Vol. LXXXVII No. 11 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 86 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
13 Kislev, 5768 November 23, 2007 2 Sections
In an effort to expand its reach, UJC reaches out to young innovators
Successful premiere leads to second annual Federation AC/DC telethon
by JACOB BERKMAN NASHVILLE (JTA) -- A self-described professional Jewish lesbian. A Web guru who calls himself the Orthodox Anarchist. A young, Oscar-winning producer. The United Jewish Communities looked to this group and their disenfranchised peers for help at its annual General Assembly in the Tennessee capital last week, giving them an entire plenary to talk about themselves, what they need from the North American federation system and why they have a hard time becoming a part of it. It was a recognition by the UJC that it must embrace new, innovative thoughts Members of UJC's Young Leadership Cabinet and Hillel students work at the Nashville and programming that can Rescue Mission prior to the 2007 GA. After working in the Mission, the group convened for attract a younger population a Jewish learning session on the nature of tzedekah, or social justice. Credit: Max Orenstein that does not see itself engine to bring people together.” bound by traditional Jewish lines. Kanfer envisions a future federation system in which Jewish federations are fretting over how to bring “we will have not created the new ideas but we have supyoung Jews into their fold because the failure to do so port for the new ideas.” could cause a crisis down the road for a system that takes In this future, he said, “many great things would have in more than $3 billion annually in charitable dollars. died out if not for the support of the federations. The “What you saw is a beginning,” the UJC’s chairman, federations will have not always had the early passion Joseph Kanfer, told JTA. “It strikes us that the federa- surrounding great ideas, but they have the capacity to tion system needs to become a capacity builder and an Continued on page 4
by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Director After producing strong results in its pilot year, the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign will once again feature an Direct Calling Campaign, the AC/DC telethon. AC/DC will take place on several weekdays in November and December, providing the opportunity for campaign workers to come together as a group to solicit donors. The telethon will cover calls for- Andy Ruback calls a donor during last mally reserved year’s AC/DC Telethon. for Super Sunday, in addition to several divisions of both the Men’s and Women’s Campaigns. AC/DC will supplement face-to-face and special solicitations, which remain a significant part of the campaign. The program’s theme, “Our Community Rocks,” speaks to the philanthropic nature of the Omaha Jewish community. “Omaha Jewish women are smart, caring, and always willing to do their share,” said Women’s Campaign Chairman Nancy Rips. “They’ve proven that their contributions can make a concrete difference.” Continued on page 2
Part I: The Dreidel Chronicles
Nothing to look forward to by ANDREA BARTMAN for Jewish Family Service Jewish Family Service provides assistance year-round to those in the community who need help. Individuals like the gentleman mentioned here (whose name has been changed to protect his privacy), couples and families are all treated with the respect and caring on which JFS was built. This is the first in our annual four installments of the “Dreidel Chronicles”, based upon actual clients that JFS has assisted. Your help is what makes the difference for people like these. Thank you! Miles entered the offices of Jewish Family Service for the first time in October of 2006. After making frantic phone calls to every law office in the phone book, he decided that a bit of free advice was the best way to begin solving the dilemma he’d found himself in. A recent immigrant to the United States, Miles had grown up in the simple way of a child from Kashin, Russia. In many ways he was unprepared for the complicated and bustling life here in America, even as a 31-year-old man. On advice from a friend, Miles moved from his original settlement in Oakland, California to Omaha, where he found a more familiar and comforting way of life
Inside
he could appreciate. People were kinder here, things were a bit slower and he was able to begin concentrating on why he had come to the U.S. in the first place, finishing a masters, now at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Once here, he worked hard studying for a masters in computer science alongside new school friends and his co-work-
ers at a local supermarket chain. Miles’ trouble began in July when he met a new roommate through the newspaper. He couldn’t continue to make the rent payment on his own, so he advertised in the paper and met Paul. Paul was a fun and vibrant personality and seemed like just the type of new companion Miles could use to introduce him to people and
make him feel more like a part of his new community. Things were terrific until Paul and Miles had a difference of opinion about Paul’s newly revealed drug habit. Miles was uninterested in such things and understood the dangers to his new way of life in getting mixed up in it. The roommates had a discussion about it and Paul finally agreed that he would not bring his habit into their home, regardless of what he chose for his personal life. One Saturday morning in September, Miles answered a knock at the door from the police. His roommate nowhere to be found that morning, Miles let police in and a search of the apartment began. Disillusioned and disappointed to find out that there were drugs in the apartment, Miles began the process of trying to prove his lack of involvement in his roommate’s activities, which now included drug possession charges for both of them and an assault charge on his roommate from a party attended the previous evening. Continued on page 2
This Week: Hanukkah issue: Second Section starts on page 25 Coming Next Month: Senior Living Issue, Dec. 21
See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 20
Hero of Soviet dissidents analyzes today’s political situation: Pages 13-14
Next Gen in Business features third-generation who comes home: Page 34
Where Are They Now? finds former cantor still singing: Page 40