia and Steve Pitlor and their children, Lisa, David and Kim. Mrs. Leeds explained, "Steve and I have taken trips without the boys and always end up saying 'I wish they could see this or that.' Last year we went to Hawaii as a family and had such a wonderful time that when we heard about the Family Mission, we knew we wanted to see Israel as a family." The family has close ties with two shaliachim, Israeli camp counselors, who lived with the Leeds when they spent the summer in Omaha working at the J.C.C. camps. Mr. Leeds also noted that they have many friends and family members who have been to Israel or live there. "When we talk with them, it just makes the pull to go there stronger." Zach and Jason are both excited about the mis-

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Of coiu-se, there will plenty of unique family vacation fun including water activities every day — tubing and canoeing down the Jordan River, boat cruises, swimming in the Mediterranean and floating in the Dead Sea. We'll go on exploratory nature hikes, jeep safaris in the Golan Heights, shopping, picnics and more. , There will be age-appropriate activities'at all times. When the adults and older children are listening to speakers, midrachim will have special activities for younger children during which they will interact with Israeli children, play games to learn more about Israel, and have dialogues of their own.

Zach is hoping to see his Israeli counselor from Camp Beber while he is in Israel. He wants to visit Yad Vashem and is also looking forward to the daily water fun, including tubing on the Jordan River and climbing waterfalls. Jason is looking forward to great family vacation fun, but he also hopes to get some first hand answers to questions about what it's like to be in a country where nearly everyone is Jewish, why the Israeli's and Palestinians are fighting, and how the kibbutzim irrigate the desert. More than a family vacation, the Leeds see the mission as an opportunity to teach their sons about the partnership between Israel and the United States. The lifeblood of Israel is the American Jewish population," said Mrs. Leeds. "And Israel is important to the security of the United States," added Mr. I.«eds.

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Mr. Leeds said they are planning on attending one of the upcoming information meetings about the mission to get more details about the itinerary. "My parents gave the family a travel guide to Israel for Chanukah and everyone has been looking things up in it," he remarked, "^e know the traditional stops like the Wall and Masada will be included, but we chose to go on a mission because we will be exposed to people and places we would ° not be able to see on our own." Mr. and Mrs. Leeds know the mission will be memorable for their family, but they are also looking forward to that sharing the experience with other Omaha families. Zach said most of his friends are talking about going with their families, too. Mr. Leeds hopes "we can fill a whole bus with Omaha people!" "For the children who go, this mission will create lifelong friendships because they will have shared something that will last a lifetime," concluded Mrs. Leeds. There will be Family Mission information sessions on Sunday evening, Jan. 23 and Monday evening, Jan. 24. Space for this mission is limited. For more information, call the Pitlor's or Jan Perelman at the Federation office, 334-8200.

Steve and Beth Leeds with their tona, Zach (left) and Jaaon.

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January 14,1994

Jawiah Preaa

Galaxy of factors propel Spielberg to risk Schindler's List ByTomTusend LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Steven Spielberg, just past his 46th birthday, is the most successful fllmmaker in the history of motion pictures. Four of the films he directed are among the alltime top 10 hits: His "Jurassic Park" is the highest-grossing film ever, with his "E.T." in second place. Spielberg's latest movie, "Schindler's List," represents a radical change and a calculated risk. Based on the book by Thomas Keneally, the film tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a veteran Nazi party member who came to Krakow shortly after the German conquest of Poland in 1939 to make his fortune as a free-wheeling entrepreneur. Schindler employed 1,100 Jews in his enamelware factory and, at some point, the hard-drinking, womanizing, black market- dealing German ; Catholic decided to use his fortune and risk his heck to save every one of his "Schindleijuden" fi-om certain death in the nearby Auschwitz extermination camp. His motives remain a mystery. "I was always trying to discover through the survivors who knew him, who saw him, who were saved by him, why he did this," Spielberg said in an interview. "And most of the survivors said, 'We don't know why he did this. We only know that he did.'" Filmed in black and white, the movie has the feel of a documentary and includes some of the most graphic Holocaust scenes ever shown in a Hollywood picture. The director first thought about making "Schindler's List" in 1982, bit he did not make the movie until 1993, when it overlapped with the production of "Jurassic Park" by three months. "I could have been much easier and kinder to myself and my family by simply waiting until January '94 to start "Schindler's List,' but I had just seen too many things on television that horrified myself and my wife," Spielberg said.

