"Silent Processions1 Urged on Yom Kippur
THE JEWISH
NEW YORK (JTA)—In an unprecedented action, the Synagogue Council of America has called on synagogues throughout the nation to hold silent public processions on Yom Kippur as a "prayerful expression of solidarity with'Jews in the Sovjet Union." The action was announced by Rabbi Irving Lehrman of Miami Beach, the Council's president. This is the first time that worshippers will leave the synagogue, according to Rabbi Henry Siegman, executive vice-president. . ° The Council's action called for "a solemn procession of worshippers" from inside the sanctuary to an appropriate public location outside the synagogue. Rabbi Lehrman stated that this departure, from ancient tradition on this holiest day of the year is. "itself of profound religious significance."
Vol. U—No. 2
Omaha—A 41-page report the Federation, indicated that prepared by the Jewish Day Federation action would be deSchool Study Committee was layed until the community at submitted this week to mem- large had an opportunity to exbers of the Executive Commit- , press their opinions about the tee of the Omaha Jewish Fed- Day School to their representaeration for their consideration. tives on the Federation board. The lengthy report was dis- Jlighllghts of the Study Comcussed at a meeting of the Fed- mittee report appear in this eration board on Wednesday, Issue of the Jewish Press. however no action was taken. Background Early In 1970 a special comC. M. Newman, president of
Local Rabbis Voice Views on Day Schools could he crucial. This would have to reflect itself in the personality and the teaching of the school personnel. ..This would mean that the school should, In my opinion, essentially be a rcliglo-cuHural school, r a t h e r than a school for any kind of religious indoctrination. 2. There would,be a natural tendency, if such a school were established, to try to meet some (Continued on Page 2) -
mittee was appointed by the Omaha .Jewish Federation to determine the "interest, cost and .feasibility" of a Jewish Day School in Omaha. Under the chairmanship of Richard Fellman, the committee was specifically selected to include members who both'favored and opposed the Day School concept, and members who had expressed no opinion about Day Schools, but because they had children of school- age or because they had expressed interest in education would be qualified to serve. Named to the special study committee were Morris Fcliman, Robert Feinberg, Alvln Ross, Dr. Irving Shapiro, Irvin Yaffe, Mmes. Brad Herman,. Charles Garctz, Vince Marshall .and Donald Novlcoff. The Study Committee held a series ,of meetings from late summer of 1970 through early, fall of 1971. In addition to gathering general information relating to each phase of the study,- an opinion survey was undertaken to determine-* the attltudes-ef Omaha.Jews to-
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ward a Jewish Day School. The results of the-survey are included in this issue of the Jewish Press. In liis rejport to the Federation board, Mr. Fellman noted that the survey was "an attempt to get accurate data in . a scientific way, and that professional c o n s u l t a t i o n was sought in the construction technique and interpretation of the survey data." Fellman said "it was the committee's, desire to prepare a workable document, with all -the necessary information for the community to make a knowledgeable decision about a Day School program for Omaha.'1 In addition to the opinion surveys, the repojrt contains b a c k g r o u n d information on Jewish education in Omaha; information .on economic feasibility and related questions; attitudes of the local rabbis; arguments for and against Jewish Day School education. A lengthy appendix following the report contains a variety of opinions-both for and against
Day Schools; statistical information; arguments for community .support of Jewish Day Schools and arguments of problems and statistics showing the crisis in education costs. ' Mr. Newman urged all members of the community to acquaint themselves with the findings of the Day School Study Committee as reported in the Jewish Press this week; and to share their reactions with members of the Federation Executive Committee. "We want every member of the Jewish community to have the opportunity to make his views known before the Federation Executive C o m m i t t e e takes action," Mr. Newman said. Comments may be directed to any of the following members of the Federation Executive Committee: Milton Abrahams, Alvin Abramson, Henry Appel, Jack B. Cohen, Carl Cohen, 'Leo Eisenstatt, Richard Fellman Mrs. Morris Fellman, Dr. Abe Greenberg, Mrs. Don Greenberg, Howard Hochster, (Continued from Page 2)
Results .of Day School Opinion Poll
Should Omaha Have a Jewish Day School? ;
