May 21, 2004

Page 1

Vol. LXXXIII No. 38 Omaha, NE

From Buffer to Burden: a History of the Gaza Strip Settlement Effort by GIL SEDAN JERUSALEM (JTA)--Some 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip are clustered in what was designed as five settlement “fingers.” • Three settlements--Nissanit, Alei Sinai and Dugit-were built along the strip's northern border with Israel for the purpose of creating a contiguous Jewish presence from Ashkelon to the northern suburbs of Gaza City. • The Netzarim region, originally planned as a large settlement bloc, was built as a buffer between Gaza City and the town of Deir el-Balah. • The bulk of the Gaza settlements--including Netzer Hazani, Katif, Gush Kfar Darom and Ganei Tal--were built in the heart of the strip as a buffer zone between the Palestinian towns of Deir al Balah and Khan Yunis. They also cut off Khan Yunis’ access to the Mediterranean Sea. • A southern cluster of settlements lies close to the Palestinian town of Rafah and the Egyptian border. • The fifth “finger” comprised Jewish settlements on the northwestern tip of Sinai, predominantly the town of Yamit. However, that finger was “cut off”--that is to say, evacuated and razed--following the peace agreement with Egypt. According to statistics from the local regional council, some 7,500 Jews, most of them Orthodox, live in the Gaza Strip, surrounded by some 1.3 million Palestinians. The Israelis constitute about 0.6 percent of the strip’s total population. Israel occupied the region briefly during the 1956 Sinai Campaign, but returned it under U.S. pressure. The area remained under Egyptian control until the 1967 Six-Day War.

Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

1 Sivan, 5764 May 21, 2004

Federation Jewish Teen Leadership Award Goes to Three Outstanding Youth by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director In an unprecedented move, the Jewish Teen Leadership Award is being presented to three young people at the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Meeting, Monday, June 7, 7 p.m., in the Theater at the Jewish Janet Baack Community Center. Usually, the Jewish Teen Leadership Award is given to one or two outstanding teen leaders, but this year marks the first time in the history of the award that three young people are being honored. The award honors Jewish teens who demonstrate leadership ability in a youth group and who have contributed to strengthening the organization and developing future leadership. Recipients are chosen by an anonymous committee. The Jewish Teen Leaders for 2004 are: Janet Baack, Alana Kinarsky and Robert Mosenkis. This prestigious award also comes with a $1,000 stipend that can be used towards Jewish educational course work or a Jewish experience such as camp or program in Israel. Janet Baack was nominated for this award by Temple Israel’s Omaha Temple Youth Group. A member of OTYG for four years, Janet is the current President. Her involvement with OTYG began with the Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auction, ultimately becoming the chairman of the event. That year, a record $12,000 was raised benefiting Camp Rainbow, a camp for children with blood disorders, and OTYG programming. Over the next two years, as Treasurer and then Special Projects Coordinator, Janet continued to improve the fundraiser. In 2002, OTYG raised $15,000 and more than $20,000 in 2003. Janet expanded the role of Special Projects

Alana Kinarsky Robert Mosenkis Coordinator to include more than fundraising; she also believed it should include hands-on experiences to increase both knowledge and commitment to the cause. She involved OTYG members in the American Cancer Society’s Teen Relay for Life and began researching other camps for children with cancer. Although teens are not part of the staff, she contacted the director of Camp CoHoLo in Gretna, and arranged for members of OTYG to spend a day at the camp assisting with programming. Because of Janet’s passion for the fight against cancer, OTYG now contributes time and money to two camps for children with life-threatening illness. Janet’s impact goes far beyond the current OTYG program. Because of the large amount of money raised by OTYG each year and the adoption of Janet’s commitment to contributing time as well as money, the OTYG board now sponsors the program expenses for all the other Temple Youth Groups. In addition, OTYG members attend events for the younger youth groups, impacting future OTYG members in two ways. Janet has also encouraged the OTYG board to set up two scholarship funds to help offset rising costs of youth conventions. Janet is a senior at Millard West High School and plans to major in pre-med with the goal of becoming a pediatrician. Her parents are Debbie and Dennis Baack. Continued on page 2

Shop Shalom Named Community Service Project of the Year Israeli soldiers search for body parts of fellow soldiers killed when an armored personnel carrier exploded after being hit by a Palestinian rocket propelled grenade, in the Israeli controlled area between the Southern Gaza town of Rafah and the Egyptian border on May 13. Two more Israeli soldiers were killed by sniper fire while guarding their comrades Credit: BP Images/JTA looking for body parts. Immediately after the war, the Israeli government declared that it was ready to return the West Bank to Jordan, but Jordan refused to recognize or negotiate with Israel. In contrast, the Israeli government decided to hold onto Gaza, noting that Egypt had it used as a base for frequent attacks against Israel. The Jewish presence in the Gaza Strip dates back to biblical times, but many Jews do not believe Gaza was part of the biblical Land of Israel. The modern settlement drive there did not begin until three years after the 1967 war. The government initiated several civilian settlements as a buffer between Egypt, the Palestinian population and the western Negev region in Israel proper. The first civilian settlement was founded on Oct. 11, 1970. It was named Kfar Darom, meaning “south village,” after a legendary kibbutz founded in 1946 and Continue on page 11

Inside

by PAM MONSKY Shalom was obvious. Federation Communications The continuing intafada Director has destroyed Israel’s Shop Shalom, the vibrant tourist industry Israeli vendor fair sponand left small businesses sored by the Jewish and shops in shambles. Federation of Omaha, These once thriving, has been named the middle class people are Community Service now wondering how Project of the year. The they will feed their famiaward will be presented lies the next month, the at the Federation’s next week and even the Annual Meeting on June next day,” she said. 7, 7 p.m., in the Theater More than 1,500 peoat the JCC. ple came out and Shop Shalom brought shopped, purchasing a more than 30 Israeli venwide variety of merchanShop Shalom Steering committee members pictured during the dors and shop owners to dise made in Israel. May, 2003, event, included: Traci Kugler (holding daughter Omaha for a four day Since shop owners hanLauren), Sandy Kutler, Terri Zacharia and Jamie Friedland. shopping event to benefit dled their own transacthe merchants who have been devastated by Israel’s tions, sales figures are unavailable, but most vendors economic downturn due to the continuing terrorist were pleased with the event. attacks against it’s citizens. Shop Shalom involved more than 150 volunteers who Co-chairmen for Shop Shalom were the mother- did everything from helping to sell to housing vendors daughter teams of Jamie Friedland and Terri Zacharia during the event. All those involved were introduced to and Traci Kugler and Sandy Kutler. The reason the four unique Israeli merchandise, friendships were formed became involved with this project was simple accord- and the business-owners now have a strong connection ing to Friedland. “For all of us, the purpose of Shop to the Omaha Jewish community.

This Week: Where Are They Now?--Page 3 Shabbat “in the Hood” Page 4

Rabbis Tell Hadassah What’s on Their Minds: Page 5

Coming Next Month: Father’s Day/Graduation Issue on June 4 Read It & Eat for Shavuot: Page 7

Chabad Rabbi and Wife Recovering from Accident: Page 12


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