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'''What was happening in Bosnia —^ it was so familiar and it was so much a part of what 1 thought could never possibly happen again," he said. "And I just felt that sooner rather than later, a movie like this should come out and at least stir the pot." When Spielberg was 3 «md living in Cincinnati, he learned to read numbers from an Auschwitz survivor by using the concentration camp numbers on the man's forearm. The survivor enlivened the lesson with a flip of his arm and magically changed a 9 into a 6. "I had a familiarity as a secondhand witness to the Holocaust from my family, who kept the memories of those years alive. It was something I grew up with," Spielberg said, "I recollect a lot of stories, mainly from my grandparents, who had come from Austria and Russia. They suffered heavy losses on both sides, relatives, cousins, aunts, who were all in Eastern Europe and never came out alive." The director also experienced anti-Semitism as a teen-ager in an affluent part of northern California. "'I was physically abused. I was beaten up," he said. '^At one point it became so bad that I had to stop going to physical education because most of the abuse happened then. And that's when I was struck many times and knocked down. "I mean I am not feeling sorry for myself when 1 say this, it was just an experience I wasn't prepared for," he said. When Spielberg proposed making this film, a studio executive suggested that the director make a donation to a Holocaust museum and save the distributor grief Instead, the suggestion added to his motivation to make the film. "I felt that was a message," he said. "That was sort of a very, very quiet message to be passed on to me, which kind of capped my resolve to make the movie immediately." The birth of Spielberg's son in 1985 led him to

Clinton scores high By Deborah Kalb WASHINGTON (JTA) — If not for the thorny problem of Bosnia-Herzegovina, President Clinton would win almost uniformly positive reviews of his first year in office from the organized Jewish community here. Clinton has earned high marks from many American Jewish leaders on issues ranging from his treatment of Israel to his support of a host of domestic programs backed by many Jewish organizations. The one fly in the ointment has been what many in the Jewish community see as the administration's tepid response to the continuing war in Bosnia, where the horrors of "ethnic cleansing" evoke images of the Holocaust. Overall, however, Jewish leaders see Clinton's performance on lubstantive issues in a positive light — which is perhaps not surprising considering that Clinton won about 80 percent of the Jewish vote in 1992. "On the whole, it has been an exceedingly successful year if measured by the passage of important legislation and executive orders," said Rabbi David Saperstein, head of the Religious Action Cefiter of Reform Judaism. On the domestic side, the key issue for many Jewish groups was Clinton's enthusiastic backing of a landmark religious freedom bill. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, supported by an unusual interfaith coalition including many Jewish groups, was signed into law by the president this past fall. The law is designed to make it harder for the government to infringe on religious practices.

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re-examine Judaism and to a road that also led to "Schindler's List." M "When I began to read books to him, I had to " make a choice," he said. "Do I read books about Santa Claus or do I read books about Moses and . Abraham and Isaac? "I made a very strong choice to raise him Jewish with my first wife, Amy Irving, who was halfJewish." Spielberg's second wife, Kate Capshaw, converted to Judaism. "Her conversion was a beautiful experience for all of us because I studied along with her,",the director said. "She studied and I was the beneficiary of everything that she was learning that I had forgotten. "I re-emerged (to Judaism), I would say, through the birth of my children and through a decision I had to make about how I was going to raise them. "1 think that's what led me, that and events around the world, very naturally and I think in a very smooth way, to the decision to make 'Schindler's List,'" he said. When Spielberg began to look for movies to inspire him as he prepared to tell Oskar Schindler's story, he could not find any. "It occurred to me that the predominant number of studio heads in the golden era of Hollywood were all Jews," Spielberg said. "But they did not produce movies of the Jewish race, religion or culture or tradition. I also understood that they did struggle between the Jewish culture and race and the American culture and race, and they chose being American with fierce determination. And all I can say is that it's reflected in their choices of movies they didn't make." To prepare himself for "Schindler's List," the director turned to documentaries that chronicled the Holocaust "Documentaries were my only source of inspiration, because Hollywood flees from subjects like this," he said. "They always have and they still do." Spielberg's $23 million film will premiered Dec. 15 in 12 American and Canadian cities.

