October 29, 1971

Page 1

THE JEWISH PR

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YOU MUST BE THERE! .

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Sat.,' Oct. 30 _7023MCass St.

-N OMAIIA, NEB., FIU., OCT. 29, 1971

The Dr. A. Greenberep Retires ByJHICKEV GERELICK " Omaha—It was fitting that the motion to dissolve the Wise • Memorial Hospital Association ' was made by Dr. Abe Greenberg, a long time member of the Association's E x e c u t i v e Committee. The action marked the final chapter to one of Omaha Jewry's finest institutions. Italsp marked a final act of leadership by one of Omaha's leading citizens. - Dr. Abe Greenberg Is retiring. ' - •••; Dr. and; Mrs. Greenberg^will soon be living in Palm Springs, California. But Omaha will always be "home-" for the 79 year old doctor who came here at the age of V&, It was in Omaha that-Abe Greenberg built a distinguished medical career span^•ning 55 years. It was in Omaha that Abe Greenberg became a respected leader of his community and a vital leader of. his people. I met with Dr. Greenberg this summer to recall some of the highlights of his years in Dr. Abe Greenberg .Omaha. His eyes sparkled as he told me how he became "involved" as a leader in the Jew- He served B'nai B'rith as a tion. They will carry on where ish community. ' • •, .; member of the National Com- . we leave off." ' High on the priorities for "I was 21 years old, still a mission of ADL; a trustee of student at the University of Ne- the. National Jewish Hospital Omaha, as Dr. Greenberg sees braska Medical School. It was .in Denver; a trustee of Belle- it, is the building of a new Jew. a Sunday afternoon and I ran fairer Home in Cleveland; a ish Community Center, "We into Sol Brodkey who was on his member of the Board of Gov- need it, and I hope it will soon way to a board meeting of the ernors of the SupremeXodgo; be a reality," said Dr. Green-' Omaha Jewish Charities. He In- and finally as vice-president of berg. "Omaha Jewry has a repvited ine to come along, and the international B'nai.B'rith utation for getting things done. Wo built the old JCC in spite of ' ' , before the meeting was over, '. organization. I was a member of the board." • Dr. Greenberg also served ' many difficulties. We'll build the new one as well." Dr. Greenberg noted that the the local Jewish community in many, capacities. Hewas a-About his retirement in Caliproblems then were somewhat different than those faced by foiinder and past president of fornia, Dr. Greenberg has mixBeth Israel Synagogue and a ed feelings. "We will be living Federation:_today<L _*!We__were "concerned about getting grocery pastTpfesidentof the ~ Omaha in California"," he said, "but ies, coal and jobs for the needy, Jewish Federation. He served Omaha will-always be our and the board members went* '. as chairman of the Israel Bonds home. We expect to come back out and did-what had to be •campaign; chairman of t h e often to visit the family and J e w i s h. Philanthropies cam- many friends we have here. done/' he said., ;i Greenberg noted, however, paign and in various chairman- After 78 years, it isn't-easy to that the current ''demands" of ] ships on the board of the Fed- leave," he said. youth to be represented oh de- "eration. Then his eyes brightened. cision making boards is not " : Why was he so "Involved?" "I'm looking forward to the clihew. "I was" on the board at Dr.-Greenberg has little pa- mate in California, and I'm age 21> and way back thfen, my . tience for those who. do. noth- looking forward to the freedom age group was attempting to ing but crlticiza "Nothing can Offered'by retirement," he get the control from, the" "es- be accomplished w i t h o u t in- ( said. "Medicine has been my tablishment," the "older/fel- volvement," he said. "If some- life, but a "medical career is lows lit control who were.ardund. , thing in an organization needs very demanding and it's time : 45." * S changing, you have to bevpart I slowedjlowrf." It was difficult for Dr; Green-, • of the organization to' get* the What will he do with' his free berg to pick a single highlight changes made. Nothing can be time? from his life-long career of.vdl-' accomplished sitting outside," "I haven't any hobbies," ho unteer leadership. "I always '. he saidL . ; said, "but I'll try to keep busy. gained as much a s l gave," he . Dr. Greenberg is optimistic I'll probably get involved with said. "My a s s o c i a t i o n with about, the future of the Omaha a B'nai B'rith chapter in Palm B'nai B'rith,: however, is cerr Jewish commuri 1ty. "Times Springs," and I'll sec if there is •-.-' tainly among the highlights of change; needs change; but I anything I can do in the local my life. believe there will, always be Jewish community, and . . ." Dr. Greenberg joined McKin- Jews to pick up the reins of His voice trailed on with many ley.-Lodge of B'nai B'rith.in leadership to do what has ,10 , possibilities for the use of,his '. i| '" ' 1913,. He served as President of, be done. All of us are concerned t i m e . . , ; ; ;'i Henry M6hsKy Lodge in 1926 about the apparent rebellion 'of' , . Dr. Grcenberg retired? Never,( •: :and as president of District' •I our young people; but I- don't He's simply ,changW therlo. e i { , believe they area.jtost' genera-, „ calo' of U s

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8:00 P.M. Temple Israel Omaha, Nebraska

For the young people . . . THE FREEDOM BUS riders will meet with you at 9:30 following-the general meeting. '

Serving Council Bluffs, Des MoineSf Lincoln, Omaha VoL 11—No. 7

Only ..YOU can sign your name to the petition being carried cross-country by 'the FREEDOM BUS. You must be there to hear the young Soviet Jews tell their story! , .

