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Wiesel set^pBendance record By Morris MaUoe (This article inelndes opinioii of the writer) I An estimated 1,400 Jewish men, women, and '• children — the largest attendance of a Jewish audience in Omaha's history — greeted Elie Wiesel, Jan. 20 at the Red Lion Hotel Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Omaha in conjunction with the 1994 UJA/Federation Campaign, the event also contributed to what was forecast as a record-setting fundraising effort on bdialf of the Jewish community. llie Omaha turnout appeared to fulfill Professor iWiesel's often-quoted statement that To be part of a community is the most urgent, historic obligation facing a Jew." The Nobel Peace Prize winner implored his audience to 'learn Jewish history with passion' to understand why giving to the Campaign is important "You should know why you give, why you are Jews..jJew8 link their destiny with other Jews... a Jew alone cannot be a Jew...he must Uve in a community.' Professor Wiesel reminded his audience that Jewish history began long before the State of Israel was proclaimed in 1948. Our history began four to five thousand years ago... *it makes me shiver knowing that our history is the longest in the world.* He said also that while Jewishness and Jewish causes should be a priority in one's life, being Jewish is not esduaive. One of the greatest lessons of histoiy, he said, is that Vhat happens to one people affects all peopleHe called upon Omaha Jewry to 'do as Jews' by helping others. Wherever people suffer, Jews should help, he said, adding that eveiy day children are being killed in many parts of the world and that vhatever is being done is not enou^. "We must help others.'
Thank you, Omaha! We want to thank donors who pledged their support to the 1994 UJA/Federation Campaign — in particular, those 1,400 who joined together on Jan. 20 for a truly great community event. It was with great pleasure that we brought you 'an evening with Elie Wiesel,' and we cannot adequately express the joy and pride we felt in that grand ballroom, filled to capacity with the Jewish people of Omahd. The warmth and sense of family that enveloped the entire evening will remain with all of us forever. Thank you to everyone who worked to make this event possible. Most of all, thank you, Omaha — the BEST of Jewish Communities!
Elie Wiesel (left) experiences reunion with long time Omaha friend Sam FMed. Harley Schrager, Campaign co-chairman with Howard Kooper, said the "largest gathering in Omaha's history befits Omaha's status as the best of Jewish communities.* He told the young people in the audience that their attendance would be 'one of the defining moments of your young life.* Jerry Slusky, Federation president, praised the community and the volunteers for the 10th consecutive increase in the (Campaign. He said the breaking of ground for the Dan and Esther Gordman educational Center in a few months would add further to the services available on the Jewish Community (Campus.
Federation donates $5,000 for earthquake relief
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The Jewish Federation of Omaha's Board of Directors unanimously approved a $5,000 donation for victims of the C!alifomia earthquake. The Federation had provided similar relief to victims of the Midwest flooding and the Florida hurricane. In addition, the Directors approved an allocation of $3,760 as its share of an $850,000 subvention to national Hillel.
*Big Bang' \a\V. by author at JCC
Anti-Semitism upward By Larry Yodelaon NEW YORK (JTA) — llie number of anti-Semitic assaults, threats and harassments in the United States reported to the Anti-Defamation League rose again last year, continuing an upward trend begun in 1985 that was interrupted only in 1992. The 1,079 incidents reported in 1993 are more than triple the 306 reported eight years earlier and the most since ADL began tabulating such events in 1980. But the year also saw the third strai|^t decline in the number of reported incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism and grafliU. They totaled 788, according to the 1993 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents released by ADL this week. ADL explains these numbers as reflecting a greater vigilance toward anti-Semitic vandalism by Jews and the police, on the one hand, and a greater willingness fay anti-Semitaa to indulge their hatred in dayUghL • :^ "There'i been a dramitic increase in what we call in-your- face' anti-Semitism," said ADL National Director Abraham Foxman. "This is more fri^tening, more confrontational, more devastating, and in terms of the trauma to the individual, the family and the community afTscted, much more significant than a swastika on the building,* he said. At the same time, the 1,079 reported antiSemitic assaults and harauments, none of which involved fatality, is roughly the same as the number of American Jews killed in car accidents, auuminf flitalities are distributed evenly.
Harley Schrager, General Chairman Howard Kooper, Cieneral C!hainnan Carol Katzman, Women's Division Chairman
Dr. Gerald Schroeder, author of "Genesis and The Big Bang,' and scientist and lecturer, will speak Sunday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., at the JCC. The event is free and open to the public. An applied physicist and theologian. Dr. Schroeder argues that science and the Bible are not contradictory. According to his publisher, Bantam Books, 'cosmologists say the events of the billions of years that followed the Big Bang and the events described in the first six days of Cicnesis are identical realities described in vastly different terms." Sponsored by Beth IsraePSynagogue, event chairman Dr. Martin Schneiderman urges anyone who has ever grappled with the mysteries of man's origins to attend this event. 'We've let the science departments of both Creighton University and UNO know about Dr. Schroeder'* visit,' said Dr. Schneiderman. 'His book is making a big impact on the scientific community,' he added. For information, call Beth Israel Synagogue at 556-6288. Mark Belmont (left) president, AOL/CRC and Alexander Kosner, a "Schindler's List" survivor, greet members o f the Jewish coounaBity during • previewMonday. An estimated 500 attended.
Welcomes condemnation
Rabbi Alexander M. Schindlor, president olir^t Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAIIC), says the denunciation by Jesse Jackson and other black leaders of the 'repulsive, racist and anti Semitic remarks' of a senior aide to Loui
Parrakhan will have a posiUve efTecL
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