Vol. LXXXIII No. 45 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Athletes from Former Soviet Union Carry Israeli Hopes to Athens Games by DINA KRAFT WINGATE SPORTS CENTER, Israel (JTA)--Katya Pisetsky’s legs extend into a backhand walkover. Then she spins in a circle, tosses a pair of clubs 30 feet in the air, catches them, glides into a final, triumphant pose and flashes an electric smile. The Latin-style background music stops and the rhythmic gymnast’s smile melts instantly into a frown. Pisetsky, 18, is going to the Olympics in just two months and her coach, Natasha Asmolov, is berating her in a mixture of Russian and Hebrew for not extending her arm far enough, for not holding her back straight enough, for not feeling the music enough. Watching from a nearby wooden bench are Pisetsky’s ballet trainer and sports psychologist, who also have immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union. Immigrant athletes from
the former Soviet Union make up about half of the team Israel is sending to the Athens Games in August, bolstering the country’s Olympic hopes and the Israeli identity of the newcomers. Many of the coaches and the medical staff are also immigrants from the former Soviet Union. “Immigrants from Russia have given sports an amazing boost because so many of them are already professionals in their field,” says Asmolov, 43. There are 36 Israeli athletes on the Olympic team, 15 of whom are immigrants from the former Soviet Union. There are also two marathon runners who are immigrants from Ethiopia-the first time Ethiopian immigrants have been represented on the Israeli Olympic team. Israelis are competing in 11 events: Rhythmic gymnast Katya Pisetsky, 18, a Russian immigrant track and field, judo, to Israel, goes through her routine at the Wingate Sports wrestling, tae kwon do, tenCenter as she prepares for the Olympic Games in Greece nis, gymnastics, rhythmic Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA Continued on page 12 this summer.
20 Tamuz, 5764 July 9, 2004
Nebraskans Organize “No Place for Hate” Rally to Counter Nazi March in Lincoln by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press A week from Saturday--July 17--the St. Paul, MN, based National Socialist Movement will hold a “White Unity” rally on the steps of the Capitol building in Lincoln from 1-3 p.m. Their leader, Jeff Schoep, has obtained the permit required to have a legal assembly, but Bob Wolfson, the Executive Director of the Great Plains Region Anti-Defamation League/Community Relations Community is urging members of the Jewish community not to show up in protest. “Please do not attend the Nazi rally!” Wolfson urged in a memo to his ADL board members, requesting they attend a celebration of diversity and community at Lincoln’s Pioneers Park that day instead: July 17, noon-3 p.m.. “We have arranged adequate coverage of the event itself,” Wolfson added. “We are working closely with law enforcement and the appropriate to assure a safe day and gather as much intelligence and information as we can. The most important contribution you can make is to talk about who these folks are and remind people about what we do at the ADL: Protect, Investigate and Educate.” The title of the Lincoln community event is “No Place For Hate--Nebraska Celebrates Diversity”--which also happens to be the name of the ADL’s newest community-based initiative to fight hate and build hope in the Continued on page 2
Israel Scout Caravan Returns to Omaha by LISA SHKOLNICK JCC Assistant Executive Director The Israel Scout Caravan is set to return to the Omaha Jewish Community Center July 18-21. The Israel Scout Caravan will spend two-and-a-half days in Omaha this year working with and performing for over 800 people in our Jewish and general communities. The Jewish community, JCC members, JCC campers and dancers, all Jewish youth group teens, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Boys Scouts will be all an integral part of the Israel Scouts experience. The Scouts’ visit to Omaha will conclude with a free concert for the entire Jewish community, Tuesday, July 20, 7 p.m. in the JCC Theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for first-come seating. The performance is followed by a dessert reception. The Caravan is an Israeli Teen performance group that tours the United States each summer, performing for and working with Jewish communities throughout the United States. The Israel Scout Caravan is comprised of 10 scouts, 17 years of age, who have been selected for their talents as performers as well as exemplary role models from their communities in Israel. Sponsored by the Jewish National Fund, the Tzofim to perform at public gatherings, schools, community centers, hospitals and nursing homes throughout the summer, touching the lives of people in over 400 audiences, including thousands of children at Jewish summer camps. JNF also provides each Tzofim
Inside
Friendship Caravan with a JNF Big Map (30 x 15 feet) of Israel to use before and after performances and as an interactive “legs-on” approach for Israel education at summer camps. This year in Omaha, the Israel Scouts Caravan will perform at the Boys and Girls Club, where over 300 children will enjoy Last year’s group of Tzofim--Israeli Scouts--performed at the JCC. This year’s concert is underwritten by: the Morton A. the interactive Richards Youth Fund, Esther K. Newman Memorial Fund, and Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation. concert and be able to participate in an Workshop, where kids will learn authen- participate in an afternoon of games and informal question/answer period follow- tic Israeli dances, and create their own activities at the Israeli Camp Carnival. Later that evening, all Jewish teens are ing the performance. The Israel Scouts special tambourine. To register for the enjoy working with youth in the com- free International Dance Workshop, con- invited to a Mediterranean-themed dinner hosted by BBYO, OTYG, USY, and munity, as it gives American children tact Leslie Wallace at 334.6406. Other activities during the Scouts’ visit NCSY at the JCC at Tuesday, July 20, 6 meaningful, hands-on, positive experiinclude an all day JCC Camp “Israeli p.m. The dinner is free to all Jewish ences with Israeli teens. In addition to the Boys and Girls Club Day” on Tuesday, July 20. JCC camp staff teens, seventh-12th grades, and reservaperformance, the Israel Scouts will be and Israel Scouts will work with our JCC tions should be called in to Rachel Blum working one-on-one with dancers in the Day campers in teaching them Israeli at 334.6404 no later than July 19. JCC Dance program on Monday, July songs, dances, customs, and history...all Following dinner, all teens will attend 19 in the morning. Free to all JCC in fun interactive activities. Campers will the concert starting at 7 p.m. For more information, please contact dancers who were enrolled in a dance make their own Hebrew necklaces, perprogram this past year, the Israel Scouts form their newly learned Israeli songs me at 334.6425 or at lshkolnick@jewhave prepared an International Dance and dances for their fellow campers, and ishomaha.org.
This Week: Healthy Living Issue Informative Articles from our Healthy Living Advertisers Start on Page 3
Read It & Eat Features The Golden Door Light: Page 10
Coming Next Month: Simchas Issue on Aug. 6 Maimonides & Caro-The First Fitness Gurus: Page 15
Crossword Puzzle-How About A Swim: Page 19