Vol. LXXXIV No. 52 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 84 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
5 Elul, 5765 September 9, 2005
Campaign Co-Chairmen Ask Community to Live Generously by OZZIE NOGG for the Jewish Federation of Omaha The United Jewish Communities’ simtwo-word imperative--Live ple, Generously--is enthusiastically embraced by Bruce and Anne Shackman, General Co-Chairs of Omaha’s 2006 Federation Annual Campaign. “Generosity comes in many forms,” Bruce says, “and the Omaha Jewish community is blessed with people who contribute financially, and with people who also give their time, effort and energies. The success of this campaign depends on all those forms of generosity coming together.” Anne Shackman agrees. “This year’s campaign goal is $3.3 million. In my mind and heart, I feel our job as chairmen is to help everyone in the community search within themselves to find their own level of generosity. To determine what they can give--and then add a little more, please--to insure that Jews in Omaha continue to benefit from Federation agencies, to help the not so fortunate Jews in the former Soviet Union, in Israel and elsewhere, so they might live with dignity and hope. “I believe deeply in this work and I’m thrilled to be sharing this job with my husband.” The Shackmans bring different personal
the opporhistories to tunity to be their Campart of paign roles. something Anne, an important O m a h a -to help native with bring serva longand ices established programs family affilito this ation to Jewish Temple community Israel, says, and to Jews was “I overseas.” taught we Locally, must give monies back to the community Anne and Bruce Shackman are serving as the 2006 Federation r a i s e d through that has General Campaign Co-chairman. provided so much for us. It may be a cliché, Federation’s Annual Campaign support the Community Relations Committee but this work lets me give back.” Bruce came to Omaha from Chicago (CRC), the Jewish Community Center, 20 years ago with what he describes as Jewish Educational and Library Services, “zero ties to this community. I was here Jewish Family Service and Jewish Senior strictly for business. The next thing I Services. Those dollars also help continue knew, someone asked me to join the Beth the work of the Jewish Press, Young El Synagogue Board and help with the Jewish Omaha, the synagogues, Friedel new building drive. It gave me a real Jewish Academy, Va’ad HaKashruth and sense of belonging. various programs for newcomers and “As time went on I began to see how leadership. totally integrated this community is, with “In Omaha, our Federation agencies a level of participation and involvement I cover the daily needs of the Jewish comnever found in Chicago,” he adds. “I munity,” Anne explains. “Meals are delivenjoy this Campaign work. It gives me ered to the hungry, Hanukkah gifts are
As New Orleans Jews Wonder When-and If They’ll Return, Omahans Reach Out by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press With Katrina devastating New Orleans, LA, Lois Friedman wondered how the daughter of a childhood friend from Sioux City, IA, fared. “Did she leave?” Friedman said she thought to herself about Barbara Herman, a past National Vice-president of the National Council of Jewish Women. “Did she stay? Is her house under water?” Her ‘resource’, Jan Schneiderman, who served as National NCJW President while Herman was a Vicepresident, was out of the country. But a call from a Two blocks from the beach, Biloxi’s Beth Israel Congregation, the only synagogue on the former NCJW National Mississippi coast and the only Conservative synagogue in the state, still stands, though the board member put her mind building suffered heavy damage. The building had not even leaked during Hurricane Camille at ease; all three NCJW lead- in 1969, the previous benchmark for Mississippi hurricanes. Credit: Larry Brooks, Deep South Jewish News ers: Herman, Dana “Thank God for the web!” Oppenheimer said. “Dom Shepherd and Shelley Farber, President of the NO Section, were safe and out of New Orleans. But one past e-mailed back and said Eddy and Bill were holed up in Sulpher Springs, LA, during the hurricane, but were national leader, Eddy Rosen was unaccounted for. A phone call to Anne Oppenheimer of Olympia now in New York City. As for the house, Dom added Fields, IL--another past NCJW National Vice-president that news is scarce, but pictures of the nearby areas show --presented a solution. Oppenheimer remembered that total devastation. They drove with the dog and reached Rosen’s son-in-law, Dominic Picca, worked for a New Dom by Labor Day.” The Rosen’s story is but one of the many tales of narYork City law firm. She ‘googled’ him, found an e-mail address and wrote to him asking if he was, indeeed, the row escapes--and concern about the future. Jack Stiss’ Continued on page 20 Rosen’s son-in-law.
Inside Opinion Page see page 16
This Week: Special Hurricane Coverage: Pages 8-9 & 12-13 Klutznick-Harris Symposium Features 12 Scholars: Page 4
It’s Been a Chai Time for Chabad: Page 11
donated to kids who would otherwise go without. Campaign dollars help the ADL fight bigotry, send our youngsters to Jewish camps, supplement the cost of childcare for those who can’t afford it, pay for transportation so the elderly who need chemotherapy treatments can get to the hospital. These are just a few examples of how our annual campaign touches everyone in the community.” Though the the bulk of campaign dollars stay in Omaha, a portion must go overseas--to support the estimated 230,000 Jewish elderly in the former Soviet Union, the majority of whom live in poverty-- and to Israel, a land particularly close to Anne Shackman’s heart. “Since my first trip in 1991, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been to Israel-32, 33 times, is my guess. I’ve taken teens on ARTZA trips, led adult missions when I served on the regional and National UJA boards. I took a group on the 50th Anniversary Trip to Israel with a side visit to Poland. “Believe me, not everyone who signs up for a mission does so because they sincerely want to go,” she smiles. “Some take the trip to make a spouse happy or be with friends. I always tell them, ‘When you get to Israel, I don’t know when, where or how it will impact you, but it Continued on page 10
Temple to Discuss Building Plans at Community Conversation by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “As we begin to image a new building, the congregation is invited to join the community planning process and help shape the new campus,” said Orly Gilat, cochair of Temple’s Long Range Planning Committee. “Together we will articulate a common vision of our future space for worship and assembly.” There will be a community conversation at Temple Israel to discuss the synagogue’s anticipated move to a new building Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m. The entire congregation is invited to attend. Wendy Goldberg, President of Temple’s Board of Trustees, explained, “We are working hard to create a framework for participation and attention to detail that will insure that our new Temple will include meaningful space that conveys the mission and vision of our congregation.” There will be opportunities at the community conversation to ask and also to respond to questions such as, “What makes our life at Temple meaningful and our learning experiences engaging?” Small discussion groups will offer all participants the chance to articulate their thoughts and ideas. Following the discussions, all congregants will be encouraged to help in the multiple tasks associated with the establishment of a new campus for the 21st century. Temple’s Rabbi Aryeh Azriel stated, “As we move forward in building our next spiritual and physical home, we need, all of us, to participate and listen to each other’s visions and dreams. The next Temple will be the sum total of the gifts of our hearts. The evening’s conversation will lead to the building of a stronger and meaningful Judaism for our children in Omaha.” “Please plan to join the meeting, share your dreams, and help develop the common vision for our new home,” Gilat requested.
Coming Sept. 30: New Year’s Issue More of Israel’s Geography Crossword Puzzle: Page 15
Op-eds on Jewish Response to Hurricane Katrina: Pages 16-17