Vol. LXXXIII No. 6 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 82 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
14 Tishrei, 5764 October 10, 2003
President Bush Discusses Faith at New Year Meeting with Rabbis;
Open House to Welcome Newcomers and Show Renovations at Chabad
Among Them, Rabbi Baruch HaLevi of Des Moines
by GARY JAVITCH for Chabad of Nebraska By now, you have heard the discouraging survey results. The American Jewish community is decreasing in size. Worse than the 5% decline is that many adherents are no longer identifying with the Jewish faith. One Omaha Jewish group wants to do something about it. They are holding an open house barbeque for the entire community. “There are so many Jewish newcomers in town, that we want to give them and others in the community a chance to meet,” said Rabbi Gideon Menachem, himself a new arrival to Omaha. The comm i t t e e wants to help everyone develop a connection to our city and to get to know others in the Jewish community. This is the perfect chance for O m a h a n s Newcomers Rabbi Gidon Menachem and his to wel- wife, Sheli. come them, added Rabbi Menachem. There are many people who just want to say hello. There is no charge and everyone is encouraged to bring their kids. There will be lots of excitement, supervised games, activities, and prizes for the kids. Babysitters will be available. The barbeque is set for Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m., and will continue until the last person leaves. “This party, which also coincides with Sukkos, is an opportunity to help bring together affiliated or unaffiliated members of all the synagogues and the community. Omaha’s Jewish community is vibrant, and it’s decreasing in size. This is an opportunity to help strengthen it, ” Rabbi Mendel Katzman, the Director of the Chabad of Nebraska said. Chabad is a part of the world’s largest Jewish educational/social outreach program. The movement continually seeks new ways to interest Jews in Judaism, in a nonjudgmental environment, without requiring membership, commitment or a particular level of observance. Chabad House recently made some facility improvements on its lower level. Thanks to the generous help of Tom and Darlynn Fellman, Charles and Louri Sullivan, Chabad House has a newly remodeled kitchen and children’s area. Continued on page 14
by MARSHALL BERGER WASHINGTON (JTA)-President Bush marked the Jewish New Year by telling a roomful of rabbis about his faith and how it helped make him a better man. Some 15 rabbis representing the three main denominations spent an hour at the White House Sept. 29 discussing a range of topics: Iraq, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, poverty and faithbased initiatives. Among them was Rabbi Baruch HaLevi of Tifereth Israel in Des Moines, IA. President Bush meets with congregational rabbis in the Eisenhower Executive Office “On Sept. 22, I received a Building, Monday, Sept. 29. Rabbi Baruch HaLevi, spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel in Des phone call from the White Moines and son of Jan Goldstein, Executive Director of Omaha’s Jewish Federation, is seatHouse,” Rabbi HaLevi said. Photo by Eric Draper/White ed at the top left in the corner. “As it was my day off, and my always loyal and attentive assistant didn’t want to dis- gogues. Fifteen to 20 rabbis were invited and I was forturb me, I didn’t get the message until the following day. tunate enough to be one of them,” he noted. “As we gathered outside of the Eisenhower Executive (We have since had a talk and she has promised to disOffices, we did what Jews have been doing for thourupt me whenever the White House calls in the future!) “The President had asked his liaison to arrange a sands of years,” the rabbi added, “We played Jewish meeting with a group of rabbis to discuss issues of geography!” interest in the Jewish community and in our syna- Continued on page 2
Sculpture Unveiled in London Commemorates Kindertransport by CAROL KATZMAN Women’s Federation Editor Campaign, “With 40% of Last month, more than the pledges in so far, 130 Omaha Jewish women we’ve raised a total of attended a performance by $346,000, a 7% card-forMona Golabek, who told card increase.” the story of her mother, Her co-chairman Bobbi Lisa, in music and words. Leibowitz added, “We still Lisa was one of 10,000 chilhave a long way to go, dren sent by their parents however to meet our from Nazi-dominated Campaign goal for this Germany, Czechoslovakia, year.” Poland and Austria to Though only a few of England as part of the Golabek’s books remain Kindertransport. for sale, copies of The In London last week, Children of Willesden commuters emerged from Lane may be ordered underground escalators of through the Kripke Liverpool Street Station into Jewish Federation “Children’s Square”, as the Library. piazza was re-named, to be According to Flor Kent, greeted by a giant glass suit- Flor Kent, the artist, left, Sir Nicholas Winton “Britain’s artist who created “Für case. Alongside, is a life- Schindler”, and the child ‘model’ were on hand for the unveil- Das Kind”, the sized bronze of a six-year- ing of the sculpture, “Für Das Kind” at Liverpool Station. The Kindertransport children old girl, the difference in sculpture depicts a child standing beside a glass suitcase, con- were sent by their parscale emphasizing the feel- taining original artifacts such as books, toys and photos carried ents who decided this ings of alienation and lone- by youngsters when they arrived in Britain in 1938 and 1939. was their children’s only liness of the Kindertransport Photo, courtesy of Flor Kent. chance of survival. Most children who came, alone, to Britain in 1938 and 1939. ‘Kinder’ arrived first at Liverpool Street Station after a Author and pianist Golabek told her story by alter- long and difficult journey from the Hook of Holland to nating the spoken narrative with the playing of Lisa’s Harwich. Each child was allowed only one handbag music. The powerful performance brought the women and one case and had to bring an unbreakable cup, to their feet in a standing ovation. washing supplies and enough food for three meals. According to Ruth Erman, co-chairman of the 2004 “They had to be able to carry the luggage themselves Continued on page 3
Inside
This Week: Op-Ed by Amb. Dennis Ross Read It & Eat Page 5
Sukkot and the Internet Page 8
Louri Sullivan, her daughter, Samantha, left, and Charlie Sullivan and son, Tommy, stand in the newly remodeled kitchen at the Chabad House with Rabbi Mendel and Shani Katzman.
Coming Nov. 7: Salute to Education and Camping Crossword Puzzle Page 11
Reminder: Synagogue Schedule of Services now on Page 14