Vol. LXXXIII
No. 1
Omaha, NE
8 Elul, 5763
September 5, 2003
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA SINCE 1920
Jewish Groups Celebrate Outcome of Alabama Case, but Worry for Future
Federation Establishes Community Development Position
by MATTHEW E. BERGER
by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director After months of conversation among community leaders, professionals and rabbis, an important step is being taken by the Jewish Federation of Omaha to attract newcomers to Omaha. “The need for a professional community development position has been growing over the past few years, explained Steve Pitlor, Federation President. “We’re all aware of our community’s demographics and the Federation leadership has made a decision to be proactive. “The goals of the Community Development Director are much larger than welcoming newcomers to our community, although that certainly is important. This newly-created position also focuses on actively marketing Jewish Omaha and recruiting Jewish people to the Omaha community,” Pitlor added. To reach those goals: marketing Omaha and the Jewish community, attracting newcomers, and recruiting them to live in the Heartland, the Jewish Federation has announced the establishment of a new professional position--a part-time, one-year position partially funded through the generosity of the Nick Newman Foundation and a private donor. As the Federation’s first Community Development Director, Janie Murow said her work will benefit every sector of the Omaha Jewish community. “I plan on working with the Federation’s Centers of Excellence, the synagogues and the Jewish organizations,” she explained. “We’ll be relying on native Omahans as well as those who haven’t lived here very long to help us welcome new families to our community.” Janie Murow Developing an employment-networking program is also a high priority. Working with Jewish business people, corporations, universities and recruiters, Murow plans to develop ways to connect Jewish professionals with area employers. “Our goal is to create an atmosphere where Jews in the workforce can meet one another and maybe help one another out,” Murow stated. “With a newcomer and employment-networking structure in place, we can also begin developing a plan to welcome Argentinean Jews to our community.” Rabbi Mordechai Levin, spiritual leader of Beth El Synagogue, and his family, as well as Cantor Gastón Bogomolni and his wife, Lena, have already begun working with the Federation in exploring ways to help bring Jews from Argentina to Omaha. Argentina has been in the midst of an economic crisis for several years, forcing more than 30,000 Jews into poverty. Others--who do have financial assets-are unable to immigrate to the United States without work permits. A newcomer’s event is being planned for the fall. Murow began work Sept. 2 and can be reached at her Federation office, 334-6566, or via e-mail at: jmurow@jewishomaha.org.
WASHINGTON (JTA)-waiting and watching as Jewish leaders praised Moore defied the court the removal of a monuorder. ment of the Ten State officials took action Commandments in the Aug. 27 to move the monuAlabama Judicial Buildment from the building’s ing but are concerned by rotunda to a private area, some of the developments while Christian religious the case has spawned. activists who support “The result was what we Moore prayed outside. wanted,” said Deborah “We’ve been happy to Lauter, the Antijust let Judge Moore self Defamation League’s destruct,” Stern said. Southeast Region Despite often taking a Director. “We celebrate religiously conservative the rule of law prevailing.” stance on church-state Despite the legal victory, issues, the fervently some in the Jewish comOrthodox group Agudath munity are concerned by Israel of America has not the amount of support taken a position on the Alabama Chief Justice Ten Commandments case. Roy Moore has received in “God and the concept of the state and in Congress. morality does not violate They worry that he will be Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore showed his the church-state separaportrayed as a martyr in Ten Commandments monument to visitors at tion,” said Rabbi Avi future clashes over the state Judicial Building in Montgomery in Shafran, Agudah’s direcrecent months. church-state issues. tor of public affairs. “But Photo by Larry Brook, Deep South Jewish Voice something that is blatantThey also worry that public response to the Ten Commandments case ly in support of a particular religion would be very might cause some federal judges to let other unpop- clearly unconstitutional.” ular orders go unenforced. Other Jewish organizations filed briefs seeking “What is symbolic about any discussion is the the monument's removal last year, claiming it viodepths of feelings on both sides,” said Marc Stern, lated the Constitution’s ban on government promothe American Jewish Congress’ general counsel. tion of religion. The briefs argued that the monu“These two sides really don’t understand each ment not only endorsed religion, but also backed a other.” particular religious perspective. Jewish groups were active while the case was in “The display of the Ten Commandments sends a the courts, supporting efforts to force Moore to message of exclusion to those who do not share the remove the monument, which he installed one night Judeo-Christian religious tradition and a message two years ago. of favoritism to those who do,” said a brief filed by But since the federal court ruled in their favor last ADL, the American Jewish Committee and the year, Jewish groups have taken a less active role-(Continued on page 7)
Omaha’s Jewish Women “Drive Through” for Kickoff of 2004 Campaign by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director Volunteer workers for the 2004 Women’s Campaign chose their campaign donors the easy way. They simply pulled up to the front of the Jewish Community center for “drivethrough donors” and received all of their campaign materials and details for the Women’s Campaign Event, featuring Mona Golabek on Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m. at the Ironwood Country Club. Chairwomen in the Women’s Campaign Cabinet are: Lion of Judah: Anne Shackman and Susie Cohn; Pomegranate: Marcia Pitlor, Barb Platt and Anne Cohen; Leadership: Patricia Newman and Janey Dann; Life Savers: Pam Friedlan(Continued on page 2)
INSIDE: Read It & Eat ........................................... page 7 Teen Age ................................................... page 8 ADL Prepares Teens to Respond to Anti-Semitism on Campus .............. page 11 Vicki Sanford chooses the donors she will solicit from Womens’ Campaign Director Kathy McGauvran. Overall Women’s Campaign Chairwomen are Ruth Erman and Bobbi Leibowitz.
Former Omahan to Lead Israeli Dancing at Beth El ................................................ page 12