Vol. LXXXIII No. 21 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
29 Tevet, 5764 January 23, 2004
The Survival of the Human Spirit: Judy Meisel Returns to Nebraska to Speak About the Holocaust by BETH SELDIN-DOTAN bring lessons and materials to Nebraska Teachers. Director, Institute for Holocaust Education Lincoln Public Schools stepped up to the plate to be Plains States Office of the ADL the first community to hold a large-scale in-service. Holocaust survivor and civil rights activist, Judith In coordination with the Lincoln Public Schools Meisel has seen it all: death, destruction, intimidation, Teaching American History grant titled “Bringing anti-Semitism, racism. But that’s not the sum of her life: American History Scholarship into the Classroom” it’s survival and hope. (BAhSIC) and grants from the From her collaboration on Nebraska Humanities Council and the award-winning documenthe Cooper Foundation of Lincoln, tary, Tak For Alt: Survival of nearly 100 Lincoln Public School the Human Spirit, to her teachers will have the opportunity involvement in the historic to participate in this first In-Service. Civil Rights March in In addition to the In-Service, Meisel Washington, D.C., with Dr. is scheduled to speak in eight of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Meisel Lincoln Public Schools to more than has now embarked on a new 3,000 students. career--speaking to public The Holocaust Materials and school students and teachers. Educational Resources In-Service In response to an invitation to Training Project in Lincoln will participate in a Lincoln Public include a screening of the documenSchool Teacher In-Service, tary film Tak for Alt, featuring Meisel’s Thursday, Jan. 29, Meisel’s story. Meisel will speak to the teachvisit has blossomed into a ers following the film. series of speaking engageThe In-Service will include workments. shops and a plenary session with Through the efforts of top educators from the Kansas City Omaha’s Institute for Midwest Center for Holocaust Holocaust Education and an Education, and sessions with educaJudith Meisel interested group of educators from the Institute for Holocaust tors from throughout the state--including Director of Education. Teachers will return to their schools with Social Science Education, Larry Starr from the Nebraska new materials dealing with Holocaust issues, to be folDepartment of Education a series of Holocaust Teacher lowed by support from their school district to use these In-Services will be held during the year 2004 to help materials in age-appropriate and meaningful directions
for their students. These materials have been selected keeping state educational assessments as top priority. Judith Meisel will also speak following screenings of the film at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Lincoln on Sunday, Jan. 25, 10:15 a.m, and at Creighton University at 6 p.m. in the Rigge Science Building Auditorium. A reception will follow. Meisel was born in Lithuania and is a survivor of the Kovno Ghetto and of Stutthof concentration camp in Poland. She has lectured extensively on the Holocaust, and has taught the subject for over 30 years at schools and universities across the nation. Meisel’s personal story appears in the Philadelphia Public High School Teacher’s Guide for Teaching of the Holocaust, and has been recorded on audio tape in the archives of Brandies University and Columbia University. Her story has been videotaped by the Shoah Foundation Washington, D.C., and she has been active in their behalf in educating the public against racism and bigotry. An active participant in the Civil Rights Movement, Meisel was a member of the Panel of American Women and participated in and helped to organize the March on Washington, at which time she met and spoke with Dr. Martin Luther King. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Temple University and helped to establish a Preschool at Germantown Jewish Centre in Philadelphia. Later she founded the Preschool at Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara, CA. Meisel worked at several of the Ramah Camps (including the camp in Israel) in various capacities for 18 years, and has taught Yiddish at Gratz College in Philadelphia. Continued on page 4
Changes Afoot at Blumkin Home, Jewish Senior Services WWW.RBJH.COM Makes Its Debut
State Survey Shows Positive Results
by PHYLLIS GENTRY JSS Executive Assistant The Board of Directors of Jewish Senior Services is very pleased to by JOANIE BERNSTEIN announce that the Rose Blumkin Jewish President, Jewish Senior Services Home has recently completed its annual Jewish Senior Services and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home have developed a State and Federal survey and passed comprehensive website to showcase the programs and services provided to the with flying colors. The process, which Omaha senior Jewish community. took over “Our website has been designed to be user two full days, friendly and provide calendars of events offered examines at the Home and through our community outevery comporeach programs,” stated Michael Silverman, nent of the Executive Director. “We’ve also built-in the abilidelivery of ty to update the text and photos internally so we care and prodo not have to rely on an outside company for gramming to support. This will allow us to post special events the Residents and timely photos immediately.” of the Home. The home page is designed with a front door “The survey model to reflect the “open door to programs and process is a services” slogan that embodies the mission of stressful time Jewish Senior Services. Individuals visiting the for the staff of site can request information about admissions, the Home,” volunteers, Young Energetic Seniors, etc, and s t a t e d also send in information regarding job opportuM i c h a e l nities that may be available. Silverman, “The site has dynamic calendars that can be Executive clicked to showcase special events that may be Director. “It is occurring and will also link to the Community difficult to Calendar for events,” added Silverman. perform your “In addition, we are clearly linked to the daily duties Federation, which allows us to showcase our knowing that strengths and reaffirm our commitment to excelsomeone is lence in programming. It’s nice to finally have a The “front page” of Jewish Senior Services’s new website can be watching over website that matches our quality reputation.” your shoulder Come and visit the site; we’re just a click away! found at: www.rbjh.com.
Inside
This Week: America Decides 2004 Continues on Page 4 Jewish Teen Shares Summer Trip to Explain Holocaust: Page 2
Local, International Scholars at Passion Conference: Page 3
and documenting every move you make. Fortunately, our staff is outstanding and complying with the State and Federal regulations has become second nature.” With surveys in long-term care facilities identifying dozens of deficiencies across the country, the Blumkin Home was identified as having only one area requiring improvement. “We couldn’t be more pleased,” added Silverman. “Deficiency-free surveys have become few and far between, so being cited in only one area is a true testament to our hard work and dedication to the elderly.” “The Rose Blumkin Home staff works at being deficiency-free 365 days a year,” commented Joanie Bernstein, President of the Board of Directors of Jewish Senior Services. “The quality of care and the programming provided at the Home is not duplicated anywhere in the city of Omaha. The Board takes great pride in the work of each individual member of the staff. We extend our congratulations for this year’s survey results, and we thank them for their continuing efforts on behalf of our residents,” she added. For more information about the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and the array of programs and services offered by Jewish Senior Services, please call 330.4272 or visit us on the web at: www.rbjh.com.
Coming Next Month: Home & Garden Issue on Feb. 20 Gary Javitch Reviews Golda’s Balcony: Page 5
Details Wanted on Bush’s Immigration Plan: Page 9