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Jewish groups assist in rebuilding burned churches Temple Israel and Beth El ask for prayers and funds By Carol Katmaii, Editoiviii-oUef The Reform and Conservative movementB According to Dr. Magda Peck, co-covener of announced new initiatives to provide financial and Black-Jewish Dialogue Group, "the burning of moral support to the Black religious community in churches has been a topic of our conversations at lij^t of the burning of some 33 houses of worship our monthly meetings. We are working on ways to in the last 18 months. keep ourselves informed so we can have a rapid Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Reform response if anything happens here. Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C., *We, as Jewish and black communities,, underjoined with the Rev. Joan B. Campbell, General stand what this is all about and have a moral duty Secretary of the National Council of Churches, in to raise awareness." detailing community-wide relief efforts. In a joint statement issued by the United I "Rebuilding Faith in America: a Jewish Response Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and The to Church Burnings,* will focus efforts of each of 13 Rabbinical Assembly, Alan Ades, USCJ President, iregions of the Union of American Hebrew said, "We are horrified both by these crimes and by Congregations (UAHC) in developing an ongoing what they represent. The preaching of hatred has partnership with a church which has been dam- deadly consequences and must be viewed as an aged or destroyed by arson. Rabbi Eric Yoffie, enemy of democracy." UAHC President, noted that 'Reform Jews, so According to Sarrae Crane, Director of USCJ many of whom marched side by side with Black Commission on Social Action and Public Policy, iteligious leaders in the '608 are compelled to speak the organization has called on affiliate congregations to offer space in their synagogues for use by Out and speak up to protest the arson.' black congregations that have suffered damage. In Locally, Rabbi Debbie Stiel of Temple Israel .acknowledged that prayers on behalf of the black addition, members of Conservative synagogues are congregations will continue to be offered during being urged to contribute to the rebuilding of those senrices. She urged members of the Jewish com- churches. Omaha's Beth El Synagogue will accept donamunity to show their solidarity by donating to a tions locally for this effort and forward them to the fund, set up by the UAHC. Those wishing to contribute to the fund may send USCJ national offices, according to Rabbi Paul checks, payable to "Rebuilding FaithAJAHC,* to Drazen. Checks may be sent directly to the syna^Religious Action Center, 2027 Massachusetts Ave., gogue, 14606 CaUfomia, Omaha, NE 68154, made out to Help the Churches Fund. Washington, D.C., 20036.
Introducing... Barbara Gottlieb By Carol Katxman, Editor^in-Chlef S<^h6ie4oet t/utHomapoeUion iteelfi WdH, the Bnt t^|g we need to do is build the current endowment fund. We're very fortunate in this community that the leadership had the foresight to establish not one, but many endowment funds for the RBJH; now we have to help them grow. The other areas in which we need to enhance are occupancy and community services. How does the Home stay filled? We need to look at our competition and offer services which residents need. For example, the lay leadership was very clear in our discussions what they wanted. They want UB to prepare the home to meet the needs of the changing health care environment. More specifically, how the home will operate under managed Barbara Gottlieb care. Increasing the occupancy on our 'Medicaredistinct' unit will increase reimbursement so that After aerving a* Executive Direetar of the those Jewish residents who do not have the means Beth Sholom Home in Richmond, VA, what to pay will be subsidized. Not only do we then promade you decide to move to Omahat duce additional income, we can also provide a I was involved in making major changes in much-needed service to our elders. Richmond. . .raising funds for a new facility and We have to evaluate our whole system of how we moving the Home and, most recently, opening a receive referrals. From what hospitals are we new 29-bed "Medicare-distincf unit After 10 year* receiving patients and why or why not? We must of helping that community provide quality long- know the competition; we must know the players term health care, I knew it was time to look for in the long-term health care field. And we have to new challenges. Jeny Dann (a past president of look at the possibility of developing purchasing Omaha's Bureau for the Aging), found me at a agreements with other institutions to lower the national conference and alerted me to Gene cost of our supplies. Brsndt's retirement Whttt are your eoneeme in euthaeht fhtm What are the chaUengee you tpeak offite- Medicare and Medieaidt Ing long-term care fiuiUtiea, like the Roee Frankly, we don't know what will happen. This Bliunkin Jewiah Home (MBJWt ia both scary and energising. What we do know in The most obvious threat to a home like ours Is the health-care field is that there will be far more financial. Our security depends on income from options available to us in the future. Not only will residents and from government funding, both there be more managed care, but the possibility of Medicare and Medicaid. Families, staff, the volun- health-care rationing and the emergence of more teer leadership, all fear cutbacks, because it 'Kevorkians,' (asaisting in suicide). Familiee of today's residents must become more affscta us all personally. involved in advocacy, they need to stay in touch We have to know the Omaha market, learn with their eongiesimen and state legittators when what the needs are and meet them in order for the issues oonceming health care arise in government RBJH to position itself and be financially sUble. (CoiitlnwJ on page 7) Occupation: Executive Director ot the Bureau for the Aging Education: BS from iona College, N.Y.; Master's in Public Health from Yale University. Experience: Hospitals; senior citizen housing: long-term care ladiities. Pertonal: Single mother of Carolyn Ware, age 'almost' seyen.
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Friedel names educator to serve as headmaster By Diane Axler Baum, FJA publicist A rabbi whose career is dedicated to Jewish day school education has been named headmaster of Friedel Jewish Academy. Rabbi Gavriel Herzig will assume leadership of Friedel in mid-July. He comes to FJA from Seattle Hebrew I Academy, where he served as Judaic Lead n 1.1.. r, 1 Teacher. Itabb.H.r«iK "We have found an ideal person to serve as Friedel's headmaster," said Joel M. Rich, chairman of the FJA board. "Rabbi Herzig id an outstanding Jewish educator with a proven record. Moreover, he understands Friedel's mission as a community day ^school. He has expressed his eagerness to guide the Academy to greater size and strength by working cooperatively with leaders and parents from Omaha's Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist and Reform movements," Mr. Rich said. Prior to his appointment in Seattle, Rabbi Herzig spent seven years at the Rambam Day School in Savannah, GA. He joined their faculty as a Judaic Studies Instructor in 1988 and undertook the added responsibility of Curriculum Coordinator fipom 1993 to 1996. His professional experience also includes family eounaeUng, adult education, and youth activity He holds a bachelor's degree in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD, and a Master of Science degree in Learning Disabilities and Communicative Disorders from Johns Hopkins University. After accepting his new position. Rabbi Herzig said, "My familly and I are very enthusiastic about joining the Omaha Jewish community. I feel privileged to become part of the team of fine educators at Friedel Jewish Academy. I am committed to achieving excellence in education, and I share your vision of a vibrant academy providing all our children a positive and meaningful learning experience." Rabbi Herzig aiid his wife, Yakova, are the parents of Moshe Leib, 8, Yehoshua, 7, and Chana, 4. As his hobbies, he lists "people, computers, fishing, carpentry, and the outdoors." He succeeds Mona Peterson, who resigned as interim director to pursue advanced studies.
B'nai B'rith honors 50-year members
FUtj'jemr Beabera who were honored reeently at a Breadbreakere meeting are, firoai left, Bddle Roeen, Ruben Llppett, Keith Pelts and Loa Horwita. i-.lSliSir K{OT;V>J; ... ,il>- J«!**»3,ias«KJJeSiHi