Vol. LXXXII
No. 50
Omaha, NE
17 Av, 5763
August 15, 2003
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 82 YEARS
Kirshenbaums: ‘Invested’ in the 2004 Federation Annual Campaign by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director Following a challenging Campaign last year, 2004 General Campaign Co-chairs Maxine and Joe Kirshenbaum have assembled a motivated team to lead the Omaha Jewish community’s most important fundraising effort. In addition to the Kirshenbaums, the 2004 Campaign Leadership Team consists of Howard Epstein and Fred Tichauer, Men’s Campaign Cochairs; Ruth Erman and Bobbi Leibowitz, Women’s Campaign Co-chairs; Bruce Shackman, Pacesetter Chairman; Michael Miller, Young Leadership Chairman and Carol and Steve Bloch and Jenny and Scott Meyerson, Community Event Co-chairs. Last year’s 2003 Federation Annual Campaign marked the 100th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. But the uncertain economic climate coupled with the highly successful Israel Terror Relief Campaign last spring lead to a decision to lower the Campaign goal from $3.2 million to $3 million. The 2003 Federation Campaign closed at $3,050,000, down $80,000 from 2002. “The theme for the 2004 Campaign is ‘The Jewish Federation of Omaha...Your Most Significant Investment,’ and it’s true!” explained Joe Kirshenbaum. “Our job is to educate the community that their Campaign pledge is an investment in the future…one that benefits each of us individually as well as the Jewish community at large.” Kirshenbaum went on to say that “we are prepared to make up the ground we lost last year. Economically, the country and the community are in a much better place than last year and we’ve set a realistic, attainable fundraising goal of $3.2 million.” Maxine Kirshenbaum added, “The Federation
Joe and Maxine Kirshenbaum
and its agencies had to cut out more than $180,000 during the Budget and Allocation process this past spring. That’s a lot of new programming that won’t be available to our constituents, but we had no choice except to live within our means. The good news is that we are all ready to work as hard as we have to in order to make our goal this year.” The Kirshenbaums also announced the Community Campaign event with Ambassador Dennis Ross, the special Middle East envoy for the Bush and Clinton administrations. The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 23 at Beth El. The Women’s Campaign is also hosting a special event featuring Grammy-nominated pianist and author Mona Golabek (see article below). (Continued on page 12)
One Woman, 88 Keys, Endless Inspiration Mona Golabek Performs for Women’s Campaign by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director Grammy-nominated pianist Mona Golabek will present a stirring performance for the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Women’s Campaign based on her acclaimed book, The Children of Willesden Lane, a memoir of her mother’s experiences during World War II through music and
memory on Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., at Ironwood Country Club. Mother-daughter team Barbara Kushner and Jill Belmont are co-chairmen for the event. The performance is free of charge, however, an increased gift to the 2004 Federation Annual Campaign is required to
(Continued on page 12)
Annual Klutznick “Sell Cheap, Tell the Truth” Harris Symposium Mrs. B’s Furniture Store Opens in Kansas City ANNA JAFFE, Contributing Writer is Bigger than Ever byKansas City Jewish Chronicle by ADRIAN E. KOESTERS Creighton University “The Jews of Eastern Europe” is the theme of this year’s Klutznick-Harris Symposium, to be held S u n d a y - M o n d a y, Sept.14-15. Local community members can expect three times the choices of presentations during day sessions, as well as a delightful keynote address from one of the most eminent scholars on Eastern Dean Bell Europe working today. Always looking for innovative ways to improve on past Symposia successes, Creighton Klutznick Chair holder Leonard J. Greenspoon contacted Dean Bell, dean of the Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies in Chicago, who this year is coordinator of the annual Midwest Jewish Studies Association regional meeting. MJSA, as it is known, is the premier regional society for scholars in all areas of Jewish studies. “For many years, MJSA and the Klutznick-Harris events have been held on the same weekend,” Greenspoon said. “This has forced participants to choose which event they would attend, and for some regional scholars who are members, the choice has often been to attend MJSA. “After my recent travels in Romania and Budapest, this year seemed like a natural choice to address Eastern European Jewry,” Greenspoon (Continued on page 7)
KANSAS CITY, KS -- In Furniture Mart. the midst of the great “This is the first time in our history depression, Rose that we’ve ever built a building from Blumkin, a Russian scratch,” Batt said. “It’s designed with Jewish immigrant, borthe latest and greatest. There’s nothrowed $500 from her ing like this in the country.” brother to open a little Furniture, electronics, appliances furniture store in the and flooring will all be available basement of a building in under one giant roof. downtown Omaha. “It’s destination shopping where you Over the years, that litdon’t have to go to other stores in order tle store--the Nebraska to meet your home-furnishings needs,” Furniture Mart--has Batt said. “The selection is bigger than become a giant in the anything that’s ever been seen...We try world of retail furniture to appeal to anyone who walks in here sales, known for its barat any price point at any time. We have gain-basement prices, a high-end design section. But we also extensive array of merhave the basics for a couple of kids who chandise and top-notch are just starting out.” Rose Blumkin customer service. Warren Buffett, chairman of the This Nebraska institution is now making its way board of Berkshire Hathaway, which now owns a down I-29 to the Kansas City area. Last week, the majority interest in the Nebraska Furniture Mart, Nebraska Furniture Mart opened a 712,000-square- expressed excitement about the prospects for the foot retail and distribution facility next to the Kansas City store in a February 2003 letter to Kansas Speedway at I-435 and State Avenue West Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. in Kansas City, KS. (Continued on page 8) “Our customers from Kansas City kept on saying ‘Come down here, come down here. We want you.’ INSIDE: So, we listened to the customers,” said Robert Batt, JELS 2003-04 College Scholarship Blumkin’s grandson and Executive Vice-president Winners ................................................ pages 6-7 of the Nebraska Furniture Mart. “That’s what made a difference here. There are more people here in Omahan Returns from Birthright Trip . page 9 Kansas City than there are in the whole state of Nebraska. So it was a natural.” NJHS to Debut Oral History Video ....... page 10 The new store is a big step for the Nebraska