THE JEWISH PRESS t i » > *K \ Publication Office 101 No. 20th St. U — N O . ZS Omaha, Neb, f-8103. Phon» MM30fi
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Serving Omaha, I.lnroln, Council Bluftt
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Dear Omaha Jews
My name is Mike. I'm 10 years old and I live ' In Omaha, Nebraska. *
My name is Hannah. I'm 18 years old and I'm an Israeli soldier. '
~ I'm in the fifth grade and I'm pretty smart. I gQ to Hebrew School too, because I'm Jewish. ' That's part of my problem—how can I stay Jewish? My parents say it's pretty hard to stay Jewish in America today. Not hard like In Russia—a different kind of bard. My parents talk about it with big words like identity; asslmlliatlon, intermarriage and apathy. I don't know what those words mean, but I know a lot of things that have to do with being Jewish that are important to me and my , family. Some _of my_ "Jewish. things^ _are_ Hebrew School, Sunday School and Esther K. Newman camp. My big sister is in BBYO;JHom.and-Dad go to Jewish Cultural Committee classes and all of us do things at the Jewish Community Center. "TThere'IT be "even more' things to do when they , build a new JCC, and some of the new programs will be ready even before the building is. My grandmother lives at the Dr. Philip Sher Home and lots of new things are happening there too. Anyhow, my dad says all these Jewish things cost lots of money. Dad says there will be some better services, but it's going to cost more than it did last year. All this money has to come from Jewish. Philanthropies. Everyone gives to Philanthropies, because that's part of being Jewish too. I gave part of my allowance to Philanthropies last year. I don't know if I have enough allowance to raise my pledge this year, but I'll try. When I grow up I'll give lots of money to Phllanthroples-tbat is if I'm still Jewish. Does anybody care about, keeping me Jewish?
My family came to Israel 5 years ago from Romania. It has not been "an easy 5 years, but . we are grateful to be here. This is our country; our home. My father earns $230 a month, yet taxes and ' government loans take more tiian one-third of his salary. He brings home $150 each month to support my mother and two small brothers. It's not enough, but there's no other way. \ We came to Israel right after the 6 Day War; 'and S years later—there still is no peace. Defense costs last year were'actually 5 times greater than during the year of the 6 Day~War. -, Tlre^liriple fact is that unless" Israel maintains its defense, .even though at' a high cost," Israel will not survive, 80 per cent of our taxes ore used for defense, and we are the highest > taxed peoplc/in the world. \ , We need houses and medical services and„ schools for th'ose' of us who came here recently, and for the thousands, of new immigrants who • come every year. Israel will spend the dollars dhd lives to keep the country secure. We know, as you do, that the dignity of all Jews depends upon the survival of Israel. As for the rest—we must depend on you. It's a partnership. While I serve in the army, I look to you to help care for my family. I look to you ' to provide medical care for my mother and schooling for my brothers. It will take great amounts of money. With help from you, in Omaha, my family will survive. Israel will survive. Does anyone In Omaha care about our survival?
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My name is Tanya, I'm 10 years old and I live in Moscow. - It says on my identification papers that I am . a Jew. I'm not sure what that means. I've never been to a' synagogue or any school where they teach about Jewish things, but I'd like to go. My father used to read to me out of a Hebrew book he had^but he can't do that anymore. , My mother and father have been talking for a long time about going to Israel to live. They said that in Israel my brother and I could be Jewish without being afraid. A year ago my0 father told the government wo wanted to go to Israel, and then he lost his job. -The KGB came to our-house-and-took my father's1; Hebrew book. That's why he .can't read, to m e ' anymore. Last week the government said we could Ieave^I.was vejy;excitedf:butfmy lather said we have a problem. You, see, my father hasn't been working for a year and we have no money. It takes a lot of money for me and my brother and mother and father to leave Russia and go to Israel. My father said it would cost $10,000 for each one of us. Hp told me there were Jews. In America who cared about people like me and my family; and were trying to raise the money so we could leave. I think Jews In America mast be very good people if they do that. But my.mother and fatherate worried. 1 guess we can't wait too long or the government' may take back our exit license. I'd like to grow up as a Jewish girl. That could happen inisrael, but it costs a lot pt money. Does anybody in Omaha care about my family that .much?
