Vol. LXXXII
No. 51
Omaha, NE
24 Av, 5763
August 22, 2003
SPECIAL SECTION ON “SIMCHAS” STARTS ON PAGE 13
Terror Relief Campaign Funds Humanitarian Aid, Security and Summer Camp in Israel by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director In April of 2002, the Jewish Communities (UJC) the following proFederation of Omaha joined with gram categories have been identified Federations across North America in as “critical needs” in Israel today and a grassroots response to combat the are being funded by Israel Terror unrelenting economic, humanitarian Relief Campaign dollars. Allocations and financial needs of Israeli citizens to date include: resulting from the ongoing terror • Child safety and protection proattacks by Palestinians. grams, such as security around To date, more than $341.5 million schools--$8 million; has been pledged to the Israel Terror • Summer camp programs that Relief Campaign, including $940,000 have been substantially upgraded-raised by the Omaha Jewish commu- $25 million; nity in 2002. • After school activities in a The funds, collected through the secure setting--$16 million; immense generosity of Omaha Jews, • Humanitarian aid to Israeli citand Jews throughout North America, izens directly impacted by the terrorare directed at improving emergency ist acts-- $50 million. health services for Israelis, preventMembers of the Partnership 2000 ing and relieving trauma and provid- Midwest Consortium, which includes ing social services to Israel’s most vul- the Omaha Jewish community, met nerable populations. last fall and recommended that 20% of Through a collaborative effort the money raised by the Consortium involving Israeli officials, the member’s Israel Terror Relief American Jewish Joint Distribution Campaigns be designated for terror Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency relief projects in our Partnership area for Israel (JAFI) and United Jewish in Israel’s Western Galilee.
Mona Golabek Brings Powerful Performance to Women’s Campaign by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director I didn’t know much about Mona Golabek when I learned she was going to be the keynote speaker for the Jewish Federation of Omaha's 2004 Women’s Campaign Event. But after interviewing her on the phone, reading her book and listening to her radio program, you can now count me as one of her most Mona Golabek ardent admirers. Golabek will perform her unique brand of music and memory on Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., at Ironwood Golf and Country Club. The event is free and open to all members of Women’s Campaign who make an increased gift to the 2004 Federation Annual Campaign. Golabek is a Grammy-nominated pianist and host of her own syndicated radio program called “The Romantic Hours”on NPR. She’s also the author of a new book titled The Children of Willesden Lane, a memoir that recounts her mother's experience during World War II. Her mother Lisa was 14-years-old when she boarded a London-bound train in December 1938 to become one of the 10,000 children to be saved by the Kindertransport. She ended up at a hostel at 243 Willesden Lane where her piano playing and her quest to win a scholarship to London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Music, inspired her fellow refugees. Golabek’s mother died in 1998 of ovarian cancer. Golabek attributes her intense passion for music to her mother and her performance is a remarkable blend of music and personal stories. When I asked her why she thought she was getting such rave reviews for her show from across the country, she seemed flattered and explained “because my mother’s story is one of hope, guts, faith, loss and perseverance. (Continued on page 8)
Israel Terror Relief funds have been used for security at a preschool, Photos courtesy UJC. above left, and for emergency aid in Tel Aviv. The 13 Midwest Consortium communities allocated $793,761; Omaha’s contribution to that total was $180,000. The donations funded security and surveillance equipment at Western Galilee College, security vehicles and bomb shelters for the Mate Asher Regional Council (which is similar to an American city government), community police outposts and secure
youth centers for the city of Akko and emergency medical equipment for Western Galilee Medical Center. Palestinian terror attacks on Israeli citizens have not abated, and the humanitarian needs in the Jewish homeland persist. In fact, according to the Independent Media Review and Analysis, which translates the Arabic and Palestinian press, “P.A. Culture (Continued on page 7)
A Family Celebrates in Buenos Aires
Grab Your Hard Hats:
by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor Celebrating a daughter’s Bat Mitzvah is always a special occasion; celebrating with family and friends left behind in Argentina for a new life in Omaha, NE, is really a simcha! For Beth El Synagogue’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin, his wife, Susi Frydman Levin, and their three children, this was more than just a family trip--it was their first trip together to Buenos Aires since they arrived in Omaha, almost exactly a year ago. All during the long 20-hour trip--through Chicago and Miami to Buenos Aires, the family anticipated what it would be like. Would the children’s friends be excited to see them? How would the grandparents, aunts and uncles react to seeing the family after a year’s absence? And, of course, what was life like in Argentina now, since the election of a new president? Had economic conditions improved? The first thing the Levin family did was realize that Argentinians now have hope (well, the second maybe--the first was picking up their favorite pastries at the bakery in their old neighborhood). A year ago, the country was in dire economic straits; more than 30,000 Jews alone (out of a population of 200,000) were living in poverty. (Continued on page 6)
by BETH COHEN, Executive Director
Beth Israel Schedules Tours of Building Site
An Open House at Beth Israel’s new building site on 126th and Pacific will offer tours to visitors on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. and again at 4:30 p.m. Members of the architectural and construction team will be on hand to explain the floor plan and answer questions about the new building. The $3.5 million 18,000 square foot structure includes a sanctuary with seating for 300 with expansion possibilities to the adjacent social hall to seat an additional 200. According to architect Marty Shukert, a fan-shaped floor plan, combined with careful attention to ceiling height, allow for natural amplification if sound that can easily be heard in all parts of the sanctuary. Because Beth Israel is an Orthodox congregation, microphones are not used on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. (Continued on page 6)
INSIDE: Rabbi Stiel to be Installed at B’nai Jeshurun in Lincoln ............... page 3 Jewish Communities Cope with Power Outage....................................................page 7 Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Susi Frydman Levin and their children, Tali, 12, Gabriel, 8, and Ariel, 15, celebrated Tali’s Bat Mitzvah in Buenos Aires last month.
UNMC Researcher Gets $6 Million Federal Grant .................... page 12 Simchas Section Starts on .................. page 13