ilewlsh Press
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Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
VoL LXXt No. 2S Omaha
28 Adar, 57S4, March 11,10M
sing, Broadway rings, at Temple Israel Israeli consul plans Cantors "Of Thee I Sing, f^^^^^^ Cantor Kent, who has Melodies of Broadway" ^^HHJ^ been the cantor at Tuesday talk at JCC will be presented at I^P^ Temple Isaiah in west Temple Israel, 8 p.m. on April 23 when Cantor Evan Kent of Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles A representative of the Consulate General of will join Cantor Karen Israel will discuss the state of Middle-Eastern Webber-Gilat of Temple affairs at a March 15 community meeting. Israel for an evening of Announcement of the event was made by 1. Broadway songs. Robert Wolfson, executive director of the Anti"The program is not a Defamation League/Community Relations 'cantors' concert' but a Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. concert in which the perHaim Coren, Consul for Press and Information, formers happen to be Cantor Webber-Gilat will be featured at the 7:30 p.m. event at the cantors," according to Judith Marburg, Temple Jewish Community Center. Israel Music Committee chairman. The ADUCRC is sponsoring the event and recep"It will feature old favorites and new, ballads, tion. love songs, songs celebrating the human condition, A native IsraeH, Mr. Coren, 40, holds a master's songs poignant and funny, melancholy and rousdegree in Middle Eastern Studies (specializing in ing. Islam and the Sudan) from Haifa University, and is "The evening we are planning should be excepa former officer in the Israeli Defense Forces. tional and elegant. A champagne and cake recepHe has served as a member of the Center for tion will follow the vocal program with harpist Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Patrice Jenks providing background music." Chicago, and has been affiliated with the Ministry A political satire, "Of Thee I Sing," from which of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, as well as the the title of the evening is taken, was a highly innoIsraeli embassies in Katmandu, Nepal, and vative 1931 George and Ira Gershwin collaboration Alexandria, Egypt and their most successful show in a long line of "In light of the Hebron massacre and its effect on hits. the prospect of peace in the Middle East, Mr. In addition to the Gershwins, some of the comCoren's perspective is timely and should be very posers whose songs will be represented at the coninformational and thought-provoking," Mr. Wolfson cert are Irving Berlin, Sammy Kahn, Steven said. Sondheim, Cole Porter and Jacques Brel. Mr. Coren's presentation and a reception after"The music of Broadway is so wonderful and ward are free of charge, and the entire Jewish com- extensive, Evan and I are having difficulty narrowmunity is invited to attend, Mr. Wolfson said. ing the selections down to a manageable number. For more information, call the ADL/CRC office at But we promise an exciting, varied and tuneful 333-1303. evening," Cantor Webber-Gilat said. By Jill Belmont Board member, ADL/CRC
Amara Kosher Meats ships anywhere in U.S. "Buying Kosher meat is easy." Amara Kosher Meats delivers Glatt kosher meats and provisions anywhere in the United States, the company has announced. For the 1.7 million Jews across the United States who observe dietary laws, "keeping kosher" is not always easy. While the number of Jews observing kashrut is on the rise, the number of kosher butchers in America has declined steadily for the past 16 years. For example, the 100,000 Jews in the Bronx, N.Y., once had a choice of 200 kosher butchers. Today, there are only four. A similar scenario has occurred in other urban centers around the country. In Denver, with 46,000 Jews, and in San Francisco proper, where there are over 200,000 Jews in the Bay area, there arc no kosher butchers. Jews have been forced'to travel up to several hours to stock up on kosher meat, poultry and provisions. "After visiting friends in Pennsylvania who complained of having to travel hours every month to visit the nearest kosher butcher I recognized an even bigger void around the country and started Amara Kosher Meats," said Jean P. Hill, founder and president of the mail order company named after her two daughters, Amanda and Clara. "Amara Kosher Meats provides the more than 500,000 families around the country easy access to kosher meats, poultry and provisions," she said. (Continued on page 8)
Blumkin Home receives highest State certification The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home has been certified "deficiency free" by the State of Nebraska which just completed its annual inspection. Yearly surveys are mandated by law for state licensure and Medicaid and Medicare certification. Inspectors, who come unannounced, spent six days at the Home. In addition to looking for errors in documentation, they review procedures such as medication passing, personal care of the residents, bathing, sanitation, and dietary conditions. They also survey general cleanliness and maintenance. Residents and their families are interviewed and given an opportunity to voice opinions and concerns, At the conclusion of the inspection, the state team declared that there were "no trends to create deficiencies." Bob Lepp, president of the Bureau for the Aging, said, "It's a wonderful result, and it is very unusual for a nursing home to receive this designation." Eugene Brandt, administrator, said that the high rating is "due to a lot of cooperation, work, and dedication by the entire staff." He compared the certification rankini; to the recent Olympics. "If this wore the ice skating competition, wo would have received all e*i."
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Los Angeles for the past six years, has also 'concertized' extensively throughout New York, California and Israel. He recently released his debut recording, a collection of songs by Harold Arlen, Kurt Weill and Irving Berlin; all three were sons of cantors. Hji Cantor Kent Prior to earning his^| master's degree in sacred music at Hebrew Union «> College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, Cantor Kent received a bachelor's degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York and pursued additional training at the Chautauqua Institute of Opera Workshop. He has appeared as tenor soloist in oratorios, with choral groups and with ihe Los Angeles Bel Canto Opera and newly formed Opera Dell'Angeli. Seating will be limited to the capacityiof the Temple sanctuary. Tickets must be purchased and paid for in advance but may be picked up at the door. No tickets will be sold at the door. The concert has been planned as a fund-raiser for Temple Israel and its music fund. Tickets are $25 each, $15 tax deductible. Names of patrons, $100-499, and angels, $500 and up, will be in the program. Tickets may also be purchased through any member of the Temple Music Committee: Judith Marburg, chairman; Norma Fried, Dory Gerber, Hilde Gottlieb, Steven Gottlieb, Linda Kenyon, Use Kuttner, Debra Marburg, Barbara Shulman, Kathe Stekoll and Jeff Taxman.
Assistant rabbi, cantor plan to leave Temple Israel Two of Temple Israel's professionals have announced plans to leave Omaha. Assistant Rabbi Dan Fink and his wife. Rabbi Laura Rappaport, will be moving to Idaho where Rabbi Fink has accepted a position as the first fulltime rabbi in the State. The Finks will be leaving this summer. • Cantor Webber-Gilat's husband, Ronen, has accepted a new position in Dallas and Cantor will be leaving Omaha in May. Announcement of their impending departures was made in the March 4 issue of Temple Israel Tidings, a publication distributed to members of ^ the congregation. fl In the president's column, Bob Freeman noted that a search committee would be formed to seek replacements for the two professionals. Mr. Freeman noted that the pulpit in Idaho affords Rabbi Fink n unique opportunity to practice his profe.ssion in an environment unique to reform Congregations, with mountains, rivers, wilderness areas and the like in immediate proximity and abundance. He said also that "There are few of us whose souls have not been touched by Karen's beautiful voice or lively spirit. "She has added a very special element to our services, and an element of creativity that always includes good taste and careful planning." Mr. Freeman said in his column that he appreciates the support of the congregation in connection with the next several months of transition.