Vol. LXXXIII No. 14 Omaha, NE
Sharon: Jews Will Prevail
The Jewish people will not be deterred by terrorism, Israel’s prime minister told North American Jewish leaders. At the opening plenary of the United Jewish Communities’ annual General Assembly in Jerusalem last month, Ariel Sharon said, “Our enemies have got to understand that the Jewish people cannot be broken.” He received a thunderous ovation. Sharon told the audience that Jews should make aliyah; promote Zionist education; and invest in Jerusalem, the Negev and the Galilee. Shortly after he began speaking, Sharon was interrupted by hecklers urging the release of Jonathan Pollard, an American Jew jailed for spying for Israel. (See Op-Ed piece on page 22.) More Israel photos and stories on page 16 and 17.
CREDIT: Brian Hendler/JTA
SPECIAL ISSUE: HANUKKAH GIFT GUIDE
10 Kislev, 5764 December 5, 2003 2 Sections
Performance by Stand-up Comedian/Rabbi to Benefit Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah by LYNDA MIRVISH Island, Alper is a graduate of for Beth El Synagogue Lehigh University, was Rabbi Bob Alper claims to be “the world’s ordained at Hebrew Union only practicing clergyman doing stand-up College in Cincinnati, OH, comedy...intentionally!” And he has proved it and is the first Jewish person time after time with audiences both in the ever to earn a doctorate from United States and in London. the Princeton Theological “Reviewers rave about his warm and pithy Seminary. He has served humor and say that it is funny enough for congregations in Buffalo and teenagers, clean enough for their grandparPhiladelphia, where he conents, and appropriate for people of all faiths,” tinues to conduct High says Marilyn Tipp, chairman of the committee Holiday services. organizing Alper’s appearance at Beth El at a “We are so delighted to be benefit for BESTT (Beth El Synagogue Talmud bringing Bob to Omaha,” Torah). “Some of the praise include words Tipp added. “Everyone in such as ‘brilliant’, ‘side-splitting’, ‘polished’ Omaha will be welcome at and ‘a genuine comic’,” Tipp continued. this extraordinary event--and Rabbi Bob Alper How did a pulpit rabbi (who, incidentally, that includes children over looks like Steve Martin and sounds like Alan Alda) the age of 12. Our wonderful committee is working make it to the world of stand-up comedy? It seems that feverishly to make Bob’s visit a hilarious and momenearly in his rabbinical career, Alper effectively injected tous event.” humor into his pulpit messages. His congregants Tipp’s committee includes: Larry and Hanna DeBruin, laughed, and they also listened! And he got hooked on Harriet Einziger, Buddy and Gloria Goodman, M’Lee making people laugh! Hasslinger, Les Kay, Cheryl Lerner, Natalie Rubin, Realizing that he was cut out for a life on the stage Lynne Shkolnik, Lesli Shrago, Steve Tipp and me. rather than the bimah, he now performs nearly 100 The Saturday evening, Jan. 31, 8 p.m., show will be times each year, and has appeared on ABC’s “World preceded by a Silent Auction which will begin at 7 News Tonight”, Showtime, “Extra”, “Comedy Central”, p.m. “The auction offers a great opportunity to pick up CNN’s “American Morning”, and “Good Morning unique items and support our Talmud Torah at the America”. same time,” Tipp added. A Vermont resident and native of Providence, Rhode Continued on page 2
The Project Dreidel Chronicles
The Importance of Being Earnest (Editor’s Note: The story you are about to read is true, and used with permission. The names and some details have been changed to protect the subject’s privacy.) Welcome to the first installment of The Project Dreidel Chronicles. Over the next three weeks, you will be introduced to a few of the Omaha area Jews who have been helped by JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE. The people featured in these stories have graciously agreed to share intimate details of their lives with the community in order to increase awareness of the programs and services offered by JFS that have made such a tremendous difference in their quality of Jewish life. Your gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign supports Jewish Family Service as well as the rest of our Centers of Excellence: the ADL/CRC, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational and Library Services and Jewish Senior Services. Your gift to the Federation Campaign is what allows us to take care of each other in Omaha, Israel and 60 other countries around the world. Despite our best efforts, our community needs continue to outpace contributions to the Federation Annual Campaign. Your increased
Inside
Campaign gift ensures that every O m a h a Jewish comm u n i t y member will have access to professional and compassionate help in a Jewish environment. Last year, JFS had 196 requests for assistance--up 39 percent from the year before. So far this year requests for assistance look like they will be the same or slightly higher than last year, but so far, the over all dollar amount per request is 8 percent higher than last year. Each month, JFS gives out an average of $350 in grocery certificates to needy Jewish families. An easy way for you to help is to purchase grocery certificates from Beth El Synagogue or Temple Israel and donate them to JFS. It’s a double mitzvah because the congregations benefit from the certificate sales, too! Ernest Glass had been a client of
This Week: Hanukkah Gift Guide: Page 25 Reform Movement Changes Its Name--Reports from the Biennial: pages 4-5
Jewish Family Service for about three years when Director Steve Stiel’s suspicions that Ernest wasn’t telling him the whole truth were confirmed. Glass was a salesman with off and on money problems throughout the years. Periodically, he’d ask for a loan to get his car fixed, which he needed for his job. Sometimes he said he was waiting on a commission check and needed a few dollars to make it through the end of the month. JFS loaned Glass the money, but when it came time to pay back the money, he started giving Stiel a lot of excuses as to why he couldn’t. Relying on his years of experience in the counseling field and what he noticed in Glass’s behavior, Stiel began to believe that Ernest might have a gambling problem. Finally, Stiel confronted Ernest with his suspicions. Glass just laughed and denied any
problem with gambling. He told Stiel he only went to the casinos rarely and when he did, he only played $20. Ernest stuck to his original stories about the commission check that was sure to come in any day and how unfair it was that he had so many unexpected expenses lately. Stiel didn’t believe Ernest, but decided to let it go for the time being. About a month later, Glass requested another loan from JFS. This time, Stiel had no choice but to deny the loan because of his history of non-payment of the others. Glass became very angry with Stiel, and when Steve again suggested that he get some help for his gambling problem, Glass stormed out of the office. Although Glass still wouldn’t admit it to Stiel, his gambling problem was taking over his life. Instead of the $20 he told Steve he was playing at the casinos, it was more like $400-$500, and Ernest was wiped out. He couldn’t afford to buy gas for his car, so his sales position suffered. He had already hit up everyone in his family for money and they didn’t want to have anything to do with him anymore. Continued on page 3
Coming Next Month: Tax and Financial Planning Issue: Jan. 9
Jewish Press Adds New Columnists: Page 9 Bert’s Eye View: Page 8
If You Gotta Ask: Page 12 Read It and Eat: Page 13 Staying in Touch: Page 18
Teen Age-USY Takes a Turn: Page 15