'1 need to teU my children..." "I hope that people will say, "Yes, I've heard of the Holocaust but I never knew anything about the Holocaust and now, maybe, I know more than I wanted to, but I feel 1 need to tell my children,' " he said. Spielberg also hopes people will feel compelled "to be active in remembering — not just on Jewish holidays and not juSt on the anniversaries of the Shoah, but as a constant action of simply remembering." "I am not saying that to devote your life to the Holocaust is a definition of being Jewish," he said. "I don't believe that. ' "I think every human being owes a moral debt to the past, so that events that are happening as we sit right now, in Bosnia and with the Kurds, and just the heinousness of what could take place in the future, is at least given some serious time and ^^ attention." ^^M Spielberg said, "We're running out of witnesses, and certainly by the first decade of the 21st century even the youngest eyewitnesses won't be with us anymore. And everything about the Shoah is going ^_ to be secondhand information. ^M "This is the time for the oldest survivors to address the youngest children in the worid, to let them know what it was like and what happened, so that the next generation will be vigilant about never letting a thing like this happen again."

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Parent/Toddler programs at Temple Israel

Engagement

GUSS/SIEGEL Dr. Stephen and Toni Guss of Morristown, N.J., announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Eve, to Michel Siegel, son of Ira Siegel and Rosa Bugan de Siegel of Mexico City. Ms. Guss is a graduate of the Pingry School in Martinsville, N.J., and Yale University in New Haven, Conn. She is a student at George Washington University Medical School, Washington, D.C. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Guss of Omaha and Dr. Otto and Dr. Anna Weiss of Boca Ratan, Fla. Mr. Siegel is a graduate of Colegio Hebreo Tarbut in Mexico City and cum laude from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is also a Cantor Karen Webber-Gilat sings with tod- Jennifer Laudin, daughter of Kathy student at George Washington University Medical dlers, parents and grandparents in £ront of Bauchaine Laudin and Jeffrey Laudip, waits School. for a turn at the pinata. Jessica Kris takes a wall mural at Temple Israel. A June wedding is planned. swing while her brother, David, son and daughter of Morena and Edward Kris, waits for a turn.

I

Temple Israel to sponsor workshop

Temple Israel will present "Tefillah Training," at a workshop on Jan. 15,11:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Included are study sessions on the words, music, poetry and Torah reading of the Shabbat morning service. Also provided will be the resources necessary to become lay worship leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to lead a service at a future date. Lunch will be served. Reservations are required. Call Temple Israel at 556-6536.

THINK SCORECARD/o

Temple Israel dedicated a new mural in the Early Childhood facilities during the Tot Chanukah parto' in December. Artist Cheri Ginsburg designed the wall mural and painted it with the help of early childhood committee members and volunteers. The dreidel pinata was also created by Cheri Ginsburg. In addition to the annual Chanukah party. Temple Israel Early Childhood committee sponsors Tot Shabbat services once a month and on-going parent/toddler classes. The next class session starts Feb. 3. A Thursday morning class for parents and toddlers (12-36 months), will be offered at Temple Israel starting Feb. 3, 9-11:30 a.m. Newcomers are

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Bar Mitzvah

Ronald S. Meyerson, formerly of Omaha, has been appointed a Municipal Court Judge for the city of Austin, Texas. He will be sworn in Jan. 23. Mr. Meyerson is the son of Miriam and Leo Meyerson of Omaha. He is a graduate of Central High School in Omaha, the University of Texas, Austin, and the University of Nebraska Law School.

