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Educational program planned on Chevra Kadishe Rabbi Jowph Friedman of Beth Israel will conduct a seminar for the Omaha Jewish community on the meaning and methodology of the Chevra Kadishe on Sunday, Feb. 20,2 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center. According to Rabbi Friedman, the purpose of the symposium is threefold: to educate Jews about the ancient, yet timely, act of traditional Jewish burial preparation; to attract interested newcomers and to update current members of the community Chevra Kadishe. '^e last Mitsvah one Jew can do for another is tfiat of Taharah', the ritual preparation of the deceased," said Rabbi Friedman. *^e hope to take the fear out of Jewish burial procedures and insure I the proper caring for our loved ones after death." T^e tradition of Jewish ritual practices has been carried on t^ the Omaha Chevra Kadishe since the dedication of the first Jewish cemetery. The society, however, is in urgent need of new members and the return of former members, as the current members cannot keep up with the demand. "This is an important Mitzvah for all in the community, no matter what their synagogue affiliation," said Rabbi Paul Drasen of Beth El Synagogue. "We hope former members of the community's Chevra Kadishe will once again participate and it is hoped that an up>dated telephone calling system will involve more volunteers." In addition to the educational program, the current members of the Omaha Chevra Kadishe will be honored for their diligent worii. According to RaUn Friedman, 'the date of Feb. 20 was chosen because of its proximity to the seventh of Adar, the anniversary of the yarzheit of Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses. For centuries, that date has been consecrated for recognition of those who volunteer for this sacred act of love and kindness. "In contrast to Western society which idolizes youth, Judaism teaches that we must care for our
elderly. One only has to look at the wonderful programs of our Bureau for the Aging and Rose Blumkin Home for the Aged to know how much this community respects its seniors." "I think the authenticity of a community can be measured by the way it treats its dead," said Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of Temple Israel. "Maybe this will reveal to us that if we are so respectful of the deceased, we will take care to love and respect the living as well," he added. "We urge that younger members of our community take an additional step by becoming involved in this last Mitzvah we do for the deceased,' concluded Rabbi Friedman. For more information, call Rabbi Paul Drazen of Beth El Synagogue, 492-8550; Rabbi Joseph Friedman of Beth Israel Synagogue, 556-6288; or Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of Temple Israel, 556-6536.
Fellman scholarships available The Bruce M. Fellman Charitable Foundation Trust has announced the availability of scholarships based on financial need for post-secondary education. Bruce, son of Tom and Darlynn Fellman, was a 1982 graduate of Westside High School. He was active in BBYO and served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of Chaim Weizmann AZA. He attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. jnd was participating in the tJniversify ofPiltsburgh's Seimesfer at Sea at the time of his death. Applications may be, obtained by calling the office of Howard Kooper at 392-1800. The completed form must be received by April 1. Other trustees are Darlynn Fellman and Terri Schrager.
Yeltsin aide sparks outcry
SCULPTURE OP LOVE and ANGUISH •• The flr«t life-aiae cast bronxe sculpture in the ioulpture garden at the Holocaust BtomorUl In Miami B«aeh, PL.
« NEW YORK (JTA) — An anti-Semitic remark made by a senior aide to Russian President Boris Yeltsin has prompted criticism by members of Russia's largest political party and by American Jewish organizations. The comment was made on Russian television last week by Mikhail Poltoranin, the leader of a parliamentary committee on information and communications. Condemning Russian media criticism of government policies, Poltoranin said his country's joumalista had developed a new language, "prison camp Hsbrew," which he described as "an explosive mix ofRussophobia, hate for traditions, lies and contempt for traditions." "If this continues," Poltoranin said, "wo will simply blow up the country and trigger a colossal wave of anti-Semitism in return.* Russian anti-Semitic groups had coined the word "Russophobia" during the 1960a as a catchall term to describe alleged Jewish plots to take over the country. Poltoranin subsequently was criticized by member* of his own party, Russia's Choice, which won the largest bloc of seats in the lower house of Parliament in last December's elections. The surprisingly strong showing of nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky's lo-called Liberal Democratic Party in the elections made Poltoranin's remarks particularly sensitive. The members of Poltoranin's party did not oflidally rebuke him. Instead, they called on party members to "choose their words especially eareftilly whan talking about the national problem," according to Russia's Intorfax news agwiey. Poltoranin later apologiiMl Ibr the remark.
On to Israel
Jews rescued from Sarajevo By Agnes Bohm BUDAPEST (JTA) — Seventy of 110 Jews rescued this weekend from war-torn Sarigevo and scheduled to be brought to the Hungarian capital are continuing on to Israel. The Jewish refugees, who were expected to arrive here this week, were members of a group of 296 evacuees taken out of the embattled Bosnian city in a convoy of six buses organized by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Sarajevo's Jewish Benevolent Society. The cqnvoy made its way out of Sarajevo on Saturday, shortly after a mortar shell exploded in the city's open-air market, killing 68 people waiting to buy food. The bus caravan took the refugees on a winding overland journey from Sarajevo, BosniaHerzegovina, to Makarska on the Croatian coast, where the JDC maintains a refugee center. The JDC estimated that between 300 and 350 Jews now remain in Sartyevo. But Tuvia Raviv, head of the Jewish Agency's Budapest ofTice, put the number of Jews remaining in Sarfgevo at 500, with about 100 still seeking to leave but lacking official permission to do so. In the two-and-a-half years since the start of hostilities in the former Yugoslavia, approximately 1,600 to 1,700 Jews have left the country. Before the civil war, the Yugoslav Jewish community totaled about 7,000. According to Raviv, approximately 1,200 Jewish refugees from the former Yugoslavia have immigrated to Israel since the fighting broke out.
Jack W. Marer dies; Jewish community leader Jack W. Marer, a Jewish community leader and a long-time Omaha lawyer, died Feb. 3 at Methodist Hospital of renal failure. He was 92. Services took place Sunday at Temple Israel. Mr. Marer, who had practiced law until just a few weeks before his death, was a past president of Temple Israel Jack W. Marer and the Jewish Federation of Omaha. He also held leadership roles in the Federation campaign, B'nai B'rith and the local Zionist Council. Mr. Marer also had served as vice president, genersi counsel and a director of World Insurance Co.; vice president and general counsel for Children's Hospital and president of the Insurance Federation of Nebraska. Mr. Marer also had been chairman of the Nebraska State Bar Association and was chairman of the commission that drafted the Professional Code of Ethics for the Nebraska bar. For 20 years, Mr. Marer served as a Boy Scout Merit Badge examiner.
Preceded in death by his wife, Anita, he is survived by sons, Alan and Gerald of Palo Alto, Calif; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren
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