Vol. LXXXIII
No. 2
15 Elul, 5763
Omaha, NE
September 12, 2003
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA SINCE 1920
Israel’s Diaspora Museum to Close by EDGAR ASHER, an Isranet exclusive Sunday, it was announced that the Beit Hatefutsoth--The Museum of the Diaspora--is to close for at least the next three months due to lack of funds. In May 1978, the Beit Hatefutsoth was inaugurated on the campus of Tel Aviv University. The museum, which was purpose built, had its origins going back to 1959 when it was decided at the World Jewish Congress (WJC) to build ‘a monument to the Jewish Diaspora, past and present’. The then-president and founder of the WJC, Nahum Goldman recognized that world Jewry must understand the significance, history and importance of the Diaspora as it binds the Jewish people together wherever they live in the world. As Goldman
news feature saw it the museum had two main purposes; firstly to create a living memorial to the dispersion of the Jewish people over the ages, and secondly to mark what he saw as the end of the 2,500-year old chapter on the history of the Diaspora, which culminated in the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis and the establishment of the State of Israel. Beit Hatefutsot was not intended to be just a static record of the history of Diaspora, but a focus world-wide for anybody who was interested in being educated about all the facets of past and present Diaspora communities. Collections of photographs, drawings, Jewish music and genealogy was to be just part of the museum experience. (Continued on page 10)
A Diaspora Museum guide, center, lectures to visiting French students.
2004 Men’s Campaign Kickoff to Feature Radio Personality Kent Pavelka by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director Howard Epstein and Fred Tichauer have invested their time, resources and energy into pumping up the 2004 Federation Men’s Campaign. As the 2004 CoChairmen, Epstein and Tichauer are responsible for raising $300,000 from the 480 donors who comprise the General Men’s Campaign, which kicks off its annual fundraising drive on Wednesday, Howard Epstein, left, and Fred Tichauer are Sept. 17, 5:30 p.m. at the Co-chairmen of the 2004 Men’s Campaign. ers for the Annual Campaign who will Jewish Community Center. KKAR radio personality Kent solicit Jewish community members Pavelka will be the featured speaker for pledges on behalf of the at the kickoff. This past May, Pavelka Federation. The money raised through the spent five days broadcasting his morning news program live from Annual Campaign funds Jewish causes locally and overseas. In Omaha, Israel to KKAR listeners in Omaha. Pavelka’s unprecedented Israel Campaign dollars support the broadcasts were sponsored by the Community Relations Council (CRC), Jewish Federation and the Anti- the JCC, Jewish Educational and Defamation League, and made possible Library Services, Jewish Family by American Voices in Israel, a program Service and Jewish Senior Services, that provides American radio personal- as well as Federation programs such ities state-of-the-art broadcast facilities as Jewish experience scholarships, in Jerusalem. Omaha was the first missions to Israel, Birthright Israel, Children’s Needs Scholarships and community to participate. Pavelka will address more than 100 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Camp Grants. (Continued on page 8) volunteer leaders, captains and work-
Formal Installation of Cantor to Highlight Selichot Service at Beth El by DIANE AXLER BAUM for Beth El Synagogue The combination of study and special programming associated with Selichot at Beth El Synagogue will be enhanced this year, on Saturday, Sept. 20, by the formal installation of Gastón Bogomolni as Cantor of the congregation. Beth El’s new Cantor has extensive background in cantorial studies, music theory, music technology, drama, and improvisation. Upon his induction into the Cantors Assembly this spring, he became, at age 25, the youngest member of the worldwide organization. The events of Selichot, free and open to the community, will get underway with Havdalah, at 9 p.m. At 9:20 p.m., Rabbi Mordechai Levin will lead an interactive study session exploring “Selichot as Spiritual Preparation for the High Holidays.” Rabbi Levin invited participation, noting the significance of Selichot as a means to make ready for “the self-examination that marks the High Holidays and the start of our Jewish New Year.” Other features of the evening include a dessert reception, at 10 p.m.; a musical program, at 10:20 p.m., and the Selichot service, at 11 p.m. The 40-minute service will mark the debut of Beth El’s new choir. Members are Dacia Jabenis, Holly Weill, Annalisse Ocanto, Eadie Tsabari, Barbara Widman, Marty Shukert, Stanley Widman, Sheldon Masnek, Miles Remer, Steven Lercher and David Lercher. Esther Wax continues to accompany the Choir as pianist. Rousing songs by the late rabbi and songwriter Shlomo Carlebach will highlight the musical pro-
Gastón Bogomolni, with his wife, Lena and son, Samuel. gram. In addition to singing the popular selections, Bogomolni will offer thoughtful interpretations. Instrumental accompaniment will be provided by Anna Mosenkis, piano; Jon Bleicher, bass; Tuffy Epstein, winds; Jeff Malashock, sax; Robert Mosenkis, percussion; Jill Belmont, guitar; and Lev Shekhtman, accordian. After the concert, Congregation President Dick Fellman will conduct the formal installation of Bogomolni, who undertook the role of Cantor in July after serving as Beth El’s Ritual Director. In the former position, he had an opportunity to work alongside Beth El’s then Cantor Emil Berkovits. Bogomolni is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before coming to Omaha, he held the position of vis-
iting High Holidays Cantor at Beith Israel Synagogue in Roanoke, VA, and served Jewish communities in the Dominican Republic and Spain. In Spain, he had experience as a Cantor, choir conductor, youth director, and history, bible and B’nai Mitzvah teacher. He established the first Klezmer Orchestra and performed as its featured vocalist. In addition, he developed and presented a one-man show titled “Jewish Holidays: Their Music Through Time.” In the Dominican Republic, he served as Director of the Jewish Community of Santo Domingo and Sosua, Puerto Plata, where he founded the Macabi Santo Domingo, a social-sports-religious Sunday School. He produced Fiddler On The Roof in Sosua and directed and participated in the first Jewish concert, “Five Hundred Years With Traditional Jewish Music,” at the National Theater in Santo Domingo. He also introduced his CD of Passover Songs. Bogomolni and his wife, Lena, have a baby son, Samuel Natan.
INSIDE: Torah Inspires Architect ....................... page 6 Temple Offers Basic Judaism Course ........................... page 7 Klutznick-Harris Symposium Features Regional, International Scholars ...... page 12