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welcome. The class provides a variety of age-appropriate activities to enhance social and motor skill development of the children in an atmosphere which incorporates Jewish values and practices for the home. Facilitator is Elyce Azriel, who holds advanced degrees in education and has taught for many years at various Jewish institutions. Stacie Chesen, who has an education degree and is youth director at Temple Israel, will co-teach. The class is open to families with at least one Jewish parent. Participants need not be members of Temple Israel. For information, call Temple Israel at 556-6536.

Michael Allen Bresel, son of Jim and Marge Bresel, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Jan. 22 at Temple Israel. A seventh-grade student at Lewis and Clark Jr. High, he enjoys basketball, football and computer science. He is on Muslim publisher speaks the LCJH swim team. By Carey Londner Mike has a sister, Amy, and a brother, David. TEANECK, N J. — He has spoken at many synaGrandparents are Jean and Morris Bresel and gogues, addressed this fall's Union of American Leo and Myra Sivin. Hebrew Congregations convention, and issued the Jews in his audiences an open invitation to ask him anything. Yet as self-revealing as he is, Seif Ashmawy WHERE can you find OVER can't tell you where he works. Life can be danger15,000 Individual Designer Fabrics ous for a religious Muslim who preaches in synaOVER 400 Designer Wallpaper Books gogues and publishes a three-language newspaper AT DISCOUNT PRICES? called the Voice of Peace. oho "Because we are outspoken against the Unique Furniture, Accessories Sc Gifts Muslim extremists, [and] we oppose their ideas and their ways to advance these ideas ... we have been threatened," Ashmawy conceded during a recent interview at The Jewish Standard offices here. Thus, he will only say that he works "in the executive branch of a Fortune 600 company." A native ^1 Not Calsl)ys, Then Wlicie?^ of Cairo, Ashmawy has a brother with similar leftwing political views who serves on the Egyptian Supreme Coutt. 2709 S. 96tit St. - The Crothe Building And while his brother has bodyguards, 393-7334 Ashmawy travels alone.

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Jews of Mexico: proud, successful community finds itself 'foreign at home'

By Tom Tugend MEaaCO CITY (JTA) — Mexico's Jewish community, only 80 yeaTS old, appears secure and content in its Jewishness and ardently pro-Zionist. "We have the most vibrant Jewish community outside Israel," said Rafael Kopeliovich, a successful Mexico City architect. "'There is hardly a Jew here who is not involved," said Kopeliovich, whose father came to Mexico from Russia in 1920. That community is remarkably wealthy and generous in a generally poor country, leading its rabbis to warn regularly but unsuccessfully against ostentatious displays in daily life and especially at Bar Mitzvahs and weddings. The Jews of Mexico are groping for a common Mexican-Jewish identity, both among their own smaller communities and within the nation. The commimity inevitably shares certain traits with its Mexican countrymen, including a belief in consensus rather than confrontation. Yet, socially, the 50,000 Jews in Mexico City and 3,000 or so in the rest of the country are largely ' isolated from the other 99.9 percent of their countrymen. "In the collective unconsciousness of Mexico, the Jew is a foreigner," says Dina Siegel, director of the Tribuna Israelita, which functions as a combination community relations council and AntiDefamation League. "De jure we are Mexicans, de facto we are foreigners," she said. "Mexican society rarely allows infiltration," agreed Picha Rubinstein, who is prominent in the tourism industry. "Mexican society is a combination of race, religion and how long your people have been here," he said. "Very few Jews can penetrate it." One result is that the Jewish community in national politics seems almost invisible. "Mexico is not an immigrant countty like the United States or Argentina," said Judit BokserLiwerant, a political science professor at the national university and head of the Jewish Studies