Send Your Name to Washington SAY IT LOUD AND CLEAR, "LET MY PEOPLE G.O1"

ait Wise Hospital Funds Donated to Sher Home Omaha—At a historic special meeting held October 13, 1971, the remaining assets of the Wise Memorial Hospital Association, $5,438.00, was donated to the Jewish Federation for use in "creative therapeutic programming",at the Dr. Philip Shcr Home for the Aged. The Association was then dissolved by action of its Executive Committee—marking ific end of a vital era in Omaha Jewish community life. The story of the Wise Me- ity. It was a source of great morial Hospital, named for the pride to Omaha Jewry, and late Rabbi Isaac M, Wise, foun- many of its leading citizens der of R e f o r m Judaism in served on the hospital board. America, began Ihi899. At that The! hospital s u f f e r e d the time Mrs. J.L. Brandeis, her daughter-in-law, Mr s. Arthur' same financial' needs as did D. Brandeis, Rabbi Abram Si- other institutions of that permon (then head of Temple Is- iod, and the Jewish community rael), Edward Rosewater, Rev. sponsored charity balls and Esau Fleissman, Mrsi. J. Son- various other activities in supnenberg and Mrs. C h a r l e s port of the hospital. In 1927, a major drive was Schlank and others in. the community banded together to fill launched: for new members of' the Hospital Association and to ~ a hospital need in the city. raise funds for the continued The first building for the Wise operation of the: hospital. The • Memorial Hospital was dedicat- hospital was completely renoed in 1901. L o c a t e d at 3200 vated and Samuel Werthelmer, the new chairman of the board,-— housed 4 wards, 6 p r i v a t e expressed optimism about the rooms, an operating room and future of the Wise Hospital." a'reception room. Members, of v. Need Ends the staff included Drs. Oscar S. Hoffman, Millard Langfeld, . His hopes were short-lived. Charles Rosewater, A.F. Jones, A survey in 1929 showed that B.B, Davis, C.C. Allison, J.E, the need for a Jewish hospital SummersJr., Paul Luddington no longer existed in .Omaha, a n d a recomrrfendation was and W.O. Bridges. made to close the doors of the" The success of the venture Wiso Memorial Hospital. The _ was noted in 1908 when the hos- hospital facilities were sold to pital moved to larger premises Lutheran Hospital late in 1930) at 24th and Hartley Streets. The after serving the community new hospital was built with -for. 30 years. - . funds raised by Omaha resiThe bulk of the assets of the dents; aided by an endowment of $15,000 from an Iowa philan- Wise Memorial Hospital Assothropist, Abraham Slimmers; ciation were donated to the Dr. Mr. Slimmer gave the giff with Philip Shcr Home hi 1956. Acthe stipulation that the hospit- cording to-Isadore Abramson, al would be "non-sectarian and- chairman of the Wise Memorial Hospital Association, there waa treat charity patients," no further meeting of the ExecIn 1914 all Jewish organiza- utive Committee until the Oct. tions in Omaha amalgamated 13, 1971 meeting. to form the Jewish Federation Letters were sent to all living and the Wise Memorial Hospit- members of the committee, inal Association became part of viting them to attend the -Oct. the Federation. ; 13 meeting to discuss the disAlthough maintained by Jew- position of the remaining funds. ish funds, augmented by gifts Among those ,receiving,,letters from nonrJewish friends," the were Dr. and Mrs, Abe Green.hospital remained entirely non- berg, William, Gfodinsky, Morsectarian in its admission of pa- ris Jacobs, Mr.' and Mrs. 'J.H. , tients. The amount olfreexhar- Kulakofsky, Phil Kldtznick>.Dr. ity work done each month • for Nathan Muskin.an4 Harry RunonJews was frequently great- beristein.' ';' . er than that done for the poor, Mr. Abramson noted that the in the Jewish community. action on Oct. 13 was in .keepOne of the few Jewish hospit- ing with the ideals of the founals In the country under the ders of the hospital. "Donating ' auspices of a-Jewish commun- our remaining funds for new ity as small as Omaha, the innovative „ programs of therWiso Hospital served an. im- apyfor the residents at the Dr. portant need in the commun- Philip Sher Home is a fitting concluding action for the Wise Memorial H o s p i t a l AssociSpeelal Federation Board ation," Mr. Abramson said. « Meeting.to Discuss l The'gift was |accepted this ' Plans for Now UCC week ''with thankS and appreel- ' V r £sN 12604 K ' | Pacific ^ L St. atlon'1 by the board of the Oma-1 -•'> JCC West. rli»<il.cm t !

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