Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920 VoLLIXn No.4S Oudu
la SiTUjTU, JoM It, 1M6
Temple appoints cantor Past president Bob Freeman and the Board of Trustees announce the appointment of Erik L. F. Contzius as full-time cantor for Temple Israel. Cantor Contzius will assure his duties at Temple on July 1. Mr. Freeman commented, *We are pleased to have found a cantor of Erik's caliber In addition to a strong, full baritone voice, Erik's evident enthusiasm for his work is refi-eshing and invigorating. "Vie anticipate he will contribute a unique perspective and add a new dimension to our worship services." Cantor Contzius earned his Master of Cantor Contsiiu Sacred Music degree and itoria! investiture from Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music this May. During his years as a cantorial candidate, I Cantor Contzius served as a cantorial intern for Temple Emanu-EI In Westfield NJ and as a student cantor at Sinai Reform Temple in Bay Shore, NY and HUC-JIR in Jerusalem In 1991, Cantor Contzius received his bachelor's [degree fix>m Rutgers College, with a mcuor in psychology and a minor in music. While pursuing that degree. Cantor Contzius spent his junior year at the University of York in York, England where he organized the York University Glee Club and performed with several groups as both choral member and soloist (Continued on page4)
Ben Wiesman honored
Fellman, Kboper Trusts help 13 students
The Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America, will honor Benjamin D. Wiesman, chairman and chief executive officer of Wiesman Howard M. Kooper, a Trustee of the Bruce M. Development, for his Heritage Membership June Fellmkn and the Robert H. and Dorothy G. Kooper 20 at the annual Citizen of the Year banquet. Mr. Wiesman is an Eagle Scout and has served Charitable Foundation Trusts has announced that . on the Boy Scout Board I scholarship grants have been awarded to 13 of Trustees sine 1980. In Omaha area college students which will assist 19,89, he was honored with the 'Silver Beaver," them M^th their college education. the highest award that a Chosen for these 1995-96 scholarships are local Boy Scout Council Andrew Altman, University of Kansas; Derek can give to a volunteer Altman, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Jay leader. He is currently Benton, University of Nebraska at Omaha. serving on the Executive Also, Vlada BubUkova, Creighton University; Committee as chairman Julia Demidovich, .Creightoh University; Caren of the Investment com-1 Friedman, Washington University; Holly mittee. Friedman, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Joe He is ialso president of I Homstein, Colorado State University; Dina Kogan, the Jewish Press; a Brandeis University; Regina Lewald, Indiana member of Methodist I University. Hospital board of direc^n Wieaman Also, Paula McCreight, University of Nebraska tors; and Chancellor's Advisory Council, University of Nebraska at Omaha. at Omaha; Melanie Meyers, University of Mr. Wiesman is past president of Beth El Nebraska at Omaha; and Ella Patkovskyay,' Synagogue, Beth El Men's club. Cerebral Palsy University of Nebraska at Omaha. Association, and vice president of Central States The Bruce M. Fellman Charitable Region United Synagogue of America. Foundation Trust was created in memory of He has served numerous civic, cultural and Bruce M. Fellman, son of Tom and Darlynn charitable organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce President's Advisory Board, City of Fellman, after his untimely death while attending Omaha Urban Development Board, Cjrstic Fibrosis George Washington University and participating Foundation, YMCA, Creighton Jaybackers, United in the University of Pittsburgh's Semester at Sea. The Robert H. and Dorothy G. Kooper Way of the Midlands, Benefactor of Joslyn Art Museum, Boys Club of Omaha, the Salvation Charitable Foundation Trust was created in Army, National Conference of Chriatians and Jews, memory of Robert H. and Dorothy G. Kooper, parand ADL Heritage committee. He is a charter ents of Howard M. Kooper, in order to further the member of Massachusetts Institute of Technology secondary education for Omaha area college stuCenter for RÂŤal Estate Development, Boston. dents.
Rueben Lippett will never forget May 5,1945 By Morris Maline ( Editor's Note: Parental caution is advised since some of the information in the following [story may not be suitable for children who are not familiar with the Holocaust) It was eight o'cIoc\ in the morning when Col. Reardon said, lippett, come with me.* 1 had no idea why my commanding ofScer selected me from all the staff at division headquarters, but in a short while - I found out," Ruben Lippett, said in a recent interview. At the time, Capt Lippett served as regimental communications officer of the Tlst Infantry Division which had reached the village of Gunskirchen on its battle march from Bitche, France to Steyr in Austria. This was toward the end of World War II and in the 92 days that the Tlst took part in battle, the division moved 1,060 miles, captured almost 80,000 prisoners and moved the farthest east of any lAmerican troops in Europe. More than SO years have passed since Capt. Lippett changed from military dress into civilian clothes and much of that period's history has faded from memory. 'But, ni never forget May 6, 1946, thafs the day the 71at Uberated Gunskirchen ... Col. Reardon knew I was Jewish so he had me ride in his Jeep to the camp which had been liberated a few hours earUar. *He didn't tell me what to expect, but when we drove about 10 miles, I said, "Whafs that horrible
Rueben Lippett shows his Army photo He recalled with difGculty all of the awful sights, sounds and smells of that day, and said he still couldn't believe the terrible deprivation he witnessed. Mr. Lippett's recollection of those days was reinforced recently when he and his wife, Louise, joined other veterans of the 71st and returned to Gunskirchen for a reunion with lurvivors from many countries. He brought back with him a history of the 71st, a historical report from the current mayor of Gunskirchen and other documents relating to this time period. A summary of this material follows: As the war was coming to an end, Mauthausen, *Wa wsre about two miles from the camp, farmer created in 1938 to provide slave labor for the granInmatas were wandering about, hundreds were ite quarries snd considered one of the most brutal dead on tha nwd ... there was oonAiiion, turmoil, camps in tha Nasi system became the tomb for thousands of those who protested the Naxis in mrvivon, troops. *My first raaetioa was, 1 cant believe tiuy could many countries, Holland, Ciechoslovakia, and do this to people. I knew at this time that moat of manyotiMn. ^ dead and Daardead ware Jowt,* Waves of Jaws ware tmnsfirrsd to Mauthausen
in 1944 and 1946. The camp became overcrowded and tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews were sent from slave labor battalions to the subcamps of Mauthausen at Ebensee, Gusen and Gunskirchen. An estimated 17,000 prisoners were marched from the tent camp at Mauthausen and from otho" subcamps to Gunskirchen — a three-day journey with little food, water, or rest This journey has been described as Ihe death inarch of the Hungarian Jews." Those who could not keep up were shot on the spot, mass graves for the victims are along the route, and once in the camp, prisoners were forced to exist with useless sanitary facilities, little or no water and hardly any food. There was one report of the flesh and internal organs being ripped from a dead horse for food. Before the Americans arrived, the SS commandant had sent a letter under a white flag to the American commander. The letter said the SS were under orders to lock all inmates into the huts, barricade them shut, and bum the camp to the ground. The SS offered to spare the lives of the victims if the Americans let the guards escape. The request was granted and thousands of the almost-dead were given a chance at life. Mr. and Mrs. Lippett met some of the survivors on their recent trip, and one of them, a man frtm New York City, came up to Mr. Lippett, draped him in his arms and said. Thank jrou for sarinf my life." One can understand why Mr. lippett will never forget May 5,1946. General Willard Wyman ordered the publicatioQ of a booklet, 'The Seventy-First Came to Gunskirchen Lager," and wrote the following tarward: The damning evidence against tha Nasfs, found at GunsUrcfaen Lager, is being neonlad (TTimtlnnnd nn pi^ 0