Program at the Iberoamerican Universityji, "Mexican identity has been hisfbrically defined by the mestizo, the ethnic fusion of Spaniards and Indians," she said. "The Jewish culture was not part of it." The "otherness" of Jews, imposed both from within and without, often comes into sharpest relief in times of crisis. Anti-Semitism is then fanned by the press, relying less on ideology than on the general population's virtual ignorance of Jews and Judaism. After the 1985 earthquake that devastated large areas of Mexico City, for instance, newspapers, led by the daily Excelsior, ran numerous articles charging that Jewish factory owners had let their workers die while saving their own goods, and that Jews were profiting from the disaster. There was no mention of the vast relief effort quickly organized by the Jewish community, which greatly exceeded that of the Catholic Church. Communal cohesion is one of the strengths of the Mexican Jewish community, especially when compared with the Jewish community in the United States, according to Mario Nudelstejer, executive director of the Jewish Central Committee. Other strengths include the near impossibility of assimilation by conversion or other means, and the preservation of diverse traditions from the countries of origin. The community's weaknesses, he said, include the lack of long-range planning, demographic studies and professional community workers. One weakness, said Marcello Rittner, a Conservative rabbi, is the absence of democratic elections within the community. Mexican Jewry's has intense emotional attachment to Zionism and Israel. "Everybody has gone to Israel, everybody has to go," said Nudelstejer, executive director of the Jewish Central Committee. It is taken for granted that when Jewish youth finish hi^ school, they will head for Israel to work on a kibbutz for six months to a year.

The enthusiasm, however, does not translate into any substantial aliyah, Nudelstejer said. "Jews," he said, "live v«ry well in Mexico."

Converge in Mexico City MEXICO CITY (JTA) — The old saw about three synagogues for every two Jews has been given new meaning by Mexico's 50,000 Jews, who participate in 250 thriving organizations, or one for every 200 persons. In Mexico City, where more than 90 percent of the country's Jews live, the communal structure was seemingly hammered together with old and new materials, but shelters its constituents to their apparent satisfaction. Marranos, or "New Christian" converts who practiced Judaism secretly,, lived in Mexico from the beginning of the Spanish conquest and were frequently targeted by the Inquisition. With Mexico's independence in 1821, a few German Jews settied in Mexico City. But the modem Jewish community stems from the waves of immigrants, most of whom arrived between the 1890s and the 1920s. The newcomers organized themselves into smaller communities, known as "sectors" or the Hebrew "kehillot" in formal usage, reflecting the customs and traditions of their cities and countries oforigin. ' The divisions remain, but they have been augmented by more recent institutions bringing the number of official sectors to seven.

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While there are no Jews in the country's MEXICO CITY (JTA) — Late in 1991, leaders of the Mexican Jewish community had a rare audi- Senate and Chamber of Deputies, for the first time ence with the country's president, Carlos Sahnas de Jews have been named to high government posts under the Salinas administration. Gortari. The president's favorable attitude, though Toward the end of the meeting, Salinas announced that he had just instructed the Mexican genuine, carries as a subtext the realization of his delegation to the United Nations to vote to rescind top economic-foreign policy priority: Approval by the infamous 1975 U.N. resolution equating the U.S. Congress of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAPTA), which would tear down Zionism with racism. Salinas' decision was a direct reversal of trade barriers between Mexico, the United States and Canada. Mexico's stand 16 years earlier. Passage of NAFTA — which has considerable The meeting was an emotional high for Mexico's 60,000 Jews, as much for the honor of hav- opposition among American lawmakers — before ing been invited by the nation's chief executive as the expiration of Salinas' term next year is an almost obsessive preoccupation among Mexican for the nature of his announcement. "I almost cried," recounted Mario officials. The Jewish angle in all this rests on a naive Nudelstejer, executive director of the Jewish Central Committee, which, in a sharp departure but firmly held equation: Mexico's Jews are closely fi-om its resolutely low profile in national politics, linked to their brethren in the United States, who had discreetly lobbied for the reversal of Mexico's are believed to influence American government and society. earlier anti- Israel vote. Therefore, the wisdom holds, if Mexico's Jews Mexico's Jews are nearly unanimous in their praise of Salinas for his astute leadership, economic can win over American Jews, the NAFTA deal is as reform program and friendliness toward the Jewish good as done. community.

