Vol. LXXXVI No. 17 Omaha, NE
Institute for Holocaust Education has a full plate by BETH SELDIN DOTAN Director, IHE Classes, workshops, museum-quality exhibits, interfaith education, community events, films, recepetions...these are just a few of the projects and programs offered by the Institute for Holocaust Education since early September, 2006. Opportunities for public, private and parochial school educators have been made available on a scale never before seen in the area of Holocaust education. The first event was “Remembering Chuine Sugihara,” a Japanese diplomat who issued thousands of visas for Jewish refugees in Lithuania. Held at the Jewish Community Center, the program was a joint effort of the Institute, B’nai Brith and the Japanese American Citizens League. This event was made possible through the support of the Terry K. Watanabe Charitable Trust. The organizations showed a documentary about Sugihara’s selfless deeds to save Jews during World War II, and joined together with members from the general, Jewish and Japanese American communities in Omaha. Helen Manheimer, a Holocaust survivor from Lithuania who was one of the individuals saved by Sugihara, addressed the community following the end of the film.
Community members attend the Sugihara event of Sept. 21, 2006, including Helen Manheimer, center, and Fern Watanabe (to Manheimer’s left). The event was co-sponsored by B’nai B’rith and the Japaense American Citizens League to honor the memory of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who rescued thousands of Jews in Lithuania. During the month of October, the Institute’s focus was primarily on education and teacher workshops. Trainings for the new Echoes and Reflections: A Multimedia Curriculum on the Holocaust were held in Lincoln and in numerous Nebraska Educational Service Units throughout the state. The Nebraska Humanities Council and the Cooper Foundation of Lincoln provided resources for these six-hour trainings. Deborah Batiste, curriculum writer and ADL Project Director for Echoes and Reflections, traveled with Beth Katz, Director of the Malashock Project on Interfaith Affairs and me to Scottsbluff, Kearney and Neligh, Nebraska, for the trainings. More than 70 teachers from rural and city schools attended the conferences. In Scottsbluff, there were teachers who traveled more than two-and-a-half hours to participate. The teachers in smaller communities found the Holocaust-related curriculum essential in teaching about the past, but also, include in their lessons, the materials in Echoes and Reflections that addresses present-day genocide and lessons of humanity. One of the teachers from the Kearney area said in her workshop evaluation, “Thank you, ladies! I was looking forward to today, and I was very pleased. I am so looking forward to going back to school and utilizing this awesome curriculum. The personal testimonies will add so much because it creates a connection with the students. I will be able to make the most of this curriculum in many of my classes.” Continued on page 2
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
Celebrating 86 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
15 Tevet, 5767 January 5, 2007
Federation to host information night for family mission to Israel by LISA LIEB outdoor activities such as Federation Communications kayaking on the Jordan River, rappelling in the Director Golan Heights, and swimThere’s no experience ming in the like seeing Israel through Mediterranean Sea. The the eyes of your children, group will also be visiting and the Omaha Jewish Omaha’s Partnership with community will soon have Israel community in the the chance to take that Western Galilee. Activities unforgettable journey. Join the professional and will be geared towards volunteer leadership of specific age groups, and a the Jewish Federation of special youth guide will accompany the group. Omaha on Monday, Jan. According to Robinson, 15, 7 p.m., at the Jewish the schedule won’t be as Community Center for a recruitment and informa- On her first mission to Israel in 1991, Kimberly Robinson helps an full as a typical mission. tion session about next Israeli workman repair damage to an area in Tel Aviv hit by Iraqi “The focus of this mission summer’s eagerly antici- Scud missiles during the first Gulf War. Louri Sullivan also partici- is about enjoying every pated Family Mission to pated in that misson, sponsored by Omaha’s Jewish Federation. moment. There will be plenty of down time for relaxing and afternoon swim Israel. The mission will take place June 3-13, 2007. The information session will be led by mission co-chairs time for the kids,” Robinson said. As is traditional, mission participants will spend Kimberly Robinson and Louri Sullivan. “I’ve been to Israel three times. I’m a day school graduate, and I went Shabbat in Jerusalem. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will be accomto Camp Ramah,” said Robinson. “My whole world was panying the mission and will play a key role in Shabbat Judaism, and I’m so pleased to be able to pass this on to activities. “To me, the highlight of any Israel trip is getting to spend Shabbat in Jerusalem,” Sullivan said. my kids and other children from our community.” “This will be my fourth trip to Israel, and two of my “There’s no way to describe it, and I’m so glad that the previous Israel trips have been with Kimberly,” Sullivan first time my children go, I’ll get to be there, too.” Robinson and Sullivan are quick to point out that the explained. “Now it’s time to share this amazing journey mission is open to all family members. “This is a true with our children.” During the session, Robinson and Sullivan will share family mission. Grandparents, aunts, uncles -- all family detailed information about the mission itinerary. The trip members who want to see Israel through the eyes of our will feature visits to traditional sites such as the Dead Sea, children are welcome to attend,” Robinson said. Masada and the Western Wall, along with special Israeli Continued on page 2
His term was short, but Gerald Ford left mark on Soviet Jewry movement by BEN HARRIS mere lip service,” said NEW YORK (JTA) -- His Sharansky, a former Israeli presidency lasted less than Cabinet minister who now 1,000 days, but it was enough is head of strategic studies time to support an international at the Shalem Center, an accord that provided a signifiacademic research institucant boost to the Soviet Jewry tion in Jerusalem. “As it movement and marked a pivotal happened, it ended up moment in the history of the being the most decisive Cold War. move to help dissidents in Gerald Ford, who died Dec. the USSR.” 26 at 93, signed the Helsinki Ford already had distinDeclaration in August 1975, guished himself as a vocal along with the leaders of the supporter of Soviet Jews. Soviet Union, Canada and 32 In January 1975 he signed European nations. The agreeinto law the Jackson-Vanik ment required the Soviet Union Amend-ment, which to respect human rights, includ- President Ford, right, meets with Israeli Prime Minister denied most-favored ing fundamental freedoms of Yitzhak Rabin at the White House in 1975. nation trading status to Credit: Yaacov Saar/GPO countries with restrictive religion, thought and conscience, and contributed to mounting international pres- emigration policies -- an attempt to pressure the Kremlin sure to free persecuted Soviet Jews. “His administration’s into approving more exit visas for Soviet Jews. signing of the Helsinki accords, which established a clear “His brief presidency was very significant for the movelink between international relations and human rights, ment,” said Mark Levin, executive director of the NCSJ, was the most important step in the struggle to win the which advocates for Jews across the former Soviet Union. Cold War -- even though, when they were signing it, both “By signing into law the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, sides didn’t necessarily realize this,” said Natan Sharansky, which was one of the pillars of the Soviet Jewry movean icon of the Soviet Jewry movement. ment, as well as being president when the Helsinki Sharansky was a founder of the Moscow Helsinki Accords were implemented, which provided the internaGroup, an organization started to monitor Soviet compli- tional community a tool to confront the Soviets directly ance with the accord. “The West thought that making a on their human rights abuses, particularly as they impactconnection to human rights was important in and of ed the Soviet Jewish population -- for that his itself, even if there was a chance that it turned out to be Continued on page 3
This Week: Teen Age Features the Teens of USY: Page 7 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Friedel Academy Creates “Latkemania”: Page 3
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Barcelona Restoring Jewish Quarter: Page 12