Omaha Jews Reply
j - Omaha 500 Omaha Jewish Philanthropies campaign workers will begin their solicitation of the community this week for the 1972 campaign.' f.TheVorkers know the urgency of their mission. Everyone must hear and respond to the, appeals of Tanya, Mike and Hannah. , ''. '_„ i i, - An increase of $140,000 to the regular campaign must be made. "Taking care of our own," begins in Omaha,- with children like Mike. x > An increase of $660,000 plus must be made to the Israel Emergency Fund. Tanya, Hannah and countless other Jews depend on it. > y In the belief that no member of the Jewish community could refuse these three urgent appeals, the campaign leadership has sent the'follow* j Ing symbolic replies: . ' . ; .
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Dear Mike: Of course we care about keeping you Jewish. You live here and you are our responsibility. You are all our sons and grandsons, all our children, and without you we have no' tomorrow., You are the future of the Jewish people. We will see to it that you can live and learn and play and grow—In Omaha—as a Jew. We will raise the' money that will provide you a good Jewish education; good Jewish experiences at camp and at the Center. We will do what we can to help you grow into a thinking, caring, responsible adult Jew. We wilLdo it because we need you. In the long history of the Jewish people you are the important link between yesterday and tomorrow. ' i-We will,kcepour promise bedause the chain must not.be broken. ,\ • •
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Dear Hannah: , No Jew 'stands alone. This is the Promise of the Covenant—th,at a Jew, wherever he may be, can depend on other Jews to help. The-promise has been restated many times, by "one Jew to another, for 4,000 years. The promise has kept the Jewish people alive. The promise will not be broken now. . • Jews in Omaha care. We care about you and about your'family, we will provide the medical Service, the schooling, the vocational training they need to survive. We know that' our survival depends upon theirs and yours. We will do what must be done. You have borne the heaviest burden of war and-near war; you have made the sacrifices in blood to keep Israel secure. We have the lesser burden'of providing only the dollars. It is little enough that we are asked to do, and it will bo done. -HI . ,' / , ' , , • ,i "i <•' • We will kedp1, the promises-, ,»,, , r,< v
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* <i rACT: The Jeiljib Agency lias budffrtea SM0,870,Q0<i>«>r , 11 tducntiim >prdgriuns lit Inrael tlilt yclir l o t current and; - r tlc 'tothxot imlurffnuitjt.1 * «"< • * i'i|sH ' ' '* "li *^ ( "
Dear Tanya: Omaha Jews care about you and your family. Your lives are precious and worth far more than; the $10,000 that will take each of you to Israel, and freedom. You can count on us. . '< • BY ACTION OF THE BOARD OF THE) OMAHA JEWISH FEDERATION TAKEN-LAST ' WEEK, WE HAVE PLEDGED OURSELVES TO . RAISE $660,000 MORE THAN WE RAISED IN THE I S R A E L EMERGENCY FUND CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR TO PAY FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF 100 SOVIET JEWS IN ISRAEL. . We have committed ourselves to the rescue of one planeload of Soviet Jews. You and your • family will be on that plane.-You will live and grow as a Jew in Israel. Vour parents will smile again. It will happen because Omaha Jews care and will raise the money to make it happen. We will, keep our, promise. \ FACT: WftW SliMlii"''ii»t »JO,00b to move one per»on ,'
irom Ru»»|tt|S|t(J, »li»pj;li'biln In Israel, wo arc bolnBsjijji wkfxl to elve r only. $4,000 per pet«on, with the Israeli. Ui 'government providing tho'balance,of *3,40tti