Vol. LXXXII
No. 35
Omaha, NE
30 Nisan, 5763
May 2, 2003
SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE ISSUE
Charlotte Kaplan, Marvin Gerber and Robert Mosenkis Win United Way Awards by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor Three members of the Omaha Jewish community were honored at Wednesday’s annual United Way luncheon: Charlotte Kaplan won in the Religion category, Marvin Gerber in the Ethnic category, and Robert Mosenkis for Youth. Kaplan has been demonstrating extraordinary acts Charlotte Kaplan, of kindness in the Omaha Jewish community for more than 40 years. But her volunteer work, while exceedingly vital, has been largely behind the scenes. Kaplan’s involvement in all aspects of the Jewish community has been widespread and varied. She has been active with the Va’ad HaKashrut committee of the Jewish Federation, Amit Women and Hadassah, Young Energetic Seniors (Y.E.S.) and the Jewish Cultural Arts Council, as well as Beth Israel Synagogue and its Sisterhood. But it is perhaps her association with the Chevrah Kadishe, the Jewish ritual burial society, for which Kaplan is most well known, according to the nomination submitted by the Jewish Federation. Kaplan is the women’s chairperson for of the Chevrah Kadishe; she and other women have been trained by rabbis in the careful and respectful tra-
Noted Rabbinic Couple to Speak in Omaha by RAE TRAYNOR Somehow accounting and the rabbinate don’t seem to go together, but for Rabbi Moshe Ungar and his wife, Debbie, it’s a match made in heaven. The couple will be in Omaha Friday and Saturday, May 1617, as scholars-in-residence for the Omaha Center for Torah Learning. Rabbi Ungar, “who is Debbie Ungar and Shari’s rabbi from her Rabbi Moshe Ungar hometown of Philadelphia,” said Rabbi Aryeh Blum, Director of OCTL, “is a master of adult education and one of Philly’s most engaging Torah personalities.” Rabbi Ungar received his smicha (rabbinic ordination) from Ner Israel Rabbinic College in Baltimore, MD; he lectures extensively in synagogues, community centers and schools throughout the Northeast and spoke at Congregation Ohev Shalom in North Dallas in January. Though Rabbi Ungar is the Director of the Etz Chaim Heritage Center, he is also a practicing CPA, having earned a degree in accounting from Loyola University in Baltimore. (Continued on page 8)
Marvin Gerber and Robert Mosenkis dition of preparing bodies for burial in the Jewish tradition. She’s recruited more than 25 volunteers over the years, but there is always a need for more. Her selfless actions were rewarded by the Jewish Federation in 1999 when she was awarded the first ever “Chesed” or kindness award. Kaplan is modest about her volunteer work, but her acts with the Chevrah Kadishe are considered to be the highest order of good deeds according to Jewish law. Marvin Gerber has touched the lives of many, especially the frail elderly as he “smothers them in kindness,” according to Maggie Conti, Adult Program Director for Jewish Senior Services. “He quietly works behind the scenes, making sure all are happy and never wants recognition or kudos for his volunteer work.” (Continued on page 8)
Amy Cotton Receives Liz Karnes Youth Award from NCCJ by BARBARA ANGELILLO, NCCJ The National Conference of Community and Justice (NCCJ) will confer the Liz Karnes Youth Award on Amy Cotton, the daughter of Marcy and Ira Cotton, at the organization’s annual Humanitarian Dinner on May 29 at the Holiday Inn Central. The award takes on even more meaning with Karnes’ recent death on April 24. Cotton, a freshman at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, is a 2002 graduate of Westside High School. She caught the attention of the NCCJ staff while attending its Anytown Youth Leadership residential program as a delegate in the summer of 2000. It was clear from the start that Amy possessed strong leadership qualities and a passion to pursue social justice. At the end of Amy’s freshman year at Westside, she became involved with the Omaha Theater Company for Young People at The Rose. She auditioned and won a position with a group called the Pride Players, which uses theatrical productions to raise awareness of the need to stem the tide of hate and harassment against gay men and women. Armed with heightened awareness as a Pride Player and Anytown Alumni, Amy was determined (Continued on page 8)
Jewish Federation Centennial Campaign Exceeds Goal by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director Joanie Kaiman and Jerry Kohll, 2003 General Campaign Co-chairs, announced that $3,024,000 was raised for Jewish community services during the 2003 Jewish Federation of Omaha Centennial Campaign, which closed on March 31. The goal for this year’s drive was $3 million. “I am so proud to be part of this wonderful Jewish community,” said Kaiman. “Each volunteer and donor pulled together and supported our Federation’s Centennial by making increased gifts to the Centennial Patron Program. I’d like to personally thank every single one of them for their hard work and support.” The Centennial Patron Program recognized donors who increased their Annual Campaign gift by $100 or more as “Centennial Patrons” by publishing their names in boldface type in the Jewish Press. Those who increased their gift by less than $100 were recognized as supporters with their names printed in regular type. Jerry Kohll also expressed his gratitude to the O m a h a J e w i s h community for their unfaltering generosity. "We knew this was going to be a challenging year for fundraising, espe2003 General Campaign Cocially conChairmen Jerry Kohll and Joanie sidering Kaiman the fact that this community had just contributed $970,000 for Israel Terror Relief, not to mention the economic and political environment we’re experiencing right now. But thanks to the donors and the hard work of literally hundreds of volunteers, the excellent programs and services funded by the Annual Campaign will continue," noted Kohll. The close of the 2003 Annual Campaign marks the end of Kaiman and Kohll’s two-year term as General Campaign Co-Chairs. They were instrumental in changing the volunteer structure of the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign and instituted the "Campaign Leadership Team," which is made up of the volunteer leaders from the Campaign’s five divisions; Pacesetter Division, Men’s Campaign, Women’s Campaign, Young Leadership Division and Super Sunday. The 2003 Campaign Leadership Team included Pete Brodkey and Jerry Dann heading Men’s Division, Joanie Jacobson and Patty Nogg, Women’s Division; Bruce Shackman, Pacesetters; Michael Miller, Young Leadership Division; and Elinor and Guy Matalon, Super Sunday. (Continued on page 8)
INSIDE: Where Are They Now? ............................ page 7 Jihad & Contemporary Politics: Subject of Live from the 92nd St. Y ..... page 9 Mother’s Day Gift Guide .... starts on page 13 Read It & Eat ......................................... page 20 Former Omahan to Exhibit Photographs in JCC Gallery ....................................... page 21