-To determine, the interest of the Omaha Jewish community in a Jewish Day School, surveys were taken by .the Day School Committee. One survey measured opinions of a cross section of Omaha Jewry, taken from the census maintained by the Jewish Federation. A list was compiled of every twentieth name from the headof-household list, utilizing the married households as well as those of both non-married men and non-married women. There were 108 questionnaires returned from this group, with 85 responses, 14 refusals to respond, and nine not reached. The second survey was taken from the list of parents of children ages three through six, pre-school through first grade. In this group 120 questionnaires were received, with 86 responses, six refusals to respond and 28 who were not reached. In each survey the same technique was used, a combination of the mail-survey with the telephone survey. The questionnaire, together with an explanatory letter, was mailed to those to be surveyed explaining the study and telling the individual that he would bo called by an interviewer. The interviewers, who personally represented varying views on the day school proposal, were instructed to call, explain the purpose of the call, and remain anonymous. This was accomplished. ,. A professional was consulted in the preparation of the original survey and in the assembly of data. He warned that the results of the survey, should not be used as a substitute for judgment. The survey Itself, he stated, is an estimate of the situation, ot what people thought at a particular time about this question, While favoring the establishThe" committee was satisfied with the size of the sample and ment of a Day School; Rabbi the general technique utilized. Kripke offered the following caAll the figures that follow are expressed in percentages, each veats in his letter to the Study figure being a percentage of those who answered the survey. Committee: The survey follows: • «.• . 1.1 am in favor only of that QUESTION 1 kind of school where chllliren The following reasons are generally given in favor of and from homes of all Jewish re' ' ligious backgrounds would be against a Jewish Day School: AGAINST * comfortable and -opinions of • - - -IN FAVOH their .parents respected. It is Al Jewish Day. School educa- A. Jewish Day School' educaeasily u n d e r s t o o d that the tion puts too much emphasis - tion is the best way to teach school might have to operate on one aspect of the child's alkof Judaism to a child,' .under certain religious regulaeducation. tions, among them some more B. The child learns Hebrew, B, After school or S u n d a y stringent than practiced in tlio Jewish history1, and other classes are sufficient to h L L f U h i W i .hoiOCa-aLiaQflLftfJUif-thiWreB^ in after' school or Sunday child. It is the question of respect for' .classes. .Varying religious, positions, tliat •
. OMAHA, NEB., FBI., SEPT. 24, 1971
to Jewish Day School Study
Reactions
Omaha—Three l o c a l rabbis have indicated they would support efforts to establish a Jewish Day School in Omaha. Unconditional support was offered " by Rabbi Isaac Nadoff of Beth Israel Synagogue (Orthodox.) Conditional statements wefe<ais< sued by Rabbi Myer Kripke of Beth El Synagogue (Conservative) and Rabbi S i d n e y H. Brooks, Temple I s r a e l (Reform.) The three responded to a request from the Day School Study Committee to submit in writing their individual views about the establishment of a Day School in Omaha. Tiie-letters from the rabbis are ineluded in the report of the Study Committtee. Rabbi Nadoff wrote in part, "I believe that it is entirely -feasible and practical for Omaha to once again jhave a day school. The largo majority of Jewish youngsters will of course .continue to attend their own congregational schools. There will however always bo a significant number of families who will choose to send their children to a day school for its more intensive form of instruction. "1 strongly urge that Federation endorse the establishment of a day school In our community and begin immediately to formulate • plans for the opening of a school beginning with a kindergarten and first grade, and adding a grade each year thereafter.'I for my part, will do anything asked of mo to, help bring this about."
Serying Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Lincoln, Omaha
C. The secular (non-religious) . education is outstanding. Children's records are outstanding.
C. The Jewish child in. a Day School loses association with non-Jewish children and loses opportunities far enrichment programs and ex~ tracurricular a c t i v i t i e s available in public schools. D. The average A m e r i c a n D. The public school is .One ol child today is already. inte-~ the r e a s o n s the'Jew in grated in the general comAmerica has done so well. . munity. What he needs is a solid foundation in Judaism. E. Judaism can best, be saved E. In a day when leaders are calling for more mixing of and our children best kept all races in the p u b l i c Jews by strong early eduea- . schools, Jews should not tion. • pull off by themselves—in private schools. F. The community as well as F. Jewish Day Schools are too expensive. Other needs of . the parent should share the the Jewish community, in-•'cost of Jewish Day School cluding the need to support education. Israel, require the financial support of the Omaha Jew"- • ish community. Considering alt of these reasons, please state your opinion to ', th'e following questions!-*
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A. Should there he a Jewish Day School in Omaha? • Opinions . Opinions-Parents - Community at Large - Pre-School Children .< Yes NoN."A. Yes No " N.A. 45% . 2% 53% 3% 46% 51%
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B. Should the Federation help create and operate' a Jewish Day School In Omaha? (Create and operate means to assist in its organization, program development and financing). Opinions Opinions-Parents Communitty at Large • Prc-S.chool Children Yes No N.A. Yes No N.A. 47% 48% 36% 17% 37% 15% ,,
undertake the .total financial snon,*
sorshlp aimd operation of p, Jewish,;DayiSchool lnOmaha?-
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