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Teens' trip to Israel By Aaron Pollak It was 2 in the morning and my Israel group's last stop before going to the airport to travel back to the states. My group leader had just finished reading us an article telling many of the things that the country and its people had survived throughout history. He let us go free to say a final prayer at The Wall. I just lay there in the center of this gigantic courtyard facing one of the oldest sites in the world, the place that stood throughout history representing the Jewish people. There was a drilling wind surroiinding me, but it could not compare to the chills 1 felt inside. A rush of emotions and thoughts about what Jews had done for this place, what it stood for, how it brought masses together and how individuals could join it and speak directly to God. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I just stared, recapping my Israel summer and putting everything into perspective: the places I had seen, the friends I had made and all that I had learned. It seemed so significant, yet not significant at all, due to the enormous structure in fi"ont of me, which had been through so much over so long a time span. It called out to me. I slowly moved forward and placing my hands against The Wall, I prayed for what was important to me and Qianked God for the wonderful experience I had over the summer. I backed away from The Wall and Israel always with my face towards them, knowing that I wo)ild be back to catch the save view again. By Heather Olesh One of the most memorable experiences during my six-week trip to Israel was "Gadna," a four-day simulated field-training experience at base Ju'ara in Northern Israel. Because of Israel's heat, the program was strenuous and tiring, but afterwards, I felt that it was worth it. Gadna was extremely realistic. I woke up at 5 in the morning, wore authentic I.D.F. uniforms, accepted our commander (in Hebrew), exercised throughout the day and went through the traditional inspection program. My group learned how to shoot M-I6 rifles. We also went to self-defense classes and learned about handling hostage situations. At night, we went on hikes to learn about night maneuvers in the woods. I would have to say that Gadna was the longest four days of my fast-moving trip, but I learned a lot and now appreciate the Israeli Defense Force a great deal more. After this experience, I talked to Israeli teenagers who were only slightly older than myself They were about to enter the army, not by choice, but by law. When I asked them how they felt about it, they replied that they were honored to join the I.D.F. and were proud to fight for their homeland!

By Andrea Collis There is not one moment out of the six weeks I spent in Israel that I am able to label as being the most significant or memorable. However, the night I spent in Jerusalem on Tisha B'av is one of the many that sticks out in my mind. After the 48 people in my group, including staff, chanted Eicha in a large circle in our hostel's courtyard, about 10 of us were given the opportunity to go to the Katel. We didn't have much time, so we had to hurry through downtown Jerusalem, . I which wasn't easy. ' ' As our feet pounded the same ground that our ancestors' did, the night air pulsed and adrenalin richocheted off buildings and struck us from all angles. Our hearts beat at phenomenal speed as we wound our way through narrow passageways and enormous crowds. It appeared that all of Israel was descending on one spot. When we arrived, we stood for a moment in awe of the numbers and confusion. We were given permission to approach the wall, and gently fought our way closer and closer to it As the wall wailed, our people wailed with it. Clumps sat on the cold stone floor lamenting, while others stood and pleaded. Everyone's reason for being there was the same, and yet somehow different. IRS7t$ IRS7!$ IRS7I$ IRS7I$ IRS7I$ IRS7!$n

Confused by Tax Laws? Most ol us are. As a service to our readers, we will publish a Special Tax Time Supplement on February 11, 1994. We will reprint sample tax forms, graphics, intormalion and instructions from the Internal Revenue Service to help students and seniors, empk>yees ar>d entrepreneurs get through the filing process and to help pur readers plan their tax strategy for the coming year. AdvertisersWe invite your participation in this issue whether you sell portable cakulalors, profitable annuities or professional tax preparation. Special Tax Time Supplement Rate sheet with ad prices and sizes Is available from Larry at the Jewish Press, 334-8200, exi. 234. Space reservations are due by

January 10,19M. so call now.

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